Sunday 7 September 2008

UnitedFuture announces party list

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne has announced the first 22 names on the party’s list for this year’s election.

Mr Dunne describes the list) as a mixture of fresh blood and experience, representative of New Zealand today.

The list is:

1. Hon Peter Dunne MP (Leader) (ex officio) Ohariu
2. Judy Turner MP (Deputy Leader) (ex officio) East Coast
3. Denise Krum Maungakiekie
4. Graeme Reeves Wairarapa
6. Murray Smith Hutt South
7. Neville Wilson Mt Roskill
8. Frank Owen Palmerston North
9. Janet Tuck Epsom
10. Karuna Muthu Rongotai
11. Robin Loomes Port Hills
12. Greg Graydon Tamaki
13. Damian Light North Shore
14 Vanessa Roberts Wigram
15. Aaron Galey-Young Auckland Central
16. Ian McInnes East Coast Bays
17. Kelleigh Sheffield-Cranstoun Waimakiriri
18. Brian Ward Rangitata
19. Vaughan Smith Wellington Central
20. Jim Stowers Manurewa
21. Bryan Mockridge Papakura
22. Jayati Prasad Auckland

“Fourteen of the 22 nominees have been candidates for Parliament before.

“In addition to our two sitting MPs, the top ten of the list includes two former MPs, the party president, and vice president, a former president, and exciting newcomers.

“Our list is drawn from right across the community, including people with experience in the law, commerce, business, education and community services.

“I am very confident that all of these nominees would acquit themselves well as Members of Parliament, and look forward to their having that opportunity,” he says.

Mr Dunne says further names will be added to the list as candidate selections are completed.

ends

Media statement
Embargoed until midday
Sunday 7 September 2008

UnitedFuture candidate biographies

The list is:

1. Hon Peter Dunne MP (Leader) Ohariu
Peter Dunne has been a Member of Parliament since 1984, and holds the northwest Wellington electorate of Ohariu. Peter is one of New Zealand's most experienced and respected MPs, having held Ministerial portfolios in both Labour-led and National-led Governments.
Currently the Minister of Revenue and the Associate Minister of Health, Peter has previously held Ministerial responsibility for the Environment, Justice and Internal Affairs. His depth of knowledge in such diverse areas has led to Peter being widely regarded and respected by those across the political spectrum, community groups and the wider electorate.
Peter says the overriding ambition for him and UnitedFuture "is to make New Zealand the best place in the world to live and raise a family, the world's first truly successful multi-ethnic nation, where every citizen, whatever their background, race or creed is recognised as bringing a positive feature to our national table, and where all have the chance to enjoy everything that is good in our country."

2. Judy Turner MP (Deputy Leader) East Coast
Judy Turner came to Parliament in 2002, was elected deputy leader in 2005 and Whip in 2007.
Her major portfolios include Social Services, Education, Health & Disabilities. Judy sits on the Social Services select committee.
She is married to Graham and they have three adult children.
Prior to becoming an M.P. Judy taught as a specialist Arts teacher at Whakatäne Intermediate, and also as a new entrants teacher at a bi-lingual primary school at Kutarere School and has always spent a considerable amount of time doing work in the community. For the last 26 years she has also hosted a weekly radio programme on a local Bay of Plenty station.
Her interests reflect her grass-roots, community based interests and experience. When able to have some rare down-time, Judy enjoys reading, theatre, music, socialising and public speaking.

3. Denise Krum Maungakiekie
Denise is President of UnitedFuture. After studying politics at Victoria University, and subsequently post-graduate politics in the United States, Denise became active in UnitedFuture based in Auckland. Denise's involvement with UnitedFuture stretches back many years. She is from a long-standing NZ political family and is a member of the Australian Political Exchange Council having been appointed as a delegate in 2005.
Denise is a founding board member for the Halogen Foundation which operates 'Young Leaders Days' for approx. 15,000 primary/intermediate/secondary students in New Zealand. Her 2008 local community involvement includes committee memberships for One Tree Hill Community Kindergarten, Ellerslie Athletics Association, and as a volunteer for Ellerslie School PTA.

