March 29 2016
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Electoral office opens u by Ann Morgan
An enthusiastic Dargaville crowd turned out to welcome New Zealand First leader Winston Peters as he opened his newest office, the fourth of five he has planned for Northland.
Fun day at Matakohe Matakohe School Gala will be held at the school on Matakohe East Road …
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A town with a soul
The measurement of a town as a real and vibrant community involves a ‘human barometer’ …
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Celebrating a quarter of a century
It was 25 years ago this Easter that Brian Froggatt moved into the old Saint George Masonic Lodge …
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“It is a pleasure to be in Dargaville, a town and area that has many memories. My political leanings were forged here, as were my beliefs. By opening this new office New Zealand First is showing its commitment to hear your voice and to work for your future,” said Mr Peters. The office will have a representative available two days a week and Mr Peters says he will come to Dargaville as often as he can. “This is where you can go to express your concerns regardless of your politics. Last year in the Northland by-election our slogan was ‘Send them a message’. “There have been grand visits to the North by ministers and the prime minister, yet the same issues and challenges we saw in the by-election campaign are still here, and in some instances are worse.” Mr Peters says rail is a classic example. “Two years ago they closed the rail service from Dargaville to Whangarei without the decency of making a public announcement about it. That demonstrates a contempt for local people. The government want all rail in Northland shut down and are doing that by a process of letting lines run down. “A wonderful opportunity is being lost with Northport. Ports of Auckland are looking for a suitable site and the deep water port at Marsden Point is the logical choice but the government won’t support a 20 kilometre rail line from the port to the main trunk line. This would
p New Zealand First leader Winston Peters at the ribbon cutting ceremony at his new office in Dargaville
benefit both Northland and Auckland but the government won’t have a bar of it.” Touching on National’s election promise to replace 10 one-way bridges in Northland, including two at Matakohe, Mr Peters said all that had taken place were discussions. ”Work is not physically starting to build, but just discussions. A year on from making those promises, nothing has happened. “They haven’t spent one cent on the ten bridges. My statement is people
need to get mad and make a stand and so do your officials. Seriously, if people don’t get mad here, they’ll get nothing. All I am saying to the province I serve is, we want some action. “When we won the by-election last year New Zealand First said we would work tirelessly for the people of the North so they can have a better life. Opening this office is part of that commitment. Dargaville, the Northern Wairoa and Kaipara can be assured they have a voice in parliament.”
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