From Queenstown to Queensland – heartland heads to Australia

New Zealand’s regional heartland has turned into a training centre for the Australian economy, says Labour’s Finance spokesperson David Parker.

“All across our heartland people are packing their bags and heading to Australia. They’re going from Queenstown to Queensland, the West Coast to the Gold Coast, from Northland to the Northern Territories. And they’re not coming back.

“Rural New Zealand’s main role is now training talent to send to Australia. Many of our regions have lost more than one per cent of their population to Australia in the last year alone. Nelson lost 460 people and Whangarei lost 1,200. Small regional towns will struggle to survive if they keep losing people.

“National doesn’t seem to know what’s happening to heartland New Zealand. Labour does. People are leaving because there is a lack of opportunities and the only jobs available pay a low wage.

“National old low-wage economic ideas assume agriculture will keep people in the regions. We can see that’s failing. Labour knows the key to keeping Kiwis in cities and regions is create opportunities and jobs that pay a good wage.

“Labour will develop a modern economy that will ensure exporters get investment to sell more overseas, create higher-wage jobs and open up more opportunities that will keep Kiwis here.”