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Kia Orana and welcome to my April e-newsletter Last month I attended several events in and out of Parliament. One of the highlights for me was attending the first-ever Pacific Parliamentary Forum here in Wellington. On their first day the delegation was honoured to be officially welcomed by a traditional powhiri led by our Mori MPs and with a mihi by the late Hon Parekura Horomia. In my welcome speech on the following day I encouraged our Pacific delegates to be astute "political navigators" of the economic, political, and global currents that impact on development of small Pacific nations, and to find inspiration and courage from our forefathers who navigated vast ferocious oceans to find their place in the Pacific. I had a prepared speech but decided to forgo it with a speech from the heart. Link to speech: http://www.alfredngaro.co.nz/archives/36-Address-to-Pacific-Parliamentary-Forum.html In brief, over the five days we debated, discussed relevant issues and came up with an Outcomes document with recommendations the delegates agreed to action on their return to their respective homes. We don't want this forum to be remembered as just a talk-fest with no action. We are committed to making things happen and achieving results. Also, I want to encourage our parents to step up and put their names forward for school boards of trustees. Our participation at these tables of discussion are crucial. Nominations close next week. 2013 school trustee elections is Thursday 30th May. Link for further information: http://www.trustee-election.co.nz/trustee-elections/ Happy reading and I look forward to your comments and feedback. Kia Manuia. Highlights of Week 1: Apr 02 I attended the Nukutukulea Aoga Niue in Mngere, one of five Niue pre -schools in New Zealand providing bilingual early childhood services for Pasifika families since 1988. Last year the centre introduced a home-based early childhood education service which supports mothers as educators in their own homes. This is a great initiative and we know from research that ECE is vital to a child's development, and their future ability to learn. We are investing $1.4 billion in ECE. The excellent work being done by providers like Nukutukulea will contribute to National achieving its 2016 target that 98 per cent of children starting school will have participated in early childhood education. For further information, click this link http://www.alfredngaro.co.nz/archives/33-MP-Alfred-Ngaro-says-increased-participation-in-earlychildhood-education-is-great-news.html

With Mata Sionetali and Marina Vaha, Manager at Nukutukulea Aoga Niue in Mngere. Apr 07 I was delighted to host the "Challenge for Change" graduation ceremony here at Parliament. "Challenge for Change" is a mentoring programme run by the Wellington Boys' and Girls' Institute, for 9-13 year olds. It was heart-warming to hear the stories of how these young people's lives had been turned around with the support, encouragement and inspiration of positive role models. I was very proud to speak at this event and affirm the graduates' success and the project as a whole. Click on link for further details about this programme: http://www.youthmentoring.org.nz/index.cfm

Challenge for Change Graduation, Parliament House, Wellington. Highlights of Week 2: Apr 12 I joined Hon Hekia Parata on her visit to some Auckland schools which included Tamaki College, Stonefield and Tamaki Primary Schools. Tamaki College was one of the top 60 schools in the country to improve NCEA results for Mori and Pacific students. The Primary schools have also done exceedingly well and the students, teachers and parents should be congratulated for their combined efforts in lifting the achievement of our children. Schools in Mngere have also achieved great success. For further details click on this link: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=40780 or

http://www.alfredngaro.co.nz/archives/41-NCEA-results-show-more-students-achieving-inMangere.html

Hon Hekia Parata, MP Simon O'Connor, staff and board members of Stonefields School Highlights of Week 3: Apr 18-22 More than 100 Parliamentarians and political leaders from 19 Pacific nations, including New Zealand, gathered in Wellington from 18-22 April for the Pacific Parliamentary and Political Leaders Forum. Key issues debated were regional leadership, democracy, climate change, health issues, gender equality, media and the importance of parliaments to communities, business development and job creation. As forum director it was an extremely busy time for me, but overall it was a great event that not only fostered friendships but allowed us the opportunity to sit down and discuss common issues as Pacific neighbours. Link to Outcomes statement: http://www.alfredngaro.co.nz/archives/40-Outcome-Statement-Pacific-Parliamentary-PoliticalLeaders-Forum.html. Also, my column in Spasifik Magazine and NZ Pacific elaborates further on the Forum.

