I, on behalf of New Zealand First, will engage with ethnic communities much more: Mahesh Bindra, a Kiwi-Indian and former List MP (2014-17) of the party
Kiwi-Indian and former List MP from New Zealand First (2014-17), Mahesh Bindra, sat with Gaurav Sharma, Associate Editor of The Indian News, on Tuesday, for a straight talk on a range of issues, including his relationship with Shane Jones and other party leaders, his party's stand on racism, immigration and exploitation of international students coming from India, as well as on New Zealand-India relations going forward.
Watch the full interview for his replies to the following:
On comments from his party colleagues -
Q1) There’s this widespread feeling among multicultural communities about your party, New Zealand First, that it is anti-immigrant in general, and anti-Indian in particular. Which is ironical because you are a Kiwi-Indian who has represented the Party in Parliament from 2014-17. So why do you think this feeling remains?
Q2) This feeling has gathered momentum in the last one year by some statements made by your party colleague Shane Jones. I agree that explanation on those must be sought from Mr Jones, not from you. What I am interested in knowing is how your conversations have been with him over this time, whenever you met him or chatted otherwise? In your opinion, does he understands and respect your Indianness, if I can use this term?
Q3) You obviously enjoy your leader’s Winston Peters support. How’s your relationship with other leaders in the party like Tracy Martin, Ron Mark etc.?
Q4) So on this, my final question is a direct one. Is New Zealand First, or some small section in the party, sometimes sound racist to you?
On issues concerning voters this election -
Q5) As an immigrant yourself, what’s your stand on immigration in New Zealand where we get people from overseas only for those jobs which are not being filled by New Zealanders?
Q6) On this the current government has already moved to tighten the labour market test even further. So how is New Zealand First immigration policy different from what is being already done?
Q7) In the last two elections, you have also stood for elections in the Mount Roskill electorate, apart from being ranked 10 and 11 on the party list. But the results were not so favourable. So are you putting up your hand again this time for the electoral battle in Mount Roskill?
Q8) During your last stint in the Parliament (2014-17), you have been a passionate advocate of stopping exploitation of Indian international students in New Zealand. In fact, you had said then, that in some cases, international Indian students coming to New Zealand “work like slaves”. Why hasn’t then your party done anything on this, in spite of being in power for the last three years?
Q9) Is this the issue that still drives you? If you enter Parliament again this time, will we see more action on this from you?
On New Zealand-India relations -
Q10) Along with other Kiwi-Indian MPs, you have also acted as a bridge between the two countries, with one of your party colleague describing you as “knowing more MPs in the Indian Parliament than there are MPs in the New Zealand Parliament”. Is it true?
Q11) The Deputy PM made a long-awaited trip to India in February, and you went with him. Was that trip successful? What has the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) to show for it? Leave alone any movement on FTA, India has also backed out from RCEP.
Q12) So what’s next for New Zealand-India trade relations? Will we see any advocacy on it from you if you enter the Parliament again this time? Finally -
Q13) Will you, at least concede, that your party, New Zealand First, needs to engage more with the ethnic and multicultural communities of New Zealand? And are you willing to take up that role if you enter the Parliament again?