The regional economy: What the candidates say

The Rotorua Daily Post asked the region's seven electorate candidates if they were seeing an improved economic state, if the regions were dying, and what they would do to revive our region.

Tamati Coffey - Labour Party Rotorua electorate candidate.

New Zealand's regions need help. The focus on Auckland and Christchurch has been to the detriment of our regions - just ask the Royal Society of New Zealand, who believe some areas may need to be red zoned. Last year's Census showed a third of the regions are shrinking. Only Labour has the policy with targeted programmes to reinvigorate provincial New Zealand. For Rotorua, this means a focus on forestry and ensuring fiscally responsible measures are in place to build the future of New Zealand with local jobs from planting through to manufacturing. Focused dynamic thinking from government is needed to match the spirit of our regions.

Pat Spellman - New Zealand Independent Coalition candidate for Waiariki.

I think our economic situation is getting better - but there's a long way to go. There are a few fundamental features to any successful economic situation and we need to be honest about how we approach them. This is where the party politics need to be set aside and our MPs focus on the people. Our regions are struggling - but it's not all a result of a lack of jobs, fulltime workers are still struggling to make ends meet and that won't change until there's a government that champions a fair wage economy - paying hard-working Kiwis what they're worth.

Rotorua MP Todd McClay.

Unemployment's at its lowest since 2009. In the BOP it's down from 7 per cent to 5.6 per cent. Almost every region has seen growth as regional New Zealand leads the way to a stronger, more resilient economy. $500 million invested in BOP roads, bringing Rotorua closer to New Zealand's busiest port, ultrafast broadband and investments in tourism and science including $160 million for forestry research are part of this. Despite the Tachikawa closure, wood processing has grown with local companies investing millions to grow export markets and jobs. National is focused on creating a skilled workforce with significant investment in trades training and better employment opportunities.

Rawiri Waititi - Labour Party Waiariki electorate candidate.

Waiariki is among the most deprived areas in the country and those deprived areas I speak of are the focal centres of many of our iwi. Labour is focussed on developing our regions with policies no other party has matched. We will invest $200 million into a Regional Development Fund to create jobs and growth, support manufacturing in the regions, invest in youth training and work with iwi to develop regional growth plans. When I'm elected, I will make sure that Waiariki gets its fair share and I will ensure the forgotten smaller regions in Waiariki are given the voice they deserve.

Fletcher Tabuteau - New Zealand First candidate for Rotorua.

"Youth, Regional Development, Working Together," is my campaign focus for this election. Simply because Government is not doing enough. There's a hundred things that can and should be done to develop our region. I have been a small business owner, I've been a registered business mentor for eight years, I'm an economist and I work closely with Rotorua industry in my current job in education. What will I do for Rotorua? I will bring that skill set and a passion to support and be an agent for growth in the Rotorua electorate. Rotorua can be at the heart of our country's future.

Annette Sykes - Mana Party Waiariki electorate candidate.

A key priority for Mana is jobs for all. Full employment hasn't been a government goal for 25 years and this needs to change. A small decrease in unemployment here doesn't change the big picture - 7000 people are still jobless. The trickle-down theory, where government props up big business who then supposedly create jobs, hasn't worked and hasn't actually worked anywhere in the world. Creating jobs requires specific government investment and incentives. Mana will invest in regional employment strategies, including building state housing, new community service jobs in schools and hospitals, processing resources (eg logs), and small business start-ups.

Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell.

Statistics show our economy is going in the right direction. Maori unemployment has dropped from 12.8 per cent last year to 11 per cent - its lowest in seven years. Employment inequities between Maori and non-Maori are still unacceptable but it's encouraging to see a significant rise in the number of Maori in employment. In the Budget we secured funding for research and development, as well as targeted assistance for Maori tourism, particularly important for Rotorua. If re-elected I will look at expanding the Maori and Pacific Trades Training Scheme and implementing creative partnerships between iwi, tertiary providers and industry so we can continue growing the number of Maori in paid work.