Now the island has three MPs fighting for its interests in parliament,
Di Worthy asked Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye, Labour list MP Jacinda Ardern and Green list MP Denise Roche how they see the next three years shaping up and what their aims will be.

“I aim to set up a cross-party group with Jacinda and Nikki to work on Auckland government issues if I’m elected,” Denise Roche promised before her list seat win on Saturday.

Now all three MPs will have the chance to show if they can work together despite some obvious differences.

Nikki believes National’s economic plan will lead to the creation of more than 150,000 jobs and planned additional investment in schools will improve education.

“And our rollout of broadband will start to bring New Zealand to the forefront of communications.”  

She says the next three years will offer a “real opportunity” to improve living standards for all New Zealanders.

But Jacinda and Denise do not see it that way at all.

“Unfortunately, I think we’re heading for harder times for most New Zealanders with the new National-led government,” predicts Denise.

“I’m concerned about the agenda John Key unleashed with the policies the party announced during the campaign.

“I don’t believe their direction will improve the economy or deal with the issues around unemployment and poverty.”

Denise thinks what people will get instead are electricity price increases due to asset sales, harder times for the poor “as this government implements its programme of punishing beneficiaries” and continuing low wages resulting from rising unemployment because of slacker controls in employment relations. She says it will mean less money to go round and less money to spend locally, making for a stagnant and depressed local economy.

Denise is also worried about the environment under National after an announcement  last week that gold exploration was due to start in a protected conservation area on the Coromandel.

Jacinda does not share Nikki’s optimistic forecast either and says National’s agenda for the next three years has made her worry the gap between rich and poor, and the squeeze on people in the middle, will continue.

“Add to that the short-sighted sale of assets and I am still not clear on how we will navigate our way through the many economic challenges we are facing in the longer term.”

However, Nikki maintains that the government is focused on helping the most vulnerable through policies such as insulation for state houses and free doctors’ visits for the under-sixes.

“We are also focused on getting more people into work through our economic plan.”

In terms of personal goals, she says she wants to work hard and deliver for Auckland and, among other things, aims to work for more investment in its schools. She will also work towards better environmental management of the Hauraki Gulf.

Denise plans to focus on waste minimisation issues and says she wants to explore how people can avoid creating it and more ways to divert it from landfill.

She is already considering introducing a private members bill.

“I want to work on strengthening our product stewardship performance and – subject to thorough investigation – maybe put forward a private members bill to introduce refunds on drink containers.

“As a passionate Aucklander, I think I can also make a contribution around Auckland issues too.

“As far as my ambitions go, I just want to do a good job. There’s a lot of people that put me here so it’s important I do as much as I can to make sure we get good Green policy through.”

Jacinda says she aims to be “the best local advocate I can,”. She says she was lucky during the last term to have been given opportunities such as taking on the employment portfolio and hopes those kind of challenges continue.

All three agree they are happy to work together on common ground as far as Waiheke and Auckland are concerned but there were different approaches between National and the other two parties in response to a question about long-term vision.

Nikki, Jacinda and Denise were asked how the result of the election might affect the balance between corporate and/or individual wants and the need to care for the planet and future generations.

“I think the large result for the Green Party will provide an opportunity to raise the profile and debate on important environmental issues,” says Nikki.

Jacinda and Denise both agree preserving the environment should be a priority but also want New Zealand to be a prosperous but fairer place for everyone 

A three-year electoral vision is just not going to cut it,” Denise believes. •