Pacific Parliamentary Forum delegates at Parliament House, Wellington (Photo courtesy of NZDF). Apr 25 Anzac Day is a time to reflect and pay tribute to our ANZAC veterans. When I think of our young and brave soldiers who served in past and recent wars and who are currently serving, there is tremendous respect and admiration for their ultimate sacrifice. At the Mutalau Ululauta Matahefonua Trust's Anzac Day service, the feeling was much the same. Together with families, friends and the Niuean community, I paid tribute to the Niuean soldiers and other Pacific soldiers who had fought under the New Zealand flag in the wars. Like the Anzac events celebrated across the country, it was an amazing and moving ceremony to be a part of and a proud history we will forever remember as New Zealanders.

At Mutalau Ululauta Matehefonua Trust Anzac celebrations, Auckland. Key issues in Parliament at the moment: NCEA results show more students achieving National welcomes news that more kids are passing NCEA Level 2 or higher. In 2012, 68 per cent of 16-year-olds achieved at least NCEA Level 2 - up 2 per cent from 2011. Pasifika learners had a 3.5 per cent increase over the same period, and Mori learners went up 2 per cent. This is fantastic. We know the better the school education, the better the opportunities for further education, employment, higher wages, and a better living standard, which creates a more competitive and productive economy- one of National's priorities this term. That's why we set a Better Public Services target of 85 per cent of all 18-year-olds having achieved NCEA Level 2 or an equivalent qualification in 2017. More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=40780 Information-sharing identifies benefit savings One of National's four priorities is delivering better public services. In February we announced measures to clamp down on welfare fraud, a promise we campaigned on at the last election. Expanded information sharing between Inland Revenue and the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has already resulted in 525 benefits being cancelled, which will result in savings for axpayers.

These people were earning above the income threshold and failed to disclose their full circumstances. We estimate these people were receiving benefits costing $5.6 million These cancellations are part of a larger group of 3500 people who are apparently working and earning above the threshold for welfare support that MSD are in the process of contacting. More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=40735 An immunisation record to be proud of The World Health Organisation (WHO) immunisation week begins Monday 22 April, and New Zealand has a lot to celebrate. For the second quarter in a row we have exceeded the national health target for immunisation, another example of delivering better public services - one of our priorities this term. In the past four years, New Zealand has gone from having one of the lowest immunisation rates in the developed world, to one of the best. Seventeen DHBs are now meeting the target of 85 per cent of eight-month-olds being fully immunised, and we are well on our way to our target of 95 per cent by June 2014. This means more young children are protected from infectious diseases and is a great example of delivering better frontline health services. More information: http://www.national.org.nz/health.aspx $8.8 million for sustainable farming projects More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=40772 Funding for youth organisations More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleID=40736 Keeping veterinarians in rural New Zealand More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=40754 Youth crime down, and reoffending down More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=40781 and http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=40779

Events and activities in May: 02 May: Visit to Hon Gerry Brownlee's electorate, Christchurch 03 May: Atii Potiki Early Childhood Centre, Glen Innes Opening of Kidz Kingdom, Rainbows End, Manukau 05 May: Dutch War Memorial Service, Parnell 06 -10 May: Youth Week 10 May: Mngere leaders with Hon Minister Judith Collins, Mangere MIT Pasifika Community Forum, Manukau 11 May: LNI National Party Conference, Whanganui 12 May: Mothers Day 18 May: Graduation for Diploma in Child Protection Studies, Auckland 23 May: Visit to Todd McClay's electorate, Rotorua 24 May: Seven Institute of Personal Development Graduation, Auckland 24-26 May: National Northern Regional Convention, Waipuna 26 May-1 Jun: Samoa Language Week 30 May: Pacific Medical Association (PMA) Event, Wellington School Boards of Trustees Elections I look forward to meeting you at the community events I will be attending over the coming weeks. If there is an issue you wish to discuss with me, please ring to book an appointment. I take this opportunity to also convey my condolences to the whnau of the late Hon Parekura Horomia. "Kua hinga he totara i te wao nui a Tne, a totara has fallen in the forest of Tne". RIP, God bless.

Phone: 04 817 8396 or 09 275 8761 Email: alfred.ngaro@parliament.govt.nz Website: www.alfredngaro.co.nz Facebook: facebook.com/alfred.ngaro Twitter: http://twitter.com/AlfredNgaroMP

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