THE SCOTT SPECTATOR NEWS FROM
ALASTAIR SCOTT MP FOR WAIRARAPA
It is a privilege to serve Wairarapa in the John Key-led National Government.
WELCOME TO THE FIRST EDITION OF THE SCOTT SPECTATOR The Spectator brings you news of happenings throughout the Wairarapa electorate, and of what our National Government is doing to build a brighter future for New Zealand. I am very proud to represent the Wairarapa electorate in Parliament. My other responsibilities are as Deputy Chairman of the Transport and
Industrial Relations Committee, and as a member of the Finance and Expenditure Committee. As a first-term MP, there is plenty of learning for me to do and I am relishing the challenges this presents. I also love being able to get back into the electorate and catch up with as many of you as I can when
the House is not sitting and we are able to leave the Beehive. Midway through our third term in Government, and thanks to our careful economic management, National is delivering results in areas that matter most to New Zealand families. We have a busy work programme ahead of us and National will
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
ANZAC DAY IN WAIRARAPA
continue working hard to build the brighter future we all want for ourselves and our country. I look forward to continuing to work for you, and for Wairarapa.
MP FOR WAIRARAPA
SPRING 2016
75 YEARS OF WOMEN IN POLICE
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EXCITING TIMES AT PUKAHA
PM VISIT TO WAIRARAPA
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IS A HOT TOPIC House prices have been rising as demand has outstripped supply, especially in Auckland, over many years. The solution, initiated by the Government, is to increase the supply of land available for housing and to allow more intensive housing on existing sites. In the meantime, firm Auckland house prices offer benefits for Wairarapa and Central Hawkes Bay as some Auckland property owners do the maths and appreciate what they can get here when they sell their property and head south. The price differential between Auckland and the provinces motivates people to move. The larger the gap, the more motivated they are to move. We are now seeing new people in our districts who have chosen to live outside the main centres. Talented people, with unique skill sets and experiences, willing to contribute to the new place they call home, and we welcome them. New investment comes with these new people. Houses that have been on the market for some time are selling more quickly to those new owners. Some will bring children and grandchildren with them. Commuter trains become busier and school roles rise. New businesses start up, either based from home connected
New investment comes with these new people. Houses that have been on the market for some time are selling more quickly to those new owners.” to the world via the internet, or in the main street in one of the offices above a retail shop. Next there are new subdivisions and new buildings being erected. Not boom and bust activity, but steady. Turning to emergency housing, I would like to congratulate Women’s Refuge, which secured dedicated funding from the Government to provide emergency housing for people with severe accommodation needs in our region. Women’s Refuge will receive on-going funding in order to provide eight emergency housing places for people and their families in the region. Giving emergency housing providers financial security for on-going funding allows them to focus on the job of supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our community.
ALFREDTON SCHOOL I was delighted to celebrate with staff and students at Alfredton School following the announcement in the 2016 Budget that the school will get a new classroom. This new classroom is part of the Government’s next step to ensure sufficient capacity, and safe and innovative learning environments for students. Like other parts of the country, Wairarapa is experiencing population growth and this investment will ensure our schools can meet the needs of current and future students.
Alfredton School Principal Anita Phillips said the new classroom will be welcomed by the school. “The roll at Alfredton School has gone from 32 to 62 in the past five years, and 40 of those students are juniors – year 0 to year 4,” Ms Phillips said. “This comes on the back of a strong local community and forecasts say the numbers will remain steady in the next few years, with the same number of students coming in to the school as leaving. With the excited Alfredton School pupils, celebrating news of their new classroom.
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WAIRARAPA TO LEAD BOWEL CANCER SCREENING PROGRAMME There was some great news for Wairarapa in the 2016 Budget. Wairarapa residents will be first off the block to be screened in the national bowel cancer screening programme. This programme will save lives. About 3000 New Zealanders are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year. The Government is committed to better access to early detection and treatment.
Wairarapa residents will be first off the block to be screened in the national bowel cancer screening programme. This programme will save lives.”
