The Asian candidates contesting local government seats in Wellington

Asian communities in New Zealand are watching local body elections in the Wellington region with anticipation, with three individuals of Asian origin eyeing the top job.

Ray Chung and Joan Shi are seeking to be Wellington City's next mayor, while Indian New Zealander Prabha Ravi wants to lead Hutt City Council for the next three years.

All three candidates are also contesting council seats in their respective areas.

Overall, more than 10 Asian candidates are contesting local body seats in Hutt City Council, Porirua City Council, Wellington City Council and Upper Hutt City Council.

We profile some of the candidates fighting for council seats in the region below.

Karen Yung (Hutt City)

Yung was born in Lower Hutt to Chinese immigrants in the late 1980s.

"[This] makes me a first generation 'Chiwi' or Chinese Kiwi," she says. "I fit in between two nations - China and Aotearoa New Zealand - where I have strengths and perhaps weaknesses of both places."

Yung first stood for local body elections in 2016 and has been involved in local government entities for the past nine years.

She currently sits on the Petone community board as its deputy chair.

"We don't often see younger women of colour at the governance tables of our councils, and we, too, have much to add," Yung says. "[This time] I am running for a city-wide councillor seat in Hutt City."

Yung rates climate resilience, better communication between decision makers and the community they serve, and empowering communities as her focus areas.

"Currently, the struggle of basic required services alongside a limited financial environment beckons," Yung says. "My focus with all that in mind is ensuring a voice for our people right now, whilst ensuring mokopuna decisions - not forgetting those who are yet to come."

Brent Ching (Porirua)

A third-generation Chinese New Zealander, Ching and his family had lived in Levin in the 1930s before moving to Island Bay in Wellington in the 1940s.

His parents then settled on the Kapiti Coast in the 1960s, with Ching moving to Porirua in 2003.

"I want to serve the community where I have lived and raised my family for 21 years as an independent councillor," says Ching, who is a small business owner in the city.

A supporter of councils to be amalgamated, Ching argues for capping rates to inflation.

"I support the concept of council amalgamation with Wellington, Lower and Upper Hutt. Discussions need to get underway immediately as combing resources within the region will offer longer term savings and improve service delivery," he says.

"It is unsustainable to continue with annual high rate increases [that] our community has experienced - a cumulative increase of 33.45 percent over the past three years. It is making our city unaffordable to live.

"Through capping rates to inflation, we can take control. This requires council to be razor focused on key infrastructure expenditure. [And] only through community referendum can an increase be sought."

Aditi Tiwari (Porirua)

Tiwari came to New Zealand from India 12 years ago, with her family settling in Porirua.

The 25-year-old is a master's student who advocates for a fairer, more inclusive New Zealand.

"My mahi includes kaupapa like Gen-Z Aotearoa (which I co-lead), Voice of Aroha, Make It 16 and the Young Greens," Tiwari says.

"[Here] I get to champion for climate action, representation for people of colour, migrant and under-represented minority communities, rangatahi advocacy and leadership, and grassroots activism.

"Growing up, I didn't see people like me in decision-making spaces. I'm standing to change that for the next generation by running for the Pāuatahanui General Ward in Porirua City Council.

"We need more South Asian progressive candidates across the motu to bring fresh perspectives and lived experience into leadership."

With a desire to establish a youth council to ensure young people have a real voice in decisions shaping their future, Tiwari pushes for climate-smart infrastructure.

"[In addition], keep rates fair and make sure spending actually reflects our community's needs," she says.

Yan Zhang (Porirua)

Zhang is standing for Porirua City Council's Onepoto Ward to "build the bridge between council decisions and community reality".

"As a solo mother to a bright, neurodivergent child, I navigate school runs, work deadlines and the daily juggle familiar to many Porirua families," Zhang says.

"With a professional background in business analysis and currently training to become a Justice of the Peace, I bring both analytical precision and a strong sense of civic duty to my work.

"New Zealand has given me more than a home - it has given me a mission: to help create a city where every family can thrive in a safe, fair and connected community."

Noting it's time for her to give back to the community, Zhang argues for a live project-tracking module that will let people see timelines, progress updates and spending in real time.

"[They can then] flag delays early, reducing waste and keeping pressure on for timely delivery," she says.

Zhang also wants more transparency in council spending.

"Porirua residents pay some of the highest rates in the country, yet many can't get a straight answer on where that money goes," she says.

Her focus is on limiting economic barriers for locals.

"My vision is for Porirua to become the first city in Aotearoa where residents can open their phone, see exactly how their council is performing and have the tools to shape what happens next."

Stuart Wong (Wellington)

Wong is a second-generation Chinese New Zealander, whose parents immigrated from Guangzhou in China eight decades ago.

He has been involved in the retail and hospitality sector for more than four decades and credits his business acumen to his father.

"[From him] I learnt leadership skills, how to handle money, budgeting, managing people and the power of negotiating. I can bring all these attributes to the council table," Wong says.

He is contesting the council seat for the Pukehīnau/Lambton General Ward and wants to tackle the "neglected" issues of water, roads, lighting, security and accessibility.

"I aim to make council operations more efficient and accountable ... my goal is to ensure ratepayers money is managed wisely, just like a well-run business," he says.

"I propose a full spending review [of the council] to cut waste, reduce unnecessary roles and defer large projects which aren't essential.

"Wellington's pipes and roads are in poor shape," he says.

"I believe the council must prioritise focusing on maintaining and upgrading essential services like water, wastewater and roads."

Ramil Adhikari (Upper Hutt)

A medically trained doctor from Nepal, Adhikari now works as a public health professional in New Zealand.

Adhikari is the current chairperson of the Wellington branch of the Public Health Association and advocates for affordable rates, healthy whānau and a strong community.

"We often hear about long-term planning and short-term strategies in Upper Hutt [but] ... for many ethnic migrants and former refugees, language and communication barriers prevent meaningful engagement with the council," Adhikari says.

"Some hesitate to participate in local decision-making simply because they don't feel heard. That's why I'm standing for councillor.

"I want to create a council that is open, welcoming and accessible to all, a space where everyone feels confident to speak up and knows their voice matters."

He calls for accessible after-hours healthcare, reviewing spending priorities and a truly inclusive Upper Hutt.

"My experience in governance and professional expertise equips me to address these challenges with practical, people-centred solutions," he says.

Gurpreet Dhillon (Upper Hutt)

Dhillon moved to New Zealand from India in 2008 and lived in Tauranga and Wellington for a few years before moving to Upper Hutt more than a decade ago.

Dhillon runs a small taxi business, which, he says, gives him a unique window into people's everyday life and challenges.

"The nature of my work means I'm out in the community every day, making me approachable and available to residents who want to share their thoughts," he says.

"I am standing for Upper Hutt City Council to focus on the basics that matter most: well-maintained roads and footpaths, fair rates, safer streets and sensible spending."

Like almost all candidates, he wants to control council rates and debt.

"Rates keep climbing, and people are paying more but not always seeing better services. At the same time, council debt is growing, which means more money goes on interest instead of fixing things. I will ensure spending stays focused on essential services," he says.

Dhillon also wants to improve the capital's ageing water network.

"Our water network is ageing, and storm-water systems can't cope with heavy rain," he says.

"I will focus on upgrading pipes, fixing leaks early to save costs and holding Wellington Water accountable for delivering quality work at a fair price."