It is almost eight months to the date that Murali Kumar met us at a Restaurant in North Shore to say that he was planning to contest for membership to the Henderson Massey Local Board as a candidate of Labour Party and the Waitakere Licencing Trust, supported by Labour.
“That is a splendid idea,” we said, offering our unconditional support. “Local governments need dynamic and well-meaning people like you who can walk the talk.”
He walks and talks, as the Secretary of the Auckland Tamil Association and as a Trustee of Communities Action Trust (CATNZ) which has been organising ‘Diwali Wellington’ and the biannual Southeast Asian Night Market.
Awards and Citations
His excellence as an organiser of cultural programmes earned him a ‘Culture Award’ at the Sixth Annual Indian Newslink Sports, Community, Arts & Culture Awards held on September 24, 2019 at Ellerslie Events Centre in Auckland.
Mr Kumar’s role as a Justice of the Peace takes him closer to people and their communities and over the years, he has developed a deep understanding of the hopes and aspirations of people. His passion and work in promoting peaceful communities brought him the ‘Harmony Award’ given by the Wellington based Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) and the ‘Recognition for Valuable Contributions to Ethnic Communities Award’ from Multicultural New Zealand (formerly Federation of Ethnic Councils).
Mr Kumar currently works for the Auckland Council, managing a cluster of community facilities and a programming team.
The Promise
His social proclivities have encouraged Mr Kumar to be an advocate for ‘connected communities’ to ensure and enhance the participation and representation of ethnic communities in general and the Indian Diaspora in particular.
“As a member of the Henderson Massey Local Board, I will engage with people and work to raise the profile of community groups and associations. I will also strive to provide more jobs in the West, engaging with businesses and finding ways to expand them,” Mr Kumar said.
He said that he would also engage corroboratively with agencies and departments to make homes, offices and places of public congregation safer.
Heath, Education and Environment are also issues of priority for him.
“The passion to be with people and work with and through people is important for success in community work. ‘He Tangata He Tangata He Tangata’ is my philosophy,” Mr Kumar said.
Venkat Raman
*
Photo Caption: Murali Kumar (Picture Supplied)
