Wellington Chamber releases election manifesto

Business Central
Wellington Employers’ Chamber of Commerce

Media Statement

20 August 2014

Wellington Chamber releases election manifesto

Wellington Employers’ Chamber of Commerce has released its election manifesto for the region ahead of its Business Election Year Debate tonight.

The debate is being hosted by the Chamber in partnership with Massey University of Wellington, and Minter Ellison Rudd Watts.

Those taking part will be Grant Robertson (Labour, Wellington Central), Chris Bishop (National candidate for Hutt South), Peter Dunne (United Future, Ohariu), James Shaw (Greens candidate for Wellington Central), and Vikram Kumar (Internet Party Chief Executive).
The manifesto identifies four issues which the Chamber says are crucial to the growth of the region’s economy. They are:

• A real focus on economic development: building on Wellington’s strengths, such as new and emerging ICT, hi-tech, film and knowledge-based industries, to achieve growth, higher wages, and innovation.
• Local government amalgamation: reducing the current nine local councils to just one so there is a unified, clear and consistent vision for the Wellington region backed by more efficient and effective spending.
• Modern and connected infrastructure: progressing strategic transport networks, including the Wellington Northern Corridor, investigating the airport runway proposal, solving the Basin bottleneck.
• A supportive employment and wages policy: to ensure flexible and industrious conditions to employ, create jobs, add value, and generate economic growth through investment, including lower taxes and reduced compliance costs.

Wellington Employers’ Chamber of Commerce President John Milford says the manifesto is about progressing Wellington city and the region, and he wants to see each party’s stand on them.

“Tonight’s debate is a great chance for voters to quiz the parties on these issues.

“This is the chance to ask these politicians about their party’s plan for the whole region.

“We want them to have a wider vision – we expect them to have a wider vision – and that’s what we are asking them.”

The event will be held at the Museum Building at Massey University at 5.30pm.

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