Our committee members
Multicultural Tauranga's organisational structure is flat, which enables us to make decisions quickly and coordinate tasks efficiently.
Office bearers
Ann Kerewaro, President
Waitsu Wu, Treasurer
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Premila D'Mello, Vice President
Alessandra Tilby, Secretary
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Committee members
Mark Bils | Alexander Finn | Ramesh Sharma | Beverly Vokia-Scarlett | Navdeep Kaur |
Mark Bils | Alexander Finn | Ramesh Sharma | Beverly Vokia-Scarlett | Navdeep Kaur |
We invite applications of volunteers to join Multicultural Tauranga as a member and be co-opted to the General Committee.
Meet the people behind Multicultural Tauranga
Ann Kerewaro, President
Ann left the UK in 1961 aboard the SS Canberra and arrived in Auckland exactly one month later as an Assisted Immigrant. The New Zealand government paid her fare, arranged a job in the public service and had arranged temporary accommodation in Wellington, where she was to live and work for the next 12 years.
Ann became involved with Multicultural Tauranga through a work colleague over 10 years ago, has held different roles, and enjoys the company of the world through association with migrants from all over the world. She has filled the roles of Secretary for five years, Treasurer for four years, was committee member, and is currently President since 2016. She received the Trustee of the Year award at the Tauranga Excellence Awards in 2015, and a Recognition for Services to Migrants Awards for 2016 from Tauranga City Council.
Ann left the UK in 1961 aboard the SS Canberra and arrived in Auckland exactly one month later as an Assisted Immigrant. The New Zealand government paid her fare, arranged a job in the public service and had arranged temporary accommodation in Wellington, where she was to live and work for the next 12 years.
Ann became involved with Multicultural Tauranga through a work colleague over 10 years ago, has held different roles, and enjoys the company of the world through association with migrants from all over the world. She has filled the roles of Secretary for five years, Treasurer for four years, was committee member, and is currently President since 2016. She received the Trustee of the Year award at the Tauranga Excellence Awards in 2015, and a Recognition for Services to Migrants Awards for 2016 from Tauranga City Council.
Premila D’Mello, Vice President
Premila moved to New Zealand with her family in 2000. She is a post-graduate degree in Business Management and a Graduate Diploma in Primary Teaching and Learning. She has a passion for working with people especially young children. Over the years, she has been an educator in New Zealand schools and early childhood centres in Tauranga. She is actively involved in the parish life of her local church.
Being a volunteer is very fulfilling for her; she has volunteered her time doing social work for many years now. Being involved with Multicultural Tauranga fits with her personal motto of ‘giving back’. Having enjoyed the great lifestyle and opportunities that her family has enjoyed in New Zealand, she has decided to play a role in helping new migrants as they settle here and make this their home. Premila’s vision is that we will be able to live in a city which welcomes, values and embraces diversity, leading to a brighter future for our Tauranga community.
'If you get, give; if you learn, teach.' - Maya Angelou
Premila moved to New Zealand with her family in 2000. She is a post-graduate degree in Business Management and a Graduate Diploma in Primary Teaching and Learning. She has a passion for working with people especially young children. Over the years, she has been an educator in New Zealand schools and early childhood centres in Tauranga. She is actively involved in the parish life of her local church.
Being a volunteer is very fulfilling for her; she has volunteered her time doing social work for many years now. Being involved with Multicultural Tauranga fits with her personal motto of ‘giving back’. Having enjoyed the great lifestyle and opportunities that her family has enjoyed in New Zealand, she has decided to play a role in helping new migrants as they settle here and make this their home. Premila’s vision is that we will be able to live in a city which welcomes, values and embraces diversity, leading to a brighter future for our Tauranga community.
'If you get, give; if you learn, teach.' - Maya Angelou
Waitsu Wu, Treasurer
Waitsu grew up in Taiwan and fell in love with New Zealand 28 years ago. She became a computer programmer after five years’ study in Japan. Now Waitsu exports New Zealand made lanoline products overseas. She also co-founded a popular Kiwi Farm Show in Taiwan, and successfully managed four souvenir shops.
Having lived in Rotorua for 20 years where she became the first Asian Justice of the Peace in Rotorua, Waitsu has now made Tauranga new home for herself and her two adult children – a son and a daughter. She likes to meet people and is passionate about people’s well-being.
Waitsu grew up in Taiwan and fell in love with New Zealand 28 years ago. She became a computer programmer after five years’ study in Japan. Now Waitsu exports New Zealand made lanoline products overseas. She also co-founded a popular Kiwi Farm Show in Taiwan, and successfully managed four souvenir shops.
Having lived in Rotorua for 20 years where she became the first Asian Justice of the Peace in Rotorua, Waitsu has now made Tauranga new home for herself and her two adult children – a son and a daughter. She likes to meet people and is passionate about people’s well-being.
