2023 – The Choice is Yours

Happy New Year to you all. I hope you all the had the opportunity to take a relaxing, safe break and to start 2023 refreshed, fit and well.

In between dodging the showers, I spent a few wet days of my break dusting off some old records. Amongst the long-lost gems was one that those of you with long musical memories might recall: a great album from English new wave band The Members, called 1980 – The Choice Is Yours. That old album – or more specifically, the title – suddenly seems very salient today.

Because this year is also going to be about choice, and how we all exercise that choice is going to have a huge influence on the next three years, and beyond.

I’m referring of course to the general election, which promises to be hard-fought, even, and fascinating - particularly after recent events.

This far out, the result is a long way from certain. One thing we can bank on though, is we won’t see a repeat of the last result, with a landslide single-party win. Whoever comes to power will do so in collaboration and coalition – and the permutations and possibilities of those potential alliances are varied and intriguing.

Covid out

While the 2020 poll will always be the Covid election, the pandemic will rate far lower in the voting public’s consciousness this time around. Although the virus is still in the world, and will be for the foreseeable future, we have largely moved on. You only need to count the number of mask-wearers in the supermarket, the shopping mall or a sports event to see that! So, what will the key issues be this election?

The cost of living must be top of the list. The pain of the economic downtown is being widely felt and voters will be looking for relief. The party that promises the most generous care package, within the boundaries of fiscal prudence, will appeal to many.

Property owners, particularly those heavily geared, will want to see interest rates come down,

Crime is also a concern to many Kiwis, and many MTA members. We have all seen the increasing and alarming incidents of violence directed at small businesses – many of them service stations. There is a strong sense in the community that offenders get a slap on the wrist if caught, and police and courts are powerless to stop the scourge. How will parties address these concerns? More cops or tougher laws and penalties? Are boot camps for young offenders really the answer?

The labour shortage is still very much with us – changes to the immigration settings and the addition of motor mechanics to the Green List notwithstanding. And of course, let’s not rule out the contest between the personalities involved. As I write this, Chris Hipkins has just become our new Prime Minister, and write off his, and Labour’s, support at your peril. The new Labour leader will bring a fresh face and ideas, and possibly fresh appeal. And while Christopher Luxon might have business nous, can he get the charisma injection he needs to win over the voters who choose personality over policy?

MTA ready

MTA has been planning for this election, and we will be mobilising and lifting our efforts considerably in coming months.

This month, we are all Aucklanders

It’s dominating our thinking, and our Advocacy and Media teams in particular have been working on a successful strategy. More on that to come.

We will be putting all parties on notice over what our members, and our industry, need. We will be addressing them individually and collectively to ensure that our sector, a massive employer and contributor to GDP, is heard and supported.

Rest assured, the best interests of you all are front and centre in our thinking. We will update you through these pages and the Friday email.

It’s going to be a fascinating year. The choice is yours. Enjoy using it.

• We’ve had a lot of great feedback about the Blast From The Past feature we introduced to Radiator in 2022. This year, we’ve tweaked the format slightly to feature pages from Radiator 75 years and 25 years ago. Some of you might even remember them! Enjoy the read.

IAN PIKE Chief Executive

The Radiator team has delayed production of this month’s edition, so we can include coverage of the Auckland flooding, which has affected many members.

Like the rest of the country, I watched footage of this devastating event with shock and dismay. While I may be hundreds of kilometres away, let me assure you that I was there with our Auckland members and staff in solidarity.

Our Wellington team, and staff around the country, are all Aucklanders in spirit this month. I hope every member’s family and loved ones came through physically unscathed. The tragic loss of life has really underlined how easily and quickly lives can be in peril.

Some of the stories of the effect on member businesses have been heartbreaking – chest high water sweeping through premises, and damaging stock.

We have included in this magazine advice on lodging insurance claims and dealing with potential human resources issues. I’d strongly urge all members to read, and keep that information. Natural disasters are a fact of life for us all, and who knows where disaster might strike next.

As you read this, the flooding will hopefully be over, but the effects of it will last a long time. Please do not hesitate to contact any of our staff if we can help you in any way. MTA is here for you, and all our members. - Ian.