I thought Nanny Jean Puketapu was old when she was the driving force behind the first kohanga over 30 years ago. She played a leading role in the reopening of the massive, flash new replacement kohanga on the old Wainuiomata Intermediate site. Some peoples’ contribution just can’t be measured.
Neville Baker, Kara Puketapu (my fathers schoolmate) and many leaders in Atiawa were there. Some were not.
Parekura was the guy who engineered the grant for the refurbishment. I suppose his experience and contacts have been developed through his public service as well as his political career – but he is a leader who backs people who get results.
I got a hard time for wearing my red socks (old Am Cup) – told to wear politics on sleeve not feet.
My talk praised those involved and put it back onto parents and grandparents to ensure that no Wainui child start school without quality early childhood education and consistent health care.
Cool sounding lady
Get some Labour cufflinks Trev 
They carped at your SOCKS?
Aren’t there enough real problems to worry about without conjuring up imaginary things to take offence at?