Battle
Royal to become King of Haumoana
The
election campaign took an unexpected twist today,
with a Hawke's Bay resident announcing his intention
to run for the position of King. Andy Heyward, a
29-year-old graphic artist from Haumoana, said it
occurred to him at 2am last Friday to put his name
forward to rule the coastal settlement. The would-be
monarch, who is campaigning under the slogan ``A
vote for Andy is a vote'', lives opposite Haumoana's
polling station and plans to set up his own voting
booth on election day. He said he was not daunted
by history, which usually dictated that people became
kings by conquest or birth. ``I realise you're supposed
to inherit kingdomness, but as there's no royal
family in New Zealand, I'll just have to take the
title by popular vote or by force,'' he said. As
King, he would promote the settlement (population
2169), welcome new residents with king-size bars
of chocolate, and possibly halt coastal erosion
by royal decree. Mr Heyward said had all the necessary
regal qualities. ``I think I've got the figure and
the beard for it, I once dressed up as a sheep for
a school farm day, and I've eaten a roast with my
fingers ... But most of all, I think I should be
King because I am unafraid of looking like a dork.''
Voters can make their voices heard on election day,
July 27, at Mr Heyward's polling booth opposite
the Haumoana community hall, or cast a special vote
via the web site www.propartganda.com. It is not
known whether there are any other contenders for
the post.
Story
by Peter
de Graaf - Photo By Warren Buckland
