Last night I issued my first Mayoral Citation, the highest honour I can award a resident, to Dr Ashley Bloomfield.
I can think of no one more deserving.
I'd also like to acknowledge the service of our health pros and public servants who have been integral to our response.
I trust those who have contacted me with outrage re the cost of correcting the historic misspelling of Petone to Pito-one will share the same outrage with the incoming government’s, far more expensive, requirement to change all departments that have a te reo name to english.
A lot to unpack from the new coalition government — one I can’t get my head around is putting smokefree 2025 in the trash can.
Consecutive governments, of all colours, have done outstanding work in this space. We had been considered world leading… Gutted.
Introduction of a Maori Ward passed at Council 12-0.
Passionate and respectful public comment and debate before the vote.
Today was a good day, and one of my proudest as Mayor of Lower Hutt.
Today I was given the one finger salute by a constituent. Five minutes later they see me getting into my branded car and run over “Sorry I thought you were Chris Bishop”
@cjsbishop
#nzpol
#LifeInTheHutt
😂
981 community cases of COVID today, and I just got off the phone with a friend, who is a public servant.
They were spat on as they walked past Parliament to get to work…
Spat on because they were wearing a mask.
You can’t make this nonsense up.
The National Party’s commitment today to repeal water reform within it’s first 100 days (without talking to local government) is a financial death sentence for councils/ratepayers who are trying to front up to decades of underinvestment.
I've just announced that Hutt City Council will stop enforcing parking charges across Lower Hutt for the next 48 hours.
This will enable people to access essential services in our city, and allow people to plan for our move to level 4, without any charge for parking.
Thanks
@jacindaardern
for coming out to the vaccination centre at Wainuiomata Marae today. Run by Kōkiri Health and Social Services — they are doing a great job. Great to see so many young people getting the jab today!
Got asked for ID on the weekend. Manager ran over when they seen me pulling out my Drivers License. Apologised repeatedly and said to the staff member ‘that’s our mayor’. Then tried to give me a free bag of chips... I said, if in doubt always ask!
Hold up. So the welfare of the
@TaxpayersUnion
’s employees is more important than the welfare of my Council’s employees? A zero% rate rise they advocate for would mean 50+ forced redundancies and reduction of services. LG dont get access to the subsidy. 🤔
Thank you to the people of our city for giving me the opportunity to serve as your Mayor of
@HuttCityCouncil
. It will be the privilege of my life. It’s time to get to work!
Read my release, it’s self-explanatory. Also – I’d like to wish you and your employees all the best during this difficult time. I hope the Government’s wage subsidy is making a positive difference.
Is it true
@Campbell_Barry
that despite publicly claiming that you’re taking a pay cut ; you’re actually just giving the money to your favoured charity??
When I stood for Mayor last year, a group of people got busy making a number of allegations about the purchase of my family home.
They've started shopping the story around again, and it's time to call it out for what it is.
This is a long, but important message.
Silvia got in touch two weeks ago asking if there was anything I could do to help them check out Te Ara Nui o Te Rangihaeata (Transmission Gully), as they no longer drive.
As an early birthday present for Ivan (90 next month), I thought I’d take them both on a personal tour!
Big news! Really privileged to join the Prime Minister in Naenae this morning, where she announced the Government will invest $27 million to towards the rebuild of Naenae Pool.
For every 100L of water that is taken from our environment, treated, and sent to your tap — we lose appx 40L in leaks.
We are staring down the barrel of serious water restrictions this summer.
And I completely get it when people say to me “Just fix the bloody leaks”…
Council’s will have two options in their Long Term Plans:
1) Massive rates increases
2) Don’t invest in Water Infrastructure
Intergenerational infrastructure investment in this country should be bipartisan. Instead a three year election cycle cripples progress once again.
The airport flyer will be stopping its service at the end of the month, and the new provider will not service Lower Hutt.
Reducing public transport services and options for people in the Hutt, as we experience historic growth, is shortsighted and very disappointing.
Today we secured $98.9m from government for vital stormwater upgrades to unlock the potential of high density housing as part of RiverLink, and to have the infrastructure in place on our valley floor for housing! 😊
One of the highlights of my job is getting to swear in new Aotearoa citizens here in Lower Hutt! I thought I’d take a cheeky selfie immediately after their very special moment!
Today I am announcing that I will be seeking re-election this year to continue to serve as your Mayor.
It is the privilege of my life to serve Lower Hutt. Every day I’m reminded of how fortunate I am to lead the city where I grew up and where Laura and I have put down our roots.
Ok — So now I know at least one of the reasons why Smokefree 2025 has been binned…
The revenue kept from taxing smokers will help pay for tax cuts. 🤔🤔🤔
Where is National going to find the money for tax cuts without a foreign buyers tax, and what does Nicola Willis mean by 'trimming the package'?
#NationNZ
@asciidude
I care quite a bit about sorting our water infrastructure out, and I care about not burdening my ratepayers with unaffordable increases to pay for it.
Replacing it with “letting councils create CCOs” is the status quo and won’t solve the financial problem.
Double jabbed on Super Saturday 💪💪
Thanks to the vaccination team set up at CoCo Pop - Community Pop up space in Hillary Court. Still plenty of time today to go down to any of the centres across the Hutt and get your first or second jab.
Let’s get it done!
It’s nearly been a week since the PM announced that Auckland will be moved into Alert Lvl 3.
To all Aucklanders, I just want to say – thank you:
For following official advice.
For staying home and saving lives.
For doing your bit to protect the rest of us against COVID-19.
Today is personal for me. I live in one of the lowest vaccinated areas of our region — North Wainuiomata (Arakura, Glendale, Pencarrow).
