Clockwise from top left: Leo Liu, Jono Ng, Preet Raj Singh Dhaliwal, Paul Alforque Photo: Supplied
Four Asian candidates are standing for Hamilton City Council in the local body elections, vowing to cut wasteful spending and advance economic growth.
Hamilton is the fourth biggest city in New Zealand in terms of population but has the country's second largest share of Asian residents behind Auckland.
Around 40,000 individuals - about quarter of population - in Hamilton identify as Asian, according to latest data from the 2023 Census.
By comparison, nearly a third of Auckland's population claims Asian heritage.
Three Asian candidates - Jono Ng, Leo Liu and Preet Raj Singh Dhaliwal - are standing in the East General Ward, while Paul Alforque wants a seat in the West General Ward.
Six seats are available in each of the East and West wards.
Preet Raj Singh Dhaliwal Photo: Supplied
Preet Raj Singh Dhaliwal (East General Ward)
Born to a Malaysian father and an Indian mother, Dhaliwal was born and raised in Auckland before moving to Hamilton last year.
He graduated from Auckland University of Technology in 2012 with a triple major in networks, IT security and IT service science.
The first-time local election candidate initially worked in the IT sector after graduation before signing up for a stint in the New Zealand Army.
Upon leaving the army, he ran a pub in Auckland before opening a cafe in Hamilton.
"Time and again, ratepayers have been let down by Hamilton City Council with outrageous rates hikes, poor public services and wasteful spending," Dhaliwal says.
"It is time to give the council a wake-up call and focus on the things that matter to Hamiltonians."
His priorities include upgrading Hamilton's infrastructure such as roads, water systems and public spaces, creating safer streets, introducing housing policies that make homes affordable and support economic growth and innovation.
"The council needs to focus on smart, responsible decision-making and cut through the red tape that holds back progress," Dhaliwal says.
"We face challenges around housing, infrastructure and cost-of-living pressures, and we can't afford to keep doing things the old way."
An ACT Party candidate, Dhaliwal says what sets him apart if his desire to bring much needed balance to "an increasingly left-leaning council".
Leo Liu Photo: Supplied
Leo Liu (East General Ward)
Liu came to New Zealand from China as a teenager and has been living in Hamilton ever since.
After completing his studies, including an MBA at the University of Waikato, he began to work in management and later entered the energy and construction sectors.
It's the second time he has stood for a council seat, coming second in last year's by-election.
"Hamilton has given me and my family many opportunities. I've raised my son here, built strong community connections and witnessed how the city has grown and changed," Liu says.
"At the same time, I've also seen the challenges - particularly around affordability, infrastructure and council spending."
Liu promises to stop wasteful spending to get rates under control, including pushing for a line-by-line review of council spending to cut unnecessary costs.
He also wants to grow the local economy by attracting more businesses to Hamilton, supporting local industries and cutting red tape, especially in housing and infrastructure.
"Council needs to focus on doing fewer things better," Liu says. "That means sticking to core services, cutting duplication and operating more efficiently.
"I believe Hamilton needs fresh leadership that is both financially responsible and community focused. My goal is to represent everyday people, make council more transparent and ensure ratepayers see value for every dollar spent."
Jono Ng Photo: Supplied
Jono Ng (East General Ward)
Ng came to New Zealand from Malaysia for secondary school education in 1999 and settled in Hamilton after initially staying in Oamaru and then Christchurch.
As a father of two teenage boys, Ng says he's deeply invested in the future of Hamilton and the opportunities it offers the next generation.
He's putting his hand up again for a seat in the East Ward after failing to win the by-election early last year.
With a diploma in sports and exercise science and a passion for sport, Ng hopes to build Hamilton's identity around sports and events.
He says one of the challenges the Hamilton City Council faces is a lack of investment.
"My strategy is simple - attracting more events, visitors and investment into the city, Hamilton can increase revenue streams and in turn reduce pressure on council rates," Ng says.
Cutting wasteful spending and proposing an investment strategy based on community health and financial accountability are among things he wants to change about the city.
"I value unity, and I work well with others. I have a positive mindset and I'm future-focused with a key goal of driving sound investments and reducing debt for a city we all call home," he says.
"Local elections come around once every three years. This is an opportunity for everyone to vote - to vote for what they believe in."
Paul Alforque (West General Ward)
Paul Alforque Photo: Supplied
Alforque came to New Zealand in 2013 from the Philippines.
He has worked as a lawyer in New Zealand and Australia, as well as a consultant and a legal advisor.
Alforque is confident he can undertake council work efficiently based on his knowledge about policy, by-laws, corporate structures, contracts drafting and analysis, ethical public service and administrative law.
"I just put my name as one of their best options, in case our voters are undecided. My overall political philosophy is to leave local politics to the locals," Alforque says.
"I am a problem solver and am willing to solve any problem that's on the table," he says. "I don't identify myself with any idealism that pollutes my pragmatic personality."
