KEY POINTS:
Brenden Sheehan, the Australian who shot to prominence as spokesman for the grieving Muliaga family, is considering standing for Parliament at the next elections - against National Party leader John Key.
"I'm very appreciative of the assistance and support the Prime Minister gave the family and I'm looking to do anything I can to help Labour get re-elected, so any contribution I can make I will make," he said yesterday.
"If standing is one of those contributions and I'm asked to, I would consider that strongly."
Mr Sheehan's aunt, Folole Muliaga, died in May a few hours after Mercury Energy disconnected the power to her South Auckland home and Mr Sheehan became spokesman amid the controversy that followed.
He lives in the Mangere electorate but is not considering contesting the Labour candidacy against councillor Su'a William Sio, a friend.
"I would quite enjoy the challenge of running against John Key and I promise the electors of Helensville that if I win, I will live in the electorate rather than be 'the Prince of Parnell'," - a reference to where Mr Key lives.
Mr Sheehan, 38, is an organiser with the Public Service Association. He has been in New Zealand four years and in Auckland one year. In Australia, he was an active member of the Australian Labor Party and was in the same faction of the Queensland Labor Party as leader Kevin Rudd, who may well become Australia's Prime Minister this year.
"I got to know Kevin quite well. I danced with his wife at a wedding last time I was in Australia, actually."
Mr Sheehan had chaired the housing and local government committees for the party.
The faction was called "Labour-Unity" and was the centre faction.
Mr Sheehan said it was a relief in New Zealand not to have to deal with factional politics.
"They are often more intense than the broader politics against the Opposition."
Mr Key holds the seat with a majority of 12,778.
He greeted the suggestion that Mr Sheehan might oppose him as "excellent".
"My commitments mean he might have more time on the ground than I do but I will be relying on the work I have been doing for the past five years and I remain relaxed."
