Tag: Simeon Brown
$86.5m package to boost driver licensing
The Government has announced it's making it easier for Kiwis to access driver licensing and training through an $86.5 million investment over four years...
Police reveal location of new Howick station
Counties Manukau East Police have kept their promise to open a new base for their six community officers in Howick.
Area commander, inspector Scott Gemmell,...
Ukrainians kick-start campaign
Two Ukrainian-born New Zealanders are organising a campaign to raise donations and supplies for the civilians and children in their home country.
Dr Elena Artyukh,...
Government votes down gang-funding ban bill
The Government has voted down a bill sponsored by Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown that would have banned taxpayers' money being given to gangs.
Brown's Public...
MP wants ban on public money going to gangs
A proposed law change sponsored by an east Auckland politician would prohibit the Government and its agencies from providing funding to organisations run or...
MP calls to axe regional fuel tax
Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown is criticising the Labour Government for leaving more than $300 million raised from the Auckland regional fuel tax unspent.
Brown, the...
Share your opinion on road safety
People who want to see speed limits on numerous east Auckland roads lowered in an effort to increase safety have until April 3 to...
Call for more RATs community collection sites out east
There's just one community collection site in east Auckland where people can collect free rapid antigen tests (RATs) for Covid-19.
That compares to five such...
Budding politician speaking up for youth
Maya McNeill is taking her love of debating big issues such as abortion and euthanasia with family and friends all the way to Parliament.
Pakuranga...
MP defends KiwiBuild’s record
A Government MP based in east Auckland is defending the Labour Party's record when it comes to building new homes in the local community.
Botany-based...
Police station closed with blessing
The Howick Police station has been formally closed before being shipped off to its new home.
The building sits on land in Moore Street owned...
MP: We’re being fleeced at petrol pump by Govt
Aucklanders will be angered to learn that despite paying over half a billion dollars in Regional Fuel Tax (RFT), less than half of that...
Campaigners fume over change to hearings
People fighting the proposed sale of east Auckland public reserves are angry they now won't be able to express their view over a key...
Police close to finding new home
Police say they're making good progress in finding a new building to permanently house the six Howick-based community officers.
The building currently serving as the...
Ambulance station burglary unsolved
Police are making a fresh appeal to the public for information in an effort to identify who broke into an east Auckland ambulance station...
Scant choice for KiwiBuild hopefuls out east
People hoping to get onto the property ladder by buying one of the Government's KiwiBuild homes in east Auckland will find slim pickings in...
‘Looking forward to my new roles in 2022’
By Simeon Brown, MP for Pakuranga
Happy New Year! I hope you've had a chance over the summer to take a break with family...
MP: Wood wasting millions on Hillside rail yards
New Zealanders are fast getting used to Michael Wood's profligate spending, with $85 million to revive rail workshops in Dunedin just the latest instalment,...
Luxon vows to keep fighting for Botany
He became the National Party's leader after just a year in politics and now Botany MP Christopher Luxon is vowing he won't forget about...
Luxon shakes up National’s line-up
Botany MP and new National Party leader Christopher Luxon has announced a reshuffle of his MPs' portfolios and parliamentary rankings.
He says the new party...
Prison violence continues to grow under Labour
By Simeon Brown, MP for Pakuranga
Since Labour first took power in 2017, the number of assaults on corrections officers by prisoners has nearly...
Luxon takes the reins
Just one year after entering Parliament as the new MP for Botany, former Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon is the new leader...
Luxon named as leadership contender
East Auckland’s two National Party MPs are tight-lipped on who they believe should replace ousted former leader Judith Collins.
Collins was dumped by her party’s...
Auckland lockdown pain must end
By Christopher Luxon, MP for Botany
Earlier this month, I joined Judith Collins and my National Party colleagues Simeon Brown and Melissa Lee for...
Questions asked over ICU capacity
The Government has failed to properly prepare for the outbreak of the Covid-19 Delta strain by increasing Middlemore Hospital's ICU capacity by just one...
