Sunny Kaushal to bid for Manukau East

The race for Labour held Manukau East has begun with South Auckland resident Sunny Kaushal today announced that he has put his name forward for the Labour Party in the Manukau East electorate current held by Mr Ross Robertson who is retiring.

Sunny Kaushal has been a member of the Labour Party for several years and stood for the Pakuranga seat for Labour at the 2011 elections. He brings 23 years of business management experience in tourism and international trade besides 11 years of diverse community experience. He has been very active in the Party over the past few years. He is an experienced campaigner. He campaigned for Labour in both the Mt. Albert and Botany by-elections. He has also campaigned for No Asset Sales, Living Wage, the rights of workers at Ports of Auckland and the hunger striking Taxi Drivers at Auckland airport. He is a member of the Service and Food Workers Union.

“Manukau East is close to my heart since we spent our early years living locally in Papatoetoe. I have fond memories of this area including my elder son graduating from the Papatoetoe South School,” said Mr. Kaushal.

“Manukau East is one of Auckland's most ethnically diverse electorates. My ethnic as well as New Zealand background has prepared me well to understand the issues of the electorate. My time in Tonga also gave me an insight into understanding Pacific peoples who are a big part of Manukau East" said Mr Kaushal.

"I am looking forward to the challenges of the campaign and to listening to the views of the people of Manukau East. I will go into the election for the party with a goal of lifting the voter turnout to maximize the party vote in 2014" said Sunny Kaushal.

The seat is likely to be widely contested with the selection scheduled to be held on February 22.

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