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Photos

Tree Planting

Brendon and Mayor Bob Parker helped plant a tree recently outside Science Alive to mark a world-wide treeplaning initiative.

‘Axe the Tax’ GST Bus in Christchurch

Parliament cleaner’s dispute

I joined the protest at Parliament by cleaners who are paid the minimum wage to clean MPs offices; it’s a disgrace for these mostly Pacific Island women to be paid so little when they work overnight – and when many other cleaners are earning $2 an hour more.

Christchurch Guangdong Association dinner

The Year of the Tiger was kicked off in style at a dinner hosted by the Christchurch Guangdong Association, which myself and Lianne Dalziel attended, along her husband Robbie Davidson,  Chinese friends, Patrick O’Connor and Claire Phillips.

AMI Stadium Deans stand

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the lucky MP whose electorate includes AMI Stadium, I was priviledged to attend the opening of the new Deans stand. It’s a fantastic facility, completed to budget and well ahead of the Rugby World Cup Games here next year.  Well done council, VBase and all involved. I took along a ball so for once in my life I could claim to have touched down on that hallowed turf! Local identities attending included Phlllipstown School principal, Tony Simpson, pictured here with me.

White Ribbon Day

Annette Gillespie of Christchurch Women’s Refuge pins a White Ribbon on me while Mayoress Jo Parker does honours for Clayton Cosgrove. Clayton and I were supporting an event for White Ribbon Day, the campaign against violence to women.

On the Hurunui River

Had the opportunity yesterday to visit and experience the magic Hurunui River, about an hour and half north of Christchurch. Fish and Game, Forest and Bird and others hosted the visit. Got the chance to raft a few kms down the north branch to where it meets the south branch of the River. Breathtaking scenery and wonderful water, even if the rock snot is thick in parts.  In August a conservation order was granted for the North Branch, but not the South Branch. The Hurunui Water Project had earlier sought resource consents to dam the river and to take water for irrigation. Last month it announced a delay in its applications for resource consents for up to a year so that the Canterbury Water Management Strategy could address the issue of water storage. I hope better options can be found.

 

No wrap at this school

 
 
Our Lady of Fatima School is becoming unwrapped. Well, at least the lunches of the children who attend the school.

Teacher Vicky Reid had the children in her class do a project analysing the waste resulting from wrapped food in lunchboxes. There was heaps of gladwrap and paper and other rubbish.

Now, across the school, children are being encouraged to bring their lunch without wrapping. Some have special boxes with compartments, others are just being more inventive at keeping different foods separate.
 
As Labour’s Associate Environment spokesman, I was thrilled to visit Our Lady of Fatima and thank the children for their initiative. The result of their efforts is that literally tonnes of avoidable waste will not be generated. The children are also monitoring power use and making paper bricks for enclosed fires from waste paper.  They are an inspiration to all of us adults.

Vodaphone

Just finished a most enjoyable and stimulating three days at Vodafone, organised by the Business Parliamentary Trust. This gives MPs the chance to parachute into a business and get some insights.My hosts were Vodafone’s Corporate Affairs Manager Tom Chignell and Government Relations Manager Roger Ellis.

Vodafone is a very different corporate workplace than anything I’ve experienced. Entirely open plan and very informal, right down to CEO Russell Stanners who sits in jeans in the corner of the office at something akin to a bar leaner!

 

At The Wellington City Mission

I joined Labour MP colleagues David Parker, Grant Robertson and Moana Mackey at the Wellington City Mission recently to do some bagging for food parcels.

I joined Labour MP colleagues David Parker, Grant Robertson and Moana Mackey at the Wellington City Mission recently to do some bagging for food parcels.

St Michael’s School

 

A chance to visit St Michael’s School and talk about thankfulness. I reminded pupils about how lucky we are in comparison to somewhere like Samoa, currently grieving after a major tsunami.

NIWA visit

Brendon on a recent visit to NIWA as part of Primary Production Selection Commmittee.

A recent visit to NIWA as part of Primary Production Selection Commmittee

 

Kiwibank closure at Stanmore Road

Protesting the removal of Kiwibank services at Stanmore Road Postshop. Residents using this facility will now need to travel to Eastgate Postshop for Kiwibank and for bill payment facilities.  For many locals without a car, this will require 2 buses, or a taxi costing approximately $15 each way. A very long letter to Mr Sam Knowles, CEO of NZ Post and Kiwibank was written by many residents, and delivered to me by members of Save Our Postshop, for presentation to Mr Knowles.