The Asian candidates vying for a seat on regional councils

As billboards are erected for local elections nationwide, a number of Asian candidates have put their hands up to contest seats in regional councils.

New Zealand has 11 regional councils that serve areas such as Northland, Bay of Plenty and Otago.

The councils play a key role in managing natural resources such as land, air and water, supporting biodiversity and biosecurity, regional transport, as well as building resilience for climate change and natural hazards.

Although there has been speculation that regional councils may be tossed on the scrapheap due to Resource Management Act reform, four Asian candidates have thrown their hats into the ring for the election.

Yadana Saw and Omar Faruque are seeking election in Greater Wellington, Syed Khurram Iqbal is standing in Hawkes Bay and Alan Wang is vying for a seat in Environmental Canterbury.

Yadana Saw (Greater Wellington)

Yadana Saw is an incumbent councillor for the Greater Wellington Regional Council.

She was first elected to the council in 2022, seeking re-election to one of the five seats available for the Wellington constituency.

Saw's parents came to New Zealand from Myanmar.

Born and bred in New Zealand herself, Saw primarily wants to give something back to the place her family was able to put down roots.

Having started her campaigning and activism when she was in university, Saw then worked in media, including RNZ, before trying her hand at local politics.

Saw says that regional councils play a key role in people's day-to-day lives.

She is most concerned about how storm water in the Wellington region is being managed, noting that it is currently being channelled into drains and becoming polluted before flowing into rivers and harbours.

"I think there are really good solutions that all councils and communities and manawhenua and businesses need to work together to solve it," Saw says.

Constructing wetlands and using other ways to retain rainwater so that it stays out of drainage systems and can be used for gardening may be part of the solution, she says.

Omar Faruque (Greater Wellington)

Omar Faruque is eyeing one of three seats available for the Lower Hutt constituency in the Greater Wellington Regional Council.

It is the first time he has stood as a candidate in local government elections.

Coming from Bangladesh in 2005, Faruque studied applied finance and public policy at Victoria University of Wellington.

Faruque has also worked as a prison officer, actor, model and fashion photographer.

He says the region's problematic public transport system, aging water infrastructure and outdated emergency plans all deserve attention.

If elected, he pledges to launch a feasibility study to build another water treatment plant in Stokes Valley, a "New Cross Valley" plan to develop the local economy, including building a film studio in Wainuiomata, as well as replacing the eight territorial councils with a transformed regional council.

"I have been encouraged by community elders, local leaders, seniors [and] neighbours," Faruque said.

"It's my call to stand as a candidate to serve for the greater wellbeing of the regional community. ... It is the right time to challenge the status quo."

Syed Khurram Iqbal (Hawkes Bay)

Syed Khurram Iqbal, a chartered engineer, arrived in New Zealand from Pakistan in 2017 and has been living in Napier with his family.

Working as a senior project manager at Napier City Council, Iqbal is seeking election in one of three seats for the Napier constituency in the Hawkes Bay Regional Council.

Frustration over delays on flood repairs after Cyclone Gabrielle and pollution to aquifers, as well as bus cuts that affect students and other commuters, have motivated him to stand for the first time, he says.

"For a decade, I have managed critical infrastructure projects and chaired many panels," Iqbal said, adding that he knows how to turn a plan into action.

"But seeing families displaced by floods and aquifers poisoned by nitrates ignited a new purpose: to expedite solutions for Napier's safety and fairness."

He promises to fast-track flood defence measures, clean water sources through auditing industrial polluters and funding free well tests, restore certain bus routes and allocate grants to help small businesses adapt to extreme weather.

"From volunteering in cyclone recovery to demanding industrial accountability, I have seen how expertise and empathy can drive change," Iqbal said.

"Now, as a father and community leader, I'm determined to build a Napier where our children thrive - not just survive on past decision makers."

Alan Wang (Environment Canterbury)

Alan Wang is standing for one of two spots in the Christchurch Central constituency at Environment Canterbury (Canterbury Regional Council), which is also known as Ecan.

He worked as a food scientist in China before coming to New Zealand in 2012, studying applied science at Lincoln University.

Wang then studied environmental health at Massey University during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Currently working as an environmental health officer at Christchurch City Council, the first-time candidate says he has experience working with drinking water, recreational water and wastewater.

Growing up in rural China, Wang has seen firsthand what happens when the local governments cut down native forests to make charcoal for steel production.

He is primarily focused on discharges to air, water and land in his campaign.

"Ecan should take a more proactive approach," Wang said.

"I think we should prioritise regenerating native flora in some sensitive areas, for example, hills above the bays, to reduce the pathogen level in the water."

He says it would be wrong to disestablish regional councils, so he decided to step up during this "difficult time".

"Christchurch is my home," he says. "I believe I can do more and better for our society if I am elected as a regional councillor of Canterbury."