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Capital Gains Tax is Progressive

Posted by Raymond Huo on July 15th, 2011

I was glad to have the opportunity to run through the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) policy released by Labour yesterday on Radio Chinese Voice immediately after Question Time.

To give a simple example to the Chinese audience, I said that every dollar from salary or wages you earn you pay tax. But if you have an investment which earns a much greater profit, you are not required to pay tax.

When talking about CGT, it is also important to note that aside from New Zealand, Switzerland and Turkey are the only two other developed countries which don’t have a Capital Gains Tax.

What is more telling is an example given by Labour Finance Spokesperson David Cunliffe yesterday. New Zealand is in a financial hole with a record Government deficit of 16.7 billion dollars and 142 billion dollars of overseas debt but National’s only solution is to sell off our treasured state assets.

Since coming into office, National has looked after their privileged few mates pretty well, but what about the ordinary many and New Zealand’s future?

I would like to quote an email I received from a Chinese constituent (name withheld)

“What about the financial recession? It stemmed largely from speculation; in no way has it helped to grow the economy but created crisis.

Those creators pocketed hefty cash, smiled and went. Good on you Labour, a Capital Gains Tax should have been brought in long ago.”

For financial savvy Chinese, it is not hard to understand that to build a modern, equitable society a progressive tax system will work but National’s regressive tax system will not.

Labour’s policy is for all New Zealanders and our future.

http://blog.labour.org.nz/index.php/2011/07/13/families-struggle-as-food-prices-go-up/

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Filed under: Capital Gains Tax, Tax, asian
20 Comments

Does the Minister have confidence in Statistics New Zealand?

Posted by Raymond Huo on July 14th, 2011

Statistics New Zealand gathers vital information which is critical to the future of New Zealand but it seems that Statistics Minister Maurice Williamson has lost faith in the department’s abilities.

He revealed last week that the Government is considering moving to a ten year census and was quoted saying that “the statistical system has lacked co-ordination, coherence and prioritisation”.

He also said there was a high proportion of inexperienced staff at Statistics New Zealand.

These kinds of messages from the Minister of Statistics will do nothing to fill the public with confidence in Statistics New Zealand.

The next census will be held in March 2013 (this year’s census was cancelled because of the Christchurch Earthquake on February 22). We need to know that Statistics New Zealand is capable of delivering a comprehensive census which will deliver the Government the Statistical information it needs to make sure the country runs effectively.

It sounds like the Minister doesn’t have full confidence in the department?

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Filed under: asian
9 Comments

Families struggle as food prices go up

Posted by Raymond Huo on July 13th, 2011

Hard working Kiwi families have been struggling to keep up with the increasing cost of living under the National Government, and as the cold of winter bites, power bills aren’t the only things up with food prices increasing.

According to Statistics New Zealand, food prices rose up 1.4 per cent in June over May, and annually, food prices are up 7.5 per cent on a year earlier.

Fruit and vegetables have been hardest hit in June, rising 12.2 per cent. Tomatoes were up a staggering 56.9 per cent over their price in May, with lettuce and capsicum also up over 40 per cent on the previous month.

Labour promised to take GST off fruit and vegetables. If this policy were introduced the price of fresh fruit and vegetables would fall dramatically. Not only would Kiwi families have a cheaper grocery bill, but they would also have a healthier lifestyle.

It seems that hard-working kiwi families are being hit everywhere. GST rises, working for families’ cuts, kiwi saver cuts and arbitrary employment laws (90 day fire-at-will) mean that Kiwis are on tenterhooks as the costs mount during winter, a time when doctor visits are essential and power bills naturally increase.

When will the National Government give hard-working Kiwi’s a break?

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Filed under: asian
42 Comments

Hide’s unconstitutional bill waste of space

Posted by Raymond Huo on July 11th, 2011

“If Parliament wishes to ban all dangerous weapons, it has to buy them.”

It may sound quirky but that’s what Rodney Hide’s Regulatory Standards Bill is all about.

In that aspect, the point of the principle in the bill, as argued by Senior Lecturer Richard Ekins from the Auckland University faculty of law, is to make it very expensive to limit how property owners may act, “for any property owner who suffers loss from regulatory change is entitled to be made whole”. But some legislation does limit liberty.

Senior Lecturer Richard Ekins pointed out in his witty article that the principle conflates “takings” and “impairment”.

