Don't forget to cast your vote for Royters New Zealander of the Year, the winner will be announced on New Years Day. Voting closes at midnight on New Years Eve (tomorrow). The voting box is on the right sidebar of the home page.
December 2009
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The South Island scenery is hard to beat, especially the rugged beauty and tranquility (apart from the tourist buses) of Central Otago. My family, after talking about it for several years, is doing the Otago Central Rail Trail. The cycleway - which I assume will form part of the Nationwide cycleway - is built on the foundations of the Otago Central Railway. The full Trail is 150km long but many people do selected parts of the trail. The old rail track has been lifted and the surface is gravel. Because it was once a railway line there are no steep climbs, just gradual inclines which can go on for some distance! Those who are familiar with Central Otago will recognise many of our 'station stops' today. Starting at Clyde the stops included Alexandra - Galloway - Chatto Creek - Omakau and Lauder (44km). The scenery is stunning and varied, from narrow rocky gorges to rolling hills to dry dusty stretches - all in 30 degree Central Otago unshaded heat. |
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Looking back on 2009 it is clear that New Zealand has done better than most countries in a year that could have been much worse for kiwis. The whole world has been affected by what some have called “The Great Recession”. Greece is in danger of defaulting on its debt whilst considerable unrest will make austerity measures difficult. Iceland has already defaulted on its debt while the government of the Republic of Ireland has had to ask their public servants to take pay reductions. In Spain unemployment has reached 20 per cent. My American friends tell me that in the USA the mood remains pessimistic. In the UK the situation is similar with the Royal Bank of Scotland going bankrupt. |
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Nominations for the inaugural Royters 'New Zealander of the Year' have now closed and voting will run until December 31 2009. Thank you to all who made nominations. The nominees are listed in the voting box to the right sidebar – no celebrities or sports stars for us! All nominees are people who have made contributions in their own way to making New Zealand a better and freer country. They are: Garth McVicar, Denis Adam, Margaret Heaney, Hon Hugh Templeton, Joan & Graeme Crawshaw, Johan Verhagen, and David Farrar. If you would like to read more about out nominees, click through to http://www.roy.org.nz/royters/royters-new-zealander-the-year. |
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In the run up to Christmas each year I try to take part in initiatives in the community. On Christmas Eve last year I joined the Wellington City Mission to deliver food parcels. Yesterday I visited the Salvation Army Hope Centre in Newtown to help pack Christmas hampers for people who are in need of support during the holiday season. The Salvation Army in Wellington has been providing these hampers for around 18 years, usually with the assistance of a number of organisations and groups in the community. Among those lending a hand this year were the Kilbirnie branch of Housing New Zealand, the Indian Association, Wellington City Council and the Ministry of Justice - which kindly provided and packed 120 hampers and had them delivered to the Hope Centre. |
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As Xmas shopping and time with family looms for most of us, I wish to take the opportunity to send a very special Xmas wish to our troops and their families, both in New Zealand and particularly abroad. It's hard to be away from your family at any time of the year, let alone now and especially when you know that your loved ones are in unsafe places so that other families can be at peace. I wish every one of you in the Navy, Army and Air Force all the best for the festive season and the safe return of your loved ones. My Xmas video message can be found on roy.tv at http://roy.org.nz/roytv/video/my-xmas-message-kiwi-troops-2009 |
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It looks like Jim Anderton jumped the gun when he tried to credit his brainchild Kiwibank with reversing the trend toward closing small branches. The Progressives Leader made the claim earlier this month after Westpac made the decision to open 10 community branches in Auckland - pointing to Kiwibank regional branches and bank outlets that gave local customers access to bank services where ever they live: "We knew at the time that it was not only the right thing to do, but that it made business sense to keep banking services close to where people live." But it appears he spoke too soon now that Kiwibank has announced it will close at least 20 of its branches in Auckland, Hamilton, Napier, Hastings, Palmerston North, Lower Hutt, Christchurch, Palmerston and Invercargill. |
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As we swiftly approach the end of yet another year it's the time that the media outlets recap the achievements of the past year and nominate people for the unofficial honour of being our “New Zealander of the Year”. It seems that more often than not, the people considered for New Zealander of the Year are the same people we see on the front covers of magazines. A quick glance over any magazine rack shows that those the media deem worthy of their covers are athletes – usually All Blacks – news readers, singers, and actors. While it is understandable that, as a pioneer nation with a strong agricultural backbone, New Zealand admires those attributes closely associated with physical pursuits – strength, speed, stamina, etc – it is disconcerting to see just how much we also respect physical appearance and erstwhile celebrity. |
