HE MIHI KI NGA KAIMAHI O MANA TAI TOKERAU Thank you to all the MANA crews around the north, from our little 2-man operation in Wellsford, to Isha and her devoted band of rangatahi who kept the flag flying in Whangarei until all the troops came flooding in at the last minute, the typically feisty Kaikohe crews who draw energy from their internal spats just the way our Ngapuhi ancestors have always done, our Waitakere team who came through with a heap of support from Tamaki and are set to run a typically strong e-day tomorrow, the Rakipaewhenua crew with their brand new office and their old-school passion, the Tamaki Generals who have given unstinting support to Waitakere, Tamaki Maori who have been the rock for us in Whangarei, and of course Te Hiku, my home base and always a strong leader. And of course there have been a whole heap of others - cooks, cleaners, drivers, the billboard crews working obscene hours for equally obscene pay (nothing!), data loaders, those who have taken responsibility for whole communities, organised meetings for me, stood on street corners, fronted up when the enemy has been in the house, attended meetings in my absence, spoken up for me and for MANA when people think there’s none of us around (we are everywhere …), writers, reminders, over-the-toppers, under-the-radars, the mokopunas who keep me smiling, their parents who drive me crazy, my darling wife who keeps me in my place, caregivers, taggers, artists, face-bookers, twitters, bloggers, sloggers, Te Rana for her energy, her drive, her never-ending smiles and her steely determination … and if you’re not in this list then it’s because I’m too tired to recognise your genius, and I just want to say what an awesome bloody crew you all are. No other party has had the number of door knockers out doing the business, passing out leaflets, delivering newspapers, enrolling voters and getting them to the polls, and covering more than 90% of the electorate like you have. In fact I know from travelling the whole electorate that the Labour Party and the Maori Party combined haven’t been able to match your efforts. You have been amazing, and I can’t say enough for all that you have done, for me, for MANA, for Internet MANA, and for the people of the north. The last few days have been tough with that stacked poll on Native Affairs, and then the circling of the sharks as first David Cuniliffe (Labour), then John Key (National), Te Ururoa Flavell (Maori Party) and finally Winston Peters (NZ First) came sniffing for Tai Tokerau blood, but I’m also really proud of how the people of the north have responded, by turning out in even bigger numbers to support us, and that’s the kind of tautoko that money can never buy. Tai Tokerau people are the best and the worst constituents to represent, because they are brutally honest and cutting in their criticism when you get out of line, but they are also ferociously protective when they can see you’re under attack from outsiders and that’s what I have seen over the past few days, and it has been a real shot in the arm. I hope to see you all tomorrow as I tour the electorate and touch base with the branches and the supporters before I finally get home at about 8 o’clock tomorrow night. Much love folks. You’re the best crew a man could want and I’m proud to be your MANA MP … for the next three years!!!
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 06:14:48 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015