He cited an Act titled the Bakeshop Act 1896 (NY) which prohibits any person from employing another to work in a bakery for more than 10 hours per-day, or 60 hours per-week. This act would depart from parts of Rodney’s bill for it restricts the freedom of contract between employer and employee. It would be up to the courts to consider this rationale, and to decide that the legislation is an unjustifiable limit on liberty.

I believe there are five main reasons why this bill is unworkable.

1: The bill changes the role of Parliament and the courts and requires “certification” by Ministers and Chief Executives, which puts CEO’s in a position to politicise themselves

2: The bill would be applied to new laws, but after existing for 10 years it can apply to existing regulation as well. This could empower the courts to reinterpret provisions in other laws to make them consistent with the principles prescribed in this bill, thus changing the original intention of Parliament when the law was enacted

3: Much of the principles are redundant as they are provided for in other legislation

4: The bill will create legal uncertainty and extra compliance costs for public entities, which will face more onerous annual reporting requirements.

5: This bill aims to fix an aggravated problem. The regulatory impact statement states that although New Zealand lacks its own indicators of legislative quality, the best international surveys available suggest that New Zealand does not have fundamental problems with legislative quality when compared with other OECD countries.
(more…)

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Filed under: asian
1 Comment

The All Black, the Journo and the Asia:NZ Foundation

Posted by Raymond Huo on June 30th, 2011

I was glad to hear of the appointment of former All Black (and current New Zealand Rugby union President) Bryan Williams and renowned journalist Richard Long onto the Asia:NZ Foundation Board of Trustees yesterday.

As a Chinese-born MP (and Asia:NZ Trustee) I believe these two appointments reinforce the importance that the Asian region has to the future of New Zealand.

The pair brings a wealth of experience and history of excellence with them.

Bryan Williams was one of the first Samoans to play for the All Blacks, paving the way for the many who have followed him.

Richard Long was the editor of the Dominion newspaper for more than a decade before it merged with the Evening Post in 2002. Earlier this year he was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Journalism.

The Asia:NZ Foundation’s mission goal is to increase New Zealand’s links with Asia through business, culture, education, research and media.

With these two high-calibre Trustees joining the board, I believe that even more New Zealanders will become aware of Asia and the opportunities that exist in the region.

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Filed under: asian
11 Comments

La Croix: Bienvenue en NZ

Posted by Raymond Huo on June 27th, 2011

Busy weekends are part and parcel for MPs and I enjoy them. However, I never expected a request for an interview from a reporter of a newspaper that is located as far away as Paris.

Mr Francois d’Alancon, a senior reporter from French daily newspaper La Croix, and I had a two-hour talk in Auckland over the weekend.

We covered extensive subjects from the Rugby World Cup (for which he’s assigned to do a series of stories), “beautiful New Zealand where there are more sheep than people”, and more relevant to my portfolio – the New Zealand Chinese community and its integration into New Zealand society.

The interview, to a large extent, brought with it a sense of reminiscing. The kind of feeling one often has when overseas. The feeling of missing New Zealand no matter how long you have been out of the country for.

It is not uncommon to hear people say that they don’t realise how strongly they feel about New Zealand until they go overseas.

The fresh air, the landscapes and everything that makes New Zealand unique. It’s the kind of feeling that often motivates us to think what we should do to make New Zealand a better place for our future generations.

Like it or not, New Zealand is a small and isolated (geographically) country.

A big thank-you to the Labour Government who secured the Rugby World Cup hosting rights for New Zealand. Without this major event in New Zealand this year it is hard to imagine that newspapers such as La Croix – one of only three daily national French newspapers to turn a profit – would have any interest in us.

(more…)

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Filed under: asian
4 Comments

Further hidden cuts in Budget

Posted by Raymond Huo on June 17th, 2011

I found this interesting quote from Vice-Chancellor of the University of Auckland Stuart McCutcheon in the 2 June, 2011 edition of Uni-news:

The Government’s Budget, delivered on 19 May, continues that trend. The student tuition component of Government funding will rise by 2 per cent but the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is projected to rise by over 3 per cent and our costs typically increase by 1.6 times CPI. This means a reduction, in real terms, of around 3 per cent in our funding, Government constraints on student fees will ensure that we cannot recover the deficit from students. Meanwhile there is no new investment in research, representing a further cut in real terms.

