[Meta: This is our party post for Northland]

"Time for another TealBlog post! It seems as if I've been neglecting this place recently. In the wake of the formation of The Opportunities Party, and my moving to Taupō, I've been barely able to keep up with all the rest of the new Party's plans! Nevertheless, I have important words to impart to you, dear audience, today, so read closely.

"Many people have spoken, in other parties and in the media, about the nature of /u/TimeWalker102's candidacy for us in Northland. TimeWalker102 is a notorious figure in New Zealand politics, having had a short and unfortunate stint as Governor General that led to a constitutional crisis. Nevertheless, he remained in politics, entering Parliament with the National Party for a time. I occasionally met him during this time, and I was reasonably impressed by his knowledge of policy. However, I could tell he was restless in the National party. When he wasn't allowed back in after the third election, he turned to the newly minted Reform, in the hopes that it would allow him to pursue more centrist policies (such that we have ended up with in TOP). Under the leadership of alpine-, this is what he felt the promise of. Despite strong disagreement with other factions within the party, he stuck around in the hope of getting some moderate policies across in the new Fresh3001 administration. By this time, there were already murmurs of his disloyalty to Reform as a whole. Once alpine- resigned, it was only a matter of time before he clashed with the new leadership, whom he greatly opposes, and either resigned, or was fired, from the party.

"None of this may seem to bode well for TimeWalker102's position in this party. Nevertheless, the board, myself, and him have come to conclusive agreements. We have not had to compromise on our evidence-based approach, and the very fact that he approached us to help form the party shows his dedication to the cause. In addition, he has shown his dedication through his actions. He could quite easily have sat in Parliament, voting for free on the illusionary mandate of his electorate seat, until the end of the term, in relative ease. Contrary to that possibility, he resigned his seat, understanding that the change to our party was a major one in terms of policy and electorate trust. So far he is not leading in electorate polls - however, if anything, this is testament to his strength of character. To volunteer to go into a by-election knowing you could lose - that takes commitment.

"And it's the kind of commitment we look for in a candidate here at TOP. So to all the Northland voters out there, I urge you. Place your support once again in TimeWalker102. Now that he's in a party he feels he can be himself in, he will represent you far better than in a facade of party support. You did it once, and you can do it again!"