Sukhi Turner

Template:Short description Template:Use New Zealand English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox officeholder Dame Sukhinder Kaur Gill Turner Template:Post-nominals (born Sukhinder Kaur Gill, 13 April 1952), commonly known as Sukhi Turner, is a New Zealand politician who served as the Mayor of Dunedin, New Zealand, from 1995 until her retirement from the position in 2004. She was also regarded by some as New Zealand's most prominent politician from the country's Indian community.

Early life

Turner was born in Ludhiana, the largest city in the Indian state of Punjab, to Squadron Leader Jasbir Singh Gill and Premjit Kaur on 13 April 1952.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Naturalisation">Template:Cite web</ref>

Born as Sukhinder Kaur Gill, she is a Sikh. She attended Bethany College, West Virginia, United States, gaining qualifications in history and political science. She moved to New Zealand after marrying Glenn Turner, a prominent New Zealand cricket player, in July 1973, and became a naturalised New Zealander in August 1973.<ref name="Naturalisation"/> Sukhi and Glenn Turner settled in Dunedin in 1982. They have two children.<ref name="empire">Template:Cite web</ref>

Political career

Turner has taken part in a wide range of community work, focusing particularly on education. She has taken an active role in school committees and associations, and in 1992,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> successfully stood for election to the Dunedin City Council. After a three-year term on the council, Turner chose to contest the mayoralty, challenging long-serving incumbent Richard Walls. She was successful, and was subsequently re-elected twice. Her win over sitting mayor Richard Walls was reported on widely and she was noted for bringing diversity to the mayoralty, with Wellington newspaper The Evening Post stating of Turner "Dunedin voters broke new ground. Their new mayor is a woman, an Indian and a Green."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Turner announced that she would retire from the position in October 2004, when her third term expired. She was replaced by Peter Chin.<ref name="empire"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1993, Turner was awarded the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Life after politics

In the 2002 Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee Honours, Turner was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to local government.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Following the reinstatement of titular honours by the New Zealand government in 2009, she accepted redesignation as a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In early 2004, Turner was among the recipients of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, an award given by the Indian government to honour those who have made a significant contribution to Indian immigrant communities in other countries.Template:Citation needed

External links

• Official profile
• News report after Turner was re-elected for a third term
• Reasons for award of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman

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