What motivated you to seek selection as National's candidate for Whangārei?
Growing up in Whangārei, my values are very much aligned to the National Party. Hard work, individual responsibility and safer communities. I still believe in these core values today and want to ensure my children grow up in Whangārei with the same opportunities Monica and I had.
Why should Whangārei voters choose you over the other candidates?
It is important to have a strong voice that represents Whangārei in Wellington. We need to have someone who is connected to Cabinet Ministers, aligns to their objectives and can deliver for Whangārei. I believe I am that person, with the career I have had and the strong relationships with the key decision-makers to put Whangārei high on the priority list.
You have lived most of your working life outside of Whangārei. What does your campaign slogan "From Here. For Here." mean to you in practical terms for voters in the electorate?
Both my wife and I are from here and grew up with Northland values. This will guide all my decisions as I represent Whangārei as an MP, and all of my focus will be on delivering those results for here. There is also a sentimental (albeit subtle) reference to "Love It Here", which my late stepfather championed in his role in economic development for Whangārei (Peter Gleeson).
National is currently polling at around 29 per cent in the polls. What do you believe your party needs to do to increase its share of the party vote?
National has made some of the tough decisions over the last few years due to circumstances that were inherited. The biggest government debt ever, $9.6 billion in annual debt servicing, wasteful spending and a real lack of leadership. The focus of our team has been to fix these basics to give the country a solid base to grow from. I believe that between now and the election you will see the benefits of these coming through, and along with sustained common-sense policy, National will be the right choice to continue another term of this leadership.
Do you think National has done enough to unwind the regulations imposed by the previous Labour government?
There was a lot to unwind, and also a number of priorities that needed to be addressed. Some early wins set the tone (e.g. Māori Health that Dr Reti ended), more recently the announcements from Chris Bishop around RMA reform, but more needs doing, which is why I believe we will win another term.
What is the single biggest problem facing Whangārei today, and what has National done in the last three years to address it?
This year's Budget has delivered an exceptional $1 billion to the Whangārei Hospital, which will be game-changing for the region. It will help create jobs, training and prosperity for Whangārei beyond the immediate benefits of healthcare. This is an example of how disciplined spending and planning can deliver for our region.
Modelling by the Treasury/Climate Change Commission shows that the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme has added 8–14% to household electricity prices. Do you support the continuation of the ETS?
The recent decision to provide $60 million in support to Golden Bay is an example that the current ETS settings are not always delivering the environmental outcomes they set out to achieve. I am proud that this National Government has prioritised 600 jobs and our own building resilience, and I think more work needs to be done to reach a better balance moving forward.
Affordable housing remains a challenge in Northland. Do you believe the biggest barrier is planning rules, infrastructure funding, construction costs, or something else?
We are facing a housing shortage due to decades of underinvestment in the area. There is no silver bullet; we need to address all of the above. But most importantly, we need to have a focused and sustainable approach that doesn't change with each government. I see housing as a key part of infrastructure for a region to thrive. When people have good housing, they tend to attend school more regularly, live healthier lives and engage more with their communities.
The Government has agreed to provide around $60 million to help keep the Golden Bay Cement plant operating. Do you see this as an appropriate use of taxpayers' money, and does it risk creating a precedent for government support of private companies?
See above.
What industries do you believe offer the greatest opportunity for creating higher-paying jobs in Whangārei over the next decade?
Our marine industry is a huge opportunity for us to create more prosperity. We have a phenomenal harbour with world-class amenity, and creating a thriving marine industry will benefit Whangārei.
How would you see the role of local industries like farming, forestry and tourism in Whangārei's future, especially in light of environmental regulations and climate goals?
These are our two biggest exporters. We must protect them to ensure we continue to grow as a region. I am a big fan of the 2040 strategy I have heard being discussed to grow our tourism and relevance, and I will stand by our agriculture and forestry communities, as they are the backbone of the country.
The Minister of Local Government claims the amalgamation of councils will reduce costs to ratepayers. Can you provide examples where council amalgamation has resulted in lower rates?
There are essentially three costs that make up our rates: services, property and people. I believe there should be immediate cost benefits on the service side of things—one place for building consents, one process for approvals, one accounts team, etc. These should be immediate. Property is harder to reduce over time, as maintenance, insurance and operating costs are real considerations that are likely to increase in line with inflation. People is the tough one. We want to support jobs in Northland, but we can't turn into a mega-bureaucracy like other amalgamations. This is all about delivering key services to ratepayers, and I am hopeful we can find a solution that reduces the burden on the ratepayer while increasing community outcomes.
A follow-up question to Lloyd again asking for a specific example produced this answer:
"I don’t think we can point to an example where costs have reduced
- but the report shows how much “more” it would cost without
amalgamation."
Do you believe ratepayers should have the final say on whether they support the amalgamation of their local councils, via a referendum? If not, why not?
I would like to see a process that achieves alignment between what our ratepayers and community want and the overall benefit for the region. If we are not aligned, it will not work.
[A follow-up question to Lloyd sought clarity on the use of referenda. The answer did not address the question directly.]
Of the four councils in Northland, the Kaipara District Council has had the lowest rate rises while exceeding its capital budgets. Why do you think Kaipara's ratepayers would be better off if their council were to merge with Whangārei?
I would like to see the proposals from the four councils before commenting, as I understand they are talking about mutual benefit.
Successive governments have promised improvements to the highway north of Auckland. What specific timetable do you expect for the completion of a four-lane highway between Warkworth and Whangārei?
Does anyone remember Labour cancelling this and instead planning light rail and cycle lanes in Auckland? We are the only government in history to get four lanes going north. Our team led the initial Warkworth Bypass and has now led the Dome Valley Bypass. We all want more, faster, but National are the only ones that have delivered real results. I believe we will continue to deliver as we acquire land for the Brynderwyn Bypass and get consenting underway to continue this effort.
Northland often faces health workforce shortages. What steps would you advocate to attract and retain doctors, nurses and specialists to Whangārei?
The brand new hospital will be a massive part of this. But also the relocation of NorthTec and the expansion of courses into this space. We need to get out there and be positive and proud about our city to attract talent across all sectors. Whangārei is an amazing place to work, live and play, and we need to promote that.
Should Northland receive additional funding that reflects its ageing population (due to its popularity as a retirement location) and higher health needs?
I believe all funding should be needs-based.
Retail crime, gang activity, drug use (meth), and youth offending remain concerns for many residents. Do you believe the Government's current approach is delivering measurable improvements in Whangārei?
At our recent public meeting with Hon Paul Goldsmith, we discussed the proactive measures he is taking in this space. The reception from the community has been very positive, and we will continue to lead this important piece of work to take our cities back, including working with all the relevant support groups.
Northland has experienced repeated flooding and storm damage. Should the Government prioritise investment in resilience infrastructure, or should local councils carry more responsibility?
Ultimately, it's a joint approach, which I believe Mark Mitchell and the local council have worked really well together on in recent examples.
REFERENCES
NZ Herald: Government gives Fletcher Building $60m for Golden Bay Cement HERE >>>