Articles in ‘People in Politics’

I am back in Auckland and have been out in a few different electorates catching up with small business owners and locals. In typical Kiwi fashion, the people I meet put on a brave face. However, often after a few minutes of talking about their current reality inevitably tears flow. In my twenty years in politics the only time I have experienced a similar feeling of absolute…

First I want to thank everyone in Auckland who is coping with another week in lockdown. Auckland is doing the hard yards to keep everyone else in New Zealand COVID-19 Delta free. This week we should think of the parents, teachers, principals and students who are struggling through another week of lockdown in Auckland. I am also very aware of the huge pressure on all the business…

Small business owners need help urgently so that they can survive this Covid-19 lockdown and any future lockdowns so that they can continue to play a significant role in New Zealand’s economy as well as providing employment all over the country, National’s Shadow Treasurer Andrew Bayly says. “I am hearing from small business owners and representative organisations everyday about…

I hope you are safe and well at home as we continue this Level 4 lockdown. I can imagine that some of you may be feeling anxious, fed up, even angry! This virus is virulent, unpredictable and brings challenges that affect us all. It’s clear that decisive action is needed to prevent further community spread of Delta and it is better to contain it with a level 4 lockdown than…

Judith Collins is the MP for Papakura, leader of the National Party, and leader of the opposition in the 53rd Parliament of New Zealand. She sat down with elocal to discuss the current direction of the Government, and why New Zealand desparately needs a change. MJ: The country – from what I can see it’s going down the gurgler. JC: I must say, everything seems to be going…

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s a pleasure to be in Auckland for the 28th New Zealand First Party Conference. It is our intention and mission to remain the most successful political party outside of National and Labour in the last three decades. So many scribes have tried, and continue to, write our obituary. But we are here today, as always steadfast and resolved to put New Zealand…

Good morning, delegates. It’s an absolute privilege to be speaking to you all here today as your leader. I’d like to acknowledge National Party President Peter Goodfellow, my fellow board members, my lower North Island colleagues and all of you, the members of the National Party. It is great to see you all here today. The past few years have been a challenging time for our…

Dear Constituents of the Papakura Electorate, I would like to thank everyone who supported me and the National Party in the Papakura Electorate during the last Election. I am thrilled to be re-elected in Papakura and it will be a privilege to be your Member of Parliament for another three years. Nationally, the election result is disappointing but the National team will be back…

MP Andrew Bayly says his promotion to his new role as National’s Shadow Treasurer won’t impact on his constituent work. The Port Waikato MP says he won’t be forgetting his constituents despite his rapid rise up the party ranks to Number 3. The third-term MP has been also been appointed as Spokesperson for Infrastructure and Statistics in Judith Collins’ Shadow Cabinet. Collins…

Port Waikato MP Andrew Bayly has issued a “massive and heartfelt thank you” to everyone who supported him at the 2020 General Election. Bayly says he feels honoured to have been elected as MP for the new electorate of Port Waikato and is looking forward to becoming part of its many communities. “This will be my third term as a National Party electorate MP and I’m humbled so many…

Under MMP we have two votes: 1. The Electorate vote – to represent the Port Waikato region. 2. The Party vote – for the Political Party of our choice. MMP (mixed-member proportional representation) was introduced in 1993 to replace FPP (first past the post) mainly because National and Labour shut out wider voter representation in Parliament. Votes for third parties were wasted.…

The National Party’s candidate for the newly redrawn seat of Port Waikato is a committed electorate MP who likes getting stuck into issues affecting his communities. “That's one of the main reasons I got into politics – I always wanted to be an electorate MP. I really enjoy constituent work and dealing promptly with queries and people’s problems.” Whether it’s advocating on…

I am very pleased to have been nominated as your National Party candidate for the Electorate of Papakura which now includes all the Pohutukawa Coast from Ardmore and Beachlands to Orere Point, Hunua, Happy Valley, Ness Valley; the farms and agricultural areas of Ponga, Drury, Ararimu, Ramarama, Runciman, Bombay and the more suburban areas of Kingseat, Karaka and of course…

Kia ora, my name is Anahila Kanongataʻa-Suisuiki, I’m a List MP and the Labour candidate for Papakura. I was born in Tonga, grew up in Onehunga and now Papakura is my home away from home. I’m a team player, I chair the Labour Women’s Caucus and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Pacific Caucus, which represents 15 countries. I have a background in social services, leading teams…

elocal sat down with local independent candidate Ian Cummings and asked him why constituents in the Port Waikato electorate should vote for him on September 19th 2020. I am standing as an independent candidate for one reason and one reason only, you and I deserve better. My point of difference is that unlike the other candidates, who represent the interests of their political…

Ian Cummings is pleased to announce he will be campaigning as an independent candidate in the upcoming general election to provide voters with a credible alternative and more effective voice on issues that matter to them. “I am standing to ensure genuine advocacy in Parliament for Port Waikato, and I believe that as an independent MP, answerable to the electorate rather than a…

For a few weeks prior to our country’s General Election we, the public, have the usual experience of over-zealous candidates seeking our attention and support. This year the election is scheduled for mid-September. Watch the political class falling over each other promising you the earth and attempting to lure your vote. However, on the day after the election, and safely back in…

This month, September, a postal vote will occur to elect members to district health boards (DHBs), the governing bodies responsible for overseeing the delivery of health and disability services in your district. It is important to use your vote wisely. Catherine Rose Abel-Pattinson, Colleen Brown MNZM, Geoff Smith and Kathy Maxwell are Team Health. They will deliver Simple,…

elocal caught up with Minister of Parliament (MP), and Local Papakura MP Judith Collins to discuss the changes in policies from the perspective of the opposition party and how it is shaping New Zealand. For Judith Collins, it wasn’t a surprise to see NZ First working alongside Labour, in fact she says that while a percentage of National supporters discussed the idea of voting for…