Healthy Homes Announcement
Recently we announced the findings of a 5-year evaluation by Otago University’s He Kāinga Oranga (the Housing and Health Research Programme) of the Healthy Homes Initiative.
Some Key Points below:
A five-year evaluation* of the Healthy Homes Initiative shows it has helped over 200,000 people, making their homes warmer and drier, leading to better health and wellbeing.
Families receiving the support have seen big improvements, with hospitalisations down by 18.6% and a 5% reduction in school absences.
It has also had a positive ripple effect, with fewer people on benefits, improving social outcomes too.
On top of that, for every dollar spent, the initiative has saved $5.07 in health costs over the following five years.
The Government is committed to the Healthy Homes Initiative, with this report demonstrating its positive impact on health outcomes.
* Evaluation by Otago University’s He Kāinga Oranga (the Housing and Health Research Programme).
In the Bay of Plenty, warm, dry homes mean healthier families! The Healthy Homes Initiative has helped more than 200k Kiwis, cutting hospitalisations by 18.6% among those receiving support.
Making homes warmer, drier, and healthier. For families receiving the support, Healthy Homes Initiative reduces school absences by 5% & hospital visits by 18.6%.
Healthy Homes Initiative has improved the health of more than 200,000 people, cut hospitalisations, boosted school attendance, and saved money.
The Healthy Homes Initiative was set up in 2013 as part of the Rheumatic Fever Prevention Programme. It was later expanded and now operates nationwide, with the goal of increasing the number of children living in warm, dry, and healthy homes and reducing avoidable hospitalisations and ill health due to housing-related conditions. It is funded by Health NZ and delivered by providers across the country.
Families are able to get a range of products through the programme, including portable heaters, beds and bedding, mould-cleaning kits, draught proofing and floor coverings, and can be assisted to have insulation and heat pumps installed through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority’s Warmer Kiwi Homes programme.
A Fantastic Local Result!
Popped in to see Bruce and his team at the Pāpāmoa Food Hub after their Emergency Services Food Drive last week. The support and donations from the community were incredible—it’s amazing to see. Two full rooms to help those doing it a bit tough this Christmas.
A massive thanks to Bruce and the team for showing us what it truly means to make a difference. They’ve got a big job ahead sorting the food and ensuring it gets where it needs to go, so if you’d like to volunteer, they’re always on the lookout.
It’s Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas!
Hannah and I battled the elements, but “Operation Christmas Tree” was a success! I think Penny approves of the final product.
I know that a lot of you may have beaten us to it by putting up your tree and decorations early, and why not but December 1st was the date we were waiting for and we went hard despite the weather.
Is it starting to look a lot like Christmas at you place?
Government Keeps its Promise - Cathedral Cove Opens
Last Sunday, in time for the holiday / summer season Conservation Minister Tama Potaka announced that walking access to Cathedral Cove will reopen in time for summer.
The Government has kept its promise to restore public walking access to Mautohe Cathedral Cove in time for summer.
The walking track was severely damaged by extreme weather events including Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle.
This reopening is an exciting step in the region’s tourism recovery.
Mautohe Cathedral Cove plays an important role in supporting the local economy. Thousands of visitors are expected to bring in millions of dollars annually.
We’re supporting regional tourism and economic growth with targeted investment into high value conservation areas.
The work was enabled through $1.4 million funding from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy.
The restored public walking access is an initial solution to support the community and get the track open for this summer.
There will be a second stage of development to provide more resilient access to better withstand ongoing challenges from strong weather and land movement over the long-term.
The last Papamoa Post for 2024
In this last issue of the Pap Post for this year– I look back at “The Year That Was 2024”.
Check it out by grabbing your copy today from the usual outlets or in your letterbox or click on the link for the digital version: Current Issue - Papamoa Post
Papamoa Christmas Parade – See you there!
Papamoa’s mightiest heroes are suiting up! On Sunday, 8th December, the streets of Papamoa will transform into a superhero wonderland as the Official Santa Parade returns, bigger, bolder, and bursting with true Papamoa spirit! It’s time to celebrate our incredible community, bring smiles to over 20,000 people, and make memories to last a lifetime.
Event Highlights:
A Superhero Showcase: From capes to masks, join the super squad as local businesses, schools, and groups bring their A-game with creative floats, costumes, and characters. Celebrate Papamoa’s hometown heroes while enjoying a fun-filled day.
A Decade of Heroes: Thanks to Pak'N Save Papamoa for their 10-year partnership with our not-for-profit Papamoa Unlimited, keeping this cherished tradition alive and thriving!
