Profile for Peter Wakeman,

I am a member of the Labour Party standing as an independent in the 10th July 2004 by election.

I first stood for Parliament in 1993 in a by-election when Winston Peters resigned.

Given that the Labour Party is not standing a candidate in this election, I have put myself forward to represent the views of its supporters and give them a voice. Though I am a member of the Labour Party I feel that there are areas of policy that the party could be developing, and will be encouraging them to do so if elected. In order to stand for Parliament one has to pay $300.00 to have ones name appear on the ballot paper, and have been nominated to stand by two people so this action is not undertaken lightly. My goal is to work with Prime Minister Helen Clarke and other Members of Parliament by contributing ideas and common sense to Government Policy. My leisure time activities include walking, biking, playing pool, and tennis. I am also developing skills in playwriting.

Born in Christchurch, 44 years old, and have worked for many years as a jet pilot of International Passenger Flights. I travelled widely, including living in Singapore, Europe, Australia, and the United States. This experience gave me the knowledge to be a strong influence in questioning the procedures of both the Australian and New Zealand Competition Commission’s ongoing actions concerning Air New Zealand and its Australian competitors over the last 10 years.

My concerns for the electorate, and for that matter New Zealand as a whole, are:

The cost of gaining and maintaining driving licences. As in rural areas of this country being able to drive is not a luxury it is a necessity.

The Student Loans Scheme, which is bad for the country and bad for the students. It is not in our interests to burden our young people for up to 20 years or more with debts which will effectively shut them out of the property market, and other essential areas if internal financial development.

The education system needs to put emphasis on areas outside academic qualification and cater more for students who have more practical skills. At school is where we need to excite and interest these students. At the moment, education is increasingly becoming a responsibility of W.I.N.Z. for students who missed out being given the more practical skills while still at school.

New Zealand needs a Constitution that is unable to be changed without a National Referendum. This would have prevented the Government introducing the “Seabed and Foreshore Bill.” At the moment we have insufficient balances to the power of Parliament, and therefore the Cabinet.

Public Credit should be the responsibility of the Reserve Bank. (“State Housing in New Zealand”, Min/Works pub. 1949. p.7).

I have asked the returning Officer for the by-election, 10th July 2004, to increase the polling booths from 100 to 302 as at the last General Election. Once you turn 18yrs it is your responsibility to go to NZPost Shop to enrol.

Press release authorised by Peter Wakeman, independent candidate Te Tai Hauauru. cell: 0274 588944

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>