We know that if the cancer is detected early there is a high probability the patient can be treated successfully. The colon testing technologies have continued to improve over the years. There are new tests that are less intrusive and easily executed that enables early detection to take place. Having the screening here in Wairarapa is a huge win for our
PHARMAC FUNDING The extra $39 million allocated to Pharmac in this year’s Budget is another example of the National Government’s investment in health. Pharmac will now be able to provide more New Zealanders with access to new medicines. These medicines include Opdivo, a drug used to treat advanced melanoma, an important new drug that many Wairarapa people have discussed with me and lobbied for over the past 12 months. Pharmac is also proposing to fund two new treatments which will benefit up to 25,000 patients with hepatitis C. Both drugs are a major advancement in the treatment of hepatitis C, with cure rates of more than 90 per cent. To pay for these new medicines and technologies, we need to have a strong economy. With an economy forecast to grow at around 3 per cent over the next few years, we will see more jobs and higher incomes.
A growing, well managed economy produces more tax and so enables the Government to fund initiatives like the new medicines and cancer detection programmes. There is good evidence here in Wairarapa of economic growth. You only have to look at how many real estate “sold” signs are going up, and more building activity is obvious. Across the country, over 200,000 more people are in work now than three years ago, and another 170,000 new jobs are expected by 2020. Over that period, the unemployment rate is expected to drop to 4.6 per cent and the average wage is expected to increase by another $5000 to $63,000. New Zealand is a wonderful country to live, work and play in, and the National Government is working hard to ensure it stays that way.
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communities. The National Government’s commitment of an additional $2.2 billion to the health sector over the next four years will ensure New Zealanders continue to have access to high-quality healthcare.
OUT AND ABOUT ANZAC DAY 2016: I attended Anzac Day services across Wairarapa this year, with the highlight being out at Tinui to commemorate 100 years since first ever Anzac Day service.
Selling poppies prior to Anzac Day to support the RSA, with keen and helpful Opaki School students.
It was a day of remembrance and of celebration, and Tinui did itself proud in hosting the thousands of people who went out there on April 25. EXCITING TIMES AT PUKAHA MT BRUCE: The new walk-through, freeflight aviary at Pukaha Mt Bruce was officially opened by the Hon Maggie Barry, Minister for Conservation, on May 20. This exciting new feature of the National Wildlife Centre allows visitors to join the birds in their own environment and walk amongst them. There are up to seven difference species of birds in the free-flight aviary, with the highlight being the Whio in their own, purpose-built river. I was thrilled to be part of the opening alongside the Minister, staff and local Iwi.
Anzac Day 2016 commemorations at the Masterton Memorial Photo: Phil Brazier Photography. May saw the opening of the new free-flight bird aviary at Pukaha Mt Bruce. Pictured here with Mike Kawana (Rangitane O Wairarapa), Bob Francis (Chairman, Pukaha Mt Bruce board), the Hon Maggie Barry (Minister of Conservation) and Helen Tickner (General Manager, Pukaha Mt Bruce) – Photo: Mike Heydon/ Jet Photography.
Some of the huge crowd that gathered at Tinui to commemorate Anzac Day 2016 Photo: Wairarapa Times-Age.
Pukaha is both an iconic and uniquely special place, drawing in tourists to our province and providing our children with an incredible place to learn and grow in. THE ELECTORATE: I feel privileged to be able to attend events and meet with people across the Wairarapa electorate, which stretches from the Rimutaka hill in the south to Waipawa in the north, and everywhere in between.
Carterton Mayor John Booth speaks to the crowd at the unveiling of the Charles Rooking Carter memorial statue. Pictured on stage with me is Prime Minister John Key and Carterton Mayoress Julie Booth.
Looking up! The Hon Maggie Barry, Todd Jenkinson (Pukaha Mt Bruce Conservation Manager), Mike Kawana (Rangitane O Wairarapa) and myself. Photo: Mike Heydon/Jet Photography.
We have an excellent combination of natural resources and smart, motivated people who keep the region humming along. On the days when I am not required to be in the House in Wellington I enjoy getting back to the Wairarapa electorate and meeting as many people as I can.
With Brent Gare, Mediaworks Wairarapa, celebrating the national Bully Free day.
