The success of the Hutt Union Health Centre in Pomare shows that the big investment the Labour-led government has made in primary health services is paying off, Labour’s candidate for the Rimutaka electorate Chris Hipkins said today. Mr Hipkins visited the Centre on Thursday along with Prime Minister Helen Clark, Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia and Hutt South MP Trevor Mallard. Read the rest of this entry »

Earthlink in Upper Hutt is a great example of a positive community initiative that’s making a real difference to people’s lives, Labour’s candidate for the Rimutaka electorate Chris Hipkins says. Mr Hipkins visited Earthlink last week along with Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Darren Hughes. Earthlink retrieves, refurbishes and recycles clean waste product from the Silverstream Landfill. At the same time they provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities, primarily those with mental disabilities. Read the rest of this entry »

Speeches by key National Party figures over the weekend have highlighted what’s at risk if there’s a change of government at the coming general election, Labour’s candidate for the Rimutaka electorate Chris Hipkins says. “The National Party has made it clear that they will return to the ‘borrow and hope’ days of Rob Muldoon by massively increasing government debt. New Zealanders have spent the last two decades paying for the legacy of ‘Think Big’ and suffered a huge amount of pain in the process. It’s hard to see why the National Party want to go back there,” Chris Hipkins said. Read the rest of this entry »

The Minister for Energy and Climate Change Issues, David Parker, will visit Upper Hutt the week after next to speak to a public meeting organised by the Upper Hutt Transition Towns group. Mr Parker will be speaking on a range of issues, including peak oil and the steps the government is taking to reduce New Zealand’s dependency on foreign oil, energy efficiency, renewable electricity generation, and the role communities in promoting sustainability. Read the rest of this entry »