Young New Zealand First group for Whanganui

Matthew Urry was just 20 when he stood for Whanganui Regional Council last year. PHOTO/ FILE

Former Whanganui District Council candidate Matthew Urry is heading up a new Whanganui group for young New Zealand First Party supporters.

There are five members so far, and they are looking at the UCOL campus and at local schools - including those in South Taranaki - for more. They'll be talking up party policy at the River Traders' market before the election.

Auckland, Wellington and the East Coast also have Young New Zealand First groups.

Mr Urry was inspired to get involved with the party by the Brexit vote and Donald Trump's election, and by the majority New Zealand First leader Winston Peters got in the 2015 Northland by-election.

He likes the party's pledge to "put New Zealanders first again". For him that's about jobs and immigration.

"It's just saying "We don't mind you being here, but we want our people that doesn't have jobs to get picked first"," he said.

The party is in the process of deciding a Whanganui candidate. Names were suggested to party headquarters in Auckland, people have been trained and a short list has been sent back to the electorate.

The candidate will be chosen soon, at an annual general meeting, by a committee of nine chaired by Allan MacGibbon.

Mr Urry has spent lots of time at Kaiwhaiki Marae with his aunt Helen Tawaroa. He was schooled at Whanganui Intermediate and Wai Ora Christian Community Trust, has worked in auctions and has a stall selling bric a brac at Whanganui's market most Saturdays.

He's not putting his hand up to be a candidate - yet.

"My plan for the next six to seven years is to hang with the party. When the time feels right I will put my name forward," he said.