Anthony Rimell – why I am standing for Parliament

Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, March 14th, 2017 - 30 comments
Categories: election 2017, labour, Politics - Tags:

Anthony Rimell is Labour’s candidate for the Ilam seat.  In this post he sets out the reasons why he is standing for Parliament.

There’s an old adage: “all politics is local”.  I agree with that: but would add, “and all politics is personal.”

I’ve been asked why I – a Baptist Pastor – am standing for Labour in Ilam. For me, it’s both local and personal.

I grew up inside the boundaries of what is today the Ilam electorate. Like a recent Prime Minister, I went to Burnside High. Like that same recent Prime Minister I lived in a modest rented house nearby. Later, when I got married, I lived in the area, and my kids were born there. The area means a lot to me. And I believe that, while parts of the electorate have had their voices heard over many decades, entire suburbs have been ignored: the suburbs I grew up in.

They are suburbs where buying a home has become a fantasy. They are suburbs where getting sick is scary, because sometimes you have to choose between seeing a doctor and buying food. They are suburbs where – because of cost – a tertiary education is part of another world.

The Jesus I follow called the rich and powerful to love their neighbours. The biblical prophets also thundered, saying things like “Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor.” And we oppress them when it costs them all they have just to survive each week.

It’s more personal still. My daughter is 27. She’s a mum. She would love to buy a house, but struggles to even pay the rent. Her husband has a good paying job, but each week under the national Government they feel like they are going backwards.

There are lots of families like them in Ilam. There are lots more round New Zealand. That former Prime Minister and I had opportunities my daughter and those other families aren’t getting.

I want to see them have those chances. I’m committed to policies that will make homes affordable, healthcare available, tertiary education achievable. Policies that National don’t believe in, and so don’t care about. Policies that mean families with middle and lower incomes have a real chance to get ahead. Just as I did. Ironically, just as that former PM did.

30 comments on “Anthony Rimell – why I am standing for Parliament ”

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  1. Ad 1
    14 March 2017 at 9:35 am

    Great to hear a Christian trying to get into Parliament who is open about it and not in the Conservative Party.

    • mickysavage 1.1
      14 March 2017 at 9:42 am

      Yep. Progressive christianity has a lot in common with socialism, from each according to their ability to each according to their need …

  2. ropata 2
    14 March 2017 at 9:51 am

    Nice profile Mr Rimell. If I lived in Ilam I would vote for you. Your story and that of your daughter is being repeated all over NZ.

    One upon a time, the postwar state housing programme lifted the entire nation. And supposedly with our rock star economy New Zealand is wealthier than ever. So why is there more poverty and homelessness than ever before, and rent so goddamn high?

    We need good people like this to stand against a rotten system and a government that deliberately profits from inequality.

  3. AmaKiwi 3
    14 March 2017 at 9:53 am

    The way to defeat Gerry Brownlee is to NOT split the vote. Dumb move, Labour.

  4. Bill 4
    14 March 2017 at 10:29 am

    Odd. That sounds like an authentic voice. If only there were more of them seeking election.

  5. WILD KATIPO 5
    14 March 2017 at 11:05 am

    Good to see. We need far , far more men and women of conscience with the honesty to be blunt and forthright about whats right and whats wrong . And 33 years of this neo liberal greedy ideology is wrong.
    As are taking steps to destroy our national sovereignty , to plunder the commons wealth , to manipulate legislation to advantage foreign interests and the extremely wealthy , and to create conditions that pave the way for privatization by deliberately underfunding our social services.

    All of the above are the hallmarks of this odious neo liberal ideology.

    Sound like a mouthful? It is.

    And there is much work to be done to get rid of it.

  6. Cynical jester 6
    14 March 2017 at 12:06 pm

    A baptist? In between preaching homophobia will he gift the peasents with a state house. Is labour trying to get the gay community to sign up to national or act? A baptist, a police officer and Willie Jackson is Andrew trying to compensate for something by proving what a blokey bloke he is.

    • WILD KATIPO 6.1
      14 March 2017 at 1:17 pm

      But then there’s the dilemma- a democracy is inclusive – if it actually is a democracy.

      And that includes personal beliefs as well. I’m pretty sure there would be others in parliament with other beliefs and faiths… how do we subjectively say that this belief is good while this other is not?

      That’s the price we pay for democracy.

      Here’s a good reply from Alex over at the Daily Blog :
      ———————————————————-
      ALEX says:
      MARCH 14, 2017 AT 12:10 AM
      ‘ A general comment but I think an important one:
      In the end, it actually doesn’t matter what his or any other politicians’ rationale is for backing any particular policy [religious/ populist / humanist / academic etc.].
      Every person elected will bring their experience and beliefs to the role in a unique way.
      The only thing that matters is the impact of the policy on New Zealanders.’
      ———————————————————-
      That was in the context of Bill English and his beliefs… yet I’m pretty sure the Double Dipper isn’t exactly the most popular PM here on The Standard.

    • ropata 6.2
      14 March 2017 at 1:33 pm

      Baptist-phobia. Why don’t you ask him his opinions instead of prejudging? He is standing for the LP not ACT after all.

      NZ Baptists are nothing like the Southern Baptist extremists in the USA. Labour would be ill advised to conduct purges of religion.

