As an Eritrean with a refugee background, I represent some of our most marginalised communities. I’ve been through the process of resettlement – fleeing a war-torn country as a teenager, learning about New Zealand from UN officials in Sudan, beginning my Kiwi life in the Māngere Refugee Resettlement Centre, and experiencing first-hand all the ups and downs of being a refugee in Aotearoa.

I am a proud trade unionist. I first joined the Service and Food Workers Union (now E tū) while working long hours as a cleaner at Victoria University and elsewhere in Wellington. I got involved in the Living Wage Movement, where I found my voice, a voice that had been silenced by my earlier experiences. I grew in confidence and was able to enrol in and complete my first degree at the university I had cleaned.

As an E tū union organiser. I fight passionately for our members, every single day. I listen to them and support them to become leaders themselves. I have always felt welcome and completely at home in the Labour Party.

It was an honour to serve as a List MP in Jacinda Ardern's government. And I'm standing again now. I’ve continued to be active in the party - from hitting the pavements in our local campaigns to working with the Multicultural Labour Auckland branch.