PORT WAIKATO — [17th May, 2026] — The NZ Outdoors and Freedom Party has officially announced 31-year-old Daymond Goulder-Horobin as its candidate for the Port Waikato electorate, making him the party’s youngest candidate in the upcoming election.

Bringing a formidable blend of academic rigour and frontline community advocacy, Goulder-Horobin holds a Master of Business in Economics (MBus Econ) from Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and a Graduate Diploma in Data Analytics (GradDip Data Analytics) from the Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT). His selection signals the party's commitment to tackling complex public sector issues with deep analytical precision.

Goulder-Horobin, a driven young New Zealander committed to restoring freedom, integrity, and justice to the Kiwi way of life, says he chose to stand in honour of the party’s persistence and tenacity.

"The Outdoors and Freedom Party has consistently stood up for the rights of New Zealanders and held the Government to account," Goulder-Horobin said. "I want to bring my experience in technology, economics, and community advocacy to help the party enter Parliament. We need strict analytical rigour to call out corruption and expose incompetence in the public sector."

Having previously run in the Auckland Council elections for the Franklin Local Board (Waiuku Subdivision), Goulder-Horobin is no stranger to the frustrations of local communities. His local government campaign gave him direct insight into how voters feel left behind by distant tiers of government and impacted by rapid urban sprawl. He plans to channel that experience into ensuring the Port Waikato electorate receives the transparent, accountable representation it deserves.

Beyond regional issues, Goulder-Horobin is highly passionate about innovation and financial technology policy. Crucially, he is raising the alarm over the public sector’s growing, unchecked reliance on Artificial Intelligence. While advocating for technological advancement, he strongly opposes the temptation to outsource human decision-making to AI systems, especially when it impacts the lives of everyday citizens.

Party leadership welcomed the youth and specialised expertise Goulder-Horobin brings to the team, noting that at 30, he represents the next generation of leadership required to restore trust in New Zealand's public institutions. If elected to Parliament, Goulder-Horobin intends to demand absolute competence and integrity from all public sectors and Crown-owned companies.

"For me, standing for Parliament is entirely about serving New Zealanders," says Goulder-Horobin. "It’s time to restore trust, transparency, and true respect for the will of the people in public life."

Current list of 2026 candidates and their details can be viewed here: https://nzofp.co.nz/2026-candidates

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