# MP Profile: Sam Uffindell (National)

**Party:** New Zealand National Party
**Electorate:** Tauranga
**Parliament URL:** https://www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/members-of-parliament/uffindell-sam/ _(Radware-blocked — inaccessible via automated scraping)_
**Current Roles:**

- Chair, Health Select Committee
- National MP, Tauranga

**Relevance to Seniors:** 🟡 **MEDIUM** — _Chair of the Health Select Committee — the committee scrutinises all health legislation including aged care, dementia services, hospital care, and primary care for older New Zealanders._

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## Public Background

Sam Uffindell was elected as the MP for Tauranga in a 2022 by-election and re-elected in 2023. He has a background in business and farming — he worked as an agribusiness manager and farm consultant before entering Parliament. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce in agribusiness. As Chair of the Health Select Committee, he presides over the committee's examination of health legislation, annual reviews of health entities (Health NZ, Pharmac, Ministry of Health), and inquiries into health issues including aged care and dementia services. Tauranga (Bay of Plenty) has one of the highest proportions of over-65 residents in New Zealand (over 25%), making aged care and health services for seniors the dominant local issues in his electorate.

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## Public Positions Relevant to Older New Zealanders

| Policy Area                           | Stated Position / Activity                                                                                                                      |
| ------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Health Select Committee Oversight** | As Chair, oversees scrutiny of government health policy including aged care funding, dementia services, hospital wait times for older patients. |
| **Aged Care Funding Scrutiny**        | Committee annual reviews of Health NZ — aged care funding, bed subsidy rates, and provider viability.                                           |
| **Dementia Services Inquiry**         | Committee has the power to conduct inquiries into dementia care capacity and quality.                                                           |
| **Health Workforce (Aged Care)**      | Committee scrutiny of health workforce planning — aged care nursing workforce shortages.                                                        |
| **Hospital Care for Older Patients**  | Oversight of hospital services for older people — ED wait times, elective surgery waiting lists, discharge planning.                            |
| **Primary Care for Seniors**          | Committee examination of primary care funding — capitation rates, GP access, and community health services for older patients.                  |
| **Pharmac Oversight**                 | Committee scrutiny of Pharmac — medicine access for older patients.                                                                             |
| **Tauranga Seniors Health**           | Local advocacy for aged care and hospital services in Tauranga — a rapidly growing retirement destination.                                      |
| **End-of-Life Choice Act**            | Committee consideration of End of Life Choice Act implementation — palliative care and assisted dying services.                                 |

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## Voting & Bill Relevance

- **Health Funding (Budget) Bills:** Budget scrutiny — aged care, hospital, and primary care funding for seniors.
- **Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Amendment Bills:** Health system legislation — committee scrutiny under Uffindell's chairmanship.
- **Therapeutic Products Act:** Medicine and medical device regulation affecting older patients.
- **Pharmac Funding Bills:** Medicine access for older people.
- **End of Life Choice Act (Implementation):** Ongoing committee oversight.
- **Smoke-free Environments Act:** Tobacco regulation affecting older smokers.

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## Business Implications

- **Aged Care Providers:** Committee scrutiny of aged care funding and regulation affects business environment.
- **Pharmaceutical Companies:** Pharmac decisions and medicine access under committee oversight.
- **Private Hospitals:** Elective surgery contracts and waiting list management.
- **Primary Care / GP Practices:** Capitation funding and practice viability.
- **Dementia Care Operators:** Specialist dementia unit funding and regulation.
- **Bay of Plenty Health Providers:** Local health services in Uffindell's electorate.

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## Campaign Relevance

- **Tauranga Electorate:** Safe National seat but with the highest proportion of over-65s in any NZ electorate. Health and aged care are the dominant local issues.
- **Retirement Destination:** Tauranga/Mount Maunganui is a major retirement destination — seniors politics is central to every election.
- **Select Committee Chair:** Health Chair role gives Uffindell a high-profile parliamentary position — seen as a future ministerial prospect.
- **Local Health Campaign:** Uffindell can campaign on local health service improvements and aged care funding.
- **2026 Election:** Health funding, aged care, and hospital services in Tauranga will be key campaign issues.

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## Source List

- Parliament.nz — MP profile, Health Committee page _(Radware-blocked)_
- Beehive.govt.nz — Health portfolio announcements
- Health Select Committee — Reports, annual reviews, inquiry reports
- Health NZ / Ministry of Health — Health data, aged care funding
- New Zealand National Party — Health policy
- Official Hansard — Health Committee debates, Question Time
- Bay of Plenty Times, NZ Herald — Tauranga health issues coverage

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_Profile last updated: June 2026_