National’s Nelson candidate Blair Cameron has launched his election campaign with a promise to boost jobs, improve infrastructure and create opportunities that encourage young people to build their futures in Nelson Tasman.
Addressing supporters on Thursday night, Blair outlined a vision centred on economic growth, housing affordability, healthcare investment and major transport projects.
He said the region’s lifestyle advantages needed to be matched by strong employment opportunities and higher incomes.
“We cannot simply market Nelson Tasman as a nice place to retire,” Blair says. “I want it to be an exciting place to start. A region where people can get ahead.”
Cost-of-living pressures featured heavily in through his address to the capacity crowd, with Blair arguing that growing the economy and increasing wages was the best long-term answer to rising household costs.
He pointed to National’s economic policies and the recently signed free trade agreement with India as opportunities for local businesses involved in horticulture, seafood, wine, forestry and tourism.
Blair also identified the marine sector as a major growth area and said he wanted Nelson to become “the marine capital of New Zealand and the Southern Hemisphere”.
Among his key priorities were the Hope Bypass and the redevelopment of Nelson Hospital.
Blair said he had pushed for the Hope Bypass to be included in the Roads of National Significance programme and would continue advocating for construction to begin once design work and consenting are completed.
On healthcare, Blair welcomed more than $500 million in Government funding for the Nelson Hospital redevelopment, including a new inpatient building, a rapid-build ward and a planned multi-storey car park.
He also pledged to continue advocating for radiation treatment services in Nelson, saying local access to healthcare was important for patients and their families.
Blair, who missed winning the Nelson electorate by 26 votes at the 2023 election, said his international experience working with organisations including the World Bank and International Monetary Fund would help him advocate for the region.
“My vision is for Nelson Tasman to have one of the fastest-growing regional economies in New Zealand,” Blair says. “More jobs. Higher incomes. More young people choosing to stay.”
