Auckland Mayoral Candidates on Diversity and Belonging
As part of his role as Community Engagement Lead, Nadir reached out to the Auckland mayoral candidates to find out their plans for our city so that we can all make a more informed decision during these local elections. Here is what they had to say.
Eric Chuah
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
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.
My policies as stated above 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.
John Alcock
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.
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.
Ryan Pausina
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.
Ted Johnston
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.
I think for Auckland’s diverse communities to feel valued means 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.
Denise Widdison
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
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.
We hope this helps you make a more informed decision this voting season.