Articles by Andrew Bayly

I have long been a critic of the blanket reduction of speed limits across the wider Franklin area by Auckland Transport (AT). Under their Safe Speeds programme, AT carried out speed limit reductions on over 200 roads in Franklin, 33 of which they identified as having a high risk of death or serious injuries occurring. These roads were reduced from 100 kph outside of town centres and settlements to 80 kph and in some places (past schools, for…

As I write this, the Auckland region has been hit by once-in-a-century flooding. Over a third of Auckland’s annual average rainfall fell in just 24 hours at the start of the Anniversary Weekend. And it’s not over yet. More bad weather is forecast, with red and orange warnings issued for heavy rain. · Our Franklin district has been seriously affected, albeit not quite as badly as other areas of Auckland, but the local Facebook grapevines include…

We are living in an uncertain world. After the ups and downs of Covid, many hoped we would return to a sense of normalcy, but life is very different now, not just on the home front but across the world, and we are having to deal with a high degree of uncertainty. · Sadly, at this time last year, I wrote that uncertainty was the biggest factor we were facing, with the traffic light system and vaccine passes causing a great deal of stress for…

I recently met the team from Henderson Budget Service who provide free advice for those who are struggling with financial hardship. There are many such organisations like this within our communities and they play a vital role in helping people to manage debt and get back to a semblance of financial stability. · FinCap (the National Building Financial Capability Charitable Trust) is the umbrella organisation that supports these financial…

We were delighted to host National Deputy Leader Nicola Willis in the electorate on Monday 29 August. We took advantage of Nicola’s business acumen by inviting her to join the panel for our Women Who Are Leaders / He Wāhine Rangatira event in the afternoon. · A free community event open to all businesswomen from commercial and not-for-profit organisations, the afternoon was successfully MC’d by Rachael Speedy of BPW Franklin, and Nicola was…

The Youth Parliament programme is held every three years and provides an amazing opportunity for young people aged 16 to 18 years who are keen to make a difference in their communities. · Every Member of Parliament around the country gets to select their own Youth MP to represent them and the young people of their local electorate for a six-month community-based tenure, the highlight of which is attending the two-day Youth Parliament event in…

Family trusts are used to protect and manage assets, such as the family home, for the future, but the new rules for the disclosure of information are set to increase compliance costs dramatically. Photo pexels. Since the Labour Government came into power, the Minister of Revenue, David Parker, has been on a mission to tackle wealth and income inequality in New Zealand. Whilst many social democrats in the Labour Party and the Greens might cheer…

The issue of three waters has stirred up widespread public engagement – perhaps more so than many other recent Government reforms. Why? Because it calls into account our system of democracy. · The Government is steamrolling ahead with its three waters agenda, introducing the Water Services Entities Bill to Parliament on 2 June. This is the first of three bills that will change the way New Zealand’s drinking water, wastewater and stormwater…

The pressures of materials shortages are mounting up on builders. Headlines such as “Builders taking stress leave as ‘toxic mix of pressures’ plagues the industry” and “Owner of new build sleeping in tiny home on site after Gib shortage delays” are becoming far too common. · The shortage of plasterboard has got to the point where builders are having to resort to paying way over the normal asking price via online auctions. One West Auckland…

The Incorporated Societies Bill had its third reading in Parliament on 31 March and received royal assent on 5 April, thus passing into law. The new act replaces the old law which has stood since 1908, and sets out a new modern framework for incorporated societies and those who run them. However, some of the new changes could have very negative effects. · There are around 24,000 incorporated societies in New Zealand, covering an enormous swathe…