Waterfalls, Langar, & Friendship: Seva seniors celebrate a day in Whangarei

A group of 100 seniors from the Seva Charitable Trust enjoyed a day of nature, friendship, and spirituality during an outing to Whangarei on 28 January. Organised by the Trust, the seniors travelled on two buses, setting off for a full day of sightseeing, activities, and social connection.

The first stop was the iconic Whangarei Falls, where seniors took in the scenic beauty of the cascading waterfall. “It was like walking into a postcard!” said Shashi Verma. Indira Sheshadri added, “The falls were so serene, the weather was perfect, it was a very enjoyable outing.”

Photo: Supplied

Morning tea and lunch were provided, with attendees praising the quality and taste of the food. Following the visit to the falls, the group headed to the local gurudwara, where they were warmly welcomed by the gurudwara committee and enjoyed an afternoon of langar.

Nilima Venkat, Head of Operations at Seva Charitable Trust, said the outing was a valuable opportunity for seniors to explore the region, connect with each other, and create lasting memories. “It was great to see everyone having so much fun together,” she said.

Photo: Supplied

Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, former parliamentarian and General Manager of Seva, expressed gratitude to those who made the trip possible, acknowledging support from Pub Charity, We Care Community Trust, Swad Amritsari Restaurant, Whangarei Gurudwara Sahib, and Ranjay Sikka, chairman of Seva.

Photo: Supplied

Seva Charitable Trust NZ, established in 2023, focuses on supporting the health and wellbeing of Auckland’s older Indian population. The organisation provides culturally appropriate social support services, with an emphasis on empowering older adults and women. It hosts weekly Positive Ageing Day programmes in South Auckland, a Coffee Club twice a week in central Auckland, and provides advocacy and social work support for older people facing elder abuse, neglect, or challenges commonly experienced by migrants.

For more information on Seva Charitable Trust’s services or to become a member, contact Nilima Venkat at info@sevatrustnz.org.