Economic benefits not seen in Wairarapa

wta260314lfkieran01.jpg Labour Party candidate for Wairarapa Kieran McAnulty. WMM 07May14 - DOING IT OLD SCHOOL: Kieran McAnulty is not interested in going on the Labour list. PHOTO/FILE

What good is a growing economy if only a select few enjoy the benefits? We are told New Zealand is enjoying a "rock star economy" but I am yet to see that in Wairarapa. The fact is, New Zealand is experiencing a two-speed economy. While larger centres like Auckland and Christchurch are enjoying economic growth, regional centres are barely chugging along.
We are told that a growing economy will benefit all of us in terms of higher wages. We are told that the growth in the cities will trickle down to the regions. You may have read such promises in other columns published in this paper over the last few weeks. However, it is a sad reality that these claims are not backed up by facts.
Wage figures released last month show 46 per cent of wage and salary earners didn't get a pay rise in the last year. That is a higher percentage than those who missed out the previous year. The annual median increase is the now lowest in more than 13 years.
Many of those I speak to while out door knocking tell me they have not seen a wage increase in a number of years. One woman I met last week said she had not received a wage increase for eight years. Little wonder that 2013 census figures showed that in real terms median incomes in Wairarapa incomes have gone backwards. Since 2006, the Carterton, South Wairarapa, Masterton and Tararua districts saw medium incomes rise 20%, 19%, 16% and 9% respectively. The Reserve Bank states that inflation was 21% over that same period.
It is only fair that when the economy grows wage rates will also rise in real terms. We should all benefit from a growing economy. When this doesn't happen, wealth distribution is concentrated with the richest of the rich.
The Government will tell you that wages increased on average 1.8% last year. But if 46% of us didn't receive a wage increase over that period we need to ask ourselves where are these increases occurring.
In addition to 154,000 unemployed in March there were 96,000 people wanting more hours, and another 100,000 classified as jobless. The number of young people not in education, training or employment rose in the March quarter after taking account of seasonal effects. For many people the 'growing economy' is meaningless.
It is clear that when things are left to the free market the Big End of Town benefits while the rest of us fall behind. I am standing for Labour because I believe it has the policies to address the imbalance in the economy and invest in regions like Wairarapa.
Through Labour's Economic Upgrade package we have committed to bringing down the exchange rate. We will invest in regional industries that create good, well-paying jobs. We will ensure that the income generated by the economy benefits wage and salary earners in rising wages. And that is not just workers but small business owners as well. Many small business owners I speak to tell me things are getting tougher. As their turnover often depends on consumers' disposable income, they are directly affected when the share of money that people are able to spend continues to shrink.
I am all for celebrating New Zealand's economic successes, but when annual median incomes continue to fall behind the cost of living it is clear that things are not as good as they could be. It is time we asked why that is.