Auckland candidates’ surprising quirks
We’ve heard about the policy, now let’s take a look at the lighter side of local politicians.
From yoga instructor to black belt in martial arts, pest trapper to exterminator, central Auckland candidates certainly have their quirks. In the Auckland central electorate, Green Party candidate Denise Roche said she earned a wage while at high school by singing telegrams.
The Opportunities Party Auckland central candidate Mika Haka also had a history in music, both as a singer and the creator of the world’s first gay haka.
Not quite as gifted musically as her competition, National Party MP and Auckland central incumbent Nikki Kaye said she opted to ‘‘mouth the words’’, rather than hit the high notes, during her school choir. However, the education minister excelled in other areas.
‘‘When I was nine I actually won an indoor surfing competition,’’ Kaye said.
In the Mt Roskill electorate, Labour Party MP Michael Wood planned to spend his summer ’’knocking about the bush’’.
‘‘One of my favourite things to do is go out and I trap rats and possums around the beautiful Waikowhai coast, It’s definitely my happy place,’’ Wood said.
Representing the Green Party in Mt Roskill is self-proclaimed ‘‘geek at heart’’, Ricardo Menendez March. While he used to compete in fencing, Menendez March said his true passion was board games.
‘‘When I was nine I actually won an indoor surfing competition’’ Nikki Kaye
Fellow Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter is running in the Mt Albert electorate. If politics didn’t work out, Genter had a fall back option, she said.
‘‘I am a certified yoga teacher,’’ she said.
‘‘I haven’t actually taught a class since being elected but it is something I might go back to one day.’’
Also running in Mt Albert, National MP Melissa Lee had a black belt, while Green MP for Maungakiekie Chloe Swarbrick also had a background in martial arts, having practiced karate for several years.
Running against Swarbrick would be National candidate Denise Lee. Lee said her youth was spent at the local rubbish dump, where she and friends would go rat shooting.
‘‘A small town thing to do but a lot of fun,’’ Lee said. Election day is September 23 and voting begins on September 11.