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I am Alistair Wait, a Northlander living rurally at Waipu Caves, where my partner Judith and I enjoy a life closely connected to the land.
My professional life has been varied. Much of my work now involves constitutional research, tikanga, trust governance and helping people navigate the courts and government institutions. I assist people as a McKenzie Friend and advocate, particularly where they are working to understand and exercise their rights.
My whakapapa connects me to Ngāpuhi and Scotland. Research into the constitutional history of Aotearoa has become both a passion and an important part of my work.
Away from the desk, life is practical. We live with livestock, gardens and a developing food forest. There is always something to build, repair, plant or maintain. Living on gravel roads, managing water and dealing with the everyday realities of rural life give me a grounded perspective on the needs of our communities.
Judy and I enjoy welcoming people from around the world, sharing knowledge, growing food and encouraging independent thought.
Education is especially important to me. I facilitate workshops exploring our constitutional history, the relationship between tikanga and English law, and the foundations of government in Aotearoa.
I have a simple philosophy: “Believe nothing. Test everything.”
I am not seeking a parliamentary career for its own sake. I am standing because I want the relationship between people, Parliament and the institutions exercising public power to be examined and reformed.
How well do you know the Northland electorate?
Northland is home, and I know something of its remarkable diversity: growing coastal settlements, rural producers, small businesses, tourism and communities a long way from essential services. Living at Waipu Caves, I experience the practical consequences of rural roads, long travel distances, infrastructure limitations and the cost of maintaining a rural household. My work also brings me into contact with people dealing with issues involving land, housing and access to justice. Northland cannot be understood solely through its larger towns; its rural and coastal communities have distinct needs.
Why are you standing in the Northland electorate?
My involvement arises from years spent researching the constitutional foundations of Aotearoa and assisting people in their dealings with public institutions. Freedom’s constitutional reform programme gives me an opportunity to bring that work to Parliament. My objective is not a lifelong parliamentary career. It is to help establish a more direct, accountable relationship between the people and the institutions that govern them. I have often said that if we accomplish what we set out to do, we should make ourselves redundant.
Which three policies resonate most with you, and why?
Direct democracy: I support mechanisms through which people can initiate legislation and make binding decisions through referendums. Consultation alone does not give people the final say.
Constitutional protection of fundamental rights: My research has made me particularly interested in parliamentary sovereignty, inherited constitutional protections, tikanga and individual rights. I support examining how fundamental rights can receive stronger constitutional protection.
Protection of the natural environment and access to the outdoors: Living rurally, with a developing food forest and a close connection to the whenua, I value environmental stewardship alongside productive land and community wellbeing.
If elected, what can Northland voters expect from you as their local MP?
Accessibility, accountability and a willingness to listen. I would maintain meaningful contact with communities, examine concerns carefully and explain my decisions openly. I would distinguish between representing the electorate and advancing a party position and be transparent about both responsibilities.
What one thing you would like to achieve for Northland by the end of your first term?
I would like Northland communities to have helped shape a practical constitutional framework for binding direct democracy, including clear mechanisms for participation, accountability and the protection of rights.
What would you do to ensure growing communities like Mangawhai receive the roads, health services, schools and other infrastructure they need?
Growing communities need planning that anticipates development rather than continually catching up with it. Roads, water, wastewater, schools and healthcare must be considered together. I would seek coordinated planning between central government, councils and service providers, with transparent funding arrangements and realistic population projections. I would also examine how funding can better reflect the pressures on fast-growing places such as Mangawhai, with residents meaningfully involved in decisions.
What should government do to make it easier for young people to find jobs, apprenticeships and affordable housing locally?
I would focus on practical pathways linking education, local employers and apprenticeships, particularly in agriculture, engineering and construction trades. Young people should not have to leave Northland simply to train or find meaningful work. Housing affordability also calls for attention to infrastructure costs, land availability and regulatory barriers to supply. Supporting local enterprise and making it easier for employers to train young people should go hand in hand.
Issues ranked in terms of priority
(From most important to least important)
- Binding Direct Democracy
- Cost of living / financial management
- Health
- Environment
- Rural production
- Education
- Arts, culture and heritage
- Biosecurity
- Crime and policing
- Climate change
- Defence
