August E-letter
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Busy times
Hello everybody. And we thought winter was just about over! It’s been a busy two weeks with a number of legislature matters emerging including some of concern to the Waitaki.  There has also been the ongoing but very important Southern neurosurgery issue.  On top of this, last Monday I also managed to visit the northern half of our electorate.  On that trip I was briefly reminded as an MP of the need to double –check everything!

At Geraldine I parked at a school bus-stop in my “truck.”  I was sure I parked in the times permitted but when I emerged from a meeting I saw two school buses on the stop blocking my highly identifiable vehicle. For a brief moment all I could I see ahead was the next day’s newspaper front page pictures highlighting the moment.  Fortunately, my agony ended when a gentlemanly driver emerged to tell me he would ‘move his bus in two sec’s’ and to apologise for blocking my car. Hiding any hint of my concern I thanked him and told him to take his time.... in a voice a couple of notes higher than usual! 
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Fighting to keep our neurosurgery service
As most people will know I am fully behind the retention of neurosurgical services here in the South. In support of this what I have discovered are the recent heavy workloads of the Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust.   Last month the rescue trust experienced what was the busiest day in its 11-year history, when its’ helicopter conducted six rescue trips, over 1934km, including four to Wanaka, one to Dunstan Hospital and one to Ranfurly.

While none of the emergencies related to head injury the call-outs highlight show how essential it is for there to be access to health services to meet the ever-increasing needs of Otago and particularly, the Central Otago communities. When we have an emergency helicopter service making six rescue missions in one day, it sends a pretty clear message ours is a region that needs access to health services as close at hand as possible.

We have people living in these areas which at times can be quite isolated. We need to have health services in place to meet their demands and to do it in a time frame in which lives are saved – not lost.The majority of the rescue trust’s missions relate to accidents – that is the nature of the Central Otago region, with its adventure tourism, ski fields and challenging roads. In my opinion, this reinforces the need for neurosurgery services to remain in a centrally located position at Dunedin. A shift in neurosurgery services to Christchurch will likely jeopardise lives and disadvantage the people of this region.
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High Country leases
Last week I also sought reassurances from Agricultural Minister David Carter over the Government’s new system for setting rents for high country crown pastoral land leases. I did so as I wanted to know the new system would provide a fairer approach to high country pastoral leases. Mr Carter told me the new approach was not only fairer, but simpler to administer and would allow farmers to get on with the job of farming rather than fighting bureaucracy.

It would also mean farmers were not going to be charged extra just because their sheep had a view, which was indeed the cornerstone of the formula implemented by the last Labour Government.
The minister told me the new system will see rents based on the earning capacity of each farm, something that up until now has been ignored.
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Easter Shopping Bill
My Bill to liberalise Easter trading laws in the Waitaki electorate is to simply allow communities the freedom already enjoyed in both Queenstown and Taupo to open at Easter. Earlier this week my bill was drawn from the ballot at Parliament and already, and I must say, not unexpectedly, the retail workers’ union claim staff would be forced to work.  Nothing could be further from the truth. Staff will be given the choice to work.

Rather than being forced to do businesses, as the retail workers’ union suggests, retailers are looking forward to when they can legally allow shoppers to visit their premises and shop over Easter. I have the support of retailers from around the region who tell me that in this current economic environment the freedom to open at Easter is exactly what is needed. My bill is all about choice and meeting the needs of communities in my electorate.
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 Getting involved in your community
It’s local government election time and I urge all Waitaki residents to have their say by voting this October. I also support those standing to represent their communities but be quick as it’s only just over a week until registration closes.  And for those still undecided I say why not give it a go.
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Welcome visitor
Simon Bridges, MP for Tauranga will be in Oamaru on Friday, August 27 as guest speaker at a National Party Breakfast function, Kingsgate Brydone from 7.15 to 8.30am. The cost to attend including the hotel’s famous big ‘brekkie’ is $22 per person. Later at 10.00, Simon will address my Friday Forum in the Ink Box (a room), at the Oamaru Opera House.  If you would like to attend one, or both of these events please RSVP by August 25 to 03434-7325. Simon is deputy chair of the Justice and Electoral Committee, the Maori Affairs select committee and the Auckland Governance select committee. I’d love to see you there.
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Congratulations and Well Done to:

