Jo Goodhew - In Focus

Hon Jo Goodhew
MP for Rangitata

It has been a very busy fortnight since my last newsletter with Parliament sitting for three consecutive weeks and a busy workload of Ministerial duties as well.

It has been a very busy fortnight since my last newsletter with Parliament sitting for three consecutive weeks and a busy workload of Ministerial duties as well. However I have been able to attend a number of events in the electorate.

I was pleased to be able to attend “Get to the Point” at Pleasant Point on November 7th and followed that with a Gold Star presentation for 25 years’ service to Volunteer Firefighter Gunner Watson of the Methven Volunteer Fire Brigade in the evening. Both were great community events.

Last Sunday I attended a commemoration service at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Ashburton marking Armistice Day (November 11) and the centenary of the Red Cross in New Zealand. I was privileged to lay a bouquet of red roses to mark the contribution Red Cross has made.

Last week I also spent a day at the Canterbury A&P Show. My colleagues Ministers Nathan Guy and Steven Joyce and I attended a function at the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) stand and helped celebrate 20 years of MPIs detector dogs.

Minister Joyce launched the updated “Building Natural Resources” chapter of the Business Growth Agenda. I spoke of current issues in Canterbury for the rural sector and paid particular tribute to the work of rural support businesses, banks, Federated Farmers, Dairy NZ and Beef & Lamb, all working alongside the Rural Support Trust to support those in the sector facing an uphill battle right now.

I was also privileged to present the Meat and Wool Cup with Nicky Hutchinson, President of the Canterbury A&P Association before undertaking a walkabout of the show with Prime Minister John Key and Ministers Gerry Brownlee and Nicky Wagner.

Later this week I travel to Canberra for two days of meetings in my role as Minister of Food Safety. I will meet with my Australian counterparts and also attend the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation.

CPIT & Aoraki Polytech to merge

As you may have heard recently Aoraki Polytechnic is to merge with Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT) next year.

This will ensure Canterbury-wide access to high quality 21st century vocational education.

The decision is the result of eighteen months planning by the Councils of Aoraki Polytechnic and CPIT. Both polytechnics have worked to build a new sustainable Canterbury-wide entity that will be able to support Cantabrians with quality skills & vocational training wherever and whenever they need it.

The new Polytechnic will operate as a true regional entity focussed on delivering skilled workers for employers’ right across the region, including Christchurch, Timaru, Ashburton and at Oamaru in North Otago. The Timaru campus will be upgraded. It will include a centre of excellence focussing on the primary sector.

The new organisation will be operational for the 2016 academic year and initially trade under the name CPIT Aoraki. It is intended that a new name will be launched in the New Year.

Jenn Bestwick, the current Chair of CPIT will become the Chair of the new organisation, while Janie Annear, currently Chair of Aoraki Polytechnic, will become the new organisation’s Deputy Chair.

GST on online services

GST is to be applied to online services – such as e-books, music, videos, and software bought from offshore websites by New Zealand consumers.

The new rules, contained in a tax bill introduced on 16 November, are about creating a level playing field for collecting GST and putting New Zealand businesses and jobs ahead of the interests of overseas suppliers.

The new legislation will come into force in October 2016 with offshore suppliers required to register and return GST on the supplies sold into New Zealand.

These measures are an important first step in the Government’s efforts to deal with increasing volumes of online services and other intangibles purchased from overseas suppliers that should, under New Zealand’s tax rules, be subject to GST.

GST should apply to all consumption in New Zealand. This is what makes our GST system fair, efficient and simple.

The proposed measures are intended to maintain the broad base of New Zealand’s GST system and to create a level playing field between domestic and overseas suppliers of online services and intangibles.

Incorporated Societies Bill out for public consultation

Many people in our communities are involved in clubs or organisations which are incorporated societies.

There are plans to update the more than 100-years-old law governing incorporated societies and Government is asking for public feedback.

There are more than 23,000 incorporated societies operating across New Zealand. They make a huge contribution to our communities in culture, sport, recreation, and community activities.

We need a modern law which gives guidance to the many New Zealanders who volunteer to run not-for-profit organisations.
Click here to make a submission on the proposed new legislation.

Click here for more information on the planned changes.

Sports stars rally to fight obesity

It is so important we work with families and children to cut obesity rates in New Zealand. You may have recently seen a new campaign start aimed at getting the healthy food options message out to parents.

Sport stars are encouraging Kiwis to make small, healthy lifestyle changes to tackle obesity. They include Olympian Valerie Adams, Silver Ferns captain Casey Kopua, All Black Israel Dagg, Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum, and Warriors star Shaun Johnson.

The public awareness campaign on food choice and inactivity will run for six weeks and aims to get people talking about the impact lifestyle choices have on children’s health. Families will be encouraged to make small changes to improve their diet and be more active.

The campaign is one of 22 initiatives in the Childhood Obesity Plan announced recently. New Zealand is one of the first OECD countries to have a target and a comprehensive plan to tackle childhood obesity.

Upcoming events

Nov 19 & 20 – Ministerial visit to Canberra
Nov 23 & 24 – constituency work (Timaru)
Nov 25 – attend White Ribbon Breakfast (Timaru) & White Ribbon March (Ashburton)
Nov 26 – host Hon Paul Goldsmith (Timaru)
Nov 27 – host MP Jono Naylor (Ashburton)
Nov 27 – attend Ashburton Museum irrigation display opening
Nov 28 – Ministerial work (Nelson)
Nov 29 – Roses on the Bay (Timaru)
Nov 30 – constituency work (Ashburton)

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