I'll be National's Candidate for Hutt South next year

I'm running for Hutt South
Dear John,

Before the rest of this Bishop Bulletin, I'm very pleased to announce that I've been selected as National's candidate for Hutt South in next year's election! After losing the seat in 2020, I'll be going all out to turn the seat blue again next year and to lift National's party vote. I pride myself on getting things done for the Hutt (even from Opposition) and so I'll be running on my record of strong local representation, passionate advocacy for the Hutt and hard work. I've already had a few emails from people offering to help (thank you!) - and there's definitely heaps of ways to be involved. We need help with putting up signs, delivering letters and leaflets, door-knocking and phone calling. If you're keen to help my campaign, then please c ([link removed]) lick here ([link removed]) to sign up as a volunteer ([link removed]) and someone from my team will be in touch!

Christmas Newsletter: I'm gearing up to deliver my annual Christmas newsletter and survey and I need a hand getting these into mailboxes around the Hutt. If you're able to help me deliver a few, please click here. ([link removed]) We make it super easy - you can either pick them up from my office or we can drop them off to you, and they come sorted with a walking route and in the right order - you just put them into mailboxes. There's over 25,000 to deliver so if you could lend a hand that would be amazing! Sign up here. ([link removed])

Good news: Two really great pieces of news in the last week. The first is that the Te Awakairangi Birthing Centre at Melling has been saved! You may remember that this facility was purpose-built for the Hutt by the Wright Family Foundation and it opened in 2018. Sadly it closed in 2021 after the government refused to fund it, denying choice to Hutt mothers. I ran a petition in 2021 to try and change the government's mind - 6000 people signed it to no avail. We had another go after the bad news about the Heretaunga Block at Hutt Hospital was declared an earthquake risk, and this time we made some progress. Last week came the good news - the centre is going to reopen as the region's first standalone community based transitional care unit. This will be a partnership between Health NZ and the Wright Family Foundation. It will see unwell local babies supported while transitioning from neonatal intensive or specialist care to primary care. I would prefer to see the centre used for primary
birthing - the original purpose - but this is also a good use of the facility. At the end of the day we just need to have the centre used! The centre will reopen in mid-2023.

The second piece of good news is that Melling and RiverLink have had their resource consents granted! This is the culmination of years of work by a strong community-led campaign. When the new Melling Interchange was put at risk thanks to government funding cuts back in 2019, the community stood up and pushed back. I was proud to lead the campaign because the Melling and RiverLink projects are simply critical for the Hutt’s future. The funding cuts back in 2019 were so short-sighted – but people power won in the end. Melling and RiverLink will deliver improved flood protection, reduce congestion, improve public transport, increase walking and cycling links, and help drive the transformation of the Hutt CBD. In short, they’re great projects, and now we can get on with them. Early works for Melling should start early next year. Main construction is due to commence in late 2023 and be complete by 2027. So, it’ll take a while and it’ll be disruptive – but I think it will be worth it.

The rest of this newsletter contains a bit more about what I've been up to recently, including some visits to great new Hutt companies and shops - and taste-testing some award-winning donuts with Nicola Willis at Fix Federation! It's been a frenetically busy couple of weeks both in Parliament and the Hutt, and I suspect it won't let up until Christmas. There's the wee matter of the Hamilton West by-election too... oh well, can sleep over summer!

Have a great Friday and weekend.

Chris

P.S Go the Black Ferns on Saturday night!

P.P.S If you're keen to support me and National, want to meet Nicola Willis and Erica Stanford, or just fancy a fun night out with delicious food and drinks, then I'd love to see you at my annual Christmas Drinks event on 8 December. Tickets here ([link removed]) (it's a fundraiser) or email me. (mailto:[email protected])

Last year's Christmas Drinks with Nicola, Chris & Erica was such a success, we're doing it all over again!

Please come along and enjoy Christmas drinks in the summer sun (we hope!) at the beautiful home of Chris & Kathryn Mackay in Woburn, Lower Hutt. There'll be lots of yummy food by local caterers ESSC Eats.

This is a fundraising event for the National Party in the Hutt Valley. There's just a year to go until the election! We are gearing up for a strong campaign in the Hutt and we would love your support. Click here to buy a ticket ([link removed]) or email us. (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Christmas%20Cocktail%20Tickets)
Birthing Centre to reopen

Photo from the announcement by the Wright Family Foundation and Health NZ last that the centre is going to reopen - as the region's first standalone community based transitional care unit! This will be a partnership between Health NZ and the Wright Family Foundation. It will see unwell local babies supported while transitioning from neonatal intensive or specialist care to primary care.

