Jobs have high priority among voters

Jobs are an important issue for voters this election. Photo / File

Hawke's Bay voters care more about jobs this election than anything else, Google search data reveals.

Those searches may not be in vain for much longer as Napier mayor Bill Dalton said job creation is the number one priority.

Internet giant Google collected and analysed search data over the last three years - revealing the election issues most important to Hawke's Bay voters.

Results looked at search numbers for health, economy, employment, education, housing and other key election concerns around the country and ranked them according to the level of regional interest.

The data showed Hawke's Bay residents were most interested in jobs and employment in the lead-up to this election, followed by health and education.

Interest in jobs has been strongest in Twyford, followed by Hastings, then Napier.

Compared with other regions, interest in income as an election issue was stronger in Hawke's Bay than in anywhere else in the country, with health and education also ranking highly at fourth place.

Housing, child poverty and environment hardly featured as an area of concern for local residents.

Napier mayor Bill Dalton said there was an "ongoing thrust" to create jobs and prosperity in Hawke's Bay.

"As far as I'm concerned, the number one thing for Hawke's Bay is that we create jobs."

While councils weren't directly responsible for creating jobs, it fell on them to create an environment that encouraged local businesses.

"Our role is to create an environment that people want to live in and to make sure we don't put any impediments in place for business to come here and thrive."

Councils had a reputation for putting "hurdles in the road" of business, Mr Dalton said.

"We don't do that. The first thing we do when we've got a business that wants to relocate here or start up here is say 'How can I help you?' and then we go in to bat to make sure we can be as helpful as possible."

Mr Dalton said he was "very positive" about the future.

"We're providing an environment that has all the benefits of big city living with the added benefits of provincial city living."

Search giant Google's Annie Baxter said the results showed the focus in this month's upcoming election varied from region to region.

"The popularity of searches can provide insights into the issues that matter most to people in different parts of New Zealand," she said.

Voters in Northland were more interested in health, transport and education than their counterparts anywhere else.

Cantabrians had around half the interest in education - showing more concern with climate change and interest rates.

Crime and employment registered highest in Wanganui-Manawatu while Wellingtonians were most concerned with climate change and housing.

Interest in the economy was strongest in Otago.