BestInBounds is currently in the AM show studio fielding questions from Duncan Garner and Mark Richardson. Duncan begins the volley of Questions

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Duncan: Hey BestInBounds, thanks for joining us here today - it’s fairly safe to say that you are a newcomer to the world of politics and further to that are quite young - could you tell us a bit about yourself and why you have decided to get into politics so young.

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“Hey Duncan, thanks for having me here. I am a fairly straight shooter, I am half Samoan half Maori - my dad is a Ngati Whatua man and my mum is from the village of Vailima in Samoa. I’m privileged enough to have grown up in a socio-economic environment that enabled me to make the most of every opportunity I was given, and receive more in the way of opportunity than was afforded to those in less privileged conditions. I do not shy away from that. I attended Auckland Grammar School before studying a Bachelor of Law and Commerce at the University of Auckland. I would say that 23 is not too young to get into politics but I do understand the wealth of experience accumulated by my colleagues is a significant asset. I guess my desire to enter politics stems from my interests in serving my community. I may not have faced the poverty or problems that plague our society first hand but that does not mean I can’t understand it, I want to do what’s best for my people. I’m not one for blind partisan support or opposition for the sake of opposition which is why I joined National. We are a common sense party supporting common sense ideals, we convert the complex and unnecessary legalese which pervades our parliament and put it into terms our people can understand so that they can form educated opinions. We are the part of the layman.”

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Mark: From what we’ve seen you consider yourself a champion for Maori affairs, this is a sector National has not previously been noted for in the past - what is your view on this?

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“That's an excellent question Mark. Historically speaking the stereotype is that we’re a party solely for the economic and social elite and that we simply do not care about Maori affairs. I can put that myth to bed right now - that could not be further from the truth. In fact this recent Greens-Labour coalition has proven they do not care about the Maori community - they have had not one significant Maori policy achievement in three terms! The minister for Maori affairs isn’t present at question time, and even though I have been present at every QT since I was made spokesperson for Internal Affairs I have not received one reply from the Minister for Maori affairs. Personally I think that’s shameful and indicative of the lax attitude the government has taken with Maori Affairs. We need to be constantly reevaluating and improving our relationship with the Tangata Whenua, I find it ironic that the Greens will recognise the declaration of indigenous peoples rights but won’t recognise the need to actually do anything that will help Maori!”

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Mark: Yes that is all very well and good but what will National do for Maori? The Green inaction has been attacked in the press as of late but what would the National government do and how would it differ to what the Greens have done?

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“Well firstly the National government would act on more than a purely superficial level - I’ll address our Maori policy in full tomorrow in conjunction with elements of our economic policy but in essence we want to support Maori entrepreneurs and promote the development of Maori business at the grass roots level through a variety of incentives. In doing so we’ll be promoting the virtues we as kiwi’s hold so dear. As well as this medical health reform for Maori is another priority for us but as I said I’ll touch on each policy individually in more detail tomorrow.”

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Duncan: Thanks Best, you’ve been very outspoken about your disdain for the tax system, could you summarise for us why that is and what the National changes mean for every day kiwis?

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“The crux of my issue with the current tax system is that it is far too confusing and complex to navigate. With the cuts we plan on introducing we want to make the tax paying process, and tax in general less confusing for New Zealanders to understand.What good is a tax system that confuses the living daylights out of those who wish to comprehend it! The changes to the tax system National is proposing will put more money in the pockets of Kiwi’s and make paying tax - the right tax - simpler as well.

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Mark: One last question before we wrap up - you said you and your part are not big on “opposition for the sake of opposition” - we’ve heard that said many times before but do you truly stand by that?

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“I truly do. We don’t purely oppose every policy on the basis that they are the “left” and we are the “right”. We base our decisions on a thorough cost-benefit analysis as every informed decision should be based on, blind disagreement purely based on party lines is counter-productive to the reason we are all in office - which is the betterment of all Kiwi’s.Winston has touched on this previously but we will not, and never will oppose bills for oppositions sake, we are a common sense party fighting for common sense initiatives that will aid the people of New Zealand - the wellbeing of New Zealanders has no political ideology which is why we should get it right.

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Duncan: National candidate for Rohe BestInBounds! Thanks for joining us this morning

"Thanks for having me!"