Where do they stand on Stockton?

Yes. I also signed the recent open letter.

I spent nearly seven years living in Western Australia, and I’ve seen firsthand what a successful mining sector can do for an economy and the communities around it. It supports good-paying jobs, creates opportunities for local businesses, attracts investment and can help fund the infrastructure communities need to grow.

Mining is about much more than what comes out of the ground. It’s about the people and businesses that benefit from it, and the opportunities it creates for future generations.

I believe we should be making the most of New Zealand’s natural resources, provided projects are economically viable, properly regulated and have appropriate protections and rehabilitation in place. We shouldn't be turning away investment and employment opportunities because navigating the consenting process has become too difficult.

Conditional yes

I did not sign the petition as I am opposed to the fast track itself. Mining is an industry that requires more oversight, not less and that includes environmental impacts as well as worker safety. The application was also for Stockton to remain in private ownership. What I do support would be for all coal mines to be returned to public ownership akin to NZ State Mines Department and not the debacle that was Solid Energy. The minerals in the ground are ours and all profits should be retained for the public good, not for overseas and private interest. Coal mining is a finite industry and I do want the state and the workers themselves with unions to manage the eventual transition. If and when coal mining is no longer financially viable, then I do not trust private interests to look after workers if the mine was to close suddenly.

What I'm sure of is that this district's future shouldn't rest on one company's application to a fast-track panel.

I support and stand by the workers and their families affected by the potential closure. They are my primary focus and I’ve heard their anxiety and the wider community’s. Those cannot be dismissed. I have seen the effects of sudden mine closures in the 80’s in Wales and in 2008 communities still haven’t recovered. I do not want this for Buller.

I know that many who have signed the petition also treasure and value our environment and the unique character of Denniston. For them, signing the petition wasn’t a case of dismissing environmental concerns, but the economic and social consequences of not having an extension of Stockton would be dire.

I don't support new open-cast mining on the conservation land of the Denniston Plateau. I do support the people whose livelihoods depend on Stockton and I am concerned for the future of Buller if this project does not go ahead.

Yes, on the condition of a publicly owned, worker-first managed transition. I stand behind Buller’s working people and the continuation of well-paid regional employment. However, that future cannot rely on multinational corporations exporting the profits and leaving Buller and NZ to carry the risks.

No – see question 2 response

Labour answered with one statement covering all four questions. It is shown here once.

Labour is not opposed to mining, but believes decisions on individual projects, including the Buller Plateaux Project, should be determined through a robust process. Labour is opposed to this Government's Fast-track Approvals Act because the Act overrides New Zealand's existing environmental laws and locks communities out of decision-making. In Government, Labour will fix the Fast-track Approvals Act so that environmental protections are not overridden and a proper process is followed.

That's because Labour believes decisions about mining must be made in New Zealand's best interests. That means appropriate government oversight, meaningful community engagement, robust environmental protections, and a fair royalty regime. Mining can contribute to regional economies and create good, well-paid jobs, but it must occur in suitable locations and in a way that maintains public confidence.

Responsible resource management is not an obstacle to investment or development; it is essential to building enduring social licence and certainty. Communities like Buller need that certainty more than most. Workers, businesses, and families should be able to plan for their future with confidence, knowing that decisions affecting their district will be made through a fair and transparent process, with their voices heard. A stable regulatory environment and clear standards give communities and industries a stronger basis to invest and grow than a system that overlooks local concerns or long-term impacts.

Yes I support the project. It supports many jobs for the Buller area and beyond. The development West Coast study undertaken by Info metrics demonstrates the Soring outcomes for Westport if the mind cannot continue.

YES.

I unequivocally support the Buller Plateaux Continuation Project and have signed the open letter of support.

I stand with the people of Buller who have spoken clearly in support of continuing Stockton and the jobs, families, businesses and community prosperity that depend on it.

For too long, the options and prosperity of the West Coast, and our ability to develop and use our own natural resources have been constrained by loud voices from outside our region.

I believe in responsible mining, strong environmental standards and proper rehabilitation. But those principles should not be used as a reason to prevent Buller from developing its resources and providing good jobs for its people.

As a former Mayor of the Buller District, I know that when a major industry disappears, the impact goes far beyond the mine gate. It affects contractors, businesses, families, schools, housing, services and the confidence of the whole community.

Buller should be able to determine its own economic future.