Judith Collins meets local business leaders
National Party leader Judith Collins was in Howick on Saturday meeting local business owners about the Government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic and its...
Family caught in busway’s path
Just one month after moving into their new east Auckland home, a family is facing the prospect of having to move again because the...
Brown: Auckland border stretching police resources to the limit
With the Government considering keeping the Auckland border in place over summer, it must consider the significant impact this will place on police resources...
Vaccine mandates on the way
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says the Government's decision to require at-risk businesses to ensure their staff are vaccinated against Covid-19 is a practical step.
The...
Views sought on busway’s design
East Auckland residents will soon have the chance to share their views on the design of the latest stage of a major infrastructure project.
Auckland...
Prison riot costs taxpayers $46m
Figures released in the Department of Corrections' annual report show the costs of damage caused by the Waikeria Prison riot have blown up to...
Follow-through needed on Eastern Busway
By Christopher Luxon, MP for Botany
News that the Government backed down on their unfathomable $785 million cycle bridge, and instead chose to reprioritise...
Time for a plan back to freedom
By Simeon Brown, MP for Pakuranga
Over the last couple of weeks, I'm sure many of you have been becoming increasingly frustrated by the...
Police searching for new base
East Auckland residents concerned they may lose a long-standing police presence in the community can rest easy.
Plans are advancing to sell the Auckland Council-owned...
Busway accelerated, cycle bridge scrapped
Future users of the Eastern Busway public transport project will benefit from the Government's decision to scrap the proposed $785 million cycle bridge across...
Calling all budding politicians
Young east Aucklanders with political aspirations are invited to apply to become their electorate's next Youth Member of Parliament.
A two-day Youth Parliament is held...
MP: Police Minister’s actions “shameful”
Pakuranga MP and National Party police spokesman Simeon Brown is describing the actions of Police Minister Poto Williams as "shameful".
His criticism relates to his...
Questions raised over vaccine mix-up
The Government is being criticised for waiting more than a month to reveal people may have been injected with incorrect Covid-19 vaccine doses in...
COMMENT: Vaccine stroll-out behind lockdown extension
Earlier this week the Prime Minister announced that Auckland would remain under Alert Level 4 restrictions for another two weeks, as the outbreak of...
MP: Police Minister’s actions “shameful”
Pakuranga MP and National Party police spokesman Simeon Brown is describing the actions of Police Minister Poto Williams as “shameful”.
His criticism relates to his...
Crime in Auckland on the rise
The latest statistics from police show that Auckland is becoming more dangerous with a 63 per cent increase in violent crime in Auckland's CBD...
Police station land will soon be for sale
Attempts to stop the sale of land occupied by the Howick police station in east Auckland appear to have failed.
As the Times has previously reported,...
Labour set to control Kiwis’ speech
The National Party has always been, and always will be, a staunch protector of New Zealanders' right to free speech.
It's an important part of...
Three Waters a big worry
I recently travelled to Blenheim for the Local Government New Zealand conference in my role as National's Local Government spokesperson.
The annual conference is one...
Transport boss fronts over busway delay
Hundreds of people packed into a local church to hear from Auckland Transport (AT) chief executive Shane Ellison about the future of the long-awaited...
Money for the Mongrel Mob a sick joke
The news last week that the Government had put up nearly $3 million in funding towards a Mongrel Mob-led drug programme came as a...
MP’s bill will stop Government from ‘funding organised crime’
Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown says he will introduce a member’s bill to prevent future Government funding from being granted to organised crime units.
Brown, the...
Wilbyn shaves for a cure
As an enraptured audience of excited students counted down from five, Howick Primary School's executive officer prepared himself.
When they hit one Wilbyn Mitchell's hairdresser...
Simeon Brown calls out donation to gang
Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown is criticising Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt for paying a $200 donation to a gang.
Brown, the National Party’s police...
