We also won the Party vote with 16,543 for National in Tukituki. The future is so bright. John Key and our National team will continue our hard work towards an even better Hawke’s Bay and New Zealand.

Chris and I will continue to ‘Back the Bay’, every day, both here and down in Wellington, ensuring we get the best possible outcomes for the people of Hawke’s Bay.

 The weather had beaten the event in Palmerston North but so in The Bay. As expected the sun shone as I jumped into a car with Racing Ray Williams for a ride of my life!

 Racing Ray Williams drove me over a couple of special stages on closed sections of Hawke’s Bay roads.

 Targa New Zealand has become New Zealand’s largest competitive rally series. It is fast, it is fun and it certainly gets your heart pumping. The unique aspect of Targa NZ is this variety of cars, from old to new, from very expensive to the very affordable, all driven by passionate car enthusiasts. This is car culture at its finest: driving fast, loads of fun and an element of danger!

 Thanks Targa NZ for this awesome opportunity.

 We both donned a new shirt, tie and apron for the occasion!

 It was great fun getting amongst the crowd pouring wine and passing round pre-dinner nibbles. We then meet the challenge of dishing out the main meals head on. ‘We served the people’.

 The comments were classic!

Thanks to Dish for the ‘Work Experience.’

This programme has been developed to ensure every primary school student has access to quality ‘swim and survive’ education at school.  We are a region surrounded by water and our children need to be water-wise and have the skills necessary to use and enjoy the water safely.

 I had a great visit to the school, meeting students, staff and of course Kiwi! Be safe this summer kids and swim safely.

I had the privilege to attend this event where wine and dinner was the main focus closely followed by good company and great service.

 The Dinner attracted everyone involved in the wine industry including wine lovers, wineries, winemakers, wholesalers and retailers as well as the supporting manufacturing, bottling, transport and technical providers.

 Over 400 people enjoyed the fantastic food and Bay’s finest wines.

 This unique regional award is the largest regional wine competition in New Zealand. Entries are only accepted from wineries with wine made from 85% Hawke’s Bay Grapes.

 Congratulations to all involved in such a fantastic night.

With the RWC2011 in full swing our theme at this year will be of course rugby.

At every show, year we have a challenge for young and old, from gumboot throwing to golf. This year we have put the goal posts up and the challenge will be to kick a goal.

Get the ball over and as with any rugby game there is the chance of a win.
Come and see us at the show, and give it a go.

This year there may not have been the calves but with the array of other entries there was a great selection. There were guinea pigs, a cat, a budgie and even a worm! through to  lambs of all sizes to a huge range of dogs.

 The judges this year were two Nationalities; One from the National Bank and one from the National Party. Local MP Craig Foss was rapt to be a guest judge as it certainly made a change from his usual duties along with a local National Bank representative.

 The judging proved be challenging for the National boys but the best pet on the day took out the prize. There were  two main concerns for the day, one was for the worm who was last seen at the start of the obstacle course and had hardly moved an inch by the end of the afternoon. The other was for which pet most resembled the principal; the principal was happier this year as he was more likened to a dog rather than a rat as was the case last year!

 All in all this was one a great end to the school term. Well done Tikokino School for proving that rural communities still celebrate what is the essence of being rural.

I will join the ‘Pink Army Volunteer’ and I encourage you to support the appeal as much as you are able.

Almost everyone knows a family that has been touched by breast cancer. The funds raised in our street appeal make a real difference to the outcomes for our Mums, Sisters, Aunties and friends.

C’mon Hawke’s Bay help support those that we love.

 The children that are part of the Gifted Education Centre and are given the opportunity to learn at the depth and pace they need and deserve.

 It was a treat for me to see these young people in action.

 www.giftededucation.org.nz

The roll out of ultra-fast broadband-enabling fibre to schools is progressing well and 14 local schools will benefit from this Governments investment in technology,” said Tukituki MP Craig Foss.

 “Over 4,750 students locally will benefit by this UFB rollout, “said Napier MP, Chris Tremain. “Across the country 97 per cent of schools will receive ultra-fast fibre enabling speeds of 100 Mbps plus over the next five years. The remaining 3 per cent of schools, which are in the most remote locations, will receive a high speed wireless or satellite connection. No schools will miss out.”

 “This is an exciting time for schools and for students. This technology means that students anywhere in New Zealand can have access to the best teachers and online resources anywhere in the world, “said Craig Foss