Finance minister says economy has survived
The finance minister has heard from heartland Horowhenua how businesses are faring since the coronavirus crisis corroded the economy.
Grant Robertson Otaki Labour candidate Terisa Ngobi visited The Kings Sound Centre in Levin yesterday, a locally owned music store.
Robertson talked about his love for records and heard how business was doing better since the lockdown than before.
He said business was picking up, and more people were out and about since the return of alert level 1.
Robertson said this was why the Government introduced the wage subsidy.
Its goal was to make it easier for business owners to make decisions, not panic, and prepare for when trading returned.
The Kings Sound Centre owner Paul King said business was doing better than before the lockdown.
The business was started just after the last recession 12 years ago and was prepared to handle the next one.
King said Horowhenua shoppers had been focused on supporting local businesses and bolstering the local economy.
King’s business received the first wage subsidy, but did not need the extension.
The Provincial Growth Fund has also funded roading and infrastructure projects in Horowhenua.
Robertson said funding was still being allocated and the region would continue to reap the benefits.
Labour is proposing to replace the $3 billion fund with a $200 million Regional Strategic Partnership Fund, focusing on regions drawing economic development plans.
Robertson said for the Provincial Growth Fund regions would apply for projects to be funded and the Government would choose which ones to give money to.
He said the new fund would involve areas working out what they needed.
Robertson said the race for the taki seat was wide open this election, after sitting National MP Nathan Guy’s retirement, and Ngobi was going ‘‘really really well’’.
‘‘Nathan Guy is gone and I think it’s anyones to win.’’
He said Ngobi had close links to the electorate.
‘‘That’s what we want in an MP.’’