And we should be doing that from a position of strength, retaining existing industries while building new ones.

Yes New Zealand must utilise our mineral resources, use them here in NZ and reduce reliance on imported minerals of inferior quality.

YES - subject to the project meeting appropriate legal, environmental, safety, rehabilitation and operational requirements.

I support responsible economic development and, in particular, the right of communities to make productive use of the resources available to them where that development can be undertaken responsibly.

I do not believe that a community such as Buller should be expected to accept economic decline simply because an industry is politically inconvenient to people who do not live there.

The people who live in Buller understand their own community, its history, its employment base, its infrastructure and the consequences of losing major sources of employment far better than politicians sitting hundreds of kilometres away.

That does not mean that every development proposal should automatically be approved. It means that decisions should be based on evidence, proper assessment, sound engineering, environmental responsibility and the long-term interests of the community - rather than ideology.

Yes.
Buller people should have a strong say in their region’s future. I understand mining is controversial, however do support this proposal due to the community support and community benefits. However,harm, risks and uncertainties must be managed, including protection of water, wildlife and proper mine rehabilitation.

Undecided. I would like to see some more options considered. Perhaps doing it slower, or by shaft. I realise that is likely not commercially viable, but in same ways, that just proves that it is not really about the people of Buller at all, only about money.

100% Support.

ACT supports responsible resource development, removing unnecessary regulatory barriers and allowing businesses to invest, grow and create jobs.

The Buller Plateaux Continuation Project builds on an existing mining operation and infrastructure. I believe projects like this deserve a fair and timely consenting process.

We need to strike a sensible balance between protecting our environment and allowing industries that create jobs, export income and economic opportunity to operate. Those things aren't mutually exclusive.

Support with Conditions / Managed Public Transition.

The Alliance does not support this project as a private operation. Much of the coal under these plateaux sits on Crown land, and decisions about where it's mined and for how long should be made in the interests of Buller and the country. At the moment they're being made for Talley’s and Bathurst's shareholders. If mining proves unprofitable in the future, then these companies will have no hesitation closing the mines without worker and community input.

We would bring mining on the Buller Plateaux into public ownership and run it within its existing footprint while a transition is built with the community. New mining on public conservation land, including on Denniston, would be ruled out. Any other mining projects elsewhere would be done in a case by case process as coal is still needed, although as a party we are keen to invest in new and greener technologies.

We would also repeal the Fast-track Approvals Act. That wouldn't ban mining on the plateaux. It would mean any project there goes through a full environmental assessment, the same as anything else.

Support with Conditions / Managed Public Transition. Alliance policy is to bring mines into public ownership to manage a planned wind-down directly. 100% of industry revenues during the transition are ring-fenced to guarantee union wages, environmental restoration, and regional development.

Oppose –

Denniston Plateau is an irreplaceable marvel of ecology and geology that is a national treasure that should be protected for its intrinsic natural biodiversity values and as a scientific reserve for the good of ours and future generations.

Secondly, the Green Party has consistently opposed the Fast-Track Approvals process, including for projects such as coal, gold and seabed mines. The process overrides environmental protections, concentrates decision-making power in the hands of Ministers, and limits community participation.

Thirdly, we accept the International Energy Agency’s finding that reaching the climate target of net zero by 2050 means no new coal mines or mine extensions. We also believe Buller deserves secure, long-term work. Many in your community have lived through the uncertainty that has come with the region’s resource industries, and we want to see that uncertainty replaced with stable work.

We acknowledge that for many in Buller, this is about livelihoods and the identity of your community, and we take those concerns seriously.

Supports the continuation of the project.

SUPPORT.

New Zealand First supports the Buller Plateaux Continuation Project and supports responsible development of New Zealand's mineral resources.

Importantly, NZ First doesn't just talk about supporting mining, we have acted.

In Government, New Zealand First has supported the Fast-track approvals regime, which provides a streamlined pathway for projects of regional and national significance.

Winston Peters has backed major investment in the national rail network, while the Government has also put Regional Infrastructure Fund investment into critical minerals and West Coast mineral-processing projects.

New Zealand First has also proposed a comprehensive mining policy including that 50% of mining royalties be returned directly to the regions where those resources are extracted, for investment in infrastructure, transport, energy, water, housing and other regional priorities.

