July 23, 2014
Mum inspiration for political stand
The outside candidate for Waiariki says it’s the inspiration of his mother that pushed him into politics.
Tauranga-based iwi radio broadcaster Pet Spellman is standing for Brendan Horan’s newly-formed NZ Independent Coalition.
He describes the former New Zealand First MP as a friend and mentor, and he was so impressed with his political vision he quit Labour and came over.
But the 23-year-old says it was growing up in Tokoroa that formed him politically.
"Ngati Raukawa hard. That's where my beginnings came, where my mum would stand up in the PTA meeting and say: 'Well actually no, a school donation is just a donation, don't you force that on our kids, they can go to camp,' and I sat there and watched her advocate on behalf of our community and I thought what a strong wahine toa and she's definitely the inspiration behind me standing because without my mum and her fierce opposition to everything that was wrong in our community I definitely wouldn't be the outspoken broadcaster that I am today," Mr Spellmans says.
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