While I don’t condone party political broadcasts on a forum like this I believe what happened last night is a positive step forward in our cause.

There I was sitting with 13 other candidates for Wellington Central with a crowd of maybe 200. I was the newbie in the room pressing flesh with the likes of Sue Kedgly, Stephen Franks and Grant Robertson. With Heather Roy to my right and Michael Appleby to my left I stood and gave my speech very nervously to the crowd. I swear they could actually hear my heart pumping while my hands were shaking like a leaf in a Wellington breeze. But I held my head up and let rip with the policies that I believe in whole heartedly.

Amongst other, less relative topics to this site, I let it be know that while the government is surgically removing the man from the family, several hundred thousand children are becoming Fatherless. Some on a day to day basis, and some – permanently. We will ABOLISH THE CHILD SUPPORT ACT, which is completely sexist and unfair legislation, in favour of a case by case approach.

Too many people are making too much money from the suffering of others – the others being the non custodial parent. We will ABOLISH THE FAMILY COURT and replace it with family mediation.

We will set up a ministry of MENS AFFAIRS and push firmly for gender equality.

When the bell rang to signal 3 1/2 minutes I thanked everybody and sat down to a large round of applause. It was over and I could breath again. My heart slowed down and my hands stopped shaking and I could begin to feel proud of myself for doing what I had just done. It was hard to concentrate on the speeches of the others after me and it was only after the night was over I was told that the only round of applause louder than the one I received was for Stephen Franks.

The word is out, our voice has been heard yet there is still much work to be done. I know of many who are doing the same thing but we need more supporters! Who is up for the challenge?