Kiwi-Indians take the lead at the Local Board elections
Continuing our election special feature, this week we introduce you to the Local Board candidates Gyanendra Kumar, Dr Ashraf Choudhary, Keith Coelho, Dev Bhardwaj, Bhupinder Singh and Javed Chaudhary and get to know more about their plans for the community.
Gyanendra Kumar
A well-known sports personality, Gyanendra Kumar is an experienced club, district, national and now a veteran football player, a qualified football coach and administrator, and the recipient of many sports awards. He is vying for the positions of Howick Ward Councillor and the Howick Local Board member in the forthcoming elections. The Howick ward is the fifth largest urban area in New Zealand, which includes Pakuranga, Howick, Botany, Flat Bush, and the industrial state of East Tamaki (Highbrook Business Park) and has a population of almost 130,000.
Kumar hails from Fiji where he provided his services as a police officer and health inspector. His community engagement in NZ started from Kapiti Coast where he was employed as an Environmental Health Officer at Kapiti Coast District Council. He was also a member of Kapiti Red Cross, Kapiti Lions Club, Waikanae Toastmasters and the Kapiti Coast United Football Club.
In 2007, after moving to Auckland, Kumar joined the Team Nadi Football affiliated to NZ Fiji Football Inc. as their coach and later became Vice President/Secretary of NZ Fiji Association Football Club, Secretary of NZ Fiji Veterans Soccer Association, Secretary of Mangere United Football Club and Vice President/Veterans Chairman of NZ Fiji Football Inc.
As the Health Protection/Technical Officer and the long-serving PSA workplace delegate from Auckland Regional Public Health Services, Kumar contributed in the development of football amongst the ethnic youth groups in Auckland.
Message to the community
Kumar says that his focus will be on:
- Resolving communities’ issues through effective engagement and dialogues with those affected/involved. The community issues of all ethnicities should be treated with utmost sensitivities and addressed in an acceptable manner with cultural input as well.
- Competitive and social participation in sports to enhance good health thus minimising the use of health services.
- More facilities and creation of more activities for elderly/retired people and improving their levels of connectivity within the diverse group is another area that Kumar says will be his priority
- Immediate remedial plans to resolve the issues of the community. Resolving the transports and emissions, as the train project will take a huge amount of dollars and time by the time it is up in running, in the meantime, alternate measures may be developed by creating connectivity amongst the people in the suburbs, for example extra vehicles can be avoided on the road at peak hours through car-pooling.
Message to the community
Kumar says that, if elected, he will ensure that people get the best value for their money and hard work and live a healthy life amongst the diverse group and still feel safe.
“A vote for Labour is the safest vehicle for all Kiwis to ride to an environment of success, good health and well-being,” concludes Kumar.
Dr Ashraf Choudhary, QSO JP
Dr Ashraf Choudhary was New Zealand’s first MP from the Indian subcontinent and is an agricultural engineering scientist. In the local elections, he is the Labour’s candidate for council in Papatoetoe subdivision of Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board and Counties Manukau District Health Board.
Dr Choudhary hails from Pakistan and moved to New Zealand for higher studies. Before entering the Parliament, he taught at the Massey University as an environmental scientist. He was also associated with community organisations such as FIANZ (as president) and New Zealand Federation of Ethnic Council. For his community work, he was awarded Queen Service Order (QSO) in 2001.
Dr Choudhary retired from politics in 2011 and has since been active in Indian and Pakistani community groups in Auckland.
Message for the community
Dr Choudhary believes that there is little recognition of some of the health issues and emerging diseases among Asian people in New Zealand, and language, cultural differences and lack of knowledge of the healthcare system act as barriers to receiving appropriate health care.
He says that there is a need to give high priority to Asian people’s health requirements. That requires improved competence of health professionals to deal with these emerging health issues, particularly among our new residents. He also encourages ethnic people to vote in order to be heard.
