LOUISE UPSTON MP for Taupo

On Saturday I completed the 63.3 Challenge in Taupo.  The 63.3 Challenge is 3 half marathons in 3 months and has been organized by Taupo events team giving people an opportunity to train over the winter months, keeping colds and flus at bay and when participating enjoy some of the best scenery in New Zealand.  With 2 off road and 1 on road the scenes from the courses where amazing.  Several hundred people completed the challenge.  Some using it as training for bigger goals like the upcoming half Ironman (Dec) and next years Ironman whereas others completing the 3 was the final goal.

I was very impressed with the W2K track which was the course on Saturday.  Starting from Kinloch the track winds up and up and up and has some of the best views of Lake Taupo.  Bike Taupo maintain the track and so it was very appropriate to be in Taupo Monday night when they took out the Supreme Award at the Trustpower Community Awards for volunteers.

Watch this space for my next Taupo event challenge!

On Saturday I was proud to be part of the nation wide event by NARK (Nation of Advocates for the Rights of Kids).  Up and down New Zealand communities gathered at town centres and cenotaphs to raise awareness of the cause initiated by Cherie Kurarangi Sweeney. 

Communities are coming together and standing up united against child abuse.  On Saturday, it was to place a toy to remember “lost angels” and to record a message in the register.  In the days and months ahead it will be about families, neighbours, friends supporting others in need so that our tamariki are not the victims of abuse.

As a government we have taken some strong actions.  CYF Social Workers in hospitals, Never Shake a Baby campaign, closer working relationships between Police, MSD, Justice and Health.  Minister for Justice Simon Power has also introduced legislation that will punish people who witness child abuse and fail to report it the authorities.

I was proud to be with Minister Paula Bennett when she launched the Green Paper for Children in Auckland last month. The Green Paper is a consultation document intended to stimulate debate about vulnerable children and get public feedback on how to better care for children. 

The paper covers difficult, complex and sometimes controversial issues.  It includes an evidential basis for each issue or problem and then provides some possible solutions, but asks what the public thinks. The public’s feedback will go directly into formulation of the white paper and I encourage people to have their say.  Check out their Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/greenpaperonchildren

I plan to have a forum in Taupo and ensure our community has this very important discussion and debate on the issues.

On Friday I was thrilled to be at the launch of Contact Energy’s sponsorship of the Swim Well Programme with Acting Minister of Energy and Resources, Hon Hekia Parata.

Last year Contact ran a promotion “What does Taupo need” and I was part of the judging process.  There were around 50 applications, shortlisted to 3 and Swim for Life Taupo the clear winner as voted by the Taupo community.

From 1 August 2010 to 31 July 2011 3,600 children have been taught to swim for free in addition to training over 60 new swim instructors. This would not have been possible without Contact Energy’s sponsorship of $100,000 and is a great outcome in an area dominated by Lake Taupo and the Waikato River.  Our waterways are of course significant for Contact’s geothermal power generation too.

Because the programme was so successful, Contact Energy signed up for another 12 months under the banner of Contact Swim Well Taupo. The new programme features both learn to swim and water safety components and it will deliver these crucial life skills to children across the  district in Taupo, Turangi and Mangakino.

It means that all Taupo students between the ages of 5 and 18 have free swimming and water safety lessons.

In a district surrounded by waterways, learning to be safe and confident in the water is a life skill that all New Zealanders need the chance to have.  It is fantastic to see such a great community engagement project and benefits our future swimmers and users of our rivers and our Great Lake Taupo.

The community is so fortunate to have such a great programme.

On Sunday the Mizuno Half Marathon was held in Taupo.  This is the largest half marathon event for walkers held in New Zealand.  One thing that is fantastic about the sporting events in Taupo is that they cater for all.  In the run section there were those who were using it is training for the Half Ironman and Ironman events, those in the 63.3 challenge (like me!), those first timers.  All turned up on the day with a goal to finish – although their own target times probably differed greatly.

It was a nasty day but a fantastic turnout.  I lined up as an entrant in the run event – this is number 2 of 3 half marathons in the 63.3 challenge.  There was sun, wind, rain, sleet………

Taupo deserves the event capital title and Sunday’s event was another example of why.  The event ran smoothly despite the horrid weather conditions.  I was impressed by the number of people assisting on the course with directions, drinks and the ever important words and cheers of encouragement.  Well done to the organisers and all those who helped on the day!

On Saturday night I attended the Tokoroa Volunteer Firefighters Awards.  I wish everybody in our community could attend these evenings so they could meet the people in our community that put their lives on hold every time there is a 111 call that requires fire fighters assistance.  These are the people that are our community heroes.  It is of course not just the firefighters themselves, but their families, their friends and their employers that make sacrifices.

In Tokoroa there are volunteers who have just joined the service and those like new Captain  Dave Morris who has served for 33 years.  The Fire Service awards bars for every 2 years of service and it was great to see those getting their first awards as well as those recognised for 14 years continuous service.

Cyril Allan received his Queen Service Medal for 14 years of service. What was great about his award is that he started his time in Tokoroa at the tender young age of 66 so received his award at 80 years of age!  As you can tell from the photo, Cyril was as proud as punch to be recognised for his service.  He might not be on the fire truck these days, but the work he does in the office and in the station is every bit as important.

For most people in our community you may go through your life without ever needing the services of the volunteer firefighters. Having faced a life or death emergency myself last year I can tell you the enormous relief you feel when the 111 response team arrives. 

Ordinary people doing extraordinary things for people they have never met before and probably will never meet again.

Thank you.  Thank you. Thank you. 

 

Louise with Cyril Allan after presenting him his Queens Service Medal