Labour is proposing a big new tax on jobs
Parliament farewells Her Majesty
Dear John,
It’s been a busy couple of weeks! On Monday, Jeremy turned three months old – it’s so incredible to see him growing and developing every day. But where did the time go? It’s almost October and then soon it will be Christmas. What a year. At least the weather is improving (slowly).
Job Tax: On Tuesday National launched a campaign to stop Labour’s latest tax idea – a Jobs Tax. ([link removed]) If you haven’t heard of it, don’t worry, you’re not the only one. It hasn’t received a lot of publicity. But Labour has a plan to impose a new 1.39 per cent levy on every working Kiwi AND every employer. This will fund a “‘income insurance’ scheme which is basically a gold-plated welfare scheme – it would allow people made redundant from their jobs to stay out of work for up to six months on 80 per cent pay – and it will cost billions of dollars. Employers will also be hit with the new 1.39 per cent tax, meaning they’ll have less cash available for pay rises and may be forced to hike prices to pay for it. In short, it’s a dumb idea and couldn’t come at a worse time. 20,000 people have joined our campaign already. ([link removed]) Expect to hear more from us on this!
Luxon in the Hutt: It was awesome to have National Leader Christopher Luxon visit the Hutt last Thursday. We went to a couple of my favourite community organisations – Ignite Sport and the Naenae Boxing Academy. Both organisations are all about changing kids’ live through physical fitness and discipline and I’ve been proud to support both of them for a number of years now. I know Christopher really enjoyed these visits – this is what we in National call “Social Investment” in action and it’s going to be big part of the next National government. We also called in on Macaulay Metals in Seaview – one of New Zealand’s largest scrap metal merchants. The amount of metal waste was truly incredible. A great Hutt company. Christopher will be back before the election and I’m looking forward to introducing him to more Hutt companies and organisations in the next few months.
Housing: This week I’ve been in the media talking (again) about the appalling state of housing in New Zealand. TradeMe reported this week that rents have remained at a record high ([link removed]) – despite Phil Twyford saying five years ago that rents would fall under Labour. High rents have driven more and more people onto the state house waiting list which has increased by 20,000 applicants in the last five years (and people in the most urgent need now wait 10 times longer than they did five years ago). This week I revealed that the average length of time people stay in a motel is now 21 weeks ([link removed]) , up from just three weeks five years ago – which even made the Guardian in the UK
([link removed]) . You may have seen the TVNZ Sunday story a couple of weeks ago about Rotorua – which is clearly appalling – but this is happening around the country, including in Lower Hutt. We simply can’t go on like this and tolerate Labour’s failures. The PM likes to spin that Labour has built 10,000 new state houses, which is simply not true. ([link removed])
I got stuck into this in Parliament's General Debate this week - watch it here. ([link removed])
Local body elections: The proliferation of signs on the Esplanade and around the Hutt means one thing – it’s election time! The general election is next year but I would encourage you to vote in the local body races in the Hutt (or wherever you live). Turn-out is worryingly low so far. Personally I think we need to go away from postal voting – or at least provide a range of options such as voting in person on a set day (like for general elections). I’m not a fan of online voting due to the security concerns, but the status quo is unacceptable and there's got to be a better way.
Around the Hutt: Parliament has been sitting for the last couple of weeks, but I’ve been out and about in the Hutt a bit. It was a privilege to attend a special celebration of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the guru of Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) in Petone. I also caught up with the team from Kiwi Colour Kits, a Young Enterprise company from Hutt Valley High School. Check out their great product below.
That’s it from me this week. Have a great weekend!
Chris
P.S Josh Ross, the chef/owner of great Hutt cafe "Twenty Eight" and also the head chef at Bellamy's in Parliament, is off to Mexico next week to compete in the international Jeunes Chefs Rotisseurs ([link removed]) (Young Chef of the Year) competition. Good luck Josh!
Getting things done
VICTORY! The best part of being a MP is helping people. For three years this massive trailer with a stuffed car on top has clogged up Brees St, illegally. Has no warrant. It was an eye sore and dangerous to cars trying to drive on the street. Local residents have been tearing their hair out. Police and Council put it in the too hard basket. My office and I kept pushing with Council and wouldn’t give in.
Finally a couple of weeks ago the owner was given ten days to remove it from the road or the Council and Police would impound it. Finally it was moved. A great result for Brees St and surrounding residents.
Please sign my petition here. ([link removed])
Visit to Naenae Boxing Academy
It was so awesome to take Christopher Luxon to the Naenae Boxing Academy last week. It's all about teaching young people life-skills through participation in and the discipline of boxing and physical fitness. I am so proud to call Billy and Kerri Graham mates. What they have built at Naenae is incredible and now there are five other boxing academies around New Zealand (and five affiliates). Thank you to David Graham and the team for the tour and it was lovely to meet some young students doing a class.
Kiwi Colour Kits
Meet the team from Kiwi Colour Kits! ([link removed]) They’re a Young Enterprise company from Hutt Valley High School. This week I had the pleasure of meeting up with them and learning about their product - a colouring-in kit consisting of handmade beeswax crayons and a specially designed colouring-in book for kids. The aim is to raise awareness around New Zealand native wildlife while offering a sustainable option for entertainment for kids.
Each page is carefully illustrated with beautiful images and designs, along with important facts and information about our wildlife.
Each kit includes a set of eight, handmade beeswax crayons, an A4 sized colouring in book with eighteen illustrated images to colour. I’ll be getting one for Jeremy! Check them out here. ([link removed])
Team National off to the State Funeral for Queen Elizabeth II
Hutt River Trail
Pleasure to be at the opening of the Manor Park to Silverstream section of the Hutt River Trail last weekend.
In 1991 my Rotary Club (Hutt City) started this awesome project. Over the years it has been a partnership with the Regional Council and two Hutt Councils. Thousands of hours of time has been put into by Rotarians and other volunteers. An example of what community can do when working together!
Did you know...?
Did you know… the organist for Monday's State Memorial Service is from Lower Hutt? Tom Chatterton lives in Avalon, teaches at St Oran’s and is an organist at St Paul’s Cathedral. He trained at the University of Cambridge where he studied music and was organ scholar at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and Assistant Organist at Jesus College, Cambridge. Go Tom!
Rutherford & Meyer on Air NZ
Great to see a yummy product from a great Hutt company on an Air NZ flight this week.
5 years ago v now
Cententary of the birth of Pramukh Swami Maharaj
A huge honour and privilege to speak on Sunday night at a special celebration of the centenary of the birth of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the guru of Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS).
Pramukh Swami Maharaj lived by and preached to the community, In the Joy of others, lies our own”.
Regular Jeremy photo
Welcoming committee after 10k run last week
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