Raymond Huo
Encyclopedia
Raymond Huo is a Member of Parliament in New Zealand
, and the New Zealand Labour Party
's first MP of Chinese descent. He is the third Chinese New Zealander
to enter Parliament, after the National Party
's Pansy Wong
and ACT's Kenneth Wang
.
.
Huo's father was a doctor and mother a head nurse and only in their early 30s when they volunteered to move from the Capital City to Qianshan to help the local population fight Schistosoma
(a parasitic disease), where Huo was born.
It was here that Huo first picked up some of the ideals and beliefs, such as social justice and equity, which would lead him into politics.
Being a medical professional did not spare Huo's father from persecution during the Cultural Revolution
. His father - an "intellectual" - was ordered to stand at the gates of the hospital for an hour, three times a day with a white board stating "counter-revolutionary medical expert". Raymond Huo - then 5 - joined him with a smaller whiteboard saying "little counter-revolutionary medical expert".
He said he secretly believed it was his little sign that ended the Cultural Revolution soon afterward.
Huo credits his time in the small rural town as a major influence on his desire for free-will which he has carried into his politics and world out-look.
As a teenager Huo taught himself to speak English in China by listening to the radio.
Huo went onto study English at Anhui University in Hefei
and Law at China University of Political Studies and Law in Beijing
.
, Huo emigrated to New Zealand in 1994. He worked as a journalist for the New Zealand Herald where he was the Asian Affairs reporter.
He subsequently obtained MLitt (First Class Honours) majoring in political communication and LLB from the University of Auckland
.
Prior to becoming a Member of Parliament, Huo practiced law in Auckland at Brookfields and Hesketh Henry.
Huo's latest book, The New Zealand Quartet, detailing his life and career in New Zealand is slated for release in late 2011.
Super City and submitted the Local Government (Auckland Council) (Asian Advisory Board) Amendment Bill to the House. Although Huo's Bill was voted down in Parliament by 64 votes to 58 on 4 November 2009, the Government soon after announced that an Ethnic Advisory Board Panel would be established on the new council.
Huo has also been vocal about the need for New Zealand to overhaul the Export Education sector which is worth over $2.3 billion to the countries economy. Huo believes that New Zealand has a reputation for "ghetto education" in Asian countries and must change this or risk losing hundreds of International students from the Asian region.
In February 2011 Huo said because of its economic importance, he will write to the Prime Minister to adopt the Education (export education by private training establishments) Amendment Bill to be included in the current Education Amendment Bill (No 4).
's controversial protest to PRC Vice President Xi Jinping
during Xi's 2010 visit to New Zealand, Huo write a blog entry defending Chinese rule over Tibet. Thuten Kesang, spokesperson for the New Zealand Tibetan community, accused Huo of "promoting communist China progaganda" and said he would lay a formal complaint with the Labour Party.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and the New Zealand Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
's first MP of Chinese descent. He is the third Chinese New Zealander
Chinese New Zealander
A Chinese New Zealander is a New Zealander of Chinese heritage. They are part of the ethnic Chinese diaspora . Chinese New Zealanders are the fifth largest ethnic group in New Zealand....
to enter Parliament, after the National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
's Pansy Wong
Pansy Wong
Pansy Yu Fong Wong is a former New Zealand politician. She was New Zealand's first Asian MP, serving as a member of parliament for the National Party from 1996 to 2011...
and ACT's Kenneth Wang
Kenneth Wang
Kenneth Xiaoxuan Wang was a New Zealand politician and businessman, and a member of the ACT New Zealand party. He entered Parliament to replace Donna Awatere Huata, who was expelled from Parliament on 19 November 2004. Wang was sworn in on 30 November 2004.Wang was born in China, and has three...
.
Early life
Huo was born in Qianshan, an eastern part of ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
Huo's father was a doctor and mother a head nurse and only in their early 30s when they volunteered to move from the Capital City to Qianshan to help the local population fight Schistosoma
Schistosoma
A genus of trematodes, Schistosoma, commonly known as blood-flukes and bilharzia, includes flatworms which are responsible for a highly significant parasitic infection of humans by causing the disease schistosomiasis, and are considered by the World Health Organization as the second most...
