Her own visit to Gisborne would be quickly followed by a visit from party leader Christopher Luxon on Monday, August 7.
The 6331 majority for Labour’s Kiri Allan in 2020 had been an “anomaly” due to the Government’s then popular handling of the Covid-19 epidemic.
She said Ms Kirkpatrick was a strong local candidate well versed in the issues of the East Coast.
Ms Willis has been in the national news recently saying Labour plans to abolish GST on fruit and vegetables.
She said National’s tax plan, by comparison, was simple, efficient and fairer.
A National Government would change the tax brackets of income threshold levels at which tax rates increased.
The levels had remained constant for a long period of time meaning even relatively low-paid workers had moved into high tax brackets.
Ms Willis said the only winner was the Government because it earned more tax revenue.
Under National’s tax brackets an average earner would save $1000 in tax each year.
New Zealanders could save or spend their own money rather than have the government indulge in wasteful spending such as the RNZ/TVNZ merger, consultants and the income insurance scheme.
Many Kiwis were still waiting for cyclone rebuilding and recovery.
Ms Willis was asked if the National Party should be polling well ahead given Labour’s resignations and general turmoil.
She said National would campaign well.
New Zealanders could see that the country needed to be turned around. National was ready to turn the country around with a 100-day plan from a committed government.
