Active Parliament means busy committees

The past week has seen an active Parliament with a number of Treaty settlement bills passed and introduced, plus the Mixed Ownership Bill introduced and through its first reading. Select committees have also been busy, with financial reviews of the Crown Owned Entities taking place, and two of my select committees, primary production and law and order, have a number of these to complete.

This week has been spent in the electorate.

I was rapt to attend the UCOL graduation ceremony in Palmerston North.

This organisation is certainly going well, with record numbers of students graduating, and also a high percentage completing the courses.

There will also be graduation ceremonies in Wanganui and Masterton. UCOL is having a real influence in education in our greater region.

The Central District field days are to be held at the end of this week in Feilding, and this is also a huge event for the region, with some 35,000 people expected to attend.

Add to this up to 600 exhibitors, and accommodation will be filled in the area for a few days.

The new air force helicopter, the NH 90, was welcomed to New Zealand by Defence Minister Jonathon Coleman last week. It gives our air force some real horsepower in disaster relief, search and rescue, and other peace-keeping activities.

This will be a considerable boost to the Ohakea base, where the NH 90s are housed.

One last thing: great to see former Wanganui, and current Te Kawau Club, rugby player Aseli Tikoirototuma making a mark at the Chiefs.