Columns
Havelock North Age Concern
15/9/11
The Government has announced an $11 million partnership with the country’s rest homes to further improve rest home care. New technology will allow regular, uniform, comprehensive clinical assessments of all residents in rest homes across the country. It is expected to be available to 90% of residents within the next three years. From the moment residents first move into a rest home they will be assessed across 22 key aspects of their health. This comprehensive assessment will then be repeated at least every six months, providing a structured way to build a broad picture of the resident’s health and well-being. Improving rest home quality and supervision is crucial to the wellbeing and quality of life of many older New Zealanders. This is great news for those in residential care.
Nominations for the 2012 New Zealander of the Year Awards are now open. There are many people and organisations within our region that are making positive contributions to our local community. These are our unsung heroes who go about their work not looking for recognition but with a passion and commitment in supporting their community groups through voluntary work and leadership. There are awards for Senior of the Year, Young New Zealander of the Year, Community of the Year and Local Heroes Awards, as well as the prestigious New Zealander of the Year Award. So let’s take this opportunity to nominate and encourage those making a difference in our communities. Nomination forms are available from Countdown Supermarkets, Kiwibank and Mitre 10 branches or free phone 0508 692 927. You can also nominate online at www.nzawards.org.nz
C HB
13/9/11
‘Sculpture in the Daffodils’
The Taniwha ‘Sculpture in the Daffodils’ is being held during the month of September. This spring event does a great job raising funds for Plunket. So pack a picnic and support Plunket by purchasing a bunch of daffodils and take the time to view original art works and floral sculpture on display.
It is great to see that the Oak Room and Zinc Café and Catering will be represented in this year’s Regional Signature Dish Competition. This will encourage diners to travel throughout Hawke’s Bay and will be great for the region. The competition is running from 9 September to 18 October, with thirty six Hawke’s Bay restaurants and cafes competing.
Congratulations to Waipukurau Construction for winning three awards last month at the Hawke’s Bay Registered Master Builders PlaceMakers House of the Year and Commercial Project Awards. Well done guys, this is an awesome achievement!
Thumbs up to everyone who helped organize CHB – The Festival. A lot of hard work went into this event and it just gets bigger, brighter and better each year. I hope ‘ewes’ all enjoyed the ‘Mutton Dressed as Lamb Ball’!! I’m sure you all had a great night.
The latest health target results show that the Hawke’s Bay DHB is boosting its performance. The Hawke’s Bay DHB has made the most improvement in elective procedures and in helping smokers quit. The team at Hawke’s Bay DHB has worked hard to achieve this outcome, providing better care for patients. This is great news for the community.
Hastings Leader 7.9.11
Pitching In
Chris Tremain and myself are getting stuck in and rolling up our sleeves to work as volunteers for the Hawke’s Bay Rugby World Cup 2011 games. We are rapt to be part of Team 2011 pitching in and showcasing The Bay to our visitors. There are over 6,000 people being trained all around New Zealand, covering all functional areas and leadership development. This is a great opportunity for all ages to get involved with our Nation’s greatest sporting event!
Last Wednesday I was honoured to be part of history, when the Governor-General of New Zealand Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae, was sworn in as New Zealand’s 20th Governor-General. Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae replaces out-going The Rt Hon Anand Satyanand. Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae has risen through the ranks, starting as a private in the army nearly 40 years ago and going on to serve and command in a wide variety of roles. This role is about community leadership and I’m sure Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae will undertake his role with humour, ingenuity, practicality and without bias.
Health Minister Tony Ryall has recently released the national health target results for the final quarter of 2010/11, showing record numbers of kiwi patients accessing elective surgery. The DHB’s have delivered more than 145,000 elective surgery discharges in the last financial year, that’s 26,000 more than only three years ago. That’s 500 extra patients a week who are now getting elective surgery. Awesome news!
Flaxmere Age Concern
2/8/11
I am 100% behind the 12 month ban on currently unregulated psychoactive substances, such as Kronic. It is great that the Government has acted so quickly, as these products are generally untested and we do not know the long-term effects of their use. We are not about to just let it all happen and pick up damaged young people at the end.
Older New Zealanders deserve a health service that cares for them, their families and their communities. The Government is investing in more elective procedures, more doctors and nurses and better access to medicines and services. More medicines are being subsidized including new cancer treatments, the first Alzheimer’s disease drug and diabetes medicines. Quality aged residential care services are also crucial to the wellbeing and quality of life of many older New Zealanders. We have introduced spot audits of rest homes and have made these audit results available online. Seniors and all New Zealanders now have better access to the frontline health services.
With the many natural disasters occurring recently throughout the country, I would like to encourage you to obtain a ‘Life Tube’. “A Life Tube can speak for you when you can’t.” These are valuable in an emergency, as they contain vital personal information readily available for emergency services. This information is also available for any other person who may find you in difficulty. They can be obtained from your local Age Concern. For more details visit www.ageconcern.org.nz
Have you updated your enrolment details? The main reason people are removed from the roll is due to them changing their address and not updating their details by re-enrolling. You can check your enrolment details atwww.elections.org.nz or call 0800 367 656.
As always I am keen to hear your news and views. You can contact me at Foss@Parliament.govt.nz or P O Box 477 Hastings 4156. You can also catch up with what I have been up to at www.BackingtheBay.co.nz.
