Friday 10th June 2022
Page 4
SELWYN MP UPDATE Recently, Labour confirmed the worst fears of local communities by tabling a Bill to ram through its Three Waters agenda. Even with most local councils in open revolt, and overwhelming public opposition to these reforms, Labour is unleashing hell on ratepayers, putting its ideology before the wishes of the people and outcomes. The Water Services Entities Bill, lays out out the final plans for the transfer of local assets and the establishment of a complex and unaccountable bureaucracy. The Government has consistently ignored any alternatives that National has proposed, such as establishing council-controlled organisations or contracting, and have pursued their four mega-entities model. We here in Canterbury will now get
LESS IS MORE!!! • NO upfront costs • NO marketing costs (excludes auction) Call today to find out how you can save when you list exclusively with Whittle Knight!
Megan Ellis 027 206 1066 03 348 4149 www.whittleknight.co.nz Licensed Real Estate Agents REAA 2008
SELWYN • RESIDENTIAL • LIFESTYLE
sucked into Entity D - with approximately eight layers of bureaucracy between us, the ratepayers, and the governance boards. Under this model, communities will lose their voices, subsidise their neighbours and get worse outcomes. National has opposed these reforms consistently, and if elected in 2023, we will repeal and replace this broken model. On the topic of centralisation, the health reforms are close to passing into law - again, despite vocal opposition from the public. The Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill sets out the framework for Labour’s restructure of the New Zealand health system. It removes District Health Boards and replaces them with Health New Zealand and the Maori Health Authority. National has opposed this law change from the outset as, while we absolutely agree more needs to be done to improve health outcomes for Maori, we do not believe a race-based health system is the answer. There has, however, been something of a win for residents in small towns like Springfield, Sheffield, Darfield, Dunsandel and Leeston. Last Wednesday, at the very last minute - and in response to enormous pressure from the
National Party - the Government finally acted to include rural communities as a priority population in the legislation. By including these communities in the legislation, the new health structures would be required by law to deliver equitable levels of service, access to services in proportion to needs, and all parts of the new health system would be held accountable for ensuring that these New Zealanders get the outcomes they deserve. Rural New Zealand has seen a real decline in health services in recent years. Yet, until last week, the Government has doubleddown and insisted that rural communities didn’t need to be included as a key stakeholder in these reforms, despite having much worse health outcomes than urban areas. I welcome this U-turn from the Government and hope it will ensure rural health services are prioritised and properly funded to service rural towns across Canterbury. Nicola Grigg, Selwyn MP.
Buy 1 Get 1 Half Price on selected Bridgestone car, 4x4/SUV and van tyres for the month of June! *T&Cs apply. Valid until 30th June 2022.
6 South Terrace, Darfield
P: 03 318 8201 M: 027 434 0060
