Artist, performer, event producer and council worker, Murali Kumar steps up for local board elections
Murali Kumar – a recognisable face within the Indian community especially in his popular avatar of being an artist, performer and ethnic cultural event producer – is standing as a candidate for the Henderson Massey Local Board under Labour in local body elections 2019.
In his other avatar, Murali works for Auckland Council as a Place Manager, developing and implementing community-based programme initiatives and is a Justice for Peace.
He is further involved with advising and supporting a number of community organisations in Auckland.
Murali is the founding Trustee, Operations & Events Manager for the Communities Action Trust (CATNZ), through which he delivers the annual Diwali Festival of Lights and the bi annual South East Asian Night Market events in Wellington.
The calling for standing in local elections
The calling for joining politics was long due for Murali who in his own words has been always committed toward the cause of “social justice and connecting communities.”
Speaking to The Indian Weekender Murali said, “I have always been passionate about social justice, particularly wishing to focus on advocating for connected communities.
“I have been working for Wellington and Auckland Council for over more than a decade and half, whereby gaining enriching experience in reaching out and advocating for wider ethnic communities.
“For many years I worked as a Relationship Manager in Ministry of Social Development (MSD) delivering on social inclusion and capacity building initiatives in organisations.
“My work at MSD also provided an opportunity for consultation with community leaders to develop a collective voice that led to the formation of the Society for Southeast Asian Communities Inc.,” Murali said.
“It is my passion to speak up for our communities, ethnic communities in particular, and contribute in their holistic empowerment.
“I believe that balancing professional and community work is in itself a skill. The passion to be with people and work with, and through people is important for being successful in community work and that’s my philosophy - ‘He Tangata He Tangata He Tangata,’ Murali said.
A brief background
Murali is a Singaporean by birth and Malayali-Indian by descent with family linkages to the Indian state of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, who first arrived in New Zealand about twenty years ago.
“I started my career as language teacher, and after serving in Singapore education service went to Australia to complete my studies with my young family where I spent productive time in the wider ethnic community, performing music and acting in plays,” Murali said.
He holds post graduate qualifications in Communications and International Communications from Australia and New Zealand.
Connection with Diwali Festivals
Not many people would know that Murali is involved in two of the biggest Diwali festivals of New Zealand – Auckland and New Zealand.
When quizzed to reveal more Murali surprised with a revelation that he was involved as an artist even with the first Diwali festival at the Gandhi centre, Auckland, before being involved in organisational capacities.
“I was a performer and an emcee within the ethnic Wellington Asian theatre, and subsequently took up the leadership of organising Wellington City Council’s bi-annual Southeast Asian Night Market event in collaboration with Asia NZ Foundation.
“The huge success of the first event in 2008 opened up the opportunity to take up the leadership for Wellington’s high profile annual ethnic Diwali Festival of Lights thereafter,” Murali said.
“I further strengthened the relationship with Auckland’s main Diwali event, and subsequently became the Programme Director for the Auckland Diwali festival along with delivering the Wellington events,” he added.
I believe that balancing professional and community work is in itself a skill. The passion to be with people and work with, and through people is important for being successful in community work and that’s my philosophy - ‘He Tangata He Tangata He Tangata’
Murali Kumar – a recognisable face within the Indian community especially in his popular avatar of being an artist, performer and ethnic cultural event producer – is standing as a candidate for the Henderson Massey Local Board under Labour in local body elections 2019.
In his other avatar, Murali...
Murali Kumar – a recognisable face within the Indian community especially in his popular avatar of being an artist, performer and ethnic cultural event producer – is standing as a candidate for the Henderson Massey Local Board under Labour in local body elections 2019.
In his other avatar, Murali works for Auckland Council as a Place Manager, developing and implementing community-based programme initiatives and is a Justice for Peace.
He is further involved with advising and supporting a number of community organisations in Auckland.
Murali is the founding Trustee, Operations & Events Manager for the Communities Action Trust (CATNZ), through which he delivers the annual Diwali Festival of Lights and the bi annual South East Asian Night Market events in Wellington.
The calling for standing in local elections
The calling for joining politics was long due for Murali who in his own words has been always committed toward the cause of “social justice and connecting communities.”
Speaking to The Indian Weekender Murali said, “I have always been passionate about social justice, particularly wishing to focus on advocating for connected communities.
“I have been working for Wellington and Auckland Council for over more than a decade and half, whereby gaining enriching experience in reaching out and advocating for wider ethnic communities.
“For many years I worked as a Relationship Manager in Ministry of Social Development (MSD) delivering on social inclusion and capacity building initiatives in organisations.
“My work at MSD also provided an opportunity for consultation with community leaders to develop a collective voice that led to the formation of the Society for Southeast Asian Communities Inc.,” Murali said.
“It is my passion to speak up for our communities, ethnic communities in particular, and contribute in their holistic empowerment.
“I believe that balancing professional and community work is in itself a skill. The passion to be with people and work with, and through people is important for being successful in community work and that’s my philosophy - ‘He Tangata He Tangata He Tangata,’ Murali said.
A brief background
Murali is a Singaporean by birth and Malayali-Indian by descent with family linkages to the Indian state of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, who first arrived in New Zealand about twenty years ago.
“I started my career as language teacher, and after serving in Singapore education service went to Australia to complete my studies with my young family where I spent productive time in the wider ethnic community, performing music and acting in plays,” Murali said.
He holds post graduate qualifications in Communications and International Communications from Australia and New Zealand.
Connection with Diwali Festivals
Not many people would know that Murali is involved in two of the biggest Diwali festivals of New Zealand – Auckland and New Zealand.
When quizzed to reveal more Murali surprised with a revelation that he was involved as an artist even with the first Diwali festival at the Gandhi centre, Auckland, before being involved in organisational capacities.
“I was a performer and an emcee within the ethnic Wellington Asian theatre, and subsequently took up the leadership of organising Wellington City Council’s bi-annual Southeast Asian Night Market event in collaboration with Asia NZ Foundation.
“The huge success of the first event in 2008 opened up the opportunity to take up the leadership for Wellington’s high profile annual ethnic Diwali Festival of Lights thereafter,” Murali said.
“I further strengthened the relationship with Auckland’s main Diwali event, and subsequently became the Programme Director for the Auckland Diwali festival along with delivering the Wellington events,” he added.
I believe that balancing professional and community work is in itself a skill. The passion to be with people and work with, and through people is important for being successful in community work and that’s my philosophy - ‘He Tangata He Tangata He Tangata’
Leave a Comment