Viewpoint – Committed MP

The election is over, and I’m deeply honoured to have been returned as your MP. I would like to acknowledge the other candidates and all the volunteers who gave up their time to deliver flyers, knock on doors or act as scrutineers. As a country we have paid a heavy price through the generations to protect our right to a free and open democracy and it was good to see so many Kiwis engaged in the election this year.

The Prime Minister and leadership team are now focused on trying to establish a strong and stable government for the next three years – my commitment to you is to work my hardest and do my best to advance Rodney’s interests and solve the problems and challenges that come through my door.

Over the last month it feels like I have been spending a lot of time with our youth. Every year I judge the Lions Young Speech Makers Contest. This year we had students from Orewa, Mahurangi, Rodney, Whangaparaoa and Wentworth College’s and also Kingsway School. During the day the participants are tested in a formal interview setting and on various speaking disciplines, as one of three judges it was often hard to determine the winner. I have also enjoyed having further contact with some participants from previous years through internships and part-time work in my Wellington office if they choose to study at Victoria University.

In mid-September I took part in The Longest Day challenge with the latest Limited Service Volunteer (LSV) programme. The LSV programme is jointly organised and delivered by the Ministry of Social Development, Defence Force and the Police Mentors Programme for young people aged 17 to 25 who are struggling to get started in life. It is delivered in six-week military-style blocks focussing on self-confidence, life skills and teamwork.

The Longest Day is a test of physical and mental endurance held half way through the course. I visited the trainee’s on their first day and promised I would return to join them on their Longest Day. It was so good to see how far they had come in a relatively short time, they worked together as a team, you could see their self-belief was growing and the section I joined set a course record on one of the exercises, there were plenty of high fives. I will be returning on September 30 to watch them graduate in front of their friends and family and over 85 percent of them will be going on to full time employment or training.

One of the candidates’ meetings held during the election campaign was organised entirely by two of our outstanding young Local Board members, Tessa Berger and Caitlin Watson. They wanted to provide an opportunity for young people to engage in the election process and they ran a great online debate at Northern Union in Silverdale.  

During the third school term my office participated in the Whangaparaoa College Gateway Programme. This was the first time we have been involved in this programme. Students on the programme work in local businesses for one day a week during the term. This was a very successful year with a large number of students gaining apprenticeships, part-time or full-time employment and seeing their enthusiasm and hearing their stories were compelling and highlighted the success of Gateway.

Finally it was an honour to attend the formal dine-in of No.5 Squadron Air Training Corps Cadets at the Silverdale RSA. Parents, Rotary, service groups and veterans all turned out to support and acknowledge the fine young Cadets who are being developed through the programme and thank the dedicated leaders who invest their time in teaching and mentoring our young people.