Scott Simpson Coromandel MP

High profile events like the Targa Rally coming to our part of the world last weekend, are not only fun for competitors and spectators alike, but they provide a valuable boost to our local economy too.

In what would have been an otherwise ‘off' weekend for Mercury Bay, having hundreds of extra visitors here for the weekend can only be a good thing for local businesses.

Dominated by Budget
Last week in Wellington was dominated by the Budget and impacts of the Budget. For Bill English it was his 6th Budget as Finance Minister and I was as pleased as he was when he announced a small but significant return to surplus. Having the Government books back in the black is important and something we can all be proud of as we have all participated in getting there as a nation.

Locking in the gains of a growing economy will continue to be the focus of John Key and National. Responsibly managing the Government's finances is something people keep telling me is important to them.

Over the past two years we've seen a $3,000 lift in the average wage. If New Zealand's economy continues to grow, the average wage is expected to increase by $7,500 to around $62,200 a year by 2018.

National will continue to keep government spending under control over coming years to prevent the Reserve Bank reacting by further tightening monetary policy and pushing up interest rates. By helping to restrict interest rate increases, we can make a significant contribution to family budgets.

15,000 fewer on benefits
I think Paula Bennett is doing a great job. Beneficiary numbers are now at the lowest level since March 2009. National's welfare reforms have helped get more people off a benefit and into work.

Latest benefit figures confirm New Zealand welfare numbers are back to where they were before the global recession. Over the past year benefit numbers have dropped five per cent – down nearly 15,000 to 295,320.

There are also 17,700 fewer children living in beneficiary households over the past year, and 29,500 fewer children than two years ago.

National is focused building a more competitive and productive economy, and we believe supporting people into work and independence is one of the best ways to do that.

This week I will be back in Parliament and MPs will be debating the Budget.

I will be back in the beautiful Coromandel on Thursday evening.