June 26, 2013
Small town woes visible in Ikaroa-Rāwhiti
Labour’s Ikaroa-Rāwhiti candidate says travelling through the electorate on the campaign trail has brought home to her how much the National-led government has abandoned the regions.
Meka Whaitiri has visited communities from Te Whānau ā Apanui to Wainuiomata as she tries to get the vote out for Saturday’s by-election.
She says her working life has been about jobs and building communities, and that’s where she sees the gaps out on the road.
"You know I look around and say who is assisting our small towns, Te Araroa, Ruatoria, Wainuiomata, Naenae. Driving through a lot of these towns, not only are there less people there because they have moved but the places are looking so depressed because there is no work. There are a huge amount of challenges throughout Ikaroa-Rāwhiti and I am putting up my hand and hopefully I will be successful on Saturday to do something about it," Ms Whaitiri says.
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