Village Press
9/8/11
Love New Zealand
The Rugby World Cup is the opportunity to showcase our beautiful and clean Hawke’s Bay to the world. As part of this we have launched ‘Love NZ’ public place recycling bins in The Bay. ‘Love NZ ‘is a partnership between the National Government, industry and local government, which will set up a network of recycling bins around the country. Seven public place recycling bins have been installed at key tourist spots around the Hastings District in time for the Rugby World Cup 2011.
The Minister for the Environment the Hon Dr Nick Smith officially opened a new wetland development, next to the Longlands roundabout on 28 July. A total of 1600 flax plants from the Rene Orchiston flax collection will be planted in the new reserve. Once they have matured the region’s weavers will have access to the plants. This project will help to preserve the art of local weaving and will attract native birds to the area. This will be a great asset for the Bay.
The Government is introducing legislation to further tighten rules for non-bank deposit takers. It gives the Reserve Bank the power to remove directors and issue directions in certain circumstances. The Financial Markets Authority has been established, there is a new regime for financial advisers, required licensing of trustees and auditors and strengthened disclosure requirements. These measures are designed to lift investor confidence in our finance sector and capital markets.
You can contact me at Foss@Parliament.govt.nz or you can write to me at P O Box 477 Hastings 4156. Or visit www.BackingtheBay.co.nz
CHB Mail
2/8/11
Winners!
Hawke’s Bay rowers won gold and bronze medals at the Lucerne World Cup regatta held recently in Switzerland. Takapau rower Fiona Bourke and her women’s quadruple sculls team won bronze behind the winning Germans and the British world champions. This was one of the outstanding Kiwi performances of the regatta.
Congratulations to the team of Noah, Oliver, Joe and George from Sherwood School, who won the 2011 Year 5 and 6 Literacy Quiz beating all other Central Hawke’s Bay Schools. This is a great achievement!
It was also great to see that the pupils from Argyll East School are doing their bit for the environment. As part of the Paper4Trees programme run by the Environmental Education for Resource Sustainability Trust, the pupils are recycling their cardboard and paper. This programme began in 2001 and has become hugely successful and is now used in thousands of schools around New Zealand. As part of the Paper4Trees initiative, schools receive one native tree/shrub/grass or flax for every 2000 litres of paper and cardboard they recycle. Well done children! To find out more visit www.eerst.co.nz/paper-4-trees.
Let’s support Plunket who are busy raising funds for a new HB Plunket Centre. On 1 September, they are holding a Breakfast with John Key. Come along and join the Prime Minister, myself and Plunket for the most important meal of the day!
You can email Susanna at craigfoss@backingchb.co.nz for tickets or telephone her on 06 870 3484.
Hastings Mail
27/7/11
Plunket Fundraiser
Plunket is busy raising funds for a new HB Plunket Centre. On 1 September, they are holding a Breakfast with John Key. Come along and join the Prime Minister, myself and Plunket for the most important meal of the day! Most of us have been Plunket babies, so let’s give them our support. You can phone the local Plunket office (06 878 7126) or pop in and see us at our office for your tickets.
I urge local households to shop around for electricity. The Electricity Authority has recently launched the “What’s My Number” campaign to provide consumers with information about the best prices and switching electricity suppliers. Visit www.whatsmynumber.org.nz. And go to Consumer NZ’s ‘Powerswitch’ website www.powerswitch.org.nz to confirm details, estimate you potential savings and initiate the switch to a new retailer. The Government is committed to improving choice for electricity consumers, and helping them put competitive pressure on electricity retailers to provide better value for money.
Our environment is our greatest asset. It makes living in our communities special , it is our quality of life, our national identity and our competitive advantage. The Government is bringing much-needed leadership and direction to environmental issues making sure New Zealand manages its resources more effectively and efficiently to bring both economic and environmental benefits. More trees are being planted, more renewable power stations are being approved, more homes are being insulated, more fireplaces are being replaced with clean heating, and more lakes and rivers are being cleaned up. This is great news for Hawke’s Bay and for all of New Zealand!
Have you updated your Election enrolment details? The main reason people are removed from the roll is due to them changing their address and not updating their details by re-enrolling. You can check your enrolment details at www.elections.org.nz.
Hastings Leader 13/7/11
“Say Ahh”
A campaign that was launched at Flaxmere School, has had positive results! This project was recently spoken about in Parliament, by the Minister of Health Tony Ryall, when he was asked “What initiatives have been undertaken to tackle rheumatic fever in New Zealand?” He referred to Flaxmere in his answer when he noted that: Flaxmere school children are one of the groups that have been targeted through a joint initiative between HBDHB and Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga in a campaign called “Say Ahh”. The aim is to get parents to consent to having their children’s sore throats swabbed at school, and if a positive result is returned for the Streptococcus A infection, the cause of rheumatic fever, they can be prescribed antibiotics by the school based nurse. Or of course can be referred to their own GP. Since the project was launched, there have been no new cases of rheumatic fever in Flaxmere. This positive attack on a nasty disease is awesome news and great for our Flaxmere kids!
Last Friday I took part in the launch of the iWay “Share the Road” campaign held at Cinema Gold in Havelock North. So far over 25 kilometres of new cycle lanes have been created. The Share the Road campaign is focused on making cyclists and drivers more aware of one another and will use simple methods to ensure both parties stay safe. This campaign is about respect for both cyclists and drivers. So look out for the new billboards and keep each other safe!
