The Indian Weekender recognized the New Zealand Indian Central Association at its 2024 awards ceremony. Photo: Facebook / Indian Weekender
Members of New Zealand's Indian community have been honoured at award ceremonies organized by media outlets The Indian Weekender and Indian Newslink.
The 11th edition of The Indian Weekender's Hall of Fame Awards recognized the New Zealand Indian Central Association for its century-old role as a pillar of unity, advocacy and cultural preservation within the Indian diaspora.
The association received the prestigious Community Organization of the Year prize at the awards ceremony on 4 October.
Rachin Ravindra, one of the breakout stars from the 2023 Cricket World Cup, was honoured with the Kiwi Indian Young Achiever Award.
Last year, Ravindra picked up the ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year award and secured a spot in the Chennai Super Kings squad for the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League.
The Kiwi Indian Arts, Culture & Heritage Award went to Pandit Shuk Dev Madhur, a Hindustani classical musician and founder of the Sargam School of Indian Music.
Before arriving in New Zealand, Madhur served as a panelist for All India Radio and trainer with India's leading educational development agency, the National Council of Education Research and Training.
An accomplished violinist, Madhur is known for introducing Hindustani music to New Zealand.
Meanwhile, Trade Minister Todd McClay picked up the inaugural Friend of India Award at the ceremony.
Et McClay, who has met his Indian counterpart five times in nine months, was recognized for his contribution in strengthening India-New Zealand ties.
Ella Kumar, the first woman of Indian descent elected as chair of a local board in New Zealand, was also honoured at the ceremony.
A third-generation Indian New Zealander, she is currently head of the Puketāpapa Local Board in Auckland and a qualified aerobics instructor.
Kumar has volunteered for the Auckland Diwali Festival since 2002 and was inducted into the 2024 Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame for her contributions to the community.
Ella Kumar was inducted into the 2024 Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame for her contributions to the community. Photo: Supplied
At the 10th annual Indian Newslink Sports, Community, Arts and Culture Awards ceremony earlier in the year, Lesley Murdoch was awarded the Special Commemoration Award for her contribution to sports in New Zealand.
Malkiat Singh, the first Sikh to climb Mount Everest, was also honoured at the ceremony in the South Auckland suburb of Papatoetoe on 17 June.
Other winners at the Indian Newslink Awards included the Hindu Council of New Zealand, which won the Raman Ranchhod Award for its services to the Hindu community, and Kai from Sai (Meals with Love), which received the NVR Swami Community Spirit Award for its services to various communities.
The Indian Cultural Society Waikato was honoured with the Dr. Robert Khan (Senior) Memorial Award for its services to the community in the Waikato region.
Khushi Sehajpal received the Baljit Kaur Memorial Award for brain research, while Sasidharan Nambissan was recognized with the Ravin Lal Memorial Award for his contributions to the community in Auckland.
Frederic Susil Dass rounded out the commemorative awards, winning the Wenceslaus Anthony Memorial Award for his services to various communities in New Zealand.
In March, the Canterbury Punjabi Association organized the inaugural Kiwi-Indian Excellence Awards in Christchurch to celebrate the achievements of the Indian community in the South Island.
Indian Newslink is expected to host its Annual Indian Business Awards in November.