North Shore Member of Parliament, Maggie Barry, today announced the formation of an All Parliamentary Group on Palliative Care.

“This is a significant step toward helping promote a better understanding among politicians about the outstanding level of palliative care available in this country.  I intend this to be a group that can work constructively, across party lines to focus on improving the quality of life for those with life-limiting conditions.  It will be an opportunity to foster discussion around the challenges of providing palliation in caring for people with chronic diseases and dementia, advance planning and the health economics of palliative care.

The NZ All Parliamentary Group has been established in partnership with Hospice NZ and the  palliative care sector will be modelled on similar ones internationally,  including the UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Dying Well.

“We look forward to welcoming the eloquent Baroness Finlay of Llanduff, who chairs the UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Dying Well, as the guest speaker at our inaugural meeting.” Ilora Finlay is an Independent Crossbench member of the British House of Lords, a professor of palliative medicine and a past president of the Royal Society of Medicine.

In 1998 Maggie Barry chaired a working party into ‘Care of people who are dying’ and is a past patron of Mary Potter Hospice and Hospice New Zealand.

The All Parliamentary Group’s inaugural meeting will be held in the Executive Wing 2.03/04 on Thursday 16 August from 1-145pm which the media are very welcome to attend.
 

Rotorua MP Todd McClay had his members bill drawn today to prohibit the display of gang insignia from all Central and Local Government buildings around New Zealand.

“The bill introduces restrictions around gang insignia being displayed at places such as Government departments and council facilities, including Work and Income and Housing NZ offices, as well as the grounds of public schools and hospitals,” Mr McClay said.

“Gangs serve no legitimate purpose in our society, and the public has a right to be protected from their intimidation.”

“Gangs are commonly identified by their insignia, which is often worn as a badge of pride.  What it really demonstrates, is a high probability that the wearer has committed crimes to earn the right to wear gang colours or insignia.

“Government departments and Crown Entities provide a valued service to members of the public, and staff and visitors deserve to feel safe in the work place or service they are visiting.

“This law would result in arrest, a fine of up to $2000, and the destruction of the gang insignia.

“Members of our community have told me they feel intimidated by gang members. This bill is modelled on the Wanganui District Council (Prohibition of Gang Insignia) Act 2009. 

“This bill is about putting the rights of the law abiding members of our country before those who seek to profit from the harm they cause. 

“I look forward to debating this bill in the House and hopefully through to select committee for public submissions,” Mr McClay said.

Gang members would not be banned from visiting government departments or schools. They would merely be required to leave their gang patches at home.

Notes
The Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premises Bill will:
1.    Prohibit the display of gang insignia on premises of Departments of the Public Service and Crown Entities and Local authorities in New Zealand;
2.    Names specific gangs to be covered by the law;
3.    Be future proofed by allowing the Minister of Police to add gangs to the prohibited list through regulation setting powers;
4.    Cover all signs, symbols, or representations commonly displayed to denote membership of, an affiliation with, or support for a gang, not including tattoos, and includes any items of clothing to which a sign, symbol, or representation is affixed;
5.    Include all offices, buildings and facilities both permanent and temporary under the authority of Departments of the Public Service as defined in Schedule 1 of the State Sector Act 1988 and Crown Entities as defined in Schedule 1 of the Crown Entities Act 2004;
6.    Include the grounds of public schools and early childhood education facilities;
7.    Include the grounds of public hospitals and health facilities under the authority of District Health Boards;
8.    Exclude residential dwellings under the authority of the Housing New Zealand Corporation and buildings of State Owned Enterprises;
 

Craig Foss MP for Tukituki is encouraging Hawke’s Bay residents to check out www.snap.org.nz.

“This is a web site that will help catch offenders. Anything that we can do to apprehend offenders is step forward in the right direction,: said the Tukituki MP.

Craig gives a huge thumbs up to Police and IT partner Datacom who won the Local and Central Government Services Award for Operation SNAP, a web-based initiative that targets property crime.

“Operation SNAP (Serial Number Action Partnership) encourages people to record serial numbers and other identifiers of their assets on the secure SNAP website,” said Craig. This site www.snap.org.nz  is the latest innovation by our police in conjunction with their IT partner Datacom.”

Craig said, “It’s easy, its free and it ensures safety of people’s property. By recording your assets online, owners can quickly retrieve details from anywhere in the world. These details can then be passed on to Police or insurance companies if items are lost or stolen. This initiative provides Police with vital information that can lead to the identification and return of stolen property, and to catch offenders.”