Housing affordability, insecure work and safer rail crossings are among the issues Helen White says are shaping conversations with Mount Albert voters.
Housing affordability, insecure work and safer rail crossings are among the issues Helen White says are shaping conversations with Mount Albert voters.
In an interview with Webfit News, the Labour MP discussed her move from employment law into politics, the pressures facing local households and the changes she wants to see for small businesses and community organisations.
White also made her case for re-election, saying an electorate MP should work for everyone, regardless of how they voted.
The following Q&A has been edited and condensed for length and clarity. Policy proposals and political assessments reflect White’s views expressed during the interview.
Why did you enter politics?
Helen White: I was an employment lawyer for about 25 years and eventually became a barrister. I chose that work because a person’s job matters enormously to the rest of their life. It supports their family and their security.
I worked for unions and workers, but also small businesses and NGOs. It was important to understand the whole picture, while recognising that people sometimes need help because of a power imbalance in the workplace.
Eventually, I was seeing problems I couldn’t fix simply by taking a case to court.
One example was non-competition clauses in employment contracts. People would sign them and later discover they restricted their ability to work elsewhere or progress in their careers.
That helped motivate me to enter Parliament. I have progressed a member’s bill on that issue, and I want to see that work carried through.
Why should Mount Albert re-elect you?
Helen White: I have lived in the area since I was 18. I raised my three children here, worked here and experienced difficult times here too.
When I got divorced, keeping a secure home for my children was incredibly important. That experience helped me understand what housing security means to families, whether they own or rent.
I love this community and know it well. That matters when you’re advocating on national issues, such as energy costs, but also on the local issues that might otherwise be overlooked.
Those include protecting heritage buildings, supporting community spaces, improving rail crossings and making sure we have enough housing and school capacity.
What is the biggest issue you hear about locally?
Helen White: Affordability, although it comes through in several different ways.
People are worried about finding work. That includes self-employed people and small businesses that aren’t getting enough jobs.
Someone might not appear in unemployment figures because they have some work, but they still don’t have enough income to meet their costs.
Food, energy and rent are major concerns. Larger families also tell me how difficult it can be to find a suitable rental.
Is Auckland housing still too expensive?
Helen White: Yes. We need housing options that people doing important work can genuinely afford.
One of my daughters is a teacher working with high-needs students. She does valuable work, but buying a home in our area would be extremely difficult for her.
We need a mix of housing, including more secure, long-term rental options. Renting should not mean being treated as a second-class citizen.
People sometimes point to empty apartments as evidence that there is enough housing. But if those homes are too expensive, they don’t solve the affordability problem.
How can more homes be built without ignoring flood risk?
Helen White: We need to understand the local conditions and build in ways that are sensitive to flooding.
Constituents come to me with concerns about homes that have flooded, but also about properties they believe have been incorrectly identified as flood-prone. Those classifications can affect what people can do with their homes.
There are places where we should not build, and we need investment in stormwater infrastructure.
When I made a submission on Plan Change 120, I wanted it to reflect the concerns I had heard from the community, including flooding, rather than simply my own views.
What needs to improve in public transport?
Helen White: Rail crossings are a major priority. As train services increase, we need to make sure people can cross safely and traffic can move properly.
Morningside Drive is one place where I have seen dangerous situations. Safety measures matter, but we need to take the issue seriously as more people live nearby and use the network.
I’m also excited about Labour’s proposed $20 weekly public transport policy covering buses, trains and ferries.
Knowing what transport will cost each week would make a real difference to students and households with limited incomes.
What would Labour do differently on the cost of living?
Helen White: Supermarket competition is an important part of that.
Labour is proposing changes to wholesale access so smaller retailers can compete more fairly with the major supermarket businesses.
I spoke with a manager at Lotus supermarket on Stoddard Road about why some products could be sold cheaply while others could not. Access to competitively priced wholesale goods makes a difference.
Supporting smaller supermarkets gives them a better opportunity to grow and compete.
Labour is also proposing action against price gouging on essentials. My concern is what people actually pay for the things they cannot do without, such as food and energy.
What support do small businesses need?
Helen White: Small businesses often face power imbalances too.
Many people go into business as an alternative to working for someone else. They employ others, work hard and can be vulnerable when dealing with much larger companies.
One issue is delayed payment. A small business may have delivered the work but still be left waiting for its invoice to be paid.
Labour wants stronger requirements around timely payment. That matters because small businesses need reliable cash flow to pay their own bills and keep operating.
What needs to change on family and sexual violence?
Helen White: We need prevention, education, safe accommodation and the ability to enforce the law.
Leaving a violent relationship is much harder if someone has nowhere safe to go. Housing and emergency accommodation are therefore part of the response.
I am also concerned about harmful online content and what young people are learning about relationships.
We need stronger education about consent, respectful relationships and sexual violence. Changing legislation is not the whole answer. We also need support for the people doing prevention work.
Are community organisations getting enough support?
Helen White: No. I have met people doing extraordinary work, but many organisations are struggling to keep going.
Government has an important role, but it also needs to partner with the community and voluntary sector and respect its contribution.
These organisations support families and people in very difficult circumstances. Their work should be valued, not dismissed.
Rapid fire: Helen White’s answers
What commitment would you make to voters?
Helen White: I will work for everyone, whether they voted for me or not.
I will stay locally focused and advocate strongly for what this community needs, whoever is in government.
That means noticing the issues here, taking them to Wellington when necessary and working locally to resolve them where I can.
I want Mount Albert to be a healthy, inclusive place where everyone is welcome and gets a fair go, whether they own their home or rent.
I would love the opportunity to keep doing that work.
