The New Zealand Indian Central Association Inc. (NZICA) held its 97th Annual General Meeting and Conference at Waikato Indian Association on April 29, 2023. More than 100 delegates from across the country were in attendance, including prominent figures like Transport and Workplace Safety Minister Michael Wood and Hamilton City Mayor Paula Southgate.
The conference began with the traditional lighting of the ceremonial diya (lamp), followed by a welcome speech by President Narendra Bhana. He expressed his gratitude to the host, President Tarun Pragji, and his executive committee for hosting the conference and highlighted the organisation’s achievements over the past year. Bhana also emphasised the importance of youth and women's empowerment for the future of the Indian community in NZ.
Minister Wood delivered the keynote speech, touching upon various issues that concern the Indian community. Other speakers included Tarun Pragji, Chief Executive of Ministry for Ethnic Communities Mervin Singham, National Party’s candidate for Hamilton East Ryan Hamilton, and Second Secretary of the Indian High Commission Durga Dass.
The conference also saw the recognition of community members for their exceptional service to the Indian community. Shanti Patel, Shashi Patel, Jayanti Patel, and Mahendra Dahya received the Community Service Award, while Champa Patel received the Merit Certificate for attending 15 Annual General Meetings. Deputy Commissioner of New Zealand Police Wally Haumaha was also acknowledged for his invaluable support to the Indian community in NZ.
During the Annual General Meeting, various important issues like law and order and immigration that continue to trouble the Indian community were debated. President Bhana said the goals and aspirations of the Indian community are constantly evolving as NZ becomes increasingly diverse. He emphasised the need for NZICA to remain flexible and adopt modern business practices to remain competitive and maintain its edge in the community.
The Annual General Meeting also saw the election of a new team of officers. Narendra Bhana and Prakash Biradar retained their positions as the president and the general secretary respectively, while Hansa Naran retained her position as the treasurer. Taruna Bhana from Wellington and Dhansukh Lal from Auckland were elected the vice-president and assistant secretary respectively.
Outgoing Officers Manisha Morar, Paul Patel, and Jay Randhawa were thanked for their dedication, commitment and hard work for the NZICA, and newly-elected officers Taruna Bhana and Dhansukh Lal were welcomed to the team.
“The 97th Annual General Meeting and Conference of the NZICA was a resounding success, with delegates, life members, and observers coming together to discuss important issues, recognise community members for their service, and elect a new team of officers to take the organisation forward,” Bhana said.
NZICA was established in 1926 as a means of representing the interests of the Indian community in NZ. Its primary goal was to address the concerns of Indian migrants and to promote their integration into NZ society. Over the years, NZICA has played a significant role in advocating for the rights of the Indian community in areas such as immigration, education and cultural representation.