Tom Rutherford - The week that was

I enjoyed spending Saturday morning with our local Bay of Plenty Justices of the Peace Association.

JPs do important voluntary work in our communities, including witnessing signatures on documents, completing declarations, affidavits or affirmations, and several other responsibilities.

Big thanks to everyone who volunteers their time to be a JP. If you need to know who your local JPs are, you can find out here: https://justiceofthepeace.org.nz/Page/Search

From Sunday, 29 September to Sunday, 13 October -24/7 including weekends, there will be a one-way lane closure on Oceanbeach Road, between Concord Avenue and Golf Road, for traffic heading towards Mount Maunganui.

The Council are resurfacing a section of Oceanbeach Road as part of their annual resurfacing programme.

A detour will be in place – please follow the signs. Oceanbeach Road will still be open on this section of road for traffic heading towards Pāpāmoa.

Daylight savings done and dusted. It was a good day down at the Papamoa Community Market – on Sunday. Thanks to all who came to say hi!

Thanks to our local Pāpāmoa Volunteer Fire Brigade who help our community to prevent, prepare, respond and recover from emergencies.

They don’t just attend fires, they go to medical incidents, motor vehicle accidents, severe weather events and other requests for help.

Thank you for everything you do!

I really enjoyed attending the Pāpāmoa Volunteer Fire Brigade Honour's Night on Saturday night.

It was special to celebrate Rex Cotter, who received a 60-year certificate for his service.

Rex began his service on August 5, 1957, at Tirau. He remained there for thirty years until moving to Pāpāmoa, where he has been serving for the past thirty years.

Thank you, Rex (and your partner Barbara), for your dedication to Fire and Emergency and for helping to keep our community safe.

People are encouraged to get in their daily steps while contributing to charity with Pāpāmoa Lions Club’s fundraiser.

Pāpāmoa Lions Club is fundraising so that the Pāpāmoa Fire Brigade can purchase an all-terrain vehicle for responses along Pāpāmoa Beach and other rural areas inaccessible to an appliance.

This fundraiser involves The Flying Mullet Papamoa Hill Challenge, where participants walk up Pāpāmoa Hills 10 times over the course of five weeks.

This challenge begins at 9am on Sunday, October 6, and runs for a month ending at 12pm on November 9.

The target of the event is to raise $60,000 while locals enjoy the thrilling adventure at the Pāpāmoa Hills Regional Park.

So, lace up your sneakers and get ready to conquer the hills with fellow outdoor enthusiasts.

Whether you’re a seasoned trail runner or just looking for a fun challenge, this event is perfect for all levels.

Get ready to tackle the steep Papamoa Hill while dodging flying mullets in this adrenaline-pumping challenge.

To register, visit the Eventbrite website and head to “The Flying Mullet Walking Challenge” page.

There is a $30 registration fee, entries are already well in excess of 100, and while the first 100 entries received a free T-shirt, participants can still order a souvenir walking challenge T-shirt for $25.

New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates have concluded negotiations on a trade agreement, which will grow and embed economic opportunities for Bay of Plenty exporters and create stronger supply chains with one of New Zealand’s most important trading partners in the Gulf region. 

“This trade agreement was concluded in record time, in just over four months and is already being welcomed by our growers across the Bay of Plenty.” 

The trade agreement is the most trade liberalising of any of the UAE’s CEPAs to date.  

“Our government is fully committed to opening doors, embedding market access and continuing to grow our presence as a supplier of safe, healthy food to the Gulf region.

“This trade agreement is a really positive step towards achieving this and helping us double our exports by value in ten years - which creates more jobs and opportunities in our region.” Rutherford said.  

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE will eliminate duties on 98.5 per cent of New Zealand’s exports immediately on entry into force, rising to 99 per cent within three years. This will create new opportunities for New Zealand businesses in the dynamic UAE market.  

“Our horticulture exports to the UAE currently sit at $44 million. The increased engagement and market opportunity this agreement will secure will see this number increase as UAE citizens seek our high quality, safe produce.” 

The UAE is a key export destination and hub in the Gulf region. In the year to June 2024, two-way trade was valued at NZ$1.3 billion. The UAE is one of our largest markets in the Middle East, and a top 20 export market overall. 

