PRESS STATEMENT
MON 10 DEC 2007

Labour Confirms Mangere Candidate for 2008 General Elections

Labour has tonight confirmed Manukau City’s Deputy Mayor, Su’a William Sio, as its candidate to contest the Mangere Electorate Seat in the 2008 General Elections.

Chair of the Mangere Labour Electorate Committee (LEC) Tafafunai Tasi Lauese said Mr Sio, aged 47, has the unanimous support of the Labour Party and Mangere’s Labour Electorate Committee.

A member of the Labour Party for over 20 years, Mr Sio brings a depth of community service, knowledge and local experience in the Manukau community, most recently as a Manukau City Councillor since 2001. This has included serving as the Chair of the Manukau City Council Plan Committee under appointment by Sir Barry Curtis in 2004.

In this year’s local body elections in Manukau, Sio was the highest polling candidate for the Otara Ward. He was recently appointed as Deputy Mayor by the new Mayor of Manukau, Len Brown. Sio is the first person of Pasefika heritage to hold the office of Deputy Mayor in Manukau City, regarded as the largest Polynesian city in the world.

Mr Sio, who grew up in Manukau, says he feels humbled and privileged by the confidence and support offered by people, young and old, from all walks of life, from far and wide.

“I feel a huge sense of responsibility resting on my shoulders tonight after being endorsed as Labour’s Mangere candidate,” he says.

“I take on this candidacy with the united support of my family and the Labour Party by my side.”

“I want the people of Mangere to know that Labour will take nothing for granted in Mangere. We will work hard to regain the confidence, the respect and the support of voters throughout Mangere Bridge, Mangere East and Mangere Central. ”

“I look forward to working across our diverse communities, including our young people with the courage and the energy they bring to things, to ensure that we all work together to make New Zealand a better, fairer and more prosperous place for everyone.’’

ENDS

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