Dear John,
A bit of good news to start this newsletter - the government is stumping up $2.4 million towards the cost of replacing the Ava walkway attached to the rail bridge. Quick reminder - KiwiRail announced earlier this year they needed to replace the rail bridge, which is over 100 years old. Problem is there's a very well used walkway attached to the bridge - which is actually owned by the Hutt Council, not KiwiRail (nobody actually knew that until earlier this year!).
Campbell Barry and I got KiwiRail to delay the rail upgrade earlier in the year and the government will now go 50/50 on the cost of upgrading the walkway after KiwiRail does the bridge upgrade. It's likely that the rail work will be done over summer and then the walkway will close for a few months while they build a new one. So it'll be a bit frustrating but at the end of the day we'll get an upgraded bridge and a new, modern and safe walkway across the river. That's a win I reckon!
Parliament: After a big three weeks of recess Parliament has been back this week with plenty happening, including some changes to the pay equity legislation. There's been a lot of nonsense talked by Labour about these changes. For clarity - we're not getting rid of equal pay or pay equity! What we've done is amend the Act to make pay equity across different industries and/or jobs about actual sex-based discrimination. The law that Labour introduced in 2020 has resulted in many cases where sex-based undervaluation was not the core focus, but rather other factors in the labour market were being brought into the equation. When you have a system that compares nurses to fishery offices, admin staff to engineers, it’s clear that the system has flaws. So pay equity still exists, workers can make claims (and we've set aside money for that!), and the system is a lot simpler.
Social Media: We also announced this week that National is backing a member's Bill to protect young people from social media harm by restricting access for under 16s. My colleague Catherine Wedd has drafted this Bill to help protect young people from bullying, inappropriate content and social media addiction by restricting access for under 16-year-olds. The bill closely mirrors the approach taken in Australia, which passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill in December 2024. Personally I'm a big supporter of this. There's quite a bit of work to do, but social media is a real problem for young people. What do you think?
More good news for the Hutt: A bit more good news for the Hutt this week - on Monday Science Minister Shane Reti announced a new $71 million Government investment into advanced technology research. Over the next seven years, this funding will support world-class innovation at the Robinson Research Institute, based at Victoria University of Wellington, including in Petone. From portable MRI machines, to advanced engines, and superconductors, this research will help turn science into solutions that improve our everyday lives — while creating high-paying jobs and growing our economy.
Out and About in the Hutt: It was awesome to have Minister of Education Erica Stanford in the Hutt last week. We visited Hutt Valley High School to turn the first sod on their new classrooms, as well as Gracefield School which recently opened three new classrooms, delivered by awesome Hutt company Niche Modular. We also dropped into Sacred Heart Petone which is running a very successful maths programme using textbooks which we're now rolling out to schools around the country. Back to basics with a strong focus on numeracy.
Hutt Newsletter: Every year or so I send a letter to every household in the Hutt, with a newsletter showing what I've been up to as local MP for Hutt South, and a survey asking some topical questions so I can be a better representative. If you've got a couple of hours, I'd love your help to get this into every house in the Hutt! (mail is expensive!). It's super easy - click here to sign up and one of my team will be in touch. All you need to do is stick mail into letterboxes (in order), you can do as few or as many as you like, and we'll even drop the letters off to you (or you can pick up). Thanks in advance!
Pink Ribbon Breakfast: I'm hosting Nicola Willis in the Hutt on Monday 26 May for a special Pink Ribbon breakfast. Tickets just $50 and all proceeds will go to the Breast Cancer Foundation. Nicola will speak about her own journey in politics. Should be a great morning. Tickets from here.
Have a great weekend!
Chris
P.S Did you see that we've announced that financial education will be embedded as a core element of the refreshed social sciences curriculum for Year 1-10 students?
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The government will fund 50 percent of the cost of a replacement for the Ava walk bridge attached to the rail bridge. Will cost $4.8 million with the Hutt Council funding the rest. The work on the bridge (which is 100 years old) will still happen and KiwiRail and the Council will work together for sequence the work. It is likely that the rail bridge will work happen and then a new walkway will be installed (with the Council managing it). The walkway will close for a time while the work is done but at the end of it we will have a new, modern, up to date and safe walkway - and an upgraded rail bridge.
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Hutt Valley High School Rebuild
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Goodbye toxic mould and hello, new classrooms! Erica and I visited Hutt High to formally ‘turn the first sod’ on the new two storey building to replace the infamous C Block. This new two-storey building will have specialist teaching spaces for music, dance, drama and food technology as well as two general purpose classrooms. Construction is underway and will finish next year. This has been a long and frustrating journey for HVHS. We are making progress!
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Visit to Sacred Heart Petone
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Was awesome to visit Sacred Heart School in Petone with Erica Stanford last week. The teaching they are doing in maths is really incredible. They’ve been using the textbooks we’ve rolled out to schools around the country for years and the results have been remarkable. Back to basics with a strong focus on numeracy.
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Pre-Budget Speech in the Hutt
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Awesome to have Nicola Willis in the Hutt last week to give her traditional "pre-Budget speech" in the Hutt, hosted by the Hutt Chamber of Commerce at Metco Engineering. The Budget is on May 22 and will continue the government's focus on fiscal discipline and going for economic growth to reduce the cost of living.
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Unfortunately couldn't join my colleague, Science Minister, Shane Reti in the Hutt on Monday to announce a new $71 million Government investment into advanced technology research! Over the next seven years, this funding will support world-class innovation at the Robinson Research Institute, based at Victoria University of Wellington, including in Petone.
Great news for #TechnologyValley!
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New classrooms for Gracefield School
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Three new classrooms for Gracefield School in the Hutt, delivered by Niche Modular, an awesome local Hutt company.
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Disgusting to see this in Wellington
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My heart breaks. This disgusting sign is in Aro St in my beloved Wellington. Very sadly anti-semitism is on the rise in New Zealand. We need everyone to speak out against this sort of disgusting, racist abuse in plain sight.
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Anzac Day in the Hutt was very special as always. Five services in the Hutt from dawn through to midday. Each different and special in their own way. We will remember them.
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Good turnout for my seniors morning tea in Wainuiomata last week. Thanks to all those who came along! If you'd like to be on the list for these (I run them regularly) then please send me an email.
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