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3 October 2013

Kia Orana and welcome to my September e-newsletter.

Highlights:

Sep 1-8 I celebrated with colleagues the opening ofTongan Language week - UikeKtoanga'i 'o e Lea Faka-Tonga in parliament and its theme ofFakakoloa Aotearoa 'aki 'etauHiva Fakatonga - Enriching Aotearoa with Tongan Music and language. The Tongan LanguageWeek featured celebrations through music, song, dance, food, crafts, and language around the

country. Speaking ones language is important not only because it is the essence ofunderstanding ones culture but evidence confirms that it enhances educational outcomes. For anylanguage or culture to thrive and survive we must speak it, breathe it, and live it in our homesfirst and foremost.

Sep 6 I attendedthe Niue Conceptual Framework Launch in Auckland to speak on behalf ofHon Minister Tariana Turia. The programme is a foundation course for Pacific practitioners infamily violence. The Pacific Island Health and Injury Prevention with a core group of expertsdesigned and developed the Fakatupuolamoui he Magafaoa Niue - Family Violence Prevention andIntervention Education Programme specific for the Niuean community.

Niue Conceptual Framework Launch, Pacific Blues Event with David Tua, Elizabeth Mc Ewan, FonotiDr Lafita'i Fuata'i and Dr Nua Tupa'i and Professor Karoline Afamasaga-Fuata'i.

Sep 10 My colleagueMP Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga and I hosted a Pacific Blues fundraiser dinner

whereHon Minister Paula Bennett addressed a gathering of 60 plus Pacific Blues members andfriends at the Community Caf in Otahuhu. Pacific Blues is a Pacific Peoples lobby group withinthe National Party. If you are interested in becoming a member please email Chairperson,Elizabeth McEwan -john.mcewan@xtra.co.nz or Vice chair Daniel Fuemana -dfuemana@unitec.ac.nz.

Sep 14 I attended the Family Fun Day and Super 12 Waka Ama event to support the CookIsland Outriggers, Manukau Outriggers, Pakuranga Outriggers, Te Paerangi Waka Ama andAuckland Rowing Clubs. The 5 clubs have joined forces to fundraise for "Nga Hau Maiangi -the firstpurpose built waka ama building in Aotearoa." This is unique as it will bring two different watersporting codes together under one roof. It was a spectacular event comprised of junior waka ama200m paddle, events for men and women, live entertainment, and food stalls.

Sep 14 The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival also known as the Moon Festival, is one of the mostimportant traditional celebrations in the Chinese lunar calendar. Thirty Chinese communities inAuckland came together to hold a Grand Show that featured a Maori Haka team, local Chinese

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and Taiwanese performers. Traditionally, Chinese family members and friends get together toadmire the bright mid-autumn harvest moon, and eat moon cakes together to celebrate familyreunion and hard work throughout the year. The round shape of the moon is to symbolize goodfortune, peace and prosperity for the whole family. An enjoyable evening had with colleagues,Minister Judith Collins, MPs Jamie Lee Ross, Melissa Lee, and Jiang Yang.

Sep 19 I attended the 120th anniversary of suffrage breakfast in Parliament hosted byWomen's Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew. In 1893, New Zealand became the first nation in the worldwhere women won the right to vote. The Minister encouraged all New Zealanders to take actionto improve the lives of women. She also acknowledged the brave suffragists of yesterday and themen and women who are continuing to create opportunities for women. Our governmentcontinues its commitment to making more progress and success for women in employment,earnings, leadership, zero tolerance for violence against women, and other key areas.

Sept 19 I represented Hon Minister Paula Bennett at the Political Panel of the 1st JointFostering Kids/Social Service Providers Aotearoa Conference at Waipuna, Auckland. TheConference theme was "Working together post -White Paper to achieve the best outcomes forvulnerable children and Whnau". I emphasised that our Government has been consistent in itsapproach to tackling poverty and that has been to encourage people off welfare into work, whileprotecting vulnerable children, maintaining support for low-income households, and strengtheningthe economy.

Family fun Day and Waka Ama Regatta, Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, with MP Jiang Yang

National wants to give every child a better start to life. New Zealanders asked us to take action,and we have - but there's more that can be done.

As part of our Children's Action Plan we've expanded social workers in schools and hospitals,increased funding and services for children in care, and introduced Children's Teams to work withat-risk children.

Now we're introducing legislation to bring in better government accountability, better vetting andscreening of people working with children, and better guardianship and protection laws.

We committed to halt the rise in children who are physically abused, and reduce current numbersby 5 per cent by 2017 as part of our better public services targets.

We are absolutely committed to this goal, and determined to build a safer environment for allvulnerable children.

