Taupō region’s MPs share their priorities for new term
Waikato Herald invited MPs elected in the region to answer questions about their goals for the next parliamentary term. Louise Upston has been MP for the Taupō electorate since 2008, and Rawiri Waititi has represented Waiariki since 2020.
Name: Louise Upston
Age: 52
I live in:
In your opinion, what is your electorate’s most urgent challenge and how are you going to tackle it?
Karapiro
The most urgent issue is the cost of living crisis and how this is affecting individuals, families, businesses and community organisations alike. Taupō ’s main industries are farming, forestry and tourism and we need to ensure that we remove red tape that is restricting businesses and ensure they have access to the staff they need, to not just survive but thrive. I’ll continue to advocate for local
businesses because without them we have fewer people in employment.
Which part about representing your electorate are you most looking forward to in the next term?
I’m looking forward to seeing progress with local roading projects that were included in our Transport for the Future policy. This includes State Highway 5 to Napier and improvements on State Highway 1 between Taupō and Waiouru. I will be advocating strongly to ensure this work is delivered.
What are your personal goals as an MP?
Ensuring our Welfare that Works
policy is delivered will see more young people in work with a better future. The Into Work Workshop that I held last year showed we have great organisations that can support jobseekers and employers looking for staff. We can, and must do a better job of connecting job seekers to the support on offer and connect them to work.
What will change for your electorate now that you are in Government?
Being an MP in the governing party means a greater ability to get things done in our communities. I will still continue to hold clinics, coffee catchups and friendly forums to enable
constituents to connect and this helps me to best represent the Taupō electorate.
Name: Rawiri Waititi
Age: 42 years
I live in: Cape Runaway, East Coast
In your opinion, what is your electorate’s most urgent challenge and how are you going to tackle it?
We proudly campaigned on reforming our broken tax system to redistribute wealth and ensure that all New Zealanders were paying their fair share. This would have meant that your first $30,000 became taxfree, ensuring people kept more money in their pockets. We have also been campaigning on removing GST from all food for immediate relief.
Which part about representing your electorate are you most looking forward to in the next term?
Our beautiful Waiariki electorate is rich in culture, te reo Mā ori, and beauty no matter which part of it you are in. It’s my job as their MP to ensure their voices are heard, that the Government is kept accountable, and that we propose solutions that are Mā ori led, for the betterment of their communities.
What are your personal goals as an MP?
One would have to be not getting kicked out as I did last year ha ha! No but, to continue the work of our movement. To ensure that our whā nau at home can see that their voices are being represented and championed. To provide an opportunity for our constituency and whā nau to engage and to be seen as their representative.
What do you think will be your biggest challenge as part of the opposition?
We have a great team of dedicated and committed people, most under the age of 35 actually, who bring the energy and get the mahi done. We also welcome two new MPs, and possibly four, depending on how special votes go which will only double our voice. I’m looking forward to a big three years ahead.