Muthiah James - Candidate for Dunedin City Council

Tell us a bit about your (and/or your family’s) New Zealand journey. (in 400 words please)

I am from India but have lived in Dunedin for 15 years. When we were living in Oman, my wife got a job at Dunedin public hospital through telephone interview. After we moved I enrolled and graduated in the graduate program of consumer food science and food science degree at the Otago university. Even though there is not much job opportunities related to my studies in Dunedin, we do not want to move out of the city as we like this city and the people.

I took up the job at the church of Christ community to run the Space2B lunchtime programme and the Friday evening Drop-in Centre for disadvantaged and vulnerable people. The community programs such as newcomers network, women across culture, DCC settlement support network, were meeting for some time in our church building and gardening club and etc is still going. This job has given me an opportunity to engage and relating well with the people from different ethnic backgrounds, disadvantaged and vulnerable people in the society.

What motivated/prompted you to stand for local government elections this time? Please also indicate which area/position you are standing for.

I can engage well with people from different ethnic backgrounds to understand their ideas and opinions and reflect this knowledge in decision making. I want to build a safe family friendly city, inclusive of disabled people, people from different culture and different religion, rainbow community and etc. I want to promote economic growth in Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture.. These are industries which have contributed millions of dollars to Dunedin GDP and created Job Opportunities.

I am standing for councillor at the Dunedin City Council

What are the issues concerning the area (ward/council/city) you are standing in? (please list four main)

Clean and Green Dunedin. It is a positive climate change initiative and to create a liveable city for future generation. It is a collective responsibility of the government, council and the community to limit the temperature increase to 1.5C.

Affordable rates. Keeping the rates increase within the limit of 5%. More people are moving in to fixed Income. As per the census of 2018, 20,800 people are in 65 years+ category and every year 1600 people are moving in to this category.

Limit the debt. I will try to reduce debt and limit borrowing as far as possible by spending the money that is essential things for this city. Our group debt including Dunedin city council debt is expected to rise 984 million in 2022.

Job Opportunities. I want to create Job Opportunities working along with economic development unit in new identified areas. As per the economic strategy plan 2013 to 2023 is to create 10000 jobs and 5000 jobs have created so far. We need to encourage more investors to invest in this city

Christchurch mosque attacks changed/or should have changed/ how multiculturalism is viewed in New Zealand. Please share some concrete suggestions on how all of us can work together to make Aotearoa New Zealand a more diverse, inclusive, and multicultural society.

Every citizen of New Zealand has to realise that this our country and should be always loyal to this country. People has to think that the country they come from is nothing to do with them after they renounced their passport. Even a simple thing like supporting black caps by carrying the New Zealand flag during cricket matches will make a big change. People should come out of their barrier or boundary and try to engage with other people with different ethnic background. Even a smile or saying hello will change perception of other people.. People has to integrate well with other people through inviting other people with different ethnic background to their cultural events. Some people are racial due to the situation they grown up and some people have negative perception on immigrant. We have to ignore it and move forward.