I’m wondering what the Government would say to Vice-Chancellors like Professor Stuart McCutcheon. It appears that ever since the ever-popular National Government took office, it has done nothing (or not enough) to grow our economy. It seems like they continue to make cuts everywhere, particularly when it comes to our young people, who are our future.

Popularity doesn’t equate to leadership. I believe, somewhere, the over hyping of this National Government will come back to haunt it as it’s only interested in holding its office and has failed to champion for the common good of the country.

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Filed under: asian, education
13 Comments

Why no consultation Minister Tolley?

Posted by Raymond Huo on June 16th, 2011

The message is loud and clear from the community of Pakuranga – No to Thurston Place College for lack of public consultation!

Written petitions to Parliament, community meetings and online petitions (http://www.stopthurstonplacecollege.com the website I tabled in Parliament yesterday which shows that as of today 1,634 people have signed up to the protest) have all told the Education Minister Anne Tolley one thing: that the local community does not want Thurston Place College built without consultation, yet construction continues with the school set to open in 2012.

Thurston Place College will be a special needs school for year 7 to 13 students and be situated on the site of the former Waimokoia school. It will cater for up to 100 students who are under Child, Youth and Family care and border Pigeon Mountain Primary School and be in close vicinity of Buckland’s Beach Intermediate and Macleans College. Thurston Place College will be very different to Waimokoia school though, which the Government closed against the school’s wishes in 2010, both in size and the nature of the special needs of the students.

Yet the closing down of Waimokoia school was used by Minister Tolley as an excuse not to have public consultation.

In speaking with local community members they have expressed outrage at the lack of consultation and concern for the safety of their children when the new school opens.

Their request is simple: they want construction stopped and consultation to take place.

Yesterday in the House Dr Rajen Prasad and I questioned Ms Tolley on this. Although she confirmed that she’s “not happy with how the process has been handled” she refused to remedy the situation.

Regardless of the position taken by her Ministry that there is “no legal requirement” to consult in this case (a judicial review will determine whether there is or not) is she aware of the significant level of frustration local residents feel at not getting answers to their questions and what actions does she intend to take?

Based on her answers on Wednesday in Parliament, she is not and doesn’t intend to do anything.

This is a major fail Ms Tolley. This is not about NIMBY (not in my backyard). This is about the basic right and respect the local community members are entitled to: consultation!

The community deserves better. I implore the Education Minister to do the right thing. Halt construction on the school immediately and begin consultation with the local community. Consultation should be the Key!

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Filed under: asian, education
19 Comments

Where is your plan Maurice?

Posted by Raymond Huo on May 19th, 2011

Statistics Minister Maurice Williamson raised more questions than answers when he announced today that Statistics New Zealand would receive “$58 million more funding” over the next four years.

He said the funding would go towards a programme called ‘Statistics 2020: Achieving the Statistical System of the Future’. No, not a new Science-Fiction film, but a computer programme.

I agree with the Minister that Statistics NZ works in a unique IT environment and because so many different departments, organisations, companies and individuals rely on the statistics produced by the department, Statistics New Zealand must have the most up-to-date IT systems.

Statistics New Zealand puts out around 270 important information releases a year, for such an organisation it deserves more attention from the Government.

But today’s Budget created more uncertainty, rather than offering answers to key questions:

1: What is happening with the re-build of Statistics New Zealand offices in Christchurch which suffered substantial damage in the February earthquake with significant impact on staff?

2: What are the alternative census options?

3: What happened to those contractors whose contracts and commitments were affected?

We expect the Minister to show some leadership in terms of this portfolio or maybe he is following the lead of his leader whose Budget lacks courage and vision.

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Filed under: asian
2 Comments

Traditional Chinese Medicine not just for Chinese

Posted by Raymond Huo on May 17th, 2011
Raymond Huo presenting certificate to Rebecca Wood at the NZ College of TCM Graduation ceremony on May 12, 2011.

Raymond Huo presenting certificate to Rebecca Wood at the NZ College of TCM Graduation ceremony on May 12, 2011.

Attending the New Zealand College of Chinese Medicine graduation ceremony last week I was immediately struck by the diversity of graduates.

Showing that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is becoming a wide-spread and accepted form of health care in New Zealand, graduating students came from Kiwi, Chinese, Korean and Iranian descent.

