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Coromandel MP Moves to Top Ten

May 26, 2020 Share

Coromandel MP Scott Simpson has been promoted in new National Party Leader Todd Muller’s front bench line up.

The MP continues to hold the Environment and Climate Change portfolios.

In addition, he has been allocated responsibility for Resource Management Act Reform and Planning.

“I am very pleased that Todd Muller has asked me to continue my work in the environment and climate change space. The addition of RMA Reform completes the circle in those areas.

“Nationals focus through until the election and beyond is clearly on Covid-19 recovery and over the next few months, Todd Muller and my colleagues will present a very clear case for why National is better placed to lead that recovery than the current Government.

 

High-Paying Environmental Jobs Policy Not Realistic

May 19, 2020 Share

The Government’s $1.1 billion idea of redeploying people into environmental jobs is great in concept but difficult to turn into reality, National’s Environment spokesperson Scott Simpson says.

“It’s a struggle to get Kiwis to take well-paying jobs in the horticulture or farming sector, so convincing people to become rat-catchers and possum-trackers in the numbers the Government is hoping for will be an enormous challenge.

“It’s all very well allocating the funding, but there’s no detail on how the job numbers will be achieved and this Government has a poor track record of delivering on their big policies.

“The $1.1 billion for 11,000 jobs means they’ve allocated $100,000 per job. There is no detail about how much of this is going to workers on the ground doing the environmental work and how much of this is going to added bureaucracy in Wellington offices.

“This is similar to Budget 2018 where $100 million was allocated to setting up the Green Investment Fund to create new green investment and jobs. But two years later not a cent has been invested and the only jobs created are for the highly–paid executives administering the fund.

“This announcement has all the hallmarks of being the Government’s environmental equivalent of Kiwibuild, a great slogan with no idea on how they’ll achieve it.”

Increase in Unemployment Benefits Across Coromandel

May 14, 2020 Share

Stark figures released from the Ministry of Social Development show a large increase in applications for the jobseekers benefit.

MP for Coromandel Scott Simpson has said that although the curve has been flattened, the hard work is only just beginning.

Parts of the Coromandel electorate such as the Thames-Coromandel district has experienced a 33% increase in people applying for the benefit, while the numbers of those applying for the benefit in the Western Bay of Plenty district has increased by 25%.

‘While it is great that the threat of Covid-19 is becoming smaller and smaller by the day, it is clear that we need to get the economy back up and running, and fast.’

‘The rate of unemployment has already increased and is expected to surge after the lockdown is over as many business owners struggle to decide if they can pick up the pieces or if they just should move on.’

Covid-19 Alert Level 2

May 14, 2020 Share

Alert level 2 marks a staggered return to aspects of life pre-Covid 19 such as schools, gyms and eating out at restaurants. However, all of these activities will come with some stringent restrictions regarding social distancing. 

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March Newsletter 2020

March 20, 2020 Share

Health Information & Advice: The most accurate and up to date health information on COVID-19 is available here, on the Ministry of Health’s website : https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus

More general information on the virus can be found here: https://covid19.govt.nz/. If these sites do not provide answers to the questions you have please contact me.

 

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Beach Hop 2020 Postponed Until November 2020

March 18, 2020 Share

Repco Beach Hop 2020 has been postponed until November and the decision is getting the tick of approval from Coromandel MP Scott Simpson.

“Everyone will understand the reason why and also how difficult the decision has been for organisers. But it’s the right thing to do and I support the decision to postpone.

“Although there will be many people who now have their Beach Hop plans frustrated I look forward to seeing the festival back in action on the new dates of 25th-29th November.

Passing of Jeanette Fitzsimons A Great Loss to the Coromandel Community

March 06, 2020 Share

“I am very sorry to hear of the passing of Jeanette Fitzsimons. She was a staunch advocate for Coromandel people and the Coromandel electorate during her time as the local MP.

“She was a very active, vocal and visible member of our community. Never short of a practical, thoughtful contribution to any conversation, Jeanette was much respected and admired locally, nationally and internationally.

“Always a passionate, energetic and articulate advocate for the environment, she lived by her principles and held them dear. I’ll miss seeing her around Thames and the Coromandel community.

“My condolences go to her husband Harry, her children and her extended family. She will be very dearly missed.

Loss of Coromandel rescue helicopter a cruel blow

January 21, 2020 Share

For the first time in many years there will be no emergency rescue helicopter stationed in Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsula this summer, Coromandel’s MP Scott Simpson says.

“This is a huge slap in the face for locals and the hundreds of thousands of visitors here over the summer peak.

“We’ve been completely let down by the Labour Government who promised there would be no reduction to rescue helicopter services for the Coromandel Peninsula, but here we are this summer without a much needed machine and crew based in Whitianga.

“Local people are feeling angry and vulnerable at what is their busiest time of year.

“Health Minister David Clark gave assurances last year services would not be reduced, but now the Coromandel Rescue Helicopter Trust’s community funded and purpose built hanger in Whitianga is empty.

“Lives are at risk. Instead of having a fully trained flight crew with paramedics and a rescue helicopter here over the summer peak, we’re being told machines from as far away as Tauranga, Hamilton or Auckland may be deployed if there is a need.

“That’s very cold comfort to car accident victims, heart attack patients or others on the Coromandel Peninsula who may need urgent and quick access to a rescue helicopter.

“The people of Coromandel have always given generously in fundraising efforts to support a locally based service over the summer. To have it ripped away by a heartless, uncaring Government is insulting and potentially life threatening.

“David Clark needs to take a break from his holiday and issue an instruction to have a helicopter re-located back to Whitianga this week.”