And Rosemary Bourke gets selected at Mangere
Tackling Crime and Cost of Living Crisis: Navtej Randhawa, National Party candidate from Panmure-Otahuhu
Venkat Raman
Auckland, March 26, 2023
Navtej Singh Randhawa, a dynamic young community leader and media personality has been chosen by the National Party as its candidate to run in the general election from the Panmure-Otahuhu constituency in South Auckland.
The electorate, known earlier as Manukau East, has been a stronghold of the Labour Party since 1996. It was renamed Panmure-Otahuhu prior to the general election in 2020.
Mr Randhawa, who has been an avid Indian Newslink reader since his student days, said that alongside the cost-of-living crisis, rising crime is another big issue in the area.
“People do not feel safe in our community and it is getting worse. The Labour Party’s soft-on-crime approach has failed and we owe it to our communities to crack down on crime and make our streets safer,” he said.
According to Mr Randhawa, local business owners do not know how many more robberies and ram-raids they have to deal with before the government starts listening.
“National has released plans to crack down on retail crime and serious young offending and back our police to tackle gangs. Making sure that our communities are safe will always be a priority for me and we need a National government. It is the only Party that can deliver a strong economy so we can reduce the cost of living, restore law and order, lift incomes, build infrastructure for the future, and deliver better health and education outcomes,” he said.
About Navtej Randhawa
Navtej Singh Randhawa is a Papatoetoe supermarket owner and active member of the New Zealand Indian Business Association. He has lived in Papatoetoe for 15 years.
After completing his schooling at Hamilton Boys’ High School, Navtej gained a Bachelor of Commerce in International Business and Marketing from the University of Auckland.
Alongside his involvement with the New Zealand Indian Business Association, Mr Randhawa is on the board of United Voice, a representative organisation for 80 different ethnic and migrant groups. He is also involved with the Auckland Indian Retailers Association.
Rosemary Bourke in Mangere
The Party’s delegates in Mangere chose Rosemary Bourke as their candidate at a separate meeting held in the electorate today.
“Mangere is my home and I am honoured to have the opportunity to campaign for a National government as the Party’s candidate. I will work hard to meet as many people as I can to hear about their issues in the run-up to October 14,” she said.
Ms Bourke said the cost-of-living crisis is a problem in Mangere as well and that the National Party’s key focus is to find a solution.
“The median rent in Auckland is almost $5000 higher per year under Labour and people paying mortgages do not know they will find hundreds of dollars more every week to cover their repayments as interest rates are raised to keep a lid on inflation. National is the only Party with a plan to strengthen our economy so we can reduce the cost of living for people in Mangere. We have also announced our FamilyBoost policy which will provide up to $75 per week in tax rebates to help families with the cost of childcare,” she said.
About Rosemary Bourke
Rosemary Bourke works as a warehouse administrator for a South Auckland manufacturer and has several years of experience in operations roles.
She has lived in Mangere for almost 30 years and raised her four children in the area. Over the years, she has volunteered at local schools, sports clubs and local community groups. She has also worked as a tutor for local parents, supporting them to be the first teachers at home to give their children a head start.
Source: The National Party Head Office, Wellington
