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”

No more so than last Friday. Leaving home early I first drove up to Raupunga and then down to Mohaka School at the mouth of the River. What a great school. I was welcomed with a Powhiri and then had the chance to reply and discuss parliament and the role of an MP. This is a school making a real difference to the lives of their kids. They teach strong values and expect big things of the children which was great to see. We spoke about the state of their classrooms as the hall has been condemned. I’ll be following up to see what the Ministry’s plans are for its replacement.

From Mohaka my Wairoa Electorate Agent, Mary Crarer, and I drove back to Raupunga and then up to Putere School. Once again a great little school but in this case wonderful new school buildings with all the mod cons. Putere are planning a trip to Parliament so once again I was able to talk to the children about Parliament and what to expect.

Driving back down the Putere Road we came across a QRS truck stuck in a ditch.  I had some rope but we broke that pretty quickly so went to one of the local farms and borrowed some chains.  Back to the truck and with a combined effort we had it pulled out quick smart.

Go the “Backing the Bay” Ford Ranger!

From Putere we headed to Wairoa on our way to Mahia. Called into the Northside Dairy to check on the owners after last week’ hold up. Good to hear that all involved are OK albeit still shaken by the event.

Upon arriving at Mahia we ducked in for a quick visit with a couple of constituents to chase up a complaint before heading to a public meeting at the school. Mahia residents are concerned about changes to the bus service particularly for services out to Onenui Station at the end of the peninsula. It’s all very well to front the good news (eg Matahoura Gorge) but it’s probably more important to front up at the tough meetings like this one so that locals can tell you exactly how they are feeling.

From Mahia school we grabbed a quick meal at the Sunset Bar. Fantastic fish and chips! The terakihi was superb and I can definitely recommend it.

Last on the agenda for the night was a trip to Frasertown for another public meeting with local farmers who are concerned about the impact of the ETS. It’s been tough for sheep and beef farmers over the past 4 to 5 years and the last thing they want is more costs added to their farms. This aside, I was able to explain the Governments position. I think many took heart from Minister of Agriculture, David Carter’, recent comments that it is unlikely that farmers will be brought directly into the scheme unless other nations (18) and US states (11) have done so. To date none have so the likelihood is low. There are reviews in 2011 and 2014 before farming directly enters the scheme in 2015 so there are plenty of opportunities to assess where the rest of the world is at.

Following the meeting it was great to enjoy a beer and a few games of pool with a couple of  young shepherds, Jeremy and Sam, from up Ohuka way. I smelt a rat when after Jeremy let me win the first game he thought it might be a good idea to put $100 on the next. He even said he’d accept a credit card! Good on ya mate!

I was home in Napier by 11.30pm. A good day at the office…

My dad, Kelvin Tremain, died at just 54.  He would be 72 today.  He was a smoker…a heavy smoker.  And cancer was the cause of my dads death.

Some of you may have seen the family photo published in the paper a few weeks ago.  There are 17 of us now here in Napier.  My dad missed my brothers’ 21st.  He missed my wedding, and my two brothers weddings.  He missed the birth of his first grandson.  He missed the birth of his first grand-daughter.  And he missed the birth of eight further grandchildren.  He missed his grandsons first rugby game and his grand-daughters first netball game.  He’s missed my brothers grow up to be fine men and he’s never known their two amazing wives.  My dad has missed one hell of a lot.

This week I was proud to be involved in passing legislation to increase the excise tax on tobacco to reduce smoking, to dissuade young people from starting to smoke, and to improve the health of New Zealanders.  Smoking is a leading cause of preventable death in New Zealand.

If you’re a smoker and you don’t want to miss out on what my dad has missed out on stop the habit.  And stop it now. I can tell you it’s just not worth it.

Chris Tremain

‘We are absolutely thrilled that our cycle trail project has been selected out of the 54 put forward,’ says Tukituki MP Craig Foss.’ This is an important step of the process and I want to congratulate those who have worked hard on this project, in particular the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and Graeme Hansen of the Works Group and Michael Bassett-Foss of Venture Hawkes Bay.’

“What I’m really excited about is the vision for the wider cycle trail in Hawke’s Bay” says Chris Tremain. “This is just stage one. Stage two and three will complete the picture of three iconic rides around the bay. This will mean cycle tourists can stay in any part of the province and access the three rides over a number of days.”

‘It is envisaged that there will be a nationwide network of iconic Great Rides,’ adds Mr Foss.  ‘Having Hawke’s Bay as one of them is very exciting; it will be a great boost to Tourism and Employment’

‘We should not underestimate what this could do for Tourism in Hawke’s Bay,’ says Mr Tremain. ‘I am very hopeful that we will one-day soon be able to show off our stunning scenery and fantastic hospitality to a whole new tourist clique.’

