Last week TRM were criticised on Facebook after supporting our MP, Louise Upston. In reply to the question of why we backed her, TRM commented: “I don’t care which party she is in – she has done more for our Taupo region over the last 15 years than anyone else. She is the only MP who understands our local issues.” Then, of course, others demanded what had she done to deserve such support. So hopefully this blog might indicate why…

I have been wondering how best to indicate and illustrate her commitment to Taupo region and to other Turangi projects. This is just one tiny example.

First photo above is our MP on the Pillars of Hercules Bridge in 2007 (!) inspecting the upper Tongariro River region. She was responding to a plea from “the Advocates for the Tongariro River” about their plans to develop a bike trail from Turangi up to the Poutu Dam to connect further with DOC managed trails linking the Pillars of Hercules and Urchins Camp to Tree Trunk Gorge. How many other MP’s could match that?

The next photos are from another raft trip down the Tongariro River dated August 2007 with the Advocates to inspect the proposed bike trail route following the Tongariro River.

I wonder, how many other MP’s would show that level of concern, to care enough in a local project to promote tourism and still support it 17 years later?