"The fact the South Island has been virtually ignored in the Budget process is yet another indication of the Government's supreme arrogance," says National MP Katherine Rich..

"The Government's programme for pre- and post- Budget announcements and meetings was released today. It features 21 events in places as far flung as Rotorua, Wairoa, Napier and Palmerston North. Only one of those 21 events is in the South Island.

"People won't learn much from that single nod to the Mainland - it's a breakfast speech in Christchurch by Jim Anderton - who only seems to find out what the Government's doing when he reads about it in the newspapers the next day.

"The South Island has once again been marginalised by a Labour Government lead by Helen Clark who calls West Coasters 'inbred' and 'feral'. Just this week Labour Party President Bob Harvey said 'We don't necessarily like anything about the South Island... we don't care much about it, we don't like South Island people.'

"This Government seems to regard South Islanders as people to be treated with disdain and condescension. Speaking as a South Islander I'd have to say the feeling's mutual," Katherine Rich says.

Ends.

© Scoop Media