Indian Weekender Top 25 Kiwi-Indian Community Leaders 2021
The Indian Weekender’s Top 25 Kiwi-Indian Community Leaders List celebrates and acknowledges some of the most influential individuals and leaders for the role they play in the general well-being of the Kiwi-Indian community in New Zealand.
The Indian Weekender’s Top 25 Kiwi-Indian Community Leaders List celebrates and acknowledges some of the most influential individuals and leaders for the role they play in the general well-being of the Kiwi-Indian community in New Zealand.
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List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
List of<br />
top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
community leaders<br />
in New Zealand<br />
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List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
CELEBRATING HEROES<br />
OF OUR KIWI-INDIAN<br />
COMMUNITY<br />
The <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Weekender</strong>’s <strong>25</strong> NZ-India Most Influential List<br />
celebrates and acknowledges some of the most influential<br />
individuals and leaders for the role they play in the general<br />
well-being of the <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong> community in New Zealand.<br />
This year the focus is on celebrating some of the most dedicated and<br />
committed community leaders within the <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong> community for their<br />
tireless and passionate work in supporting others.<br />
Every community has heroes who either rise to specific occasions or work on<br />
a daily basis to support other’s life-journey.<br />
They are the ones who make a difference within our community. They are<br />
passionate about their causes and make valuable contributions to every<br />
organization in which they are involved.<br />
They are the people who are dedicated, committed and involved whenever<br />
called upon to assist and help others, regardless of the situation.<br />
In most instances, they are not chasing instantaneous fame, in lieu of their<br />
time, energy and efforts, in helping others, but a satisfaction of being able to<br />
make a positive impact on the lives of others.<br />
They may have formed dedicated community organizations to channelize their<br />
own individual efforts with those of other like-minded people in the community<br />
or are working as office bearers of pre-existing organizations towards the<br />
same cherished goal of helping others within the community.<br />
Given that the <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong> community is a migrant community, which<br />
constitutes of people whose lives are often stretched emotionally and<br />
physically across the boundaries of many nations, there is more likelihood<br />
of its members requiring more help and assistance from others, thus putting<br />
exceptional pressures on the time and energy of our community leaders.<br />
Not many could comprehend and appreciate the level of sacrifice that these<br />
community leaders or their immediate families have to bear, especially in<br />
terms of time and energy, when they stretch out beyond their resources to<br />
help others.<br />
Therefore, in <strong>2021</strong> – the year when Covid has caused much disruption within<br />
our communities – the <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Weekender</strong> has taken upon itself to celebrate<br />
and acknowledge the immense contribution of some of the leading and<br />
influential community leaders.<br />
Without their dedication, compassion, and commitment to one and all, we<br />
would have far lesser resources than we have now in ensuring general wellbeing<br />
within our <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong> community.<br />
The <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Weekender</strong> salutes their immense contribution to our <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
community.<br />
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List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
CONTENT<br />
Blessen Jose............................................................................................................ 7<br />
Daljit Singh................................................................................................................ 8<br />
Dhansukh Lal............................................................................................................ 9<br />
Ella Kumar.............................................................................................................. 10<br />
Ghouse Majeed...................................................................................................... 11<br />
Harshad Patel......................................................................................................... 12<br />
Ilango Krishnamoorthy.......................................................................................... 13<br />
Jeet Suchdev.......................................................................................................... 14<br />
Jit Kaur................................................................................................................... 16<br />
Jyothi Malikarjun.................................................................................................... 17<br />
Nanettee Nathoo.................................................................................................... 20<br />
Narendra Bhana..................................................................................................... 21<br />
Navneet Kaur.......................................................................................................... 22<br />
Navtej Randhawa................................................................................................... 23<br />
Nilima Venkat......................................................................................................... 24<br />
Paul Patel............................................................................................................... <strong>25</strong><br />
Prashant Belwalkar................................................................................................ 26<br />
Pravin Kumar.......................................................................................................... 27<br />
Roopa Suchdev...................................................................................................... 28<br />
Shefali Mehta......................................................................................................... 29<br />
Shivani Arora.......................................................................................................... 30<br />
Srilatha Magthalal.................................................................................................. 31<br />
Sucharita Verma..................................................................................................... 32<br />
Sunil Kaushal.......................................................................................................... 33<br />
Vai Ravindran......................................................................................................... 34<br />
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List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
The leading<br />
<strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
media group<br />
BLESSAN M JOSE<br />
Former Vice-President,<br />
Auckland Malayali Samajam<br />
We<br />
speak<br />
your<br />
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We are<br />
Social.<br />
Born and raised in Kerala, Blessan Jose moved to New<br />
Zealand 10 years ago to embrace New Zealand’s budding<br />
cultural diversity. Having lived in India and the Middle East,<br />
Mr Jose already had a global career under his belt but wanted<br />
to move to New Zealand to take it a step further. A selfmotivated<br />
entrepreneur with a strong desire to succeed in life<br />
and thereby uplift the community at large, Mr Jose has been<br />
inspired to engage in community service since childhood.<br />
Part of a student union during his university days, Mr Jose has<br />
since arriving in New Zealand been quite actively involved with<br />
the NZ <strong>Indian</strong> diaspora. Former Vice-President and Secretary<br />
