Greetings, Kia ora, Malo e lelei, Talofa lava, Fakalofa lahi atu, Bula Vinaka...

The 2010 Local Government Elections is a crucial time for positive change!

There is a real need for fresh new talent to run the Council for our Supercity Auckland.

I believe that I have the talent, experience and background to fulfil that goal!

Our region and communities need good representation and I am standing for that role.

I intend to make a difference for the people of my region and community.

"There are unique issues to the Whau Ward and the concrete plan is to redevelop the Avondale Business Center and Avondale Racecourse, and develop a new Recreation Center to attract tourists and neighbouring communities so that Avondale becomes a center of attraction for the future. It is important for the residents of Avondale, Rosebank, Blockhouse Bay, New Windsor, Green Bay, New Lynn, Titirangi, Kelston and Glendene to get along for a strong Whau Ward. Regional integration among these communities are crucial to bridging the gap between division and segregation."

As your elected member I will practise five qualities:

First, trust. As your elected member you can trust me because the High Court of New Zealand trusted me. You can trust me because I donated thousands to build a church in New Lynn and to be a part of the community. You can trust me because I am raising my children in the community and I have a vested interest in the mutual success of the neighbourhoods, the schools and the businesses. You can trust me because I am a good listener and I propose to be accessible for your needs. You can trust me because as a successful lawyer I have the proven ability to accomplish tasks and meet deadlines and that I have been trusted to deliver tasks and meet deadlines successfully. Your trust means everything to me and I am asking for your trust. Will you lend me your trust and allow me to work for you?

Second, submission. I have followed others well and know how to lead others well. Connecting with people becomes possible because I've walked in your shoes before. I've submitted to authority and I will not be proud, unrealistic or autocratic.

Third, self–discipline. I will make consistently good decisions with sound judgment, character and self discipline (as to do otherwise is to lose control of oneself). British essayist John Foster writes, ‘A man without decision of character can never be said to belong to himself. He belongs to whatever can make a captive of him.’ Not only do I have a plan to help people, but that I have a proven record of making good decisions. As a lawyer, I am trained to make good decisions and exercise excellent judgment.

Fourth, patience. I will look ahead, think ahead and move ahead. It's the motivation for my nomination. But my true goal is to cross the finishing line with as many people as I can take with me. For this reason, I will deliberately slow my pace, stay connected to the people of my region and community, keep them informed, engaged and inspired, enlist the help of others to fulfil our vision, and keep going.

Finally, accountability. Many people feel that accountability is a willingness to explain our actions. In reality, real accountability begins long before you take action. Most wrong actions come about because we are not being accountable early enough.

I look forward to the opportunity to serve you!

Top 5 Issues

1. Keep my electorate well informed and engaged in the government decision making process.
   
   Make myself easily accessible, available, approachable and visible to the people of my region and community.
   
   "As a youngster I was terrified to approach a government official and found them difficult to get a hold of." - I intend to change that if elected to office (speaking from experience)
   
   How do I intend to achieve this? Live locally in the electorate and be actively involved with the people in the region and local communities. Regularly visit Church and Community Leaders, random visits to the local communities and reach out to the people in need.
2. Propose affordable property rates for all hard working families.
   
   "As a youngster I witnessed my parents struggle to pay property rates and make ends meet." - I intend to change that if elected to office (speaking from experience)
   
   How do I intend to achieve this? Propose a threshold for the families to pay rates based on their income. This will ensure that families only pay what they can afford.
3. Propose solutions for regional and community issues (namely housing, leaky houses, home insulation, public transportation, roads, employment and industrial relations, rubbish, child care, elderly care, health care, social services... and the list is not exhaustive)
   
   "I have three young children and an elderly Mother so I need to ensure that they get the proper care and help that they deserve.
   
   How do I intend to achieve this? Housing - offer low, medium, and high cost housing categories for accessibility to adequate, affordable and quality shelter with the incentive to own property.
   
   Leaky Houses - implement adequate compensation for leaky houses.
   
   Home Insulation - expand the sustainable home insulation programmes to help more people stay warm and well.
   
   Transportation - better public transportation access via train and buses from home to work, airport and other destinations.
   
   Roads - safer and faster road works to avoid traffic congestion.
   
   Employment and Industrial Relations - advocate for safer environments and better working conditions for employees. Offer union for taxi drivers and better protection for bus drivers.
   
   Rubbish - offer larger rubbish bins and bags for households upon request and re-introduce rubbish/waste day collection.
   
   Daycare - increase free daycare center hours for pre-school children to assist families.
   
