Whether it's health services, young people or employment opportunities, Manawatu's members of Parliament are determined to enact change that benefits the region in 2016.

This year, Labour MP Iain Lees-Galloway will be encouraging the Government to halt its cuts to health and housing, which he says has resulted in hospital bed closures and a decline in social housing in Palmerston North.

Lees-Galloway said more attention needed to be paid to communities with high needs for health services.

"Our western suburbs – Highbury, Takaro, Cloverlea and Awapuni – desperately need a community health centre."

Lees-Galloway will also work his workplace relations and safety, and immigration portfolios.

National MP Jono Naylor hoped 2016 would bring continued economic growth to Palmerston North.

He would like to see positive change in the region's job creation, and development of opportunities for young people.

"People should expect progress will be steady and sustainable rather than a flash in the pan."

Naylor will work on his select committee areas of social services, and justice and electoral. He also has a private member's bill to increase fines for littering and illegal dumping.

Te Tai Hauauru Maori electorate MP Adrian Rurawhe said he would like to see a future where "every child has a safe home and a great education and that their parents have jobs that pay a fair wage".

For 2016, attention should be on improvements to health services; affordable, safe housing and more support for first-time home buyers.

His areas of focus are Maori education and Maori health in his electorate.

Rangitikei MP Ian McKelvie said his priority would be encouraging employment opportunities and economic growth in Rangitikei.

He said rural transport needed to be improved.

Transport needed to be accessible and affordable for all members of the community, he said.

NZ First MP Darroch Ball said this year there needed "to be a greater focus on our youth".

He said young people needed to be invested in before they became adults on the benefit, or became involved in the justice system or health system.

He would concentrate on his party's social services and youth affairs portfolios throughout the year.