Many of you will be preparing for exams. Good luck! After that come some fond farewells, summer and new challenges. Some of you will be flatting for the first time in the New Year. Some of you will be starting new courses. Some of you will be entering the job market. Whatever the change, I congratulate you on the things you’ve achieved this year, and wish you well for what is to come.
What a year. From the law revue to IS, from the surveillance state to Dunedin Hospital, from refugees to fashion to volunteering. I’m grateful for your feedback. In particular, my columns on the TPPA, student support and student politics generated plenty of conversations at my campus clinics.
My thanks to Critic for hosting the column and my congratulations to Josie and her team on a fine year of challenging and thought-provoking journalism. Critic continues to be acclaimed as the best student magazine in the country.
I am most grateful to all of you who have bent my ear on my way through the Link, or in George Street, on the Museum lawn or wherever. I sincerely believe an MP is only ever as good as the people they talk to. You are the people who help me do my job well. Thank you.
Plenty of you have shared your views directly with me when you see me on campus. Or you’ve dropped by my office in Albany Street next to the Captain Cook tavern, just down from the Rob Roy dairy. We’ve covered a wealth of topics.
As I said in my first column this year, my Dunedin staff and I aren’t always debating lofty ideas. Our bread and butter is sorting practical local problems. This year, we’ve witnessed and signed many documents, assisted with tenancy disputes, certified degrees and certificates, helped with immigration and StudyLink issues, and much more. We may be able to assist again in future. Please keep in touch.