A Kiwi bursting with pride

New Labour MP Ibrahim Omer has recounted the harrowing story of how he became New Zealand’s second-ever refugee MP.

Omer came to New Zealand after fleeing the small East African nation of Eritrea as a teenager.

He worked as a cleaner at Victoria University while earning a degree there, working his way up through the trade union movement before being elected to Parliament on Labour’s list lastmonth.

Omer gave the second maiden speech of the term to a silent and packed House, and finished to a standing ovation.

‘‘I am an Eritrean. I am a former refugee. I ama Muslim. I ama trade unionist and a living wage advocate. But most importantly I stand here before you today as a Kiwi bursting with pride,’’ he began.

He said his story was the story of every refugee – someone forced from their home in hopes of safety.

Omer recounted amostly happy childhood in Eritrea that turned dark during a civil war for independence, which eventually resulted in a totalitarian state he fled. He said he dreamed of being a football player or politician but left these dreams behind when he fled the country as a young adult,

‘‘I see you, I feel you, I will be by your side and fight alongside you.’’

fearing forced national service.

‘‘Nearly all my life in Eritrea there was a war. For 30 years my country was locked in a war for independence.

‘‘I vividly remember the fighting. There was no power, we had very little food.

‘‘We believed Eritrea could be a shining star forAfrica. Butmy country was betrayed by the same people who fought for independence.’’

Hewent to Sudan. ‘‘I left behind everything I loved. My country, my family, my friends, and my dreams ... The chances of getting to Sudanwere about 50-50.’’

After five years in Sudan, hewas granted refugee status toNewZealand through the United Nations – somewhere he had ‘‘never heard of’’.

‘‘But I heard it was one of the most peaceful counties in the world. That was OK withme, because I was sick and tired of looking overmy shoulder.’’

Omerworked as a security guard, a fruit picker, and eventually as a cleaner at Victoria University, working 80-hour weeks to send money back home.

‘‘All I didwas clean, clean, clean, day and night. I did not have time to think, I did not have time tomeet people or be a part of a community,’’ he told the House.

He became involved in the union movement, got a pay rise, and began to study at Victoria University, going to his first lecture in a theatre he had cleaned the night before.

Omer thanked the union movement for getting himinvolved in politics, particularly E Tu¯ delegate Paul Tolichwho ‘‘chasedme aroundWellington with a nomination form’’.

He promised to continue to fight for low-paid workers and for refugees.

‘‘I see you, I feel you, I will be by your side and fight alongside you.’’