November 2009

National Security is something I talk about often. ACT is the only party that had a National Security policy at the last election as opposed to the individual Defence, Civil Defence, Biosecurity and other security based policies of other parties. We are good at talking 'Whole of Government', but not good at putting it in to practice. I try to keep up-to-date with what the security agencies and organisations are doing and it was this that prompted me to visit the Wellington Emergency Management Office (WEMO) last week, part of the Civil Defence network.

It was a great chance to have a refresher course in disaster preparedness and safety as well as to have a look around the impressive purpose-built Thorndon office.

A survey on the over-50s website 'grownups.co.nz' recently polled 1,100 people over the age of 50 and discovered that more than half of them are comfortable with the concept of re-gifting - taking an unwanted present and passing it on to someone else.

Justification for re-gifting included such reasoning as the recipient already owned the item, had no place for it, or had no use for it. It is also acceptable to pass a gift on if it is unfashionable, inappropriate or "utterly hideous" - presumably only the last if you don't much like the person you are passing the gift on to.

Gone are the days, it appears, of unwanted presents languishing forlornly at the back of the hallway cupboard, or sitting alone and forgotten to gather dust in the attic, because it may not only be over-50s who are comfortable with re-gifting.

It's great to read about the different ways we help needy children in New Zealand.
This week, the Variety Club of New Zealand has been distributing bicycles in its 10th annual Bikes for Kids programme. This year is the largest ever 'Bikes for Kids' and Variety are donating 1000 bright red bikes to role model students from low-decile schools around the country. With this programme Variety aims to not only reward deserving children with what is, for many, their first ever bike, but to also inspire their peers to become role models for their school and community.

The 2009 programme was launched on the 23rd of November with children from 20 primary schools in the Wellington region being presented with bikes. Variety will be presenting bikes around the country every day until the 28th of November.

Today I accompanied Prime Minister John Key to attend the funeral of Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Flight Sergeant Andrew Forster at Ohakea.

A member of the RNZAF for 27 years, Flight Sergeant Forster was killed last week in an accident at Waiouru Army Camp. He leaves behind wife Karen and children Candice, Mitchell and Ashley.

This is an incredibly sad time for the RNZAF and the New Zealand Defence Force. Flight Sergeant Forster had participated in exercises in Australia and Singapore, had been deployed to the United Arab Emirates and had recently returned from a stint in Afghanistan's Bamyan province with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team. His death is a salient reminder of the dangers that our troops face on a daily basis both at home and abroad.

This week I visited Fergusson Intermediate in Upper Hutt to launch the extension of the Ongoing and Reviewable Resourcing Schemes (ORRS), which provide support for students with special needs. Through this extension, 400 more special needs students around New Zealand will receive support that they previously would have missed out on by frustratingly narrow margins.

Legislation this week - November 17-19 2009

Government Bills:
Ngati Apa (North Island) Claims Settlement Bill - First Reading
ACT to Support

Settlement Systems, Futures and Emissions Units Bill - Third Reading
ACT to Oppose

Corrections (Contract Management of Prisons) Amendment Bill - Second Reading
ACT to Support

Biosecurity Amendment Bill - Committee Stage
ACT to Support

Whanganui Iwi (Whanganui (Kaitoke) Prison and Northern Part of Whanganui Forest) On-account Settlement Bill - First Reading
ACT to Support

Taxation (Consequential Rate Alignment and Remedial Matters) Bill - Second Reading
ACT to Support

Private and Local Bills:
Palmerston North Showgrounds Act Repeal Bill - Committee Stage
ACT to Support

Members' Bills:
Customs and Excise (Sustainable Forestry) Amendment Bill - First Reading
Catherine Delahunty - Green Party
ACT to Oppose

Throughout the world, there is an increasing movement to recognise graffiti and tagging as a legitimate and genuine artform – with many local authorities, Councils and some building owners keeping wall spaces free for these artists to express their talents.

When tagging and graffiti occurs on property not designated for such use, however, it becomes vandalism – and the cost for cleaning it is borne by the property owner or local Councils. With so much time, energy and money going into this, graffiti and tagging in these cases are a problem to be dealt with rather than an artform to be celebrated.

