Traffic, mall worry locals

United Future leader Peter Dunne’s decision to step down after holding Ohariu for 33 years dramatically changed the contest in the seat.

Since 2014, the electorate has encompassed the communities of Wadestown, Crofton Downs, Ngaio and Khandallah in the south, and Johnsonville to Tawa – excluding Linden – in the north.

The loss of the long-time MP who was part of the National-led Government remains a divisive issue.

One Johnsonville woman was sad to see him go, particularly as he was championing the medicinal use of marijuana. However, a Khandallah resident thought this was the reason Dunne had lost support in the district.

As the heart of the Ohariu electorate, the redevelopment of Johnsonville was a high priority.

More than anything else, people said renovating the Johnsonville Mall was vital, particularly as they were promised the shopping centre would be expanded in 2009. In general, voters said they wanted to see more stores and facilities in the suburbs and an effort put into fixing infrastructure problems, such as traffic.

A local businesswoman bemoaned the lack of boutique cafes to take clients for coffee in Johnsonville, ‘‘besides McCafe’’.

Kathleen Wright, the chief executive of Johnsonville nonprofit SubUrban Co-Working, said she would like to see a greater emphasis on developing business in Ohariu suburbs.

‘‘We would like to see the Government coming out to the ‘burbs’ basically, and supporting local people.’’

Elsewhere on the streets, the lack of affordable housing was an issue for some voters.

With Dunne’s departure, National has decided to actively campaign for the seat with Brett Hudson and Labour’s Greg ¯O O’Connor leading the race. Also contesting the seat are candidates from The Opportunities Party and UnitedFuture.