Tamaki Electorate has been kept busy with two meetings held in recent weeks. A successful public meeting was held for Hon Simon Power who spoke on MMP and fielded a number of questions in a lively Q & A session.

The other function was a cocktail party with the Speaker of the House Dr the Rt Hon Lockwood Smith in attendance, speaking and answering questions on his role in the House of Representatives.

I continue to be kept busy visiting schools in the electorate. I did the Duffy Book presentations at Pt England School and met a number of parents at the assembly. I visited Glendowie College to view their building upgrade. I spent some time at Selwyn College, which included congratulating two students on outstanding success, one of them having won the ex-MPs essay competition.

I have met parents who live in the Tamaki electorate about the application of National Standards in the Rudolf Steiner school system. I am also still involved with Glen Innes and Glenbrae primary schools over the recapitation issue as it affects those two schools. I attended the official opening of the new children’s community dental clinic attached to the Stonefields School.

In my capacity as Chair of the Education and Science select committee I have been at the Medical School to discuss their work, including the training of more health professionals and future direction of medical research. In the same capacity I have met with representatives of the Auckland Heads’ Association on the future developments of sport in Auckland-wide schools.

I am involved in terms of my special envoy role in completing a report on the future aid/education development in the Pacific in advance of the Pacific Forum in Auckland in September. I attended the St Heliers Glendowie Residents’ Association annual general meeting.