November-December update from Hon Amy Adams

Hi John

In this newsletter I am excited to introduce you to Nicola Grigg, who was recently selected as the National Party candidate for the Selwyn electorate in next year's election.

National has recently released some policy ideas on education and law and order, so read on if you would like to learn more about these proposals.

As this will be my last e-newsletter for 2019, I would also like to take the opportunity to wish you all a very happy and safe Christmas and New Year. 

National Party candidate for Selwyn for 2020 selected

Nicola Grigg has been selected as National's candidate to contest the seat of Selwyn at next year's election when I will be retiring from politics. Nicola is a former journalist who grew up on a sheep and beef farm in Mt Somers here in Canterbury. After working for a number of years as a reporter, Nicola worked in Parliament in the offices of Simon Bridges and Sir Bill English. Nicola currently works as a portfolio manager at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, where she assists Canterbury-based exporters in the agriculture, agritech and manufacturing sectors, supporting them to grow their business offshore. Some of you may have already met Nicola at the Canterbury A & P Show or at the Courtenay Show in Kirwee. If not, Nicola will be accompanying me to a number of public events in Selwyn during the coming months.

At the Courtenay Show in Kirwee with recently-selected National candidate for Selwyn, Nicola Grigg

New education policies up for discussion

National recently released our education policy discussion document which includes details of our commitment to ensure the quality of education our children and young people are receiving by:

• carrying out spot checks on ECE services to ensure they are meeting the required standards;
• reducing class sizes in primary schools;
• attracting more people to enter or return to teaching;
• strengthening practicum requirements for teacher training, and offering more support for teachers who mentor new teachers;
• strengthening our curriculum to ensure children develop firm foundations in core areas such as reading, writing and maths;
• continuing to improve school reporting systems and enabling better access to online reporting; and
• developing alternative uses for the funding currently allocated to the First year Fees Free programme for tertiary students.

If you would more information on these proposals or would like to offer your feedback, you are able to do so at https://www.national.org.nz/education.

Higher dumping fees likely to lead to more illegal dumping 

The Government's recently announced Waste Discussion Document includes details of a proposed six-fold increase in the levy rate for landfills from the current rate of $10 per tonne to $60 per tonne. Such a huge increase in the cost of disposing of rubbish lawfully is likely to encourage more illegal dumping, as people will baulk at such exorbitant costs to use their local tip and decide it is easier to dump their rubbish by the side of the road. The Government should be investigating practical ways of addressing our waste problem like waste to energy systems used in other countries, rather than imposing yet another cost on New Zealanders.

Putting victims at the centre of our justice system

While there has been a great deal of media attention on National's commitment to get tough on gangs engaging in illegal activity, our recently-announced Discussion Document on Law and Order contains many other worthy proposals to tackle crime and improve our justice system including:

• introducing performance measures for District and High Courts to encourage less delays in victims seeing justice done;
• ensuring sexual violence cases are dealt with within 12 months;
• extending the hours that courts can sit to reduce the time taken for cases to be heard;
• giving young first offenders a second chance and supporting them to get their lives back on track by completing community work; passing NCEA level 2 and entering the workforce to encourage them not re-offend;
• giving police more powers to deal with young people at the other end of the scale who are hardened criminals by creating a new category of offender known as Young Serious Offenders (YSOs);
• making it mandatory for sentences for serious offences such as murder and rape to be served cumulatively not concurrently;
• denying parole to convicted murderers who refuse to reveal the location of their victim's body;
• encouraging offenders to upskill in order to be eligible for early release to reduce the chances of them re-offending; and
• increasing support for prisoners when they are released back into the community so they are less likely to victimise more people.

If you would like to learn more about our law and order proposals or would like to offer your view on these ideas, visit https://www.national.org.nz/law_and_order.

Out and about in Selwyn

New retail development for Rolleston

On Friday 8th November 2019 we celebrated a new chapter for Rolleston when I officially opened Markham Junction in Tennyson Street at the invitation of developer J P Singh. This new retail development of restaurants, cafes and retail stores will be a welcome addition to our local hospitality and shopping scene and give our growing population here in Selwyn further reason to enjoy socialising and shopping locally.

With J P Singh, Mayor Sam Broughton, and Jamita Singh at the opening of Markham Junction

Lincoln University moves to solar power

During November I was also invited to an event at Lincoln University to mark the commissioning of the first phase of the University's solar energy programme in partnership with Meridian Energy.  The completed installation of solar panels on the roof of the University's Food and Function Centre (Te Kete Ika) will be followed by the placement of solar panels on other buildings around campus and is the first step in what will be the largest solar programme at any New Zealand university.

The University has set the goals of eliminating the use of coal on campus by 2025 and of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. Given Lincoln's potential to nurture research that will help us meet sustainability challenges through the application of scientific techniques and innovations, it is fitting that the University is showing leadership in this area.

Celebrating Lincoln University's move to renewable energy

Event for over 60s with Hon Gerry Brownlee

I will be hosting a morning tea event for Selwyn residents aged over 60 on Monday 9th December commencing at 11.00am. The venue for the meeting is the Rolleston Community Centre Lounge, 94 Rolleston Drive.

The guest speaker for this event is Hon Gerry Brownlee, MP for Ilam, Shadow leader of the House and National's Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, GCSB and NZSIS.

If you would like to attend, please RSVP to Sharon O’Callaghan in my office before Wednesday 4th December by emailing [email protected] or by phoning 03 344 0418.

I welcome your thoughts and feedback on all matters so be sure to contact me at a[email protected] or like my Facebook page www.facebook.com/MPAmyAdams and tell me what's on your mind.

Kind regards,

Hon Amy Adams
http://amyadams.national.org.nz/