TODD McCLAY MP for Rotorua - Article

Rotorua Weekender

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 11:35:00 +1200

Serving the People of Rotorua

Last Sunday I received a call from the Prime Minister asking me to become a Minister in his Government. I was at a community event with my family, the welcoming of a new Minister to Rotorua's Korean church. I was surprised and delighted by the call, it was an honour to have been considered by John Key. My new responsibilities are Minister for Revenue and Associate Minister for Health. From that church on Sunday to taking the Oath as a Minister things moved very quickly. I was officially sworn in by the Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae in a small ceremony at Parliament on Tuesday.

Rotorua has a long tradition of local MPs who've served our community as Ministers. In fact every Rotorua MP since Ray Boord in 1954 has gone on to become a Minister in Government including Harry Lapwood, Paul East, Max Bradford and Steve Chadwick. I am privileged to have my name added to this list of people who have served our community so well.

With this promotion comes extra responsibility and I’m grateful to the Prime Minister for showing confidence. I'm also extremely grateful to the people of the Rotorua electorate for their on-going support. Without this support it would not be possible to do my job at home in the electorate or in representing your views in Wellington. Thank you!

Since becoming an MP in 2008 my priority has always been to be available to all constituents. It still surprises me when I meet people around the country who have never met an MP, let alone spoken to one. As a constituent MP, being available to the community has always been my number one priority. It’s a chance to learn more about the great work that is done by so many hard working and talented people as well as to get an appreciation of areas where more help and assistance is needed. I work hard to be available!

One of the first things said after becoming a Minister was 'guess you'll be moving to Wellington now'. The answer was a resounding 'NO'. My home is in Rotorua, I was born here. Nadene and I pay a mortgage here and we have kids at local schools. Rotorua is the best place in New Zealand to raise a young family and it will remain our home.

I run constituent clinics in Rotorua on Fridays and in my electorate offices in Te Puke and Kawerau each month. I'm as keen as ever to be involved with community groups and local events, to visit schools to see the excellent job our teachers do, and to meet with businesses large and small to hear about their commitment to growing the local economy. We have a strong and committed social sector and I always enjoy talking with them about the important work that they do. My involvement with the community and these groups will continue.

Being a local MP is about working with local people to improve the lives of those around us. This appointment will allow me to better represent the communities of the Rotorua electorate at home and in Parliament. For me it is always been about 'Putting Rotorua First'.

Synthetic Drugs

Over the past few months I have met and received correspondence from many constituents about drugs. In particular parents have told me of their concern about the chilling effects synthetic marijuana and party pills have on our young people. As Associate Minister Health, I am responsible for the Psychoactive Substances Bill. This bill regulates psychoactive substances, or “legal highs”. It will mean that before these products can be sold the manufacturers will need to prove that they are not harmful. It also means that any product not banned cannot be given or sold or to under 18s and will be removed from dairies, petrol stations supermarkets and pubs. In effect it will mean a permanent ban to many of these harmful drugs.

This is important legislation for Rotorua and New Zealand as a whole and I look forward to progressing it through Parliament. It is imperative that we pass it into law as quickly as possible so that New Zealanders can have certainty and young people are better protected from the harm these synthetic drugs can do.

To all who have called, emailed and Facebooked over the last few days, a big thanks. I look forward to quickly coming up to speed with the demands of my new ministerial portfolios, while continuing to serve the interests of Rotorua’s constituents. As always, please feel free to contact my Rotorua office if you would like to make an appointment or email me directly at rotorua.mp@national.org.nz.

Rotorua Daily Post: Gang Banners

nospam@example.com (admin) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:34:00 +1200

My Private Members Bill to ban the display of gang insignia from central and local government buildings will soon have its third and final reading in Parliament - the last hurdle before becoming law. This bill is an important step forward in creating safer communities for our children and families.

In 2011 I publicised my desire to bring this bill before Parliament and it has been positively supported by most New Zealanders to its current stage. There has also been much debate, in particular around my decision to widen the scope of the bill to include every school in New Zealand.

The bill makes it an offense to wear a gang patch in all government departments and council offices, with those who contravene the law subject to arrest, fine and the insignia being confiscated and destroyed. Following recommendations of the select committee, it will include all schools, kindergartens and police stations. This was an important amendment in response to concerns raised by Murupara Area School who made a strong submission to the committee saying that children at school don't need to be exposed to gang insignia, instead they should to be protected from the harm that gangs cause.

The gang patch is not a patriotic flag and gangs are not benevolent community organisations. Gangs are criminal organisations responsible for significant harm and misery through their involvement in the drug trade and gang patches are signs of cowardice and intimidation by those who wear them. They announce to the world that they have more than likely engaged in significant criminal activity to earn the right to wear a patch, and that they are happy to intimidate law abiding people in our communities.

