“Hello everyone, hello all. My, having fireworks will be just great aren’t they tonight? Well, help yourselves to the food we’ve got. It’s going to be a nice night. In the meantime before the show starts, feel free to ask questions”

Resident: “Hey Ash, I was wondering about your policy on taxes compared to your opponent’s. Look, I am a family man and I want to make sure things are affordable for my family still.”

“Well, that’s an important question isn’t it. We’re going to start by helping taxpayers get the best value for their contribution as a first step. We have a plan to do so; we will raise some new taxes which have alternatives while cutting reducing wasteful spending. We will have no more wasteful projects which cost millions but yield little gains, like the Ruahine Runner. That sort of spending is in the purview of Labour, not us in the National Party. We will conduct superannuation reform so that retirement is fair. Our new system would accommodate real changes to costs of living and by using this standard our country could save quite a substantial amount of money. We will be able to deliver a fair tax cut to working families like yours. Labour says the same thing; in fact they want taxes to somehow approach zero percent. This is pretty ideal but they have no plan on how to get there. I would not risk my vote on Labour for this reason, but since I have a blueprint I think the Nats would be a better choice for your circumstance.”

Resident: “Thanks Ash, it definitely helped make my mind more clear on this.”

Other Resident: “Oh, Ash, I also had a question”

“Go ahead, I am listening.”

Other Resident: “Ash, what are you going to do to keep my community here in Manukau healthy compared to Labour?”

“We have a good record on health, and really, my goal in the National Party will be on making sure that our health system gets a, well, systematic improvement. We will make it so there are more private insurance rebates, expanding choice for those who can afford it while also providing a substitute to the general system. This will take some burden off of the health infrastructure of the country and ensure that the resources provided to those facilities do more and serve more people better. It’s a quite nice policy and I think it makes a lot of sense for our country as it provides everyone with something nice, and makes our services aid the people better. Another way I’ll improve healthcare is through the passage of the DHB Selection Bill. This bill makes it so we have experts running our health services instead of the people who focus more on campaigning. You would think the left would support such an initiative which would structurally improve the provision of health and disability services but that isn’t the case. I voted in favour of it in the last Parliament while KatieIsSomethingSad voted against it even though the Labour Party leader voted in favour. Labour’s interest and approval of this common sense bill is dubious at best and I would not trust someone who voted against it to improve our health services for the better. As long as non-experts can suddenly manage our health systems, I do not think healthcare in Manukau will be up to what it could be. Of course, National will also invest into our healthcare system more as it does need some attention. This is the only policy that both KatieIsSomethingSad and I can really agree on. As your representative, I would offer more ways of improving Manukau’s healthcare than my competition, plain and simple.”

Other Resident: “Thanks for the information Ash! I know I will be more informed on the big decision!”

“No problem, any time!”

“Ah, the fireworks are starting, I am afraid this impromptu Q&A will have to close. Let’s enjoy this show then everyone!”

“God defend New Zealand and may God save the Queen!”