Mana | Movement of the People

 

Rotorua – Grant Rogers

Grant Rogers

Tribal Affiliations

• Ngapuhi ki Whaingaroa, Ngati Kahu ki Whaingaroa

Educational Background

• Lake Rerewhakaaitu Primary School
• Rangiora High School

I support people who seek and act to change a corrupt and morally bankrupt system of government who support the rich and condemn the poor to poverty. The MANA movement is for the people run by the people. We will create and encourage people power so we all have a say on how we live and work together – we can build stronger more vibrant communities.

I am a single parent beneficiary who is always willing to give back unpaid work to the community. I have worked as a Beneficiary Advocate  in the Beneficiary advisory service of the Rotorua Peoples Union, advocating on behalf of beneficiaries about entitlements to welfare payments which help support them meeting the costs of living. We work outside the Community Link office aka WINZ every Wednesday morning alongside other community advocates in Rotorua. I take part in Impact days for beneficiary advocates to assist clients on a mass scale with up to six case managers assigned to deal with benefit issues over the course of 3 days. I have also teamed up with Bernie Hornfeck to start community gardens through Mara Kai (funding from TPK) as well as starting work on a communal garden plot at the Linton Park Community Centre in Western Rotorua.

I was a former Green Party Member 2003-2007. Rotorua branch co-convener 2005-2007. I stood for councillor in the west ward in Rotorua district council elections 2005. Ran for Residents Action movement (a socialist left party) as a 2008 candidate for the general elections in the Rotorua seat (Bernie Hornfeck was my campaign manager).

I am actively engaged in the community, such as setting up Leslie Ave alleyway petition which is to stop council closing our alleys under the guise of crime. We won this after gaining support from local community. Protested against the 1080 drops in Rotorua. Worked amongst Climaction group to set up and raise awareness on climate change. Helped co-ordinate a protest over lack of action by government to confront big business to pay for carbon emissions after Bali conference 2007. Bernie Hornfeck and I assisted in showing Al Gores film on the large screen ‘An Inconvienient Truth’ – this roadshow included Te Wananga O Aotearoa, Waiwhero campus.

Worked with students at Glenholme Primary School struggling to cope in a mainstream classroom environment with one to one tuition. I was a BOT member 2003 -2005. Student rep at Te Wananga O Aotearoa 2005-2006 for  Iwi Environmental Management students, noho marae degree program at Turipuku – Te Arawa Campus.

St Francis Whanau Aroha Daycare Centre 2002-2004, Management Committee Member and attended monthly meetings as a parent rep and worked as a volunteer grounds man. 

Education Summary

• Te Wananga O Aotearoa, Turipuku-Te Arawa Campus, Bachelor in Iwi Environmental Management 2005-2007
• Auckland University, Bachelor of Arts, major in education, sociology 1993-1995
  

I am active in the community and believe passionately about issues on welfare reform and transforming benefits into a community wage, and promoting education as a free right and ensuring the environment is sustainably looked after for future generations to enjoy.