Mazhar Shukri Krasniqi was born in 1931 in
Pristina,
Kosovo. He came from a prominent family in Kosovo who held political and economic sway in the region. Traveling on the ship
SS Goya, an impoverished Krasniqi reached
Wellington, New Zealand during May 1951 and later did a variety of jobs such as farm work in
Gore. Back in Auckland, Krasniqi opened a restaurant and cafe in 1960 named "Free Albania" in the suburb of
Panmure, and it became a hub for Albanian cultural activity in the country. As one of a number of Albanians who founded an organisation
Lidhjen e Qytetarëve Shqiptarë në Zelandë të Re (the League of Albanian Citizens in New Zealand or 'Albanian Civic League'), he became its long serving leader. Krasniqi raised his children with a Muslim upbringing and he personally was a mosque attendee. As president, Krasniqi established FIANZ's halal department and he played a significant role in promoting halal slaughter within freezing works in New Zealand. FIANZ became a halal certifier backed by important customers based in the
Gulf and Krasniqi's efforts assisted New Zealand in becoming an exporter of halal meat to Middle Eastern markets. Interested in the cause of refugees, Krasniqi also became a voice for Albanian migrants from the Balkans. During the
Kosovo crisis (1999), Krasniqi lobbied the New Zealand government to take in Albanian refugees. In the
2003 New Year Honours, Krasniqi's efforts and deeds to the Albanian and wider Muslim community were recognised in New Zealand and he was awarded the
Queen's Service Medal for community service. An obituary in
The New Zealand Herald described Krasniqi as a "strong leader" and "great Albanian New Zealander". and Muslim scholar. He has a son living in northern Australia and another child. ==References==