This week, The Central App is introducing readers to the candidates standing for the Southland electorate. 

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 Airport's plans to develop an international airport at Tarras; and one other issue they wished to address.

Today, we hear from Dave Kennedy of the Green Party.

Housing and the cost of renting

Dave says there are huge pressures on housing supply and high costs for renting for lower income and key workers in Central Otago. 

“Green Party housing policy will limit rent increases to three per cent annually and provide government underwrites of community housing developments that provide long-term affordable rental and shared ownership housing. We believe that the pace of housing supply is not meeting demand and there should be greater urgency in addressing this,” he said.

Cost of living

“Our party is the only one to have a costed, evidence-based tax and income policy that ensures that 95 per cent of New Zealanders will be better off. Everyone will have an income that can put food on their table, have a safe place to call home and live a good life. We want to finally end poverty and ensure all children can have a good future.”

The future of tourism 

“Tourism is a major industry for New Zealand but is currently unsustainable and puts huge pressures on places like Milford Sound and Queenstown infrastructure,” Dave said. 

“There needs to be a greater emphasis on environmental impacts, sustainable transport and spreading the load across more communities. 

“There are opportunities in slow tourism as opposed to mass tourism that could be further explored and supported. Food tourism is a growing industry that has great economic potential. Tourism activities that impact local communities and cultures should be subject to community decision-making that focuses on long-term environmental, social, cultural and economic wellbeing.” 

Proposed airport at Tarras 

Dave said 84 per cent of Tarras households and 68 per cent of the wider catchment area were opposed to the development of an international airport beside their communities. 

“The business case has not been widely shared and communication with the community has been poor. The proposal appears to support the mass tourism model when local infrastructure is struggling to keep up with current numbers.” 

Other thoughts

“We are already experiencing the severe impacts of climate change around the country and need to ensure that our southern region does its bit to reduce emissions and plan ahead for the predicted changes. Ski seasons will be shorter and extreme weather events will be more common. Economic and social impacts could be severe if we don't have a strong plan and regional strategy in place.”