Dear John,
It's been a very busy last couple of weeks - two public meetings in the Hutt plus we've had the final two weeks of Parliament before we break for the winter recess. As I write, it's a beautiful Hutt day but very cold - here's hoping for warmer weather ahead.
First up, I was really pleased with the public meeting on a second access road into Wainuiomata I held last Thursday. We had about 150 people turn up to discuss the idea including five city councillors. In my view this is a discussion we need to keep driving as a community. Lower Hutt simply must build new houses - the average house value in the Hutt will soon be a million dollars, we have kids growing up in motels, and the social housing waiting list is out of control. That's not the city I want Lower Hutt to be. You can sign the petition for a second access here. Speaking of housing, I was surprised to see such little support for even taking another look at housing in the Kilmister block - at a time of a regional housing crisis it seems worth investigating.
COVID-19 continues to dominate my work in Parliament, particularly the vaccine roll-out. It's fortunate that Wellington dodged a bullet a couple of weeks ago with the Australian who had COVID-19 not infecting anyone in New Zealand, but we remain vulnerable while we have a largely un-vaccinated population. It's simply critical we speed up the roll-out. We are the slowest in the developed world; definitely not "the front of the queue" which we were promised.
Down in Canterbury the roll-out is shambolic - incredibly the South Canterbury DHB has done more group 3 vaccinations than the Canterbury DHB even though it is one tenth the size. Seven rest-homes have still not started vaccinations even though they were all meant to be done by the end of June. The situation at the border is also concerning. 45% of port workers haven't had a single dose even though all border workers were meant to be done by the end of March. For some reason, even if you're required to be tested every two weeks, you don't necessarily have to be vaccinated. The government is moving to fix that, but way too late.
There is considerable confusion in the community about the group 3 roll-out - some people have been contacted and told they're in group 3 when they're not, and I am constantly contacted by people who definitely qualify but who have heard nothing from their GP or the DHB. It's incredibly frustrating - please drop me a line if you want to share your story. Group 3 was meant to start in May, but so many people have not even been contacted and asked to book for August onwards.
Finally on COVID, The slow roll-out of saliva testing at our border continues be frustrating. Public health experts, alongside National, have called for saliva testing for many months now. I revealed this week that the government's own expert group has even said it should even be the main method of testing in New Zealand. Chris Hipkins blames the officials, but ultimately he is responsible. Saliva testing means we can test more workers more regularly than the "up the nose" test, which means picking up COVID more quickly, definitely a good thing. It's just baffling we haven't moved more quickly to implement it properly.
Parliament is in recess for the next three weeks, so you'll see me around the Hutt a bit more. Watch my Facebook page for my "Catch up with Chris" dates where you can find me at local cafes - drop by and say hello, no need for an appointment.
Have a great weekend - I'm off to play my first game of rugby since I was about thirteen, for the Parliamentary Rugby Team against the Police! I think my role will mainly be warming the bench....
Chris
P. S Did you see this lovely story about the Remutaka Conservation Trust? What a wonderful contribution they've made to Lower Hutt and our country.
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Bunny St / Queensgate Bus Stop
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The area in and around the bus stops on Bunny St outside Queensgate has been an issue for quite a while. I've had a lot of people raise with me the issue of antisocial behaviour in the area and at the end of last year I held a roundtable meeting with the Police, Regional Council, Hutt Council, Hutt Safe City, Queensgate and others to discuss the issue.
I'm really pleased to be able to tell you that the Regional Council has decided to remove the existing shelters and replace them with a Bus Hub type shelter, which will include installation of CCTV cameras to capture activity within the shelter itself.
This is really good news I reckon.
The next step from here (according to the Regional Council) is to develop the necessary business case, procurement plan and the relevant internal sign offs, aiming for construction to happen this year. I'll keep you updated.
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Wainuiomata Second Access
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Had a really great public meeting last Thursday about the idea of a second access road for Wainuiomata and opening up Upper Fitzherbert area for housing. Thank you to everyone who came along - it was standing room only at the Bilderbeck Hall. A really great discussion with lots of good points and comments. Thanks to the five Hutt Councillors who were there including two senior Councillors in Deborah Hislop and Simon Edwards.
This is a conversation we need to take forward as a community. As I outlined at the meeting, Lower Hutt housing is in crisis. The average price will soon be $1 million. Some people don't like density - I get that. Some people don't like greenfields - I get that too. But I don't want to live in a city where kids grow up in motels, where the waiting list for a social house keeps growing and growing, and where first home buyers can't get on the housing ladder. We simply have to build more houses and I reckon greenfields land like in Upper Fitzherbert is a good place to start.
The powerpoint I presented can be found online here.
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Last week at Parliament I accepted Ashley’s petition to shorten the time period victims of domestic abuse have to wait before getting a divorce alongside our Justice Spokesperson Simon Bridges and Shadow Attorney-General Chris Penk.
Our current law says you have to wait two years before getting a divorce. Many other countries shorten this period in the case of domestic violence and abuse, but NZ doesn’t.
I look forward to seeing the petition considered by a select committee.
I am also drafting a bill to put Ashley’s idea into law and bring us into line with many other countries.
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Immigration Public Meeting
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Thank you to everyone who came to the Immigration Forum on Sunday afternoon with National’s spokesperson for Immigration, Erica Stanford MP. We were also joined by former National MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi and the Wellington Punjabi Sports and Cultural Club. Lots of stories told, frustrations shared and things to follow up for Erica and me.
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Did my regular Waiwhetu Stream clean-up on Sunday morning.
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Catch up with Chris at Riverbank Markets
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It was a cold but lovely morning at the Riverbank markets on Saturday. Lots of people stopping by for a chat. I'll be there next month too - date TBA.
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Back on the Jackson St Project, trying every restaurant for dinner from west to east. Enjoyed a lovely meal at Dumpling World Restaurant on Friday. I am a big egg foo young fan and theirs was great! Delicious dumplings too as you’d expect. Check it out on Jackson St.
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I think Nicola Willis and I are cooking something up in Parliament (or trying to) and big G is having. Not. A. Bar. Of it.
(Photo from Stuff)
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One second off my PB! Should have dug in harder on the fourth k. Bugger.
So cold last Saturday morning.
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Re Orientation Week at Vic
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Quick stop on Tuesday up at Vic Uni for Re-Orientation week with the NZ Young Nats.
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Yeah I did it. Couldn't resist. Not sure Trevor will let me wear these in the debating chamber...
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