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As the countdown to Christmas continues, Auckland International Airport is distributing $120,000 as part of its annual '12 Days of Christmas' charity. The money, gathered from travellers' donations during the year, is being distributed to 12 charities throughout the country. Among the worthy recipients is the Windy Ridge Boys' Farm in Warkworth. Joan and Graham Crawshaw are the couple behind the 'back to basics' camp for boys, which aims to improve literacy levels and restore 'lost childhoods'. The couple opened the camp in 1962 on their family farm because they wanted to help underprivileged children. The camp has changed very little in the subsequent decades and is now a step back in time for the boys who participate in the programme - there is no electricity, lots of outdoor of activity, and very simple food. |
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This morning I visited Te Papa with my family having been invited to the opening of a new exhibition, “A Day in Pompeii”. My previous contact with the ancient city was limited to what I'd seen on television but this was the real thing, kindly released by the archaeological authorities in Naples. It gives a great insight into what daily life was like 2000 years ago. The exhibition has a number of antiquities and tries to give the visitor a real feeling of life in a household in the Roman Empire. Items in common use are featured alongside valuables and objects of art. One of the most interesting exhibits is a loaf of bread. Well, it’s a plaster cast of a carbonised loaf found in an oven in a house that had been dug from the ash. It looks something like a circular “pull apart” loaf - a little flat perhaps but it is hard to get things perfect in the middle of an eruption. |
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With Christmas fast approaching New Zealanders should be aware of their rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA) before making purchasing decisions or buying an extended warranty. The National Consumer Survey 2009, commissioned by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and released in November, showed good public understanding of consumer rights overall but highlighted some knowledge gaps around the CGA In particular, many consumers thought that extended warranties offered more protection when buying goods than the current law does. This is often not the case. Under the CGA consumers should be able to expect goods that are durable and fit for purpose. This includes a requirement that they will last a reasonable length of time. Consumers have the right to have faulty goods repaired, replaced or refunded. This means an extended warranty in general offers no additional protection to that provided by the CGA. |
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The world's largest continent is now that much closer as the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) can get there in half the time it used to take. This week the RNZAF put its recently-upgraded Boeing 757-200 through its paces with a maiden test flight to Antarctica. Taking off from Christchurch at 11:30am on Wednesday, the B757 landed at McMurdo Station just before 4pm. After refuelling at Pegasus Airfield the aircraft returned to New Zealand, touching down at Christchurch at midnight. Among the Boeing's upgrades was a modernised navigation system. This removed many of the aircraft's limitations to operate in the high altitudes of McMurdo. This weeks trial flight was undertaken to assess its suitability to carry passengers to McMurdo, the availability and suitability of passenger handling facilities, ground support equipment, and engineering support equipment required should the aircraft require any maintenance. |
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It appears we finally have a Government that will not ignore the inadequacies of Wellington's infrastructure, and a Transport Minister who will do what his predecessors would not: listen to the public and take action on the long-awaited Transmission Gully. For years, I called for Transmission Gully to be built - but the Labour-led Government was not focussed on the infrastructure needs of the country's capital. It didn't care that, with only one fragile coast road in and out of the city, Wellington would be completely cut off from outside life-saving assistance in the event of a major emergency - a very real possibility given our location on a major faultline. The empty talk about Wellington's infrastructure deficit is over now though thanks to the strategic upgrade of SH1 from Wellington Airport to Levin - which will see the construction of Transmission Gully, improvements around the Basin Reserve, Mt Victoria Tunnel duplication, and Terrace Tunnel duplication. |
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Legislation this week (15 December – 16 December 2009) Government Bills: Appropriation (2008/09 Financial Review) Bill – First Reading Education (Polytechnics) Amendment Bill – Committee Stage Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill – First Reading Electricity Industry Bill – First Reading Adjournment Motion A more detailed rundown of Parliament this week can be viewed by clicking on 'In The House' or at http://www.roy.org.nz/inthehouse |
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Peter Jackson's 'The Lovely Bones' is set to premiere in Wellington tonight and the red carpet is rolled out and ready for the cast and crew's arrival. Among the big names from the film attending the premiere are Susan Sarandon and Saoirse Ronan, as well as Kiwi actors Rose McIver and Carolyn Dando. The film, adapted from the novel by Alice Sebold, has met with mixed reviews internationally. Prior to the film's release critics almost unanimously agreed that the story would not easily be transformed into a film. Following the world premiere in London many critics maintained that opinion, while others have named it "the best film of the year." The novel centres around the murder of a young girl, Susie Salmon, in 1973 and the repercussions her death and the investigation into her murder has on her family, watched by Susie from the afterlife. |