   Health - offer better health, dental and vision care for all, including children and pensioners. Change insurance and lower premiums, so that insurance companies pay for medical care upfront instead of patients paying out of pocket first and getting reimbursed later.
4. Promote tourism and economic stability in our region and communities for a better and cleaner Cosmopolitan Supercity Auckland.
   
   How do I intend to achieve this? Promote cultural diversity through city fairs and festivals to attract tourism and foreign investment. I'm open to celebrating our heritage and cultural diversity in the new Whau Ward. Ensuring that people from Avondale, Rosebank, Blockhouse Bay, New Windsor, Green Bay, New Lynn, Titirangi, Kelston and Glendene all get along. Community integration is necessary for a stronger Whau and to bridge the gap between division and segregation.
5. Find solutions for unemployment, keep our region and community safe, help and promote the development of local small businesses, find resolutions for better immigration control.
   
   How do I intend to achieve this? Employment - educating our communities about creating economic opportunity and prosperity, offer job training, more apprenticeships, practical training, higher and continuing education as an alternative to unemployment.
   
   Crime - educating our local communities about crime prevention, retribution and early family intervention.
   
   Local Small Businesses - collaborating and consulting with our Community Organisations for their support and assistance for the development of local small businesses to thrive financially and economically.
   
   Immigration - expand eligibility categories, reduce fees and waiting periods.
   
   "I intend to offer translation and interpretation services for the non english speaking public in our region and communities to battle these issues."

Personal Profile

I was born in Tonga and arrived in NZ at the age of 4 years old. I lived at 66 Archibald Road for 15 years which is now the Akoteu Vaevae Manava Child Care and Education Center in Kelston. My late Father Sione Tavo Manukia sold the house to the school because he wanted to benefit our children in the community. I attended Kelston Primary, Kelston Intermediate and Kelston Girls High School. We then moved to Avondale where I've lived for 21 years. Of those 21 years, I attended the University of Auckland and Victoria University of Wellington obtaining (BA, LL.B degrees), I then sat the NZ professional lawyers bar exam at Canterbury University of Christchurch and was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 1997. Soon after I worked at the Grey Lynn Neighbourhood Law Office and volunteered at the New Zealand Society of the Intellectually Handicapped. In 1998, I embarked to the United States of America to complete Postgraduate Studies and obtained the degree of Masters of Laws with distinction (LL.M (Honors)). I worked as a legal advisor and foreign law consultant (ngaue fk lao) in America for ten years working in some of the top law firms in California, Washington DC and North Carolina. During those ten years I lobbied and worked along side some of America's top and well know politicians who gave me the insight and vision to get involved in politics myself. I founded Manukia Consultants which originated in Washington, DC and I'm looking to expand in Auckland. In July 2009, I returned to NZ for family reasons and to embark on a life long dream to run for government mainly to make a difference in the region and community that I live in and to set a platform for my young childrens' futures. I am currently volunteering in my local community in the areas of education and immigration. I'm an advocate for Youth Education and Better Immigration Control. While working in the United States, I remained tuned in to the issues of my community through my local New Lynn Tongan Methodist Church. I was involved in Christian education, Sunday School and Youth activities. I donated thousands of dollars to the new church building on Margan Avenue in New Lynn. It was my way of giving back to the community and providing for the future (our children).

As a daughter of Church Stewards, I know the value of hard work and giving back to your community. Living locally, I understand your issues. I am a strong advocate for improvement and development. With my community involvement and legal background over a decade, I believe that I can make a positive contribution as your Whau Ward Councillor for the new Supercity Auckland.

Languages Spoken

English, Tongan

Qualifications

BA, LLB, LL.M (Honors)

Notary Public

Registered Court Interpreter

Other Qualifications

Guidance & Counseling

Witnessing & Serving

Key Achievements

Member - Golden Gate Association of International Lawyers (GGAIL)

Member - International Law Disputes Resolutions

Award - Simpson Grierson Law

Award - Queen Elizabeth Scholarship

Award - Pacific Island Leadership Trust

Award - BNZ Five Star

Award - The Duke of Edinburgh Bronze

Award - Ivy Rakich Memorial for Industry and Achievement

Award - Margaret Jarvis Memorial for Industry and Achievement

Community Involvement

Volunteer - Youth Education

Volunteer - Immigration Advisor

Community Services Worker - The Intellectually Handicapped

Community Translation Services... et al.

Advocate for Populist Issues

Reduce Crime

Protect our Children and Senior Citizens

Prevent Vandalism and Graffiti

Safe Roads

Tough Laws on Drunk Driving

Increase Driving Age to 18

Alcohol Control

Clean Streets

Reduce Traffic

Help Indigents

Increase Business

Better Economy (local and national)