However it is unfortunate that New Zealand sits behind Australia who has implemented legislation to recognise TCM as a legitimate form of health care. While it seems on the outside that New Zealand has a strong awareness of Asia while Australia lags behind with its connection to Pauline Hanson and the One Nation Party, this anomaly would suggest otherwise.

When you take into account the recent anti-Asian leaflet campaign by Kyle Chapman and his far-right group, I wonder if New Zealand really does sit ahead of Australia in regards to race-relations and awareness of other cultures.

So I put it to Red Alert readers out there, do you think legislation should be implemented in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine and what would you like to see this legislation achieve?

I look forward to reading your feedback.

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Filed under: asian, ethnic, health
43 Comments

Awareness of Asia increasing

Posted by Raymond Huo on April 12th, 2011

Attending China Southern Airlines gala dinner in Auckland last night was a great experience to appreciate how New Zealand and China benefit from the trade and tourism industry.

China Southern Airlines, who has over 450 modern air-crafts in its entire fleet, confirmed last night that later this year they will fly daily from Auckland to Guangzhou – more than doubling from its current three times a week service.

This move is expected to increase the numbers of visitors on China Southern Airlines to 50,000 a year – worth an estimated $150 million to our economy.

With China becoming one of New Zealand’s fastest growing visitor markets (123,000 people visited last year – up nearly 17 per cent) and injecting around $365 million a year to the New Zealand economy, this new service will provide another boost to the New Zealand tourism industry.

It was also announced that Immigration New Zealand will have a Visa Acceptance Centre (VAC) operational in Guangzhou and VACs will also be established simultaneously in Beijing and Shanghai to meet the increased demand.

This announcement also coincided with the annual Asia New Zealand Foundation survey of New Zealanders perceptions of Asia and Asian people’s.

With the success of the Free Trade Agreement between New Zealand and China, and an increase in awareness of Asian cultural celebrations like Diwali and Lantern Festival, New Zealanders seem to be placing more importance on New Zealand’s relationship with the Asian region, according to the survey results.

Some of the key findings of the survey are listed below:

- More than three-quarters of New Zealanders (77 per cent) see the Asian region as important to New Zealand’s future

- 38 per cent of New Zealander’s see the Asian region as very important to New Zealand’s future

- 84 per cent of New Zealanders are positive about the contribution that Asian people make to New Zealand society

- 75 per cent of New Zealanders believe that Asian immigrants bring a valuable cultural diversity to New Zealand

- Over a third of New Zealanders can name an event in their area that they see as having an Asian focus

Click below to see a copy of the study:

http://www.asianz.org.nz/our-work/knowledge-research/research-reports/social-research/perceptions-study

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Filed under: asian, ethnic
6 Comments

BNZ innovative in stopping crime

Posted by Raymond Huo on March 16th, 2011

North ShoreBNZ

BNZ must be congratulated on becoming the first bank in the world to fully adopt SelectDNA spray technology.

As a member of the Law and Order Committee I am constantly looking at ways in which the police, organisations and individuals are combating crime and how citizens can be kept safe.

Employees and customers are put at risk when banks are robbed and I was interested to learn what banks are doing to ensure that their workers and customers are protected.

During a tour of a new concept BNZ branch on the North Shore last week I was impressed by a number of new security initiatives implemented by BNZ, especially the SelectDNA spraying system.

BNZ National Manager of Security and Fraud Owen Loeffellechner explained to me that the system works by spraying robbers with a DNA solution as they flee the bank. The liquid will remain on the skin for up to two weeks and on clothes for up to six months. The DNA solution then glows blue under ultra-violet light. Catching the robbers red, or blue, handed!

The SelectDNA system will be rolled out to all BNZ branches across the country, making BNZ the first bank in the world to fully adopt the policy.

The bank has taken a comprehensive approach to tackle bank robberies which Mr Loeffellechner said is a crime against “people and the community”. He assured me that BNZ views the safety of customers and staff as paramount and they will take every possible measure to prevent robberies.

Since 2006, bank robberies have more than doubled, with 2009/10 recording the highest level of robbery, extortion and related offences on banks since 1994/95.

This is a worrying trend. However I commend BNZ on rolling out the SelectDNA spraying system throughout all their branches. I’m sure this system will be critical in reducing the amount of bank robberies committed throughout the country.

