Outgoing Labour MP Vui Mark Gosche Delivers Valedictory; Tribute to Brian Donnelly

Posted: September 25, 2008 | Author: | Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Community, Current, NZ General Election 2008, NZPacific, Politics | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wearing the chiefly red ula in the parliamentary debating chamber, MP for Maungakiekie Vui Mark Gosche first paid his respects to his mate Brian Donnelly, former New Zealand First MP and High Commissioner to the Cook Islands, who passed away at midday. Read the rest of this entry »

Final Day In Parliament For Ex-Pacific Affairs Minister Gosche

Posted: September 25, 2008 | Author: | Filed under: Breaking News, Community, Current, Honour & Tribute, NZ General Election 2008, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This week,  Parliament will farewell 12 retiring MPs, three from National and nine from Labour. Among them is New Zealand’s first Pacific MP to hold a cabinet portfolio, a few in fact, and that’s Vui Mark Gosche. On Saturday night, Labour’s Pacific Sector farewelled Vui at its fiafia fundraiser with a special performance by operatic tenor Ben Makisi, Tongan and Niuean dance groups. Read the rest of this entry »

Operatic Tenor Ben Makisi To Sing At Labour’s FiaFia Fundraiser

Posted: September 19, 2008 | Author: | Filed under: Community, Current, NZ General Election 2008, NZPacific, Politics | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

It’s expected to be a who’s who of the Pacific community tomorrow night at Labour’s Pacific Sector fundraiser in Auckland. Expect a full turn out with family, friends and supporters of Labour’s Pacific candidates including performances from Auckland’s Cook Islands, Niue and Tongan communities. Read the rest of this entry »

Backgrounder on Maungakiekie Electorate; Q & A with Pacific Candidates; Lotu-Iiga and Lole-Taylor

Posted: September 18, 2008 | Author: | Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Community, Current, NZ General Election 2008, NZPacific, Politics | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Auckland’s Maungakiekie electorate includes the suburban communities of Penrose, Ellerslie, One Tree Hill, and the Panmure Basin. It was partly redrawn in 2007 and now also includes Royal Oak, Onehunga, and Point England.

The seat is currently held by Labour MP for Maungakiekie Vui Mark Gosche who’s stepping down from politics to be closer to his family in Auckland. Vui has served as electorate MP for Maungakiekie for 8 year…winning a 6450 voting majority over his nearest rival, National’s Paul Goldsmith. The latter scored less than 10,000 votes. Read the rest of this entry »