Napier
Stuart Nash - Labour Party MP
There's nothing here that makes me say Hawke's Bay businesses are going to really love this. In terms of economic development I would have liked to have seen a whole lot more for the regions. When times are good, as they are, you would hope there would be more to help the regions grow. I would have loved to have seen something that gave small to medium businesses the capital to expand their businesses and take them to the next level, creating jobs and wealth in the region. I'm surprised that given the fact the main strategy of the policy is to focus on crime prevention that more was not given to this area. Although there is support there for families, for a single person on a minimum wage there's nothing in this budget that will really help them.
David Elliott - National Party candidate
There's nothing specific for Napier but in the wider picture when you have this government commitment to investment it makes it so much more important that we have a strong voice in Parliament to represent our region. We would like new roads and classrooms - it's a matter of being there and making sure we get our share. I think this is the type of budget you can present when you have built a solid platform and are now getting the chance to deliver. I was pleased to see extra money there to teach kids while they are at school about financial things like budgeting and interest rates.
Damon Rusden - Green Party candidate
As far as I can understand the health budget includes the pay equity settlement costs - $1.45 billion of the $3.9 billion total spend. It's reflective of National once again spinning the numbers, just like they have with unemployment. There's also nothing on climate change - just putting money into research with no action. The tax cuts are inequitable - although there are Working For Families changes, single people are being left out. In terms of water quality, rural areas are still being left with polluted rivers while the polluters continue to be subsidised.
Wairarapa
Alastair Scott - National Party MP
The infrastructure investment will mean more and better roads - I'm hopeful that will include the Manawatu gorge - that's on my wishlist, but it will take a while for the Minister work out priorities and designs. I wanted to see more emphasis on families so I am very pleased this budget is very much focused on this. Overall, everyone wins with this budget - most importantly every taxpayer wins because of the growing economy. The forecast surpluses are good, but the measures we are taking are still prudent - we are not spending every penny now, it's not a lolly scramble - it's realistic, sensible and affordable.
Kieran McAnulty - Labour Party candidate
I'm concerned that there is still significant shortfalls despite nine years in government, especially in health and education. The fact is DHBs are still short $200 million a year of what they need and education is short $70 million a year when we have regular reports of overcrowding and falling standards. It's a case of priorities - my particular area of interest is regional development and I am disappointed there are no measures to look at investment in rural areas like Central Hawke's Bay at a time when wages are going down and there are limited employment options.
John Hart - Green Party candidate
It feels like a missed opportunity - it does little for people that really need help, certainly not enough to make up for the underfunding that has gone on for so long. From an environmental perspective, the budget gives $1m for a clean-up fresh water initiative but that's dwarfed by the $60 million going into irrigation schemes. Although the Department of Conservation has had an increase in funding most of that is tagged to tourism and not the conservation that is its core job.
Ikaroa-Rawhiti
Meka Whaitiri - Labour Party MP
I would have liked to see more commitment to the Napier/Gisborne railway - I did not see that there would be a lot of investment in this region, which is a shame as we are on the verge of really accelerating especially in terms of our growers and tourism. I could see no investment in the leading rural industries in Hawke's Bay that would have helped us make the leap we are capable of. I also would have liked to see more spent on social housing for the regions, not just Auckland, as well as investment in mental health, addiction and suicide - areas where we are under siege.
It's not a budget for our young people who are wanting to study - we have a lot of young people travelling away to study and this budget makes it no easier for them to live and eat.
Marama Fox - Maori Party candidate
The Māori Party has secured budget for a suite of initiatives covering whare, marae, kōhanga reo, whenua, reo and Māori broadcasting - all kaupapa that reflect our inherent faith in ourselves, to know what is best for us. It sees $21 million for Māori language and culture, including $5 million to help make it easier for tamariki to access kōhanga reo. This means $58.5 million since 2014, has been secured to help whānau connect to their language, culture and identity. We are also committed to initiating home ownership trials for whānau, and to reducing the rates of family violence through facilitators able to support whānau.
- NZ First candidate for Wairarapa Ron Mark could not be contacted as he is overseas.