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Labor is talking about its chances of breaking National’s more than decade-long hold on Hamilton.
The two women vying for prime minister returned to Waikato on Wednesday for campaign visits that included a bit of politics and a healthy slice of political star power.
Jacinda Ardern, on her first visit to Hamilton this election campaign, was optimistic about Labor’s chances of wresting both the city’s electorates from National.
“This has been a region and a city that we have focused on,” said the Labor leader after a 45-minute walk through Hamilton’s financial district.
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“Part of that comes from having taken seats. We never take our eyes off those we have had, but it has also been because this is a region in which we must invest ”.
Ardern’s walk through the city drew a large crowd as the Labor Party worshipers, dressed in customary red shirts, held banners and waved at motorists passing by on Anglesea Street.
Labor last won the Hamilton West electorate in 2005, while National MP David Bennett has held Hamilton East for five terms.
Despite National’s recent dominance, Ardern said the city is winnable for Labor.
“I’ve probably always seen them like this because I’ve lived here when they were Labor posts.
“I know there have been a lot of changes, a lot of development, changes in boundaries, but I have never changed my mind.”
Tom Lee / Stuff
Labor leader Jacinda Ardern takes a walk through downtown Hamilton on Wednesday.
Hamilton-based Labor List MP Jamie Strange, who is standing in Hamilton East, said his own investigation pointed to close competition for the job.
Ardern said that Strange has been a valuable advocate for the city over the past period, noting a conversation he had with him and the mayor of the city about creating a drug court in the city. Since then, the government has committed funds for the initiative.
“Having those deputies from the city makes a big difference. Having them in a Labor government makes an even bigger difference and that’s the argument, ”Ardern said.
“If we could add [Labour’s Hamilton West candidate] Dr. gaurav [Sharma] to that list too, that would be even stronger. “
Dominico Zapata / things
National leader Judith Collins returned to her hometown Matamata on Wednesday and included a visit to J Swap contractors.
Ardern said he makes regular visits to Hamilton and observed changes in the city. The city center is “making a comeback” after being affected by commercial developments on the outskirts of the city. The central city has also become more pedestrian-friendly, he said.
“I think the development of the city center has come a long way. Now we must make sure that we are supporting destinations within that development, and therefore things like investing in the [Waikato regional] theater is a really critical part of that. “
As part of its campaign platform, National has committed to embarking on a controversial process to establish a new graduate medical school. The University of Waikato and Waikato DHB have previously pushed for a joint bid to create the nation’s third medical school, with a focus on meeting the health needs of underprivileged rural and provincial communities.
Tom Lee / Stuff
Labor leader Jacinda Ardern is talking about her party’s chances of winning back both Hamilton’s electorates.
Ardern supports an approach to attracting medical school students from rural communities, but said the country must take into account the costs involved in creating a third medical school.
“We need to be realistic about, in a population of our size, how many high-quality medical schools we can maintain.”
Earlier in the day, Ardern visited a farm in Mangatāwhiri, Waikato, to announce Labor’s $ 50 million policy plan to create a single planning framework for farms and a potential cost-sharing agreement to help farmers reduce your compliance costs.
The industry is already working on such agricultural planning, according to Labor.
The three key objectives of the policy were the plan itself, online tools and other assistance for farmers, and increased data sharing across the sector. An integrated farm plan was said to reduce a farmer’s need for resource permits.
Meanwhile, national leader Judith Collins visited Matamata on Wednesday and included a visit to J Swap contractors focused on agriculture.
