#regional: Labour’s Cushla Tangaere-Manuel Focuses on Trades, Rural Health and School Lunches

Labour MP for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, Cushla Tangaere-Manuel, says strengthening regional economies, improving access to healthcare and ensuring tamariki receive nutritious school lunches remain critical priorities for communities across her electorate.

Stretching from the East Coast through Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa and parts of the lower North Island, Ikaroa-Rāwhiti includes many rural communities where shortages of skilled workers and healthcare professionals continue to affect everyday life.

Ahead of a Radio Waatea interview, the following issues are expected to be discussed.

Many regional communities continue to experience shortages of qualified builders, plumbers, electricians and other skilled tradespeople, making it difficult to build homes, maintain infrastructure and support economic development.

Cushla, what impact could expanding apprenticeships have in electorates such as Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, where skilled tradespeople are often difficult to find? How important is investment in vocational education to creating jobs while ensuring regional communities have the workforce they need?

Hospitals and primary healthcare providers across New Zealand are experiencing another demanding winter, with emergency departments reporting high patient numbers, long waits and growing pressure on frontline staff.

Rural communities often face additional challenges, including workforce shortages, limited specialist services and long travel times for treatment.

Cushla, regional health services are under considerable pressure this winter. What are you hearing from patients, healthcare workers and communities across Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, and what immediate relief do you believe is needed to support both staff and those seeking care?

The Government’s revised Healthy School Lunches Programme has come under increasing criticism following the Auditor-General’s report highlighting concerns about procurement, food quality, nutrition standards and programme management.

Critics have also argued that the move to a more centralised delivery model reduced opportunities for local businesses, iwi organisations and community providers that had previously supplied fresh meals to schools.

Cushla, many schools and communities say the standardisation of school lunches has displaced local suppliers while raising concerns about food quality and nutrition. What impact has this had on schools in your electorate, and what changes would Labour make to ensure tamariki receive healthy meals while supporting local businesses and regional economies?

As the election campaign continues, issues such as workforce development, access to healthcare and child wellbeing are expected to remain central to political debate. For many communities across Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, these are not simply policy discussions but everyday challenges that affect whānau, local businesses and the long-term future of the region.

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