Dispelling the Racism Myth

New Zealand First list MP, Clayton Mitchell. Photo/Andrew Warner

New Zealand First is frequently if not consistently portrayed as racist. But are we? This week, I invited New Zealand First List MP Mahesh Bindra over to our monthly coffee meetings to address this very topic. Born and raised in Mombai, India, Mr. Bindra seems just the right person to dispel the racism myth.

Mr. Bindra was a successful business man in India married to an economist. When their children were very young they reluctantly made the decision to move to New Zealand, mostly out of curiosity. Mr. Bindra and his family completely integrated themselves into Kiwi culture and have never looked back. So much so, in fact, that Mr. Bindra admits to supporting the New Zealand cricket team when they play against India!

It was at a couple of New Zealand First meetings that Mr. Bindra first met and questioned The Right Honourable Winston Peters, MP, specifically on the issue of immigration. "I like the way he spoke and answered questions," explained Mr. Bindra. "He is a man of mana."

Mr. Bindra has been a member of the New Zealand First party ever since, admittedly distributing 2,000 flyers a day between 2008 and 2011. He was placed on the 'list' in 2011 and entered Parliament as a List MP in 2014.

"We are the only political party in New Zealand that says, 'once you are a citizen of this country, you are the same as your neighbour who has been here five hundred years.'" said Mr. Bindra. And it is true.

We are not racist or xenophobic. We are also not willing to open our borders to just anyone. We are not willing to grant entry to more immigrants than our society and our economy can handle. And we rightly expect a level of assimilation from our immigrants that will support and protect Kiwi culture, like Mr. Bindra. Now, if we could just find a Prime Minister who would do the same.