Community leaders keen on National
‘‘Bill English made it clear there is a mood for change and he has promised to deliver.’’
New Zealand First should throw its support behind the party which earned the most votes from the general election, to form the next government.
That’s the suggestion from Matamata-Piako Mayor Jan Barnes, as she reflects on the result and what the district expects of its MPs over the next three years.
‘‘I think New Zealand has spoken. National could drop by one seat after the special votes have been counted but they will still have the majority.
‘‘New Zealand First and Winston Peters should be trying their very best to speak to the party which the public has given the most votes to, to form a government.’’
Barnes said she was happy to see first-time candidate Tim van de Molen elected as MP for the Waikato electorate.
‘‘I also have Scott Simpson, as the MP for Coromandel that I will be happy to work with as well.’’
Barnes said she also had a working relationship with the other National MPs in Hamilton and Taranaki-King Country.
‘‘I think they do represent our region very well.’’
Over the next three-year government term, Barnes expects the MPs in her patch to have focus on leadership and change for rural towns.
‘‘Bill English made it clear there is a mood for change and he has promised to deliver. We would like to work closer with central government because we believe we know our community well, and we can help government get the best results.’’
For Waikato Federated Farmers chair Ben Moore, National at the helm of the country is positive for the farming community.
‘‘We can continue doing what we are doing, without all the imposed taxes on us.
‘‘(National) see what we have been doing for the past 10 years, environmentally.
‘‘I think the world is a fast moving place and we have to move with it, so I think there will be change, we can’t expect to be farming like we were 30 years ago and we have made improvements.
‘‘There is room to move but we have to be recognised for the positive changes we have made already. We are farming smarter, greener and cleaner. ‘‘Cities need to realise that.’’ Moore said he was impressed with National’s policy to offer young farmers the opportunity to lease to buy from Landcorp owned farms and was interested to see if it stretched to sharemilkers too.