Both MPs agree that Hawke’s Bay’s bid was advantaged by the initial work undertaken by the Rotary Clubs of Hawke’s Bay and the City Councils.  They say that these organisations have laid the foundations for an outstanding cycling experience.
While the Tukituki ride is the first to be accepted the bid also included applications for iconic rides through the Ngatarawa Wine region and a loop down the Tutaekuri River to Otatara Pa and then out to Bay View along the Estuary.

The feasibility study is expected to be completed by 31 May 2010 and construction of the chosen Cycle Trails will begin by the end of the year.
For further information about Nga Haeranga, the New Zealand Cycle Trail, go to www.tourism.govt.nz/cycleway <http://www.tourism.govt.nz/cycleway> .

Father Christmas did well choosing for our girls. He also ate all the cake and drank the milk we left out for him. Rudolph demolished the carrot left for him. Father Christmas even left a footprint in the flour that we spread in front of the chimney.

Our family present to ourselves were mountain bikes, which hold great promise! We had a late brunch of pancakes. Later it was Crayfish, caught on Christmas eve, followed by our turkey in the early evening.

Today my father and I are cooking a potjiekos, over an open fire. It will take 4 hours but is delicious, and a very good excuse for a couple of quiets while we are waiting.

A recent visit to Wairoa took me from Te Reinga Falls through the famous Ruakituri valley to the Ohuka valley and up to Tuai and home. Wow what a stunner of a drive!!

Northern Hawkes Bay really has some breathtaking country side and it was a privilege to visit the locals up there.
We left Wairoa at 9.15am (after the drive from Napier) and headed for Ruakituri to visit the school and Board of Trustees. Accompanying us was an exchange student from Wairoa College, Percy Anez (from Bolivia) who has an interest in politics. Percy lives in the city of Santa Cruz with his family and Spanish is his first language so he is learning to speak kiwi (with a Wairoa dialect) – he did well to converse with both students and parents.

At 9.45am I reached Ruakituri School to discuss some problems they are having with the school bus route. What a great school Dianna King runs with fantastic parent and community support. Ralph Wichers was there as well and was reading to the kids. He travels all the way from Wairoa, visiting remote schools to teach the children religious instruction. I was humbled when Dave Withers gave me a copy of his book about the history of the valley – Thanks Dave!

At 11.30am I was welcomed onto Ohuka School and treated to some wonderful singing and a rousing haka from the students. Credit to Principal Julie Thelwell for a group of well prepared pupils. I was pleasantly surprised at their knowledge of parliament and they seemed genuinely interested in what we do. While at the school we discussed concerns for local School Bus Transport with parents and the board of trustees and hope to offer some assistance in solving their problem.

From Ohuka we raced out to Te Kura Waikaremoana School at Tuai arriving about 1pm. Once again I met the principal, Judith Morice, and learnt about the issues faced by students in the Tuai area.

On the way back to Wairoa we met with locals near Piripaua who were concerned about the continual dust from the remaining unsealed portion of the lake road. They have had years of frustration in trying to campaign to have the remaining 8 kms of unsealed road completed. I will try and support their case in this.

I left for Napier at 4.00pm to meet a deadline of 5.30pm where I had to make a speech to diners gathered for a meal before the Hawkes Bay versus Tasman Rugby match at McLean Park. What a nail biter that was with a narrow 28 – 26 victory over Tasman – COME ON THE BAY!!

A perfect finish to busy day.

“We’ve just received confirmation from the Sports Council of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Association and we’re delighted,” says Allan Potts, Chair of Hastings Athletics. “The Nationals are the first major athletics event that will use the new grandstand. It’s going to be a great. We know the track is fast and I’m confident records will be broken,” he says.

Hosting rights for the Secondary Schools Champs follows earlier confirmation that the Primary School equivalent – the Colgate Games – will also be held at the Park, in February 2011.
The two events are expected to bring over 8000 athletes and supporters into Hawke’s Bay.

“One of the reasons we were concerned about legal delays in building the grandstand was because it placed these events in jeopardy,” says Sports Park Trust Chair Lawrence Yule. “However the grandstand will be built on time and these two events alone will bring about $3 million into the local economy. It just shows what facilities like this can bring to the Bay.”

” Imagine what a sporting and economic engine room we’re going to have if we get the green light for the Unison Velodrome,” he says.

SPARC is undertaking a review of major sporting facilities and Hawke’s Bay is one of several regions bidding to be the centre for an indoor velodrome. If the region receives SPARC’s endorsement, it stands a strong chance of attracting the necessary funding to make the velodrome a reality.
In August Unison announced a $1 million sponsorship package in support of Hawke’s Bay’s bid.

Craig says ‘I love the idea of encouraging Kiwis to be kind.  New Zealand is the only country in the world with a national Random Acts of Kindness Day and I would love it if Hawke’s Bay got in behind this day to ensure that the kindness temperature was lifted.’

Craig also states that there couldn’t be a better start to spring but with a Random Act of Kindness.