of the Auckland Malayali Samajam, Mr Jose has through<br />
his work influenced change in the community. Personal<br />
experiences have shaped his commitment to the work that<br />
he does for his fellow community members. Reaching for<br />
the feeling of achievement and personal satisfaction upon<br />
helping someone, Mr Jose has been over the years involved<br />
in many community organisations.<br />
A graduate in Economics and Masters in Business<br />
Administration, Mr Jose works for the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders in his role at the<br />
Department of Corrections. Having suffered setbacks when he first arrived in New Zealand, Mr Jose is<br />
determined to provide a platform for everyone to achieve their dreams.<br />
His biggest supporter and his wife Tessa George is a registered psychiatric nurse working with the<br />
Waitemata DHB. They have two daughters, Amelia Rachel Blessan & Hayley Anna Blessan who are<br />
equally passionate about serving the community.<br />
indianweekendernz @indianweekender iwk tv theindianweekender<br />
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List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
DALJIT SINGH<br />
Spokesperson,<br />
Supreme Sikh Society NZ<br />
DHANSUKH LAL<br />
President, Auckland <strong>Indian</strong><br />
Association Incorporated<br />
Well-known for his work with the Sikh community in<br />
New Zealand, Daljit Singh arrived in New Zealand as<br />
an 18-year-old with dreams and ambitions to make a<br />
difference in the world. Migrating from a small district<br />
in Punjab, Mr Singh worked all types of jobs in the<br />
horticulture industry, from picking fruits to stocking<br />
vegetables, to make ends meet.<br />
<strong>Community</strong> service and social work, however, was<br />
never far from his mind. As a young kid in Punjab, he<br />
was actively involved in various charity events and<br />
religious programs. He continued this in New Zealand<br />
with his involvement with the NZ Sikh Society. Playing<br />
a significant role in the establishment of the Takanini<br />
Gurudwara, Mr Singh worked with several local and national community organisations<br />
to build and set it up. A place for all, Mr Singh has actively advocated the use of the<br />
space for all New Zealanders.<br />
Known for his relationship building skills, Mr Singh has over the years developed<br />
strong community connections through his various career paths as a salesperson,<br />
real estate and immigration advisor. Now as the Race Relations Manager for various<br />
trusts that work to make an impact in the community, Mr Singh is the spokesperson<br />
for the Supreme Sikh Society and the many Gurudwaras around New Zealand.<br />
Mr Singh and the Sikh Society won the New Zealand Food Hero Award 2020 (people’s<br />
choice) at the NZ Food Heroes Celebrations award for their service to the community<br />
during the COVID-19 lockdowns. The team distributed about 50 to <strong>25</strong>00 packets of<br />
food a day during the lockdown and still continue to do so. They have also started<br />
distributing lunch parcels to 20 schools in South Auckland.<br />
Born in Fiji, community work was an integral part of<br />
Dhansukh Lal’s adolescent years. With a sense of seva<br />
instilled in him by his parents, Mr Lal in his early days helped<br />
raise funds for the Vishnu temple and various primary<br />
schools across Fiji. His defining moment as a young adult<br />
was being elected as the National Secretary of the Fiji<br />
National Youth Council in 1985. Under his leadership, he<br />
created several youth clubs across the country that helped<br />
retain youth in their villages.<br />
Arriving in New Zealand in 1989, he continued his seva<br />
by joining the Auckland <strong>Indian</strong> Association as a member.<br />
He kept going to the temple and taking part in the various<br />
activities organised by the association. However, he<br />
started to make an impact and take an active part after<br />
2010, when he was elected the Assistant Secretary,<br />
followed by which he became a trustee and then the<br />
Chairman of the Mahatma Gandhi Charitable Trust.<br />
At the start of <strong>2021</strong>, he stood down as the Chairman to<br />
become the first-ever Fiji born <strong>Indian</strong> to be elected as the<br />
President of the Auckland <strong>Indian</strong> Association Incorporated.<br />
Helping people and shaping the future motivates him<br />
to get up everyday and pursue community service. As a<br />
grandfather of two, Mr Lal has developed a fine balance<br />
between spending time with family and working with the<br />
community.<br />
A strong believer in the power of service, Mr Singh is grateful for the support of his<br />
wife and extended whanau which enables him to work for his people.<br />
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List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
ELLA KUMAR JP<br />
Board member,<br />
Puketāpapa Local Board<br />
The first <strong>Indian</strong> female in Auckland to be elected to a local board,<br />
Ella Kumar brings a versatility of experience to her community<br />
commitments. NZ born, Ms Kumar has been involved with the<br />
local boards for over 10 years. During this time, she has held<br />
the events, arts & culture, library, sport & recreation, economic<br />
development portfolios and has been instrumental in the<br />
planning of the Auckland Diwali Festival since 2002.<br />
A mother of three, Ms Kumar comes from a family where seven<br />
adults, 10 children plus many other migrants lived under one<br />
roof. Her parents migrated to New Zealand in the 1960s which<br />
she believes presented her with many opportunities along with<br />
many challenges. Having taken these challenges head-on, Ms<br />
Kumar thrives on speaking to people in her community and<br />
addressing their issues.<br />
With over 20 years of experience on boards of trustees including<br />
Mt Roskill Grammar, Roskill Together Board, Ms Kumar is also a<br />
Justice of Peace and a marriage celebrant. A fitness instructor,<br />
Ms Kumar has studied health sciences and works every day<br />
to keep people healthy, physically and mentally. Dancing since<br />
she was a little girl, Ms Kumar uses her skills to teach dance at<br />
school and festivals.<br />
Having grown up in the years when NZ was not as open to<br />
outsiders as it is now, Ms Kumar has over the years worked to<br />
build an inclusive culture within the local boards in Auckland.<br />
A firm believer of the power of the people, Ms Kumar works<br />
while keeping the community at the heart of all decisions, while<br />
leaving politics at the door.<br />
GHOUSE MAJEED<br />
General Secretary,<br />
Mana Andhra Telugu<br />
Association of NZ<br />
Social and community work is an inseparable part<br />
of Ghouse Majeed’s life. As a 17-year-old college<br />
student in Hyderabad, Mr Majeed learnt of his love<br />
for the community when he became the Vijayawada<br />
city President to a student wing of a political party.<br />
With an aim to continue to build on this passion, he<br />
achieved a Masters in Sociology and enrolled as an<br />
advocate in the Vijayawada Bar Council.<br />
However, life had different plans for him! A chance<br />
meeting and discussion with an immigration<br />
consultant led Mr Majeed to migrate to New Zealand<br />
in 2003. This move into a new country, however,<br />
didn’t deter him from continuing to engage with his<br />
community. His love for <strong>Indian</strong> movies and festivals<br />
led to an introduction to Mr Jeet Suchdev, Founder of<br />
Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust, with whom he has<br />
continued to volunteer for 18 years, developing events in collaboration with<br />
other community organisations.<br />
Mr Majeed has been an instrumental part of the Urdu Hindi Cultural<br />
Association of New Zealand (UHCANZ) for the past ten years. One of<br />
UHCANZ’s most popular events is Mushaira, Kavi Sammelan and Shame-Ghazal<br />
– events that give poetry lovers of Hindi and Urdu a platform to<br />
perform their art and recite their original poems to an audience. Mr Majeed<br />
has been pivotal in the success of this event and has received the Sahitya<br />
Sadbhavana Samman Award from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan NZ in Association<br />
with GOPIO for his contribution to UHCANZ.<br />
