Amail Habib, President

Rev. Amail Habib arrived to New Zealand in 1995 from the United Arab Emirates. Amail originally hails from Pakistan, and resides in West Auckland with his family. Previously the Secretary of WEB, Amail has been a part of the organization since 2006.

Amail has been working in the education industry for the past nineteen years. However at present Amail is an employee of Bayleys Real Estate Limited. In his spare time Amail is also quite involved with his church.

As well as offering his voluntary service to WEB, Amail also sits on the Board for Migrant Support Services.

John Yang, Vice President

ChulKwon Yang also known as Pastor John joined WEB in February 2010. Born and raised in Korea, Pastor John came to Auckland with his wife in 2002.

John studied Theology at university and has also done a postgraduate course. He has also travelled extensively visiting Thailand, Japan, Burma, Laos, Fiji and Kiribati. In 2003 Pastor John became more involved with his congregational Church in Te Atatu. He is also involved witht he Asian Family Support Group and Chaplaincy work in Waitakere Hospital. John also coordinates the West Auckland Korean Community Centre.

These experiences have given Pastor John the ability to see things from a multicultural perspective and he hopes that this perspective can mean more strength for the communities. Pastor John hopes to share his knowledge and experiences with the communities in West Auckland.

Dr Mirza Taimoori, Treasurer

Dr Taimoori joined WEB in 2004, and is one of the longest standing Board Members of the organization. Having migrated from India in 1997 with his family, Dr Taimoori has been a proud resident of the West-side since. He has a PhD in Commerce from India and has worked in various roles since having migrated to New Zealand.

Most recently Mr Taimoori has accomplished setting up the Hyderabad Urdu Association and is currently the President of this organization with an aim to encourage the use of Urdu language.

Arvinder Vasudeva, Community Liaison Officer

Arvinder joined the Waitakere Ethnic Board (WEB) in February 2010. She was born and raised in India and is now a proud New Zealand citizen having migrated here in 2002 with her family.

Arvinder graduated from Delhi University and started her career in the hospitality industry where she remained for the past 18 years.  Since having arrived to Aotearoa Arvinder has been working in the food and retail industry.

Arvinder can relate to the hardships of migration and settlement and that motivated her to join WEB. She also prides herself on being a local Westie and understanding issues of the communities residing here.

Sunil Kaushal, Public Relations Officer

Sunil emigrated from India in 1995 and has been a resident of Waitakere since 1997. Sunil is passionate about working with ethnic communities, and works in the finance industry.

Linda Chen, Membership Officer

Linda immigrated to New Zealand from Beijing, China in 1999. She has been a proud Waitakere citizen for the last 9 years. Linda has been a member of the Board since February 2010.

Linda is a qualified social practitioner and a counselor specialising in alcohol and drug addictions, marriage and couple relationship and adolescences. Her professional qualifications and skills support many agencies that she volunteers for, such as the: Citizens Advice Bureau, Community Alcohol and Drug Services(WDHB), Victim Support , high schools, Child, Youth and Family Services(WDHB) and community law service.

Neeta Chhima, Membership Officer

Neeta joined WEB in 2009 and is of Guajarati Indian ethnicity, born and raised in New Zealand.

Neeta’s introduction to serving the community was through helping skilled migrants find employment that matched their education, skills and experience.  Working as part of International Migration Services, she was responsible for sourcing work opportunities and appropriate language and re-education courses. Neeta then went on to work for a housing assistance trust locating accommodation for the local community.    She has undertaken various voluntary roles helping at St Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army and Te Whakakainga (Youth at Risk).  Neeta has also just completed a three-month fieldwork placement at the Auckland City Mission Drug and Alcohol residential programme.

Neeta’s goals are to complete her Bachelor of Social Practice degree and to serve the wider Waitakere community. She acknowledges the Treaty of Waitangi and embrace all people regardless of gender or race.

Lawrence Amos, Board Member

Lawrence joined WEB in February 2010. Having emigrated from Cape Town, South Africa with his family, Lawrence has been in New Zealand since 1998. Lawrence is proud to mention that he has been a resident of Waitakere ever since.

