Shane Jones comes bearing messages

CIVIC DUTIES: Shane Jones wants Northland mayors to focus on building the region's jobs, growth and security.PHOTO/FILE

Labour MP Shane Jones has taken a couple of messages to both new Northland mayors.

Yesterday he was in Whangarei to congratulate Sheryl Mai at the swearing-in ceremony she had thrown open to the public in a gesture of new civic transparency and inclusion.

Mr Jones' other message for Ms Mai was the same one he gave Far North's new mayor John Carter on Tuesday - push at a central government level for the needs of your people.

"We've got two new mayors, or koromatua, and those community leaders need to turn their focus to their people's employment and sense of security," Mr Jones said.

"I struggle to think of a time when so many older people have complained to me about not feeling safe, not only around their home but in the community."

Mr Jones is the Labour party's shadow minister for Regional Economic Development and Maori Affairs.

"The stark facts of the matter are that our large, very youthful Maori population will make up more and more of the available workforce as time goes on. We need to plan for a future that has more young Maori entering the workforce, so let's help get them ready with relevant training, let's make them feel needed and useful and seek worthwhile outcomes."

Rather than wait for a lead by the "unrepresentative" regional development unit Northland Inc, the mayors needed to pull their weight in helping turn around the local economy, he said. Mr Jones has been critical of Northland Inc's structure in the past.

Northland is lagging behind in terms of building strong relationships with central government, whereas other regions were benefiting from having forged those ties, he said.

"The North has suffered from an era of fractured leadership. If Northlanders have to ask 'why aren't we seeing more of this up here' then get those new civic leaders on to it."

Labour proposed working on regional issues from inside the regions, Mr Jones said.

"One of the first things we're going to do is increase the Crown's role in forestry development with Maori landowners."

"Tweaking the tax system" would also allow the Government to finance Northland into marine and freshwater aquaculture industries which within 10 years could see fish farming earn the region as much as dairy farming currently earns.