Jacqui Dean MP - Newsletter

August E-letter

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:32:31 +1200

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

E-letter May 1st

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 14 May 2010 14:46:30 +1200

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

From the Dean's Office - April 12

nospam@example.com (admin) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:50:13 +1200

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.

From the Dean's Office - March 17th

nospam@example.com (admin) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:05:55 +1300

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.

From the Dean's Office - January 26th 2010

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:13:00 +1300

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.

From the Dean's Office - December 21st 2009

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:14:00 +1300

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.

Conservation at work

A memorable event for me recently was being present for the release of endangered fish species into a Waitaki river. Clean, fresh water and conservation are two interlinked issues close to my heart and to see the introduction of native lowland long-jawed galaxias into one of our local waterways was uplifting.

These small freshwater fish are on the highly critical endangered list, right up there with the more easily recognisable and widely known kakapo. Initially, the galaxias return to our waterways as one of that variety of juvenile, freshwater fish we know as whitebait. Those lucky enough to escape the nets and equally, the ravages of nature, live their lives in mid-level river and stream flows. Their numbers however, are dwindling drastically.

On Monday I attended the Department of Conservation organised release of 60 of these species into the Waianakarua River and came away feeling really pleased. Pleased they were being released in an ideal location, pleased they were getting a chance to live in clean water and pleased they were being given that chance at survival here in the Waitaki.

Just two weeks earlier and following a small ceremony 12 Otago skinks were also re-housed, introduced this time to the Mokomoko Dryland Sanctuary in the Alexandra basin. I'm proud to represent an electorate recognised as a haven for such important conservation matters.

Recession over

More good news is that we are now officially out of the recession. While Government spending will still need to be restrained for some time yet, it's good to know from here on in we can all start to make up some of those past financial losses while moving forwards.

That this news has come just prior to Christmas is an added bonus and should provide consumers with the confidence our retailers and the holiday and tourist market is seeking.

Easter Shopping - Not Giving Up

I'm not giving up on the Easter Trading issue so have introduced another Bill designed to allow shopping in the Queenstown Lakes area at Easter. I realise in order to do so we will have to change some entrenched viewpoints but as they say - nothing ventured - nothing gained. I've discussed the matter with caucus and have their backing but I'm not sure we will be able to do anything in time for this coming Easter's Warbirds over Wanaka with that event's thousands of viewers and fans.

Helping prevent child abuse

We are continuing to take action on preventing child abuse. Vulnerable young babies and toddlers are at greatest risk of abuse, as they are completely dependent on the adults who care for them. Our statistics must change.

Towards this the "Never, Ever Shake a Baby" campaign, launched on December 6, is part of a wider programme to protect young children. A multi-media campaign will highlight the need for awareness about the vulnerability of young children while making sure every New Zealander understands why you must never, ever shake a baby.

We all need to take a stand on this issue, and look out for the children who can't look out for themselves.

Time for a break

2009 has been a long and sometimes difficult year for many but hopefully it's now behind us I want to wish you all a merry and festive Christmas and a Happy New Year and I'll be in touch with you all again in January.

Kind regards,
Jacqui.

From the Dean's Office - December 9th 2009

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 10:07:00 +1300

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.

Bluegreen Forum

A highlight this past fortnight was the Blue Greens Forum held at Totara School. The event was attended by Minister for the Environment Dr Nick Smith who addressed the 75 people in attendance for nearly an hour on aspects of the Emissions Trading Scheme. Other speakers included Alan McLay who spoke on irrigation, Dunedin MP Michael Woodhouse, together with a number of district and regional council representatives.

Following morning tea a public 'Soapbox' allowed a number of local and not so local people to address the forum on environmental matters of concern to them and to pass on their solutions. The 'Soapbox' proved highly popular especially when Nick Smith told the speakers he was happy to take their ideas back to caucus.

The forum concluded with a presentation on waste minimisation by Totara School pupils and a visit by Waitaki District Council's waste minimisation mascot, a blue penguin known as 'Mini-Miser. The forum proved a very constructive exercise and provided an indicator, that here in the Waitaki, many of us are looking to cleaning up our past wasteful ways.

Faster, cheaper building consents soon

In less than two months time volume builders and suppliers of kitset homes, standardised buildings and garages will benefit from the National Multiple-Use Approval service, a process designed to fast track building consent process and to reduce delays and costs.

Having designs pre-approved for Building Code compliance will provide builders with a streamline consenting process and will give them a marketing edge in these challenging economic times. As well as this new service a review of the Building Act 2004 is also underway. The introduction of this service will fulfil our promise to cut red tape and reduce compliance costs in the building sector.

Summer scholarships

National's $5000 summer research scholarship scheme has been a huge success. 1600 positions have been taken up at universities throughout the country allowing students to undertake study in their chosen field while also earning money of their summer break.

We set aside $4 million in this year's budget to fund this initiative, which came out of the Prime Minister's job summit earlier this year, and universities have matched our investment dollar for dollar. We know this kind of partnership is exactly what the country needs to grow our future knowledge base.

New Website

The National Party has launched a new website profiling its MPs. It can be found at www.nationalmps.co.nz. Here you can access the latest National MP news, video updates, an MPs blog and it also provides the opportunity for you to give us feedback on how the Government is doing and I would encourage you to use this facility.

