Labour's moving ahead with 3 Waters
Julie Anne Genter's "secret letter" has been revealed!
Dear John,
Yesterday Labour introduced its "Three Waters" legislation to Parliament. There is a huge amount of public concern about this legislation, including in the Hutt. There are clearly issues with the way we manage water in New Zealand, including in the Hutt, but Labour's legislation is not the answer. It sets up opaque and confusing governance structures which will be unaccountable to ratepayers. National has said we will repeal and replace this legislation if elected in 2023. The Bill will be read for a first time next week in Parliament and then go to a select committee where people will be able to submit. I'll keep you posted.
Hutt Hospital: Yesterday I spoke under public comment to a special meeting of the Hutt Valley DHB about the Heretaunga Block at Hutt Hospital being found earthquake prone ([link removed]) . I know there's a great deal of anxiety in the Hutt community about the issue, and my message to the DHB (and the incoming Health NZ entity) is to be fully upfront and transparent with the public as things progress. The overall take-out of the meeting is that everything is up in the air ([link removed]) - the DHB is still waiting on a more seismic information and thinking about what to do next. I do really worry about the restructuring of the DHB into Health NZ - the concern is that the Hutt's needs will disappear into a bureaucratic black hole. I'll be fighting hard to make sure that isn't the case.
A real concern is the state of maternity services in the Hutt now that the $9 million maternity services upgrade has been put on on hold. Last week I launched a petition ([link removed]) to ask the DHB and government to work with the Te Awakairangi Birthing Centre just down the road. The centre was purpose-built and only opened i 2018. It shut last year after the DHB refused to fund it but in my view it's a total no-brainer for the DHB to enter into a contract with the Wright Family Foundation (who own the centre). Its not the total answer to the woes at the hospital but it is surely part of the solution. 3000 people have signed it already and it would be great if you could do so too - click here to do so. ([link removed]) I've also written to the Minister and the DHB.
Unfortunately last night ([link removed]) the DHB voted against making it a priority - crazy stuff.
Parliament: It's been a funny old week at Parliament with the Prime Minister and a lot of the press gallery away in the United States. National has focused on the actions of China in the Pacific where Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta seems to be asleep at the wheel (the new Australian Foreign Minister has already visited the Pacific more often than the Minister in just a week), a 50% increase in government communications staff ([link removed]) , and of course the Budget delivered just a couple of weeks ago. In a speech ([link removed]) I said that Grant Robertson's spending is like my weight. Every year I say, "next year, I'll get it under control." And it never happens! You can watch it here. ([link removed]) The high level of inflation in the
economy is now having a real effect on interest rates ([link removed]) - the Reserve Bank is now predicting the interest rate on one and two-year mortgages will hit 6 percent next year. Labour do seem to be a bit worried about things - they're now running attack ads against Christopher Luxon ([link removed]) .
Transport: Wow, quite a bit of transport news in the last couple of weeks. First, you may have seen that we can FINALLY see Julie Anne's "secret letter" to Phil Twyford ([link removed]) over the second Mt Vic Tunnel. It only took three years but finally the government agreed to release it after I complained to the Ombudsman for a second time. The letter shows... exactly what we thought - that the Greens had outsize influence on Wellington transport and Julie Anne Genter and the Greens made sure the 2nd Mt Vic Tunnel was put on the back-burner...and she stands totally by it. Amazing. ([link removed] Letter: [link removed]) Let's Get Wellington Moving has become a total joke - $39
million spent on consultants ([link removed]) , and no progress other than putting a new crossing on SH1.
The other thing I need to let you know about is the State Highway 2 Speed Review. NZTA has been talking about speed limit reductions on SH2 for a while now. Last year they did a consultation exercise (closed November 2021) and I’ve been chasing the results ever since. The latest I’ve managed to glean from Parliamentary questions is that NZTA is preparing to release an engagement report on the review...so watch this space. Why it has taken so long I don't know!
Will keep you all posted.
Check out the rest of the newsletter for what I've been up to around the Hutt and at Parliament. Have a great weekend and if I can be of assistance, let me know.
Chris
P.S Did you see the nice story ([link removed]) about my friend Nicole Thornton on stuff.co.nz this week?
Morning Tea
Thanks to those who came to my morning tea at the Hutt Bowling Club on Monday morning. I hold these every couple of months around the Hutt - if you'd like to come to the next one, please flick me a message. (mailto:
[email protected]?subject=Morning%20Teas)
Volunteering at the Tough Guy and Gal Challenge
Doing my annual stint marshalling in the Wainuiomata Tough Guy and Gal Challenge at Camp Wainui. Donated my stipend to the Wainuiomata Coast Rd Church.
Business Visit to Heart of Rimu
Do you like rimu furniture? Make sure you check out The Heart of Rimu in Pharazyn St, Lower Hutt. Beautiful new and restored furniture - tables, chairs, bedside tables, mirrors and more. Gorgeous stuff and locally owned and operated.
Some pleasing numbers...
...But lots of work to do.
New PB at Parkrun
Five years I’ve been doing the Lower Hutt parkrun and 25 minutes (5 mins per kilometre) has always been a physical and psychological barrier that I just couldn’t break. A couple of years ago I started doing under 26 minutes regularly, but I just couldn’t seem to get under 25 minutes. On Saturday I ran it in 24.31! A new personal best by a mile. Incredible feeling.
JoJo's Sweet Treats
Make sure you check out Jo Jo’s Sweet Treats which has recently opened on High St in the Hutt. Ice cream and lollies… so many lollies! And they’ll do you an amazing gift box. Good luck Jo with the new venture!
Meeting with Hutt Chamber
Caught up with Patrick and Mark from the Hutt Chamber of Commerce last week with our Transport Spokesperson, Simeon Brown. Transport is critical to the future of the Hutt and it was a great discussion.
Megan Woods says KiwiBuild is "alive and well"... really?
Epic fail.
Collecting for Te Omanga
Collecting for Te Omanga Hospice a couple of Fridays ago. As always, some huge generosity out there. Thank you!
How good is the Hutt?
Top of the Wainuiomata Hill last week.
Regular Ladyhawke Photo
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