Hon Jo Goodhew
MP for Rangitata

On Sunday Mark and I attended the Seafarers’ Service at St Mary’s Anglican Church in Timaru.

Present were members of the Royal Naval Association from Mid and South Canterbury. Special guest at the service and the Trafalgar luncheon that followed was Rear Admiral JR Steer ONZM, Chief of the Navy.

In the prayers and hymns, in the sermon and in the speeches over lunch, the connection to the sea that we in our region share was uppermost. From trade to defence and to recreation the connections were made.

At the same time we acknowledged those who have lost their lives at sea, no matter in what circumstance. We acknowledged with wreaths laid those who died at sea in defence of our nation.

National delivers surplus

The National-led Government’s responsible economic management is paying dividends with the books back in surplus. This meets a target we set following the Canterbury earthquakes and Global Financial Crisis.

The $414 million surplus in the year to 30 June 2015 is a huge turnaround on an $18.4 billion deficit New Zealand faced in in 2011.

Returning to surplus is a significant milestone and makes us one of the first developed country governments to get its books back in a strong position following the global financial crisis.

By setting a path back to surplus and running a clear economic plan to support growth, more jobs and higher incomes, National is providing opportunities for New Zealanders and their families to get ahead.
Click here to read more from Finance Minister Bill English.

Tackling childhood obesity

A plan to tackle childhood obesity has been launched by the Government this week.

Being overweight or obese is expected to overtake tobacco as the leading preventable risk to health in New Zealand within the next 12 months.

There is no single solution that will fix obesity. That’s why a range of interventions across Government, the private sector, communities, schools and families has been developed.

The plan focuses on children as that’s where the evidence shows we can have the greatest influence. By focusing on children we expect to also influence the whole family.

The 22 initiatives in the Childhood Obesity Plan are a mix of new or an expansion of existing services which are grouped into three key themes:

• Targeted interventions for those who are obese

• Increased support for those at risk of becoming obese

• Broad strategies to make healthier choices easier

At the core of the plan is a new childhood obesity health target. This target will be part of the health targets programme from 1 July 2016.

By December 2017, 95 per cent of children identified as obese in the B4 School Check will be referred to an appropriate health professional for clinical assessment and family based nutrition, activity and lifestyle interventions.

The B4 School Check is a free health and development check for four year olds. The checks aim to identify and address any health, behavioural, social or development concerns which could affect a child’s ability to get the most benefit from school.
Further information about the Childhood Obesity Plan can be found on the Ministry of Health website.

Nga Tapuwae Western Front trails released

A new interactive guide to New Zealand’s First World War history on the Western Front is now available to download.

The Nga Tapuwae Western Front Trails take visitors around places of special significance to our history, such as Passchendaele and the Somme.

A free smartphone and tablet app that accompanies the trails has been released and gives people the chance to follow in the footsteps of our soldiers and find out more about their experience on the Western Front.

Nga Tapuwae Western Front follows the release of Nga Tapuwae Gallipoli in March. Both the trails and accompanying apps include dramatic first-hand accounts taken from the letters and diaries of those who fought as well as historical information, directions and travel advice.

More than 12,400 New Zealanders lost their lives in the horrific conditions of the Western Front. They faced unimaginable danger, hardship and suffering in the trenches and the Nga Tapuwae trails help to bring their story to all of us.

Nga Tapuwae Western Front includes trails in France, Belgium and the United Kingdom. The five trails in Belgium focus on the battlefields at Passchendaele and Messines, the four in France explore the famous tunnels at Arras and the Somme battlefields, while the trail in the UK will take visitors around former New Zealand hospitals and training camps.

People can experience the trails in three ways: download the apps, explore trail highlights on the Nga Tapuwae website or print off paper guides available online.

The Nga Tapuwae Western Front app is available now for Apple and Android devices, and is free to download.
Click here for more information about the Nga Tapuwae New Zealand First World War Trails.

10-year passports available in time for Christmas holidays

New Zealanders will be able to get 10-year passports in time for the Christmas holidays after the Passports Amendment Bill (No 2) passed last week.

Adults planning for their Christmas holidays will be able to apply for a 10-year passport at the end of November, one month earlier than originally planned.

The 10-year adult passport price will cost no more than $180 (including GST), an average saving of $90 over the 10-year validity period.

Because a child’s appearance can change significantly over time, the child passport will remain valid for five years as is international convention.

They will be a world-class, trusted travel document containing the latest technology to protect the passport holder from identity fraud.

New Zealand is known globally as a nation of adventurers and explorers so this change will be well received.

Redundant laws to be repealed

The Government has identified 120 pieces of redundant legislation, and parts of eight other acts, which are to be repealed. The Statutes Repeal Bill will reduce the total number of public Acts in force by more than 10 per cent.

Redundant laws for the chop include 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake legislation, an Act covering mortgages in the great Depression, the Y2K bug, through to the 2011 Rugby World Cup empowering legislation.

To ensure only legislation that is redundant is repealed the Government is seeking submissions on a draft of the bill over the next two months.

Upcoming Events

October 23 – hosting MP Dr Parmjeet Parmar, Timaru
October 23 – speak at Marquette commemorations, Timaru
October 26 – Labour Day
October 30 & 31 – Ashburton A&P Show
November 3 - 5 – Parliament sitting

Jo Goodhew
MP for Rangitata

ENDS

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