In Cape Town, Lawrence worked as an Engineer for a Ship repair company for 15 years, firstly as an Apprentice Boilermaker, then as a Design Draughtsman and being further promoted to Assistant Project Manager.  In New Zealand he started working at a Boat Building Company for five years as a Fabricator Welder and then being promoted to Design Draughtsman. Currently he is employed at a Steel Fabricating Company as a Product Support Engineer, where they manufacture and supply Road Infrastructure Equipment for the local and international market.

Lawrence’s other contributions to NZ include volunteering as  Youth Leader at St. Michaels All Angels in Henderson, and serving on the Church Board for 5 years. Lawrence aims to bring his passion to help young people achieve their potential no matter what ethnicity or background through his work at WEB.

Harley Liu, Board Member

Harley joined WEB in February 2010. Harley and his family moved to New Zealand in 2003. Harley has qualified with a National Diploma in Surveying, and works as a DJ for the New Lynn Community Activity Centre on a voluntary capacity.

 Harley has joined WEB because he loves sports and music and is interested in inspiring those passions within the ethnic communities or Waitakere.

Dr Camille Nakhid, Board Member

Camille has been a part of WEB since its inception in 2003. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Camille is currently a Senior Lecturer at Auckland University of Technology.

Camille’s research interests include: the sociology of education; the social construction of identity; appropriate research methodologies for marginalized and minority groups; race and ethnicity; and Maori and Pasifika academic achievement.

As well as offering her voluntary services to WEB, Camille is also the Chairperson for Migrant Action Trust.

Ann Pala (QSM), Board Member

Immediate past President

Ann is also one of the most long standing individuals that have helped with WEB’s progress and enhancement. Ann joined WEB in 2003 when the ethnic communities of Waitakere City were lobbying to establish a board that was representative of their voices in local government.  Ann is originally from Fiji and arrived in New Zealand in 1991 with her family.

She is the company Director for Winmac Solutions, and is also studying her Postgraduate Diploma in Not-For-Profit. Most recently Ann ran for the local Whau Ward Board, and participates in several other areas of expertise to contribute towards New Zealand society.

Remy Ernest Bucumi, Board Member  

Remy was born in Burundi (Bujumbura which is the capital city); He became a refugee when he was only 9 months old and has been living in a number of different countries since including: France (6 months), Rwanda (20 years), Kenya (10 years) Congo (Democratic Rep, 3 years), Tanzania and Uganda.  Remy arrived in New Zealand in November 2004.

Having completed his bachelor in Business Administration and Economics in Nairobi Kenya at Hope International School, he is currently completing his degree in Social Work at Unitec.  For the last five years Remy has worked with Refugee Services Aotearoa New Zealand as a Senior Cross Cultural Worker. Since June 2010, he is now moved to the role of “intern Social Worker” with Refugee Services.

Remy speaks several languages including: Kirundi (mother tongue), French, Kiswahili, English and Kinyarwanda.

Germaine Neueli, Board Secretary  

Germaine Neueli is one of 6 children born and bred out West Auckland to migrant Pacific Island parents, Kaisala and Neiligi Neueli. Her parents migrated from Samoa and Niue respectfully to New Zealand during the 1940’s-1950’s; before settling in Green Bay, Waitakere. Germaine says most the friends she grew up with were European migrant children ranging from Germany to Mexico.

In 1986, Germaine graduated from one of the first Pacific Island Journalism courses at Manukau Technical Institute. She then worked voluntarily for four years as a reporter for Radio Rhema, and as voluntary camp leader at Christian Youth Camps in Ngaruawahia. Germaine then gained a Diploma of Theology in 1991 and a year later travelled to Hawaii to volunteer as a Mission Builder at Youth with a Mission in Kona. She has since worked as a computer trainer for Health Alliance, an administrator at Middlemore Hospital, and an Information Services clerk at World Vision.

From 1994, Germaine spent nearly 10 years living in Otara. She then returned to live in West Auckland in 2006 with her son and is now in her last year of studying a Bachelor of Social Practice degree at Unitec Waitakere, majoring in Community Development. Germaine joined the WEB in 2011 with a desire to promote social inclusion and local capacity building for immigrants and refugees.