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”

“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

“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/>

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.

‘This is huge news for our region,” says Chris Tremain. “I want to thank Hawke’s Bay employers for showing the confidence to create additional employment in what has been a tight economic market.”

‘This is especially good news for young people,” says Craig Foss. “Nationally figures show that although they have been hit hardest by the recession they are also over half the number of people that came off the benefit last month; I am thrilled.”

“It’s been great to see local WINZ staff placing youth into the Community Max and Job Ops program. Well done and thank you!” they add.

Hawke’s Bay has a large seasonal workforce and much of this work will remain until the end of April.

‘One of the wider goals of our Government is to keep this momentum going through the winter,” says Mr Tremain. “Even though seasonal work will wind down then, there are signs that the economy is starting to grow once more and this is a good sign for employment”.

‘The National policies like Job Ops and Community Max have helped our region better weather the recession,’ says Mr Foss. ‘We are looking forward to the future.”

‘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> .

Since first being elected in 2005 the extension of the airport runway has been a priority for us” says Craig Foss. “Both Chris and I have worked hard down in Parliament to ensure that central Government would not be a barrier to the Bays runway aspirations. Our goal is to ensure the extension would happen before the rugby World Cup”.

“An extended runway is important for Hawkes Bay” says Chris Tremain. We’re one of New Zealands most go-ahead areas and it’s about time this long standing issue got sorted out”.

Both MP’s believe that the extended runway will help to grow the local economy.  “It will be good for businesses, good for exporters, good for tourism, and good for jobs” say the MP’s.

“We congratulate the Board on the proactive steps being taken and are fully behind the project”.