JamesMeager<jamesmeager@gmail.

com>

It'sthattimeoftheweekagain..#13
1message YoungNationalsSouthernRegion<southernyoungnats@national.org.nz> Bcc:james.meager@national.org.nz Wed,May23,2012at9:32PM

MonthlyMeeting Thelastmeetingwasheld on Wednesday 16 May. If youd like a copy of the minutes please email our Secretary StephMai Lowe.Thenextmeetingis scheduled for Wednesday 20June,6pm. Contactus Facebook Twitter Email Membership We encourage everybody to take the next step and become a full financial member of the party of as little as $5. Head over to the Young Nats website and fill out the forms today. A big week in store as the Government announces Budget 2012. If you haventheardalready,anewinnovationthisyearisaBudget2012appwhich you can download, and on the day youll be provided with the most relevant andimportantBudgetdataatthetimeofannouncement.ThisBudgetdoesnt presentanyhugechallengesforyoungpeopleastheGovernmentcontinues toproducebalancedandprudentBudgetsontheroadtosurplusin2014. At Southern were currently focused on mainly two things: continuing to enhanceourprofileinthecommunity,andcontinuingoursupportfortheKeep It 18 campaign. In Dunedin the Monday Night Pub Quiz is our last social event before our Otago University members start their exams, and in InvercargillGarryThomsenisworkinghardtoorganiseaYoungNatseventin timeforSITsMidOWeekattheendofJuly.

OtagoCommunityHospiceFundraiser

The Southern Young Nats were proud to help make the Otago Community HospiceFundraiserasuccessfulevening.ManythankstoTim,Markandthe restoftheteamwhovolunteeredtheirhospitalityprowessoncemore.Oneof the highlights of the night was the butterfly doodle by the Prime Minister which was auctioned for over $1,000. Next for us on the calendar is Presbytarian Support Otagos Octacan food drive where we'll be liaising with localbusinessestoencourageparticipationanddonations.

KeepIt18Campaign
This week, I will be writing to our Southern MPs to urge them to support keeping the purchase age for alcohol at 18 for both on and off licences. Changing the purchase age does not address the problem of dangerous drinking and penalises those 18 and 19 year olds who are responsible drinkers.

TheKeepIt18campaignmakesthefollowingpoints: 1.Tochangethewiderdrinkingcultureweneedtomakedangerousdrinking uncoolandantisocial. 2. Changing the age will encourage more supply to people who cannot legallypurchasealcoholthemselves.

3.Feweryoutharedrinkingnowthanwhenthepurchaseagewas20. 4. Instead of changing the purchase age, we need tougher penalties for irresponsibledrinkersandirresponsiblepurchasingbehaviour. 5. Stronger penalties should apply to minors who purchase or consume alcoholillegally. 6.18istheageofmajorityandconsistencyofageisfairer. 7.Asplitagewilldriveintoxicatedpeopleintobarsandthegeneralpublic. 8.Asplitagediscriminatesagainstruralcommunities. 9.Thoseovertheageof20aretheworstbingedrinkers. 10.Raisingthepurchaseagewillcreateabacklashamongstyoungervoters. 11.Parliamentshouldbeprotectingminorityrights. 12.Thereisnoevidencetosuggestthatitissafertodrinkinbarsandclubs thanathome. Ifyousupportmaintainingthepurchaseageat18contactyourlocalMPnow andletthemknowwhatyouthink.

RegionalPolicyDay
TheSouthernRegionalPolicyDayisbeingheldinGoreonJune16.Hosted byHonBillEnglish,itisoneofthebestwaysmembersareabletohavetheir say on what shape Party policy should be taking. Well be attending and promotingourfourpolicypriorities: 1.Equalrightsforsamesexcouples. 2.Druglawreform. 3.Euthanasialawreform. 4.Civicseducationinhighschools. Getintouchifyoudliketojoinus.

AnnualConference
The National Party Annual Conference is being held from July 20 22 in Auckland. As well as being allocated 5 delegates at the main conference, Southern are also allocated six delegates to the New Zealand Young Nats AnnualConference.ThedelegateswhowillberepresentingSouthernare: Myself(JamesMeager) DeputyChairToddDickens

CommunicationsOfficerMarkCurrie VarshaSingh HamishMarfell Due to withdrawals we have one more delegate spot open for the NZ Young Nats conference, if youd like to take up that position please email me as soonaspossible.

PubQuiz
This week sees the final organised Pub Quiz at The Bog for a while as our mainly studentbased team wrap up their social lives in preparation for first semesterexams.JoinusatTheBogonMondayat7pmtotryandgetback into our winning ways and continue adding to our kitty for our end of year function.

WhatsBeenHappening
VirtualTipping Johncontinuestoopenupagapatthefrontastheamountofpuntersstillin thecompcontinuestodropoff.JointpropstoMarkCurrieandtheTauranga YoungNatswhopickedupasubstantial45pointsthisweek.

Steveman keeps his one point lead at the top as near the halfway point of thisyearscomp.Weremaininsecondinbothcompetitions.

 Onapersonalnote,Igraduatedintheweekendjustpast,soabigthankyou goes out to all the wellwishers, a significant proportion of whom I have met through the Young Nats. Its great to have your support, and Im looking forwardtorampingupouractivitiesinthesecondhalfoftheyear. JamesMeager Chair

Tounsubscribetotheseemailspleaseemailusatsouthernyoungnats@national.org.nz.

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