Sunita Gautam - Candidate for Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board (Central Ward)
Tell us a bit about your (and/or your family’s) New Zealand journey. (in 400 words please)
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.
My passion is to work with people and I am engaged in the local and wider community as an independent marriage celebrant, a volunteer mentor for local business at Business Mentors New Zealand Limited, Justice of the peace (ceremony awaited) and a volunteer member of Sahayata (community group) for ethnic communities.
What motivated/prompted you to stand for local government elections this time? Please also indicate which area/position you are standing for.
What is the most important thing in the world, it is people, it is people it is people.
People are important to me, people who I know and the people who I don’t know personally. I believe various people together form a community. And a well looked after community takes shapes into an amazing nation like ours- Wonderful Aotearoa- and the heart of Aotearoa is made out of its amazing people.
I consider a diverse, tolerant, trusting, and comfortable community, allows individuals and groups to flourish and thrive. To foster this togetherness, wellbeing, harmony, and sense of belonging, I am running for community board for the central ward, Christchurch. I view this role as a thread which brings people together to advocate and support each other in our local community
What are the issues concerning the area (ward/council/city) you are standing in? (Please list four main)
My primary focus is on the safety of people in and out of their homes in daily life.
Address the impacts of the city development plan on the people and local businesses.
Advocate for the interest of my community by promoting open communication between the council and the people.
Focus on regular maintenance of public parks, equipment’s and facilities.
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.
New Zealand is a bicultural country embracing multiculturalism. Like any other change, this social change is also a journey and we all must play our role. I am doing my part, encouraging people around me to have an open heart that listens to others, and an open mind that accepts the opinions of others.
The open heart and mind of people will allow us to support and embrace each other. Social programs and initiatives will bring Christchurch people and communities together. This will strengthen relationships between people and communities by creating platforms that celebrate commonalities between people of Christchurch and modern New Zealand.
Lastly, I strongly believe, education is a positive step towards the changing demographics of not only Christchurch but of whole New Zealand. Education creates awareness and awareness eliminates wrong perception, which further mitigates violence. Therefore, lend a hand to support and lend an ear to listen.