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by Scott Stevens

It’s that time again, and the noise has become deafening. Political noise. The General Election on 7 November is judgement day. Our democratic right to vote for the personalities, policies and political ideologies that feel right. The “promises if elected” are pouring from the mouths of those vying for a seat in the Beehive. It’s game on.

Here in the Whakatipu, we are in the Southland Electorate, despite being in Otago. A massive chunk of New Zealand’s landmass containing mostly forest and grass is in our electorate. But not that many voting eligible humans. In 2023, there were 48,743 of us voters, with 82% casting their democratic right to vote. 48.43% voted for the National Party with National Party candidate Joseph Mooney winning the seat with 23,231 votes. Next best got 6020 votes. Is there a better definition of a “safe seat” than right here in Southland?

Regardless of political leanings, I find the electoral mapping that puts us in Southland head scratching. And being in a safe seat annoying.

Queenstown is by far the largest “metropolitan” centre in the Southland electorate, that oddly does not include Invercargill. Queenstown 29,000. Next best Gore 8310. However, when you add up all those little sheep, beef and milk townships they make up a large chunk of the votes on polling day.

The Southland Electorate has been forever owned by one political party. Nothing wrong with that if you are a sheep, beef or dairy farmer. Queenstown on the other hand is very different and has become the political punching bag of the country. Forced into over tourism to earn the country revenue, forced to accept ad hoc unplanned housing developments. All in the name of supporting political agendas set elsewhere in New Zealand. Regardless of the ruling party in the Beehive, blue or red, we are given too little too late in return. Why? Because politically our votes will make little difference to the left, right or anywhere in-between on the political spectrum when the votes are counted.

So, there you have it, my opinion of all that is wrong. But rather than throw our toys, what can we do to better our lot from this situation. Concentrating on the candidates is a good start. Win or lose, safe seat or not, they are the individual humans who will need to stand up in front of us and promise to deliver, for us living here in the Whakatipu.

The Lakes Weekly has invited the Southland Electorate candidates from the top polling political parties in the last General Election, to sell us their pitch here on the front-page. Over the coming weeks, let’s hear what they say and with an open mind prepare to tick the box that is right for you. I’m all ears.