My bill is about giving the police the tools that they need to disrupt criminal activity and putting the rights of victims and law abiding citizens before those of gang thugs. It's about sending a message to gang members that their intimidation and criminal behaviour will not be tolerated by society.

There is significant and growing support for measures to put victims first. It was encouraging to see a number of groups and organisations from across New Zealand make submissions to the Law and Order Committee in support of this bill. Close to home the Kawerau, Whakatane and Opotiki District Council’s expressed their concern for gang intimidation saying that this law would provide welcome relief to rate payers and the people who work in council buildings.

I particularly appreciate the support of Rotorua District Councillor Charles Sturt who made a personal submission to the committee in support of my bill.

This government’s law and order policies are having a real impact. Rates of reported crime, including violent crime have been falling and recently we announced the seizure of $150 million of assets from criminals since this Government passed the Proceeds of Crime Act a few years ago. For the first time ever, gangs are starting to hurt because we are hitting them where it hurts the most, in their pockets.

Feeling safe in our homes and on our streets is a basic right. Each one of us is entitled to it and through the Government’s comprehensive programme to protect communities and our continued support of the excellent job done by our police together we are achieving results. My bill to ban gang insignia is another step towards ensuring that law abiding New Zealanders are safer in their communities.

Breakfast in Schools

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 09:57:00 +1200

Experts tell us that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Waking up and having a healthy meal gives us the boost we need to be more productive and efficient throughout the day. It makes sense then that we should ensure our most vulnerable children are not missing out on this important meal.

For this reason Prime Minister John Key has announced an expansion of the KickStart Breakfast programme. Starting next year, all Rotorua schools who wish to will have access to resources to provide a breakfast programme for needy students.

The Government will partner with Sanitarium and Fonterra to expand the programme from two to five mornings a week in decile one to four schools, with a view to extending it to all schools that want or need it. The simple breakfast of Weet-Bix and milk will mean children who aren’t getting breakfast at home for whatever reason can get a decent meal at school.

The Government will fund 50 per cent of the costs of the breakfast programme, with the other half being matched in value by Fonterra and Sanitarium. The total cost to the Government is up to $9.5 million over five years. On top of this, we’ve given a significant injection of funds for KidsCan - $1.5 million over three years - to provide other necessities like shoes, raincoats and lice treatment.

While some may argue it is primarily the responsibility of parents to provide their children with necessities like breakfast and a pair of shoes, the reality is some children come to school hungry and not able to learn. It’s important we find the right balance between helping those in genuine need, against creating dependency.

This new breakfast in schools programme will only work with community involvement. The government and these companies are providing the food, the schools will provide the venue and coordination and it will be up to parents from the school community to organise, prepare and serve food to these children.

Supporting vulnerable children is the responsibility of all of us – the Government, parents and the wider community. It will be up to everyone in the school community to help deliver this programme effectively and ensure its being targeted at those students who need it most.

Children need a decent breakfast in order to be able to focus and participate positively at school. Education enables every child from any background to succeed, by giving them the skills they need to reach their potential. Therefore it’s important we support them as best we can to make the most of educational opportunities. Providing hungry students with breakfast is just one way we can do this.

Budget 2013: Investing more in health than ever before

nospam@example.com (admin) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 09:56:00 +1200

Good quality healthcare is important for Rotorua families, and under Budget 2013, the Government is investing more in health than ever before. Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced an extra $1.6 billion will be invested in the sector over four years, lifting total health spending to $14.7 billion.

Highlights include $70 million for aged care and dementia services to help older New Zealanders be healthier and more independent, $35 million to combat diabetes and heart disease (some of the leading causes of death in New Zealand) and increased support for DHBs to deliver record numbers for elective surgery, immunisation, and cancer care.

The extra investment in aged care and dementia services is particularly positive news for our community. Research shows increasing numbers of people are being diagnosed with dementia at a younger age and it is therefore important that the Government is making it a priority to improve help and support for age care services.

The investment will include $2 million over three years to support dementia awareness programmes and assistance for clinical teams in early detection of dementia and $1.2 million over three years for dementia related training for health care workers. A further $20 million will be invested over four years for home support services to help older New Zealanders stay in their homes longer. In addition, district health boards have been funded to invest an additional $33.2 million on aged residential care subsidies over four years.

While many developed countries around the world are freezing or even reducing health funding, this Government is investing in health as part of our priority to deliver better public services. We are making each health dollar go further with a focus on better services and less bureaucracy. We have employed 1000 more doctors, 2000 more nurses, and 1000 fewer back office staff. In Rotorua, our health professionals are doing a great job in delivering better, sooner, more convenient healthcare to our communities.

The Lakes District Health Board has been working incredibly hard, putting more staff and investing more resources on the frontline. And we are seeing real results – Lakes are the number one DHB in the country for better access to elective surgery, shorter waits for cancer treatment, and continue to prioritise support to help smokers to quit.

