Dear John,
As I write this to you, news is just breaking of a MIQ hotel in Wellington that had just one guest for a week. Yes, one person occupied an entire 100 room hotel while thousands of Kiwis offshore have to brave the weekly MIQ lottery to try and return to New Zealand. It would be comical if it wasn't so serious.
MIQ has been a major focus for me in my work over the last couple of weeks in Parliament. Last week I revealed that of fully vaccinated travellers who have come to NZ since August 23, just two (out of 20,000 or so) have tested positive for COVID-19 in MIQ on day 8 or later. In other words, fully vaccinated travellers present negligible risk to New Zealand. Right now, there are over 200 people with COVID isolating at home in Auckland, while fully vaccinated travellers spent 14 days in MIQ. The system is incredibly callous - the worst one I've read was this week - Brad Stephenson just wanted to be let out of MIQ early to see his dying Dad. He's fully vaccinated and passed four COVID tests, but it was denied.
We need to put an end to the MIQ 'lottery of human misery' as I call it. The government's changes (to 7 days plus three days isolating at home) don't go anywhere near far enough - we won't have home isolation for double vaccinated Kiwis until the end of March, 2022!
It's been all action for me on the COVID front, and every day seems to bring a new announcement from the government. Last Friday it was all about the new "traffic light" system. To say the new system is confusing is to understate it. We now (or will once we hit 90%) have a new traffic light system to replace alert levels, but we have three additional steps in Auckland first, and other regions can move earlier if possible, but everything is reviewed on November 29 anyway.... It's a mess, and I spoke it about when I lead off for National in the General Debate this week. I've had lots of good feedback on my speech, which you can see here. Let me know what you think.
Other things I've been working on include vaccination certificates - every country in the OECD has them apart from us and there's no real clarity about when they'll be here (but don't worry, the government says we can use paper - yes seriously) why people who have got vaccinated overseas can't have that status recognised here (seriously), the need for booster shots (we are yet to order any), vaccinations for 5-11 year olds (Chris Hipkins admitted to me he still hasn't ordered any), why Tourism NZ is sending hampers of products to UK influencers who can't even visit NZ.... I'm pretty flat tack to be honest, but really enjoying the role.
On vaccination, it was good to see the Super Saturday Vaxathon go well, and now we really need to get those rates up as high as possible, preferably past 90%. Lower Hutt is doing pretty well, with over 72% of the 12+ population vaccinated - but Upper Hutt is beating us now! Please go and get vaccinated and if you need a hand, please contact my office.
The other big news of the week was the government's Three Waters announcement. The reaction to this has been extraordinarily negative - essentially they signaled they will be introducing a bill to Parliament that will force councils to hand control of their water assets to four mega water entities. The model is fundamentally broken and unworkable but it will be forced on Councils anyway. National opposes this reform. We’ll repeal the entities in Government and we’ll return seized assets to councils.
So all in all, once you add in Canterbury now having COVID cases as well, it wasn't a good week of news - although National did force the government to drop their attempt to give themselves the power to delay local body elections next year.
If you'd like to support the work I'm doing in Parliament and the Hutt, I'm hosting a wee fundraiser with Nicola Willis and Erica Stanford in early December - details below if you'd like to come along.
Enjoy the weekend.
P.S Congrats to Tony Doile from Armstrong Downes Commercial on his nomination as Catalyst Property Professional of the Year, and Malcom Gillies from Gillies Group on his nomination for an Outstanding Leadership Award. Two great Hutt Valley legends!
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Labour announced this week they will be mandating their Three Waters Reforms, by introducing a bill to Parliament that will force councils to hand control of their water assets to four mega water entities.
This is an asset grab and centralisation that will take power and control away from communities.
The four entity model is still fundamentally broken and unworkable. The Government haven’t looked properly at alternative solutions but it’s now clear and inevitable that it will be forced on councils.
National opposes this reform. We’ll repeal the entities in Government and we’ll return seized assets to councils.
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If you'd like to come along to Christmas Cocktails with Erica, Nicola and I at the end of the year then please head here. Would be great to see you.
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MIQ - the lottery of human misery
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There are now 562 cases and close contacts in the community across 216 households who are safely self isolating at home
… while fully vaccinated travellers WITH NO COVID spend 14 days in MIQ!
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Collecting for Blind & Low Vision NZ
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Thank you to everyone who gave generously.
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I'm on the hunt for a Youth MP for Youth Parliament in 2022! Do you know someone aged 16-18 who lives in the Hutt who might be interested? Then get them to head to chrisbishop.co.nz/youthMP to apply by 12 November. They need to send me a 2-5min video or up to 500 words on:
- Why you want to be my Youth MP
- What leadership experience you might have
- What changes you’d like to see to make the Hutt a better place to live, work and play.
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Can Lower beat Upper Hutt in the race to 90%
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Upper Hutt has taken the lead! Who will be first to 90% double vaccinated? I've got a bet on with Cr Dylan Bentley of Upper Hutt - first to 90% buys the other a dozen Panhead and a meal at Brewtown.
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Last week ll I wrote a few years ago got pulled from the Parliamentary biscuit tin! (in the name of Ian McKelvie MP).
The Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Exemption for Race Meetings) Bill would allow racegoers to bring and consume their own alcohol when a racing club holds an appropriate liquor licence.
Back in 2018 Winston Peters was Racing Minister and he came out against the "bureaucratic shiny bums" who were stopping summer race events having BYO sections. He got the officials to do some work on it and then in typical Winston fashion, didn't do anything with it. I drafted the Bill and even wrote to him offering it up for him, but he refused to adopt it. So I put it into the Parliamentary ballot and now it's been pulled.
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Thanks Ruchi Indian Cuisine in Petone for the lovely message on a delicious takeaway curry the other day.
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Spotted at the All Blacks v USA game in Washington last weekend.
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Caught up with Chris Byrne from Start Sport NZ last week. They travel NZ holding fun sports days - think mini Olympics, ‘give it a go’ days and more. They were doing a bit of fundraising at Queensgate.
Sport gave me a lot as a child and I’m hugely supportive of programmes that get our young people leading active lifestyles.
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Three years ago there was a damning External Review of Hutt Maternity Services. Since then things have unfortunately not improved; in fact so far this year there have been seven "code reds".
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