There's an awful yearning feeling you develop when you move overseas for the inevitable future; where your brain chooses to wire itself incorrectly and remember your small city in Aotearoa as a bustling landscape full of energy and opportunity. When I moved to Naarm in Melbourne, I expected myself to feel like I had finally made it in the big leagues, but instead of relishing in downing pots, pints and schooners in a new atmosphere, I downed pots, pints and schooners despondently. I missed Ōtautahi. And I missed her in a way that you would miss visiting your racist grandparents – the moment your visit quickly becomes a chore to remind them how much better they could be, but when you’re away they somehow become emblems of the idyllic and judicious homeowner fantasy.
In response to these feelings, I seek out communication. Like a moth to a flame, I draw on every last piece of gossip I can squeeze out of friends and family. Has the stadium been built yet? Has UC gentrified any more of their O-Week “rituals”? Has Aurora Garner-Randolph (SS4C Ōtautahi organiser) lectured any more politicians on the basics of climate change? And in doing so, I find out that one of my muses, my bff, my lasso for all things political and important has become the Co-Convener for the Green Party in CHCH Central!
I sat down with Hugh(mongous) Hawkins in an organic interview - which is a fancy way of saying a 2 hour facetime that we mostly sat giggling at each other for being oh so serious - which I couldn’t help but share – mostly due to my guilty expat patriotism. And to fawn over my cool ass friend.
Who the freaking heck is Hugh? And what is he up to right now?
“Hugh Hawkins is a managed disaster, 22 years old, taking 5 years to do a 4-and-a-half-year degree hehe. I’m currently writing a linguistics thesis where I basically translate bits of ancient roman comedies, looking at how class is depicted in their accents/dialect. It leads to some really interesting finds where lexicon is shown to come from social structures, specifically family (whether you belong to or work for them) and usually surrounds one main patriarchal figure. I originally started uni in law but found that I needed to quit for my mental health, and moving to classics meant I actually felt like a person rather than an npc.”
I guess your journey brings up the age-old question: “do you need to do law to understand and engage with politics?”
“No! Connections that you can make with people are far more important. I’m just a little guy trying to navigate this new role, currently trying to figure out how much information I need to have to engage politically and how much I can fit in with my academic, social, and creative life. I personally enjoy that I have found an intersection between politics and art within myself, as I want to fight against the powers of capitalism while also understanding the need for creativity in such a nitty-gritty space!
I think people in politics may struggle to be conceptual due to the granular size of things that they engage with on the daily. For example, most of the Green Party representatives would view submitting a draft for a bill or amending submissions like how you would brush your teeth in the morning. It’s their job and it can become something you have to distance yourself from emotionally. I don’t like that this is the way the government is operating but I am one citizen who is just trying to do their bit and at the end of the day, hop into my PJs and hit the hay feeling like I’ve done something. National is leaving no stones unturned for things to fuck, so we may work away and grind but not immediately see the fruits of our labour.”
Tell me more about this new position! What does it mean? What does it entail?
“So, despite the fact that I am indeed very young, this is not a youth role but instead a way for the Green Party to get better representation from all its members and also engage with local government (i.e. Christchurch City Council as opposed to national level). I work with another individual to act as a branch level representative which means engaging in local forums, public submissions, and some strategy meetings. I do sometimes get the feeling that the ethos of wanting EVERYONE to have a voice (which is the whole reason why this role even exists) can sometimes actually make political shenanigans less accessible. What I mean by this is, having all members involved in a party also be a part of the decision-making process means A LOT of (boring) meetings and A LOT of bureaucracy that requires understanding lingo, procedures, etc. This role is awesome yet terrifying as I’m learning things at a million miles per hour while also being so engaged lol.
My goal in this role is to try and bring people up with me – I want to be actively striving for underrepresented demographics and minority groups to be at the policy table. Although we can all agree that the factors which cause underrepresentation in our current political climate are vast and peel back in a million layers, we can still ensure that we are doing our authentic best (fuck tokenism!).”
What draws you to doing this mahi in Ōtautahi specifically?
“I guess the role just hit me with the “right place, right time” stick. I think I would’ve tried out something like this in any city, but we can get patriotic for Ōtautahi because we have KAHURANGI CARTER (!!!!!) who is just a massive sweetheart and driving force with real genuine energy. But in all honesty, Ōtautahi has the right mix of things that shows that we all need a vested interest in local government to keep them going – like music venues, our museums and art galleries, cycle lanes, markets and more! I’ll plug local government just a lil because, truly, your voice matters, so put in those submissions and meet with your local groups like Palestinian Solidarity Network, Living Wage Movement, UC clubs, School Strike for Climate, and Restore Passenger Rail, to name a few.
Lightning round! What are your top 3 and worst 3 policies, from any party?
Top 3 policies – Fair Pay Agreement Bill (2022), Te Aka Whai Ora (Māori Health Authority through the Pae Ora Act 2022), and Green’s transport policy on promoting intercity services and preventing the tourist monopoly on passenger rail!!!! You really shouldn’t have to break the bank to take the train to Greymouth…
Worst 3 policies – Fast Track Bill, Te Tiriti violations (the 1800s called and want their racism back), and the removal of the housing insulation standard!!???! I remember being sick all my childhood, what is it about not having proper standards for our threadbare houses?
What should a representative be doing to be a valid representation of their community and their wants and needs?
There’s only so much one human being can do, to be honest. Not that I don’t think they shouldn’t be out there… heck, look at Duncan Webb! Sure, he turns up with a t-shirt that has his own face on it, but he has been at a fair few of the Free Palestine rallies, tree planting volunteering, and other community events. I think something key to being a good representative is thinking about all the places you AREN’T hanging out in and trying to develop a habit of showing up to these spaces. I think this is especially important when you’re given a portfolio that you may not be particularly well-founded in – how can you expect to be a justice minister without ever setting foot in a prison?
I remember when I was calling individuals for the Green Party before the election, a lot of concerns from people were that party officials were just “social and environmental elitists” who moved to Wellington to keep hold of the hierarchy. So, for sure, we need representatives to be out there with the people.
What would you say to anyone who might be inspired by what you do?
Inspired by me is a strong phrase…… because I am shaking and crying in my boots right now. I think anyone can do it. But okay, let me take a moment and act like I’m talking to baby Hugh: get the fuck off the internet, stop comparing yourself, make community and habits, and go to shit alone! The community will sustain you because even if the politics suck, the people are excellent.
Do you have any shout outs to make? Any places in Ōtautahi that you think people should check out?
Did you know that Ōtautahi has a dedicated poetry week every month? It’s essentially the holy trinity of three venues: Little Andromeda, the Commoners Bar, and Space Academy that all hold a poetry night around the same time every month. Please jump on this bandwagon! Local poets doing some things, words breaking you in a dark little room while drinking your glass of wine, watching people grow from being on stage for the first time to being a published writer… ugh it’s beautiful.
Also, activism is stressful, it's heavy and hard hitting. Ismatu Gwendolyn’s “threadings” is a great podcast to listen to when you feel scared but are still putting your back into it. Because that’s been the motto at the moment: “scared but still doing it”.
And finally, if you were a local representative or MP, what would be a policy that you would personally introduce?
Such a good question. My policy would be that if you’re interested in a ratty, awful, slimy man then you are automatically entitled to 10 free therapy sessions. Because you will need them. Respectfully and lovingly, your “outsider looking in”, Hugh Hawkins. Oh, and make stealing from supermarkets legal xoxo