New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 List of islands of New Zealand, smaller islands. It is the ...
politician, with a background in governance, finance and social enterprise. He is currently leader of The Opportunities Party (TOP).
Early life
Manji was born in
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
to an Indian Muslim father and Irish Catholic mother and educated at the
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public university, public research university in Manchester, England. The main campus is south of Manchester city centre, Manchester City Centre on Wilmslow Road, Oxford Road. The university owns and operates majo ...
, graduating with a degree in economics and social studies. He worked as an investment banker, before migrating to New Zealand in 2002. He worked for non-profits and volunteering before becoming involved in the Volunteer Army Foundation.
Political career
Manji was elected to the
Christchurch City Council
The Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Christchurch. Since October 2022, the Mayor of Christchurch is Phil Mauger, wh ...
in the Fendalton-Waimairi ward in 2013 after being encouraged to run by mayor
Lianne Dalziel
Lianne Audrey Dalziel (; born 7 June 1960) is a New Zealand politician and former Mayor of Christchurch. Prior to this position, she was a member of the New Zealand Parliament for 23 years, serving as Minister of Immigration, Commerce, Minister ...
. He quickly became Dalziel's right-hand man on finance issues, acting as serving as deputy chair on financial committees and helping to manage the post-earthquake rebuild. He was re-elected in the Waimairi Ward in 2016.
Manji contested the seat of Ilam, which had been a safe seat for the National Party, as an independent at the
2017 New Zealand general election
The 2017 New Zealand general election took place on Saturday 23 September 2017 to determine the membership of the 52nd New Zealand Parliament. The previous parliament was elected on 20 September 2014 and was officially dissolved on 22 August 2 ...
. He campaigned on a platform of being a voice for Christchurch during its recovery from the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, including promoting the idea of an investment fund for local housing, and Christchurch bidding to host the
2026 Commonwealth Games
The 2026 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XXIII Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Victoria 2026, is a multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth scheduled to take place across four regional sites in the Australian state ...
. Manji polled well behind incumbent National Party MP
Gerry Brownlee
Gerard Anthony Brownlee (born 4 February 1956) is a New Zealand politician of the New Zealand National Party. He has been a Member of Parliament since 1996, was Leader of the House, Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery and Minister of ...
, but came second, polling ahead of the Labour Party candidate.
He retired from the Christchurch City Council at the
2019 New Zealand local elections
The 2019 New Zealand local elections were triennial elections to select local government officials and district health board members. Under section 10 of the Local Electoral Act 2001, a "general election of members of every local authority or ...
.
Following the 2019
Christchurch mosque shootings
On 15 March 2019, two consecutive mass shootings occurred in a terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. The attacks, carried out by a lone gunman who entered both mosques during Friday prayer, began at the Al Noor Mosq ...
Manji suggested that inequality resulting from financial deregulation had helped radicalise alt-right terrorism. He was subsequently appointed to chair an advisory group to decide how to use money raised to support the victims. Following the approach used after the
Grenfell Tower fire
On 14 June 2017, a high-rise fire broke out in the 24-storey Grenfell Tower block of flats in North Kensington, West London, at 00:54 BST and burned for 60 hours. 72 people died, two later in hospital, with more than 70 injured and 223 es ...
he established a "listening project" and spent months meeting with victims and hearing their stories. In November 2020 he advocated for a $34.8 million government compensation package to victims and their families.
On 27 January 2022 he was announced as the new leader of The Opportunities Party.