Labour has selected a Takanini business owner to contest the seat at this year’s general election.
Kharag Singh was announced as the party’s Takanini candidate in late March. Singh said his focus was on cost of living and core services.
“My commitment is to uphold Labour’s Policies and Programmes with humility, integrity and competence,” Singh told Indian Newslink in March.
“Our focus must remain on homes, jobs and health so that we can begin economic recovery and ease the cost-of-living burden.”
He said young people should be consulted even before they could vote.
“We should be present in schools and engage with students through the Youth Council, supported by both Local and Central governments,” Singh said.
“Although they are below voting age, their views matter.”
Singh also said mental health needed collective action and approaches that reflected cultural differences.
“For many years, mental illness was not openly discussed because people feared exclusion,” he said.
“That stigma has eased, but we still need collective action.”
Singh has run the family business in Takanini for more than 25 years and is a Justice of the Peace and marriage celebrant.
He came to Auckland 36 years ago from Chandigarh in Punjab, and holds arts and law degrees from Punjab University.
He established K & R Ganday Traders in 1995, which operated the Everglade Four Square at Manukau Heights.
Takanini is one of three electorates covering this paper’s circulation area, alongside Pakuranga and Botany.
