A letter to Ethnic Communities in Auckland

Introducing the Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel

Kia ora, hello and warm ethnic greetings to you

You may be aware that the Mayor of Auckland established an Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel in March 2011. The term for this Panel is two and a half years. The Panel is legislated for under the Local Government Act 2010.

This Panel is the voice for the 200 and more different ethnicities that live in Auckland. It is responsible for identifying and communicating the interests and preferences of ethnic communities in Auckland in relation to Council strategies, policies, plans and bylaws. The role of the Panel is to focus on high-level, strategic, region-wide issues.

We, as members of the Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel want to hear from you as ethnic community leaders and members. We want to hear from you about the issues that matter to you and which affect and concern you. The Panel may be the official voice for ethnic communities on Auckland Council but we can only be effective if your voices can be heard by the Council.

Members of the panel are Dr Camille Nakhid (Chairperson),Rev Amail Habib (Deputy Chairperson), Ann Pala, Asoka Basnayake (Media Spokesperson), Bevan Chung, Grace Soo Ryu, Kafeba Pergoleze Alvis Mundele, Jeet Suchdev, John Hong, Sadiqa Hajee, Susan Zhu and Tuwe Kadakwashe.

Although each of us may identify with one or more ethnic communities, we have years of involvement with the many diverse communities of Auckland and hope to represent the views of them all. Anyone of you, from any ethnic community in Auckland, can contact anyone of us. We want to hear from you.

We look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely Dr Camille Nakhid (Chairperson) on behalf of the Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel Auckland Council

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