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Home / Rotorua Daily Post

Rotorua politicians raring to go for general election 2017

Matthew Martin
By Matthew Martin
Senior reporter, Rotorua Daily Post·Rotorua Daily Post·
1 Feb, 2017 05:00 PM4 mins to read

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Prime Minister Bill English announced the date for the general election yesterday.

Prime Minister Bill English announced the date for the general election yesterday.

Rotorua's MPs and aspiring politicians say they are ready for a tough battle in this year's election.

Prime Minister Bill English yesterday announced this year's general election will be held on September 23.

In the Rotorua electorate, incumbent MP and Trade Minister Todd McClay will take on Labour's Ben Sandford and New Zealand First's list MP Fletcher Tabuteau.

No other major parties have announced candidates for the Rotorua electorate at this stage.

It is not known if the Mana Party will contest the Waiariki Maori seat with just two candidates so far officially selected - incumbent Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell and Labour candidate Tamati Coffey.

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The Maori Party and Mana have been in discussions regarding a possible election deal, but those details have not yet been released.

Mr McClay said he looked forward to making his case to continue to represent the Rotorua electorate in Parliament.

"The local economy is the strongest it's been in eight years, our population is growing, schools are doing well and there is huge opportunity for local people.

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"Rotorua National Party members are well organised and looking forward to a positive campaign," he said.

His Labour Party opponent, Mr Sandford, said after nine years in power National had run out of ideas, "and are now causing more problems than they know how to fix".

"Their inaction is holding New Zealand back, especially in regions like ours, and entrenching inequality and poverty.

"Everywhere I go within our electorate, Kiwis are calling for change.

"I am confident that come September 23, Rotorua and New Zealand will change the government, voting for a future more positive, inclusive and prosperous than what we face now."

Mr Tabuteau said the date suited the New Zealand First team in Rotorua as it was well organised and ready to go.

"I've said this before, but I'd really like people to stop thinking so much about politics, but think seriously about what they thought was important to them and what could work a lot better.

"I encourage people to talk to me about these issues," he said.

Mr Flavell said his party had been preparing for the election for some time and couldn't wait to get into it.

"The Maori Party is hyped and ready to go. We have a lot of great candidates to announce and some fantastic policies to launch.

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"This is an exciting time for Maori as we've seen over the past few months there is a ground swell of enthusiasm for Maori to come together as one political movement under a Maori Party banner.

"I'm looking forward to pulling back those seats from Labour and have them stay in kaupapa Maori hands forever," he said.

Mr Coffey said the election could not come soon enough.

"New Zealanders are lumped with a housing crisis unlike any we have seen, where home ownership is out of the reach of everyday Kiwis and young couples.

"With over 70,000 young people not in education, employment or training, inequality is growing rampant and more and more Kiwis are suffering as a result of this coalition government, especially Maori.

"Voters are calling for a change of government and I am confident that on the 23rd of September, Labour, together with the Greens, will answer that call."

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2017 GENERAL ELECTION TIMETABLE
Wednesday February 1: Prime Minister announces dates for 2017 general election.
Friday June 23: Regulated period for election advertising expenses begins.
Monday June 26: Launch of enrolment campaign.
Tuesday August 22: Dissolution of Parliament.
Wednesday August 23: Writ Day, Governor General issues formal direction to the Electoral Commission to hold the election.
Wednesday September 6: Overseas Voting starts.
Monday September 11: Advance Voting starts.
Friday September 22: Advance Voting ends, last day to enrol for the election.
Friday September 22: Regulated period ends, all election advertising must end and election signs must be taken down.
Saturday September 23: Election Day. Polling places open from 9am to 7pm.
Saturday October 7: Official results for general election declared, including special declaration votes.

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