Thursday 24th Jun 1999
Owen Jennings
Media Release -- Other

ACT Rural Spokesman Owen Jennings today said National was a bit late getting out into rural New Zealand.

"ACT has been out listening to the people of rural New Zealand constantly since the last election.

"Rural people are feeling that they have been taken for granted by National. They feel ignored and disenfranchised with the big parties concentrating on the Auckland vote. ACT NZ is recognised amongst rural voters as the only party working to cut red tape and bureaucracy from the farm gate to help farming families and their communities.

"Rural New Zealanders are frustrated with the lack of progress on tackling costs and improving incomes. The worst compliance costs remain in place. Farmers as small businesses face huge taxes in various forms and are finding it increasingly difficult to survive.

"Our listening tours of rural New Zealand that began the week after the last election have put us in touch with the real concerns of rural New Zealanders. Issues like the Treaty process and welfare that ACT has had the courage to talk about and put up fresh new ideas to address.

ACT's promise to cut red tape and bureaucracy, to deliver new ideas and to have the fortitude to actually fix what's broken are seeing us gain strong support with rural voters," said Owen Jennings.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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