Hastings Mail 13/7/11
Leadership Week
Last week was Leadership Week. This is an annual event that highlights the importance of strong leadership, as well as showcasing the work being done to develop our nation’s leadership capability. I would like to congratulate Heather Skipworth for winning a leadership award as a 2011 Emerging Leader. Two years ago, Heather founded the brand IronMaori. From small beginnings of 288 competitors, this year there will be 1500 athletes competing in the IronMaori (2km swim, 90km cycle, 21km run). Heather’s passionate belief was that the half-ironman event could make a difference to Maori health and well-being. It has been a phenomenal success with new training groups springing up all around the country and has now been extended to a duathlon in Wellington next week. Well done Heather!!
I had the privilege last Friday of presenting a Peter Blake Leadership award and medal to Hereworth School’s Head Boy William Gunson. Congratulations Willam, this is a great achievement.
On Wednesday 29 June, Chris Tremain and I were present at the celebrations held at Government House to honour the police and others who were involved in the Napier siege caused by Jan Molenaar in May 2009. It was a privilege to be part of those celebrations. Our Police, St Johns and citizens demonstrated huge courage and leadership during the siege. Hawke’s Bay is very proud of these brave officers and others being honoured, as well as their colleagues and everyone who assisted on the tragic day.
From July 1 victims of crime will have access to more services and support funded by the $50 Offender Levy, which all convicted offenders are required to pay. Crime affects our neighbourhoods, our society and our economy. But most of all, crime affects the victim. Victims and their families have to deal with the emotional, physical and financial costs long after a crime has been committed. Later this year a Victims of Crime Reform Bill will be introduced to allow victims to say more in their Victim Impact Statements and to be kept better informed through the Victim Notification System. The National Government was elected to improve the justice system and address the impact of crime on victims. The successful Offender Levy, 13 new services for victims, the Victims Centre and the Victims of Crime Reform Bill will go a long way to putting victims at the heart of the justice system.
CHB Mail 12/7/11
Positive Outcomes
The closure of Ovation is a blow, but there have at least been some positive outcomes. Ovation still have over 64 staff employed full-time at the current site. This includes Head Office management staff who run the whole company from the Waipukurau site, as well as, 22 freezer staff and portion control staff. Out of the staff who have been made redundant, 16 have already been re-employed in Hastings. Some staff left earlier in the process to take up employment within the new Fielding operation. The Ovation company has also offered work to staff at the Gisborne and Fielding plants. Everyone involved is doing all that they can to assist people through and to get back into paid employment.
The Government has finalized its plans for rural telecommunications for the roll-out of high speed broadband in rural areas and the reform of the Telecommunications Service Obligations. Communications and Information Technology Minister Steven Joyce says the plans will lead to a major step-change in rural broadband. The rural community objective is to enable 97 percent of households and enterprises to access broadband services of 5Mbps or better, with the remainder reaching at least 1Mbps. The rural schools objective is to connect 97 percent of schools to fibre, enabling speeds of at least 100Mbps, with the remaining reaching speeds of at least 10Mbps.
Hastings Mail 29/6/11
Another busy week in the Bay.
The Smokefree Rock Quest regional competition was held recently at the HB Opera House. Twenty six local High School bands participated. It was a wonderful opportunity for our young talent to perform in public and at such a fantastic venue. It is great for the Bay that we have so many up and coming young musicians.
Last weekend I attended the grand opening of the Netball Courts at the Hawke’s Bay Regional Sports Park. There is a new netball facility hosting 18 courts, 6 more than at the old site. This will be a wonderful asset for the community to enjoy.
Last week was Volunteer Awareness Week, also coinciding with the Annual Week of St John.
Well done to the St John’s pupil who went beyond the call of duty, during work experience with St John’s Ambulance. Instead of finishing for the day, he stepped up and helped with the translation between the medical staff and six Samoan patients. It is great to see this level of commitment in our youth.
Throughout our community, local people are giving their time generously to help others.
Volunteering is a kiwi way of life and Hawke’s Bay lead the charge.
On Friday 24th Chris Tremain on my behalf celebrated with a huge group of volunteers. He personally thanked everyone who was there for the work freely undertaken as a volunteer. A big thank you to all that volunteer.
Many local community organisations, where volunteers are involved, have held events in recognition of all the volunteers who give their time so generously to others.
More information about the week can be found on their website www.volunteeringnz.org.nz
Volunteer organizations can apply to BP New Zealand for fuel vouchers to help with the cost of running vehicles which has a big impact on volunteer organisations. You can visit their website at www.bp.co.nz
Volunteer Week is a great opportunity to say hey count me in it’s my turn! C’mon the Bay.
Flaxmere Age Concern 20.6.11
I am immensely proud to be the MP for Tukituki. I thoroughly enjoy working with the people of Hawke’s Bay to make Hawke’s Bay all it can be. Recently I received the huge honour of being made a Minister outside Cabinet in John Key’s Government. This is a humbling moment in any MP’s career. You will be aware that Chris Tremain is Senior Whip, so now your Hawke’s Bay MPs both have senior positions in Government. We will continue to work hard ‘Backing the Bay.’ My portfolios are Racing, Civil Defence, Senior Citizens and Associate Commerce and Associate Local Government.Thank you for your on going support and as always…”C’mon the Bay”.
