Joe Kairau: Protecting New Zealanders and our way of life

Joe Kairau, New Zealand First candidate for Tukituki.

I've always had strong protective instincts.

It was 1976 and although I wouldn't come to realise it for decades, I had experienced an epiphany.

A large freckle-faced boy in my class seemed to enjoy bullying the smaller kids. Eventually, I had enough and intervened during an incident. I punched him squarely in the nose and funnily enough don't remember much about him after that.

I joined the NZ Police after my 7th-form year. I spent the next 33 years protecting the weak and the vulnerable within our communities. While wearing younger man's clothes, I shed the blood of others and some of my own, in defence of what was right and good.

It's fair to say that the lack of a public profile has been the biggest stumbling block in my campaign. It's understandable. Like most Kiwis, I've simply never wanted one.

That changed in 2014 when many of my adult children didn't bother voting. I was horrified. It became clear that if I expected my children to help shape our future, I needed to lead that change from the front. NZF policies seemed to complement strong family values, so I plunged my stake into the ground.

The 2014 election was characterised by dirty politics. Early in my campaign, I decided not to bite unless bitten first. It was wasted thinking. Candidates get on swimmingly and I may even have been a little disappointed by that.

Perhaps other candidates think it is just another two-horse race, so why bother nipping at the novice? Hawkes Bay Today described me as being the dark horse in 2017. For those who like to vote for the winning team, it might pay to look up exactly what that means.

Politicians have long been considered the least trustworthy profession in the world. Sadly, the Barclay and Turei episodes did little to change that perspective this year. Why would I want to join a category of people I don't particularly care for? Am I naive for thinking I might make a difference? Probably, but I have to try.

Law and order was supposed to have been my political platform. After visiting many retirement villages in the electorate, I've become more concerned with the poor quality of life many of our elderly people suffer.

Loneliness and the lack of whanau support for some is quite distressing. I recently visited my own parents who are in their eighties and fiercely independent. While I'm happy with my personal commitment to them, I lingered longer than normal. It was like wanting to hug your kids after watching awful child abuse on the TV. Only those with short memories acknowledge NZ Firsts track record for standing up for our senior citizens. It is unmatched, uncompromising and consistent.

During this campaign, I have been genuinely surprised by the number of traditional party stalwarts who are swing voters this time around. The dissatisfaction and conflict in Tukituki is palpable. Middle NZ is unimpressed with the social, economic and environmental damage inflicted upon our country in the last nine years.

National could have done better but didn't. While there is a distinct desire for change however, people are rightly concerned about what a permissive Labour Government will deliver as an alternative.

The vote-buying strategy adopted by both major parties has not helped the situation and quite frankly is an insult to the intelligence of normal New Zealanders.

NZF is by far the most patriotic party in this country. A value that has been missing from political debate since forever.

No matter where the chicken bones may fall on September 23, NZF will ensure common sense will prevail in our next Government. NZF will ensure that New Zealand and New Zealanders will be put first and foremost.

Your local representative should have credibility, integrity and high moral values. A role model who can lead and inspire others to do great things. Albert Einstein said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

I invite and encourage voters to allow NZF and I the opportunity to do what we do best.

Protecting New Zealanders and protecting our way of life.

Two ticks NZF.

Joe Kairau is the New Zealand First candidate in the Tukituki electorate. Views expressed here are the writer's opinion and not the newspaper's. Email: editor@hbtoday.co.nz.