New Zealand politics is becoming a circus with elections that were just around the corner, having been postponed for another four weeks. Sexting MPs, 13 Opposition leaders, including leader of opposition Todd Muller resigning, the ex-Health Minister not following health directives through lockdown, the PM sacking the current Minister of Immigration and Workplace Relations & Safety due to inappropriate conduct at workplace and latest one – The Big Bang of all – Covid-19 back in the country…… It looks like one helluva script for Netflix soap series, the only difference being this is real life drama being unfolded (unscripted and raw)!

There is no shortage of divisive beliefs and polarising thoughts in the world today, Pro Trump – Anti Trump, Pro government – anti-government, Pro Immigration – anti immigration, Pro conspiracy theory, anti-conspiracy theory; that it has divided people in our country too. Both the Government and the Opposition are adding to the remainder of the uncertainties with this current roller coaster ride.

People are being subjected to a questionable state of cognitive dissonance topped with chaos. A huge waste of energy that could have resulted in positive outcomes had the same politicians been less self-obsessed and concentrated on the greater good of the country besides making this purely a Covid election. The real question is – What was promised and what was actually delivered by the current government during the term they were in power?

The creation of new political parties like New Zealand Public Party (NZPP) and the New Conservative Party with Leighton Baker as their leader is proof of this statement. While Baker has highlighted the importance of multiculturalism being the melting pot of values that New Zealanders stand for, Billy has been advocating the concerns not just around the current global Covid-19 pandemic but also what the future holds for the New Zealanders and the coming generations.

Advance New Zealand or the New Zealand Public Party as they were called earlier was formed by Billy Te Kahika in response to the injustice being forced upon the New Zealand people by the existing government and their planned policies for the upcoming elections. They are calling out against the articulation of strategies which will harm the country’s social fabric as well as the long-term economy, health & wellbeing, tourism and education sectors in the long run.

Personally, for me, what resonates about a promising leader like Billy is the ideology of NZPP. Billy says, “We need to restore Government Integrity, Transparency and Accountability.” His thoughts on 5G, vaccinations, government’s lack of transparency, pursuing an aggressive eradication policy and other concerns have garnered thousands of followers on his social media page in a noticeably short time. As an amalgamation of similar but like-minded smaller parties, he has focussed on creating a new party which includes not just people of Maori origin but also of other ethnicities. This is a reason why a new political group like this has garnered quite some bit of support from Kiwis nationwide.

A key concern is that we need to address our own racism and sexism where our political representation is concerned. This can happen when both the governments and our society start calling it out and work towards introducing a shift from the current practices. Both National as well as Labour need more diversity on the front benches of our Parliament for real-time decision making. Our lack of diversity is not just harming the country but also damaging the conflicting messages that we are sending out to the international platform right now when the whole world is watching us. We need to do the right thing and have a whole range of new fresh and upcoming talented bunch of MPs and not just a line-up of the ‘entitled few.’

John Hawkes who is a fourth generation Kiwi, in his recent article in the Herald said, “Since our Parliament first sat in 1854, it has been dominated by male and Pākehā MPs. That has changed only slowly since the first MMP election in 1996. We are still working our way towards having a Parliament which is truly a House of Representatives, in which citizens can see people like themselves representing them.”

There is a need for more ‘people of colour’ in the real game changing arenas. It is important because people from different backgrounds bring different experiences and perspectives to politics, and act as role models for others from marginalised communities. That is the foremost functional purpose of diversity.

IF WE ARE ALL THINKING ALIKE THEN NO ONE IS REALLY THINKING.

Have we already squandered our paradise or is there hope for the future generations if we can correct our anomalies in time? This tumultuous mockery of ruthless fallouts and scandals needs to stop. Changes to our socioeconomic conditions are needed before any ‘big’ promises are made and remain undelivered till the next election period surfaces. In short, it is time to straighten up our act, NOW. The old needs to make way for the new. Change is the need of the hour. And it must happen NOW!

-Anil Sharma