The cost of a National govt
Hi [Name]
It’s hard to believe that we’re almost halfway through the current parliamentary term. It seems like only yesterday the National Party was going up and down the country promising everyone big tax cuts with no cuts to public services. How things have changed!
We now know that the true cost of National’s tax cuts will be an increase in GST and some pretty harsh cuts to our public services. Our older citizens are already experiencing the effect of cuts to their home help hours. ACC is being privatised. Everywhere we look, there are examples of National’s slash and burn approach.
The National Party is undoing so many of the hard won gains made under Labour. We have just over 18 months to ensure that this is a one-term National government. I need your help. In the next few weeks we’ll be delivering the next Hipkins Herald. I really appreciate your support in getting this into letterboxes. We’re also going to be cranking up the fundraising a bit so that we have a good war chest ready for the next campaign.
Thank you in advance for your time and your generosity. There is so much at stake. We need to pull out all the stops to ensure that a Labour government is returned in 2011.
Chris Hipkins, MP for Rimutaka
Phil Goff visits Rimutaka
I was delighted to host Phil Goff here in Rimutaka recently. During Phil’s visit we called on local manufacturing firm Acma Engineering, spoke to senior students at Heretaunga College, had lunch with Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy, spoke to elderly residents at Summerset Retirement Village and visited the Avalon Fire Station. We spoke to local residents about a wide range of issues including National’s plan to increase GST, Gerry Brownlee’s plan to mine our national parks, and local issues like cuts to home help. It was a busy day.
ANZAC Day and Memorial Statue
On ANZAC Day I had the opportunity to attend the Dawn Service in Upper Hutt and memorial services at the Taita Cemetery and the Stokes Valley RSA. I was heartened to see such a strong turnout at all of these events. I also attended the unveiling of the new Memorial Statue in Upper Hutt and would like to thank the local RSA for all of the work they've put into ensuring our fallen have a fitting tribute in the city centre.
The Karapoti Classic!
I enjoy taking part in the Hutt Valley’s outdoor summer events. An event that I take part in every year is the Karapoti Classic! This year it was held on Saturday 6 March. It’s a 50km ride through rivers, mountains and mud. I finished the ride in 4 hours 49 minutes, which was an improvement on last year by almost an hour. Unfortunately, I came 12 minutes short of beating my colleague Trevor Mallard – a fact that he has been flaunting on Labour’s blog
http://blog.labour.org.nz!
New Dunlop Cafe
I was delighted to attend the opening of the new Dunlop Café, part of a hospitality training centre at the old tyre factory site. Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy and I were invited to unveil a plaque and Wayne cut the ribbon to officially open the new café. It’s wonderful to have a new training facility in Rimutaka offering barista training and NZQA accredited qualifications. Upper Hutt has a very proud history when it comes to hospitality training, something we've missed since the CIT closed. It's great to see it starting to re-emerge. I wish them all the very best.
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