- By Simeon Brown, Member of Parliament for Pakuranga
In my first column for 2025 I wanted to start by wishing you all a Happy New Year.
I hope you’ve had a chance to take a break and reset over the holidays as we look forward to the year ahead.
The holiday break is always a great time to reflect on the past 12 months, and while I’m proud of the work our Government undertook in 2024 to get New Zealand back on track, I know there’s still more work to do to rebuild the economy, restore law and order, and deliver better public services.
Many Kiwis continue to struggle with the cost of living, but we’re seeing positive signs in the economy.
Inflation is down to 2.2 per cent, wages are growing faster than inflation, and we’ve delivered hardworking Kiwis tax relief.
Our focus for 2025 will continue to be on getting our economy not just moving again but thriving in the years ahead.
We have a fantastic team working hard to lay the foundations so we can hit the economic accelerator pedal and create more jobs, higher incomes, and afford the public services Kiwis expect and deserve.
This year will also see some major progress for our community in Pakuranga, with critical work being done on the Reeves Road Flyover in preparation for its expected completion in early 2026.
I know construction around the Pakuranga Plaza has caused frustration for local commuters, with increased congestion and reduced access to retail spaces in the area.
There was always going to be some short-term pain while this important piece of infrastructure was built, and while there’s likely to be further disruption this year, I’ll continue to work with Auckland Transport (AT) to ensure it’s minimised and you’re kept informed at all times.
The other major change coming for Pakuranga this year is the reversal of the blanket speed limit reductions that were made under the last Labour Government.
Speed limits on major roads like Pakuranga Road and Ti Rakau Drive are set to be restored to their previous higher limits of 60km/h, which will help get east Auckland moving again.
AT is required to make these changes no later than July 1 this year, so expect to see some work on this soon.
My office in Pakuranga is now open for 2025, so if you’re in need of any assistance or have questions or concerns you wish to share, please get in touch by calling 09 572 0000 or emailing PakurangaMP@parliament.govt.nz.
