WEST MELTON COUNTRY FETE

Plans are well underway for the next West Melton Country Fete to be held at West Melton School on Sunday, March 26th, from 10am to 3pm.

For just a gold coin donation at the gate, you can enjoy a day filled with fabulous entertainment from local bands, dancers and school groups, plus loads of children's activities such as pony rides, farm yard animals, jeep rides, bouncy castles, bungee tramps, kids zumba and Pedalmania.

Adults can grab a coffee, a raffle ticket (and hopefully a prize!) and browse the 120 amazing stalls filled with handmade crafts, homewares, food, clothing and health products. A great range of food will be available throughout the day from two food courts.

In 2021, the Fete saw over 7,000 people attend from across

Canterbury, raising over $45,000 for the School. This money provided new shade sails in key play areas, sports equipment, wonderful quiet play equipment, as well as fencing to create a new green space that the children all love and enjoy daily. As in previous years, the Fete has been proudly supported by Gold Sponsors Ray White Real Estate, McLenaghan Contracting and Wilfield Rise - yoursection.co.nz. Organised by the Friends of West Melton School the event is one not to be missed. Organisers hope to see you there.

For a full list of stalls, sponsors, activities and entertainment please keep an eye out for updates on their Facebook Page: West Melton Fete.

Come & listen to former All Black Zac Guildford about his personal story & journey to better mental health. With Jacob Skilling from the Broken Movement Trust, Zac will talk about vulnerability & accountability and how to find your feet when you feel lost

Thursday 30 March 7.30 - 9pm

Only 120 places available

Darfield Baptist Church 15 Greendale Rd Darfield

A great chance to find the support you need.

This is a free event. Over 16’s only.

MORE INFORMATION darfieldbaptist.org.nz/events

Or call Darren 021 392 934

The impact of the cost-of-living crisis is being felt in households up and down New Zealand, and Selwyn is not immune. While Selwyn still has one of the strongest regional economies in the country, the fact that the number of people on benefits in our district has more than doubled since Labour came to office is telling. The number of people on a benefit in September 2017 was 843, but by late last year, it had risen to 1,878 - an increase of 123 percent.

Families with young children are particularly vulnerable right now - and we all know our region is booming with young families. With house prices in Selwyn averaging $830,000, most of these families need two incomes to keep the household afloat. But going to work often also means paying for childcare, and in New Zealand, it is among the most expensive in the developed world.

We have a wonderful array of

NICOLA GRIGG OPINION COLUMN

local and private providers of early childhood education in our region, and I love the fact local parents have such a choice of places to send their kids. However, with increased Government pressure for these providers to meet pay paritywithout enough State supporttheir fees are naturally going to go up. This is a big problem for many of our families, and more often than not, it’s the mothers who forgo their careers and incomes to stay home and care for children.

It is not right that parents should have to choose between paying for early childhood education and their mortgage. The National Party has just announced our FamilyBoost childcare tax rebate to support young families, and as our Spokesperson for Women, I’m particularly excited to be able to deliver this meaningful policy that will go some way to reducing the cost of livingespecially for mums.

By clamping down on the extortionate amount of money currently being spent on working groups and consultants, a National Government would fund about $250 million in rebates.

This is a targeted programme that will be available to families earning up to $180,000, with the full $75 a week rebate available to families earning up to $140,000.

This means that, for example, a teacher and a plumber earning $130,000 between them who are spending $300 a week on childcare would receive a weekly rebate of $75, paid fortnightly by IRD to the parents’ bank account. According to 2022 Infometrics data, there are over 5,100 preschoolers in Selwyn, and I’m certain this year’s data will show even more. I believe a policy like this will make a real difference to our people’s lives, and I hope you do too.

Nicola Grigg, MP for Selwyn.