National aims to take back the Rangitata electorate in next year’s election.
During a visit to Timaru on Monday, party leader Christopher Luxon said he was determined to win back the electorate after the party lost it to Labour MP Jo Luxton in 2020.
Mr Luxon said National was determined to win back the seat, but it obviously had work to do.
‘‘We are really excited but we take nothing for granted.’’
Through the candidate selection process he wanted to make sure the party found a candidate who could really represent the community very strongly in Wellington.
Mr Luxon said he wanted a candidate who was of good character as Rangitata was a very important seat.
‘‘[We need to] make sure they really understand the issues and concerns of the people here; just finding someone who really understands the area well and can represent it well.’’
National held the Rangitata seat from 2008-2020, but in July 2020, MP Andrew Falloon resigned following allegations he had sent sexually explicit images to women.
In the 2020 general election, Labour list MP Jo Luxton won the seat by about 4000 votes from National candidate Megan Hands.
Mr Luxon said it had been very difficult, but Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean had done a very good job.
‘‘She has kept the party members in good shape.’’
Mr Luxton said key issues he had picked up during his visit to Timaru included the cost of living, the state of the education system, and maintaining a local, quality health system.
‘‘People are crying out for a government that has got good economic management and knows how to run an economy. ‘‘If we build a stronger economy, that is how we get a stronger health care system, better education system, stronger police force and protect our environment.’’
Another major issue that Mr Luxon came across while visiting South Canterbury was the frustration felt by farmers.
He said farmers needed to be respected and they also needed to be backed.
‘‘The rural community has been treated really poorly by this government, and being presented as villains when they are the backbone of our economy.
‘‘There is no plan at the moment, no economic plan by this government to actually run the economy and to deal with inflation properly.’’
