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- By Casey Costello, NZ First MP based in Port Waikato
With just nine more weeks of the 54th New Zealand Parliament sitting before the dissolution in September, the election buzz has started already.
This was very evident at the Mystery Creek Fieldays last month. A fantastic event which was made even better with the benefit of great weather, a bit chilly in the mornings, but mostly clear blue skies and no rain.
All those involved in this event should be rightly proud of a wonderful week. Whether it was the parking attendants, the shuttle bus drivers, the greeters at the gates, or the cleaning and maintenance teams, it was clear everyone had a common objective to make Fieldays a great experience.
I had the opportunity to be at the New Zealand First stall every day and there was an impressive level of engagement and interest from the record crowds.
It was encouraging to see the interest from young voters. As the saying goes: “Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you”
Meeting and talking with New Zealanders across the country has been the greatest privilege of being a politician. With ministerial responsibilities for seniors, customs, immigration, police, and health, I have had the opportunity to connect with incredible people.
It is this connection with people that is fundamental to the New Zealand First electoral campaign with a busy schedule of public meetings across the country well underway.
At the public meeting in Cambridge, on June 14, I was honoured to be confirmed as the New Zealand First candidate for the Port Waikato electorate. This is my home, where I have lived and worked most of my life, and I look forward to being able to continue serving.
Later this month the New Zealand First Convention will be held at the Due Drop Event Centre in Manukau and the schedule for the campaign will ramp up from there withmuch to be done in the coming months.
Government does not stop because of an election, and I look forward to being able
to talk more about the work being delivered in my portfolio responsibilities with some
announcements to come around aged care, organised crime, seniors and support to frontline services.
