Razzle Dazzle Glitz and Glamour – That's how we do it!!
The Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame – the third edition, turned out to be an evening that all those in attendance will remember for months to come. From the guests who walked down the red carpet, to the performances, the ambience and the food – all were out to give taste and class a new definition that night.
The stars that dazzled everyone that night were the Prime Minister Rt Hon John Key, the Minister of Ethnic Communities Hon Peseta Sam Lotu Liga, the three Kiwi Indian MPs, many other parliamentarians, Community leaders and ace business people. Adding a sharp doze of glamour to the event were the star couple of Dancing With the Stars fame – Colin Mathura Jefferey and his dancing partner Kristie Williams. The crew from TV3 were in attendance and the event got prominently featured during the first episode of Dancing With the Stars.
Indian Weekender was very proud to also showcase that evening, the tenacious Twins that have recently conquered Mount Everest – Nungshi and Tashi Malik , who are students at the Southern Institute of Technology.
While the photo booth at the end of the Red Carpet was where most people preferred to “hang out” that night, the bright eyed Indian Weekender Team members made sure each and everyone got a slice of the lime light , had an enjoyable evening and left with a limited edition “Hall of Fame” bottle of wine.
The following stories bring you snapshots of how the evening unfolded.….
Hall of Fame awardees inspire the diaspora
Dev Nadkarni
In just three years since inception, the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame event has grown to become a veritable red-letter day in the New Zealand Indian diaspora’s calendar. The speed with which this event has grown in popularity in such a short time shows the importance we Kiwi Indians accord to recognising and celebrating the successes and lifetime contributions of our own people in our lovely adopted country.
The success of the sponsoring publication of the award, the one that you are now reading, too, has been no less phenomenal. Launched six years ago, the idea behind the Indian Weekender was to primarily celebrate Kiwi Indians’ successes and share positive stories. Especially in a media environment that was too negative in its approach to migrants of which Indians are a significant part.
As the publication’s founding editor, I share the pride of Indian Weekender’s founding co-publishers Giri Gupta and Bhav Dhillon as we look back on the challenges that the fledgling publication faced and how these were overcome with hard work and dedication. Our objective was to bring positivity and an air of celebration to being Kiwi Indian. Having celebrated our success stories through the publication and its online avatar, Indian Weekender has brought those celebrations to real life, with the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame.
At last week’s third Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame event, chief guest Prime Minister John Key acknowledged the growing popularity of the award when he said in his speech that the event was getting bigger and bigger with each passing year. He should know – because he has addressed the growing audience in each of the three years as chief guest. As in previous years, the Prime Minister was appreciative of Kiwi Indians’ hard work, industry, energy and their growing contribution to the national economy.
In attendance last week was also a good representation of New Zealand’s political spectrum with several present and past Members of Parliament including three of Indian origin besides luminaries from many fields and a virtual who’s who of Kiwi Indians. In all, 450 people were present at the Langham Hotel in Auckland to witness the induction of the third Kiwi Indian into the Hall of Fame under chandeliers emitting light of the Indian tricolour. Two new awards, too, were announced: Kiwi Indian Young Achiever and Kiwi Indian Unsung Hero.
The awardees
No Kiwi Indian could be in disagreement with this year’s choice of inductee into the Hall of Fame. Kantilal Naranji Patel better known as Kanti Patel or simply Kantibhai has contributed immensely to the country’s healthcare system. The man who came to this country with $20 and a medical degree in 1974 has today built the country’s largest private clinician-owned primary care providing organisation known to all as the Nirvana Health Group, spread across no less than 36 locations.
A much awarded and decorated doctor and businessman, Dr Patel has worked tirelessly to bring quality healthcare to grassroots New Zealand at an equally accessible cost structure. Having himself come from an impoverished background, he has never forsaken his moorings and strives hard to drive down the costs of quality healthcare provisioning across the country and even in Australia. Having given back much to the country he calls home, he is now keen to contribute his mite and his skills to his mother country, India.
The judges could not have made a better choice than Dr Kantibhai Patel for induction into the Hall of Fame. His is a name that will continue to inspire a whole generation of Kiwi Indians to do their best for the country, community and one’s own family. Dr Patel’s solid, spiritual old-world values, his dedication to his work and his altruism, while following sound business practices, are qualities that many in our emerging generation would do well to emulate.
