August 2010

It has been an interesting and insightful month for me here in Ohariu. As always
I’ve been out and about visiting some of the groups that make our community tick. I recently visited He Huarahi Tamariki (A Chance for Children) where I met with the head teacher, Helen Webber, who showed me around the Teen Parenting Unit.

With 52 students aged between 14 and 20 currently enrolled, the school offers a variety of secondary school and tertiary courses aimed at helping vulnerable young mums get the education they need to have rich choices for their future.

Helen’s vision and imagination has been key to building the school up to what it is today. With childcare and health and counselling services onsite the students are well supported and encouraged to succeed.

At the end of July I also attended the launch of Johnsonville Rugby Club’s solar water heating system. Johnsonville Rugby Club is the first rugby club in New Zealand to launch the initiative and for a small club in the suburbs it’s great to see how progressive and innovative the club has been.

New Zealanders are well-placed to harness the sun's free, renewable energy, and it’s great to see this club recognising and taking advantage of this.

I was also lucky enough to escape the winter for a week as part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s official delegation to Tonga. I got to meet a range of people involved in setting up the new democratic government and I held a workshop for some of the MPs explaining how New Zealand's select committee process works.

I’m looking forward to a busy September with more events planned, including school and community visits and constituents to meet.

Katrina Flipping Sausages at the Tawa Rotary Book Fair

Katrina and her youth MP Rakai Parata on TV show Backbenches

What I’ve been up to over the past month:

• Hosted Chris Auchinvole at her monthly Friendly Forum
• Spoke to Grey Power at Malvina Major
• Held a Morning Tea for Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Week
• Organised Minister Carter to speak to the Newlands Ratepayers Association about Local Government
• Went to Tonga as part of MFAT official delegation
• Attended the launch of Johnsonville Rugby Clubs solar water heating system with Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee
• Visited the He Huarahi Tamariki Unit in Tawa
• Took part in the Newlands Community Quiz night
• Attended Newlands Paparangi Progressive Association Committee Meeting
• Attended Tawa Rotary Book Fair
• Dined with the Aspiring Leaders Forum participants
• Story telling at Johnsonville Library
• Mobile Office day – and visited numerous businesses in Ohariu
• Attended Onslow College’s School production Les Misérables
• Planted trees in Normandale

Minister Brownlee Flicking the Switch at Johnsonville Rigby Club

News in Brief:

Alcohol Reform:The National-led government has recently released its response to the Law Commissions recommendations around alcohol reform.

Our package focuses on minimising alcohol related-harm, including crime, disorder, and public health problems, and zeros in on where harm is occurring – particularly around youth.

Alcohol is estimated to contribute to 1000 deaths a year, and is a major driver of crime, being implicated in 30 per cent of all police recorded offences, 34 per cent of recorded family violence, and 50 per cent of all homicides. 

The statistics can’t be ignored and clearly show a problem with alcohol that must be addressed.

Education:Specialists will work with teachers throughout Ohariu to develop learning plans designed to improve student achievement

This is part of National’s new approach to help lift student achievement.

These changes will build on the information provided by National Standards and will see more education resources being moved to the frontline.

Employment:The Government is extending the voluntary 90-day trial period for new employees to cover all businesses.

The 90-day trial period has worked extremely well so far. A Department of Labour report found that the vast majority – 74 per cent – of people employed on a trial period have remained employed

Home for Life:The Government has announced its Home for Life Package giving parents the support and resources they need to care for children in state care.

We want to support families, and walk alongside them as they take steps to take on a child who simply needs a home and a family. All children should have a chance at a decent life, enjoy being children, and learn what it means to be part of a loving family.

Katrina's Corner: NZ Poetry Day Celebrations at Tawa

NZ Poetry Day at Tawa Library

"Be yourself because everyone else is taken" - Oscar Wilde.

I recently attended NZ Poetry Day celebrations at Tawa Library. The theme of individuality resonated as I walked into the room.

I remember when I was a child having to get up in front of my school to recite the poem The Little Elf by John Kendrick Bangs.

It was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. I've never forgotten that poem. It also illustrated to me the power of poetry as a form of expression and as a way to connect with people.

At Tawa Library poets from all walks of life read, acted, and even sang their poems to the crowd - and it was great.
Some poems inspired me, some made me laugh, some touched my heart, but all of them offered a window into the soul of their author.

Thank you to all who helped organise the event. It was a great way to celebrate poetry.

Regards,

July 2010

Over 50 people turned out in my office for the Volunteers Awareness Morning Tea I hosted. The morning was a great opportunity for me to thank all the wonderful people living in Ohariu and the work they do in the Community.

Volunteering has always been an integral part of New Zealand culture. Even as families become busier with double incomes, many still find time to coach kid’s sports and support school activities. Our retired population also still play an extremely important role in supporting community organisations, providing essential services.

Raising people not money, was Volunteer New Zealand’s theme for their annual awareness week and people were in no short supply at my event.

Estimates show that over 1.2 million New Zealanders volunteer each year. The time that people are willing to give for a cause is inspiring and ensures our communities run smoothly.
It was incredible to see how when everyone got together they made connections. Although many of them had never met before they shared a common aspiration, to muck in.

It was communities supporting communities. My ratepayers association found a venue for their AGM at the RSA and people found more opportunities and organisations to get involved with.

A big thank you to all the volunteers in Ohariu. Your time is invaluable and is appreciated by all.

Neo-natal Unit at Wellington Hospital busier than ever, well resourced thanks to extra funding.

