Backing the Bay » Craig Foss

National puts victims first

admin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:14:01 +0000

Craig Foss MP for Tukituki says “National is working hard to deliver on our election promises in law and order to make families feel safer in their homes and communities. As part of that we’ve introduced a range of initiatives to put victims at the heart of the justice system. These include on the-spot safety orders, an offender levy, and more support for victims.”

“Family must come first,” said Craig. “With these latest measures that is exactly what we are saying. Victims have been neglected for long and I for one am delighted that this will no longer be the case.”

“Crime affects our communities, our society, and our economy. But most of all it affects the victims of crime and their families. They have to deal with the emotional, physical, and financial effects of crime long after it’s been committed.
On 1 July the National-led Government introduced a range of measures to improve services for victims of crime. We all need to be realistic about what is happening in our communities and I believe that this is the start of addressing these issues.”

For more information visit:

http://national.org.nz/web/Victims_onepager.pdf

“As always I and my team are there to help you and our community. I can be contacted on 06 870 3480.”

MP urges rugby fans to support the Magpies

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:16:49 +0000

Magpies Fluffy Dice

Craig Foss supports the Magpies by proudly hanging a ‘Magpies fluffy dice’ in his Ute.

Local MP Craig Foss says “Our Hawke’s Bay Magpies are a great team and I show my support whenever I can. I have bought a pair of Magpies fluffy dice from Mitre 10 Mega.”

“I encourage all Magpies fans to go out and buy their own dice. Not only do they look good but they send a clear message to the other rugby unions; the Magpies mean business!”

Craig said “The following quote of Mickey Delamar’s is a classic “It is just a roll of the dice. Nobody knows how it is going to turn out, we just have to wait and see.” The ITM series is just that …a wait and see game but my money is on the boys from The Bay.”

Hawke’s Bay Magpies kicks off the series against Canterbury at the AMI Stadium Christchurch Friday 30th July which is plenty of time for people to go out and buy a pair of fluffy supporters dice.

“As always I am “Backing the Bay” and our boys in the Black and White strip; the Magpies,” said Craig.

“Come on The Bay”

Craig Foss backs HB Environmental Awards

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:38:38 +0000

Craig Foss MP for Tukituki said “It is that time of the year again when we celebrate our environment with the Hawke’s Bay Environmental Awards. These awards recognise people and organisations that care for the environment. They acknowledge individuals or groups deserving recognition for environmentally sustainable work. I encourage people to back this initiative and celebrate the people who go that extra mile for our environment.”

“Hawke’s Bay Environmental Awards recognises community projects and people showing leadership in caring for our wonderful environment of all that is our region; our cities, our towns, our reserves and our country areas, “ Craig added.

“I am 100% supportive of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Napier City Council and Hastings District Council who make this event possible,” Craig said. “And I’m proud of the people who are doing amazing things to care for our natural environment. I thank you all.”

The Hawke’s Bay Environmental Award 2010 ceremony will be on 9 October at Lindisfarne College.

For further information go to:

http://www.hbrc.govt.nz/Home/tabid/36/ctl/View/mid/4042/Id/82/Default.aspx

MP Foss joins Fourth Estate

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:51:42 +0000

Craig Foss MP for Tukituki continues his “Work Experience “ this Thursday 15th July at the offices of Hawke’s Bay Today.

“I’m really looking forward to this latest “Work Experience” opportunity. Hawke’s Bay Today have given me the chance to see firsthand how the production of a newspaper comes about,” Craig said.

“It will be an experience that will be very enlightening. I’m normally at the receiving end of an interview, ” Craig said. “ I’m looking forward to being the reporter, writing the interview up and publishing it. It’s a good way to get my name on one of those articles that normally writes about me! “ Craig adds.

“I will have to be careful not to misquote myself when interviewing my local MP!”

Craig Foss will be at Hawke’s Bay Today this Thursday from 10.00am to 12.00noon.
“ If you have any breaking news stories don’t hesitate to call in and ask for the newest reporter, Craig Foss., “ he said.

