Dear John,


February 2026

 

Welcome to my February newsletter!

I hope you all had a relaxing break over Christmas, despite the unpredictable weather. It’s always good to take time to recharge before the year ahead.

As you may know, the Prime Minister has announced Election Day for Saturday, 7 November, but there’s plenty of work to do before then. Our focus remains firmly on delivering for all New Zealanders, and for me personally, my focus continues to be on Ilam.


Congratulations to Our Local Honours Recipients!

A huge congratulations to four Ilam residents who were honoured in this year's New Year’s Royal Honours:

* Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit: Mr Paul Wright for services to the Real Estate industry and philanthropy

* Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit:

* Dr Robyn Dynes for services to agricultural science

* Mr Andrew Pokaia for services to Māori and education

* Dr Audrey Tan for services to mathematics education

I’ve reached out to each of them personally to thank them for their ongoing contributions to the community and to New Zealand. If you know someone deserving of a Royal Honour, feel free to pop into my office or visit the DPMC nomination page [link removed] for more details.


Community Concerns: Withells Rd / Yaldhurst Rd Intersection

I’ve received feedback about the busy Withells Road/Yaldhurst Road intersection. Unlike most roads, which are overseen by the Council, Yaldhurst Road is part of the NZTA network. I’ve reached out to them for an update and will be connecting with locals in the area. If you have any thoughts on safety and traffic flow, I’d love to hear from you!

Your feedback is always valuable to me, whether it’s through emails, in person, or at community events.


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January Highlights


January has been a busy month, and I hit the ground running (quite literally!) with the Long Run. I ran 10kms and volunteered at the registration tent. This event, organised by the Crusaders, raises vital funds for the Child Cancer Foundation, and it was fantastic to see so many in the community supporting such a great cause which raised $261.000








I was also pleased to again host the National Party Caucus here in Ilam. We were shown around the One Stadium by Mayor Phil Mauger, and what an exciting asset it will be for our city! Later, I had the pleasure of hosting Minister Erica Stanford in the electorate. We had a great turnout and some fantastic discussions.





Another highlight was attending the Saraswati Festival, a beautiful celebration of knowledge, music, art, and culture, filled with wonderful performances and delicious food.

If you’d like me to visit your event or group, please feel free to reach out to Larissa at [email protected].


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What’s Coming Up in February


There’s so much on the horizon for February, and I’m excited to be involved in several events that bring our community together. Here’s some of them:

* Buskers Festival - Can’t wait to enjoy the lively performances!

* Charity T20 Cricket Match - Playing alongside the Prime Minister to raise funds for Betterman Mental Health.

* Kai Connect - Helping distribute food boxes to families in need in Papanui.

* Wai-ora Trust Fruit Harvesting - Supporting this wonderful community initiative.

* Enatel’s New Building Opening - fork lift charger manufacturers and exporters. I’m looking forward to celebrating their growth.

* Community Breakfast at New Generation Church - A great way to start the day with local residents.

* MP @ Your Local - Join me for a chat at Harewood Tavern, 13th February, 3:30–4:30 pm.

* ‘Unearthed Project’ - I’ll be visiting Cathedral Square to learn more about this fascinating archaeological project. Cathedral Square Unearthed Exhibition : Christchurch City Council [link removed]

* Kai Ora Bryndwr - Helping out at the community BBQ.

* Lunar New Year Celebrations - Participating in a range of New Year events.

* Retirement Home Visits - Spending time with residents at Bellevue

* Avonhead Earthquake Memorial Service - Honouring those affected.

* Avonhead/Russley Community Expo - Come and see our marquee at this great local event.

* Vege Co-op - Assisting with packing fresh fruit and veges for our community in Bryndwr.

* Collecting for the Heart Foundation - at Woolworths Airport February 27 from 9 am.

* Hornby High Solar Project - Excited to be a guest speaker at the opening event.

* Bishopdale Club Breakfast - Serving breakfast at this wonderful local event.


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Here are some February events in the electorate that may interest you:

Open-Air Summer Shakespeare | Mona Vale : Christchurch City Council [link removed]

Waitangi Day at Kate Sheppard House : Christchurch City Council [link removed]

Friends of Crosbie Park Streamside Working Bees : Christchurch City Council [link removed]

A New Latitude: An Antarctic Love Story : Christchurch City Council [link removed]


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University Students


Canterbury University is ranked 261st in the QS World University Rankings, 2026 and, as of late 2025, has experienced record-breaking enrolment growth, with over 26,000 students.

We welcome our University of Canterbury Students back to the Ilam electorate this month. They always add energy, colour and interest to the electorate. Orientation functions start 12 February with lectures starting 16th. Look out for the annual Toga Party!

As the local MP I enjoy working closely with the university and seldom hear of any issues, but if you do - then contact:

Christchurch City Council Noise Control: 03 941 8999. Excessive noise (parties, music) any time of day, officers are available 24/7 to assess the noise and can issue directions to reduce it.

Police (Non-Emergency): call 105. For noise with anti-social behaviour, threats, or violence

UC Student Care: 3 369 3388. For ongoing, non-emergency concerns about student behaviour,

UC Security: 0800 823 637. For security-related issues on or immediately around campus,


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Government’s key announcements


Our children are back at school. Education is a core priority for National, and our reforms are delivering transformational results for students. We’ve mandated an hour a day of reading, writing and maths, banned cell phones in schools, and boosted learning support. 

The results are showing. 58 % of new entrants are meeting or exceeding expectations in early reading skills, up from 36 % and in a new maths trial kids made 12 months progress in just 12 weeks.

From February 1 more New Zealanders with ADHD will have faster access to support as a result of changes to who can assess, diagnose, and start ADHD treatment

Changes to ADHD prescribing rules from 1 February 2026 | Ministry of Health NZ [link removed]


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Please Share the News!


Feel free to share this email with friends and family who might like to stay in touch and connected with the community.

My Ilam office is in the Fendalton Village (cnr Ilam and Clyde Rds) and is open Mon-Fri from 9am – 3pm. You are welcome to pop in.

To make an appointment to meet me, call Leanne 03 3593665 or email [email protected]

Thank you for staying engaged and for continuing to share your views. I always welcome your feedback, whether in person, by email, or at community events.





Kind regards



Hamish Campbell

[link removed]

[link removed]

www.national.org.nz [link removed]

41 Pipitea Street
Thorndon, Wellington 6011
New Zealand

Authorised by Hamish Campbell, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

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