With the final election results now declared, in Wellington Central there were some minor changes from the on-the-night results, with my majority now being 1,904. In the party vote on 345 votes separate National (14,589/35.3%) and Labour (14,244/34.5%), with the Greens getting (8494/20.6%). The turnout in Wellington Central seems to have been significantly better than the national average with over 40,000 people voting.
Once again, I want to express my thanks for the faith shown in me by Wellington Central voters, and you have my commitment to work for all Wellingtonians and be a strong voice for our great city. Â Â
So, now it is down to work.  Over the last couple of weeks I have been part of the induction for new MPs and I have started work on some of the issues for Wellington Central. I will be continuing to use the electorate office at 220 Willis St, and will join other opposition MPs with a Parliamentary office in the old Parliament Buildings.  I plan to continue to operate this website and blog, and introduce a few other ways of encouraging debate about the issues concerning Wellington Central people, New Zealand and the world.  Please keep coming back to check out the page, and feel free to comment.
Posted in Wellington. |
that is the word I seem to have said a thousand times today. Â
- Thanks to the voters of Wellington Central for having faith in me to be your representative.  I will work hard to make sure that your concerns and issues are heard.  My door will  be open to all Wellingtonians and all the diverse communities that make up our great city. Â
- Thanks also to my fantastic campaign team. Â It was a true team effort throughout the campaign, and especially yesterday to get out the vote. Â I owe you all a huge debt of gratitude.
- Thanks to my family and friends for all the support that you have given me. Not just this year, but throughout my life. Â It means a lot to me.
- Thanks to Stephen Franks and his people for their gracious concession last night. Â Tempers fray and tensions rise in a campaign, but I appreciated the chance to talk last night. Also thanks to Heather Roy and Sue Kedgley for coming to say hello.
Obviously the result at a national level was not what I had hoped for. I want to congratulate National and their allies on their success. Â The ‘time for a change’ message seemed to be unstoppable, and National campaigned cleverly around it. I remain very proud of what Labour has achieved in government in nine years. Â Under Helen’s leadership so many positive changes have happened to New Zealanders and New Zealand. Â The time for this government is over, but the legacy in so many areas will carry on. Â I will post more fully on Helen and Michael’s contribution in the next few days, but in the meantime, I also offer them my heartfelt thanks.
Posted in Wellington. |
Some of my last street corner meetings for the campaign were in Mt Victoria last night. It would be fair to say that most of those who came out to say hello and ask questions last night, it was what was taking place in the US that really mattered.Â
Everywhere I went in Wellington last night in and around the fantastic fireworks display, people were ecstatic that Barack Obama has been elected. The piece in his speech where he addressed people in other countries was a hugely symbolic moment for many I spoke to. The fact that he is prepared to look outwards in that way gives me hope that we will see the kind of leadership and involvement from the US in the world that we have looked for in vain in recent times.
His message of hope and inclusion is something for all of us to aspire to. It is easy to be dragged into the minute details and disputes of a campaign, but in the end what we are all trying to do is find the way to build a better world- starting here in Wellington, in New Zealand, and in the world. I for one, woke up this morning, with more hope in my heart than for a very long time.
Posted in Uncategorized. |
I have been doing street corner meetings for the last few weeks across all the suburbs of Wellington Central.  We take out the Labour van, equipped with speakers, and park up for a talk from me, and questions and answers.  They are a lot of fun.  Attendance is pretty weather dependent, but on a sunny evening a dozen people will come out, and have a listen.  This does not include the ‘curtain twitchers’, who look on from the comfort of home.  The real feature of the meetings  this election has been the wind.  Tonight, in Wilton,  it was fierce.  My apologies to the poor person who ended up with a small sign briefly attached to their windscreen after it parted company with the person holding it!  Our final effort tonight, right up the top of Northland, came to an abrupt end when another sign took flight, narrowly avoiding decapitating the candidate, and leading to a mad cap chase down the road from the hardy volunteers who were with me.  The great thing is that even tonight people came out to talk.  Interestingly in two different streets the key topic was investing in research and science.  It is indeed a vital part of our future as a country, and it is a priority for Labour.  National’s lack of commitment to Fast Forward and the R and D Tax Credit is a testament to their short term focus, and at least for these voters it is a major issue.
Posted in Wellington. |
