Open 9.00am – 7.00pm with the busiest time normally 9.00am – 11.00am

For those of you who will have difficulty getting to a polling station on Election Day, a reminder that you can still vote as advance polling begins on Wednesday 9 November until Friday 25 November in the following locations.  For more information see http://www.elections.org.nz/voting/voting-info/christchurch-east.html

Building Savings and Investment

If elected National will extend the mixed ownership model, which Air New Zealand has operated successfully under for almost a decade, to the four State-owned energy companies. The Government will retain at least 51 per cent of these businesses and Kiwis will be at the front of the queue for shares.

This will free up capital so the Government can invest more in public assets and new infrastructure without increasing borrowing from overseas.

We intend to do this through the establishment of the Future Investment Fund, which will receive all mixed ownership model proceeds – estimated to be $5 billion to $7 billion. The Future Investment Fund will invest in capital projects that help grow our economy and improve public services, for example new schools, hospitals, transport projects, and other public assets – without borrowing more.

The first $1 billion in the Future Investment Fund will go towards building 21st Century Schools so that Kiwi children can get the education they need to succeed.

For more information: http://www.national.org.nz/PDF_General/Future_Investment_Fund_policy.pdf

Building 21st Century Schools

National will spend $1 billion of mixed ownership model proceeds on modernising and transforming New Zealand schools.

The traditional school model – rows of classrooms filled with rows of desks – doesn’t reflect modern teaching or what we know about how kids learn. New schools have open plan areas with breakout rooms. Flexible teaching spaces support modern teaching methods and mean teachers and kids can make far better use of technology.

National will also build a Network For Learning (N4L), a dedicated online network for schools. They will be able to pool resources, connect with each other, and share information with parents.

Kids from different schools will be able to take part in the same lesson with the same teacher, using resources that might have been provided by another school.

With potentially more than 2500 schools and 800,000 users, this will be the biggest network of its kind in the country.

For more information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=37417

Reforming Welfare

National is reforming the benefit system to focus on what people can do, not what they can’t. New Zealand has 328,000 beneficiaries. In the long run, their welfare costs will total more than $45 billion. That is simply unsustainable.

We will better support people into employment with an active investment approach. National will merge the Unemployment, Sickness, Widow’s and Women Alone benefits, and some people on the DPB with children over 14, into a new ‘Jobseeker Support’. Everyone on Jobseeker Support must look for a job. This merge will increase work expectations from 57,000 to 135,000 people.

‘Sole Parent Support’ will replace the DPB, and a new ‘Supported Living Payment’ will replace the Invalid’s Benefit. There will be a part-time work expectation for sole parents with children over 5 years and a full-time work expectation for sole parents with children over 14 years.

Legislation will be introduced into Parliament next year, and the changes will take effect from 2013.

For more information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=37451

National provides incentive to hire young people

National is establishing a new Starting-Out Wage set at 80 per cent of the minimum wage. This will help our youngest and most inexperienced workers get a foot on the employment ladder. It will be available for 16- and 17-year-olds in their first six months of work with a new employer, 18- and 19-year-olds who have come directly off a benefit, and 16- to 19-year-olds in a recognised industry training course involving at least 40 credits a year.

The Starting-Out Wage will provide young people with the opportunity to gain skills, earn money and get the valuable work experience they need to compete in the open labour market and get work.

It will encourage employers to give a young worker a job, where they would have been unwilling to hire them on the Adult Minimum Wage.

National is committed to boosting jobs and creating an environment that encourages economic growth. Our Starting-Out Wage goes a long way towards this, reversing the effect of Labours decision to abolish the Youth Wage in 2008 which saw the loss of up to 9000 jobs for 16- and 17-year-olds.

For more information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleID=37388

Building better resource management

National is committed to the underlying principles of the Resource Management Act, including sustainable management, a results-based approach, and community involvement in public resource decisions.

Our Phase I reforms are working well and have dramatically reduced delays on small consents, and processing of nationally significant infrastructure within nine months.

Now we want to focus on lifting performance for medium-sized project applications, such as new subdivisions and retail developments, by requiring decisions to be made within six months.

We will also simplify integration between resource management, land transport and local government planning processes, require councils to consider natural hazard risks, and provide clearer advice to better manage urban development.

The Land and Water Forum’s recommendations to improve freshwater management, quality and allocation are now underway as well.

