In Focus: 8 May 2015

Jo Goodhew MP

It was wonderful to see such huge numbers of people attending services on Anzac Day this year. I attended and spoke at

In the Electorate

It was wonderful to see such huge numbers of people attending services on Anzac Day this year. I attended and spoke at the Dawn Service in Ashburton and was pleased to see Baring Square full to overflowing with people of all ages. Similarly large crowds also attended the Civic Service in Timaru. It has been quite moving seeing the Fields of Remembrance white crosses in many locations around the electorate.

This week I am attending an event celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Red Cross in Ashburton. The event will also commemorate the centennial of WW1.

One of the most delightful things I get to do as Rangitata MP is acknowledge a 100th (or more!) birthday. This week I have visited a Timaru man who has turned 102 and have sent a congratulatory message to a 100 year old woman. Next week I will visit another centenarian in Timaru.

Congratulatory messages are also sent to couples celebrating 50th, 55th, 60th, 65th and 70th wedding anniversaries. Please contact one of my offices if you have a significant anniversary to celebrate in your family.

Carew Ponds Opening

Last Friday I was delighted to have the opportunity to open the Carew Ponds, an irrigation storage project that is part of Mayfield Hinds Irrigation Ltd., a co-operative of the local farming community.

I had the opportunity to take a first-hand look at the ponds during a tour on the day and was impressed by the ponds which cover 150 hectares and contain 6.1m cubic metres of water.

I congratulated MHIL on its investment in a development which will give its shareholders more surety for their businesses and have a beneficial downstream effect on the district and country. Currently New Zealand has around 720,000 hectares of land under irrigation which at the farm gate contributes around $2.7 billion to our GDP. This helps pay for things like schools, hospitals and roads.

Precautions necessary for Nepal donations

New Zealanders need to be alert for unscrupulous people who exploit the public’s generosity following the earthquake disaster in Nepal.

New Zealanders’ swift response to the appeals set up to provide assistance to victims of the Nepalese earthquakes has been incredible. It is a real tribute to New Zealand’s generosity and sympathy for those facing a terrible disaster.

However experience shows that although the vast majority of fundraising is genuine, the public should be mindful of people fundraising fraudulently.

I encourage New Zealanders to donate to well-established registered charities that have the experience and infrastructure needed to provide disaster-relief assistance.

This way you can be sure that your donation is going directly to the people in Nepal who have been affected by the earthquake, and that your contribution is making the greatest possible difference.

Simple precautions only take a few minutes:

• Check whether collectors are wearing an ID badge
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• Ask a collector for the charity’s registration number, and check that against the charity’s entry on the online Charities Register at www.charities.govt.nz
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• Ask the collector for more information - a fundraiser should be able to explain the work of the charity and how your donation will be used.
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• Fundraising materials should display the charity’s name, registration number and a landline contact number - be wary of those that list only a mobile number or email address.
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• If in any doubt, contact your preferred charity directly to make a donation.
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On a personal note, I was happy to supply a carrot cake for the “Cake Stall for Nepal” fundraising event for the Red Cross in Ashburton last Friday. The event raised $2103.

Budget announcements

The Minister of Finance, Hon Bill English, will present the Budget to the Parliament on May 21. There have been some prior announcements in recent days including the following in regard to education, research and development and workplace safety. Further information can be found atwww.national.org.nz

$244 million investment in schools

One of the most important ways we can achieve sustainable, long-term growth is through investing in the education of our young people.

Budget 2015 will provide $244 million of funding for new schools, additional classrooms and expansions to existing schools.

The funding, spread over four years, demonstrates the Government’s commitment to ensuring all kids can do their very best at school. It will be used to build seven new schools, expand four existing schools and add another 241 classrooms across the country.

This Government has made the biggest investment ever in education, including the $359 million in Budget 2014 to raise educational achievement by lifting the quality of teaching and leadership in our schools.

$80 million boost for research and development funding

Innovative Kiwi businesses investing in research and development (R&D) will benefit from a funding boost as part of Budget 2015.

The Government will invest another $80 million over four years in R&D growth grants, administered by Callaghan Innovation, to encourage more private sector research and development and grow New Zealand’s R&D ecosystem.

Growth grants are aimed at bringing New Zealand’s levels of private R&D investment and innovation closer to those of our major trading partners.

The Government investment is part of our priority to build a more competitive and productive economy.

$32m for workplace compliance

Investing $32 million of new operating expenditure in employment relations services over the next four years will help strengthen compliance with minimum employment standards.

Budget 2015 will increase the number of Labour Inspectors and strengthen education and information services to help manage and address breaches of employment law.

This funding complements and provides the extra resources needed to support the package of measures recently announced to clarify and strengthen enforcement of minimum employment standards, including tougher sanctions.

Quarterly benefit numbers lowest since 2009

This March quarter recorded the lowest number of beneficiaries since 2009 – showing our welfare reforms are working.

Sole parents are leading the way with 7.2 per cent fewer one-parent families collecting the benefit since this time last year. Breaking the cycle early is important for sole parents as they have the highest lifetime costs of any group on welfare and are likely to stay on benefit the longest.

National has helped sole parents raising children into work by investing millions in intensive support, training opportunities, and childcare services.

National believes the best way out of hardship is through work, which is why we are helping families out of long-term welfare dependence.

Upcoming Events

May 8 – speak at Red Cross Centennial & WW1 commemoration event, Ashburton
May 8 – 10 – National Party Mainland Conference, Ashburton
May 9 – attend opening EA Networks Centre, Ashburton
May 11 & 12 – Ministerial duties, Wellington
May 13 – host Seniors’ Forum, Temuka
May 15 – constituency work, Timaru & Ashburton
May 15 – attend Mid Canterbury Sports Awards

ends

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