Indian Weekender Top 25 Kiwi-Indian Community Leaders 2021

List of top 25 Kiwi-Indian
Community Leaders in NZ
List of top 25 Kiwi-Indian
Community Leaders in NZ
ELLA KUMAR JP
Board member,
Puketāpapa Local Board
The first Indian female in Auckland to be elected to a local board,
Ella Kumar brings a versatility of experience to her community
commitments. NZ born, Ms Kumar has been involved with the
local boards for over 10 years. During this time, she has held
the events, arts & culture, library, sport & recreation, economic
development portfolios and has been instrumental in the
planning of the Auckland Diwali Festival since 2002.
A mother of three, Ms Kumar comes from a family where seven
adults, 10 children plus many other migrants lived under one
roof. Her parents migrated to New Zealand in the 1960s which
she believes presented her with many opportunities along with
many challenges. Having taken these challenges head-on, Ms
Kumar thrives on speaking to people in her community and
addressing their issues.
With over 20 years of experience on boards of trustees including
Mt Roskill Grammar, Roskill Together Board, Ms Kumar is also a
Justice of Peace and a marriage celebrant. A fitness instructor,
Ms Kumar has studied health sciences and works every day
to keep people healthy, physically and mentally. Dancing since
she was a little girl, Ms Kumar uses her skills to teach dance at
school and festivals.
Having grown up in the years when NZ was not as open to
outsiders as it is now, Ms Kumar has over the years worked to
build an inclusive culture within the local boards in Auckland.
A firm believer of the power of the people, Ms Kumar works
while keeping the community at the heart of all decisions, while
leaving politics at the door.
GHOUSE MAJEED
General Secretary,
Mana Andhra Telugu
Association of NZ
Social and community work is an inseparable part
of Ghouse Majeed’s life. As a 17-year-old college
student in Hyderabad, Mr Majeed learnt of his love
for the community when he became the Vijayawada
city President to a student wing of a political party.
With an aim to continue to build on this passion, he
achieved a Masters in Sociology and enrolled as an
advocate in the Vijayawada Bar Council.
However, life had different plans for him! A chance
meeting and discussion with an immigration
consultant led Mr Majeed to migrate to New Zealand
in 2003. This move into a new country, however,
didn’t deter him from continuing to engage with his
community. His love for Indian movies and festivals
led to an introduction to Mr Jeet Suchdev, Founder of
Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust, with whom he has
continued to volunteer for 18 years, developing events in collaboration with
other community organisations.
Mr Majeed has been an instrumental part of the Urdu Hindi Cultural
Association of New Zealand (UHCANZ) for the past ten years. One of
UHCANZ’s most popular events is Mushaira, Kavi Sammelan and Shame-Ghazal
– events that give poetry lovers of Hindi and Urdu a platform to
perform their art and recite their original poems to an audience. Mr Majeed
has been pivotal in the success of this event and has received the Sahitya
Sadbhavana Samman Award from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan NZ in Association
with GOPIO for his contribution to UHCANZ.
As the General Secretary of a newly formed Mana Andhra Telugu Association
of New Zealand, Mr Majeed has more recently become actively involved in
working for the promotion of the Telugu language and culture of Andhra
Pradesh among Andhraits living in New Zealand.
This truly reflects upon his deep connections with the community and the
desire to work with people in a manner to empower them and ensure their
general well-being.
Wearing multiple hats as an event coordinator, community helper and
engaged community leader, Mr Majeed has over the years built a good
rapport and mana with diverse communities across New Zealand.
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www.iwk.co.nz
www.iwk.co.nz
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