Hawke’s Bay to be $1,303,310 better off

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:18:49 +0000

Hawke’s Bay MPs Craig Foss and Chris Tremain today are rapted that Hawkes Bay will benefit by $1,303,310 thanks to lottery funding.
“The Minister for Internal Affairs, Nathan Guy, has released National wide funding figures today and Hawke’s Bay has been one of the main areas to benefit,” said Craig.

“This money will be pumped back into our community and it’s great to see our local community groups benefiting, especially when times are tough,” added Chris.

“The money raised from games like Lotto, Instant Kiwi and Daily Keno plays an enormous role in building stronger communities. This funding helps communities help themselves, with grants to such organisations as Age Concern, St John, Barnardos, Plunket, Women’s Refuges and Cancer Societies,” stated the MPs.

“Environmental causes such as saving the kakapo in Fiordland and preserving our wetlands in Hawke’s Bay having already benefitted. This is great news for our local projects that are already underway,” said Craig

“Many organisations would struggle without this help and we know that our Hawke’s Bay community groups will benefit from this government assistance,” said Chris.

MPs pleased that Tourism outlook still positive

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:18:07 +0000

Craig Foss MP for Tukituki and Chris Tremain MP for Napier are delighted with the latest Ministry of Tourism forecasts, which show that overall, the sector’s future looks positive.

International visitor numbers are predicted to reach 3.1 million over the next seven years. By 2016 arrivals will likely grow by 27%, which will equate to an additional 669,000 international visitors each year.

“Hawkes Bay is where you will find ‘ Wine Country’. We believe we can be the tourist capital of New Zealand,” says Chris Tremain MP for Napier. “With the airport extension happening this statement will become a reality.”

“Long hot summers and mild sunny winters makes Hawke’s Bay the perfect year round holiday destination,” adds Craig Foss MP for Tukituki.

“We have fabulous regional facilities such as the Hawke’s Bay Museum, the Regional Sports Park, the New Zealand National Aquarium and a Napier Port that accommodates the cruise ships. These all boost out tourism prospects,” Craig adds.

“The numbers show that the tourism sector is highly resilient and has weathered the recession,” Chris Tremain says. “We are one of only a small group of countries whose international arrivals are holding steady and with the Rugby World Cup just around the corner; we can look forward to some good growth. Hawke’s Bay bid for rugby games has paid off already.”

“Government continues to actively support the sector with an additional $30 million to feed into tourism marketing. This follows on from an extra $20 million for Tourism New Zealand last year. Hawke’s Bay has already benefited from this and will continue to do so,” says Craig.

“Given the tight fiscal nature of this year’s budget, this further funding is a huge vote of confidence in New Zealand tourism,” says Chris “These forecasts set out a solid starting point, but I believe that the sector will outperform them.”

By the end of 2010 arrivals should grow by 3.7%. 2011 predictions are for a 6.8% increase in arrivals—a product of both the Rugby World Cup and an improved global economic outlook.

For further information on the latest forecasts and publication please visit:
http://www.tourismresearch.govt.nz/Data–Analysis/Forecasts/2009—2015-Forecasts—Regional/Regional-Forecasts-Key-Data/ <http://www.tourismresearch.govt.nz/Data–Analysis/Forecasts/2009—2015-Forecasts—Regional/Regional-Forecasts-Key-Data/>

Hawke’s Bay Social Services Get Support

admin — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:44:50 +0000

A further $315,000 is being injected into critical social services in Hawke’s Bay under the Government’s Community Response Fund.

This is round three of the fund, established last year to help NGOs meet critical demand while under financial pressure from an economic recession.

“We’ve made the commitment to ensure that groups providing vital social services can respond successfully to needs in their community.
Applications were assessed by a regional panel with community representation. The panel has made sure that we’ve got the mix right. We trust communities to know themselves best and where support is needed most,” says Craig Foss.

Community organisations apply for funding under two criteria: financial crisis and increased demand, including innovative ways to meet increased demand.

Round Three has seen an easing in the grants for crisis and demand, together with an increase in innovative solutions.

