Adversaries' election wheels in motion

Labour's Tamati Coffey (left) and Grant Robertson visit the people at the Ford Rd shopping centre in the party's big red bus. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

Two of Rotorua's election candidates spent very different days on the campaign trail in and around the city yesterday.

Labour's Tamati Coffey took senior party politician Grant Robertson on a tour of the electorate in his big red bus, while Todd McClay chauffeured Cabinet minister Paula Bennett around town in his signwritten 4WD.

With a month to go before the general election on September 20, the frontrunners for the Rotorua seat are upping the ante.

As well as meeting small-business owners and community groups, Mr McClay and Social Development and Employment Minister Ms Bennett visited Mokoia Intermediate where the national Science Roadshow was in full swing.

Ms Bennett said she was enthusiastic about supporting her "mate" Mr McClay in his quest for re-election.

National's Paula Bennett and Todd McClay with Mokoia Intermediate Year 4 students Amber Reed (left) and Miyume Yema. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

"Rotorua is a success story from a social development perspective," she said.

"Benefit numbers are coming down and your sole-parent numbers are stunning. There are around 250 fewer sole parents on benefits here than there were 12 months ago.

"These people are getting off the benefit and into work."

She said when those people worked for at least 20 hours a week and combined their accommodation supplement and child-care support they were "quite a lot better off than on a benefit".

Meanwhile, Mr Robertson and Mr Coffey spent the day visiting shopping centres and schools in places where politicians are rarely seen.

Mr Robertson said their visit to Mihi School in Reporoa was a highlight.

"They said they hadn't seen a politician out there in years, but it was important to get around the whole electorate," he said.

One of their last stops was the Ford Rd shopping centre, where Mr Robertson said there was a real need for Labour's policies in the less affluent parts of the country.

"Our policies are targeted at these people who need safe, warm homes, jobs and a fair wage.

"We want to be a real partner for regional New Zealand, where there is a need for quality housing under our Healthy Homes policy and support for families under our Best Start package where people will be better off by $60 a week," he said.