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Dear John, I hope you are well as we find ourselves halfway through the year. In June, we celebrated Volunteer Week 2022, which is a week of recognition for all of our hardworking volunteers. From cooking meals for new families to being our first responders, volunteers are at the heart of our community and are often unrecognised for the important work they do – thank you all for everything. National also saw resounding success at the Tauranga by-election, welcoming new MP Sam Uffindell into the caucus. However, not everything in June was good news. Labour’s determination to pass anti-democratic legislation that will allow two unelected Ngāi Tahu councillors to sit at the Ecan table continued, and as of tomorrow, the Government will have scrapped all 20 DHBs around the country and introduced Health New Zealand and the Māori Health Authority. In a bid to get the Government to take some meaningful action towards the acute health crisis, National has launched a petition imploring it to immediately add nurses and midwives to the fast-track visa list, as well as actually start the fast-track process immediately – and ensure the process of gaining residence is complete within three months of applications. You can read more and sign National’s petition here. Rolleston Flyover
Last year, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) released initial plans for changes to the highway through Rolleston, which included the Rolleston Flyover. Following feedback on that plan, NZTA has this week released the new proposed flyover and intersection plans that link the township to the industrial iZone. I am really concerned about the short-sightedness of this proposal. With Rolleston growing as fast as it is, all infrastructure projects must be not only fit-for-purpose but also future-proofed. The new plan simply seems to be a short-term cost-cutting exercise to the detriment of the town’s future. It includes a significantly smaller and steeper flyover onto Jones Road that will require anyone wanting to access the motorway from Rolleston Drive to go through a convoluted route and three sets of traffic lights. The gradient will be a nightmare for heavy trucks, which will create huge noise and road damage. Click here to read more and click here to make a submission to NZTA.
Three Waters ReformsLabour is ignoring the pleas of local communities by pushing forward with its Three Waters reforms. The Government has had many, many opportunities to consider the views of local councils and accept alternative ideas. Still, they’ve decided they know best, and communities will pay the price. The Government has consistently ignored ideas that National has proposed, such as establishing council-controlled organisations or contracting, and have pursued their four mega-entities model. We here in Canterbury will now get sucked into Entity D, that spans most of the South Island, with approximately eight layers of bureaucracy between we the ratepayers, and the governance boards. National has opposed these reforms consistently, and if elected in 2023, we will repeal and replace this broken model. Submissions on the reforms are open until 22 July and are an opportunity for you to let the Government know how you feel about ratepayers assets being given to an undemocratically appointed governance group. Click here to make a submission and click here to listen to my speech about Three Waters.
Public Meeting on CrimeGangs have become emboldened under the Labour government - in fact, there are 210 new gang members in Canterbury since 2017, which is a 51 per cent increase. National believes New Zealanders deserve to feel safe in their homes and communities. While Police do their very best to keep us safe, it’s clear they don’t have the backing they need from the Government. In the past five years there has been an 11 per cent increase in homicides, a 21 per cent increase in violent crime, and a 31 per cent increase in assaults. I welcome you to come and hear from National’s Police Spokesperson, Hon Mark Mitchell about our plans to back Police to make our region and community safer.  Monday 4
July 5:00pm – 6:00pm Rolleston College
Library, 631 Springston Rolleston Road
Media Update
Kind regards,
Nicola Grigg
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