Kiwi Indians honoured at NZICA’s gala award event

The second New Zealand Indian Central Association Inc. (NZICA) Gala Awards event was a glittering affair held at Auckland’s Mahatma Gandhi Centre on Saturday night (17 September).

More than 400 guests including Government ministers, members of parliament, diplomats and several dignitaries and eminent citizens from all over New Zealand attended Saturday’s event. 

Established last year in Palmerston North, the awards recognise those who have made a significant difference to New Zealand Indians and wider communities and is spread across categories of the spheres of activity such as social, educational, sporting and cultural that the awardees have contributed to.

The evening began with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp at the hands of dignitaries and eminent guests, followed by a stirring waiata and haka by the Wheiao Kapahaka Group and a traditional Indian semi-classical dance by Sushma Kuncha of Anuradha’s School of Dance.

Former Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand, ministers Priyanca Radhakrishnan and Michael Wood, Indian diplomat Mukesh Ghia, Honorary Consul of India in Auckland Bhav Dhillon and Member of Parliament Melissa Lee delivered brief speeches.

NZICA Gala Awards Convener Ashok Darji spoke about the genesis of the awards and congratulated the awardees who were chosen by a jury panel.

The highlight of this year’s awards night was the Honorary Membership of the NZICA conferred on former NZ prime minister Helen Clark. Unable to attend the ceremony because she was away taking care of her ailing centenarian father, her long time Labour Party and United Nations colleague and former minister Chris Carter accepted the award on her behalf.

Madanjeet Singh Bange and Ishvarbhai Rambhai were both conferred Life Membership of NZICA on the evening.

The award ceremonies kicked off after a most energetic yet graceful Bharatanatyam performance by the extremely talented Abhishek Ravi, who incorporated Maori elements into the dance with the use of poi (which was also used deftly by dancers after the haka performance at the beginning).

Raman Chhima of the Wellington Indian Association (WIA) was conferred with the Wellbeing (Health) award; Shires of the Central Districts Indian Association conferred the Wellbeing (Business) award.     

Spirited nonagenarian Ruxmaniben V. Kasanji (WIA) was awarded the ‘Hidden Gem’ while Ekta Nathu, also of WIA received the Young Achiever award. WIA’s Shardaben Patel received the Women Empowerment award.         

Auckland Indian Association Inc (AIAI) President Dhansukh Lal received the award for the Association’s Centenary Celebration; Harshad Patel of AIAI received the Arts & Culture  award and Pukekohe Indian Association’s veteran leader Prithipal Singh Basra received the Outstanding Leadership award. Community of the Year award was conferred on Central Districts Indian Association while Immigration NZ received the NZICA President’s Award.

Speaking to Indian Weekender during the awards, NZICA President Narendra Bhana said, “I am privileged to have an opportunity to express my sincere congratulations and deep appreciation to each and every awardees.

“It was a highly successful evening. We have received so many compliments from our guests and sponsors. Attendees thoroughly enjoyed delicious food provided by the Auckland Indian Association Catering Team and amazing ambience created by my team of Officers.”    

NZICA is the only national Indian organisation in NZ set up as an umbrella body for regional Indian community groups throughout the country operating since 1926. NZICA provides a central channel for Indian communities to voice concerns.

The association was established in 1926 by three Indian associations such as Auckland, Wellington and ‘Country Section’ to advance the cause of all Indians present in the country be it educational, health, welfare or cultural identity. Today the central body is connected with 18 other associations and has a track history of 96 years dealing with the issues concerned to the members of the associations and Kiwi Indians.

Ishant Ghulyani and Bhavisha Patel did a splendid job as emcees at the event.