We must increase our vaccination rate. The Delta BUSter will be at the Norfolk St shops from 10-3pm — I’ll be there with other Wainui locals!
It’s Long Term Plan prep time.
And I’m reading advice that show’s astronomical cost 4 the Hutt Valley to do the necessary work on our trunk sewage pipeline and assets over the next 10 years.
$1b+
It will be a disaster if a new govt post Oct 14 repeals water reform legislation
Now is not the time for this kind of dangerous politics. It’s the path we’ve seen in the USA and other parts of the globe. It should never be welcome here in NZ. Step up.
My ombudsman complaint about
@HuttCityCouncil
charging ridiculous amounts for information that was clearly in the public interest was upheld.
Have now received all information relating to Naenae Pool closure at no charge.
Some interesting reading. Watch this space.
With all the stuff thrown at us — we’ve been incredibly fortunate in NZ to have a leader like
@jacindaardern
over the past 5 years.
Thank you for everything you’ve given in service of our people and country — and thank you for your support of the Hutt Valley!
Short-sighted decisions are now coming home to roost. In the Hutt, we’ve had some of the lowest rates in NZ over past 20 years. During that period, the can was kicked down the road. We’re now playing urgent catch-up so our infrastructure doesn’t fail us.
Every Mayor and Councillor from the last 30+ years needs to take a share in responsibility. I do. We all need to take responsibility, stop denying problems or that they will be cheap to fix.
Two years ago to this day, I was elected Mayor of Lower Hutt.
It is the privilege of my life to represent our city.
There is something pretty special about serving the community that you were raised in, and who raised you.
I would like to clarify a comment of mine on Facebook that caused offence to a group, SUFW, last week.
The right to meet, speak and debate is important. My comment was in response to some supporters of this group making derogatory and harmful comments towards trans people.
A surprise recipient of “Best try assist of the year” at the Wainuiomata Rugby prizegiving after passing the ball to
@AshBloomfield
a few months back!!
We are making really good progress on Naenae Pool!
✔️80% of the labour force and materials are from local sources
✔️Aotearoa’s first Green Star 5+ rated pool
✔️ Tracking on time and on budget
Today we announced that
@HuttCityCouncil
will waive outdoor seating fees for up to 12 months for restaurants and cafes. This allows businesses to install outdoor seating to create safer (physically distant) spaces and more customer capacity. Deepak from Tumeric Cafe approved!
Thanks
@richardhills777
.
This whole issue shows how dirty politics can thrive when stories are published without substance or verification. Thanks
@annafifield
for making this right.
I know this caused huge stress to Hutt Mayor
@Campbell_Barry
and his whānau.
The attacks and headlines from
@NZStuff
were unfounded and they’ve finally retracted and apologised. But no doubt won’t reach the audience the original stories did.
Acting CE at Hutt City Council has just changed the rules in how they will process OIA requests prior to the election.
Anything taking over an hour to process will incur a charge.
To change this suddenly, prior to an election, is an attack on accountability and transparency...
I had a resident come to one of my mayoral catch up sessions at Petone Library.
He told me about how he and his friend got told off for nailing a suitcase to a power pole.
They tried to make it look like a speed camera to stop cars speeding in their street. I love my job! 😂
Just passed our Long Term Plan unanimously. Very proud of the whole team, and THANK YOU to everyone who has engaged, provided feedback, ideas and suggestions in building this plan together.
Exciting to turn the first sod of Lower Hutt’s Beltway cycleway this morning, alongside
@JulieAnneGenter
and
@ginnyandersen
. It’ll be an asset for our city!
I will be fighting tooth & nail for a commitment from Health NZ and the Govt that ALL services and beds currently provided at Hutt Hospital will return. By commitment, I mean an initial budget, timeline & crystal clear statement from the Health NZ Board who take over in 6 weeks.
Two thumbs up from your Hutt City Councillors for everyone in Lower Hutt Te Awa Kairangi to get double jabbed!
I’ll be getting my second vaccination done on Super Saturday to protect my friends, family, colleagues and everyone I meet across our city from COVID-19.
Returning an escapee who’s been hanging out at the neighbors all day and refused to come home!
He’s blindfolded with Laura’s jumper so he doesn’t panic on the ride back home!
At least it’s a stunner of a day for it ☀️ 🐑 ☀️
@ChrisPenknz
Your plan gets rid of the one thing that will keep rates bills down — economies of scale. Instead your putting forward some “case by case” govt fund that will bail councils out? Weird.
10 entities is politics over good policy making. 4 entities stack up better when it comes to affordability.
However, this is exactly what many within LG have been calling for — so I get it.
It’s now time to get on with it.
Delay = More water quality issues, leaks & poonamis.
Congratulations to our new PM
@chrishipkins
A Hutt boy through & through, it’s a pretty proud moment for all of us in the Hutt Valley!
I’ve seen how hard Chris has worked locally & as a Minister — I have no doubt he will take that same drive & commitment into the new role!
🚨PSA🚨
Lower Hutt beating Upper Hutt in COVID Vaccination rate — 82% v 81% for first dose.
Mayor Guppy’s shout on Jackson Street if LH is ahead tomorrow. My shout at Brewtown if UH are ahead.
@HuttCityCouncil
@YeahUpperHutt
@WayneGuppy
Breaking: NZ Bus has locked out its striking bus drivers from all company property.
This means Wellington’s 24-hour bus strike could now last for weeks.
BREAKING: Minister
@NanaiaMahuta
has today announced a review into the future of local government!
This will aim to create a new future for local government which will support council’s across the country to address the most pressing challenges facing local communities.