Boyack back as candidate

Housing is a top priority for Rachel Boyack, the newly selected Labour Party candidate for Nelson for the 2020 general election.

‘‘I see it as the answer to a lot of challenges that we face,’’ said Boyack, pictured, whose selection was confirmed at a meeting of party members in Nelson on Monday night. ‘‘With the security of a warm, dry home, people are able to hold down employment, kids don’t need to move from school to school.’’

Boyack was the Labour candidate at the 2017 election in Nelson, when she finished second to seasoned sitting National MP Nick Smith. Labour won the party vote with 41.4 per cent.

She acknowledged that Labour’s KiwiBuild programme had not delivered ‘‘as much as we would have liked’’. However, the reset of the policy would help to create opportunities for first home buyers to get on to the housing ladder.

If she wins a seat in Parliament,

Boyack said she would turn her attention to getting more community and state housing in Nelson. ‘‘It’s not acceptable to have people staying in cars and caravans.’’

She said the planned sale of the Nelson City Council’s pensioner housing was causing some concern but it could bring benefits, as the possible buyers – Housing New Zealand and the Nelson Tasman Housing Trust – could further develop the sites and access funds the council could not.

Her other priorities included working to end ‘‘sunshine wages’’ in the region.

As a former union organiser, Boyack said she sat across a table from an employer who said workers could be paid less ‘‘because it’s the South Island’’. The Government’s push for Fair Pay Agreements would help to stamp out sunshine wages.

Her other top priorities included improving mental health services, better public transport, preserving the environment, and working with the Nelson City and Tasman District councils to address climate change.