That is what genuine support for mining looks like: creating the regulatory settings, infrastructure and investment environment that allows the sector to grow.

The Buller Plateaux project is important, but it is also important because Buller and the wider West Coast have enormous, untapped potential in minerals and resource development. Stockton can help underpin the skills, infrastructure, supply chains, rail connections, and investment confidence needed to realise that wider potential.

Support

SUPPORT.

NZ Loyal is fundamentally a party committed to economic development, productive enterprise, self-reliance and restoring New Zealand's ability to make practical decisions in New Zealand's interests.

Our economic policies are designed around encouraging productive activity rather than continually increasing the regulatory and taxation burden on those who actually produce, employ and invest. Our published policies specifically recognise the importance of productive industries and reducing unnecessary regulatory barriers to economic activity.

That principle applies directly to Buller.

Coal, mining, agriculture, fishing, manufacturing, tourism, forestry, construction and small business all have a role to play in a productive regional economy. We should not be attempting to build an economy by shutting down productive industries and then hoping that replacement employment somehow appears.

At the same time, responsible business means doing things properly. Economic development must be accompanied by sound business practices, proper risk management, environmental responsibility, rehabilitation and accountability.

That is the standard I would expect from any major project - and it is the standard I would expect government to apply consistently.

Support.

Outdoors and Freedom supports local decision-making, local jobs and responsible resource use. We assess mining projects on their merits: the community benefits, environmental effects, and whether risks and uncertainties can be managed responsibly.

Oppose, In general the party opposes open-cast mining.

I want to see Buller build a stronger, more diverse economy, with mining continuing to play a role alongside other industries.

That means advocating for practical investment in the infrastructure businesses and communities need, supporting skills and training that give local people more employment options, and ensuring local businesses have opportunities to benefit from economic growth.

It also means making it easier for businesses to invest and expand, rather than burying them in unnecessary red tape.

A successful mining sector can help create the economic conditions for other industries to thrive. We should be using that opportunity to strengthen Buller’s long-term resilience, not treating mining and diversification as competing priorities.

If the project is approved, it buys Buller time. We'd make sure that time is used.

Three in four of the businesses that signed your letter employ five people or fewer. Our publicly owned Development Bank would offer them long-term, low-cost finance of the kind commercial banks rarely provide in small towns.

We'd bring Westport into a national coastal shipping network, with a publicly owned shipping line and coordinated ports, so the port has a future beyond coal. We also intend to invest heavily in rail and expand on rail.

KiwiWorks, our public works agency, would finish the flood protection Westport has needed since 2021, employing local people to build it. Having a ministry of Works and central government help, would mean the town isn’t saddled with debt.

And we'd fund a regional development plan for Buller, drawn up with the council, mana whenua, local businesses, and workers, rather than written in Wellington and handed down. We want a diverse range of employment opportunities and industries for not just Buller, but for all regions.

• Require mandatory environmental restoration bonds paid by the operator.
• Deliver low-interest finance to local small businesses, farms, and cooperatives through a publicly owned Development Bank.
• Upgrade regional transport, rail, and port links via KiwiWorks (Ministry of Works), using local labour and procurement.

Whatever happens with this project, Buller’s long-term future should not depend on a single industry. If the project proceeds, we would continue to work and engage with those in the community to support further options for diversification of industry in Buller.

Continue to make doing business easier through things like investment boost, which helps business renew equipment and machinery and upgrade technology and become more productive and efficient and give more options for growing the business and jobs in the region. We will continue to support ongoing regional economic development through instruments like Regional Infrastructure Fund.

We would support Stockton continuation AND diversification. It is not an either/or choice.

In fact, continuation gives Buller something extremely valuable: time, certainty, skills, investment and an economic platform from which to diversify.

I would advocate for:

• Continued investment through the Regional Infrastructure Fund in infrastructure that enables regional economic growth;
• Improved rail and port infrastructure so West Coast resources and products can get efficiently to markets;
• Support for mineral processing and value-added industries, rather than simply extracting and shipping raw resources;
• Streamlined permitting and consenting so businesses can invest with greater certainty;
• Development of new opportunities in critical minerals, gold, coal, forestry, agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and energy;
• Investment in housing, water, transport, energy and telecommunications where these are barriers to growth;
• Support for local businesses and contractors to capture more of the economic value generated by major projects; and
• Continued development of tourism infrastructure, including the Kawatiri Coastal Trail and other opportunities across Buller.
• Growth of Buller Resilience Trust funding for community led projects.

