Candidates in NZ's most Christian electorate debate which values to prioritise

The Māngere electorate is extraordinary for a number of reasons.

Not only has it been home to two prime minister in David Lange (1984-1989) and William Massey (1912-1925), and countless sporting and musical legends, it also ranks first in the country in a number of statistical areas.

Most notably it has the highest proportion of Pacific Peoples (59.7 per cent), the highest proportion of Christians (60.8 per cent), and largest number of families with five or more children.

It also features in less positive statistics, like having the most homes with mould and dampness, the most overcrowded households and the most families needing government support.

With these facts in mind it is no wonder all the candidates in 531pi's Māngere Electorate Candidates Talanoa, highlighted housing, the cost of living and young people as priorities that need to be addressed.

Watch the full talanoa on 531pi's Pacific Days below:

Attending the live-streamed event, which was hosted by Queen’s Service Medal recipient Ma’a Brian Sagala, were Labour’s Lemauga Lydia Sosene, the Green Party’s Reverend Peter Sykes, National’s Rosemary Bourke, Vision NZ’s Fuiavailili Ala'ilima and independent candidate Brooke Pao Stanley.

But along with identifying housing and the how the economy is impacting the most vulnerable, upholding certain values was a key theme for candidates.

Ala’ilima gave an impassioned plea, saying: “A vote for me, is a vote for Māngere to stay true to its Pasifika Christian heritage.”

This is his second time running in the seat, having decided to first stand in 2020 under the New Conservatives banner, following what he described to The Spinoff at the time, was a shining light while exercising, and God asking him to run for parliament. And he used this particular talanoa to raise specific concerns with New Zealand's education system.

“What they're learning in schools is a big issue,” adding that he had been told students were “learning about Adam and Steve on Monday to Friday and then Adam and Eve on Sunday”.

“We need to fix what's going on for our future generations so we can secure the future of Māngere.”

The Māngere candidates gathered at the town centre for a debate hosted Nga Manga O Māngere. Photo/ 275 Times

Reverend Peter Sykes was also focused on values, but despite being a man of the cloth who first moved to the area 30 years ago to help lead the Selwyn Anglican Church, he was more concerned about how to unite the community than discuss if there were scriptural issues within high school curriculum.

“I'm with the Green Party because it's got values around listening to the voices of the marginalised, and it's about valuing people and place.”

Bourke, who’s a warehouse administrator and mother of four, echoed Sykes’ comments about the wanting to help the marginalised. But instead of doing it like the Greens’ policy of providing an income guarantee, Bourke wants to help people through National’s plans to reduce government expenditure and encourage overseas investment.

“We need an economy that grows, to help our marginalised through to those on middle incomes - and we can’t just leave it to chance and I believe the National Party has the plan to do that.”

Independent candidate Pao Stanley touched on her values of bringing “power to the people and peace to the planet”.

As both the coordinator of Auckland Action Against Poverty and daughter of legendary All Black Joe Stanley, Pao Stanley has highlighted in various media appearances that she’s uniquely equipped to challenge the powerful.

“I think growing up in really privileged spaces has given me the confidence of not holding back about what’s needed to be said for our community," she told 275 Times.

Given Labour has held the Māngere electorate since 1969, Lemauga Lydia Sosene is best placed to retain the seat for her party, taking over from the retiring Aupito William Sio.

Lemauga highlighted that it’s the values of respect, service and uplifting people that “are important to me and those are the values of the Labour Party as well".

The Samoan mother of two, who’s been a list MP since last year, also pointed out it’s been the existing Labour-led government who has committed to building 10,000 more warm and dry homes in Māngere, which would directly address those previously mentioned statistics around damp and mouldy homes.

And if she retains Labour’s 54-year hold on the seat, she committed to being a strong advocate on climate change and remaining accessible to the community through her office in the town centre.

“Our young people want us to address climate change - and it's important to have young people around the table - and that’s one of the things I'll be focused on.”