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

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