National's Joseph Mooney is the new electorate MP for Southland
New National Party MP Joseph Mooney will serve his first term in Parliament in an electorate that showed some dissatisfaction with his party on Saturday night.
Mooney is the new electorate MP for Southland, but Labour won the party vote.
The new Southland electorate encompasses much of the former Clutha-Southland area, which has traditionally been a National stronghold and was home to former Prime Minister Bill English for more than 20 years.
“The very first thing I’ll do is try to get [fruit] pickers on the ground and Recognised Seasonal Employers workers, because we have a crisis on our doorstep in Central Otago. Queenstown and Te Anau are also heavily reliant on migrant workers and Kiwis aren’t doing that work, so we need to get people on the ground in there," Mooney says.
“Also our rural contractors and farmers are heavily reliant on migrant workers because Kiwis either aren’t doing that work or they’re not trained to do it.’’
Poll: Do you think banning gang patches is reasonable?
With the government cracking down on gangs, it is now illegal for gang members to display their insignia in public places whether through clothing or their property.
This means arrests can be made if these patches are worn in places like restaurants, shops, on public transport or ferries, and on airplanes. Arrests were made recently at a funeral.
Do you think this ban is reasonable?
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76.4% Yes
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22.3% No
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1.3% Other - I'll share below
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
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82% Yes
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15.3% No
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2.7% Other - I'll share below