Last year the Lakes DHB was ranked number one in New Zealand for access to elective surgery, surpassing the target for improved access by 20 per cent. The DHB is also ranked number one for shorter waits for cancer treatment, reaching 100 per cent of the target for all patients to have received their cancer treatment within four weeks. A great result for the hundreds of patients and families afflicted by this terrible

These impressive results at Lakes DHB are only possible because of the hard work of our doctors, nurses and allied healthcare professionals. I continue to be impressed by their dedication and determination to make the lives of local people better, and wish to offer them my thanks for the excellent job they do.

Families with young children are also better supported with every child in Rotorua up to 6 years of age now eligible to receive free doctor's visits 24-hours a day with immunisation rates for toddlers having improved, almost reaching the target of 95 per cent of all 2-year-olds to be fully immunised by 2017.

With a further $1.6 billion investment in health over four years, we are committed to ensuring that people in our community have better and faster access to health care when they need it.

Rotorua Daily Post: Time to put education first

nospam@example.com (admin) — Mon, 27 May 2013 12:12:00 +1200

On Friday I was delighted to announce a significant new education initiative for Rotorua schools alongside Education Minister Hekia Parata. This major initiative is aimed at improving the educational success of Rotorua’s children and young people.

The Rotorua education initiative is the first of its kind in a suite of government Social Sector Trials which focus on improving social outcomes for young people in New Zealand. Specific to our city, it will be focussed on children and young people aged 0 -18 years and be led by a contracted local community organisation or individual employed by the Government.

The initiative focuses on five important outcomes – getting more children into early learning; ensuring more children have strong literacy and numeracy skill; increasing the number of young people leaving secondary schools with NCEA Level 2; and making it much easier for them to enter into further education, training and jobs. It will also aim to reduce risky behaviour including alcohol and drug use, sexual behaviour and offending. Importantly, it will allow us to take the reins and focus the resources of the Rotorua community on ensuring better educational success of our children.

Education success requires everyone in a young person’s community to be actively involved. The responsibility must therefore be shared by early childhood educators, schools, families, whanau and communities. This initiative is a unique opportunity to explore how a community-led approach can work to enhance children’s learning. The programme will allow our communities to work with local schools and early childhood services to deal with the issues that affect their children’s learning.

In 2011 I campaigned on putting Rotorua first and part of this is improving educational achievement. Involving the wider community in decision-making processes regarding specific local education issues is extremely important - after all lifting student achievement benefits us all. As a community we need to be more accountable for the future success of our young people.

To assist in achieving this, the Government has committed significant resources to enable communities to target specific local challenges in ways that are appropriate for each community. Like the Children’s Team underway in Rotorua, professionals from the education, health, justice and social services sectors will work together to implement the trials in partnership with the local community.

Launched in 2011, the first Social Sector Trials brought communities together to find local answers, to their local problems and issues. These original trials have shown that they are a useful way to make the most of community resources and rally the community behind getting better results for their young people.

Results from these first trials have had unanimous community feedback that the new approach is working. The atmosphere in the trial towns has lifted, there’s increased pride in their young people, and the approaches to working together on local solutions for local issues has created a catalyst for other positive changes.

A further 10 trials are now being set up in other communities around New Zealand starting in July 2013.

The success of the Rotorua education initiative will rely on everyone putting children and young people, and their learning and education first, and working together to make it happen. I look forward to working with parents, the community and local schools to implement this scheme in Rotorua.

If you’d like to find out more about the Rotorua education initiative, or if you need assistance with any other issue, please contact my Rotorua office on (07) 348 5871 or email me directly at rotorua.mp@national.org.nz. We would love to hear from you.

Rotorua Weekender: Gang patch ban to include schools

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00:00 +1200

Last week Parliament debated my Private Members Bill to ban the display of gang insignia from central and local government buildings. Of particular interest was the debate around my decision to widen the scope of the bill to include every school in New Zealand.

The bill passed second reading in Parliament by 69 votes to 51. The Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premises Bill makes it an offense to wear a gang patch in all government departments and council offices, with those who contravene the law subject to arrest, fine and the insignia being confiscated and destroyed.

Following recommendations of the select committee, it will now also include all schools, kindergartens and police stations. This is an important amendment in response to concerns raised by Murupara Area School who made a strong submission to the Committee saying that children at school don't need to be exposed to gang insignia, instead they should to be protected from the harm that gangs cause.

The gang patch is not a patriotic flag and gangs are not benevolent community organisations. Gangs are criminal organisations responsible for significant harm and misery through their involvement in the drug trade and gang patches are signs of cowardice and intimidation by those who wear them. They announce to the world that they have more than likely engaged in significant criminal activity to earn the right to wear a patch, and that they are happy to intimidate law abiding people in our communities.

