By Tracey Martin
Over the last four years that I have been a Member of Parliament, based in Warkworth, local press has asked me to keep them up-to-date on political goings on emanating from Wellington or local projects I have been doing, but “only that which affects locals”. I have done my best to stick to this request but it strikes me as more and more of an anomaly when every law passed in Parliament affects every single member of our community. Let’s take the recent Health and Safety Law, voted against by New Zealand First, but passed into law by the majority vote of Parliament. A Government bill that has the potential to affect every person who engages a contractor in their home. Is that not of local interest? How about the flag debate? Will not every New Zealander have to salute it at some time in their lives? And if these are nationwide issue that will affect you how do you get your voice into the debate?
One of the great benefits Rodney has right now is they have an elected electorate member who is part of the Government in Mark Mitchell and they have an elected list member who sits on opposition, in myself. The people of Rodney can voice their view to both sides of the house and with a Parliament of one vote majority, it is highly recommended that they should.
In recent times I have had to stress this to certain members of the New Zealand Student Union Association and other NGOs. Always take your voice to Parliament – not just Government. For one thing you never know when Government will change and secondly, like all elected Members of Parliament, my offices (Shop 5, Riverside Arcade, 62-64 Queen Street, Warkworth) has dedicated MP liaison people inside every government department so we can try and assist citizens having difficulty.
In closing, I want to touch on my recent trip to Tuvalu in partnership with the United Nations to help train their new and returning MPs. I found the trip enlightening as to the challenges this small nation is facing from sea level rise and isolation. I gave a commitment to their Parliament that I would do several tasks upon my return and to this end I have begun working with Alfred Ngaro (National) and Sua’ Willian Sio (Labour) to further enhance New Zealand policy work for the Pacific. Locally, I have begun conversations with our schools in an attempt to support and enhance education on the islands so these nations can better educate their citizens (both at home and abroad) to create the solutions to their challenges or, in the worst possible scenario and they have to leave their islands forever, they can enter into other nations at a level of employment and income that provides well for their families. So you see – everything is local eventually.