Last Wednesday was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Age Concern do fabulous work in our area, by raising awareness and managing many unfortunate instances of neglect. As we get older we do become more vulnerable to both physical and emotional bullying. It is so important that we keep a watch out for each other and follow up on any suspicion we may have of abuse. Sadly there are dodgy people out there who target older citizens and take advantage of them. I encourage you to ensure that you are aware of your rights, and the services and resources that are available to you. Please always keep a look out for your neighbour.
Hastings Leader 31.5.2011
Save Money on your Electricity Bill
There is a new way to save money! The Electricity Authority has launched a campaign call ‘What’s my Number’ and it is all about encouraging New Zealanders to shop around for electricity. You can estimate your savings at www.whatsmynumber.org.nz. A 2009 study shows that these savings can be significant. The Government is committed to improving choice for electricity consumers and helping them put competitive pressure on electricity retailers to provide better value for money. So take a look at the website, take control of your electricity bill and shop around.
A huge well done and a big pat of the back to the three boys who stood up to two scum who were threatening to abduct a young twelve year old girl while she was walking to school. They stopped what could have been very serious incident and helped that girl out of a frightening situation. They are a credit to themselves, their families and to Hastings Boys High School. I have visited the boys and thanked them on behalf of our community. Also thanks to the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union who gave the boys some tickets to a Magpies game in recognition of their heroism. Go the Bay.
Country Scene 25 May 2011
Focusing on the great stuff is important and next week Hawke’s Bay hosts the annual ICE Expo and HB Young Fruitgrower of the Year competition. The ICE Expo is New Zealand’s only horticultural trade show and is a great place for growers to catch up with the latest innovations in their industry. At ICE, which stands for Innovation Celebration and Education, there will be a number other events including a Horticultural Art Award and The Ravensdown Innovation Award. It is a great day out for horticulturists. I am going along to watch the Young Fruitgrowers compete in their hortisport competition.
Once again the annual Hospitality Awards were a huge success. The categories span across the whole industry ranging from top of the line restaurants to traditional hotels, from Chefs who are some of the best in the world to those that are just entering the industry. My congratulations go out to all those that entered, that were nominated and of course those that won. You do the industry and our region very proud.
Last week saw the release of Budget 2011. This Budget sets out the next steps in the Government’s programme for faster economic growth, with projections showing that we will be back in the black by 2014. This is fantastic news. New Zealanders are responding to the challenges of saving and living within our means but we need to do more yet. The Budget is a responsible one, it balances the need for savings while maintaining and in many cases improving social services. We have given the healthcare sector $2.2b more over the next for years while education is receiving an extra $1.4b. Infrastructure, a key factor in economic growth, will receive $1.6b; this is to go towards such things as broadband, schools and the Kiwi Rail turnaround.
The injection of these funds will of course add jobs to our economy but we are not stopping there. Young people will benefit from the Youth Employment Package that will help them get into jobs. This Budget is about building a strong and sustainable future for New Zealand, a New Zealand where people want to live, raise families and invest and our futur
Village Press 29 April 2011
Recent rains have wrecked havoc across our region causing damage to homes, infrastructure and farmland. Our amazing Councils, Civil Defence Team and volunteer Fire Brigade did a great job in keeping people safe and informed at the time. As I write they are still working hard to help residents most affected to get their lives back to normal.
Communities band together in times of trouble and this was no different. Local communities are amazing. I know communities up and down Hawke’s Bay were helping each other out and making sure that neighbours were safe. We are all still hearing stories and seeing pictures that show what happened over those 48 hours. There are some graphic pictures on the Hastings District council website which show some of the devastation. It will take a while for some regions to recover and there is still a lot of work to do. However if you have been meaning to go and have a cup of tea with a neighbour just to see how they are, now’s the time. It’s amazing what a cuppa and a chat can do.
Hastings Mail 27 April 2011
Getting our school leavers and young adults into employment is a high priority for the National Government. We are all very aware that it is more difficult for young people to come off the unemployment benefit once they are on it and that is where the Governments Job Opportunities Package has been very successful.
We know that it can be a risk for employers when they hire new staff, and this risk is compounded when creating a new position. The Job Ops package eases some of the financial burden of hiring new staff by providing a $5,000 subsidy to employers who take on unskilled 16-24 years olds. Not only does it ease the employees transition, it also makes a huge difference in young people’s lives. It helps them learn new skills and helps them stay connected to the labour market. More than 4,500 have completed a Job Ops programme and of these, 90 per cent are not on a benefit. This is great news and shows that this programme really works. So if you are thinking of taking on a new employee, have a look at the Job Ops programme and see if it can work for you.
Our senior community is, of course, also a very valuable part of our society. They are the heart and soul of many volunteer organisations which are so integral to our social network. Getting out and about can sometimes be difficult for the older generation who rely on public transport to get to town, the libraries and to access health services, more than other members of society. To help, the National Government has put an extra $9 million towards the SuperGold card transport subsidy taking the total spend up to $45 million over the next two years.
The 21st of May is a big day in The Bay with the Crusaders taking on the Chiefs at McLean Park. It will be a chance to see the nearly all Hawke’s Bay backline of the Canterbury Crusaders shine on their home ground. I love watching these guys and it is great to see home town boys doing so well in Rugby World Cup year.
Country Scene 19 April 2011
Winter appears to have arrived but while we get the cooler temperatures, The Bay also puts on wonderful crisp clear mornings and clear blue skies; the intermittent rain only helps us appreciate what we have.
Celebrating what we have and what we do is important to me so it was with great delight that I attended the inaugural East Coast Ballance Farm Environment Awards Field Day. Almost every farmer looks after their land, if they didn’t they would go bust. So it was great to be at a function that celebrates the balance of Ballance farming and the environment.
