Rachel Boyack, Labour

During my campaign for Labour in Nelson, I have heard heartbreaking stories from people struggling to afford or access medical care and other health services. I’ve spoken to elderly residents feeling socially isolated and people feeling overwhelmed because our health sector is under pressure and underfunded by $2.3 billion. Labour will cancel National’s unaffordable tax cuts and reinvest in health services. We will make mental health a top priority because investing in mental health services saves lives. Labour will place registered healthcare professionals into every secondary school. We will ensure everyone in our community needing good mental healthcare gets it by properly funding and co-ordinating support. We know that a critical factor in ensuring healthy families and communities is the ability to live in warm, safe, affordable housing. Labour will invest through KiwiBuild to provide decent housing for all, from first home buyers to elderly residents.

Nelson needs policies that will ensure our economy works for the whole community, while also protecting our natural environment for future generations. People from single parents to business leaders are telling me that inequality is a major issue in Nelson. Many working families struggle on sunshine wages and young people lack decent opportunities. Labour will introduce three years of free tertiary education for school leavers and working people who are retraining. We will encourage employers to hire young people, by providing wage subsidies and investing in apprenticeships so that young people can grow their skills and opportunities. Based on my experience working at NMIT, I believe Nelson could lead the way as an innovation hub, with highly skilled, well-paid jobs that bring together the best of our education, economic and environmental sectors. This is what I will champion for Nelson as part of the next Labour government.