It is a matter of pride for the Kiwi Indian community when any person of Indian origins earns a laurel or becomes an office bearer at any prestigious organisation in New Zealand.
53-year-old Ella Kumar has become the first person of Indian origin to be elected as the Chairperson of the Puketapapa Local Board, one of 21 local boards in Auckland. It borders the Manukau Harbour and includes the suburbs of Three Kings, Hillsborough, Waikowhai, Lynfield and Wesley.
She spoke to Indian Weekender about the new challenges, her priorities and much more.
You are the first person of Indian origin to be appointed the chair of the Puketapapa Local Board. How does that feel?
It is an honour to represent the Puketapapa community. Even though I am NZ born, my parents are from India, and to be the first elected Indian Chairperson is a milestone for everyone of all ethnicities. As for all our communities these changes reflect the diverse representation and the positive shift as we advance.
What are the key priorities areas that you want to focus on?
I want to focus, with my team, on the core services that affect our community, plus the Environment, Infrastructure and Transport for all modes (noting that we will never be a carless community).
What role does the local board play in NZ politics?
The local board is one of many ways the local community can get their thoughts and issues to different levels. We can advocate them to the governing body, and then they can take it up to the central Government. We can endorse the issues or give feedback to our local politicians to help raise the needs and specific topics in our community at the government level.
Tell me about your journey in NZ.
My journey in the early days as an Indian was not easy.
My parents migrated in the 1960s, and there was a minority of Indian representation at that time.
We went through many challenges. We were called names, and we felt the colour of our skin was used against us. These things just added to the uncertainties of life. My parents have battled this by doing their best at that time to help my generation succeed.
My dad has been a community leader and played an important role in helping many communities thrive. That has helped me become a community leader. I learnt from his leadership skills and went into leadership roles like school board of trustees for 20-plus years at the local schools my children attended. I led various community groups for 15-plus years. I hope my appointment as the Chairperson helps empower women to be leaders in different Indian community groups and inspire them that if I can do it so can they.
The hard work and the rough journey have been worth the many years of challenges that have made me the stronger person I am today.
What has been your association with Puketapapa Local Board?
I have been elected and have been a board member of this local board for my fifth term. I have been an elected board member since 2010 when Supercity came in.
What are the biggest challenges that you think you will face?
We are currently seeing Covid-19 funding shortages in all areas. So, the challenges are delivering core services, funding availability for continued maintenance and upkeep of our existing projects and assets.
We also want to work on building assets in Puketapapa where currently the space is scarce to find while taking into consideration the space that Kainga Ora property creates. We want to make sure our infrastructure can handle this new build.
The current assets are too small. We would want to accommodate the community in facilities. For example, the Cameron Pools do not cater for water sports, and we need a performing arts facility, especially when we are the most diverse community. Creative arts is the most powerful tool to help educate our community with each other. Our halls need to be bigger for those who want to deliver significant-scale events. A lot of challenges coming our way.
What milestones do you want the board to achieve under your tenure?
We want to work as one team with no politics. We are a community team and want the best for the Puketapapa community.
Along with our climate change discussions that need to be addressed, I would like to see Cameron Pools and Performing arts venue in some discussion as these are the assets that will require advocation to governing body, collaboration maybe with Kainga Ora and the wider community for funding due to the high volume growth in this area.
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