Biosecurity and rural for MP Kuriger
Barbara Kuriger heads an electorate with no parking meters and one traffic light - but it gives her expertise for her new role in National’s opposition government.
The MP for Taranaki-King Country said she is elated with her new role as biosecurity and rural communities spokesperson.
Her whole electorate is made up of rural communities, she said.
‘‘We’ve got no parking metres and one set of traffic lights in our electorate so it’s about as rural as it comes.
‘‘So for me that’s going to be a great opportunity when we look at how it might affect our communities in our electorate.’’
Taranaki-King Country extends from Waingaro north of Raglan in the Waikato to Toko, on the eastern border Taranaki and the town of Waitara in the west, as well as everything in between.
It covers eight district councils and about 17 towns and many more villages.
Her role would include monitoring biosecurity issues including myrtle rust, and looking at how rural communities are affected by issues.
‘‘Biosecurity in itself is a huge honour because it’s so important...for the whole country and the economy,’’ she said.
The former dairy farmer regained the seat in the September 23 election with a majority of 13,994 votes. Her own farming experience helped her relate to the issues rural people faced, she said.
‘‘Both of the roles are well suited to my electorate.
‘‘I think the key thing for me in the rural community...is just understanding how rural communities operate.’’
She said she had already been working with the Rural Health Alliance, looking at what primary health care looked like in a rural community.
‘‘It’s those sorts of things; it’s the rural schools and we’ve got lots of schools with 10, 15, 20 students in them and though they’re so far from anywhere they’re the hub of their communities.’’