New Zealand dairy exports to the UAE amounted to $718 million, industrial products $237 million, red meat $46 million, horticulture $44 million, and tourism $31 million. 

“The Bay of Plenty relies on horticulture. Our whole region feeds off this sector. The more we can grow horticulture, the more we will grow our local economy. I am so excited to see our Bay of Plenty exporters benefit from this Trade Agreement with the UAE.” 

The CEPA also includes chapters on intellectual property, sustainable development, labour, sustainable agriculture, climate, and on indigenous trade. We have also secured New Zealand’s Treaty of Waitangi exception to allow us to meet treaty obligations. 

Full story:  SunLive - BOP exports to grow following UAE trade agreement - The Bay's News First

Looking forward to catching up with residents of Ocean Shores Avida – See below for date/details.

If you'd like me to come along to your retirement village, please reach out to my office. I'd love to meet you there, answer any questions and help with any issues.

Here’s how:

The Government is investigating options to reform the Building Consent Authority system, to help lower high building costs and slash arduous red tape.

It’s far too expensive and time consuming to get stuff built in New Zealand. It’s part of the reason we have some of the least affordable housing in the world.

We want to make consenting easier and quicker, to fix these issues, improved productivity and incentivise growth and development.

The current Building Consent Authority (BCA) model is not working as well as it should, with 67 different regional BCAs all having different practices and approaches to consenting, while we have a single building code framework.

We are investigating ways to establish a more consistent and streamlined BCA system to reduce the level of variety and promote consistency in NZ’s consenting system.

Increasing the Building Levy threshold to $65,000, up from $20,444, saving Kiwis an average of $113 when completing small improvements and home renovations.

Charging the Building Act and Resource Management Act so granny flats can be constructed without the need for a resource consent, making it more affordable for families to live the way that suits them best, saving up to $6,500 in building and consenting fees.

Increasing the use of remote inspections by making them the default approach to building inspections.

Streamlining building consent changes by making it easier for minor variations and customisations to be made without the need for a new consent.

Putting the spotlight on consenting delays by requiring councils to submit timeframes for building consent data.

Reviewing the Public Works Act, which has not been substantially amended since 1988, to make it easier to build infrastructure in New Zealand.

Reviewing the earthquake-prone buildings system to make sure we are getting the balance right between public safety and costs put on building owners.

Scrapping the previous Government’s new regulations on dams, so farmers and gr­­owers aren’t hit with big compliance costs for small dams used for water storage.

Spent a couple of days earlier this week with the NZ Game Animal Council (GAC) hunting at Ngamatea Station in the Central North Island.

What an incredible opportunity to get a real insight into hunting in New Zealand and to help the GAC with their work in managing the deer population.

Thanks for the hospitality.

Thanks to our $604 million funding boost for Pharmac, from Wednesday 1 October, Keytruda will be funded for multiple cancers. 

October 1st marks a significant milestone with Keytruda now fully funded for patients with five life-threatening cancers, and insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) funded for all type one diabetics in the country.

In June 2024, the Government allocated an additional $604 million to Pharmac—an unprecedented boost—providing up to 26 new life-extending cancer treatments to be made available for Kiwis in need.

Keytruda will benefit patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer, head and neck cancer, colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, and Hodgkin lymphoma, offering renewed hope to thousands of families.

The decision to fund insulin pumps and CGMs is life-changing for many New Zealanders living with type one diabetes. This funding will help patients manage their diabetes more effectively, reduce complications and comorbidities, and alleviate pressure on our health system.

Currently, nearly 5,000 people use insulin pumps, a number expected to double to nearly 10,000 over five years. Pharmac anticipates that around 12,000 Kiwis will receive CGMs in the first year, increasing to over 18,000 in five years.

Had an amazing meeting with AJ, the passionate owner and operator of Coast Kids!

Did you know? Coast Kids is the largest provider of Before and After school care in the entire Bay of Plenty region!

What sets Coast Kids apart:

It's fantastic to see local businesses like Coast Kids making such a positive impact on our families and community. Keep up the great work, AJ and team!

