With the announcement of the date for the 2017 general election, the Mt Albert by-election has also been confirmed. So the possibility of a by-election being prevented has been avoided—which would have been the case if the general election were being held within six months of a seat being vacated.
The by-election will be held on February 25 and the final list of candidates was announced on February 1, soon after PM Bill English announced September 23 as the general election date.
There are 13 candidates standing in the elections for Mt Albert MP, but the spotlight is on three contestants—Labour’s Jacinda Ardern, Green’s Julie Anne Genter, and NZ People’s Party’s Vin Tomar. While Ms Ardern and Ms Genter are already List Members of Parliament, Mr Tomar is the newest face in the New Zealand political scene, standing for country’s newest political party.
The seat has notably been won by only Labour Party MPs since 1946 when it was first contested. Now that we are almost three weeks away from the by-election, Indian Weekender reached out to the three leaders to find out their vision for their future electorate. Here are the excerpts from the interview.
IWK: What issues would you be focussing on?
Ms Ardern: Top on my list is housing. We need to crack down on speculators and get on with building more affordable houses so that renters and first-homebuyers do not have to spend so much of their income on putting a roof over their head.
I also want to make sure our communities feel safer. Mt Albert has lost the community presence that the police used to have here. I want to change that. We have committed to increasing police numbers by 1000, and we want to see those police stationed back in local communities such as Mt Albert.
I’ve also been running meetings on the street corners of suburbs in Mt Albert. The growth in our local school roles has come up a lot. We need to make sure that even as our schools grow, we have the infrastructure to keep class sizes small.
IWK: What solutions are you proposing to the residents of Mt Albert to tackle public transport and traffic issues?
Ms Ardern: Transport is a big issue here. People are wasting too much time trying to get between school, work, and home. We want to bring light rail from the city to Dominion Road, more frequent buses that connect Mt Albert to the city, North West and Southern public transport routes, and safer walking and cycling options.
IWK: Mt Albert by-election is expected to be a clear win for Labour. What do you have to say about that?
Ms Ardern: I am taking nothing for granted. We are working hard to talk to as many people as possible before the election. We want to earn every single vote, and we will only do that if people know that we have ideas and solutions that will make a difference.
IWK: Why should people vote for you?
Ms Ardern: I live in Mt Albert, and I love the communities that make up this seat. I understand what is needed to be a good representative for an area and to be a strong voice. I have been a Member of Parliament for eight years and am a member of Labour’s senior team, but for almost all of that time, I have also worked in Central Auckland suburbs helping people with housing, immigration, work and income, and ACC issues. I have a passion for national issues and a love for the local communities I have been able to serve. I want to keep doing that here in Mt Albert.
IWK: There is a significant number of Kiwi-Indians living in Mt Albert. What message would you like to give them?
Ms Ardern: I want to build strong relationships with the Kiwi-Indian community and a better understanding of what they would like to see us focused on for their generation and the next. If I have the honour of being the next representative for Mt Albert, that is my commitment
Ms Genter: The Mt Albert electorate has some incredibly lovely neighbourhoods, with good schools and parks. While talking to people, most have said they're quite happy. Transport can always be improved, and many are worried about housing affordability. Improving security of tenure, the standards and affordability of rentals is key, as is increasing the supply and diversity of homes while protecting the environment and livability of the city. All this is possible with stronger central government leadership and a commitment to great urban design.
IWK: What solutions are you proposing to the residents of Mt Albert to tackle public transport and traffic issues?
Ms Genter: I've spent my entire career working on transport solutions, first as a transport consultant in Auckland and then as the transport spokesperson for the Green Party. We successfully campaigned for electrification of the rail network and the city rail link. We would prioritise extensions to the rail network and busways, including light rail along Dominion Rd to the airport and to the North Shore and busways out west and south. Much more can be done to increase the frequency of all buses, make them cleaner electric or hybrid buses, reduce public transport fares (free off-peak travel for tertiary students and beneficiaries).
Our Safe2School programme would drop speed limits in front of schools and invest in safe walking and cycling infrastructure to get more than half of the children walking and cycling to school. Smart investment in alternatives to driving is the best way to help people get around the city, taking pressure off the roads for when you need to drive.
IWK: Mt Albert by-election is expected to be a clear win for Labour, considering Mt Albert has elected only Labour candidates since it was first contested in 1946. What do you have to say about that?
Ms Genter: Certainly, Labour is the favourite to win and they have a strong candidate who I greatly respect. Nearly one in four voters in Mt Albert gave the Green Party their party vote in 2014, twice the National average, so the electorate is also quite ‘Green’. The Green Party is part of a growing global movement with the solutions to many of the challenges we face. We are also working with Labour to change the government in 2017.
IWK: Why should people vote for you?
Ms Genter: Send a message to the government that you want action on transport and housing. I have a proven track record of campaigning for progressive law changes and public transport and cycleway investment. I have expertise and more than a decade of experience in urban planning and transport, which means I can best champion the two top issues for Mt Albert.
IWK: There is a significant number of Kiwi-Indians living in Mt Albert. What message would you like to give to them?
Ms Genter: The Green Party is absolutely committed to an inclusive and diverse Aotearoa. As an immigrant myself, I understand what it's like to belong to two cultures and have several places I consider home. Personally, I would like to see the temporary ban on family reunification lifted. No matter where you were born, what your faith, we can all live well together here if we cultivate our democracy and ensure everyone is able to participate and be heard. Also, thanks for all the amazing authentic Indian food; it's the best.
In our second part of the story in next issue, we will talk to NZPP's candidate Vin Tomar.