4. Graeme Reeves Wairarapa
Graeme is a former National party Member of Parliament and has been an active member of UnitedFuture for many years.
He operates a law practice in Wellington.
5. Pulotu Selio Solomon Mangere
Selio is a former Mangere Community Board Chairman and manager of the Martin Hautus The Pacific Peoples' Learning Institute in Onehunga.
Selio managed the Institute's first tertiary college in Savai'i, Samoa, and has been a nominee for the Sir Peter Blake Emerging Leader's award.
He is the son of Pulotu Arthur Solomon, retired Manukau City Councillor, a well known Labour activist and former campaign manager for Taito Philip Field.

6. Murray Smith Hutt South
Murray is the party's Vice President. He played a central role in the formation of UnitedFuture and was its first Party Secretary from 2000 to 2002.
Murray was an MP for United Future from 2002-05 and since leaving Parliament he has been working as a contract lawyer.

7. Neville Wilson Mt Roskill
Neville migrated from Fiji to New Zealand in August 1995. He was contracted by the New Zealand Employment Service and the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs to develop and deliver training programmes that transitioned long term unemployed Pacific people back into employment from 1996 to 1999. In 2000 Neville joined the staff at the Habitat for Humanity New Zealand National Office as the Programme Enhancement Director. He was the Programme Manager when he left Habitat in July 2006.
Neville has served as a member of the Government initiated Pacific Island Community Reference Group (CRG) in Manukau from its inception until 2005. He served on the organising committee of the Kedgley Music School in 2002 and 2003. He served as a board member of Habitat for Humanity Manukau and the chairman of the board of Habitat for Humanity Rotorua. He also served as the Chaplin for Habitat for Humanity Manukau from 2001 to 2006. Neville was the inaugural Chairman of Community Housing Aotearoa, the Peak Body for Community (Third) Sector Housing groups. He is currently on the Board of Pasifika Education Centre having been appointed to the board by the Minister of Education and the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs in 2004.

8. Frank Owen Palmerston North

Frank is a semi-retired life style farmer who was formerly in practice as a Chartered Accountant after which he ran his own professional training company, TEO Training.
Frank has been active in party politics since 1995, holding Treasurer/Board positions and has stood as a candidate in three elections. He is also currently on the board of UnitedFuture.
9. Janet Tuck Epsom
Janet is standing for the second time as a UnitedFuture candidate in the Epsom electorate, having been involved with the party from 2002. Her work experience is supported through a variety of academic qualifications including MMgt (management), B.Ed., Dip. Tchg, and Grad Cert in Career Dev.
Janet has worked as a teacher for several years in both mainstream and special education, and has worked in management in the not-for-profit and community group sectors. She has now established her own business as a private provider of career counselling and transition services. Her interests include walking, running a book group, and leading a church home group.
She is a member of the Auckland Executive Club, and co-leads Women 4 Women (both are networking groups for women in business).

10. Karuna Muthu Rongotai
Karuna is a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand a member of the International Bar Association and a member of the Institute of Directors, New Zealand.
He has an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington. He has a Graduate Diploma in International Business Management from Auckland University and a Graduate Diploma in Marketing Management from Unitec, Auckland.
He founded the New Zealand Overseas South Indian Association in 1996 in Auckland. He was a keen community radio broadcaster and served as a member of the Auckland Access Radio management board. Karuna Muthu also founded "Law Students International" (LSI), a student organisation at Victoria University of Wellington in 2003. He was a Wellington 2020 Communication Trust Board Trustee.

11. Robin Loomes Port Hills
Robin joined UnitedFuture in 2002 and was a candidate in 2005. A former secondary school teacher, Robin is currently employed in the state sector as a statistician.

12. Greg Graydon Tamaki
Greg is a computer programmer and his role has expanded over time to include that of Analyst Programmer, Business Analyst, Solutions Design. He has been involved with the party since late 2004, standing as a candidate in the 2005 election.
As a past keen outdoorsman Greg believes practical access to the great outdoors is an important issue that deserves close attention.

13. Damian Light North Shore
Damian is UnitedFuture's second youngest candidate to date at 24 years of age and is employed as a supervisor with Kiwi Rail.