Shipwrecked Rena spills oil into Bay of Plenty. 5 October 2011.

Environment Minister Nick Smith described it as New Zealand’s ‘worst maritime environmental disaster’. About 350 tonnes of oil was spilt, and 950 tonnes of oily waste was subsequently collected from local beaches. Eighty-seven of the 1368 containers on board were washed overboard, with the contents of many fouling the coast. Thousands of birds were killed. More damage was done when the Rena broke in half on 8 January 2012.

The salvage operation was frequently hampered by adverse sea conditions and had cost $700 million by the time it ended in April 2016. Local iwi and others continued to battle the ship’s owners and insurers over responsibility for removing what remained of the wreck.

The Government’s new speed limit rule has today been signed to reverse Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions and enable Kiwis to get to where they want to go quickly and safely, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says

The Government has announced that an initial cost-benefit analysis of establishing a third medical school based at the University of Waikato has been completed and has been found to provide confidence for the project to progress to the next stage.

Catch limits for several fisheries will be increased following a review that shows stocks of those species are healthy and abundant.

Over 90 per cent of submissions have expressed broad support for a New Zealand minerals strategy, indicating a strong appetite for a considered, enduring approach to minerals development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.

New Zealanders will be safer as a result of the Government’s crackdown on crime which includes tougher laws for offenders and gangs delivered as part of the Quarter Three (Q3) Action Plan, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says.

The Government’s Quarter Four (Q4) Action Plan will be focused on making it easier and faster to build infrastructure in New Zealand as part of its wider plan to rebuild the economy, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says.

The first iteration of the SuperGold Information Hub is now on-line, Minister for Seniors Casey Costello announced.

A new Contaminated Sites and Vulnerable Landfills Fund will help councils and landowners clean up historic landfills and other contaminated sites that are vulnerable to the effects of severe weather, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says.

It is now easier to make small changes to building plans without having to apply for a building consent amendment, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.

 South Pacific Defence Ministers meet in Auckland

Partnership and looking to the future are key themes as Defence Ministers from across the South Pacific discuss regional security challenges in Auckland today, Defence Minister Judith Collins says.

The Government has secured market access for New Zealand blueberries to Korea, unlocking an estimated $5 million in annual export opportunities for Kiwi growers Minister for Trade and Agriculture Todd McClay announced.

Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes the PPTA putting a proposal to members at its annual conference to change its constitution and allow membership of teachers who work in charter schools.

The Government is progressing plans to increase the use of remote inspections to make the building and consenting process more efficient and affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.

The launch of a new data tool will provide Kiwis with better access to important data, Statistics Minister Andrew Bayly says.

Health Minister Dr Shane Reti welcomes new data from Health New Zealand, saying it demonstrates encouraging progress against the Government’s health targets.

Associate Police Minister Casey Costello has welcomed the Police announcement that recruitment wings at the Police College will be expanded to 100 recruits next year.

The latest 2023 Census results released further highlight New Zealand’s growing ethnic and cultural diversity, says Ethnic Communities Minister Melissa Lee.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters has welcomed the announcement of Sir Jerry Mateparae as an independent moderator, to work with the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Autonomous Bougainville Government in resolving outstanding issues on Bougainville’s future.

Stats NZ released new data showing the Filipino population in New Zealand has grown from 73,000 in 2018 to 108,000, making Tagalog one of the fastest-growing languages in the country, National Party MP Paulo Garcia says.

Kiwis will see fewer potholes on our roads with road rehabilitation set to more than double through the summer road maintenance programme to ensure that our roads are maintained to a safe and reliable standard, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  

The Government has approved a $226.2 million package of resilience improvement projects for state highways and local roads across the country that will reduce the impact of severe weather events and create a more resilient and efficient road network, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  

Environment Minister Penny Simmonds has confirmed the final appointee to the refreshed Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) board.

“I am pleased to welcome Brett O’Riley to the EPA board,” Ms Simmonds says.

The Government is taking decisive action in response to the Ministerial Inquiry into School Property, which concludes the way school property is delivered is not fit for purpose.

The Government has announced a new support programme for the residential construction market while the economy recovers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk say.

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Thanks,
Tom

Tom Rutherford