• For more information contact Camille Matekuare 021712380
• Website: VoteKerianaReedy.webs.com
• votemanataupo@hotmail.com

Keriana Reedy could be nicknamed the “newbie in the NZ political arena”. However her life experiences, honesty and moral principles certainly outweigh even the most seasoned, self-proclaimed and self professed “politician for the people”.

Keriana is of Tuwharetoa, Rongomaiwahine and Ngati Kahungunu descent. And has been married to her Ngati Porou/Nga Puhi sweetheart Aidan McClutchie Reedy for 19 years, they have 4 gorgeous sons. She was born and raised in Invercargill then moved to Bridge Pa Hastings in her teens and has a very strong connection with her mother’s whanau in the Mahia Peninsula. She currently resides in Murupara.

An Alumni of Church College, Hamilton, where she attended in the late 80’s, Keriana was not only taught academics but more importantly she learnt spiritual principles and morals that she lives by today. As Keriana state:

That’s what attracted me to Mana, once I read the policies I knew in an instant that finally here is a political movement that targets the core of our society – and that is the home, to allow families the freedom and rights of self determination, that empowers the people that have been trodden on by our Government”

Keriana is no stranger to politics as she was an elected member of the Murupara Community Board for the Whakatane District Council 2007-2010. Where she was part of the community fight against the Whakatane District Council to keep the Murupara Council office open.

She is a current extramural student of Massey University where she has achieved papers in law, accounting, IT and macroeconomics and is working towards a Bachelors of Accountancy. Keriana is currently employed with a local Iwi, she is familiar with Iwi politics and the relationships that Iwi have with the Crown. She has been a Housing Coordinator that delivered the Housing New Zealand Rural Housing Program, so knows firsthand how some elderly and low income families are living and the sub-standard housing conditions they are faced with. She is also a staunch advocate for Employment Rights and is sick of the way some employers can get away with treating their employees unfairly.

So while Keriana may appear to be a “newbie to NZ politics” she is a person that has dedicated her life to those that can’t speak up for themselves. She may not yet have the political experience like many others in the MANA Movement but she is well aware of what is right and fair for all New Zealanders.

Top 5 Issues

1. All New Zealanders should be horrified and embarrassed at the story told on the Inside Child Poverty documentary on 21st of November.
   “Hungry kids, mouldy damp rooms in cold houses; overcrowding; third world diseases; kids scarred for life by preventable illnesses; impossible electricity costs; unaffordable medical bills etc. etc. – how did it come to this?
   “The answer is simple. We’ve had 27 years of Labour and National polices (15 years Labour and 12 years national) which have enriched the wealthy at the expense of families and children on low incomes. We now have hundreds of thousands of kids living in poverty but we also have the richest 150 New Zealanders getting an increased in wealth of seven billion (sic) last year. And those that are rich did not pay tax on most of their unearned income.
   “Neither Labour nor National have policies to deal with child poverty. Labour had nine years but left the kids to suffer. National has contempt for families in poverty and has demonised those struggling on benefits. National blames the poor for the economic problems caused by the economy being run for the 1%.
   
   • “MANA is determined to drive out poverty from New Zealand with policies funded by a rebalancing of wages and taxes.
   
2. • “MANA would not muck around. There’s no time for hand-wringing. We would -
   
   Feed the kids by providing free breakfasts and healthy lunches at all schools starting with decile one to three primary schools where the need it greatest.
   Make schools the centre of healthy communities with free dental and medical services available to every child.
   
3. • Build 20,000 state houses in a national rebuilding program not seen since the 1930s. We would insist on a warrant of fitness for every property up for rent.
4. • Drop GST to put extra money on the pockets of those struggling the hardest. (Low income families spend 14% of their income on GST but the wealthy spend just 4% - GST is a tax on the poor)
5. • Raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour and peg it at two-thirds of the average wage.
   
   “This is not pie in the sky. We know we will have to fight hard for every policy but MANA will fight. We are a movement of fighters who don’t give up
   

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