Filipino Migrant News September 2017

08 AUGUST 2017. ISSUE 105 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | tel: 027 495 8477 | www.pinoynzlife.nz
Are we just
cash cows?
Mila Baker has been
living in New Zealand
for 37 years and as a citizen
is qualified to vote
in the upcoming elections.
“I do understand the
MMP system,” she says.
“I always vote for the
party that I can trust; one
that can change the way
this country is run.
“I feel that many people
are missing out on
the basic fundamentals
of life - education,
health, housing and jobs.
The pensioners are also
forgotten and there is
child poverty.
“We do not want this
country run as a corporation
and to talk all the
time about money.
People cannot be viewed
as cash cows.
“We need to have a
voice for change.”
“I know what a migrant has to go through
to settle in NZ.” says Bala Beeram
In August this year Bala
Beeram, the National candidate
for Kelston, joined
Pinoys at a Filipino Food
Festival held in Henderson.
Other candidates who
dropped in for the meet
and greet were Roshan
Nauhria, the NZ People’s
Party leader and Romy
Udanga, the Labour
Party’s candidate on the
North Shore.
Below is the excerpt of an
interview with Bala which
first appeared in Migrant
News: www.migrantnews.
nz.
MN: If successful in
becoming an MP, how
would you help the migrant
community?
BALA: I am involved in a
lot of community work.
Helping people is one of my
passions. I am a people person
and I would like to serve
the community.
Being an MP would give
me the opportunity to take
constituency issues and concerns
to parliament and to be
the local voice.
MN: Please tell us about
your background?
BALA: I came from India
in 1999 along with my wife.
I come from an agricultural
background as my parents
are farmers back in India.
I completed a Masters
degree in chemistry and
worked as a chemistry
teacher in India. I have been
working as a Scientific
Analyst for a state owned
company for the last 12
years.
Since I moved to New
Zealand I have been living in
the Avondale area.
MN: What experience
have you had serving your
community and have you
served in any government
roles before?
BALA: I served as president
of the New Zealand
Telugu Association (NZ-
TA) and as an advisory
member for NZTA and the
Telangana Association
New Zealand (TANZ).
NZTA organises lot of
community events like
blood donation camps, cultural
activities to bring the
community together, sport
activities, fundraising activities,
helping new migrants to
settle in NZ and tree plantings.
I have not served in any
Government role before.
MN: Why did you decide
to run as a Member of
Parliament (MP)?
BALA: I know what a
migrant has to go through to
settle in New Zealand, what
struggles and challenges
they face, as I have been
through all of that. I want to
be their voice, as I have
experienced what many of
them may be going through.
Migrants who come to
New Zealand have high
skills and qualifications;
their needs are different
from the needs of New
Zealanders. They need a representative
who has their
needs at heart and will provide
them with the right
services to help them settle
in this country. As a MP I
will make sure that they
become involved and
become a part of the community.
MN: As a migrant why
did you choose to run with
National?
Bala Beeram (right) is the National Party’s candidate
for Kelston.
BALA: I have been closely
associated with the
National party for more than
10 years.
Due to the boom in the
economy we have a lot of
skill shortages. Migration is
needed to fill the gap in the
labour market; without
skilled migrants our economy
will come to a halt.
Migrants come to New
Zealand to have a better life
and to make this amazing
country their home. The
National Party is giving the
opportunity for migrants to
fulfil their dreams.