I welcome feedback, ideas or suggestions on how banks can improve their security and ensure the safety of customers and staff. Do you think legislative means are needed to ensure a high industry standard?

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Filed under: asian, bank, law and order
12 Comments

Census postponed

Posted by Raymond Huo on February 25th, 2011

The decision by Government Statistician Geoff Bascand to postpone the March 2011 census was the correct one.

With the devastation caused from the Earthquake on February 22, the census is the last thing on people’s minds as New Zealanders recover from the disaster.

I support the decision from Statistics New Zealand to not hold the census on March 8 as we as a nation turn our efforts to help the people of Christchurch through their darkest hour.

I also send my best wishes to census staff based in Christchurch at this very traumatic time.

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Filed under: Canterbury Earthquake
17 Comments

China joins the relief effort

Posted by Raymond Huo on February 25th, 2011
The Chinese Rescue team arrive in Christchurch

The Chinese Rescue team arrive in Christchurch

I’m glad to see that an urban disaster rescue team from China has arrived in Christchurch this morning to assist in the relief effort in the city.

A big thumb up to the Royal New Zealand Air force who carried the team to the scene in Christchurch immediately after they landed in Auckland in the small hours of the morning.

Like all New Zealanders, the Chinese community is deeply concerned about the injured and missing in Christchurch and welcomes the arrival of the disaster specialists from china.

Of particular concern to the Chinese community are the numerous Chinese nationals missing in the CBD. According to Chinese friends in Christchurch there are at least 35 Chinese currently missing in the CBD.

At the devastated CTV building it is believed there are at least 35 Chinese students trapped inside the language school. For the past three nights, friends and family of the students have kept a vigil by the building, digging non-stop to try and recover anyone who is trapped.

The Chinese community has also commenced another round of fundraising following on from the good-will generated from last year’s fundraising initiative after the September earthquake.

The fundraising campaign is supported by the entire Chinese community with the main people and organisations behind the initiative being: The United Chinese Press, SkyKiwi.com, chinesetown.com, New Zealand Chinese New Settlers Services Trust, New Zealand Chinese Cultural Salon and Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Association.

The link to this campaign can be found here: http://chch.skykiwi.com/na/2011-02-24/117600.shtml

Also this Saturday there will be another fundraising concert being held in the Botany town square from 2.30pm. This is being organised by the Chinese New Settlers Services Trust together with others. Our candidate for the Botany by-election Michael Wood will join me – everyone is welcome to attend.

On behalf of the Chinese community I send my best wishes and thoughts to the people of Christchurch.

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Filed under: Canterbury Earthquake, asian
2 Comments

Lantern Festival to light up Auckland

Posted by Raymond Huo on February 18th, 2011
Some of the colour and culture that will be on display at the Lantern Festival this weekend

Some of the colour and culture that will be on display at the Lantern Festival this weekend

Tonight Auckland will be alive with Chinese culture and colour as the 12th Annual Asia:NZ Lantern Festival kicks off at Albert Park.

Following a speech by Labour Leader Phil Goff, Jenny McGregor, Group CEO of Australia’s Asialink will speak – following on in the good will and spirit of Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard who spoke in Parliament on Wednesday.

Jenny and some of the board members from the Asia:NZ Foundation met today in Auckland. We had a wonderful discussion about the relationship and awareness of Asia to New Zealand and Australia.

In New Zealand the Asia:NZ Foundation is an integral part of developing relationships between New Zealand and Asia as well as increasing Kiwis knowledge and understanding of the Asian region.

As a trustee of the Asia:NZ foundation I’m proud of the contribution the organisation has made to strengthen the bonds between our two regions. The Foundation works by focussing on five main areas – business, culture, education, media and research. This gives kiwis the knowledge, experience and understanding to interact with the Asian region in many different areas.

We have seen the benefits of the Asia:NZ foundation flow on since it was established in 1994 (co-incidentally the same year I migrated to NZ). Business, trade, education and tourism links have flourished between our two regions. Kiwis are now more likely to travel, work, study and do business in Asia than ever before.

I believe we are on the right track with our relationship and understanding of the Asian region and was glad to hear from Jenny McGregor that Asialink is doing the same thing in Australia.

Essentially Asialink is the Australian counterpart of the AsiaNZ foundation. Asialink’s mission statement is to “promote public understanding of the countries in Asia and Australia’s role in the region”.

