Graeme William Cairns (born c.1957) is a New Zealand musician, artist, and political candidate. Originally from Scotland, he is perhaps best known for his role as "Laird McGillicuddy", chief of the Clan McGillicuddy, and as the only-ever leader of the Clan's satirical McGillicuddy Serious political party.[1] In the 1996 election, he was, at 65, the lowest-ranked candidate on their party list.[2] At the next election in 1999, when he stood in the Port Waikato electorate, he was in first rank on the party list.[3][4] In 2006, he built a toothbrush fence as an absurdist art project.[5]
As a musician, he continues to perform as vocalist, ukulele and bass player in the Big Muffin Serious Band.[6] He is a professional street theatre performer and farms a small holding in the Te Pahu area of the Waikato region.[6]
- ^ Kerr, Florence (11 September 2014). "Scots Find Voice to Say No". Waikato Times. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
- ^ "Part III – Party Lists of unsuccessful Registered Parties" (PDF). Electoral Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ "Party Lists of Unsuccessful Registered Parties". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
- ^ "Candidate vote details – Port Waikato". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
- ^ Dunnell, Tony. "Toothbrush Fence". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
- ^ a b Cronin, Aimie (17 August 2013). "Graeme Cairns: A Man of Colour". Waikato Times. Retrieved 24 January 2018.