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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I’m a candidate for the Papanui Community Board. I emigrated from Israel to NZ 15 years ago with my husband and our two boys. Today my husband and I are owners of a mechanical workshop in Addington. I’m also a mother of two teenage boys and a dog named Sparky.

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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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I migrated to New Zealand in May 2008 from India as an International student. I am originally from Sasaram, Rohtas a Historic city of state Bihar. I have done MBA with Marketing specialization and Post Graduate Diploma in Information & Communication technology. I am a software professional.

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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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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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