Winston Peters powerless, allegations ludicrous

Press release: ACT New Zealand. March 11, 2015. 6:30pm

Winston Peters would be powerless as Northland MP
"Winston Peters is either lying or dreaming when he makes promises of rail upgrades and extensions," ACT Northland candidate Robin Grieve said today.

Mr Peters is reported in the Northern Advocate as saying that the Northland MP he would have the numbers to deliver his promises.

"If elected, Mr Peters' ability to deliver policy won't change. He will be able to do no more for Northland as its MP than he can do now as NZ First Leader. The only beneficiary will be his party, which will receive an extra list MP – from the other end of the country. National would still have the numbers to govern with ACT and its other support partners.

"Even if Mr Peters did have the power, his policies would not come without cost. Last year he called the Roads of National Significance programme 'bloated and expensive' and 'massively extravagant' – a programme that includes the planned Puhoi-Wellsford motorway extension that Northland needs so desperately. He promised to transfer $300 million away from this programme to fund his rail bribe."

Allegations against ACT candidate are ludicrous

Allegations against ACT by independent Northland candidate Bruce Rogan were addressed as ludicrous by Robin Grieve today.

"It is disturbing that Mr Rogan has provided no corroborating evidence supporting the ludicrous allegation that ACT has been saying the people of Mangawhai cannot vote in the by-election," said Mr Grieve.

"We hope that this isn't an orchestrated attempt to attack ACT. Perhaps it is simply a miscommunication around the voting rights of Mr Peters, who is not able to vote for himself unless he changes his place of residence from St Mary's Bay, Auckland, to Northland.

"Mr Rogan has already effectively endorsed Mr Peters[1]. He is prepared to sacrifice the future of Mangawhai by supporting a candidate who opposes the Puhoi to Wellsford motorway.

"Mangawhai will boom and their rates issues will be resolved when that motorway is complete – unless, of course, Mr Peters wins the Northland by election."

ENDS

[1] http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/267688/labour-urged-to-make-way-for-peters

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