As the General Secretary of a newly formed Mana Andhra Telugu Association<br />
of New Zealand, Mr Majeed has more recently become actively involved in<br />
working for the promotion of the Telugu language and culture of Andhra<br />
Pradesh among Andhraits living in New Zealand.<br />
This truly reflects upon his deep connections with the community and the<br />
desire to work with people in a manner to empower them and ensure their<br />
general well-being.<br />
Wearing multiple hats as an event coordinator, community helper and<br />
engaged community leader, Mr Majeed has over the years built a good<br />
rapport and mana with diverse communities across New Zealand.<br />
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List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
HARSHAD PATEL QSM<br />
Former President, Auckland<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> Association and<br />
New Zealand <strong>Indian</strong> Central<br />
Association<br />
A name synonymous with service to the <strong>Indian</strong> community<br />
in New Zealand, Harshad Patel is the former President<br />
of Auckland <strong>Indian</strong> Association and New Zealand <strong>Indian</strong><br />
Central Association, two of the oldest <strong>Indian</strong> community<br />
organisations in New Zealand.<br />
Mr Patel has been involved in the community for more than<br />
four decades since as early as mid - 1970s when the size of<br />
the <strong>Indian</strong> community was barely about 5000.<br />
His earliest tryst with community work started with<br />
seemingly humble beginnings as a music enthusiast who<br />
volunteered himself and his skills on harmonium to play at modest gatherings, which in those days used to be<br />
the biggest source of entertainment and connection within the community.<br />
Subsequently, Mr Patel became an instrumental figure in leading a team to fundraise for the Mahatma Gandhi<br />
Centre and the Radha Krishna Temple – the two iconic sites for the <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong> community.<br />
With his group of volunteer musicians, Mr Patel raised a substantial amount, especially providing music at the<br />
Navratri festivals for several years. He remained Chairman of the entertainment committee for 21 years.<br />
Mr Patel has served the two associations at various levels, including as vice president, member of the board of<br />
trustees, vice chairman of the board, and twice being president. He was awarded life membership of the AIA<br />
for his exceptionally dedicated services to the organisation.<br />
In recognition of his contribution to New Zealand’s communities, Mr Patel was conferred with a Queen’s<br />
Service Medal in 2010 and the <strong>Kiwi</strong> <strong>Indian</strong> Hall of Fame <strong>Community</strong> Service Excellence award in 2019.<br />
Mr Patel continues to remain active in two association’s work in the community and on the issues important<br />
to the <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong> community.<br />
ILANGO KRISHNAMURTHY<br />
Treasurer, NZ Hindu Temple Society<br />
Well-known in the <strong>Kiwi</strong> <strong>Indian</strong> diaspora,<br />
Ilango Krishnamoorthy has been the voice<br />
of the local community with the council, and<br />
the government for many years. A strong<br />
community leader, Mr Krishnamoorthy<br />
played a primary role in building the Mangere<br />
Thiru Subramaniyar Aalayam Temple for the<br />
people of Auckland.<br />
A resident of the Manurewa suburb for nearly<br />
30 years, Mr Krishnamoorthy stood for the<br />
local board elections in 2019. Inspired by his<br />
interactions with people and their issues at<br />
the temple, he aims to bring about a change<br />
from within.<br />
A popular personality in South Auckland’s<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> community, Mr Krishnamoorthy<br />
arrived in New Zealand with two university<br />
degrees in Science and Automotive<br />
Engineering before graduating with his<br />
MBA from Waikato University in 1996. A<br />
people’s person, Mr Krishnamoorthy is a<br />
strong advocate of developing activities and<br />
initiatives that keep the <strong>Indian</strong> culture alive<br />
in New Zealand. Over the years, he has been<br />
involved in various community activities<br />
such as community cleaning, teaching<br />
Tamil to youngsters, cooking at various<br />
community events, fundraising, religious and<br />
multicultural dialogues, family counselling<br />
and more.<br />
An experienced business director, Mr<br />
Krishnamoorthy has been running a successful printing business for the past three decades, along with<br />
providing services in the community.<br />
The Thiru Subramaniam Temple facilitates activities beyond pooja services for its community. Under its<br />
community service arm, the Aalayam <strong>Community</strong> Service (ACS), the temple runs a radio program, every<br />
Saturday called Aalayam on Planet FM104.6. The show promotes dualism and understanding of the Vedas,<br />
provides Q & A on Vethantham, interviews with Sadhus from overseas and Vinayagar, Murugan, Siva, Vishnu<br />
and Amman songs. This show is presented by Mr Krishnamoorthy.<br />
Under the ACS Sports Club, the temple also organises cricket matches for the youth every week.<br />
Bringing his passion for Tamil language and literature, Mr Krishnamoorthy introduced classes for children<br />
under the name of Aalayam Cultural and Languages School that teaches devotional songs and Tamil to<br />
children.<br />
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List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
JEET (PRAMJIT) SUCHDEV QSM<br />
Founder, Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust<br />
Winner of the 2018 <strong>Community</strong> Service Excellence award at<br />
the <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Weekender</strong> Hall of Fame awards, Mr Jeet Suchdev is<br />
the founder and CEO of the Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust. A<br />
journey that began almost <strong>25</strong> years ago, Mr Suchdev has since<br />
tirelessly worked to provide a better life and support for the<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> community in New Zealand.<br />
Despite having achieved success as a restaurant and tours and<br />
travel business owner, Mr Suchdev’s heart always lay in helping<br />
people. Alongside the business, he addressed various issues<br />
faced by migrants, live on radio, along with his sister, Roopa.<br />
This was the beginning of his life as a social worker.<br />
After a few years of juggling the two, Mr Suchdev gave up his<br />
job as a business owner to become a full-time social worker. Mr<br />
Suchdev then established Bhartiya Samaj in 2005 with an aim to<br />
make a ‘positive difference’ in the lives of the <strong>Indian</strong> community.<br />
The organization delivers development programs for seniors,<br />
children, youth, and women & families, to bring about positive<br />
change to the South Asian community.<br />
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Bhartiya Samaj and Jeet Suchdev have been instrumental in<br />
launching “Aashirwad”, the country’s first culturally appropriate<br />
rest home at the David Lange Care Home. They were the first<br />
organization to hold India Independence Day celebrations at<br />
the Aotea Square in Auckland.<br />
Mr Suchdev has received many accolades and recognition for<br />
his years of services to the community. Driven by the power<br />
of service, Mr Suchdev holds an honorary position of Justice of<br />
the Peace and a recipient of the Queen’s Service Medal for his<br />
outstanding contributions and service to the community.<br />
He was invited twice by the <strong>Indian</strong> Government to represent NZ <strong>Indian</strong> Diaspora<br />
in India on a Panel Discussion. On 15 Aug 2020, the High Commissioner of India<br />
acknowledged Mr Suchdev’s contribution to the help provided to the <strong>Indian</strong><br />
community during the COVID-19 crisis.<br />
He was recently appointed as a Trustee of Foundation North, member of “Senior<br />
Advisory Panel” of Auckland Council governing body and director of “NZ culture<br />
and media group”, is the chairperson of Akarana <strong>Community</strong> Trust, Roskill Together,<br />
