WELLINGTON: Former New Delhi businessman Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi has become first Sikh to be member of the New Zealand parliament which has a record number of six Asian members.

Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi of conservative National Party has defeated Labour Party's Ross Robertson in immigrant-dominated Manukau East constituency in subarban Auckland.

Bakshi, with his wife Irvinder Kaur and two sons, moved to Auckland from Delhi in 2001 and has since been actively involved with Indian community groups in New Zealand. He is a member of a range of business and social organisations.

Kanwal holds a B.Com degree from Delhi University and has 23 years of business experience. Since moving to New Zealand, he has been active in a number of business ventures covering property, wholesaling and the fashion industry.

Bakshi moved to New Zealand with his family in 2001, where he has been running businesses in property, wholesaling and fashion.
 
Mr Bakshi said he sold his vending machine business and worked full time on his Indian fashion business - which explained why he did not seek to employ anyone else.

All the Asian members are immigrants and Wong is the only one elected to a constituency, with the others serving in the 122-seat parliament by virtue of being on their party lists.