Big ‘Congratulations” goes to Steve and Jane Wyn Harris for taking out the supreme title, and another big congratulations goes to all the nominees and category winners. The Wyn Harris property was described by judges as one of the most highly developed and sustainable sheep and cattle farms in New Zealand; what an accolade! The awards highlight all the great work that goes on across the district and it shows that farming in Hawke’s Bay is in good hands.
It is time to vote in the Hawke’s Bay Hospitality Awards. There is a great line-up of finalists this year that showcase not only our best and brightest chefs, waitpersons and wineries but also our up and coming stars. You can vote on-line simply by going to www.hbhosposawards.co.nz and clicking on the ‘Vote here’ link. Going through the list, you can see just what we have to offer here in the Bay. I love that traditional pubs get a look in too. The awards evening is on the 23rd of May and I can’t wait to see the results. Congratulations to all the finalists; you do The Bay proud.
Can I also send big congratulations to Tim and Anna Clouston who won the 39th Annual Hawke’s Bay Farmer of the Year Awards; another Central Hawke’s Bay farming family who has done very well. These two have spent most of their lives on farms but have only recently taken over their current property; this is an awesome achievement.
Also honoured at the awards was Heugh Chappell, Radio New Zealand’s Rural reporter. You will hear Heugh on the National Radio reporting on the rural community in good times and bad. I know he has the respect all the farming sector. Well done Heugh a much deserved award.
Hastings Mail 19 April 2011
The school holidays are upon us just as winter strikes its first blow. However living in The Bay we are assured of many days of clear blue skies and crisp mornings. As always there are plenty of holiday programmes to keep the children occupied over the next couple of weeks; the Hastings, Flaxmere and Havelock North Libraries run exciting and engaging programmes for younger children. A quick look at www.hastingslibrary.co.nz shows that bears, books and clowns feature strongly. Staff at the libraries put a lot of effort into the holiday activities and they really are a very good way of keeping the children amused for a couple of hours.
The new Hawke’s Bay logo has been launched. It is a variation on the old and hugely successful HB Wine Country logo set up in the 1990’s by Bay Champion Graham Avery. The new logo builds on this and shows that we are more than a wine country; we are a great all round tourist destination and a fantastic place to live. I will now have to get the new logo on my Ute!
The Hawke’s Bay Hospitality Awards are here again and what a great way to celebrate our wonderful hospitality industry here in The Bay. We have gained a very good reputation for great food, wine and service, and these awards recognise this. There are fourteen categories including Outstanding Chef, Outstanding Waitperson and Outstanding Winery Restaurant. What I really like is the support for up and coming hospitality stars, you can vote for your favourite emerging chef. To vote go to www.hbhospoawards.co.nz and pick your favourite from the great line-up.
Speaking of great line-ups, I attended the East Coast Balance Farm Environment awards the other week and it was great to see so many farmers doing so much for the environment. Virtually every farmer looks after and cherishs their land. These awards show how much can be done by people passionate about their land as they balance farming and the environment. Steve and Jane Wyn Harris took out the supreme title with what the judges described as one of the most highly developed and sustainable sheep and cattle farms in New Zealand. A great accolade for a couple that have worked hard on sustainability. Well Done.
Central Hawke’s Bay Mail 19 April 2011
Well this column is all about congratulations and celebrating what we do.
The first big Well Done goes to Steve and Jane Wyn Harris for taking out the inaugural East Coast Ballance Farm Environment Awards. I attended the field day, which was very well organised. Steve pulled rank and kicked me out of his ute and put me on gate duty just as the rains came! There was an outstanding line-up of contestants and it was great to see the passion that all these contestants had for farming, for the land and for the environment. Judges noted that the Wyn Harris farm was one of the most highly developed and sustainable sheep and cattle farms in New Zealand; you can’t get a much bigger accolade than that! Big congratulations go the winners of the other awards, James Hunter, Rangitoto; David Clark, Opou Station: Brittany Thompson, Elephant Hill, and Nick and Nicky Dawson of Great Glen Farms. Thanks to Ballance for their sponsorship and helping us celebrate all that is great in farming.
CHB has featured strongly in the awards season, with Tim and Anna Cloutston taking out the Annual Hawke’s Bay Farmer of the Year competition. This is a great achievement as, although these two have been on farms most of their lives, they have only been running their current property for the past four years. Once again it’s that passion for farming that shone through.
Entries are now open for the Hawke’s Bay Young Fruitgrower of the Year competition. Every year the Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers’ Association puts eight young fruitgrowers through their paces showcasing their practical, general knowledge and speech skills. Our previous winners have done very well at the national Young Fruitgrower competition and have more than once gone on to take out the New Zealand Young Grower of the Year competition. The contestants will be on show at the HBFA Horticultural ICE Expo on the 1st of June at the Hastings Showground’s. It’s always a good day.
Village Press 19 April 2011
I hope to see you at the Crusader vs. the Chiefs at McLean Park on the21st of May. Once again key Magpie players wiill be wearing red and black as they help the Canterbury Crusaders make the super 15 finals. No doubt Guilford or Dagg will score a couple of tries on their home turf. C’mon the Bay.
Tackling youth unemployment is one of the Government’s top priorities and a major success story is the Job Opportunities Package first announced back in 2009.