trustee of Roopa Aur Aap Charitable Trust, board member of Auckland <strong>Indian</strong><br />
Diaspora, and trustee of Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Non-Violence.<br />
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List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
JIT KAUR<br />
Founder and President,<br />
NZ Sikh Women’s Association<br />
Born in Jalandhar, Jit Kaur, fondly referred<br />
to as Jitto, was raised in a joint family in<br />
Malaysia. Migrating to New Zealand in 1952,<br />
Ms Kaur studied in Auckland while working<br />
full-time to support people with disabilities.<br />
A strong advocate for the services and food<br />
workers union in her early days, Jit Kaur<br />
was known as an outspoken social activist.<br />
However, in 2002, three murders related<br />
to domestic violence in the Auckland<br />
region within her community led to Ms<br />
Kaur taking matters into her own hands.<br />
Asked by former Prime Minister and friend<br />
Helen Clark to create an organisation<br />
after a murder-suicide involving an <strong>Indian</strong><br />
mother and her child in South Auckland,<br />
Ms Kaur established the NZ Sikh Women’s<br />
Association (NZSWA).<br />
An issue that hit too close to home, Ms<br />
Kaur was no stranger to the cycle of family<br />
violence. A survivor of domestic abuse<br />
herself, Ms Kaur had helped her own<br />
daughter move on from her own abusive relationship. Providing a way for<br />
women to talk about these issues, Ms Kaur aimed to create an association<br />
that provided comprehensive counselling services, education and refuge for<br />
stressed-out new migrant families in the region.<br />
Often ethnic women in New Zealand brought with them minds and bodies that<br />
were conditioned to the prospect of domestic violence. NZSWA empowers<br />
women to break this cycle of thinking that subjugates them to antiquated<br />
patriarchal belief systems.<br />
Since the launch of NZSWA, Ms Kaur has overcome multiple cultural and<br />
operational barriers to make a tangible impact within her community.<br />
Undeterred by all muted and hushed voices within a small minority within the<br />
community which sought to portray her as family-breaker, than acknowledge<br />
her as a genuine and compassionate social worker who refused to give up<br />
on women facing domestic abuse, Ms Kaur is an inspirational role model for<br />
many in the community.<br />
Over the years her work has been acknowledged, embraced and welcomed<br />
within not only the Sikh community but also other diverse communities.<br />
JYOTHI MALLIKARJUN REDDY<br />
President, Telangana<br />
Jagruthi New Zealand<br />
For the past four years, Jyothi Mallikarjun Reddy has been<br />
a voice for the Telangana community in New Zealand.<br />
Since the launch of the Telangana Jagruthi New Zealand<br />
chapter in 2017, Ms Mallikarjun has slowly but steadily<br />
solidified her position as a community leader within the<br />
<strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong> diaspora.<br />
Ms Mallikarjun has over the years built a reputation<br />
as a versatile leader who brings to the table a perfect<br />
understanding of business, social and political acumen,<br />
to ensure the success of the community.<br />
Telangana Jagruthi New Zealand (TJNZ) was established<br />
on the initiative of Kalvakuntla Kavitha, Member of Lok<br />
Sabha (Lower House of <strong>Indian</strong> Parliament) and daughter<br />
of Telangana Chief Minister Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar<br />
Rao. Kalvakuntla Kavitha appointed Jyothi Mallikarjun<br />
Reddy as the President.<br />
It focuses on three issues of critical importance for the<br />
community – the floral festival of Bathukamma, women<br />
empowerment, and international student issues. Along with this, it aims to promote Telangana culture in New<br />
Zealand.<br />
Within a short span of time, Telangana Jagruthi has become a household name in Telangana and worldwide.<br />
Jagruthi has grown synonymous with the Bathukamma festival, a celebration of life, love, and nature, unique to<br />
Telangana.<br />
Apart from playing a crucial role in Telangana cultural renaissance, Jagruthi also addresses important issues such<br />
as women empowerment, up-skilling youth, and health care. By playing manifold significant roles, Jagruthi was<br />
instrumental in garnering grass-root support for the Statehood of Telangana, which was realized in 2014.<br />
The New Zealand chapter led by Ms Mallikarjun has worked for the protection and promotion of Telangana<br />
Culture and Social integration between Telangana State & New Zealand. Ms Mallikarjun has been instrumental in<br />
having a <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong> MP speak at the Telangana Jagruthi International Youth <strong>Leaders</strong>hip Conference 2019, held in<br />
Hyderabad in early 2020. She has also actively facilitated connections between the Telangana state government<br />
and the Labour government in New Zealand.<br />
Ms Mallikarjun, who professionally works in the technology sector, aspires to inspire the people of Telangana<br />
with a sense of pride in their culture. Under her leadership, TJNZ hosted the Bathukamma celebrations, an annual<br />
celebration event for the community which transcends regional and ethnic boundaries and is attended by local MPs<br />
and leaders of other community organisations.<br />
In such a short period of time, Ms Mallikarjun’s influence has grown tremendously which resulted in her being<br />
selected as one of the award winners of “Naaree of the Year” for her outstanding service and contribution to the<br />
community.<br />
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List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
sLUMBERZONE CONGATULATES INDIAN WEEKENDER FOR HOSTING<br />
THE 8TH KIWI INDIAN HALL OF FAME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS <strong>2021</strong><br />
APART FROM CARING FOR YOUR SLEEP, we believe in giving back to society.<br />
Proudly<br />
Supporting<br />
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List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
NANETTE NATHOO QSM<br />
Law-and-Order Chair, New<br />
Zealand <strong>Indian</strong> Central<br />
Association (NZICA)<br />
Extending a helping hand is second nature to Nanette Nathoo,<br />
a Queen’s Service Medal recipient, a business owner, Law and<br />
Order Chair of the New Zealand <strong>Indian</strong> Central Association<br />
(NZICA), <strong>Kiwi</strong>bank Local Hero Medal Recipient for 2019,<br />
and a community crusader who has an aim to create safer<br />
communities for all.<br />
A fourth-generation <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong>, Mrs Nathoo is often seen<br />
at most, if not all community events that focus on issues of<br />
safety, law, and order. A firm believer that the responsibility of<br />
crime prevention lies with all of us, Mrs Nathoo works with the<br />
New Zealand Police, especially as the Law and Order Chair for<br />
NZICA, to create awareness through appropriate messaging<br />
about remaining safe in the community.<br />
Aided by her understanding of the culture and various facets<br />
of her own community, Mrs Nathoo has been instrumental in<br />
creating transformational safety campaigns that are targeted<br />
at the most vulnerable in the community.<br />
In one of her previous campaigns, Mrs Nathoo worked closely<br />
with New Zealand Police to cater directly to the elders in the<br />
migrant communities. NZCIA along with the Police created desktop calendars,<br />
with a special theme every month on crime prevention. The calendar had themed<br />
messages for every month around issues such as road safety, reporting a crime,<br />
personal safety, property crime, financial crime and more. The idea behind the<br />
campaign was to reach out to a mature demographic in the community who<br />
primarily rely on desktop calendars than on digital tools to keep a track of their<br />
week.<br />
Focusing on the two foundational pillars of any community campaign, Mrs<br />
Nathoo understands the need to use the power of education and awareness<br />
to communicate with not only the mature audience but also the social media<br />
generation.<br />
NARENDRA BHANA<br />
Former President, Auckland<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> Association Inc<br />
