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 ACT Party Waitaki Candidate Sean Beamish.

Name: Sean Beamish

Party: ACT

Where do you live: Lake Hawea

Electorate: Waitaki

Tell us why you are standing for your party:

"To promote the ACT party vote in the region and ensure the individual freedoms and rights of New Zealanders are maintained and defended within the halls of parliament."

Tell us a bit about yourself:

"Current job: Reliability Engineer

"Background: I grew up in the Catlins, went through school and Polytech in Dunedin and moved to Hawea fulltime when I was 19. I worked in maintenance at Cardrona Ski Resort in the mid 2000’s then headed to Western Australia for several years. I moved back home in 2015 and have been contracting in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Papua New Guinea most recently.

"Interests: Working overseas has afforded me some great travel opportunities. Wherever possible motorcycle touring has been my preferred mode of transport. I rode / swagged a 26,000km lap of Australia’s coast in 2014 before I came home, and have also ridden Cambodia’s Northern borders, the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, and 8 of the world’s 12 highest alpine passes through the Himalayas including Khardungla at 18380ft. I think it is an awesome way to experience a place, and exposure to the elements often causes you to meet people you never would otherwise."

What are the key issues you see facing this electorate? 

"All of NZ needs a path forward from the pandemic issues, our area is particularly reliant on tourism and migrant workers, so we need to get serious about finding a safe means of getting people in and out. We also need to stop persecuting our rural sector with poorly considered regulations and respect the vital role they play as our economic backbone."

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?

"I am standing to promote the ACT party vote in 2020, I believe the Waitaki deserves an electorate MP with the knowledge of parliamentary process to effectively represent us. I will be working to increase my own knowledge in this area with the view to seeking election in the future."

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

"I think inevitably the policy with the biggest medium-term impact will be the 5-Point Plan for Economic Recovery, but the wellbeing approach to Covid and backing tourism in a Covid world, RMA reform, rural policy offering real solutions for our primary industries, and upcoming SME policy will all help free NZ businesses up to succeed.

"To help inform your decision have a look at act.org.nz/policies for the policies relating to your own personal concerns."

What is your stance on energy security of Central Otago?

"There have been some short-sighted decisions made that have made us reliant on offshore energy sources with no consideration for the future of NZ energy. ACT is committed to developing a secure energy sector New Zealand in NZ. You can read more at act.org.nz/energy-and-resources."

What are your thoughts on water quality in Central Otago? 

"In my experience Central Otago has great water quality (with perhaps the exception of managing the spread of Didymo). We are very fortunate to live in an area with so many fresh water lakes, rivers and streams."

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?

"Electorate boundaries are always going to be drawn somewhere, I think there are prospective advantages in having more voices representing our region. And provided we elect good rational representatives there should be consensus on what will best serve our communities, regardless of where the invisible line lies."

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

"My ability to relate to people will certainly help, and my professional experience in practical delivery and rational decision making should assist me. I certainly acknowledge I would need to learn a lot more about operation within the political landscape to be effective."

Where do you stand on the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Referendum?

"This is a choice for New Zealanders to make.  

"If the public consensus is that legalisation should proceed, ACT will work to ensure the legislation is well thought out and provides the best outcome for NZ. This will include working through how the legislation interacts with other existing laws and regulations so there is clarity.  

"Examples of the questions we need to answer may be, "How does legalisation of Cannabis interact with employer requirements for a drug and alcohol free workplace?"; or "How does legalisation of Cannabis interact with the requirement not to operate a motor vehicle while impaired?".  

"I am confident that ACT can help deliver rational answers to such questions should NZ vote for legalisation."

And the End of Life Choice Referendum?

"I am a supporter of this legislation. It is only relevant to a very restricted set of circumstances and I think it is humane and respectful to give a person the choice."

Anything else you’d like to add?

"NZ deserves a higher standard of debate from our representatives in Wellington, we need that to deliver us better outcomes. I hope you’ll join with me in giving your Party vote to ACT to put more common sense into the conversation."

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