Tackling Boy Racers

At midnight on Monday, two new street racing laws came into effect. These give police, the courts, and councils new tools to crack down on boy racers. They allow repeated "cruising" of city streets to be banned by bylaws and introduce demerit points for noise offences. And they give the police new powers to impound, seize, sell, or crush the cars of repeat street-racing offenders.

These new laws send the strong message we won't tolerate dangerous, disruptive, and anti-social behaviour on our streets. They are part of our focus on making our communities safer for families.

Congratulations to:

Herbert citizens for the first class renewal of their First World War memorial.
Upper Clutha Tracks Trust and DOC for starting work on the Lake to Coast trail.
Stan and Nancy Amies, 7 Stirling Street, Oamaru, on their Diamond Anniversary.
Twizel's Gemma Westgarth - this year's telephone book cover art award winner.
Oamaru coaches of the year; Shaun Cunningham, Kaleisha Jones and Phil Collings.
Don and Daphne Louden, 12 Clare Street Oamaru North on their Diamond Anniversary.

Dates to Diary:

Dec 8-10 - Parliament.
Dec 11 - Palmerston and Dunedin (clinic and meetings).
Dec 14 - Release of native long-jawed galaxies into Waianakarua River.
Dec 15-17 - Parliament.
Dec 18 - Timaru and Waimate Clinic.

From the Dean's Office - November 24th 2009

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:42:00 +1300

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.

Twelve months of achievement

This fortnight's e-letter marks an extra-special occasion - our first 12 months as Government. In that short period we've worked hard to honour our promises as well as competently handle the financial recession we found ourselves in when we took over. I feel proud of what we've done.

Let me go over the key achievements:

We introduced a ReStart package to provide financial support to more than 5000-Kiwi families hit hard by redundancy.
We held a Job Summit to generate ideas for keeping Kiwis in work and providing new job opportunities including the national cycleway and the Government's Job Support Scheme - the 9-day fortnight - which has built confidence in Kiwi businesses and assisted more than 3500 workers.
We fast-tracked $500 million of infrastructure spending to boost jobs.
We delivered a $500 million relief package to make life simpler for small business.

We stopped the ballooning of the bureaucracy by capping numbers of government workers in the core bureaucracy.
We passed a Budget with the biggest health and education votes in New Zealand's history; a Budget that gave people security during the recession by maintaining benefits and Working for Families payments and a Budget that locked in superannuation payments at a rate based on 66% of the after-tax average wage.
In that same Budget we took steps to bring Government spending under control and prevent future generations being weighed down by a large debt burden.

We also included in that Budget $7.5 billion worth of infrastructure investment over the next five years, to ensure New Zealanders can look forward to world-class roads and transport networks, an ultra-fast broadband network, 21st century schools and state housing that is fit for purpose.
We launched "Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart", a four year campaign to help fund the insulation of 180,000 Kiwi homes.
We delivered $1 billion of tax cuts to 1.5 million tax payers. We also made the decision to defer future tax-cuts until Government books are in a better position.
We passed much-needed legislation to simplify the Resource Management Act.

We launched major reviews to examine and improve the building blocks of our economy including reviews of our health system, electricity system, overseas investment regime and emissions trading scheme.
We created up to 16,900 extra work, education and training opportunities for young people who may have found themselves hit hard by a growing unemployment rate.
We opened up New Zealand exporters' access to world-markets, signing Free Trade Agreements with Malaysia and the 10 countries of the ASEAN block; free trade negotiations with Hong Kong and Gulf Cooperation Council economies and have progressed negotiations with other countries including the United States.
We helped strengthen the agricultural backbone of this country by investing $190 million in the Primary Growth Partnership to boost research and innovation in agriculture, seafood, forestry and food, as well as launching and gathering international support for a Global Alliance to conduct research into ways of reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.

I think we've done pretty well inside the first 12 months and feedback from the people we serve tells us they're happy with the results as well. Here's looking towards the next two years.

Busy week

It's been a busy week on the east coast of the electorate. After finishing at Parliament on Thursday I attended the Southern Regional Party Conference in Dunedin. Prime Minister John Key and National Party president Peter Goodfellow also in attendance so it was good opportunity for National Party supporters to meet and talk with the leaders from both sides of the Party. No doubt many of you will hear more of what was discussed at your particular party meetings.

I got back to Oamaru on Friday afternoon to watch the recreation of a 1901 rugby game between past and present members of the Excelsior and Athletic rugby clubs. Appropriately the game was played at Takaro Park next to the hospital but I'm pleased to say their first aid services weren't needed.

Following the game I was then asked to announce North Otago rugby's hosting of a Golden Oldies rugby festival to coincide with the 2011 Rugby World cup's southern games. Already 35 national and international teams have registered to stay and play in Oamaru so even though the event is still two years away it will be a momentous event for the district.

On Saturday I attended Waimate's annual A&P Show and on Sunday I was back in Oamaru at the Victorian Fete.

Easter trading

The Easter Trading issue is coming up again before Parliament. The private Bill is Rotorua MP Todd McClay, (who recently visited Wanaka) who has been working with me on the Easter Trading issue. For me the introduction of the Bill, which will offer district council's the choice to allow shops to open on Easter Sunday, could not have been timed better.

Currently, the law creates inequalities. Queenstown is able to open on Easter Sunday but Wanaka is not. This bill addresses these inequalities and creates a more level playing field. It will also provide choice to workers, shopkeepers and shoppers alike. It doesn't force anyone to do anything that they don't want to on Easter Sunday On saying that however, I acknowledge there's still a lot of work ahead.

