The Week That Was - 16 August 2024

Sunday Funday!

I was back at the Papamoa Community Market last Sunday. Thanks to everyone who called in for a chat and catch up! I'll be back again on Sunday 1 September. 

Coffee Catch ups – It was great to see you!

Superblues with Katie Nimon MP for Napier

A great turnout for Monday’s Super Blues with guest speaker Katie Nimon MP for Napier. It was such a vibrant, interesting and informative event. Thanks for your insight, Katie and for answering the hard questions!

Next Super Blues Event

Monday 9 September, 10am, Mount Maunganui Bridge Club. 

Please join me for my monthly Bay of Plenty SuperBlues. If you are keen to attend or know more, please contact us at [email protected].

Traffic Light System Introduced - Jobseekers

Local Water Done Well delivers certainty for the Bay of Plenty

Our Government has delivered Local Water Done Well, ending the era of Labour’s failed Three Waters reforms, and delivering certainty for our council and ratepayers. 

“After six years and $1.25 billion wasted by Labour on an expensive water scheme that would have stripped councils of their water assets and imposed co-governance, our Government has turned the page. 

“Labour said that Local Water Done Well could not be done, but after just nine months we have delivered a huge win that will deliver for the Bay of Plenty. Our plan restores local control over water assets and ensures new models to provide for financially sustainable investment in water infrastructure. This will reduce the burden on taxpayers.

“The Local Government Funding Agency (LGFA) can immediately begin lending to water council-controlled organisations (CCOs) that are financially supported by their parent council or councils. LGFA will support financing for water CCOs of up to 500% of operating revenues, around twice that of existing councils.

“This will enable our council to better manage debt and make essential investments in infrastructure without inflicting drastic rate hikes on our residents. Our model provides councils with the flexibility and tools to meet their unique needs, as we know that one size does not fit all.

“Our plan will enable our council to ensure that all of us in the Bay of Plenty can continue to enjoy clean and safe water, with lower costs to ratepayers. Labour had six years to do this but failed at every corner. We did it in just 9 months, because we know that you elected us to deliver for you.”

The legislation to implement the new water service deliver models and other settings is expected to be introduced in December 2024 and passed by mid-2025.

The Instep Young Leaders' Forum

This forum gives secondary students a voice on local issues of importance as well as building future networks in the Bay of Plenty.

Priority One’s Instep programme supports our community’s pipeline of future talent by fostering a partnership between local business and schools. It recognises that for Tauranga Moana to have a sustainable supply of the talent local businesses need to invest in our young people.

The Instep programme had its beginnings in the early 2000s when a member of the business community called out schools for not delivering students with the skills employers needed.

This prompted a conversation between a local secondary school principal and the business owner, which resulted in economic development agency Priority One establishing a two-year Industry and Schools Training and Enterprise Partnership (Instep), with funding support from New Zealand Trade & Enterprise.

Upcoming Coffee Catch Ups

Monday 2 September - Te Puna

Welcoming new business to our community

Loved supporting new businesses in our Bay of Plenty Electorate! Make sure you visit the new Mocha n more in Toorea street, Papamoa.

It’s a new local hot spot for great coffee, scrolls and scones. All the best team!

Iconic Pines Get a Maintenance Check

The iconic Papamoa Pines situated at the beach end of Domain Road have stood for generations as a backdrop to family holidays for visitors and locals alike. Representing all that is Papamoa’s main beach.

Due to some of the tall pines dying and becoming a danger to our community, the works around that area to remove them will continue over the next week by a very skilled arborist team.

Oropi Branch Event

RSVP to attend here: Oropi Branch Event with Todd McClay

Residents Clinics kick off

Looking forward to catching up with residents of Pacific Coast Village and Ocean Shores Avida soon. See below for dates/details.

If you'd like me to come along to your village, please reach out to my office. I'd love to come.

Controversial road re-opens after two years of closures

A new trial for Links Avenue gives people more access to the street. Photo: Supplied / John Borren / SunLive

Residents of a Mount Maunganui Street have welcomed greater access to their homes after dealing with "pretty tough" closures for two years.

The eastern end of Links Avenue was closed from 7am to 9am and 2pm to 4pm on weekdays due to safety concerns, but the council is trialling a new system.

People can now enter and leave Links Ave from the same end of the street at any time.

