Labour candidate for Northland, dyljam, today hosted a community barbecue event for people living in the Northland electorate.

"Thank you everyone for turning out here today. It's not too warm, clear skies and a beautiful day for a bbq!"

"I'd like just to take a moment to talk about why I'm running in this election. I know some of you are questioning why I'm running for the Labour party when I was previously the Deputy Leader of Reform. I had hoped Reform would be my forever home, so to speak. However after the resignation of the former leader, the party took a huge shift to the right. I could not be part of a party which has such different views and attitudes to myself. That's why, when Labour began to re-emerge as a powerful organisation, I returned to the party where I began my political career."

"This election, our very way of life is under threat. National is promising to repeal legislation and introduce new Acts which will hurt the workers of New Zealand. You've also got the right-wing authoritarian New Zealand First, whose very candidate in Northland is abusing Asian immigrants and charging donors $1000 a head to have dinner with him. That's not the New Zealand way."

"National is promising to repeal the Shop Trading Hours (Restricted Trading Hours) Amendment Act 2019 which will give more power to big business and undermine workers. Employers will effectively be able to force workers to work on public holidays. This will especially hurt casual workers, whom employers will be able to threaten with removal of shifts. On top of this, National will allow bosses to take deduct pay from workers for partial industrial action. National has made it clear that they're on the side of big business against hard-working New Zealanders."

"If elected to represent the people of Northland, I'll be putting you first. I'll make sure that our schools have the tools and equipment they need to ensure our children have an education which will prepare them for the world of tomorrow. Labour will increase the salaries of teachers, giving them a much deserved pay rise. We will increase health funding, with a particular focus on mental health. Expanding counselling sessions to ensure that people get help when they need it. And of course, we will protect our environment, as we aim to be carbon free by 2030, as well as investment in green research."

"This election is too important not to participate in. We cannot afford a National_New Zealand First, which will take New Zealand backwards, decimate workers rights, and undermine our schools and hospitals. Only a vote for Labour is a vote for schools, hospitals and workers."