Allison Lawton: Debate to grill election candidates about business

We need the incoming government and MPs to focus on Rotorua, our growth, our city, our people. PHOTO/FILE

The countdown is on for the general election and who will you be voting for?

From a business standpoint - what are your issues for growing a sustainable business? Are the wider economic conditions impacting on your aspirations? If so, how?

The Rotorua Chamber of Commerce is hosting an election candidates' debate next Wednesday and we will be asking those very questions including what will you, and your party be delivering for businesses? What policies will assist in growing our economy? And many more.

We have six candidates including Todd McClay (National), Te Ururoa Flavell (Maori, Waiariki), Fletcher Tabuteau (NZ First), Ben Sandford (Labour), Tamati Coffey (Labour Waiariki) and Richard Gillies (Greens).

The chamber's mission is "leading and partnering for economic and business growth" and our vision is "we will be the fastest growing regional economy in New Zealand." These are lofty goals, but attainable. If we consider our economy has been growing for the past 18 months, and in some cases, we have outstripped the national average in GDP growth, these goals are not so lofty. But we must keep the pressure on to ensure Rotorua is growing.

For some folks, the question is "why should be continue to grow? We like Rotorua just the way it is." For these folks, the rationale is simple.

To create opportunities for our young people, to protect our most vulnerable, to grow existing businesses and develop new industries - we need to have economic conditions that support and provide confidence for businesses to grow.

This in turn encourages business owners to invest by spending their hard-earned money in bricks and mortar, which in turn creates more jobs leading to financial resources to sustain families providing freedom of choice about the way people chose to live.

Granted - this is a very simplistic way of looking at life. But having government policies and a vision providing confidence for business owners to grow is critical to every aspect of our lives - and makes the difference between having a stagnant or a vibrant economy.

We need regional policies and political acumen of our MPs to get the cut through we need when they are competing with other MPs to get government resources.

We need the incoming government and MPs to focus on Rotorua, our growth, our city, our people. We want MPs who are committed, vibrant, action-orientation people to get it done.

Come and join us at our election candidates' debate on Wednesday so you can make an informed decision.

Allison Lawton is the chief executive of the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce.