Peters backs Mark for Wairarapa

TWO TICKS: NZ First leader Winston Peters (left) with Wairarapa NZ First candidate Ron Mark, mayor of Carterton, indicating they want two ticks this election. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

Wairarapa needs an MP who can "get things done" - and, says Winston Peters, that MP is Ron Mark.

The New Zealand First leader spoke to a 200-strong crowd at Masterton's Cosmopolitan Club, where he endorsed Mr Mark as the Party's Wairarapa candidate.

Mr Mark, the mayor of Carterton, announced his bid to stand for the Wairarapa seat last week, in what he described as "the shortest and [most] furious campaign in history".

"Ron Mark is a candidate who can win this seat," Mr Peters said.

"And he's a candidate who will do something once he's won it.

"I'm here to back him and you should, too."

Mr Peters praised Mr Mark's experience - 20 years in the military, 12 years in Parliament and four years as mayor.

He challenged the crowd to vote for an MP with a connection to Wairarapa.

"He's not like these others who need a map of the electorate.

"He's committed - he won't be learning on the job at your expense.

"You don't need an MP no-one knows anything about. When people are asked 'who is MP for Wairarapa?', they will be able to shout 'Ron Mark'."

Mr Mark gave a brief address which was met with loud applause.

He opened by saying he was "Back in Black" - and compared his hopeful election-night victory to the All Blacks' 30-point win over the Wallabies last Saturday. He said he has "learned a hell of a lot" as mayor of Carterton - and decided he'd be better off solving the region's problems "from the Cabinet table".

"Things like the care of our roads, our employment situation, low incomes, the local governance issues - these can't be fought at the mayoral level.

"These are big issues, to be fought from the halls of Parliament."

His speech was followed by a warmly received address from Mr Peters, who mentioned some of the challenges facing Wairarapa - lack of Government investment in the wine and farming industries, unemployment, housing prices, and stretches of land being sold to US film-maker James Cameron, who "no-one ever sees". He outlined New Zealand First's policies, including curbing immigration, stopping the sale of land to foreign investors, raising the minimum wage to $17 an hour and removing GST from food.

He and Mr Mark held press stand-ups afterwards, with the latter telling journalists he hoped his political gravitas will earn him the votes.

"People in Wairarapa know my track record," he said.

"Wairarapa used to be represented by deputy prime ministers and senior Cabinet ministers.

"We don't need anyone who doesn't know where the toilet is in Parliament."

When asked by the Times-Age what needed to be done to reduce inequality in the region, Mr Mark said the Government needed to focus more on the rural economy.

"Millions of dollars is being poured into social welfare - but, for rural communities, what about investing that in farming and export industries?"