Over summer, while many of us got to have a break on holiday around New Zealand or in some of our amazing recreational spaces across the Auckland Region, I was talking to shop owners and communities about the issues facing them and their families.
People have been struggling this summer as mortgage rates and the cost of living hit their incomes during a time when prices are soaring, and times are getting tough. For the first time in three years many Kiwis have hoped to host friends and family for summer BBQs or afternoon picnics but with the cost of meat increasing by 11 percent in the past 12 months, and fruit and vegetable prices increasing 23 percent, some of the highest annual increases since 1990 in food prices, people are struggling to even celebrate the summer with their loved ones.
This is unacceptable as the government continues to waste public money on unneeded programmes such as the RNZ/TVNZ merger, Three Waters and fail to deliver tax relief to struggling New Zealand households.
I also want to acknowledge the recent decision by Jacinda Ardern to resign as Prime Minister and stepping down as MP for Mt Albert later this year in April. While we have significant differences in views on the future of New Zealand and this special Auckland community, I know she has given service to the people of our country and deserves our respect. I wish her the very best for the future.
While Mt Albert won’t have an electorate MP in parliament for the remainder of this parliament as a list MP based in Auckland, my parliamentary office in Epsom at 107 Great South Road will be available for constituency support for those that need help. I am also incredibly pleased to confirm I will be contesting the Mt Albert electorate again at the 14 October election as the National Party candidate.
New Zealanders are doing it tough and a change in prime minister to Chris Hipkins won’t fix it under Labour. It is time for National to lead government again and for New Zealand to get back on track. It’s clear that nearly six years of Labour have seen our health system overwhelmed, our educational achievements dropping and with rising crime and a cost-of-living crisis they have failed to deliver what New Zealanders need. National will get things done for the future of New Zealand.
In my maiden speech back in 2008 I told our parliament We are far too small a nation to be divisive. We must work together to decide who we are as a nation, and work together to achieve where we want to be in the future.
As we look ahead in 2023 to where we wish to be as a country, we must be mindful to end divisions and make New Zealand a welcoming country for all. 2023 must be the year crime stops on the streets and in the storefronts of Auckland. It needs to be a year racism ends and friendship begins anew. As a member of parliament and fellow New Zealand citizen, I look forward in embracing this endeavour over the months to come.
As we look ahead to the dissolution of parliament in early September and the election on 14 October, it is clear the next government will have an important job to do turning the economic slump around and getting New Zealand back to being a rockstar economy. We are a nation of dreamers, doers and innovators and we can restore business confidence, stop the brain drain, make New Zealand an attractive country for people to work and grow their lives in without fear of harm and crime. Above all we can restore New Zealand as an amazing country to build our futures in.
It’s time to believe in New Zealand again. (MELISSA LEE MP)
National Member of Parliament. National Spokesperson for Broadcasting & Media| Digital Economy and Communications | Ethnic Communities
Authorised by Melissa Lee, Parliament Buildings, Wellington
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