My thoughts are with my Banks Peninsula residents who have been affected by the recent flooding. If you require any help, please call my office. In the meantime, I will be working with Government agencies and Ngāi Tahu to help with the recovery phase over the next few months.
April:
- For ANZAC Day, I was honoured to join services at Heathcote, Halswell and Akaroa. A special thank you to our outstanding RSAs and community groups for organising such memorable events all over the Peninsula. We will remember them always.
- Took my Youth MP Daniel to the Citizen Ceremony at the Town Hall. Daniel is a trade student at ARA and coaches Basketball within the community. He is also a keen conservationist. I am looking forward to working with Daniel over the next couple of months to capture how we can elevate youth voices within Banks Peninsula.
- Visited the Mid Canterbury district with Minister of the South Island James Meager. We attended a conference of secondary teachers and industry delegates that teach in the Agricultural and Horticultural Science curriculum area. It was great to meet with teachers from around the South Island and gain more knowledge about the new education we can provide the next generation who are thinking of pursuing this as a career.
- Joined Minister for Small Business and Manufacture Chris Penk at Argus ManuTech in Hillsborough. Argus ManuTech has partnered with MARS Bioimaging to manufacture revolutionary photon-counting CT scanners. With these advanced scanners, medical practitioners can diagnose injuries at the point of care, gaining immediate access to highly accurate imaging. This marks a significant leap forward for the med-tech industry and high-tech manufacturing in New Zealand.
- Took Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Shane Reti to visit the Chiptech team in Ferrymead. Chiptech specialises in creating quality products to help people remain independent in their homes through safety. They supply digital telecare solutions throughout Australasia and the UK.
- My staff attended the ECan celebration of Route 7 Bus Uplift. Thanks to funding from the Government and working with Christchurch City Council and ECan, we have been able to deliver this improved and vital service. The Route 7 Halswell-Queenspark service has been done to improve convenience with an increase to the service of a bus every 10 minutes on the weekdays. The electric buses can do up to 250kms before having to be recharged for 3 hours back at the depot.
- Joined Minister of the South Island James Meager to meet Forest and Bird CEO Nicola Toki. Forest & Bird is Aotearoa/New Zealand's leading independent conservation charity and use practical projects to restore nature such as trapping predators, removing weeds and planting trees. These projects are needed throughout Banks Peninsula to ensure we keep our electorate thriving.
Community Update:
Firstly, a huge thank you to all the volunteers who have been helping with the flood clean-up, especially FENZ, who were the first responders for many people. I spent last Thursday evening in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in the Justice Precent. On Friday, I joined Minister of Emergency Mark Mitchell and Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton to assess the flood damage. Over the weekend, I drove to Little River and Akaroa to speak with residents and business owners to see what they need going forward. On that note, after the clean-up and recovery process is complete, I believe it would be beneficial for the community to have a meeting with Government agencies and Ngāi Tahu to have a debrief and see what we can do better in the future.
If you need help regarding the flood, please get in contact with my office. If you would like practical help with cleaning up your property, please get in touch with Taskforce Kiwi via email contact@taskforcekiwi.org. Members from the group use their experience in the defence force, or as emergency services personnel to provide direct assistance such as debris clearing, general labour, chainsaw work, and pump operation.
My survey for the Dark Sky initiative will be sent out to rural Banks Peninsula residents. However, my focus over the next few months will be on flood management and recovery. For more information on the Dark Sky project, follow me on social media:
Instagram: @vanessaweeninkbankspeninsulamp
Earlier in the month, I had community catch ups in Little River and Akaroa. Both sessions were well attended with a common theme from people who came wanting better roading infrastructure on SH75. I have written to NZTA about this and will be looking at ways we can improve certain stretches of road on the SH75.
National News:
1. Budget 2025: The Growth Budget: (Beehive PR)
Our Budget is focused on being responsible, so we can invest in what matters to Kiwis: health, education, law and order, our Defence Force, and business growth.
2. Transforming financial education in schools: (Beehive PR)
Kids should leave school knowing how money works, so we’re making financial literacy part of the core curriculum.
3. Govt to fully fund teachers’ registration and certification fees: (Beehive PR)
From July 1, teachers will save up to $550 when applying for registration or renewing their practising certificate.
4. Tourism turbocharge: (Beehive PR)
We’re boosting New Zealand as an international travel destination with a $13.5 million investment for Tourism New Zealand. More tourists on our shores means more people in our restaurants, bars, and shops. That’s more money helping Kiwi businesses grow, hire more people, and pay better wages.
5. The 2025 Defence Capability Plan outlines indicative investments to ensure the NZDF is:
- Combat capable with enhanced lethality and deterrent effect:
- This includes increased strike capabilities which will increase our ability to deter actions counter to New Zealand’s interests.
- A force multiplier with Australia and interoperable with partners:
- New Zealand and Australia have committed to modernise our alliance and further strengthen our bilateral defence relationship, including the development of a more greatly integrated “Anzac” force.
- Innovative and has improved situational awareness:
- Innovation in this plan covers new ways of doing things, as well as exploring new technologies for the NZDF such as uncrewed vehicles, new space technologies, and increased funding for Defence Science & Technology.
In the Media:
Politics Friday with John MacDonald: Politics Friday: Is a Wellington to Lyttleton ferry just a "romanticised idea"?
Chris Lynch
Is the Treaty Principles Bill truly dead in the water?
Out and About in Banks Peninsula:
- Celebrated LeBons Bay Conservation Trust buying a piece of land to regenerate with native plants. The trust successfully raised $450,000 needed to purchase the 39-hectare block of land for conservation. I joined the community to for a BBQ celebration and official opening of the Old Wharf Project.
- Volunteered for the Little River Pumpkin Festival. The Little River Pumpkin Festival is run annually as a school fundraiser for the Little River School. With the famous giant pumpkin growing competition. The festival is a big highlight for me.
- Attended the Single Fin Mingle Surfing festival in Sumner. Fabulous to see people out on the water and enjoying all that Sumner Village has to offer.
- Volunteered for Cholmondeley at Halswell Supermarket for a few hours. Great to be able to help an important charity within the electorate. I caught up with CEO Darel later in the month to see how their fundraising efforts went.
- Congratulated Dan and his team at Two Thumbs Harbourside about opening. The place was buzzing with people. Unfortunately, due to the flooding I had to cancel my Pub Politics there. I will be rescheduling for another next month.
- Visited the team at Aromaunga Baxters Flowers in Heathcote. They sell what they grow and pride themselves on keeping flowers affordable.
- Celebrated the reopening of Cashmere High’s gorgeous refurbished wharenui, Te iringa o Kahukura. This project was made possible thanks to the generous donation from founding pupil, the late Peter Brine, and his wife, the late Dr. Lynne Haye.
- Attended Somerfield Residents Association with Mayor Phil Mauger as the guest speaker. Perfect opportunity to have local and Central government in one room to ask all the important questions our residents have.
- Did some shopping at Little River and Mt Pleasant Farmers Market. Banks Peninsula is lucky to have so many fantastic Farmers Markets to choose from.
- Popped into meet to Richard and Jill from Fisherman’s Bay Gardens. They are passionate about their world-famous gardens and the Peninsula community. I cannot wait to go back in summer.
To keep up to date with everything I am doing, follow me:
Instagram: @vanessaweeninkbankspeninsulamp