Election 2023 - Getting Candid: Dan Rosewarne, Labour Party ​candidate for Waimakariri

Welcome to Getting Candid, our political candidate series highlighting the Pacific politicians running in Election 2023

​Basic bio info

What's your age? 42.

Which suburb do you live in? Woodend, Waimakariri.

How many children do you have? Two

What's your ethnic background? Samoan – My Grandmother was born in Faga Savall & lived to 102!

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​What made you want to get into politics?

I was never into politics until being diagnosed with leukaemia around 10 years ago after returning from Afghanistan. Seeing the public health system through the lens of a patient & the challenges that come with that got me into politics. I showed up to a Labour Party meeting then one thing led to another & I ended up being a candidate, then MP!

What's your plan or strategy to win a seat?

A pretty simple strategy: Meet as many people as possible, listen to what they have to say & grab as many votes as I can get!

Who inspires you?

Norman Kirk & Nelson Mandela

What are the key issues facing people in your area?

Cost of living, Health, Housing, Education.

What's your favourite place to eat or get a drink in your area?

Probably would have to be Noddy’s Fish & Chip Shop in Woodend.

What's your message to the voters in your electorate or those that you're targeting for the party vote?

We've made so much progress over the past six years but there is so much more to do. We head into this election campaign proud of our track record, realistic about the challenges before us, and incredibly optimistic about New Zealand’s future. After a difficult three years, our economy is turning the corner, inflation is coming down and wages are growing.

And after a tough start to the year with the Cyclone and floods, there are signs the economy is growing again. We’ve reconnected with the world and our exports are increasing year on year. We have record low unemployment, more Kiwis in work than ever before, and so many opportunities ahead of us.

After years of neglect, we’re rebuilding the country’s infrastructure with record investments in road maintenance, rail, new and rebuilt classrooms, schools and hospitals, and yes, the biggest public housing build programme since the 1950s. We’re lifting children out of poverty, tackling climate change by reducing our carbon emissions three years in a row, and supporting our businesses to grow and create new jobs.

And we’ve got a plan to invest in our future prosperity by taking on some big projects - light rail, renewable electricity, and first world water supplies. We’re making so much progress, now is not the time to turn back to the failed approach of cuts and neglect that created all those problems in the first place.