The Lake Tekapo Starlight Reserve team for their bid to get World Heritage recognition for the reserve. UNESCO is to now launch a study into the creation of the area as the world’s first night time starlight reserve.
Peg Borlase on achieving Emeritus status from the Oamaru Altrusa Club and District Fifteen NZ.
The team behind the Maniototo Curling international’s rink - five years old and still growing.

Diary:
Aug 13: Waimate/Timaru clinic
Aug 14: Lake Tekapo Footbridge fundraiser
Aug 17: Parliament
Aug 18: Parliament
Aug 19: Parliament
Aug 20: Southern Regional Conference, Dunedin

ends

Posted by admin in Newsletter at 13:32

Mainland conference draws nearer

The Mainland Regional Conference, May 21 – 23, is all set to go! Registration starts Friday at 5pm and this will be followed by an informal “Welcome to the Waitaki’ mix and mingle at the Brydone Hotel. Saturday kicks off between 9 and 10am with registration’s continuing followed by a welcome delivered by yours truly.  A full day’s work follows and concludes around 4.45pm. At 6pm the Prime Minister and President’s Cocktail party and Waitaki Fundraiser will be held at Smith’s Grain Store to be followed by dinner at the Opera House.

Sunday sees an early start with an Electorate’s Chair Breakfast at the Opera House while over the road at the Brydone Hotel is the BlueGreens breakfast. At 10am I will introduce the Prime Minister who will then address the conference. Later there will be a forum and just before noon the closing address. It’s going to be a ‘full-on’ but interesting and informative weekend.  I urge you to attend. Don’t forget you can get all the details you require from my electorate office at 42 Thames Street, Oamaru; phone 434 7325. For those who have already booked I look forward to seeing you there.

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Age Concern visitor service gets funding increase

The Government is supporting the expansion of Age Concern's Accredited Visiting Service, which will expand into all District Health Boards. The AVS is a service for older people, and has operated for over 20 years with the aim of improving the health of older people by reducing social isolation and loneliness. An extra $200,000 will see the service expand into Tairawhiti, Taranaki, West Coast, South Canterbury and Bay of Plenty District Health Board areas.

The AVS matches people over 65 and wanting a regular visitor with a trained volunteer to visit regularly. Having good social networks has been identified by older people themselves as one of the "Big 4" most serious issues facing them.

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New regulations to improve water management

The Government has approved regulations requiring all significant water takes to be metered as part of a wider programme to improve fresh water management. It is estimated right now only 31% of water taken nationally is metered but the regulations will ensure 92% coverage by 2012, 96% by 2014 and 98% by 2016. The Resource Management Act (Water Metering) regulations comes into effect on July 1 and requires; all water takes of more than 20 litres a second to be metered within two years (2012), water takes of more than 10 litres a second to be metered within four years (2014) and water takes of more than 5 litres a second to be metered within six years (2016). 

These regulations do not cover small takes for domestic use – 5 litres per second is the amount of water used by monitored households.  The regulations are the result of thorough consultation on a discussion document with irrigators, industry, councils, iwi and environmental organisations along with strong support from sector organisations of the need for a national approach and regulations. The Government has included pragmatic exemptions to ensure cost is only incurred where there are real benefits. These regulations are only the first step towards New Zealand’s fresh water management.

As a matter of interest Dr Nick Smith, will be addressing the forthcoming conference on this particular matter. 

