In the latest of the Times' series on the region's MPs, National's man in Hamilton East, David Bennett, says he is keeping his eyes firmly on his electorate. Jeff Neems reports.
David Bennett is keen to keep his focus on his patch.
girls costumesThe Hamilton East MP sits a little uncomfortably on a red leather seat at Grey St Kitchen - "It should be blue," he muses, referring to the main political parties' chosen colours - and conversation repeatedly turns back to local issues he has championed.
They are big issues, too: Mr Bennett has made plenty of noise on the continued construction of the Waikato Expressway, and says he has been working hard on tackling the issue of the need for a new high school in the city's growing northeastern suburbs.
Last year he worked hard on the dance floor, competing in a local version of Dancing With The Stars, and he is a regular competitor in celebrity and charity sports events.
"My job is to represent the people of Hamilton East, that's what I am here for - and I am very happy to do that. It's a big privilege for me," he says.
Mr Bennett sees "unfinished business" in the electorate, and wants "the best deal" for people who voted him in. Nor is he concerned about becoming overly linked to one issue - the expressway: "It's the big thing, we've campaigned on that for two elections. It's taken, basically, a generation to get to this stage, and it's crucial for what we want to see happen in the region further down the track." Hamilton's "strategic asset" is its proximity to Auckland, he says, hence the focus on the expressway.
"I think it's important we still push it. But there are other issues we need to work on - the link with Tauranga, the role of Hamilton as an inland distribution port."
The proposed new high school is "a huge issue for my residents in the northeast", he's quick to note the Government has purchased the land for it, "which is the first positive step". There has been regular contact from parents of would-be students, and he accepts that "we've got more work to do there," but says things are chugging along.
"It would be nice to be able to do that a bit quicker . . . but we've got competing issues, and budgetary needs. And it's not as simple as 'just building a school', it's a complex issue."
Mr Bennett says since entering politics just over four years ago, he identifies two other issues as of interest - immigration, and Treaty of Waitangi settlements.
National has made it clear it wants outstanding treaty claims wrapped up in the next four years, and Mr Bennett has been involved in the Waikato River settlement.
Embroidered patchesHe firmly believes "Hamilton needs more people", and believes immigration is important to that.
Mr Bennett says his job now, as part of the Government, "is certainly different" to his first term as an Opposition MP.
"In opposition I could just give the Government a bit of a whack around and say 'that's not suitable', but in government you've got a much more defensive pose - because you've got to work as a team as the government of the day," he says.
While he now finds himself answering questions rather than asking them, he feels he has an ability sterling silver Feyenoord to be part of "setting direction".
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