Simon Bridges National MP simonbridges.co.nz

Last week I spoke to The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) at the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic.

While this is a national organisation, it has a very strong presence locally, which is good given the significant role of transport to our region. As I said at the event, it's fundamentally important that we have groups such as CILT thinking hard about transport issues because as a small geographically isolated country that survives on exporting, our efficiency and productivity in getting goods to distant markets is a matter of economic life and death.

This is why the Government emphasises transport infrastructural investment so heavily and in August announced the largest ever National Land Transport Programme of $12.3 billion over the next three years.

Earlier this week, in Papamoa, I was involved in the launch of the latest ‘KiwiRAP' road assessment results for New Zealand. Put simply, KiwiRAP is a tool for assessing the safety of our nearly 11,000 kilometres of state highway, identifying high-risk roads to help target safety improvements. The latest results show significant safety gains which are a top priority for me as a Minister particularly on high risk rural highways where there has been a drop of more than 15 per cent in fatal and serious crashes.

Run, run, as fast as you can

As many will know, I am a keen runner and I've been doing a little training for a great annual event that happens this weekend: the Tauranga Trail Run at the TECT All Terrain Park on SH36.

Put on as a fundraiser by the Tauranga Boys' College Cross Country Team, it is a superbly run event which I also ran in last year. For more details go to www.taurangatrailrun.co.nz

While on the subject, I can't help but use this opportunity to congratulation my running buddy Ross Steele who, in what is a marvellous achievement, completed his 50th marathon a couple of weeks ago. Ross has run marathons on every continent and is president of Tauranga Road Runners, who run every Sunday morning at 7am from the Wharepai Domain Rooms on Cameron Rd. Come along.

Recess week

Because this week has been a recess week from Parliament, I have been able to spend a lot of time in the community. On Tuesday I had the deputy PM Bill English in town. Among the things we did, he particularly enjoyed meeting student leaders from all our local schools.

Later in the week it was a privilege to open Legacy Funeral's new crematorium in Pyes Pa. While most of us perhaps don't like to think about it too much, ensuring appropriate arrangements when loved ones pass away is a very important part of our affairs. This makes what Legacy Funerals does so significant.

Finally, it was great to celebrate some unsung community heroes for the Kiwibank Local Heroes Medal presentation. So many do so much without expectation of reward in our community that to recognise some of these stellar people warms the heart.