Tuesday, 30 January 2007

Dunne: Key off to a good start but -

United Future leader Peter Dunne says National leader John Key's Kiwi Way speech today is a positive contribution towards the debate on raising New Zealand's standard of living.

"There is much in Mr Key's speech about National's plans for mitigating the worst aspects of life for this country's so-called underclass and United Future is happy to work with him in achieving those goals of happier, healthier kids and families.

"But who speaks for middle New Zealand - those honest, hard-working, child-rearing, tax-paying Kiwis who get on with life and with making their communities a better place?

"It almost looks as though Mr Key and Labour are trying to outdo each other talking about the less well-off, while middle New Zealand is left to fend for itself, knowing whatever happens it will be called on to pay the bill.

"United Future stands unequivocally for those New Zealanders who are the majority and who need and deserve as much attention from central government as those who have fallen by the wayside and who, by their own choices, help contribute to the worst aspects of New Zealand society."

Mr Dunne said it was heartening to see that Mr Key appeared not to be bound by hidebound blinkered ideology, but by a pragmatic sense of clear-eyed reality.

ENDS

© Scoop Media