I'll be at the Riverbank Markets every Saturday morning from now until the election - come down and say hello!

I've had a lot of people ask me how they can help with the election - so if you'd like to assist me, please click here to sign-up as a member of "Team Bish". There's lots of ways to assist - everything from delivering leaflets, letters, phone calling, door-knocking, or even chipping in some money (you may notice my opponent is spending a lot!) If you can host a sign on your fence, please let me know. I am deeply appreciative of all the support I get from people in the Hutt, and I'd love to continue as your MP - so if you can help out please let me know.

Dropped into Hutt Intermediate on Wednesday morning to help a group of Year 7 and 8 students who are learning debating! I got my start in debating at Hutt Intermediate - as I said to the students - look where it can take you!

A couple of weeks ago I called in at Belmont Playcentre with my colleague Nicola Willis MP, our spokesperson for Early Childhood Education.

Playcentres across NZ are struggling under current funding rules that tend to favour teacher based services.

I was a Playcentre boy myself (Dad was the Treasurer in Maungaraki when I was younger) and we want to make sure funding rules reflect the huge role they play in our communities.

Thank you to Belmont Playcentre for having us!

I had the honour of serving as National's Police spokesperson from November 2017 to June 2019.

It would be fair to say I came to the role with some trepidation. When I was appointed, I didn't know a lot about policing although I respected the important role of the police in the community. I had a legal background, not a policing background.

The first thing I did was go out on patrol with my local police around the Hutt at night. It was an eye opening experience. I won't recount what we saw and did that night but it gave me a great insight for what our police deal with on a daily basis, the pressures they face, and the vital role they play in our community.

Over the course of my time as Police spokesperson I met wonderful officers up and down New Zealand, in a variety of different roles. One of my favourite experiences was to attend the regular Police award ceremonies, in which officers and staff are recognised for long service and for bravery and courage. They were always amazing events, with community and whanau coming together to pay tribute to the officers and to celebrate with them.

In 130 years, 33 New Zealand police officers have died in the line of duty.

They have made the ultimate sacrifice to help keep us all safe.

Like everyone, I was shocked and saddened by the news that an officer was shot and killed while carrying out a traffic stop on Friday in Massey.

My thoughts are with the officer's family and friends, and with the wider Police whanau. They will be devastated.

September 29th is Police Remembrance Day, and a Remembrance Day Service is held for serving and former Police staff who died during the previous twelve months. This date is the feast day of the Archangel Michael, patron saint of police.

September 29 will be particularly poignant this year.

I'm getting great feedback on my "Business with Bish" videos that feature a local Hutt business and what they do If you're keen to have a chat with me and promote your own business, drop me a message and I'll come by and say hello! Here is Waglands.

Other videos up online already include: Dirty Burger in Petone, ESSC Eats in Eastbourne, Fix Federation, the Still Room in Eastbourne., Clive's Chemist in Wainuiomata, Buzz Cafe in High St, Shazly Experienc,  Cupcake Sweeties, Compass Coffee, and Hills Hats.

Good news last week with the government including the Nga Ūranga ki Pito-one (Ngauranga to Petone) cycleway and walkway in a group of projects that will be "fast-tracked" through a new bill to come before Parliament.

I have worked hard on advancing this project for nearly six years now. The current cycle path is a dangerous disgrace, and an upgrade is long overdue. This is a good project for the Hutt.

I'm told that under the existing RMA, it would have been a very long and time consuming consenting process; which would have delayed the project by years. So it's good to see a short-circuiting of this, and quick consenting. Ironically, National has called for precisely this sort of RMA reform for years!

This made my Friday! Kerry from Auckland, who as far as I know I’ve never met, sent me a lovely card and a piece of art. It reads ‘To dear Chris, you are doing such a good job. All the very best, love from Kerry.’

Thanks Kerry - lovely to get messages like this through the Parliamentary mail.

Our Jackson St Project continued on Saturday night at the The Victoria Tavern, new restaurant/bar in the old Valentine’s. Our aim is to try every eatery on Jackson St in order from west to east!

The Vic is a great new addition to the street and I love the restaurant area separate from the bar. We had beef skewers with satay sauce plus really nice beef croquettes to start, then Jenna had a double cheeseburger and I had a rib eye steak. FYI they do things other than beef too! Oops. Jenna loves the cheeseburger and my steak was perfectly cooked (med rare). Delicious.

I’m back off the booze so no wine for me but the list looked really good and they have good beer on tap.

Service with a smile and very quick it was too.

Highly recommended!

Last Friday with local MP Matt Doocey I announced the next National government will build the Belfast to Pegasus four lane road including the Woodend Bypass.

National campaigned in 2017 on constructing the motorway as a logical extension of the transformational Western Belfast Bypass and Northern Corridor motorways that the last National Government delivered.

Labour cancelled the project when in Government and NZTA have told residents it is not a high priority. Cantabrians deserve better and National will make sure this road is built.

Oops!