The Week That Was - 9 August 2024

That's a wrap for the 88th Annual National Party conference!

We are the party for workers, for law and order, and for rural NZ. We are the party that rebuilds the economy, so we have more money for health and education.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced the ‘Maths Action Plan' to support students in study. This is great news for our Bay of Plenty electorate!

We are accelerating the shift to a new maths curriculum – so from Term 1 next year, your child will be learning maths based on a new world-leading, knowledge rich maths curriculum – similar to countries like Singapore and Australia.

• We’re also rolling out top-quality resources to support teachers for every school – giving parents in the Bay of Plenty and across the country the confidence that their child will succeed.
• Anyone wanting to train as a teacher will need at least NCEA Level 2 maths and we’ll invest $20 million for professional development in structured maths for teachers.
• Every child will have twice yearly assessments for maths in primary schools from the start of 2025 – and we’ll have small group interventions to support students who have fallen significantly behind.

New Council Sworn In

The New Tauranga City Council has been sworn in. Congratulations to new Mayor Mahé Drysdale, Deputy Mayor Jen Scoular, and all other elected Councillors.

This is positive for the city - Sam Uffindell MP and I look forward to working alongside them to achieve the best possible outcomes.

10 Years in the Making!

2014 vs 2024. The kid in this photo would have never believed that in only 10 years’ time, he would stand next to the former Prime Minister Sir John Key again, but this time as the MP for his beautiful home, Bay of Plenty.

Upcoming Coffee Catch Ups

Saturday 10 August - Welcome Bay & Maungatapu

Friday 16 August - Papamoa East & Papamoa

Monday 2 September - Te Puna

Papamoa Community Market this Sunday - See you there!

Come on down to Te Manawa ō Pāpāmoa School and spend a great morning at the Pāpāmoa Community Market. It’s an all-weather market, rain, hail or shine –running every Sunday morning. Don’t worry, if it is raining, there are indoor facilities.

The Pāpāmoa Community Market will change your Sunday morning – come together with family, friends, and community to enjoy and support local businesses.

Funding for Bay of Plenty Events

The Government is set to provide a funding boost for nine Bay of Plenty events and five Hauraki and Coromandel events to attract more people to the area.

“Local events, whether large or small, are fantastic opportunities for New Zealanders to explore and experience what the Bay of Plenty has to offer,” says Bay of Plenty MP Tom Rutherford.

“Exciting events in our area receiving funding include the Bay of Plenty Garden and Art Festival, Toi Kiri, National Jazz Festival, Local Wild Food Festival, Ōhiwa Oyster Festival, Zespri Aims Games, Flavours of Plenty Festival, Echo Walking Festival, and X AIR.

“We are ensuring our support targets events identified by Regional Tourism Organisations and local councils as opportunities to draw more domestic visitors to our region.”

Tom says the nine events selected for funding were chosen based on their potential to encourage New Zealanders to venture beyond the main centres.

2024 Flavours of Plenty Festival - Saltwater waitress Rachel Baker at the Battle of the Snack event. Photo / Tourism Bay of Plenty.

Full story - SunLive - Govt cash for events to lift regional tourism - The Bay's News First

Papamoa College - School expansion back on track

A Bay of Plenty school property project paused earlier this year is now going ahead. The Pāpāmoa College new school expansion project will proceed with changes, with construction already underway.

A $60 million building project for the expansion of Pāpāmoa College was put on hold in February in the face of rising costs, budget cuts, changing roll growth forecasts, and reprioritisation, the Ministry of Education said at the time.

"The expansion project at Pāpāmoa College was to provide additional capacity to the school through the construction of an administration block, a technology block, two teaching blocks, a second sports hall and whare," ministry head of property Sam Fowler said.

"The two teaching blocks have been delivered, and construction on the administration and technology blocks is under way.

"In January this year, the college was advised that the construction of the whare and additional sports hall were paused while the relative priority of this investment was considered," he said.

In a statement this week, MP for Bay of Plenty Tom Rutherford said he was thrilled that students in Bay of Plenty would have "safe, warm, and dry" classrooms. The ministry has completed its value for money reviews of 352 ministry-led projects, 252 of which will proceed, either as planned or with changes.

The ministry was prioritising redevelopments, roll growth, and new school projects so funding was directed to where it is most needed. This aimed to address immediate capacity and overcrowding risks to alleviate pressure on school networks.

"In Budget 24 we made a $1.5 billion investment over four years into school property, with $400m going into school property growth," Rutherford said.

