Know your candidate: Anne Degia-Pala, NZ First Party
From past three issues we have been bringing you this section where we introduce ethnic- Indian candidates who are contesting in these general reactions. Advance and overseas voting starts from September 3rd and September 20th is the main voting day where you decide the fate of country. As you gear up for elections, here are we bringing you a profile of different candidates from different political houses and what do they think about the community. We asked these candidates same questions to which they responded as follows.
So now it’s your turn to use your party vote and choose the best one.
Anne Degia-Pala, NZ First Party
Which constituency are you competing from?
I am a prospective candidate for the electorate of Kelston in West Auckland.
How long have you been with the party?
My political aspirations is based on my passion for ethnically diverse communities, which I have served for over 20 years in NZ. I believe this is the reason the NZ First Party selected me as a candidate. I am formally associated with the NZ First Party for 9 months, however informally our association goes back almost 3 years.
We would like to know more about your family and your profession. (Where are you from, who are there in your family)
Together with my husband and two young children, I arrived in NZ in 1990. I am born in Suva, Fiji. My Indian heritage is from Gujarat in India. I am co-director with my husband of WinMac Solutions Ltd., an IT company based in Kelston, however I have built a profile in West Auckland as a Community Leader and an Intercultural Advocate working closely with all diversity and ethnicities Auckland wide, closely associated with local and central government.
In 2004 I was elected the first Indian woman President of Waitakere Ethnic Board. I am very
passionate about social issues and work closely with women and children.In 2007, I was awarded a Queen Service Medal (QSM) for working with ethnic communities by the Government of New Zealand. I have been instrumental in bridging the gap between Indians of Fiji and India by working closely with Indian Associations.I am a founding member and the only Indian
woman member of the first Auckland Council Ethnic People’s Advisory Panel. I am a Governance
Board member of WaterSafe Auckland Inc (WAI) and Trustee of NixCrew Trust Incorporated. I continue to work in the injury prevention sector and belong to the Auckland Council Multi Sector Violence Prevention group. In 2001, in a tragic car accident our only son Nikheel (19) was killed in New Zealand. Our daughter Nikeesha is married and lives in London with her husband and our grandson, 3 year old Alexander.
How did you develop interest in politics?
We left Fiji due to the unsettling political environment and loss of a democratically elected government. I basically learnt politics with my father who was a keen supporter and worker in the National Federation Party. Upon arriving in New Zealand, I supported the NZ Labour Party and was a member with the party until mid-2013. I was nominated by the Labour Party to stand for
the Whau and Henderson Massey Local Board elections in 2010 and 2013 respectively.
If won in elections, what would be your main focus? What do you expect to do for the Indian Community in New Zealand?
New Zealanders will remain my main focus. Focus on equity, fairness and democratic processes that ascertain good employment, education, housing and health for all New Zealanders including Indians.
The employment of New Zealanders (including ethnic Indians) is high on the NZ First planning priority. High unemployment is not acceptable. Highly skilled and experienced Indian Kiwis being unemployed is a human and economic waste which is a blight on this country’s productivity. Indian residents and citizens of this country must have fair treatment when it comes to employment and I will work hard to eliminate discrimination, ensure that employers including the public sector and other businesses treat Indians as they would any other New Zealander
.I am very pleased that the NZ First Party will keep the retirement age to 65. Many of our elders deserve a well-earned lifestyle and good health to see them through their old age. I will work hard to bring the four well-beings back which the current government has removed.
Good settlement makes ‘common sense’. As a nation built on immigration, we need to ensure that overseas skills and expertise is brought in through immigration, however for Indians who remain unemployed or underemployed, NZ First will train, skill and employ for their prosperity and the NZ productivity. There is a lot at stake without good settlement for our families and children, I will voice for urgency in this area. Putting New Zealand and New Zealanders First is ‘common sense’... and I am proud to be called a New Zealander First.
