children fully immunized and free

doctor’s visits and prescriptions for

under-sixes

$24 million to reduce rheumatic

fever in vulnerable communities

135,000 privately-owned homes

insulated, 50,000 state houses up-

graded

$145 million over four years to

ensure 500,000 more children are

enrolled at school in the Pacific

Every New Zealander deserves the

opportunity to succeed.

We are working hard across the

board to support Pasifika families.

Melissa Lee MP

Talofa lava, Kia orana, Malo

ni, Bula vinaka, Fakalofa lahi

atu, Malo e lelei, Taloha

Mauri

New Zealand is proudly a nation of

the pacific. Many New Zealanders

identify as Pacific, and Pacific culture

plays a big role in New Zealand’s

diversity. Auckland is the largest

Polynesian city in the world and the

vibrant colour and sounds of Pacific

life can be found across New Zea-

land.

National is committed to supporting

Pacific communities to get ahead in

Mt Albert and New Zealand. We

are working hard in a range of areas

to deliver a brighter future that

Pacific families, and all New Zea-

landers deserve.

National is achieving for Pacific

families

Over $110 million for more

vulnerable children to attend

early childhood education.

National Standards in place at Pri-

mary and Intermediate schools

67% of Pacific students leaving

school with level two NCEA or

higher

$6million Pacific Innovation Fund to

improve the health of Pacific people

$6million Pacific Trades Training

Initiative, for 300 fees free places in

trades training for Pacific young

people.

90% of eight-month old Pacific

Wairere Ave residents would be

happy with Local Board decision.

At the February Albert-Eden local board

meeting, the local board recommended

that Watercare’s proposed Central

Interceptor project at the Mt Albert War

Memorial Reserve be moved to the

lower car park area of the reserve.

Last year, local residents contacted my

office concerned after hearing that the

project may be located in the green

space of the reserve and in close proxim-

ity to their houses.

Watercare have submitted a new notice

of requirement to designate land re-

quired for the works in the revised

location to Council.

Council will formally notify adjacent

landowners and occupiers and submis-

sions could be made as part of the statu-

tory process.

I would like to hear your thoughts and

feedback on the location change or any

part of the next process. Please contact

my office 09 8150278 or drop me an

email MPLee@parliament.govt.nz

With Hon Hekia Parata, Na-

tional MPs and Pacific Blue

members at Pasifika 2013

A brighter future for Pasifika families

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Ethnic

Update

2

Welfare

Reform

2

Novopay

Update

2

M-chat @

local cafe

3

Clamping

down on

Fraud

3

Autism

Auckland

3

Pasifika &

Ethnic snip-

pets

4

Public meet-

ing

4

Locals pleased CIP to be relocated

P A R L I A M E N T A R Y S E R V I C E

Mel in Mt ALBERT, March 2013

M A R C H 2 0 1 3 , I S S U E 2 O U R

P R I O R I T I E S

Responsibly

managing the

government’s

finances

Building a more

competitive

and productive

economy

Delivering bet-

ter public ser-

vices

Rebuilding

Christchurch

P A G E 2

“The $43.7.million

initiative to

provide Gateway

Assessment for

children in care is

making a

difference.

Targeting the

right services

children need”

Social Welfare Reform

Novopay update

Ethnic Affairs Minister in Switzerland Justice and Ethnic Affairs

Minister Judith Collins recent-

ly returned from Switzerland

where she presented a report

on behalf of the New Zealand

Government on New Zea-

land’s progress in tackling

racial discrimination and ine-

quality

The United Nations Committee noted New Zealand’s efforts to combat racial discrimination represented many examples of best practice globally and that

these would be recommended to other countries.

The Committee specifically observed that New Zealand has put in place valuable pro-grammes such as Better Public Services, Addressing the Driv-ers of Crime, the Youth Em-ployment Package, the Alcohol and Other Drug Courts and the New Zealand Police ethnic strategy, aimed at improving ethnic relations and raising multi-cultural awareness.

As an active player in the UN system, we are committed to meeting our obligations under the human rights treaties we

are party to.

New Zealand values diversity and prides itself on being an inclusive society. The conven-tion mirrors the natural desire in every New Zealander to see that everyone is given a fair go.

