Act candidate James Christmas on leaving National for politics
Act's Tāmaki candidate James Christmas, a lawyer and former National advisor, explains why he switched parties and his vision for the electorate.
James Christmas, a 40-year-old lawyer running for Act in Tāmaki, has shifted from the National Party where he once worked as a senior adviser to former attorney-general Chris Finlayson. Christmas, who grew up as a politics enthusiast and self-described "classic liberal", says his political compass has remained consistent since his teenage years, focused on property rights and limiting government overreach. He is replacing incumbent Act MP Brooke van Velden in the race to represent the Auckland electorate.
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One Candidate, One Pint: James Christmas on his angry teen years and ditching National
For the next three months, One MP, One Pint is morphing into One Candidate, One Pint, with Lyric Waiwiri-Smith putting parliamentary hopefuls in the hot seat. First up, the Act candidate for Tāmaki on why he broke up with his…