Hamilton Indian plans to take ‘Butter Chicken Yatra’ in NZ to promote compassion

A Hamilton-based Indian migrant has started a peaceful campaign aimed at spreading goodwill across communities through a "Butter Chicken Yatra", offering complimentary butter chicken curries to customers collecting orders from participating restaurants in Hamilton, Auckland and Wellington.

The initiative, created by first-generation Indian hospitality workers living in New Zealand, is intended as a creative response to what organisers describe as growing negativity and stereotyping towards immigrant communities.

The campaign was launched on May 29 by 43-year-old Akshit Barthwal, which aims to drive from Hamilton to different cities and hand out complimentary butter chicken curries.

“Instead of responding with anger, we chose humour, humanity, food, and storytelling,” he said.

Barthwal, who arrived in New Zealand 11 years ago and spent his first year working as a security guard before gradually progressing in his career, said he had never experienced the level of online hostility directed at Indian communities that he has seen recently.

In April, New Zealand's Indian community strongly condemned comments made by New Zealand First MP Shane Jones about the proposed free trade agreement with India.

Jones likened the agreement to a "butter chicken tsunami" coming to New Zealand in an online video.

In the video, the New Zealand First deputy leader said his party would "never accept" the free trade agreement and claimed that "unfettered immigration" would drive down wages, clog roads and overwhelm the health system.

"I don't care how much criticism we get," Jones continued. "I am just never going to agree with a butter chicken tsunami coming to New Zealand."

The comments drew strong criticism from members of the Indian community.

Photo: Royal Indian Cuisine owner Dhanpal Singh handing
out Butter Chicken/Supplied

“If it comes from a minister, it is very serious because it validates that hatred,” Barthwal told The Indian Weekender, explaining the motivation behind the campaign.

Barthwal said he was concerned such rhetoric could contribute to an increase in hate-related incidents.

The title "Butter Chicken Yatra" draws inspiration from India's freedom movements, including the Dandi March and Satyagraha, that were forms of non-violent civil resistance associated with the country's independence struggle led by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

“Butter Chicken Yatra is in response to the ‘Butter Chicken Tsunami’ comment,” he said.

“Rather than confrontation, we will try to use compassion as our weapon and spread awareness of what we are, see the real people behind the “Butter Chickens”,” he said.

“We are here to love, to serve.”

Barthwal said the campaign has received a positive response so far.

The first leg of the campaign ran from Hamilton to Auckland's North Shore on 29 May, where “at least ten butter chicken gravies were handed out for free” at Royal Indian Cuisine, owned by Dhanpal Singh.

Barthwal is now seeking support from hospitality stakeholders and restaurant owners willing to provide complimentary butter chicken as part of the initiative.

Barthwal hopes to conclude the road-trip-style campaign by the end of June.

“We hand out flyers to customers and make them aware about this campaign,” he said.

The response, he added, has been overwhelmingly encouraging.

“We’ve had Kiwis, Canadian, Mexican customers and they have supported us, said we are your brothers and made us feel welcomed.”