Woman in MP's text message scandal aims for Botany seat

Neelam Choudary. Photo / Supplied

The woman who played a part in unseating Richard Worth as minister is hoping to win a seat in the Botany subdivision of the Howick Local Board.

Neelam Choudary, who made headlines as the Labour Party activist who alleged Dr Worth sent her dozens of text messages, including sexually explicit ones, believed a tough stance on crime could win her a place on the local board.

Members of the Howick Local Board will be elected from three divisions, namely Pakuranga, Howick and Botany.

Ms Choudary is one of 24 candidates vying for nine positions on offer.

"Crime is a major issue for the community, and a top priority for us will be to fight for more resources to be put into crime prevention and community safety," she said.

Last year, 15,000 people in Botany marched in an anti-crime demonstration, which Ms Choudary said demonstrated the community's sentiments to crime.

The Howick subdivision is the most popular with 10 candidates fighting for three available seats, which also include two council candidates Mike Padfield and Sharon Stewart.

Wayne Huang, the sitting chairman of the Botany Community Board who is campaigning under the C&R ticket for the Botany subdivision, says a unique feature of the ward is the "extremely high number" of new migrants, especially from Asia.

Mr Huang said a key to the area's future growth was for the skills and networks of these migrants to be fully used, and he will push for the establishment of an ethnic advisory committee on the local board if elected.

"We will create opportunities for local businesses to benefit from the links our immigrant residents have with China and their other countries of origin," said Mr Huang.

There are fears that the Howick board will be under-resourced, as it will be sharing staff with Manurewa, which has a population of 86,800.

Each board will have a manager and share three secretaries and three policy advisers.

CANDIDATES

Botany (3 seats): Trevor Armstrong (Independent), Roy Bootle (Residents & Ratepayers), Neelam Choudary (Residents & Ratepayers), Wayne Huang (C&R), Ram Prakash (Residents & Ratepayers), Lucy Schwaner (C&R), Michael Williams (C&R).

Howick (3 seats): Jim Donald (Team Howickian), Jenny Foster (Team Howickian), Lyn Murphy (C&R), Mike Padfield (The Voice of our Community), Ian Rodger (Team Howickian), John Spiller (C&R), Hamish Stevens (C&R), Sharon Stewart (Independent), Adele White (Independent), Peter Wilson (Independent).

Pakuranga (3 seats): Dale Bickerstaff (Independent), Sue Christie (Residents & Ratepayers), David Collings (Independent), Barry Keon (Residents & Ratepayers), Barry Parkin (C&R), Steve Udy (C&R), Shirley Warren (C&R).