Key visit unlocks charm with Bay voters

24th October 2008

LAWRENCE GULLERY

National leader John Key hit his target audience yesterday when he arrived to claps from more than 200 people who had gathered to hear him deliver policies for our senior population at the Hastings Baptist Church.

Mr Key's visit to the Bay included a walk around the Taradale Shopping Centre speaking to the Hastings and Districts Grey Power Association in Hastings and then making an appearance at the Hawke's Bay Show.

At the Baptist church, Mr Key outlined National's superannuation policies. He promised he would keep the age of eligibility at 65 years and that payments would be higher, starting from 66 per cent of the average tax wage.

Mr Key said his party would take a harder line on law and order, encourage more health professionals to stay in New Zealand and hold a referendum on MMP.

Under law and order, National would initiate an "army-style boot camp" for young offenders and introduce 600 new police staff, half of which would go to Auckland.

"We are seeing an increase in violent crime, youth crime is on the increase, we are going to take a broader range approach to solving law and order," he said.

The corrections boot camps would also include mentoring programmes for offenders once they are back in the community.

"Some might say the boot camps don't work but they will work with the right support," the opposition leader said. Questions from the audience also covered law and order as well as assurances life would be better under National with changes to the way ACC was run, health services, power companies and the environment.

"I would support a situation where ACC remains but have some competition which would improve services over time," Mr Key said.

He also outlined his wishes to bring the sacked Hawke's Bay District Health board members on to a governance role to help run health services in the region.

The National leader told children to be "well behaved" when they return to school after the long weekend.

Mr Key said he thought the election would be close.

"You've got to get out there and earn the support of the public," Mr Key said.

Taradale couple Edna and John Heslop said they would be voting for Mr Key and thought it was nice that he "walked amongst the people and talked to them".

They both felt he would do well at the coming election.