On the campaign trail: Stephen Jenkinson

Tukituki Conservative Party candidate and Waipawa dentist Stephen Jenkinson has to take time off work to campaign. Photo / Warren Buckland

With the general election next month, Hawke's Bay Today will spend time with election candidates on the campaign trail. This week Patrick O’Sullivan went out on the hustings with Stephen Jenkinson, the Conservative Party candidate for Tukituki.

Tukituki Conservative Party candidate Stephen Jenkinson cancels my appointment to ride shotgun on his weekend hammering, because of inclement weather. Wind and hoardings don't mix, he says.

My assumption he would be door knocking instead is false. "To be honest I don't really do much door knocking - I have to work," the Waipawa dentist says.

On Tuesday he sits in front of a full Tamatea Community Church, fingers intertwined on his lap.

He is a late replacement for Napier candidate Garth McVicar at Napier Grey Power's Meet the Candidates. Only minor party candidates are present. The majors are visiting next month. Every seat has a Conservative Party brochure on it. A round-shouldered Mr Jenkinson stands to introduce himself, warming the crowd by repeating the joke that it is so cold politicians were seen putting their hands in their own pockets. Returning to Hawke's Bay after qualifying as a dentist "made me feel like a salmon, going back to where I came from."

Spawning was successful, he is a father-of-six, but he doesn't like to be told how to raise his children. It is the law making it a criminal offence to physically discipline children that politicised him.

"We felt offended the Government would come into our living room and tell us what to do," he told me.

Unnecessary force was already a jailable offence and non-violent disciplining means "mind games" whereas a harmless slap made a quick point. Thirteen questions are put to the four candidates and time limits strictly enforced. He gets a laugh saying he feels inadequate compared with Ikaroa-Rawhiti candidate Marama Fox's nine children and extols the qualities of Mr McVicar and the "good sense" Conservative Party.

Afterwards Mr Jenkinson does not work the room but, by looking for eye contact while standing with cup, saucer and affable smile, several people chat.

On Wednesday Mr Jenkinson sits in front of Noah's Ark on stage at St Joseph's School in Hastings.

Again he wears a grey suit with a pale blue tie that matches the party rosette with the word VOTE pre-eminent.

The Catholic audience's questions favour moral issues such as euthanasia and abortion, but time constraints are just as strict as the day before.

He gives the toughest questions the shortest answers.

"The law is an ass."

Unequivocal.

Afterwards, one of the last to leave, Mr Jenkinson greets me by the exit. A tall, slim, attractive dark-haired lady with a stack of Conservative Party brochures chats nearby.

"Who's that?"

"That's my wife."

"You must be much older."

"Actually there's only three months' difference between us. She's even been mistaken for my daughter."

"And she's the mother of all six kids?"

With a frown he says "yes."

Vital Statistics

*Stephen Jenkinson
*53-years-old
*Waipawa dentist
*Married father-of-six
*Stood as Conservative Candidate in last election.