My bill is about giving the police the tools that they need to disrupt criminal activity and putting the rights of victims and law abiding citizens before those of gang thugs. It's about sending a message to gang members that their intimidation and criminal behaviour will not be tolerated by society.

There is significant and growing support for these measures to put victims first. It was encouraging to see a number of groups and organisations from across New Zealand make submissions to the Law and Order Committee in support of this bill. Close to home the Kawerau, Whakatane and Opotiki District Council’s expressed their concern for gang intimidation saying that this law would provide welcome relief to rate payers and the people who work in council buildings.

This government’s law and order policies are having a real impact. Rates of reported crime, including violent crime have been falling and recently we announced the seizure of $150 million of assets from criminals since this Government passed the Proceeds of Crime Act a few years ago. For the first time ever, gangs are starting to hurt because we are hitting them where it hurts the most, in their pockets. My bill to ban gang insignia is another step towards ensuring that law abiding New Zealanders are safer in their communities.

Rotorua Daily Post: Budget for a brighter future

nospam@example.com (admin) — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:40:00 +1200

In Parliament on Thursday Deputy Prime Minister Bill English delivered Kiwis a positive Budget despite tough economic conditions. If New Zealand wants to earn its way in the world, create more jobs, and opportunities then we need a stronger economy and Budget 2013 confirms we are on the right track. It sets out the next steps in our four priorities which are to responsibly manage the government’s books, build a more competitive and productive economy, deliver better public services and to rebuild Christchurch.

Budget 2013 provides more support for families, and forecasts strong economic growth, more jobs and rising wages. Importantly, it lays the path for a return to surplus in 2014/15 which is vital for our future. Over the next four years we’re investing $5.1 billion on new initiatives in areas such as science and innovation, health, education, welfare, and housing. And we’re signalling ACC levy cuts for businesses and families.

There will be more help for vulnerable families, including $198 million to support beneficiaries to find work. We’re helping at-risk children get an early education and funding to tackle rheumatic fever will be doubled. 46,000 more homes will be insulated for low-income families. The Budget also outlines reforms to tackle house prices. This includes new regulations for councils in areas where housing is least affordable.

Young people will see support increased with funding boosts across education, including tertiary, of $12.4 billion. An extra $215 million will be invested into schooling over four years, including $64 million for Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL), $5.9 million for a new mentoring programme to help vulnerable young people achieve and $37.5 million for teaching quality initiatives.

Extra funding for the PBL programme is particularly positive. It is a wonderful initiative which has already proven successful in a handful of Rotorua schools including Kaitao Middle School, Rotorua Intermediate and Selwyn School. The programme was introduced in 2009 to improve behaviour in children and young people, to increase educational engagement and achievement, and decrease the long-term costs of difficult behaviour continuing into adulthood.

In health, the Budget is providing $1.6 billion over four years for new initiatives and to meet cost pressures. Despite tough economic times we are investing more in health than ever before. This includes about $352 million in new funding a year, taking total health spending to $14.7 billion next year, the most ever. While many developed countries around the world are freezing or even reducing health funding this Government is growing and protecting our public health services.

For businesses, the Budget will build on our Business Growth Agenda. It includes $100 million-a-year for an internationally-focused growth and innovation package. This will boost investment in science, research and development, and tourism.

Investment in tourism is especially important to us here in Rotorua with our city fast becoming the tourism capital of New Zealand. $158 million will be invested in the sector over the next four years to accelerate the work already underway in attracting high value tourists, and supporting and growing emerging and existing markets. It will also be utilised to encourage innovation, bring international events to New Zealand and simplify visa processes.

This will open up the way for smaller tourism businesses to become involved in the international tourism market. Already Rotorua makes up a significant component of New Zealand’s tourism sector and this additional tourism spend is likely to increase tourist numbers which in turn means more local jobs.
Budget 2013 builds momentum towards a stronger, more stable, economy that can better weather global storms and deliver more opportunities, higher incomes, and more jobs. It continues our work to build a brighter future for Kiwi families.

The Daily Post: Budget for a surplus

nospam@example.com (admin) — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:27:09 +1200

Thursday 16 May is Budget Day where Deputy Prime Minister Bill English will announce the Government’s plan to get New Zealand back to surplus in 2014-15. While this might not seem important when one considers the day to day challenges of everyday life, getting back to surplus is vital if we want to boost the economy and create jobs.

Budget 2013 will show the steps Government is taking to help the New Zealand economy grow, by supporting Kiwi businesses to innovate, expand, and hire more staff. We will build on the momentum achieved over the last four years which in the face of continuing global uncertainty is more important than ever.

Currently New Zealand is in pretty good shape compared to almost every other developed country in the world. The economy is continuing to grow, real jobs are being created, and confidence is increasing. The Government’s responsible economic management since the start of the global financial crisis means that by 2014/15, New Zealand will be one of the few developed countries running surpluses and able to start repaying debt.

