NationBuilder

I hope these last few weeks of the year are treating you well. It’s a busy time of year both in Parliament and in the community and I wanted to update you on the work I’ve been focussed on. As always your feedback is valuable to me so please don’t hesitate to be in touch. I will be at the Harbourside Market this Sunday from 8am – so please do pop by our National Party stall. I’m also hosting a community morning tea in Karori on the 29th of November and it would be great to see you there. For more details see the events section at the bottom of this newsletter.

Read on for updates on my work inside and outside of Parliament

Education Discussion Document Launch

National has just released an education discussion document with our ideas for the future of education policy.

This document includes more than 100 proposals designed to make our education system better. These proposals cover everything from spot-checks in early childhood education services, supporting the development of self-regulation in children, lower class sizes for children and alternatives to Labour's fees-free policy.

We will be considering all your feedback prior to finalising our policy before the election next year.

Labour's Failures in ECE

Last week I spoke in the House about Labour's many broken promises in early childhood education.

Willis Bond & Co

Thank you to Wellington-founded property development firm Willis Bond & Co for hosting me for a couple of days in their business recently.

I enjoyed visiting several of their completed developments in Wellington and Auckland and getting a behind-the-scenes view of their Cuba Precinct project, including the heritage restoration of the Farmers building and the site for the Victoria Lane Apartments. We also checked out their 30 Madden apartment site in Auckland (pretty exciting heading 12 stories up a building under construction) and several of their large housing developments, complete and underway, including social and private housing.

This was an excellent opportunity for me to learn more about what it takes to get new developments underway, how we can encourage housing development, boost infrastructure, ensure better earthquake resilience, cut red tape and address roadblocks to development. All crucial issues for Wellington and really encouraging to get a private sector view on how Government policy can improve in these areas.

Wellington Transport Update

I questioned Julie Anne Genter three times in recent Question Times about her role in plans for Wellington’s transport future. I think Wellingtonians deserve to know more about her secret letter that effectively vetoed a second Mt Victoria tunnel being constructed this decade. It’s clear the Government ignored official advice setting out the need for a second tunnel as part of a well-rounded transport plan for Wellington. You can watch my questions below.

Watch Question One Here

Watch Question Two Here

Watch Question Three Here

Wild Aro

Thank you to the “Polhill Protectors” for hosting me at the “One for the Birds” event recently. It was a lovely celebration of the growing community conservation efforts around Wellington and I took the opportunity to pick up another rat-trap for our back yard.

Zero Carbon Bill

I’m pleased that National supported the passage of the Zero Carbon Bill. We have taken a bipartisan approach to climate change and support the establishment of an independent expert-led Climate Change Commission that will advise on the targets and actions New Zealand must take to meet our emission-reduction responsibilities. The final law is not perfect, and we have set out a series of improvements we will make to it if elected to Government. I outlined my views on this important legislation during the debate in Parliament. You can watch my speech here:

Watch My Speech Here

St Paul's Heritage

Congratulations to Jane Aim and the Cathedral Companions for installing a new Bronze Plaque behind the Beehive to commemorate the first St Paul’s Church in Wellington, which was on this site from 1844-1866. Good to see this piece of Wellington’s heritage acknowledged and celebrated.

NZ Arts Festival

The NZ Festival of the Arts has launched their exciting 2020 programme, kicking off in Wellington on February 21. It was great to be at the launch - heaps of things for Wellingtonians to look forward to next year! Check it out here.

Anniversary of the Birth of Sikh Guru Baba Nanak

A pleasure to join Ekta to distribute “langar” - free food - to Wellingtonians in honour of the 550th anniversary of the birth of Sikh Guru Baba Nanak. Congratulations to Ekta for all their good work to support Wellingtonians in need.

Fundraising Dinner

Thank you to everyone who came along to my fundraising dinner with Simon Bridges last week. Your support is so important going into 2020, and I am incredibly grateful to have it.

Upcoming Events 2019

Community Morning Tea: Friday 29th November 10:00am - 11:30am, Sprott House, 29 Messines Road, Karori. (please RSVP for catering purposes by replying to this email)

Wellington International Pride Parade: Saturday 7th March - if you are interested in marching with me and other members of the National Party, let me know!

I will be back at the Harbourside Markets this weekend. If you’d like to help out on the National Party or any of the dates below, please email me by clicking here. Below are the future dates we will be at the market:

I’m continuing to enjoy getting out and about in the Wellington community and I’m always keen to be involved in local events. If you know of any local community events I should attend, please do not hesitate to let me know.

In the meantime, please feel free to contact me if I can be of any assistance to you.

Dear john,