“Many ethnic people speak privately and say their vote changes nothing. They are often despondent and complain that their efforts to be counted have dissipated. I say to them, of course, those in power will not relinquish that hegemony in a hurry. Then, I say, yes it’s possible and we can do it. Just like I did it and became the first South Asian to become an MP,” says Dr Choudhary.
Keith Coelho
Keith Coelho is Community First’s candidate for Whau Local Board. Originally from Mumbai, India, Keith has lived in Auckland with his family for the past 26 years. On the professional front, he works in supply chain management, which involves large local and overseas projects.
Coelho is a member of the local Rotary Club, a group counsel for InterNations Auckland, an active leader with Neighbourly, a member of the Green Bay Residents and Ratepayers Association, and is actively involved with the running of one of the largest and busiest women's refuge and youth groups in NZ, based in Avondale.
Message to the community
Coelho says that through his good relations with Auckland council governing body candidates and the central government, he will ensure that people of Whau ward get what they want and need for the ward
Some of the key areas, he will be focussing on, are as follows:
- The footpaths are restored and not slippery and dangerous and are safe for walking, cycling and for mobility scooters
- Introduction of an efficient traffic management system where traffic lights phasing contributes to the smooth flow of traffic
- Coelho will encourage and promote local businesses and ensure that our town centres get an upgrade
- The libraries need to be better equipped and stay open for longer hours with a community café to make it a more vibrant hub
- The community grants and funding given out by the Whau local board should be distributed fairly to deserving organisations and causes, and that those receiving such funding are held accountable
- Coelho will lobby with both central and local governments to construct the bridge across the Whau River from Glendene to Rosebank Road to reduce traffic congestion on Great North Road
Dev Bhardwaj
A businessman and an MBA graduate, Dev Bhardwaj is standing for Puketapapa Local Board which includes the suburbs of Hillsborough, Lynfield, Mount Roskill, Three Kings, Wesley, and Waikowhai.
Bhardwaj has lived in Lynfield for 8 years and is an elected school trustee at Halsey Drive Primary School. He is also an executive member of a charity organisation.
Bhardwaj is committed to the local community. He wishes to make sure the local board works for people; he is committed to finding sustainable solutions to the local problems through collective participation.
Born and brought up in Chandigarh, India, Bhardwaj, being a migrant himself, understands the changing face of Auckland, i.e. embracing and respecting the diversity.
Message to the community
Through his extensive local community connections, Bhardwaj says that he would work on engaging, collaborating and encouraging the residents to have their say in the local decisions affecting our communities and contribute towards the common goal of making Auckland a safe and enjoyable place for everyone to work, live and play in.
Bhardwaj supports the lowest rates possible and will be careful and respectful of how your rates are spent. He supports better connectivity of Lynfield via arterial roads and is focused on enhancing safety for all communities. He is also enthusiastic about showcasing the talent and creativity of our communities.
Bhupinder Singh
Bhupinder Singh migrated to New Zealand when he was 12 years old. He completed his education in Papatoetoe and excelled as a cricketer. He represented New Zealand (A) cricket team and was a key member of Auckland Aces for six years. Currently, he is the coach of Papatoetoe senior cricket team.
Singh is an independent candidate for Papatoetoe subdivision of Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board. Singh intends to focus on issues that impact the communities in the area, such as increasing support and assistance to local crime patrols to ensure the safety of the community. He will also:
- Encourage and support quality early childhood education programmes
- Support locally driven initiatives to fight obesity
- Fight against street prostitution
- Put a hold on any more liquor stores or off licenses in the area
- Ensure greater support and recognition for the local senior residents
- Promote sports and get the kids active by involving them more in sports
- Make Council Contractors accountable to the community that pays them
- Encourage safe and thriving town centre
- Improve community facilities to better serve the needs of local people
Message to the community
“My passion is sports and getting people active and engaged in healthy activities. As a coach of the Papatoetoe Senior Cricket team, I get a huge thrill out of assisting others to reach their potential. The youth programmes and events I run, reinforces to me the need in our community for positive role models for our young people,” says Singh.
