Manukau East – John Minto

Manukau East – John Minto

Posted on November 1, 2011 by admin in Mana Candidate Profiles

John Minto

Personal:

I’m 58 years old, married with two boys aged 18 and 20 and I live in Morningside, Auckland.

Background:

I’ve been a secondary school teacher most of my working life and this has included time at a variety of Auckland schools including Massey High, Hillary College, Western Springs College and Tangaroa College.

Political background:

I worked full time for the anti-apartheid movement from 1980 to 1985 as National Organiser and then National Chairperson of HART (Halt All Racist Tours). This period included helping organize and run campaigns against sporting ties with South Africa such as the 1981 Springbok tour to New Zealand.

Education activism:

I was National chair of QPEC (Quality Public Education Coalition) from 1998 to 2008 and was involved in campaigns such as stopping bulk funding of schools and also getting a better deal for parents of children with special education needs.

More recently:

I have been a spokesperson for Global Peace and Justice Auckland from 2002 to the present time. GPJA is a network of peace and justice activists which holds monthly forums as well as organizing and supporting a wide range of public action in support of human rights and liberation for people around the world.

Current Job:

I am employed by Unite Union and have used my campaigning experience to help support and encourage workers to be active in fighting for better pay and conditions in our low wage economy.

Why I am standing for Mana:

The Mana Movement is Maori inspired and Maori led but with policies for all New Zealanders. We know that if we get things right for Maori we will get them right for everyone. I believe Mana provides the best opportunity in my lifetime to bring dramatic, transformative change to our economy on behalf of everyone on low incomes.

October 2011