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.
Anjum Rehman: Labour Party
Which constituency are you competing from?
None, I’m a list candidate
How long have you been with the party?
I joined Labour party in 2003.
We would like to know more about your family and your profession. (Where are you from, who are there in your family)
I protect my family from my political activities and am glad that I do so. About myself, I was born in a small village in the district of Azamgarh, UP. I left India when I was just under 2 years old, and migrated to Canada with my family. We arrived in New Zealand when I was 5 years old, and I have lived in Hamilton ever since. I’m a Chartered Accountant by profession.
How did you develop interest in politics?
I have been interested in politics from a young age. I was 14 when the Springbok match was stopped in Hamilton, and at that time I studies South African history in school. In those days we worried about nuclear weapons and the Cold War. I became more politically active by joining the Labour Party when my children were a little older and I was able to give time to be an activist.
If won in elections, what would be your main focus? What do you expect to do for the Indian Community in New Zealand?
I have several areas of interest. I would like to do some work in my area of professional expertise, making tax compliance easier for small business and supporting small business owners, particularly in the regions. In a voluntary capacity, I have also done a lot of work in providing services for women suffering from domestic violence, and I have worked on sexual violence prevention. I would like to focus on both of those areas if I was in government.
For the Indian community, I’m part of a Labour team that will ensure decent wages and work conditions, and access to quality education and particular to tertiary education. We have strong policy on affordable housing - especially for young people trying to buy their first home. I’ll be pushing for a return to investment in community policing, so that police are visible on the streets and engaging with communities, especially to reduce the level of crime against small business owners. Our team will support the learning of other languages and reinstate decent funding for settlement support services.