Labour promises $12.5m to Canterbury health hubs

Labour yesterday announced it would spend $12.5 million in two Canterbury electorates, if elected in September.

After accusing National on Sunday of pork barrel politics in rolling out a $212 million regional roading package, Labour health spokeswoman Annette King announced Labour would invest $1 million in local non-government mental health services and double the number of nurses in the Canterbury District Health Board's schools-based mental health team.

It also intended spending $12.5 million for new health hubs in Rangiora and Akaroa.

Rangiora is in the National-held electorate of Waimakariri, which Labour MP Clayton Cosgrove is trying to regain after being ousted at the last election by retiring MP Kate Wilkinson.

National has selected Matthew Doocey as its candidate for the Waimakariri electorate at the September 20 election.

Mr Doocey stood unsuccessfully in the by-election held when Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel retired from national politics.

Akaroa is in the Port Hills electorate, held by Labour's longest-serving MP Ruth Dyson.

Boundary changes have given National hope it can win the electorate and recently selected businessman and iwi leader Nuk Korako as its candidate.

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