Distracted from key issues

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Opinion

I agree with Chris Bishop when he is saddened that Kainga Ora appears to have empty state houses on its books. But I do commend him for reminding us all that the Labour Government built over 13,000 new homes for us over the past six years. This compares starkly with the fact that the previous National Government actually reduced the stock and there were a lot of vacant houses because of their state of disrepair.
However, most people would be keen to see National Party supporters explain to us the poor progress being made on their key election issues — cost of living (made worse by removing free buses for young people, restoring prescription charges and introducing a new road user tax), crime, water infrastructure and of course the tax cuts.
There has been a lot of distracting away from these issues by relentlessly raising the need to “discuss” te Tiriti.
Sadly, Chris Bishop makes no mention of the shame internationally we are suffering by seeming to be encouraging smoking — something even smokers are unhappy with.
Never mind, let’s be thankful that the big increase in state houses and there seemingly being some vacant ones are all that he is upset about.
Anne Collins