We are officially over halfway through the year, so I’m pleased to say we have received positive feedback from Banks Peninsula residents regarding my Dark Sky Project. Over 80 per cent of survey respondents have said they want a Dark Sky Reserve in Banks Peninsula.
June Update
- My office team travelled to Little River and put a drop-off box at the Little River Inn. This is for people who want to submit their completed survey or need to pick one up.
- Joined Hamish Campbell MP for Ilam for a tour of the new Canterbury Museum. We got to have a tour of some of the fantastic exhibition items which are having a little TLC while they are being stored.
- Met Shelley, owner of the New Zealand brand Furmoo. Founded in 2016, Furmoo was created with the vision of making beautiful, high-quality footwear and handbags that are accessible to everyone. It was great to see the factory in action, and to see women in business working hard to keep quality made products coming out of Canterbury for the whole world to enjoy.
- Spoke at Palmerston North’s National Party event. It was pleasure to meet other National Party supporters from the North Island.
- Visited the Wainuiomata sanctuary team with Grant McCallum MP for Northland. The sanctuary is hoping to become NZ’s largest predator-proof sanctuaries. It’s a haven for rare birds like kākāpō and kiwi. Can’t wait to see this amazing conservation project come to life.
Community Update
My survey for the Dark Sky initiative has been sent out to rural residents, and I have also launched an online Dark Sky survey. Please check out my Facebook page if you would like to submit your thoughts on the project. Feedback so far has been positive, and I am looking forward to working with the community to make part of Banks Peninsula become a Dark Sky reserve.
My Pub Politics at Two Thumb Redcliffs was well attended. Great to chat with heaps of locals from Redcliffs and Sumner about all things political to local issues. Special thanks to those who also travelled further to come along. I will be having another Pub Politics in Cashmere soon, please keep an eye out on my social media accounts if you want to come along.
Instagram: @vanessaweeninkbankspeninsulamp
National News:
- GPs to receive record funding boost: General practices are set to benefit from the largest funding boost in New Zealand’s history – because frontline care starts with your local GP. (Beehive PR)
- Minister welcomes launch of draft National Infrastructure Plan: The Government is launching a 30-year National Infrastructure Plan to improve how we plan, fund, maintain and build our infrastructure. (Beehive PR)
- Flood of interest to invest in New Zealand: Since only April – less than three months – Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has received 189 applications for the Active Investor Plus visa, significantly more than the 116 applications received over more than two-and-a-half years under previous settings. (Beehive PR)
- Supermarkets warned about unfair practices: Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis has written to the major supermarkets to restate the basic expectation that they take all steps needed to comply with the Fair-Trading Act and ensure Kiwi shoppers are not subjected to misleading price claims. (Beehive PR)
- Changes for prescribing ADHD medications: Our Government has welcomed prescribing changes that will enable GPs and nurse practitioners to diagnose and treat adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). (Beehive PR)
Delivered flyers around Christchurch with local National Party MPs and volunteers. Always a pleasure to chat with Cantabrians on their doorsteps and hear about the issues affecting them most.
In the Media:
Newstalk June 27th: Politics Friday with Vanessa Weenink and Megan Woods: Takutai Tarsh Kemp, virtual GPs, Moana Pasifika funding
Avenues Magazine June 30th: Tūrangawaewae — Avenues Magazine
Out and About in Banks Peninsula:
- Celebrated Lyttelton locals at the Naval Point Yacht Club for the Matariki Awards. Proceeds from the event went to Cholmondeley, who provide vital services to children and their families in need.
- Put my gumboots on again and planted some native plants at Takapūneke Reserve in Akaroa. Over 100 plants are now in the ground thanks to all the volunteers.
- Met with Heathcote City Councillor candidate Nathaniel Herz Jardine to hear about what he hopes to achieve if he wins the Heathcote ward.
- Visited St Anne’s, Te Whaka Una and Halswell school principles to have a chat up and discuss how they will benefit from the new education budget.
- Had a walk-through of the old Hollywood cinema in Sumner before it re-opened as a new Silky Otter cinema. Wonderful to see this iconic building kept as a revitalised cinema for locals to enjoy.
- Attended the Halswell Resident Association monthly meeting. Fantastic to hear about all the new infrastructure and shops which are being built for the growing community.
- Joined New World Halswell’s food drive. Great to have the Halswell community come together to help those need.
- My Youth MP Daniel has been busy out in the community gathering information on his parliament working group question “How can organisations use sport and physical activity to improve the lives of young people?” Looking forward to catching up with him this month and hearing about the results.
To keep up to date with everything I am doing, follow me:
Instagram: @vanessaweeninkbankspeninsulamp