Last Saturday, Nov 22 2008, I attended the funeral service of an old Labour Party comrade of mine from the early 1980's, Peter Lorimer of Taita; before Rogernomics and its founder contaminated not only New Zealand, but the great old party itself.
Peter was the Chairman of the Taita Pomare Branch of the NZ Labour Party, and we both stood on the Labour Party ticket for the 1983 Lower Hutt City Council elections. Neither of us were elected, but that is hardly the point. The point is being involved in your community and helping others in the best way you can. Peter did that in spades! He wasn't one for beating his own drum, so the surprise shown by those at his funeral when reading an election pamphlet from that 1983 election campaign which had Peter's photo in it wasn't surprising in the least. It was a privilege to unashamedly serve with Peter and the NZ Labour Party.
And in passing lets farewell and congratulate another old party comrade in Helen Clark for her decades of service to New Zealand and New Zealanders, which included personal help given to my family as well. Helen would also be pleased to know she rubbed shoulders with somebody of the calibre of Peter Lorimer too!
Peter Petterson
