By now everyone knows Stuart Nash has self-destructed his way out of the NZ First candidacy in Napier. Nothing like attacking a new mum to win friends and influence people!
At least he stirred up cross-party unity in support of working mums (unless we’re talking equally pay). Probably will go down as his greatest political legacy. Thank god we’ll be spared more of his FaceTime videos! Word on the street is that Taine Randall is hunkered down with a digital media consultant trying to purge all Nash/Randall images from the Internet.
However, Nash’s timing must be terribly frustrating to Hastings Councillor Steve Gibson, a critic of woke women, who just announced his NZ First candidacy for the Rangitīkei seat centred in Feilding.
He plans to live down there and campaign while continuing to meet his HDC councillor responsibilities. While Mayor Schollum questions his ability to fulfill his elected duties, really, will anyone miss him?
Gibson, who seems to enjoy campaigning more than governing, has previously run for office in Napier and launching a homecoming MP campaign in Napier would at least shorten his commute. But he’s already been beaten to the punch. The opening in the Napier electorate has been taken by Napier Councillor Te Kira Lawrence, a woman who had been named NZ First’s East Cape candidate only days ago.
While NZ First was stewing over a replacement for Nash (looking for a non-misogynist candidate), the Green Party announced its candidate for the Napier MP seat – Roy Boonen.
Roy Boonen has decades of experience in governance and management of NGOs and community groups in Hawke’s Bay, as well as creating a thriving, environmentally-responsible, commercial cleaning business.
He has also been a leader in the community group that recently fought for and achieved the new Ecoreef structure at Te Awanga beach.
Boonen considers the Greens as the only party committed to making the big and brave decisions needed to dramatically transform our environment.
Boonen says, “Our planet’s ecosystem is fragile. Water, plants, earth and air are under enormous pressure due to human exploitation. We are all responsible for this through the small and big decisions that we make, and we can heal our environment through making better small and big decisions.”
“But this can’t be achieved without also addressing wealth inequality and social justice – billionaires making billions each year while families are working hard to put food on the table, keep homes warm and afford health care and transport – and still not making it. There are fairer ways to share the world’s resources and the wealth we all collectively create through work. I want that fairer, and healthier, world for my moko.”
“The Green Party has the plan to build a future shaped by people, not billionaires. For all of us.”