One measure to deter would-be taggers was reported in the media this week. Two schools and a stadium in South Auckland are using a special alarm that emits a sound – likened to nails on a blackboard – at a frequency and level that can only be heard by people aged under 25.

At 11am today, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, a National Commemorative Service will be held at Wellington's National War Memorial to mark the 91st anniversary of Armistice Day – the day on which hostilities ceased on the Western Front of WWI.

Although fighting continued in regions other than the Western Front, such as across the then Russian Empire, it is generally accepted that the 'Great War' ended on November 11 1918 – the date being declared a national holiday in many allied nations to commemorate those troops killed during the conflict.

As the school year draws to a close there are always a lot of special events held for students to mark their achievements and to farewell those who are leaving. I had the honour of being part of the senior school celebrations at Kristin School during my visit last Friday (6 November).

Kristin School is the country’s largest independent school and while still relatively new, it has established traditions I am sure will be continued for many years to come. One of these is the ‘graduation walk’ which I had the pleasure of watching last Friday. Year 13 students parade through the school and are farewelled by their peers. It is a fantastic way to mark the end of the students’ school careers and it was great to see the admiration on the faces of younger students. I am sure they were all thinking, ‘that will be me one day’.

November 8 - it's a year today that we had a change of Government and what a difference a year makes. It's easy to overlook the difficult economic conditions that the new government inherited following the collapse of the global banking system in September 2008. However despite this New Zealand seems to be faring better than most countries altough it's a bit early to shout victory on that front just yet.

It's gratifying to be part of the ACT contribution and from my personal standpoint it is much better being part of government than in opposition!

We are making significant progress on Regulatory Responsibility and my "One-Law" initiative in Consumer Affairs is an example of how this can make a difference. Of the around 12 pieces of legislation under the Consumer Affairs umbrella I'm working on rationalising as many as possible based on the principles that relate to commercial transactions.

New Zealand Battle of Britain hero Sir Keith Park has been honoured in London this week with the unveiling of his statue in Trafalgar Square alongside those of King George IV, General Charles James Napier and Major-General Sir Henry Havelock.

Born in Thames in 1892, Sir Keith Park began his military career with the New Zealand Army before transferring to the British Army. He served at Gallipoli, was wounded at the Somme and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps becoming a pilot and shooting down 20 enemy aircraft before the end of WWI.

During WWII Sir Keith organised air cover for the evacuation of Dunkirk and gained worldwide recognition for his role during the Battle of Britain. This was the first ever major campaign to be fought entirely by air forces and was instigated following Hitler's realisation that Britain could only be invaded or, at the very least, forced to negotiate if Germany first held control over the skies.

I was interested - and a little amused - to see a story on the 'Stuff' website yesterday about a man in India who is suing the makers of Lynx deodorant because he has used the product for seven years and has still not been able to attract a woman.

According to the article, Vaibhav Bedi wants global giant Unilever to pay him $91,000 compensation for the "depression and psychological damage" he suffered when his bathroom products failed to create the desired 'Lynx effect' - an advertising campaign in which beautiful women become entranced by Lynx and are immediately attracted to the man wearing it. An Indian court appears to believe there is a case to answer and has accepted half-used body washes, shampoos, anti-perspirants and hair gels for forensic testing.

Today I note with sadness the passing of Australian June Middleton at the age of 83. Remembered as a remarkable, strong lady, and as an inspiration, in April this year June marked 60 years confined to an Iron Lung. In 2006 her name was entered in the Guinness Book of World Records as the person who had spent the longest time in such a device.

Middleton was struck down by Polio during the epidemic which ravaged Australia during the 1940s and 1950s. She was 22 and only months away from marrying her co-worker Noel. Polio left her with the ability to only move her mouth and eyes and she was told she would have to spend up to 18 hours a day in the iron lung. Prior to her illness she had been a keen sportswoman and adored dancing with Noel. He stayed by her side for five years but June felt there was no sense in wasting two lives, she said, and he moved on to marry and have children.