Dear John,
First off: if you support a new Melling Interchange in the Hutt - then please sign my petition! I can't believe we're having to do this again, but we are. As I reported to you last week, funding for a new Melling Interchange is at risk again, after Transport Minister Michael Wood refused to say that all the projects in the NZ Upgrade Programme would go ahead in the way they were announced. I've launched a new petition to tell the government to keep their promise and commit to Melling going ahead as they announced last year: $258 million or more, to start in 2022. It's frustrating we have to do this, after Labour spent thousands on billboards all around the Hutt during election year saying Melling was "fully-funded." Melling is only back on the table at all after strong community pressure in 2019, and it looks like we will have to do it again (For those who drive north regularly, the four-laning of Otaki to Levin is also at risk).
Last week was a big week at Parliament, with National pressuring Trevor Mallard, who we have lost confidence in as Speaker of the House. It all goes back to his false rape claim about a Parliamentary staffer, which he only apologised for and settled after 18 months, costing the taxpayer $338,000. He knew within 24 hours he was wrong, but fought the case all the way, even saying to the staffer he would prove what he said was true, when he knew it wasn't. Then in the House on Tuesday he went even further, using Parliamentary privilege to attack the staffer even further (but of course he won't repeat the statements outside the House, as he could then be sued).
The whole exchange in Parliament was quite extraordinary and certainly one of the most intense I've been involved in in my seven years as a MP. You can watch one of my speeches here. I've said to the PM that she should consider what she would be doing if the Speaker was a National MP. The reality is she would be calling for him to resign, and she should do the decent thing here. She's said she has "serious concerns" about his behaviour but she needs to go further and sack him.
Two other pieces of Hutt news I need to report on. First, the Regional Council has delivered a real slap in the face to Hutt ratepayers, refusing to extend the new Airport Flyer service to the Hutt. This came after Campbell, Ginny and I ran a "Fight for the Flyer" campaign recently, which generated over 3000 submissions to the Council. Last week Crs Nash and Connelly (note neither of them are Lower Hutt Regional Councillors) moved that the new Flyer should run all the way to the Hutt, not just to Wellington railway station. Unfortunately the motion was lost, which is extremely disappointing. We will keep fighting!
Second, the Hutt Valley High School toxic mould issue has been in the news again. Year 12 and 13 students led a very innovative protest at Parliament last week, turning up to do schoolwork on the lawn, and quietly send a message about the need for a commitment for a replacement of C block at the school, plus a timeframe. I was very proud of Head Boy and Girl Patrick and Charlotte who appeared on Breakfast TV in the morning to discuss the issue. As I know from my own time on that show, live TV is hard but they did very well. I know Chris Hipkins is a busy guy but it was disappointing he didn't stop by the protest. I've written to Chris Hipkins about the issue. It's pretty clear that C Block will be demolished and replaced, but the school needs certainty over funding and the timeframe, and the prefabs to replace C block in the short-term need to be in place quickly too. I'll stay on the case.
You can read about what else I've been up to in the rest of this Bulletin including a fun way to mark the opening of the new Days Bay wharf on Friday!
Have a great week.
Chris
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I can't believe Melling is at risk, again, and I'm going to fight for it. SIGN MY PETITION HERE. I asked Transport Minister Michael Wood about Melling in the House last week - check it out here. I've also written to him and asked for an urgent meeting - it will be interesting to see if he gives me one. Watch this space for further action.
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Incredible photo taken by Cr Shazly Rasheed of Mayor Campbell Barry and I jumping off the newly re-opened Days Bay Wharf on Friday. There's a video of me doing it here and the Stuff covered it here.
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An incredible protest by Hutt Valley High School students on Wednesday at Parliament - Year 12 and 13 students came to Parliament, working away on their schoolwork on the lawn - but also sent a message about the toxic mould in C block and the need for a commitment on funding for replacement, as well as a timeframe. Well done to the students, who drove this idea themselves.
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A busy ANZAC day in the Hutt on the 25th of April. The traditional dawn Service, the Petone Railway service (a very special ceremony - New Zealand’s first Anzac service was held here in 1916), Petone service, the civic ceremony in the Hutt and then Wainuiomata! Lest we forget.
Did you know there are only two Victoria Cross recipients buried in the Wellington region? At Taita Cemetery you'll find the grave of Samuel Frickleton who won the VC at Messines in 1917. The NZ Remembrance Army has cleaned up his service grave, and on the 24th I paid my respects to a remarkably courageous man. Have a watch and a listen. Lest we forget.
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Annie by Hutt City Musical Theatre
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What a pleasure it was to see the Hutt City Musical Theatre production of Annie recently in Epuni. 31 young people involved, age from 6 to 17. I was a small sponsor of the play.
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Speech to LNI National Party Conference
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I've spent the weekend in Napier at the Lower North Island National Party conference. A great weekend talking about how we rebuild as a party. I gave a keynote speech on COVID-19 and our approach - have a read here if you're interested.
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Presenting Paul Knox with a special trophy to mark his retirement as coordinator of Wainuiomata Community Patrol. 6 years doing a great job for the community. Thanks for everything Paul, you’re a legend.
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Doing my monthly Waiwhetu Stream clean up last Sunday.
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Lovely to catch up with my friend Nyah the other day in my Wainuiomata office. She first came to see me when she was 9 and a student at Fernlea School. She had done an amazing study into water safety. A year or so later she visited me at Parliament for morning tea. Now she's 12 and at Chilton St James School, working really hard. For her latest project she had to interview a politician.
Was lovely to catch up. Keep up the great work, Nyah!
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Paul Kinsman has bought the old Petone Magistrate’s Court in Elizabeth St, Petone, and is turning it into a residential house. I swung by the other day to see how he's going!
There's an interesting backstory. The building was built in 1911 so is 110 years old. It was a police station from 1952 onwards until it closed in 1991. It was condemned as earthquake prone in the late 1980s by the old Petone Borough Council. Ownership transferred to Weltec in 2002, but has sat unused since then. Paul approached me a year or so back with an interest in buying the property. After a bit of a process involving the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust (which had first right of refusal as part of its Treaty settlement), the property is now Paul's.
It is a Category 2 heritage listed building and Paul is doing a full restoration inside and out. It is a stunning building and I understand Heritage NZ is very pleased.
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Not the most flattering photo but I do have to record that the other week I did a new personal best at the Lower Hutt parkrun! My best time in two years, woohoo!
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SuperBlues with Erica Stanford
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Was great to have Erica Stanford in the Hutt a couple of weeks ago for my regular SuperBlues meeting. Erica is doing a great job as our Immigration spokesperson.
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What an outrage - Kane Williamson an Australian!
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