A Moment Of Pride – And A Reality Check For NZ

Nikhil Ravishankar’s appointment as the next Chief Executive of Air New Zealand should have been a straightforward moment of national pride. A New Zealand-educated leader, with a proven track record in digital transformation and customer experience, rising to the top of the national carrier after a global search –it’s the kind of merit-based success story we ought to celebrate.
And many did. For the Indian community and other migrant groups across Aotearoa, his appointment sparked genuine pride. But the reactions online also revealed an uglier side: one that New Zealand continues to downplay at its own peril.
New Zealand likes to think of itself as inclusive and progressive. And in many ways, it is. But these kinds of reactions expose how fragile that self-image can be when tested. The reality is that people of colour in this country still carry an extra burden; having to prove they belong, over and over again, no matter their credentials.
The thread of racist commentary that followed Ravishankar’s appointment was not subtle. Stereotypes about food, jibes likening Air New Zealand to Air India, and cynical digs implying that Ravishankar’s ethnicity somehow made him less qualified. A few went even further, invoking racial tropes with disturbing ease.
Let’s be honest: this is more than ignorance. It reflects a deeply embedded discomfort with diversity in leadership, and the persistent idea that leadership in NZ must still conform to an outdated image –usually white, male, and monocultural.
Ravishankar’s story is a shining endorsement of NZ’s internationally respected higher education system. He holds first-class honours in Computer Science and Information Systems from a New Zealand university. He is proof of what the system can deliver when talent is nurtured and given opportunities to grow. He is, quite literally, a calling card for prospective international students –a reminder that New Zealand can offer world-class education and career progression. That message matters, especially now.
New Zealand’s international education sector is still recovering from the reputational damage and economic losses caused by its hard border closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The country needs credible success stories like Ravishankar’s to restore confidence and attract the next generation of global learners –and with them, much-needed export revenue.
His rise is not a favour. It is earned, and it is strategic.
The backlash he has received from some corners is a reminder that we still have work to do. If this country wants to truly embrace its future, it must let go of its reflexive suspicion of brown-skinned success.
If the appointment of a highly qualified, homegrown leader of Indian heritage can provoke this kind of backlash, we have work to do.
For the sake of a truly inclusive New Zealand, it’s time to stop measuring leaders by their surnames, looks and skin colour –and start focusing on what they actually deliver.
Ravishankar belongs in that role. The question is: does New Zealand want to belong to the future he represents?
Nikhil Ravishankar’s appointment as the next Chief Executive of Air New Zealand should have been a straightforward moment of national pride. A New Zealand-educated leader, with a proven track record in digital transformation and customer experience, rising to the top of the national carrier after a...
Nikhil Ravishankar’s appointment as the next Chief Executive of Air New Zealand should have been a straightforward moment of national pride. A New Zealand-educated leader, with a proven track record in digital transformation and customer experience, rising to the top of the national carrier after a global search –it’s the kind of merit-based success story we ought to celebrate.
And many did. For the Indian community and other migrant groups across Aotearoa, his appointment sparked genuine pride. But the reactions online also revealed an uglier side: one that New Zealand continues to downplay at its own peril.
New Zealand likes to think of itself as inclusive and progressive. And in many ways, it is. But these kinds of reactions expose how fragile that self-image can be when tested. The reality is that people of colour in this country still carry an extra burden; having to prove they belong, over and over again, no matter their credentials.
The thread of racist commentary that followed Ravishankar’s appointment was not subtle. Stereotypes about food, jibes likening Air New Zealand to Air India, and cynical digs implying that Ravishankar’s ethnicity somehow made him less qualified. A few went even further, invoking racial tropes with disturbing ease.
Let’s be honest: this is more than ignorance. It reflects a deeply embedded discomfort with diversity in leadership, and the persistent idea that leadership in NZ must still conform to an outdated image –usually white, male, and monocultural.
Ravishankar’s story is a shining endorsement of NZ’s internationally respected higher education system. He holds first-class honours in Computer Science and Information Systems from a New Zealand university. He is proof of what the system can deliver when talent is nurtured and given opportunities to grow. He is, quite literally, a calling card for prospective international students –a reminder that New Zealand can offer world-class education and career progression. That message matters, especially now.
New Zealand’s international education sector is still recovering from the reputational damage and economic losses caused by its hard border closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The country needs credible success stories like Ravishankar’s to restore confidence and attract the next generation of global learners –and with them, much-needed export revenue.
His rise is not a favour. It is earned, and it is strategic.
The backlash he has received from some corners is a reminder that we still have work to do. If this country wants to truly embrace its future, it must let go of its reflexive suspicion of brown-skinned success.
If the appointment of a highly qualified, homegrown leader of Indian heritage can provoke this kind of backlash, we have work to do.
For the sake of a truly inclusive New Zealand, it’s time to stop measuring leaders by their surnames, looks and skin colour –and start focusing on what they actually deliver.
Ravishankar belongs in that role. The question is: does New Zealand want to belong to the future he represents?
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