School welcomes back MP old boy

Kiritote Mackie from Whananaki School presents a photograph of the original Whananaki Bridge to old boy Winston Peters, who was on the hustings in the area on Thursday. Photo / Supplied

New Zealand First Leader and Northland byelection candidate Winston Peters went back to school while on the hustings last week - his old school at Whananaki.

Mr Peters returned to the school, which is in the Northland electorate, on Thursday before he held a public meeting at nearby Whananaki Hall.

School principal Shaun Tepania said the visit was a great opportunity for the students to ask Mr Peters about his time at the school and what his favourite memories were.

Mr Tepania said it was also a chance to show the students that while they might come from a small school, they could achieve anything if they worked hard.

"It was a brilliant opportunity for the children to see somebody who came from Whananaki School who has gone on to achieve great things. It was a fantastic day for the school," he said.

Year 8 student Kiritote Mackie presented Mr Peters with a photograph of the original Whananaki Bridge. Mr Peters' father, Len, was part of the team that built the bridge.

Mr Peters said Whananaki School needed a new classroom to stop pupils having to learn in its library.

"This school at Whananaki, which I attended as a boy, desperately needs a new classroom but the Government has no urgent plans to find an extra classroom. As a result 17 pupils are crammed into the school's library," he said.

The byelection on Saturday is expected to cost taxpayers up to $1million and was forced by the resignation of National MP Mike Sabin last month.

Eleven candidates are standing.

They are Adrian Bonner (Independent), Joe Carr (Focus New Zealand), Robin Grieve (Act Party), Maki Herbert (Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party), Adam Holland (Independent), Mark Osborne (National Party), Rob Painting (Climate Party), Mr Peters (NZ First Party), Rueben Taipari Porter (Mana Movement), Willow-Jean Prime (Labour Party) and Bruce Rogan (Independent).