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Nikki's News - April 2011
Recently I joined many Kiwis in watching the National Memorial Service in Christchurch attended by 100,000 Cantabrians. It was a chance to remember the people we've lost, to express our grief and sorrow, and to re-affirm our commitment to the city of Christchurch.
The service was also a chance to thank all those who have helped in the aftermath of the earthquake. The response from Cantabrians, New Zealanders, and people around the world has been tremendous.
Christchurch is a city that's broken, but not beaten. The Government is committed to standing alongside Cantabrians and rebuilding the city.
It'll be a long, complex and costly task, which we will need to work through step by step. We will manage extra costs by borrowing more in the short term, reprioritising spending where possible, and continuing our work to build a stronger national economy.
The new Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) will lead the recovery in Christchurch and surrounding areas. CERA will enable an effective, timely, and coordinated rebuilding and recovery effort in Canterbury, and will have a lifespan of five years. For more information about CERA, skip to the Government Initiatives section of this newsletter.
Auckland Unleashed - Auckland's spatial plan
After hundreds of hours spent on the Auckland Governance Legislation select committee it was with some pride that I attended the Auckland Unleashed summit on 23 March. It was great to see so many people committed to Auckland's future and the genuine opportunity we have before us to make change. In Mayor Len Brown's words, "to unleash Auckland's potential."
I attended the day with the Prime Minister and took part in work sessions which will feed directly into the draft Auckland Plan and I am looking forward to seeing the results.
Event highlights:
Grafton United Cricket Club fundraising auction
Last month Grafton United Cricket Club held a fundraising auction and dance at their Victoria Park clubhouse and officially welcomed on board new funding partner New World Victoria Park. New World Victoria Park has teamed up with Grafton United Cricket Club (founded 1862 and one of New Zealand's oldest cricket clubs) in a three year sponsorship deal providing financial support.
With more than 1200 members, Grafton United Cricket Club has the largest senior cricket club membership in New Zealand and a significant and growing junior club. Club Manager Adrian Smith says Grafton United Cricket Club has been providing cricketing opportunities to young people in the wider Ponsonby area for almost 150 years.
The club is currently looking to secure funding for a book of their history written by Richard Irving, former Club Chairman. If you can help, please email adrian@graftoncricket.co.nz.
Sister Loreto Building opening at St Mary's College
I was delighted to attend the official blessing and opening of the new Sister Loreto Building at St Mary's College recently.
The ceremony was a tribute to the long service and commitment of Sr Loreto who has been at the College for over 60 years. The building was opened and blessed by Monsignor Bernard Kiely, the school Chaplain which was particularly fitting as Monsignor was tutored in mathematics by Sr Loreto at one time!
The building's construction is part of a major building programme by St Mary's and is a wonderful asset to both the school and the community.
Music in the Field
It was my pleasure to attend Bayfield School's biannual "Music on the Field" fundraiser last weekend, particularly as this year's event also celebrated the school's 125th birthday.
It was a great day and I enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of music and entertainment (despite the wild weather) and feel privileged to have joined with the wider Ponsonby community for the special celebration of this milestone for the school.
MaiBiz Maori Women's Development Inc Programme
Last week I was delighted to be part of the judging panel of this programme at Waiheke High School, whereby the budding entrepreneurs took part in a three day hands-on business experience programme. I was hugely impressed by the enthusiasm and level of detail that went into some of the proposals. The proposal by "Tumeke on Waiheke" that won is a great idea and you could see that the students had put hours and hours of work into their presentation.
One of the great things that this programme gives the students is the confidence to back themselves and present an idea to their peers and others. It is rare that I get the opportunity to spend an afternoon with such amazing young people and it was really lovely to see their enthusiasm and innovative ideas.
Government initiatives:
New authority will deliver for Canterbury
The Government is committed to providing the necessary resources to rebuild Canterbury over the coming weeks, months, and years following the devastating earthquakes on 4 September and 22 February.
The new Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) will lead the recovery in Christchurch and surrounding areas. CERA will enable an effective, timely, and coordinated rebuilding and recovery effort in Canterbury, and will have a lifespan of five years.
Billions of dollars will be spent to fix Canterbury, and we need a centralised response. Lessons learnt from overseas show the benefit of having a single entity in charge of the recovery efforts, after major natural disasters.
CERA will support Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee to get the job done, in collaboration with local councils, and local communities. The Christchurch City Council and other stakeholders have been closely consulted, and are very supportive of the new structure.
More information: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-authority-will-deliver-canterbury
1 April changes build a stronger economy
Changes on 1 April will help make New Zealand businesses more competitive and provide more jobs, better incomes, and the higher living standards Kiwi families deserve.
From 1 April, company tax will be cut to 28 per cent, increasing incentives for our firms to reinvest earnings back into jobs and growth. It also puts us ahead of Australia, and helps make New Zealand companies more competitive.
National's comprehensive employment law package, including extending the voluntary 90-day trial period to all employers, also comes into effect on 1 April. Already the 90-day trial has created 13,000 jobs in small and medium businesses. Other changes will reduce compliance costs, and give employees greater choice about how they take their holidays.
At the same time, increases to benefits and pensions will help protect the most vulnerable. From 1 April, all benefits will increase to keep pace with rising costs. For a married couple on NZ Super, their income will be $166 a fortnight higher than it was in September 2008 - an increase of 18.9 per cent.
More information:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/april-1-tax-changes-help-rebalance-economy
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/employment-law-changes-come-effect
Economy: Building a better public service
New Zealanders can expect to see better quality public services, more public service back-office savings initiatives, and fewer overall positions in core government administration.
Finance Minister Bill English has outlined the need to pick up momentum to meet National's goals of high quality frontline services with little extra money. He said getting on top of the country's fiscal position, and building faster growth around savings and exports, meant the Government would be a smaller part of the economy.
We are confident we keep getting better value for money in the public sector. In the past two Budgets, we identified nearly $4 billion in savings that were directed to the frontline.
In the past two years the number of full time equivalent positions in the core government administration has fallen by nearly 2000 or about 5 per cent. By contrast, there has been an increase in the number of employees working in frontline roles.
We have more than 300 additional frontline police officers, about 1600 extra teachers in our schools, over 1000 more nurses, and more than 500 extra doctors working in our public health service.
More information:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/speech-institute-public-administration-new-zealand
Productivity Commission gets first two projects
The new Productivity Commission's first two inquiries will be into housing affordability and international freight services - two areas that affect New Zealand's international competitiveness.
The Productivity Commission begins work on 1 April. It will be paid for by reprioritising existing spending and is another step in the Government's programme to lift New Zealand's economic performance in both the public and private sectors.
The commission will report back on Housing affordability by February next year and on international freight transport services by next April.
Both of these topics have a bearing on New Zealand's export competitiveness. That is important as we seek to rebalance our economy away from excessive borrowing, consumption, and government spending towards savings, investment, and exports.
More information:
Have your say
For all other news, photos and updates on my work around the electorate, keep an eye on my website www.nikkikaye.co.nz which is updated regularly.
My website is also an easy way to make contact with me. If you have any issues, let me know through the "Have Your Say" link on the homepage.
Best wishes,
