Letter to the Editor Tuesday November 25, 2014

Grabbing the economic pie

The decision by Air New Zealand to abandon services to Kaitaia, Whakatane and Westport is another blow to regional economic development - an issue the government also seems to have abandoned.

These towns are very distant from main centres and thus in greater need of air services. Norway ensures remote centres have good transport connections by financial support for transport, so that all the population feels it is fairly treated, contributing, not ignored and accessible.

There is a strong case for a regional transport subsidy here so these three towns are put on the same level as the least commercial of the places to which Air New Zealand flies. The Government is all too willing to subsidise Auckland transport by billions for reasons of economic development.

The case for a fraction of this sum for regional transport which will support growth in those areas is even stronger. It is against this country's economic interests to have commercial activity concentrated in Auckland.

Before the last election Mr Key asked for our support saying, "New Zealand was on the edge of something great".

Well let us hear what this is, and let the regions hear it first, before we are deafened by Auckland's clamour to grab even more of the country's economic pie - a pie only made from exports, not house prices.

RUSSELL ARMITAGE

Hamilton