Neru ‘Singh’ Leavasa talks about his love for Takanini, gurdwara

‘It's been a huge privilege for me to engage with our Kiwi-Indian community,’ says Labour Party’s candidate for Takanini Dr Anae Neru Leavasa.

While talking to The Indian Weekender, Leavasa, who served as a local board member before entering Parliament in 2020, wholeheartedly expressed his love for the Indian community in Auckland and particularly Takanini.

“Since becoming the local MP for Takanini, it's been a huge privilege for me to engage with our Kiwi-Indian community. There is a huge Indian community there. Our population of Asian community is 42 per cent. And most of them are Kiwi-Indians. They've been very welcoming.

“Having immigration settings that suit our community and fit for purpose is our priority that I am a big advocator of. The last three years have been a great journey being with the Indian community.”

Since his electorate has one of the biggest Sikh temples in New Zealand, Takanini Gurdwara Sri Kalgidhar Sahib, we asked him about his memories of visiting the same.

“I have very fond memories. You know, since people have checked in with me saying, ‘Oh, you're always here at the temple. And I'd say, you know, that's, that's what I'm here for is to make sure that I'm serving the community there.

“What I love about the temple and the Indian community is the hospitality. You go there, you have a nice tea, have food, and then you go and you honour the Lord…that people are serving as well. So, it's been a great opportunity to serve. I go so often to the Takanini gurdwara that some people even say, ‘We should start calling you Neru Singh!”

Shifting the topic to Labour Party’s immigration policy to regularise overstayers if it were re-elected, Leavasa says, “Immigration is the main issue that has come through my doors in the last three years being the MP in Takanini.

“We're the only party that's providing for those who have stayed longer than 10 years here in New Zealand, not only was there to provide for the Dawn Raid apology and for those who suffered during the dawn raid period, but that's also for other migrant communities, because their kids, it wasn't their fault. And their kids who may not be able to go to tertiary study need to be regularised in terms of status, so they can go in and have those opportunities for them as well.”

When specifically asked what the regularisation would mean, he says, “More details will come during our first 100 days if we were re-elected, but that's the main priority for us is to regularise them first, whether there’ll be a New Zealand citizenship or residence that’s still to on the table. But yeah, I'm really happy that that's been announced.”

Lastly, he feels that India is certainly on the radar of a re-elected Labour government. “India in terms of trade is very important, and you know, needs to be a two-way thing. So, we've announced that in the first 100 days, if we were to be re-elected, there'll be a delegation going to India.

“You know, the Labour government has been the government of free trade agreements. We've already signed seven. And India would be the next stop to do that. So it's really important that we continue that discussion with India,” he signs off.