Low-key official opening of New Plymouth MP’S office
New Plymouth MP David Macleod opted for a low-key official opening of his office yesterday.
The first-term MP put on sweet and savoury scones, as well as tea, coffee and orange juice as he welcomed colleagues and supporters to the Gill St office which was unmistakably his given his smiling face adorns the front of the building.
Unlike the former Labour ‘“hub” just down the road, which housed the likes of Glen Bennett, Angela Roberts, Stephanie Lewis, Andrew Little and Adrian Rurawhe, Macleod has the space to himself, as well as a handful of support staff.
“This morning is just about marking the opening of our office here and acknowledging the great staff I have,” he said, before drawing the attention of those in attendance to the modern maps of his electorate that line a wall.
“It starts on the southern boundary of Opunake and goes all the way through to Waitara, well almost all of Waitara.”
That’s because Macleod was in charge of one side of Waitara while his fellow National MP Barbara Kuriger looked after the constituents a stone throw away on the other, which was in part of TaranakiKing Country.
During a five-minute speech, Macleod also made it clear his office was primarily set up to help people.
“The community has also sorts of challenges which can be anything from immigration to social services,” he said.
“We are here in place to try and provide answers. Sometimes it’s not the answer they want to hear but they will be getting the facts.”
Meanwhile, Bennett, who was now a list MP after the resignation of former Finance Minister Grant Robertson, said he had yet to open a New Plymouth office after the Labour one closed following the election.
He put the reason for that down to a lack of funding for list MPS, although he did have a staff member based in Wellington to handle his meeting and community engagements in New Plymouth.