(a parasitic disease), where Huo was born.
It was here that Huo first picked up some of the ideals and beliefs, such as social justice and equity, which would lead him into politics.
Being a medical professional did not spare Huo's father from persecution during the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
. His father - an "intellectual" - was ordered to stand at the gates of the hospital for an hour, three times a day with a white board stating "counter-revolutionary medical expert". Raymond Huo - then 5 - joined him with a smaller whiteboard saying "little counter-revolutionary medical expert".
He said he secretly believed it was his little sign that ended the Cultural Revolution soon afterward.
Huo credits his time in the small rural town as a major influence on his desire for free-will which he has carried into his politics and world out-look.
As a teenager Huo taught himself to speak English in China by listening to the radio.
Huo went onto study English at Anhui University in Hefei
Hefei
Hefei is the capital and largest city of Anhui Province in Eastern China. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, and cultural centre of Anhui...
and Law at China University of Political Studies and Law in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
.
Professional Background
Originally from BeijingBeijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, Huo emigrated to New Zealand in 1994. He worked as a journalist for the New Zealand Herald where he was the Asian Affairs reporter.
He subsequently obtained MLitt (First Class Honours) majoring in political communication and LLB from the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
.
Prior to becoming a Member of Parliament, Huo practiced law in Auckland at Brookfields and Hesketh Henry.
Author
Huo has published a number of books and articles including, Now in New Zealand, Something to Crow About, Jinma: Philosophy on Wisdom and Human Life (five volumes), Simplified American novels with Chinese notes: Love of Life, Life in the woods and five others, Lexicon of Contemporary English, Collected Works with Equivalent Chinese and Lexicon of Contemporary English, a Concise EditionHuo's latest book, The New Zealand Quartet, detailing his life and career in New Zealand is slated for release in late 2011.
Online
Huo is an active blogger on Red Alert, the blog for New Zealand Labour MPs. His website www.huo.co.nz is also frequently updated and includes all of Huo's speeches, Press Releases and features an extensive photo gallery.Member of Parliament
Huo was appointed as spokesman for Statistics, the Law Commission and Chinese Community Affairs. He is also on the select committee for Law and Order and a Trustee on the Board of the Asia:New Zealand Foundation.Member's Bills
Huo was a strong advocate for Ethnic Representation on the new board of the Auckland CouncilAuckland Council
The Auckland Council is the council for the Auckland Region in New Zealand. It began operating on 1 November 2010, combining the functions of the existing regional council and the region's seven previous city and district councils into one "super council" or "super city" governed by a mayor, 20...
Super City and submitted the Local Government (Auckland Council) (Asian Advisory Board) Amendment Bill to the House. Although Huo's Bill was voted down in Parliament by 64 votes to 58 on 4 November 2009, the Government soon after announced that an Ethnic Advisory Board Panel would be established on the new council.
Huo has also been vocal about the need for New Zealand to overhaul the Export Education sector which is worth over $2.3 billion to the countries economy. Huo believes that New Zealand has a reputation for "ghetto education" in Asian countries and must change this or risk losing hundreds of International students from the Asian region.
In February 2011 Huo said because of its economic importance, he will write to the Prime Minister to adopt the Education (export education by private training establishments) Amendment Bill to be included in the current Education Amendment Bill (No 4).
Controversy
Following Russel NormanRussel Norman
Dr Russel William Norman is a New Zealand politician and environmentalist. He is a Member of Parliament and co-leader of the Green Party alongside Metiria Turei.- Early life :...
's controversial protest to PRC Vice President Xi Jinping
Xi Jinping
Xi Jinping is a high ranking politician of the People's Republic of China. He currently serves as the top-ranking member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China, the country's Vice President, Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission, President of the Central Party School and the...
during Xi's 2010 visit to New Zealand, Huo write a blog entry defending Chinese rule over Tibet. Thuten Kesang, spokesperson for the New Zealand Tibetan community, accused Huo of "promoting communist China progaganda" and said he would lay a formal complaint with the Labour Party.