Busy schedule

Posted by on 29 September 2011 | 0 Comments

It's been a busy time recently to the point where the Air New Zealand staff at the Invercargill airport are laughing at how many times I have been getting on a plane recently.

I represented Southland at the opening of the Rugby World Cup in Auckland, then was back home for the Living Legends tree planting. I then headed to Christchurch for a shared services meeting with Dame Margaret Bazley and several others. Often in Southland we overlook our successes and Venture Southland is rated by other regions in New Zealand as a success story and a really good example of councils working together as one. We have also recently met with Clutha District Council representatives to talk about Venture, and a great example of the work Venture does is the success of broadband. Through expertise and time and hard work, Southland is getting a good deal on the new broadband rollout, much better than other regions, and that is thanks to Venture. We often take this sort of thing for granted, but it is not happening elsewhere.

I returned to Invercargill for a series of meetings and then flew to Wellington for a Mayors' Taskforce for Jobs meeting with MPs over youth unemployment. The taskforce has a partnership with Central Government and a memorandum of understanding that there will be no wastage of youth. It is disturbing in Southland and throughout New Zealand that youth unemployment numbers are growing.

Our Working It Out model in Southland is managed by Work and Income New Zealand, who is looking at rolling it out throughout New Zealand. Every young person leaving school early is traced, has a mentor and has a pathway worked out for them. The scheme is fantastic and we need to be aware that every community in Southland has youth that need our support.

Last week was somewhat quieter. However, we had our Council meeting in Riversdale and also spent time in the Waikaia ward, checking out some areas of development and interest.

Then I was pleased to attend the opening of Relay for Life, which will be held in Invercargill next year. The concept began 16 years ago in the US and is all about celebrating and raising awareness for cancer survivors, carers, whanau and family. This year 17 relays were held across New Zealand raising nearly $3 million.

And now hopefully I am home for a few days!