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This Week’s Issue

Message from Hon Scott Simpson – MP For Coromandel

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July 15, 2025

Youth Parliament took place over several days at the beginning of July.

Mercury Bay Area School student Isabella White with Scott Simpson.

Over the last few weeks there have been a lot of government announcements regarding law and order, which confirm our commitment to making our communities safer and to restoring tougher consequences for crime.

We are creating a new offence for assaulting first responders, introducing a specific coward punch offence to ensure perpetrators receive tougher offences, and strengthening shoplifting charges to fight retail crime.

I’ve heard from too many people who don’t feel safe, have been assaulted, and from businesses who are sick and tired of petty crime which has a massive impact on their bottom line. These changes will help to make communities up and down the Coromandel Peninsula safer.

Assaulting first-responders, like our firefighters and paramedics, is a particularly appalling offence. These men and women rush into dangerous and confronting situation to provide urgent assistance, and they shouldn’t be subject to abuse while performing their duties.

National was elected on the promise to restore law and order and we’re making real progress. We’ve got more cops on the beat, gang patches are banned, and the Three Strikes legislation is back. There’s always more work to do, but these are positive steps and it’s a clear signal that we won’t be continuing the previous government’s soft on crime approach.

In other news, Youth Parliament took place over several days at the beginning of July and our electorate was well-represented by Mercury Bay Area School student Isabella White, who was my Youth MP.

This event draws together young New Zealanders from across the country to experience the daily life of a politician in Parliament. That mean’s sitting on select committees, networking with colleagues, and making speeches in the debating chamber.

Isabella delivered a particularly impassioned speech which received a standing ovation from her fellow Youth MPs. It was a standout moment during Youth Parliament which left many people talking about how to take more action and responsibility to halt sexual violence directed at women.

Well done Izzy, you’ve done us proud and you’ve got a big future ahead of you.