Sukhi Turner
Encyclopedia
Dame Sukhinder "Sukhi" Kaur Gill Turner, DNZM
(born Sukhinder Kaur Gill, 1952) was the Mayor
of Dunedin
, New Zealand
, from 1995 until her retirement from the position in 2004. She was notable as the first Green Party
mayor in New Zealand. She was also regarded by some as New Zealand's most prominent politician from the country's India
n community.
n state of Punjab to Squadron leader Jasbir Singh Gill and Premjit Kaur. Her birth name was Sukhinder Kaur Gill. She is a Sikh
. She attended Bethany College
, West Virginia, in the 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. Sukhi and Glenn Turner settled in Dunedin in 1982. They have two children.
. She was successful, and was subsequently re-elected twice. Turner announced that she would retire from the position in October 2004, when her third term expired. She was replaced by Peter Chin
.
, an award given by the Indian government to honour those who have made a significant contribution to Indian immigrant communities in other countries.
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
(born Sukhinder Kaur Gill, 1952) was the Mayor
Mayor of Dunedin
The Mayor of Dunedin is the head of the municipal government of Dunedin, New Zealand, and presides over the Dunedin City Council. The Mayor is directly elected, using the Single Transferable Vote system in 2007....
of Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, from 1995 until her retirement from the position in 2004. She was notable as the first Green Party
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is a political party that has seats in the New Zealand parliament. It focuses firstly on environmentalism, arguing that all other aspects of humanity will cease to be of concern if there is no environment to sustain it...
mayor in New Zealand. She was also regarded by some as New Zealand's most prominent politician from the country's India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n community.
Early life
Turner was born in Ludhiana, the largest city in the IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state of Punjab to Squadron leader Jasbir Singh Gill and Premjit Kaur. Her birth name was Sukhinder Kaur Gill. She is a Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
. She attended Bethany College
Bethany College (West Virginia)
Bethany College is a private liberal arts college located in Bethany, West Virginia, United States. Founded in 1840, Bethany is the oldest institution of Higher Education in West Virginia.-Location:...
, West Virginia, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, gaining qualifications in history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. She moved to New Zealand after marrying Glenn Turner
Glenn Turner
Glenn Maitland Turner played cricket for New Zealand and was one of the country's best and most prolific batsmen. He is the current head of the New Zealand Cricket selection panel....
, a prominent New Zealand cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
player, in July 1973. Sukhi and Glenn Turner settled in Dunedin in 1982. They have two children.
Political career
Turner took part in a wide range of community work, focusing particularly on education. She took an active role in school committees and associations, and in 1992, 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 WallsRichard Walls
Richard Francis Walls, QSO, JP was a New Zealand politician and businessman.-Member of Parliament :Walls was a Member of Parliament for Dunedin North from 1975 to 1978...
. She was successful, and was subsequently re-elected twice. Turner announced that she would retire from the position in October 2004, when her third term expired. She was replaced by Peter Chin
Peter Chin
Peter Chin may refer to:* Peter Chin , mayor of Dunedin, New Zealand*Peter Chin Fah Kui, Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Malaysia; also the Member of Parliament for Miri, Sarawak...
.
Life after politics
In early 2004, Turner was among the recipients of the Pravasi Bharatiya SammanPravasi Bharatiya Samman
The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman is an award constituted by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India in conjunction with the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas , to honor exceptional and meritorious contribution in their chosen field/profession...
, an award given by the Indian government to honour those who have made a significant contribution to Indian immigrant communities in other countries.