In Focus 1 July 2015

National Volunteer Week

Last week we celebrated and congratulated the thousands of volunteers who give their time and talents to keep so many organisations and groups ticking along throughout New Zealand.

New Zealanders are amongst the most generous in the world when it comes to volunteering and helping others. On average there are just over 400,000 kiwis volunteering every week for a charity, adding up to over 1.5 million hours contributed to our communities.

Seeing and hearing stories first-hand of the “real” volunteering that happens every day in our community helps to bring these statistics to life.

Locally I popped in to see volunteers at the SPCA in Ashburton and Trade Aid, the Salvation Army and the South Canterbury Hospice shop in Timaru and shouted them some morning or afternoon tea as a little thank you for the work they do.

Nationally, as Minister for the Community & Voluntary Sector, I met volunteers from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island, who are making a difference to their community by volunteering as firefighters, by planting trees, by leading community development projects and by offering support to those in need.

New Zealand’s volunteers do a wonderful job and one which is well worthy of our acknowledgement and thanks.

Delivering benefits to families - July 1 changes

A number of government policies came into effect on July 1 which will deliver real benefits to families.

All children under 13 will have access to free GP visits and prescriptions. It is estimated that over 400,000 children will benefit from the scheme, taking the total number of children who are benefitting from free GP visits and prescriptions to over 750,000.

We’re committed to giving kids the best start in life and that means ensuring they are able to go to the doctor any time of the day or night without their parents worrying about the cost.

Doctor’s visits and prescriptions are already free for children under the age of six and thanks to our careful management of the government’s books we have been able to extend this policy to all children under 13.

Other July 1 changes which show how a growing and vibrant economy is delivering New Zealanders more money in their back pockets include:

• The average ACC motor vehicle levy, including the annual licence levy and petrol levy, will fall from around $330 to $195 per year.
•
• Paid parental leave payments will increase with the maximum weekly rate for eligible employees and self-employed parents going from $504.10 to $516.85 gross.
•
• More assistance for solo parents who are studying
•
• Additional checks for people working with young New Zealanders
•
• More funding will also be made available to hospices to help them expand their community palliative services to better support terminally ill people at home and in aged-care facilities.
•
Students staying engaged at our local schools

There has been a significant drop in the number of school students being suspended, stood down, excluded or expelled from schools in Rangitata.

Kids are staying in school longer and getting better results.

Around New Zealand students are staying engaged in our classrooms. Since 2008, the number of suspensions in state and state-integrated schools has dropped 38 per cent.

Here in Rangitata, stand-downs have dropped 51.7 per cent since 2008, and suspensions have fallen 62.2 per cent.

Exclusions and expulsions have dropped by 86.2 per cent and 53.4 per cent respectively. These figures show we have more kids staying focused on their education.

We have worked hard to offer more options for students to keep them engaged in learning, such as Trades Academies and Partnership Schools. And we’re supporting our teachers and school leaders to lift student achievement by helping them to collaborate and work together to share best practice in Communities of Schools.

The Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) programme is also helping create a more inclusive and supportive environment for students who need a bit more support.

We are focusing on improving performance in the schooling system so every child has the opportunity to succeed, as we know high-quality education provides the opportunity for any child from any background to get ahead and make the most of their life.

More road safety info for visiting drivers

An initiative to provide road safety messages to every visitor from China travelling on a general visitor visa has been welcomed.

Record numbers of Chinese tourists are travelling to New Zealand — 310,000 last year alone. Many are opting to self-drive and it’s important we help them do so safely.

The ‘Driving Safely in New Zealand’ leaflet is a joint initiative by the Ministry of Transport, New Zealand Transport Agency, New Zealand Police, Tourism New Zealand, the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Chinese Embassy.

The leaflet, part of an ongoing body of work focussing on the safety of visiting drivers, will be distributed with every approved visa. This is yet another way to spread the road safety message to this key tourism market.

Upcoming Events

July 7 – electorate work, Timaru
July 8 – Ministerial work, Whanganui
July 9 – electorate work, Ashburton
July 10 – Ministerial work, Wellington
July 13 – electorate work, Ashburton
July 13 – Trustpower Timaru District Community Awards
July 14 – electorate work, Timaru
July 17 – host Seniors’ Forum, Pleasant Point

ends

© Scoop Media