Candidates in Otaki seat have their say

Candidates in the Otaki electorate agree something needs to be done to improve the area’s waterways, but are at odds over the best way to sort out the issue.

Horowhenua Grey Power members, along with a smattering of Horowhenua College students, packed into the Levin Cosmopolitan Club on Friday to hear political candidates make their pitch for votes.

One of the biggest talking points was the quality of the region’s waterways.

National Party MP Nathan Guy, who holds the Otaki seat, said the Government had been making changes over the past few years to improve waterways.

There were laughs from the crowd when he said 72 per cent of lakes and streams were in a swimmable condition, but murmurs of approval when he said there had recently been more funding allocated to cleaning up local lakes and streams.

He accepted more planting needed to be done on farms and riverbanks to stop pollutants reaching waterways, but said it was an issue for everyone to be involved in.

‘‘What this Government won’t be doing is bringing in a water tax that directly impacts the price of vegetables here in Horowhenua.’’

Labour Party candidate Rob McCann, who was applauded when he brought a large cardboard cutout of his party’s leader Jacinda Ardern to the stage, said claims about cabbages costing $15 or more because of his party’s water tax policy were wrong.

The policy would only cost 2 cents per 1000 litres of water, which was minimal and backed by scientists, he said.

McCann also used his speech to discuss housing issues, saying Labour would bring in a minimum standard for rental properties.

He said a woman in Foxton who was due to have a child came to him about her home, which had black mould in the bathroom that could not be cleaned due to the state of the ceiling.

She had gone to her rental agency to get it fixed, but the landlord had refused, he said.

‘‘The property developer sitting in Wellington is not putting the money into it because the Government is not enforcing minimum standards.’’

Green Party candidate Sam Ferguson got a big round of applause when he said the party wanted to bring back home insulation subsidies for rental properties and implement a housing warrant of fitness.

‘‘Sixty per cent of our population is renting and we need to protect their rights.’’

While the party wanted a tax on exported, bottled water, there would be discussions afterwards about taxing other water users, he said.

It was ‘‘scaremongering’’ to talk about water taxes making cabbages $15 each, he said.

NZ First candidate Dr Romuald Rudzki said the country was suffering from a lack of ambition and took aim at the level of profits being sent offshore.

‘‘Why is New Zealand cheese, butter and wine cheaper in London than it is in Levin?’’

He said there was nothing stopping a government taxing big, multinational companies for excessive profits, and going after those shifting profits to avoid paying taxes.

‘‘What would sort this out? Locking a few of them up.’’

The Opportunities Party list candidate Jenny Condie said she wanted Grey Power members to vote for the interests of their children.

The party’s policies, like a universal basic income regardless of wage, would encourage people to work instead of staying on the benefit, she said.