Labour leader hopefuls battle it out in Tauranga

Andrew Little (left), Grant Robertson, David Parker and Nanaia Mahuta spoke to a crowd of about 100. Photo / George Novak

Supporting Tauranga businesses and creating jobs was top of the agenda for the four prospective Labour Party leaders at a meeting in Tauranga last night.

Nanaia Mahuta, Grant Robertson, David Parker and Andrew Little each spoke to a crowd of about 100 party members at the Historic Village about their vision for the party.

The Bay of Plenty Times spoke to each candidate before the meeting.

Grant Robertson said he would support the growth of sustainable jobs and encourage more investment in tertiary education in Tauranga as well as keep the area on the radar for investment in affordable housing. "The message is that we're still the party of work and workers but work has changed and we have to get alongside the traditional working people that support Labour, small businesses, entrepreneurs and contractors."

Looking to the future was also essential to be relevant to young people who were concerned about climate change, the gap between the rich and the rest and making sure everyone had opportunities, he said.

Andrew Little said his message was he was "serious about work and jobs and making sure people are in good jobs - fairly paid and fairly treated.

Underpinning that is a good economy, a good investment environment and a place for businesses to establish."

Like a lot of regions, the challenge for Tauranga was about attracting people and attracting work, he said.

"One of the things that the Government can do is stop centralising public servants to Wellington ..."

Mr Little said as leader of Labour he would push to ensure the Government was the owner and provider of housing for those who had nowhere else to turn rather than privatising state housing.

Nanaia Mahuta said it was vital to deliver secure jobs, security for the elderly and making home ownership more affordable in the regions and provinces.

Tauranga candidate Rachel Jones had found there was a need to get alongside Tauranga's young people and help small and medium businesses grow, she said.

Ms Mahuta said she also supported the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's economic policy to help the region move forward. She would ensure the Government helped increase the supply of affordable housing in the region and put pressure on owners to provide warm, dry rental properties.

David Parker said his key message would be the need to "elevate fair economic outcomes so everyone's better off".

"The challenge for Tauranga is how we lift the value of what it is that you produce in the region. You also face the challenge of an aging population and the pressure that's going to put on the health service."

Expanding education opportunities for the young and those needing to retrain was also important for the area, he said.

Mr Parker said to make sure housing was affordable the pressure from overseas buyers needed to be stopped and more houses needed to be built.

Nanaia Mahuta: MP for Hauraki-Waikato; Spokesperson for Maori Affairs; Spokesperson for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations; Spokesperson for Climate Change; Associate Spokesperson for Innovation, Research and Development.

Andrew Little: Labour List MP in New Plymouth; Spokesperson for Justice; Spokesperson for Labour.

Grant Robertson: MP for Wellington Central
Shadow Leader of the House; Spokesperson for Economic Development; Spokesperson for Employment, Skills and Training; Associate Spokesperson for Tertiary Education; Associate Spokesperson for the SIS.

David Parker: Acting Leader of the Labour Party; Labour List MP; Spokesperson for Finance; Shadow Attorney-General.