Man on electoral roll as 'Jedi Master'

Wanaka may have its jack russell dog but other voters have recorded some barking mad jobs on the electoral roll.

Behind the facade of hum-drum suburban life there are many weird and wacky ways of earning a living -- if occupational declarations on the Hamilton East and Hamilton West electoral rolls can be believed.

For instance, Blair Christieson is a lion tamer. Cameron Curd is a Jedi Master. Mark Bryan lists his occupation as "parasite". Nikolasa Biasny-Tule is one of two philosophers in Hamilton East.

But Leanne Ireland has one of our most distinctive occupations. The 32-year-old suburban Claudelands mum is officially a "gaiety girl".

"I have re-interpreted the concept of 'gaiety' to be a celebration of life rather than a poorly paid prostitute or chorus line dancer," she said.

As a gaiety girl, Ms Ireland occasionally does singing telegrams or participates in the Free Lunch street theatre group.

Electoral Enrolment Centre national manager Murray Wicks said listing an occupation was not compulsory for enrolling, but was encouraged because it helped in identifying people and was advantageous in selecting lists of potential jurors for court.

"If people want to call themselves whatever, that's what they are, with one exception. If it is offensive it will be changed to 'Not Stated'."

- nzpa