Latest statistics show the economy grew 3 per cent in calendar year 2012, comparable to Australia’s 3.1 per cent growth. Homeowners will be pleased that under this Government, New Zealand has the lowest mortgage rates since 1965. Further, after-tax wages are up 22 per cent over the last 5 years - more than twice the rate of inflation - and over the last two years 54,000 new jobs have been created.

We've also removed unnecessary regulation and red tape which has restrained growth and have put in place a comprehensive programme of investment in important infrastructure, including road networks, and connecting New Zealand with the world through ultra-fast broadband. There’s also better support for families and good results being delivered from the health system, we're ensuring every child gets the skills they need at school, and we've supported our justice system to keep you safe at home and in your community.

Recently, the International Monetary Fund even gave its tick of approval to our responsible management of the Government’s finances. The IMF says we’re getting it right with our balanced approach to supporting growth and reducing public debt. This is because we’re working hard to put the economy on a more competitive footing.

In particular, we have embarked on more than 300 initiatives to build export markets, innovation, skills, capital markets, infrastructure, and better access to our natural resources, as part of our Business Growth Agenda. This is helping give businesses the confidence to invest, grow, and hire new staff. In addition, our sensible fiscal and monetary policy is helping to keep interest rates and inflation low, which is benefitting businesses and households across New Zealand.
Operating in surplus is important for our future. It will help keep interest rates lower for longer, which is the single biggest cost to most households, and it helps take the pressure off New Zealand’s exchange rate, which is good for the country’s exporters. Getting the books in order means we will owe less to overseas lenders, which will help ensure the economy is stronger and in a better position to handle future economic shocks.

Budget 2013 will show the Government is busy, focused, and taking action across the many areas needed to boost growth, investment, and jobs. As your elected Member of Parliament, I’ll continue to work hard for Rotorua businesses and households to ensure we get access to the resources we need to boost the local economy, support families and create jobs here.

The Daily Post: Investing in our tourism future

nospam@example.com (admin) — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:29:00 +1200

Tourism plays a vital role in the Rotorua electorate and wider Bay of Plenty. That’s why I was delighted to hear Prime Minister John Key’s recent announcement that the Government will invest $158 million in tourism over the next four years as part of Budget 2013. This investment will help put an even greater focus on international growth and with Rotorua fast becoming the tourism capital of New Zealand, this is a positive announcement for local businesses.

This funding boost will be used to accelerate the work already underway in attracting high value tourists, and supporting and growing emerging and existing markets. It will also be utilised to encourage innovation, bring international events to New Zealand and simplify visa processes. Ultimately this is good for Rotorua as it opens the way for smaller tourism businesses to become involved in the international tourism market. Already Rotorua makes up a significant component of New Zealand’s tourism sector.

It’s not hard to understand the vital role tourism plays in the economic wellbeing of New Zealand. Thanks to our stunning scenery, vibrant culture, world-class food and wine, and skilled and passionate tourism operators, millions of overseas guests visit our country each year.

Increased investment in tourism will result in more visitors to New Zealand, spending more money. This benefits tourism operators, shops, hotels, cafes and restaurants right throughout the country. By investing in these businesses to grow, they are then able to employ more people and boost investment, leading to more jobs and economic growth.

This is why tourism is a critical part of the Government’s key priority to build a more competitive and productive economy. In the year to March 2012 the tourism industry employed 6.2 per cent of our workforce, generated $9.6 billion in revenue and made up 15.4 per cent of our export earnings, and 3.3 per cent of GDP.

However, tourism does face some challenges. The number of visitors to New Zealand has continued to increase, but tourists are spending less when they come here. In order to grow the value of tourism, we need to focus on new markets and visitors who spend more.

Traditionally, we have relied on tourists from places such as Australia, the UK and USA. We are investing $24.5 million in boosting our traditional markets. But we also need to expand our focus, so we are investing another $44.5 million to attract visitors from places such as India, Indonesia and Latin America.

These places have growing wealth, relative proximity to New Zealand, and increasing numbers of people who want to travel. Along with China, which is already our second-biggest tourist market, we can expect to see high growth in the number of tourists coming from these countries. The Prime Minister’s recent visits to China and Latin America have highlighted the huge potential for tourism and trade from these places.

We are also focusing on visitors who spend more while they are here. This includes $20 million to target luxury travellers, and $34 million to attract business events. The rest of the new funding will go towards investment in the tourism sector, and improved visa facilitation to make it easier for people to come here.

This new tourism funding is part of a larger internationally-focused growth package in this year’s Budget. The funding will help us to attract high value visitors and more tourism dollars, and increase the value of tourism to New Zealand. This can only be positive for Rotorua and I'll continue to play my part by working alongside the local tourism sector and be their voice in Parliament.

