Chris Hipkins for Rimutaka

Earthlink a great success story - Hipkins

August 16th, 2008 Posted in News | No Comments »

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 »

National gambles with NZ’s future

August 4th, 2008 Posted in News | No Comments »

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 »

David Parker to speak in Upper Hutt

August 1st, 2008 Posted in News | No Comments »

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 »

Hipkins welcomes additional community constable

July 28th, 2008 Posted in News | No Comments »

Labour’s candidate for the Rimutaka electorate Chris Hipkins has welcomed news the Upper Hutt Police have been successful in their bid for an additional community constable position. The new constable is one of the 1,000 extra officers the Labour-led government has agreed to employ as part of the agreements signed with support parties after the last election. Read the rest of this entry »

More Hutt Valley students achieving qualifications

July 27th, 2008 Posted in News | No Comments »

Labour’s candidate for the Rimutaka electorate Chris Hipkins has welcomed news more students are leaving school with qualifications. “It’s great to see that some of the changes Labour has made to the school system are resulting in kids staying on at school longer and getting more qualifications. Making sure every kiwi kid gets a fair go at school so that they can reach their full potential is really important for the future of our country” Chris Hipkins said. Read the rest of this entry »

Hutt Valley kids benefit from 20 hours free

July 27th, 2008 Posted in News | No Comments »

Ninety one per cent of all three and four year-olds in the Rimutaka electorate’s early childhood centres are now getting 20 Hours Free early childhood education, Labour’s candidate for the Rimutaka electorate Chris Hipkins says. “It’s a year this month since 20 Hours Free was launched by the Labour-led government and I’m really pleased to report that 812 three and four year-olds in Upper Hutt and 2,381 in Lower Hutt are benefiting from 20 Hours Free,” Chris Hipkins said. Read the rest of this entry »

Hipkins welcomes extra funding for teen health

July 25th, 2008 Posted in News | No Comments »

Labour’s candidate for the Rimutaka electorate Chris Hipkins has welcomed news that the government is investing over $17 million in youth health services in schools. The announcement was made this week by Associate Health Minister Steve Chadwick during a visit to Titiro Whakamua (the Hutt Valley Teen Parent School). “Healthy students are more likely to participate, learn and achieve at school. We need to make sure all young people can access health services at the right places and at the right time,” Chris Hipkins said. Read the rest of this entry »

Elimination of child poverty a major priority - Hipkins

July 21st, 2008 Posted in News | No Comments »

The elimination of child poverty must be a major priority for the next parliament, Labour’s candidate for the Rimutaka electorate Chris Hipkins says. Mr Hipkins was commenting on the recent release of a Ministry of Social Development report showing that 130,000 New Zealand children were lifted out of poverty over the past six years. “While I’m delighted that we’re making progress, it’s still a major concern to me that we even have children living below the poverty line here in New Zealand,” Chris Hipkins said. Read the rest of this entry »

Hipkins launches mobile campaign office

July 20th, 2008 Posted in News | No Comments »

It’s big, it’s red, and it’s coming to a street near you! Labour’s candidate for the Rimutaka electorate, Chris Hipkins, launched his new mobile office this weekend, pledging to make himself as accessible as possible in the lead-up to this year’s general election. “I want people to know when I’m out and about in their neighbourhood. If they have issues or concerns they want to discuss, I hope people will feel free to come and knock on the window,” Chris Hipkins said. Read the rest of this entry »

Hutt Hospital safe under Labour - Hipkins

July 14th, 2008 Posted in News | No Comments »

The best way to make sure the Hutt Hospital has a vibrant future is by voting for a Labour-led government at this year’s general election, Labour’s candidate for the Rimutaka electorate Chris Hipkins says. “Anybody who has lived in the Hutt Valley for more than five minutes will remember how people turned out in large numbers to hold hands around the hospital after the previous National government threatened to close it in the 1990s,” Chris Hipkins said. Read the rest of this entry »