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Dear John, Golf Day 2022 With the great summer weather continuing I am happy say that the Annual Ambrose Golf Day Fundraiser is going ahead at Pukekohe Golf Course on 25 March starting at 12 noon to prepare for the shotgun start. There will be a number of politicians there including our National Party Leader Christopher Luxon and there is an opportunity for some to play 4 holes with him. There will be other personalities present and opportunities to win prizes too. For registration by 17 March and more details of this fun event please email Russell [email protected] or Adrienne [email protected]. Papakura High School Rebuild petition The support for the Papakura High School rebuild is growing and the Principal Simon Cragg is enthusiastic about the support it has received so far. Please if you haven’t signed it yet, click on the link below – it only takes a couple of minutes to do it. The School’s Roll has gone to over 1000 pupils in just a few years and they would benefit greatly from purpose-built school buildings with modern heating and ventilation systems. As many of you know, the School’s buildings were originally built for temporary housing of American soldiers in the Second World War. So please support the students and sign the petition before 31 March 2022. Stay Safe from Covid-19 Omicron Although it seems that the Covid-19 restrictions have mostly gone and certainly after months, the lockdowns are a thing of the past, we still must look after ourselves and our close family members. In particular older family members and those who may have on-going health issues need to be protected from unnecessary exposure at a time when the omicron peak is challenging the health system. It is important to get a booster vaccination when you are eligible as they really protect against the worst of the Omicron strain of the virus. Wearing a mask in public places is standard and it is a sensible way to limit your exposure to the virus. Getting sick during the peak is not a very good idea as our hospitals are extremely busy at this time and short staffed because nurses and doctors are having to isolate at home because they have tested positive for the virus too. Once again it seems the Government are behind in their actual preparation for wide community transmission with RAT tests only just available and very expensive if you buy them. Testing stations in Auckland have been overwhelmed with people wanting and needing tests because they are symptomatic. The Government's track and tracing system fell over after just a few hundred daily cases and its PCR testing capacity peaked at about a thousand. These measures are not part of the current management of Covid-19 Omicron. New Zealand now has the highest per capita peak of cases compared to the US, UK and EU. But not when it comes to deaths fortunately. I am wondering what has happened to the apparently accurate saliva testing option and the therapeutic drugs for effective treatment of Covid-19 positive people whose infection is in its early stages? Borders re-opening Our National Opposition Spokesperson Chris Bishop is very pleased that his petition that many of you signed, has helped to get our borders open and has reduced the need for vaccinated, tested people to isolate when they arrive from Australia now. Further opening of the border will happen later this month for New Zealanders from anywhere in the world and visitors from Visa Waiver countries will be able to return from July. The current immigration and border settings will allow young people on Working Holiday visas from certain countries to enter New Zealand from March 13. However, parents of New Zealand residents, who are based in Britain and other visa waiver countries, can’t come until July. Those who are not in visa-waiver countries must wait until October. Although it is good to note that people from the Ukraine have special visa opportunities to come to New Zealand as a response to the dreadful invasion currently occurring there. Job Opportunities New Zealand's skilled worker and labour shortage has existed for years, and in many industries it has reached a critical level thanks to Covid-19 and two years of closed borders. Some commercial food crop growers in the Electorate are not planting food crops because they can’t get staff to look after them or to harvest them. So if you can help or can recommend others to help our local food producers get in touch with them by looking on Seek or Trademe jobs or local papers and help to keep our food growing, harvested and available. Mayoral Candidate – Viv Beck Viv Beck who is currently the Heart of the City CEO in Auckland’s CBD, has announced she will run for Mayor in the 2022 Local Body Elections. Viv is backed by Citizens and Ratepayers and will oppose Efeso Collins who is currently a councillor for Manukau and backed by Labour. Viv says she is standing for mayor because Aucklanders need to see their rates delivering value in their community. Auckland needs someone with local and central government experience and with real business understanding, who can work constructively with people to get the best results for Aucklanders. Best wishes for good health and success at this time, Judith
Hon Judith
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