Rotorua Weekender: Youth MP announced

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:28:00 +1200

Last week I was pleased to announce the new Rotorua Electorate Youth MP is 16-year-old Rotorua student Mark Robilliard.

Mark is an exceptional young person with very strong ideas of the challenges facing youth in the Rotorua electorate. I found him to be a very mature and insightful young man who I know will do an excellent job representing his peers and the wider electorate.

He will join 120 other young people from around New Zealand in Parliament where he will be able to consider legislation, sit on select committees and ask questions of MPs and government ministers. Officially it will take place on 16 and 17 July but Youth MPs will hold their position from 1 May to 31 December 2013. During this time, they will be expected to actively engage with the community to gain an understanding of the ideas and concerns of youth in Rotorua.

Youth Parliament is held every three years and Mark is the second youth MP I have had the opportunity to elect. It is a fantastic platform for young person to have their say and I know Mark will confidently speak of the challenges that we face and the aspirations that our youth have for their future.

On that note I wish to thank all those who applied. My office received applications from strong candidates from all parts of the Rotorua electorate. I was incredibly impressed with the extremely high calibre of applicants which made choosing just one a very difficult decision for the selection panel.

As a result I will be inviting all applicants to join me in forming the Rotorua Electorate Youth Advisory Committee 2013 (YAC). This committee is a way for future leaders of our community to meet and talk with their local Member of Parliament about their views on things that matter to them and issues that affect young people today. YAC has been running for the past three years and I look forward to forming and working with this year’s fresh faces.

Once again, to Mark - congratulations on your appointment. You can be very proud of your achievement, I know you will do Rotorua proud and I look forward to working with you as you prepare to take part in Youth Parliament 2013.

The Daily Post: Turning the table on bullies

nospam@example.com (admin) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:32:00 +1200

Social media has become a part of everyday life. It’s used for work, to voice opinions and of course for entertainment. Social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook mean friends and family are only an instant message away. While there are many benefits to this - it does seem easier to keep in touch - unfortunately there can also be downfalls.

By this I mean cyber bullying. In the digital age tormenters are able to harass their targets 24 hours a day, seven days a week, wherever they go. And the trail of abuse in cyberspace follows victims for years.

Young people are particularly vulnerable to the impact this new form of bullying has, particularly on teenagers. Reports show that cyber bullying can contribute to increased truancy, failure at school and emotional problems such as depression and self-harm. In the most tragic of circumstances, victims of cyber bullying take their own lives, something we have witnessed here in Rotorua with the tragic death of 15-year-old Hayley-Ann Fenton in 2009 who took her own life as the result of receiving vicious, bullying texts.

As a parent my heart goes out to Hayley-Ann’s family. I know her parents have been advocating strongly for tougher laws against cyber bullying since her death and her story continues to catch the nation’s attention. It was this tragedy which helped set in motion moves to put a stop to the growing incidence of cyber bullying and the devastating impact it has on the young.

To prevent tragedies like Hayley-Ann’s it’s important we put legislation in place to better protect people, better protect victims of cyber bullying and hold bullies to account. Whether it’s in the playground or online, bullying is not ok and recently the Government announced a new set of measures to drive home that message. These measures include setting up an agency to support victims, and introducing new offences with consequences.

We’re creating a new civil enforcement regime that includes setting up or appointing an approved agency as the first port of call for complaints. The agency will be able to investigate and resolve complaints directly and quickly, with the most serious complaints being referred to the District Court – which can issue orders to take-down offending material online and cease-and-desist notices.

It will be an offence to send messages and post material online that is grossly offensive, indecent, obscene, menacing or knowingly false, punishable by up to 3 months imprisonment or a $2,000 fine. We're also making a new offence of incitement to commit suicide, even when a person does not attempt to take their own life, punishable by up to 3 years imprisonment.

In some cases, existing laws were written before cell phones, instant messaging devices, and social networking websites became common communication channels. For this reason we’ll be amending the Harassment, Privacy and Human Rights Acts to ensure they are up-to-date for digital communications. A bill giving effect to the changes will be introduced to Parliament.

Taking further action to reduce the impact of cyber-bullying is a priority for this Government. It’s time to stand up and send a clear message to cyber-bullies: your behaviour is not acceptable.

Should you know of someone who is being bullied, or are worried about a family member, please raise this with a parent or with your school. If someone is bullying you, it’s ok to ask for help by telling someone you trust. It’s up to all of us to do everything that we can to put a stop to the significant harm caused by bullying.

Rotorua Daily Post: Anzac Day a day to reflect

nospam@example.com (admin) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:24:00 +1200

Thursday is Anzac Day - a day to reflect on, and be grateful to, our Anzac veterans.

More than 2700 New Zealanders lost their lives serving as part of the Australia New Zealand Army Corps that landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. It is difficult to imagine the human suffering, hardships, and horrors they endured. For this reason it’s important to honour these men and women and ensure they receive recognition for the service and sacrifice they gave to our country.

