Posts by Holly Walker

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  The Ministers respond to the Christchurch housing crisis… - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  Last month, I wrote to the Ministers for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery, Social Development and Housing asking what they proposed to do about the lack of affordable housing in Christchurch, and giving them a few suggestions. Here is what they had to say…  ——————————- Dear Holly, Thank you for your letter dated 5 April 2012 regarding affordable [...] read more
  May 16, 2012 6:03 pm - No Comments
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  Have your say on the election…today! - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  Submissions close TOMORROW (Friday 4 May) for the Select Committee Inquiry into last year’s General Election. Details on how to make a submission are available on the parliament website. While the inquiry will look into a number of areas (including the conduct of the MMP referendum and the impact of the Christchurch earthquakes), the issue [...] read more
  May 3, 2012 9:25 am - 1 Comment
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  Scary stats about youth health - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  Last Wednesday, I spent the afternoon at Te Papa at a Youth Health and Wellbeing Symposium organised by Auckland University to present and discuss the findings of a youth survey undertaken by their Adolescent Health Research Group. This was the symposium where John Key made his surprise announcements about youth mental health interventions, which I’m cautiously [...] read more
  April 8, 2012 11:15 am - 2 Comments
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  An open letter to Ministers about the Chch housing crisis - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  I write to you to enquire what measures you will take to combat this growing problem to ensure that people do not have to resort to sleeping in their cars, moving house numerous times, or live in cramped and substandard housing. These are just a few examples of the symptoms of a much wider problem which must be addressed urgently. read more
  April 6, 2012 9:00 am - 69 Comments
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  Lobbying Disclosure Bill pulled from the ballot - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  I’m very excited to report that my first Member’s Bill has been drawn from the parliamentary ballot! I inherited the Lobbyist Disclosure Bill from former Green MP Sue Kedgley when she retired, and I’m thrilled that I’ll get a chance to continue Sue’s great work on transparency and open government with this bill. read more
  April 5, 2012 1:31 pm - 2 Comments
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  Please make a submission for the sake of our women, children and young people - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  Last week, the Government’s Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill received a First Reading in Parliament and was referred for submissions to the Social Services Select Committee.  This Bill is the first of two proposed to implement the Welfare Working Group’s recommendations. The Select Committee has allowed an extremely short timeframe for [...] read more
  April 5, 2012 7:14 am - 9 Comments
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  MMP review submission guide - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  If you’re thinking of submitting to the MMP review, and you’d like to be heard in person, look sharp! There’s only a week left to get your submission in (deadline 5 April). If you just want to make a written submission, relax, you’ve got until 31 May. We’ve created a submission guide that outlines the submission process and the issues under review. read more
  March 29, 2012 9:00 am - No Comments
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  The link between environmentalism and social justice - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  I’ve been doing some thinking about the links between the environment, the economy, and social justice. So have Ban Ki-moon and Tim Flannery. read more
  March 24, 2012 10:30 am - 24 Comments
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  Christchurch housing crisis needs Govt action - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  A rental housing crisis in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquakes came to a head this week. The Government’s response? Let the market sort it out. Not good enough! read more
  March 22, 2012 1:54 pm - 7 Comments
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  Time for a coordinated child poverty strategy - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  The Children’s Commissioner has announced a new Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty. While it’s great to see a focus on solutions, there are now so many processes looking into the issues of child poverty and vulnerable children, we risk botching the opportunity to address the crisis. If there was ever a time for a coordinated Government strategy to end child poverty in, it’s now. read more
  March 22, 2012 9:00 am - 33 Comments
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  Inquiry into election includes low voter turnout - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  The regular inquiry into the conduct of the General Election will this time address voter turnout out in its terms of reference, and is seeking submissions from the public. 2011 had the lowest voter turnout in over 100 years. How can we turn that around, especially amongst young people? read more
  March 9, 2012 4:23 pm - 19 Comments
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  Students struggle with housing and living costs - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  Students are the only group routinely expected to borrow for living costs. The rationale is that they will earn more when they graduate, but when it’s increasingly hard for graduates to find work, that argument doesn’t fly. read more
  March 3, 2012 11:00 am - 15 Comments
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  Will the White Paper address child poverty? - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  Submissions on the Government’s Green Paper for Vulnerable Children close tomorrow. If they urge the Government to address child poverty and inequality, will the Government listen? read more
  February 27, 2012 1:21 pm - 11 Comments
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  MMP review – Make it More Proportional - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  This week the MMP Review was launched by the Electoral Commission, meaning our voting system is now open for public discussion and input. Through a submission process we all get the chance to have a say on how our voting system works and what we’d like to see changed. You can make a submission online, [...] read more
  February 17, 2012 12:04 pm - 42 Comments
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  Good, bad, and ugly: Exide to close - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  I feel quite conflicted about the announcement that Exide will close its controversial battery recycling facility in Petone next month because the Government is exporting lead batteries overseas and depriving them of business. On the one hand, the plant has a shocking history of resource consent breaches, dangerous waste disposal, and toxic pollution. It’s located [...] read more
  February 16, 2012 1:54 pm - 7 Comments
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  A nation divided? - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  The Herald has launched a six part series highlighting inequality and poverty in New Zealand, showing why we need action on the root causes, not the consequences. read more
  February 7, 2012 1:37 pm - 38 Comments
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  Getting my frock on - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  I’ve decided to set my sights for Bike Wise month high in 2012 and take on that doyen of the cycling world, Hutt South MP Trevor Mallard in a head to head challenge. read more
  January 26, 2012 4:56 pm - 1 Comment
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  Govt asking the wrong questions on child abuse - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  The Green Paper for Vulnerable Children should be focused on how to address the root causes of child abuse and neglect – poverty and inequality. read more
  January 26, 2012 11:29 am - 66 Comments
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  Talking Child Poverty in Whangarei - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  Yesterday I went on my first official trip as an MP, to Whangarei. My colleagues tell me the novelty of the travel will wear off, but I don’t think the buzz from connecting directly with people doing amazing and inspiring work on the issues I care about is going to wear off any time soon. [...] read more
  January 24, 2012 5:57 pm - 37 Comments
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  Good news for landlords, not for renters - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  Hey guys, guess what? GOOD NEWS! TradeMe Property has analysed house rental listings for the last three months and determined that tenant demand is up. The number of enquiries from potential tenants about rental properties in the December quarter was up 13 percent since the same time in 2010. Great news right? If you’re a landlord. read more
  January 18, 2012 12:17 pm - 32 Comments