Local Body Candidates Announced

Conservative Party Leader Colin Craig announced today that the Conservative Party will be fielding candidates in the 2013 Local Body Elections in Auckland.

“We have a high calibre team of candidates and support staff, and we expect to do well” said Mr Craig.

“We will stand at least 22 candidates who will be seeking positions on local boards. Candidates have been carefully chosen as those who are able to represent their communities well, and have undergone a thorough vetting process," he says. 

"The focus of the message from candidates will be around fiscal responsibility, particularly the management of Auckland’s finances. Currently the city is substantially in debt – and this is prior to the major borrowing projects. Many ratepayers are probably unaware that nearly $1 in every $5 of rates is currently spent on debt servicing. With the predicted borrowing ahead, Auckland is going to end up indebted well beyond recommended levels." 

"Additionally the campaign will focus on accountability and transparency. People need to know that their rates are being spent locally, and are not being hijacked to be spent in other parts of the city,” said Mr Craig.

"The messages we are sending are the same at both local body level and at National level. Government and your approach to it shouldn't change whether it is government of the few or government of the many."

"We think it's more transparent to run candidates as Conservative candidates, instead of putting them under a pseudonym such as City Vision or Citizens and Ratepayers."

"The Conservative Party represents what a majority of New Zealanders want on a number of issues. When it comes to Auckland, people want vibrant local communities, not the heavy hand of an expensive government bureaucracy."

ENDS

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