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Civil Defence Minister George Hawkins has presented 12 Central Hawke's Bay Taskforce Green workers with certificates recognising their help following February's floods when he met the team for morning tea on a farm at Wallingford, near Porangahau in our Wairarapa electorate.
The team of long-term unemployed workers began the unpleasant job of clearing debris such as logs, silt, gorse and even dead stock, from farm fences in the area on 8 March.
Although initially expected to work for only three weeks, feedback from farmers had been so positive the team's employment period was twice extended to meet demand. They were then expected to finish last Friday.
Two of the workers have gained fulltime jobs during their involvement with the cleanup and five others have interviews with local contractors.
Written testimonials from farmers and others such as lifestyle block owners who had benefited from the team's assistance, were full of praise for the team's work ethic and positive attitude.
One farmer even commented that the team had lifted spirits at a time when it felt nothing positive was happening.
It's been dirty, heavy work that has also been utterly vital to getting farms back into production and my personal thanks go out to all involved.
Primary health care nurses can now expand their skills and knowledge, thanks to a new postgraduate diploma for rural nurses.
The programme will allow 40 rural nurses to study fulltime over two years. Students will be enrolled at Auckland University, with the diploma course jointly run by the University and the Institute of Rural Health.
The first 20 postgraduate students will enrol in July and another 20 start in February 2005.
Access to education has always been difficult for nurses from isolated, rural areas. This funding package allows for a national approach to support advanced study, which will ultimately help improve health outcomes for rural New Zealand.
The Ministry of Health's Clinical Training Agency (CTA) is helping develop and deliver the diploma, in consultation with rural communities and other rural health professionals. The diploma will be predominantly extramural, but will involve some classroom, clinical and onsite training.
Government funding will cover course fees, assistance with travel and accommodation costs and payments to employers to help replace nurses while they're studying.
A few weeks ago I talked about the new Charities Bill, introduced into the House on March 23 and given its first reading on March 30.
This has now been referred to the Social Services Select Committee, which I chair.
The Bill establishes a registration, reporting and monitoring system for charities, meaning information on charities will be more accessible to the public, while allowing charities to publicly demonstrate they have been registered as having and maintaining charitable purposes.
The Government intends to have the Bill passed into law late this year. Registrations are likely to be invited from mid-2005. Charitable organisations will then have up to 12 months to register before their tax status is affected.
A series of nationwide workshops have been arranged, one in Palmerston North this Thursday, April 22, at 6.30pm at Te Manawa Museum in Main Street, and another in Masterton, with the date and venue still to be confirmed.
In recognition of the size of the charitable sector and its interest in this Bill, the Ministry of Economic Development has set up a freephone number and has launched a website.
Interested people can phone 0508 242 748 or 0508 CHARITIES or visit www.charities.govt.nz for more information.
Wairarapa's two Primary Health Organisations have cut the cost of medical prescriptions for young people.
Instead of families paying around $15 per prescription, 6-17 year olds enrolled with their local PHO now pay only $3 as part of the Government's push to make primary health care affordable for everyone.
More than 3.1 million New Zealanders now belong to a Primary Health Organisation. Those in most needy areas and nearly 700,000 under-18s can expect a reduced cost per health visit and cheap prescriptions. From 1 July, people over-65 enrolled at their PHO also qualify for $3 prescriptions.
It's great to see the momentum of PHO enrolment in the Wairarapa area and the Government's commitment to providing affordable, targeted health care.
Wairarapa Community PHO has around 37,000 people enrolled and Tararua PHO has about 15,500. Everyone can benefit from a more holistic approach to healthcare, and that's what we want.
I believe the good health of the young and old provides fairness and security is an indicator of a decent society.
The Government don't want people taking risks by not seeing a doctor because they can't afford to. It's like knowing a car needs a new tyre before a road trip and not changing it because you can't pay for one - it's dangerous. I want people to be able to maintain their health by regular visits to their local practice.
This Sunday throughout the nation we will remember all who have served their country well in the many fields of conflict New Zealand has faced.
My thoughts are with those families whose loved ones did not return and with those whose lives were changed forever through the brutality of war. Also to those who have loved ones currently serving overseas.
We will remember them.
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