The recently held Annual General Meeting of the Waitakere Indian Association reverberated the key message of “inclusiveness” in every aspect of their actions in the year 2020.
The meeting was held on Saturday, July 4, at Te Manawa, Westgate in Auckland, witnessed enthusiastic participation from the community, local leaders, councillors, MPs and diplomats.
Present at the AGM were the local board members and the Councillors Linda Cooper and Shane Henderson, Henderson-Massey Local Board Chair Hon Chris Cater and Whau Local Board Chair Kay Thomas, Minister and MP Phil Twyford and Hon Alfred Ngaro from National Party, Upper Harbour candidates Jake Bezzant (National) and Vanushi Walters (Labour) and Hon Consul of India in Auckland, Bhav Dhillon.
Speaking to the Indian Weekender, president of Waitakere Indian Association, Sunil Kaushal said WIA continues to campaign for the diversity of all expressions of its members.
“Promoting informal micro-volunteering opportunities on Daffodil Day presented a glimpse into the future of how our community will continue to grow the awareness and interest of volunteering in our communities.
“Internally, our culture of inclusiveness has been a key contributor to our results, where we have purposefully involved people from across the spectrum of availability, skill and experience, leaving us much the stronger organisation,” Mr Kaushal said.
Reflecting some of the many achievements and initiatives taken in the last one year, Mr Kaushal said new initiatives have ensured that WIA continues to maintain a value proposition that assists the organisation to maintain relevance in the changing world as well as in achieving our own best outcomes for our community.
In the last one year, WIA for the first time participated in fundraising for Daffodil Day with Cancer Society, collaborated with Sports Waitakere and Auckland Cricket, cancelled its major Holi event as a mark of respect for the victims of March 15, Christchurch mosque attacks, conducted programs for senior citizens, and hosted one of the most sought after and successful events for the association, Waitakere Diwali.
One of the significant developments for WIA was being offered a council-owned place on Don Buck Road by Henderson-Massey Local Board. This is a major goal for the association since the last AGM and after 20 longs year of WIA’s establishment in the community.
“After much advocating and hours and hours of hard work, the Henderson-Massey Local board has offered WIA a council-owned place on 399 Don Buck Road.
“As per the normal process, public consultation is underway, and if there are no objections, we will have this place to call our own after 20 years,” Mr Kaushal said.
WIA has collaborated with wider communities and community groups, central and local government on certain issues that affect the community- such as Immigration, Law and Order, security, burial and cremation laws etc. to name a few.
Mr Kaushal thanked members, volunteers, trustees, sponsors and local bodies for their support and contributions towards WIA that brought some major progressive developments that furthered the cause of the association- is the voice advocating the needs of the community.
“I am privileged to lead a capable team motivated to continue demonstrating our values, vision and mission building the story of Waitakere Indian Association as a community organisation co-creating the future we individually and collectively want to see for our organisation,” Mr Kaushal said.
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