We've selected a new candidate in Remutaka for the election

Floods, cyclones, even an earthquake.. what a start to the year.
Dear John,

In my last email to you a couple of weeks ago, I wrote of the extraordinary events of the first few weeks of the year... little did I (or we) know that there was more to come. Like all Kiwis, I'm thinking about the people, businesses and communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle in Auckland, Coromandel and of course the East Coast and Hawke's Bay. Some of the stories of bravery and heroism that are coming out are truly amazing, and show New Zealand at its best. The recovery from Gabrielle is going to be difficult, and it will cost billions and take years. But like we always do, we will get through it together as a country. In the last couple of weeks as the cyclone hit and we dealt with the aftermath, National has been supportive of the government in the national emergency, civil defence and now recovery efforts. Our role as we move forward is to make sure the government puts in place the framework and funding to enable the regions to recovery, and you can rest assured we will be doing
that.

The Auckland floods and then Gabrielle has delayed the start of the political year, and we are only getting back into the swing of things now. Parliament sat for only an hour last week, and then quite rightly lifted for a week as the national emergency was called. So we got back into action this week, with the first Question Time match-up between Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon, and the Prime Minister's annual statement to Parliament. You can watch ([link removed]) my contribution to the debate here. ([link removed]) My overall message? The leader has changed, but the government hasn't - it's still driven by big spending (50% increase in five years), big taxation ($17,500 more per household compared to 2017), wasteful programmes (consultants making a mint on projects like Light Rail), an inability to get things done (KiwiBuild, Auckland Light Rail), and it's still soft on crime, as the events of the last few days in
Hawke's Bay demonstrate.

Over the next few weeks you can expect to see National rolling out policies that we will campaign on this year. Frustratingly, Christopher Luxon's big "state of the nation" speech has now been delayed at least three times (it could be more, I've lost count) by various events. I'm excited about the manifesto we are putting together, and looking forward to sharing it with you. There's lots to do in my own important areas of housing and infrastructure, including in the Hutt

I've been head-down in the last couple of weeks on the vexed issue of reform of the Resource Management Act. Christopher gave me the job in the reshuffle in January, which has involved many hours of select committee hearings (and many more to come). The government introduced 900 pages of legislation before Christmas and is trying to ram it through before the election. Everyone agrees we need RMA reform, but the new laws need to actually work and make it easier to do things in NZ. At the moment we are entirely unconvinced that's the case, and many submitters to the committee agree. To give one example - the Wind Energy Association says it will be harder, not easier, to build a wind farm. Seriously?

Around the Hutt: Lots on in the Hutt in the last few weeks - it was great to see so many people at the Petone Fair on such a stunning day. Many people came by the National stand and bought a sausage for Kitten Inn (we ran out - twice!). There's been Chinese New year events, the Riverbank Markets, Round the Bays, and so much more. And of course this weekend is the NZ v England cricket test at the Basin, although as I write this it's raining hard and I see the forecast is for lots more in the next few days. I'll be there on Sunday - come and say hello if you see me around.

Have a great weekend.

Chris

P.S National has now selected a candidate for Remutaka ([link removed]) , the next door electorate to Hutt South. I'm looking forward to campaigning with her across the Hutt Valley, and introducing you to her. ([link removed]) She's a future star in the making - you can read more about her here ([link removed]) . If you're in Remutaka and would like her to visit your business, community group, or just drop by for a chat, get in touch with her!

P.P.S You may enjoy this spoof film preview, "Labour Day". ([link removed])
Petone Fair 2023

Thanks to everyone who came by and said hello!
Back into it at Parliament
The boss and I look amused at something Chris Hipkins has said across the chamber.
Round the Bays
Team National in Round the Bays last weekend! Jeremy loved it!
Meet Emma Chatterton

Quick bio of Emma: Emma Chatterton lives in Avalon with her husband Tom and their four young children. She currently works as the Strategic Project Lead for ImpactLab, a Wellington company founded by Sir Bill English which helps organisations measure and understand their social impact so that investment works for communities and people can live the lives that they choose.

After completing her schooling in Dunedin, Emma gained a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in music from the University of Cambridge in the UK. She also holds a post graduate qualification in secondary education from the University of Buckingham, and an honours degree in English literature from Victoria University of Wellington.

Before starting at ImpactLab, Emma was a music teacher at schools in Lower Hutt, Auckland and across the UK. She currently serves as a trustee of Whirinaki Whare Taonga in Upper Hutt and on the advisory board of the Women of Worth Charitable Trust.

Emma lives in Avalon in the Remutaka electorate with her husband Tom and their four children under eight. In her spare time, she enjoys playing social netball, reading widely and spending time with family and friends.
Getting things done

Local residents raised with me the dangers of speeding on Wai-iti Crescent in Woburn - there's two retirement villages, lots of seniors, a school around the corner, and some parts of the street are quite narrow. Some people use it as a rat-run between Woburn Rd and Ludlam. I wrote to the Council last year and pleased to see they've put in "SLOW DOWN" signs - there's a speed review on the street coming soon too.
Waiwhetu Stream Clean-up
Getting stuck in on my section of the Waiwhetu Stream.
Celebrating Chinese New Year
Good fun at the Malaysian Association's annual Chinese New Year Dinner a couple of weeks ago.
Riverbank Markets
A special visitor at the Riverbank Markets a couple of weeks ago :)
Visit to Ferrier Research
Absolutely loved my visit last Monday to the Ferrier Research Institute, a world class team of carbohydrate, analytical, and bio-chemistry chemists in Lower Hutt, ‘Technology Valley’.
Friday Funny

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