Praneeta Mahajan
Hamilton, September 26, 2023
Elections are around the corner and every political party is out sharing their message with the constituents, in an effort to sway public opinion in their favour and work towards the change they are all promising.
Party Hamilton East ACT Party candidate Himanshu (Ash) Parmar, who is now taking his long-running campaign on crime to the political stage spoke to Indian Newslink.
The bottle store owner and a vocal activist against ramraids and retail crime in Hamilton will stand for the ACT party come October 14, 2023, contesting for the Hamilton East seat held by incumbent and exiting Labour MP Jamie Strange.
Talking about the starting point of his political profile, Mr Parmar said, “For four years I have been advocating for better protection of retail crime victims and highlighting the poor law and order situation in New Zealand because of the current government’s soft-on-crime approach. I strongly believe in ACT policies in the law and order space, and I wanted to get involved to see them in action to provide Kiwis with the security and peace of mind they deserve.”
Finding a perfect match
A retailer for many years and a father of two, Mr Parmar has called Hamilton his home since migrating from New Delhi in 2001. With his business suffering due to multiple robberies like many others in Hamilton, he saw the ACT party as his best bet to take a stand on behalf of fellow retailers and business owners who are looking for solutions.
After hosting interviews, staging protests and campaigning for change by meeting different agencies and political representatives, Mr Parmar sought a higher pedestal to campaign on the existing law and order policies.
“With a more direct approach towards tackling crime, including putting ankle bracelets on youth ram-raiders and cracking down on repeat offenders, the values and policies of the ACT party resonated with me,” he said.
In the most recent raid on his Waikato bottle store, hooded thieves used power tools to break into the premises while Mr Parmar watched the entire ordeal on his security camera.
Mr Parmar said that it was time for a major shift in how criminals are dealt with.
“I am exhausted. Just about everyone I have met on the campaign trail is unhappy and wants a change of government. Often, I don’t even have to ask them they just say it. They want the current government gone,” he said.
Representing Hamilton
Mr Parmar prides himself in being a true Hamiltonian, with strong bonds with the City and the diverse community living here.
He said, “Hamilton is on the cusp of becoming the third biggest city in New Zealand, which requires careful planning and investment in the right infrastructure. It has been an amazing opportunity for me to meet such a diverse group of people from all walks of life and I am ready to get into action and deliver real change if given the opportunity to represent this beautiful and vibrant city while voicing out the concerns of fellow Hamiltonians.”
In an ACT Party candidates list, Mr Parmar has been ranked 13, making his campaign integral to Hamilton’s political scenario.
Sharing his experience leading up to the elections, he said, “I have been on ACT Party bus tours which have been extremely useful in capturing the pulse of the people and witnessing first-hand what they are experiencing. So far, I have visited eleven different cities and engaged with people on various concerns they have voiced. The needs of Palmerston North are different to Hamilton for example. But the message of change and action remains a common ground, no matter where we go. We have had two terms of a government that has been focusing on the wrong things. Wasteful spending has been immense while Kiwis are really struggling. I would like to work and represent the needs of my constituents and make change happen.”
Mr Parmar reminded the Hamilton East constituents to help him bring about change and said, “Party vote ACT for real change. Changing from team red to blue or swapping one Chris for another Chris will not solve our problems. Only ACT will end division by race, contain cost of living crisis and hold criminals to account.”
Watch a message from Himanshu Parmar, ACT Candidate for Hamilton East.
Praneeta Mahajan is an Indian Newslink reporter based in Hamilton.
