Hi John, 

As the year comes to an end, I’d like to take a moment to wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a safe, restful holiday season.

This year marked our first full year in office - a year defined hard work and significant progress toward the commitments we made to New Zealanders. From reversing outdated policies to launching transformative initiatives, we’ve made meaningful strides. Here are just some of the highlights we’ve achieved:

Cost of Living: We’ve delivered tax relief, introduced the FamilyBoost tax credit, and taken steps to control inflation, easing the financial burden on households.

Law and Order: We’ve banned gang insignia, increased police resources, and strengthened laws to tackle organised crime, ensuring safer communities.

Education: We’ve improved school attendance and achievement, provided students with better opportunities, supported teachers, and reduced bureaucracy in the sector.

Rural Communities: We’ve cut red tape for farmers, expanded broadband access, and introduced rural hubs to enhance essential services and foster stronger local connections.

I hope you have the opportunity to relax, recharge, and spend quality time with your family and friends. Looking forward to seeing you all in 2025!

Hon Erica Stanford Visits Selwyn

This month I hosted Education Minister Erica Stanford in Selwyn. I took her around the district which included stops at Lincoln Primary School and West Rolleston Primary School, giving her a firsthand look at the significant growth pressures our local schools are experiencing. I also hosted a meeting with principals from across the district for an in-depth discussion about the challenges and needs of our community.

The Government has already made substantial commitments to support our rapidly growing area, with over $100 million recently allocated for education infrastructure. This funding will enable the construction of a second Rolleston College campus, the rebuilding of Ellesmere College, and the development of a brand-new primary school in Rolleston.

It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase Selwyn’s while highlighting the importance of continued investment in our region.

Pay Gap Tool Launched

This month, I launched the Gender Pay Gap Calculator, a practical new toolkit available on the Ministry for Women’s website to help businesses measure and address gender pay gaps. Women in New Zealand currently earn, on average, 8.2 per cent less than men - a gap that has barely moved since 2017. Reducing this disparity is a priority for me as it benefits not just fairness but also workplace productivity and morale.

The calculator provides businesses with a clear methodology to measure their pay gaps and offers customised action plans and guidance material to support them in taking the next steps. The toolkit is user-friendly and has been road-tested by businesses across the country, including Transpower and the Port of Auckland.

This is not about passing judgment on businesses with pay gaps; instead, it encourages organisations to examine and address the underlying causes. Champions for Change has praised the toolkit as a "positive step forward," reflecting its importance in building equitable workplaces.

This partnership with businesses will evolve, with future updates considering broader pay equity issues, including ethnic pay gaps. Together, we can drive real change and close this persistent gap.

You can look at the new calculator here.

Out and about

Agriculture Science students from America

It was fantastic to be in Darfield earlier in the month discussing Agricultural Science with students from across the USA at Barenburg. New Zealand has a lot to offer the world for innovations in the sector and I valued the opportunity to discuss our success with these emerging industry professionals.

Courtenay A&P Show

I thoroughly enjoyed attending this year’s Courtenay A&P Show and was delighted to see such a fantastic turnout celebrating local talent, creativity, and dedication. A big thank you to everyone who took the time to stop by, share your thoughts, and have a chat – your feedback is invaluable and helps shape the work we do.

Upcoming Events

The lead-up to the holiday season promises to be a busy and exciting time here in Selwyn, with a fantastic range of events to celebrate.

Things will kick off with the very first Rolleston Christmas Parade and the West Melton Fete on 1 December – I’ll be attending both events so please do come along to say hi.

I’m also looking forward to seeing everyone at the Leeston Parade on 6 December and the Lincoln Parade on 14 December.

If you’re at any of these events, please do come up for a chat – we’d love to see you!

Sunday 1^st December

 Rolleston Santa Parade, Rolleston Library

 11:00am – 4:00pm

 West Melton Fete, 743 Weedons Ross Road

 10:00am - 3:00pm

Friday 6^th December

 Leeston Santa Parade

 11:00am - 12:00pm

Saturday 14^th December

 Lincoln Main Street, Lincoln

 9:00am - 12:30pm

In the news

$100 million investment into Selwyn schools to meet the needs of the rapidly growing district.

Click here to read

Supporting women to economic empowerment through the creation of the Gender Pay Gap Calculation toolkit.

Click here to read

I recently announced our two-year investment to the blackcurrant industry through our backing of PharmaZen.

Click here to read

Christmas Shutdown

After another big year, the Selwyn electorate and community office in Rolleston Square will be closed over the holiday period. The office will be closed from 23^th December and reopen on 20^th January.

During this time, messages will be check periodically and urgent enquiries will be responded to. Once the office reopens, we will be avaliable as usual from Monday to Friday, 10:00am – 4:00pm and can be contacted by emailing [email protected], phoning 03 344 2800, or by just popping in.

Kind regards,

https://nicolagrigg.national.org.nz/