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A plea to slow down around school buses

 A recent accident, involving a nine year-old Wanaka girl  being hit by a motorist, has highlighted an ongoing problem I’ve been following since a campaign was launched by Rural Women last year calling for wider driver awareness of the 20km/h speed limit when passing school buses. Too many young lives have been lost when crossing the road to and from school buses – especially in rural areas. In our electorate, there are huge numbers of children who rely on buses to get to and from school. Their safety is being compromised almost every day when motorists speed past stopped school buses and fail to slow down.

The statistics around this issue are sobering. Since 1987, 23 children had been killed; 47seriously injured and 92 had received minor injuries in this country when crossing a road to, or from, a school bus. These figures need to be improved and represent a great deal of pain and suffering for families around the country who have lost children. Please slow down when driving past a school bus.

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Budget 2010: Helping New Zealand families get ahead

It’s all but Budget time again but I can assure you this year’s Government expenditure has been designed to help New Zealanders and their families get ahead by focusing on four main goals. These include lifting the long-term performance of the economy, reforming the tax system, better delivery of public services, and maintaining firm control of the Government’s finances. We’ll continue to improve public services, funding them from cuts to low-quality spending and from the new operating allowance.

We will also live within the $1.1 billion operating allowance for new spending and will restrict annual increases from this figure to 2 per cent per year from next year. Even with this restraint, core Crown debt is forecast to triple to about $65 billion by 2014, as we borrow to fund the deficits. To turn this round, the Budget will redirect another $1.8 billion of lower quality spending between now and 2014 into high-priority areas, such as health care, education and law and order.

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Health: quit smoking incentives

Last week the Government increased the excise tax on cigarettes and tobacco. Smoking is the

leading cause of preventable death in New Zealand directly linked to almost 5000 deaths each year. Otago University research shows when cigarette prices rose steeply between 1995 and 2000, smoking fell. We are working to reduce smoking, discourage young people from starting to smoke, and improve the health of New Zealanders.

One of the six current health targets is to provide better help for smokers to quit. We fund the

Quitline free telephone support service, subsidise nicotine replacement therapy, Aukati kai paipa

face-to-face quit support services, and information campaigns to help people quit. Increasing the

cost of cigarettes, subsidising treatment and support, and providing good information all contribute

to reducing smoking.

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Congratulations and well done to:

Oamaru’s Andrew Kelly, newly crowned and deserved Junior World Lawn Bowls champion.

Waimate’s Dylan Kennett, for gaining selection on New Zealand's under 17 Cycling Team.

Oamaru business man Jeremy Holding for his New Zealander of the Year Local Hero Award.

East Otago High School for holding a gala that raised $5000 towards a minibus.

Diary

May 10 Wanaka Clinic

May 11 Oamaru Appointments

May 12 Lake Tekapo

May 13 St Bathans/Oteake

May 14 Wellington

May 16 Millers Flat

May 18 – 20 Parliament

May 21 - 23 Mainland Conference

Posted by admin in Newsletter at 14:46

From the Dean's Office is aimed at Waitaki residents and covers local issues as well as national politics. I welcome your feedback on the content and any issues you'd like covered.

Let’s keep them coming...
The past two weeks have seen a flurry of activity throughout the Waitaki. In and around Oamaru there was the Totara Estate Open Day attracting good numbers from near and far. There were also the brass band champs and the ever popular Ngapara Hill Climb rally. I also attended the McKenzie Show where I had the delightful task of judging the lamb competition complete with their young handlers. The following weekend, on the other side of the electorate, Wanaka’s Air Show drew over 80,000 to the area. During the three day show visitors in turn provided welcome cash influxes to rural centres en-route by stopping for a pie, coffee and accommodation. As such, the entire region enjoyed returns from that weekend.  
 
