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Liam Wairepo looks just like any other 21 year old Politics and Science student. No, not like a cunt – like someone with a big dream and a big brain. He is an RA at Salmond College and his favourite snack is toasted cashews. He may also be the youngest ever candidate for the [REDACTED] party, as well as the first Māori candidate for the Waitaki electorate.

The Waitaki electorate is thicc and includes a bunch of North and Central Otago and South Canterbury towns, like Oamaru, Twizel, and Wanaka. Liam is not from this district, himself. It isn’t clear why he is running there other than he is incredibly ambitious and this passion was clearly picked up on. Likely by [REDACTED], MP for Dunedin North. Liam is his current parliamentary assistant. He told Critic he was shoulder tapped by “some senior party members” just before Christmas, which kicked off the nomination and selection process.

Liam’s eagerness oozes from every pore. Interviewing him was like interviewing a puppy. It makes me feel slightly guilty for outing his lie about never smoking weed (which he has, allegedly, according to a mate who was in the Critic office during the interview).

When asked how he got into politics so young, he said “you just have to tell people you’re interested”.

“If they see you are young, excited, credible, or vibrant, they’ll help you as much as they can,” he said. Lol.

His personalised timeline to the top began by joining Dunedin Young [REDACTED], becoming the chairperson of that branch, becoming [REDACTED]’s parliamentary assistant, and by helping other [REDACTED] candidates in their local body election.

Liam Wairepo gets a free pass from Critic’s politician ban because he is an Otago student.