John Banks: Back at the controls

John Banks says he wants to get back into Parliament to make a difference. Photo / Steven McNicholl

I never in my wildest dreams all those years ago when I was out of home, out of work, out of luck but never out of hope, living rough in the Auckland Domain... [thought] one day I would get the opportunity to go to the Parliament.

I never thought that one day I would have the privilege and honour of being the Mayor of Auckland City and no one would have ever thought that, like Sir Dove-Myer Robinson, I would come back to the Town Hall.

And I doubt whether ... anyone would have thought I'd have the opportunity to go back to Parliament House.

This simply tells the country that New Zealand is a land of opportunity.

I want nothing more or less than opportunity and equal opportunity for every single New Zealander in this country.

I believe that the Act Party policies are best suited to give freedom, opportunity and self-reliance to New Zealand.

I would be very hopeful that on a perfect day we would have the numbers to make a difference to the next government of this country - a big difference - around putting in place policies that are going to make New Zealand the best country in the world.

I'm not going back to the Parliament after all these years to bounce dead cats.

I'm going back to Parliament to make a difference ...

JOHN BANKS

* Joined National Party 1972.

* Elected MP for Whangarei 1981.

* Retired as MP 1999.

* Auckland City Mayor 2001-2004, defeated.

* Auckland City Mayor 2007-2010, defeated.

* Joined Act Party May 18.

* Selected by Act for Epsom May 28.

* Quit National Party May 28.

EPSOM MPs SINCE 1996

* Christine Fletcher (Nat), Richard Worth (Nat), Rodney Hide (Act).