Our Children's Action Plan outlines more than 30 new initiatives introduced in the White Paper. Forfurther information click on the following links:

www.childrensactionplan.govt.nz and www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/work-programmes/better-public-services/supporting-vulnerable-children/index.html

http://www.alfredngaro.co.nz/index.php?/archives/80-Protecting-our-vulnerable children.html orhttp://www.national.org.nz/Budget2013/Budget Helping%20Families web.pdf

Sep 23 I was a guest speaker at the Westlake Boys High, Pasifika Parents Komiti (PPK) Eventand also presented awards to Pasifika students in acknowledgement of excellence in culture,community, sports, academia, and overall achievement across the categories. Other speakers

included Daniel Devonshire - Baseball player with Toronto Blue Jays franchise, Alex Brown, BodyBuilder & Business Owner, and Sky Nicholls from Converger. The evening concluded with Form 7

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student Albert Folasa-Sua being presented with the Overall Excellence award for Pasifika Students.

PPK are committed to supporting Pasifika boys and their families through an excellent initiativecalled the "Taro Patch" group -a study club that supports the boys with homework, and overallschool work. It also has Pasifika role models come in to speak, motivate and inspire the boys toaim high and work hard in achieving their dreams and aspirations.

With Hon Min Gerry Brownlee proudly adorning our "red" socks in support of Emirates Team NZ,Westlake Boys High Event and Amelia Fukofuka, Cook Islands Ministry Foreign Affairs officerat myMngere office.

Key issues in Parliament:

Protecting children from rheumatic disease

National's fight to reduce the rate of rheumatic fever among children is making great progress.

Budget 2013 invested a further $21.3m over four years to combat this life-threatening disease,almost doubling the substantial investment of $24m we were already making.

This week National announced the great news that a further eight Papakura schools are scheduledto become part of the throat-swabbing campaign - a vital part of our commitment to tacklingrheumatic fever.

We've also announced more than 50,000 children in 200 schools will be participating in thecampaign next year.

As part of our Better Public Services focus, the Government has a target to reduce the incidence ofrheumatic fever by two-thirds, to 1.4 cases per 100,000 people, by June 2017.

More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=41738

Investing in educational infrastructure to raise achievement for students

National has announced a plan to transform the way school property is delivered, to promotemodern learning environments and improved outcomes for students.

The plan focuses on eight areas including offering a flexible range of property services for schools,investing in areas of growth, and providing greater support for major property works.

The Ministry of Education will establish an Education Infrastructure Service by the end of 2013,which will include a dedicated team to resolve long standing, complex property issues.

In Budget 2013 we set aside $134 million to support new schools and roll growth over the nextfour years.

National is committed to making sure our schools have high-quality infrastructure, so they candeliver better public services for our children.

More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=42045

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Columns:

Sep16: Affordability and Availability are Key

Speeches/Debates:

Sep 3: Family Court Proceedings Reform BillSep 4: General Debate

Sep 5: Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas BillSep 17:Vulnerable Children BillSep 17:Electoral Amendment BillSep 17: Public Safety - Public Protection Orders BillSep 18:Family Court Proceedings Reform Bill

VideoBlogs:

Sep 4:Events in Parliament and Katrina ShanksSep 22:Protecting Vulnerable Children and the America's Cup

Events and activities in October

Oct 1-6 Tuvalu Language WeekOct 7 Protecting the Most Vulnerable, Manurewa, AucklandOct 7-13 Fiji Language WeekOct 8 Children in Crisis, Waikato University, HamiltonOct 9 World Vision Panel Debate,"Poverty is a myth"AucklandOct 10 Fiji Independence DayOct 13-19 Niue Language WeekOct 20 Halberg 10km race, Auckland DomainOct 22 2013 Speakers Science Forum, ParliamentOct 25 Launch of Rheumatic Fever Prevention, AucklandOct 28 Labour DayOct 28-Nov3 Tokelau Language WeekOct 29 Launch of Super Gold information in other languages, AucklandOct 30 National Northern Regional Council Meeting, Auckland

SPECIAL TRIBUTE

Navy Epati, born to parents Patea Satini and Folau Epati of Saleimoa Samoa, married to CookIslander Florence Kimi Herman, father to Jana, Maureen and Al Jermaine died suddenly last monthin Rarotonga. He was buried at Matavera where he had lived with his family for the last 25 years.

At a government memorial service held in his honour he was acknowledged for his contribution tothe Cook Island Public Service as a CEO, Commissioner and Secretary to Ministry of MarineResources. He was described as the third "Laughing Samoan" and a "fearless and vibrant speaker"by ANZSOG's Pacific Executive (PACE) Program. Family, friends, colleagues, sports groups, church

groups and all took part in the procession to carry him on their shoulders to his final resting place.

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