Personally, I’m looking forward to getting stuck in and continuing to be the voice of our region in Parliament. Like most of New Zealand, we have our fair share of issues, but the Western Bay of Plenty has so much potential.
In other news, congratulations to all the students at Katikati College who received awards at their senior academic prizegiving.
If you ever feel despondent about the future of the country or our local communities, I highly recommend going to a school prizegiving ceremony. You’ll be blown away by these talented, articulate and self-assured young Kiwis. They have a bright future ahead of them and I wish them all the best as they take on the life’s next challenges.
Finally, I just want to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and all the best over the holiday season. It’s been a long year, and I hope you get a chance to recharge and refresh with your loved ones.