Dear John,
Normally when Parliament goes into recess, politics quietens down a bit but it certainly didn't feel like that this time, and things got even busier this week! Trevor Mallard issued trespass notices to a plethora of people who protested at Parliament including Winston Peters, the government lost a significant court case about MIQ, "the bank of Mum and Dad" was revealed as our 5th biggest lender for housing, unvaccinated permanent residents were finally allowed to travel to New Zealand, the government was forced to pause plans to erode the principle of equal suffrage in Rotorua but announced they'd push ahead with their "Three Waters" reforms, the PM opened the door to a wealth tax...and National polled the best it has since Feb 2020. And that's just the last couple of weeks!
Oh, and I can't not mention the fact that the Ombudsman has decided to re-open the investigation into Julie Anne Genter's "secret letter" to Phil Twyford. For those reading with long memories, Julie-Anne Genter wrote a letter (still undisclosed) that basically killed the second Mt Victoria tunnel in the last Parliament. Nicola Willis and I have been trying to get it made public ever since and now the Ombudsman is taking another look at it. Great news and I'll keep you posted! Disgracefully, there's been no progress on the second Mt Vic tunnel in 4.5 years and I suspect this letter is a big part of the reason why.
A quick comment on the events at Parliament this week. Yet again Trevor Mallard overreacted, a constant theme of his time as Speaker, and made the wrong call to allow Parliamentary security to start issuing trespass notices to basically anyone who visited the protest at Parliament. Thankfully sanity prevailed but it should never have got to that point - there is clearly a difference between people who camped out illegally for 4 weeks and people like Winston who wandered down for a chat for an hour. It was a shambolic week and National has lost confidence in him (that happened ages ago). He's got to go. Let's see if the PM acts - ultimately he's there because of her.
By a country mile the biggest issue facing us is not the actions of Trevor Mallard or Winston Peters - it's the cost of living: inflation is at a 30 year high, and prices are now rising much faster than inflation (6.9 v 3 percent). Despite that Grant Robertson is going on a spending spree in this Budget, with the return to surplus now pushed back a year. If you can't deliver a Budget surplus at a time when inflation is at 7 percent, unemployment is at record lows and our terms of trade are at record highs, when can you? National has launched a website to allow people to tell their stories about how the massive rise in the cost of living is affecting them. Check it out and leave a comment. Here is National's plan to combat inflation.
The big news of last week was the government losing in the High Court over the "lottery of human misery" that was the MIQ system. Justice Mallon found that the lottery system didn't take account of individual circumstances and there were alternatives available that better affirmed the right of Kiwis to return home. I was really pleased to see the judgment as it affirmed what a lot of people (including me!) had been saying for a while. Let's see if the government appeals - I hope they don't.
It was great to get out and about in the Hutt over the break, particularly at ANZAC services on a stunningly beautiful Hutt day. There were no official Petone Anzac services this year, but I was very moved to see six Lower Hutt Scout Groups get together and do their own one. I captured the parade marching into the Garden of Remembrance here. It was wonderful to see good crowds at the services that did go ahead, and hopefully we can return to a full suite of services next year. There's some more about what I've been up to in the last couple of weeks in the rest of this newsletter.
Have a great rest of the week and if I can be of assistance, let me know.
Chris
P.S Make sure you check out my video on the "most transparent government in NZ history"!
P.P.S Did you see Ladyhawke on TV One News?
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At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.
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Young Chris made these cool poppies at home and was handing them out to people at the end of the Wainuiomata Anzac service. Well done Chris - awesome initiative.
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Christopher Luxon speaks to Hutt Chamber
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Sell out crowd for Christopher Luxon at the Hutt Chamber yesterday!
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Jungle Syrups, a Hutt Valley High Young Enterprise team, dropped off some of their delicious lemon and ginger syrup for me to try. Very refreshing! Might have put a bit much in… what do you think? Check out the video here.
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On the barbie for my Rotary Club on Saturday afternoon at Bunnings Petone. Fundraiser for the new Wellington Children’s hospital. Thanks to everyone who bought a sausage and a raffle ticket!
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Drove Transmission Gully with the boss
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He loved it. What a road. National gets things done. Labour just talk.
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Remember when Labour said they'd fix housing?
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Sadly OnTrays is shutting their kitchen… final day is tomorrow! Get in quick.
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New Hutt cafe on Jackson St
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Make sure you check out Serenade Cafe at 274 Jackson St. Lovely new cafe in good spot by the old jail. Called in for a coffee on Friday - they’re using Good Fortune Coffee beans so you know it’s good stuff!
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Thanks to the kind person who sent this to my office - special t-shirt to show support for the Grounded Kiwis!
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Been in Queenstown today. Rang Nicola Willis driving to the airport. Had a chat about a few things. ‘Anyway, I’ve gotta go, I’ve just got to Queenstown airport for my flight’. ‘Hah! I’ve just landed there’.
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Aren't they beautiful? Did you see Ladyhawke on the news last week?
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Feedback into my office is that this isn't the case. I'm interested in what you think - let me know.
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