Prime Minister John Key is expected to institute the first ever Indian Weekender’s Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame at a glittering gala ceremony in Auckland on May 21.
The Kiwi-Indian Hall of Fame recognises and celebrates Kiwis of Indian origin in New Zealand for their significant and outstanding contribution not just to the Kiwi-Indian Community, but also to the larger NZ society.
At the forthcoming ceremony, the criterion for nomination is to honour a Kiwi-Indian who has brought pride to the community through excellence in his or her chosen field.
The inductee will be honoured with a citation at an annual black-tie gala dinner. In subsequent years, laureates – each with their unique story of service and success - will be vetted by a jury panel prior to induction.
This initiative shares the Indian Weekender’s vision of pursuing excellence and engaging with the wider Kiwi-Indian community. Indians form one of the fastest growing ethnic communities in New Zealand and bring uniqueness to the social and cultural fabric of the country.
A loyal community of readers, often under-served by the mainstream media, is at the heart of the paper. Launched in times of economic turbulence, Indian Weekender has only gone from strength to strength, and has exceeded all expectations.
Today, the paper claims readership over the majority of the Indian diaspora of 120,0000 people – catering for readers with cultural roots from Fiji, India, South Africa and the Indian subcontinent countries of Bangladash, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. All efforts are geared towards providing quality content through multiple media platforms – websites, mobile – and engaging with the wider community.
People of Indian origin have a 150-year-old relationship with New Zealand. Many have had remarkable success in their chosen fields and contributed much to the country. Their story is still unfolding and the Kiwi Indian Hall of fame will play a significant role in its telling.
For exciting updates about the event and all the behind the scenes coverage log on to www.indianweekender.co.nz