Mask Theatre

Simon O'Connor May 16, 2022 Share

I was struck by an article in Stuff recently talking about “hygiene theatre” in relation to covid and how the New Zealand parliament continues to have people moving around daily cleaning all the door handles, lift buttons, and so on.  I agree it is just theatre and unnecessary.

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Tamaki Newsletter– April 2022

Simon O'Connor April 15, 2022 Share

Can I begin by greeting all those in the Christian and Jewish communities, celebrating Easter and Passover respectively, my best wishes for the coming days.  These are significant celebrations for the year and they are important to acknowledge.

Since I last wrote, there have been more ram-raids, burglaries, and even another shooting in our electorate.   Frustratingly, government appears to be trying to downplay the situation both locally but also across the country.  Sitting in parliament over recent weeks, Minister after Minister – including the Prime Minster – have sought to explain away these crimes; telling us that gang tensions have not increased; and that everything is fine.

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Crime in Tamaki

Simon O'Connor April 14, 2022 Share

Over recent months, I have visited well over twenty of my retailers who have been the victims of ram raids, break-ins, and burglaries.  They are dairies, superettes, liquor stores, cafes, bars, and restaurants and all owned by hard working kiwis trying to do their best by family and their community.  In writing this, I should add that I haven’t been able to get to all affected businesses despite my best intentions – put simply, with the frequency and volume of these crimes, it would be impossible.  That in itself says something about the levels of crime developing not only in my electorate of Tamaki but also across Auckland.

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Tamaki Newsletter– March 2022

Simon O'Connor March 26, 2022 Share

Hello everyone,

It has been a little while since my last newsletter, mostly as there has been so much going on.  As I write, I am actually returning from a visit to Melbourne of all places.  Sadly, one of my Australian colleagues - Senator Kimberley Kitching - passed away recently, and so I flew across to attend her funeral.  She and I had worked closely together as part of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC).  I will touch on this a little later including my impressions of international travel once again.

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Tamaki Newsletter–2022

Simon O'Connor February 17, 2022 Share

Hello everyone,

2022 is well underway, and I can’t believe we are halfway through February already! I hope you had a good summer break and got to enjoy what was pretty good weather – although, as a gardener, I would have liked a little more rain. My family and I thoroughly enjoyed the Christmas and New Year break – it was a welcome chance to travel and visit our families who we hadn’t seen in a long time.

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Tamaki Newsletter–December 2021

Simon O'Connor December 16, 2021 Share

This final newsletter of the year is first and foremost a chance to say a big and heartfelt thank you to everyone for their support, advice, and feedback this year. It has been very much valued and appreciated, particularly in recent weeks with so much going on –  from within the National Party itself to how government policy is impacting the daily lives of constituents and Kiwis in general.

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Tamaki Newsletter–September 2021

Simon O'Connor September 27, 2021 Share

Hello everyone

I trust this email finds you all well, or as well as one can be during a lock down! I am conscious of the many stresses these lock downs and associated decisions have – whether you are a parent, a family unable to visit a loved one, an extrovert keen to get out, or a business owner watching your savings being eaten away. There will, of course, be a diverse range of experiences and emotions around all of this; do feel very free to drop me a line and let me know how you are getting on.

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Tamaki Newsletter–August 2021

Simon O'Connor August 25, 2021 Share

Hello everyone

As I begin writing this latest newsletter, we have begun another ‘Level Four’ lock down. While we here in Auckland have been used to various lock downs, we have only had a full, nationwide lock down once before – back in March 2020.

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Tamaki Newsletter—June 2021

Simon O'Connor June 23, 2021 Share

Hello everyone

We have just passed the shortest day of the year – and with that, we are going to be closer to spring that not. The seasons of politics continue, with a lot happening here in our electorate and in parliament. One particular highlight has been securing the funds to put CCTV cameras up on Achilles Point and at the St Heliers boat ramp. I will share a little more of this later in the newsletter.

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