Name: Justin Wilson

Candidate Profile:
Justin was born and bred in South Dunedin and attended Bayfield High School until the age of 15. He worked at labouring and factory jobs until attending the University of Otago at the age of 21. While at Otago he became active in free education campaigns and other projects of the broad political left on campus. Justin joined the New Labour Party (a constituent party of the Alliance) in 1997, and was later the chairperson for the campus branch.

After graduating with a BA (political studies) in 1999, he returned to the freezing works and later accepted a job with Work and Income NZ as a case manager. Justin returned to the University of Otago in 2002 to complete a Dip Grad in Community and Family Studies while working part-time as a youth worker. It was also during 2002 that Justin stood as the Alliance candidate for Dunedin South in the general election for that year.

Justin continued to work as a youth worker until making a career change into mining in 2004, working at the Macraes mine site for the next three years. He now lives with his partner and son in Perth, Western Australia and works in the mining industry in W.A.’s Pilbara region.

Justin is a passionate socialist, and a proud New Zealander. In his own words: “If the wage gains and progressive policies of the Alliance were realised I wouldn’t be living in Australia now. If we want New Zealand to be a place where working people can get ahead, we need to have the courage to make the necessary changes. Only the Alliance has consistently had the courage, and the plan, to create a more equitable future for New Zealanders.”

Candidate Contact Details:
Mobile: 0448 115472 (Aus)
Email: justin__wilson@hotmail.com