This is where the Buller Plateaux project becomes bigger than one mine.

The West Coast has enormous resource potential still to realise.

If we are deliberate and get the settings right, Stockton can be part of an ecosystem of investment, skills, infrastructure, processing and new businesses across the West Coast.

Our goal should be to work with our community to grow the economy, broaden it and create more opportunities for the next generation.

Not knowing the complexities of development process, I will engage with all involved parties to gain full understanding of the development process that also includes environmental rehabilitation, support local communities, businesses & local contractors.

We would not regard continuation of the mine as the end of the conversation. We would regard it as an opportunity to use the period of economic stability it provides to build a broader and more resilient Buller economy.

Our approach would include:

• Supporting investment in local infrastructure - particularly transport, rail, port facilities, flood protection, telecommunications, housing and other infrastructure necessary to support growth.
• Reducing unnecessary regulatory barriers that make it harder or more expensive for businesses to establish, expand and employ people.
• Encouraging local enterprise and investment, including manufacturing, engineering, contracting and value-added industries that can grow around existing skills and infrastructure.
• Supporting tourism and hospitality, using Buller's extraordinary natural, historical and recreational assets as part of a broader economic strategy.
• Supporting agriculture, fishing and other primary industries, rather than treating them as industries that must continually justify their existence.
• Encouraging apprenticeships, trades and skills development, so local young people have the opportunity to build careers locally.
• Supporting small and medium-sized businesses, because a regional economy is ultimately built on hundreds of individual businesses employing local people.
• Encouraging value-added processing and export opportunities, so that more of the economic benefit from New Zealand's resources remains within New Zealand.
• Working with the local community and councils, rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all Wellington solution.

This is where NZ Loyal's broader economic philosophy is important. We believe government should facilitate productive people and productive businesses rather than continually obstructing them.

As I have written recently, practical problems require practical solutions. That applies just as much to regional economic development as it does to national economic policy.

I would work to:
Listen to local people and support local solutions
Return a significant share of mining royalties to Buller through a locally controlled fund for its future.
Support new local businesses and development , tourism, farming, forestry and local processing. Imagine if we could turn wastes from extraction into opportunities.
Reduce unnecessary compliance costs for small businesses so cottage industries can thrive, including removing restrictions on local trading home kill, raw milk, cheese making etc
Stop aerial 1080 especially in water catchments so it's safe to drink water, hunt and fish
Improve roads, energy supply and digital connections.
Mining income should help build lasting opportunities for Buller, with investment decisions made locally.

One of our core pillars is to grow the next economy. We do not want anyone left behind because of decisions made outside of their control. No matter what the outcome is, Buller will be supported into diversification and new economic activities. Personally, I would love to see a future-mining research and technology centre based in Buller, as we already have so much expertise in the area, we should leverage that to create a better mining industry.

If the project doesn't proceed, the consequences for workers, families and local businesses need to be taken seriously.

I'd advocate for central and local government to work with affected workers, businesses and the community to identify practical alternatives. That includes helping workers transition into other employment, supporting retraining where it's needed, and identifying realistic opportunities to attract new investment and create jobs in the region.

I'd also push for a clear, coordinated plan rather than another round of reports and consultations that leaves the community wondering what happens next.

Buller shouldn't be left to manage the economic fallout on its own. But I also don't believe the answer is to simply replace one source of employment with ongoing government-funded support. The priority should be creating the conditions for sustainable businesses and real jobs.

If the project isn't approved, the Alliance would bring the existing Stockton operation into public ownership, so its jobs continue within the current footprint while a transition is planned with the community.

Mine workers would get funded retraining and redeployment, with time to make the move.

KiwiWorks would employ local people in rehabilitation work on the plateaux, including treating legacy acid mine drainage on Stockton. The company's own application says that treatment will be needed for the foreseeable future, whatever happens to the mine.

The flood protection and coastal shipping work in our answer to question 3 would go ahead regardless. Buller needs both, mine or no mine.

Buller needs a regional development plan regardless. The West Coast cannot sustain itself on tourism alone and leaving the economic future to private interests (the market) has also utterly failed. I also want more opportunities for younger people in the electorate for apprenticeships and training. Not every young person wants to go to university and so many feel they have to move away for work or training. This is why I am running and that is to be a good advocate for the electorate and to promote the interests of everyday person.