Having moved to NZ as a 16-year-old, Narendra Bhana soon<br />
realised that leaving home at a young age meant working hard<br />
to become successful. A born leader, Mr Bhana rose to the<br />
challenge and has since become an influential figure in the<br />
<strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong> diaspora.<br />
As the President of the Auckland <strong>Indian</strong> Association<br />
Incorporated (AIAI), Mr Narendra Bhana is often the voice of<br />
the <strong>Indian</strong> community in New Zealand. Looking out for their<br />
interests and commenting on issues that matter, Mr Bhana<br />
commands tremendous influence within and outside the<br />
community.<br />
Inspired by seeing his father pursue selfless community<br />
service in his hometown of Navsari in Gujarat, Mr Bhana<br />
started his journey with AIAI as a volunteer. He then went on to<br />
serve as the organisation’s Board of Trustees, Treasurer, Vice-<br />
President, President, and various sub-committee Chairman.<br />
Under his presidency, the AIAI successfully connected with<br />
other <strong>Indian</strong> community organisations and raised its profile<br />
with the New Zealand Government and the <strong>Indian</strong> High<br />
Commission in Wellington.<br />
A community leader with over 20 years of experience in the banking and telecom<br />
sector, Mr Bhana has over the years nurtured his relationships with the <strong>Indian</strong> and<br />
extended New Zealand community. In his three years as the President of the AIAI,<br />
Mr Bhana has had to face unprecedented events, which he has approached and<br />
tackled in his usual affable manner.<br />
During the first 2020 lockdown, Mr Bhana regularly kept in touch with the members<br />
of AIAI and was one of the first <strong>Indian</strong> associations to start helping those in need<br />
within the community. As an influential figure, Mr Bhana is passionate about<br />
delivering outstanding community service and making a positive change. He<br />
continues to use his position to address the issues of the community.<br />
During the same campaign, Mrs Nathoo also used visual tools and videos to<br />
create crime prevention videos, with the help of many other equally passionate<br />
community members and NZ police.<br />
An ingenious move that provided the viewer with a glimpse into real-life<br />
situations of petty crimes like mugging, mobile and bag snatching, Mrs Nathoo<br />
further cemented her position as a smart, compassionate community leader<br />
with her fingers on the pulse of the community.<br />
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List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
NAVNEET KAUR BRAICH<br />
President, Wellington<br />
Punjabi Women<br />
Association<br />
Hailing from a small town called Hoshiarpur in<br />
Punjab, Ms Braich always had the ambition to<br />
help those around her. Brought up in a joint family,<br />
it was ingrained in Ms Braich since childhood<br />
that giving someone a hand can change their life.<br />
She lived by this philosophy in her professional<br />
life as a teacher in India before migrating to New<br />
Zealand.<br />
After marriage, she moved to New Zealand with<br />
her husband and young son in 2002. Like other<br />
young migrant families, upon arrival, Ms Braich<br />
experienced loneliness, isolation and a sense<br />
of disconnect. However, with the time and the<br />
support of her family, she slowly started to adjust<br />
to life in New Zealand and engaged herself in the<br />
local Wellington cultural events and festivals.<br />
In 2015, Ms Braich along with Maria Singh<br />
organised her first ever event to raise funds to<br />
help build the local Gurudwara. Attended by over<br />
100 women, Ms Braich and Ms Singh raised some funds which were then donated to the temple. This was<br />
the start of the Wellington Punjabi Womens Association.<br />
However, tragedy struck as Maria Singh who was like a daughter to Ms Braich passed away in a tragic<br />
accident in 2018. Inspired by Maria’s work and dreams for this project, Ms Braich drew on it as a source of<br />
strength and motivation to create a legacy in her name.<br />
Wellington Punjabi Womens Association was officially registered in 2018, and since then Ms Braich has<br />
inspired many <strong>Indian</strong> and ethnic women in Wellington to bring about small changes to their lives.<br />
Now, Ms Braich along with her committee members, Sarab Gurmeet Kaur, Karmider Kaur, Harpuneet Bath<br />
and Jasdeep Kaur work with women across ethnicities. She is further inspired to create an impact with this<br />
association after meeting and interacting with other women community leaders who were happy to show<br />
her the way to make a difference in this community.<br />
NAVTEJ RANDHAWA<br />
<strong>Community</strong> leader<br />
A fourth-generation New Zealander who<br />
identifies strongly with his <strong>Indian</strong> roots, Navtej<br />
Randhawa has been proactively working with<br />
the <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong> diaspora for over 20 years.<br />
An active representative of the <strong>Indian</strong><br />
community since his university days, Mr<br />
Randhawa’s straight-talking style has<br />
endeared him to the business and social<br />
community in New Zealand. Over the years,<br />
Mr Randhawa has built and invested in<br />
businesses that have helped New Zealand<br />
born <strong>Indian</strong>s kids stay in touch with their<br />
roots. Founding member of NZ Punjabi<br />
Foundation, Mr Randhawa is a member of<br />
the Asia New Zealand Foundation Young<br />
<strong>Leaders</strong> Network.<br />
In recent years, his love, passion and<br />
advocacy for his own Punjabi heritage and the<br />
wider <strong>Indian</strong> diaspora has only increased and<br />
deserves an undiluted acknowledgement.<br />
Among some of the multiple initiatives under<br />
his belt that seek to serve the wider Punjabi and <strong>Indian</strong> community some of the<br />
key endeavours are Radio Spice and NZ Punjabi Multimedia Trust.<br />
Working as a real estate agent in his professional life, Mr Randhawa loves<br />
South Auckland and enjoys living in Papatoetoe. He feels South Auckland is<br />
one of the most vibrant parts of Auckland and enjoys working with a diverse<br />
range of people. He believes in giving back to the community and volunteers<br />
for community initiatives whether it be neighbourhood support or the local<br />
board at his son’s school.<br />
However as part of his multiple roles within different community initiatives he<br />
is seen connected with various segments of the <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong> community all over<br />
the country.<br />
His world view for a harmonious and cohesive community life also emanates<br />
from his own small family life with two loving sons Taj and Adesh, he seems to<br />
be on a life-long mission to serve the <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong> community.<br />
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List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
NILIMA VENKAT MNZM<br />
General Manager, Shanti Niwas<br />
Charitable Trust<br />
A well-known leader in the <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
community, Nilima Venkat grew up experiencing<br />
the power of service. Seeing her mother being<br />
the unofficial “aunty” of their society in India,<br />
Mrs Venkat always wished to contribute to<br />
the betterment of society. Her wish came true<br />
when she arrived in New Zealand in 1998 and<br />
put up her hand to be a volunteer at Shanti<br />
Niwas Charitable Trust. This was the start of<br />
an impactful journey that has seen Mrs Venkat<br />
become a dynamic community leader in New<br />
Zealand.<br />
General Manager at Shanti Niwas Charitable<br />
Trust, Mrs Venkat is a qualified and registered<br />
social worker, founder member and trustee of<br />
The Asian Network Inc., trustee of the Sahayata<br />
Trust, member of Consumer Advisory group of<br />
Health and Disability Commission, past member<br />
of the Counties Manukau Police Southeast<br />
Asian Advisory Board, amongst others. She was<br />
awarded the Member of the New Zealand Order<br />
of Merit (MNZM) in 2013 for her contribution to<br />
the <strong>Indian</strong> community in New Zealand.<br />
Having experienced isolation and loneliness as<br />
