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Given the importance we in Wairarapa have put on our roading, I was saddened last week when National's Finance Spokesman, John Key, led the National party in voting against more than $2 billion in transport funding for the regions.
National's vote against this $2 billion boost to land transport funding came just one week after Transit published its draft state highway plan, which details spending priorities in every region.
Key signalled National's no money for transport policy in January when he said "this is not the time to be ramping up government spending".
National is stating loud and clear that it will not invest in making our roads safer, do anything to reduce congestion, to help business or to make things better for everybody that relies on their car, the bus or the train to get to work.
This Government thinks that fixing our transport system is important. That's why it's backing it with the largest land transport spending package ever, $18.9 billion over 10 years.
This Government is investing in improving things for all New Zealanders. But in transport, as in so many other areas, all National wants to do is slash spending that will benefit all New Zealanders.
The Customs and Excise (Motor Spirits) Amendment Bill had its second reading last week. The Bill will enable around $2 billion to be raised, all of which will be diverted into the National Land Transport Fund.
National and Act voted against it.
I will be meeting Transport Minister Pete Hodgson this week to discuss Transit's draft 10 year plan, its implication for Wairarapa and concerns raised at the Hill Road Committee Meeting, which I attended.
Particular issues are the Waiohine bridge, Muldoon's corner and the Pahiatua Track.
An advertising campaign has been launched to urge New Zealand families to find out what they can gain from the Working for Families package.
The ads will raise awareness of 1 April increases to Family Assistance and the Accommodation Supplement, and 3 October increases to Childcare Assistance.
From 1 April this year, 260,000 families - about 55 percent of all families - will be entitled to more money from Working for Families.
It is important that all New Zealand families are aware of these new entitlements to ensure they have the chance to benefit from the extra support.
The ads will encourage families to check their entitlement by visiting the Working for Families website or calling the free phone numbers.
Key changes from 1 April are:
- Family support will increase by $25 a week for the first child and $15 a week for each additional child.
- Maximum rates for the Accommodation Supplement will increase in a number of areas to reflect the growing cost of housing - particularly in Central and North Auckland.
- Foster Care Allowance, Unsupported Childs Benefit and Orphans Benefit will all increase by $15 per child.
From October there will be a 10 percent increase in child subsidy rates on top of last year's initial 10percent rise. This means working families will be eligible for up to $156 per week, per child in childcare assistance. In addition to these changes, childcare assistance is now available to families on higher incomes.
The freephone number for Family Assistance information is 0800 227 773 and for Accommodation and Childcare is 0800 774 004.
I join Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton in welcoming news that the Medicines Classification Committee has recommended that tablet forms of the decongestant phenylephrine should be available for sale over-the-counter.
Phenylephrine has similar decongestant properties to pseudoephedrine, but it cannot be converted into the illegal and dangerous drug, methamphetamine or P.
This is good news for people who have a real use for these sorts of drugs and good news for pharmacists who will be able to stock products that don't have any value to the illicit drug fraternity.
Phenylephrine can already be sold over-the-counter in liquid forms in New Zealand, but this new classification means that the pill and capsule forms of decongestants preferred by most adults will be more easily available in the future.
Prime Minister and Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Helen Clark has launched Te Ara: the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, the first original, official, digital, national encyclopedia in the world.
Te Ara is being published by theme over the next seven years and has been developed by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
Te Ara is online at www.TeAra.govt.nz
I would like to encourage schools to apply for an NZ Glass Environmental Fund grant. Several Wairarapa schools have been successful in past years and it would be great to see more this year. Information is available at www.recycleglass.co.nz
Congratulations to Hillcrest School's Shayla Gimblett for her swimming achievements. Shayla may well go on to represent New Zealand if her recent success is anything to go by, so keep up the great work and good luck in the National Age Grade Champs.
Another sporting achiever is Charlotte Kight, of Akitio, Charlotte has been selected for the Western Flyers netball squad at the age of 16. Well done and good luck to you in the under 19 trials later in the year.
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