Ruth Dyson: Merry Christmas!

Christmas is always a time to to take stock. This has been a very fast moving year! I am pleased that in our first year in opposition, we have used our time very well, across the country and locally.

We are strengthening our organisational base and renewing our policies, putting us in a strong position for the election - in one year 11 months! And of course, between then and now, we have an opportunity to elect a more representative City Council!

Locally, we have had a number of new faces joining us at our Labour Electorate Committee meetings. This is the group which is really the governance body of the electorate, and is made up from representatives from branches and affiliated unions.

Rod Lewis has been chairing this committee for some time and recently stood down from this position. Thank you Rod for all your hard work!! (and we know that you are not retiring from Party activity!!).

Our new Chairperson is Jasmin Teague and we welcome her into that position. We also have two new geographical branches which have started - one covering Sydenham, Waltham, Addington and Beckenham - called Christchurch South - and the other is the Bromley branch.

It's fantastic to have a good local place for Labour people to meet, chat and support lots of activities in their own area. Labour also has special branches - ones that just focus on specific areas of interest - and we have had two new "special" branches established this year as well.

One is called "Red Earth" and is an environmental branch, and the second is called "Red Hearts", which is a women's branch. And we have a fantastic, local website - check it out on www.porthillspulse.org.nz - and, of course, feel free to send in any local news that you have! It doesn't have to be "political" news - but the news being local is important.

We will start next year with a planning meeting - looking at strategy and policy - and finishing with a BBQ. You are warmly invited to join us. It will be on Sunday 31st January from 3pm, at 31 Moncks Spur Road. Please let me know if you are coming - 389 3046.

If you are still puzzling over Christmas gifts - we are here to help! One of our big fundraisers is selling a beautiful Sauvignon Blanc wine. It is from Lawsons Dry Hills, so excellent quality - and a good price too! Single bottles $18, half a dozen for $100, or a dozen for $199. Ring the number above to arrange delivery (free!!).

Finally, thank you for all your support during the year, and I wish you and your family a very relaxed and peaceful Christmas and New Year. Ruth Dyson Member of Parliament Port Hills