New Zealand National Party

Media Release

21 December 2016

National’s Clutha-Southland candidate selected

Todd Barclay MP has been re-selected by National to contest the Clutha-Southland electorate at the 2017 General Election.

Mr Barclay first entered Parliament at the 2014 election, winning the seat with a 14,886-vote majority and won 63.4% of the Party Vote, up 0.5 percentage points on the 2011 party vote share. He is currently the deputy chair of the Law & Order Select Committee, serves as a member on the Primary Production Select Committee and is deputy chair of the Education Caucus Committee.

“I’m thrilled with the result tonight and look forward to getting on the campaign trail and earning the right to continue to serve Clutha-Southland in Parliament,” Mr Barclay says.

“I’m proud of the what my team and I have achieved over the past two-and-a-half years, including:

Successfully lobbying for a new X-ray machine in Te Anau, a new CT scanner at Queenstown Hospital and an extension to their Emergency Department

Securing $110,000 Government funding for the Eastern Southland Gallery’s East Gore Art Centre; and working to see the Owaka Museum secure a grant from the same fund for its extension

Working with Sarah Dowie MP to secure $2.4 million in Government funding towards Southland Regional Development Strategy Action Plan initiatives, in particular $250,000 for the Milford Opportunities Project which I established

Progressing a series of initiatives to ease transport congestion in Queenstown and promote alternative transport options, including a Park and Ride and better public transport links

Working as part of a group developing a visitor levy proposal for places like Queenstown and Te Anau that need additional support for infrastructure

Working with Education Minister Hekia Parata to; establish 8 Communities of Learning across Clutha-Southland supporting 8,833 kids across 53 of our 69 schools, secure Government funding to expand Southland Youth Futures and secure more funding to repair, refresh and expand our existing schools

Engaging with Telford stakeholders to save and retain the institution in our district – and we will see a positive solution very soon

Progressing the Lawrence-Waihola Cycle Trail

“Ultimately though, it’s not just an MP that gets all this done. There are hardworking people right across the electorate – from Queenstown to Gore – who get up every day, work hard, pay their taxes, and give back to their communities.

"My commitment is to continue to back them, their families, and their businesses, and ensure we elect another strong, Bill English National-led Government at the 2017 election.

“One of the great things about National is the democratic process we run, so I want to thank all my supporters for giving me the opportunity to continue to represent them.

“I will be going forward into 2017 campaigning hard for Clutha-Southland, talking about my track record of success at delivering for local communities in Bill English’s strong, stable, positive National-led Government.”

ends

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