Find out more about Auckland mayoral candidates
As part of his role as Community Engagement Lead, Nadir reached out to all 12 Auckland mayoral candidates with two key questions about their vision for our city: (1) What are your plans for migrant and former refugee communities in Auckland? and (2) What does it mean to you for Auckland’s diverse communities to feel valued and experience a true sense of belonging? By asking these questions, we hoped to support our diverse communities to make a more informed decision in the upcoming local elections. Click below to read the responses of the candidates who have replied thus far.
-
Kia Ora Nadir,
Thank you for your email .
I am writing in response to your message and your 2 questions. I have answered them. Three immediate actions will be
1.Assign a dedicated caseworker to each new arrival with clear caseload limits
2.Set up rapid -access ESL and credentials recognition pathways
3.Create a short - term housing and transport subsidy program
Question 2
To me for Auckland’s diverse communities to feel valued and experience a true sense of belonging means that every person, regardless of their cultural background, language, or migration sto, is treated with dignity, has equal opportunities to thrive, and can see themselves reflected in the city's life and leadership. It means people are not just welcomed , but actively included in decision making, celebrated for their contributions and supported to flourish without having to give up their identity.
Nga Mihi
Denise Widdison
-
Hello Nadir,
This is mayoral candidate Ryan Pausina myself here, thank you for taking the time to contact me, I have considered your questions and feel to take the time to answer them. You are obviously the advocate for this fantastic people.
This is great, perfect, please keep doing what you are doing and ensure you are in touch with everybody in this space.
Once elected, I will leverage your key role to engage in downstream communications to connect your group in the city more closely, and to participate in a celebration mid term to mark a level of hard work done. We will also make a space for these people to let go of the past and to really feel welcome, shoulder to shoulder as a fellow Aucklander, of our one region. Also areas of key work will be handed down for the community to achieve.
For this reason, I will always keep my fone on for you, I have added my number below if you feel the need or would like to take a call to discuss before the elections. Congratulations for your thoughtful email, I am sure you will be watching the progression of this election process into something great. Otherwise, of course, do meet with everybody on the election day (meet up) as to organise your group, as valued citizens, who will soon be more noted in the region for their hard working and good work contributions.
Ryan Pausina
-
What are your plans for migrant and former refugee communities in Auckland?
1 All migrants and former refugee communities in Auckland who have permanent residence or citizenship in NZ are citizens and as such are entitled to full and equal treatment with others.
As they may have little support in our country it is important that their culture is respected, and that they are welcomed in and supported to take part in our NZ culture, so they can join together with us as one people, NZers.
My father was a migrant from Samoa in the 1950’s and I was born in 1960. I grew up in Otara. I have lived in Samoa and understand a lot of the issues and problems that exist, even at the level of the criminal courts where I have been a criminal barrister for over 30 years in South Auckland. My mother’s father was a migrant from Wales.
What does it mean to you for Auckland’s diverse communities to feel valued and experience a true sense of belonging?
That when people look at you they do not only see the differences, but also the similarities and good that unites and binds us as people . We all have our ethnicities and cultures. But most importantly, are you are a good person. That your abilities and competence are equally respected with all others.
Especially for children and mixed children of diverse cultures growing up in between them, understanding and living both, but most often being regarded as being from the other culture, it can be hard for them. Their parents have the strong vibrant culture they came from. But many of the young ones grow up just on stories but have never lived or even been to their cultural homeland, and choosing what they think is good or bad from both separate cultures, with a need to belong somewhere.
No-one likes to be where you are unwanted, only because of your race or culture.
Regards
Ted Johnston -
Kia ora Nadir,
Thank you for reaching out and for the opportunity to share my perspective =)
Please find my responses to your two questions below.
What are your plans for migrant and former refugee communities in Auckland?
My plans are the same for everyone in Auckland. Council exists to provide Public Goods — safe water, transport, waste, infrastructure, parks, and emergency services. It is not the role of Council to fund cultural programmes, provide privileges, or support special interest groups. This is not about race or origin — the principle is the same whether someone has come from South Africa, China, India, Canada, the Pacific, Europe, or anywhere else. If you choose to make New Zealand your home, the obligation is to integrate into Kiwi civic life and contribute to the city we all share. Council’s responsibility is to remain neutral and focused on its proper role.
What does it mean to you for Auckland’s diverse communities to feel valued and experience a true sense of belonging?
Belonging comes from being part of Auckland life and contributing to the wider Kiwi culture that has grown here — including Māori, Pacific, European, Asian, and many others who have shaped our city. New Zealand is open to the best contributions from other cultures, but it is not acceptable to expect the city to bend around separate enclaves or identity politics. Real belonging comes when people take on the same rights, duties, and obligations as every other Aucklander. Council’s job is to provide the neutral foundations — services and infrastructure — that make this possible. Beyond that, belonging is created by people and communities themselves, not by Council programmes.
