Peter Dunne welcomes new Matangi Trains on Johnsonville line

Ohariu MP and UnitedFuture Leader Peter Dunne has welcomed the arrival of the Matangi trains on the Johnsonville line, making it the first all-Matangi line in the Wellington suburban network. Mr Dunne, who has been campaigning for the retention and upgrading of the Johnsonville line since 1984, says today’s launch was the culmination of a long, community campaign, and was a great day for everyone involved.

“There have been many times over the years when the future of the Johnsonville line has looked grim and uncertain, and where there were almost constant threats that the line would be closed down.

“It is only a few years ago that the then Wellington City Council wanted to close the line down, and turn it into a busway, and I remember then having to intervene with the then Minister of Finance to prevent that from happening. Today’s arrival of the Matangi trains could not be more far away from those dark days less than five years ago,” he says.

Mr Dunne says today’s launch was also an occasion to remember the old English Electric units that had been the line’s mainstay since its electrification in 1938.

“I well remember being told in 1984 as a new MP that they units were being refurbished, to give them another 8-10 years in service – well, they have bettered that almost threefold,” he says.

Mr Dunne says Wellington commuters have had to be unbelievably patient for a long time now, but that the new Matangi trains along with the recent upgrades to the line, will secure the service to commuters for another 40 years.

“This is a great for the Johnsonville line and its users, and for public transport across the Wellington network” said Mr Dunne.

UnitedFuture welcomes new President

Wellington management consultant Robin Gunston is the new President of UnitedFuture, with former MP and current Whakatane Deputy Mayor Judy Turner standing down after three years in the role.

Mr Gunston has a strong business and community service background, including 30 years’ in the international oil and gas industry in risk management, health and safety, ICT and commercial management roles.

He has been a management consultant for the past 12 years, working with various branches of government, and currently directs the Prison Fellowship national charity.

“I believe my business background, and my passion for all aspects of community life in New Zealand will help lead the grass roots of the party as we clearly establish ourselves over the next few years,” Mr Gunston said.

“UnitedFuture is the only party that espouses core liberal values and principles, and there is still a place in the centre of New Zealand politics to foster and build support around those values,” he said.

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne welcomed Mr Gunston’s appointment, while saluting the contribution of the departing President, Mrs Turner.

“Robin brings great experience, energy and acumen to the role, and I am sure he will contribute strongly to UnitedFuture’s ongoing success.

“He steps into a role which has been ably filled by Judy Turner, who has made a wonderful contribution to the party over the years, both as an MP and in more recent years as President,” Mr Dunne said.

Dunne welcomes Matangi trains March commitment

 Ohariu MP and UnitedFuture Leader Peter Dunne today welcomed the announcement by KiwiRail and Greater Wellington Regional Council that the new Matangi trains will be operating on the Johnsonville Line from March 19.

Mr Dunne, who has been a long-time campaigner for the retention and upgrading of the Johnsonville line, says having a definite start date for the Matangis is great news, and ensures the line's future for at least the next 30 to 40 years.

“Now they need to deliver. It has been chaos and shifting deadlines and empty promises thus far. They really need to deliver this time,” Mr Dunne said.

KiwiRail and the council announced morning peak hour buses would supplement train services on the Line until March 19 because of ongoing problems with the existing trains.

“Wellington commuters have had to be unbelievably patient for a long time now, and it is fair to say it has been an inauspicious start to 2012 for KiwiRail.

“There is no room for more failures,” Mr Dunne said.

Dunne releases media suicide reporting guidelines

New guidelines for journalists reporting on suicides have been developed with the media and not imposed on them, and that should be key to their success, Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne says.

“Media buy-in for such guidelines is crucial. This is the first time that media organisations have agreed to use a single, consistent set of guidelines.

“The fact that these have not been imposed from outside augurs well for their success,” Mr Dunne said in launching the resource today.

“We have deliberately steered away from a prescriptive, imposed-from-outside approach to get something that the media will work with,” he said, adding that he would like to see media outlets publishing the guidelines on their own websites.

“Media have agreed to these guidelines and they owe it to their readers, listeners and viewers to now transparently demonstrate their commitment.”

The guidelines have come out of roundtable meetings during this year chaired by Mr Dunne and involving the Chief Coroner Judge Neil MacLean, senior media representatives, mental health professionals, organisations working in suicide prevention, and government agencies. 

“The end result is a resource that all media can use to ensure a level of consistency and informed professionalism in how they approach reporting the very sensitive and complex issue of suicide.

“The guidelines are straightforward, accessible and designed to be useful to journalists working under tight deadline pressures,” Mr Dunne said.

He said he was pleased with the open and constructive debate from all quarters throughout the process.

‘There is a myth that we should not talk about suicide; that it is too sensitive, painful, difficult or dangerous to do so.

“However, people need to know that it is okay to talk about it.  It is how we talk about it that is important and this document helps advance that cause,” Mr Dunne said.

“The media play a critical role in making sure that any public conversation on suicide is informed and useful, and that it does not create further risk or harm,” he said.

The full guidelines can be found at: www.health.govt.nz/publication/reporting-suicide-resource-media

Dunne bans another synthetic cannabis substance

An additional synthetic cannabis substance is in the process of being banned and expected to be off the shelves late next week, Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne announced today.

This brings to 20 the total number of substances now banned under Temporary Class Drug Notices, Mr Dunne said, in noting that it comes days after the head of the National Poisons Centre, Dr Leo Schep, said the centre was no longer receiving calls about synthetic cannabis.

“It’s yet more evidence that we actually have killed Kronic and its likes, and adding this latest substance to the banned list is just another nail in the coffin of synthetic cannabis substances,” Mr Dunne said.

The provisions in the Misuse of Drugs Act to issue such notices became law in August, and to date the notices issued have resulted in up to 50 products containing synthetic cannabis substances being banned from sale.

The notices are issued on substances rather than commercial products, meaning that the products that contain those substances effectively become banned.

The latest substance has been identified as the chemical AM-2233.

“I have been informed by the Ministry of Health that this chemical is understood to be present in a product called Tai High.”

Mr Dunne says today’s announcement means any product, containing this chemical, will be removed from shelves and no longer able to be sold over the internet in New Zealand.

The Temporary Class Drug Notice will come into force on 29 December, seven days after the notice is published in the New Zealand Gazette.  

The notices follow a law change which was introduced in August.  The provisions are a holding measure until permanent legislation can be developed next year to reverse the onus of proof so all such products must meet appropriate levels of safety before they can be approved and sold