With the Hon Nathan Guy, Minister for Primary Industries, and Balance AgriNutrients Chief Executive Mark Wynne at Wrigley Farm in the South Wairarapa, talking fertiliser research with farmers and primary growth partnership providers.
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With the Prime Minister on his visit to Wairarapa, checking in with students at St Matthews Collegiate School.
The Hon Jo Goodhew, Minister for Food Safety, and I visited the Agri-Lab in Waipukurau. The Agri-Lab is a high tech value adding exporter - so good to see innovation in business in our electorate.
I was delighted to celebrate 75 Years of Women in Policing with our Wairarapa Police. Here I am with Wairarapa Police Area Commander, Inspector Donna Howard, and guest speaker at the celebrations, Former Wairarapa MP and Former Carterton Mayor, Georgina Beyer.
Fish n chips and red wine at the opening of Featherston’s incredibly successful Booktown event. Photo: Pete Monk Photography.
At Cobblestones Museum in Greytown with Paora Ammundsen and the Hon Maggie Barry, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage.
Hansells in Masterton is an excellent example of longevity in business through diversification and good management. Hansells manufactures and exports specialist food products nationally and continues to expand internationally. Ice cream in a bag exported to China is one example of strong export relationships, a premium product and great staff combining to create a successful business. Director Alan Stewart took me on a tour of the factory.
Only limited by imagination in the MakerCrate, and Fab Lab Masterton. I’ve had a couple of chances to get in there and have a good look around. Pictured with the drivers of the Fab Lab Masterton project, Kirsten Browne and John Hart, along with Frazer Mailman.
With some of the lads who do a fine job at the Greytown Menz Shed.
Carterton turned on a beautiful day for the Prime Minister’s visit and the opening of the Charles Rooking Carter memorial statue. We rode from the Events Centre up to the statue in style – pictured with PM John Key and the Mayor and Mayoress of Carterton, John and Julie Booth.
I recently had a tour of Jackson Enterprises in Pahiatua, who build big trailers for big trucks and sell to trucking firms across the country. I am pictured here with Paul Hirst, Operations Manager.
It was great to host some of the hardworking members of the Carterton Lions Club for lunch down at Parliament. I always enjoy having visitors from home.
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We enjoyed showing Minster for Arts, Culture and Heritage, the Hon Maggie Barry, around the wonderful Cobblestones Museum in Greytown. We are pictured here with Wairarapa Youth MP Bella Biggs.
These patient ladies taught me some sewing skills at the Health Day Promotion at the Marae in Pahiatua.
Risking your own health or the health of your loved ones isn’t a gamble anyone should have to take.”
With Andrew Bayly MP, presenting his private members bill on Methamphetamine Testing in residential homes to the Table Office of Parliament.
THE METH SCOURGE P. Meth. Pure. Crystal Meth. Crank. Rock. Ice. Call it what you will, methamphetamine is a problem for too many of our families and communities. P is highly addictive and personality-disrupting to the individual. The misuse of the drug and its precursors wrecks families and disrupts communities.
affects the young and elderly. If you are buying a house, not only should you have a builder inspect the structural soundness of the property, but you should also have the house tested for methamphetamine, as part of the due diligence process.
a new New Zealand standard that will cover the testing and decontamination of methcontaminated properties, including properties where meth has been manufactured (meth labs) or used (smoked).
Risking your own health or the health of your loved ones isn’t a gamble anyone should have to take.
The standards will cover testing methods, a maximum contamination threshold, and the level of work required once that threshold had been reached, but testing won’t be mandatory.
So I was pleased that Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith has announced that work is underway to develop
Meanwhile, my colleague Andrew Bayly, the MP for Hunua, is sponsoring a Member’s Bill to give landlords the right to enter
It also affects the buildings and homes where the drug is used. P smoked in a room can cause that room to be a health risk because the contaminant lingers in porous materials including the walls, ceilings, carpets and curtains after the smoker has moved on. Exposure to a methamphetaminecontaminated room can cause breathing problems, respiratory irritation, skin and eye irritation, headaches, nausea and dizziness. It particularly Funded by the Parliamentary Service and authorised by Alastair Scott MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington.
the properties that they own with notice to test for P, and to evacuate tenants if a house is found uninhabitable. The proposed legislation from Mr Bayly will also prevent landlords from knowingly renting P-contaminated properties, and require them to inform tenants as soon as contamination is revealed. This is good news for us all – the Bill will offer protection to both landlords and tenants against this growing problem.
