New Zealand First has selected scientist and outdoor recreation advocate Dr Hugh Barr as its candidate for Ohariu at the General Election on November 26.
Dr Barr has an extensive background, of over thirty years, in outdoor recreation, and similar experience as a consulting scientist dealing with many issues central to New Zealand’s prosperity and wellbeing.
He says he is especially concerned about restoring Crown ownership of the foreshore and seabed, retaining ownership of New Zealand assets and the principle of one law for all New Zealanders.
Dr Barr wrote a book, “The Gathering Storm over the Foreshore and Seabed – Why it should remain n Crown ownership” to help the public understand the issue.
For the last year, he has been Co-Chair of the Coastal Coalition, a group of tens of thousands that campaigned against National’s legislation to privatise New Zealand’s foreshore & seabed to iwi groups.
Rt Hon Winston Peters describes Dr Barr as an outstanding New Zealander who has already made a significant contribution to science and outdoor recreation.
“His ability to identify and confront the main issues facing New Zealand are sorely needed at a time when the future ownership of our natural resources and publicly owned assets is at stake.
“Dr Barr will be reminding the people of Ohariu that they need a strong advocate for their rights and not someone who serves as a puppet to whatever political party is in power.
“We are delighted to have someone of his calibre carrying the message of New Zealand First,” says Mr Peters.

Top 5 Issues

1. We’ll have ONE LAW FOR ALL.
   
   Which means:
   
   • We all own our foreshore and seabed
   • We fly one flag
   • We have one court system
   • We follow one set of laws
   • We have one social welfare system
   • A NZ health system
   • A NZ education system
2. We will rebuild our failing economy with
   
   • Export plans to treble returns
   • Savings plans for economic freedom
   • NZ currency for NZ not Wall ST
   • Tax breaks for real wealth creators
   • Real research and development incentives
   • Rewards for the nation’s builders
3. We stand for a fair tax system, where everyone pays a fair share.
   
   So we are going to rewrite and simplify NZ’s mangle of tax laws so that they are understandable, unavoidable, and fair.
   
   Everyone will pay their fair taxes.
   
   That means:
   • Less personal tax
   • Less company tax
   • Less GST at 12.5 not 15%
   • Removing double tax on savings
   • Removing GST on rates
   • Removing secondary tax
4. Exporters create our real wealth. We have a plan to help them.
   
   New Zealand First will keep our currency pegged to that of our main trading partners.
   
   That way the exporters will be able to expand, increase exports and create new jobs, new wealth for the Family New Zealand
   
   We will stop the sale of state owned assets, and the control of our power stations and the lakes and rivers that feed them.
   Will stop the sale of our prime farmland to foreign interests.
5. We need to support our young people to stay, live and work in New Zealand. Here are just some of our policies:
   
   1) More trade training for our young people
   
   2) We will help pay the wages for apprentices using dole money and an employer top up
   
   3) We will help students pay their loans as long as they qualify and stay here
   
   4) And we’ll throw out fictitious national standards in early education opposed by 90% of the teachers

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