Cast your memory back one year ago – New Zealanders had just voted in the National-led Government with a record majority and a clear mandate that work needs to be done on our most vulnerable in society.

I’m tremendously proud of where we stand together as a region and a country today, one year on.

We’ve seen the Government take on board the concerns of Kiwis reflected in the election and integrate that into concrete outcomes:

• Free doctor's visits and prescriptions for children under 13
• Increasing welfare for our most vulnerable for the first time in over 40 years
• $790 million budget package for children in hardship
• Reduced ACC levies 
• 69,000 new jobs created in the year to June

Also as a region we have seen some excellent gains.

• A full-scale recovery of kiwifruit growers since the Psa-virus
• Completion of the Tauranga Eastern Link
• $14.61 million invested into our cycleways
• Strong performance from all sectors in our community, including growers, construction and tourism.

The business optimism in the Bay is palpable and a common headline. We can afford to take stock and be proud of what our region has achieved in this last year.

ENDS