PM VISIT
Wairarapa turned on a spectacular summer day for the Prime Minister’s visit in February. Hon John Key was in Carterton to officially unveil the Charles Rooking Carter Memorial statue at the upgraded Millennium Park. The Carterton community came out in force to celebrate the day and recognise the hard work put in to make the statue a reality. The PM also took some time to visit St Matthew’s Collegiate School, where our Wairarapa Youth MP Bella Biggs attends. The girls enjoyed showing us around their beautiful school and
the PM enjoyed an enthusiastic drumming demonstration from one of the music students. We also had a look in at the new PowerShop building in Kuripuni. What a buzzing, healthy and productive environment, currently employing 70 people with capacity to increase by another 60 odd. This shows us that call centres don’t need to be based in big cities. PowerShop is a success story for our region and continues to provide jobs and contribute to economic growth in Wairarapa.
Prime Minister John Key cuts the ribbon to unveil to Charles Rooking Carter memorial statue.
WAIRARAPA ROADS FOR IMPROVEMENT Three stretches of Wairarapa roads are earmarked for improvement as part of $600 million nationwide road safety programme announced by Transport Minister Simon Bridges in June. The Rimutaka Hill Road, State Highway 2 at Mt Bruce and State Highway 2 between Masterton and Carterton have been identified as part of the 90 high risk sites on rural highways in 14 different regions. I welcomed this announcement to tackle some of our electorate’s most dangerous roads. This is fantastic news for Wairarapa. Investment into upgrading the safety of these three stretches of road will
significantly reduce deaths and serious injuries. We know that eight out of 10 fatal and serious injury crashes on state highways occur on rural roads. The funds will address the safety concerns highlighted in surveys conducted with Wairarapa people, which have shown that the Rimutaka Hill Road is a safety concern. The safety upgrades will include a combination of side barriers, rumble strips, wide centre line treatments and median barriers. In some areas corners will be softened to improve visibility, and road marking and signage highlighting the road environment will be upgraded.
At the opening of the new Waingawa Log Hub with the Hon Simon Bridges, Transport Minister. This Log Hub takes 16,000 truck trips off the already busy Rimutaka Hill Road and provides a direct link for our logs in to Wellington’s CentrePort.
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Making the most of having the Transport Minister in town, we had a demonstration from the MyTrucking team – pictured, with Sara and Sam Orsborn – on their simple but effective and fast-growing transport management programme for truckies.
PROVINCIAL PRIORITIES
In June we brought a slice of Parliament into Wairarapa with our Provincial Priorities roadshow. I was joined by my fellow MPs Ian McKelvie (Rangitikei), Stuart Smith (Kaikoura) and Todd Barclay (Clutha-Southland). We held public meetings in Masterton, Pahiatua and Dannevirke. Issues discussed included Health and Safety, earthquake risks in the CBD, jobs, mobility and transport, rural access to the internet, Police resourcing, rising house prices as people move in to the area and dairy payouts.
Leaving Parliament at the beginning of the day.
It was great to be able to listen
It was great to be able to listen to what the issues are and take those issues back to Parliament with us for further discussion.”
Answering questions in Masterton.
to what the issues are and take those issues back to Parliament with us for further discussion. I thank those that took the time to come along and meet with us. We are your representatives and it is important that we know what your issues are. Underway in Masterton.
End of the day in Dannevirke.
From left, Ian McKelvie, MP for Rangitikei, Todd Barclay, MP for Clutha-Southland, Stuart Smith, MP for Kaikoura, and myself, taking questions at the Masterton Provincial Priorities meeting. Photo: Wairarapa Times-Age
ALASTAIR SCOTT MP FOR WAIRARAPA Parliament: Parliament House, Wellington, Private Bag 18888, Wellington 5160
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