AB tries political football
Kevin Mealamu is standing for the Papakura Local Board at October’s local-body elections.
Ex-All Black Mealamu, 40, is teaming up with five other candidates under the Papakura First banner for the six seats on the Papakura Local Board — one of 21 local boards at the local level of Auckland Council.
In a promotional video, he said he had lived in Papakura for 13 years with his family and run a Takanini gym: “I have a real passion for Papakura. Our kids went to school here, I coached at the local rugby club and my wife was a netball coach as well.”
Mealamu, who played 132 times for the All Blacks as a hooker from 2002-2015, said he wanted to make the young feel proud of Papakura, young families to feel safe and older people to feel included.
A grandson of Samoan immigrants, he went to Aorere College in Papatoetoe and first played for Auckland in 1999. He also played for the Blues and the Chiefs. He has illustrated children’s books to raise money for Starship.
The other members on the Papakura First ticket for the local board are deputy chairwoman Felicity Auva’a, David Arvidson, Jen Blakelock, Lance Watene and Andrew Webster.
Postal voting for the local body elections is from September 20 to October 12.