At the Conference and Function Centre in Palmerston North, /u/silicon_based_life has arranged to kick off his Whanganui campaign with a public meeting. Members of the public, local community leaders, and local business leaders have been invited to hear him speak and to offer their input into his work as electorate MP.

Within the conference centre, /u/silicon_based_life is introduced by ex-TOP deputy leader, Geoff Simmons. He stands before a crowd containing a mix of standing and sitting audience members.

"Greetings and thank you all for coming. When the boundaries changed on the electorates this term past, the boundaries of Whanganui changed quite significantly, going from containing half of Hamilton and none of Palmerston North, to none of Hamilton and all of Palmy. I am not and have never been the incumbent MP for Palmerston North, so I considered it prudent to start my electorate campaign here. Although I have been in contact with this city, a farming hub, several times as Minister for Primary Industries, I've never had the chance to interact with it's people and get to know the issues and concerns of the area. Despite it's auspicious placing at the centre of the lower North Island's agricultural heartland, Palmerston North has traditionally been a left-leaning city, more so than the relatively demographically similar cities of Rotorua and Hamilton. As a candidate from a party with sympathies to both sides of the traditional political divide, it is my hope that I can traverse the social dynamic of Palmerston North and represent the diverse interests of the town most effectively.

"However, Palmerston North is far from the only town or region which Whanganui covers. This is a simply massive electorate, spanning from Palmy in the south, all the way up to Raglan and Waingaro in the north. On the way, it encompasses the Tongariro National Park, the Taranaki region, numerous towns, and a cross-section of New Zealand life. It covers the dairy, wool, oil, and tourism industries, and even the New Zealand Army training grounds. Representing this diverse and exciting region has been a challenge, and ultimately the people of Whanganui will decide whether I have carried out that task with esteem. Regardless of the eventual election result, I think I can feel proud at the achievements I have gained for the electorate, and for my unwavering dedication to its people. This place is where I grew up, and it's where I now call home. From the town of Taupō, where I live, I am able to keep an eye on the area from a reasonably accessible position. And most importantly, I have and will worked hard to ensure that the best interests of the electorate are upheld."

"I have helped preserve the local industry of Taranaki by lobbying the government not to end oil exploration, and also by ensuring the Taranaki marine sanctuary does not affect established oil extraction areas. I have helped preserve the local industry of Taupō by getting an increase in DOC funding and entrance fees for tourists coming to New Zealand, so that our wild and natural places can be preseved and enhanced for tourists and locals to enjoy. I have supported the local industries of King Country, Waikato, and Manawatu by working alongside farmers to ensure that pollution management doesn't hit them in the back pocket. I have supported the local Iwi and Māori people by helping implement pro-Māori policies, such as the increases to Whanau Ora, Oranga Tamariki, and the banning of further seisure of Māori land. I have also helped fund the projects that PineappleCrusher promised Whanganui the last time he ran for the electorate, but seemed to forget once he failed to get elected. Naturally, being a high-ranking government minister helped me with these achievements, but I would have fought for them nonetheless, government or not. My promise to Whanganui is that, whether elected or not, I will not let up on these activities to the benefit of our electorate, and I will fight for the place that I represent so long as I live. Whanganui is my home, and I do not intend to forsake that. I can but hope that my actions have indicated my dedication to the local cause."

"But anyway, enough about me. I want to learn about you. I've set up a workshop here so myself and the party can learn about your stances and how we can help you better. Please come along and tell us what you think."