Thanks to these two wonderful organisations the ANZAC nations are thriving in their relationships with the Asian region.

Asia:NZ will host two major Lantern Festival events this weekend in Auckland and Christchurch. If you are in the area make sure you get down to be a part of the event. Details below:

AUCKLAND – 18, 19 and 20 February 2011 from 5.00pm to 10.30pm at Albert Park.

Christchurch – 26 and 27 February 2011 from 5.00pm to 10.00pm at Victoria Square.

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Filed under: Arts and Culture, asian
1 Comment

Ross, what are you scared of?

Posted by Raymond Huo on February 10th, 2011
Michael Wood at a Chinese New Year event. The empty seat next to him was reserved for his opponent, Jamie-Lee Ross

Michael Wood at a Chinese New Year event. The empty seat next to him was reserved for his opponent, Jamie-Lee Ross

The National candidate in the Botany by-election, Jamie-Lee Ross, must think he’s already in Parliament.

While the Labour candidate, Michael Wood, is in the community, taking his message to the streets and connecting with voters on issues of privatisation, cuts to public services and a struggling economy, Mr Ross is not even willing to meet his opponent in a public debate.

In a by-election, the two-main candidates would normally face-off in public and televised debates. However last week, Mr Ross turned down the opportunity for a head-to-head debate with Mr Wood on Triangle TV.

In fact, while Mr Wood has been working non-stop over the past three weeks, attending events, meetings and walking the streets of Botany, he has only met Mr Ross once – at a Chinese New Year event (bear in mind there are over 30 such Chinese New Year events celebrated in Auckland alone).

It seems to me that Mr Ross is taking this election for granted, so if that’s the case, then what are you scared of?

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Filed under: asian
53 Comments

2011 is the Year of the Rabbit

Posted by Raymond Huo on January 31st, 2011
Fireworks light up the night sky in Auckland from the Telstra Clear Events Centre, near Redoubt Road Intersection, a project that former Manakau Mayor now CORIN DANN: Right.</p> <p>JOHN KEY: ...and the reason that's a problem is not that we can influence necessarily directly always what you do as an individual, but the rating agencies are looking at a combine debt and actually Spain has a very similar profile to New Zealand. Last week, I might add by the way, all this stuff is real, Standard and Poor's downgrade Japan, so it's...-Mayor of Auckland championed. Road users who have benefited from the new intersection have even suggested it should be named: ‘Len Brown’s Bypass’.

Fireworks light up the night sky in Auckland from the Telstra Clear Events Centre, near Redoubt Road Intersection, a project that former Manakau Mayor now super-Mayor of Auckland championed. Road users who have benefited from the new intersection have even suggested it should be named: ‘Len Brown’s Bypass’.

Congratulations must be extended to Michael Wood for his first successful appearance in the Chinese community.

At the WTV Chinese New Year celebration at the TelstraClear Events Centre on the weekend, Michael was met with rapturous applause by the 800-strong audience when he greeted the crowd in perfect Chinese. He even gained a nick-name from festival-goers – ‘Labour’s handsome candidate for Botany’.

Chinese New Year falls on February 3 this year and with it brings various New Year celebrations, culminating in the two biggest events – the Chinese New Year and Market Day Festival at the ASB Showground’s and the WTV Lunar Festival at the TelstraClear Events Centre, with both events attracting more than 60,000 visitors.

Phil Goff was greeted warmly at both events and stuck a chord with the audience during his two speeches.

Sitting back on reflection of the two functions, it was striking from the way that the audience interacted with Phil Goff that the country needs a man of substance as opposed to a ‘smile and wave’ leader.

A constituent later told me that she felt grateful to John Key for his ‘honesty’ in showing National’s true colours. She said it appeared National had no plan
in how to grow the economy apart from selling our precious national assets.

For the Chinese community (like any other ethnic community) creation is preferred to speculation when it comes to the economy.
(more…)

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Filed under: asian, ethnic
2 Comments

Kiwis spread their wings across the world

Posted by Raymond Huo on December 31st, 2010

Isobel Thompson

Above: Raymond Huo with Isobel Thompson at the launch of the Soong Ching Ling Foundation of NZ.

For a country of four million people it is remarkable how many New Zealanders have made their mark and spread their influence around the world.