The Big Finale: The Big Man in Red himself will swoop into Papamoa Plaza around 12:30 PM, ready to spread cheer and meet the little ones in the magical Santa Grotto.
A Decade of Heroes: Thanks to Pak'N Save Papamoa for their 10-year partnership with our not-for-profit Papamoa Unlimited, keeping this cherished tradition alive and thriving!
The Big Finale: The Big Man in Red himself will swoop into Papamoa Plaza around 12:30 PM, ready to spread cheer and meet the little ones in the magical Santa Grotto.
Grab your capes, don your masks, and channel your inner hero as we celebrate a community that truly knows how to save the day! Whether you’re a local legend, a festive fan, or just here to cheer, this is YOUR parade!
Record number of visitors to Pāpāmoa Hills
Love to see it! Definitely check out Pāpāmoa Hills over Summer if you haven't already.
Interpretation and wayfinding signs at the Pāpāmoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park are enhancing the visitor experience. Photo: Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
New additions to Pāpāmoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park is bringing in a record number of visitors.
Pāpāmoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park has seen a 126 per cent increase in visitors over the past 12 months, driven largely by several cultural and visitor enhancements.
In November 2023, the park opened a series of upgrades to improve the user experience, including a new entrance and carpark at Poplar Lane, interpretation and wayfinding signs, and toilets and additional tracks, making it a must-do experience for both locals and visitors.
Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council owns the regional park on behalf of the community, and developed the improvements in partnership with Te Uepū, which includes representatives from Waitaha, Ngā Pōtiki, Ngāti Pūkenga and Ngāti Hē, and four Regional Council representatives.
Regional Council Land Management Officer Hayden Schick said the upgrades have made it easier for people to explore the park with a variety of tracks to suit different interests, including those wanting to learn more about the area’s rich cultural history.
Pāpāmoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park is home to 1,630 individual archaeological features, including tuku (terraces), papatahi (platforms), pits, middens and defensive earthworks, such as maioro.
It’s Christmas Everywhere I look!
A big shoutout to Melvina. One of our amazing cleaners who's bringing brightness to the halls of Parliament with her festive spirit and cleaning trolley! A true holiday hero!
This week’s BFM- Interview
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
This week saw the Labour Party’s annual conference, during which party leader Chris Hipkins spoke about the party’s goals and criticised the current National-led government.
Hipkins named the Dunedin hospital delays, interislander ferry fiasco, and tax breaks for tobacco companies as several issues that would be targeted by a future Labour government. Hipkins then called the government divisive and suggested their policies are taking the country backwards, both due to the Treaty Principles bill and this government’s approach more broadly.
In our weekly catchup with the National Party’s Tom Rutherford, Wire host Castor asked him about these issues and how the government would respond as it moves into 2025.
Link to full Interview: Is the government taking our country backwards? w/ the National Party’s Tom Rutherford: 3rd December, 2024 | 95bFM
Busy day at Parliament's Scrutiny Week!
Grilled both Fire and Emergency NZ at Governance & Administration Select Committee and Transpower at Transport & Infrastructure.
Keeping our key agencies accountable and asking the tough questions to ensure they're delivering for Kiwis.
Arataki bus hub upgrade
Ahead of the upgraded Arataki Bus Hub reopening on Monday, 9 December 2024, Farm Street will be partially closed overnight on Wednesday, 4 December, to complete essential road remediation work.
Works will take place between 9pm and 4am on a small section of Farm Street (approximately 47-61). There will be no through access between Concord Avenue and Girven Road. Resident access to Farm Street will be maintained.
With more than 40,000 bus passengers a month, Arataki is the second busiest bus hub in Tauranga, with many drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians also passing through the area to access schools and Bayfair Shopping Centre. Following the community’s calls for better shelters and a safer environment, we're giving the bus hub a much-needed upgrade. The upgrade will make travelling by bus more user-friendly, improve safety during transit, and provide a friendlier welcome to and departure from Arataki.
Some improvements include:
- Replacing existing Farm Street shelters with new high-quality, high-capacity shelters along each side of the road. These shelters will be modern, well lit, and feature decorative cultural elements from local hapū.
- A new street furniture suite designed to reflect the area including open seating, bicycle parking and rubbish bins.
- Enhanced pedestrian crossings, wider footpaths, and a new shared user path for safer access to and from the bus hub and Bayfair for cyclists, pedestrians, wheelchair users, skaters, and scooter riders.
