19 October 2016

Media Release: Michael Wood, Labour candidate for Mt Roskill

Questions to answer for National candidate

“National’s candidate for the Mt Roskill by-election has serious questions to answer about her government’s neglect of important services in the local community”, says Labour candidate for Mt Roskill Michael Wood.

“I have been actively campaigning in the electorate since June, and people consistently raise concerns about a lack of government action on crime, housing, transport, and education”

“Recent police statistics show that crime is rapidly increasing in the Auckland West District that Mt Roskill is a part of:

A 27% increase in assaults in public places

A 54% increase in assaults on police

A 28% increase in disorder offences

“People are also frustrated about the fact that 96% of burglaries in the area go unsolved”

“We need more frontline, community based policing to stop crime before it happens, and to improve resolution rates. That’s why I strongly support Labour’s policy of 1000 new frontline police, and will actively campaign to re-open Mt Roskill Police station to the public (closed in 2012)”

“Local schools are also feeling the pinch. National’s recent funding reforms resulted in 21 out of 22 local schools receiving less funding in real terms that in 2016. I'm on a local Board of Trustees, so I know how squeezed our schools are. A strong, safe community needs better investment in our local public schools”

“I am actively campaigning for action on these important local issues. I welcome my National opponent to the race, and challenge her to tell us why her government isn’t backing our local police and schools”, says Michael Wood.

ENDS

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