In Focus: 6 May 2016

Hon Jo Goodhew
MP for Rangitata

Busy recess fortnight
It has been a busy fortnight or so in the Rangitata Electorate. With Parliament in recess it was a great opportunity to be out and about.
A little over two weeks ago I was delighted to have the opportunity to open the new Community House Mid Canterbury (CHMC). It was great to see the project come to a conclusion after many months of hard work by the trustees, the community, the project’s funders and contractors.
The following week I attended the opening of the new Ashburton Community Corrections Centre at which Minister of Corrections, Hon Judith Collins, officiated. A fortnight before I had opened the new Corrections facility in Timaru.
I spent Anzac Day attending the dawn service in Timaru and then spoke at the civic service in Ashburton later in the morning. It is heartening to see the thousands of people turning out for the services as commemorations for the centenary of WW1 continue this year.
Over the fortnight I have also attended and spoken at the Barrhill Chertsey Irrigation scheme open day, the opening of St Vincent de Paul’s new shop in Ashburton, hosted my colleague MP Chris Bishop in Timaru, helped with the Serve NZ project at Caroline Bay, attended a citizenship ceremony hosted by the Ashburton District Council, hosted a senior’s forum in Timaru, and met with constituents in Timaru, Ashburton, and Methven.
Parliament resumed sitting this week.

Rural Support Trust events coming up
Rural Support Mid Canterbury is offering farmers and farming families a chance for a day away from the farm to enjoy some food, fun, and fellowship.
The event, Rural Rucus, will be held at the Tinwald Hall Ashburton on Thursday 12 May from midday until 2pm. It will feature a free barbecue and entertainment provided by well-known journalist, television presenter, and character Jim Hopkins.
Then on 18 May the Rural Support trust South Canterbury is hosting Farm Break. This is an evening event at the Caroline Bay Hall running from 6pm until 10pm. It will feature entertainment from comedian and entertainer Te Radar. The Rural Support Trust are running buses from Geraldine, Fairlie, and Waimate for this event.
Opportunities like Rural Rucus and Rural Break give farming families a chance for some relaxation and a chance to mix and mingle with each other. Several other districts have also been holding off-farm events for farming families, offering some light relief from a difficult farming season.

New Community Leadership Fund announced
I was pleased to announce this week, as Community and Voluntary Sector Minister, a new Community Leadership Fund – Hapori Whakatipu. It will benefit communities across New Zealand by strengthening the level of support available to organisations providing leadership and capability building.
Hapori Whakatipu, which means “growing community capability” will provide $500,000 annually, on a contestable basis. This will be for organisations with a national focus whose primary role is to provide leadership and capability building across the community and social enterprise sectors.
It will bring sector leadership to the fore and give an opportunity for support to not only national community organisations, but also for social enterprise, a new but rapidly expanding sector in New Zealand.
There are thousands of people working successfully throughout New Zealand to make their communities a better place in which to live and work. The Community Leadership Fund will target those whose work improves the sustainability and resilience of the sector as a whole, ensuring New Zealand has a strong and vibrant community sector for the future.
The priorities of the Fund are:

supporting collaboration and connection across the sector

social enterprise

volunteering

community led-development.

Applications to the new Community Leadership Fund will open in late May 2016. More information and resources, including the fund criteria, will be available closer to the opening date at www.communitymatters.govt.nz.

2016 School Trustee Elections
Nominations for school Boards of Trustees have opened this week. I well remember “cutting my governance teeth” in roles on secondary and primary boards of trustees.
School boards have an important role in our schools, our communities, and New Zealand’s education and future. Boards need a good balance of people who reflect the community the school is situated in. Nominees do not have to be parents of students but must be interested in influencing and supporting educational opportunities for students.
Boards have overall responsibility for the governance of a school, setting educational goals and setting the strategic direction of a school and monitoring the results. Boards also oversee the management of staff, property, finances, curriculum, and administration.
Nominations will close on 20 May with voting concluding on 3 June. If you are interested in standing, contact your local school.

Immunisation week – raising awareness
This week is Immunisation Week, an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of immunisation. This year’s immunisation week theme is – ‘protecting baby begins at pregnancy.’
Expectant mums are encouraged to enrol with a Lead Maternity Carer, be immunised during pregnancy, and immunise their baby.
Getting immunised against whooping cough and influenza when you’re pregnant are two of the most important ways you can help protect your baby for their first few weeks of life.
Babies are vulnerable to whooping cough until they have completed their six week, three month, and five month immunisations.
Pregnant women are more likely to suffer from complications from influenza that can put their health, and their baby’s health, at risk.
Whooping cough immunisation has been funded for pregnant women since 2013. A recent study in the UK found that the effectiveness of maternal immunisation in preventing whooping cough was around 90 per cent for babies under two months.
New Zealand’s infant immunisation rate for eight month olds has increased significantly in recent years to almost 94 per cent. Support from midwives, nurses, and doctors has been an important factor in this increase.
The Ministry of Health has worked with the Immunisation Advisory Centre, the College of Midwives, and the Health Promotion Agency to develop a new resource to support midwives, nurses and doctors in informing parents about infant immunisation.

Upcoming events

6 May – Timaru constituency work

10 – 12 May – Parliament sitting

13 – 15 May – attend NZ National Party Mainland Conference

16 May – Ashburton constituency work & host senior’s forum

17 May – host senior’s forum, Timaru, & speak to Timaru business group

18 – 20 May – Ministerial work, Palmerston North & Auckland

ends

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