“I feel privileged to represent my community with local issues. I am committed to ensuring the voices of Papatoetoe residents reach the Local Board.
“We are one community – let’s work together!”
Javed Chaudhary:
Javed Chaudhary is running for Hamilton City Council, in the Hamilton local body election to be held on October 8. This is the second time he is standing for the council. Chaudhary had been a part of Hamilton Multicultural Services Trust as a trustee, also the Depressive Disorders Group as the Chair and Vice-Chair. He has also been actively involved with the leisure unit and the community development at the council.
A Master of Science honours degree holder, an accomplished entrepreneur and a project leader with more than twenty-five years of executive experience Chaudhary owns a private enterprise in Hamilton.
Chaudhary has more than a decade of experience in governance and managerial roles within the various Hamiltonian community and humanitarian groups and organisations. He is currently volunteering with Waikato branch of Diabetes NZ.
“Hamilton is a quickly growing city with a diverse vibrant community and we need to look after its economic, social and environmental health to ensure it stays a great place to live,” Chaudhary says.
Message to the community
He is passionate about the wellbeing and needs of the community and stands firmly on a number of key issues regarding the future of the city. He supports:
- Responsible financial decision-making and, economic and social development of Hamilton.
- The provision of affordable housing options, the Hamilton City River Plan and no call for water meters.
- Building of the modern multi-use theatre featuring car parking, as well as attracting people and businesses into the city centre
“With my proven track record of results built on the foundation of pragmatism, hard work and an ability to transcend anywhere from the grassroots up, I will be a dynamic new voice on the council, and I extend a hand to all for the purpose of working together to achieve a more prosperous Hamilton,” says Chaudhary.
Continuing our election special feature, this week we introduce you to the Local Board candidates Gyanendra Kumar, Dr Ashraf Choudhary, Keith Coelho, Dev Bhardwaj, Bhupinder Singh and Javed Chaudhary and get to know more about their plans for the community.
Gyanendra Kumar
A well-known sports...
Continuing our election special feature, this week we introduce you to the Local Board candidates Gyanendra Kumar, Dr Ashraf Choudhary, Keith Coelho, Dev Bhardwaj, Bhupinder Singh and Javed Chaudhary and get to know more about their plans for the community.
Gyanendra Kumar
A well-known sports personality, Gyanendra Kumar is an experienced club, district, national and now a veteran football player, a qualified football coach and administrator, and the recipient of many sports awards. He is vying for the positions of Howick Ward Councillor and the Howick Local Board member in the forthcoming elections. The Howick ward is the fifth largest urban area in New Zealand, which includes Pakuranga, Howick, Botany, Flat Bush, and the industrial state of East Tamaki (Highbrook Business Park) and has a population of almost 130,000.
Kumar hails from Fiji where he provided his services as a police officer and health inspector. His community engagement in NZ started from Kapiti Coast where he was employed as an Environmental Health Officer at Kapiti Coast District Council. He was also a member of Kapiti Red Cross, Kapiti Lions Club, Waikanae Toastmasters and the Kapiti Coast United Football Club.
In 2007, after moving to Auckland, Kumar joined the Team Nadi Football affiliated to NZ Fiji Football Inc. as their coach and later became Vice President/Secretary of NZ Fiji Association Football Club, Secretary of NZ Fiji Veterans Soccer Association, Secretary of Mangere United Football Club and Vice President/Veterans Chairman of NZ Fiji Football Inc.
As the Health Protection/Technical Officer and the long-serving PSA workplace delegate from Auckland Regional Public Health Services, Kumar contributed in the development of football amongst the ethnic youth groups in Auckland.
Message to the community
Kumar says that his focus will be on:
- Resolving communities’ issues through effective engagement and dialogues with those affected/involved. The community issues of all ethnicities should be treated with utmost sensitivities and addressed in an acceptable manner with cultural input as well.