National’s sensible management of our resources is critical to protect the environment, promote stronger economic growth, create higher-paid jobs, and build a more prosperous New Zealand.

For more information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=37455

October 2011

Welcome to the penultimate edition of my newsletter before the General Election. Parliament has now dissolved for the three year term. I am pleased to report that after National’s first term in Government, 293 bills were passed into law with another 18 bills awaiting Royal assent.

Like many of you I have embraced the Rugby World Cup euphoria which has gripped our nation of only 4.2 million over the last six weeks. Being part of the winning team who retained the Parliamentary Rugby World Cup last month allowed me to meet the All Blacks at the start of the tournament. Did you also know Christchurch East is home to more All Blacks than any other electorate?

This newsletter focuses on education and today’s orange zone announcement. 

What’s been Buzzing in the Beehive?

Early Childhood Education a priority for National

Early childhood education is a priority. The Government’s response to the recent ECE Taskforce report, which received more than 4000 submissions, has already begun. The Government is moving to lift quality in ECE services, give better information to parents, retain diversity, minimise bureaucracy and increase participation.

In Budget 2011 we announced an extra $550 million over four years for ECE with $1.4 billion spent on ECE this year alone – 38 per cent more than the previous Government. We now spend more on ECE than on police.

We remain committed to protecting the 20 hours ECE.

More social workers in schools and on the frontline

The number of social workers in low-decile schools and on the frontline has been increased by the National-led Government.

The Social Workers in Schools programme, which currently covers 285 schools, will be expanded to all decile 1-3 schools. The total number of schools with social work support will increase to 673. The schools in Christchurch East which fit this category currently include St James School in Aranui which I visited a few months ago.

There will also be an increase of 10 per cent in the number of frontline care and protection social workers. This is an additional 96 social workers to support at-risk kids and help give them the protection and security they deserve.

Focusing on vulnerable children is an absolute priority for National. This investment in more social workers will provide more specialist support to help tackle child abuse and neglect.

National Standards

National is committed to lifting the education standards of our children. National Standards are helping us to deliver on our election promise of reducing the shocking statistic, that one in five kids leave school with few or no formal qualifications. National Standards will ensure that our children learn the basics at school. In essence, the Standards are a set of clear expectations that show parents, in plain language, their children’s progress in reading, writing, and maths.

We’re investing $36 million to develop programmes for kids needing extra support and we’re placing 50 experts in schools to give them specialised help.

As a parent of two young children, I certainly support this initiative. Education is the key to success. It creates opportunity and releases potential.

Number of new Trades Academies doubled for 2012

National is working hard to help equip young people with the skills they need to succeed. We know some young people just don’t fit in regular classrooms. That doesn’t mean they don’t want to learn. We want to help them gain better skills, better qualifications, and ultimately better job opportunities.

That’s why National has confirmed 10 more (on top of three already announced) new Trades Academies around the country from next year, taking the total to 21. One of these will be the National Trade Academy in Christchurch which is due to open in mid 2012. The academy will offer 75 places in agriculture, horticulture, equine studies and forestry, in partnership with Canterbury schools and other education providers.

Eight Trades Academies have opened this year and are already making a difference. By the end of 2012, there will be 2000 free places for 16- or 17-year-old students who might otherwise drop out of school.

Students at a Trades Academy are still enrolled in school but can study at other sites, thanks to partnerships between schools, tertiary providers, employers, and industry training organisations. They can earn NCEA credits and a tertiary qualification while gaining practical skills in the workplace.

National’s approach to learning engages these students in practical education. We’re helping young people contribute to growing our economy and productivity by giving them better skill levels as they enter the labour market.

In the Out of Parliament Office…

Following with our education theme, this month Education Minister Anne Tolley announced that Cantabrians will have the opportunity to participate in a consultation on the future of education in Canterbury following the earthquakes. This will be a chance to have your say, particularly if you support my long running campaign for a new local high school.

Your feedback will contribute to a draft Education Renewal Plan for greater Christchurch. The consultation will run until 13 November. More details can be found at http://shapingeducation.minedu.govt.nz.

Good news for the region with latest official economic data showing Canterbury’s economy is continuing to recover – manufacturing and exports having grown consistently since the February earthquakes, and the number of job advertisements is rising.

This month changes were made to the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement to allow local authorities and developers to make land available for post-earthquake residential developments. This means more concentrated use of land within existing urban areas and provisions for greenfield developments. It is part of the wider work underway to address housing supply matters across the greater Christchurch area.

