Ashok Parbhu - Candidate for Hutt City Council

My Background

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. In the late 1940s my Grandmother and family came to start lives in Aotearoa. I think about recent racist events in New Zealand, and think about our early Indian settlers walking around in saris in our suburbs. In the town I grew up in we were the only Indian family for a long time, and with our Chinese families we integrated within the community.

I respect the efforts of all my extended family and friends to create a full life here in Aotearoa-New Zealand and I want to give back by acknowledging the richness that we all bring towards a better New Zealand.

Who am I?

I grew up right here in the Wellington region, spending my childhood weekends whitebaiting and surf lifesaving at Otaki beach. I gained my PhD in Physical Sciences from Massey University and completed post-doctoral research in Neuroscience at the University of California. For 30 years I have been with my lovely wife, Karen, who is a local secondary school principal. Together, we love being part of our local community.

More about me here, and check out the video!

https://www.facebook.com/ashok.parbhu.HCC

Why am I standing?

My Hutt Valley neighbourhood is full of interesting people from all walks of life. This is not what I see represented currently in our City Council. I want to bring more diverse voices to the Council table.

We have untapped talent in the Hutt Valley. I want to see this talent supported and grown to benefit our whole community. Through my time with Industrial Research Ltd, I have worked with innovators in the Hutt Valley. I want to see this talent continue to be supported and grown to benefit our whole community. I have extensive experience working with local tech companies to realise the potential of their products and support them to market.

What can I bring to the Council?

Voters require an understanding that being on council is about Governance and ensuring that the highly paid council officials are truly responsive to the community’s wishes. I will not be out with a spade fixing potholes, I have done enough of this in the past!

I include varied voices in my decision making - listening to talented people who can really make the Hutt Valley a better place to live.

I will bring these strengths to Council decision making for the benefit of our whole community. What I will bring to the council is a diversity of views and promote robust and representative governance in the decision making process.

Like many other cities lack of affordable housing is a Hutt Valley issue.

Economists have been talking about the real opportunity in the current low-interest economic environment. I will ensure that the partnership with central government seeks to increase the investment in local housing for our communities. This investment will reduce the exposure of our community to future global economic downturns.

Christchurch mosque attacks changed/or should have changed/ how multiculturalism is viewed in New Zealand. Please share some concrete suggestions on how all of us can work together to make Aoteoroa New Zealand a more diverse, inclusive, and multicultural society.

Some of the language subsequent to the Christchurch mosque attacks is part of my motivation to stand for Hutt City Council. Like other candidates from ‘visibly” diverse backgrounds it exposes you to potential discrimination and/or racism. In our new world we have to stand up and get people to realise we are New Zealand. Maori, Pacifica and Asian (which can I say is not an ethnicity!!!) will be over 50% of the population in 2038. But if look around at the youth, in the schools, people starting work, it is today. Kia kaha.