Alby Waititi as he appears in the video endorsing Georgina Beyer A gay star of The GC reality TV series is distancing himself from what he feels is an inference that he supports the Mana Party in the lead-up to the general election. Alby Waititi, an expat Maori whose exploits on the Gold Coast have featured in the popular and sometimes controversial series, recorded a video clip in which he supports Georgina Beyer's candidacy for the Te Tai Tonga electorate. He describes Beyer as "a great leader for Maori people and takataapui" and goes on to say "I respect Georgina and make sure you go down and vote for her." Waititi says he was approached by Mana senior staffer and gay friend of Beyer, Jevan Goulter, to record a message. Goulter posted the clip on YouTube a week ago and the Mana party also put out a press release highlighting the video and Waititi's support. "Initially I was asked by Mana advocate Jevan Goulter to throw my support behind Georgina and that in no way would it be aligned nor have anything to do with the Mana Party," Waititi says this evening. "Alas this was not the case and through an obvious miscommunication at their end, I have been made to look like I actually support the Mana Party." "As a young and open Takatāpui male I consider Georgina to be a pioneer, role model and iconic public figure who has championed the rights of the marginalised and various different communities," Waititi said this evening. He added that he also supports an uncle who is a Labour party candidate. "I know people can get blurred lines when it comes to the perception of perceived political allegiances," he says, "and I apologise if it has not been clear in the way that I have chosen to support two different candidates from two different parties. "As individuals I would definitely support them and encourage you to as well, and when it comes to the parties that they both are standing for, I will leave that decision up to each of you to decide which best represents you best and which parties have the policies that engage with you and your whānau."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 7th August 2014 - 10:11pm