As I travel throughout Papakura, Takanini, Clevedon,
Drury and the surrounding communities, residents are telling
me they are worried about the same issues: rising food
prices, increasing power bills, fuel costs, rates, rent and
mortgage payments.
These concerns were highlighted by
New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters during his
public meeting in Nelson over the weekend, where he spoke
about New Zealanders working hard, often holding multiple
jobs, yet still struggling with the rising cost of
living.
Parents are finding it harder to put food on
the table. Pensioners are worried every time their power
bill arrives. Young families are questioning whether they
will ever be able to get ahead while costs continue to rise
faster than wages.
One of the biggest concerns I hear
from our residents is the cost of electricity.
New
Zealand First has announced plans to break up the power
company monopoly and increase competition in the energy
sector to help drive power prices down.
For Papakura
households, lower power prices would mean more money
available for groceries, school expenses, fuel and family
necessities.
Likewise, New Zealand First has announced
plans to increase competition in the supermarket sector by
addressing the supermarket duopoly and helping reduce food
costs for Kiwi families.
These are practical measures
aimed at tackling the issues that matter most around kitchen
tables across our community.
Papakura is one of the
fastest-growing communities in New Zealand. Yet many
residents feel they are working harder than ever while
getting less in return.
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That is why I support New
Zealand First’s commitment to economic growth,
infrastructure investment and policies designed to reduce
household costs. Our Leader, Winston Peters has also
announced a $100 billion Future Fund to support long-term
infrastructure investment and economic development for
future generations.
Just as importantly, New Zealand
First believes in infrastructure before population growth,
not years after it.
That principle is particularly
important for Papakura, where rapid growth in Drury,
Paerātā and Takanini must be matched by investment in
roads, transport links, health services and community
infrastructure.
The people of Papakura are not asking
for special treatment. They are asking for common
sense.
They want affordable power. They want
affordable food. They want good roads. They want safe
communities. They want the opportunity to work hard and get
ahead.
As the New Zealand First candidate for
Papakura, I will continue advocating for policies that put
local families first and deliver practical solutions to the
cost-of-living challenges facing our
community.
Because when Papakura succeeds, South
Auckland
succeeds.