Full Story: Arataki bus hub upgrade - Let's talk Tauranga
This Week in New Zealand History
Special votes cast in general election
6 December 1905
Source: The Weekly Press circa 1913.
For the first time in New Zealand’s electoral history, registered voters who were away from their electorate on polling day were able to cast a ‘special’ absentee vote at any polling booth in the country; this was posted to their local returning officer to be counted. Prior to election day in 1905, 3586 electors applied for the necessary absent voter’s permit; 2781 votes were cast in this way.
This innovation extended the concept of absentee voting rights, which had been introduced for merchant seafarers in 1890 and later extended to commercial travellers and shearers. The provision did not apply to voters in the Māori seats, who continued to vote without registration (Māori electoral rolls were not used until 1949).
The wait for special votes to be counted has occasionally added drama to tight electoral or referendum contests, such as the 1919 prohibition poll (see 10 April). In 1999 special votes not only tipped the Green Party over the 5% threshold needed to enter Parliament, but also saw them win the Coromandel seat.
This Week in Parliament – Briefly
Royal Commission into COVID-19 phase 1 report received: Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden has received the report from phase 1 of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19. “The delivery of the phase 1 report marks the conclusion of phase 1 of the Inquiry. Phase 1 Commissioners Professor Tony Blakely and John Whitehead have now resigned from their roles” says Ms van Velden.
Strengthening timber trade with new assurance system: The Government is delivering on its commitment to combat trade in illegally harvested timber, with consultation starting on operational details to implement New Zealand’s legal harvest assurance system, Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced.
Exporters benefit from new trade system: The modernisation of New Zealand’s trade certification system, which supports $33 billion of exports, is making selling top Kiwi products overseas more reliable and adaptable for the future, Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard says.
Chemical weapons and Iranian missiles targeted in new Russia sanctions: Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced new sanctions in response to Russia’s ongoing illegal invasion of Ukraine – and joined partners in a Call to Action on sanctions-evading ‘shadow fleet’ activities.
New Zealand and Germany deepen cooperation: New Zealand and Germany are committed to enhancing their partnership, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.
More flexible dismissal process for high-income employees: Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says an upcoming change to the Employment Relations Act will enable employers to ensure they have the right fit for their high impact leadership and specialist roles
Red Tape tipline gets over 300 reports in first week: In just its first week, over 300 people have reported red tape issues to the new Red Tape tipline, Regulation Minister David Seymour says.
Safer ports – approved code of practice for loading and unloading cargo takes effect: This Code of practice marks a significant milestone for the port and maritime sector, with the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon Brooke van Velden, and the Associate Minister of Transport celebrating the Approved Code of Practice for Loading and Unloading Cargo at Ports and on Ships (ACOP) coming into effect.
Mining stats show a sector delivering for NZ: New figures on mining activity across New Zealand show the Crown collected nearly a quarter of a billion dollars in revenue in the 2023/24 financial year, bolstered by royalties collected from petroleum and gold, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.
Healthy Homes Initiative improves health of more than 200,000 people: A five-year evaluation of the Healthy Homes Initiative has demonstrated the positive impact of warm, dry homes on the health and wellbeing of more than 200,000 people.
World class visitor centre for Punakaiki: Sightseers to the iconic Punakaiki (Pancake Rocks and Blowholes Track) will enjoy a richer experience thanks to a world class visitor experience centre run by local Iwi, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says.
Mautohe Cathedral Cove reopens to walkers: The Government has delivered on its promise to restore public walking access to the popular Mautohe Cathedral Cove in time for Summer 2024-2025.
NZ and United Kingdom strengthen partnership: New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters and United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Lammy held the inaugural annual New Zealand-United Kingdom Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue in London.
Minister congratulates WTO Director-General on a second term:Trade Minister Todd McClay has congratulated Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her re-appointment as Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
New infrastructure agency up and running: The Government’s new national infrastructure agency is up and running, acting as the shopfront for investors into public infrastructure and the centre of expertise on funding and financing for infrastructure projects, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says.
Increased medicines access continues following budget boost: Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour is pleased to see further increased availability of medicines for Kiwis following the Government’s increased investment in Pharmac.
NZ welcomes Singapore food security delegation: Minister for Trade and Agriculture Todd McClay welcomed a delegation from Singapore, who are in New Zealand for a food security mission.
Open work rights unlocked for Partners of Skilled Migrants: The Government has taken steps to ensure New Zealand attracts and retains the workers and skills it needs by returning open work rights to partners of high-skilled migrants.