Job Ops provides employers with a $5000 subsidy to create a position for an unskilled 16 to 24 year old. Since its inception it has given ten thousand people the chance to learn skills on the job. We all know that it is difficult for a younger person to come off the unemployment benefit and Job Ops has helped businesses give young Kiwis a go.
These young people are also doing themselves proud once they have their foot in the door. Of the nearly 5000 that have completed the programme, 70 percent are in work; that’s just brilliant. It just goes to show that all these young people need is a chance.
Hastings Mail 13 April 2011
Do you think you could walk or run 7km, or maybe even 16km? Would you like to give it a go with lots of other people while enjoying the amazing Rotary Pathways in Hawke’s Bay? Then the Hawke’s Bay Today Country2Coast, on the 1st of May, is the event for you. It will be a great way to spend a winter Sunday. There are two start points, depending on the distance you are doing, but everyone ends up at the Clifton Café. Go to www.country2coast.co.nz for more information.
Recently I spoke to farmers and growers at the revamped Eastern Field Days the other day. The theme was “Water; the New Oil” and farmers, water users and service providers from across the region turned up to discuss this issue. Some of the topics included the future of dry land farming, water storage, water usage and conservation, and wetlands. It was a valuable day and a valuable discussion. We all came away with new knowledge on better management of our resource.
Legal aid is a vital part of our justice system. However the cost to New Zealand has grown 55 per cent in the past three years from $111 million to $172 million. This is at a time when we are borrowing an average of $300 million a week. A major cause of this increase came about when the previous Government extended eligibility for legal aid and in 2008 increased lawyer remuneration. To combat this rise we have agree on a package of proposals that will get legal aid costs under control while ensuring access to justice for those who need it. The changes are designed to target areas which don’t necessarily require legal representation and groups with relatively higher incomes. Please be assured that the changes will not affect cases involving vulnerable parties, care and protection of children and serious criminal matters. We simply cannot ignore the increased costs, and these changes, which will come into effect in 2011/12, are just one part of our work to improve value for money across the public sector.
Hastings Leader 6 April 2011
The iWay programme, run by the Hastings District council, is designed to encourage biking and walking around our great region. iWay is really taking off with events such as the Big Bike Fix Up, where you can take your bike to a specific place and there will be people there to help you make sure your bike road worthy, and with the creation of social media space where people can share their iWay ideas and experiences. Check out iWay on Facebook.
Recently very stylishbike stands were placed in Hastings to encourage people to cycle into the city centre and do their shopping. They actually looked so good people where a little hesitant to use them as bike stands but that is definitely what they are designed for.
iWay is funded by the NZ Transport Agency under their model communities scheme and Hastings was chosen to lead the way and create a walking and biking city.
On top of this Hastings will host the inaugural conference on walking and cycling next year; look out for delegates cycling through the city to and from the conference.
Hastings Mail 6 April 2011
The 1st of April is of course a time for hi-jinx but this year it also brought in changes to our tax system that will help build a stronger economy. Company tax has been cut to 28 percent. This change increases incentives for Hawke’s Bay firms to reinvest back into jobs and growth. On a national level this is tenfold. This puts us ahead of Australia and helps make New Zealand companies more competitive.
The 1st of April also saw the extension of the 90 day trial period to all employers. Since its inception, the 90 day trial has created 13,000 jobs nationwide in small and medium businesses. Extending the programme to all businesses will see this grow significantly.
Looking after the health of our rural community is a high priority. One in four New Zealanders live in a rural area. Hawke’s Bay is dependent on the productivity of our rural areas. Publicly funded health services specifically designed for rural communities are key to good health. The Government funds mobile breast-screening services, mobile oral health clinics and mobile surgical services. We also provide financial help towards the expenses of people traveling long distance to get specialist care. There are also numerous help lines and online support systems, these include organisations such as Plunket, Quitline and Kidshealth. We are committed to supporting healthcare in rural areas.
Last week I had the pleasure of showing students from Havelock North High School around Parliament. What a great bunch of kids and I was rapt to be able to introduce them to our Prime Minister, John Key. I enjoy showing Hawke’s Bay students around the Beehive. If you know of teachers that are bringing their students to Wellington, let them know I am keen to give them a guided tour.
Village Press 31 March 2011
Our Pathways and Cycleways.
The Rotary Pathways have transformed how we enjoy The Bay! With the cooler months approaching, it could be easy to sit inside by the fire and hibernate for the winter. However with so many outdoor events happening it’s impossible to do so. The HB Today Country 2 Coast fun Run/Walk, to be held on the 1st of May, is one such event. It uses our wonderful Rotary Pathways and takes in some great scenery around the Black Bridge – Te Awanga area. There are 7km and 15km courses, and the aim is to have fun and enjoy with the added bonus of the proceeds going to the Red Cross Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.
Hastings Rotary is now fundraising to add seating along the pathways. It will be great to be able to sit and enjoy the scenery of our fantastic region. On the 14th of May Rob Waddell will be guest speaker at a Rotary fundraising event for the seating project; if you are keen to support this project get hold of Rotary and see how you can help.
When we total up our pathways and cycleways, we have over 133km of trails on which to enjoy The Bay; and it’s growing. It’s going to be a fun and active winter.
Hastings Mail 29 March 2011
It appears the caring and generosity of Kiwis knows no bounds. I received many, many packages to contribute to the “Shoeboxes of Love” initiative for Christchurch.