A wee bit of humour - the importance of having one's glasses handy

As an aside, I very recently was looking at a government paper at a parliamentary committee relating to search warrants. I read it through and saw the words 'serve and execute of which I thought, "Heck, that's a bit tough." Hackles raised I decided to read the sub-para again, this time with glasses on and quickly calmed myself down when I saw it read, 'serve, execute and detain!' Faux pas prevented!

Comfort Food

I can also report that whenever I'm on duty at Parliament and am required to have meal I can order Aoraki Salmon. The dish has been introduced to the house duty menu. Besides being a supporter of local produce it's also nice as its associated with home.

Visit to Geraldine

I will be in Geraldine on this November 30 for a National Party meeting commencing at 6pm. The venue will be Verde Cafedeli, 45c Talbot St, Geraldine which is situated behind the old post office. After, from 6.30 - 8.00pm there will be finger food and cash bar. $8.00 per person. Come along and catch up with your MP. Phone to RSVP by November 27, to Mike McKeown ph 03 692-2813 or my office 0800 6792-48254 or 03 434-7325. All are welcome and I'd love to meet up with you.

National Bluegreen forum

This Saturday, Environment Minister Nick Smith. is to address members and interested people on local environmental issues as well as good environmental practice at Totara Hall, SH1, just south of Oamaru at Totara.

The forum will start at 8.45am and Dr Smith will deliver his address at 8.50am. Other guests include Alan McLay talking on Intensive farming, Nicky Wagner MP on Green Business and Marion Shore on Waste Minimization.

Also attending will be Dunedin MP Michael Woodhouse, regional councillor Doug Brown and district council officer Gerry O'Neill. This is a great opportunity to come up to speed on environmental matters and I urge you to attend.

Congratulations to:

Luke Paisley of Weston School for his winning art work.
Totara School for its Waste Minimization Award.
Garth and Margaret McKenzie on the occasion of their 60th Wedding Anniversary.
The NO Rugby Union for holding a Golden Oldies festival during the Rugby World Cup and for securing next season's Ranfurly Shield challenge against Southland.

Dates to Diary:

Nov 24 to 27 - Parliament.
Nov 28 - Bluegreen's Forum, Totara.
Nov 30 - Geraldine.
Nov 31 - Parliament.

From the Dean's Office - November 11th 2009

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:23:21 +1300

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.

Busy week despite break from Parliament

It's been a busy few days lately as I've travelled around the electorate catching up with my duties, attending functions and managing to deliver some pamphlets. I say busy but certainly not onerous as many of the functions have been a pleasure to attend.

A week ago I went to 92-year-old Chum Cleave's RSA Gold Star presentation in Kurow, which turned out to be delightful afternoon. The following week I was back in the Waitaki Valley speaking to those attending the Waitaki Lakes and Rivers Tree Management Conference in Otematata, followed by a meeting with new Environment Canterbury chair Alec Neill.

Mr Neill stated he expected many of the pending and log-awaited consent decisions to hopefully be announced prior to this Christmas. The newly appointed regional council chair also said he had made it clear he wanted Ecan to move from being a presumptive organisation to one which would seek to enable, a move that would require a cultural change within Ecan but one he was determined to see implanted within his term.

Following that positive meeting it was time to attend and open the Kurow estate Winery new operation just south of Kurow. Hopefully this magnificent and attractive grape growing and wine-making operation will grow from strength to strength attracting more commercial businesses and employment to the district.

MMP referendum at 2011 election

National is honouring an election promise with the announcement of an MM referendum. At the 2011 general election voters will be asked two questions - if they want to change the system, and what alternative voting system they would prefer. If a majority of voters want a change, a further referendum will be held in 2014 asking voters if they prefer MMP or the alternative voting option that receives the most votes in 2011. The 2017 general election will be held under the alternative system if more people prefer that option.

After five parliamentary terms under MMP, it's important that New Zealanders get a chance to have their say about which electoral system they prefer. By holding the referendum at the same time as the 2011 election, the Government expects a higher voter turnout that more accurately reflected the public's views. I hope the people of Waitaki take up this opportunity.

ETS Changes and Agriculture

This Government takes climate change seriously, and we are balancing our economic opportunities with our environmental responsibilities.

Our plans for the ETS, which are before a select committee, ensure we don't destroy peoples' jobs and the backbone of our economy by jeopardising the key agriculture sector.

They also defer agriculture to the more realistic timetable of 2015. The changes also encourage tree-planting by creating internationally valuable credits for forest owners.

Restoring ACC to Financial Health

I'd like to thank those of you who have commented about ACC levies. National is determined to maintain a comprehensive, 24/7, no-fault accident insurance scheme. ACC however, is in serious financial difficulty with liabilities which have ballooned to almost $24 billion - $13 billion more than its assets.

We now have the difficult task of rescuing it financially. The ACC Board has proposed a 64 per cent hike on worker levies and an average 44 per cent increase to employer levies. We don't think that's fair, so we're proposing several measures to reform ACC and reduce levy increases. Law changes to support this reform will be examined by a select committee but we'll continue to listen to your views throughout this process.

Details of hand-held cell phone ban

The Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 is legislation that sets out the requirements for the safe and efficient use of our roads. The Land Transport (Road User) Amendment Rule 2009, signed by Transport Minister Steven Joyce in August, outlines 24, new or updated, provisions to further improve safety and efficiency for road users.

