Questions sought to put to election candidates

August 22nd, 2014

Grey Power is hosting Motueka's main 'Meet the Candidates' public meeting in two weeks, and want you to submit your own questions below for candidates to answer.

The meeting, to be held at Memorial Hall on Thursday, September 4th starting at 1.00pm, will feature all three candidates for West Coast/Tasman seat from the three major parties: Damien O'Connor (incumbent, Labour); Maureen Pugh (National) and Kevin Hague (Green Party list MP). Other nominated candidates have also been invited.

Each candidate will make a brief opening statement, after which there will be questions on the issues that each candidate will answer in turn.

Questions will be from the moderator and the floor. Grey Power is soliciting public input for questions via this website.

Questions may be or in the comments section following this article, and the organisers will select a number of these for the meeting.

Organisers urge you to "get involved and get informed and submit your questions on the local and national issues you feel are most important in this election".

Please note that each question will be answered by all candidates.

Question from Peter Canton:
[Posted 23 August 2014]

Binding referendums ..... for or against? ..... and why?

Question from Jim Butler:
[Posted 23 August 2014]

(For all candidates) In the last 10 years total Local Body debt has quadrupled to about 8 billion dollars, the interest on which, about half a billion dollars a year, mostly ends up on overseas pockets. Tasman District Council has been one of the biggest borrowers. Do you agree that further borrowing by local bodies should be prevented? If so how do you suggest be done and preferably the debt reduced?

Question from Simon Thomas:
[Posted 23 August 2014]

Why do we pay half the government to run the country and the other half to try and stop them running it? Does the opposition really have to oppose everything? Think how much progress we could make if the parties could cooperate more.

Question from Rod Spooner:
[Posted 24 August 2014]

Do the candidates support the Financial Transactions Tax as a replacement for the current taxation system(s)? Reasons, please, either way. If supportive, what have you personally done about it?

Question from John Rimmer:
[Posted 25 August 2014]

What measures will you take to tackle tax evasion?

Question from Ron Sharp:
[Posted 25 August 2014]

What is your party doing about Climate Change?

Questions from Joanna Santa Barbara:
[Posted 25 August 2014]

1. Will you introduce a carbon pollution tax to provide some protection from climate change? If not, what do you have to offer that will be equally effective in reducing carbon emissions?
2. Climate scientists calculate that 50-80% of fossil fuels must remain in the ground, unmined, if we are to succeed in climate protection. What are your plans for NZ coal in this respect?
3. Will you do something to remove the veil of secrecy around the negotiations on the TransPacific Partnership Agreement? Will you ensure it does not override our right to form legislation that can't be overridden by corporate interests?
4. What will you do about growing economic inequality in NZ?

Question from Lee Searle:
[Posted 31 August 2014]

At this election 550+ candidates will be standing (by choice and not out of necessity) for about 120 jobs. Given the number of applicants, the already generous remuneration packages, and a free market economy, why is the Remuneration Authority's input needed?

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