Opinion: Nelson MP Rachel Boyack- 'Stay vigilant against Covid'

It was wonderful to host the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and my Labour caucus colleagues in Nelson last week for our first caucus meeting of the year.

In Nelson the Prime Minister’s focus was on some key issues that we’ll be facing this year: Covid-19 and housing.

She updated us on the Government’s Covid-19 response, including our plan to roll out the vaccine.

While there is a lot to look forward to this year, the recent cases in Northland and Auckland remind us that we need to remain vigilant.

The Prime Minister also announced our plans for the next phase of state house building, and revealed where the 8,000 extra public and transitional housing places announced in budget 2020 will go, which will include more state homes in Nelson over the next three years.

In our time in Government, we’ve added 4,579 newly built state homes across New Zealand.

We’re committed to rolling out our public housing programme quickly and effectively.

This means that by 2024 this Government will have delivered 18,350 new public and transitional housing places across the country.

Health Minister Andrew Little and I visited Nelson Hospital and reaffirmed our commitment to a new Hospital, with building to commence this Parliamentary term.

I have been working with the DHB since I was elected, and I’m confident in the process around the rebuild. It has been a long process, but we need to get it right.

My thanks to all the Nelson businesses who are displaying their QR codes and reminding people to scan in.

Please continue to scan in, turn on Bluetooth on your Covid app, wash your hands, and stay home if you are sick.

My team and I will be returning to the Nelson Market this Saturday.

Please pop down if you would like to catch up.