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My thanks for all the letters and emails I have received regarding suggested changes to the way some medicines are dispensed.
Mainly people are concerned that any changes will force local pharmacies, such as Greytown's, out of business.
Naturally as the local MP I am also concerned about this and have taken this up with both the Minister of Health, Hon Annette King, and PHARMAC.
Annette has informed me that it is the responsibility of the district health boards to ensure access to pharmacy services and that the Ministry of Health's DHB Funding and Performance Directorate has written to PHARMAC wanting more information on how areas such as Wairarapa will be affected.
As the Minister, Annette will not be directly involved in the decision-making process but has assured me that she expects PHARMAC to take the points raised in submissions into account before making a final decision.
PHARMAC received hundreds of submissions and I know that many came from Wairarapa.
Points raised included the cost to low income earners if they have to pay for expensive medicines in lump sums, possible wastage if medicines aren't used, access to much-needed advice and storage of large quantities of medicines.
These are all valid concerns and are certainly things PHARMAC will have to take into consideration.
I certainly do not want to see the loss of any of our pharmacies in Wairarapa and will do all that I can to prevent this.
Often I am sent copies of letters constituents have sent to ministers. My staff don't acknowledge these, as they are only for my information, and will only do so if I am specifically asked for a reply.
When I am in the electorate offices I read the incoming and outgoing correspondence but anything urgent is faxed to me if I am in Parliament.
I am concerned that there is a misunderstanding as to why some letters are not answered and I can assure you that if they are addressed to me, they will be answered and dealt with.
Many thanks to Marshall Coley, who runs the Pathways Training Work Confidence Course in Masterton.
After five weeks, his efforts have seen nine of the 25 longtime unemployed clients on his course placed in work, two undertaking further study, one found to have moved and a further nine having benefit sanctions.
Marshall has shown there are options other than benefits and that there are jobs out there.
You might be interested to know between May 5 and 29 my website had 1407 "hits", which averages out to just over 56 a day. Most of these came from within New Zealand and Australia, but some came from countries including Singapore, Sweden, Japan, the US and the UK.
Also of interest is that my electorate offices have almost achieved a 15 percent power saving over the past month, just by turning off lights, switching the computers off at the wall and only running the photocopiers when needed.
Along with many other Wairarapa electorate residents, we are all trying to do our bit.
Throughout the country New Zealanders have responded brilliantly to the call for electricity savings of 10 percent.
Power saving efforts are now paying off and I congratulate everyone who has heeded the Target 10% campaign.
But we can't become complacent. Although the risk of shortages have reduced it is important to keep saving power, as winter has only just begun.
Heavy demand for electricity could still put the system under pressure if people suddenly give up their power conservation efforts, so we need to keep up the savings for a few more weeks to make sure we put the risk of winter power shortages behind us.
Congratulations to Masterton artist Robin White, JP and former councillor Ken Wilton and Major Tony Downey on their Queens Birthday honours.
Wairarapa is always well represented in the list of honours recipients, which is something we can all be proud of.
Finally I would like to offer my support to Masterton Mayor Bob Francis for a speedy recovery from his recent major heart surgery. Also to Mayoress Eva and the Francis family as they endure this difficult time.
Get well soon Bob.
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