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Congratulations on a long awaited win! After four years of trying Wellington Girls College First XI has won the National Secondary School Girls Cricket Tournament at Taupo this weekend. The core of the team has been together for the past four seasons and yesterday beat Havelock North High School to the title. WGC fielded first and got off to a good start with Havelock North gaining just 30 runs off the first 20 overs, but rallied in the second 20 to finish on 119. When WLG took the crease they started positively with 30 runs from the first 10 overs. A strong innings from Rachel Chin with 54 runs saw the team through despite losing two quick late wickets Well done girls. As a Wellington based MP it's great to see a local team excel and I've got the added interest of having a daughter in the team. |
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Last night I had the great pleasure of announcing Lance Corporal Deborah Kendon as the inaugural Reservist of the Year. I announced the creation of this award earlier in the year after hearing about the Australian Reservist of the Year Award and deciding that we kiwis too should have a means of recognising the best in our Reservists. LCpl Kendon is a secondary school teacher at Auckland’s Northcote College. She was also the only woman competitor in this year's Reservist of the Year competition - although I am sure she will not be the last. I congratulate LCpl Kendon on her achievement, and also commend this year's other competitors for their dedication and skill. They are the best of the 1800 Army and 400 Navy Reservists. Next year I hope that the Air Force Reserve will also be represented. |
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Today is the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of the River Plate. There have been a number of commemorations of this date over the weekend including a memorial service and wreath laying in Wellington and a special commemorative dinner which I attended in Wellington on Friday evening. Beginning at 6:21am on December 13 1939, the Battle of the River Plate was the first major naval battle of the second world war. It took place in the South Atlantic Ocean and was fought between three allied ships – HMS Ajax, HMS Exeter and HMS Achilles – and the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee. During this battle HMS Achilles became the first New Zealand unit to fire upon the enemy during WWII – as well as the first New Zealand warship to take part in a naval battle. |
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Last night I stepped once more into the spotlight of Back Benches – you may have caught my blog post yesterday alerting you to my appearance. It's a while since I did a show as I've had other commitments on a Wednesday night but it’s always fun to get stuck in to rigorous debate with my colleagues. Appearing alongside Green MP Kevin Hague, Labour MP Carmel Sepuloni, and National MP Simon Bridges we discussed topics ranging from factory farming, to drink driving, and whether school children should be allowed to call their teacher by their first name. |
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Greater Wellington Regional Council's dumping of toxic sludge at the Wainuiomata Landfill is becoming an increasingly ridiculous affair – first GWRC dumped the material after assuring residents it was not contaminated and now, it may sue itself over the mistake. The entire episode is turning into an enormous waste of ratepayers' money: not only has there been the cost of uplifting two truckloads of contaminated soil and transporting it to Wainuiomata, now, there is the additional cost of having to remove 15 truckloads of material from Wainuiomata. On top of this, GWRC may go through the expensive process of suing itself – and, most likely, have to pay itself at the end of it. Ratepayers could be forgiven for scratching their heads in disbelief over the this debacle but what's even more surprising is that, according to Hutt City Mayor David Ogden this has happened before – apparently during the 1990s GWRC took legal action against itself as part of a resolution process. |
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Anyone interesting in an evening of live pub politics and lively debate should come along and join me on 'Back Benches' tonight. Tonight's discussion topics include factory farming, drink-driving laws, obesity, which Kiwis should get the Nobel Prize, whether schoolchildren should be allowed to call their teacher by their first name, and more. On the panel with me will be Green MP Kevin Hague, Labour MP Carmel Sepuloni, and National MP Simon Bridges. 'Back Benches'; The Backbencher, Molesworth St, Wellington; 9pm-10pm, Wednesday, December 9 2009. |
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Legislation this week (8 December – 10 December 2009) Government Bills: Taxation (Annual Rates, Trans-Tasman Savings Portability, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters Bill) – First Reading Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Bill – First Reading Statutes Amendment Bill – First Reading Human Assisted Reproductive Technology (Storage) Amendment Bill – First Reading Legal Services Amendment Bill – Committee Stage Māori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement (Regional Agreements) Amendment Bill – Second Reading Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill – Second Reading Education (Polytechnics) Amendment Bill – Second Reading Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Youth Courts Jurisdiction and Orders) Amendment Bill – Second Reading |
