Meet the candidates, Napier Intermediate School, 6pm this evening. National - Wayne Walford Labour - Stuart Nash Greens - Paul Bailey Democrat for Social Credit - Barry Pulford Conservative - Garth McVicar Alliance - Mary ONeill Each candidate had 3 minutes to say whatever, then a raft of fairly inconsequential questions were asked of all, followed by different questions to each, and then some more questions for everyone. Lets get Wayne out of the way first: hes been door knocking and has met some great people and National will take the country forward. (Not so specific about what to, exactly. Thinks the government has done a great job. I couldnt agree less, which if you know me by now, you already know. His individual question revolved around the concept of not much big power from the Nats visiting the Bay during the campaign, and was that because its seen as a lost cause. His answer included recent visits by Hekia and Paula (and a couple of others), and you can imagine the the very audible groans around the room, not just from the unfettered interlocutors mentioned below. Not a good look, two of the Spy Girls. Now Barry - very cheerful pleasant man, adamant that hes held his views since 1975, and read out a numbered list of weird policies, and doesnt think hes got much chance of getting in, himself. Couldnt agree more. Garth - believes small business owners are jolly good people who pay people what theyre worth, and has always done so himself but totally unable to answer the question of how much that actually is vis a vis a minimum wage, old, new or otherwise. His views on other issues kind of ropey as weve read and heard in the media - except FRACKING - which all candidates were against except Walford who ranted about the oportunities afforded by the rape of the earth. Not his words, the last four. Doesnt believe in or support gay marriage but supports civil union...kids are better off with one female mother and one male dad. Clearly. WHERE have these people been living???????? Saving the best to last. Mary presented the Alliances policies mostly in a relatively academic way, and she is softly spoken, BUT cant find much to hate about the policies. Her chief point was employment - giving people jobs. She also mentioned dumping the 90 day probation law. Paul and Stuart were by far the best presenters, and with Mary, the most cogent thinkers. Paul started mysteriously by telling us about the other Green candidates around the country, but got well into policies later, and gave a nice response to what keeps you awake at night?, by reciting a list of National Government infractions on democracy and assaults on the people of NZ and our land, and ended by saying its apathy that keeps him awake. Very neat, and attention getting. And a rather long list of the aforementioned mire-ish things perpetrated by the National hit team. Of course. Stuart paid a neat three minutes worth of relevant attention to the job at hand at the start, and kept up a lucid and on the point commentary in response to the issues and questions raised. His prior experience shows, and hes passionate about this corner of the country. Walford kept saying a vote for X or Y is a vote for Labour, giving unfettered Labour supporters an awesome opportunity to cheer and clap and shout yes and woo hoo. No names, sorry!!!
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 09:05:48 +0000
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