Five Kiwi Indian women shine at Kiwibank Local Hero Awards

Five female Kiwi Indians have been named and felicitated at the Kiwibank Local Hero Awards for 2020 from two different regions in New Zealand.

Community worker Baljit Dheil and Hansa Naran JP received the Local Hero Medal for their work from the South Auckland region. Women’s Rights activist Anjum Rahman and community worker Suman Kapoor from Hamilton were awarded the Local Hero Medal for the Waikato region. Ms Rahman is also one of the ten semi-finalists for New Zealander of the Year. And community worker Pratima Nand from Auckland is one of the semi-finalists in the category of Senior New Zealander of the Year.

Baljit K Dheil: Baljit Dheil is the President of Woman Care Trust, a community organisation based in South Auckland that hosts several activities throughout the year for the Asian, Indian women. The organisation provides cultural, health, education, mediation, counselling services, language and skills development classes, activities for the wellbeing of women, creating a social network and also community development. The organisation also works with socially isolated seniors and new migrants of Punjabi Indian community living in Auckland.

Baljit Dheil has been instrumental in building the Woman Care Trust, the community organisation that thrived on helping and supporting members of the community in need. The trust that just completed five years in November has successfully helped over 1200 people expanding to Chinese, Fiji Indian, Maori, Islanders and Kiwi communities.

Hansa Naran JP: Hansa Naran is a prominent face in the Kiwi Indian community who serves as the Treasurer for the oldest Indian association New Zealand Indian Central Association (NZICA). Ms Naran, in the last two decades, has been highly engaged working with the communities, associations connecting with different people and assisting them in growing and delivering services to people.

Earlier last year, she, along with sixty other women, organised a march followed by an event celebrating the 125 years of Suffrage. Ms Naran has been a strong voice for the women in the Kiwi Indian community and was also associated with organisations like Pukekohe Indian Association, Indian Association of Manukau New Zealand.

Suman Kapoor: Based in Hamilton and awarded in the Waikato region, Suman Kapoor comes with a heavy basket of distinguished awards and recognitions for her services to the Kiwi Indian community. Currently serving as the vice president of National Council of Women, Hamilton, Ms Kapoor has tirelessly worked over the years to connect with the wider Indian community in the region and also organise cultural events and festivals at different intervals of the year.

Ms Kapoor is also associated with GOPIO (Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin) and is currently serving as the chairperson of IndiaNZ Global Women and Family Group.

Anjum Rahman: Community worker Anjum Rahman is a political and human rights activist working for the right of Muslim women, especially speaking against discrimination of Muslims.

Ms Rahman is based in Hamilton and known for her roles in different community organisations as board-member and has spoken for diversity and inclusiveness of Muslims in the community. She has also been a strong voice for ethnic Muslim women in the country.

She was the founding member and the first secretary of the Islamic Women’s Council in New Zealand that brought women of Islamic faith together since 1990.

Over the past two-and-a-half decades, Ms Rahman has been a vocal on rights of Muslim women and raised concerns of racial discrimination against the Muslim community and Muslim women in New Zealand, especially after the 9/11 attacks.

But with her work with the community over two decades, she considers that New Zealand has witnessed many positive changes toward different ethnic communities, especially Muslim women. However, there is still a long way to go.

She is also a member of the Waikato Interfaith Council and is the current Project Lead for the Inclusive Aotearoa Collective.

Ms Rahman is one of the ten semi-finalists in the New Zealander of the Year 2020 category. This award honours someone who, through their inspiration and leadership, contributes to the wellbeing of the country. Ms Rahman shares the semi-finalist list with Peter Beck, David Downs, Anne Gaze, Professor Jane Harding, Tapu Misa, Dr Helen Petousis-Harris, Stacey Shortall, Dame Margaret Sparrow, Jennifer Ward-Lealand Te Atamira CNZM.

Pratima Nand: Pratima Nand, JP and QSM, is an Auckland based community worker who has contributed her services in her professional capacity as an interpreter and translator in Fiji Hindi, Hindi and Urdu Languages for 21 years to organisations such as DHBs, District Courts, Ministries, NZ Police, law firms and SERCO.

She voluntarily contributed to the translation of the Treaty of Waitangi, both English and Maori versions, in the Hindi language among 20 other languages for Treaty Times Thirty to mark the celebration of NZSTI's 30th anniversary.

She was a Founding member, President, Liaison Officer and elected spokesperson for Fiji Women's Society Inc, providing support to victims of domestic violence and helping Fijians to receive medical services in New Zealand. She also served on the Committee of Management for Roskill Together, Mt Roskill/Puketapapa specific community-led development project, for three years and is a member of the Ethnic People's Advisory Panel.

There are six total categories, including New Zealander of the Year and the winners in each category will receive $5000 and a custom-made trophy. The top three finalists in each category will be announced on January 27, and the winner will be named at an awards gala in Auckland on February 20, 2020.