Thirty-one new police graduates arrived in Counties-Manukau this month - seven in Manurewa, four in Papakura and three in Pukekohe. The new officers are part of the 300 extra frontline Police the Government has pledged to put into Counties-Manukau by the end of 2010. Half of these frontline officers are already on the beat and 39 more graduates will join them in February next year. Having more officers on our streets and working with community groups will be a great deterrent to crime.

The Government and police were pleased to announce the establishment of the Assets Recovery Unit (ARU) earlier this month. Its primary aim is to hunt down and seize the profits made by organised crime. Over the past decade or so, gangs in this country have evolved into sophisticated criminal businesses that make tens of millions of dollars a year from the sale of the drug methamphetamine and other criminal activity. The formation of the ARU will double the Police's capacity to find and seize the assets of crime. The recovered money will be put into drug rehabilitation programmes and other initiatives to prevent our young people from joining gangs.

Back in the electorate I was honoured to attend the RSA's recent Armistice Day commemorations. It was great to see so many veterans, their families and friends turn out to mark the end of the First World War and to honour those who served and did not return. New Zealand lost 18,166 servicemen during the Great War, including 32 from Papakura. At a time when New Zealand's population was about 1 million, this terrible toll of the war would have touched almost every family in the country. It is heartening that the memory of the ANZACs, their courage, comradeship and compassion, seems to grow stronger every year.

This week it was my pleasure to launch a major secondary schools speech contest honouring the spirit of the ANZACs. The National Bank RNZRSA Cyril Bassett VC Speech Competition will provide young New Zealanders with the opportunity to research and speak about New Zealand's ANZAC heritage. The contest is named after Cyril Bassett, the only member of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force to be awarded a Victoria Cross for valour at Gallipoli. The competition will be open to year 12 and year 13 secondary school students. The competition winner will travel to Gallipoli to attend the ANZAC commemorations.

I enjoyed meeting the children at Kelvin Road Primary School for toast and jam as part of the Red Cross Breakfast in Schools programme. The shared breakfast initiative is a true partnership between school, business and charity. It makes sure the children have a good meal to start the day, which helps them learn and reach their potential. It was also great to see the students making friends with classmates and volunteers over cereal and a hot drink.

I congratulate the team at Papakura's One Red Chili after being named one of Auckland's top cafes in Metro Magazine this month. It's always great to see local businesses doing well. Eighty-five percent of New Zealand's business is small business - it's important we continue to support these local retailers.