By Tova O’Brien
Four years ago Prime Minister John Key called McGehan Close in Mount Albert ‘New Zealand's dead end’. Residents were furious, but he won them over with an apology and set of promises.
Today Phil Goff was there, in fact McGehan Close has become quite the popular hangout for politicians.
The street has become the pin up street for the country's social woes, a place where politicians come to prove their opponents aren't doing well when it comes to real New Zealanders.
“It's all a game, to be honest, I mean JK, when he came here first time he found a reason to win election,” says Faiz Gharib.
Today was Phil Goff's turn - there were hugs, photo opportunities with children and a new set of political promises.
Four years ago it was John Key doing the same.
“I think if you look at McGehan Close it's important to understand the sorts of things the Government has done, because I think it's reflective of the approach we've taken with lower income New Zealanders,” Goff says.
But to do so wouldn't bode well for National, people in the street are fed up.
Eddie Tafili is one of those. Four decades ago he came to New Zealand for a better way of life, and thinks the Government has ailed to provide that. So this election he'll vote Labour.
Goff told us today's visit wasn't about politicking, but in a street made famous by Key's derision where most people vote red it was a good opportunity to ask some leading questions in front of the cameras. And his favourite topic? The Prime Minister.
So Labour's sworn to cut the GST on fresh food and increase the minimum wage, another politician making promises to a street used to them being broken.
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