Covid 19 coronavirus: New Plymouth locals on edge after confirmed Covid-19 cases visit the region
14 Feb, 2021 04:21 PM
5 minutes to read
New Plymouth s Len Lye Centre was open as usual on Sunday. Photo / Ethan Griffiths
Locals around Taranaki are on edge after it was revealed two confirmed Covid-19 community cases visited New Plymouth over Waitangi weekend, and some are unhappy that the region has remained at alert level 2.
The Ministry of Health has confirmed that the positive cases visited nine locations in the city last weekend including Te Rewarewa Bridge, Sumela Kebab, Amber Court Hotel, Pukekura Park, Egmont National Park, Cycle Inn, Puke Ariki Library and Museum, Pizza Hut and Back Beach.
A maiden speech is an MP’s first major speech in Parliament. Unlike other speeches, which are often scrutinised by party hierarchy, maiden speeches are a personal statement from the MP themselves. Pallett joked that while her career as a midwife had involved its share of unexpected arrivals, the greatest unexpected arrival of all was her arrival in Parliament. Pallett’s win in Illam was one of the most unexpected upsets on election night.
JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/Stuff Pallett paid tribute to her family, including partner Andy, “my best friend, my biggest cheerleader”. “The man I love and can’t wait to be married to – and thanks for asking by the way,” Pallett joked, to laughs from colleagues.
In particular, he recounted a trip to the Onehunga dump with his mother, when he was 9 years old, to visit a recently released prisoner who was living in a shed there with her baby. “I remember thinking, ‘something is wrong that a woman and her baby, in New Zealand, are living in a dump,” he said. “That experience changed me and never left me. It now also shapes how I hope to make a difference in Parliament.” Bennett told MPs he was a living example of how the power of Parliament could be used to oppress or liberate.
Ross Giblin
MPs maiden speeches: I have been called f over our fence at home
9 Feb, 2021 03:43 AM
15 minutes to read
Labour s new New Plymouth MP Glen Bennett. Photo / Supplied
Political reporter, NZ Herald@AmeliaJWade
Eight more new MPs will give their maiden speeches to Parliament this afternoon - Act s Mark Cameron, James McDowell, Karen Chhour and Toni Severin then Labour s Emily Henderson, Gaurav Sharma, Sarah Pallett and Glen Bennett.
Karen Chhour - Act
At just 9 years old Karen Chhour s home was so unsafe she didn t think she d live to see her tenth birthday.
She ran away and was picked up by Child, Youth and Family (now Oranga Tamariki).