Candidate hopes for culturally-diverse council

While Anjum Rahman (right) was not elected to council this year, she hopes the new council will make the right decisions for the city.

Rahman, who ran for the council in the East Ward, received 4676 votes.

"I wish they had chosen differently but we have to accept the result.

"I hope the new council doesn't make decisions which reduce services and increase costs, such as for water."

Rahman says the new council reflects Hamilton's cultural diversity more than the previous one.

"We have Margaret Forsyth, who is Maori, and now Philip Yeung, who has good relationships with ethnic minority communities."

She says if Hamilton keeps putting up good and strong candidates for local body elections voters will be more likely to accept a council that is more culturally diverse.

"Eventually, when people are used to seeing diversity in candidates, they may be more willing to elect them," said Rahman, who is heavily involved in her community.

"I'll also be involved in organising for next year's central government elections. Even though the campaign is over, I've had meetings every day this week."

Rahman says community is important and hopes that one day there will be a sense of community in Hamilton.