Labour's Mangere MP pops into town

Labour Party MP Su'a William Sio visiting Rotorua yesterday. Photo / Stephen Parker

The Labour Party's profile received a boost as the MP for Mangere dropped into town.

Su'a William Sio met with local health organisations and local politicians while also supporting Labour Party colleague Tamati Coffey in Rotorua yesterday.

"I met with a couple of health providers [such as] Ngati Pikiao. Health is a big issue here, they've identified that the community need help. I heard of issues around education, the desire to ensure their children have access to the best quality education," Mr Sio said.

"There's a real need for the Government to promote Rotorua as a tourism destination, I think the Government seems to be more focused on Queenstown, which doesn't help this region.

"Part of my being here is to say, 'Look we have strong policies around regional economic development and we want to see what we can do more to support the regions, Auckland is not the only place that requires jobs, affordable housing and health care, the regions require the same'."

Mr Sio said he was also here to support Mr Coffey.

"The second part of my visit is to provide support to Tamati here, as a future MP who is placed fantastically for the next election in 2017 and the people who I've met share confidence in terms of Tamati as their representative. It's all part of planning for 2017, we want to be in Government, I want to be in Government and I want to be prepared for that."

Mr Coffey described the MP's visit as an honour.

"I think one of the things I've learnt from today is despite him being the MP for Mangere and us being down here in essentially rural New Zealand, there is actually similar problems, [we] face the same issues around jobs, whether you're in Mangere or Pleasant Heights we are looking for jobs around here, ditto housing, health is another huge thing for his electorate as it is for us as well."