MP wants to make a difference – no really

Cheerful Maungakiekie MP and Auckland city councillor Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has spent just over eight months in Parliament and talks to RHIANNON HORRELL about the highs and lows of his busy role.

Sitting in his new Onehunga electorate office, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga explains how he has become adept at making the most efficient use of his time while in airport lounges and in transit between Auckland and Wellington.

"You can do things in a clever way."

He keeps in touch with his wife, a human resources consultant based in Auckland, through calling, texting or emailing and keeping Sundays strictly for family.

The 38-year-old says the hardest part of the job as MP is sacrificing family time – adding that one can never fully prepare for the role.

"It is taxing on personal life but I have a hugely supportive family."

Electorate agent Josh Beddell works in Mr Lotu-Iiga’s Onehunga office and says despite the time spent in Wellington, he is often in the electorate.

"His diary is filling up. I don’t think we are making appointments until early September."

Mr Beddell says the MP has a Blackberry and a laptop which he takes everywhere to keep up with what is happening.

Mr Lotu-Iiga is upbeat about his time in Parliament and agrees with the cliche of wanting to make a difference by being in politics, but says it genuinely.

"It is public service. The government doesn’t have all the answers and often good answers come from people in the community, which helps us to formulate policy and know what the real needs are."

He keeps his expectations not too high or low – "you please as many people as you can".

"We have the ability to make change on big things like the Onehunga foreshore and public transport but also little things like someone who may come into the electorate office with a housing issue."

He says the job has been a fascinating role so far.

Mr Lotu-Iiga has visited a number of state houses to get an insight into what kind of issues are affecting people.

He says in one case a blind resident needed a hole fixed in his bathroom floor, and in another case a disabled person needed webbed matting installed on the house’s ramp.

"There should be a timely response to needs."

He says a number of people come in to his office with immigration inquiries and also looking for jobs – "it is a tough environment."

He says one of his big moments was his 15-minute maiden speech in Parliament.

"It went okay but it’s the second speech they start to have a go.

"Things can become personal or nasty in the debating chamber.

"It’s like playing sport – there are good days and bad days."

Mr Lotu-Iiga says he is trying to move to an off-the-cuff style of speaking.

"I try to absorb what’s going on around me.

"No one party has a monopoly on good ideas, it is healthy to have a diversity of opinion.

"There are huge advantages being a councillor and an MP," says Mr Lotu-Iiga.

Despite this, he will not be seeking re-election to the new Auckland council.

Political opponent and Labour list MP Carol Beaumont does not think it would be possible to do two fulltime jobs.

Ms Beaumont says she has worked with Mr Lotu-Iiga on common issues of concern.

"I acknowledge his work on the Onehunga foreshore issue."

- © Fairfax NZ News