Wairarapa candidate profiles

Wairarapa candidates at the recent Wairarapa Times-Age Candidate Debate in Masterton. From left John Hart, Ron Mark, Kieran McAnulty, Brent Reid and Alaistair Scott.

The Wairarapa electorate comprises the communities of Featherston, Greytown and Masterton and the southern Hawke's Bay towns of Woodville, Pahiatua and Dannevirke. A change to the northern boundary sees Waipawa and Waipukurau included from 2007. The winning candidate in the 2011 election, John Hayes (National Party), captured a majority (52.6 per cent) of the 33,963 valid electorate votes cast for candidates in the Wairarapa electorate.
The candidates standing this year are: (Information provided by candidates unless stated otherwise):

Alastair Scott
National Party candidate
I'm campaigning to keep the Wairarapa Electorate's strong voice in the National Party and in Parliament. I believe I have the background and experience for the job (age 48).
That experience includes in international and local business, and in the charitable sector. I've held board level roles in Transpower, Henergy Cage Free Eggs and as a Massey University Councillor. I have worked in London and Tokyo for Credit Suisse and in New Zealand for Meridian Energy. I am a past chairman of the Crown Health Financing Agency and for the past 15 years, I have owned and managed my own export-focused wine business, Matahiwi Estate, based in Masterton. Until recently, I have also been involved with the Wairarapa Development Group and the NZ Scout Youth Foundation.
I have three children and my partner Robyn has three children too, ranging in age from 12 to 21. Our household can be like a train station at times, which is great fun.
If I have the privilege of representing you in Parliament, I'll be a strong advocate for growing our region through initiatives like faster broadband, investing in irrigation and transport, and supporting the Ruataniwha dam project. A stronger local economy will help families get ahead.

Kieran McAnulty
Labour Party
Talking with Kieran, it takes only minutes to grasp his commitment to the Wairarapa and Central Hawke's Bay regions and provincial New Zealand. Over five generations, his family has seen the growth of Wairarapa/CHB's primary industries - and the failure of that growth to bring wealth and opportunity to the wider region.
Kieran knows the free market has failed provincial New Zealand: the flight of young people to the cities for jobs, low pay rates for those who stay and the scarcity of apprenticeship opportunities. He's also observed the erosion of health, hospital and core support services. However, he sees immense opportunities to turn rural economies around. In his role as the Regional and Rural Representative on Labour's Policy Council he helped develop Labour's Regional Development package, which will rebuild small town New Zealand. He is committed to Labour's values and to the region he has always called home - Wairarapa.
Kieran is deeply involved in his community. He is on a number of community boards, is a volunteer firefighter and Master of Ceremonies at the Golden Shears.
¦ MA in political positioning, University of Otago
¦ Post-graduate diploma, business and administration, Massey University
¦ Post-graduate diploma, politics, University of Otago
¦ BA in politics, University of Otago

Ron Mark
New Zealand First
A ward of the state, Ron was born in Carterton but grew up in foster homes in the Wairarapa. He was educated at Pahiatua Primary, Hillcrest and Tararua College.
At the age of 16 he joined the NZ Army and went on to serve with the Multinational Force and Observers and the Sultan of Oman in the Middle East, retiring after 20 years as a major.
In 1990 Ron went into business and in 1996 he was elected to Parliament as a New Zealand First list MP serving until 2008. Here he was Chief Whip, and served on many high profile select committees.
In 2010 Ron was elected mayor of Carterton and was re-elected unopposed in 2013.
Ron plays a leading role in Ngati Kahungunu as deputy chairman of Wairarapa Moana Incorporation, a $220 million Agribusiness and as Lead Negotiator for the Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tamaki Nui a Rua (treaty settlement) Trust.
Ron is a ministerial appointee to the Wairarapa and Hutt Valley DHBs and is patron of Te Awa Ora a Maori Mental Health Service organisation in Canterbury.
Ron has numerous military honours which include the Royal Order of Oman.
Ron's iwi affiliations are Ngati Raukawa, Te Arawa, Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa and Ngati Porou.

Brent Reid
Conservative PartyDuring the day I can be found under a welding helmet in an engineering workshop. My Australian wife of 20 years makes an interesting mix with my Maori heritage. Along with my teenage son and tweenage daughter we enjoy all of what living in the Wairarapa has to offer in the way of fishing, hunting, diving and camping.
As a blue collar worker, why am I standing for the Conservative Party? 'Quite simply, social and moral issues which politicians are deciding for us.
I don't believe prostitution should be a career choice for my daughter. The anti-smacking law takes away some of my parental authority. Marriage is no longer about raising children but has been reduced to just coupling. Abortion is a hot potato for people but needs to be addressed. I believe the unborn child needs legal protection. Euthanasia will pop up again as will the legalisation of marijuana and will be voted on by MPs. All these things are destructive for family life.
On these issues the politicians get to exercise their conscience but we the public don't get to exercise ours.
I believe in building a nation of strong families around traditional values because they work.

John Hart
Green Party
I'm an organic sheep and beef farmer living in Rangitumau, North of Masterton with my young family. I've been involved in horticulture and farming for 12 years, the last seven of which have been in Wairarapa.
One of the things that drew me to the Green Party was their vision of smart, green agriculture. We have so much potential to be the world's best producer of high value clean, safe food. Now more than ever, it's vital that we live up to the clean and green image we sell to our global customers. The basis of our economy is the land, but we still need to be smarter in its use.
I want to live in a New Zealand where my kids can safely swim in our rivers and lakes. I want to be part of a smart, innovative economy that provides well-paid jobs in the regions. I want a fairer society that looks after everyone, not just a few. So does the Green party.
I'm asking for your party vote this election. I am ranked 17 on the Green Party list, so a party vote for the Green Party could see me as your second MP.

Ra Smith
Maori Party
I am Ra Smith from the Maori Party. The Maori party does not want to be a part of a red government or a blue government, we want to be a part of a New Zealand government. I work in the mainstream community and the Maori community. In both areas I am proud to work through the whanau ora framework that gives New Zealand values a place to live. I work at all levels from grassroots to the overview like the kahu or hawk.
I am Ra Smith from the Maori Party. I serve the community on Greater Wellington Regional Council's natural resource committee, Te Upoko Taiao that has guided the new regional plan.
I serve the Wairarapa through the Ruamahanga Whaitua Committee that will set water standards. I serve the Carterton community when I work with Carterton School, South End School and Gladstone school.
I am Ra Smith from the Maori Party. I work with a full range of Maori entities when I manage the environment for our iwi Kahungunu Ki Wairarapa. I research for the Wairarapa and Tamaki Nui a Rua Treaty Trust. I chair Hurunuiorangi Marae Trust and learning about whakapapa with his whanau.