CRL, Hutt Maternity upgrade, and solar in schools

Dear John,

Apologies for the delay in the Bishop Bulletin this week! I meant to send this on Friday like normal but then I had an absolutely insanely busy Thursday - one of those exciting, frenetic days which reminds me why I love my job.

I woke up in Auckland on Thursday excited to announce the opening day for the City Rail Link, scheduled for 9am with the Mayor. Unfortunately someone at the advertising company made an error and when I walked to TVNZ the opening date (September 13) was all over the city already! As I quipped at the announcement itself, given CRL was delivered so late there is some irony in the opening date being announced early.

The rest of the day was a lot of fun. After the CRL event with the Mayor (my speech here) I headed to the Port of Auckland and witnessed the laying of the first precast panel slab on top of the wharf at the Ports of Auckland Bledisloe North redevelopment (the first project to get underway through the Fast-track). I then gave a speech to the NZ Law Association about Parliamentary sovereignty where I mounted a spirited defence of Parliamentary supremacy and that elected representatives should make the law, not the judiciary. After a quick flight to Wellington I then appeared in the big Engineering NZ multi-party debate on infrastructure (run in conjunction with Stuff). A busy and fun day.

It's actually been a big couple of weeks and it's only going to get busier as we head towards the election (89 days to go!). Parliament's been sitting (we're in recess next week) and the two big RMA Reform Bills just passed their second reading, my Infrastructure Funding and Financing Amendment Bill has passed into law, I've received the inquiry into the disappearance of the Phillips children (and asked for more info), I've opened consultation on removing heritage provisions holding Wellington back (including protection for the old gas tank in Miramar), and much more. More to come next week!

Around the Hutt: Even with the busyness of Parliament, it's been great to get out and about in the Hutt in the last couple of weeks, including visiting the Seaview resilience project with the PM, celebrating the Lower Hutt Foodbank's 40th birthday, and visiting the Shona Macfarlane retirement village. Watch out for my upcoming "Building the Future" public meeting with the Prime Minister, coming up on Tuesday 18 August! There are signs up around the Hutt right now.

Hutt Maternity Upgrade: Simeon Brown was in town last Friday and we visited the construction underway on the new neonatal unit at Hutt Hospital! This $10.5 million investment will increase the unit’s floor area by 61 per cent and expand capacity from 12 to 14 cots, allowing more babies to receive specialist care in the Hutt. The new unit has been designed to reflect modern models of neonatal care, with enhanced infection prevention and control, improved clinical workflows, and greater privacy and comfort for families. It will provide a more functional environment for our most vulnerable patients.
A big thank you to all of the amazing staff at Hutt Hospital who do such a great job for our community.

Hannah McKeich petition: One other thing this week. I've presented a petition to Parliament on behalf of Upper Hutt resident Hannah McKeich. Hannah has requested that the House make childcare screening mandatory for parents before scheduled surgery or in cases of emergency hospitalisation. You can read about Hannah's story here. It was nice to see my friend Ashley Jones accompany Hannah to present the petition. Ashley is the author of "Ashley's Law", which removed the two-year stand-down period needed to get a divorce in instances where there had been family violence, which I worked with her on in the last Parliament. Looking forward to Hannah speaking to her petition at Parliament!

Have a great rest of the week.

Chris

P.S Breaking news - the following Hutt South schools are part of the initial 500 to receive solar panels as part of the government's Solar in Schools programme: Hutt Valley High School, Newlands College, Newlands School, Kelson School, Muritai School, Wilford School, Wainuiomata High School and Wainuiomata Primary!

Community BBQs

Three fantastic community BBQs in Newlands on Sunday. Thanks to everyone who came along!

CRL (Finally!!!)

CRL. Opening Sunday September 13. Finally. Can’t wait.

Public Meeting with the PM

In Seaview with the PM

Awesome to visit the Seaview Energy Resilience Project in the heart of the Hutt with the PM last week! This is a major infrastructure investment to strengthen one of New Zealand’s most important fuel supply routes and protect fuel supply for Wellington and the lower North Island.

Happy Onam!

Happy Onam! Nicola Willis MP, Karuna Muthu and I joined Medicare Wellington (health workers from around the region) to celebrate Onam in Kilbirnie.

Hutt Maternity Upgrade

Construction is underway on the new neonatal unit at Hutt Hospital!

This $10.5 million investment will increase the unit’s floor area by 61 per cent and expand capacity from 12 to 14 cots, allowing more babies to receive specialist care in the Hutt.

A big thank you to all of the amazing staff at Hutt Hospital who do such a great job for our community.

New Petition

Proud to present this petition to Parliament on behalf of Hannah McKeich. Hannah has requested that the House make childcare screening mandatory for parents before scheduled surgery or in cases of emergency hospitalisation.

Nice to see my friend Ashley Jones accompany Hannah to present the petition. Ashley is the author of "Ashley's Law", which removed the two-year stand-down period needed to get a divorce in instances where there had been family violence, which I worked with her on in the last Parliament.

Congrats Goody Goodness!

A fantastic bit of news from a great local business in Petone! Goody Goodness on Jackson Street has been named a finalist in the Spark Retail NZ Awards for Customer Service Experience of the Year, an outstanding achievement, especially given the record number and high standard of entries this year.

Goody Goodness supports and showcases local artists, creators and artisans, and it’s fantastic to see a Hutt business getting national recognition for creating such a welcoming and inspiring place for customers.

Congratulations to Avelyn and the whole Goody Goodness team.

Port of Auckland expansion

Big infrastructure projects shouldn't be stuck in red tape.

On Thursday I attended the laying of the first precast panel slab on top of the wharf at the Ports of Auckland Bledisloe North redevelopment – the first project to get underway through the Fast-track Approvals process.

New Bike track at Gracefield School

Was a huge pleasure open Gracefield School’s new Bike Track! The government is proud to support Bikes in Schools.

Chris Bishop MP

66 Bloomfield Terrace

Hutt City

Lower Hutt, Wellington 5010

New Zealand

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