The design skills are being stretched at the moment as we undergo a few simplifications to the weekly newsletter.

Thanks to the positive feedback weve received we now hope to deliver you a shorter and sharper version into your inbox every week. This week the Northern Region Young Nats announced that their remit regarding adoption had been passed at the Northern Region Convention. Congratulations to the Northern team who have proven that the Young Nats are still able to influence policy within the Party. Coincidentally, Southern also have four policy priorities developed through consultation with members over the past few months. Well be presenting some of those policies to the Regional Policy Day in Gore on June 16, which youre all welcome to register for. Also this week, the Pub Quiz Team have had a successful last outing at The Bog before play resumes in July, while preparations for the Octacan charity food drive are underway.

Keep It 18 Campaign
On May 16 the Executive passed the following motion:
THAT the Chair be directed to write to all Southern Members of Parliament to express the Young Nationals Southern Regions support for the Keep It 18 campaign, and to urge those Members to commit to maintaining the current purchase age for alcohol at 18 years of age.

This afternoon I wrote to our Southern MPs on behalf of the Region, which you can view on Scribd here. Although the purchase age issue is ultimately one of conscience for Parliament, the Young Nats have long opposed any increase and will continue to do so. Changes to the purchase age will not address the deeper underlying problem that we as a culture have with alcohol. As the Hon David Carter said in 2005, the solution starts when we as adults drink responsibly, particularly in front of our own children. This is where the problem drinking culture starts and too many times we see older people themselves giving a very bad example to young people in the use of alcohol. That is where the solution lies, not in an arbitrary rise in purchase age. The Bill comes before the House in a few weeks time, hopefully the debate will be a full, open, and honest one which produces a result in line with our Partys core principles and values.

Regional Policy Day

Dunedin North and Regional Policy Chair Rachel Bird is busy organising the Regional Policy Day to be hosted by Bill English and the Clutha-Southland team in Gore on June 16. Registration information is on its way so keep in touch if youd like to have input into the policy making process. Well be taking at least one car load down for the day and youre more than welcome to come along.

Octacan Charity Food Drive

Our Brighter Communities coordinator Mark Currie has called for volunteers to help out with Presbytarian Support Otagos Octacan Charity Food Drive in June. We need help with the business side of things, preparing donation boxes for businesses and organising collection points. Theres a bit of arts and craft involved as well, so if you can help please join the Facebook Group and register where you can assist, or contact Mark.

Parliamentary Rugby Gala

Dunedin MP Michael Woodhouse, on behalf of the Parliamentary Sports Club, is hosting the Parliamentary Rugby Gala on Saturday 9 June in the Southern Cross Hotel from 6:30pm onwards. This is a great chance to mix with local rugby identities and MPs from a range of parties, as well as catch the All Blacks vs Ireland live on the big screen. Tickets are $40 and include finger food and a cash bar, with all proceeds going to Sport Otagos Sporting Chance Programme which helps kids get involved in sport. Contact Sport Otago or Michael Woodhouses Dunedin Office for tickets. The Parliamentary Rugby Team will also be playing the curtain-raiser at the North vs South Game at the Forsyth Barr Stadium the following day on Sunday 10 June. Tickets for that fixture are available through ticketek and go towards raising funds for the embattled Otago Rugby Football Union.

Pub Quiz Team

The Pub Quiz Team had their last outing for the first half of the year, welcoming along Dunedin North Electorate Committee members Rob Woodhouse and Rachel Bird, and Dunedin South Electorate Chair Robyn Broughton as well as our Dunedin South candidate Jo Hayes. The slightly older, but much more wiser heads must have prevailed as the team managed a third place in a tough quiz, picking up $20 in prize money and bringing the total tab for the end of year function to $130. Join the team when they return on July 9 and attempt to keep adding to the pot.

Virtual Tipping
John Brinsley-Pirie continues to streak away at the top, opening up a handsome 16 point gap on the Southern team in second. Somebodys clearly been messing with my own account, as Ive somehow managed to enter the picks for the Southern team, but not my own..

Still only one point in it in the NRL competition as we cant quite make up ground on Steveman.

Next Meeting
The next Southern Young Nats meeting will be held on Wednesday June 20 at 6pm, venue TBC.
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