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New Zealand First’s Whanganui candidate says people will be surprised by the party’s popularity come election time.��

William Arnold spent 23 years in Australia in the farming and security sectors before returning home in 2014.��

That was when he joined NZ First. “I became a member of the local committee just after the last election and this year it was suggested that I should put my hand up to be the candidate for Whanganui.��

“People like to have a face to put to their vote. If they’re going to vote for a party, they need to have a representative in their electorate.”��

NZ First didn’t get enough party votes to make it to Parliament in 2020.��

Arnold said there had been “more than a bit” of a resurgence in support as of late.��

“[Winston Peters’] leader’s meetings around the country, which he has been doing for well over a year, have all been really well attended – 300-odd people upwards.��

“I think the country will be quite surprised how well New Zealand First comes back.”��

The party wanted to see growth in the regions and the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) was an example of that, Arnold said.��

“[Regions] are the engine rooms for the country. We provide the exports that give us our wealth.��

“Obviously, [PGF] is a thing our electorate can apply for.”��

He said he was very concerned with the direction New Zealand was heading in and October’s election would be “the most crucial one we will see in our lifetimes”.��

“There is the co-governance issue. Given what’s going on in the world, this is a time when we should be standing together, not dividing ourselves.��

“Rather than having a separate Māori health entity, I think having health outcomes delivered by need is the way to go.”��

Arnold moved to Whanganui in 2016 and currently works four days a week at Bunnings Whanganui.��

While his job had impacted his ability to fully hit the campaign trail, he was still at the Whanganui River Markets most Saturdays.��

On the whole, he had got good feedback from the public, he said.��

“As far as our policies are concerned, and the feeling towards our candidates across the country, we are getting a fairly good response.��

“Obviously, there are always going to be those who are more fervent in their political affiliations but that’s OK.��

“I think we are doing all right.”��

Arnold said he had been “a bit of a jack-of-all-trades” throughout his working life.��

“I did a fitter-turner-welder apprenticeship when I left school and worked in the manufacturing trades until I went to Australia.��

“Over there, I worked in security for 16 years before being a contract milker in Victoria and New South Wales.��

“That varied experience would stand me in good stead as an MP for Whanganui. We’ve got farming, we’ve got light industry. I’ve been there and done it.”��

Mike Tweed is an assistant news director and multimedia journalist at the��Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily the Whanganui District Council.��