As our region continues to grow as an important tourist destination one or two matters of concern are coming to the national forefront.  Perhaps the major problem, one which drives residents mad, is the human waste left by some tourists and visitors who treat our great outdoors with indifference.  Lake Hawea residents and their Community Group have taken some action and I need to say I support them, as does DOC. Unfortunately the problem isn’t just confined to the lakes area. It’s a foul practise and rightly so is now a major concern. Later this week the group, myself and other parties will get together to discuss this problem. We’ll keep you advised.
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Sad moment
On a sad note I am fully aware of the recent tragedies which have affected a number of our families past two weeks. The loss of a young people is absolutely dreadful at any time but to lose a family member through an unlawful act or through road crashes, has to be more so. I extend my sincerest sympathy to the affected families and friends with the assurance that as their MP I will follow subsequent investigations and will help to implement any recommendations that may follow.
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Youth Parliament member named
Cromwell College student, Ella Borrie, will be this year’s Waitaki electorate Youth Parliament member. Ella’s selection followed her helping organise her school’s 40 Hour Famine and her interest in the parliamentary process. She also wanted to help make life better for people, something she thought politicians were also interested in doing.  
Ella will go to Wellington in July and there will get the opportunity to debate legislation with youthful peers from around New Zealand. During her week-long term she will also serve on select committees and will get to quiz cabinet ministers on matters of parliamentary concern.
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Crime statistics – talking points
The National-led Government’s priority placed on tackling drugs and violence has been reinforced by the latest Police crime statistics. The Police are to be congratulated for solving a record number of crimes in 2009. Much of the law and order legislation to tackle violent crime problems in particular came into force in December 2009 so would not have had a large impact on the statistics overall.

One of the biggest challenges this Government faces will be to unravel the damage done by years of Labour rule.  It will take time and a lot of hard work by a host of Government agencies, including Police. We have given Police more manpower, more tools, and more legislative authority to roll back the influence of criminals and keep communities safe. In 2009 Police solved more crimes than any year since electronic records began in 1978.

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Key Facts
Police resolved 14,199 more offences in 2009 (215,618) than in 2008 (201,419), to increase the national resolution rate from 46.7 percent to 47.8 percent – the highest since electronic records began in 1978. Total recorded crime per 10,000 people was lower in 2009 than it was a decade ago.

Violent offending rose 9.2 percent last year with all districts experience an increase. That rise was driven largely by recorded Family Violence, which increased 18.6 per cent (5,061 offences). Even though there were more murders in 2009 than 2008, across a 25-year period the trend is flat.  This is of course no comfort to those whose families and friends have died as a result of violent crimes. The resolution rate for violent crimes continues to rise and is now at 82.1 percent.

New Drug offender (including methamphetamines) increased by 19.9% in 2009.  This increase aligns with a greater focus on Methamphetamine. Sexual offending increased by 0.6 percent in 2009, lower than the increase in the New Zealand population in 2009 (1.1 percent). Although it makes up less than 1 percent of recorded crime, we know not all cases of sexual offending are reported and this is a concern to police. We urge victims of sexual offences to report offending to the police.
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Easter Trading
Easter Trading law anomalies came to the fore in Wanaka over Easter when businesses struggled with the restrictions that they faced. It’s been extremely frustrating for me to watch the Wanaka community trying to come to terms with the law as it stands. With tens of thousands of visitors in the area for Warbirds over Wanaka the anomalies have been further highlighted.
In the next few weeks I intend to make another attempt at change. I have gained caucus approval for a local bill directed specifically at the Queenstown Lakes district, aimed at correcting the anomalies in the Shop Trading Hours Act, where Queenstown has a general exemption to trade at Easter, but Wanaka does not.This latest attempt will focus specifically on the Wanaka area and I’m hopeful at last we’ll see the change this community has been asking for.
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Congratulations to:
Jim and Betty Calder of Oamaru on the occasion of their 60th Wedding Anniversary.
Mr Ron and Mrs Velma Willetts of Oamaru on their 60th Wedding Anniversary. 
North Otago rugby coach  Barry Matthews and his assistant Shane Carter on their appointments.
Oamaru’s Almost All NZ Books, named as best in Otago/Southland.