Alessandra Tilby, Secretary
Alssandra arrived with her family in New Zealand from San Antonio del Pasubio, Italy in 1952; she was 4 ½ years old. She has travelled extensively, and lived with her family for two years in Thailand and five years in Indonesia where she was involved in volunteer work as a member of ANZA, an organisation which ran many expat social welfare programmes.
In 2010 Alessandra joined Multicultural Tauranga. Her duties were on the committee, eventually as Secretary, in special projects centered around the more creative events such as exhibitions, as festival stage manager for four years, organising discovery tents, window displays in community centres and costume parades on special evenings for local businesses. Besides her role as Secretary Alessandra’s portfolio is Creative Officer. She is also a life member. Her interests include tramping, mountain biking, skiing, travel and family.
Alssandra arrived with her family in New Zealand from San Antonio del Pasubio, Italy in 1952; she was 4 ½ years old. She has travelled extensively, and lived with her family for two years in Thailand and five years in Indonesia where she was involved in volunteer work as a member of ANZA, an organisation which ran many expat social welfare programmes.
In 2010 Alessandra joined Multicultural Tauranga. Her duties were on the committee, eventually as Secretary, in special projects centered around the more creative events such as exhibitions, as festival stage manager for four years, organising discovery tents, window displays in community centres and costume parades on special evenings for local businesses. Besides her role as Secretary Alessandra’s portfolio is Creative Officer. She is also a life member. Her interests include tramping, mountain biking, skiing, travel and family.
Jungeun Lee, Newcomers Network Coordinator
Jungeun was born in South Korea. She migrated to New Zealand with her English husband and has a New Zealand-born son. With this background, respecting each other’s culture and living in harmony has always had great importance in her life.
Moving to Tauranga after 10 years in Auckland and given her migrant background she understands what it feels like to start a new life in a new place. Therefore she has accepted the volunteer coordinator’s role to strengthen the Newcomers Network and provide the support that newcomers need.
Outside of Multicultural Tauranga Jungeun works as a Registered Financial Adviser specialising in mortgage and insurance. She has over 10 years of experience in the insurance and finance industry across Asia Pacific including Tower Insurance and nib in New Zealand.
Jungeun was born in South Korea. She migrated to New Zealand with her English husband and has a New Zealand-born son. With this background, respecting each other’s culture and living in harmony has always had great importance in her life.
Moving to Tauranga after 10 years in Auckland and given her migrant background she understands what it feels like to start a new life in a new place. Therefore she has accepted the volunteer coordinator’s role to strengthen the Newcomers Network and provide the support that newcomers need.
Outside of Multicultural Tauranga Jungeun works as a Registered Financial Adviser specialising in mortgage and insurance. She has over 10 years of experience in the insurance and finance industry across Asia Pacific including Tower Insurance and nib in New Zealand.
Emmanuelle Heatley, BOPIS Coordinator
Emmanuelle was born and raised in France and is married to a New Zealander. While they were living in the UK for 30 years she was a school receptionist, independently providing French language tuition for adults and children, and also interpreting and translation services.
She has been in the role of BOPIS Coordinator since 2015, working primarily with but not limited to government agencies for almost all languages. As a French interpreter/translator herself, she is aware of what the requirements are to be a good interpreter. Therefore she understands pressures that can be put on her team of interpreters when they are dealing with difficult situations. At BOPIS Emmanuelle also organises all interpreter training to make sure the highest standards of professionalism are maintained.
Emmanuelle was born and raised in France and is married to a New Zealander. While they were living in the UK for 30 years she was a school receptionist, independently providing French language tuition for adults and children, and also interpreting and translation services.
She has been in the role of BOPIS Coordinator since 2015, working primarily with but not limited to government agencies for almost all languages. As a French interpreter/translator herself, she is aware of what the requirements are to be a good interpreter. Therefore she understands pressures that can be put on her team of interpreters when they are dealing with difficult situations. At BOPIS Emmanuelle also organises all interpreter training to make sure the highest standards of professionalism are maintained.
Alexander Finn
Alex is a retired civil engineer with experience in consultancy and local government, where he was involved in various fields of infrastructure and facilities management. He has lived in New Zealand for 25 years after migrating from South Africa. He is an experienced tutor of English as a second language, and enjoys a wide range of interests ranging from classical aircraft to kayak fishing.
Alex is a retired civil engineer with experience in consultancy and local government, where he was involved in various fields of infrastructure and facilities management. He has lived in New Zealand for 25 years after migrating from South Africa. He is an experienced tutor of English as a second language, and enjoys a wide range of interests ranging from classical aircraft to kayak fishing.