The most high-profile is the ban on hand-held mobile phones while driving. One study has shown that using a mobile phone while driving can increase a driver's risk of being involved in a crash by up to four times.

Though the Road User Rule allows the use of hands-free mobile phones, the New Zealand Transport Agency recommends drivers minimise the potential for distraction by switching phones off while driving, or pulling over to make or receive calls. From November 1 it will only be legal to use a mobile phone to make, receive or end a call when driving if the driver does not have to hold or manipulate the phone to do so (i.e. phone is completely voice activated), or the mobile phone is securely mounted to the vehicle and the driver manipulates the phone infrequently and briefly.

The rule does not allow drivers to create, send, or read text messages under any circumstances. If you find you're having a problem understanding these points contact the New Zealand Transport Agency for more, detailed explanations of cell-phone usage.

Congratulations and well done to:

Mr Bryan and Mrs Noeline Sunderland Oamaru North, Golden (50th) Wedding Anniversary on November 14.
Mr Garth and Mrs Margaret McKenzie, Oamaru Diamond (60th) Wedding Anniversary on 12 November.
Totara School for their waste minimisation programme.
Kurow Estate Winery on the occasion of their official opening.

Dates to Diary:

Nov 10 - WBHS Prize Giving.
Nov 11-12 - Parliament.
Nov 13 - Palmerston and Ranfurly clinic.
Nov 14 - Geraldine Arts and Plant Show.
Nov 16 - Kurow/Twizel clinic.
Nov 17 - Parliament.
Nov 21 - Waimate A&P show.

From the Dean's Office - October 27th 2009

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:11:16 +1300

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.

Delivering on our law and order election promises
We've had a busy few weeks in Parliament passing some of the legislation we promised during the election campaign so within this newsletter I want to outline what we have achieved as well as what we intend to do.

I welcome the introduction of the Land Transport (Enforcement Powers) Amendment Act. For too long residents in many towns and cities have put up with excessive noise, danger and intimidation from boy racers. We have moved quickly to show this dangerous, disruptive, antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated.

Less than six months ago, we introduced two bills to strengthen the laws around illegal street racing and give police greater powers to deal with it. Through submissions the public made it clear they wanted safer communities. Those bills are now law. The Act now allows councils to make by-laws to stop cars cruising cities and suburbs. This legislation significantly increases demerit points for illegal street-racing offences and closes loopholes which have allowed boy racers to get away with ignoring fines.

Everyone has the right to feel safe in their homes, their streets, and their communities.

These laws are part of our package of law and order reforms to make our communities safer and to promote the security of law-abiding families.

Other law-related matters recently passed in the House also include:

Legal Services Amendment Bill
This bill amends the Legal Services Act 2000 in respect of the legal aid scheme, and ensures hat victims of crime attending a parole board hearing or coronial inquest are not subject to financial eligibility testing, and that any grants made do not have repayment conditions attached. As well as enable the Legal Services Agency to write off legal aid debt where the "individual circumstances" of persons who have received legal aid make it "inequitable" to seek recovery.

Sentencing (Offender Levy) Amendment Bill
The purpose of the bill is to impose a levy of $50 on offenders at the point of sentencing.
Domestic Violence (Enhancing Safety) Bill
This bill strengthens police powers, sentencing provision and bail conditions relating to domestic violence.

Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Amendment Bill
The purpose of this bill is to allow Police wide powers to collect DNA from persons before being charged or convicted, such as matching DNA profiles against samples from unsolved scenes of crime.

Other law related matters already underway

We want to tackle violent youth crime by giving the Youth Court a new range of interventions and sentences. We also intend to strengthen bail laws to make it harder for violent criminals to get bail and to remove the right of the worst repeat violent offenders to be released on parole.

We are also training an extra 600 frontline police officers, introduce on-the-spot protection orders to help protect victims of domestic violence and increase sentences for crimes against children.

The National led Government also intends to make our prisons smarter by increasing drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and work programmes for prisoners.

Energy Saving Hints do save money

I do want to recommend the newly launched Energy Savings Campaign which has been designed to help us all increase energy efficiencies in our homes and businesses. The campaign, as recently announced by Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee, stems from the fact householders nationally spend about $3.5 billion a year on energy while our business community spends close to $13.5 billion. Studies by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EFCA) show large savings can be made by all of us through more efficient use of energy.

To help better understand how to best use our energy a new prime time television campaign called 'The Energy Spot' now runs at 6.50pm on four television channels three nights a week, (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday) as well as 13 other times during the week.

As an example, if just one household out of ten avoided leaving appliances on standby, the country would save over $10m or enough electricity to run over 5,000 homes.

EFCA estimates each household could easily save 10 percent on their bills by following the steps referred to on 'The Energy Spot'. Any measures we take to reduce household expenditure while also reducing greenhouse emissions is surely worth the effort.

New Approach to Water Pollution

I have to say I'm supportive of the Otago Regional Council's new approach to tackling the problem of polluted waterways. The council is investigating ways to improve water quality by seeking to control the quality of discharge from land, instead of controlling the way the land is being used.

I'm supportive of this new approach because it encourages innovation and puts the onus for water quality back into the land users’ hands. To me, enabling rules like this are far better than prohibition. This policy recognizes that it is not for the regional council to tell farmers what to farm, but rather, it sets environmental standards around runoff which must be achieved.

Still with water I'm pleased two small communities within the Waitaki electorate are receiving Government assistance towards the upgrade of their water supply systems. Both Roxburgh and the Hook/Waituna district have been granted assistance through a Ministry of Health scheme which will go some way towards raising water standards within those communities.