Government prioritises cycle bridge over Busway
The recent news that the Government and Auckland Council have delayed the completion of the Eastern Busway by two years is gutting news for...
Labour isn’t delivering in the east
Locals will be as gutted as I am that the Eastern Busway has been shelved for another two years.
The project now faces another inexplicable...
East health group established
A public meeting on the loss of east Auckland's overnight medical service has led to a community-minded health group being established.
On December 15 last...
Cycle bridge prioritised over Eastern Busway
Friday’s news that completion of the Eastern Busway project will be delayed by at least two years is gutting to east Auckland residents who...
Council advances plan to sell public reserves
Independent commissioners will be appointed to read submissions made as part of the ongoing process to sell public reserves in east Auckland.
Auckland Council's finance...
Cycle bridge prioritised over Eastern Busway
Today’s news that completion of the Eastern Busway project will be delayed by at least two years is gutting to east Auckland residents who...
Cycle bridge a kick in guts to nurses and police
The Government's recent announcement to build a nearly-$800 million cycle bridge across Auckland's harbour has come as a kick in the guts to the...
Call for action over botched road surface
Frustrated east Auckland residents have appealed to their local MP for help after work to resurface their road went badly wrong.
Auckland Transport (AT) contractors...
Another death threat to MP
A man has been arrested in relation to recent threats to Member of Parliament Simeon Brown.
Police received a complaint on Tuesday night (May 25)...
Community shares concerns over future of Howick Police Station
Last week Botany MP Christopher Luxon and I held a public meeting to discuss the future of the Howick Police Station which was attended...
Community demands continued police presence
Police have delivered a strong public commitment to maintain a physical presence in Howick despite uncertainty surrounding the future of the community’s local station.
About...
Top scholars recognised
East Auckland school pupils were recently recognised for their academic brilliance at the Top Scholar Awards in Wellington.
Macleans College 2020 dux Angela Yang was...
MP receives death threats
A man has been arrested and charged after allegedly making death threats to Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown.
Police say the 25-year-old man was arrested without...
Government accepts need to tackle gang violence
Last week the Government announced they would introduce Firearm Prohibition Orders as a tool for police to get guns out of the hands of...
Plans to sell police station land progressing
Police are tight-lipped about contingency plans should they have to vacate the site of the current Howick station.
As the Times reported in April, Auckland Council...
Howick Police Station integral to our community safety
Many of you will now be aware of the proposed closure of the Howick Police Station following Auckland Council's decision to sell the land...
Skaters thrilled with revamped facility
The refurbished skate park at Lloyd Elsmore Park in Pakuranga is being hailed a success.
A large crowd including Howick Local Board members, Howick ward...
Government must get tough on gangs
Gang violence is getting out of control in Auckland with another week of gang shootings and violence including a shooting at the Sofitel Hotel...
Police station’s future undecided
The future of the Howick police station is in doubt as Auckland Council looks to sell the land it occupies.
The station is accessed from...
Dirt bike riders arrested
Six men were arrested after allegedly taking part in a disruptive group dirt bike ride through east Auckland.
Counties Manukau Police road policing manager, Inspector...
Looking forward to DHB review
Last week Christopher Luxon and I hosted a well-attended public meeting on health in east Auckland which served as an opportunity for the community...
‘They have to follow the law’
Residents opposed to the sale of public reserves in east Auckland were urged to consider withdrawing submissions they'd made objecting to the move.
Community leaders...
Community demands better medical services
They turned up in their droves to deliver a clear message that east Auckland deserves high quality medical services - and now.
More than 400...
Easter Sunrise service all set
Now in its 26th consecutive year, the combined churches Easter morning Sunrise Service on Howick's Stockade Hill will be on Sunday April 4 at...
‘Serious offences going unpunished under this Government’
As Opposition Spokesperson for Police and Corrections, I have a particular passion for law and order and making sure we in Parliament are doing...
Public meeting on East Care
People upset at the loss of east Auckland's only overnight medical service are invited to express their views at a public meeting on the...