• Guaranteed state jobs. Union jobs through our new Ministry of Works (KiwiWorks) in housing, flood protection, infrastructure, and ecological restoration.
• Fully funded retraining and redeployment programmes with no loss of income.
• A $20,000 tax-free income threshold, free community healthcare and dental, and small-business prompt-payment protections.

Workers built this country, and the Alliance will never ask regional communities to carry the burden of transition alone.

The Green Party’s position is that no worker or community should be left behind as the economy changes, whether or not this project proceeds. We believe in a transition that is planned with workers, iwi and communities, not done to them. In practice, this means making available strong education options, retraining and/or wage support for those affected, and more regional investment into sustainable industries. Skills in mining, engineering, heavy machinery and construction are in demand in energy transition and climate-resilient infrastructure work, and we would back growth in those industries in regions like Buller. Our jobs and work policy sets out this vision in more detail.

We have confidence that The Project will be approved as it has put forward a very comprehensive application covering off all of the aspects that were required to be covered under the fast track legislation and Mining is a legitimate business in the area already.

If the project is declined, Buller should not be left to carry the economic consequences of a decision made in Wellington. I do not accept that it is possible to successfully transition in 3 years without significant long term economic impacts on the people of Buller and the wider West Coast.

It is far better to diversify from a position of strength than to try to diversify after deliberately removing one of Buller's major economic foundations.

That is why I support continuation.

However, if Stockton closes we would need an immediate and properly funded economic transition programme.

That should include:

• targeted government investment to replace lost economic activity;
• accelerated infrastructure projects capable of creating local employment;
• retraining and redeployment support for affected workers;
• assistance for contractors and local businesses that depend on the mining sector;
• investment incentives to attract new industries and businesses into Buller;
• support for mineral processing, tourism, agriculture, forestry, manufacturing and other sectors with genuine growth potential;
• accelerated investment in transport, energy, water, housing and digital infrastructure; and
• a dedicated programme to identify and remove regulatory barriers to new investment.

In the event the proposed project did not proceed
. I personally would like to see smaller scale Hydro power generation to meet the growing reliance on electricity and offer energy security for not only West Coast, also our region.
It’s time to consider Waist to energy plant ( example Shetland UK) to utilise current landfill waists as a resource not pollution, and to keep the rail network operating. This would help to reduce leech toxins into our water tables and soil.
West Port has the potential to become a retirement village centre as the great weather and geography make this proposal very appealing.

This is where I believe the government has an obligation to be honest about the consequences.

If the project is declined, the answer cannot simply be: "Those workers will find other jobs."

That is not an economic development strategy.

Buller would require a properly planned transition programme involving central government, local government, businesses, workers and the community itself.

NZ Loyal would advocate for:

• Immediate economic-impact assessment of the consequences for workers, contractors, businesses and the wider district.
• Retraining and skills programmes designed around actual employment opportunities rather than generic government courses.
• Temporary income and employment support for affected workers while they transition into other employment or establish new businesses.
• Targeted support for affected local businesses, particularly contractors and small businesses whose viability depends upon the mining economy.
• Accelerated investment in infrastructure, particularly projects capable of creating immediate employment while also strengthening Buller's long-term economic base.
• Development of tourism, agriculture, fishing, manufacturing, engineering and other productive industries with genuine commercial potential.
• Assistance for new businesses and investment to establish in Buller, rather than expecting people simply to leave.
• A coordinated regional economic-development plan, developed with the people of Buller rather than imposed upon them from Wellington.

Most importantly, I would oppose any approach that simply manages decline.

Buller should not be treated as a community that needs to be rescued from itself. It is a community with people, skills, resources, businesses, infrastructure and enormous potential.

The question should be: How do we unlock that potential?

That is fundamentally the approach of NZ Loyal.

We believe decisions affecting a community should be made with the community, not simply to the community. Local people are often the people best placed to identify both the problems and the opportunities.

I also believe there is an important distinction between responsible development and irresponsible development. Supporting productive industry does not mean giving any business a free pass. Businesses should be expected to operate professionally, meet their obligations, manage risk properly, protect workers and undertake appropriate environmental management and rehabilitation.

Government's role should be to establish clear and sensible rules, enforce them consistently, and then allow competent businesses and communities to get on with creating wealth and employment.

