I’m Kelvyn Alp, and I’m not here to peddle empty promises or establishment rhetoric. I reject division and separatism – we’re all part of the solution, as global pressures like unchecked immigration threaten to drown out our voices, rendering Māori vs. non-Māori debates irrelevant. I’m not “far-right”; no one can pin that label on me with evidence that holds up. My record – using a Māori passport abroad twice, aiding the Māori government since 2000, and personally funding the building bearing my name at Leabank Primary School in 2009 – proves I deliver results, not talk. That building, expedited through my working closely with Manukau City Council, boosted school attendance by providing breakfast clubs, free counselling, and budgeting advice, showing I do, not just say.
While I don’t toe any party line, I stand firmly by the NZ Loyal policies I wrote myself, as they’re real solutions to this country’s problems, not glossy wish-lists dangled without intent to deliver. My greatest asset is understanding both Māori and non-Māori perspectives, always seeking beneficial outcomes for all without disadvantaging any. One person can’t repeal legislation alone – anyone claiming otherwise is dishonest – but I’ll build relationships to drive change based on need, not desire. My priorities are clear: bridge the gap between Māori and non-Māori, tackle predatory businesses, and address poverty’s root causes with facts, not wishful thinking. This by-election is for less than half a term – give me one chance, one term, one time to prove my worth. If I fail, boot me out in 2026.
Unlike front-runners Peni Henare, who’s achieved little since 2014, or Oriini Kaipara, a former media talking head with no exposés, I’ve proven myself through action.
Almost 40% of those in the electorate are under 35 years old, yet voter turnout for that demographic was only 65% at the last election. Why do you think turnout is so low for this demographic and what have you done during the campaign to engage this group and encourage them to vote?
Young people under 35 are fed up with politicians who promise big but deliver nothing, leaving them disillusioned. They see the system propping up establishment hacks while poverty, housing, and job insecurity worsen, making voting feel pointless. In this campaign, I’ve utilized my connections in Tāmaki Makaurau to reach a wide audience, and have used social media platforms for fact-based information dissemination and responded to any questions asked and responded in a way that cuts through the noise. I’ve told them straight: this byelection is their chance to break the cycle. NZ Loyal policies, which I penned, offer real solutions, not empty promises. Give me one term to deliver, and if I don’t, kick me out next year.
If you are successful in this election, what would your top three priorities be specifically for the electorate?
First, I’ll bridge the divide between Māori and non-Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau by fostering real dialogue – talking with each other, not past or at each other – because we’re all part of the solution as bigger threats like immigration dilute our voices. Second, I’ll crack down on predatory businesses and finance companies exploiting our vulnerable families, using evidence-based policies to stop their scams. Third, I’ll tackle poverty’s root causes – lack of education, jobs, and health access – with solutions grounded in need, not wants, to benefit all without disadvantaging any, reflecting my ability to understand both sides.
How would you work with mana whenua groups to ensure their concerns and priorities are addressed and supported?
I’ll engage mana whenua through direct, fact-based discussions, focusing on shared needs like environmental protection [addressing pollution and waste – not climate change alarmism] and community well-being. I reject separatism – our strength lies in unity, especially as external pressures threaten to overshadow local concerns. My NZ Loyal policies, which I crafted, prioritize solutions that work for all. My approach, proven by my work with the Māori government since 2000, is to listen, collaborate, and deliver outcomes that benefit everyone in Tāmaki Makaurau without favouring one group over another.
How would you work with the council and local boards to implement policy changes and address concerns you have? How well do you understand the machinery of council and do you have established relationships within council?
I’ll work with Auckland Council and local boards by building strong, evidence-driven partnerships, pushing for policy changes through relentless advocacy and joint efforts on issues like housing and transport. I won’t just go along to get along. My experience, including working with Manukau City Council in 2009 to fund and expedite the building bearing my name at Leabank Primary School, shows I understand council mechanics – its committees, obligations, and red tape. That project, which I personally funded, boosted school attendance through breakfast clubs, counselling, and budgeting advice, proving I deliver results that benefit all. While I don’t rely on establishment ties, my grassroots connections and NZ Loyal policies drive real change.
Do you think the Independent Māori Statutory Board deserves more power within the council? Why or why not?
