New Zealand First’s Coromandel candidate Vincent Andersen says reviving the economy, reducing regulation and defending what he describes as traditional values will be central to his election campaign, arguing the country needs a decisive change in direction after years of economic decline.
In an interview with independent journalist Penny Marie, Andersen, a Matamata-born businessman and current Matamata-Piako District councillor, said his background in international procurement and business management had prepared him for Parliament, adding that he was “not going to back down” when representing constituents.
He identified the cost of living as the dominant concern raised by voters and argued economic growth required greater investment in mining, oil and gas exploration, saying New Zealand needed to “look down into the ground if we’re going to get ourselves out of this economic hole.”
Andersen backed environmentally managed resource extraction, pointing to the Waihi gold mine as evidence it could be done responsibly. He also criticised climate policies, saying New Zealand should withdraw from the Paris Agreement and repeal the Climate Change Response Act, while arguing emissions policies were placing unnecessary burdens on businesses and farmers.
Andersen said he supported New Zealand First’s stance on diversity, equity and inclusion policies, calling for a stronger push against them, and praised the party for championing legislation on biological sex. Looking ahead, he said his priority would be fighting for improved infrastructure across the electorate, including replacement of key bridges, while urging voters to support New Zealand First’s party vote to maximise the party’s influence in the next Parliament.