Motorists can also enter from one end and leave from other end, as long as it's been more than 15 minutes, without facing a fine.

The controversial cul-de-sac, formed by two bus lanes between Solway Place and Concord Ave, has been in place since March 2022.

Originally it was going to be a four-month trial in response to safety concerns around the high traffic volumes while children travelled to and from school.

The street has undergone a number of changes in access times, while vehicle movements have dropped from 7500 to 3500 per day since the closure.

Initially the street was shut at all times, but in December 2022 it became peak times, seven days a week.

In mid-2023, the closure hours were reduced, and it was fully open on weekends.

During closure periods, only buses, motorbikes and emergency vehicles could use the street.

Full Article : Controversial road re-opens after two years of closures | RNZ News

Fresh Choice Papamoa – Choice!

Fantastic to meet owner of Fresh Choice Papamoa – Simon Doole.

Great insight into the local operation and the way it serves our community…it’s definitely “Where Fresh Meets Local”

There’s more to it than you think. A guided tour throughout all departments definitely enlightened me as to what a tight operation Simon and his team run. Such a great local business!

Playing Host – Andrew Bayley MP

So good to host Minister of Small Business and Manufacturing Andrew Bayly MP in the Bay of Plenty this week.

We visited many local businesses, including Evergreen Garden Care, Winstone Wallboards, Oasis Engineering, and Trimax Mowing.

The manufacturing sector accounts for 10% of GDP, 60% of our exports, and employs 230,000 people. So, it's important we're giving them the best opportunity to succeed.

Get In Touch – Bay of Plenty Electorate Office

3/9 Domain Road, Papamoa or phone on 07 542 0505

This week at a glance:

Over 1000 children no longer growing up in motels

The Government’s plan to end the large-scale use of emergency housing is working, with new figures showing a 32 per cent reduction in the number of households living in motels, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says.

Sports Minister congratulates NZ’s Olympians

New Zealand’s Olympic Team in Paris has delivered our country’s best-ever result at an Olympic Games with heart-stopping performances that will go down in NZ sporting history and a record medal tally, Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop says.

Funding f­­or regional flood resilience confirmed

Flood resilience projects protecting communities across the regions could get started as early as this year, with funding from the regional infrastructure Fund now confirmed, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says.

ACC regulatory changes will improve access to treatment

ACC Minister Matt Doocey says more paramedic and audio metrist treatment will soon be available to treat ACC clients, as part of a set of regulatory changes.

New Zealand to benefit from end to gene tech ban

The Government is ending New Zealand’s nearly 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab in a move which will bring health, productivity and climate gains for New Zealanders.

Minister meets Stop Smoking providers to drive Smokefree

Associate Health Minister Casey Costello is meeting with all of the country’s frontline stop smoking service providers this week to ensure New Zealand reaches the Smokefree 2025 goal.

 Government agrees approach for accelerating Māori development

Tōia mai te waka, ki te urunga te waka, ki te moenga te waka, ki te takotoranga i takoto ai te waka!

The Government will modernise its approach to Māori development and accelerate opportunities for the Māori economy through improving Māori GDP per capita, reducing regulatory burdens, and activating opportunities for access to capital.

NZ supporting wellbeing of children in the Pacific

Improving the well-being of children across the Pacific is an important development focus arear for New Zealand, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says.

Rapid payments for terminally ill Lake Alice survivors

The coalition Government is urgently making financial assistance available for survivors of the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit) who are terminally ill.

Cost of living relief welcome

Wednesday's cut in the Official Cash Rate (OCR) to 5.25 per cent is welcome relief for families and businesses, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says

RSE Scheme revitalised, and cap increased

The coalition Government is supporting the growth of New Zealand’s horticulture and viticulture industries, by revitalising the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Scheme and increasing the cap for the comin season.

Government acts on disability review findings

Immediate action will be taken to stabilise the disability support system after an independent review found the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha was ‘ill-prepared’ to deliver these services when it was established in 2022

Improving fairness and ease of doing business

A raft of reforms to modernise and simplify company law will make New Zealand an easier and safer place to do business Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.

Overwhelming demand to open charter schools  

Associate Education Minister David Seymour says the Charter Schools Agency (CSA) has received 78 applications to open new charter schools, or to convert existing state schools to charter schools. 

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I’m a Local, Just Like You!

Thanks,
Tom

Tom Rutherford
MP for Bay of Plenty

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