Beverly Vokia-Scarlett, Committee Member
Beverly, originally from Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, has been living in New Zealand since 1998 and a Welcome Bay resident since 1999. A former primary school teacher, she retrained and now a New Zealand qualified Early Childhood Educator. She has been a member and in fact a committee member of Multicultural Tauranga for over 10 years. Beverly gives speeches to new Kiwis at citizenship ceremonies, participates in conferences, is a regular at organisation’s Newcomers Network, and likes to include aspect of Maori culture such as her harakeke art, especially floral arrangements.
Beverly, originally from Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, has been living in New Zealand since 1998 and a Welcome Bay resident since 1999. A former primary school teacher, she retrained and now a New Zealand qualified Early Childhood Educator. She has been a member and in fact a committee member of Multicultural Tauranga for over 10 years. Beverly gives speeches to new Kiwis at citizenship ceremonies, participates in conferences, is a regular at organisation’s Newcomers Network, and likes to include aspect of Maori culture such as her harakeke art, especially floral arrangements.
Mark Bils, Committee Member
Even though Mark was born in Tauranga, he spent his first 15 years in Sydney, Australia. His mother was a third-generation Tauranga person; his father was German Jewish, growing up during those difficult times in Germany.
Having grown up in a multicultural environment and in another country, Mark has strong empathy for new residents to New Zealand. He has a background in teaching and has enjoyed teaching English at Multicultural Tauranga in a voluntary role on a Thursday morning for the last eight years. He and his wife have travelled extensively and take pleasure in the international environment of Multicultural Tauranga.
Even though Mark was born in Tauranga, he spent his first 15 years in Sydney, Australia. His mother was a third-generation Tauranga person; his father was German Jewish, growing up during those difficult times in Germany.
Having grown up in a multicultural environment and in another country, Mark has strong empathy for new residents to New Zealand. He has a background in teaching and has enjoyed teaching English at Multicultural Tauranga in a voluntary role on a Thursday morning for the last eight years. He and his wife have travelled extensively and take pleasure in the international environment of Multicultural Tauranga.
Navdeep Kaur, Committee Member
Navdeep Kaur was born in India and moved to New Zealand 12 years ago. She has been living in Tauranga for the past three years. She is a Post Graduate in Business and Mass Communication and holds a Graduate Diploma in New Zealand Immigration Advice. Navdeep has made New Zealand her permanent home. Being a migrant herself, she understands the difficulties of adjusting into a new country and a new culture, and hence is passionate about helping people and her community. She has worked with various local public and private sector organisations, such as New Zealand Parliamentary Services, the Ministry of Social Development and ACC.
Apart from being a Licensed Immigration Adviser and operating as “Genuine Immigration Services” in Tauranga, Navdeep is a registered interpreter/translator with BOPIS and Interpreting New Zealand. She loves to travel around the world and enjoys climbing up the Mount in her spare time.
Navdeep Kaur was born in India and moved to New Zealand 12 years ago. She has been living in Tauranga for the past three years. She is a Post Graduate in Business and Mass Communication and holds a Graduate Diploma in New Zealand Immigration Advice. Navdeep has made New Zealand her permanent home. Being a migrant herself, she understands the difficulties of adjusting into a new country and a new culture, and hence is passionate about helping people and her community. She has worked with various local public and private sector organisations, such as New Zealand Parliamentary Services, the Ministry of Social Development and ACC.
Apart from being a Licensed Immigration Adviser and operating as “Genuine Immigration Services” in Tauranga, Navdeep is a registered interpreter/translator with BOPIS and Interpreting New Zealand. She loves to travel around the world and enjoys climbing up the Mount in her spare time.
Lin Ma, Committee Member
Lin was born in China. In June 2018 she moved to New Zealand with her family. After graduating from Chongquing Technology and Business University Lin worked in a government role as a tax officer for 13 years. She is now a senior Chinese language teacher in Tauranga.
Teamwork is very important to Lin. To achieve big things it is important to learn how to cooperate with other people. Her personal motto is “Character determines destiny”, so she always reminds herself to be honest and modest with everybody. As most migrants know, going to live in a foreign country with its different language and culture can be a difficult experience. But living in a country so very different from China has given Lin a greater understanding of cultural differences, a different perspective of the world and an appreciation of the beauty in things she has not been familiar with.
Lin was born in China. In June 2018 she moved to New Zealand with her family. After graduating from Chongquing Technology and Business University Lin worked in a government role as a tax officer for 13 years. She is now a senior Chinese language teacher in Tauranga.
Teamwork is very important to Lin. To achieve big things it is important to learn how to cooperate with other people. Her personal motto is “Character determines destiny”, so she always reminds herself to be honest and modest with everybody. As most migrants know, going to live in a foreign country with its different language and culture can be a difficult experience. But living in a country so very different from China has given Lin a greater understanding of cultural differences, a different perspective of the world and an appreciation of the beauty in things she has not been familiar with.
Ramesh Sharma, Committee Member
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