Jan Tinetti Labour MP

We're past halfway in the year now, and temperatures here in Tauranga have certainly dropped.

At this time of the year people always mention to me how grateful they are for the government's Winter Energy Payment to help meet the costs of heating their homes over the winter months. A warm home is essential for the health and wellbeing of everyone.

I was pleased to see that on July 1, another suite of changes took effect that will make a real difference for Kiwi families.

The government is working to lift children out of poverty by putting more money into the pockets of families, with main benefits increasing by $20 per week, helping people put food on the table and buy other essentials like warm clothing.

We're making sure everyone has a warm, dry place to call home. From July, all private rental properties must meet our Healthy Homes Standards within a few months of any new tenancy, to ensure they're safe and dry for tenants.

Plus we're making it cheaper to buy electric cars so we can reduce our carbon footprint via our Clean Car Discount, meaning New Zealanders choosing to purchase an electric or plug-in hybrid car can save up to $8625.

These are just some of the changes that came into effect on July 1, and they're only part of the government's ongoing work to secure our recovery. I'm proud to be part of a team making sure that as we recover, we're also tackling long-term challenges.