Former refugee runs for mayor
Palmerston North has the chance to elect its first former refugee as its mayor.
Hussein Kikhounga-n’got arrived in the city as a refugee from the Congo, via Gabon, in 2006.
It was not his first choice of resettlement centre, but soon ‘‘made me feel this is home’’.
‘‘I rebuilt my life in this city and now want to give back.’’
The 50-year-old became a New Zealand citizen five years after settling and describes himself now as ‘‘a Palmerston North boy’’.
For some time unable to find a job, he became a drainlayer, and has just graduated from Massey University with a bachelor of information sciences.
Fluent in many languages and dialects, he is the vice-president of Alliance Francaise Palmerston North and the Manawatu¯ Multicultural Society, and a volunteer for the Red Cross working with refugee families.
He is studying for a postgraduate certificate in linguistics so he can qualify to teach English as a second language and already helps out as a relief teacher at the English Teaching College.
Kikhounga-n’got said his candidacy was not all about his background. ‘‘For me, I put Palmerston North first.
‘‘We do have a strong thing here with our diversity and we should use this as a tool to build Palmerston North.’’
His promise was to listen to people about what was needed to build a happy and prosperous community.
He said he understood people did not like paying rates.
‘‘But I see rates as the lifeblood of the city, that people should pay for the services of the city, and we want transparency and need to show people results.’’
‘‘I rebuilt my life in this city and now want to give back.’’ Hussein Kikhounga-n’got