Advisory panel appointments confirmed
Appointments to three community-based advisory panels have been approved by Auckland Council’s governing body.
Members of the Ethnic Peoples, Pacific Peoples and Seniors panels will meet together next week (13 May) for an initial
briefing.
The panels are designed to provide the council with strategic “big picture” intelligence on issues important to diverse
groups, and advise on effective engagement.
The council received 140 applications and a total of 30 positions have been confirmed – 11 each for the Ethnic Peoples
and Pacific Peoples panels and eight for the Seniors panel.
They were selected for having good knowledge of their communities, experience with governance and advisory roles, and an
understanding of council’s future direction as envisioned in the Auckland Plan.
“It was a robust process which has produced three high-quality panels,” said Grant Taylor, Auckland Council governance
director. “We were greatly appreciative of the motivation and enthusiasm of all candidates.”
Each panel is joined by a liaison councillor – Councillor Denise Krum (Ethnic Peoples), Councillor Arthur Anae (Pacific
Peoples) and Councillor Cathy Casey (Seniors).
The panellists’ term will end a month before the next council elections in 2016.
Ethnic Peoples Panel:
Feroz Ali (interim chair), managing director, New Zealand Career College
Carlos Abdelrahman, community engagement coordinator, NZ Aids Foundation
Asoka Basnayake, senior advisor, Tertiary Education Commission, Manukau
Naoe Hashimoto, executive assistant, efu Investment Limited
Anita Keestra, managing director, lecturer/business trainer
Yee Yang 'Square' Lee, company director, WhySquare Limited
Angela Lim, medical student, deputy chair Manukau Counties DHB Community Panel
Kafeba Mundele, chair of the New Zealand National Refugee Network
Dave Tomu, sales consultant
Liu Shueng Wong, director, Intercultural Works Limited
Christian Dee Yao, research and teaching fellow, Massey University
Pacific Peoples Panel:
Sina Aiolupotea-Aiono (interim chair), manager, Pasifika Development, Manukau Institute of Technology
Reece Autagavaia, barrister and solicitor
Ava Fa’amoe, former member, Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board
Tevita Funaki, chief executive, West Fono Health Trust
Tevita Finau, church minister
Sefita Hao’uli, self-employed advisor
Ofeina Langi, community advisor, Department Internal Affairs
Afa Manoa, governance consultant
Richard Pamatatau, programme leader, AUT University
Samuelu Sefuiva, company director
Leilani Tamu, freelance writer
Seniors Panel:
Margaret Devlin (interim chair), former Family Violence Coordinator, Waitemata District Health Board
Judy Blakey, former research officer, Massey University School of Psychology
Janet Clews, company director, West Auckland Trust Services, former long-serving local body politician in west Auckland
Roger Fowler, community centre manager
Joan Lardner-Rivlin, community volunteer
Sonny Niha, vice-chair person, of roopu kaumaatua/kuia of the Whanau O Waipareira
Richard Northey, former Member of Parliament and long-serving Auckland councillor
Russell Rigby, chaplain
Ends