As part of a series leading up to the General Election, SunLive is asking candidates from Tauranga, Bay of Plenty and the Coromandel electorates about issues facing Kiwis across the region.

In this article, Tauranga candidates are answering the question: ‘How would you support healthy food affordability in New Zealand amid our cost of living crisis?’

National Party candidate Sam Uffindell says as the party’s Horticulture spokesperson, he was “very pleased” with the recently proposed National Party primary sector growth plan.

“This included a suite of changes to protect the right to grow food, with new environmental standards being established that makes commercial fruit and vegetable production a permitted activity, allows crop rotation within catchments and introducing no duplication rules to get our horticulture sector back to growing.

“Increasing the supply of fruit and vegetables in NZ will help to bring down prices and assist Kiwis to eat more healthy food during a cost of living crisis.”

Tauranga independent candidate Larry Baldock says he personally “can’t see why” the country hasn’t established a sugar tax.

“That would discourage its use in all our food and drinks and the revenue gathered from it could help deliver better healthy food and drinks and perhaps further contribute to wider free dental care. Restrictions on the levels of salt and sugar in our processed foods would be a good first step.”

New Conservative Tauranga candidate Jonathan Langridge says “firstly, your first $20,000 would be tax-free, giving everyone a $2,500 tax cut – at least $48.07 a week”. 

“Furthermore, restoring the Reserve Bank’s independence allows people with relevant banking experience to work there – the best chance of controlling inflation, incentivizing responsible govt spending and economic growth with new businesses. Secondly, farmers need to be free to grow our food for Kiwis to eat cheaper and healthier.

“NC values clean air, water, and soil. There is no climate emergency. Laws like the Zero Carbon Act and Emissions Trading Scheme impose significant costs on Kiwis while not improving environmental outcomes.”

Tauranga NZ First candidate Erika Harvey says “we're focused on tackling the supermarket monopoly and removing the GST off fruit and veg AND meat and dairy to give people an extra 15% back in their pocket.”

Meanwhile ACT Party Tauranga Candidate Christine Young says one of the causes of higher prices is “too much money chasing too few goods”.

“The Labour Government has borrowed and spent far too much money, resulting everything costing more. Two things ACT will do to ease the cost-of-living crisis is firstly, stop wasteful Government spending, and secondly, implement tax cuts allowing people to keep more of their money. 

“We should not have food poverty in such an abundant country.  We need to encourage people to grow food themselves or, as part of community gardens.  A shout out to Good Neighbour's community gardens where growing goodness is already taking place.”

Tauranga Animal Justice Party candidate Caitlin Grattan and Bay of Plenty Animal Justice Party candidate Chelsea Stockman both say making healthy plant-based food affordable is vital.

“Removing tax on fruit and vegetables is a good start, I am confident we can build on
this to ensure access to healthy food is achievable for all New Zealanders.”

SunLive has approached Tauranga Labour Party candidate Jan Tinetti, Tauranga Vision NZ candidate Leon Samuels, Tauranga Green Party candidate Justin Crooks, and Tauranga Te Pāti Māori candidate Mikaere Sydney for comment.