David Cunliffe
Labour Leader
14 October 2013
Census shows regional exodus under Nats
Census data being released tomorrow will depict a widespread exodus from the regions as provincial New Zealanders flee
small towns forgotten by the National Government, Labour Leader and Regional Development spokesperson David Cunliffe
says.
“Labour understands data being released tomorrow will show Kiwis are leaving towns that have been gutted by the hands
off approach of this National Government.
“Something must be done to turn around the compounding effect on our regions of an aging population and a loss of
opportunities.
“Job losses, factory closures, government cut backs and the shutting of branch offices have left people in the regions
with no choice but to leave in droves.
“Manufacturing is stagnating, economic development has been limited to glossy brochures and a few roads, mortgage
restrictions are being unfairly applied to the provinces and tax biases are driving money from the regions into the
Auckland property market.
“More than 27,000 people from Waikato have moved to Australia since the last Census, 22,600 from the Bay of Plenty and
11,500 from Northland.
“Over the same period 4,800 workers have lost their jobs in the Manawatu-Wanganui region, 4,700 in Otago and 3,400 in
Gisborne-Hawkes Bay. Meanwhile, real median weekly incomes have dropped since the last Census by $45 in Southland, $50
in Waikato and $24 in Taranaki.
“A Labour government will revitalise our manufacturing and export industries and breathe life back into provincial New
Zealand. We will be a hands-on government which will work with regional New Zealand to get the best out of our
provinces.
“A Labour government will harness our innovation potential and can-do attitude by funding research and development and
creating a value-added economy which benefits all New Zealanders,” David Cunliffe says.
ENDS