No. Giving the Independent Māori Statutory Board more power risks deepening division, which I reject. We’ve seen too much talking past each other – separatism weakens us all. The Board’s role is to ensure Māori voices are heard, but more authority could create parallel systems, pitting Māori against non-Māori. As global issues threaten to drown out our voices, we need unity. My focus is on collaborative solutions that benefit everyone without disadvantaging any, reflecting my understanding of both sides’ needs.
In April, Shane Jones threatened to step-in to stop the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area management agreement. What are your views on how it has turned out? Do you think mana whenua deserve to have an equal number of seats on the decision-making committee as other authorities?
Shane Jones’ threat to meddle in the Waitākere Ranges agreement was heavy-handed, but the outcome – preserving local input – shows top-down control doesn’t always win. I don’t support equal seats for mana whenua on the committee if it’s tokenism or creates imbalance. Representation must be based on need, not quotas that fuel division. I’ll prioritize fair, evidence-based outcomes for all. My record, like using a Māori passport abroad, shows I respect mana whenua while seeking solutions that unite Tāmaki Makaurau without disadvantaging anyone.
Tīkapa Moana has been suffering severely in recent times. Depleted fish stocks, invasive exotic caulerpa, and the ticking time-bomb of the RMS Niagara. How will you address these issues if elected as the Tāmaki Makaurau MP? Would you repeal the legislation allowing commercial fishing within protected areas of Tīkapa Moana?
Tīkapa Moana’s crisis demands action, not talk. I’ll push for tougher enforcement against overfishing, seek to fund research to eradicate caulerpa, and demand a clear plan to neutralize the RMS Niagara’s risks – all rooted in evidence. On commercial fishing in protected areas, I won’t lie – one person can’t repeal legislation alone; anyone claiming otherwise is a fraud. But I’ll build coalitions to work toward repealing harmful laws, guided by policies that prioritize the ecosystem’s health for all in Tāmaki Makaurau. My record, like funding the Leabank building that boosted school attendance through breakfast clubs, shows I deliver results that benefit everyone.
Food and transport costs hit Māori and Pacific families the hardest in this electorate. What practical steps would you take to ease this pressure?
Māori and Pacific families are being crushed by predatory businesses and rising costs. I’ll target exploitative finance companies with fact-based regulations, capping interest rates and enforcing transparency, as outlined in policies I stand by. I’ll push for subsidized transport passes for low-income whānau and expand community-led food programs, like the breakfast club I funded at Leabank Primary in 2009, which increased school attendance and improved learning by ensuring kids were fed, with added counselling and budgeting advice. These solutions, rooted in need, benefit all without disadvantaging any, reflecting my understanding of both sides. However, unless this country solves its debt-crisis and financial mismanagement, there will be no genuine solutions available that aren’t akin to putting a plaster on an amputation.
With Te Aka Whai Ora disestablished and our health system under pressure, how will you make sure Māori in this rohe still have equitable access to care? What about rangatahi mental health in particular?
Te Aka Whai Ora’s end was a setback, but I’m here to fix problems, not complain. I’ll fight for targeted funding to community clinics in Tāmaki Makaurau, ensuring Māori get culturally responsive care without bureaucratic roadblocks. For rangatahi mental health, I’ll advocate for evidence-based peer-support networks and accessible counselling, tackling root causes like poverty and disconnection. My policy position advocates equitable solutions for all. My work, like funding the Leabank building that provided free counselling, proves I deliver outcomes that unite Māori and non-Māori without favouring one over another.
When your party’s stance clashes with the needs of Tāmaki Makaurau whānau, who will you side with – and can you give a concrete example of where you have gone against the grain before?
I answer to Tāmaki Makaurau’s whānau, not any party line, though I stand by the NZ Loyal policies I wrote as genuine solutions, not empty promises. My loyalty is to evidence and the electorate’s needs, ensuring outcomes benefit all without disadvantaging any. I’ve gone against the grain before – using a Māori passport abroad twice, defying systems to prove a point, and funding the Leabank Primary building in 2009, which I worked with Manukau City Council to deliver, boosting school attendance through breakfast clubs, counseling, and budgeting advice. Unlike Peni Henare, who’s coasted since 2014, or Oriini Kaipara, with no exposés, I’ve delivered results. Give me one term to prove my worth – if I fail, vote me out in 2026.
This interview was conducted by Liam Ratana from The Spinoff.
