Jo Goodhew MP for Rangitata

PlunketLine supporting more parents

nospam@example.com (admin) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:40:00 +1200

Rangitata MP Jo Goodhew says it’s great to see so many parents using PlunketLine, with an increase of 39% in calls.

“Government funding to expand PlunketLine to 24/7 for parents has seen the service answer nearly 27,000 more calls in the 2009/10 year compared with two years previously,” Mrs Goodhew says.

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Alternative Education Funding Changes Delight MP

nospam@example.com (admin) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:36:00 +1200

Rangitata MP Jo Goodhew is delighted that alternate education providers in both South and Mid Canterbury will be better funded after today’s announcement of an overall 8.4% funding increase.

Over the past three years I have written to both the former and current Ministers of Education regarding the shortfall in funding for students involved in alternative education, said Mrs Goodhew.

“This is the first funding increase since 2000 so it’s been a long time coming.”

I have been very supportive of the involvement of registered teachers in this educational option and am pleased to see this cost will be covered, she said.

In Focus #83

nospam@example.com (admin) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:34:00 +1200

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

New Zealander of the Year Awards

nospam@example.com (admin) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 10:32:00 +1200

Rangitata MP Jo Goodhew is urging communities in the Rangitata Electorate to seize the opportunity to recognise those amongst them who have made a positive contribution.

Nominations for the New Zealander of the Year Awards 2011 have just opened offering New Zealanders an opportunity to nominate people who have inspired them and made a difference.

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Seeking your views on Canterbury's Water Management

nospam@example.com (admin) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:22:48 +1200

There are major problems with water management in Canterbury, and the National-led Government has made a number of changes to address these. Your views about these changes are important. Please take the time to download and read our water pamphlet (click here for that), complete the response form, and return it freepost to me. I look forward to hearing from you.

MP Expresses Concern Over Baha’i Sentences

nospam@example.com (admin) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:26:00 +1200

Rangitata MP Jo Goodhew has today echoed the deep concern expressed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully in relation to the 20-year prison sentences handed down by the Government of Iran to the leadership of the Baha’i faith.

“I have met with members of the Baha’i community who live in my electorate and they have grave fears for their family members who live in Iran and for the leadership of the Baha’i faith in Iran.”

“Mr McCully has expressed New Zealand’s dismay at Iran’s failure to uphold its international human rights commitments and its own due legal processes in this case. He has said that he hopes to see the Government of Iran grant the Baha’i Yaran immediate bail, pending an appeal of the sentence, and I endorse that statement,” said Mrs Goodhew.

“The sentences appear to be based wholly on the fact that these people are members of a minority religious group. It is apparent that the trial was conducted in a manner that was neither fair nor transparent.”

“I join with other New Zealanders in calling on the Government of Iran to protect the fundamental rights of all its citizens, and to end its ongoing and systematic persecution of the Baha’i,” said Mrs Goodhew.

Media contact: Jo Goodhew 021 443 803

In Focus # 82

nospam@example.com (admin) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:43:00 +1200

Artwork for Women's Refuge

I recently had the pleasure of painting a small canvas to raise money for Women's Refuge South Canterbury. I was delighted to deliver a speech on the evening at the close of the exhibition and I thought I would include a couple of paragraphs from the speech:

"Creating the artwork that hangs amongst so many tonight took me out of my comfort zone. It is that concept, of being out of one's "comfort zone" that I wish to now focus on.

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In Focus #81

nospam@example.com (admin) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:05:00 +1200

Click here - or on the image - to watch my latest video update.

Survey Responses

I have been delighted with the responses to the survey I sent out to constituents in late June. I am currently working my way through the survey responses and I want to assure you that those who have written letters and asked questions will receive responses as soon as possible.

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Jo Goodhew - Video Update

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:10:15 +1200

Jo talks about three important new Government initiatives. First, changes to the employment law that should benefit both workers and employers; second, changes to the drink driving laws that should go some way to stopping the carnage on our roads caused by drivers who drink excessively and then choose to operate motor vehicles. Third, she notes the decision to allocate $9.5 million to the provinces in support of talented performers and local events as part of the Rugby World Cup festival.

Jo Goodhew - Video Update

nospam@example.com (admin) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:03:00 +1200

Locals urged to come up with festival ideas for World Cup 2011

nospam@example.com (admin) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:23:00 +1200

Jo Goodhew is urging Rangitata locals to come up with ideas for New Zealand’s biggest ever festival.

Today the Government announced a new $9.5 million Lotteries Fund to support community events and activities in every part of the country in the lead-up to, and during, the Rugby World Cup.

“The Rugby World Cup will be a huge event for New Zealand, and a great chance for us to celebrate as a region,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“Twenty three centres around the country are hosting games or teams, bringing widespread economic benefits. This fund will ensure that Rangitata can make the most of the opportunity.

“This fund will complement the investment regions are already making in the World Cup festival. There are already some great event and activity ideas out there. We want to hear more!”

Applications for the New Zealand 2011 Festival Lottery Fund will open on July 27 and close on August 31. Successful applicants will be announced by the end of October.

New Zealand 2011 Office Festival Director Briony Ellis says great ideas have already been put forward for the festival, and this fund will ensure that good ideas can be brought to life.

“Our locals know best how to show off what our region has to offer,” Mrs Goodhew said.

“The world cup is more than just the matches. We want to make sure our visitors get to see our country, meet our people and have a great time in between the games.”

ENDS
For more information on the Fund, visit: www.dia.govt.nz

For more information on the Festival, visit: www.nz2011.govt.nz

Enquiries: Jo Goodhew 021 443803

23 July 2010

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:29:00 +1200

I attended the National Party Conference last week during which our government introduced a new employment law package that aims to improve productivity and employment in New Zealand. Comprised of three initiatives, it upholds our commitment to lifting the long-term performance of the economy and to creating more jobs for New Zealanders.

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23 July 2010

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:25:00 +1200

Commonwealth Parliamentary Whips Network

I recently had the privilege to represent both the New Zealand Parliament and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Pacific Region at the first Commonwealth Parliamentary Whips Workshop, which was held in New South Wales, Australia from 14-16 July.

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23 July 2010

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:01:00 +1200

Improving Employment Law will Help Grow the Economy

As we continue to grow out of the recession, we need to have the right environment to create more jobs. Economic growth happens when a business sees an opportunity and is prepared to invest, expand, take risks, and hire new workers.

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Video Update

nospam@example.com (admin) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:33:04 +1200

Jo Goodhew talks about the twelve Schools in her electorate that have been included in the ICT upgrade. Jo introduces her Youth MP representative, Georgia Robertson and also speaks about her travels to New South Wales where she met with other Whips within the commonwealth.