People from all over the world don’t just visit the region for our farms, orchards and vineyards, but come for our walks, our beaches, and our views. Good environmental practice is not only important to protect our natural heritage, but is crucial in lifting our nation’s game and securing the sort of future we want for our children.

That’s why throughout our first year in office the National-led Government has worked hard to provide real leadership on environmental issues that our country and the Bay needed so badly. We’ve moved to implement a raft of policies that marry sound economics with the protection of our environment.

We set out eight clear environmental priorities: climate change, freshwater management, biodiversity protection, oceans, air quality, outdoor recreation, waste management and contaminated site clean-ups.

On 1 October, we established the New Zealand Environmental Protection Agency. This new agency will be the vehicle for providing clearer central Government leadership around many of the environmental issues facing Hawke’s Bay.

We’ve put into practice programmes that will actually deliver for Hawke’s Bay.

The most significant of these programmes is the $323 million “Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart” initiative. This scheme is already proving very popular with more than 1,153 homes in the Hawke’s Bay region insulated in the first three months since its launch in July. Already it’s improving energy efficiency, reducing the cost of energy for households and increasing the value of Hawke’s Bay homes. Best of all, it is providing much needed jobs in our communities.

Another new programme of work is the fresh start for freshwater.

Here in Hawke’s Bay, we have seen first hand the problems of deteriorating water quality in areas of intensive agriculture. We’ve experienced the poor system of allocating water rights, and have seen the opportunities for storage and water augmentation lost because of poor public policy.

We know firsthand the value of water. Freshwater is to New Zealand, what minerals are to Australia. The good news is that freshwater, unlike their mines, if properly managed, will not run out.

National has not only recognised freshwater management as one of New Zealand’s big environmental challenges, but we’ve also set out an ambitious framework for driving reform in this all important area. Improving the water quality in rivers such as the Tuki Tuki and Mohaka are central to these reforms.

A further new initiative is around biofuels. National believes biofuels can play a part in the solution to renewable fuels. That’s why we’ve invested $36 million into a biodiesel grants programme, promoting biodiesel production to kick start the biofuels industry.

We’ve also passed legislation that exempts electric vehicles from road user charges to encourage their uptake. Electric cars have huge environmental benefits in that they are far more energy efficient and quieter than conventional vehicles, and can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These new Government policies for biofuels and electric cars provide a refreshing approach to new energy technologies.

Our New Zealand Cycleway Project, championed by Prime Minister John Key, will benefit both the economy and the environment by kick-starting local economies while protecting our natural landscape. We’ve seen huge growth in cycle tourism all over the world. This initiative will help create a high-quality tourism asset that will help attract higher-value cycle tourists and complement our “100% Pure” brand.

We all look in admiration at the success of the Otago Railtrail. There is no reason Hawke’s Bay can’t have similar success. We’re working together with local organisations to propose a Hawke’s Bay Cycleway Journey. We’re keen to see Hawke’s Bay with an iconic Cycleway Journey, with the hope that it will be included in the next round of allocations for the National Cycleway project.

Hawke’s Bay’s striking landscapes mean it has considerable untapped potential for tourism, both domestic and international. We believe that a journey of this nature would promote a range of small businesses, especially accommodation clusters along the route. The New Zealand Cycleway will not only preserve New Zealand’s diverse environment, but will encourage Kiwis and visitors alike to explore and enjoy it.

Within our first year in office, there are two very substantive reforms that the Government has been involved in.

The first of those is the biggest package of reforms to the Resource Management Act since it became law in 1991. These reforms address the delays, costs and uncertainties of the Act without undermining its overall environmental integrity. The new legislation that came into effect on 1 October makes a number of significant changes. Our reforms are about pulling back on expensive and unnecessary bureaucracy. They reinforce National’s Bluegreen message that being pro-environment does not equate to being pro-red tape.

The other major package is the critical issue of climate change.

This Government’s approach is about New Zealand doing its fair share and protecting our clean green reputation. But we’re also realistic about the costs, the impacts on jobs and what a small country like New Zealand can do.

The first challenge we’ve faced as a Government in climate change is setting a 2020 emissions target as we move towards the Copenhagen conference in December. We’ve set an ambitious target to cut emissions 10-20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020.

We’ve put a power of work over the last few months into making the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme workable and affordable. The ETS we’re proposing will halve the electricity and fuel price increases that Labour was planning, and it will save thousands of jobs.

Labour presided over record deforestation, and a growing emissions profile – our gross emissions are already 24 per cent above 1990 levels. We have had to start our efforts behind the eight ball during an economic downturn.

But we’re committed to doing our part. The changes ensure we don’t destroy peoples’ jobs and the backbone of our economy by jeopardising the key industries of agriculture and fisheries. They defer agriculture to the more realistic timetable of 2015 and improve the transitional support for the fishing industry.

National remains committed to pursuing sound, practical environment policies to achieve emission reduction. We want to reduce emissions in ways that result in the least cost to society and the economy.

National believes that New Zealand, as a responsible international citizen, and as a country that values our clean, green environment, must act to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

We’re proud of our environmental initiatives so far.

But the work is not finished.

We have an ambitious agenda and you will see more environmental policies rolled out in the coming years. Our environment is just too important for us to rest on our laurels.

