Karunā Muthu describes himself as a “political animal”. He's not lying; rocking up to our interview in his royal blue National Party branded jacket, he jokes that he’s going to be the Prime Minister of New Zealand. The National Candidate for Rongotai is optimistic he’s able to turn Rongotai blue, despite it being a safe Labour seat since 1996.
“I'm the underdog, and I don't mind being the underdog. I didn't get to where I am today by being the front runner,” he said.
The lawyer and investor has lived in the Rongotai electorate for 23 years after immigrating from India in the 90s with only “$500 in hand” in search of a better life for his children.
Ideologically, he’s a “compassionate conservative and social liberal”, and says he’s “always believed in social justice, and standing up for the underprivileged and downtrodden”.
While door-knocking around his neighbourhood of Strathmore, Muthu said that people often tell him he’s in the wrong party. “All the parties want the best for the people, but I align myself with the values of the National Party: hard work, family, reward for your hard work, and so on.” He said some members of the community have not been so friendly, with some drivers even pulling the finger at Muthu and his volunteers while sign-waving in the area.
He’s keen to get stuck in and fix what he considers to be three biggest issues in the community: cost of living, transport, and employment.
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This podcast is a Salient Podcasts Production. Produced by Alex Marinkovich-Josey
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