Neither Prebble nor Hobbs are true Wellington residents so they should give up arguing who is more of a Wellingtonian, says Phillida Bunkle’s Electorate Representative James Palmer.

Phillida Bunkle’s Wellington Office is continually over worked with constituent inquiries thanks to Richard Prebble’s persistent absence from the electorate, says Mr Palmer.

“While Prebble likes to give the impression he works for Wellington, he is more likely to be having business lunches in Auckland or leaning on farm fences in the King Country. The only time we ever see him is when there is a camera around,” says Mr Palmer.

Marian Hobbs is promoting herself as a latte drinking Wellington arts patron, even though she has a house and family in Christchurch. Before deciding Wellington Central was a good place to play politics she was a dedicated South Islander.

“Marian’s office opened less than six months ago and suddenly she’s claiming to be a passionate Wellingtonian. Wellington does not deserve to be used as a political football,” says Mr Palmer.

Prebble probably came to contest Wellington Central because of the electorate’s affluence. He then fought to keep the boundaries from including lower socio-economic groups. “How can he claim to be Wellington’s true representative when he doesn’t actually want to represent parts of his constituency,” says Mr Palmer.

“Richard Prebble has hidden away in his Parliamentary Office, quite inaccessible to the constituents who need help that we see in Phillida’s Vivian Street office. Marian Hobbs on the other hand would simply get lost in Karori.”

“Unlike Marian or Richard, we’ve had an office in Wellington for years. Phillida has been part of the our community and many of its organisations for more than two decades. There can be no doubt whose ‘patch’ Wellington really is.”

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