12 May 2015

Regions reeling under reality of neglect

Embargoed until 4am 12 May

The grim state of the regions has been sheeted home in a damning report which shows years of Government neglect has resulted in ‘two New Zealands’, Labour Leader Andrew Little says.

“The Salvation Army’s Mixed Fortunes puts paid to the ‘rock star’ tag John Key has been flogging for all its worth over the last few years.

“Instead it shows a tale of two realities, where regions outside of the main cities have not only failed to create work and grow jobs, but incomes are below average and there are high rates of benefit dependency.

“Underpinning that is National’s underfunding of regional infrastructure and its focus on its highways of national significance, shifting labour-intensive jobs to Auckland, to the detriment of almost every other region.

“Economic growth should be about taking every New Zealander, wherever they live, along for the ride.

“Right now that’s not happening. Instead we have an economy reliant on dairy and an out of control housing market.

“Growing our regions requires smart thinking, a focus on diversification and investment in regional infrastructure. It is not about mixed fortunes, or the advantaged versus the disadvantaged. It’s about growth that flows into long-term prosperity for every New Zealander,” Andrew Little says.

ends

© Scoop Media