The Committee’s full report is available at http://bit.ly/13yX94t

and the press release is availa-ble at http://bit.ly/13yX4gY.

issues have been frustrating

for Principals, teachers and

other staff in the school sec-

tor, and we thank all staff for

their patience and efforts.

Talent2 will release three

planned software upgrades

which are designed to address

the most significant bugs in

the system.

I have met with several school

principals to hear their con-

cerns and frustrations.

Hon Stephen Joyce releases a

weekly update and this infor-

mation is sent to all school

offices or the principals.

We appreciate the ongoing

My office will continue to

keep Principals up to date as

further information becomes

available.

If there is anyway I can help,

or you’d like to discuss partic-

ular issues at your school,

please get in touch.

background of abuse – we are doing something tangible to improve their chances. Without the right services these children grow up disadvantaged

and at greater risk.

We are determined these children get the services they need and deserve, we’ve gone ahead and direct-purchased health and educational services through

the Ministry of Social Development.

Almost 1,700 children in care have now been assessed, with an average of more

than 3 needs per child identified.

Gateway Assessments of these children

have found the following:

51 per cent emotional, behavioural or

mental health needs.

26 per cent dental issues

15 per cent developmental delay

14 per cent skin problems

13 per cent speech and language prob-

lems

25 per cent and alcohol problems with

parents

19 per cent mental health issues with

parents

Early data from teachers is showing us they found 25% of children have literacy problems, 24% have numeracy prob-lems,19% comprehension issues and 11% have a higher than average level of

school absence.

These issues are now all being ad-dressed, which shows why this is such a valuable investment for children who’ve

had a rough start to life.

Established in Budget 2011, Gateway Assessments assess the health, mental health and educational needs of children in state care and we are picking up issues, never before diagnosed and then ensuring the child gets the services they

need to address the issue.

About 230 children in care are receiving Early Childhood Education (ECE) as a result of this initiative and every district health board is now implementing the

Gateway Assessments.

There are more than 4,000 children in care at any one time and more than 2,000 children go into care every year – all are eligible for Gateway Assess-

ments.

Children in care have it tough enough before you add developmental delay, mental health and health problems to a

M E L I N M T A L B E R T , M A R C H 2 0 1 3

Autism NZ Inc branch in Mt Albert

P A G E 3 M A R C H 2 0 1 3 , I S S U E 2

In February, Autism New Zea-land Inc opened its Mt Albert based Auckland branch. Mission Statement “To improve the quality of life for people with Autism, Asper-ger Syndrome, those with asso-ciated conditions, their family/whānau and those who support them.”

The Auckland Branch covers the area from Warkworth to Pokeno and provides the following services:

Outreach Service

5 Support Groups

Lending Library

Parent Information

Evenings

Extended family/

whanau evenings

Training programmes

– FANZ/Way To Play and Early Bird

Monthly Newsletter

2013 training dates FANZ – 8-9 July Way to Play – 18 March Early Bird – beginning in May and August

The Auckland Branch of Au-tism New Zealand Inc pro-vides support, training, re-sources and information on autism spectrum disorders to those with these conditions,

beneficiaries who are convicted of fraud.

Relationship offending last year cost

taxpayers more than $20 million, com-

prising one-third of welfare fraud prose-

cutions.

The second initiative introduces new

ways of working with beneficiaries who

have previously been dishonest with the

Ministry of Social Development

(MSD). These new measures include

greater verification of information and

less access to self-service transactions,

National promised to clamp down on

welfare fraud—and as part of our pro-

gramme to deliver better public services

to New Zealanders, we’re delivering on

that promise with three new initiatives to

prevent, detect and catch those ripping

off the welfare system. The vast majority

of beneficiaries are honest and do the

right thing, but a small group take ad-

vantage of the welfare system.

Our first initiative will create a new

offence targeting partners or spouses of

and will cover about 1000 beneficiaries

each year. This approach will give MSD a

package of tools which can be tailored to

target the way an individual has been

dishonest in the past

The third initiative will formalise infor-

mation-sharing links between ACC,

Inland Revenue, Housing New Zealand

Corporation, New Zealand Police, and

the MSD. Sharing information between

government agencies will allow us to

detect or catch welfare fraud soon-

I’m keen to hear your thoughts on

local issues in Mt Albert and na-

tional issues in government poli-

cies.