Government open for business on market-led infrastructure proposals: The Government has released new guidelines for market-led proposals to clarify how market participants can contribute innovative ideas for solving New Zealand’s infrastructure problems, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Parliamentary Under-Secretary Simon Court say.
‘Twelve Days of Giving’ to encourage generosity: Growing the amount of philanthropic giving across New Zealand is the aim of the Twelve Days of Giving campaign launched alongside Philanthropy New Zealand, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says.
New Funding and Financing Framework released: Cabinet has agreed to an ambitious new Funding and Financing Framework to help the Crown make smarter and more informed funding and financing decisions, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says.
More support to help people on benefit into work: Up to 70,000 job seekers are to receive a new, more comprehensive needs assessment of the challenges holding them back from finding work and a personalised job plan to help overcome them.
Targets data positive but action needed on welfare: The second quarterly update on the nine Government targets shows a range of areas moving in the right direction but underlines the need for robust measures to get people off welfare and into work, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says.
New data shows fewer victims of violent crime: New data shows an encouraging reduction in the number of victims of violent crime, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
30 per cent growth in international visitor spend: The latest International Visitor Survey shows that New Zealand continues to bounce back and the economy is benefiting from the shifting trends in international visitation, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey says.
Wait times for veterans improve: Additional funding in Budget 2024 has reduced the waiting list of veterans seeking medical and rehabilitation support, Veterans Minister Chris Penk says.
Health NZ makes progress on financial recovery: Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand is making encouraging progress recovering from a financial shambles left behind by the previous government.
Democracy restored to transport in Auckland: The Government is restoring democratic accountability to transport decision-making in Auckland, ensuring voters can hold their elected representatives responsible for the city's transport policies, Transport and Auckland Minister Simeon Brown, and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown say.
Speech to Early Childhood Education sector– Reducing red tape and barriers to ECE: When I was delegated responsibility for the ECE Sector from the Minister for Education it became immediately clear that my focus had to be on reducing red tape and regulatory obstacles for the early learning sector.
Strong growth in international student enrolments: New Zealand’s international education sector is rebounding strongly, up 24 per cent year-on-year and 6 per cent above 2023 totals, Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds says.
Govt delivers Māori Education Action Plan: The Government has released its Māori Education Action Plan which sets out its approach to deliver better outcomes in the classroom for Māori students, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.
Fuel companies required to store more jet fuel: New rules will be introduced that require fuel companies to hold at least 10 days of jet fuel near the country’s busiest airport to provide resilience against supply disruptions, Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says.
Protecting NZ food production and ETS credibility: Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts have announced clear rules to limit farm to forestry conversions entering the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
Marsden Fund refocused for science with a purpose: Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins announced the Government has updated the Marsden Fund to focus on core scientific research that helps lift our economic growth and contributes to science with a purpose.
Catalyst Fund updated for global impact: Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins announced an updated plan for the Catalyst Fund to be laser focused on clear outcomes and priority research areas.
Positive progress for the NZ ETS: The New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) auction has resulted in a partial clearance, showing work to restore credibility in the market is working, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.
Government releases independent scientific review on biogenic methane science and targets: The Government will carefully consider the findings of the independent review on New Zealand’s biogenic methane science and targets, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts, and Associate Ministers of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard, and Mark Patterson have announced.
Major review of competition to lift productivity: The Government has launched an ambitious review of New Zealand’s competition rules to combat monopolies and improve economic productivity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.
More charter schools to open Term 1 2025 announced: Associate Education Minister David Seymour has announced that Christchurch North College, The BUSY School, Te Rito, Te Kura Taiao, Ecole Francaise Internationale Auckland and Northwest Creative Arts College will open in term one 2025 as charter schools.
Funding boost to strengthen Maritime’s rescue team: The Government has approved funding to increase staffing at Maritime New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre, ensuring a critical boost in its search and rescue operations, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say.
NZ-Australia Ministers to discuss foreign policy, defence: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins will host the second Australia and New Zealand Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ANZMIN) in Auckland tomorrow.
Record $434 million in community grants from Lotto NZ: Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says Lotto NZ has granted $434 million to the community in the past financial year, an increase of 15 percent from the previous year.
Upgrading substations to improve reliability for Wellington metro rail: Wellington commuters will benefit from a $137.2 million funding boost that will deliver long overdue upgrades to substations on the city’s metro rail network and improve the reliability of services, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.
Papamoa Electorate Office
3/9 Domain Road, Papamoa – (Next to Ray White) - 07 542 0505
I’m a Local, Just Like You!
Thanks,
Tom.
Tom.
