NZ First deputy leader Shane Jones may be controversial but showed he can still pull a crowd with a well attended public meeting in Paraparaumu on Saturday.
Jones and Kāpiti electorate candidate for NZ First, Penny Gaylor, were kicking off the party’s election campaign in the new Kāpiti electorate which extends from Ōtaki to the northern portion of Porirua City.
Gaylor, a current Greater Wellington regional councillor says she was thrilled with the turnout from Kāpiti Coast locals who came to hear Shane Jones speak.
“He covered the national and local issues that I’m also finding are at the forefront of people’s minds this election.
“There were a wide range of questions from the floor after his speech, and I’m sure people especially appreciated his response to the question of his position on future local government amalgamations.”
Jones said, “we felt the regional councils were undermining goodwill and progress.” Specifically asked if NZ First would support forcing Kāpiti to amalgamate with a greater Wellington-wide entity Jones told the meeting NZ First would not be forcing anyone to join if their community did not wish to.
Jones said there was value in an independent commission working through the matter carefully with communities. Gaylor says, for her, that reflects an appreciation and respect for locals to decide on their local government arrangements, and ensuring we get change done with us, not to us.
“Ahead of the meeting I’ve been able to elaborate with Shane on our local issues, transport, environment, local government, and giving that kind of useful input is why I’m running as the NZ First candidate.
“I believe my extensive experience as a representative is going to be incredibly valuable for Kāpiti,” says Gaylor who will be joined on the ballot by Melody Willis (Green), Chee-Khiang (CK) Sng (Opportunity), Tim Costley (National), Sophie Handford (Labour).