A group of ladies will arrange

which café each month, but for

most part I want to get out and

about the various suburbs in the

Mt Albert electorate to meet and

hear from constituents.

next “M-chat” café date

10am Mon 25 March

@ Lodge Café,

201 Carrington Road, Mt Albert

“M-chat” is a community chat

with me at a local café.

On the last Monday of each

month, I will “M-chat” at a local

café.

Each month “M-chat” will be held

at a different café and I will have

surprise guests and local commu-

nity speakers on the odd occasion.

Left to right

Rosemarie

Bailey,

Karen

Lonergan

(Manager)

and Jo Lloyd

“M-chat” @ local café

Clamping down on Welfare Fraud

“I want to get

out and about

the various

suburbs in the

Mt Albert

electorate to

meet and hear

from

constituents”

their family/whanau, caregiv-ers and professionals work-ing with them. Autism Auckland branch is based in Mt Albert. 642 New North Road Morningside Phone 09 846 0913 www.autismnz.org.nz

er. Bringing these key agencies

together will also help catch

high-value fraudsters whose

deception extends across

multiple agencies.

Governments of the past

weren’t strong enough on

fraud, but the National-led

Government has promised to

do better, and is delivering on

that promise.

Below South Auckland ALL-GIRLS

Elizabeth McEwan, Fia Turner

& Monique Poirier @ Pasifika

It is also opportunity to learn

more, provide support and en-

courage volunteers to be part of

Autism New Zealand as well as

meet Jackie Blue and myself.

WELCOME to all, FREE morning

tea, mix and mingle

ph 09 8150278 or email

MPLee@parliament.govt.nz for

more details.

As part of the World Autism

Awareness day and in association

with Autism NZ Inc - Auckland

branch, Jackie Blue MP and I will

co-host a public meeting.

10am Tuesday 2 April

Fickling Centre, Mt Roskill.

The purpose is to celebrate

World Autism Awareness, create

the opportunity for people who

work and live with Autism every-

day to tell their stories, their way.

Let’s talk about…

Community Notices

25 March “M-chat” @ 10am Lodge Café,201 Carrington Road, Mt Albert ph 09 8150278

Age Concern Auckland are looking for RELIABLE volunteers with good English. Needed, one hour a day, one day a week for ONE year. Please call 09 820 0184

Age Concern Auckland looking for someone to teach elderly to text and use a laptop or computer. Please call 09 820 0184

If you have any government issue I meet with constituents most Monday afternoons. Phone 09 8150278 to make an appoint-ment

World Autism Awareness Day, 10am Tuesday 2 April, Fickling Centre, Mt Roskill, co-hosted with Jackie Blue MP, special guests, Autism NZ Ltd Auckland branch and friends of Autism NZ

For more photos go to https://www.facebook.com/mpmelissalee

Below L-R Elizabeth McEwan, Jian Yang MP, Tau Henare MP, Hon Hekia Parata, Fia

Turner, Jules Lotu-Iiga, Alfred Ngaro MP, Sam Lotu-Iiga MP

Hon Hekia Parata at Prosper-

ity stage, Cooks Island village

Below Traditional

dancer,Rumi Sasaki at

Japan Day

Kenton Chambers Exec,

Ken Oh at Japan Day Above L-R Dr Anne Perera, Cherry Weir and Ranjith

Above: Bevan Chuang and

Ataur Rahmann at Japan Day

Snippets PasifikaPasifikaPasifika & & & EthnicEthnicEthnic

Above L-R Kanwal Singh Bakshi MP, Hon Nikki Kaye, Alfred Ngaro MP, Jami-Lee Ross MP, Jian Yang MP at Lantern Festival Aucklandi

Above Kimchi Club and Consul General

L - Jenny

O’Dono-

ghue at

Japan Day.

Chinese Acrobats at

Lantern Festival

Above Hon Steven Joyce and Young Nats at

O Week, Auckland University

Slip, slop,

slap at

Pasifika