By Lyric Waiwiri-Smith

Copyright thespinoff

The outgoing Green MP is wondering if you might have time to read their CV.

It’s Benjamin Doyle’s first and last time in parliament’s Pint of Order bar, twirling the straw of their soda with glittering pink nails while I’m trying not to make it obvious that this is not my first pint. After nearly a year in the halls of power, Doyle has called it quits on politics in order to put building Lego and watching Studio Ghibli with their tamaiti ahead of long nights in the House. Though it was their child’s call of “come home” that has largely inspired their leaving, upon realising that having an unemployed parent means they’ll be in your business 24/7, “my kid went, ‘maybe I’ll send you back to parliament’”.

I think this conversation may be the first time a member of parliament has ever referred to me as “honey” and “diva”, and I tell Doyle I’m scared that their leaving means there will be no fashion divas left in parliament. They remind me I need to put some respect on Tamatha Paul’s name, and that style is a sign of resistance: in a world of RM Williams boots and Hallensteins suits (“no shade, no shade, but that’s not me”), sometimes the most radical thing you can do is rock the repurposed op shop items and “show up in a way that people who are like me can see me and connect to me”.

In leaving a building that often gives “Truman Show vibes”, Doyle is excited to return home to Kirikiriroa to reconnect with family, community and eventually start the job search, which could just mean picking up part-time work washing dishes in a café because “it doesn’t have to be that deep”. But first, there’s the packing up the “books and objects and thoughts and prayers” from the office, and “also, like, actually figuring out how I want to look after myself, because what has self care looked like in the past 10 months?” Doyle says. “Honestly, I don’t know.”

Despite the bullshit, Doyle doesn’t look back in anger — while the worst of parliament has been witnessing the “misogyny and transphobia in action”, the best part is being part of the kaupapa to change this. At times, this has looked like visiting the “trans divas” in prison who have written to Doyle for support throughout their parliamentary term, because “a member of parliament doesn’t just sit in the chamber and debate — or kiki, as Kahurangi [Carter] and I might”.

Advocating for women in prisons, the rainbow community and Māori in a “broken and toxic” system has been “extremely excruciating but extremely rewarding” for Doyle. They say they’re excited to continue this mahi outside of parliament’s walls but, through a gritted-teeth smile, Doyle gets real: “don’t get me wrong, I am not OK … People have weaponised me to attack our community, and I need to continue on a journey of healing … I can’t do that while I’m here, wearing a mask.”

It is an undeniably sad thing for someone so full of life, perspective and a genuine lust for learning to leave parliament so early into their political career. But rather than completely writing off the likes of Winston Peters or that person at the gym who told them “I want to put a bullet through your head”, Doyle says they’re a strong believer in the meaning of radical love expressed by the likes of bell hooks and Audre Lorde. Love isn’t the “cushy shit”, Doyle reckons — “love is hard, love is radical, love is honest. Love is saying, actually, I believe in your humanity.”

“So I say to anyone, whether it’s [Peters] or any other hater, that whatever you feel towards me, I choose not to tolerate it because I know you can do better,” Doyle tells me. “And while we’re often prepared to tolerate that for ourselves, I can’t tolerate that for my child.”

THE SPINOFF PUB Q+A

How much should a pint cost?

I’m probably in a better position to talk about the price of coffee than beer. I love supporting my local businesses, I love going to Supreme Midlands, Supreme Ghuznee, Swimsuit, Sketchbook, Tomboy. But a coffee should not be $7. I love the way that Brown Lightning Bros in Kirikiriroa are keeping it real with their prices.

Do you have a karaoke go-to?

It has to be ‘Super Bass’ by Nicki Minaj, otherwise, ‘Man’ — exclamation mark — ‘I Feel Like a Woman!’, 1997 Shania Twain. As a non-binary, cross-dressing takatāpui person, sometimes you’re like, man, I feel like a motherfucking woman! And also not, and also everything, and also: let’s go, girls!

Favourite place to get a drink in Aotearoa?

Last Place [in Kirikiriroa], which is an amazing dive bar: they do the best smashed burgers and curry, chips with curry tomato sauce, and there’s quizzes and darts. And the other place I love going to is Wonder Horse, which is a tiny whisky bar down a back alley in Kirikiriroa – they serve olives and bread and the most incredible cocktails and whiskys. And then there’s an honourable mention for Mr Pickles, which is a bougie cocktail place. Great food, great vibes.

Which three MPs would be on your pub quiz team?

Kahurangi [Carter, fellow Green MP] because, you know, we’re basically soulmates, that’s baby girl. And Dr. Lawrence Xu-Nan [also Greens], because he’s smart. He was my university tutor when I was an undergrad in classical studies at Auckland Uni, and I kind-of had an intellectual crush on him.

And [National’s] Barbara Kuriger – she’s a good time girlie, I’ve never had anything less than a pleasurable experience with her. She’s down to chat about organic farming, sustainable fashion, STI transmission prevention and mental health in rural communities. She contains multitudes, she’s a diva down, and she sees the humanity in people.

Which MP from across the aisle would you most like to share a drink with?

[National’s] David MacLeod, who’s chair of the Māori Affairs select committee, has been such an angel and I’ve really enjoyed working with him. I’ve been out to dinner with him when we were on a trip to Rotorua for the committee, visiting some Māori land blocks that were being used for geothermal exploration. It was David, Rima [Nakhle], Greg Fleming, Dana Kirkpatrick and myself – all National MPs, but there I was and they actively encouraged me to come and have a drink.

She’s a diva, Rima. I will never say a bad thing about her publicly because she is the queen, she will bring the catering, she will bring the kai. Honey, she knows the manaakitanga. Rima is the girlie you want at the party.

Which current policy would you like to call last rounds on?

Let’s bin the Regulatory Standards Bill, and stop deregulating ECE.

Is there an alcohol-related law you would like to change?

I wish that we didn’t have alcohol sponsoring sports on TV or in stadiums or on shirts, like, could we just not advertise a harmful drug? Just fund sports properly, let’s not rely on advertising from alcohol multinationals.

What qualities make a good drinking partner?

Someone who can follow an ADHD brain and that chaotic, nonlinear conversation. And somebody who is happy to take turns buying the next round.

Have you ever had a Schnapps election moment where you regretted your political instinct?

I regret nothing. You know, maybe there were some outfits, and there’s some stuff I would’ve gone harder on, like heckling. I would’ve doubled down on that, but it’s not a regret.

Up next on One MP, One Pint: Act MP Cameron Luxton.