Progress continues to be made on green zoning of properties. Earlier this month 5443 Banks Peninsula properties have been rezoned from white to green. Today a further 6430 orange zone properties turned green leaving just 1666 residential properties still in the orange zone. Areas included in today’s announcement are nearly all of Parklands and all of Spencerville and Travis Country.  Most of Brooklands and the west side of Southshore remains in the orange zone.  This brings the total of properties in Canterbury that have been zoned green to more than 181,000.  Homeowners should go to www.landcheck.org.nz to check their new zoning.

There will now be three new technical categories for foundation design when people come to rebuild.  For further details of these categories go to www.cera.govt.nz

The biggest concern for those still in the orange zone remains long-term flood risks, the cost of remediation vs. home values is an important part of this.  However, the Government is confident that insurers will reinsure all those houses that have been rezoned to green.  CCC is working on repairing much of the green zone areas now too. See www.ccc.govt.nz for further details. Also see my recent post on my website for more information: http://www.aarongilmore.org.nz/news-post/where-are-the-geotech-reports/.

Many of you would have been to the recent Red Zone workshops. I attended some to observe. There were many great questions which CERA is following up on.

If you have a dispute with your financial service provider you can contact the Insurance & Savings Ombudsman Scheme Inc. on Freephone within NZ 0800 888 202 or see their website www.iombudsman.org.nz

Out and About

It has been great to help out the Burwood Christian Centre at the red zone clean up and sow the silt with grass seeds so that it does not blow around in summer.

Also Prime Minister John Key attended a fundraising event last week at the Waitikiri Golf Club.

Aaron with Prime Minister John Key and Nigel Ripley, pastor of the Burwood Christian Centre, at a fundraising event at the Waitikiri Golf Club.

L: Evelyn and me at Coke fanzone watching NZ vs Australia game. R: Dan Carter at the Christchurch All Blacks victory parade

Travis Wetland Planting Day Conservation Week

Watch Out For…

Come along to my Housing Expo on Saturday 19 November from 10am-4pm at the Burwood Christian Centre at 52 Bassett Street, where you will have the opportunity to hear from me and property developers about potential land options in the area.

The next phase of the successful Project Plant, a community plant nursery initiative started by me, will be on the weekend of 5-6 November. Plants from quake affected properties can be transferred to land in Marshlands while homeowners rebuild or relocate over the next 12-24 months.

We’ve had plenty of people interested already. It’s not too late to register as the deadline is 2 November. Email projectplant@parliament.govt.nz or call my office on 382 5701.

Until Next Time…

The situation with the Rena in Tauranga is complex and highlights how difficult salvage operations can be. Good progress continues to be made in removing the oil from the ship in what are very dangerous conditions.

If you have any comments or views, drop me a line or an email – it would be great to hear from you.

Regards,

Aaron Gilmore

Media Release from Hon Gerry Brownlee and Hon Maurice Williamson

Three new categories for residential foundation design have been developed and will be required for repairing and rebuilding homes in Canterbury following the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011, it was announced today.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee said the foundation designs apply to the flat land in the residential green zone in Canterbury, which has now been divided by engineering experts into three new technical categories (TC1, TC2 and TC3).

The categories, and the areas they apply to, are based on ground conditions, including the susceptibility to liquefaction, and the extent of land and building damage caused by the earthquakes.

“Following the damaging earthquakes in Canterbury, extensive scientific and geotechnical investigation and research has been undertaken by a range of experts to identify land issues and ways to reduce the risk of injury to people and damage to homes in any future earthquakes,” Mr Brownlee said.

“This is part of ongoing work to improve building standards in New Zealand and the Government’s coordinated response to long-term recovery in Canterbury. The information released today will allow homeowners with damaged properties in the residential green zone to get on with the process of repairing or rebuilding their homes with greater confidence,” he said.

The three new technical categories are part of the Department of Building and Housing (DBH)’s updated guidance for repairing or rebuilding houses in Canterbury following the earthquakes.

DBH first issued guidance for repairing or rebuilding homes in land damaged areas of Canterbury in December 2010 following the 4 September 2010 earthquake. This guidance is currently being updated following two more damaging earthquakes in Canterbury on 22 February and 13 June 2011.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson said the three technical categories relate to the performance of flat land in the earthquakes and its susceptibility to liquefaction in any future significant earthquakes.

