Party: Labour
Sender: Duncan Webb MP <[email protected]>
Date Received: 2025-08-21 11:03
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** Update for August 21, 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Another blow for Canterbury women ------------------------------------------------------------ Canterbury’s police restructure will remove 15 family harm reduction positions across the Canterbury police district (including South and North Canterbury). It’s another blow to women from this Government, who already raided women’s pay (https://www.labour.org.nz/news/release-the-austerity-budget-that-leaves-women-out/) to cover tax cuts for landlords and big tobacco. Now the Government has forced Police to restructure to focus on what it calls “front line” policing - but family harm is at the coal face. In February 2025 there was a 6 per cent increase in victims of family harm in New Zealand compared with the year to October 2023. New Zealand has a well-documented problem with family violence. If reducing victims is a goal, removing family harm policing from Canterbury doesn’t make sense and will impact our most vulnerable - women and children. Amberley has already had a public meeting of several hundred to protest the changes to policing out there, including reducing the police family harm unit. In Christchurch city we are losing 10 staff focused on family harm. I’ve written to the review committee to ask them to reconsider. Shoplifters are not more important than victims of family violence - everyone matters. I’ll be meeting local agencies working in this space to discuss how we move forward as a community. Women deserve better than this. Ngā mihi Duncan ** Democracy 101 ------------------------------------------------------------ I’ve put together a series of short videos to help people understand how our democracy works - and why this Government’s actions are eroding our democracy. The first one is up on YouTube - click on the picture below. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/GXNleOBp3No ** “We don’t matter to this Government” ------------------------------------------------------------ Unions have organised a series of meetings around the country for low-paid women whose chances of achieving a pay equity claim were ripped away by this Government. The Christchurch one included a session of powerful stories from women in essential jobs who now feel undervalued. I’m going to share some quotes below to let the women’s voices come through. “You do not count. Your skills aren’t worth paying for.” Mental health administrator “From the deaf perspective, our cultural and communication skills are very specialised. Our students have complex needs beyond deafness but some of our tutors can barely afford to come to work. NZSL is not valued as a specialist skill, but you can’t hire somebody off the street to do my job.” Deaf tutor and residential school worker “We are in a caring role, but we are not being cared for.” Care and support worker ** First butter, now mince ------------------------------------------------------------ Let’s not mince words - the cost of food is going up. That’s why I have a beef with this Government. Tax cuts were a mis-steak and we need to grill the Government on them. ** In the news ------------------------------------------------------------ Nicola Willis shows her financial acumen by spending more than half a billion on no ferries. ** More → (https://www.labour.org.nz/news/release-eye-watering-break-fee-for-botched-ferries/) ------------------------------------------------------------ I’ve been working with the church in this story. Homelessness is at crisis point in Christchurch. ** Details → (https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/570559/homeless-people-ordered-to-leave-church-grounds-by-christchurch-council-have-nowhere-to-go) ------------------------------------------------------------ ** For your diary this weekend ------------------------------------------------------------ * Walk the Talk with Reuben Davidson (https://www.facebook.com/events/2292881244460572) * Illuminate Light and Sound Experience (https://www.facebook.com/events/2332454653858534/) * Burnside High Musical Showcase (https://ccc.govt.nz/news-and-events/whats-on/event/rising-stars-2025-burnside-high-school-specialist-music-showcase) * Revamp Vintage Market (https://ccc.govt.nz/news-and-events/whats-on/event/revamp-vintage-market-sunday-aug-24th) ** Connect with me ------------------------------------------------------------ Follow me on social to keep in touch with our events and more. https://facebook.com/ https://instagram.com/ https://x.com/ https://tiktok.com/ https://linkedin.com/ View in browser (https://mailchi.mp/4c385bd057c0/the-budget-that-leaves-women-out-13890583) Copyright (C) 2025 Duncan Webb, MP for Christchurch Central. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Duncan Webb, MP for Christchurch Central 282-290 Durham St North Christchurch, Canterbury 8013 New Zealand Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences (https://facebook.us17.list-manage.com/profile) or unsubscribe (https://facebook.us17.list-manage.com/unsubscribe)