Does South Dunedin lack entrepreneurship?
Dunedin South National candidate Joanne Hayes suggested the area lacked both entrepreneurship and enthusiasm when asked at a Dunedin South candidates' meeting last night to address "bigger picture" issues such as the loss of jobs at KiwiRail's Hillside workshops.
Ms Hayes did not directly address the redundancies, instead focusing on wealth and job creation. "Where's it all gone?" she asked the audience.
The wealthy "do it on their own", she said. They did not go on marches or look for handouts.
Her message did not please some of the 100-strong audience.
Ms Hayes encouraged the audience to be "more proud" of South Dunedin, prompting a cry of "We are!" from one person.
Dunedin South MP Clare Curran (Labour) took "great exception" to Ms Hayes' comments, saying there were numerous examples of innovation and talent in South Dunedin.
The Hillside redundancies were a prime example of the skills South Dunedin could not afford to lose.
Alliance Party co-leader and Dunedin South candidate Kay Murray also objected to Ms Hayes' assertion, saying there were many hard-working people in South Dunedin.
Inequality, jobs and education were key themes at the meeting.
Also at the meeting: Green Party, Shane Gallagher; Democrats for Social Credit, Warren Voight; Act, Kimberly Hannah; Restore All Things to Christ, Robert Wansink.