Bright young Prerna Sinha became the first Kiwi Indian Young Achiever awardee. A multitalented and multifaceted young woman, she is someone who has demonstrated that young people can achieve success in this country with their own hard work and dedication. Having come to New Zealand as a student, Prerna has dug in her roots deep and is now reaching for the stars not just in one field but several – undoubtedly an inspiration to the growing multitudes of young Indians coming to New Zealand to study and seek a better life.
We have so many selfless, hardworking self-effacing people in our communities that it is often hard to come across them. They work quietly, often determined to avoid any spotlight on themselves and their work. Their only objective is to be of help to the community. The new Unsung Heroes category was introduced precisely to recognise such selfless individuals in the community. It was a hard slog to pick the inaugural awardee because there are many deserving people and there were many nominations.
However, one name stood out: Pravin Chandra Patel or simply Pravinbhai. He has been such a dedicated worker in the community for so long that it is hard to list the organisations he has set up, led and championed for the weal of the community. His has been exemplary life of giving – of his time, energy, effort and skill – all with the sole of objective of helping the community, strengthening its institutions and preserving the Indian heritage. His self-effacing nature was evident in his humble, brief acceptance speech in which he thanked the very community he has so selflessly served.
Talent showcased
As well as celebrating our successes, the event also has become a platform for showcasing our talented youngsters. A young, talented Maori group of performers staged a haka and teamed up with Nachda Punjab, the country’s most experienced Bhangra crew to perform an engaging fusion routine after Nachda’s presentation of a dhol-accompanied classic Bhangra number.
The surprise item of the evening though was the Victorious March Band of the Soka Gakkai International (NZ) organisation. Comprising an ensemble of 45 young artistes of a range of ages and ethnicities, the band held the audience spellbound as it presented its numbers with a lot of foot tapping and wine glass clinking from the audience, as cheerful conductor Beth Cohen wielded the baton and egged on the audience at the same time. Kiwi Indian singer-songwriter Sayanti rounded off the entertainment with a rendition in her superbly sultry voice.
The Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame has come to symbolise the achievement of Kiwis of Indian origin, no matter where they might have come from. The first inductee three years ago was Member of Parliament Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, who hails from India. Next it was justice Ajit Swaran Singh who is of Fiji Indian origin and this year’s inductee, Kantibhai Patel grew up in Kenya.
Just how much this event will be looked forward too was again summed up in the last line of Prime Minister Key’s address: “See you all next year,” he said.
Behind the scenes
Esha Chanda
Ideas easily float into the mind, but it is the execution that matters. The Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame started off with one such idea. It was in its nascent stages then and the team behind Indian Weekender shaped it into an event that would be etched in the history of Indians in New Zealand.
Last week the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame entered its third year. Months of hard work and persistence culminated into a stellar evening that saw cultural performances, song renditions and three new awardees. But it would not have been possible without different crucial elements that turned the event into a success.
The decor
The elegant Great Room of The Langham in Central Auckland was further enhanced by decorations from Mandap, New Zealand. The two figurines of the majestic elephant on the red carpet spread out for the 400 guests added a traditional element to the glamorous start of the evening. The tri-coloured chandeliers over the round tables gave a subtle ethnic touch. The table runner shaped as a flower along with tea light candles emitting a warm glow made for a beautiful centrepiece. The backdrop of the stage covered with drapes in flamboyant hues of orange and red added a splash of colour to the evening.
The acoustic journey
With years of experience in New Zealand and around the globe, DJ Dave is a recognised name in the world of entertainment. His team created magic with light and sound as they belted out popular Bollywood foot-tapping music and soft instrumentals throughout the evening.
Specialising in all kinds of music for corporate events, weddings, engagements, receptions, birthday parties & conferences, DJ Dave provides a huge selection of music for everyone. Events by DJ Dave showcase the best talent on stage and in the clubs. His classy and up-market boat cruises have been popular year after year.
Framing it right
A treasure chest of memories has been created with delightful moments frozen in time. Kimaya Creations, an Auckland-based company, added a modern and distinctive touch to the traditional art of still photography with beautiful candid pictures from the evening. Video interviews conducted at the photo booth gave guests a platform to share their experiences of the event. One of the most favourite and popular spots of the evening, guests were given the opportunity to click an exclusive photo with the Prime Minister along with friends and families.
All in all the vent was a culmination of the hard work and the team dynamics of many professionals working towards the success of the entire event. It may however be pertinent to mention that the event was conceptualised, produced, executed and spearheaded by the in house talent an Indian Weekender. It was truly the showcasing of the labour of love that the entire team had put together that memorable evening.
The Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame – the third edition, turned out to be an evening that all those in attendance will remember for months to come. From the guests who walked down the red carpet, to the performances, the ambience and the food – all were out to give taste and class a new definition that...
The Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame – the third edition, turned out to be an evening that all those in attendance will remember for months to come. From the guests who walked down the red carpet, to the performances, the ambience and the food – all were out to give taste and class a new definition that night.
The stars that dazzled everyone that night were the Prime Minister Rt Hon John Key, the Minister of Ethnic Communities Hon Peseta Sam Lotu Liga, the three Kiwi Indian MPs, many other parliamentarians, Community leaders and ace business people. Adding a sharp doze of glamour to the event were the star couple of Dancing With the Stars fame – Colin Mathura Jefferey and his dancing partner Kristie Williams. The crew from TV3 were in attendance and the event got prominently featured during the first episode of Dancing With the Stars.
Indian Weekender was very proud to also showcase that evening, the tenacious Twins that have recently conquered Mount Everest – Nungshi and Tashi Malik , who are students at the Southern Institute of Technology.
While the photo booth at the end of the Red Carpet was where most people preferred to “hang out” that night, the bright eyed Indian Weekender Team members made sure each and everyone got a slice of the lime light , had an enjoyable evening and left with a limited edition “Hall of Fame” bottle of wine.
The following stories bring you snapshots of how the evening unfolded.….
Hall of Fame awardees inspire the diaspora
Dev Nadkarni
In just three years since inception, the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame event has grown to become a veritable red-letter day in the New Zealand Indian diaspora’s calendar. The speed with which this event has grown in popularity in such a short time shows the importance we Kiwi Indians accord to recognising and celebrating the successes and lifetime contributions of our own people in our lovely adopted country.
The success of the sponsoring publication of the award, the one that you are now reading, too, has been no less phenomenal. Launched six years ago, the idea behind the Indian Weekender was to primarily celebrate Kiwi Indians’ successes and share positive stories. Especially in a media environment that was too negative in its approach to migrants of which Indians are a significant part.
As the publication’s founding editor, I share the pride of Indian Weekender’s founding co-publishers Giri Gupta and Bhav Dhillon as we look back on the challenges that the fledgling publication faced and how these were overcome with hard work and dedication. Our objective was to bring positivity and an air of celebration to being Kiwi Indian. Having celebrated our success stories through the publication and its online avatar, Indian Weekender has brought those celebrations to real life, with the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame.
At last week’s third Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame event, chief guest Prime Minister John Key acknowledged the growing popularity of the award when he said in his speech that the event was getting bigger and bigger with each passing year. He should know – because he has addressed the growing audience in each of the three years as chief guest. As in previous years, the Prime Minister was appreciative of Kiwi Indians’ hard work, industry, energy and their growing contribution to the national economy.
In attendance last week was also a good representation of New Zealand’s political spectrum with several present and past Members of Parliament including three of Indian origin besides luminaries from many fields and a virtual who’s who of Kiwi Indians. In all, 450 people were present at the Langham Hotel in Auckland to witness the induction of the third Kiwi Indian into the Hall of Fame under chandeliers emitting light of the Indian tricolour. Two new awards, too, were announced: Kiwi Indian Young Achiever and Kiwi Indian Unsung Hero.
The awardees
No Kiwi Indian could be in disagreement with this year’s choice of inductee into the Hall of Fame. Kantilal Naranji Patel better known as Kanti Patel or simply Kantibhai has contributed immensely to the country’s healthcare system. The man who came to this country with $20 and a medical degree in 1974 has today built the country’s largest private clinician-owned primary care providing organisation known to all as the Nirvana Health Group, spread across no less than 36 locations.
A much awarded and decorated doctor and businessman, Dr Patel has worked tirelessly to bring quality healthcare to grassroots New Zealand at an equally accessible cost structure. Having himself come from an impoverished background, he has never forsaken his moorings and strives hard to drive down the costs of quality healthcare provisioning across the country and even in Australia. Having given back much to the country he calls home, he is now keen to contribute his mite and his skills to his mother country, India.
The judges could not have made a better choice than Dr Kantibhai Patel for induction into the Hall of Fame. His is a name that will continue to inspire a whole generation of Kiwi Indians to do their best for the country, community and one’s own family. Dr Patel’s solid, spiritual old-world values, his dedication to his work and his altruism, while following sound business practices, are qualities that many in our emerging generation would do well to emulate.
