In this issue of Plain English I talk about issues of concern to the electorate, meetings on the Budget, a books in homes programme, support for the Lakes District Air Rescue team, meetings with the Balclutha Rotary Club and some young achievers, Youth Parliament - and more. Feel free to comment on the newsletter and share your thoughts.

 

Clutha-Southland is experiencing one of the driest winters in a long time. There is plenty of grass and if this weather keeps up we are looking at early growth which is great for calving and lambing. Farming is important to our communities and this country's economic growth.

In the electorate

Watch out for the Ranfurly Shield challenge in Invercargill on Saturday. Otago and Southland meet over the Log O' Wood which The Stags won last October.  

Budget meetings

I followed up my second Budget with meetings throughout the country, two of these being very successful events in the electorate.

Both the Eastern Southland Chamber of Commerce's Business After Five meeting in Gore and the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce's Business Lunch Series were well attended, with 200 people at the Queenstown event. It is good to hear what people think and answer their questions.

Books in Homes

Aside from constituent appointments I have met many people around the electorate, including pupils and staff at Riversdale Primary School where I talked about National Standards, and at Mataura Primary School where I presented Duffy Books to the pupils.

The Alan Duff Charitable Foundation, better known as Duffy Books in Homes, provides free books to more than 100,000 New Zealand children, three times a year.  

Visit their website for more information and you can also find out how to support literacy in New Zealand by donating, sponsoring a school or becoming one of their Role Models.
http://www.booksinhomes.org.nz/Home.aspx

Supporting our rescue helicopter
 
I had great pleasure in presenting a $60,000 to Lakes District Air Rescue Trust chairman Jules Tapper at Queenstown airfield. This is part of a $48 million commitment to implementing a New Zealand Ambulance Services Strategy over the next four years.    

Representatives from the Police, Search and Rescue, St Johns and the helicopter industry were present.

These funds have enabled the purchase of an onboard LifePak monitor and defibrillator.

Young achievers

In Balclutha, I spoke to the Balclutha Rotary Club and met members during the meal.  

I have also met with some terrific young people in recent weeks. Platinum Clothing, a Young Enterprise Group from South Otago High School, are selling singlets printed with the Prostate Cancer NZ emblem on the front and their personal company logo on the back.

For every singlet sold 30 per cent of the sale goes to Prostate Cancer NZ. These are young men who have a great attitude and we can be very proud of them.

Youth Parliament

Emily Bowden, a Year 12 student at South Otago High School, represented the Clutha-Southland electorate at the recent Youth Parliament.

Emily was one of 122 young New Zealanders, aged 16 to 20 years, representing each sitting MP who took over Parliament for two days during the school holidays. Youth Parliament is held once each parliamentary term.

I was delighted to be able to spend time with Emily and other Youth MPs during their time in Wellington.

Young Farmer of the Year

What a great experience to be involved in the National Bank Young Farmer of the Year competition that was held in Gore.

With author Christine Fernyhough, and Southland-based financial planner Peter Flannery we heard from each contestant on the Thursday for the 45-minute personal interview.

The next morning I attended the breakfast. Mary I attended the dinner and prize giving on Saturday evening. This whole event was exceptionally well organised and it was a privilege to be part of it.

Oamaru agricultural consultant Grant McNaughton was the winner. Our own local finalist Peter Gardyne, of Gore, came a very credible second.

Survey: You have probably received my survey in your mailbox recently. As your local Member of Parliament what you think is important to me. This survey helps me to understand the issues that influence your lives. I appreciate the time that many of you are taking to complete the survey and return it to me. If you didn't receive one please contact my electorate office and they can ensure you do.

In Wellington

Creating job opportunities

National is working hard to lift the long-term performance of the economy and create more jobs. Our employment law package will reduce compliance costs, give businesses more confidence to take on new staff, and provide more choices for employees and employers.

We're extending the voluntary 90-day trial period to all employers so that every business and new employee can benefit from it. Changes to the personal grievance process will see employment problems resolved more quickly, costs reduced, and improved confidence in the system.

We're also giving employees the ability to trade one of their four weeks' annual leave for cash. And we're changing the law around sick days so employers, at their expense, can require a medical certificate from employees who take one sick day.

Our employment law package is one more step on the road to a growing economy and more jobs.

More information
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/feature/securing+brighter+future+-+employment+law+package

Food Bill passes first reading

The Food Bill has passed its first reading with unanimous support.  It will now be considered by a select committee which will report back later in the year.

The Food Act 1981 has not been updated for 30 years and I'm pleased that all parties have agreed to work together on the passage of this bill.

The new Food Bill has been developed over the past three years and is aligned with the New Zealand Standard platform, which provides the basis for our food exports.

Ultimately this Bill will make it easier for food businesses to understand how safe food needs to be produced and ensure they take primary responsibility for everything they sell. 

Organisers of community-based fundraising activities like cake stalls and sausage sizzles won't need to jump through hoops. 

Food handler guidance will be made available to these people to help them keep food safe and local councils will have more certainty around their role in regulating food premises.

More information
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/food+bill+passes+first+reading

New tenancy laws passed

Changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will better meet the needs of landlords and tenants in today's rental market.

The changes include clearing up confusing processes around terminating and renewing tenancies, and introducing new financial penalties for tenants harassing neighbours of up to $2000, or for landlords providing sub-standard housing of up to $3000.

Over recent years, the private rental market has been increasingly important in housing those who choose, or need, to rent their homes for lifestyle or affordability reasons.

It is therefore imperative the legislation governing the sector supports adequate provision of stable, good quality rental housing.

The new laws will come into force later this year once supporting regulations have been approved and published.

For more information, visit the Department of Building and Housing website at www.dbh.govt.nz/rta-review or phone 0800 TENANCY (0800 836 262).

Growing the economy

Click on the link below to watch my latest briefing on the economy.

http://www.youtube.com/nationalparty#p/u/6/Drb_OPOuFfk

I talk about:

• National's plan for building the recovery
• Budget 2010, a step forward
• National's policy tool kit across economic policy
• Ways National is correcting the imbalances in the economy

Regards,
Hon Bill English MP

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Gore Office
15 Main Street,
P O Box 266,
Gore 9740
ddi 03 203 3000
gore.eo@parliament.govt.nz

Balclutha Office
68 Clyde Street,
P O Box 103
Balclutha 9240
ddi 03 418 4288
balclutha.eo@parliament.govt.nz

Queenstown Office
1085 Frankton Road,
P O Box 2192,
Queenstown 9349
ddi 03 441 4093
queenstown.eo@parliament.govt.nz

 

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