Labour leader Andrew Little outlines how Rotorua, regions will benefit under his govt

Labour Party leader Andrew Little was in Rotorua for a two-day visit. Photo/Stephen Parker

Rotorua would reap the rewards of a Labour government's regional development fund as well as getting its share of the party's proposed tourist tax, says party leader Andrew Little.

Mr Little was in Rotorua on Thursday and Friday and spoke to the Rotorua Daily Post yesterday.

"I'm very keen on a tourist levy ... and I think we can set a levy at a level that allows us to get some extra revenue and distributed across the councils throughout the country, particularly for tourism hotspots like Rotorua.

"It means there will be a source of funding to invest in the boat ramps and other facilities you have here to make their stay pleasant for them, and keep them in good nick for locals as well."

He said it would be easy to collect a levy at the border and disperse those funds to the areas tourists were visiting.

"It would not fall on ratepayers or taxpayers, it's actually going to fall on the people using those facilities."

He said with three million tourists coming each year the levy would not have to be much to make a difference.

In addition, he said, the party's $200 million regional development fund would look at projects or investments at the $20 to $25 million level and partner up with others like councils or private investors.

"The whole idea ... would be that the ideas come from local people, it can't be driven centrally."

He said he'd like to decentralise back office work in Government and the regions would also benefit from that.

"We used to do that in the past ... and there is no reason why people cannot work from the regions with all of the benefits of the technology we have now and they don't have to be located in Wellington ... so we will look for opportunities to do that."

Later in the day he was to speak with Pukeroa Oruawhata trust members who would discuss their hotel plans with him, along with a casino license.

"I can understand why it is attractive to them, but I'm not in any position to make a commitment to them, but nothing ventured, nothing gained."

However, he said the housing problem was just as much of an issue in the regions as it was in the main centres, along with education and overcrowded schools.

"For us this election will be about priorities, about the basic foundations, the stuff that gives people the opportunities in life, enabling them to stand on their own two feet."

He said the local economy would not be affected by the party's tougher stance on immigration and locals would benefit by being able to take on full-time work.