The Buller Plateaux issue is therefore bigger than one mine.

It is about whether New Zealand is prepared to allow regional communities to retain productive industries, create employment and build a future for their families - while ensuring development is carried out responsibly.

My position is clear: I support the Buller Plateaux Continuation Project, subject to it satisfying the appropriate statutory, environmental, safety and rehabilitation requirements. I also believe strongly that Buller's long-term future must extend beyond any one industry.

The best outcome would be a Buller that has the economic strength provided by productive existing industries while simultaneously developing new industries and opportunities for the next generation.

That requires investment, sensible regulation, good business practice and, above all, listening to the people who actually live there.

Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to respond. I would be very happy to speak with you directly and to hear more about the information and feedback you have gathered from the Buller community.

I would fight for a funded transition plan, developed with Buller residents, workers and businesses. My priorities would be:
Removing red tape to facilitate cottage industries
Transfer 1080 poisoning money into developing productive wild deer and possum industries
Immediate support for affected workers and families, including retraining linked to real jobs.
Infrastructure investment and help for local businesses to expand and employ people.
Protection of health services, schools and road access.
Buller deserves a credible plan with funding and jobs behind it.

The same applies as above, but the need for more immediate support becomes necessary. Again, we will support Buller into working through options for its future.

My view is pretty straightforward, we need more common sense in how we approach economic development.

ACT is very much pro-resource extraction. We know the minerals and resources we have here are needed, and increasingly in demand, for the technologies we rely on today and will need in the future. New Zealand should be making the most of that opportunity.

Having spent nearly seven years in Western Australia, I've seen what a successful resources sector can do for an economy and the local community. It's not just about what comes out of the ground. It's about good jobs, local businesses, investment and the infrastructure that helps communities thrive.

I'm less interested in catchy slogans and clickbait announcements, and more interested in getting on with the job. We want to see New Zealand's resources sector booming, while making sure we're doing everything we can to maximise the benefits for our local economies and the people who live in them.

Buller has hardworking people, valuable natural resources and real economic potential. We should be unlocking that potential, not putting unnecessary barriers in the way of investment and then wondering why opportunities are leaving our shores.

For me, this is about jobs, families, local businesses and giving the next generation a reason to stay and build their future in Buller.

Opening remarks

Kia ora Casey, Garry, Jessie, Josh, Steph, Tania, and Troy

Thank you for your open letter, and the opportunity to provide a response on behalf of the Green Party. From the outset we would like to acknowledge the views of the community, as presented in your letter, in support of the Buller Plateaux Continuation Project. We respect the effort put into capturing the views of those in the community,

We recognise that the Green Party approaches mining from a different starting point than many Buller residents. We still welcome respectful, frank discussion, including where we disagree.

Please find our responses below.

Closing remarks

Thank you again for engaging with us. We would be glad to meet or talk with you about the feedback gathered through Our Buller Future.

Steve Abel

What I want Buller voters to know

I spent six years as Mayor of Buller. I know what is at stake when decisions made outside our region affect the jobs, families and future of our communities.

For too long, the West Coast has had its choices constrained by people who don't live here and don't have to live with the consequences.

New Zealand First is different. We don't just talk about supporting mining, we've taken action.

We have backed Fast Track, regional infrastructure, rail investment and mineral processing.

We are working to streamline permitting and create greater certainty for investment.

And we believe the West Coast should benefit directly from the resources it develops.

The Buller Plateaux project is important for the jobs it provides today, but also for the wider resource potential it can help unlock across the West Coast.

We should be growing our economy, developing our resources responsibly and creating opportunities for the next generation, with the freedom to pursue the opportunities our region has to offer.

Buller doesn't need sympathy. It needs opportunity, investment and a voice that will stand up for it.

Opening remarks

Thank you for your email and for the work you have undertaken through 'Our Buller Future.'

The scale of the response you have received clearly demonstrates that the future of Buller is a matter of genuine concern to the people who live and work there. The issues you have identified - employment, family security, the viability of local businesses and the future of the community itself - are precisely the kinds of issues that political decision-making should be addressing.

I have considered your four questions carefully.

I will continue to listen, ask the hard questions and take action. I will stand up for West Coast–Tasman, without party politics or a party "whip" or hierarchy to stop me, support local enterprise and insist that decisions about our future include the people who live here.