Election 2023: Independent candidate for Tauranga Larry Baldock on Local Focus Candidate Camera

Watch the Local Focus video to see all of Larry Baldock’s answers on a range of important subjects.

Former MP and deputy mayor Larry Baldock has put his hat in the ring for Tauranga MP, running as an independent.

Transport is top of mind for Baldock, with State Highway 29 being a priority that he says would ease congestion and open up 3000 houses in Tauriko. He is not against housing density in town, and says the work on Cameron Rd will help enable that.

When it comes to the cost of living issues and helping people buy their first home, Baldock harks back to his own upbringing.

“Forty or 50 years ago, we had some of the highest home-ownership rates in the world,” he said. “And one of the reasons was you had State Advances loans.

“You got a loan that was fixed interest for 30 years. And you moved in and bought your home and you stayed there for a while.”

This brought benefits of stability for families and communities. But he says the change to market interest rates has made housing less stable and contributed to lower home ownership.

“That’s something I think the Government does seriously need to look at.”

Baldock says he is serious about being an independent MP, and that his candidacy is not about building up to the council elections next year.

“Even if I don’t win, I want to influence the election result by getting something for Tauranga.”

Watch interviews with other candidates for Tauranga electorate:

Local Focus: National Party candidate, Sam Uffindell on Candidate Camera

Local Focus: Labour candidate Jan Tinetti on Candidate Camera

Local Focus: New Zealand First candidate, Erika Harvey on Candidate Camera

Local Focus: Act Party candidate, Christine Young on Candidate Camera

Local Focus: Vision New Zealand candidate, Leon Samuels on Candidate Camera

Local Focus: New Conservative candidate, Jono Langridge on Candidate Camera

Local Focus: Independent candidate, Larry Baldock on Candidate Camera

Public Interest Journalism Fund