The Hutt Specialist Care Baby Unit (SCBU) and NICU in Wellington are under real pressure and this will make a big difference. At the moment they cope with babies that don't need intensive care but aren't well enough to be discharged. Crucially it will mean Hutt families won’t have to traipse to and from Newtown to be with their unwell babies - they can stay close at such a tough time.

I would prefer to see the centre used for primary birthing - the original purpose - but this is also a good use of the facility. At the end of the day we just need to have the centre used!

The centre will reopen in mid-2023.

Thank you to the 6000 plus people who signed the petition to get the centre reopened.

Pictured here with Chloe Wright, the CE of the Wright Family Foundation.
Melling & RiverLink Consents Granted
Great news this week - the resource consents for Melling and RiverLink have been granted!
Celebrating Guru Nanak
Serving langar with Nicola Willis on Wednesday at the cenotaph, something we do every year to celebrate the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion. Langar is a free community meal, served to everyone free of charge, regardless of gender, race, religion or creed.
Fix Federation Donuts
Have you tried the award-winning donuts from Fix Federation in the Hutt yet? They just won best donuts in the The Breeze Best of Wellington awards.I took Nicola Willis there last week to try them out. I had the salted caramel and Oreo and she went for the simple jam. Delicious! There’s heaps of other goodies there too. Such a great place. Well done Jason and Arna.
Jasper the Cat Burglar
Thank you Claire Benge for dropping off a copy of your children’s book, ‘Jasper the Cat Burglar’. Illustrations by well-known Hutt cartoonist Alan Benge. The story is based on a real one - Jasper the cat who spent many a happy day in Sumner stealing socks, underwear, leggings, and even a bikini! Can’t wait to read this to Jeremy. If you’d like to buy a copy, flick me an email and I’ll put you in touch with Claire.
New Hutt Gift Shop
You absolutely must check out the new Goody Goodness store (179 High St). Incredible locally produced and sourced artisan products from around New Zealand, including many from the Hutt. I spotted Whale Road from Maungaraki (bath bombs), Ways of Wyrd jewellery (Normandale), and more! Lots of soaps, creams, gift cards, designer mugs.

I reckon I’ll be getting a few gift boxes for some people for Christmas. All the boxes come in recyclable, reusable or home compostable packaging.

Well done Avelyn for taking the plunge and setting up a physical store. I reckon she deserves your support so if you’re looking for some innovative, locally produced gifts for Christmas, then definitely consider checking Goody Goodness out!🙂
Lane St Studios
Promise it’s me! Got a tour of the new Lane St Studios in Upper Hutt last week. A truly world class facility right here in the Hutt Valley. The site used to be an IRD data centre and it’s been completely transformed with a $50m refit including two massive sound stages (like the one I’m standing in). An amazing commitment to the Hutt by the owners and I can’t wait for productions to be made right here.
Flexi House
Catching up with Andre and the team at Flexi. ([link removed][0]=AZWDLQxu6CFSEKVxQuR5IwQSPAJDwrf1FNEvkWc3eyJeWJUVziCsedeuqZ3OCDAjkDUAXvGHZn7t_bQYzrpm9GXB61LZikwIOfvLKrErAuhp1c92DHAXoaAnkn3BaizUsZHSS-sjpE3VWjH_U0BPFg3ekpA8iXol-0TUQpRF5JpnAGER7IHUiq36K0EzZWXl2Wg&__tn__=-]K-R) , a great new Hutt company. This is offsite manufacturing but not as you know it - they’ve developed a component-based building system that allows watertight houses to be built in a matter of hours. Their first one in Cromwell took just thirteen hours to build!

The system is based on standardised floor, wall and roof units, which are pre-made off-site. Exterior wall units come clad, glazed and insulated. You can design and configure your new home, room by room.

The difference between Flexi House and other prefab/modular offsite builds is that everything is assembled onsite - not built offsite and then trucked.

Great innovation right in the heart of the Hutt - Technology Valley - and a big part of solving our housing challenge.
Collecting for Pink Ribbon
Collecting for Pink Ribbon a couple of weeks ago.
Regular Jeremy & Ladyhawke photo
Too cute.

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