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Dear John, You may have seen our announcement over the weekend about our alternative plan for Three Waters. National has committed to scrapping Labour’s undemocratic and unworkable Three Waters model and replace it with a sustainable system that ensures drinking water, stormwater and wastewater remain in local control. Not only that, our plan is backed by Communities 4 Local Democracy, which represents 30 councils across New Zealand. Our plan: One - National will, in its first 100 days, repeal Labour’s Three Waters legislation and scrap the four mega-entities, with prescribed co-governance, that goes with them. Two - We will restore council ownership and control, but with stronger central government oversight because we’re not simply going back to the old way of doing things that hasn’t worked. Three - We will set strict rules for water quality, and for investment in infrastructure, so Kiwis don’t have to worry about sewage on their streets, un-swimmable beaches, or having to boil their drinking water. Four - We will ensure water services are financially sustainable so that future generations don’t inherit outdated or failing infrastructure. Financial sustainability means there’s enough money coming in, either from rates or from user-pays, to cover the maintenance and depreciation of infrastructure and investment in new assets. We’ll require councils to ringfence money for water infrastructure, instead of spending it on other services. New infrastructure is expensive but has a long life so it’s appropriate that it’s funded by debt, and paid back over time out of rates or user revenues. You can read further about our Three Water policy here: https://www.national.org.nz/local_water_done_well
Out and AboutIt’s really important to me as an electoral MP that I hear directly about the issues that are most concerning for the people who live here in Selwyn. This month, I’ve kept as busy as I can, getting out and meeting people to hear from them first hand. Over the last few weeks, I have held drop-in sessions at cafes in Prebbleton, Templeton, Lincoln, Rolleston, and Darfield. I have also been out doorknocking in Darfield, West Melton, Templeton and Lincoln. I also have two upcoming public meetings that I’d love to see you at. On Monday 20 March, I’ll be hosting a public meeting with National’s Agriculture and Climate Change spokesperson Todd Muller – more details to come in due course. Finally, tomorrow, I will be hosting a public meeting at the Lincoln Event Centre at 5:30pm to hear your concerns and share National’s plans for New Zealand. More details are available here: https://nicolagrigg.national.org.nz/meet_your_mp_lincoln
Garden TourDo you have plans on 15th April? If not, you are invited to visit my Mum’s amazing garden! Mum is the third generation of green-thumbed Griggs to care for the
woodland garden at Surrey Hills, first established by my great
grandparents who were also, ironically, MPs for mid-Canterbury - or
what is modern day Selwyn. https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/surrey-hills-garden-tour-tickets-536570545947
Upcoming ShowsMarch kicks off the Autumn shows in Selwyn, and I intend to be at as many as I possibly can. This month, I will be having a stall at Children’s Day on 5 March, the Leeston Fete on 18 March, the Malvern A&P Show on 25 March, and the West Melton Fete on 26 March. I’ll also be hosting a stall at the South Island Agricultural Field Days from 29-31 March in Kirwee, with visits from various MPs, including Todd Muller and Christopher Luxon on 30 March. If you’re at any of these events, please do come up for a chat – we’d love to see you!
Here to helpAs always, my team and I are here and available to help. You can get in touch with us by emailing [email protected], phone 03 344 2800, or pop into the office in Rolleston Square between Monday and Fridays. Kind regards,
Nicola Grigg
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