Simon Bridges National MP simonbridges.co.nz

With Parliament in recess, I spent most of this week in Tauranga meeting with constituents, dealing with local issues and speaking with community groups. I also travelled to New Plymouth to visit Port Taranaki, and Venture Taranaki; the region's economic development agency.

On Thursday I was on the West Coast for the opening of the Amethyst Hydro Generation Scheme. The new station will produce 45 GWh of energy per annum, significantly reducing losses in transporting electricity to the West Coast and improving security of supply. I also had a tour of the Birchfield Coal Mines operations just outside of Reefton. Birchfield has been operating since 1984, extracting and processing 500,000 tonnes of coal a year for the domestic market.

Kiwis better off in work under National

Before National came to power, our welfare system simply expanded to meet demand, without investing in support to get people into work, or preventing long-term benefit dependency.

We didn't think that was good enough. After comprehensive changes, through our welfare reforms, an average of 1500 people are moving off welfare and into work each week.

Being off welfare and in work means a better life, better opportunities, and a brighter future for people and their families.

The welfare system will always be there to support people who genuinely need it. But we believe long-term welfare dependency can become a trap, leading to a life of limited choice and limited outcomes.

We're helping people into work with subsidies for childcare and training, workplace support, and access to health and disability support services.

It can be daunting to move off a benefit, and it can be tough putting yourself out there for different jobs.

But when someone offers you a job, it's a great confidence boost. And going to work brings a sense of pride and independence.

It also creates a positive picture for children of what their future could be – going to work and earning money.

National believes people in employment can gain more skills, higher wages, and a better lifestyle. This also contributes to building a more competitive and productive economy for New Zealand – one of our priorities this term.