Editorial: MPs have 100 days to deliver

The elections are over and Hawke's Bay has four new (old in two cases) electorate Members of Parliament.

Now they have the job, it is fair to ask what they are going to do to improve the lives of those who elected them?

Last week Hawke's Bay Today asked the MPs their five top priorities in their first 100 days and when that time is up, we will see what they have achieved.

MP for Tukituki Craig Foss's number one aim of "working with community groups to seek solutions to the poverty that some children suffer" could be considered quite unusual to be the top priority of a National Party MP. Mr Foss readily admits that his Labour opponent Anna Lorck pushed him hard and obviously her relentless social issues campaign struck a cord with him. She may not have won, but she got him to listen. Maybe he should extend a hand across the divide and get Ms Lorck to help him find solutions to the problem.

At first glance, new Napier MP Stuart Nash's list is very impressive, but it is a list of meetings - DoC about stopping the seismic testing in Napier, Napier City Council about economic development, anti-amalgamation groups about a strategy and the DHB about Napier Health Clinic. Let's hope all this talking achieves something.

Ikaroa-Rawhiti MP Meka Whaitiri's list of four was quite general and non-specific, but there is no doubt she will work hard to be the voice of the people.

Wairarapa MP Alastair Scott's answers show he is keen to learn as a first-term MP, but his large electorate ensures he will need to be energetic to fulfil his mandate.

Rest assured, when the 100 days are up, we will tell you if the talk has turned into action.