Dear John,
I just wanted to write as the year winds down to wish a very Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones - and a very Happy New Year! It's been a big year - it seems hard to believe now, but as 2022 started, New Zealand's borders were still basically closed and we were still living with quite significant restrictions on our lives - mandates, vaccine passes, and more. Omicron had just started making its way through the community and there was a real shortage of rapid tests. Fast forward to today and MIQ is over, our borders are reopened, and vaccine passes and mandates have been abolished. It's a very different picture.
New Zealand's challenge in 2023 won't be COVID - it'll be an economic crisis caused by loose monetary policy during COVID plus massive increases in government spending (up 50% in five years) putting pressure on inflation and therefore interest rates. Many people refixing their mortgages in the next few months will find their new rates starting with a 6 when they used to start with a 2 - and that's going to be very tough for many households. Already our local food banks are reporting increased demand and I held a meeting with those involved in the distribution of emergency food last week to discuss how we work together as a community to get through next year. The cost of living crisis is really hitting many people very hard. Unemployment is forecast to increase, while real wages have fallen for over two years now. National will be lazer focused on the cost of living next year and presenting plans to address it, alongside strengthening our economy and building the infrastructure we need for the future.
Parliament wound up for the year last week but I haven't stopped working - yet! Last Thursday I presented to the Wellington Regional Council calling for them to fund a direct Wainuiomata to Wellington bus service. 849 people signed my recent petition on this (if you haven't signed please do so!). Wainuiomata is a growing suburb of 20,000 people but it has no direct buses to and from Wellington - compared to Eastbourne with 3,000 people, which has many in the morning and evening. This is a simple matter of fairness. Wainuiomata people deserve transport choices - if Eastbourne people can go direct into town, why can’t people in Wainuiomata? A direct bus will mean more people out of cars and onto public transport, reducing congestion and emissions.
Next year: 2023 is, of course, an election year, and I'll be campaigning hard for National in the Hutt and around the country. It's going to be a busy year and if you'd like to help out on the campaign, then please let me know. There's lots of things to get involved in - delivering letters and leaflets, phone calls, door-knocking, attending meetings, data input, and more. If you're interested, we will find a job for you! Click here to sign up.
Before the madness of next year kicks off, I'm having a couple of weeks off, largely around Wellington and the Hutt, so if you see me around, then please do say hello. It'll be our first Christmas with wee Jeremy who turns 6 months old on Boxing Day - where did the last six months go?!
If you're travelling this summer, then please take care on the roads and stay safe. I hope you have a restful Christmas period and I'll see you in 2023. My Lower Hutt office will close on Friday 23 December and reopen Monday 16 January 2023. My Wainuiomata office is closed now and will reopen on Tuesday 24 January.
Chris
P.S Check out my speech on free speech in Parliament on the second to last day of the year. Labour's new hate speech proposal is unnecessary and divisive and National strongly opposes it.
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Merry Christmas from me, Jenna, Jeremy, Ladyhawke & Ziggy
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Getting every human and animal to look at the camera proved challenging...
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Presenting to the Regional Council
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Presented to the Regional Council last week calling for the Council to fund a direct Wainuiomata to Wellington bus service. 849 people signed my recent petition on this. Wainuiomata is a growing suburb of 20,000 people but it has no direct buses to and from Wellington - compared to Eastbourne with 3,000 people, which has many in the morning and evening. I'll keep you posted.
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No. 2 Hutt City Squadron Air Training Corps & TS Tamatoa Navy Cadets
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A pleasure to attend the No.2 Hutt City Squadron Air Training Corps and TS Tamatoa Navy Cadets End of Year Parade and Prizegiving on Thursday night. Congrats to all!
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Peka Peka to Otaki - completed!
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Another one of National's Roads of National Significance completed! Now we need to get on with Otaki to Levin, which would be underway now if Labour hadn't cancelled it in 2018.
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On Friday last week I held a meeting for our local foodbanks and emergency food providers to get together and discuss the shortage of emergency food in the Hutt at the moment, and how we could all work together better next year. A really constructive discussion and lots of work to do here.
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In the studio at Hutt City 106.7 FM on Saturday morning for one of my regular chats. Thanks to everyone who makes the station happen. A great service for the Hutt.
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Santa at the Jackson St Programme
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Dropping off a couple of presents at Santa’s Grotto at the Jackson St Programme in Petone - every year they organise donated presents to go to those who would otherwise miss out.
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Rangatahi Learning Centre Prizegiving
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Real pleasure to attend the Rangatahi Learning Centre prizegiving on Thursday two weeks ago in Wainuiomata and present the Chris Bishop Cup to Karlos Marshall for outstanding achievement. Love attending the RLC Prizegiving every year.
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On Monday I caught up with new Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger, alongside our Christchurch Central candidate Dale Stephens. Good discussion on infrastructure and housing.
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