Cheese rolls, cold student flats, and a new hospital - Labour's Jacinda Ardern visits Dunedin
Friday, 25 August 2017
Hundreds of people waited outside a packed Dunedin auditorium to catch a glimpse of Labour leader Jacinda Ardern.
And she did not disappoint, using a loud speaker for an impromptu address to those who had gathered to her her speak on Friday afternoon.
'I'll give you a hint, it is about the health of the city,' she said to rapturous applause and the odd chant of 'Jacinda Ardern'.
Inside the packed venue Ardern, flanked by Dunedin Labour MPs Clare Curran and David Clark, said 'we need to talk about your hospital'.
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She confirmed a Labour government would start construction on a new Dunedin Hospital in the city centre in its first term.
It helped having a Labour MP representing Dunedin who was also the 'Minister of Health', referring to Clark before quickly correcting the mistake to loud applause.
'I'm four weeks' early,' she said.
She rejected the public-private partnership (PPP) proposed by the Government for building a new hospital in Dunedin, saying Labour proposed using existing funds.
By not having the PPP, the Government would have greater control, and could start and complete the rebuild quicker.
'The best way to do that is for us to deliver it.'
Ardern said she used to flat with Curran, who always kept a supply of frozen cheese rolls in the freezer, 'a personal favourite of mine'.
She also spoke on climate change, mental health, and the cost of house prices and rentals.
Ardern recalled visiting a Dunedin for an Easter tournament and her shock at how cold it was inside the student flat, describing it as the 'coldest night I've ever had'.
Her visit follows that of Prime Minister Bill English who last Saturday announced a more than $1 billion rebuild of Dunedin Hospital.
His announcement was marred by chanting protesters storming the hospital, forcing him to leave through a side entrance.