Yvette Lamare takes addiction fight to the polls

Tauranga candidate Yvette Lamare is looking forward to the election. Photo/Andrew Warner.

Greerton local Yvette Lamare will contest the Tauranga seat this year as an independent.

Lamare is standing on the platform of preventing drug and alcohol addictions. Lamare believes that this is the biggest issue facing the Tauranga community and the wider area because it leads to a multitude of other issues.

"I aim to tackle the real issue of drug and alcohol addiction... we have to stop people before they start. Prevention is the key."

Lamare believes this focus is her point of difference in the election and that it is something the Government has failed to address.

"The Government is just feeding the issue of addiction by focusing on rehabilitation, not prevention."

After 15 years writing to politicians about these issues, Lamare decided to stand in 2011 hoping that this would provide a more compelling opportunity for change. This is Lamare's third election, and she aims for her campaign to spark an increase in voting.

"We should have a 100 per cent voting rate... it's our future, and we should have a say."

Lamare presents in schools about her stance on dangerous substances and the value of health for young people. Although she believes that by running in the election she can make a difference to people's lives for the whole of Tauranga.

"I just want to make sure we all have good health... at the end of the day our health is all that matters."