14 Vanessa Roberts Wigram
Vanessa became a member of the party in 2005 and stood in the Wigram electorate in the General Election that year. She trained as a physiotherapist in Dunedin in the early 1980's and has worked in a variety of physiotherapy roles in both the private and public sectors. She is currently a community physiotherapist working in the Older Persons Health division of the Canterbury District Health Board.
Vanessa has served as Divisional Manager of a St John Youth Division, receiving the 12 year Service Medal from St John and has been on kindergarten committees, a soccer coach for a team of children, and involved in her local church.

15. Aaron Galey-Young Auckland Central
Aaron is an ordinand in training with the Anglican Church for the Auckland Diocese, having studied at Bible College of New Zealand from 2004-2007. Aaron served that community in the role of Student Leader in 2005 and Student President in 2006-07.
Aaron was in the Royal New Zealand Navy in a Payroll and Administration capacity. He served on HMNZS Te Kaha and also represented the New Zealand Defence Force on an ANZAC exchange which sent him to Cairns. He received a Commanding Officers Commendation for his efforts in this job and also was awarded Sailor of the Quarter in 2003.

16. Ian McInnes East Coast Bays
Ian McInnes was Pakuranga electorate candidate for UnitedFuture in 2002 and 2005.
Ian is a founding trustee of Pakuranga Counselling Centre, a recovery course facilitator, represents Toxins Awareness Group NZ (inc) to ERMANZ & MFE Nthn NGO's & 1996 Operation Evergreen Ministerial Advisory unit.
He is involved with Life Centre in Auckland and is an active reserve member of Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Lifeguard Service.

17. Kelleigh Sheffield-Cranstoun Waimakiriri
Kelleigh graduated from Auckland University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts. She majored in English and History. With her degree she then went on to train as a teacher that year, completing her Post-Graduate Diploma of Teaching at Wellington College of Education.
Throughout her studies Kelleigh had been a part-time soldier in the NZ Territorial Force. As a natural progression she went on to join the army as a full-time soldier once her studies were complete. Kelleigh joined the Education Corp in the army where her role focused on instructing soldiers on literary based courses, and guiding them with their tertiary qualifications. During this time she also had experience teaching for a term at Taihape College.

18. Brian Ward Rangitata
Brian grew up in Invercargill and has spent 56 years living and working around the lower half of the South Island. He is a Chartered Professional Traffic and Transportation Engineer and has a particular interest in environmental sustainability. He owns a startup company Fivepower Systems Ltd investigating a potential renewable (solar) energy manufacturing industry in New Zealand.
He is also a member of the Global Core Team of Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies a web-based organisation committed to breaking the cycles of violence and humiliation within societies.

19. Vaughan Smith Wellington Central
Vaughan has recently completed Law and Arts degrees at Victoria University, with a co-joint major in Political Science and International Relations. He is currently studying towards his professional legal qualification and working part-time for a government department.
Although a relatively young candidate, Vaughan has had a strong interest in national politics for many years and is motivated by a firm desire to build a successful and supportive New Zealand.

He has previously been a member of the Hutt City Youth Council and candidate for the Petone Community Board and is committed to listening to those in his community and supporting local groups and organisations.
Vaughan enjoys playing rugby, listening to local music, understanding other cultures and cooking for others. He hopes to begin practicing law once he qualifies at the end of the year.

20. Jim Stowers Manurewa
Jim has been involved in the party since prior to the 2002 election. He has served in a variety of roles in the Party, including South Auckland Regional Co-ordinator, Manurewa Team Leader and Conference organisation.
Jim has a background in education, has taught in intermediate and primary schools, and is now involved in adult education. He has a DipTch, a BEd, a Diploma of Worldview Studies, and is currently working towards a Masters of Education. He heads up a men's network organisation which he founded in south Auckland, and leads a life skills group locally.

21. Bryan Mockridge Papakura
Bryan was a parliamentary candidate for United in 1996 and 1999, and since ran for Manukau City offices in Manurewa and Clevedon wards. After gaining degrees in Economics and Public Administration, Bryan worked in financial planning roles in government, manufacturing and finance sectors. He now works in the IT industry as a Service Manager.
Bryan has served on the boards of the ASB Bank, the Building Guarantee Corporation, the UnitedFuture Party and Alfriston College. In recent years, he was secretary of Clevedon Junior Hockey and of Peoples Choice local body group. Currently he is president of the Kawakawa Bay Community Association and a director of Miro Lodge, Ohakune.

22. Jayati Prasad Auckland

ENDS

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