Luxon meets local leaders

New Zealand’s roading infrastructure and cost of living problems are at the top of the National Party’s agenda, opposition leader Christopher Luxon says.

Luxon made a flying visit to Blenheim on Friday to meet with school students, business leaders, and wine industry members.

When asked about the region’s roading issues, particularly those in the Marlborough Sounds following the August rainstorms, Luxon said safe, well-maintained roads were vital for a strong, local economy.

‘‘I’m well aware of the real infrastructure challenges that we’ve had here (in Marlborough), and that’s really what we want to do as a government, we believe that infrastructure is one of the five big pillars by which we improve productivity which is ultimately how we improve incomes for all.

‘‘We want to have a multimodal approach to transport, there hasn’t been nearly enough investment in renewals made in our roading infrastructure at all.’’

Luxon said some areas of the country, including the Marlborough

Sounds, were more prone than others to adverse weather events caused by climate change, and this must be taken into account when planning future infrastructure projects in certain regions.

‘‘They’re not easy questions to work through, and that’s a challenge that New Zealand has to think through in a policy sense really strongly over the coming years and very quickly,’’ he said.

After meeting with business leaders at the Marlborough Chambers of Commerce, the National leader said they discussed issues facing local businesses, and said immediate action needed to be taken by the Government to improve access for migrant workers, and deal with inflation.

‘‘(The labour shortage is) because essentially we haven’t got our immigration settings right in New Zealand at the moment,’’ Luxon said.

Earlier in the day, Luxon met with the leadership teams from Marlborough Boys’, Marlborough Girls’ and Queen Charlotte colleges, and was full of praise for the next generations coming through.

‘‘In many ways they care deeply, they’re more altruistic in many ways, and they want to do things that matter, so they work together very collaboratively, and they’re very, very smart, so I think we’re in good hands.’’

When asked if he was worried about the ‘brain drain’ – losing these future leaders and professionals to other countries with higher wages, and a lower cost of living, Luxon said he was.

‘‘... more people are leaving New Zealand than that are coming in. I think already we’re at minus 12,000 people (since borders reopened). So we’ve had more people leaving the country than coming into the country.

‘‘The real challenge is the Government doesn’t have a plan to manage the cost of living crisis at the moment.’’