Election wish lists

Businesses, community groups and leaders have their wish lists ready for the new Government.

Waikato Chamber of Commerce chief executive William Durning said the region needs more skilled employees and the ability to retain them.

He said the chamber would want small business to have the confidence to continue to invest their hard-earned capital in the country’s development. It also wanted clarity around policies.

‘‘We don’t like getting surprised, so we need that clarity about what policy is going forward.’’

Hamilton Mayor Andrew King wants to keep a strong relationship with the new government.

‘‘The present government has given us $272 million to open up Peacocke [development] and also given us some special housing areas,’’ King said.

‘‘We plan to continue to have a very close relationship with the new government to help us to build our city.’’

Sport Waikato Chief Executive Matthew Cooper is hoping the new government recognises its first priority is around people, ’’we need to grow participation’’.

‘‘The second one around building communities, is that we need to develop capability, our sport and recreation systems need to be improved. And the last one is around regional leadership and that means we need to lead, enable and do things in partnership,’’ he said.