I was honoured to show Prime Minister Christopher Luxon around the Banks Peninsula electorate last month.
It was a perfect opportunity to show-off some incredible local businesses and we even had time to drop into the Valley Inn Pub in Heathcote in the evening. Luxon enjoyed meeting locals and hearing from them some of the issues they have been facing. I am hoping to have him back again in Banks Peninsula soon.
July Update
- Spent the day with the PM around the electorate. We went and met the team at Argus and Chiptech, then we spent the evening speaking to tradies and locals at the Valley Inn Pub.
- Went to the Registered Masters House of the Year Awards. So many incredibly beautiful builds. Two of the three supreme awards were for new builds in Banks Peninsula electorate: Kennedys Bush and Redcliffs. Steve Brown Builders took out the Canterbury Supreme House of the Year Over $1m Award for their remarkable Redcliffs home. Saunders Building Limited also took out the Supreme House of the Year Under $1m Award for their build in Kennedy’s Bush.
- I was honoured to join my fellow colleagues and witness a beautiful rose be planted in celebration of 100 years of Rural Women New Zealand in the Wellington Botanic Garden. Our Government values the work RWNZ does, which is why we supported them in Budget 2025 with $250,000 to help them continue their vital work for rural women throughout New Zealand. I have also had the pleasure of meeting plenty of women who are working hard around rural areas in Banks Peninsula, either through conservation or community advocacy.
Community Update
My survey for the Dark Sky project has now closed. Thank you to the hundreds of people who took the time to compete the survey. Nearly 300 hundred people had their say and over 80 percent are in favour of having a Dark Sky Reserve in Banks Peninsula. I am now looking forward to working with the community to make part of Banks Peninsula become a Dark Sky reserve. Please keep up-to date with my progress through Facebook for regular updates.
Fantastic news for Halswell. Last year in August, Andrei Moore Councillor for Halswell made a petition asking for a safer crossing with 1568 signatures. His petition asked to stop cars turning right at pick up/op off times as a key priority and that NZTA starts work on a more comprehensive solution for this intersection in the long-term. Following on from this in November, I took the previous Minister of Transport Simeon Brown to meet Andrei and show him Halswell School's problematic crossing (vehicles turning right at pick up/drop off times can become dangerous for the School Patrol team and pedestrians).
Both the Christchurch City Council and NZTA have agreed to get this done. NZTA will also consider the request for a long-term solution as part of their ongoing safety programming in their next State Highway Investment Proposal. Huge kudos to Andrei Moore who continues to advocate for Halswell and get things done.
Good news for Westpac customers. After meeting many constitutes who all expressed their disappointment about the closing of the Ferrymead Westpac bank, Westpac has confirmed it will have services available for one day a week at the Redcliffs and Woolston libraries after the bank closes on August 8 at 2pm.
Redcliffs will operate from 10.30am-3.30pm on Tuesdays (starting August 12) and at Woolston on Thursdays, 9am–2pm (starting August 14).
My next Pub Politics will be at Protocol Bar and Restaurant in Cashmere on Thursday September 4 from 5.30-7pm. I am looking forward to discussing infrastructure and PHM with locals. For more details, please keep an eye out on my social media accounts if you want to come along.
Instagram: @vanessaweeninkbankspeninsulamp
National News:
- Scrapped surcharges a win for New Zealanders: We’re banning surcharges so consumers can shop with confidence knowing how much they will pay for their purchases. New Zealanders are paying up to $150 million in surcharges every year, including excessive surcharges of up to $65 million. That’s money that could be saved or spent elsewhere. (Beehive PR)
- Kiwibank gets green light to grow: Kiwibank has been given the green light to compete more vigorously with the big four Australian-owned banks that dominate the New Zealand banking sector. (Beehive PR)
- Stronger accountability for your rates: The Government is putting clear facts and figures directly into the hands of ratepayers. When ratepayers know more about how their council is performing and where their money is going, they can engage more effectively and ask the tough questions. (Beehive PR)
- Taking the next step in tackling boy racers: We’re taking action by bringing in much tougher penalties for idiots who use our streets as racetracks, putting others at risk. If they want to drive dangerously, they will face serious consequences – and they won’t like them. (Beehive PR)
- Farmer confidence at eight-year high: Farmer confidence has surged to the highest level in eight years - a clear sign of the resilience of New Zealand’s farmers and a sector leading the charge towards our goal of doubling export value in 10 years. (Beehive PR)
In the Media:
Media release I sent out about funding lift for Tawhaki July 24 Canterbury's Tāwhaki aerospace centre receives $5.85 million boost to expand operations - Chris Lynch Media
Story about Halswell schools pedestrian crossing July 28 Petition success: Safer crossing outside Halswell School on the way - Chris Lynch Media
Out and About in Banks Peninsula:
- Celebrated the Sumner Ferrymead Foundation Awards. It was brilliant to congratulate all the recipients and the community groups. Sumner Community Pool was given $10,000 for the Major Community Award.
- My Youth MP Daniel spent a few days in Wellington as a part of the Youth Parliament. Youth Parliament is held every three years and is a unique opportunity for young New Zealanders to learn first-hand about our democracy, influence government decision-making, and have their voices heard.
To keep up to date with everything I am doing, follow me:
Instagram: @vanessaweeninkbankspeninsulamp
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