Congratulations to:

Mr Neville and Mrs Estelle Findlater, 50 Macpherson Street, Wanaka who will have been married for 50 years this Saturday, October 31.
Diana Talanoa for 21 years of service to Waitaki's CCS - Disability Action.
Waimate's Sam Keenan for his national title at the National Gymnastics Championships.
Hampden residents on the occasion of celebrations to mark 130 years their town became a borough.
Good luck to North Otago's rugby team at the Lochore Cup finals in Greymouth.

Dates to Diary:

Oct 27-29 - Parliament.
Oct 30 - Meeting with Otago Conservator.
Oct 31 - Functions at Waimate and Kurow.
Nov 1 - WW2 Interactive Memorial, Timaru.
Nov 2 - Geraldine and Fairlie Clinics.
Nov 3 - St Kevin's - Fonterra Science Show.
Nov 4 - Wanaka Probus Mtg and Oamaru Clinic.
Nov 7 - Kurow Winery Estate opening.

From the Dean's Office - October 13th 2009

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:21:00 +1300

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.

I want to extend my sincere condolences to our Samoan and Tongan residents living throughout the Waitaki for the very tragic loss of family and friends following the recent earthquake and tsunami.

Having recently visited both countries I was won over by your kin's open hearted and courteous dispositions. I was also proud the Prime Minister John Key responded immediately and visited the region. I fully intend to sign the condolences book as soon as I am back in Parliament.

Local happenings

The past week I've been able to enjoy a short break following an earlier hectic round of calls that required travel from one end of the electorate to the other. These included a Friday fund raising breakfast function at Lake Hawea, with National MP Todd Mclay in attendance, followed by a 'Thank You' morning tea for Wanaka volunteers then later a poignant farewell function for long-serving Upper Clutha National Party Branch chair Bill King.

On Saturday functions included opening a conference at Oamaru and the opening of a new air-brush training suite at Aoraki Polytechnic. Later in the day it was back to Alexandra to attend the 2009 Blossom Festival's 'Wool-On' fashion awards. On Monday it was north to Fairlie and other points to meet with constituents. With Parliamentary duties, end of year activities and functions along with the looming festive season it was lovely to spend the rest of the week catching up with family, friends and my garden.

Polytechnic Placements

Earlier I mentioned opening Oamaru's Aoraki Polytechnic campus's new air-brushing suite, a good example of a work training scheme that provides students with skills and qualifications which can directly lead to employment.

More good news associated with the campus and ultimately the electorate has been the allocation of 30 positions under the new Youth Guarantee programme. This fees-free scheme provides young Waitaki people aged 16 to 17 with a second opportunity at learning and studying for qualifications that, for a number of reasons, they may have had trouble gaining at other institutions.

We know some kids learn more from pulling an engine apart than they do from studying "Much Ado About Nothing." We also recognise the need to invest in and provide ongoing educational assistance for our young people.

Tackling P

P, or methamphetamine, is wrecking lives, wrecking families, and fuelling crime. It's hugely damaging to those who use it and to the people who care about them. It comes hand in hand with violence, and allows gangs and organised crime to flourish. National will use every tool we have to fight it including: Making it harder for people to manufacture P. This includes making pseudoephedrine a prescription-only drug.

Up to 80% of the cold and flu medications sold in pharmacies use phenylephrine, a safe and effective alternative to pseudoephedrine.

We also will set up dedicated anti-drug taskforces at the border, give police more powers to intercept gang communications, search for evidence, take drug money from criminals and use this to fund anti-P initiatives. $22 million will be provided for over the next three years for extra P treatment. We will make treatment available to more than 3000 extra patients, instruct frontline government staff to refer P users to treatment, and give families the power to compel addicts to go into compulsory treatment.

We will also work with voluntary organisations, promoting new drug guidelines for schools, and directing community programmes to focus on tackling P and we also intend to make government chief executives accountable for getting results.

Congratulations to

Mr Dick and Mrs Hazel Swinard of Oamaru on the occasion of their sixty-fifth (65th) Wedding Anniversary on October 11.
Wanaka School for their filming efforts which saw them placed as finalists in the annual Fair Go awards.
Barkers of Geraldine, South Canterbury’s new supreme winner of this year's South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards.
Alice Keen of Pukeuri for her Gold Honours Award in recognition of her long service to the Woman’s Institute.

Dates to Diary

October 13-15 - Parliament.
October 16 - Timaru/Waimate Clinic. Visit to St Andrews School.
October 18 - St Luke's Thanksgiving Service.
October 19 - Kurow/Twizel Clinic.
October 20-22 - Parliament.
October 23-24 - Hampden Borough's 130th Anniversary.
October 25 - St Pat's Church service, Waimate.

From the Dean's Office - September 29th 2009

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:36:43 +1300

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.

All in one day - Blossom Festival and Cats

Presenting the 2009 Alexandra Blossom Festival Princess, Alice Finch, with her winning sash.

With Olivia Smith, Alexandra's Bowling Club Princess on her beautifully decorated float.
It's been another busy week highlighted by visiting Alexandra's Blossom Festival and then back to Oamaru in the evening to attend the final production of the Operatic Society's hugely successful show, "Cats."

The Blossom Festival was as colourful as ever and it was pleasing for the organisers, and no doubt the supporting retailers and craftspeople, the 10,000 turnout for the event was the largest for some years. A lot of work is undertaken by various groups to make the floral floats the event is famous for and it was pleasing they were all acknowledged by the judges and the attending public.