Anzac Day is an increasingly important occasion and over the past few years it has been heartening to witness the growing number of New Zealander’s attending Anzac services. In Rotorua and the wider electorate in particular, the tradition remains strong and is important to those who live here. Every year hundreds of people get up to attend the nearest Dawn Parade and commemoration events throughout the day.

This year I will have the honour of attending both the Kawerau Dawn Parade and the ANZAC Day Civic Memorial Service at the Rotorua Convention Centre before joining RSA members for a meal at the Rotorua RSA Club.

Reporoa College head girl Brie Piggot and deputy head boy Kerry Power will be the guest speakers at this year’s memorial in Rotorua – a great honour for them to represent not only their school but the wider community. They will be joined by mayor Kevin Winters, council staff and representatives of both the British and Australian High Commission will also be in attendance. To Brie and Kerry – you can be very proud.

I was also delighted to hear Rotorua man Commander Keith Wisnesky will be the guest speaker at the Kawerau Dawn Parade. Keith served in the Royal New Zealand Navy for 22 years and I look forward to hearing about his experiences and life in the armed forces. The Dawn Parade is always a special event. Veterans and locals fall in and march to the Rec Centre for the wreath laying before a heartfelt service.

On that note I want to acknowledge Te Teko soldier Corporal Luke Tamate, and his fellow soldiers Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker and Private Richard Harris, who were tragically killed in Afghanistan last year. My thoughts will be with his friends and family on Thursday, particularly his mother who resides in Kawerau.

During the past few years the country has faced several losses in the defence force. Three other New Zealanders have lost their lives in Afghanistan; Lieutenant Timothy O'Donnell, Private Jack Howard (serving in the British Army), and Private Kirifi Mila. On Anzac Day 2011, a helicopter crash claimed the lives of three Iroquois crew, Flight Lieutenant Hayden Madsen, Flying Officer Daniel Gregory, and crewman Corporal Andrew Carson.

We also remember those who have served in conflicts since that time such as the Battle of Crete which began on the 20th May 1941, during the Second World War. New Zealand lost hundreds of soldier’s and over 2000 were captured as prisoners of war. The Government, along with all New Zealanders, is committed to honouring those veterans who served our country operationally, and in a wide range of vital support roles.

If you are able to take part in a remembrance service on Thursday, the friends and family of our brave soldiers, both past and present, will be grateful of your recognition and support. Our veterans need to know how much they are valued, and that the job they do is appreciated. Lest we forget.

Rotorua Weekender: Time for a hand up

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:26:00 +1200

Supporting individuals and families in our community is extremely important, but so too is helping them to help themselves. Welfare is a cornerstone of a caring society – welfare dependency is not. That’s why I have welcomed the passing of the Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill in Parliament last week.

It has becoming increasingly clear that New Zealand’s welfare system isn’t working. For too long it’s paid people for what they can’t do. Currently, 12 per cent of our working age population receive a benefit, and 220,000 children are growing up in benefit-dependent homes. It’s also costing taxpayers too much. That’s why getting people off welfare and into work means a better life, better opportunities, and a brighter future for people and their families.

This legislation is an important step towards directing support to where it’s most needed and breaking the cycle of welfare dependency that has harmed so many kiwi families.

From July this year it will focus on what people can do, not what they can’t do. The Unemployment Benefit, which pays people for being unemployed, will be replaced by the JobSeekers Support. It will require JobSeekers to be drug-free and looking for work. We will be using your taxes to support people to look for work, not to languish on the unemployment benefit or take drugs.

Benefits will be stopped for those on the run from Police with outstanding arrest warrants, and we’re introducing health, education, and social obligations for beneficiaries with children – so their kids get the support and services they need. This means we’re clamping down on welfare fraud and tackling long-term benefit dependence.

Under this new legislation, these changes will build on some of the achievements we’ve already made for New Zealanders. In 2010 we implemented Future Focus and now 171,000 people have moved off benefits - that’s about 165 people leaving a benefit every week.

Sole parents with children aged five and older are being supported into part-time work, with sole parents with children aged 14 and older are being supported into full-time work. Work and Income can direct people to prepare for work early and sole parents who have another child while on a benefit now must be available for work after one year, in line with paid parental leave.

We’ve also introduced a managed system of payments for young people on a benefit to cover essential costs like rent and power directly, with an allowance, and a payment card for living costs.

The Government is focused on working more closely with people on welfare to help them into jobs. By supporting more beneficiaries into work we will help them achieve their potential, and build a brighter future for themselves and their families.

Rotorua Daily Post: Rotorua Education - best in the Country?

nospam@example.com (admin) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:23:00 +1200

Education is something that's raised with me as a local MP more than almost any other issue. We all want what's best for our kids and over the past few years many teachers and parents have shared their views on what must be done to make Rotorua education the best in the country.

