With early voting open in the run-up to the general election on October 14, the Central App is introducing you to those running in Central Otago, whether for the Southland, Waitaki or Te Tai Tonga electorates.

We asked each candidate to comment on some issues of concern to Central Otago residents and elsewhere: housing and the cost of renting; the cost of living; the future of tourism; Christchurch International Airports plans to develop an international airport at Tarras; and one other issue they wished to address.

Today, we hear from Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party candidates Rebecca Robin, standing for Te Tai Tonga, and Anntwinette Grimball, standing for Southland.

Rebecca says she entered the elections late and wishes she had got more time to korero [have discussions] with people across the Te Tai Tonga electorate, but people she had spoken with in Otago said the price of things going up was definitely an issue.

“But, also for them, the issue of cannabis still not being legally available and holding medical users to ransom at such exuberant prices no chronically ill person could afford is still a major issue,” she said.

Rebecca said she could not personally comment on the Tarras airport question.

Addressing her party’s central issue, she said 1.4 million people voted for the legalisation of cannabis in the 2020 referendum.

“They can’t be wrong or ignored [and] keeping it medical locks patients out of accessing their medicine."

Anntwinette Grumball (Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party, Southland)

Anntwinette Grumball, the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party candidate for Southland, said that, as a country, we needed to change the hemp laws from the Ministry of Health to the Ministry of Primary Industries so people could grow hemp for housing, and to replace such things as plastics, fuel and clothing. 

“Our government is stifling the hemp industry,” she said.

“I am passionate about hemp and cannabis, I have also been through the justice system for growing cannabis.”

There was no such thing as medical cannabis, as cannabis was medicine, she said.

“As far as housing, etc., goes, we are 20 years behind in getting hemp for roads, housing, and to use with other natural fibres, and other hemp fibre is imported as the only part of the plant used in this country legally was seed. 

“Instead of moneymen having control, let the people decide. Housing in Queenstown is ridiculous, workers have nowhere to live for work, the hotel industry really needs to take on board renting or housing workers.”

If cannabis was legal with restrictions, it would impact on the tourism trade with money able to be put back into health and education,” she said.

Anntwinette did not support an airport at Tarras. 

As her final comment, she said that those on legal medical cannabis should ask themselves why the isolates (cannabidiols) added were not produced in New Zealand.

“Keep New Zealand clean and green,” she said.