The boxes were full of goodies and “feel good” gifts, plus messages of support and goodwill. It was great to have just a colourful display of kindness in my office and I am proud to send Christchurch our region’s support. This initiative was based on one that worked successfully in Queensland after their floods, and it has worked equally successfully here, with packages from all around New Zealand finding their way to the hands of Christchurch residents young and old. We all know that Canterbury is going to need our support for some time to come and this is just one of the many projects underway to help the residents through what is a very traumatic and tiring time.
Our DHB has been doing a fabulous job reaching the targets set by the Minister of Health Tony Ryall however issues surrounding staffing in some areas still exist. The Government has identified this as a priority and Hawke’s Bay has now been added to the voluntary bonding scheme for nurses in the area of midwifery. The voluntary bonding scheme encourages health graduates to establish their careers in hard to staff specialties and communities; midwifery in Hawke’s Bay being one of them. Good pre and postnatal care of our mums and their babies is very important and this scheme will help with the shortage of midwives that currently exists in Hawke’s Bay.
The Hawke’s Bay A&P Showground’s have launched a new field day for the region called the Eastern Field Days. The event focuses on Primary Production and Land Management and this year’s theme is ‘Water the New Oil’. There are many workshops being held along with the usual array of exhibitors found at these events. This field day grew out of the Small Block Holders field day it is designed to focus on the issues and innovations of farmers in the Eastern Region covering all land based production systems. So if you have an interest in any sort of farming, go and have a look around the Eastern Field Days – 8th April 2011.
Village Press 23 March 2011
The Warm Up New Zealand, Heat Smart programme that the Government is running has been a major success. Since its inception, 4,910 Hawke’s Bay homes have been retro-fitted with insulation and/or clean heating systems. That is 4,910 Hawke’s Bay families that are now warmer and dryer and having improved health and general well-being. Back in 2009 National committed $347 million to this scheme that will last for four years. So far more than 89,000 homes have benefited nationally; that has got to be good for the country.
On top of the health benefits there are the benefits to our economy. We estimate that 2,000 jobs have been created because of the program.
If you believe that your home needs insulation and it was built before 2000, the go to www.eeca.govt.nz for more information.
I want to say a huge Well Done to the organisers of the Horse of the Year Show. What a great showcase for what is achievable in Hawke’s Bay. The HOY show is also a great way to expose people from around the country and around the world what we have to offer
Country Scene 23 March 2011
The Horse of The Year is world-renowned. Competitors from across the world come to The Bay to compete and enjoy all that we have to offer. The New Zealand Horse of the Year show has become one of the most prestigious annual equestrian events in the southern hemisphere and this is due in no small part to the desire and enthusiasm of the organising team. It is the tireless work of such individuals that makes any event a success; the HOY team had a vision and they have achieved it in spades.
Growing our exports and therefore growing jobs is a huge focus for the National-led Government. We work hard to open market doors and work with countries to remove tariff and non-tariff trade barriers. One such market that has recently opened up for our fresh potatoes is South Korea. It has taken many years of negotiation but this market is now open. South Korean importers had wanted to import our high quality produce but the industry had not been allowed to supply them. It can be a lucrative market due to the fact that we can supply in the Northern Hemisphere’s winter; the market could be worth $NZ10 million annually. This is a good shot in the arm for an industry that has had to deal with, and adapt to, a new pest, the tomato-potato psyllid. Bay growers now have another opportunity to spread their risk and diversify into new growth markets such as South Korea.
Autumn is well and truly here, people are stocking up on firewood. It is not too late to take part in the Warm Up New Zealand: the Heat Smart programme that the National-led Government is running. You could get up to $1300 or 33% towards the cost of ceiling and under floor insulation, and you can get 50% towards the cost of installing a clean heater in your main living area if there isn’t one already there. There are a couple of pre-requisites. Please check out www.eeca.govt.nz
Hastings Mail 22 March 2011
Our HBDHB is once again showing improvements in its performance. We have topped the chart in providing immunisation for our children, better protecting them from measles, whooping cough and diphtheria. We are improving constantly in areas of shorter stays in our emergency department, access to elective surgery and care for diabetics, cardio-vascular patients, and helping smokers to quit. The National Government has invested an extra $1.2 billion in health over the last two years, focusing on better front line outcomes such as more elective surgery. Congratulations to the team at our hospital for their proven results.
As of late last month 4,910 Hawke’s Bay homes had been retro-fitted with insulation and/or new and more efficient heating such as heat pumps since the “Warm Up New Zealand Heat Smart” scheme started. Investing in home insulation makes in an investment into healthier families. If you believe that your home needs insulation, and it was built before 2000, then go to www.eeca.govt.nz for more information.
What a great event the New Zealand Horse of the Year Show is. Competitors from across the world come to compete and enjoy all that Hawke’s Bay has to offer. I went and had a look and it was amazing to see all the horse floats and motorhomes, plus all the competitors. The organisation was superb and I am thrilled that Hawke’s Bay has become the established for HOY. Congratulations to all the competitors and to the event organisers I want to say a big Well Done.
