I feel passionately connected to Tauranga and its people. As a local for the past 16 years, I am acutely aware of the challenges the city faces over the coming years as it continues to grow. But I also know that there are so many opportunities for Tauranga to prosper now and into the future.

I have spent most of my working life as a teacher. Immediately before becoming an MP in 2017, I was the principal of Merivale School. After seeing families struggling in my local community, I worked to support them to access everything they needed to thrive.

I got involved in politics because I believe that the Government has a role to play in ensuring all New Zealanders have access to the services they need.

I have had the privilege of being the Minister of Education, Women and Child Poverty Reduction during the 53rd Parliament.

Latest news and updates:

• Govt health and safety changes put workers at risk – These changes are reckless and completely out of step with what business and labour experts want to see.
  
  
• Cuts to school bus routes put Northland kids at risk – The Government is putting cost-cutting ahead of kids’ safety with its decision to cut rural school bus routes in Northland.
  
  
• Seymour’s school lunch cuts already failing kids – It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging.
  
  
• Standardised testing will not improve education – National Standards have failed students before, going back to standardised testing is taking us down the same path.
  
  
• Ideological charter schools won’t increase achievement – The Government bringing back 50 charter schools will not increase achievement and is a distraction from the core mission of the education system.
  
  
• Women don’t need a voluntary calculator to know there’s a pay gap – The Government has reportedly scrapped a policy that would have gone far to fix gender and ethnic pay gaps and instead is implementing a watered-down voluntary system.