A map has been released today with the three different technical categories of land colour coded on it – TC1 is grey, TC2 is yellow, and TC3 is blue.

“The good news is homeowners whose property is in TC1 or TC2 with foundations that require repairing or rebuilding, they can get on with the process with confidence.  The only further site-specific geotechnical investigation required is the simple shallow soil strength testing which is standard for all homes. A range of standard solutions are available for the repair and rebuilding of foundations in these areas.

“Property owners in TC3 who need to carry out repair or rebuilding of foundations can do so, but they will require site-specific geotechnical investigation and specific engineering foundation design,” Mr Williamson said.

·         Technical Category 1 (TC1)

Properties in TC1 (grey) are unlikely to experience significant land damage from liquefaction in future earthquakes. Standard concrete slabs and timber floors are acceptable for foundation repairs or rebuilds.

·         Technical Category 2 (TC2)

For properties in TC2 (yellow), minor to moderate land damage from liquefaction is possible in future significant earthquakes. Lightweight construction, for example corrugated iron not tiled roofs, or enhanced foundations such as more robust floor slabs that better tie the structure together will be required for foundation repairs or rebuilds.

·         Technical Category 3 (TC3)

For properties in TC3 (blue), moderate to significant land damage from liquefaction is possible in future significant earthquakes. Foundation solutions should be based on site-specific geotechnical investigation and specific engineering foundation design where foundation repairs or rebuilds are needed. This might involve deep pile solutions.

For properties not in these categories, normal consenting procedures will apply. This applies to non-residential properties in urban areas, properties in rural areas or land outside the areas which have been mapped for land damage and properties in the green zones on the Port Hills and Banks Peninsula. 

DBH is currently undertaking a trial of foundation systems in Christchurch to test the feasibility and costs of other foundation solutions for properties in TC3 that need to have their foundations repaired or rebuilt due to earthquake damage. 

Some of the techniques proposed in the trial have been used in roading but they have not previously been used in residential construction. These techniques have the potential to offer cost effective alternatives to deep pile solutions. The trial is expected to be completed, and peer reviewed internationally with the results released by mid-December 2011. Updated guidance for repairing or rebuilding houses and design guidance in Technical Category 3 is then expected to be issued by the end of February 2012.

A summary of the DBH guidance for repairing or rebuilding houses following the earthquakes in TC1 and TC2 categories is available on www.dbh.govt.nz/canterbury-earthquake-residential-building

Homeowners can find out what technical category their property is in by visiting the CERA land information website: www.landcheck.org.nz. The new technical categories only apply to residential properties in the green zone with foundations that are required to be repaired or rebuilt due to earthquake damage or for future major renovations or new builds.

DBH is one of a number of government departments working with the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) on rebuilding greater Christchurch and its surrounds, and supporting the welfare of its residents. For more information visit www.cera.govt.nz

A number of people ask me where are the geotech reports, why are they not being released and when is my green zone land going to be fixed?  Where in reality the Government has “fronted up” with as much information as it can at this time on geotech information.  The very complex geotechnical issues that confront some of the areas people live especially in the orange zones in is far from simple and anyone who says otherwise is effectively telling you what you want to hear.  The engineers continue to work out what is the right information and what are the options for Government.  Areas like Brooklands and South Shore are in low lying sand spits and are natural hazard risks at the best of times from flooding.  It is therefore important to get the right information for people.  While all areas can be fixed the issue is what is the cost of doing so and the risk of further loss.

The suggestion that the government is withholding any geo-tech reports is a red herring being put about by the opposition.  The geo-tech reports which informed and continue to inform government land zoning decisions were area wide ones.  These reports are available on the EQC website; and the land decision presentations and support materials are on the CERA website.  Labour keeps saying the government is refusing to release residents’ individual section geo-tech reports, pointing this out is taking a few calls a day from my office correcting the misinformation.

The first thing to note about these is that those reports played no role in the government’s land zoning decisions.  The second is that the government, be it through CERA or any other agency, does not hold or have access to, or have any right to release those reports.  Individual property geo-tech reports are compiled on behalf of EQC, private insurers and the property owners as part of each property’s full damage assessment.  They are none of the government’s business; the government is not withholding them.

Fitzgerald Avenue wall repair progressing well

You can expect more than a work notice

Safety is our number one priority.

Level 3 Water Restrictions are now in place

Keeping in touch

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• FAQs
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• Christchurch City Council earthquake info
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