a new migrant in New Zealand, Mrs Venkat has over the years worked<br />
towards strengthening the wellbeing and social cohesion of the most<br />
vulnerable in our community. As a leader who believes in the power of<br />
changing the world one person at a time, Mrs Venkat has influenced and<br />
impacted thousands of senior citizens through her various roles at Shanti<br />
Niwas Charitable Trust. The organisation has a history of working with<br />
socially isolated senior citizens of <strong>Indian</strong> and South Asian origin living<br />
in the Auckland region. It has a mission to deliver culturally appropriate<br />
community-based support services with an emphasis on furthering the<br />
delivery of aged care services, health awareness and healthy lifestyle<br />
education, assistance with settlement in the New Zealand society,<br />
networking and partnership with other agencies.<br />
PAUL PATEL QSM<br />
President, New Zealand<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> Central Association<br />
Inspired by his desire to see <strong>Indian</strong> heritage, culture<br />
and community prosper, Mr Paul Patel has over the<br />
past four decades worked to raise the profile of the<br />
community in New Zealand. Having grown up watching<br />
his entrepreneurial grandfather support local <strong>Indian</strong><br />
families in Dannevirke, Mr Patel from a young age, knew<br />
that he would contribute to the growth and development<br />
of his own community.<br />
Now, as the President of the NZ Central <strong>Indian</strong><br />
Association and previous President of the Central<br />
Districts <strong>Indian</strong> Association, an organisation founded by<br />
his grandfather in 1945 under the name of Manawatū/<br />
Hawke’s Bay <strong>Indian</strong> Association, Mr Patel has ensured<br />
that <strong>Indian</strong> across New Zealand have a voice.<br />
With an intention to bring perspectives and experiences<br />
of all <strong>Indian</strong>s in New Zealand to the fore, Mr Patel set<br />
about reviving the then docile Manawatū/Hawke’s Bay<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> Association to become the Central Districts<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> Association. Mr Patel then brought a national<br />
focus on the region by creating a connection with the<br />
New Zealand <strong>Indian</strong> Central Association (NZICA) – the<br />
national umbrella body for regional groups.<br />
Through his work with the association, Mr Patel has<br />
since then been heavily involved in representing the<br />
interest and concerns of the wider <strong>Indian</strong> community to<br />
policymakers, advisors, and ministers – from the <strong>Indian</strong> High Commission, Immigration NZ, the Department<br />
of Internal Affairs, NZ Police, and the Office of Ethnic <strong>Community</strong>.<br />
A proud dad of two, Mr Patel credits his achievements to the sacrifices made by his family. Calling them his<br />
backbone, Mr Patel is dedicated to making a difference for the future generations of <strong>Indian</strong>s who want to<br />
maintain their <strong>Indian</strong> culture while calling New Zealand their home.<br />
In her many roles, Mrs Venkat developed several successful projects<br />
such as KHUSHI—Elder abuse and neglect prevention service, Dosti—<br />
visiting service for the lonely and housebound, SNEH—Emergency<br />
Housing for the seniors, and a branch of Shanti Niwas in North Shore in<br />
Auckland.<br />
Her services to the community have facilitated migrants to become more<br />
resilient, increase capability, self-determination, and helped towards<br />
settlement and integration within the local community. In a world where<br />
six degrees of separation is a reality, Mrs Venkat aims at having a larger<br />
impact by focusing on changing “small bits” of the world.<br />
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List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
PRASHANT BELWALKAR<br />
Founder, Migrant Heritage Charitable<br />
Trust and Ex-President,<br />
Auckland Marathi Association<br />
Love for sports, music and theatre was the thread that<br />
drew Prashant Belwalkar and his family towards the<br />
Maharashtrian community in Auckland.<br />
Saying goodbye to their well-established careers in<br />
Mumbai, Mr Belwalkar left a promising career as a General<br />
Manager in an IT company to join his wife Varsha, a senior<br />
horticulturist with the Leela Group, in New Zealand. Aware<br />
that they were taking a risk, the couple made the decision<br />
to move to New Zealand for a better life, with Ms Belwalkar<br />
arriving first followed by Mr Belwalkar in 2000.<br />
As with any first-generation migrant, the journey and<br />
adjustment period in New Zealand was unsettling. However,<br />
due to their experience, the couple was able to quickly<br />
stabilise and establish themselves in New Zealand.<br />
This allowed them time and space to reconnect with their<br />
culture and passion for poetry and sports through the<br />
Auckland Marathi Association. While at that stage, the<br />
association was primarily involved in the Diwali and Ganpati<br />
festivals, Mr Belwalkar was keen to do more and reach out<br />
to the wider group. His wife, Varsha was the President of<br />
the association in 2006 - 2007 while he was the President<br />
from 2016 - 2018.<br />
During his tenure, Mr Belwalkar impressed upon<br />
Maharashtrians’ love for theatre to feature the first fulllength<br />
Marathi play. He was also instrumental in starting the<br />
association’s first Marathi magazine which gets contributions from its members.<br />
Looking to bring the extended <strong>Indian</strong> community into the conversation, Mr Belwalkar<br />
also established a structure and raised the popularity of a cricket tournament<br />
between the different communities of India. The tournament is now in its 24th year.<br />
Thirteen years in running, Mr Belwalkar is also the founder and trustee of the<br />
Migrant Heritage Charitable Trust, an organization that promotes performing and<br />
visual arts, literature and<br />
Radio in the community and has a motto of “preserving the past, educating the<br />
future”.<br />
PRAVIN KUMAR QSM<br />
Managing Trustee,<br />
Shri Ram Mandir Charitable Trust<br />
Known for his business acumen<br />
and genuine love and desire to<br />
make a difference in the lives of<br />
the people around him and the<br />
community, Mr Pravin Kumar is the<br />
Managing Trustee of the Shri Ram<br />
Mandir Charitable Trust. Having led<br />
the establishment of the temple in<br />
West Auckland, Mr Kumar has been<br />
dedicated in his involvement in the<br />
growth of the temple, its activities for<br />
the community as well as making it<br />
into a place that is open to all.<br />
A profoundly religious and spiritual<br />
leader, Mr Kumar observed an acute<br />
need for a community centre and a<br />
place for religious activities to serve<br />
a fast-growing <strong>Indian</strong> and Hindu<br />
population in the West Auckland<br />
Area. He led the land purchase<br />
negotiation for the Shri Ram Mandir<br />
Charitable Trust along with the plans<br />
for the temple. He engaged with<br />
the Hindu community across New<br />
Zealand and overseas to raise money<br />
for the construction of the temple<br />
which was completed in 2015.<br />
To meet the needs of the community, Mr Kumar ensures that all functions at the<br />
Mandir are fully catered. He has assembled a large team of volunteers that cook,<br />
serve, and clean up at the temple. He uses his lifestyle block in West Auckland to<br />
grow vegetables and provide milk for the temple.<br />
Over the years, Mr Kumar has led several key initiatives to raise funds and awareness<br />
for different community organisations. He played a key role in the creation of the<br />
Waitakere <strong>Indian</strong> Association and served as its Vice President from 2004 to 2008.<br />
He was the President of the Waitakere Hindi Language and Cultural School from<br />
2008 to 2011 and has been a member of the Waitemata Police Ethnic Advisory<br />
Board since 2017.<br />
Alongside his commitment to the community, Mr Kumar is well-known in the <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> community for his business and trade acumen.<br />
A Chartered Accountant by profession, Mr Kumar completed his Bachelor of Arts<br />
