Adding to the pride that the Kiwi-Indians have brought to the Indian community in New Zealand, another Indian has been named for the queen service medal in the New Year honours 2016. Shefali Mehta will be honoured among 51 others for her services to the Indian Community in Auckland.
Mehta has been a member of Rotary Club Auckland Harbourside since 1998. Under her leadership as president (2012–13), the club raised NZD 106,890.00 for Starship Hospital and Auckland Medical Research Foundation (AMRF). She is National Secretary of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO NZ).
Mehta moved to New Zealand in 1997 and has been associated with many community support organisations since then. In February 2011 she was appointed as Justice of the Peace in Auckland. Since 2011 she has been Deputy Chairperson for Global India New Zealand and Chairperson of the Women’s Wing.
She is also one of the key members of a committee that is driving the need for a culturally appropriate Rest Home, Aashirwad for senior citizens of South Asian Origin.
She was previously involved in community activities in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, including as Chairperson of the Cancer Foundation, Friends of the Disabled Association and the Special Education Centre for Red Cross.
Feeling proud of the work she does, Mehta says, “My favourite thing about Community Service is that it’s an efficient use of my time. All at once, I am creating new friendships. Learning how my community works so that I can help the needy and less fortunate people in our community and participating in activities to make a difference in the world.
She previously has been honoured with the British Empire Medal, Queen’s Birthday List 1994 for Papua New Guinea.
“Despite my internationality, I am proud Indian. I believe we should be able to retain traditional values and be able to think outside of the Box. We have now adapted New Zealand as our Home,” says Mehta.