Then it was dash across a misty Dansey's Pass to meet up with visiting Minister of Arts Chris Finlayson to attend an excellent evening's entertainment with cats at the Oamaru Opera House. While in Oamaru the Minister was bought up to speed on a number of related Waitaki issues.

JP's Regional Conference
The previous weekend I was guest speaker at the Southern Regional JP Conference held in Oamaru. There were 20 JP's in attendance and I was able to speak on the Government's proposed legislative changes to the Criminal Justice Act as well as our focus on looking into crime's drivers and our intention to focus on victims of crime. I would like to share some of these proposed changes with you in this e-letter.

I told the conference our key policies include: giving police the power to issue on-the-spot protection orders to help protect victims of domestic violence; directing courts to take specific account victims are children (where relevant) when sentencing; tightening bail for borderline cases; limiting parole for serious repeat violent offenders and the worst murderers; increasing penalties for participation in organised crime, making it easier for police to intercept gang communications; expanding DNA collection from suspects and matching against samples from unsolved crimes; requiring offenders to pay into a fund to help victims with costs not available through other means and bolstering the Youth Court with a range of new interventions and sentences.

In the coming month, Government will also start looking at crime's drivers, the key feature of which will be a coordinated approach across government agencies and social sector chief executives who have already given their commitment to the project.

Police will be encouraged to focus on the areas where crime most often occurs, working with those communities to prevent minor crimes leading to more serious criminal activity. By tackling low-level crime such as loitering, public drinking or graffiti, more serious crimes are less likely to develop. This program has successfully been trialled overseas, in particular in New York which has experienced a 72 per cent decline in robberies over 10 years.

Programmes will also include more community involvement such as reinvigorating Neighbourhood Watch schemes.

Criminal Procedure (Simplification) Project
During July Justice Minister Simon Power released details of the Government's proposed reforms of the criminal justice sector. The Criminal Procedure (Simplification) Project includes a range of initiatives to improve timeliness and efficiency in criminal court cases.

The time has come to reform legislation in a way that ensures all parties in the criminal justice system are better served by improving efficiency, reducing delay and costs, and better using technology where appropriate.

Court waiting times are at an unacceptable level, the median wait for District Court trials is one year, and for High Court it's 16½ months. The Criminal Procedure (Simplification) Project wants to address a number of long-standing inefficiencies and issues with pre-trial matters including: repeated adjournments; unnecessary appearances to deal with matters that should have been addressed out of court; late guilty pleas that result in inefficient use of court time; trials that fail to proceed on their scheduled date; inadequate incentives and sanctions to ensure that prosecution and defence progress cases as they should; long delays before the final disposal of cases, a trial system in which relatively minor cases may be tried by jury; barriers to the use of modern technologies and an excessively paper-based process and complex and outdated legislative framework.

The proposed changes are expected to result in less delays, fewer adjournments, shorter trials, a more satisfactory process for victims and witnesses, and increased efficiencies within the system. This will have benefits for victims, witnesses, taxpayers, defendants and counsel.

A Day at the Office
Last Friday I spent an enjoyable day accompanied by St Kevin's student Harrison Maaka. Harrison, who is 14 years, came with me as part of his career studies education, having contemplated a political career.

After accompanying me to seven meetings, being photographed and interviewed by a local paper and observing my many phone calls and watching as my diary appointments filled up I felt he left his day out with me somewhat dazed.

Regardless of that, we had an enjoyable time together and he was given plenty of food for thought.

Congratulations and well done to:
Waitaki Valley now Oamaru resident Arthur Wilson on his 100th birthday.
Alexandra's Blossom Festival organisers for a great parade and festival.
The Oamaru Operatic Society for its wonderful interpretation of 'Cats.'
The Oamaru Trotting Club on the occasion of 100 years of operation.
And our local JP's for the contribution they make throughout the Waitaki electorate.

Dates to Diary:
Sep 29 - Palmerston North.
Sep 30 - Electorate Visits.
Oct 1 - Wanaka.
Oct 2 - Lake Hawea Community Centre.
Oct 2 - Wanaka Volunteers Morning Tea.
Oct 3 - Stroke Foundation Southern Conference.
Oct 3 - Alexandra for 'Wool On - Creative Fashion'.

From the Dean's Office - September 17th 2009

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:51:00 +1200

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.

Busy fortnight
Having a few day's away from Parliament thanks to a brief recess I was recently able to attend a number of functions which included the opening of the Weston School's new $400,000 administration block and the opening of Papakaio School's new $600,000 library and administration block. Then last week it was back to the House for a busy four days followed on Friday by the official opening of the Department of Conservation's renovated visitor centre at Aoraki/Mt Cook. The renovations had included a refit of the display and archives area and a new 24 hour information kiosk and memorial room.

Thankfully this weekend was a bit more relaxed and I attended Oamaru's Altrusa. International's 'Lavish lunch' held to celebrate National Literacy Day. Besides a strong turnout of Altrusa members, author Elizabeth Pulford and performers from Robyn Keno's Studio were also present. As a further highlight to this delightful function, all the proceeds raised at the gathering were used to buy books for babies born in the month of September.

Later in the day and helping to top-of a fine weekend I was able to watch our North Otago rugby team defeat King Country.

