Oamaru Hospital and the two referendums were top of the agenda at a meet the candidates event in Oamaru last night.
The Rotary Club of Oamaru’s candidates meeting at the Oamaru Opera House attracted most of the Waitaki hopefuls: incumbent Jacqui Dean (National), Liam Wairepo (Labour), Sean Beamish (Act New Zealand), Troy Allan (New Conservatives), Anthony Odering (New Zealand First), Heather Meri Pennycook (Advance NZ) and independent Daniel Shand. The Green Party’s Rangitata candidate Gerrie Ligtenberg attended for Waitaki’s Sampsa Kiuru, and Sustainable New Zealand candidate Brian Mowat-Gainsford put in his apologies.
After being given the opportunity to introduce themselves and outline their party polices, or reasons for standing as an independent, candidates fielded questions from the 200-strong audience.
The future of Oamaru Hospital and health services in the Waitaki district was first up.
Mrs Dean said the greatest threat to the hospital was the proposed amalgamation of district health boards.
"I do fear for the future of Oamaru Hospital over that, but having said that I know for a fact that your mayor and council are fighters and they will fight that with every bone in their body — as will I," she said.
Ms Pennycook said Advance NZ was also concerned about any suggestion to centralise health services.
"We are all about keeping control and governance in the regions," she said.
Mr Odering, Mr Beamish and Mr Allan did not specifically address Oamaru Hospital in their answers.
Mr Shand said he did not have any policies on Oamaru Hospital, but he welcomed feedback from the community.
Mr Wairepo said it was important to tackle issues at the hospital now, as the North Otago town’s population was ageing and the hospital could not afford to sustain the cost of locum doctors.
"This is not a new issue — and we’ve seen a few of the candidates on stage pussyfoot around the issue without actually addressing it," he said.
"We need to address the legislation ... it’s not working right now."
The two referendum questions were also tackled.
Mr Wairepo and Ms Ligtenberg said they would be voting in favour of both while Mrs Dean and Mr Allan would vote against both.
Ms Pennycook and Mr Beamish were undecided on the cannabis referendum. Ms Pennycook said she would be voting against euthanasia, while Mr Beamish was in favour.
Mr Odering and Mr Shand would not disclose how they would vote.
Candidates were also asked about climate change, tax cuts, the winter energy payment, and Environment Canterbury’s decision to approve Oceania Dairy consents to build a 7.5km pipeline and discharge treated wastewater into a coastal marine area.
