Onslow College Waipahihi Project

This is with a group of Onslow College students celebrating a grant of $6500 from the NZ Glass Environmental Fund for their Waipahihi project. The Waipahihi project is aiming to restore a stand of land on the College grounds to fully native status so that it can become a corridor for native birds in the area, and link up with other corridors right through to the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary. I was delighted to make the cheque presentation because this is a practical initiative the students at Onslow College have taken to make their local world a better place. I also acknowledge the support of the NZ Glass Environmental Fund which has been supporting like this in New Zealand schools since 1986.

October 2010

• Addressed Mana-Tawa Greypower’s monthly meeting
• Attended St John’s Church’s and St Benedict’s School’s annual galas.
• Attended the launch of Johnsonville Rotary’s “Healthy Heroes” programme at Churton Park and Paparangi Schools
• Attended the handover of a new mobility vehicle for Newlands Community Centre.
• Participated in meetings of the Northern Wellington Festival Committee, and the proposed North Wellington Community day.
• Received a local petition at Parliament regarding National Standards in Schools.
• Hosted constituent clinics in Johnsonville, Tawa and Maungaraki and made home visits to constituents in Kaiwharawhara.

September 2010

• Attended the combined Tawa Schools’ Music Festival at the Michael Fowler Centre, and the Wearable Arts show at Maungaraki School
• Met local Chinese community representatives
• Attended Tawa’s “Spring Into Festival and the Malvina Major Village’s Annual Gala.
• Attended the end of term presentations at Newlands Intermediate School
• Attended the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards Dinner
• Chaired meetings of the Northern Wellington Festival Committee regarding this year’s Festival to be held in early December , and the North Wellington Voluntary Service Awards evening, where a further 8 local volunteers were acknowledged for their community service, bringing the total number of Awards presented since 2001 to just over 100
• Met with the board of Alex Moore Sport and Community regarding the redevelopment of Alex Moore Park
• Hosted constituent clinics in Johnsonville and Maungaraki and made home visits to constituents in Maungaraki.

 

I have met with the National Executive of Greypower and addressed the New Zealand Chambers of Commerce annual conference in Palmerston North, the Parents Centre annual conference in Wellington, the Hospitality Association’s annual conference in Auckland, and the Sika Game Show in Taupo. I also hosted the Student Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting at Parliament, and represented the Government at a special ceremony to mark the centenary of Government House. I also attended the special dinner in Auckland to raise funds for Canterbury Earthquake relief, and visited Inland Revenue’s Christchurch office in the aftermath of the earthquake to meet local staff.

August 2010

 

• Attended Onslow College’s production of “Les Miserables”.
• Attended a wonderful Bollywood Evening  to support St Andrew’s Parish in Newlands.
• Attended Johnsonville Play Centre’s Annual Gala.
• Attended the latest ethic community Pot Luck Dinner in Johnsonville.
• Awarded a “Community Champions” Award to Roger Ellis of Churton Park, for his work over the years with the Churton Park Community Association, and more recently as chair of the establishment of the new Amesbury School in Churton Park.
• Participated in meetings of the Northern Wellington Festival Committee, and the North Wellington Voluntary Service Awards Committee.
• Presenting the annual awards in my 24^th year as patron of the North Wellington Football Club.
• Hosted constituent clinics in Newlands, Johnsonville, Tawa and Maungaraki and making home visits to constituents in Tawa.

 

During this month, I have announced a new of important policy initiatives as Minister of Revenue, including:

• The introduction to Parliament of UnitedFuture’s income sharing legislation.
• New plans to collect outstanding student loans from overseas based borrowers.
• A major review of the Child Support system, the first in nearly 20 years.

 

I have also addressed the Government Superannuitants Association annual conference in Wellington, the 2010 Healthcare Summit and the Globalisation and Public Policy Conference both in Auckland. In Parliament, I introduced a Bill regarding reform of the students loans scheme, and another one to ban over the counter sales of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, as part of the ongoing campaign against methamphetamine.



July 2010

• Participated in the Youth Parliament on 6-7 July, in which the Ohariu electorate was very ably represented by Kieren Gera, Head Girl at Tawa College.
• Attended meetings to plan the 2010 Northern Wellington Festival, which will be held in December.
• Celebrated with the Johnsonville Rugby Club on the occasion of its becoming the first Sports Club in New Zealand to install solar water heating.
• Holding constituent clinics in Maungaraki, Tawa and Johnsonville and calling on constituents in Tawa.
• Attended Khandallah Arts and Theatre’s latest production Honour, and Tawa College’s production of The Tempest.
• Attended the AGM of the Glenside Residents’ Association, and the Tawa Rotary Club’s annual book fair.
• Celebrated with Longview Home in Tawa the award of an Arts Access Community Partnership Award.
• Chaired a meeting of the North Wellington Voluntary Service Awards Association to choose the recipients of the 2010 Awards.