Winter Sports
I must mention the recent inaugural Winter Games. They proved as big a winner for a good part of the Waitaki electorate as it did for other Otago centres. It was great to see small settlements and towns such as Glimmerburn and Naseby mentioned in such company as Queenstown and Alexandra. Long may the event, which attracted both national and international stars and received much favourable publicity, continue.

Course helps my understanding I recently spent three interesting days with the Alliance meat processing plants in Southland and at Pukeuri where I was shown and learned of the enormous range of complexities associated with the meat processing industry. I found it interesting to follow the process involved with stock from "the farm gate to the consumer's table" and it provided me with a better understanding of what goes on from both the farmer and suppliers viewpoint as well as the operation and responsibilities of processors.

Such instructive courses are highly valuable and helps one understand associated problems from another point of view.

I hope in future I will be able to apply this understanding when representing farmers and meat processing related activities in and outside of Parliament.

Support for migrant workers
Some of you may have heard my recent call to support migrant workers as they settle in to work in our communities. These workers have and will continue to provide the rural sector with a much-needed labour force and I say its important we acknowledge their role. It's also important we ensure their time here is both rewarding and positive.

We have to recognise some have struggled to cope with our culture and lifestyles.

So any group who can provide them with assistance has to be a positive. Small gestures such as helping them find appropriate clothing, directing them to support services and helping them find peer groups will go a long way to making them feel welcome as well as settle in.

I know many communities throughout the length and breadth of the electorate are doing a good job as they, like me, recognise the new worker's are playing their role in helping to attract more investment towards farming's expansion within our region.

District investment
Still with investment, it is heart warming to hear people from outside of our district, along with locals who, of course, have always known this, have recognised the Waitaki as a place with a definite future and are investing among us. These include the irrigation of a further 10,000 hectares and the recent purchase of the former Nikken Seil 22 hectare site over the road from the Oamaru racecourse, an area earmarked as an industrial centre with work to start on that in the New Year.

Elsewhere, buildings have been bought, are being built or modified for new purposes while on the other side of the river plans for Glenavy's new dairy factory have been released. The same thing is happening in Wanaka with the rent announcement two retirement homes, 14 villas and eight villas will soon be built there.

Congratulations to
The Upper Waitaki branch of Rural Women New Zealand on their 80th birthday.
Wanaka volunteer fire-fighter Jason Fisher for 25 years service to his community.
Oamaru gymnast Tessa Newton for her selection to compete at the Gymnastic Nationals.
North Otago's rugby team for their win on Saturday against King Country.

Dates to Diary
September 15 - 17: Parliament.
September 18: Timaru South Canterbury Museum.
September 19: Regional JP Conference, Oamaru.
September 21: National Party meeting, Oamaru.
September 22 - 24: Parliament.
September 26: Alexandra Blossom Festival.

From the Dean's Office - September 2nd 2009

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:44:00 +1200

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.

Out in the Heartland
Last Monday I took the opportunity to visit Twizel and Kurow where I held a morning and afternoon tea function to thank those communities' volunteers. It's great being able to continue making contact with all the people who make up this wonderful electorate. I may have hosted the small functions but I acknowledge it was those attending who made the day as good as it was. It was great to meet you and I fully intend to keep up such contact and visit you again soon.

Other events I have been associated with over the past fortnight included a thoroughly interesting visit to Alliance's processing plant at Pukeuri, a trip to Dunedin to watch a punishing game of ice-hockey at the Winter Games, select committee duties at Parliament, attendance at the National Flower Grower's conference in Cromwell and North Otago's opening Heartland Trophy rugby campaign for this season.

Inside Victorian Oamaru proposal attracts support
Another highlight was last Tuesday evening when I had an opportunity to host the Inside Victorian Oamaru proposal at Parliament.

Besides attracting tourism industry representatives we also managed to get 20 MPs to attend the function. The proposed $3-million-dollar tourism venture, presentation included a live drama and visual presentation and a model of the facility destined for the historic Connell and Clowe's building. An example of a 3D drama film was also shown.

While the project's steering committee doesn't expect a decision from the Ministry of Economic Development until November they intend to keep lobbying towards it. For myself it was a real pleasure to be able to help advance a facility that can do nothing but further enhance our district as a tourist destination.

Encouraging Sport in Schools
Sport is hugely important. It teaches children teamwork, leadership, fair play and about success and failure. It also encourages fitness and a love of outdoor activity. National is committed to increasing opportunities for young Kiwis to play sport and that's why we've launched Kiwisport to deliver $82 million over the next four years to ensure more children have the chance to play sport.

We’re directly funding all schools, giving them the freedom to spend the money in a way that ensures more of their pupils can play sport. Funding will also go to regional sports trusts, helping link community groups and sports clubs with schools to provide programmes to keep kids active.

Youth Opportunities PackageOur young people are important and we want them to succeed and to reach their potential. Yet, they are being particularly hard-hit by the global recession. 18- to 24-year-olds make up a third of those on the Unemployment Benefit while the number of young people who want a job but can't get one has quadrupled in the past year from 4000 to 17,000.

We're concerned for young people starting out in their working lives as a long period of unemployment could be damaging. We can't afford to leave young people on a benefit let alone diminishing the potential of an entire generation of Kiwis. Our Youth Opportunities Package invests $152 million and aims to create up to 16,900 new opportunities for under 24-year-olds over the next 18 months. The package includes nine initiatives towards opportunities in work, education, and training.

