Vanessa Weenink - August Update

Spring is nearly here, and I have been reflecting on almost 2 years of being the MP for Banks Peninsula. It’s been a busy and brilliant 2 years since becoming the MP. After spending 20 years as a GP, my experience as a doctor has come in handy helping me listen carefully to constituents and work through practical solutions to the challenges they face.

August Update:

Joined Hamish Campbell MP for Ilam for a tour of the Airforce Museum. It was brilliant to have Brett Marshall taking us for a “behind the scenes” tour. Great to hear about the new plans for building a hangar. We even got to step inside the Hercules, which might have been the one I went to East Timor on!
Hosted Chris Penk, Minister for Building and Construction, Minister for Land Information, and Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing. We jam-packed the day with a tour of the GIB factory, met the Master Builders house of the year winners, I showed Chris around PMH, followed by a tour of Pak World and had another tour of the Super Home in Balmoral. This was a perfect opportunity to show the Minister all the amazing work that is happening here but most importantly, the people making it a reality in Banks Peninsula.
Joined the Prime Minister and Hamish Campbell MP for Ilam to celebrate the Indian community in Christchurch.
Spoke to students at my old High School Marlborough Girls with MPs Damien O’Connor, Glen Bennett, and Stuart Smith. It was fantastic to speak to students about our Parliamentary system and the importance of voting.
Joined Erica Standford Minister for Education and James Meager Minister for the South Island at Somerfield School to watch the rock star math times table challenge North Island vs South Island. Little River School was the best team from the South Island, so the next day I went and dropped off treats to congratulate the teachers and students at the school.

Community Updates:

This month, I will be having my next Pub Politics at Protocol Restaurant and Bar from 5.30-7pm on Thursday September 4th. If you would like to come along, please email me Vanessa.Weenink@parliament.govt.nz to register. I will be discussing local infrastructure and asking people what they think should happen to PMH.

Soon most households in the BP electorate will receive my survey asking people their thoughts on banning social media use for under 16s. I believe this bill could have a positive effect on our next generation but keen to hear everyone’s opinions.

On that note, brilliant news for the East. Funding for Christchurch’s new Pages Road bridge has been confirmed. Replacement of the earthquake-damaged Pages Road bridge in Christchurch will proceed, with Government funding of $38.5 million approved by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA). As a critical evacuation route, the importance of the Pages Road bridge renewal project was recognised by this Government with its inclusion in the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme. It is currently the highest priority capital improvement project for Christchurch City Council, but until now we had no taxpayer funding allocated for it. The existing roads either side of the Pages Road bridge are also prone to flooding and erosion. This funding will also help those roads to be raised and upgraded at the same time as the bridge replacement work. With the business case and co-funding now approved, Christchurch City Council expects the project to move into construction, once consenting phase is completed.

My two community drop-in sessions in Little River and Halswell were both well-attended.

It was great to spend the day on the Peninsula and chat more about my Dark Sky project. I also bumped into Tony from Caldera Estate in Little River. Caldera has been closed since May’s torrential rainfall. I was glad to hear from Tony that his new team will be back open for business this October. Later in the month, I had another community catch up in Halswell. This was a perfect opportunity for people to come and have a chat about the new Primary School in Halswell.

National News:

OCR - Falling interest rates good for growth and jobs: The Reserve Bank announced today that it was reducing the Official Cash Rate (OCR) from 3.25 to 3 per cent and signalled two further reductions this year. (Beehive PR)
Biggest building consent system reform in decades: The Government is announcing the biggest change to the building consent system since the Building Act came into force in 2004. (Beehive PR)
First Fast-track project approved: The Port of Auckland wharf expansion project has today received its approval from an expert panel set up under the Fast-track Approvals Act. (Beehive PR)
Boosting competition for affordable electricity: The Government is taking competition in the electricity market seriously because more competition means Kiwis can have access to more affordable electricity. (Beehive PR)
Writing Action Plan to raise student achievement: The Government is delivering a Writing Action Plan to supercharge writing achievement and better set Kiwi kids up for success.  (Beehive PR)

In the Media:

Politics Friday: MPs call out poor communication around Canterbury police reshuffle: Politics Friday: MPs call out poor communication around Canterbury police reshuffle

Are council staff listening to residents over the Sumner mast lights: Facebook

Christchurch MPs clash over Labour’s Peeni Henare backing gang patches: Facebook

Out and about in Banks Peninsula:

Walked down the catwalk for a good cause. I modelled in the Harbour Couture fundraiser event for the Governors Bay Jetty with fellow Councillors and Politicians. I was lucky enough to be dressed by the team at To Be Continued. The event raised more than $19,000 towards the rebuild of Governors Bay Jetty.
Dropped off some clothes for Daffies- Preloved Clothing drive. Daffies is a quality second-hand shop, run by the Cancer Society with profits going back to help those in the community who are battling cancer.
Had a stall at the Mt Pleasant Farmers Market to hear feedback on the proposed changes to the Lyttelton Police Station.
Went along to the Halswell Resident Associations AGM. Congratulations to the Halswell Pottery group who won the community board community service award.  
Door knocked over a hundred people in Halswell to have a chat and hear about their concerns for Halswell.
I visited Somerfield, Little River, and Governors Bay Schools. Fantastic to visit all these awesome schools and speak more about the new learning curriculum.
Volunteered as a Marshal for the Halswell Parkrun. It was 4 degrees, and some very hardy souls committed to the run. Such a great spot for Halswell residents to enjoy all year round.