Last year the Government announced an extra $103.5 million over four years to boost maternity services for new parents.

This announcement included more than $38 million for new mothers to have the option to stay longer in birthing facilities if they need extra support and about $10 million for additional visits to general practitioners and lead maternity carers for at-risk mothers during pregnancy.

I recently visited the neo-natal ward at Wellington Hospital with Minister Ryall where we met with Kay Webster to discuss the impact of this funding on their resources a year on.

While the Wellington unit is chock-a-block, Kay expressed how useful the increased funding had been to ensure that the unit remained well staffed and resourced to cope with the influx.

As a mother of three, and one of the key advocates on maternity care, this issue is dear to my heart. Too many new mothers have felt pressured into going home before they were ready.  This funding has meant that women benefit from extra support.
Longer stays help new mothers establish breast feeding and gain confidence in caring for their baby before they return home.

I look forward to continuing to work closely with the Capital and Coast DHB and ensuring continued funding and support from the National-led Government.

What I’ve been up to over the past month:

• Hosted a Public Meeting on the Alcohol Review
• Hosted Ohariu Volunteers in my office for Volunteers awareness week
• Spoke at Rimutaka Prison to the Corrections team
• Hosted the Ohariu National Party Bellamy’s Mid-winter Christmas Dinner
• Hosted Nick Smith to speak about ETS
• Friendly Forum with John Hayes and Hekia Parata
• Attended MP Hekia Parata’s Charity Cocktail Debate and Auction
• Played on the Parliament Netball Team
• Spoke on TV show Backbenches
• Attended launch of Men’s Health week in Parliament
• Held a Youth Alcohol Forum in Johnsonville office
• Attended the Tawa Community Civic awards

Rakai Parata and Katrina Shanks on Backbenches TV Show

Katrina Shanks and Lisa Watkins winner of the Minister Excellence Award

News in Brief

Warm Up Heat Smart

In the Wellington region more than 5694 households have been made warmer and drier in the first 11 months of the Warm Up Heat Smart scheme.

Under the $347 million scheme the Government is providing grants for all householders of up to $1300 for houses built before 2000 that need ceiling and under-floor insulation.  Once insulation is up to standard, homeowners can get $500 towards a clean, efficient heating system.

Broadband Upgrade in Ohariu

More than 280 Ohariu students will benefit from the latest round of network upgrades to prepare schools for ultra-fast broadband.

Normandale School and St Francis Xavier School (Tawa) are among 239 schools across the country sharing the $37.5 million upgrade. This is part of the Government’s $1.5 billion Broadband Investment Initiative.

Banning Smoking in Prisons

The Government has recently announced that a ban on smoking in prisons from next year will make prisons safer and healthier for both staff and prisoners.

A 12-month campaign to help prisoners kick the habit will precede the ban which is expected to take effect from 1 July next year.

This campaign to help prisoners quit smoking will include information, education on smoking, and smoking cessation support.

Our Community

It has been over six years since I first got involved in the Ohariu electorate. Like any “new neighbour” it was daunting at first but I was determined to immerse myself in the community, build up networks, and really belong to the people who live here.

I can’t believe how quickly the time has gone! My monthly mobile offices have allowed me to meet some of the most incredible people, from shop owners, who always have something to say about politics, to community leaders who I’ve found are the glue of the community and whose knowledge, without fail, helps me understand “the story behind the story”.

I feel privileged to have been welcomed into the electorate and I am inspired by the hard working people who live here.
 
Throughout the past month I have attended several events which make me proud to see our suburbs and our neighbours thrive.

The Newlands Community Centre recently celebrated their first birthday. Despite the cold Wellington weather the community came together to show us all how much we have grown.

The recent Tawa Community Civic Awards, recognised some of the people who make valuable contributions to our community. It was also inspiring to visit some of the schools in the electorate, as a judge  at the Newlands College SELL competition and at the Western Hills Schools Speech competition. The talent coming through from our kids is great!

I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of it all.

June celebrates Volunteer Awareness Week which is an opportunity to thank all the wonderful people who give up their time and energy to make our community what it is.

If you are a Volunteer, or know of anyone who is, we would love for you to join us on the 25th.

Back Benchers - Petrobras

I recently spoke on the Backbenches TV show about   Petrobras who have been awarded New Zealand's first petroleum exploration permit over the Raukumara Basin.

This is a major milestone for New Zealand, both in our relationship with Brazil and the potentially huge future economic benefits.

The Government is committed to unlocking the potential of the country's frontier basins. We believe this will bring more jobs to New Zealanders, more tax and royalty income and create more opportunities for long term regional development.

Petrobras is an international giant in the industry and a world leader in the development of offshore drilling technology.

It is with the significant commitment by exploration companies that we will better understand the wider geology and potential of our petroleum resources, and move closer to realising the commercial production potential of our offshore basins.

New Zealand is keen to deepen its economic relationship with Brazil, which is the world's eighth largest economy, with GDP of US$1.7 trillion. 

News in Brief

Leaky Homes: Wellington City Council has signed up to the Governments Leaky homes package along with other councils across the country.

Education: Education spending has been boosted by $1.4 billion over the next four years.

It’s great to see the money trickling down through schools across the Ohariu Electorate. Amesbury Drive School in Churton Park is due to be completed by 2012 with 200 places available for Year 1-6 students.

Fresh Start Innovation Fund increased to meet demand: The Government is boosting funding by $550,000 for innovative programmes for serious youth offenders and those at risk of offending.