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Dear John, I am excited to be going to Taupo to speak at the annual Tech Week event next week. This event is all about ways that the tech sector is developing ideas for enhancing the future. The week provides a platform for everyone to meet, share ideas and create connections to grow New Zealand as a leading digital nation. There are lots of events and you can look for more detail on the Amplify website: www.taupo.biz/tech2022. Louise Upston and I will be speaking on Monday 16 May at 9am in a “Tech talk” segment. As the organisers say "Techweek22 will provide opportunities for business, community, policymakers and stakeholders to come together to share best practices, tips and insights into what it takes to develop a thriving tech economy.” I am all for that as I believe technology is a key factor in creating a vibrant resilient future for New Zealand and New Zealanders. Community Patrols- NZ Last week I had the privilege of speaking to the Annual General Meeting of Community Patrols NZ –Papakura in my role as the local organisation’s patron. The Papakura team works with New Zealand Police across the community in Papakura. Our community patrols team members are all volunteers. They complete vehicle patrols around the streets and suburbs and they let the Police know where there might be potential problems and hazards. In Papakura, volunteers also monitor the CCTV cameras in the Police Station and this is a very useful way to stop criminal behaviour before it escalates or even happens. They are a great group of people acting positively in the community and they are always keen to welcome new volunteers to their organisation. You can contact them email [email protected] or check their Facebook page for more information. I commend the volunteers for the time they give and the good work they do to make our communities safer. Unit Titles Amendment Bill passes into law The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Bill has passed its third reading, ushering in a new era of strengthened protections for current and prospective apartment owners. Hon Nicky Kaye and I worked on this amendment and introduced it as a Members Bill back in 2018. Our aim was to modify the Unit Titles Act to make it more fit for purpose. I am really pleased that Nicola Willis our National Opposition deputy leader has acknowledged our work and supported this Bill to become law. Its passage is a great example of what MPs can achieve when there is collaboration across Parties. Before this amendment, the issues that apartment buyers could face included sellers not properly disclosing issues with the property, poor management from body corporate managers, and the practice of "proxy farming", which involves title holders giving their votes to other owners, effectively giving the proxy farmer a bigger say on the complex's future than other owners. The new Amendment enables the Unit Titles Act to provide certain, fair and workable rules to every New Zealander who previously may have hesitated to buy an apartment, but in future can do so with an enhanced foundation of rights and protections. The Bill ensures a workable and accessible disclosure regime for those considering the purchase of a unit-title dwelling. It strengthens professional governance and management requirements for body corporates and it ensures that unit title developments adequately plan for, and fund, long-term maintenance projects. It will be important that we monitor the impact of this Bill in practice, to ensure the new regulations work as intended and remain fit for purpose. I am a firm believer in New Zealanders having access to home ownership and I believe the modernisation of this Act is an important step towards that goal as it would reduce the great difficulties that new apartment owners have faced due to outdated legislation that has to date stopped many people choosing an apartment especially as a first home. Best wishes,
Judith Hon Judith Collins
Hon Judith
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