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Calls for a referendum to be held on the Civil Union Bill appeared to be exactly the situation a Royal Commission warned against.
The use of referenda was considered in 1986 in the Report of the Royal Commission on the Electoral System - Towards a Better Democracy. It concluded referenda, whether binding or not, should not be more frequently used in New Zealand to provide a more direct public input into the general legislative and executive processes of Government.
A major concern was the use of referenda "can pose very real threats to minority rights and interests". This is because referenda could be used for to vent intolerance and be employed by those wanting to manipulate public prejudices.
The Civil Union Bill, soon to be Act, is human rights legislation and civil unions are about ending discrimination. The idea that the majority of society could decide the human rights of other people though a referendum is clearly not appropriate.
People in Wairarapa could be interested to hear information about the Housing Innovation Fund is now available online. This will be a valuable resource for community groups and local councils.
Housing New Zealand Corporation launched this online resource for community-based organisations, local government and other housing providers, to help them provide more housing for people on low incomes or with special needs.
Housing Innovation Online is available at www.hnzc.co.nz. It provides information, contact details and a step-by-step guide for community-based organisations and local government to access funding, grants and low interest loans to develop affordable rental or home ownership opportunities.
This is one way we can foster creativity in working with community groups and councils to collaboratively increase the amount of available quality housing.
The Government is committed to providing community-based groups and local government with the tools they need to improve their communities. We're here to help them, but we realise that they are the people who know best the needs of local people and how to address them. That's why Housing Innovation Online is such an important step forward.
This is of particular interest to Wairarapa, as we have no state houses after National sold them all off.
Also of interest is that more families will be a step closer to home ownership following changes to Kiwibank In Reach home loan eligibility criteria.
The household income cap for a Kiwibank In Reach home loan will increase from $55,000 to $65,000, effective now.
Kiwibank In Reach is a two-year pilot programme to improve access to home ownership for low to middle income earners. It is a partnership between Kiwibank and Housing New Zealand Corporation.
The income cap adjustment recognises changes in the housing market and the need for people to have greater buying capability, particularly when there are families involved.
Many households are on joint incomes, with one primary earner and one part-timer, yet they are unable to get finance under standard lending criteria and previously would have earned too much to be eligible for a Kiwibank In Reach home loan.
These changes will give more working families across New Zealand opportunities to become homeowners.
But although the income cap for Kiwibank home loans has increased, affordability is still the key driver in lending decisions.
We want people to succeed in home ownership. Loans will only be approved for people who are able to service a loan, have a good credit rating and meet other eligibility criteria.
To find out more about a Kiwibank In Reach home loan, call 0800 272 278.
The Government is to establish a forum for former psychiatric patients who say they have suffered abuse while in hospital.
The Confidential Forum for Former In-Patients of Psychiatric Hospitals will ask former patients, their families and hospital staff members to tell of their experiences in psychiatric institutions.
The forum is designed to give former patients a chance to talk about their experiences in a non-critical and confidential environment and will refer people to appropriate existing agencies - such as ACC, the Health and Disability Commissioner or Police - where necessary. Professional counselling will also be made available.
The forum will be open to those who were inpatients in psychiatric hospitals before 1992. Those hospitalised after 1992 have greater access to complaints mechanisms under the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act passed that year. Family members of former patients and staff from psychiatric hospitals will also be able to participate.
The forum is expected to commence early next year and anyone wanting to take part should call the Department of Internal Affairs on 0800 225590.
This is my final column for the year and I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas and New Year.
You may be interested to know that from January 1 to December 1 this year my electorate offices have answered 3247 phone calls, 1278 people have come through the door and 4872 emails have been received and sent on behalf of constituents. This is just a small sample of the work my staff and I do for the people of Wairarapa.
My offices in Dannevirke and Masterton will close on December 16, 2004. Masterton will reopen on January 26, 2005, and Dannevirke on February 1. For urgent attention only please phone 0800 2 BEYER (0800 2 23937) and leave a message.
As you head off on holiday, please remember to wear your seatbelt, keep your speed down and don't drink and drive.
Kia Ora.
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