The Foundation for Youth Development is a great organisation that helps 18,000 young men and women each year to gain confidence and strive for their goals. Many, many Hawke’s Bay students have completed their courses and have realised their dreams. On the 3rd of April FYD are holding their annual fundraiser in Hawke’s Bay “The Big Walk”. There are a selection on 2.5, 5 and 10km walks on Haupouri Station just outside Havelock North. The views are spectacular and there is a BBQ afterwards. You can find out more information at www.fyd.org.nz
Hastings Mail 16 March 2011
Last week we celebrated the opening of two major infrastructure projects in Hawke’s Bay; the Matahoura Gorge realignment and the Southern Expressway extension. These two projects are vital and valuable to the productivity of our region. It is harvest time in The Bay and you can see the trucks full of freshly harvested Hawke’s Bay produce. Efficient transport routes increase our productivity; importantly, these two projects have also removed some deadly black spots from our roads. It was great to have the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Steven Joyce, up to help open these two roads; we also took the opportunity to show him more of The Bay and all that it offers.
Nominations are now open for the Green Ribbon Awards. These awards honour the outstanding contributions New Zealanders make in caring for the environment. There are many categories, encompassing our coastlines, our mountains and the air we breathe. Hawke’s Bay takes environmental issues seriously and the Green Ribbon Awards are a chance to honour those that have achieved great success. Hawke’s Bay has done well in the past with Garth Eyles receiving recognition for his work in land use capability and soil conservation. Nominations are open to all individuals, businesses and community organisations. Nominations close on the 15th of April and you can find more information at www.mfe.govt.nz/green-ribbon.
As I write this the humanitarian disaster is unfolding in Japan; one cannot imagine a worse scenario. At the same time Christchurch is making real progress on its recovery, though the recent news about their inability to host the Rugby World Cup will have dented moral a little. The events in Christchurch and Japan have bought out the best in humankind. The way Kiwis have got in behind the Christchurch recovery effort and how they are now helping Japan has made me even more proud to call myself a Kiwi.
Hastings Leader 16 March 2011
I was rapt to attend the opening of two major infrastructure projects in The Bay last week. Steven Joyce, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, came to celebrate with us the opening of both the Matahoura Gorge realignment and the Southern Expressway extension. Both the projects were successfully completed in a timely manner and will not only add to the productivity of The Bay now but into the future. Hawke’s Bay is the food bowl of New Zealand and we need to get that produce, from the East Coast, up and down the island to the various warehouses, ports and depots. These two roading projects are essential to our growing and building jobs. Of course improving productivity has not been the only benefit; we have also removed some deadly black spots on our roads.
Chris Tremain and I had the absolute pleasure of hosting our annual Young Leaders’ breakfast on Monday 14th March. Every year we invite the student Leaders of local High Schools to come and meet, not only with us, but to network with one another. We fed and watered a total of seventy Leaders who also heard Hamish Whyte, CEO of Furnware, whose key message was look, listen and never, never be afraid to ask. As always, wise words from Hamish.
Village Press 10 March 2011
Hawke’s Bay is the cycle capital of New Zealand. The iWay Bike to Work week was a fantastic success. I was rapt to host the final days breakfast and we had over 120 people turn up for breakfast. What a great group of cycling champions we have in The Bay. The Cycle Chic competition won by a stunningly well dressed Jaqueline and the Crazy Bike competition won by Ahnaliyah.
I was honoured to be confirmed as your National Party candidate for the Tukituki Electorate at our recent AGM. It is a huge privilege to represent you in Parliament and I am looking forward to this year’s election campaign. We have a fantastic team who will do their very best to make sure that the Tukituki electorate stays Blue. Remember to diarise the 26th of November – that’s Election Day.
Last week Chris Tremain and I hosted our annual Young Leaders Breakfast. This is where we meet all the Head Boys and Girls from the schools around Hawke’s Bay. The aim is to celebrate and recognise the next generation of Hawke’s Bay leaders. It takes extra strength for a teenager to be a leader of their peers. The breakfast is an opportunity for student leaders to gain strength and network with each other. This year we had Furnware CEO Hamish Whyte speaking to the students; he did a fabulous job showing our exceptional young men and women what can be done if you put your mind to it. As always I am keen to hear your news and views.
Hastings Mail 10 March 2011
Every year Chris Tremain and I host our Young Leaders breakfast. This is where we invite all the Head Boys and Girls of our local schools to meet, not only with us, but with each other. It is always a great success and this year was no different. We had Furnware CEO Hamish Whyte as a keynote speaker. He highlighted just what can be achieved if you put your mind to it. Chris and I use this event to celebrate and recognise the next generation of Hawke’s Bay leaders. We all know that it takes extra strength for a teenager to be a leader of their peers; the breakfast has shown us that this year’s young leaders have this strength in bucket-loads.
I was honoured to be confirmed as your National Party candidate for the Tukituki Electorate at our recent AGM. It is a huge privilege to represent you in Parliament and I am looking forward to this year’s election campaign. We have a fantastic team who will do their very best to make sure that the Tukituki electorate stays Blue. Remember to diarise the 26th of November – that’s Election Day.
My ‘work experience’ is continuing out in the community. Last week I ‘helped out’ at Plunket working with the team who run the car-seat rental scheme. I learnt that the seats that fighter jet pilots use are very similar to children’s booster seats. I would like to thank Tanya and the team at Plunket Car Seat Rental for all their hard work; they do a fabulous job for our families.
And speaking of Plunket, they have delayed their annual fundraising efforts and instead are taking donations for Christchurch families in need. Plunket’s current focus is on getting Christchurch based services up and running. They hope to be able to resume their normal services to local communities across the Canterbury region as quickly as possible. Plunket are going a great job of getting information out to earthquake affected residents regarding the impacts of the quake of children. www.plunket.org.nz
