Community care and social service come naturally to Shefali Mehta, who was honoured by the New Zealand government with a Queen’s Service Medal (QSM) on New Year’s Day 2016 for her services to the Indian community
This was the second such honour bestowed on her by the Queen, the first of which she received from the Papua New Guinea government in 1994.
Ms Mehta is contesting in the Local Government Elections to represent her people in the Portage Licencing Trust.
Significant Opportunity
Ms Mehta said that the Trust creates a significant opportunity to provide a way of integrating community activities and helping define West Auckland Culture.
“Its future is very important. I will be a strong voice and strive for more money to be returned to the community to support Health, Education, Sports and Arts,” she said.
Ms Mehta said that she would support a transparent Trust Model that ensures a safe and prosperous community, work to minimise alcohol harm, while providing quality retail and hospitality venues and give back to the community to make it strong and healthy.
Active engagement
Arriving in New Zealand with her husband Shailen Mehta and their two sons Ravi and Rajiv in December 1997, Ms Mehta almost immediately began her long and eventful engagement with New Zealanders in general and the growing Indian community in particular.
Her passion for community service took her to the Rotary Club of Auckland Harbourside 1998 and has been leading several fundraising projects, the foremost of which have been for ‘CanTeen’ (an organisation that helps young people suffering from Cancer), Starship Children Hospital, Leukaemia & Blood Foundation and the Southern Cross Campus School.
-Venkat Raman
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Photo Caption:
Shefali Mehta (Picture Supplied)