A recent article in the Listener profiled seven Kiwis who have made it big in different parts of the globe. All of them had amazing success stories and are now seen as leaders in their various career paths.

But this isn’t a recent occurrence, New Zealanders have been putting their stamp on the world for generations and recently I was privileged to meet one such person at the Establishment of the Soong Ching Ling Foundation in Auckland.

Ms Isobel Easton Thompson is 90-years-old and worked as nurse in China from 1947-1950. She went to China with the New Zealand foundation CORSO and worked for the Chinese Welfare Fund which was headed by Madam Soong Ching Ling (aka Mme Sun Yatsen).

Madam Soong Ching Ling (1893-1981) has been recognised as one of the most influential people of the 20th Century for her contribution and dedication to world peace, socialist causes and global development and before her death in 1981 she was awarded the title of Honorary President of Peoples Republic of China.

Ms Thompson worked closely with Madam Soong Ching Ling during her time in China and detailed her experiences in the book, Yellow River, Mules and Mountains: A New Zealand nurse in China 1947-1950, which gives a fascinating insight into a western nurse living in China during an interesting phase of the country’s history.

Ms Thompson is a member of the Soong Ching Ling foundation of Shanghai and was proud to be on hand as the New Zealand branch was officially recognised.

Madam Soong Ching Ling once said: many things could wait but work for children could not. The Soong Ching Ling foundation will continue her life’s work and ensure that her legacy lives on for generations to come.

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Filed under: asian, ethnic
3 Comments

More feedback on Immigration Bill

Posted by Raymond Huo on December 27th, 2010

I have been glad to receive feedback on my Private Members Bill from constituents and industry professionals alike.

Below is a message from one such industry professional:

Kia ora Raymond

Following up to our discussion about the availability of ESOL to our new migrants and people from refugee backgrounds, I thought you might be interested in some background documents.

The first (although it is attached as the last) details the funding cuts that were announced in the 2009 budget that affected directly the access to ESOL nationally.

The two others were in response to a request from the Wgtn Regional Settlement Strategy Leadership group (SSLG) to understand how funding changes were affecting the ability of people to access appropriate ESOL provision in the region; the first, is an attempt to quantify the loss of funding compiled early 2010 and the second, an update on the continuing impact of funding changes on ESOL provision for 2011.

Although the report and update are focusing on the Wgtn region, since this is where the Settlement Strategy Leadership group’s (SSLG) interest lies, the funding changes have had similar impact across the country. The SSLG sent a letter to the Tertiary Policy Group at Ministry of Education in late Nov. summarizing the impact and attaching these two reports.

I was impressed by your interest in being informed from the those of us in the field and it occurred to me when sitting in a reunion earlier this week of skilled migrants who have graduated from the Workplace Communication programme for skilled migrants at Victoria University of Wellington that there are some 150 very articulate and informative people able to describe their experience and what made the difference for them.

It struck me at the time that this would have been a magnificent opportunity to hear first-hand about their achievements in securing employment and how they are contributing to our economy. I wonder if you would be available to attend the graduation of the next group of 12 individuals which is scheduled for Monday 16 May 2011 at the VUW Railway Campus.

Meanwhile, it is time for a break! May you have a relaxing and fun summer break with family and friends.

Best wishes

Name withheld

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Filed under: asian
1 Comment

Consultation phase begins

Posted by Raymond Huo on December 24th, 2010

I have begun the consultation phase on my two new private member bills (more information at www.huo.co.nz) and the feedback has already come in from the community.

In response to the Immigration (Migrant Levy) Amendment Bill, a constituent from Auckland sent in the following message:

From: (address removed)

To: Raymond Huo

Subject: Re: jan fen 2011

Hi,

Your bills should have included a review of say the last 12 years of migrant numbers and which ethnicities have migrated to the country.

Your bill could also recommend:

A: 40% distributed in first 3 years after the Bill has passed…. for migrants who arrived in years 8 to 12 [earliest]

B: 30% in next period of 3 “”"”‘”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”………………………………………….years…..5 to 8 years [mid]

c: 30% next period of 3 years ……………………………………………………………..years 1 to 4 [recent…

Regards

***

I am pleased to receive this feedback and will keep ‘Red Alerter’s’ up dated with more feedback as it comes to hand.

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Filed under: asian
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