Community stays strong in these tough times

The transition between the electorate and Wellington can sometimes feel like moving from one world to another, as I trade the quiet green fields of the South Taranaki and Wanganui regions for the bustle of the capital. Yet despite the superficial differences, there's a lot more in common than one might expect.

The storm that battered our province just over a week ago has forced many people to dig deep and pull together to get themselves, and their neighbours, through the difficult times. Our homes, our farms, our forests, our communities have all taken a battering which tests our financial and social resources.

The financial storm and natural disasters which have battered our country over the past few years have also forced New Zealanders to dig deep.

As a country we've been tested, but have come together to weather the storm. As an example, it was reported last month that donations to help Christchurch after the earthquake were so generous that the money raised has been able to support the people of Christchurch not just in the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes, but through the long road to recovery.

Where the comparison between the region and the whole country starts to fall down is when you remember that South Taranaki and Wanganui don't stand alone - we are part of the wider New Zealand community. Following the storm, the wider New Zealand community was there to help, in the form of the Ministry of Social Development's Task Force Green funding. This will provide a helping hand with the clean-up, as well as valuable employment opportunities for the region, with supervision and training where appropriate.

But in weathering the global financial storm, there's no international "mum and dad" who can help New Zealand - almost every economy is feeling the pinch, and we've got to stand on our own two feet.

That's why the Government is working hard to take us through these difficult times in a responsible manner. It's why we're putting in place policies to encourage people to save more. It's also why we're requiring government departments to live the same way that every household in New Zealand has to - within their means. It's a delicate balancing act, making sure our public service becomes efficient enough to get the New Zealand books positive again, while still making sure that Government support is there for those in need.

Despite the differences, I keep coming back to that which unites us. Whether it be local, national or international, we have to recognise that the strength of a community lies in its people as well as its ability to make ends meet. While the economic strength of our region, and our country, is based on the strength of the farming and manufacturing sector, it is the relationship of one to another in times of adversity which makes the community strong.