Irinka Britnell - Candidate for Christchurch Central Community Board
Irinka Britnell - Candidate for Christchurch Central Community Board

My name is Irinka Britnell, I am standing for the Christchurch Central Community Board as an Independent candidate. I am born in Christchurch, my parents come from Macedonia. I grew up in New Brighton and went to Avonside Girls High School. My husband and I run a small accommodation business in Linwood. My parents arrived here by escaping, across the border of former Yugoslavia into Greece. My father believed in political freedom for Macedonia, which was not tolerated at this time in former Yugoslavia. They got married in Greece, setting sail for New Zealand.

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Ella Kumar - Candidate for Puketāpapa Local Board
Ella Kumar - Candidate for Puketāpapa Local Board

I am a New Zealand born Indian, I am a Kiwi Indian, I do hold my cultural upbringing close to my heart. I am the first Indian female in Auckland elected onto local body election. My husband and three children have supported me to take the positions I have to help the community to thrive. I am a Current Local Board member, I bring a wealth of local government experience, I have taken an active role to ensure all Puketāpapa groups thrive, build community foundations.

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Kesh Naidoo-Rauf - Candidate for Hamilton City Council (East Ward)
Kesh Naidoo-Rauf - Candidate for Hamilton City Council (East Ward)

I was born and raised in South Africa (5th generation Indian), and moved to NZ with my parents and siblings when I was 15 years old. My parents are both school teachers and I am the eldest of 3 children. After completing high school in Auckland, I moved to Dunedin to complete my Pharmacy degree at Otago University. In Dunedin I met my husband, who is also a pharmacist, and is Fijian-Indian muslim.

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Shanti Ralm - Candidate for Hamilton West Councillor
Shanti Ralm - Candidate for Hamilton West Councillor

My name is Shanti Ralm. My father arranged our marriage. My dad was ahead of the house.I was still going to University. one day coming back from University. Harry Ralm and his mother were in my lounge, waiting for me.My sister told me that young man in the lounge is Harry Ralm and wants to marry me.As you know, in our culture, I said yes and got married in couple weeks.After 4 months, Harry head back to Newzealand because his father said so.I got pregnant and came to New Zealand with 3 months old daughter in 1963. I left back home, my three brothers employed with the Indian Air Force, 2 sisters, school teachers.

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Shirish Paranjape - Candidate for Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board (Waimairi Ward)
Shirish Paranjape - Candidate for Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board (Waimairi Ward)

I have always believed and advocated for increased participation by ethnic community in governance roles. In June 2016, The Migrant Times had carried a piece by me, where I had commented, “I do feel ethnic and multicultural community should get more involved not just through voluntary sector but also through governance and policy making roles.”

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Sunita Gautam - Candidate for Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board (Central Ward)
Sunita Gautam - Candidate for Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board (Central Ward)

My name is Sunita Gautam and Christchurch is my home for me, my husband and two children for the past 17 years. I came to New Zealand as a newlywed in 2004. I gain my first qualification from the University of Canterbury and started my career as an early childhood teacher. Currently, I am perusing a Ph.D. in the field of Immigrant entrepreneurship at the University of Canterbury.  I am also working as a senior business lecturer and a pastoral care officer at International Business College in Christchurch.

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Narinder Singh Warraich - Candidate for Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board (Halswell Ward)
Narinder Singh Warraich - Candidate for Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board (Halswell Ward)

Basically, I belong to a small village from Haryana which is located on the border of Punjab-Haryana. We do have a big joint family there and I am the youngest son of my parents. My family has been in local politics for decades in India. My grandfather, grandmother and my father had served as a Sarpanch (headman) of our village for more than 25 years.

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Ashok Parbhu - Candidate for Hutt City Council
Ashok Parbhu - Candidate for Hutt City Council

Both of my great grandfathers first came to Aotearoa-New Zealand in the 1920s to earn money, back then you did not bring your wives! My Great-Grandfather on my Mother’s side decided to try his fortunes in Fiji, while on my Father’s side my great-Grandfather brought my Grandfather back to work with him into the Wellington region. I cannot image how difficult their lives were really like back then, but I have read some of the history and they had a tight community.

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Anne Degia-Pala - Candidate for Whau Ward
Anne Degia-Pala - Candidate for Whau Ward

My arrival in New Zealand was in February 1990 with my husband and two children. I am born in Fiji with a South Asian heritage from Gujerat, India. I worked as an executive officer at the University of Auckland followed by senior executive positions in the corporate sector. I am a company director of WinMac Solutions Ltd an Information Technology Company now operating some 24 years in West Auckland.

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Aadil Basha - Candidate for Whau Local Board
Aadil Basha - Candidate for Whau Local Board

Brought up in India and worked in Dubai , I enjoy travelling and always wanted to visit NZ someday (scenic beauty watching early morning matches on TV especially 1992 cricket world cup) , my work created a chance for me to visit Auckland , I had wanted to travel and explore NZ anyway, so I took the opportunity ( Who wouldn’t especially as a bachelor) . This was a decade and a half back, it took a while to adjust initially to the quiet and laid-back life in Auckland, having lived in cities with lots of buzz and energy, so this was quite slow for me.

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Parminder Kaur - Candidate for Community Board in Innes Ward
Parminder Kaur - Candidate for Community Board in Innes Ward

I'm Parminder Kaur, The People's Choice, Labour Candidate for Community Board in Innes Ward. I am long term resident of St. Albans. Serving communities is always been a passion of mine. I have a Master's in Political Science from university and currently serve as Justice of the Peace, Registered Marriage Celebrant and Chair of Indian NZ Association of Christchurch Inc.

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Ajay Rathod - Candidate for Mayor
Ajay Rathod - Candidate for Mayor

It was my mother’s father who came to Nz in 1949 and I was born in 1966 in Rotorua but my grand father was a pioneer to come to Nz as their was not many Indian family’s at all. Six men were given opportunity to go to Fiji or NZ. So my mum was married in 1959 in India and she brought my dad out to NZ. My parents became very popular in Rotorua which gave friends and family and strangers (indians) the gateway for people to visit. Then I moved to Wellington 30 years ago from Rotorua.

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Ray Chung - Candidate for Wharangi/Onslow-Western Ward
Ray Chung - Candidate for Wharangi/Onslow-Western Ward

My name is Ray Chung and I’m running for Council in the Onslow Western Ward. I’m a second generation Wellingtonian. My maternal grandfather came to Wellington in 1895 and his wife - my grandmother - joined him in 1915. Like the majority of the established Chinese community both were Cantonese, coming from small villages in Zengcheng county. For 53 years my grandfather ran a variety of fruit shops, from Lambton Quay, Willis St, Newtown and Kilbirnie.

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