Dear John,
For a few years now I've sent the Bishop Bulletin out every two weeks - unfortunately the last one I sent was nearly a month ago. My apologies and I hope you'll forgive me - it's been an incredibly busy and exciting month. We've formed a government, I've been sworn in as a Minister and Parliament is about to sit!
When I last wrote to you the special votes had been declared and I officially became the MP for Hutt South again. I'm just delighted to represent my home in Parliament and fight hard for the Hutt in the new Parliament and the new government. Thank you for your support.
I spent much of November with Christopher Luxon, Nicola Willis and a few others involved in the coalition negotiations. I could write a book about all of that (it'll have to wait until I'm done with politics) and certainly produced some amusing moments. Half of New Zealand seems to have seen the story about my debacle of a morning in Auckland involving scooters, coffees, and running late for a meeting. I get on planes these days and people say to me "good to see you flying not scootering"! At various points I ran out of clean clothes (Christopher Luxon has officially gifted me his blue shirt he lent me) and I did a tiki tour of Auckland hotels.
On a serious level, the coalition agreements between National, ACT and NZ First will provide the basis for a stable and strong government. We've done something unique in MMP history - three parties in a coalition Cabinet, and all parties signing up to big policy agendas of the other parties. For example, ACT and NZ First have agreed to progress National's pledge card commitments, our 100 day plan, our 100 point economic plan, and our tax and fiscal plans (with some adjustments). In return National is agreeing to support a range of ACT and NZ First priorities. You can read the coalition agreements here.
After the government was formed, the Prime Minister announced the list of Cabinet Ministers and I'm absolutely delighted that I'll be the Minister for Housing, Infrastructure, RMA Reform, Sport and Recreation and Associate Minister of Finance. I'll also be the Leader of the House, making sure the government gets its legislative agenda through the House. It was in that capacity that I did my first press conference with the Prime Minister on Wednesday - a fun and nerve-wracking experience!
So on Monday this week it was up to Government House to officially swear the oath and get my Ministerial Warrants - a very special day and just lovely to have Jenna and my Mum and Dad there. I literally went straight from there to my new office in the Beehive - and then the meeting and paper avalanche started. To say the last few days have been busy is an understatement... but I'm loving it. Over the next 97 days you'll see the government start to implement our 100 day plan, focused on reducing the cost of living, restoring law and order, and improving public services. There's a huge amount to do - even if the media seems obsessed with.... the media, and Winston Peters.
Next week: Parliament sits for the first time next week, with the formal openings on Tuesday and Wednesday and the first Question Time on Thursday. It'll be a frenetic few weeks until Christmas as we start to repeal some stupid laws passed by Labour, like the RMA 2.0 legislation, Fair Pay agreements and the ute tax.
Have a great weekend. As always if you need anything, please flick me an email.
Chris
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First post-Cabinet Press Conference
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Exciting and nervewracking!
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Need to remind myself to look up, not down, when there are cameras!
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Final day in Parliament House
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Bit of hallway cricket with the boss before we made the move to the Beehive.
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With Jeremy at the Wilford School gala on the weekend. Amazing weather, great event!
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Jeremy's first strawberry
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With Emma Chatterton and Patrick McKibbin at the Hutt Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards a couple of Fridays ago. A fabulous night - congrats to all finalists and winners!
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Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Birthday
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Every year Nicola Willis and I join the community to distribute langar to people as part of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's birthday at the Wellington Cenotaph. We were a bit late this year coming back from being sworn in as Ministers, but made it in the end!
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Congrats to Unite Publications from Sacred Heart College, who were finalists in the Young Enterprise Scheme Wellington finals. Their English language starter books have been a real winner! They’re designed for refugees and new migrants to NZ.
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