It's a cold morning outside the Manukau events centre however a cheerful crowd is gathered to here BestInBounds open his campaign.

Talofa outou uma,

O loʻu igoa o BestInBounds ma ua ou fiafia lava e avea ma sui taʻitaʻi o le ACT ma le sui tauva a le ACT mo Manukau.

Malo lava everyone, and thanks for joining me here today. I promise I won't take up too much of your time I know the times are tough and securing time off is difficult for everyone at the moment. So firstly I'd like to thank each and every one of you for getting out here today to hear me speak and hopefully, support me and ACT as we fight to expand the representation we as a party have in parliament.

It's no secret that the financial climate we find ourselves in as a nation is less than ideal in these trying circumstances. What is needed is strong leadership and a decisive plan to lead us out of the next decade. We should be under no illusions, Covid and the path to recovery present challenges we as a nation have not faced before. ACT has a comprehensive plan for the post covid-economic landscape that we'll fully detail over the coming week across a multitude of events around the nation. In short it's one that aims to put more money back in the pockets of Kiwis, whilst also creating both flexibility and security for our businesses that allows them to maintain and expand on the quality of product available to our domestic and international markets.

Strengthening the connection between our vibrant Pasifika and Maori communities and the Police force is another key element of our justice agenda. Worldwide, scrutiny around Policing methods and excessive use of force has never been higher and one only needs to look as far as the societal disconnect between the American Police and the communities they are charged with protecting as proof of the need for greater community representation and consultation within our justice enforcement plans. Maori wardens have done a fantastic job within our communities and need a significant boost in order to keep this work going and expand their operations so that our young Rangatahi can see these role models in an active capacity. Expanding this program into a new Pacific Warden leadership role is another potential avenue ACT will explore. Furthermore, additional competency and cultural training for our officers to ensure that they can approach each situation with the context necessary feature within ACT's justice reform.

But I digress, more policy, in greater depth will come in the following days. The political landscape has, to say the least drastically changed as well and ACT faces fierce competition from every direction possible. It's been widely touted in polls and media that our greatest rivals on the right, yet I do not share the media's view. No doubt you read my article a few days ago which fully detailed my thoughts about New Zealand first, let me repeat these sentiments now. NZF gave up their status as proponents of the right wing as soon as they made common cause with Labour and their rabble of rambling communist's. They are complicit in the mismanagement of this nation from that point, their many failings range from failing to prevent the failure of Kiwibuild to blatant corruption of the highest order where a substantial sum of money seemingly just, appeared in their financial accounts. The moral erosion New Zealand first has been as slow as it was painful to watch and no doubt Donna Peters is cast from the same cloth as her father and former New Zealand first leader, no doubt Big on talk but remarkably light on action.

Moreover it seems that New Zealand First has devolved into a bastardized conglomerate of bad policy, prejudice and ignorance. An immigration freeze is as stupid as it is xenophobic and the exact opposite of what our country needs right now. They claim it's to solve the housing crisis, pray tell is it not the same crisis that the government NZF was a member of, the government that they betrayed their ideals for, promised to solve? Yet now it seems, instead of building more houses NZF wants to just ban immigration, but this is indicative of the backward thinking we've come to expect from New Zealand first. ACT is led by two proud Islanders, and coming from an immigrant background I can promise that I will fight NZF's blatant Xenophobia every step of the way. NZF's military "policy" if you can call it that, is a brand of populism that is both out of touch with reality and practicality. While ACT won't rule out spending boosts to the military totally, the expansion NZF proposes is disproportionate to the capacity our armed forces serve in globally. We don't need large standing forces because the diplomatic situation does not currently require it, harkening back to such cold war era militarism is a step back from the productive and proactive diplomacy New Zealand has practiced. But far from me to tell new Zealand first what to do, if they want to endulge their red dawn fantasies then so be it, but i'd ask that they LARP without the taxpayers hard earned money.

The left's power balance has shifted and whilst prime minister Ardern has stepped away from the political light several new parties have stepped to the fore. I would warn you against trusting their at best, flexible promises, especially given the previous government's dubious track record of keeping in them. Another Labour, or Greens left government promises more inaction, and unchecked spending that only deepens the financial hole we are currently in. TOP-Internet presents solutions yet their track record in terms of election performance thus far leaves much to be desired.

Of all the parties, ACT will be the only one that can provide the leadership and moral fortitude required to navigate these tough circumstances and re-establish the strength of not just the New Zealand economy, but our Nation post covid.

Malo Lava,

Thank you all for coming out here to listen to me speak, I look forward to seeing you throughout Manukau in the coming week.