  7. Cynical jester 7
    14 March 2017 at 1:56 pm

    Dont compare being disrespectful to an organization that you make a choice to be apart of and called gay people perverts and child molesters during law reform and got 800,000 signatures in protest against law reform by going door to door and saying to parents “if you legalize those queers they’ll come into your house and sodomize ya kids” (they didnt want the competition see)

    (k mean joke but always gets a laugh on stage)

    You make a choice to be religious ya don’t make a choice to be lgbt+ its not descrimination to point out that hes a member of a homophobic institution

      • Cynical jester 7.1.1
        14 March 2017 at 2:27 pm

        Good distract me! ive nothing to do till my festival show this evening.if he can grow the party vote cool, still I would very much like to hear his opinions on lgbt+

        I still don’t think its discriminating to criticize someones religion, you make a choice to join a religion and the baptists owe the gay community a public apology for declaring us all child molesters and trying to reeducate lgbt members even after the law reform in 86.

        I was born in the 90s and even then I remember the churches saying that kind of stuff about us and there are still to this day shows on free veiw tgat are about reprogramming homosexuals.

        That said Good luck to him in growing the party vote.

        • Anthony Rimell 7.1.1.1
          14 March 2017 at 4:22 pm

          To CJ

          It grieves me to my core when people in the LGBT community are demonised in this way, It was never right, it is not right, and it will never be right. I cant comment for anyone else, but I for one am sorry for the way LGBT people have been treated.

          To Tophat

          There will be conscience issues around which we may disagree, but you can rest assured that core labour principles – defending the rights and needs of all vulnerable members of society – have been and always will be my reason for being involved.

          As to whether my belief in a Deity disqualifies me from standing for office: well, that is for you all to decide on voting day.

        • Red Hand 7.1.1.2
          14 March 2017 at 7:20 pm

          “you make a choice to join a religion”. Not always.
          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_male_circumcision

    • adam 7.2
      14 March 2017 at 2:18 pm

      Wait a minute Cynical jester, you just reduced being gay to a sex act, rather than a human being. Then in the next breath you label the whole church as homophobic. That’s like saying everyone on the standard is left, and they all agree.

      Not giving two seconds to the work people are doing to reform the church. You are obviously ignorant of the theological arguments. And completely ignorant of the victory of many churches, and church leaders for support the LGBTI community.

      I think you are confused, and ignorant about churches. And what different churches believe.

      Stop thinking everyone is westboro baptist, read some books, it might help, in the very least – it might slow you down from writing dumb statements.

      • Cynical jester 7.2.1
        14 March 2017 at 2:31 pm

        Read my above comment. I did not reduce it to a sex act. I made a quip, Some churches have apologized if his church is anything like the spreydon/sydenham baptist churches in chch then i dont get why hes in a left wing party.

        • adam 7.2.1.1
          14 March 2017 at 3:59 pm

          Making a jokes is good, and I would encourage it. Work on it in the written form then, as it stands it was confusing. As I took it to mean you reduced LGBTI people to nothing more than sexual objects. Which I gather, you do not think that at all.

          Anthony Rimell, is the pastor at the Riccarton church, and this church fits nicely with most of the ideals on the left.

          http://www.riccartonbaptist.com/church-life/about-riccarton-baptist

          If labour is a broad church, then Anthony Rimell fits in well. And I’d say, somthing they need.

          As for reprogramming of Homosexuality, it was, and is, an abhorrent practice. And I think you are right to be critical of it.

          I think writing a post about the history reprogramming of Homosexuality, and why it is villainy – then submitting it, would be a good thing to do Cynical jester.

  8. AB 8
    14 March 2017 at 2:38 pm

    Best of luck Anthony and I admire the courage and energy it takes to put yourself forward like this.

  9. Tophat 9
    14 March 2017 at 3:48 pm

    Is a religious politician a double delusionist? is a double delusionist the same as a double dipper? Have we not learned about voting for idiots that host imaginary friends?
    Isn’t electing a person that believes in something contrary to accepted scientific knowledge somewhat akin to electing a climate change denier?
    When it comes down to the brass tacs my bet is that he votes in line with his beliefs rather than our benefits.

    • Cinny 9.1
      14 March 2017 at 4:36 pm

      I’m not into imaginary friends either Tophat

      But as long as people don’t take their religious views/choices into consideration when they are representing their voters, then it’s all good.

      All the best Mr Anthony Rimell, I’m looking forward to a new PM too 😀

      Hey tell you something for nothing, while it’s nice to mention your faith seeing it’s been a big part of your life, maybe in forums where people are able to ask questions etc it would be wiser not to.

      Atheists etc are generally rather intelligent and will challenge and debate religion no matter what, determined bunch, no flies on them.

      Just my opinion, my intentions are good. No doubt you will be a person of good morals, a fine attribute for anyone to have. I’m just not into the preaching thing

    • ropata 9.2
      14 March 2017 at 4:51 pm

      Hey Tophat, Anthony Rimell has replied to you at #comment-1309800 above…

      Surely if AR was into the anti science conservative crap he would have joined Colon Craig’s merry band?!

      This is my view of church at its best..

  10. mosa 10
    15 March 2017 at 12:25 am

    What Mr Rimell has to remember is that John Key had the advantages he wants for his children because his country was then prepared to make sure that everyone got those opportunities and was governed by a generation that believed in universal support and the welfare of all New Zealanders.

    If Mr Rimell wants to return to an inclusive society and country and is proactive about achieving it then the party he represents needs to start leading the way with these priorities.

    That means a change from the current neo lib economy and its excesses.

    I am not convinced Labour understands this yet.

    As an Ilam voter i want to be able to vote for a strong principled candidate from the left and i want too see a real contest where Gerry Brownlee is not the only ” show in town. “

    • Anthony 10.1
      15 March 2017 at 9:05 pm

      mosa

      I fully agree with you re why John Key got those opportunities, and why we need “a change from the current neo lib economy and its excesses”.

      Those policies failed us when they were implemented. They are failing us now. That’s why they have to go.