In this series of interviews in the lead up to the general election on 17 October, The Central App gives you the opportunity to learn more about your election candidates with a simple Q&A. 

The Central App sent out a questionnaire to all electorate candidates in both the Southland and Waitaki electorates, to give them the opportunity to introduce themselves to you in their own words. 

Central Otago is divided and represented by both Southland and Waitaki electorates. 

Today, The Central App put the questions to New Zealand First Waitaki Candidate Anthony Odering.

Name: Anthony Odering

Party: New Zealand First

Electorate: Waitaki

Where do you live: Dunedin.

Tell us why you are standing for your party: 

“New Zealand First is the moderating force in Parliament and the voice of reason. I want to stand up and be counted in that number.”

Tell us a bit about yourself:

“Current job: Driver

“Background: Qualified Nurseryman

“Interests: Photography”

What are the key issues you see facing this electorate? 

“The recovery of the economy will be from the regions, requiring strong government stewardship and stable international trade. This is the foremost concern for the Waitaki electorate, as a region heavily reliant on agriculture and tourism. “

If elected, how do you intend to keep up to date on local issues and close to the needs of the people in your electorate?

“Every electorate in the country has the same size of population (plus or minus 5%.) Geographically the Waitaki electorate is vast and segmented and Parliamentary services provide only one electorate office per MP. This makes the decision as to where that office should be, to best serve the whole of this electorate, virtually impossible. As a practical solution it would appear a travelling circuit roster might best serve this electorate, and that, would very much depend on the bureaucratic agency of Parliamentary services.”

What do you see as the key policies of your party that will make the biggest impact for the people in your electorate?

“Jobs, jobs, jobs. The Provincial growth funding, that has been so successful in this term, is still needed. It has been a great start, but the recovery from decades of neglect of our essential infrastructure requires expansion of this scheme, to support the industries that provide the work opportunities for our people.”

What is your stance on energy security of Central Otago?

“Saving the Aluminium smelter from closure is fundamental to protecting this electorate, and indeed the whole country from a crippling spike in power price charges.”

What are your thoughts on water quality in Central Otago? 

“Funding and support for riparian planting and fencing is a practical initiative to protect our waterways from leachate associated with agricultural activities. Additionally, water storage facilities naturally slow the speed of a moving body of water, allowing silt and sediment to precipitate out, resulting in cleaner water flowing downstream from each catchment. NZ First support these initiatives.”

Do you think it has any advantages/disadvantages that Central Otago is now going to be represented by two different MPs? What about if they end up being from two different parties? “Surely greater representation in Parliament is a good thing? If the people choose two different parties in that process isn’t that their right?”

What skills and attributes do you have which make you believe you will be a good MP?

“Living and working alongside ordinary New Zealanders provides an affinity to the issues we all face and a desire to improve our collective lot. Articulating that in Parliament is the true function of the representation we all seek. Coming into the public spotlight; being prepared to sacrifice a private life, for the benefit of others, and do that well, requires personal fortitude. Having the will to pursue deep seated and long-standing social and economic issue also requires stamina and drive not common in everyone. The ability to project that vision of a better society, that we the people want, is a skill that is sorely needed in Parliament.”

Where do you stand on the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Referendum? And the End of Life Choice Referendum?

”Both of these issues have gone to referendum so the people can decide for themselves. Access to independent unbiased and comprehensive information, to allow people to make that informed decision, is readily available. The question I ask is, should a politician’s personal opinion be kept to themselves or used to sway a political outcome? I’ll leave that up to you to decide.”

Anything else you’d like to add?

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