Election 2011: Weatherman Horan forecasts serious work

Former television presenter Brendan Horan. Photo / APN

Weather - like politics - can be unpredictable, and few other than former TVNZ weatherman Brendan Horan would have predicted his rise as a New Zealand First list MP.

But for the man who is known as "Mr Sunshine" and "Mr Personality" thanks to his entertainment background, the forecast ahead is serious.

Mr Horan, 50, said yesterday that he looked at his new role with a sense of duty and responsibility.

"It's a huge responsibility and it's not something that I would say I'm getting excited about - it's a big job and I take it very seriously.

"There's a lot of work that's going to have to be done in this new role and it's going to take all of my energy."

Raised in Whakatane, Mr Horan has lived in Tauranga for eight years and, amid coaching children in surfing, water polo, rugby, league and flippa ball, is a Waikato/Bay of Plenty regional manager and shareholder for Gold Buyers NZ.

Standing for New Zealand First was something he had planned to do from the year he started his three-year stint as a weatherman.

"The reason I became an MP is that I've always believed that most of our MPs cared deeply about New Zealand, but in 2005 those beliefs were shattered and that's when I was determined that I would stand.

"I've been working for the past three years - and extremely hard for the past two years - to get New Zealand First's policies into the public eye. Of course, it hasn't been easy."

It was the dawn of a new era for a resurrected New Zealand First - but the next term would also be about picking up where it left off, he said.

"New Zealand First has got a proud record, because no small party has accomplished what New Zealand First has. I'm talking about lowering the business tax, securing free medical care for children under 6, law, order and getting 1000 more police, not to mention the money we've put into elder care and the Gold Card ... there's not a minor party that comes close to that."

He said he couldn't have a better teacher than his leader.

"There has been a lot said about Winston Peters, but if you take what he's done instead of what people say, we see that New Zealand has benefited from his hard work and all of the MPs in New Zealand First now also have that benefit."