Kind regards,
John Alcock
-
Hi Nadir, Tena koe (Assamuilaikum)
As a migrant myself I can identify with the aspirations, struggles of the migrant and former refugee communities.
In 1996 I formed together with Robert Hum the Ethnic Minority Party of NZ hailed in CNN & BBC as the first minority party in the democratic world. (see attached PDF document as Proof)
As early as 1999 as political strategist for then United NZ Party headed by Honorable Peter former Minister in both Labor & National led coalitions till 2017, I had always spoke out for and advocated for migrant rights under this rule of law in NZ (All peoples, cultures, ethnic groups equal under one rule of law, respecting the treaty of Waitangi).
As Mayor I will allocate $50 million to migrant/former refugee communities to:
to Start Up businesses; appoint business mentors to walk with them and work together to grow their businesses till profitability.
Auckland Council received this year (2025) alone $3.59 Bil from ratepayers many of these ratepayers are migrant/former refugee communities and there is no excuse to set aside $50 million which is a small sum to give a 'hand-up' to migrant communities by this $50 million fund.
I will also set aside $200 million for the Biodiversity Investment Fund & $200 million Auckland Inventors/Innovation Fund, the only Mayoral candidate who has such clearcut plans to give Aucklanders the opportunity to thrive and succeed together with the more established local communities. Migrants and all Aucklanders are eligible to apply.
I will also set aside $100 million to fund Help NGOs like Salvation Army, St. Johns and food banks especially in this time of cost-of-living crisis where many families are struggling to put food on the table, (deciding on a bag of chips or bread each week)
Where do I get the funds, from the Auckland Futures Fund of $1.34 Bil which has been mismanage by previous Mayor earning a paltry 5.8%. returning less than $60 million when he could 'Invested this Future Fund' in fixed deposit for up to 12% and earn $160 million per year. I was the only Mayoral candidate who exposed this mismanagement and provided the Action Plan (strategy) to Solve and Invest to make $160.8 million see this Auckland Mayoral Debate 2025 Auckland Mayoral Debate - Hosted by The University of Auckland Debating Society - YouTube
For your understanding I worked in Europe for European Commission NGO European Network Against Racism, appointed as Independent Researcher for Germany the largest economy in Europe (third largest in the world) the largest MMP democratic country similar to NZ. I liaise with German Police on creating better policy on prosecuting those who commit hate crime on minorities and provided the report and policy recommendations to the German Parliament in 2019 of which a number of the policies were legislated in the German Parliament.
I also worked with EU NGOs on 'combat racism' and refugee resettlement program for those escaping the Syrian/Iraq wars in 2012-2016, This was based on EU program 'to enable refugees to adjust to and be part of European Society) I started my own company (non-profit) to apply for funding worked together with other EU NGOS.
I humbly ask all migrants and the former refugees to vote for me for Mayor/North Shore Ward & Kaipatiki Board (for those who live in the area of North Shore) as I will make the necessary positive changes to make Auckland a cosmopolitan/vibrant multicultural society, lower rates which I have demonstrated, conduct independent audit to 'clean up' Auckland Council's overspending.
(AT spent $ 3.59 Bil this year without any profitability and many in the migrant communities take public transport yet why are there no discounts for university students, high school many are from migrant families (former refugee families) To identify with the migrant & hard working Kiwis i take public transport though I can drive to empathize & understand what they are going through. The previous Mayor even said that Pacific Islanders Councilors missed many meetings (implying them as lazy) which may be construed as 'racist' and yet the Pacific Islander councilors attended more meetings than him (NZ Herald)
AS a Mayor I will treat all cultures equally with respect and not be like Mr. Did Not Fix anything at all for last 3 years letting Auckland Council increase debt by $3 Bil treating minorities very 'differently' See below Times Online media feature.
Thank you for the questionnaires. Below are the answers to the questions:
Q 1.
My vision as Mayoral Candidate/North Shore Ward/Kaipatiki Board candidates are to integrate and adjust migrants/former refugees into mainstream NZ society while maintaining their cultural and religious identity.
The migrant organizations and other respective NGOs play a crucial role in enabling and empowering migrants to be part of NZ society
I will use the profits from the Auckland Futures Fund and set aside $50 million for migrant and cultural organizations (NGOs) to apply for programs, training, businesses.
Q.2
My policies as stated above in Q.1 is to make migrants/former refugees feel valued giving them a hope and future as I came to NZ as a migrant in 1993 and can empathize with the migrants and shared experiences.
Here is a link for you to read a media feature on exactly the above in Times Online.
CANDIDATE: Chuah stands for ‘United Voices, Stronger Communities’ - Times
Nga mihi nui
Dr. Eric Chuah & Campaign Committee