September 1999

UNITED LEADER TO VISIT WEST COAST

United New Zealand leader, Hon Peter Dunne, is planning to visit the West Coast next week to see first hand the impact of forestry development plans for the region.

Mr Dunne says he is especially concerned about the way the Labour Party seems to have hung its local MP, Damien O’Connor, out to dry on the issue, and he has noted with interest the split this is causing in Labour’s local ranks with prominent Party stalwart Ross Overton threatening to walk away from the Party.

“United believes strongly that regions and communities have the right to make their own decisions.”

“What is good for the West Coast does not have to be good for Auckland,” he says.

Mr Dunne says United encourages regional and community diversity.

“The vitality of our various communities is what makes New Zealand tick, not the other way round,” he says.

He says that if the beech logging plan is good for the West Coast and will produce jobs for local people, it should be supported.

“The West Coast needs economic development and opportunities, not politically correct platitudes,” he says.

ENDS

New Zealand’s Liberal Party

MEDIA STATEMENT
HON PETER DUNNE, MP
LEADER UNITED NEW ZEALAND
Parliament Buildings, Wellington 1.
e-mail: peter.dunne@parliament.govt.nz. Internet Address: http://www.united.org.nz

New Zealand’s Liberal Party

© Scoop Media