NICOLA GRIGG - OPINION PIECE

If you feel anxious while you wait for the total at the supermarket checkout, if you dread the two days before payday because there’s so little money left in your account, if you’ve had to give up on your plan to buy a home, then know this: you are not alone. Even Kiwis who are doing everything right, who are working hard and being incredibly careful are struggling. You are struggling because the economy is failing you.

The cost-of-living crisis is dragging into its third year. Economic mismanagement has driven New Zealand into recession, while Australia, the US and our Asian neighbours are growing.

New Zealand’s current accountthe difference between what we spend in the world and what we earn in the world - has hit a record -breaking deficit.

Interest rates have risen so fast that a ticking time bomb lies in front of us. In the months ahead, hundreds of thousands of mortgage holders will have to move off a home loan with a 2 or 3 percent interest rate to a loan with 6 or 7 percent interest. Many homeowners will be left scrambling for the hundreds of extra dollars they will need to make their mortgage payments each fortnight.

When that mortgage bomb goes off, the whole economy will shudder.

The Government books are loaded up with debt, with net debt up from under $6 billion prepandemic to around $71 billion today.

The great shame is that there’s so little to show for this increased debt - instead, we have potholes all over the roads, declining school attendance and achievement, growing health waiting lists and escalating violent crime.

Billions of dollars have been wasted on consultants, centralisation and ideological projects instead of bolstering the frontline services we need, like more nurses, doctors and midwives and ensuring our kids are taught the basics.

It’s time for the excuses to stop.

New Zealand needs solutions to fix our broken economy and help you get ahead once more. Most of all, what our country needs right now is hope. That’s what National will deliver.

Other Parties might like to tell you they can fix New Zealand’s problems by robbing Peter to pay Paul. That they will drag the bottom up by tearing the top down. Or that we’ll all feel better if they punish the wealthy hard enough.

The truth is those reckless tactics would only further weaken our fragile economy, scare our best and brightest away and divide us one against the other.

National has a better way.

We know that only a strong economy can fix the cost-of-living crisis, lift incomes and fund the world-class public services Kiwis deserve.

National understands that a strong economy is created through the efforts of everyday New Zealanders choosing to work here, to create new jobs here, to start a new business, to take a product global or to create something new. We know that success is good for the country, it’s good for the Government, and it’s good for every New Zealander. This election, the choice is clear.

Nicola Grigg, Selwyn MP.

Probus Birthday Meeting

The June meeting of Rolleston Probus was their Birthday Meeting. They celebrate this every June and ask the ladies and men to dress up for the occasion! It was great to see numerous fancy hats and decorative ties. After an enjoyable special morning tea, President, Ann Barber and Betty Healey, one of their longest serving members cut the birthday cake. The Group were then entertained by Gill Atkins who read poetry from Pam Ayers . Gill is a friend of Pam’s and had everyone laughing at her impressive imitations of Pam and her poetry. Pam is still writing and entertaining, and many have books of her poetry so it was a really enjoyable time. Probus are still welcoming new members and were really pleased to have three enrolled last month. Their next outing is to the movies at Silky Otter later in the month and next month they have their mid-winter lunch at Tai Tapu Hotel. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month in the Rolleston Community Centre from 9.45am until noon.

Please contact President, Ann Barber on 027 588 503 if you are interested in attending a meeting. People are always made very welcome.

Juliette Easterbrook, Publicity Officer.