Help for our most vulnerable children

THE Parliamentary recess week was spent hosting White Paper for Vulnerable Children meetings throughout the electorate, visiting schools, and hosting afternoon teas for those many people in our communities who enable my offices to better serve our communities. I was particularly pleased to be able to host Alfred Ngaro in Taumarunui, and Cam Calder in Feilding and Marton, to present the white paper on behalf of the Government

The white paper meetings have raised a number of points on initiatives that will need to be managed a little differently in remote rural New Zealand. This relates to transport challenges, and remoteness from some of the services needed to maintain the integrity of initiatives in the Rangitikei electorate.

There can be no doubt that aside from some minor challenges, the white paper has been well received. It has great community support to finally make inroads into the serious problem we have in New Zealand with our treatment of children.

I look forward to this programme making great progress in giving our vulnerable children a better start in life, and preventing some of the terrible treatment they suffer from.

My electorate offices in Taumarunui, Marton and Feilding could not operate as effectively as they do without the goodwill of the many agencies that provide solutions, and assist with advice on the many topics that come through our doors daily.

This time of the year gives me an opportunity to thank all those who make that contribution to our communities, and to my offices. I would like to wish them a very happy Christmas.

I took the opportunity to take a stand at the Marton market day on Saturday to promote the activities of an Out of Parliament Office. The idea was to tell people of the services we provide, and how we can help them. There was also information on the activities of Parliament, and how the legislative system works. The market day was successful and created a real buzz in the town.

One last thing: Two days in a row for the Black Caps - almost too much to hope for!