Hi Everyone!

With 'Red' Traffic Light settings and rising Omicron case numbers we are now facing yet another period of uncertainty hurting our community while we continue to work together towards getting New Zealand back to normal. While there are significant illegal protests around Wellington and other centres we cannot not ignore the wider frustrations that COVID-19 restrictions have made to law-abiding New Zealanders. We need clarity about the future of lockdowns, restrictions and the divisive issues that are breaking apart the 'team of 5 million'. 

As National Leader Chris Luxon said this afternoon, mandates are now becoming increasingly less relevant in our highly-vaccinated population as Covid becomes endemic in society globally. We need to see the mandates removed progressively once we are through the peak of Omicron and I believe it is vital we open up the border right now for vaccinated Kiwis coming home from anywhere in the world who has received a negative test while making firm plans for the future of tourists and visa holders to get back on shore with RATs and PCR tests available for anyone that needs them. 

Please remember my Auckland and Wellington Offices are open and here to help.

Boosters & Parliament

Earlier this month I rolled up my sleeve and got boosted as Omicron threatens every part of our country. 

National is pro vaccination and believes the vaccine is firmly the best way to keep New Zealanders safe as the pandemic continues. 

If you are yet to get vaccinated or unsure when you become eligible for the Booster please reach out to Healthline on 0800 282 926 for support. Healthline have translation services on hand to help those who need it and if you have any questions my office is always happy to point you in the right direction. 

Across New Zealand the Government's COVID-19 response has caused deep divisions in New Zealand society as has it's wider policies that are causing house prices to increase and cost of living to reach all time highs. As a Member of Parliament I've experienced significant abuse hurled from the Parliamentary Lawn as have Parliamentary Staff, my Wellington apartment neighbours and the wider law abiding Wellington Community who have been significantly impacted by the protests. Those out the front of Parliament are not the majority of New Zealanders. I know at least some of the protesters are peaceful and I fully respect their right to have their say within the democratic principles of our country but what is going on in Wellington is not peaceful protest. 

The Government must start charting a pathway for Kiwis back to something closer to normal life.  We have all have sacrificed a lot over the last two years and we've have complied with each new public health restriction and each new impingement on the freedoms and rights that, in normal times, would have been considered unconscionable. We need to heal and restore New Zealand to a place that unites us, and not allow ourselves to be divided like so many other parts of the world. 

I hope you agree.

Omicron and Auckland 

Like many of you I’ve found it incredibly challenging to see our local businesses go through so much hardship due to COVID-19 over the past two years and Omicron hasn’t helped. The Government has announced minimum wage increases in light of massive rising inflation and this will cause strain on small businesses who, with declining revenues and countless restrictions on trade, are finding it tougher than ever to keep their storefronts open. This hasn’t been helped by New Zealand dairies, supermarkets and liquor stores seeing a 25.7% increase in victimisations and theft skyrocketing by over 32% in that time.

The blunt reality, as my colleague Simon Bridges put it, is that true economic prosperity to uplift Kiwi households doesn’t come from the flick of a pen on minimum wage but from an agenda to lift growth and productivity. True community support comes from the safety of better crime prevention not lockdowns. The cost of living is hitting home for many with basic supermarket items out of their price range and that pleasures like cafes, restaurants and home supplies, now out of price range or inaccessible due to the risk it could affect their chances at a Home Loan. With everything COVID-19 has thrown at New Zealand, it is now clear COVID-19 and the Government’s ongoing response to it is throwing a cost of living crisis at us as well.

The strategy for Omicron is flawed with a lack of Rapid Antigen Tests meaning whole townships or suburbs could shut down from one person’s close contact visit and different government entities seem to have different policies in place confusing this for everyone. The National position is clear, legalise all tests already approved in Australia, allow them to be sold in supermarkets and pharmacies, stop seizing tests ordered by the private sector, and allow any business to access them to get employees to return to work.

In summary, anyone who wants one should be able to get one. Looking to the South Island as I write this, many in the hospitality sector of Queenstown are now going to be out of action for days on end due to close contact events and delays in accessing testing for their staff, let alone isolation requirements. The number of community events, ethnic festivals and concerts being cancelled for our city isn’t going to let-up anytime soon as long as New Zealand continues to take an outmoded approach to COVID-19.

In Parliament the new sitting year has gone into full swing with Select Committee’s holding a microscope to Crown Entities and Government Departments. I’ve had the opportunity to scrutinise the Government on a myriad of topics from content regulation to trade and tourism; you can watch this work here. As always, please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected] if you have an issue locally or nationally you want heard in our Parliament.

As Summer becomes Autumn we need to remain hopeful better times are just around the corner for New Zealand.

In the House

Last week I questioned Broadcasting Minister Kris Faafoi about the increasing criticisms of the Government's expected plans for the future of media in New Zealand. The Public Interest Journalism Fund is not fit for purpose and the advice his own Officials commissioned makes it absolutely clear it needs to go.

I encourage you all to read the report and draw your own conclusions too. 

You can watch Question Time here!

Queenstown Lakes

After an intense Caucus Retreat in Queenstown I took some time to enjoy the beauty of Queenstown's stunning waterfront.

Parts of NZ like Queenstown are really struggling after two years of international tourism numbers being decimated due to our border settings and higher alert levels. 

Looking forward to supporting our regions throughout the year alongside my Caucus Colleagues (Like Ian McKelvie, MP for Rangitikei who joined me admiring the TSS Earnslaw!)

Manurewa Markets

Great to join volunteers out in the Manurewa Markets last weekend. It was a pleasure to chat with so many friendly faces about the issues facing the Auckland region. 

Looking forward to getting out and seeing many more markets around Auckland over the coming months

If you see the Manurewa stall next time you are at the markets pop by and say hi!

Auckland Office

My Auckland Office at 107 Great South Road is open for appointments.

Under Red Settings COVID-19 policies are in place so please phone or email for a friendly chat before visiting the office so my team can help you.

I'm currently in the process of finalising the appointment of a new Korean support staffer and look forward to introducing her to you all in my next newsletter.

As always, if you have anything urgent  please message me via Facebook or at [email protected] and we'll do our best to respond as soon as possible. 

Looking forward to talking again soon!

Until next time!

==

Melissa Lee
National List MP based in Auckland
Authorised by Melissa Lee Parliament Buildings, Wellington