Job Ops backs businesses that create work opportunities for young people. We're asking firms to provide up to 4000 young people with entry-level work for at least six months. We'll pay a $5000 subsidy for each placement. Community Max invites local councils and iwi to help create up to 3000 work opportunities. We want these community organisations to come to Government with local projects that could employ young people and engage them in our communities.

We will pay the minimum wage for 30 hours a week for up to six months, a training payment and one supervisor for every four participants. We are also jump-starting our Youth Guarantee initiative. Some kids learn more from ripping an engine apart than studying Macbeth. Up to 2000 16- and 17-year-olds not engaged at school will get to do fees-free training at polytechs, wänanga, and private training institutions.

Other initiatives in the package include extra training places for careers in the Defence Force, 1600 summer scholarships for university students, and 2500 new places in military-style training programmes. The package also includes up to 500 jobs for young people on National Cycleway projects, 600 new Industry Partnership training and a funding boost for polytechs and technology institutes.

It's up to individual young people to make the most of these opportunities but we owe them a chance, and they owe us their best efforts in return. You can find out more at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/feature/youth+opportunities+package. To learn more about education opportunities for young people visit: http://www.tec.govt.nz.

Making our roads safer
National is taking action to make New Zealand's roads safer. Texting while driving is a no-brainer. So from November 1, drivers caught talking or texting on a handheld cellphone will be fined and given demerits. Other driver distractions need to be addressed so we have made this a priority or the Safer Journeys discussion document, now out for public consultation. Feedback from road users will be used to develop a 10 year national road safety strategy.

Congratulations to:
Oamaru's Joel Meikle, 12, who will represent New Zealand at the Australian Junior Motocross later this month.
And good luck to Waitaki Girls' High School for their entry in this year's Fair Go ads award. We'll be watching.

Dates to Diary:
Parliament is in recess for the 1st week of September but it's still a busy week back in the electorate.
September 1: Palmerston Primary and East Otago High School.
September 2: Central Otago Clinic.
September 3: Draft Canterbury Water Management Scheme launch.
September 4: Oamaru Clinic.
September 8: back at Parliament.

From the Dean's Office - August 18th 2009

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:40:00 +1200

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.

Kurow Bridge replacement progression
It's good to hear construction of Kurow's new Waitaki River twin bridges could be underway in less than 18 months. Last week Transport Minister Stephen Joyce acknowledged receipt of my letters concerning the bridge and said he was pleased to advise the New Zealand Transport Agency had reported good progress was being made on the bridge replacement project.

The NZTA says it is possible construction could begin as early as the 2011/12 year, subject to funding, which would enable the commissioning of new bridges before the beginning of 2014. We now know preliminary work on the project has started and the Minister himself is maintaining an interest. That the work could be completed before 2014 is good news.

In a move to allay immediate safety concerns with the present bridges the Minister also said the NZTA had informed him the bridges were structurally sound and they fully expected to maintain them in that condition until replacements had been built. Emergency vehicle arrangements were also in place should a high-river event re-occur in the interim.

Encouraging young people in sport
Sport is really important for children and by encouraging young New Zealanders to get involved when they're at school can lead to a lifetime of involvement and a future generation of fitter, healthier kiwis. National is committed to helping more children take part in organised sport at school, after school and during the holidays.

Our Kiwisport initiative answers calls from schools, clubs, and regional sports trusts for greater support and investment in sport for children. It delivers $82 million over the next four years directly to the frontline. We're providing $45 million directly to schools around the country over the next four years with the other $37 million going into a regional partnership fund, to be allocated across the 17 regional sports trusts around New Zealand.

Abolishing the provocation defence
National believes there is no place for the partial defence of provocation on the statute books. The defence wrongly enables defendants to besmirch the character of victims, andeffectively rewards a lack of self-control. That's why last week we introduced the Crimes (Provocation Repeal) Amendment Bill to Parliament, which removes the defence from the statute.

This follows two reports by the Law Commission, both of which recommended its abolition. We're hoping to have this legislation passed by the end of this year. If you are interested in this move and are seeking further information you can read more about the Government's justice agenda by visiting: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/national039s+justice+agenda+keeping+our+word.

Out and about in the electorateLast week I made a number of calls and attended a number of community events which included speaking to Waitaki Girl's High School pupils during their Careers Week, listening to NZEI member's concerns over their low pay scales, opening the NOSPCA fund raising Art Auction.

This week was just as busy with a trip to Invercargill to attend an Alliance arranged seminar during which I was re-acquainted with my past when interviewed over the old 'Play School' clock.

Last Friday I returned in time to attend a morning tea arranged as a thankyou to Oamaru's many selfless volunteers followed by our Lunch Club meeting with National Party supporters. Around 120 people attended the informal and friendly function. Guest speaker was Michael Woodhouse, MP from Dunedin, who spoke on ACC and health related matters. Later this month I will meet with volunteers in Kurow to thank them for the work they do within their community.

Congratulations to:
Mr G and Mrs J Johnston of Oamaru on their 60th wedding anniversary.
Waitaki District Council for its cost saving 10 year LTCCP plan and award.
Meridian Energy for its annual wide ranging grants to groups throughout the Waitaki.

Dates to Diary:Aug 18 to 20: Parliament.
Aug 21: Pukeuri.
Aug 25 to 27: Parliament.
Aug 28: Mackenzie College, Fairlie.
Aug 29: Cromwell - Otago Commercial Flower Growers Ass'n.
Aug 31: Kurow Volunteers afternoon tea.