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Race Relations Day 2022: Bridging Communities and Censorship
Melissa Lee 
March 22, 2022
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On the weekend, as I was preparing to write a few words about Race Relations Day and the impact of our 213+ ethnicities on New Zealand’s cultural history, I faced an outpouring of messages concerned about an upcoming film to be screened in New Zealand, the Kashmir Files. It had been re-called for review by the Classifications Office, home of the Chief Censor.
Holi and 2022
Melissa Lee March 16, 2022
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Once again many cultural festivals around New Zealand have had to be cancelled, postponed or moved online due to the impact of Omicron around our country. I was particularly saddened to see that this year I and my fellow National Members of Parliament will be unable to join the community in celebration of Holi, one of my favourite Indian festivals.
The Power of Holi
Melissa Lee March 16, 2022
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It’s Holi time. The vibrant celebration of culture in a fun way that children of all ages, old and young alike, have been able to come together. Through the rainbow cascades of coloured powder, lights, and streamers showing each other the warmth of our communities in the spirit of congeniality, unity and at the end of the day, you are doused in colour from head to toe.
Melissa Lee's March 2022 Update
Melissa Lee March 15, 2022
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Hi Everyone!
Heading into Autumn and colder weather I want to acknowledge how difficult the cost of living crisis is getting for New Zealand households and businesses. When the price of just a single head of cauliflower and block of cheese is reaching towards the weekly food budget of an elderly pensioner something is seriously wrong.
The Government's wasteful spending, tax grabs and failure to address rising costs in our day to day lives isn't good enough and action is urgently needed.
Please remember my Auckland and Wellington Offices are open and here to help.
The RNZ-TVNZ merger won't address the real media challenges
Melissa Lee March 14, 2022
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The ”‘conscious coupling’ of TVNZ and RNZ is about to get the green light with Cabinet rubber-stamping it this week.
Whether we call it a merger, a disestablishment, a re-alignment, or a waste of millions of dollars over several years - I have one clear message for the Government.
It is not worth it!
It is bizarre how the Government is trying to mash them together like two irregular jigsaw pieces.
Misinformation creates inroads into our freedom of expression
Melissa Lee February 22, 2022
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Misinformation.
Malinformation.
Disinformation.
Fake news.
Whatever we call it, it is now a problem for New Zealand. The spread of information that is causing harm, which is directly contrary to established facts and trusted expert opinion, is becoming rife and it’s leading to real problems for New Zealand.
Melissa Lee's February 2022 Update
Melissa Lee February 22, 2022
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Hi Everyone!
With 'Red' Traffic Light settings and rising Omicron case numbers we are now facing yet another period of uncertainty hurting our community while we continue to work together towards getting New Zealand back to normal. While there are significant illegal protests around Wellington and other centres we cannot not ignore the wider frustrations that COVID-19 restrictions have made to law-abiding New Zealanders. We need clarity about the future of lockdowns, restrictions and the divisive issues that are breaking apart the 'team of 5 million'.
As National Leader Chris Luxon said this afternoon, mandates are now becoming increasingly less relevant in our highly-vaccinated population as Covid becomes endemic in society globally. We need to see the mandates removed progressively once we are through the peak of Omicron and I believe it is vital we open up the border right now for vaccinated Kiwis coming home from anywhere in the world who has received a negative test while making firm plans for the future of tourists and visa holders to get back on shore with RATs and PCR tests available for anyone that needs them.
Please remember my Auckland and Wellington Offices are open and here to help.
Omicron and Auckland
Melissa Lee February 21, 2022
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Like many of you I’ve found it incredibly challenging to see our local businesses go through so much hardship due to COVID-19 over the past two years and Omicron hasn’t helped. The Government has announced minimum wage increases in light of massive rising inflation and this will cause strain on small businesses who, with declining revenues and countless restrictions on trade, are finding it tougher than ever to keep their storefronts open. This hasn’t been helped by New Zealand dairies, supermarkets and liquor stores seeing a 25.7% increase in victimisations and theft skyrocketing by over 32% in that time.
Melissa Lee's Summer Update 2022
Melissa Lee December 20, 2021
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Happy Summer Everyone!
Welcome to the New Year and best wishes to all of you for a great summer.
I hope you were all able to explore a bit of our great country over the break.
We've now moved back to 'Red' Traffic Light settings and this will be an incredibly tough time for many as we face down COVID-19 for another uncertain time. The entire National Team is disappointed at the way the Government has failed to back New Zealanders and my thoughts are with everyone affected around New Zealand and stuck off-shore.
My Auckland Office is open again to help so please reach out if you need any support!
Marketing code only a small step in improving New Zealand’s digital future
Melissa Lee November 08, 2021
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The Commerce Commission’s ruling that broadband speeds must be advertised as actual peak-time speeds rather than theoretical maximums is the right one but long overdue, says National’s Digital Economy and Communications spokesperson Melissa Lee.