Kesh Naidoo-Rauf - Candidate for Hamilton City Council (East Ward)
Tell us a bit about your (and/or your family’s) New Zealand journey. (in 400 words please)
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. We completed our internships in Hamilton, spent a couple of years in Palmerston North learning the ropes, then back to Hamilton in late 2010. We co-own and manage 2 busy and successful pharmacy businesses in Hamilton and we have a 4 year old son. Hamilton is our home.
What motivated/prompted you to stand for local government elections this time? Please also indicate which area/position you are standing for.
I visited Christchurch with food donations after the terror attack, and I was privileged to meet most of the victims in hospital. This changed my perspective on life, and awoke in me an innate need to do more, and to help more. A few colleagues suggested that I look at standing for council to bring much needed diversity. I am standing for Councillor (East Ward) for Hamilton City Council.
What are the issues concerning the area (ward/council/city) you are standing in? (please list four main)
My main priorities include:
Careful spending decisions
Improve and uplift our communities - the old, young, vulnerable, ethnic communities, old and new suburbs - to advocate for and empower our communities.
Sustain our environment
Bring diversity to council
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.
Elect diverse governance teams in all areas of our society to reflect the people who live in our society. This will allow different perspectives, strong debate and form strong policy that benefits everyone. Inclusion starts at the top with the leaders in our cities.