And so to Level 3!

We're now in Level 3 - how are you going?
Dear John,

I hope you and your bubble are well we start Level 3 in the COVID-19 response - hopefully for not too long! There's no doubt that the country did well during the lockdown, and it worked. We flattened the curve. Kiwis self-isolated and socially distanced. Life has been incredibly hard for many people, particularly our business sector. We're now out of Level 4 and down to Level 3, and Cabinet will make a decision on Monday May 11 as to where to next.

I had a celebratory sausage and egg McMuffin on Tuesday morning and a long black with Ladyhawke and Jenna at the beach. I woke up the next morning to discover (via mates overseas) I'd been on the BBC ([link removed]) in the UK and in the Daily Mail, the New York Times, Australian Financial Review, and other papers! All a bit surreal really. I'm looking forward to supporting great Hutt cafes and restaurants that are opening up over the next few weeks - now's the time to show your support through your wallets, if you can.

The nature of my work as your local MP has been different to normal over the past few weeks. Party politics has taken a back seat, which has felt a bit odd in election year! My primary and most important job has been to help the people I have the privilege of representing. When I look back on the last month or so, I've been trying to do basically three things. The first is making sure people who need help get it. With that in mind, my office and I have called nearly every senior aged over 70 in Hutt South just to make sure they're okay and see if they need support - particularly groceries. It's been fantastic to hear of neighbours looking after each other, and families really rallying around to look after each other. I want to say a big thanks to my hardworking office team who've been fantastic during the crisis - my offices have been closed but staff working from home and helping dozens of people every week.

Secondly, disseminating information has been really important. I've used Facebook a lot for this, and I've been inundated with questions from people about all sorts of things - you'd be amazed at what I get asked! Everything from "Is Tinder allowed in Level 3?" to "how far from my house can I travel?" On that note, Health Minister David Clark hasn't exactly helped ([link removed]) with consistency of government messaging...

Thirdly, I've had to go into bat for constituents and businesses. Just this week for example I've been working with a couple of our local animal care companies trying to get some clarity as to whether they can open or not - different government agencies have said different things. We've now got clarity - after letters, phone calls, emails, etc. There's lots of other more private examples I won't list.

This week Parliament was back in session - sort of. The House has only 20 people in it as everyone socially distances and sits apart from each other - and there's plenty of disinfectant! Hopefully as we get to Level 2 Parliament can get back to working properly. Select committees have been meeting via Zoom and progressing legislation, including the Transport Committee I'm on.

Quite rightly, the focus is increasingly turning to what we need to do now as a country to recover economically from COVID-19. The wage subsidy has been great so far as it goes, but further support is needed - unemployment has already risen by 30,000 in the space of a month and Treasury estimates economic activity will be 25 per cent below normal under level 3. National will play a constructive role here and we want to hear from you as to what we should do as a country - drop me an email with your thoughts. (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Economic%20Recovery)

In closing, thanks once again to our front line essential workers - supermarket staff, nurses, doctors, truckies, and more. Make sure you say thanks if you see them - and why not see if you know a young person interested in my "Thanking Essential Workers" Art competition? More details below. Stay safe everyone, and see you soon.

Chris

P.S Let's hear it for great Hutt manufacturer Fraser Engineering - they've supplied 3000 face shields to the Hutt Valley DHB and now have an inquiry from CCDHB for some!
Thanking Essential Workers Children's Art Competition

A reminder about the special children’s art competition I'm running with the Hutt Art Society, to thank the Hutt’s essential workers who are going above and beyond during this very tough time for the city.

This is a wonderful opportunity for our young people to say “thank you” to the thousands of dedicated essential workers in the Hutt including doctors, nurses, police officers, cleaners, supermarket staff, truck drivers, and many more who are all continuing to work to keep us safe and well. It is also a chance for young people, most of who are confined to their bubbles at home during the lockdown, to get those creative juices flowing!

Hutt children in years 1-8 are being invited to create a piece of art to say “thank you” to our essential workers while they’re at home and unable to attend school. The artwork will be forwarded onto essential workers on a regular basis, and prizes awarded for the best artwork in each year level.

The Hutt Art Society will be supplying judges for the competition, collating the entries and displaying artwork in the Odlin Gallery when the lockdown is over, and it is safe to do so.

Instructions for entering:

- Photos or scans of artwork can be sent to [email protected]. Please include a title of the work, the name of the submitter, year at school and what school the child attend
- Children should attend a school in, or currently reside, in the Hutt Valley
- The artwork can be in any form, but should be focused on essential workers and saying “thank you” or “thanks”
- The competition is for children currently in years 1-8 (roughly students aged 5-13)

Entries open Friday 17 April and close Friday 15 May.

Entries will be showcased digitally on my Facebook page and the Hutt Art Centre’s Facebook page.

Please share this with people you think may be interested!
ANZAC Day 2020

Normally I'd attend five ANZAC Services before 2pm on ANZAC Day! Just the one this year at the front gate. Moving all the same and good to see lots of people doing it around the Hutt.
Baking with Bish

Had a few requests for my Anzac Biscuit recipe. Here it is.

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup desiccated coconut
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
125g butter
2 tablespoons golden syrup
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons boiling water

METHOD:
Set oven to 180˚C. Lightly grease a baking tray or line one with baking paper.

Mix rolled oats, coconut, flour and sugar in a large bowl.

Melt butter and golden syrup together in a small saucepan.

Dissolve baking soda in hot water and add to the butter mixture.

Pour the butter mixture into the dry ingredients and mix together

Roll teaspoons into balls and place on the tray, allowing room for them to spread. Bake for 12-15 minutes and enjoy!

Coffee by the beach with Ladyhawke this week. Yay for Level 3!

Definitely need a haircut!
Me at 20

This thing's been going around the net - a photo of you at 20. Here I am with the band Shihad back in 2003.
Electorate Boundaries

I know nobody (including me) is focused on the election at the moment but if you're interested, the Representation Commission has just set the boundaries and names for electorates for the 2020 and 2023 elections. For the Hutt, there are no changes to the general electorates of Hutt South and Remutaka. If you are enrolled on the general roll and live where you do now for the 2020 and 2023 elections you will vote in the same electorate as before.

The electorate name of Rimutaka has been changed to Remutaka. This reflects the 2016 Treaty settlement between the Crown and Rangitāne o Wairarapa and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki Nui-ā-Rua, and the place name changes made in 2015 by the Geographic Board.

There is a minor change to the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti and Te Tai Tonga Māori electorates. Essentially the boundary between them in Naenae is aligned with the general electorate boundaries.The change moves population of 100 people into Ikaroa-Rāwhiti from Te Tai Tonga around Waddington Drive and Naenae Road.

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