English visits for young and old
Housing, health, and hearing aids - the issues of concern for Nelson’s grey-haired voters have been put to Prime Minister Bill English.
About 250 people attended the Grey Power event at Annesbrook Community Church yesterday, where the Prime Minister, along with Nelson MP Nick Smith and Transport Minister Simon Bridges, took to the stage.
The Prime Minister received applause for his references to the Southern Link announcement, National’s policy for cheaper GP visits, and the Government’s move to increase pay for rest home workers – which was negotiated earlier this year.
The Prime Minister spoke at some length about superannuation which he said was one of the more ‘‘simple and generous’’ superannuation schemes in the world.
He explained to the crowd how it was linked to wage growth and offered assurances of National’s ability to ‘‘afford it’’.
When it came to questions, the pertinent issues for those in Grey Power were varied.
What was the government doing to address rising rates from local government’s ‘‘budget blowouts’’? And why wasn’t there affordability criteria within Special Housing Areas?
English said they were working with local governments to ensure ‘‘efficiency’’ and said the best way to create more affordable housing was for councils to release more land.
He was also asked what could be done to help older people who couldn’t afford hearing aids, glasses, and dental work.
He responded that while he’d have to check details, he thought it might be covered within provisions for cheaper GP visits.
Finally, the Prime Minister was asked about freedom camping, with a lady standing up to say she’d not heard ‘‘anything good about freedom camping in this area’’.
The Prime Minister said he’d made an announcement about a new policy that would ‘‘put the squeeze on’’ freedom campers.
English started his day in the Nelson region at Champion Kids early childhood centre in Richmond where he announced National’s Parents and Newborns Package to progressively extend Paid Parental Leave to 22 weeks and allow both parents to take some time together.
Then it was off to King Salmon at Tahunanui to meet the staff, hold two fish weighing 14.6kg and 12.8kg respectively and give a short speech.
Lunch was hosted by the Young Nats at the 1903 Square in central Nelson. English then announced in Tahunanui National’s pledge to build the Southern Link.
Grey Power meeting attendee Julia Northcote said she felt the Prime Minister had given an excellent delivery and was a very skilled politician.
‘‘There wasn’t anything controversial that came out,’’ she said.
Another attendee, who didn’t want to be named, said while she’d appreciated the explanation of how superannuation was calculated, it didn’t change the fact many found it hard to exist on the current scheme.
As to the Southern Link she said while she’d like to see trucks gone from Rocks Rd and Tahunanui, she was concerned about the impact on Victory.
‘‘I would have liked to know what it was going to do the Victory community and they never even mentioned that.’’
Tomorrow New Zealand First leader Winston Peters will meet with Grey Power in Nelson from 3pm. Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern will meet with Nelson Grey Power on September 13 from 10.30am. All meetings will be held at Annesbrook Church.