Four years on from Canterbury's first big earthquake, the resulting issues are dominating the election campaign in Christchurch.
It's a similar story in Waimakariri, which is now one of the country's fastest-growing districts.
The campaign is in full swing for National candidate Matthew Doocey. He started early, leaving his job four months ago, and has been campaigning ever since.
"Very much out and about and meeting the voters, learning about the local issues," he says. "I've door-knocked on about 5500 doors, and very much getting out there and meeting the people."
Mr Doocey first campaigned in the Christchurch East by-election, but couldn't break the 100-year Labour stronghold. But he says the area has similar issues to Waimakariri.
"What we've got in the Waimak', like around greater Christchurch, is the recovery, and thanks to the Government we've had a robust recovery," he says.
In 1996 former Labour Prime Minister Mike Moore won the Waimakariri seat. It stayed a Labour stronghold until the last election when National's Kate Wilkinson beat Clayton Cosgrove, who'd held the seat for 12 years.
"The Opposition has been here for some time," says Mr Doocey. "Obviously the Opposition lost the electorate vote to Kate last time, and I'm saying I'm fresh, energetic, new, young candidate who's out there representing people, and I'm going to be their voice."
This election, there's a sense of old versus new as Mr Cosgrove tries to win back his seat. Ranked eighth on the Labour list, he's also the party's earthquake spokesperson.
While Mr Doocey is talking up his own energy, Mr Cosgrove is campaigning on political experience.
"The choice is pretty clear," he says. "I'm pretty experienced in what I do, I've got a good track record. My opponent's new to the game."
But Mr Cosgrove is also fighting on new turf. Shifting electorate borders have made the Waimakariri battleground more rural, and dominated by traditionally National voters.
"The boundary changes make it tougher, because my biggest opponent is geography. But hey, we're equal to the challenge. We don't know how many earthquake victims have moved from other places into the area."
So while it appears to be old versus new, both candidates agree on the issues facing the Waimakariri District. The area was hit hard by the quakes but the rebuild is in full swing here, and a major population shift has seen it become one of the fastest-growing districts in the country.
That population shift has brought with it major traffic congestion issues, with around 60 percent of Waimakariri's population commuting every day. Both candidates say they'll be tackling the problem.
"People are doing well, but they're also up against it, from earthquake issues still, you know, hundreds of cases yet to be resolved, people battling through those, traffic congestion," says Mr Cosgrove.
So while Waimakariri adjusts to new boundaries and new issues for voters, neither candidate can take winning for granted.
3 News
source: newshub archive