Educating children is an investment in their future. A high quality education provides opportunity for any child from any background to get ahead and make the most of their lives. It’s also an essential requirement for a skilled, creative and productive workforce, which is key to growing a stronger economy. So it makes sense that we should invest heavily in education.

The Government has increased spending in education every year since 2009 with an extra $512 million committed last year alone to be spent over the next four years. Locally, $17.6 million has been invested to upgrade and modernise 59 schools in the Rotorua electorate. These figures represent a significant amount of taxpayer money and we need to make sure it’s money well spent. People want to know that their taxes are being spent responsibly on services that make a real difference to our community, directly on the front line. This means ensuring support and resources for education are being targeted at the right areas.

I'm committed to increasing participation and raising achievement across the board. This requires a system-wide lift in quality teaching and leadership from Early Childhood Education (ECE), through to primary and secondary schooling. That’s why two of Prime Minister John Key’s 10 Better Public Service goals, are aimed at these specific areas.

Regular participation in ECE enables children to go to primary school confident, able to engage, and eager to learn. Our goal is to make sure 98 per cent of children starting school have participated in ECE by 2016. To achieve this, we’re investing $1.4 billion in ECE of which $47.9 million will be targeted towards children who are missing out, but would benefit the most. This target cuts to the core of many of the challenges we face in New Zealand.

The second goal is aimed at having 85 per cent of all 18-year-olds achieving NCEA Level 2 or equivalent by 2016. This is the minimum qualification any young person should leave school with. Having this qualification up their sleeve will open up more employment opportunities and further study options.

To achieve these goals we need to enlist the support on the entire community. We want to open up the communication lines between schools, parents and the wider community and build an environment where everyone sees it as their responsibility to help educate our children.

In 2011 I campaigned on putting Rotorua first and part of this is improving educational achievement. Involving the wider community in decision-making processes regarding specific local education issues is extremely important - after all lifting student achievement benefits us all. Today this responsibility does not fall solely on teachers and education professionals – as a community we need to be more accountable for the future success of our young people.

In the coming weeks I will continue to meet with local schools to talk more about what must be done locally to raise educational achievement. Through working together as educators, teachers, and parents as a community we have an opportunity to make education in Rotorua the best in the country.

Rotorua Daily Post: Education - our responsibility

nospam@example.com (admin) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:18:00 +1200

Education seems to constantly stir up debate in Rotorua. However debate isn’t always a bad thing and when constructive it’s extremely worthwhile, in particular when it comes to deciding what’s best for our children. While the debates surrounding education can be wide-ranging, the one thing we can all agree on is that high quality education is vitally important.

It provides the opportunity for any child from any background to get ahead and make the most of their lives. It’s also an essential requirement for a skilled, creative and productive workforce, which is key to growing a stronger economy.

Already New Zealand’s education system is among the best in the world and our top students are some of the best. However one student in five leaves school without the skills they need to succeed in a modern economy. Too many young people are falling through the cracks and missing out on integral educational opportunities. Unless we turn this poor performance around, these students face a life of unskilled work or welfare dependency.

Ultimately, we all want our kids to leave school with the skills they need to reach their potential in the modern economy. That means lifting up those who are being left behind, and encouraging those who are doing well to do even better.

The Government is committed to increasing participation and raising achievement across the board. This requires a system-wide lift in quality teaching and leadership from Early Childhood Education, through to primary and secondary schooling. To attain this, we’ve set ambitious Better Public Service targets of increasing Early Childhood Education participation to 98 per cent and ensuring 85 per cent of all 18-year-olds achieve NCEA Level 2 or equivalent by 2016. This is the minimum qualification any young person should leave school with. Having this qualification up their sleeve will open up more employment opportunities and further study options.

To reach these goals we need to focus on providing targeted support to our schools and teachers and ensuring parental and community involvement in education. A key part of this is to look at our education system as it is now. Modern teaching has changed and so too has the way our children learn. For this reason we need to change the way our schooling system works in order for it to be flexible enough to support 21st century education.

This means looking at all areas of education and at the way children are learning – and who they’re learning from - from the moment they are born. Today the responsibility does not just fall on teachers and education professionals – we as a community need to be more accountable for the future success of our young people.

Four years ago when I campaigned on improving educational standards in Rotorua, involving the wider community in decision-making processes regarding specific local education issues was a key part of that.

Moving forward we need to focus on opening up the communication lines between schools, parents and the wider community, including sharing knowledge about what works and what doesn’t. Together, we all need to be focused on lifting student achievement. By making more effective use of data, using the Government’s accountability system more efficiently and ensuring current resourcing models are focused on delivering better results for students, we can do that.

Building strong and informed connections between families and schools is a no brainer. In this way we can all play our part in ensuring our children get the quality education they deserve.