Bringing Government Departments And Jobs to the Regions
BRINGING GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND JOBS TO THE REGIONS
New Zealand First will breathe new life into regional New Zealand by shifting government departments into regional centres throughout the country.
“This is another key part of New Zealand First’s regional policy,” says New Zealand First Leader and Northland MP Rt Hon Winston Peters.
“The regions need jobs to boost their economies. Service industries and shops will flourish with more residents spending their money locally.
“Currently we have a country with the majority of jobs concentrated in overloaded cities.
“There is no reason in this age of advanced technology that government office jobs cannot be in smaller cities and towns.
“Let’s face it, we cannot always rely on the private sector to boost regional New Zealand. The most recent example is the closure of so many bank branches.
“Many workers will welcome the opportunity to ditch long commutes for a drive of a few minutes and the outdoor recreational opportunities on their doorstep. Others who have been forced to seek job opportunities in cities will be able to return home.
“They will all benefit from much cheaper real estate - many Kiwi civil servants will be able to achieve the Kiwi dream of owning their own home.
“New Zealand First has always argued for common sense policies like this to benefit all New Zealanders.
“The onslaught of neo-liberal policies in the 1980s under Labour and its continuation by National governments drained provincial New Zealand of its jobs and services as government departments were moved, downsized or sold off to private enterprise.
“For example, Whangarei once benefited by being the home to Government Print .”
ENDS