degree at the University of the South Pacific. Following a ten-year tenure at the<br />
Westpac Bank in Fiji, he migrated to New Zealand in 1999. A Senior Associate<br />
member of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia, Mr Kumar has been<br />
running his business as the Founder and Managing Director of Lotus Group of<br />
Companies, which includes Lotus Foreign Exchange Ltd (NZ), Lotus Foreign<br />
Exchange Pty Ltd (Australia), Lotus Foreign Exchange Ltd (Fiji), and Lotus Gold<br />
Merchants Ltd (NZ) for over 14 years.<br />
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List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
ROOPA SUCHDEV QSM<br />
Founder Roopa Aur Aap Charitable Trust<br />
A popular name in the <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
community, Roopa Suchdev is a media<br />
personality, mum, radio show host and<br />
a social activist. A former lecturer and a<br />
film journalist from India, Ms Suchdev,<br />
since her move to New Zealand <strong>25</strong><br />
years ago has impacted the lives of<br />
thousands of <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong> families.<br />
A leader with steely determination, Ms<br />
Suchdev has tirelessly championed<br />
for the cause of the unheard, the often<br />
unseen and the marginalized in our<br />
communities. What started as a Q & A<br />
session on her radio show, led to her<br />
becoming a popular problem-solving<br />
figure in the migrant community.<br />
This led to the launch of Roopa Aur<br />
Aap Charitable Trust, an organization<br />
that has served the most vulnerable<br />
victims of family violence and family<br />
harm where she serves as a Chief<br />
Executive Officer. Over the last two<br />
decades, Roopa Aur Aap Charitable<br />
Trust has worked with an aim to<br />
provide culturally appropriate services<br />
to the victims of family violence so that they can recover and rebuild their lives. In this past<br />
year with the onset of COVID-19, Ms Suchdev worked quite actively with the community after<br />
seeing a spike in cases of family violence and depression due to the pandemic.<br />
For Roopa-Ji, as she is fondly referred to, the purpose of Roopa Aur Aap is simple - to support<br />
the community and anybody who needs help.<br />
Apart from Roopa Aur Aap, she is also known for her involvement with the Urdu Hindi Cultural<br />
Association where she works to spread her love for Urdu and Hindi language. Providing a<br />
platform for budding and popular poets, Ms Suchdev has, through her years of community<br />
service, worked for the betterment of the society.<br />
In 2005, Ms Suchdev was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal by the government of New<br />
Zealand in recognition of her contributions to community service. She is the President of Urdu-<br />
Hindi Cultural Association of NZ & Co-founder of Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust.<br />
SHEFALI MEHTA QSM<br />
President, Global<br />
Organisation of People of<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> Origin<br />
An opportunity in 1974 turned the wheel of destiny for<br />
Shefali Mehta and her family. Trailblazing through Fiji,<br />
Kenya, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand, Mrs Mehta<br />
has for long championed the cause of those in need with<br />
her good deeds.<br />
A passionate community worker, Shefali Mehta QSM is very<br />
well recognized for her work in the various communities in<br />
the Pacific. In Fiji & Papua New Guinea, Mrs Mehta has<br />
supported various community organisations and has been<br />
the chairperson of Cancer Relief Society, Friends of The<br />
Disabled Association, Red Cross Special Education Centre,<br />
and Heart Foundation. In recognition of her outstanding<br />
community service, she was awarded the British Empire<br />
Medal, Queen’s Birthday List 1994 by the government of<br />
Papua New Guinea.<br />
Since 2008, Mrs Mehta has been involved in the work of<br />
the Global Organisation of People of <strong>Indian</strong> Origin (GOPIO)<br />
and currently also serves as the President of GOPIO<br />
Auckland Central Chapter. She also serves as the Deputy<br />
Chairperson for Global India New Zealand and Chairperson<br />
of the Women’s Wing.<br />
Alongside this, she is an active member of Rotary Club<br />
Auckland Harbourside where she developed initiatives to<br />
raise funds for various community & humanitarian services. A natural networker with connections within<br />
the extended <strong>Indian</strong> diaspora, Mrs Mehta helped raise a substantial amount for the Auckland Medical<br />
Research Foundation, Cure Kids, CanTeen, Starship Children Hospital, St John Ambulance, Leukemia &<br />
Blood Foundation, Southern Cross Campus School, Mangere.<br />
Under her Presidency at the Rotary Club Auckland Harbourside, the club contributed $106,890 toward<br />
Starship Children Hospital and AMRF [Auckland Medical Research Foundation]. She played a pivotal role in<br />
developing a forum “Peace & Conflict Resolution Forum” for the Rotary and University student’s audience.<br />
She was involved in the “End Polio Now” campaign, Rotary’s greatest ever program to eliminate poliomyelitis<br />
throughout the world with the help of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.<br />
Apart from her work with Rotary Club and GOPIO, Mrs Mehta has worked with several community organisations<br />
to bring about changes for the good of the community. She was a key member of the committee that was the<br />
driving force behind establishing the first culturally appropriate rest home, developed for senior citizens of<br />
South Asian Origin by the Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust. She also sits on the committee of the Auckland<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> association.<br />
In recognition for all her work, Mrs Mehta was awarded the Queens Service Medal for her services to the<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Community</strong> which has further empowered her to work selflessly for the New Zealanders – to help and<br />
support the less privileged people in the community at large.<br />
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List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
SHIVANI ARORA<br />
Restaurateur, Business Owner and<br />
Member, Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan in NZ<br />
SRILATHA MAGATALA<br />
Known within her close social circles as the<br />
leading lady of <strong>Indian</strong> hospitality in New Zealand,<br />
for owning and managing the two most famous<br />
restaurants, India Gate & Shivani Vegetarian<br />
Restaurants in the heart of Papatoetoe and<br />
Mt Roskill suburbs - Shivani Arora has another<br />
strong community service side that deserves<br />
equal attention as the entrepreneurial side of<br />
her personality.<br />
Not many people in the community would<br />
know that Mrs Arora is deeply involved in<br />
the core team managing the Shirdi Sai Baba<br />
Sansthan in New Zealand, which eventually led<br />
to the establishment of the Sai baba temple<br />
in Onehunga, Auckland, and often dividing her<br />
time and energy between her business and the<br />
service to the community.<br />
In her own words, the basic foundation of her<br />
restaurant business was laid decades ago when<br />
at the tender age of 12, she would not only cook<br />
for her extended family but would go out and<br />
pick her own spices, roast them and make her<br />
own special masalas.<br />
It was this innate desire to build everything from<br />
scratch that was probably ingrained into her right from the very beginning,<br />
which prompted her to work on the ground level within the space of community<br />
work when such calling came from inside of her heart.<br />
Being a devout follower of Sai Baba, Shivani Arora involved herself in core<br />
volunteer activities such as managing the temple kitchen along with other<br />
responsibilities that came her way within the various activities of Shirdi Sai<br />
Baba Sansthan.<br />
President, New Zealand<br />
Telugu Association<br />
Coming from a joint family in India, Ms Magtala<br />
missed having the love and support of her parents<br />
and extended family when she moved to New<br />
Zealand in 2003. Looking for a way to connect<br />
with new people, Ms Magatala volunteered to<br />