“The increase in innovation tells me that given support and opportunity, communities are smart and resourceful, well able to solve their own issues. We’re seeing greater collaboration and more sharing of back office functions among providers who continue to improve as a result,” says Chris Tremain.

The Community Response Fund has provided $25 million to 479 organisations across the country.

Applications for Round Four of the Community Response Fund opened in February and will close in July.

Local MP’s Celebrate Airport Extension Approval

admin — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 21:38:54 +0000

Local MPs Chris Tremain and Craig Foss are today celebrating the approval of extensions to the Hawke’s Bay runway by the Minister for State Owned Enterprises, Simon Power.

Approval ensures that all shareholders in the airport are now supportive of the extension.

“This is great news! This completes a lengthy process to begin the physical extension of the runway,” says Napier MP Chris Tremain.”Both Craig Foss and I, together with the Region’s Mayors, the Airport Board, and local Iwi, have put in a huge amount of work to ensure this result. A key benefit of the extension is the ability to facilitate increased competition.”

“This is a huge boost to our region’s development. This is a project that Chris and I have been working towards for over 4 years,” says Craig Foss. “The extension provides us with the key benefit of landing passenger jets thereby facilitating more charter flights for the likes of Rugby World Cup and Mission Concerts”.

The extension future proofs the airport and provides a stepping stone to for Hawke’s Bay’s growth alongside the development of the domestic air market with Australia as this grows.

“We’d like to congratulate all those who have collaborated on this project,” say both MPs. “A big thanks to John Palairet and the Airport Board. It really has been a regional effort and shows what can be achieved when all of us across the region put our minds to the same goal.”

The Minister for SOEs, Simon Power wishes Hawke’s Bay Airport all the best with their runway development.

Huge Savings for Hawke’s Bay

admin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:51:32 +0000

The announcement today by Minister for the Environment, Nick Smith, will save Hawke’s Bay millions of dollars say local MP’s Craig Foss and Chris Tremain.

“Chris and I have worked very hard with the Minister for the Environment to make sure the Bays special circumstances were taken account of ” says Craig Foss.

“The announcement to extend the period by which Napier and Hastings must comply with the National Air Quality Standards to 2018 will save Hawke’s Bay tens of millions over what was initially proposed ” says Chris Tremain.

Under the initial proposal Napier and Hastings were going to have to comply by 2012. This timeframe would have forced thousands of Hawke’s Bay home owners to change their current fireplace to meet the standard. Under the new proposal Napier is likely to meet the standard by only requiring new builds and sales of existing homes to comply.

“This would have been a huge cost imposition on Napier and Hastings rates payers” says Craig Foss. “Given the potential costs to Hawke’s Bay people this was something we really needed to go to bat for. It’s great to see such a positive result”.

“Given the recession both Craig and I were concerned about this large cost to Hawke’s Bay families and businesses” says Chris Tremain.” “With the combination of the Government Insulation package, the Clean Heat Package, and the positive result of this Air Quality Decision we will get a win for the environment without massive cost increases”.

Changes at Cranford

admin — Sun, 16 May 2010 04:20:58 +0000

National MP’s, Craig Foss and Chris Tremain, are doing all they can to ensure that the issues currently surrounding Cranford Hospice are quickly resolved.
‘There are many changes happening at Cranford,’ said Mr. Foss, ‘and these are causing enormous stress to everyone involved, however Chris and I are working hard to make sure the matter is dealt with quickly and efficiently.’
‘Cranford is a very well respected and loved institution in Hawke’s Bay,’ said Mr. Tremain, ‘and Craig and I are determined to see beds back at Cranford as soon as possible’
‘Cranford means so much to Hawke’s Bay, it is a haven for the terminally ill and their families,’ said Mr. Foss. ‘At times like these, people don’t like going to hospital but they need expert medical and palliative care; we all know Cranford supplies this.’
‘My family, like many families in Hawke’s Bay, has had personal experience with Cranford,’ said Mr. Tremain. ‘We know how important this type of care is.
Please be assured that Craig and I will continue to do all that we can to get beds back at Cranford as soon as possible.