Did you know Tama Potaka has been the Hamilton West MP for 100 days now?
Once elected, Tama Potaka was quickly confronted with the “wettest day on record” in his former home town and a deadly cyclone that saw the sitting of Parliament, and his maiden speech, postponed.
Quickly given responsibility in the National caucus in the form of the Māori development portfolio and associate housing, Potaka says he has enjoyed his first few months in the house but that “decision-making takes longer.”
Used to the celerity of business, he said that setting up his parliamentary and electorate offices and hiring staffers has consumed some of his time thus far and as a first-time politician, he was getting used to it.
“It’s harder than I thought it would be.
Poll: Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?
As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙
One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.
So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?
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59.3% Yes, supporting people is important!
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26.2% No, individuals should take responsibility
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14.5% ... It is complicated
Derelict Tokanui Hospital site in line for a clean-up
Derelict Tokanui Hospital buildings will be demolished and contaminated land cleaned up so the site can be offered back to iwi.
The former psychiatric hospital, southeast of Te Awamutu, sits on land taken from Ngāti Maniapoto under the Public Works Act in 1910.
Poll: Are you a Te Huia fan?
All three Hamilton MPs appear to be united behind the retention of the Te Huia passenger rail service between Hamilton and Auckland, as well as potentially expanding it to Tauranga.
But whether Hamilton East’s Ryan Hamilton, Hamilton West’s Tama Potaka and soon-to-be Labour list MP Georgie Dansey have the combined power to shunt transport minister Chris Bishop and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon onto their line of thinking remains to be seen.
Are you a Te Huia fan? Tell us more in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).
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81.6% Yes
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18.4% No
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