cook dinner for 300 people at a New Zealand<br />
Telugu Association event, and thus began her<br />
journey of community work in New Zealand.<br />
As with any young family that moves to New<br />
Zealand, Ms Magatala and her husband initially<br />
struggled to find the right balance between<br />
their personal and professional lives. Realising<br />
that this life is not the life they wanted for their<br />
children, Ms Magatala then started a courier<br />
franchise followed by taking up contract work in<br />
the taxi industry, which allowed her the flexibility<br />
to be with her growing children, and manage her<br />
community commitments.<br />
And as they say, behind every great woman is<br />
a family that’s cheering her on, inspired by her<br />
husband’s work as the President of the New<br />
Zealand Telugu Association, Ms Magatala went<br />
from being a volunteer of the association to now<br />
serving her third term as its President. Motivated<br />
by the difference their parents’ work has made<br />
to the community, Ms Magatala’s two daughters<br />
have also been engaged in community work of<br />
their own.<br />
For quite a long time, she has remained deeply involved in Sansthan’s activities<br />
in Sai Temple as a committed volunteer worker without allowing the glamour<br />
and the glitz of being a successful businesswoman to impact in any manner.<br />
The fact that she has a supporting family, including husband Kuldeep Arora<br />
and three children, who equally shares her passion for excellence in business<br />
and service to the community – keep her going strong – in this life journey.<br />
The New Zealand Telugu Association was established in 1998 with an intention to maintain the culture of<br />
Telugu people of India. Since Ms Magatala’s involvement, the association has invested in initiatives that<br />
focus on giving back to the community such as blood donation camps, meals on wheels for the elderly,<br />
health awareness programs, badminton competitions and ‘go green’ campaigns with Auckland Council.<br />
With an aim to be more inclusive, Ms Magatala continues to work with other ethnic and community<br />
organisations, looking for opportunities of collaboration and knowledge sharing.<br />
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List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
SUCHARITA VARMA<br />
Director, Sahaayta<br />
A champion for the vulnerable, Sucharita Varma has<br />
been an influential figure in the social services sector<br />
for the past 11 years. Hailing from Hyderabad in<br />
Southern India, Ms Varma migrated to New Zealand<br />
in 2001. Continuing her passion for helping people,<br />
Ms Varma established Sahaayta Counselling and<br />
Social Support in Counties Manukau in 2013 with a<br />
vision to enhance the status, health and well-being<br />
of the South-Asian community through holistic,<br />
confidential and culturally appropriate services.<br />
Ms Varma comes from a counselling background<br />
and is passionate about working with families,<br />
especially from migrant and refugee backgrounds.<br />
She is particularly interested in family counselling<br />
where she uses a holistic approach in her work with<br />
her clients.<br />
She is responsible for creating a model and providing<br />
oversight for the service delivery for Gandhi NIwas,<br />
an organisation that provides early intervention<br />
services for men identified at risk of committing<br />
family harm.<br />
A vocal and public figure, Ms Varma has over<br />
the years brought comfort and solace to many<br />
survivors of family violence, while also working with<br />
offenders to reform their lives. Having experienced<br />
and observed the cultural needs of diverse cultures,<br />
Ms Varma has over the years worked with various<br />
agencies to bring about changes through policy,<br />
counselling and discussions.<br />
SUNIL KAUSHAL<br />
President, Waitakere <strong>Indian</strong> Association<br />
When Sunil Kaushal migrated to New Zealand more than<br />
<strong>25</strong> years ago with a degree from NIIT (National Institute<br />
of Information Technology) – one of India’s coveted<br />
educational institutions – his first job in this country was<br />
to milk 370 cows.<br />
From learning the ropes of farming and loving every bit of<br />
it, Mr Kaushal went on to become a pioneer of business<br />
exchange between India and New Zealand. Known for his<br />
business acumen, Mr Kaushal is equally invested in the<br />
growth and development of the <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong> community.<br />
President of the Waitakere <strong>Indian</strong> Association<br />
Incorporated (WIAI), Mr Kaushal has been instrumental in<br />
commissioning a report of the economic contribution of<br />
NZ – <strong>Indian</strong>s in 2020. In his three years as the President,<br />
he has developed many initiatives that have enhanced the<br />
reputation and profile of the association.<br />
Apart from WIAI, Mr Kaushal is the Member Of The<br />
Board Of Advisors at Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa, which<br />
provides funding for programmes or projects delivering<br />
play, active recreation and sport experiences for tamariki<br />
and rangatahi. He is the Board Trustee of the Auckland<br />
Diving <strong>Community</strong> Trust and Board Member for the<br />
<strong>Community</strong> Organisation Grant Scheme - Waitakere,<br />
Auckland, New Zealand. He is also a part of the Ethnic<br />
Peoples Advisory Panel.<br />
Driven to create a better world for his children, he firmly<br />
believes in the need to look after our community by being<br />
a part of the community. “Avoid working in silos and<br />
within just one’s own communities,” is the driving mantra for Mr Kaushal that he follows himself religiously<br />
and encourages others to do the same for bringing the real change and create a socially cohesive society.<br />
Supported by a wife and four kids, Mr Kaushal wants to bring more accountability amongst community<br />
leaders like himself so that the community remains vigilant and receptive towards positive social change.<br />
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List of top <strong>25</strong> <strong>Kiwi</strong>-<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Leaders</strong> in NZ<br />
VAI RAVINDRAN<br />
President, Auckland Tamil Association<br />
As the President of the Auckland Tamil<br />
Association, Vai Ravindran is well known for<br />
his service, initiatives, and ideas to nurture the<br />
Tamil population in Auckland.<br />
Inspired by his father who was a leader<br />
in the community and worked to enhance<br />
people’s lives through education, Mr Ravindran<br />
followed the same mantra when he started the<br />
Muthtamil Sangam in 2001, as well as became<br />
the President for the Hindu Temple Society and<br />
the Vice-President for the Vedanta Educational<br />
Society. Under his tenure as the President, the<br />
Auckland Tamil Association has gone from<br />
strength to strength and has even held the<br />
Tamil New Year celebrations in the Parliament.<br />
Born in Madurai, Mr Ravindran and his family<br />
moved to New Zealand in 1996. Leaving<br />
behind a pump manufacturing company with<br />
a 50-member production team, Mr Ravindran<br />
relocated to New Zealand to explore new and<br />
different opportunities. However, this experience<br />
came with its own struggles as despite having a<br />
degree in Mechanical Engineering and leading a<br />
business in India, he struggled to find a suitable<br />
job in New Zealand. As luck would have it, his<br />
resume was spotted by the management team<br />
of a company where he had applied for an<br />
admin job. Impressed with his experience, he<br />
was offered the position of line supervisor and<br />
the rest, as they say, is history.<br />
Leading the Auckland Tamil Association, Vai has been at the forefront of harnessing the potential of the<br />
Tamil community in Auckland through various social, cultural and educational initiatives.<br />
Over the years, Mr Ravindran’s passion, commitment and energy has refused to diminish and has instead<br />
increased manifold, as reflected in his tireless advocacy for Tamil speaking people not only in Auckland but<br />
places far and beyond all over New Zealand.<br />
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