Raf Manji

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Raf Manji
RafManji2016.jpg
Raf Manji in 2016
4th Leader of The Opportunities Party
Assumed office
27 January 2022
Preceded byShai Navot
Personal details
Born1966/1967 (age 55–56)
London, United Kingdom
Political partyTOP

Raf Alfred Manji[1] (born c. 1966)[2] is a New Zealand politician. He is currently leader of The Opportunities Party (TOP).

Early life[]

Manji was born in London to an Indian Muslim father and Irish Catholic mother[2] and educated at the University of Manchester, graduating with a degree in economics and social studies.[3] He worked as an investment banker, before migrating to New Zealand in 2002.[3] He worked for non-profits and volunteering before becoming involved in the Volunteer Army Foundation.[4]

Political career[]

Manji was elected to the Christchurch City Council in the Fendalton-Waimairi ward in 2013[5] after being encouraged to run by mayor Lianne Dalziel.[4] He quickly became Dalziel's right-hand man on finance issues, acting as serving as deputy chair on financial committees and helping to manage the post-earthquake rebuild.[6] He was re-elected in the Waimairi Ward in 2016.

Manji contested the seat of Ilam as an independent at the 2017 New Zealand general election, on a platform of being a voice for Christchurch during its recovery from the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.[3][4][7] His platform included an investment fund for local housing, and Christchurch bidding to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.[8][9][10] The attempt was unsuccessful, with Manji coming second to incumbent Gerry Brownlee.[11]

He retired from the Christchurch City Council at the 2019 New Zealand local elections.[12][13]

Following the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings Manji suggested that inequality resulting from financial deregulation had helped radicalise alt-right terrorism.[14] He was subsequently appointed to chair an advisory group to decide how to use money raised to support the victims.[15][16] Following the approach used after the Grenfell Tower fire he established a "listening project" and spent months meeting with victims and hearing their stories.[17][18] In November 2020 he advocated for a $34.8 million government compensation package to victims and their families.[19]

On 27 January 2022 he was announced as the new leader of The Opportunities Party.[2][20]

References[]

  1. ^ "Return of Electoral Donations and Expenses" (PDF). Christchurch City Council. 2016.
  2. ^ a b c "Raf Manji, former Christchurch city councillor named as TOP's new leader". Stuff. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Matthews, Philip (8 April 2017). "Raf Manji: the gambler turned politician". Stuff. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Sachdeva, Sam (13 September 2017). "Raf Manji's Ilam gamble". NewsRoom. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Many new faces at council table". Stuff. 14 October 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  6. ^ Vicki Anderson (8 May 2015). "Raf Manji: Christchurch's money man". Stuff. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  7. ^ "by-election may cost $65,000". The Star. 16 March 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2022 – via Issu.
  8. ^ Pattrick Smellie (28 July 2017). "Brownlee's challenger, Raf Manji, pitches Christchurch for 2026 Commonwealth Games". National Business Review. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  9. ^ "Parliament hopeful proposes Christchurch bid for 2026 Commonwealth Games". Inside the games. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  10. ^ "Should Christchurch make a bid for the 2026 Comm Games?". Magic Talk. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  11. ^ Wright, Tony (23 September 2017). "Gerry Brownlee storms home for big win in Ilam". NewsHub. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  12. ^ "Three Christchurch City Councillors bow out". Christchurch City Council. 26 September 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  13. ^ Tina Law (29 September 2019). "Councils will face unprecedented levels of change, retiring councillor warns". Stuff. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  14. ^ Luke Malpass (19 March 2019). "Easy money era fuelled global terror says Christchurch politician". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  15. ^ "Advisory group to make recommendations on Our People, Our City fund". Christchurch City Council. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  16. ^ "Details revealed for $12 million fund for Christchurch terror attack victims". Stuff. 26 November 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  17. ^ Elle Marsh (7–13 March 2020). "Life after the Christchurch shootings". The Saturday Paper. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  18. ^ Jody O'Callaghan (4 July 2020). "Raf Manji: From money man to voluntary 'fullback' for March 15 victims". Stuff. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  19. ^ Jody O'Callaghan (28 November 2020). "Payout to March 15 terror attack victims the 'right thing to do'". Stuff. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Raf Manji takes over The Opportunities Party". New Zealand Herald. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
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