I wanted you to know that I only ever tell the good stories about Wairoa. I love talking about the Lake to Lighthouse race, the Wairoa Races, the “Longest Day” in the Cactus Program, the High School Stage Challenge Team, the Wairoa Ross Shield Team, the Anzac Service at Kaiuku, the A&P Show, the hundreds if not thousands of great things that go on day in day out in Wairoa which are not portrayed in the national news.

I recall campaigning in Wairoa at the last election. I’ll never forget the friendly way I was greeted at each place that someone was home. Even if people didn’t care for National Party politics, they gave me the time of day, said “Gidday” and smiled. Many front doors were open as I walked up proof that people felt safe in their community. It reminded me of growing up in Taradale when we all used to leave our windows and front doors open.

While we can talk about the great side of the community we have to deal with crime because it impacts on us all.  It does affect our community.  It does affect our economy.  But the biggest impact is on 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.

Victims have been neglected for too long.  So I am pleased that our Government is putting victims at the heart of the justice system.

Two weeks ago, (1 July) on-the-spot safety orders came into effect.  These ensure that victims of domestic violence get immediate protection from dangerous situations.

Police will now be able to remove an alleged violent person from the home for a period of up to five days.  This will provide a period of safety in which victims can consider their options.

National is also improving services for victims of violent crime.  These include a range of initiatives that will help address the financial and emotional costs that victims face.

From 1 July, all convicted offenders will pay a $50 offender levy.  This levy will be imposed automatically on offenders at sentencing – regardless of the crime they commit.  The levy will collect an estimated $13.6 million over the first four years.  It will support additional entitlements and services for victims of serious crime.

These include:

• Increased grants for families of homicide victims.
• Assistance with expenses resulting from sexual violence.
• A High Court attendance grant of $124 per person per day for up to five adult members of a homicide victim’s family.
• Increases in travel, accommodation, and childcare assistance for victims attending court proceedings.
• Funeral grants for families of homicide victims.

National is committed to addressing the impact of crime on victims.  We can’t take away the pain of victims’ loss or injury, but we can help to smooth the way.

Our new on-the-spot safety orders, the new offender levy, and extra victim support will help ensure offenders contribute to addressing the harm their behaviour causes, and put victims at the heart of the justice system.

This aside – let’s all focus on the many positive things that occur day in and day out in Wairoa. We know it’s a magic town. Rest assured I’ll be doing my bit to tell the world.

 Chris Tremain – MP Napier/Wairoa

The Napier City Council and the Hawkes Bay Regional Council approached me to see what could be done.  I agreed that there needed to be air quality standards around New Zealand but thought that there had to be a way to implement the standards at minimal cost. At the time Napier had recorded just five exceedances per annum and given this small number of breaches it seemed ridiculous to force massive change so quickly.  This was especially so when it was predicted Napier would meet the standard as a City simply by requiring new home builds and home sales  to meet the standard over a longer time period.

As a result Craig Foss and I met with Minister Nick Smith and also asked him to meet with the respective councils to understand the issue we faced. Fact was that in cities like Christchurch, they’ve known they had a problem for decades and have had the chance to change.  Quite frankly Napier didn’t know we had an issue until we measured it (I certainly didn’t) and as a result the time frame given for us to meet the standard was unworkable.

Our meeting and others around the country convinced the Minister to review the standards.  The upshot of this is a discussion document proposing amendments to the National Air Quality Standards.  As the Minister rightly said “The existing standard of only one exceedance a year is unrealistic and would require banning home log burners and industries in communities where air quality is generally very good”.

The Technical Advisory Group has recommended the standard be increased from one to three exceedances a year, which is consistent with the World Health Organisation Air Quality Standard. In addition to this the group has recommended the period within which councils must comply be extended to 2018.

These changes are about improving air quality but in a pragmatic and realistic way. I am confident that under these changes Napier will be able to meet the standard within the timeframe and at a much smaller cost to our city.

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”.

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

The threat of regional airport control towers being closed because of the law would have had a significant impact on Napier Airport.

Air New Zealand had signalled that at least four flights each week to and from Auckland would have been removed from the schedule.

“Aside from the loss of flights, we would also be at a greater risk of cancellations and delays as flight times would need to revolve around set breaks,” Chris Tremain says.

“It would be a mess, with the public and local businesses the big losers.”

The move to introduce greater flexibility to the law was simply common sense, Craig Foss says.

“Everyone is entitled to a break and that won’t change, but now they can arrange it to suit their schedules and not be dictated to by legislation.

“Airports, pharmacies and schools have always had workable arrangements in place so staff can take breaks and they should be allowed to decide what system works best for them.”

Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson will introduce an Amendment Bill to the House later this month.