I was at Hamilton's largest mall today in support of my youth with intellectual disability who wanted to buy a suit for the school ball. The Te Awa Retail Shopping Centre area used to be a military camp, hence the term The Base. This covered shopping centre has a large selection of fashion and major brands like Farmers, Witchery, Wild Pair, Michael Hill, Dunkin' Donuts and many more, plus Hoyts Flagship Cinema featuring the largest silver screen in NZ. The architectural design took into consideration Waikato Tainui's rich cultural history.
One selling factor of the place is the over 3,000 FREE parking space that easily attracts a sizable crowd specially on weekends. In any shopping centre there is always a food court that is always packed with people eating, talking and bonding with the family. There are other amenities to make your stay as enjoyable as possible: an outdoor children's playground, baby changing facilities, free wheelchairs and prams. There is even free shopping shuttle to take you and your bags back to your car.
I guess the rent for places like this must be high because the suit we wanted was well out of the price range of my high school student. At the end of the day, we decided to go further down the road to a place called SaveMart where we got all that was needed at an affordable price. Te Awa will still be the place to go to for quality and durability.
Yesterday, the Special Olympics Waikato held its first basketball tournament at the YMCA-Hamilton gym. The nearly 150 players came from seven cities. These players were young people and adults with an intellectual disability.
It was so heartwarming to see the players give their all. I know some of them and I've seem them practise for one hour every Wednesday night since the start of this year. Not only were they playing hard ball, they were also enjoying every minute of the sport. At the end of the day, that is what we should see happen to these kids and adults---enjoying the company of their peers and friends, savouring the camaraderie that goes with the sport, and able to feel the pain of a lost game and the joy of a winning game!
Everyone who participated went home with multicoloured ribbons as their prize for the tournament. yesterday was only the beginning of a year-long tournament in different cities of the North Island. Next stop on May 25, will be at Howick-Pakuranga. For sure, I will be there too.
Today as I was dropping-off my wife and daughter in the Hamilton CBD, who should I see, walking all by herself, lugging a big bag and hugging a pile of folders, but Hamilton City's Mayor, Julie Hardaker. Looking at her photo which I liberally lifted from her website, what an infectious smile!
I've met her personally several times---a couple of official functions and one I can distinctly remember being up-close-and-personal in a community gathering. I can still remember her taking a photo of us in her mobile phone. Was it a selfie? I don't know because there were several of us with her in the photo. How I wish I could ask the mayor for a copy of our group photo in her mobile phone. Does she delete photos or saves them for posterity? That would be interesting to know!
This beautiful, tall, dynamic, remarkable and extraordinary Mayor is now on her second term. I'll not talk about her being a politician, her track record or anything that's already publicly available if you just search the Internet. All I can say is that she will listen to you intently, as I witnessed her doing in one of those break-out sessions conducted by the Hamilton City Council. I was that person talking about entrepreneurship and education for migrants.
The few times I've seen her she dresses simply but elegantly---power dressing, that's the word, so 1980s. She was a lawyer before entering politics, that might explain the power dressing part. I'd love to someday see her in jeans or something more casual. And I'd love to do a Q&A with her too.
I so admire a person who wields power but does not show it, nor flaunt it. What no bodyguards or security detail? And what was she doing walking towards her office? Not even a parking space specially reserved for the mayor? Now that's power!
That's how politics is in NZ. I've seen councillors, mayors, ministers, and MPs driving their own cars, moving without fanfare and the usual caboodle. I grew up in a country where even the lowliest local politician has his/her own coterie of security people and cabal of supporters.
I might even run for public office. I heard Kim Dotcom's Internet party is looking for candidates in the coming elections this September. Now that's an interesting thought!
I have seen him in many functions and occasions. He is always very supportive of the migrant communities in Hamilton. One time not too long ago, David and I graced the opening of the Waikato Filipino Association Basketball Tournament. Among the things we had to judge on was the best team uniform and best team muse. We sure had fun debating on who was the best team muse.
He said he wasn't much of a basketball aficionado but he nevertheless stayed to watch a couple of the games. I even saw him munching on some pork barbecue and other Filipino delicacies, all the while people gravitated towards him because of his friendliness and charm. He is the most likable, unassuming, down-to-earth, and accessible MP in NZ. He was the very first MP to respond to my request for an email Q&A.
Q: What's your proudest achievement up to this moment?
A: Being elected to represent the Hamilton East Electorate and getting the National Party and hence Government support for funding the Waikato Expressway which is a $2.4 billion project that will dramatically influence and improve the growth prospects of Hamilton and the Waikato region.
Q: Name 3 people, dead or alive, you'll like to have dinner with, and why?
A: I am intrigued by history so would choose some historical figures to see what made them tick, namely Queen Victoria and Abraham Lincoln. Also, I would like to have dinner with Barack Obama to make some suggestions for the future.
Q: Are you a cat or dog person, and why?
A: Definitely a cat person ... Just like small pets that are pretty much self sufficient.
Q: Where in NZ is the place you can call as your sanctuary, and why?
A: This would be my farm at Paterangi which is between Pirongia and Ohaupo. It's a beautiful place with the hills looking at Mount Pirongia and it's quiet and a place of great solace.
Q: Something not many people know about you.
A: Many people assume that I am married and so that's probably something most people don't know about me.
Q: If you could travel back in time, when and where would it be, and why?
A: So many times like Lincoln and abolishing slavery, to Churchill in the Second World War ... that are tempting ... would be a time that is pivotal in world history that could change the direction of the world so probably would go to Victorian England and try and develop a more free and open world to avoid some of the recent tragedies in world history.
Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: In the context of the 2014 election to elect a National Government to complete the initiatives we have started and to set up new initiatives going forward ... and you never know hopefully one day actually get married!
There you have it David Bennett MP (National) of Hamilton East Electorate. Thank you David for allowing us to have a glimpse of the real you!