Diary:
April 12: Wanaka
April 13: Oamaru
April 14: Dunedin
April 15: Wanaka, Cromwell.
April 16: With MP Judith Collins and then Timaru
April 17: St John’s Dinner, Oamaru
April 20: Parliament, Wellington.

Posted by admin in Newsletter at 15:50

From the Dean's Office is aimed at Waitaki residents and covers local issues as well as national politics. I welcome your feedback on the content and any issues you'd like covered.

First up I'd like to offer my commiserations to those people affected by the recent fire at Ranfurly. Thank goodness no one was hurt. While the fire's effect will no doubt be felt for some time I know Ranfurly is a resilient community and will bounce back. Alexandra has also featured in the news with concerns over the future of its nationally renowned Blossom Festival. I'm pleased the community has rallied and has no intention of letting the festival fade into oblivion. Good on you folk, you have my full support in your endeavours. Finally, last weekend I was in the Wanaka district and attended the annual Upper Clutha A&P Show which I'm pleased to say was once again a top event. What is interesting about these shows is the support of people from around our region and further afield. Just like the Blossom Festival, and Ranfurly's Art Deco Weekend, you never know who you're going to meet up with at these distinctive community events. I find them an opportunity to hear 'just that little bit more' about issues affecting people, more so than one would normally hear through other means. Equally important is the chance to catch up with friends and hear their news. Long may such distinctive and 'home town grown' events continue.

News from the House:
Encouraging innovation in food
New Zealand's export base relies on our food and beverage industries. We want to encourage them to create more value from their products and boost our economy. Last week Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee announced we are too invest $21m to set up a network of open-access food development facilities around the country. Smaller businesses in the food industry need access to equipment that helps them develop, test, and prove new products, but it's often not economic for firms to build their own facilities. The Food Innovation Network will be collaboration with industry, research and education providers, and local government and it will help provide the facilities our food businesses need to grow.

Improving Crown Research Institutes
Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) can be powerful engines of growth so we want them to deliver greater benefits for New Zealand and get more research and knowledge into our businesses. Last week a taskforce on CRIs reported to the Government. It's been looking at how we can get more value out of the investment we make in scientific research. Towards this we'll be responding to the taskforce's report soon. In February Prime Minister Key announced science and innovation would be a priority for new government spending. We'll have more to say about that in the Budget.

Feeding the world - and tackling carbon emissions
The Government's Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Centre was last week officially opened in Palmerston North. The centre will work to find practical ways of helping Kiwi farmers and growers cut carbon emissions. It will make a big contribution to the New Zealand-led Global Research Alliance which is due to hold its first meeting in Wellington in April. New Zealand is a leader in agricultural science. Together with the centre and the Global Alliance we have a great opportunity to pool our expertise with other countries and help feed the world's growing population - while tackling carbon emissions.

Raising tertiary achievement
National is determined to address urgent problems in the tertiary sector and make sure students - and taxpayers - get more out of their tertiary education investment. There are more than 6000 different qualifications in New Zealand and in too many of these courses more than half the students drop out or fail. Meanwhile, many continue to rack up interest-free loans for courses they can't or won't pass. That is why Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce has spelt out the Government's priorities for the sector. We want to improve the relevance of qualifications, improve course completion rates and link student loans with academic progress.

Congratulations to:
Mrs Norma Porter of Alexandra on her 101st Birthday on the 8 March 2010.
Mr Robbie and Mrs Pam McKean Golden of Palmerston on their 50th Wedding Anniversary on the 12 March 2010.
Mr Alan and Mrs Edna Kippenberger-Briggs of Oamaru on their Diamond 60th Wedding Anniversary, 25 Feb 2010.
Mr Ron and Mrs Velma Willetts, of Oamaru, on their upcoming Diamond 60th Wedding anniversary on the 8 April 2010.

