Ms Turei and Greens co-leader Russel Norman had been meeting business leaders around the country, and Ms Turei said the Auckland leaders understood the need for thriving regional economies to support their own aims of expanding their businesses.
They often cited housing shortages and prices, infrastructure difficulties and transport issues when talking about their own business operations in Auckland, she said.
Mrs Turei and her husband, Worik Stanton, moved to Dunedin in 2004 when it became apparent they could not afford a home in Auckland. The list MP is based in Dunedin.
''If you get decent homes and schools and a sense of security that schools and other facilities won't be closing, you are more inclined to move.''
Ms Turei felt strongly the Government was ignoring regional development. The 85 jobs being shifted from AgResearch's Invermay facility, along with the job losses at Hillside, was a sign of the Government's arrogance.
When asked how she would respond to statements from Government ministers that state-owned enterprises were free to make their own decisions and not controlled by the Government, she said the Government was not involved in the daily management of institutes such as AgResearch, but it could send a political message.
''If the Government said it wanted regional development encouraged, it could send the message government departments should consider developing in the region, in the first instance. If the message is sent, then those departments will consider the regions.''
Green MPs were in the process of forming their regional economic development policy, but Ms Turei said she would be talking about the issues facing the regions at every opportunity.
