Yes, with 100 days to go, election season is upon us.
The campaign for votes in the newly created Taieri electorate began in earnest yesterday as National Party finance spokesman Paul Goldsmith made a flying visit to the South.
He and National Taieri candidate Liam Kernaghan visited the Burns Group site in Mosgiel, the first official event of Mr Kernaghan’s campaign.
It was seeking 25 class 5 truck drivers, but managing director Malcolm Burns said they were hard to come by.
"There’s not enough incentive, and that’s not politicking.
"There’s a lot of talk in the market about apprenticeships, but where some of the primary industries really need the support is in those practical roles.
"Driving is a profession that you can get very well paid at.
"It’s actually getting the focus, having the realisation that the practical needs of primary industries need those positions, those roles being filled."
Shortly afterwards, both politicians clambered into a logging truck to see for themselves.
Mr Goldsmith said it was encouraging to be at a business that was expanding, hiring people and "wanting to get cracking".
"The broader context is a time where we need to rebuild the economy and have a real focus on private-sector-led growth, and our broad issue with the current Government approach is that it leans very heavily on Government spending and increased debt.
"We see a much greater role for private sector investment like this."
Mr Kernaghan had earlier criticised the Government for forgetting about the electorate.
Mr Goldsmith said the South was "one of the most productive and efficient and effective areas of the country".
"When we’re going through a crisis like this, we’re reminded of the real importance of the heartland of New Zealand.
"We want to do everything we can to enable people to get back working hard."
Mr Kernaghan will face Labour candidate Ingrid Leary, Green Party candidate Scott Willis and Act New Zealand’s Robert Andrews in September.
People can expect campaigning to ramp up over the coming months, after parties suspended their efforts when lockdown began.
The successful Taieri candidate will take over from Labour MP Clare Curran, who is retiring from politics.
