Know your candidate: Umesh Parinpanayagam, Green 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.
Umesh Parinpanayagam, Green Party
Which constituency are you competing from?
The Green Party is asking people for their Party Vote, I am doing this from the electorate of Manukau East.
How long have you been with the party?
I have been involved in the Party since the early 2000s when I got involved as a student at the University of Auckland but I joined around 2005.
We would like to know more about your family and your profession. (Where are you from, who are there in your family)
I was born in Whangarei shortly after my parents and older brother migrated to New Zealand as a consequence of the war in our homeland. We moved to Tauranga because that’s where my father found a job, and I went to primary and intermediate school there. Subsequently we moved to Auckland and after high school I went to university and completed an engineering degree.
Growing up in a smallish town in New Zealand I think had a detrimental effect on my ability to connect to my cultural heritage but after moving to Auckland there have been more opportunities. For example I’ve been involved in South Indian culture through playing the Mridangam (drum) a little bit. Organisations like the Caranatic Music Society have really developed since we moved to Auckland. For example concerts from visiting artists from India were once rare, now it is a regular occurrence.
How did you develop interest in politics?
When I started university it was the first time
I was able to vote. I think I believed a better world was possible and one way was to get more Green Party members into parliament. The Green Party were criticizing many of the things the Government were doing at the time and they were putting forward alternative ideas I agreed with. That’s how I got interested.
If won in elections, what would be your main focus? What do you expect to do for the Indian Community in New Zealand?
The Greens focus is on creating fairer society, cleaner environment and smarter economy.
We have announced a number of specific policies towards these goals, which will benefit many New Zealanders including the Indian Community. These include: $1 billion package to pull kids out of poverty (Paid by an increase tax on earnings over $140,000 to 40 percent, and closing tax loopholes)Reprioritising transport spending - away from uneconomic motorways towards public transport to ease congestion Free off-peak transport for students.$1 billion for research and developmentStart up government-owned Green Investment Bank Free healthcare for everyone until age 18.
We believe all New Zealanders deserve to live in a country with a clean environment, smart economy and fair society and this requires a government that recognise its obligation to eliminate discrimination. The Green Party believes adequate funding needs to be directed to combating institutional racism and agencies that do this work, such as the Human Rights Commission, need to be fully supported in their work.
The Green Party will ensure that the Human Rights Commission and Race Relations Office are fully supported in their endeavor to implement the Human Rights Act, counter prejudice and discrimination, and address racism. We will work with communities to combat prejudice; develop fair, compassionate and effective processes in all areas and ensure that education, health and other institutions meet the special needs of all communities.
We also believe that a standalone Ministry of Ethnic Affairs will be helpful in addressing the institutional racism issues faced by many minorities.
I am happy to answer any questions at umesh@greens.org.nz
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.
Umesh Parinpanayagam, Green Party
Which constituency are you competing from?
The Green Party is asking people for their Party Vote, I am doing this from the electorate of Manukau East.
How long have you been with the party?
I have been involved in the Party since the early 2000s when I got involved as a student at the University of Auckland but I joined around 2005.
We would like to know more about your family and your profession. (Where are you from, who are there in your family)
I was born in Whangarei shortly after my parents and older brother migrated to New Zealand as a consequence of the war in our homeland. We moved to Tauranga because that’s where my father found a job, and I went to primary and intermediate school there. Subsequently we moved to Auckland and after high school I went to university and completed an engineering degree.
Growing up in a smallish town in New Zealand I think had a detrimental effect on my ability to connect to my cultural heritage but after moving to Auckland there have been more opportunities. For example I’ve been involved in South Indian culture through playing the Mridangam (drum) a little bit. Organisations like the Caranatic Music Society have really developed since we moved to Auckland. For example concerts from visiting artists from India were once rare, now it is a regular occurrence.
How did you develop interest in politics?
When I started university it was the first time
I was able to vote. I think I believed a better world was possible and one way was to get more Green Party members into parliament. The Green Party were criticizing many of the things the Government were doing at the time and they were putting forward alternative ideas I agreed with. That’s how I got interested.
If won in elections, what would be your main focus? What do you expect to do for the Indian Community in New Zealand?
The Greens focus is on creating fairer society, cleaner environment and smarter economy.
We have announced a number of specific policies towards these goals, which will benefit many New Zealanders including the Indian Community. These include: $1 billion package to pull kids out of poverty (Paid by an increase tax on earnings over $140,000 to 40 percent, and closing tax loopholes)Reprioritising transport spending - away from uneconomic motorways towards public transport to ease congestion Free off-peak transport for students.$1 billion for research and developmentStart up government-owned Green Investment Bank Free healthcare for everyone until age 18.
We believe all New Zealanders deserve to live in a country with a clean environment, smart economy and fair society and this requires a government that recognise its obligation to eliminate discrimination. The Green Party believes adequate funding needs to be directed to combating institutional racism and agencies that do this work, such as the Human Rights Commission, need to be fully supported in their work.
The Green Party will ensure that the Human Rights Commission and Race Relations Office are fully supported in their endeavor to implement the Human Rights Act, counter prejudice and discrimination, and address racism. We will work with communities to combat prejudice; develop fair, compassionate and effective processes in all areas and ensure that education, health and other institutions meet the special needs of all communities.
We also believe that a standalone Ministry of Ethnic Affairs will be helpful in addressing the institutional racism issues faced by many minorities.
I am happy to answer any questions at umesh@greens.org.nz
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