"For nearly three decades...this has been my home.I raised my children here. I've served my community here..."
In her campaign video, independent mayoral candidate Prabha Ravi, an Indian Tamil woman living in New Zealand, shares her personal journey and outlines her vision for a more affordable, inclusive, and future-focused Lower Hutt, drawing on three decades of connection to the city.
As founder and principal consultant of Grow Consultancy Ltd, Prabha has called Lower Hutt home and is now running as an independent in the 2025 mayoral elections.
It’s a career that’s moved fluidly between public policy, education, the arts, and economic development—always with an eye on strategy, stakeholder engagement, and empowering communities from the ground up. That mix of grassroots insight and executive capability is exactly what Prabha is channelling into her campaign.
But for many, she’s just as recognisable for her work in the arts. As the founder and artistic director of Natraj School of Dance, she says she has trained more than 1,600 students and brought bold, boundary-crossing performances to stages across Aotearoa—melding Indian classical dance with Māori, Samoan, Sri Lankan, and Western styles.
“Through dance, I’ve seen what’s possible when people come together across cultures, generations, and life experiences,” she says.
“That spirit of connection is what I want to bring to Council—not just symbolic gestures, but practical progress.”
That philosophy of practical impact isn’t limited to the stage. Prabha has served as Establishment Chair of the Hutt Valley DHB Consumer Council, completed two terms on the Hutt City Council Community Panel for the Central ward, and is a Justice of the Peace. Her contributions to ethnic communities and the arts were formally recognised with a Queen’s Service Medal.
Currently, she’s involved in several local and national boards:
The board of Education New Zealand, Arohanui Strings, Hutt Radio and Archives Charitable Trust, Hutt Sister City Foundation, Hutt Valley Rotary Club, and the Hutt Multicultural Council. She also holds governance roles with Volleyball NZ, Baseball NZ, Play Aotearoa, BATS Theatre, and Arts Wellington.
Her social media campaign paints a picture that aligns with her ground-level approach, which involves mingling with residents at the farmers’ market, cheering alongside dance students, often seen in a vibrant saree and a bindi, rooted in her cultural identity yet firmly focused on civic action.
Prabha explains her campaign is centred around three core pillars.
1. Value for Money: Smarter Council Spending
● Introduce a Ratepayer Value Charter to promote outcome-based budgeting
● Commission an independent financial review of Council
● Audit major council projects for effectiveness and accountability
● Prioritise frontline services and cost-of-living relief
2. Transport and Infrastructure That Works
● Advocate for more frequent and affordable public transport, including on weekends.
● Maintain affordable council parking and improve reliability
3. Inclusive, Connected Communities
● Launch Community Connect to support grassroots initiatives and local hubs
● Reinvigorate the city with night markets, festivals, arts, and cultural events
● Local sports events, night markets, festivals
● Ensure all communities—especially rangatahi and ethnic groups—are represented and heard
“We’re stronger together—and every voice matters. My campaign is about delivery, not division. I’m not here to play politics—I’m here to work for the peopleof Lower Hutt,” says Prabha.
“Good leadership listens. It acts. It delivers. That’s the standard I’ll bring", she adds.