 |
Todd Talks |
With Parliament in recess for a fortnight I've enjoyed getting out to connect with people in different sectors of my electorate, including at afternoon tea meetings I've held with retirees.
Whenever I meet with constituents these days conversation inevitably turns to their views on how it feels to be a New Zealander these days and let me tell you that there is growing anger at this Government's policies. People are angry.
They are angry at the cost of living. Locally-grown produce is out of many households' budgets, and so is dining out.
They are angry at a health system that's been rebranded and restructured without fixing the wait times at the ED and for surgery. Bay of Plenty cancer patients are choosing palliative care because the options for local treatment are unavailable.
They are angry that youth crime appears to go unpunished. It's becoming increasingly unsafe to go shopping. Gang membership is growing and there are 19 gang members for every 10 police officers in the Bay of Plenty.
They are angry that our country's children are failing basic numeracy and literacy standards and that chronic truancy is worsening under this Government. We're facing an economic crisis if school-leavers cannot read, write or contribute meaningfully to society.
They are angry they were not heard in Local Government elections. Everyone else in New Zealand elected new mayors and councillors last month. Tauranga ratepayers could not.
They are angry at traffic gridlock. This Government has underinvested in crucial infrastructure we need and our roads are suffering. They are going to be even more angry when the Transport Minister slows everyone down to lower speeds instead of fixing our roads.
People's anger is real, it's understandable and it's scary. New Zealand and the Bay of Plenty deserve competent governance and it's my aim, and that of my colleagues, to deliver this next year.