From past three issues we have been bringing you this section where we introduce ethnic- Indian candidates who are contesting in these general reactions. Advance and overseas voting starts from September 3rd and September 20th is the main voting day where you decide the fate of country. As you...
From past three issues we have been bringing you this section where we introduce ethnic- Indian candidates who are contesting in these general reactions. Advance and overseas voting starts from September 3rd and September 20th is the main voting day where you decide the fate of country. As you gear up for elections, here are we bringing you a profile of different candidates from different political houses and what do they think about the community. We asked these candidates same questions to which they responded as follows.
So now it’s your turn to use your party vote and choose the best one.
Anne Degia-Pala, NZ First Party
Which constituency are you competing from?
I am a prospective candidate for the electorate of Kelston in West Auckland.
How long have you been with the party?
My political aspirations is based on my passion for ethnically diverse communities, which I have served for over 20 years in NZ. I believe this is the reason the NZ First Party selected me as a candidate. I am formally associated with the NZ First Party for 9 months, however informally our association goes back almost 3 years.
We would like to know more about your family and your profession. (Where are you from, who are there in your family)
Together with my husband and two young children, I arrived in NZ in 1990. I am born in Suva, Fiji. My Indian heritage is from Gujarat in India. I am co-director with my husband of WinMac Solutions Ltd., an IT company based in Kelston, however I have built a profile in West Auckland as a Community Leader and an Intercultural Advocate working closely with all diversity and ethnicities Auckland wide, closely associated with local and central government.
In 2004 I was elected the first Indian woman President of Waitakere Ethnic Board. I am very
passionate about social issues and work closely with women and children.In 2007, I was awarded a Queen Service Medal (QSM) for working with ethnic communities by the Government of New Zealand. I have been instrumental in bridging the gap between Indians of Fiji and India by working closely with Indian Associations.I am a founding member and the only Indian
woman member of the first Auckland Council Ethnic People’s Advisory Panel. I am a Governance
Board member of WaterSafe Auckland Inc (WAI) and Trustee of NixCrew Trust Incorporated. I continue to work in the injury prevention sector and belong to the Auckland Council Multi Sector Violence Prevention group. In 2001, in a tragic car accident our only son Nikheel (19) was killed in New Zealand. Our daughter Nikeesha is married and lives in London with her husband and our grandson, 3 year old Alexander.
How did you develop interest in politics?
We left Fiji due to the unsettling political environment and loss of a democratically elected government. I basically learnt politics with my father who was a keen supporter and worker in the National Federation Party. Upon arriving in New Zealand, I supported the NZ Labour Party and was a member with the party until mid-2013. I was nominated by the Labour Party to stand for
the Whau and Henderson Massey Local Board elections in 2010 and 2013 respectively.
If won in elections, what would be your main focus? What do you expect to do for the Indian Community in New Zealand?
New Zealanders will remain my main focus. Focus on equity, fairness and democratic processes that ascertain good employment, education, housing and health for all New Zealanders including Indians.
The employment of New Zealanders (including ethnic Indians) is high on the NZ First planning priority. High unemployment is not acceptable. Highly skilled and experienced Indian Kiwis being unemployed is a human and economic waste which is a blight on this country’s productivity. Indian residents and citizens of this country must have fair treatment when it comes to employment and I will work hard to eliminate discrimination, ensure that employers including the public sector and other businesses treat Indians as they would any other New Zealander
.I am very pleased that the NZ First Party will keep the retirement age to 65. Many of our elders deserve a well-earned lifestyle and good health to see them through their old age. I will work hard to bring the four well-beings back which the current government has removed.
Good settlement makes ‘common sense’. As a nation built on immigration, we need to ensure that overseas skills and expertise is brought in through immigration, however for Indians who remain unemployed or underemployed, NZ First will train, skill and employ for their prosperity and the NZ productivity. There is a lot at stake without good settlement for our families and children, I will voice for urgency in this area. Putting New Zealand and New Zealanders First is ‘common sense’... and I am proud to be called a New Zealander First.
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