What a night last Saturday!
Dear John,
I hope you had a great long weekend - I spent it at home with Jenna and Jeremy in Days Bay, relaxing after a massive few weeks. The weather played ball yesterday and it was absolutely stunning in our new house. It's been really nice just to have a couple of days off and recharge the batteries before the end of year rush - including forming a new government!
Saturday October 14 was really exciting - not only did New Zealand vote for change, but I was (likely) re-elected as the MP for Hutt South. I'm not quite declaring victory yet, as there are still thousands of special votes to come in, but it's certainly looking good locally (I'm ahead by 1094 currently). We'll know the final results at the end of next week (Friday November 3 at 2pm). If you're reading this and voted for me, then thank you so much for your support. I'll keep working hard for you over the next three years as your local MP. There's lots to do!
A big thank you to everyone who helped out on the local campaign - we delivered over 100,000 pieces of collateral (letters and leaflets), called thousands of voters and knocked on thousands of doors. By the end of the campaign we had over 300 signs up around the Hutt - it really was a sea of blue out there! Every little bit counts, and it really was a team effort - with so many people helping out in so many ways, both big and small.
I'm really proud of the national campaign that the National Party ran as well, which I had the honour of overseeing as Campaign Chair. We were relentlessly upbeat and positive, despite the endless negativity from Labour, which infamously crystallised in that appalling last debate performance from the outgoing Prime Minister. We stuck to the issues, we put forward a positive agenda for change, and we refused to get drawn into the muck. By some measures the change from 2020 to 2023 is the biggest swing ([link removed]) in New Zealand political history - so it feels pretty awesome to have played a part in that. ([link removed])
The next few weeks: The few weeks after an election are always an odd time! Last Tuesday National's caucus met to say goodbye to MPs who are either retiring or who have lost their seats - and we welcomed 23 (yes you read that right) new MPs! Our caucus size has gone from 34 before the election to 50 after it - a massive increase! Now we wait for the special votes to be counted and as I've said publicly, I expect we will probably lose at least one seat. Emma Chatterton, my good friend and National's Remutaka candidate, is right on the cusp of making it. Depending on results in other close electorates, she could well make it after Friday November 3. So it's a waiting game for her.
It's clear from the overall results that the government has changed, and the exact shape of it will become clear in the next little while. In the meantime the current government is in caretaker mode. Parliament will definitely meet before Christmas, but exactly when will depend on the formation of the government. I hope to be a Minister in the new government when it is eventually formed - but that will be over to the incoming PM, Christopher Luxon!
Locally, not a lot will change in the short-term - my two offices are both open if you need help, and if I am still the MP for Hutt South again after the special votes, then I will look to increase the offices' opening hours in due course (I will be entitled to extra resource as an electorate MP again).
Have a great rest of the week.
Chris
P.S Congrats to two of our local butcheries, who had sausages win awards in the 2023 Great New Zealand Sausage Competition! Hardy St Quality Meats in Waterloo won a silver for their beef and cheese and chives, and a bronze for their saveloys. Eastbourne Quality Meats won gold for their pork sausages. Congrats to these two great local businesses.
2020 v 2023
Quite a contrast from 2020!
THANK YOU!
Waving signs on the Esplanade on Monday post the election to say thanks!
Natraj School of Dance 25th Anniversary
What a wonderful night a couple of Fridays ago at the Natraj School of Dance annual production. This was their 25th anniversary! A real honour to pay tribute to founder Prabha Ravi, who has done so much for the community. Thank you Prabha.
Tense night...
A classic Election Night photo!
Welcoming 23 new colleagues...
So proud of all of the new National MPs!
Congrats Josh!
With the legendary Josh Ross, Head Chef at Bellamy's by Logan Brown at Parliament. Josh is a Hutt local and owner of Hutt cafe Twenty Eight. He's just been named the inaugural winner of the 2023 Visa New Zealand Hospitality Scholarship, which includes a five-day placement at a top international hospitality venue, professional development, a one-year mentorship, business training and future participation in Wellington On a Plate.
Well done Josh!
Regular Jeremy Photo
Normally face wiping is the other way around!
Election Night
Beer, phone, battery pack, winning.
Regular Ladyhawke Photo
She is enjoying the bush in Days Bay!
Stunner of a day yesterday!
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