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Come along and join me tomorrow night (Wednesday, December 9) when I will be appearing on TVNZ7's 'Back Benches'. Topics up for discussion include: factory farming, drink-driving laws, obesity, which Kiwis should get the Nobel Prize, whether schoolchildren should be allowed to call their teacher by their first name, and more. On the panel with me will be Green MP Kevin Hague, Labour MP Carmel Sepuloni, and National MP Simon Bridges. So come on down to 'Back Benches' for an evening of live pub politics. 'Back Benches'; The Backbencher, Molesworth St, Wellington; 9pm-10pm, Wednesday, December 9 2009. |
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It’s clear the festive season is upon us with Christmas trees up and end-of-year activities in full swing. This afternoon my team and I were pleased to accept an invitation to visit the Ministry of Consumer Affairs in their Head Office in the MED Building on Bowen Street. We were met by Liz Macpherson, General Manager of the Ministry, who showed us around the bright open plan office. It was great to put faces to the names of the team members I hadn’t met earlier in the year and to catch up informally with those who I see regularly. Liz introduced us to the different teams within the Ministry. They are quite separate but work along side each other which lends a congenial, collaborative air to the office. It was especially good to see where Paul, my Consumer Affairs Private Secretary, was working before he was seconded to my office, and to see how he has maintained his links with the Ministry. |
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Public safety is always a top agenda item and, according to a NZ Herald report today, the recent initiative ‘Crimestoppers NZ’ is already making a significant contribution to keeping our neighbourhoods safe. Since its launch in October, Crimestoppers NZ has fielded 631 calls from concerned members of the public. Volunteers gather crime related information and pass it on to the police. Of the 631 calls received, 243 have provided Crimestoppers with information of a high enough quality to be deemed “actionable” by the police. The crimes most often reported are related to the manufacture, supply, and distribution of drugs and Crimestoppers best result to date has been the uncovering of an advanced cannabis-growing operation in Maraetai. |
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Congratulations to Hon Hugh Templeton who has been recognised by the Australian government for the work he did in 1983. Hugh was a familiar figure in the Muldoon government as Minister of Trade. He is probably best known for his work on CER (Closer Economic Relations) with Australia which was established in 1983. Less known is Hugh's work that occurred alongside CER of CDR (Closer Defence Relations) which hasn't taken off in the same way. On November 27 Hugh was made an Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia for "service to Australia-New Zealand economic relations, particularly through the establishment of the Australia-New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement." Congratulations Hugh. This award is well deserved and the impact it has had for New Zealand has been significant. Over two decades on New Zealand and Australia are working steadily towards a Single Economic Market and Hugh's work was the instigation for what has been of huge benefit to our country. |
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It is always gratifying to be part of award ceremonies to celebrate success. Yesterday morning I was invited to participate in the Canterbury Region’s Territorial Force Employer Support Council (TFESC) Awards for ‘Employer of the Year’. The winner was the Order of St John. Other category winners were the University of Canterbury, Lion Nathan, Tai Poutini Polytechnic, Baldwin Furniture, Humes Pipelines, VIP Security, PMP Print, Taylors Engineering, Mainzeal and the NZ Police. These employers were acknowledged for their support of NZDF Reservists who work for them and are released for training and operational deployments. Westpac Bank has shown it’s support for the TFESC by donating a cup for the Employer of the Year to display in their workplace. My speech at the Awards can be found in the speeches section of this website. |
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Today I would like to congratulate Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Squadron Leader Jim Rankin, who has this week been recognised with the prestigious Jean Batten Memorial Award by the New Zealand region of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators (GAPAN). Presented by Master of the Guild Rear Admiral Colin Cooke-Priest CB FRAeS RN (Retired) during the Guild’s annual dinner, the award recognises an outstanding individual contribution to New Zealand aviation. Squadron Leader Rankin joined the RNZAF in 1978 and for the past three decades has, as the citation stated: made an outstanding personal contribution to New Zealand aviation in the disciplines of pilot training, airmanship and the safe conduct of general aviation activities. Squadron Leader Rankin has flown a number of fixed and rotary wing aircraft and, at various times, co-ordinated military and civil air displays at events such as 'Warbirds Over Wanaka'. |
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Michael Hill became a household name with his catchphrase at the end of every TV advertisement – 'Michael Hill ... Jeweller'. The advertisements weren't award winning but people certainly remembered them. This week, the countries most famous jeweller was honoured with the Shareholders Association Beacon Award – a business award that recognises ‘truly exceptional’ New Zealanders. The award is presented annually and based on a range of criteria including ‘leadership and guidance on corporate practice’ and ‘bravery in standing out from the crowd on controversial issues.’ |
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