Summer holidays this year will be an opportunity to reflect on some of the changes 2017 delivered for me both politically and personally.
Last summer my partner Grant was laid low by Legionnaires’ disease and it really made us rethink our priorities and, to cut a long story short, we decided to get married. Now that the distraction of the election is behind us, we’re looking forward to celebrating our life-affirming event. The planning’s been fun and, apart from a slight fear the frock might not fit if I give in to Christmas temptations, this ‘first time bride’ is not about to become a stressed out Bridezilla. That’s the aim anyway, I’ll let you know how it shaped up in the next column.
Its ironic in some ways that my partner contracted the type of pneumonia known as Legionnaires’ disease because I used to regularly warn our ‘Maggie’s garden show’ viewers about the perils of potting mix and the risks of inhaling the Legionnaires’ spores. Grant swears he did watch some episodes but now admits he might’ve dozed off occasionally.
My betrothed is Dunedin-born and a fine example of a Southern man - made of stern stuff, soldiering on uncomplainingly and never admitting to any physical weakness or willingly seeking medical help. Ultimately, the only reason he agreed to talk about contracting pneumonia while gardening, was in the hope that anyone else in that situation would be aware of the risks around working with any compost or potting mix in poorly ventilated areas.
I’m very proud of my son Joe who’s been accepted in an exchange programme to an American University starting in January so, once we’ve settled him in, Grant and I have planned an adventurous honeymoon in Spain and Morocco, no doubt with a few favourite garden revisits included.
My focus in 2018 as your local MP will be to fight for the North Shore to have a fairer share of Auckland Council’s spending. Shore business and property owners contribute around 80 million dollars annually but I’m struggling to see
any evidence of those rates being spent here on the Shore, for example on much needed and long overdue investment on infrastructure.
In Opposition, I’ll be focused in my new roles as spokesperson for Conservation and Deputy Chair of Parliament’s important Environment Select Committee on holding this government firmly to account in particular around conservation. We’ve already seen evidence of the extreme green approach of the new Minister, which could ultimately put our threatened and vulnerable native birds at even more risk. The Government’s refusal to commit to the goal of Predator Free New Zealand by 2050 - the war on weeds and battle for our birds - does not bode well for our fragile environment.
From brickbats to bouquets, I’ll finish by acknowledging the huge contribution, now north of $2 million, the North Harbour club has made to some extraordinarily talented young people through its annual AIMES awards. In the seven years Grant and I have attended, we have been really impressed by the calibre of applicants and winners, and the successes so many have made of their lives following the support of winning an AIMES awards.
If you want to discuss any issues either call my Takapuna office on 09 486 0005 or email us to make an appointment northshore@parliament.govt.nz.
