Your questions: Michael Woodhouse - National - Dunedin North

Election 2008 Dunedin North and Dunedin South candidates respond to your questions.

AS part of The Star 's Election '08 coverage we offered all candidates standing in the Dunedin South and Dunedin North electorates the opportunity to answer some written questions compiled by The Star readers and The Star and Otago Chamber of Commerce staff. Candidates' answers were limited to 100 words per question in this week's The Star and were edited where necessary. Their extended answers are shown here.

 

THE QUESTIONS


1. Rail What are the chances of restoring a commuter rail service between Mosgiel and Dunedin during the next electoral term, and what is your medium/long-term vision for commuter/passenger rail services through Dunedin and the South? (Brighton resident Lorraine Johnston)

2. Taxation Will your party repeal taxation on unearned capital gain on foreign income that is in Taxation (Business Taxation and Remedial Matters) Act 2007, section 11, Foreign Investment Fund Income. (John Horrocks, Mornington)

3. Crime How would you address the escalation in violent crime, including domestic violence, in this country? (Business and Professional Women's group Dunedin/The Star/Chamber of Commerce)

4. Power What energy policies would you champion and what would you do to help Dunedin in terms of its old, cold homes? (The Star/Chamber of Commerce)

5. Health What is your opinion of population-based funding and what changes, if any, would you make to the current health system? (The Star/Chamber of Commerce)

6. Stadium Do you support the proposed Awatea St stadium? (The Star/Chamber of Commerce)

 

Michael Woodhouse - National - Dunedin North
Michael Woodhouse - National - Dunedin North

THE ANSWERS

1. Rail
In the medium term, I would like to see a mix of rail and bus services between Mosgiel and Dunedin. Clearly in our major cities of Auckland and Wellington, light urban rail is an increasingly important commuter transport option. Focusing on rail alone brings significant limitations. There are only two railway stations in Mosgiel and passengers would have to get to these two stations to catch the train. The capital costs of developing new stations are likely to be prohibitive. Instead, I would like to see a much greater range of bus services offering ease of walking access to the homes of Mosgiel residents and into the major work/student destinations in Dunedin city.

2. Taxation
While National opposed the introduction of the legislation, the party is supportive of the general intent of the Foreign Investment Funds regime - which was to remove inconsistencies in the taxation of investment income. National is looking at how to make changes but is cautious about meddling
with it if it is, in fact, working reasonably well - as the party does not believe making changes for changes' sake adds anything to confidence, certainty and long-term compliance in tax administration.

3. Crime
This is a huge question and I will focus solely here on young offenders. The major focus has to start with prevention - through enhancing family and parenting, more money in a family's pocket through tax cuts, lifting literacy and numeracy skills among youth and teenagers, greatly improving education
and training prospects for 16 to 18-year-olds through National's "youth guarantee'' education and training. For young offenders, we will extend the jurisdiction of the Youth Court to deal with 12 and 13-year-olds charged with serious offences, give the Youth Court power to issue a range of compulsory
orders (including, parenting and mentoring programmes and drug and alcohol rehabilitation orders) and develop intensive "fresh start'' programmes to help break the cycle of dysfunctional behaviour and help instil discipline and socially acceptable behaviour norms into the lives of young offenders.

4. Power
I strongly back renewable energy sources (hydro, wind, geothermal and developments in wave energy). Under Labour, the percentage of New Zealand's energy generation from renewable sources has dropped from 72 per cent to about 66 per cent in recent years. National has committed to a $15 million p/a programme for insulation state houses, $35 million for an upgraded solar water-heating scheme and we will work with local councils to provide financial assistance to help low-income households convert to clean heating. National's practical proposals are within the funds available at the "opening of the books'' - unlike the proposals from Labour and the Greens which will push out the existing deficits (projected for the next 10 years) by a further $1 billion.

5. Health
I am aware of the difficulties for Otago DHB in operating under a population-based funding formula. We cannot escape the consequences of our population growing more slowly than, for instance, South Auckland. What we can and must do is to move health sector funding from administration to front-line services. As an example, across the seven years from 2001, 14 of New Zealand's 21 DHBs (from Southland to Northland) have employed 809 extra doctors, but an extra 2022 additional managers and administrators.

6. Stadium
Ideally, I would love to see a new stadium developed in Dunedin, but I am very concerned about funding. Many Dunedin households will struggle to pay any rises in rates which might be brought in to help pay for the stadium.

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