HELEN WHITE, LABOUR LIST MP

LOCAL NEWS HELEN WHITE: Labour List MP based in Auckland Central

Living and working in our biggest city is not always financially easy. But one thing that has made life in Auckland a little less challenging in recent weeks is the Government's three month, half price fare initiative.

Auckland Transport says the one million trips per week mark was reached in the first full week of April. The busiest day of the year was Thursday 7 April, with 175,774 trips - up nearly 20 percent on a fortnight earlier.

Public transport is critically important to people on low incomes and to the future of our environment. And this Government will continue its subsidies. The impact and far reaching support the current half-priced subsidies for public transport have allowed cannot be underestimated. Both the focused tax cuts on the cost of petrol alongside half price fares targets the people who need the price drop the most.

Large cities around the globe with world class public transport systems with high usage often report happier citizens. Environmentalists and urban planners have it that public transport helps cities reduce traffic congestion and the overall level of pollution. This means that if we use public transport, we'll be reducing congestion as well as pollution within and around our city.

The war in Ukraine has caused prices at the pump to spike, on top of global inflation increases caused by the pandemic. While the current cost pressures aren’t forecast to last forever, we know these shocks are causing real pain for families right now. As part of a package to ease financial pressure and as already mentioned, the cost of public transport fares have been halved from April through to the end of June.

The Government is also future-proofing Auckland's public transport system by choosing a partially-tunnelled light rail option from Auckland’s CBD to the airport and moving forward with an additional Waitematā Harbour crossing.

This is part of a linked-up vision for Auckland’s future. Light rail will integrate with other major infrastructure projects across Auckland, like the additional Waitematā Harbour crossing, rapid transit to the North-West, the Auckland Rapid Transit Plan and Kāinga Ora Large Scale Projects. Light rail will support Auckland’s economic recovery by creating thousands of jobs and helping communities get to and from our biggest employment centre easily. Importantly it’ll help Auckland to grow by reducing congestion and emissions, as well as supporting housing and intensification, with up to 66,000 new homes along the corridor; as well as creating up to 97,000 new jobs.

An affordable and efficient public transport is also a big draw card for international visitors, who I am delighted to see are returning. Welcoming back international tourists is the next step in our recovery plan - and the latest figures show this plan is working.

Our strong health response means New Zealand’s economy is recovering faster than almost anywhere in the world. Unemployment is at a record low, exports are up, GDP is growing, and debt levels are much lower than many other countries. This puts us in a solid position as we continue to drive our recovery.

We’re also making sure we have the skilled workers our industries need to continue this momentum by expanding border exemptions for workers in key sectors like agriculture and tourism.

I’m really looking forward to welcoming international tourists back to Auckland Central, so as we can showcase the hospitality our city is famous for. This is just the next step in our plan, but I know it will make a huge difference for our local businesses and our economy, as together, we continue to secure a strong recovery for everyone. (HELEN WHITE)  PN

This article was written with funding from Parliamentary Services.

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KERRY LEE: ST STEPHEN'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FIRE

On 5 December 2020, Fire and Emergency services were called out to a massive blaze at the St Stephen's Presbyterian Church in Herne Bay.

While it's been confirmed as a case of deliberate arson, the investigation is still ongoing. Despite CCTV footage of someone in the area at the time of the fire, police have no suspects.

Church leader Reverend Grant Ridout described a male in their 40s who seemed to be in an area where they had no business. He felt the attack was quite brazen, as it happened while a children's birthday party was going on nearby, in the middle of a Saturday afternoon.

Forensics showed that the fire had started in an air vent underneath the floor, underneath a hollow corner that acted like a chimney. This helped funnel the fire up into the roof, where it really took off.

While thankfully no one was hurt, 'Steve the Organ,' the church's 112-year-old pipe organ, was damaged in the fire. It had recently undergone a restoration and had been given heritage one status. Unfortunately, Steve suffered water and heat damage which warped some of its pipes.

"Some of the organ's pipes are quite delicate, and even slight fluctuations in the weather or temperature can change how they respond, so a fire can really affect them." Estimates put repairing Steve at $250,000, but the Reverend hoped that eventually, St Stephen's would be able to restore him to his original working state.

Despite the tragedy, perhaps the best part of what's come out of this mess has been how the wider Herne Bay and Ponsonby area have come together in support of St Stephen's. Rev. Ridout explained that despite what's happened, it's made them closer.

"Not that fires a good thing, but good things have come of it. There's a greater sense of unity and purpose; our congregation have been brilliant. We've had so much support from the wider community that we've raised almost $150,000 without even trying, thanks to them."

As for when St Stephen's will be back up and running, I was told that while there was still a lot of work and fundraising to do before that could happen, they hoped that they could reopen by Christmas of 2023. (KERRY LEE)  PN

Donations are greatly appreciated, and anyone interested can find their restoration account number on St Stephen's website, at www.ststephensponsonby.org.nz

CRANE BROTHERS COMES TO PONSONBY ROAD

Last month’s opening of Crane Brothers, the new menswear store in Three Lamps.

With their winter range on the racks we know this new store will be very popular with locals. Pictured: Robert Niwa (the store manager) and Murray Crane (the head honcho). Welcome back to Ponsonby.