Simon Bridges National MP simonbridges.co.nz

The highlight for me in this last Parliament sitting for the year is the announcement last week of 10 new permits for petroleum exploration around New Zealand. It follows an extensive consultation process with local iwi and councils, and a rigorous financial and technical assessment of the companies which tendered for the work.

The permits represent $62 million in committed expenditure, and could lead to a further $720 million in exploratory work alone. Drilling for oil and gas in the Taranaki basin has been happening for 50 years, and the region enjoys one of the highest rates of employment, and highest average incomes in the country. Developing our resources in a safe and environmentally sensible way will offer us a significant opportunity for further growth in other regions around the country.

Keeping P away

We've all heard the horrific stories of what methamphetamine, or P, has done to once-vibrant people. It's a drug that destroys lives.

When we launched the Methamphetamine Action Plan in 2009, New Zealand had one of the highest rates of P users in the world, with 2.2 per cent of the adult population using the drug.

Today, this figure is down to just under 0.9 per cent. While this is a great improvement, it means more than 25,000 New Zealanders are still using P.

The Prime Minister has recently announced more than $3 million, recovered under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act, will be used to fund law enforcement initiatives to break the methamphetamine supply chain, and expand alcohol and drug treatment programmes.

Funds will also go towards our Drug and Alcohol Court pilot to cover prosecution and defence counsel costs, and money will go to the recovery of legal costs incurred by Police recovering criminal proceeds.

We are sending a clear message: National is serious about tackling methamphetamine and the harm it causes our communities.

This is my last column for the year. I've enjoyed this opportunity to let you know what we are doing in Wellington to help improve the lives of all New Zealanders, and I look forward to continuing to do so next year.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.