Former library building set to be sold
It's a large and derelict eyesore in the heart of an east Auckland shopping precinct and its future will finally be decided.
The former Howick...
2021 a key year for the Eastern Busway project
For decades, east Auckland has been neglected when it comes to investment in transport infrastructure with the Eastern Busway and Reeves Road Flyover project...
Have your say on reserves’ sale
The time has come for people opposed to the potential sale of a group of east Auckland public reserves to make their voices heard.
Auckland...
Gang numbers on the rise
The Government's soft on crime approach has seen a spike in gang numbers across the Auckland region, National's Police spokesperson and Pakuranga MP Simeon...
Mayor receives petition opposing reserves’ sale
A group of passionate local residents battling to stop the sale of four east Auckland public reserves have shared their message with Auckland's mayor.
Auckland...
Covid-19 vaccination programme must be government’s top priority for 2021
The community cases found in Auckland last week and the resultant three-day lockdown have demonstrated the need for immediate progress on a vaccination plan...
After-hours service essential
Happy New Year! While the holidays may seem a dim and distant memory now, I trust that you had a wonderful break with your...
Lockdown once again
Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown has said the latest lockdown will be a devastating blow to Kiwis as Auckland faces its second day at Alert...
East Care petition backed by thousands
More than 10,000 people signed a petition calling for what was east Auckland's only overnight medical service to be reinstated.
The 11pm-7am service provided by...
Residents fighting to stop reserves’ sale
Irate residents are battling to stop the proposed sale of four east Auckland public reserves.
Auckland Council wants to dispose of green spaces it owns...
Browns welcome baby girl
Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown and wife Rebecca welcomed Grace Georgette Brown into the world on Tuesday afternoon, February 2 at the Botany Birthing Unit.
The...
A double celebration for Rosa Chow
What do a policeman, politician, priest, principal, lawyer, educator, specialist advisor to council and chair of Howick Local Board have in common?
They have all...
Reunion dinner feast for the senses
Starting the year on a celebratory note was the recent Reunion Dinner at the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple that was filled with prayer,...
Questions raised over road resurfacing
Alex Simich is not the first east Auckland local to wonder why a seemingly flawless road in the community is being ripped up and...
Children’s burns camp makes a flying start
From those who were attending the Annual Children's Burn Camp for the sixth time to those who were a bit nervous as it was...
Narrow win to Pakuranga over Howick
The 2020 Golf Croquet Challenge between the two local club Patrons drew a wide community audience of around 70 people on 14 December cheering...
East Care overnight service critical for east Auckland
It was gutting to learn early last week that East Care has been forced into a position where they will be discontinuing their overnight...
Bring on the new year
It's nearly over this year of 2020.
What a year it has been and, certainly for us in Auckland, the second lockdown was really hard...
MPs fight to retain overnight medical service
East Auckland's two local MPs have launched a petition in an effort to keep East Care Accident and Medical's long-running overnight service operating.
Pakuranga MP...
MPs fighting to retain overnight medical service
East Auckland's two local MPs are urging Counties Manukau District Health Board to urgently reinstate funding for East Care Accident and Medical so it...
‘Thanks for your trust’
In my first official column in the Times as the new MP for Botany, let me firstly say a big thank you for putting...
Local MP ushers in spirit of Christmas
National MP for Pakuranga Simeon Brown hosted Christmas morning tea at Pakuranga Yacht Club to say thank you to a number of community stakeholders...
‘Our reserves are not for sale’
The fight to stop four east Auckland public reserves from being sold is drawing some heavyweight political support.
Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown and Botany MP...
Brown bolts home by huge margin in Pakuranga
Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown helped to keep east Auckland blue by easily winning re-election to Parliament at this year's general election.
The 29-year-old celebrated his...
Luxon, Brown win seats in night of big losses
What a night on the hustings. General Election 2020 saw National record its worst showing since 2002.
Labour recorded an historic win claiming 49.1 per...
