Invercargill needs to be the most welcoming city in New Zealand to turn around a raft of skill shortages and avert a crisis in service delivery, Invercargill mayoral candidate Marcus Lush says.

The world’s workforce was getting old, there was a world-wide shortage of skills, and an estimated 100,000 labour shortage in New Zealand, he said.

“A recent survey of immigrants has shown New Zealand is the second worst country to come to as an immigrant - after Kuwait. And what New Zealand is to the world, Invercargill is to New Zealand. We are remote, isolated, and expensive to get to. We have a problem.”

To resolve this, Invercargill needed to do everything it could to attract, and retain doctors, chefs, dentists, rest-home workers and a range of other workers, Lush says.

“Because if nothing is done this crisis will become a lot worse.”

Lush says a major platform of his campaign would be to ensure that Invercargill becomes the “Welcome City”.

“Welcoming people needs to become Invercargill’s superpower,” he says.

This was something every Invercargill and Bluff person could get on board with, he says.

“This starts on day one. A help desk at council. A website. Retirement groups offering home cooked meals and babysitting. A designated department at council to help newcomers adapt - whether it be advice about schooling, or just someone to talk to when things are getting tough. We’ll have bagpipes at the airport if need be.”

Invercargill then needed to be sold to the world — as an amazing place to live with thriving communities, world-class facilities, inner city vibrancy and clean energy opportunities, he says.

“To do this we need strong leadership that creates a positive culture around the Council table. I listen for a living, and will value the people around the Council table, and use their skills, to ensure a highly functioning Council which is responsive to city residents.”

To make Invercargill a fantastic place where no one will leave - Lush says the city should build:

• New Zealand’s biggest and best playground in Queens Park by year three. (Not funded by ratepayers)
• New Zealand’s best museum by year six (indoor, outdoor flow connecting to the playground)
• Invercargill Tram back by year nine. (Not funded by ratepayers) Running on a loop down Queens Dr, Elles Rd, then back up Dee St.

A Visitor Centre in the Invercargill Central mall and a bus from the airport to the CBD would be promoted, he said.

Bluff needed a new playground, and Lush said he would also “dearly love” to honour the legacy of Fred and Myrtle Flutey in Bluff.

He said he would also like to see a permanent police presence back in the CBD.

“I have found in life if you put your mind to something — then great solutions will follow,” he says.