It’s hard to believe that we are over six weeks on from the “Enough is Enough” Hikoi led by Henare O’Keefe. There is no doubt that the Hikoi created a major outpour from the community keen to put a stop to the senseless violence invading our streets. But six weeks on a number of people are starting to ask questions: What was it all for? What has come of it? Where to from here?

Fact of the matter is that the Hikoi indicated that the Flaxmere community were sick and tired of the violence. It was an outcry by a community prepared to consider some change. The problem is that unless there is pretty clear leadership following a rally such as this people who were willing to consider alternatives all too readily slip back into habits learnt over a lifetime.

As a result, a meeting has been called for Wednesday night the 20th of August, 7:00pm, at the Flaxmere Community Marae. The meeting has been called “After the Hikoi – Where to from here?”

The hui has resulted from a number of meetings that Craig Foss and I have held with Henare O’Keefe and police, since the Hikoi. The aim is to assist the community to consider options going forward. I mean it’s all very well to join in a march to say “Enough is Enough” but at the end of the day you actually need to do more than march. The community actually needs to change some things otherwise the words and speeches are just hollow.

Henare O’Keefe understands this loud and clear and he more than anyone wants to change some things. As a result we’ve been working on a plan for the community based around the Marae as the cornerstone. And there are some great ideas already planned to discuss on the 20th.

Like “Kaumatua Rocket Reading”… an initiative aimed at turning Flaxmere kids into some of the Bay’s best readers. This single initiative involves a book drive to establish a library on the Marae, a partnership with local schools, volunteer “Kaumatua” and one-on-one reading with children after school. Another initiative involves working with Police on a reinvigorated “Flaxmere Style” Neighbourhood Watch program where the community gets to know each other in small clusters and begins to look after each other on a more personal level.

The plan is very much a draft at this stage. It tries to put Henare’s vision on paper so that he is in a position to approach various Government and Community organisations to assist him in his mission. These initiatives will be presented at the meeting on the 20th. The aim is to give the community the opportunity to critique and add to these initial proposals. It’s also an opportunity to come up with additional initiatives which can be added to the plan either up front or over time.

There is also a further idea that will be introduced and canvassed on the night. And it’s this idea which I would now like to focus on and which I would value your input.

“Flaxmere Sunday School”

Discussions with Henare, the police, and youth workers indicate that they believe there is a real need for an immediate response or consequence which helps to deal with the rising tide of youth offending. The concern is that the lack of an immediate consequence increases the chance that young ‘experimental’ offenders of today will too easily become the hardened criminals of tomorrow.

There are some solutions available through various legislation, but often the consequences are so far removed from the offence that children have difficulty making a connection between their actions and the consequence. Additional to this, the solutions often don’t lead to change in the child. What is being proposed here is an immediate consequence which seeks to impact in a positive way upon the offender.

The idea is called the “Flaxmere Sunday School” (FSS). Effectively it is a “Flaxmere Community Work Order”, worked at the Community Marae, which can be issued by both Flaxmere Community Police and Flaxmere Principals.

The Flaxmere Sunday School (FSS) would be similar to a speeding ticket with no conviction and no need to go to court.

The FSS is an order to serve a day’s community work or to attend a day’s community programme to be held at the Marae either on a Sunday or during school holidays. The focus would be on returning some value to the community for the offence committed.

The Orders would be issued under the auspices of a Flaxmere Community Board. This would consist of up to six people including a City Council representative, a Police representative, a Flaxmere Principal, plus three community representatives.

Young people in our community can drift into unacceptable behaviour. The FSS work order is designed to give 12 to 16 year olds a short, sharp, shock about their behaviour, without imposing a criminal record, but making sure their unacceptable actions have consequences.

Unacceptable behaviour would be defined by the Community Board, and could include: vandalism, shoplifting, fighting, tagging, truancy, etc. The Board’s role would also be to work closely with the Marae to ensure the “Sunday School” was delivered in a professional manner.

The Board would also decide the basic expectations from the Flaxmere Sunday School. Would the full day’s activity include healthy meals cooked by the attendees? Would it include a period of spiritual activities such as prayer/karakia/song and values? What work would be expected to be completed? What value would be returned to the community? Would there be a degree of challenge? Could some weekends include quite alternative programs like a hard walk to Sunrise Hut at the top of the Ruahines?

Ultimately an initiative such as this may require changes to Legislation to allow it to happen. However we believe it could be trialed in Flaxmere as long as there was total buy-in from parents, schools and police.

The Flaxmere Sunday School could provide a tool for nipping youth offending in the bud. It won’t provide a ‘magic bullet’ solution for those determined to become career criminals, but with some luck it could help turn youth crime experimenters from this path.

But there are a many steps to take before this idea could become a reality. In the first instance it would require community buy-in to the idea. Ultimately it may require a change to legislation.

Firstly though, I would like to seek the opinion of our Hawke’s Bay community. Do you think this is a good idea? Can you see any pitfalls we would need to negotiate?

The fastest and easiest way to respond is to complete this online survey we’ve prepared for you. Feel free to write in your own ideas and comments there as well.

Or, you can simply write to me care of: BayBuzz, PO Box 8322, Havelock North 4157.

Craig, Henare, Wayne Bradshaw and I will receive all responses. We’re interested in what you think about the idea of the “Flaxmere Sunday School.” So please let us hear from you.