Buzz from the Beehive
The government is still in holiday mode if the Beehive website serves as a guide.
ACT politicians, in contrast, are busy beating the law-and-order drum.
The Minister for Emergency Management, Kieran McAnulty, has announced Government help for communities in Tairāwhiti that were battered by Cyclone Hale.
Government provides support to flooded Tairāwhiti communities
The Government is making an initial contribution of $150,000 to the Mayoral Relief Fund to help communities in Tairāwhiti following ex-Tropical Cyclone Hale.
This was just the fifth statement posted by ministers this year.
One of these – announced by Damien O’Connor earlier on Friday – was the approval of $100,000 which the Ministry for Primary Industries has made available to Tairāwhiti farmers and growers.
Cyclone Hale had caused widespread heavy rain, flooding and high winds across many parts of the North Island, McAnulty said, but Tairāwhiti had suffered the most severe damage.
“It’s too early to know the full cost of the damage, but we have agreed to the Council’s request of an initial $150,000 contribution to allow the community to get immediate support to those who need it.”
The Mayoral Relief Fund gives financial support to the local communities and council who understand where the immediate needs are and how to help families.
This contribution is in addition to the $100,000 which the Ministry for Primary Industries made available to farmers and growers in the region, support from the Ministry of Social Development for displaced residents, and any future support that may be available.
Whereas Point of Order could find just one new press statement from ministers since our previous Buzz from the Beehive, the ACT party has issued these statements – all posted on Scoop’s Latest Parliament Headlines.
More Consequences For Gang Members? We Hear Ya!
“The ACT Party would use Inland Revenue’s new powers to investigate gang members income and tax paid,” says ACT’s Justice spokesperson Nicole McKee.
The Right People On Electronic Bail? We Hear Ya!
“The numbers of violent and sexual offenders being released on electronic bail has increased dramatically under Labour and it’s time we reviewed who is eligible,” says ACT’s Corrections spokesperson Toni Severin.
More Consequences For Youth Offenders? We Hear Ya!
“ACT would introduce instant, practical penalties for young people caught shoplifting, stopping rookie offenders before they escalate to more serious offending,” says former Youth Aid Police officer and ACT’s Police spokesperson Chris Baillie.
More Rehab For Prisoners? We Hear Ya!
“Prisoners will have a better chance of reintegrating into society and building a better life as a result of a law proposed by ACT,” says ACT’s Corrections spokesperson Toni Severin.
Just before McAnulty made his announcement about help for the Tairawhiti region, ACT had made another law-and-order announcement, headed Bring Back Three Strikes? We Hear Ya!
Point of Order 
We hear ya ACT. Good on ya!
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Does Tairawhiti mean Gisborne the city, or the whole region, or what? When I see these unfamiliar names I wonder if they reference some small settlement I’ve never heard of, but then realize it must simply be journalists or civil servants switching to Maori names for some major city or region.
I did google, but still not clear exactly what it means.
Has it been used for years and I only just noticed because little news happens in Gisborne? Or is use of this name in English language journalism and press releases a recent thing?
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