In an informal meet and greet on a well known vineyard, Frod talks to some of the workers and finds out what matters to them

Frod: So it is extremely important to you, to make a living from your work on the vineyard?

Adam: Yeah, its my only source of income, and currently I'm struggling to make enough money to cover my bills, and I don't think the new tax changes that I heard were coming through are going to make it much easier. Bit of a bummer hitting us when we're down, really.

Frod: It is a shame, really. Not even I thought something like that was going to happen, Griffo really dug the boot in to the workers in this one, then he goes and claims its to reduce inflation by reducing the demand for consumer goods. Adam, would you say that you are a big consumer goods buyer?

Adam: I don't think so, I honestly can't really buy much to begin with, due to only earning a few cents an hour above minimum wage, and its even less so now with everything so expensive.

Frod: I remember being in your position myself, earning near minimum wage trying to support myself, it was not hard, and I don't think its something that the Prime Minister has ever had to do, that job I had, working in the butchery at the supermarket was the only reason I was able to afford to eat through uni, and over summer, so I would hate to think how it is now.

Adam: So frod, what can you even do to make us get more money in our pockets.

Frod: Adam, its a really hard one, but there's a few things that we think are important, one of which is ensuring that workers have the right amount of power, and have the ability to be fairly paid, which is why we would be looking to introduce fair pay agreements, and raise the minimum wage to 21.60/hour. Im sure national will claim this will ruin small businesses, but its clear, if you can't pay your people enough to afford to live, then the business needs to either find other places to lose (profits to the owner, in most cases). In addition we want to ensure that unions are able to be more powerful, and our track record on labour and employment is already clear, with the remuneration disclosure legislation being an important part of the members bills docket that we passed this term.

Adam: That sounds great Frod, but how will you make it happen, surely you cant do that all yourself?

Frod: absolutely Adam, we have a strong team of Labour MPs who will be more than happy to take this vision and run with it, and our colleagues over in Alliance have already made it clear that they're here for workers too, and I hope that we will be able to work with alliance to provide better outcomes for workers this term.

Sampling the regions produce frod tries a lovely Syrah before talking to the owner of a well known vineyard

Les: So frod, whats labours go on the environment, its quite important for us here at well known vineyard

Frod: Protecting the environment is extremely important to us, however we also understand the need to develop land to provide a living for people, which relates back to our big theme this election, ensuring to look after people, not the economy.

Les: So whats some specifics?

Frod: we know the RMA is no longer fit for purpose, it is far too bloated that there is a whole industry dedicated to the understanding of the RMA, and the every day person only hears the buzzwords, so to ensure we have the best outcome labour would ensure that MfE has sufficient information to develop legislation that would both allow the development of areas, and to balance the decisions to allow for better environmental outcomes, especially for our waterways, and water resources.

Les: So say I need a consent for my irrigation will this legislation make it easier or harder to get.

Frod: It depends on the conditions of the consent, and whether the water taken is from a watercourse that is already significantly impacted by the seasonal variations in rain, or amenity to iwi, as the recognition of Māori rights will be more important in the framework.

Les: Ok, that makes sense, it sounds like it may mean that it might be harder to consent in the future, but I guess if there is a more rigid understanding of the impacts considered that is good. Now tell me Frod, are you a fly fisherman, you look like you've done some before, I am keen myself.

Frod: No, not fly. However I am a keen spin fisherman, some of my favourite spots aren't far from here, actually!

Les: Nice to hear! I was wondering if there was anything in the reform likely to ensure that fish species are managed as is the case in the current RMA under section 7?

Frod: We were actually wanting to include along with this the funding that Fish and Game currently get from the license fees for fisherman from the government, and to reduce the cost of a license to ensure that more people take up the sport, even moving the cost around to begin with to ensure a sustainable number of anglers is maintained, that way Fish and Game are not reliant on angler money to do important work in ensuring game fishing, and river amenity is impacted negatively by the decisions of councils.

Les: Cheers frod thanks for coming by.

Frod: all good, good to chat.

Frod jumps in the passenger seat of his car as one of his sober driving staffers ensures that the group return home safely, and legally.