Dannevirke: Going all-out to clinch election win

TEAM KEY: Alastair Scott, National candidate for the Wairarapa electorate, and his partner Robyn Noble-Campbell in Dannevirke on Sunday. Photo / Christine McKay

Running for a seat in Parliament is a team effort, says Robyn Noble-Campbell, partner of Alastair Scott, the National candidate for the Wairarapa electorate.

"I've been keeping the family running and letting Alastair do his thing," Robyn said in Dannevirke on Sunday.

However, a road trip to Napier at the weekend and the return trip south with eight Young Nats was a chance for Robyn to meet the National team.

"It's been interesting," she said.

Mr Scott said the drive was still on to capture as many undecided voters as possible, with his team running a big telephone campaign.

In Dannevirke, the big ring-around is being led by National Party organiser Tim Delaney, who told the Dannevirke News it had been very positive.

"A lot of people previously identified as being 'iffy' have indicated they're going to vote National," he said. "The biggest opposition we have is complacency. We have to make sure we end up with a team which works together and not cats in a sack."

On the campaign trail, Mr Scott said the struggle that small-town retailers on the high streets were having was a common theme.

"Even busy towns like Greytown have their problems," he said. "It's important we avoid Labour's capital gains tax, because we want to incentivise capital and support businesses to grow.

"I'm also nagging for the two water projects in the electorate - the Ruataniwha dam in the Hawke's Bay and the Wairarapa water scheme - to go ahead."

Mr Scott said the announcement by the Government to extend its ultra-fast broadband network could mean Dannevirke would be a strong contender for inclusion.

"Faster broadband internet and fibre connectivity will be a boost to Central and Southern Hawke's Bay's future prosperity and ability to participate in the global economy," he said.

For the Young Nats accompanying Mr Scott on his bus trip it was a chance to have fun, discover great coffee exists outside Wellington and to spread the National Party message.

"We've been flat out, but it's been fun," Liam McNamara said.