Bright young Prerna Sinha became the first Kiwi Indian Young Achiever awardee. A multitalented and multifaceted young woman, she is someone who has demonstrated that young people can achieve success in this country with their own hard work and dedication. Having come to New Zealand as a student, Prerna has dug in her roots deep and is now reaching for the stars not just in one field but several – undoubtedly an inspiration to the growing multitudes of young Indians coming to New Zealand to study and seek a better life.
We have so many selfless, hardworking self-effacing people in our communities that it is often hard to come across them. They work quietly, often determined to avoid any spotlight on themselves and their work. Their only objective is to be of help to the community. The new Unsung Heroes category was introduced precisely to recognise such selfless individuals in the community. It was a hard slog to pick the inaugural awardee because there are many deserving people and there were many nominations.
However, one name stood out: Pravin Chandra Patel or simply Pravinbhai. He has been such a dedicated worker in the community for so long that it is hard to list the organisations he has set up, led and championed for the weal of the community. His has been exemplary life of giving – of his time, energy, effort and skill – all with the sole of objective of helping the community, strengthening its institutions and preserving the Indian heritage. His self-effacing nature was evident in his humble, brief acceptance speech in which he thanked the very community he has so selflessly served.
Talent showcased
As well as celebrating our successes, the event also has become a platform for showcasing our talented youngsters. A young, talented Maori group of performers staged a haka and teamed up with Nachda Punjab, the country’s most experienced Bhangra crew to perform an engaging fusion routine after Nachda’s presentation of a dhol-accompanied classic Bhangra number.
The surprise item of the evening though was the Victorious March Band of the Soka Gakkai International (NZ) organisation. Comprising an ensemble of 45 young artistes of a range of ages and ethnicities, the band held the audience spellbound as it presented its numbers with a lot of foot tapping and wine glass clinking from the audience, as cheerful conductor Beth Cohen wielded the baton and egged on the audience at the same time. Kiwi Indian singer-songwriter Sayanti rounded off the entertainment with a rendition in her superbly sultry voice.
The Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame has come to symbolise the achievement of Kiwis of Indian origin, no matter where they might have come from. The first inductee three years ago was Member of Parliament Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, who hails from India. Next it was justice Ajit Swaran Singh who is of Fiji Indian origin and this year’s inductee, Kantibhai Patel grew up in Kenya.
Just how much this event will be looked forward too was again summed up in the last line of Prime Minister Key’s address: “See you all next year,” he said.
Behind the scenes
Esha Chanda
Ideas easily float into the mind, but it is the execution that matters. The Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame started off with one such idea. It was in its nascent stages then and the team behind Indian Weekender shaped it into an event that would be etched in the history of Indians in New Zealand.
Last week the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame entered its third year. Months of hard work and persistence culminated into a stellar evening that saw cultural performances, song renditions and three new awardees. But it would not have been possible without different crucial elements that turned the event into a success.
The decor
The elegant Great Room of The Langham in Central Auckland was further enhanced by decorations from Mandap, New Zealand. The two figurines of the majestic elephant on the red carpet spread out for the 400 guests added a traditional element to the glamorous start of the evening. The tri-coloured chandeliers over the round tables gave a subtle ethnic touch. The table runner shaped as a flower along with tea light candles emitting a warm glow made for a beautiful centrepiece. The backdrop of the stage covered with drapes in flamboyant hues of orange and red added a splash of colour to the evening.
The acoustic journey
With years of experience in New Zealand and around the globe, DJ Dave is a recognised name in the world of entertainment. His team created magic with light and sound as they belted out popular Bollywood foot-tapping music and soft instrumentals throughout the evening.
Specialising in all kinds of music for corporate events, weddings, engagements, receptions, birthday parties & conferences, DJ Dave provides a huge selection of music for everyone. Events by DJ Dave showcase the best talent on stage and in the clubs. His classy and up-market boat cruises have been popular year after year.
Framing it right
A treasure chest of memories has been created with delightful moments frozen in time. Kimaya Creations, an Auckland-based company, added a modern and distinctive touch to the traditional art of still photography with beautiful candid pictures from the evening. Video interviews conducted at the photo booth gave guests a platform to share their experiences of the event. One of the most favourite and popular spots of the evening, guests were given the opportunity to click an exclusive photo with the Prime Minister along with friends and families.
All in all the vent was a culmination of the hard work and the team dynamics of many professionals working towards the success of the entire event. It may however be pertinent to mention that the event was conceptualised, produced, executed and spearheaded by the in house talent an Indian Weekender. It was truly the showcasing of the labour of love that the entire team had put together that memorable evening.
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