Postal balloting for the council elections across New Zealand began on September 16 and closed on October 8, 2022. The final results were declared on October 15, 2022.
Indian Weekender spoke to a few of the dozen or so Kiwi Indian winners :
Ash Nayyar
Elected from: Wairoa General Ward, Kaipara District Council
Q1.Your connection with India?
Ans: I was born and raised in Punjab and moved to NZ in 2001 along with my wife and two children for a better future. I still travel to India once a year (when possible) as it is so big that you need a lifetime to see it. I have been active in the Indian Community while working with three commercial banks in NZ.
Q2. What was your first thought on winning?
Ans: I was one of the three to be chosen and was ranked second in the ward so sincerely felt thankful and humbled by the support of people. I also stood for Mayoralty and ranked third out of six candidates vying for the position. I am grateful for the support [I got] from the whole district, and [to those] believing in me.
Q3. Your take on increased ethnic representation on the Community Board
Ans: Undoubtedly, diverse boards make better quality decisions and foster better representation of our ethnic communities. Professionals from all ethnicities and gender should be encouraged to compete for these positions.
Q4. Your top priorities
Ans: 1. There is a lack of transparency and accountability in the Council's operations. Excessive bureaucracy and dilatory processes are causing unnecessary
hardship to ratepayers. Overstaffed Council spends ratepayers' money on salaries/contractors, consultants, and unviable projects. This should stop. We need to balance rural and urban needs and ensure that rates (including water) are fair and equitable to all. Council is a business for the community and should be run for the benefit of the ratepayers, who I consider as the local Government's shareholders. Improvement in customer service delivery and faster decision-making is paramount to winning the confidence of ratepayers, which presently is at a very low ebb.
2. The poor quality of roads (highways or links) and their continuous maintenance where more money is spent on traffic management than on material is a nightmare to all residents. It's a nationwide issue so all councils should join hands to implore the national Government to bring them to at least 1990s standards.
3. My paramount goal is to grow Kaipara responsibly by making open and inclusive decision-making listening to the needs of fellow citizens and redeveloping Kaipara as a tourist destination and a bustling district where young and old will like to live, work, and have fun together. It is possible by creating infrastructure for both the young and elderly with a visionary approach.
Ella Kumar
Elected from Puketapapa Local Board, Auckland Council
Q1. Your connection with India?
Ans. My parents are from India. I am the first generation born in NZ. Our motherland will always play a vital role in defining who I am. When I was younger, I was lucky to go to Auckland Indian Association Sunday School. This helped to keep our history of Hindu culture and language embedded in me. I am grateful for my parents and my community and NZ Athia Trust community, who continued to have cultural gatherings to help me understand my culture.
Q2. What was your first thought on winning?
Ans. I was grateful. Even though this was my 5th election, I never count my chickens before they hatch, you never know what the outcome will be, so I felt fortunate to get another term to represent Puketapapa (Mt Roskill) community.
Q3. Your take on increased ethnic representation on the Community Board
Ans. We are a long way from this. We need to work on ethnic representation for all areas in NZ.
Q4. Your top priorities
The top priorities are to have a community that can Live, Work and Play locally.
For this, you do need thriving business areas.
1. Transport
A sensible and balanced approach to all forms of transport including cars and parking, so change happens in a sustainable and planned way.
2. Auckland Council Services and spending,
Advocating to get value for the money when investing in the core services community depends on daily.
3. Economic Development
Highlight areas in Puketapapa, e.g. Monte Cecilia Park and Pah homestead, which can help other area populations coming into Puketapapa to spend money.
4. Health and Well-being, safety
Make sure our parks are places where the community can play, walk and enjoy.
5. Environment
Continue to work with our community on Climate change issues.
Jaspreet Boparai
Elected from Waiau Aparima Ward, Southland District Council
Q1. Your connection with India?
My husband and I moved to NZ from Punjab in 2009. We chose to become NZ citizens and surrendered our Indian citizenship in 2017. My parents (Dad retired as a Lt. Col ) and my brother, a serving Colonel in the Army, reside in India, so the family ties remain.
Q2. What was your first thought on winning?
I was blown away to learn that I was in the second place out of 9 candidates standing for three Council positions. Southlanders are a tough bunch - so to be entrusted by my community with this responsibility was and remains very humbling.
Q3. Your take on increased ethnic representation on the Community Boards :
Southland is a great province to live in/work in, and I've been elected to represent the area as a Southland District Councilor. Nobody elected me because of my ethnicity or my ties to India. My ward - Waiau-Aparima, would barely have anyone from the Indian subcontinent. We need to take race, ethnicity, gender etc., out of the equation and focus on doing our job as representatives for all New Zealanders well.
Q4. Your top priorities -
Ans. My top priorities towards the ratepayers and residents who have elected me are to ensure that the Council is accessible, accountable and transparent. Local Government is undergoing massive changes, and local voices must be part of the conversation, all the way. Ensuring this is at the top of my list.
Jas Sandhu
Elected: Huntly Community Board, Waikato District Council
Q1. Your connection with India?
I was born in a Military hospital in Jalandhar Cantt, did my schooling in a Convent school till eighth standard and then joined Army Public School in Jalandhar. I moved to NZ in 1999 and later finished my NZ Diploma in Business Management from MIT.
Q2. What was your first thought on winning?
Overwhelming seeing how much the local kiwi community loves me and supported me. I was delighted and thankful to my Huntly whanau.
Q3. Your take on increased ethnic representation on the Community Board
The first time an Indian-origin member has been elected to the Huntly community board. It's a proud moment. There is not much Indian community in Huntly. However, Our ethnic presence on this platform is significant. Decisions are made at the council table, I will represent the wider Indian community and our local kiwis.
Q4. Your top priorities
Safety: Most local businesses are owned by the Indian community as they are under a lot of pressure for their and their families' safety.
Graffiti prevention: Tagging is a big problem around the Huntly area. I will find ways to address this local issue.
Clean water: Now and then, we get brown tap water, which we can't drink. So, we must work around it for safe and clean drinking water.
Better Roads: Roads with potholes need fixing correctly and immediately.