Election 2023 - Getting Candid: Nerissa Henry, Labour candidate for Pakuranga

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

Basic bio info

What's your age? 35
Which suburb do you live in? East Auckland
How many children do you have? 3
What's your ethnic background? Cook Island, Māori, English, Native American.

What made you want to get into politics?

I came in through community service and connecting the dots between what happens on the ground through policy and decision making from top and became embedded from there

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

Reaching out to as many people as I can. Being visible, enhancing my everyday life to be more public as I was born, raised, live, work, play and serve in the East Akl area, my children also attend local schools and daycare.

Who inspires you?

My children and the next generation. they are fearless, out spoken, they are creatives, problem solvers

What are the key issues facing people in your area?

In Pakuranga electorate we are a diverse area but common themes are getting transport and roads sorted (We are experiencing years of disruption from The Eastern Busway Project). Crime and safety are also a big issue, Environment and Waterways, we have many local organisations that volunteer in this space

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

favourites to eat at are Viet Hoa Vietnamese or Welfare BBQ meats both Aviemore Drive and not a big drinker but Porterhouse Grill at the Pakuranga Plaza is always a good spot

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

On a candidate note: I'm an experienced governor with 15 years' experience in grassroots organisations, community development, environment, waste minimisation and conservation, to 3 terms elected in Local Govt, to sitting on boards at a regional and National level. I've even had the pleasure of representing overseas in international forums in particular for Women and girls

For Party Vote: We are the Party that looks after the many and not the few. I hope voters think about others in terms of how they vote this election. Think of those that most need the support, that are the minority voices and those less fortunate than others. Think of those that are vulnerable like our single parents, low-income earners and households, our disability and elderly, those that are struggling and not because they aren't contributing to society and working... too often East Aucklanders are caught up with punishing and blaming people for ending up in circumstances that aren't always their doing, and most of all think about that future generations that will be impacted by today's decisions and the other party's policies and announcements that squash all the work being done to put a gender and equity lens across

The target voters for me in the electorate are definitely the rangatahi, those new to voting, those new to the area, but also those that will be most affected as listed above.