Can you tell us about what drew you to politics?
I grew up in Tokoroa, a working-class town in South Waikato, during the John Key era. This made me curious about why things were the way they were, why my parents would work 60- 70-hour weeks, and we still struggled to pay our bills, yet politicians would get on TV and call us criminals and dole-bludgers. Politicians had a lot to say about us and our home but never showed their faces.
It wasn’t until I moved to Welly and went to my first-ever protest that I realised that things aren’t the way they are because this is the natural order of things or because things inevitably just ended up this way. Things are the way they are because somebody decided they would be that way. If we want things to be better, we’ve got to be the ones making the calls.
What are your top spots in Te Whanganui a Tara?
For kai: Oaks satay noodle house on Cuba, Good boy sammies in Newtown and Baycourt roast in Kilbirnie.
For fits: Hunters & Collectors on Cuba, Sully’s on Vivian and Savemart in Waitangirua Ptown.
For the wairua: Zealandia Ecosanctuary in Karori, South Coast hīkoi and Meow Nui, the new mid-size venue I helped to get up and going FINALLY after a decade of needing a venue of this size for gigs.
Describe a perfect day for you.
You can’t beat Welly on a good day, so a sunny day in Pōneke, where I get to go for a bush hikoi with my kurī, spend time with my haumi and eat some good kai, is a perfect day for me! Nothing too extravagant or out the gate, this mahi has made me appreciate the simple things and any opportunity to rest.
Is there an achievement you’re most proud of?
Winning Wellington Central without the backing of big money or powerful interests is purely through the power of the people. Everyone counted us out from the beginning, and a NewsHub poll put us in third place, but we kept going hard and smashed it.
How do you think about fashion and style as part of your expression?
How you dress says a lot about who you are and who you are trying to connect with. I started “doing politics” at 21 as a city councillor in Pōneke and refused to dress like a 40 year old 'cause if you want a 40 year old then elect a 40 year old. I like challenging beliefs about what a politician should look or dress like. I try to mix as much streetwear as possible with what I wear, but mostly because I’m a Taurus and like to be cosy.
You’re making a playlist of some of your all-time bangers. What are the first couple of tracks?
NY State of Mind by Nas for when I’m walking into Parli, Shadowboxin by GZA while I’m in there and Big Poppa by Notorious BIG for when I’m walking out of Parli.
Do you have any parting words for us?
Just hold tight, and don’t let the bastards grind you down. It’s going to be a hundies next few years, and there are big money corporate interests who want to divide us. Know that there are people in Parliament fighting for you. We hear you, we see you, and we will continue to one outs the Government.