- Competitive and social participation in sports to enhance good health thus minimising the use of health services.
- More facilities and creation of more activities for elderly/retired people and improving their levels of connectivity within the diverse group is another area that Kumar says will be his priority
- Immediate remedial plans to resolve the issues of the community. Resolving the transports and emissions, as the train project will take a huge amount of dollars and time by the time it is up in running, in the meantime, alternate measures may be developed by creating connectivity amongst the people in the suburbs, for example extra vehicles can be avoided on the road at peak hours through car-pooling.
Message to the community
Kumar says that, if elected, he will ensure that people get the best value for their money and hard work and live a healthy life amongst the diverse group and still feel safe.
“A vote for Labour is the safest vehicle for all Kiwis to ride to an environment of success, good health and well-being,” concludes Kumar.
Dr Ashraf Choudhary, QSO JP
Dr Ashraf Choudhary was New Zealand’s first MP from the Indian subcontinent and is an agricultural engineering scientist. In the local elections, he is the Labour’s candidate for council in Papatoetoe subdivision of Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board and Counties Manukau District Health Board.
Dr Choudhary hails from Pakistan and moved to New Zealand for higher studies. Before entering the Parliament, he taught at the Massey University as an environmental scientist. He was also associated with community organisations such as FIANZ (as president) and New Zealand Federation of Ethnic Council. For his community work, he was awarded Queen Service Order (QSO) in 2001.
Dr Choudhary retired from politics in 2011 and has since been active in Indian and Pakistani community groups in Auckland.
Message for the community
Dr Choudhary believes that there is little recognition of some of the health issues and emerging diseases among Asian people in New Zealand, and language, cultural differences and lack of knowledge of the healthcare system act as barriers to receiving appropriate health care.
He says that there is a need to give high priority to Asian people’s health requirements. That requires improved competence of health professionals to deal with these emerging health issues, particularly among our new residents. He also encourages ethnic people to vote in order to be heard.
“Many ethnic people speak privately and say their vote changes nothing. They are often despondent and complain that their efforts to be counted have dissipated. I say to them, of course, those in power will not relinquish that hegemony in a hurry. Then, I say, yes it’s possible and we can do it. Just like I did it and became the first South Asian to become an MP,” says Dr Choudhary.
Keith Coelho
Keith Coelho is Community First’s candidate for Whau Local Board. Originally from Mumbai, India, Keith has lived in Auckland with his family for the past 26 years. On the professional front, he works in supply chain management, which involves large local and overseas projects.
Coelho is a member of the local Rotary Club, a group counsel for InterNations Auckland, an active leader with Neighbourly, a member of the Green Bay Residents and Ratepayers Association, and is actively involved with the running of one of the largest and busiest women's refuge and youth groups in NZ, based in Avondale.
Message to the community
Coelho says that through his good relations with Auckland council governing body candidates and the central government, he will ensure that people of Whau ward get what they want and need for the ward
Some of the key areas, he will be focussing on, are as follows:
- The footpaths are restored and not slippery and dangerous and are safe for walking, cycling and for mobility scooters
- Introduction of an efficient traffic management system where traffic lights phasing contributes to the smooth flow of traffic
- Coelho will encourage and promote local businesses and ensure that our town centres get an upgrade
- The libraries need to be better equipped and stay open for longer hours with a community café to make it a more vibrant hub
- The community grants and funding given out by the Whau local board should be distributed fairly to deserving organisations and causes, and that those receiving such funding are held accountable
- Coelho will lobby with both central and local governments to construct the bridge across the Whau River from Glendene to Rosebank Road to reduce traffic congestion on Great North Road
Dev Bhardwaj
A businessman and an MBA graduate, Dev Bhardwaj is standing for Puketapapa Local Board which includes the suburbs of Hillsborough, Lynfield, Mount Roskill, Three Kings, Wesley, and Waikowhai.
