Labour Waiarapa Candidate Kieran McAnulty's Insight

Labour Waiarapa candidate Kieran McAnulty. PHOTO / File

Kieran McAnulty
Labour Waiarapa candidate

Why should people vote for you?

Central and Southern Hawke's Bay has been overlooked for too long. It's time we had an MP that recognises the area between Dannevirke and Waipawa is as much a part of the Wairarapa electorate as anywhere else. I want to see this electorate thrive - every part of it. I offer an absolute commitment to promote and advocate for Central and Southern Hawke's Bay at every possible opportunity.

What is the single most pressing need in your electorate?

Regional development investment that supports local business and creates good paying jobs with decent conditions. We must also support the services and infrastructure that maintain a sustainable community. The opportunities that once existed for our young no longer do. I want to address that.

What's your top strength for this role?

I'm unashamedly proud of where I am from. My family have lived here for seven generations - 171 years. And that means a lot to me. I'm standing to be MP because I've had enough of seeing Wairarapa, Tararua and Central Hawke's Bay continuously underrepresented. People here need an MP that is loud and proud - and that's exactly what I intend to be.

Who's your most respected New Zealand politician (living or dead) and why?

Former Prime Minister Norman Kirk. He inspired the nation with a political philosophy that is still as relevant today. People, he said, don't want much. They want: "Someone to love, somewhere to live, somewhere to work and something to hope for."

What's the biggest risk you've ever taken?

Standing for Parliament is a pretty big risk. You lay everything on the table, invest a lot of money, time and energy, with no guarantee of success. But when you believe in it, it's worth it.