North Shore Times (New Zealand)
Infrastructure important
Infrastructure is one of the main issues facing the Upper Harbour electorate, says the Upper Harbour MP.
Deputy prime minister and National MP for the Upper Harbour electorate Paula Bennett said transport and the economy were a particular focus.
Although the Waterview tunnel had ‘‘changed lives’’, people were still spending too much time in traffic, she said.
A busway on the northwestern motorway would be particularly important, and the Northern Corridor Improvement project (NCI) would also help the city meet increased demand.
A strong economy in Upper Harbour was another focus.
‘‘We have one of the highest rates of home owners with a mortgage,’’ Bennett said.
‘‘If they lose their jobs or their businesses, they lose their homes.They want a strong Auckland and a strong economy, and would like to know that infrastructure is keeping up with their needs.’’
Bennett said Upper Harbour had a ‘‘lovely’’ mix of recreation, lifestyle and diversity.
‘‘We’ve got to hold onto that while we grow, and we kind of get to define what our communities look like,’’ Bennett said.’’I’m their advocate - I’m the person that’s alongside of them helping them making that happen .’’
In the 2014 election, the first for the newly formed Upper Harbour electorate, 33,273 votes were cast, with 54.46 per cent of people voting for National.