Kelly Ellis says she feels incredibly humbled to have been selected as Labour’s candidate in Whangarei. “I feel very proud too,” the lawyer and transgender rights campaigner tells GayNZ.com Daily News. However she does not want to get ahead of herself and is clear: “Our team has a lot of work ahead of it.” Ellis says she’s realistic about her chances of wresting back a seat National has held since the 70s. “New Zealand is ready for a change. We just have to show that to the voters of Whangarei. So, yes, we can do it.” Asked why her voice is needed in Parliament, Ellis says “I don't think it's so much that my voice is important in Parliament, but any voice that can articulate the needs of the people up here on Struggle Street”. If she gets into Parliament, Ellis will be the second ever openly-trans New Zealand MP, after Georgina Beyer. She’s buoyed by how respectful the media has been. “They know it's old news and are keen to focus on where we stand on policy issues now. Interest has ramped up already and I guess we'll see that in the coming months.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 24th March 2014 - 8:44am