UnitedFuture voters believe we need to encourage and fund local communities to make local decisions.
If you live outside of Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch, chances are you love where you live but also worry about whether your kids or grandkids will have a future in your town.
Concerns are growing that our provinces are being starved of investment, as Auckland’s growth demands more and more of the government’s time and money. Ageing infrastructure in our provincial heartland towns is overdue for renewal and economic opportunities need to be stimulated, to ensure attractive, well paid career opportunities are available for future generations.
Without this we risk the continued flight of our talented young people to main centres and further afield.
Talk to regional councils and economic development agencies and they will tell you what projects would make the difference for their communities. UnitedFuture believes central government should play a supporting, not dictating, role when it comes to enabling regional centres to enact their economic development initiatives.
We will use our influence in government to ensure central and local government work together in a new partnership of equals to achieve the economic potential of our regions.
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In October this year we have Local Government and District Health Boards elections. Traditionally voter turnout is not great. As someone seeking a third term on a local Council and a second term on a DHB this article is my ten cents worth on why I think public interest is limited and will include a few suggestions as to how we might improve democratic involvement. 
