Nick Smith, National

(Incumbent electorate MP) Improved infrastructure to support Nelson’s growth is my top priority. Our region’s economy is rated as the strongest in New Zealand and our unemployment is at record lows. This is attracting more people and record investment. This requires more housing and improved infrastructure. My Housing Accords with the Nelson and Tasman councils are helping to deliver record levels of building activity and the HomeStart scheme has helped 733 first home buyers in our region. My goal is to get construction of the Southern Link Highway and Rocks Rd cycleway and walkway under way this next term. The Waimea Community Dam is crucial to support new housing developments, improve water quality in the river and in supporting growth of our horticultural industries. I will work with our health board to advance plans for redevelopment of our main hospital and the Ministry of Education on school plans in Richmond to support growing rolls. Better public services is my second priority. The Government’s books are in such good shape and it is giving us room to increase family incomes, reduce debt as well as fund improved services. Our plan provides for an additional 24 police across the district to make our community safer. We are boosting incomes of our 900 care workers by $100/week to deliver benefits for aged and disability services. We will be adding 39 ambulance officers and funding a merged rural and urban fire service to improve emergency services. Specific health improvements include a bowel cancer screening service and improved access to more medicines and more elective surgery. I also want to give my full support to Nelson Tasman Hospice’s ambitious plans for a new facility in Stoke. In education, we are planning an improved funding system for schools that better recognises the high needs of some students and provides better support.