I am in the market for an assistant in Christchurch. Drop me an email with a copy of your CV if you are interested. Good pay, great boss and fabulous working conditions (ok so I am a little biased…) with a new MP.

The past week or so has involved a fair degree of induction training, caucus meetings a mountain of mail, emails, and phone calls to work through and lots of people wanting to meet - it has so far been great. Already I have enjoyed the local people who have asked for my help on matters. The contacts that I have enjoyed the best have been the blast from the past contacts. Who ever thought that you had to go to Parliament for people to remember that they hadn’t seen you in years.  I am also in the market for office space in Christchurch too and we move into our new Wellington offices next week.  Once both offices are set up and Parliament commences sitting I am really looking forward to getting stuck in.

Today was swearing in day for the new National Cabinet. It is great to see the talented mix of relative newcomers like my friend Kate Wilkinson as well as Paula Bennett be given important roles along with wise experienced heads like Nick Smith, David Carter, Bill English and Tony Ryall. They will be all great Ministers. From now on we are truly in Government.

It was the first time in 154 years of parliamentary history that a Centre right MP has been elected from our area

I am the first ever MP to attend Shirley Boys High School in 51 years of the schools history and the first ever MP from Parkview Primary School 

It was the first time National ever got more than 11,000 votes

It was I am told the largest % increase in the party vote in Chch

After a long weekend of waiting and uncertainty I have been elected as a List MP for National. I am humbled and honoured to have this privilage and look forward to representing the Party and our community with pride.  On election night we acheived the best ever numbers for National in Christchurch East. This is a testament to the great work by the wider team. In 2011 we will build further on what we have acheived so far.

I would also like to thank the 200 odd people who have rung, texted or emailed me over the past 24 hours.

 Aaron

Tonight as I sit tired and happy that tomorrow we should see a change in Government I look back on the last 12 months and think that today was the best day of our campaign.

Today I have had over 100 messages of support and well over another 100 voters calling me to ask questions. I am humbled by the help and assistance of all our great volunteers and whatever happens tomorrow we have achieved so much with so little.  We have fought long, hard and fair. Tonight I and many of our team are tired but it has been worth it for all the great people I have met. I only hope that the votes tomorrow see us create history and give us the first ever National MP in my home of the Eastern Suburbs of Christchurch for the first time in 154 years of Parliamentary history.  I had a dream when I was a boy that a poor kid from the Eastern Suburbs could with enough hope and hard work grow up and one day represent his people. Tomorrow with enough support my dream may come true.  But whatever happens tomorrow for me it will not be the end but merely the end of the beginning of a journey to see NZ back to the place I want it to be.

Today I am on the front page of the Chch Mail newspaper talking about a serious issue that of violent offenders being released on bail into the community. In this particular case one of my own hoardings was damaged which is not news, but the bravery and skill of the police to apprehend a nutter who threatened decent people with a knife and then went on to get bailed into the community within hours is. The release of such madmen into the community is sheer madness. This again shows that people who commit violent crimes once often reoffend and too often are bailed into the community and too often is good people who suffer. I don’t want to live in a community like this. Nationals law and order policy will stop this stupidity with a significant number of measures to reduce crime and give our over stretched police the tools resources and mechanisms to do their job and get people to feel safe in their homes again.

This week the Pegasus Bay news ran the front page article in its first ever issue about the need for a new high school for our area. This article arose following a long discussion I had with the editor of the paper and I was pleased that she followed up on so many of the people that I suggested she talk to about it including those who are clearly against the idea.  It was great to see so many people in the community support what I am trying to do in driving the steering group forward to get us the school that we all want.

In addition to our own campaigns, so far this Election there has been a number of meet the candidate meetings - more like candidate skirmishes. In particular Wainoni, Parklands, New Brighton, Shirley. I am a little disappointed that the candidates have not managed to have one for Burwood or for the northern part of the Electorate.  The one this week at Shirley clearly showed again the differences in the local candidates and the views of the main parties. The continued support for change across our Electorate is huge and the surprisingly strongest push for change (Obamas ‘change we can believe in’ slogan is rubbing well on NZ!) is coming from the traditional strong Labour areas like Wainoni, Bexley, Aranui and New Brighton. Roll on Nov 8th. Our local party vote support continues to grow strongly.  East is now mostly a middle class electorate with middle class family values and people are struggling out there and want a National Govt led by John. On Nov 8th we will deliver.

This week one of the many things done was the attendance of the Travis Wetland AGM. This is always a fascinating meeting and every year I marvel at the collective progress of the many volunteers that is slowly evolving the 120 odd hectares into a world class natural area. National strongly supports more private conservation efforts of this type and I am pleased that I can do a little myself to help it. Recently I even brought Nick Smith our conservation spokesman to visit the wetland and he was highly impressed as well. I have a vision for the wetland that aligns with many others of a wonderful sanctuary for native birds, plants, invertebrates and water creatures. I sometimes think that the other Trust members find a little unusual that National party people could have these views! Especially one like I that is also fond on development and growth.

Today the kids and I went to the Take a Kid Fishing Day out at the Groynes, there must have been hundreds if not thousands there (UPDATE : the press reported in the paper 7,500 went - and the only political candidate seen all day was me!!!).  We were unsuccessful at catching anything but this is a great function. I was asked by a few people my view on the need for hunting and fishing to continue in NZ alongside conservation of native species. It is something that I support continuing and making events like this are a great way to have kids learn to respect the outdoors.  It still does erk me somewhat though that under Labour Didymo has been introduced to the South Island. This has ruined many wild places that I have been to.

 Afterwards we attended the South New Brighton School Fair, a strong Greens presence was noted, including a fair few EFA illegal items on display.  A big thumbs up to the ladies on the Nachos and also for whomever made the great iced cupcakes. Interestingly also turning up to enjoy some of the sunshine was mayor Bob Parker and his lovely wife Joanna.