MP reports
New arrival turns return into celebration
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COLIN KING
A holiday allows our everyday life to recede, and then suddenly you can be jolted back to that "other" life. This happened to us while we were on holiday.
One minute we were firmly focused on new adventures, the next minute we were transported back into the arms of family when we learned of the safe arrival of our grandson, Xavier Isaiah Shane King.
In a short space of time, amazing and life-changing events can take place – events like the arrival of a child.
About 4am on January 15, our cellphone burst into life, stirring us from a deep northern hemisphere sleep to announce news of the birth in the Rangiora maternity home at 4.30pm New Zealand time.
Within 15 minutes of Xavier's birth, photos arrived, and it was clear that the word was out. Our daughters were networking with cellphone, camera and computer.
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Getting the best out of change
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COLIN KING
Change affects us all in different ways and at different times. Change can be good or bad, depending on the circumstances.
Sometimes change is needed and at other times it's not. One change that certainly was needed was the massive improvement in our communications. Nothing illustrates the point more clearly than leaving the country for a time. I have been overseas for two weeks, and yet I was able to keep up with what has been happening in Marlborough on a daily basis.
From the other side of the world I could catch up with all the local news in The Marlborough Express online while the Dominion Post filled in the detail from around New Zealand. Having more free time meant I was actually able to study events far more closely than when at home and hurrying to meet all my commitments.
I remember when a postcard was the quickest way to communicate with loved ones back home. These days postcards don't quite cut it!
With a device like an iPad, people can have discussions with family, friends and colleagues wherever and whenever they like.
Gold-mining imagery conjured on hike to Cullensville
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COLIN KING MP
Before Christmas I had the privilege of doing the Waikakaho to Cullensville walk with Rick Edmonds. This walk has been on my "to-do" list for years now. Sir Doug Kidd told me about it when I first moved to Blenheim, and ex-councillor Pat O'Sullivan had also recommended it to me.
Because I wasn't sure how demanding the walk would be, I quizzed Rick Edmonds about it while discussing with him his Bridlepath walkway. Rick, an adventurous tramper, kindly offered to accompany me and gave up a day to ensure I had a safe and interesting hike through beautiful scenery while learning about the gold-mining history of the region.
We drove up the Waikakaho Valley Road until we arrived at the first DOC sign and, shod in sturdy footwear, we set off along the well-formed track that had originally been put in for the Ravenscliffe Gold Mining Company.
The tramping track is loaded with historical points of interest, linking the Wairau Valley with Cullen Creek and following the discovery of payable gold in Cullen Creek in 1888.
Within two weeks of that discovery, over 200 diggers were working the creek. Soon afterwards, gold was found in the Waikakaho and indeed in most of the streams draining the schist highlands east of the Kaituna Valley.
Mark of MP's responsibility
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COLIN KING
Last week I attended the official opening of Parliament, a day of special significance because it is the 50th parliament elected within New Zealand in the past 150 years. This milestone makes New Zealand one of the oldest democracies in the world.
There's a great deal of pomp and ceremony attached to the official opening. It upholds the traditions brought to New Zealand by our English forebears and has an equally symbolic Maori ceremonial element that makes the event uniquely ours.
The ceremonies actually take place over two days. The day before the opening the governor- general confirmed our Speaker – until this time he's known as the Speaker-Elect. The Speaker for the new parliament remains Lockwood Smith.
The second day of ceremonies was and always is the bigger – the State Opening of Parliament. Quite a lot happens during the course of the day and it's pretty exhausting.
At 9am all the National MPs met for a caucus to discuss who is in Cabinet, who chairs and deputy chairs the select committees. We also discussed the details of the governor-general's Speech from the Throne, which was delivered later in the morning. The speech always outlines the agenda for the Government over the next three years. This is always a substantial document so if something isn't covered in it, it's a matter that probably won't be given much attention.
Back to business
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COLIN KING
The nitty-gritty of a new term. It's a while since I've had to consider topics for this column. Once we were into August and the "restricted period" began in the buildup to the election, I was able to euphemistically "take a break". Of course I had entered one of the busiest phases in any MP's working life, striving to ensure I would be elected for another term working for the Kaikoura electorate.
Now all that is behind me for three years and I'm thinking about what lies ahead. Two of my most important tasks in the coming months will be getting close to, and on good terms with, the minister of defence and liaising closely with the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT).
The implementation of the Government's White Paper on defence will result in the strategic consolidation of our defence force bases. This should open up some exceptional opportunities for Base Woodbourne and NMIT if Marlborough is able to provide the induction training centre for avionics and technologies.
While on the one hand we will lose the induction training for the air force to Ohakea, we gain opportunities in other training spheres for the army, navy and air force.
I have already had meetings with NMIT and the Marlborough District Council – it's a matter of keeping up with the processes taking place to ensure we get a positive outcome because other providers will also be seeking the role.
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