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People may not need your product or service today, but they may need it tomorrow
4 — Howick and Pakuranga Times, Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Bayly sad about change of electoral lines
Hunua MP Andrew Bayly has confirmed he will seek selection as National’s candidate for the newly redrawn Port Waikato electorate once boundary changes have been confirmed in April.
The current Hunua electorate will lose a large part of its eastern area and pick up a substantial chunk of what is now the Waikato electorate under the boundary alterations planned ahead of this year’s general election.
Its name will be changed to Port Waikato.
Bayly’s seat is one of the most severely impacted by the proposed Representation Commission changes. The population in every electorate has grown since the boundaries were last adjusted in 2014. Some have increased more than others and the proposed changes aim to balance the populations in each electorate.
Hunua will lose voters in Ormiston, Flat Bush, Beachlands, Maraetai, Whitford, Kawakawa Bay, Orere Point, Clevedon, Ararimu, Hunua, Ramarama and Bombay to the newly created electorate of Flat Bush, and to the Papakura seat.
The new Port Waikato will retain Pukekohe, Waiuku, Clarks Beach, Glenbrook and Awhitu and pick up Tuakau, Onewhero, Port Waikato, Pokeno, Maramarua, Mercer, Meremere and Te Kauwhata.
Bayly, the National MP who has held Hunua since 2014, says the saddest part of the boundary changes will be losing the relationships he’s worked hard to build up over the past five years. Bayly says he will have to develop new relationships with groups in the new electorate. Photos supplied
“In my current electorate I have developed relationships with 41 schools, 60 early childhood education centres, 14 Fire Brigades and 14 residents and ratepayers groups.
“I’m going to lose half of those, if not more and I will have to develop new relationships with those groups in the new electorate. In the meantime, being a local electorate MP, it’s really important to me that I represent an area well and until the boundaries change, I will be working hard to support all the constituents in the Hunua seat.”
Bayly says he will continue to hold constituency clinics in the eastern parts of the electorate for people who find it difficult to travel to his office in Pukekohe.
To find out when the next mobile clinic is, phone 238 5976. The boundaries will be finalised in April. ■ Go to https://vote.nz/boundaryreview-2019-2020/ for details and maps
We are incredibly lucky to live in a country like New Zealand during international health crises, like the recent coronavirus outbreak in China, where our geographic location can isolate us from harm.
So far, the virus has not made itself to New Zealand and, as I understand it, there are no suspected cases either. There are people in quarantine such as those evacuated from the epicenter in Wuhan and many selfimposed, but the virus seems yet to reach our shores. Like many of you, I am concerned about the possibility of the coronavirus reaching New Zealand. As a country, we should be preparing for the worst while hoping for the best. This does not seem to be an attitude shared by this government.
Instead of doing everything in its power to protect New Zealand from the coronavirus, the government has so far been multiple steps behind with its response.
I have had many constituents approach me having recently returned from overseas who were concerned at the complete lack of screening done at our international ports as well as the lack of information made available.
Besides being handed a pamphlet, no-one appears to be asking questions of those coming into our country, about where they may have travelled and whether they could have been in contact with the virus. MP for Pakuranga Simeon Brown
It seems to me that this would be both a simple and effective way to help prevent the spread of the virus in New Zealand. By checking people at our borders, we can ensure the right measures are being taken to protect all Kiwis. Last Friday, I met with the general manager of the Counties Manukau District Health Board to share my concerns about our response to coronavirus.
I was reassured to learn that while the government response is lacking, it appears our DHB is well-equipped to deal with any cases that may show up in the coming months.
In CMDHB’s zone alone, I was informed we had scores of isolation rooms available at Middlemore Hospital with many of them ‘negative pressure’, in case the virus is indeed airborne as recent reports appear to suggest. I was also told we have a multi-month stockpile of relevant safety equipment like face masks and personal protective equipment to serve health care professionals well if the virus does indeed make it here.
While there is no need to panic, the government certainly needs to take this threat far more seriously than it has so far, and National will continue to put pressure on the government to do just that. Simeon Brown MP for Pakuranga
Councillor injured again after fall on pathway
By FARIDA MASTER
For someone who has advocated for safer footpaths for years, it’s unfortunate that Councillor Sharon Stewart tripped on the Pakuranga Rotary Walkway and injured her nose.
It was just minutes after people had spotted her at the Rotary Community River Carnival on Sunday afternoon. She said in a Facebook post: “After visiting the Rotary River Carnival down at Bramley Reserve I was heading to my sister Lorraine’s apartment for a cuppa and tripped on the uneven surface. I became another victim of this issue plaguing many parts of Howick/Pakuranga and Botany areas,” she says. “There were so many people cycling and walking their dogs and with the flax hanging over the footpath, I tripped and fell. Luckily I fell in the bush and not on concrete. The Auckland Transport health and safety team were very helpful and immediately came to my rescue,” she says.
The councillor was knocked unconscious in 2015 when she was out delivering her campaign pamphlets and tripped on an uneven surface.
Cr Sharon Stewart’s longstanding war with footpaths continues.
Photo supplied
Fox in second
The recent 2020 ISPS Handa Vic Open was won by Min Woo Lee, who won his first European Tour title with a victory at 13th Beach Golf Club in Victoria, Australia.
Lee won by two shots over Dannemora’s Ryan Fox on 19-under 269, earning full European Tour status with the victory.
Marcus Fraser, Travis Smyth and Robin SciotSiegrist finished tied for third place on 14-under total.
Jake McLeod finished solo sixth, as Aussies and Kiwis dominated the day.
Lee won the €162,915.90 winner’s share and Fox collected €108,608.60.
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