Zulfiqar Butt is running as Labour’s candidate for Rangitīkei Electorate for the general elections in 2023. He is a small local business owner who has lived in Manawatu for over 20 years with his wife and three children, including two university students.

He is a proud Massey University graduate with a doctoral degree in Natural Resource Management. Zulfiqar is a trained forester and environmentalist and has worked with a number of local and international agencies. His work involved development projects for rural communities, especially creating economic empowerment for rural women and low socio-economic communities.

Zulfiqar has been involved in community service for over 20 years and has worked with our diverse communities across Manawatu and New Zealand. He is currently serving as a Justice of the Peace of New Zealand and strongly believes in social justice and has a track record of multicultural leadership.

During his time in Palmerston North City Council as an elected counsellor, from 2019 to 2022, he was a member of the Joint Strategic Planning Committee of the Manawatū District Council and Palmerston North City Council and advocated for regional cooperation for economic development.

Zulfiqar is dedicated to ensuring that the voices of diverse communities from small cities and rural areas of Rangitīkei Electorate are heard in Parliament and are supported to thrive.