Hamilton East Ward By Election
Dear neighbours,
My name is Sarkaw Mohammad and I am standing for Hamilton City Council in the East Ward By Election. You may have seen my signages around the city - here is what I stand for. I am 31 years old, a practising chiropractor and own the Hillcrest Spinal Centre where children are treated free. People make communities and communities make a city. ‘People’ and ‘community’ are at the heart of my focus and their needs should not be neglected in order to give the city a cosmetic change.
I am a proud Hamiltonian and Kurdish by descent. My passion for the city and community means I am fearless in expressing their concerns to expedite change. I am against rates rise, believe we need more sports fields in the Eastward area and support development that doesn’t adversely affect ratepayers. I don’t think we should be charging people for entering our Gardens, and there is no need to invest any more time or money into Garden Place. I support certain aspects of the plan but at this stage going ahead with changes in Garden Place is a matter of we ‘want’ rather than we ‘need’. To ensure the city develops and grows, an increase in rates is inevitable but it should be reasonable and according to inflation rates. For a family of low to middle income, increasing their rates could have a very adverse effect on their financial state. I do not support chewing into people’s pockets to give certain areas in the city a makeover that it does not need at this stage.
I am a former paramedic, a successful businesswoman, and a practicing chiropractor. Having obtained various higher qualifications within the health sector I am a PhD candidate researching depression at the University of Waikato. I can speak four languages, am the founder of the I AM HE(R) Charitable Trust (www.iamher.co.nz) producing films on New Zealand issues, and sit on many community/health boards (including NZ Chiropractic Board, Ethnic Business Network, Hamilton East Community House, and Immigration Trust and Shama’s Advisory Boards). I represent New Zealand on World Federation of Chiropractic’s Public Health Committee.
Hamilton is a very diverse city and the Council representing the city should mirror that – unfortunately it does not. By diversity, I mean age, gender, sex, sexual orientation, culture, background and experience. We need to ensure that Hamilton City Council is a mix of what Hamilton is made up of. Vote Diversity for Hamilton! Please support me and make sure you vote in the by-election. Your voting papers will be mailed to you from 26th January 2018 and you can return them via post by approximately 14th February or drop them into one of the centres by midday 17th February 2018.
Thanks in advance and Happy 2018 to all.
Sarkaw Mohammad
What's your favourite recipe for gooseberry?
Love gooseberries? Share your favourite way to enjoy them. We're looking for our readers' favourite family recipes for this delicious crop. Send yours to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the magazine, you will receive a free copy of our December 2024 issue.
Six tips for improving security around your home
1) Improve outdoor lighting
Ensure that streets, driveways, and front yards are well-lit. Motion-sensor lights around homes deter trespassers by reducing hiding spots and illuminating their movements.
2) Trim your trees
Overgrown shrubs and trees provide cover for intruders. Keeping them well-trimmed around windows and doors improves visibility and reduces potential hiding spots.
3) Secure Entry Points
Ensure doors, windows, and gates are always closed when you are away from the house. Upgrade to more secure locks, deadbolts, or even smart locks for added protection.
4) Add a security camera
Place security cameras in the main entry points to your home. Doorbell cameras are also relatively cheap and a great way to keep track of who is visiting your home when you aren't there.
5) Start a Neighborhood Watch Program
You could reach out to members on Neighbourly to form a group of neighbors who can regularly keep an eye out for suspicious activity and report it. You could also check with Neighbourhood Support to see what is existing in your area.
6) Introduce yourself to your neighbours
The closer you are to your neighbors, the more likely they’ll notice when something unusual or suspicious is happening around your property
Feel free to share anything that you do around your area to deter crime.
What workplace change would you like to see most?
This coming Monday is Labour Day in New Zealand. This public holiday marks when the eight-hour workday and 48-hour workweek became law in 1899. The idea started with Samuel Parnell, a carpenter in Wellington, who in 1840 refused to work more than eight hours a day. Since skilled workers were in short supply, his employer had to agree.
As more skilled workers arrived, employers tried to change working conditions, but Parnell and others kept pushing for better rights. In 1890, Parnell led a Labour Day parade of 1,500 people to promote the eight-hour day. He passed away shortly after, and nine years later, Labour Day became an official public holiday.
Do you feel that we have reached the ideal in working environments yet? What rights are you passionate about relating to employment? Share your thoughts!
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