Raf Manji
Raf Manji | |
---|---|
4th Leader of The Opportunities Party | |
Assumed office 27 January 2022 | |
Preceded by | Shai Navot |
Personal details | |
Born | 1966/1967 (age 55–56) London, United Kingdom |
Political party | TOP |
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[]
- ^ "Return of Electoral Donations and Expenses" (PDF). Christchurch City Council. 2016.
- ^ a b c "Raf Manji, former Christchurch city councillor named as TOP's new leader". Stuff. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ a b c Matthews, Philip (8 April 2017). "Raf Manji: the gambler turned politician". Stuff. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ a b c Sachdeva, Sam (13 September 2017). "Raf Manji's Ilam gamble". NewsRoom. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Many new faces at council table". Stuff. 14 October 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ Vicki Anderson (8 May 2015). "Raf Manji: Christchurch's money man". Stuff. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "by-election may cost $65,000". The Star. 16 March 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2022 – via Issu.
- ^ Pattrick Smellie (28 July 2017). "Brownlee's challenger, Raf Manji, pitches Christchurch for 2026 Commonwealth Games". National Business Review. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Parliament hopeful proposes Christchurch bid for 2026 Commonwealth Games". Inside the games. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Should Christchurch make a bid for the 2026 Comm Games?". Magic Talk. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ Wright, Tony (23 September 2017). "Gerry Brownlee storms home for big win in Ilam". NewsHub. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Three Christchurch City Councillors bow out". Christchurch City Council. 26 September 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ Tina Law (29 September 2019). "Councils will face unprecedented levels of change, retiring councillor warns". Stuff. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ Luke Malpass (19 March 2019). "Easy money era fuelled global terror says Christchurch politician". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Advisory group to make recommendations on Our People, Our City fund". Christchurch City Council. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Details revealed for $12 million fund for Christchurch terror attack victims". Stuff. 26 November 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ Elle Marsh (7–13 March 2020). "Life after the Christchurch shootings". The Saturday Paper. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ Jody O'Callaghan (4 July 2020). "Raf Manji: From money man to voluntary 'fullback' for March 15 victims". Stuff. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ Jody O'Callaghan (28 November 2020). "Payout to March 15 terror attack victims the 'right thing to do'". Stuff. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Raf Manji takes over The Opportunities Party". New Zealand Herald. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- 1960s births
- Living people
- People from London
- New Zealand people of Pakistani descent
- English emigrants to New Zealand
- Alumni of the University of Manchester
- Christchurch City Councillors
- The Opportunities Party leaders
- The Opportunities Party politicians
- Unsuccessful candidates in the 2017 New Zealand general election