CONTENTS The PM comes visiting A Joint Approach to Defence Trips across the Ditch Useful Websites

Issued July 2001 The government is now more than halfway through its first term in office. We have made significant progress in addressing key economic and social issues. The 'Burton Bulletin' has also progressed - it's now in colour! The PM comes visiting This month I was delighted to host Helen Clark during a visit to the Taupo Electorate. Helen travelled up from Palmerston North and the visit concentrated on the southern end of the electorate. It began with a tour of the Mainstreet developments in Ohakune. Dave Scott and members of the Ohakune 2000 group walked us around the developments that I have had the pleasure of being involved in officially opening over the last couple of years. It is fair to say that Helen was very impressed and she congratulated Ohakune 2000 for having the vision, foresight and determination to plan and prepare for the future. That foresight has paid off with the recent record snowfall boosting conditions for the ski season. The PM admires the ski hat she was presented with during her visit to Ohakune. Helen's visit also included calling in at the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre for a tour of the facilities with Grant Davidson and team. Students from Liston College in Auckland show the PM the ropes at OPC From OPC it was on to Turangi, where Helen officially opened the new Heartland Service Centre. Turangi is one of the 10 locations that will get a centre this year, and interest has also been shown from Taupo in joining the programme. Heartland Services is a new government initiative which restores face to face access to a range of government services in provincial communities Over recent years small towns have experienced a flight of government services. Heartland Service Centre coordinators will provide the link between local people making enquiries, and government agencies. A public telephone and computer will be provided at each centre and the coordinator can help with general enquiries, including accessing government websites for job searches and other information. Michelle Tiriana is the new Heartland service Coordinator in Turangi - she has a busy time ahead of her! A Joint Approach to Defence At the beginning of July, I opened the new Joint Operational Headquarters for the New Zealand Defence Force, at Trentham. The move to one joint operational HQ is a significant shift in the way we manage military operations, and it enables us to make the most effective operational use of the resources committed to New Zealand's defence requirements. This recognises the very real operational requirement to stop thinking in terms of the individual single service contributions, in favour of what is the most effective Defence Force response. Timor and other recent experiences have taught us that greater synergy in planning, deploying and controlling the NZDF on operations can be achieved through a permanent, dedicated, operational joint headquarters. This will be far more effective than the previous practice of forming operational joint headquarters on a contingency basis. Trips across the Ditch This month I made two flying visits to Australia for talks with my Australian ministerial counterparts. On the first occasion I travelled to Melbourne to meet with Australian Defence minister Peter Reith. With Australian Defence Minister Peter Reith at Victoria Barracks in Melbourne. Peter Reith and I discussed our countries mutual involvement in defence operations in East Timor, Bougainville and the Solomon Islands. We agreed that we continue to be committed to achieving the highest levels of interoperability possible between the New Zealand Defence Force and the Australian Defence Force, whilst acknowledging the need for each country to first meet its own defence priorities. My second brief trip to Australia was for a meeting of Australasian Tourism Ministers in Brisbane. I was able to update the Australian state and federal ministers on New Zealand's new Tourism Strategy. Tourism growth offers enormous benefits to this country and we are working hard to ensure the growth is managed and sustainable. Useful Websites www.beehive.govt.nz for all Ministers speeches and media statements www.labour.org.nz for the Beehive Bulletin, a weekly update on government activities. Electorate contacts: Taupo Electorate Office ph 07 378-2280 or fax 07 378-2226 Tokoroa Electorate Office ph 07 886-8600 or fax 07 886-8604 Bulletin is a regular update from the Office of Mark Burton MP To subscribe, please contact Chris Roberts 04 471-9773 or chris.roberts@parliament.govt.nz

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