Calendar:
March 16 to 18: Parliament.
March 23 to 25: Parliament.
March 26: Palmerston.
March 28: Oamaru for Totara Estate Open Day and Otago Brass Band Association function.

Posted by admin in Newsletter at 14:05

From the Dean's Office is aimed at Waitaki residents and covers local issues as well as national politics. I welcome your feedback on the content and any issues you'd like covered.

Welcome to the New Year everybody and I hope you all managed to get a break.

For me it's back to work 'in at the deep end 'with much happening. On Sunday I met up with the Minister of Agriculture, David Carter and together with Associate Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson travelled the Omarama, Twizel and Tekapo district meeting and talking with residents and members of the farming community.

I have been asked on an increasing number of occasions lately for my view of the proposed large scale dairy farming operations in the Omarama/Ohau area. What I want to see is a robust consent process during which all those involved get to have their say.

I also want to see that process carried out in a timely, cost effective and robust manner. And as you are all now probably aware, our high country water quality and allocation, remains a major priority for me.

I'm away at the end of this month to Westminster, London and Dublin. I am attending an International Parliamentary Conference on Peacekeeping: Tackling State Fragility from January 31 to February 6. The course is relevant to the work I do on the Foreign Affairs committee including our special relationships with the Pacific Islands. It is full on and starts the day I arrive.

Funding boost for Waitaki electorate councils

Last week councils throughout our electorate received their first waste levy fund payments collected under the Waste Minimisation Act. The levy money has been distributed to councils to support work to reduce, reuse and recycle waste to reduce environmental harm and ensure resources are used more efficiently.

Waitaki District Council received $15,275, Queenstown Lakes District Council $17,339, Central Otago District Council $12,574, Mackenzie District Council $2873, and Waimate District council $5443.

The Waste Minimisation Act discourages waste disposal by imposing a levy of $10 per tonne of waste on facilities such as landfills. Half of the money is allocated to councils on a population basis to spend on minimising waste in their area and the remaining levy money, minus administration costs, is available for waste projects and education through the Waste Minimisation Fund.

I want to encourage Fund applications from those in the community who deliver waste minimisation education, have new ideas to reduce waste and those wanting to expand the scope of existing waste reduction operations.

Information about the fund is available on the Environment Ministry's website and applications close on March 1. Levy funding is quarterly and councils can use the funds in accordance with their locally developed waste management and minimisation plans.

New Three Strikes policy

National and Act have agreed on law changes that ensure the country's worst repeat violent offenders will receive the maximum allowable sentence for their crimes. The new sentencing regime in our Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill includes a "three-strike" policy.

This will target repeat violent offenders who show continued disregard for the law. The first offence will bring a standard sentence and warning. The second offence will bring a jail sentence, in most cases, with no parole and a further warning.

The third offence will result in the offender being given the maximum sentence in jail for the crime, with no parole. The new regime will help keep the worst repeat offenders behind bars for longer. It will also deter criminals from committing further crime by escalating the severity of their sentences.

We in Government are determined to make our communities safer for Kiwi families. We are determined to reduce the number of crime victims. And we are determined to make life tougher for violent criminals. The Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill is an important step towards that goal.

Showing off our beautiful high country

One pleasing task last Saturday was to show Associate Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson, the magnificent area we live in, something I’m always happy to do.

Congratulations and Well Done:
Oamaru's Ida Langley on the occasion of her 101st birthday.
Moeraki's Search and rescue stalwart John McLellan for a well-earned QSM.
Former WBHS pupil and later Antarctic conservator, David Harrowfield, for the award of a deserved Polar Medal.

This week:
Jan 26: Electorate office and meetings.
Jan 27: Parliament.
Jan 28: Parliament.
Jan 29: Parliament.
Jan 30 - to Feb 8: Attending course.

Posted by Staff in Newsletter at 10:13