Bhardwaj has lived in Lynfield for 8 years and is an elected school trustee at Halsey Drive Primary School. He is also an executive member of a charity organisation.
Bhardwaj is committed to the local community. He wishes to make sure the local board works for people; he is committed to finding sustainable solutions to the local problems through collective participation.
Born and brought up in Chandigarh, India, Bhardwaj, being a migrant himself, understands the changing face of Auckland, i.e. embracing and respecting the diversity.
Message to the community
Through his extensive local community connections, Bhardwaj says that he would work on engaging, collaborating and encouraging the residents to have their say in the local decisions affecting our communities and contribute towards the common goal of making Auckland a safe and enjoyable place for everyone to work, live and play in.
Bhardwaj supports the lowest rates possible and will be careful and respectful of how your rates are spent. He supports better connectivity of Lynfield via arterial roads and is focused on enhancing safety for all communities. He is also enthusiastic about showcasing the talent and creativity of our communities.
Bhupinder Singh
Bhupinder Singh migrated to New Zealand when he was 12 years old. He completed his education in Papatoetoe and excelled as a cricketer. He represented New Zealand (A) cricket team and was a key member of Auckland Aces for six years. Currently, he is the coach of Papatoetoe senior cricket team.
Singh is an independent candidate for Papatoetoe subdivision of Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board. Singh intends to focus on issues that impact the communities in the area, such as increasing support and assistance to local crime patrols to ensure the safety of the community. He will also:
- Encourage and support quality early childhood education programmes
- Support locally driven initiatives to fight obesity
- Fight against street prostitution
- Put a hold on any more liquor stores or off licenses in the area
- Ensure greater support and recognition for the local senior residents
- Promote sports and get the kids active by involving them more in sports
- Make Council Contractors accountable to the community that pays them
- Encourage safe and thriving town centre
- Improve community facilities to better serve the needs of local people
Message to the community
“My passion is sports and getting people active and engaged in healthy activities. As a coach of the Papatoetoe Senior Cricket team, I get a huge thrill out of assisting others to reach their potential. The youth programmes and events I run, reinforces to me the need in our community for positive role models for our young people,” says Singh.
“I feel privileged to represent my community with local issues. I am committed to ensuring the voices of Papatoetoe residents reach the Local Board.
“We are one community – let’s work together!”
Javed Chaudhary:
Javed Chaudhary is running for Hamilton City Council, in the Hamilton local body election to be held on October 8. This is the second time he is standing for the council. Chaudhary had been a part of Hamilton Multicultural Services Trust as a trustee, also the Depressive Disorders Group as the Chair and Vice-Chair. He has also been actively involved with the leisure unit and the community development at the council.
A Master of Science honours degree holder, an accomplished entrepreneur and a project leader with more than twenty-five years of executive experience Chaudhary owns a private enterprise in Hamilton.
Chaudhary has more than a decade of experience in governance and managerial roles within the various Hamiltonian community and humanitarian groups and organisations. He is currently volunteering with Waikato branch of Diabetes NZ.
“Hamilton is a quickly growing city with a diverse vibrant community and we need to look after its economic, social and environmental health to ensure it stays a great place to live,” Chaudhary says.
Message to the community
He is passionate about the wellbeing and needs of the community and stands firmly on a number of key issues regarding the future of the city. He supports:
- Responsible financial decision-making and, economic and social development of Hamilton.
- The provision of affordable housing options, the Hamilton City River Plan and no call for water meters.
- Building of the modern multi-use theatre featuring car parking, as well as attracting people and businesses into the city centre
“With my proven track record of results built on the foundation of pragmatism, hard work and an ability to transcend anywhere from the grassroots up, I will be a dynamic new voice on the council, and I extend a hand to all for the purpose of working together to achieve a more prosperous Hamilton,” says Chaudhary.
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