The Prime Minister with Flat Stanley from the children of Room 10, Te Awa School, Napier.

The Flat Stanley project involves schoolchildren reading and writing about Flat Stanley, making their own version of him, and learning about the country and the world through his travels and the people he meets.

AUCKLAND UPDATE

Watch my latest video diary for an update on the progress of the Auckland Supercity.

BOOSTING SUPPORT FOR NEW MUMS

In recent years, many new mothers have told me how much difficulty they've had getting quality care before and after giving birth. Some feel they have been pressured into leaving hospital with their babies before they are ready. Others have not got the support they felt they needed.

So I'm pleased that the Government is boosting maternity services for parents by spending an extra $103.5 million over four years.

This extra funding will provide:

- Longer stays for new mothers in birthing facilities.

- An optional meeting each trimester for at-risk mothers, attended by the pregnant woman, their GP, and their lead maternity carer (usually a midwife).

- Obstetric training or refreshers for GPs wishing to return to maternity care.

- Meeting the costs for the increase in the number of births each year.

- Fully funding the 24-hour Plunketline and other services supporting the Well Child framework.

I hope that this boost - and the changes we are making to improve frontline care across our health system - will give new mothers more confidence and will help give the next generation of New Zealanders the start to life they need.

LIFTING EDUCATION STANDARDS

I'm excited about the national education standards the Government is developing.

National Standards will ensure all primary and intermediate schools regularly assess their pupils' progress in reading, writing, and maths, and provide this information to parents. They will assist teachers to identify when children are falling behind, help get them on back track, and help them achieve.

The Government has developed draft standards with the help of literacy and numeracy experts. These establish clear expectations of progress and achievement. We are also developing plain language reports so that parents get a better idea of how their children are doing at school and what they can do to help them learn.

In coming months, the Ministry of Education will meet with education groups and parents around the country. If you have young children or you are a teacher, I hope you'll go to one of the meetings, or read the draft national standards (available here) and plain language reports (available here), and give the Government your feedback.

For more information on National Standards, the Ministry's meetings, downloading a consultation pack, and how you can contribute click here.

JOB SUMMIT UPDATE - THE NATIONAL CYCLEWAY

Last week, as Tourism Minister, I spoke to the Hotel Industry Conference in Auckland and outlined my vision for tourism. In the speech I announced that the Government is allocating $50 million over three years for the New Zealand Cycleway Project.

The cycleway is an idea that came out of the Job Summit in February. I see it developing as a series of "Great Rides" through some of our most beautiful scenery. Our long-term goal is to create a network that links these Great Rides into a uniquely New Zealand set of cycling experiences. This will be a high-quality tourism asset that will help attract higher-value cycle tourists to New Zealand, provide employment, and boost development in the regions.

Some promising routes have already been put forward and I expect to announce more details in coming months.

This week the Green Party agreed to work with National on the cycleway project, and it has been added to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between our two parties.

INCLUDING SCIENCE AT THE HEART OF OUR DECISION-MAKING

On Wednesday I appointed Professor Peter Gluckman as the first Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister. Professor Gluckman is one of the country's leading scientists and will make an important contribution in this new part-time role.

As a country, we need to make the best use of our scientists. This appointment helps us to include science at the heart of our decision-making.

Professor Gluckman will provide me with a direct line to science advice when I need it, and I am looking forward to working with him.

Best wishes,

John Key

Prime Minister

Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/johnkeypm

22 May. John and Radio Dunedin host Neil Collins talk about missing money, electricity prices and government controls, the Bluff Oyster festival, rorts in the UK and the risk of rorts in New Zealand, and Budget 2009

Local Government Minister Rodney Hide today announced that Mark Ford would chair the Auckland Transition Agency (ATA). 

The Agency will manage the transition from the existing seven territorial authorities and one regional council, to a single unitary authority for Auckland and 20 to 30 Local Boards. ATA has six main areas to manage.  They are:

• The creation of the Auckland Council and the Local Boards
• Managing the organisational changes
• Ensuring continued delivery of councils’ and Council Controlled Organisations’  responsibilities
• Continued momentum of key projects such as the Rugby World Cup and waterfront development
• Ensuring the transition process is well communicated to stakeholders
• Winding up existing organisations once the new organisation has been established

Mr Hide also announced that the other members of the Auckland Transition Agency were Miriam Dean QC, John Law, Wayne Walden and John Waller.  The appointments are effective immediately.

“I am very pleased to be able to announce a transition agency of this calibre,” Mr Hide said.  “

Mr Ford is highly respected in his present leadership roles as Chief Executive of Watercare Services Ltd and Chair of the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA). He has a strong understanding of Auckland governance and a proven record in managing complex situations and leading high performing teams.  To manage any perception of a conflict of interest, Mr Ford is to resign from his present positions with Watercare and ARTA.

“This is the most demanding and important corporate assignment in New Zealand.  That is why we’ve chosen someone of Mr Ford’s calibre and appointed him as Executive Chairman to ensure he has the powers to fulfil his role effectively.

”The board will be accountable to the Ministers of Local Government, Finance and Transport, and there will be oversight by the Secretary of Local Government and the Office of the Auditor-General.” Mr Hide said Miriam Dean, John Waller, John Law and Wayne Walden are all well known for their strong governance and management acumen and experience. 

“Their combined skills and strengths will play a vital part in developing the new governance structures and roles to manage the $28 billion of assets effectively and enable Auckland to realise its powerful potential. “Its work is essential if Aucklanders are to be in a position to elect the members of the Auckland Council and the Local Boards in the October 2010 local government elections.”

The Transition Agency is a statutory entity and will only exist until the Auckland Council comes into existence in 2010.

Auckland Transition Agency members

Mark Ford (Executive Chair)
CEO of Watercare Services Ltd since 1994 and Chairman of the Auckland Regional Transport Authority since 2007.  Previous roles have included CEO of Auckland Regional Services Trust and CEO of NZ Forestry Corporation. 

Miriam Dean
Extensive legal experience, appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2004.  An experienced mediator and arbitrator with strong governance experience.

John Waller
Chartered accountant with change management expertise.  Chairman of the Bank of New Zealand and adviser on many successful restructurings. 

John Law
Extensive Auckland region local government experience, including seven years as Mayor of Rodney District Council (2001-07). 

Wayne Walden
Experienced company director and manager, with extensive governance experience. Former Chair of Maori Television (2003-08).  Affiliated to Ngati Kahu and Tai Tokerau.