Herb Spannagl: Recollections

This is the first of what I hope will be many more stories from Herb Spannagl.  Here it is in Herb's words:

Just learned of Jim Bolger's passing [15/10/2025]. It reminds me of an occasion I witnessed when he started as first time King Country Member of Parliament.  He attended our Whakapapa park headquarter upgrading celebration. At that time Kerry Mawhinney was chief ranger.  As you will remember Kerry was quite tall and dressed in his uniform presented a very imposing figure. That evening he confidentially mingled among the crowd when a quite short man grabbed his hand and introduced himself as Jim Bolger. Kerry looked down at him and with an air of mild astonishment asked " and who would you be?" The little man looking quite embarrassed and stuttered "I am your Member of Parliament for the King Country".  I happened to be nearby and saw it all and over the following years recalled it many times during Jim Bolger's impressive role as our Prime Minister.