8 POHUTUKAWA COAST TIMES (September 5th 2014)
Young Labour candidate hopes to bring out young voters
worked. So I did, and kept up that involvement through my university days and as [Auckland University] student union president.” Arena has worked for Labour in a number of campaigns – the Ikaroa Rawhiti and Te Tai Tokerau byelections, and the Tamaki Makaurau general election campaign. Prior to that, she helped put up hoardings for David Cunliffe in his electorate! Now the Clarks Beach resident is a first time election candidate, and still getting asked the age question. “How old I am is a question I often get asked. I got asked that
It seemed an impolite question to ask Hunua Labour Party candidate Arena Williams, but I couldn’t help myself: “How old are you, if you don’t mind my asking?” The answer is 24 but even more surprisingly, Arena is already a political veteran. She’s been involved with Labour since age 15. “I got involved around the time Labour passed the foreshore and seabed bill; it was about reacting to the way a policy had been pushed through quickly and without a lot of consultation with the people affected,” says Arena. “I really wanted to help change the way it
REGISTER 10th Sept 3pm-5pm or 13th Sept 1pm- 3pm At the Clevedon School Hall or go to www.clevedoncricketclub.co.nz
recently at a Pukekohe Rotary meeting so I turned the question around to ask ‘why aren’t more young people involved in politics?’ I hope by being involved myself I can get more young people – at least in Hunua – interested in wanting to vote.” Arena may be contesting the fifth safest National Party seat in the country with little realistic chance of winning, but she is applying all her time and energy to the task. “I quit my job at the BNZ [she has a B.Com/ LLB degree] and wanted to do this full time. To do justice to a huge electorate like this you need to, so I’ve been at it for a few months now.” So just what is the message Arena wants to get across to those Hunua residents she talks to on their doorsteps? “This Labour Government will be absolutely focused on regional debt and housing, two policies Hunua will benefit from. I’m passionate about pathways for young people through work and getting them into home ownership.
“We have an ideal in Franklin and surrounding areas about home ownership and how it gives you a stake in the community. We value the stability that comes with people, having something invested in their local area. Declining home ownership in an area like this with more people renting, then inevitably you lose that stability and sense of community. Being able to offer young people, a pathway into their own home is really important – and not just those individuals and families. “Under Labour we will see a concerted effort to stop house price inflation as a result of foreign investment, and also through building 100,000 new homes – mostly in Auckland.” Arena’s personal focus is on getting young people into education and training. As someone who has benefitted by coming through the university system she believes it is the right of all young people to not necessarily go to university but to gain apprenticeships or other qualifications and pathways
into work. “The big thing I’m excited about is Labour’s plan to put all under 20 year olds into education training or work. It’s a $182 million package but guarantees, for instance, that 9000 young people who would otherwise be on the benefit will be given places in businesses willing to take them on as apprentices in exchange for what they would be paid on the dole.” The big issue for the country at this election, says Arena, is that of trust. “People are looking for a government they can trust. In the last term we’ve seen unparalleled financial unrest in our economy and to deal with that we need a government that acts on its word and whose ministers can be trusted. People really want to know they can trust their politicians.” Regardless of the outcome of the election in Hunua, anyone who spends time with Arena comes away with a strong impression that this is a young woman with a huge future in politics. You read it here
It was a trip down memory lane for Dunedin North MP David Clark (left) when he and Hunua Labour election candidate Arena Williams (right) went on a hand-shaking expedition down the main street of Beachlands last week. David lived in Beachlands for 16 years and his mum, Faye, still lives here. He recalls attending Beachlands School when there was a roll of less than 200 students. He and Arena visited the school while in Beachlands. “The school has transformed but the kids are so proud and well adjusted. You get a sense of a really good feeling in the school,” says David. David moved to Dunedin from Beachlands to study at Otago University and ended up staying. He became a Minister of Religion (and is still a Presbyterian minister) and worked at a parish in Newmarket before completing a Ph.d in Dunedin, He then worked for Treasury in Wellington. He returned to Dunedin to run Selwyn College, his old halls of residence. “I would still be doing that if I hadn’t thrown my hat in the ring when Pete Hodgson retired – sooner than I was expecting.”
On board the Winston Express
what’s on ?
sunday services
Traditional Service – 9.30 am Family Service – 11.00 am with Kids Friendly Kidz Club
also Kawakawa
Bay - 9.30am
friday youth
JCYG (Years 7 - 8) – 4.30 - 6.00 pm CYG (Years 9 - 13) – 7.30 - 10.00 pm
the family centre Mon Centre closed Tues Intercultural event Wed 9.30 am Sewing and Craft- Elvene Stevenson 2.00 pm. JP Services - Dorothy Street Thur 9.15 am Senior Exercise - Cath Neike 10.15 am Songs from The Earnslaw Fri
- Margaret De Penning
9.00 am Tai Chi Jack Jin 10.30 am Art Class – New members welcome - Marian Sharp
info Heather hchapman@clevedonpresy.co.nz church ph 2928 061 family centre ph 292 3085 www.clevedonpresy.co.nz
Switzerland is a country that crops up a lot in conversation with New Zealand First’s Hunua candidate, Jon Reeves. He lived there – as well as other parts of Europe – during his time as a business headhunter, an aircraft buyer/seller and route planner, and with the oil and watch making industries. These days he’s an account manager with Radio Networks. The Swiss are a sensible lot... and NZ First is the party of “common sense”, as Jon reminded the Beachlands Hall audience at frequent intervals during a recent meet the candidates evening. Take land ownership, for example. “The Swiss don’t do it [let foreigners buy up land]. You have to live there for five consecu-
tive years before getting a permit to allow you to buy land,” says Jon. “Switzerland is a very nationalistic country. They don’t make it easy for foreigners to own property and as a result the value of houses rises just 1-2% a year. “We’ve got to stop wholesale land sales to overseas interests – people who never live here, whether they are from Shanghai or Paris. This is not in the interests of New Zealand. “It means there are lots of people I know in their 30s who can’t afford to buy here because they are bidding against people in Shanghai who are on the telephone. “You and I are being stung with high interest rates and will become second class citizens in our own country. “You can’t go to China
and buy a property – you can lease it but not buy it. We have got to stop selling our land.” The sale of land to overseas interests is a top priority election issue, says Jon. But Jon’s personal passion is campaigning for better public transport, an area in which he has considerable expertise. “I chose [to stand in Hunua] because I have been involved with the Campaign for Better Public Transport lobby as a committee member. “I ran the campaign for Waikato commuter trains and as a result spent lot of time in Pukekohe, Paerata and surrounding areas. “I got to know the area well and I know the problems with public transport this whole electorate has. “Beachlands-Maraetai has, Clevedon has, Pukekohe semi-has, and Waiuku is worse off than you are!” Jon speaks with the confidence that comes with experience and is convinced he and NZ First
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters (left) was in the Hunua Electorate last Sunday. He and Hunua candidate Jon Reeves (right) visited the Clevedon Village Farmers Market, Glenbrook Vintage Railway, did a speech at the Kentish Hotel in Waiuku, then visited a retirement village and hospital in Waiuku. The highlight was the “Winston Express” steam train which they caught from Pukoware into Waiuku. can solve the problems. “It is a fundamental issue. If you live out here you are solely dependent on cars. “I had a good discussion with the Managing Director of Sealink [owner of the Pine Harbour ferries] discussing issues here.
“I realise Andrew Bayly [National’s Hunua candidate] has also talked to Sealink but he never analysed it. The New Zealand Transport Agency has to come to the party to fund the service. The NZTA is the Government and this • TO PAGE 9