What do you reckon about Petone wharf?

Dear John,

After an intense start to the year, it was good to spend a lot of time in the Hutt last week - speaking to Greypower in both Wainuiomata and Lower Hutt, visiting a range of businesses and organisations, hosting morning tea at my Wainuiomata office, catching up with constituents and of course ANZAC Day. It's always a busy morning - an early start, two separate services in Petone (plus a full english breakfast at the Petone Club in the middle!), the civic ceremony at the ANZAC memorial lawn and then over the hill to Wainuiomata. Every year the crowds at the services seem to grow, which is wonderful to see. I finished off by baking some Anzac biscuits with Jeremy (photos below). He loved it!

Petone Wharf: Lots of debate ([link removed]) in the Hutt at the moment about Petone Wharf and whether it should be demolished or restored. The Council is in a tough situation - it's expensive either way, and they've got big financial pressures, particularly around water. So I don't envy them. I nailed my colours to the mast on Sunday by marching with hundreds of others in support of saving the wharf if we can do so - it's iconic, historic, and an important part of Petone. My view is if it's more expensive to demolish than restore, then it's a no brainer - keep it. The Council needs to really test the costs and I've encouraged them to do a thorough job. I also promised I'd be the first to do a manu ([link removed]) off the wharf if we saved it! What do you think? (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Petone%20Wharf)

Parliament has been back this week and I've been getting on with the job in infrastructure, resource management and housing. The Fast Track Approvals Bill I'm in charge of has provoked quite a bit of debate - some of it reasonable, some of it way off base. Here's the simple truth: it's become way too hard to get things done in New Zealand. We have an infrastructure deficit, a housing crisis and emissions goals we simply won't meet unless it's easier to build the projects we need to meet those challenges. So the Fast Track Bill cuts through the red tape and green tape and speeds up consent processing - whilst protecting the environment. In fact the Bill builds on something Labour introduced! Have a read of my op-ed in the Herald here. ([link removed]) Of course we're open to sensible changes around it - and there's plenty of good feedback coming in. I have to
say, I've been really struck by how many people are extremely enthusiastic for it when I go around the country. People want to get on with rebuilding our economy.

Structured Literacy: A really important announcement yesterday - a $67m package to teach structured literacy in schools. It'll be mandatory in all state schools from term 1 next year. Structured literacy is a proven method to increase the literacy rates among our kids - it is basically phonics (but better) - and involves teaching literacy skills such as spelling, vocabulary expansion, comprehension, and writing. The evidence from several schools who have implemented this teaching method is that it is lifting student achievement. Currently only 56% of our Year 8 students are at the expected level for reading and writing - which is shocking. This is part of our education approach of going back to basics, which includes an hour each day for maths, reading and writing. Plus of course the ban on cellphones in schools which started on Monday. The feedback on this has been amazing!

Budget 2024: We're less than a month away from Budget 2024 (May 30) and there's no doubt it's tough economically out there. Inflation is coming down but still high, interest rates are elevated, and unemployment is ticking up. We really inherited a mess from Labour, with 18,500 more public servants, a 84% increase in government spending and huge amounts of debt. It's going to take time to turn it around and Budget 2024 is an important step on that journey. It will deliver tax relief for low and middle income Kiwis and cut the back office bureaucracy and prioritise frontline service in health and education. Most importantly, it'll be fiscally responsible. The spending track we inherited was utterly unsustainable and we're taking the tough decisions to get us back on track. Watch out for more announcements in the lead-up to the Budget in the coming weeks

Have a great weekend. If I can lend a hand with anything, please contact my office.

Chris

P.S; Wishing all Mums a very Happy Mother's Day for next Sunday!
Lest we forget
Laying a wreath at the ANZAC civic ceremony last week.
Speaking to Lower Hutt Greypower

Great to speak to GreyPower Lower Hutt last week. Always a lively crowd and lots of good questions!
Petone Wharf

Loved this sign at the Save Petone Wharf last Sunday!
Koha Shed

The Koha Shed is a wonderful Wainuiomata institution. Jo and the team do a great job. Open Monday - Wednesday 10-1. Right now they’re looking for pots, pans, cooking equipment & blankets to for winter. Drop some off if you can and help people in our community!
Baking With (Baby) Bish

He's quite the baker!
Stunning Autumn Day In Petone
Thank you to our cadets
Thank you to our amazing Lower Hutt cadets who did such a good job at the various Hutt ANZAC services on Thursday!
Morning Tea in Wainuiomata
Great morning tea held in Wainuiomata last Wednesday. I run these regularly around the Hutt - let me know if you’d like to come to the next one.
Caption Contest time!
On the way into Parliament on Thursday. What am I thinking? (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Caption%20Contest)
Parkrun Lower Hutt

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First Parkrun for a while last Saturday! Need to get back into it.
Hutt stunner
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