"I look forward to seeing construction completed at Papamoa College and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Kura Kokiri with the support of this Budget 2024 funding."

Rutherford says the Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Kura Kokiri roll growth project will proceed as planned, with construction starting on September 24.- SunLive

Oropi Branch Event

RSVP to attend here: Oropi Branch Event with Todd McClay

Own a piece of Kiwiana!

Here’s your chance to own a piece of controversial Kiwiana – born out of New Zealand politics in the 1970” s featuring Sir Robert Muldoon

This portrait aptly named PIGGY BANK is currently in an exhibition being held at the Beehive until October.

This piece has kindly been donated by the artist “The Bushman’s Son” to sell in a silent auction, but you need to be quick and register your interest with me as it is also marked for sale in Parliament.

High School Vibes

Had to jump on the “share what you looked like at high school" trend. This one was tucked away on the camera roll…

Get In Touch – Bay of Plenty Electorate Office

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

This week at a glance:

Innovating to reduce manufacturing emissions

A new set of tools to support manufacturers to grow their business and reduce their emissions has been launched by Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Andrew Bayly and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts.

New Healthy School Lunch programme major milestone

Associate Education Minister David Seymour is inviting food manufacturers, producers, wholesalers, and distributors to register their interest in the new and improved Healthy School Lunches program

Accelerating Social Investment

Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis is calling for expressions of interest for the new Social Investment Board, and the Public Service Commission is seeking a Chief Executive for the new Social Investment Agency.

Bright start to term three attendances

Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that attendance improvements over the first two weeks of term three show that when the government takes education seriously, so do New Zealanders. 

More accountability to get maths back on track

Education Minister Erica Stanford is announcing stronger accountability measures for the education system as part of the Government’s plan to turn around New Zealand’s unacceptable rates of maths achievement

New Zealand opts out of joint standard

New Zealand will opt out of the Australia New Zealand joint infant formula standard, Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard says.

Govt delivers on overdue Christchurch ED unit 

Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says delivery of a long overdue Emergency Observation Unit for Christchurch Hospital will reduce admissions, free up valuable resources across the hospital and help deliver on shorter stays in Emergency Departments.

Passport wait times reduced by half  

Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says wait times for passports have halved since an upgrade to the passport processing software in March caused unexpected delays to passport processing times. 

Government refreshes CAA Board

Transport Minister Simeon Brown has announced a refreshed board for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to ensure that the organisation is focussed on delivery.

Further funding boost for second phase in exotic caulerpa battle

Efforts to contain and remove exotic caulerpa seaweed have received a $10 million funding injection to drive the ongoing development of new tools and techniques, says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard.

New direction for Public Service

The Government has issued a new Workforce Policy Statement outlining expectations and priorities for employment relations across the Public Sector, with a strong emphasis on fiscal sustainability and performance, Minister for the Public Service Nicola Willis says.

Taxpayer money being spent on children first

After years of allowing money to slide through the cracks Oranga Tamariki is finally taking financial control of its funding for external service providers, says Children’s Minister Karen Chhour.

Unlocking Local Water Done Well: New water service delivery models

New water service delivery models that will drive crucial infrastructure investment have been approved by Cabinet, immediately providing improved access to finance for water council-controlled organisations (CCOs), Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly have announced. 

More certainty around earthquake-prone buildings

The Government is moving at pace to provide greater certainty about the seismic risk system, by progressing a Bill that extends the remediation deadline for earthquake-prone buildings, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.

New intake of Peer Support Specialists in training

Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey says contracts for his $1million peer workforce fund are in place and training has begun for some of the Peer Support Specialists, an important step in growing the peer support workforce.

Minister McClay to take agriculture and trade visit to India

Agriculture and Trade, Minister Todd McClay will undertake an agriculture, forestry and trade visit to India next week to strengthen relationships, unlock opportunities and promote New Zealand businesses.

Construction sector productivity the same as 1985

A new report highlights major and widespread productivity challenges facing the construction sector, underlining the importance of the government’s plan to make it easier and more affordable to build, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.

Creating a sustainable immigration system

The coalition Government is creating a more sustainable immigration system by adjusting international visa costs, says Immigration Minister Erica Stanford.

Government to clarify discharge consenting

Clarifications to discharge consenting provisions in the Resource Management Act will provide certainty for agricultural and horticultural producers, making sure councils continue to manage discharge consents in a practical way, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. 

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I’m a Local, Just Like You!

Thanks,
Tom

Tom Rutherford
MP for Bay of Plenty

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