Healthcare and poverty debated

Candidates for the Palmerston North electorate have clashed about healthcare, poverty and the Government’s record during a frank debate in the city.

National Party candidate Adrienne Pierce, running for Parliament for the first time, was on the defensive for much of a candidates debate at Hancock Community House on Wednesday.

The debate was supposed to focus on the not-for-profit sector and healthcare, but also covered the economy, poverty and environmental issues.

Green candidate Thomas Nash asked Pierce what National had done over the past nine years to improve the lot for those least well off. ‘‘We have people rolling around in flash cars and with super-yachts.

‘‘Do you think it’s OK people are homeless? That people don’t have enough to eat?’’

Pierce answered: ‘‘We live in a democracy and how people live and where they live is their business.’’

Labour candidate and incumbent Palmerston North MP Iain Lees-galloway interjected: ‘‘Who chooses to live in a car?’’

Pierce said everyone knew there were gaps and it was a longterm problem that would take time to solve. ‘‘It’s not all the Government’s fault, the way people live and situations they find themselves in.’’

NZ First MP and candidate Darroch Ball also had a shot at National, after Pierce described the country’s health system as one of the world’s best.

He listed specific cases, such as someone sleeping on the Palmerston North Hospital’s emergency department floor while awaiting treatment, and a 12-year-old waiting seven hours to get stitches.

He also said demand for mental health services had increased 60 per cent, but funding had only gone up 30 per cent.

Pierce said the Government increased health funding by a record amount in the last Budget, and was banking on strong economic management to help improve things further. ‘‘We will not be taxing you any more to do all of this fabulousness.’’

Nash took issue with that, saying New Zealand had record homelessness, was one of the least productive countries in the OECD, and many Kiwis were unable to get decent housing.

‘‘That doesn’t sound like strong economic management to me.’’

Money Free candidate Scott Andrew was also part of the debate, pushing for a future without currency.

PHOTO: WARWICK SMITH/STUFF Candidates for the Palmerston North electorate debated health and homelessness at a forum on Wednesday. From left, Green candidate Thomas Nash, Labour’s Iain Lees-galloway, NZ First’s Darroch Ball, National’s Adrienne Pierce and Money Free candidate...