In an exclusive Webfit News interview, National’s Manurewa candidate discusses household costs, business pressures, community safety and why he believes his local connections would...
In an exclusive Webfit News interview, National’s Manurewa candidate discusses household costs, business pressures, community safety and why he believes his local connections would make him an effective representative.
By Webfit News | 3 November 2026
AUCKLAND: National’s candidate for Manurewa, Ghouse Majeed, says the cost of living is the biggest concern residents raise with him, with working families struggling to make their earnings cover everyday expenses.
Speaking with Ravi Gupta in an exclusive Webfit News interview ahead of the general election, Majeed outlined a campaign centred on economic growth, safer communities and stronger local representation.
National selected Majeed as its Manurewa candidate in April. He is seeking to bring his experience as a local businessman and community volunteer to Parliament.
Throughout the interview, he defended National’s economic approach while acknowledging that households and businesses continue to face difficult conditions.
Asked whether he could survive on the minimum wage, his answer was direct: “Not at this stage.”
He argued that improving the country’s economic performance was necessary to support higher wages and help families meet their bills.
Majeed said door-knocking had repeatedly brought him back to the same issue: people felt their income was not stretching far enough.
Residents were raising the cost of petrol and other daily necessities, alongside concerns about housing and access to healthcare.
For Majeed, these pressures connect local problems with the wider economy. He argued that business growth, employment and stronger wages were essential to improving household finances.
“We need to grow economically,” he said.
He maintained that families were better off than three years ago, but acknowledged that considerable work remained.
His response to questions about people working full-time while struggling to pay their bills focused largely on economic recovery and job creation, rather than a separate proposal for immediate household relief.
Majeed said he had lived in the area for approximately two decades and previously operated a halal butcher shop in Manurewa town centre.
His connection to the electorate, he explained, extended across his home, business and working life.
That experience was central to his decision to stand in Manurewa.
He also described years of voluntary involvement with community, cultural and language organisations, saying his political ambitions had grown out of that work.
“I came from the community to politics, not from politics to community,” he said.
Asked what would distinguish him from Labour’s Arena Williams, Majeed pointed to his accessibility, local knowledge and experience raising community concerns with ministers.
He said those relationships would help him carry residents’ concerns into Parliament.
Majeed also raised concerns about damage to his election hoardings, saying checking and replacing signs had become a regular task for his campaign.
He described receiving calls, emails and messages about damaged boards, including signs removed from their frames and left on the ground.
According to Majeed, he had encountered further damaged signs shortly before the interview.
He said he did not know who was responsible or what motivated the incidents.
His account of the damage has not been independently verified by Webfit News.
Community safety was another prominent theme.
Majeed said he had personally experienced a ram raid and understood the fear and disruption crime could cause business owners.
He argued that National’s approach to offending and criminal justice had improved conditions for retailers, saying businesses were operating with greater confidence.
Those comments reflected his assessment of the Government’s record. The interview did not establish how residents across Manurewa currently assess their own safety.
For Majeed, the issue was closely connected to his experience behind the counter and his relationships with other local business owners.
Asked how he would help small businesses survive in South Auckland, Majeed pointed to National’s business policies and its broader economic programme.
He said rising operating costs were limiting the ability of some businesses to recruit, contributing to the difficulties young people faced when looking for work.
His proposed response centred on encouraging investment, expanding trade opportunities and helping businesses grow.
He argued that stronger international trading relationships could support exports and create employment.
On overseas recruitment, Majeed said migrant workers remained necessary for New Zealand. His response did not set out a new proposal for changing how employers balance local recruitment with hiring from abroad.
Majeed said healthcare access was another concern raised by residents, particularly hospital waiting times and the availability of services.
He supported directing resources towards frontline healthcare, including mental health services and hospital capacity.
However, he did not outline a specific Manurewa GP-access initiative or a timetable for local improvements during the interview.
On housing, he highlighted support for first-home buyers and community housing. He also spoke about attending a recent celebration of new community homes in the wider area.
Asked which issue he would take to Parliament first, he returned to the cost of living and housing pressures.
Asked whether he would challenge his own party if a policy was unsuitable for Manurewa, Majeed said the electorate would be his priority.
He said he would raise local needs within the party and seek support to improve the area.
His ambition, he said, was to help make Manurewa one of the best places to live in New Zealand.
Majeed linked his support for National to values including personal responsibility, equal opportunity, strong families and safer communities.
During the interview’s rapid-fire section, he described Christopher Luxon as “a good administrator” and praised Education Minister Erica Stanford’s work.
Asked to identify a National policy he wanted to change, he discussed the importance of education without naming a specific policy he would alter.
Away from policy, Majeed named Manurewa town centre as his favourite local place, describing conversations with friends over a cup of tea as a familiar part of his life.
He said his community involvement would continue regardless of the election result.
The interview ended with an appeal for people to vote and a request for support for National.
Advance voting is underway. The 2026 general election takes place on Saturday, 7 November, with election-day voting places open from 9am to 7pm.
This article is based on an exclusive Webfit News interview. Political views and assessments of government performance are attributed to the candidate.
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