Youth Smoking Snapshot Survey Shows a Positive Result for Rangitata
In New Zealand, the average smoker starts at the age of 14.6. As a result, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) New Zealand has been conducting an annual survey on Year 10 smoking rates since 1999. This year's results show that in line with the national trend, Rangitata's smoking rates are continuing to decline.
In 1999, just under 20% of 14- and 15-year-olds in Rangitata were daily smokers, compared to the national figure of 15.6%. However, in 2009, the figure had dropped to less than 5%, while the figure for the rest of the country was reported at 5.9%.
Over recent years I have met with the South Canterbury Smokefree Ambassadors. It is quite likely that they can take some of the credit for this result, as they work actively to discourage young people from starting smoking.
While there is still work to be done, it is encouraging to see that smoking among both New Zealand and Rangitata youth are continuing to decline.
Alcohol Reform
This month, the National government demonstrated its commitment to addressing the issues of alcohol-related harm with the announcement of a comprehensive alcohol law reform package. The package aims to achieve three things:
• Less alcohol-related harm (including deaths and family violence)
• A reduction in New Zealand's binge drinking culture, especially amongst youth
• A reduction in the number of alcohol outlets and their trading hours
Alcohol is estimated to contribute to around 1,000 deaths a year in New Zealand. It is implicated in 30 per cent of all police recorded offences and in 50 per cent of all homicides. National is responding to the public's call for action and as a result, our law reform package adopts in full, or in part, 126 of the 153 recommendations made by the Law Commission.
Among the key features of the package are:
• Introducing a graduated approach to purchasing alcohol - 18 years for on-licences and 20 for off-licences
• Increasing penalties for licence breaches
• Requiring more parental and individual responsibility for supply to minors
• Setting maximum hours of 7am to 11pm for off-licences and 8am to 4pm for on-licences and club licences
• Improving public education and treatment services for people with dependency issues
The package is a careful balance of managing the harm caused by alcohol and of trusting responsible New Zealanders to make their own decisions about their alcohol consumption. We acknowledge that legislation alone will not turn around binge drinking culture but these reforms can and will support a culture change.
We hope to pass this legislation into law before the end of this parliamentary term. We will listen carefully to the public through the select committee process - information on the bill and on making a submission can be found at www.parliament.nz. If you would like further information on the alcohol reform package, please contact my electorate offices.
Foreshore and Seabed Legislation
Recently, an organisation called the Coastal Coalition launched a billboard campaign accusing the Government of giving control of the seabed and foreshore to Maori iwi. However, these claims are not true. Our bottom line has always been to guarantee free and public access to all New Zealanders.
The replacement law will allow for Maori to have access to justice through the Courts to seek customary title. The 2004 Act took this away. Where customary title is recognised, public access and public rights are still guaranteed.
Where customary title can be proved, it will sit alongside the "public space" rights of public access, fishing, navigation, and existing use rights. Customary title does not exclude these guaranteed public rights - it includes them.
The Government's proposal will introduce a non-ownership regime to the foreshore and seabed. This will allow the interests and rights of all New Zealanders in that public space to be recognised and protected. This will also ensure it can never be sold.
TrustPower District Community Awards
I recently had the pleasure of attending the TrustPower Timaru District Community Awards and I would like to congratulate the Rotary Clubs of South Canterbury, who were the supreme winners. Their project involves the distribution of a free illustrated dictionary to every Year Four pupil in the region. This is a fantastic initiative and I congratulate the Rotary Clubs of South Canterbury for their sterling work.
I also had the pleasure of attending the TrustPower Ashburton District Community Awards in May and I would like to congratulate McClimont's Green Development Committee (Mt Somers), who were the supreme winners. In 2004, a section of open land in Mount Somers was purchased by this committee thanks to generous donations from local residents. The initial purchase was to prevent the region‘s growth from impacting on the open nature of the land, and views of the surrounding mountains.
The community decided to landscape the area in a way that would increase understanding and awareness of the region‘s varied and often unique plants and landforms.
The TrustPower Community Awards were initially set up with the Western Bay of Plenty District Council in 1994 when TrustPower became a listed company.
Since then, TrustPower has established Community Awards in cities and districts right around the country, as a way of giving something back to its customers and their community.
The TrustPower Community Awards are run in 24 districts around the country, in conjunction with local district or city councils. Any voluntary group or volunteer-based not-for-profit organisation is eligible for the Awards, which recognise past achievements or work undertaken by volunteers over the previous 12 months.
Each year I try to attend these awards as it gives me a chance to hear about and meet many amazing volunteers.
Snippets
• Monday 30 August: Ashburton business professionals' group dinner at Hotel Ashburton
• Tuesday 31 August: Minister of Education Hon Anne Tolleys visiting Rangitata electorate
• Wednesday 1 September - Friday 3 September: New Zealand Business in Parliament Trust Attachment with New Zealand Post
• Friday 3 September: ECAN Commissioner's update
• Saturday 4 September: Attending Temuka Fire Brigade Gold Star & Honours Awards at St Joseph's Hall, Temuka
• Monday 6 September: Rangitata Electorate meeting at Hinds Church Hall
• Thursday 9 September: Aoraki Business Excellence Awards at Caroline Bay Hall
• Saturday 11 September: Bullrush Chocolates world record attempt in Ashburton
Regards,
Jo Goodhew MP
www.goodhew.co.nz
Please do not reply directly to this newsletter. If you wish to share your reactions with Jo Goodhew, please send her an email at jo.goodhew@national.org.nz If you wish to subscribe, please visit www.national.org.nz and follow the links. If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE or update your subscriptions, please follow this link to update your subscription details. If you are unsubscribing, please drop us a line at jo.goodhew@national.org.nz
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