The rise of the Kiwi-Indian
Statistics New Zealand has indicated a growing trend in the number of people immigrating to New Zealand. This figure has been boosted by the numbers of students from India and China. Amongst the long-term immigrants, though, after the number of people returning from Australia, the largest influx of skilled migrants, is from India. This phenomenon is also not new and the numbers of skilled migrants from India has been consistently high and rising. Although initially it seemed like the immigration policy was designed to keep Indians/Asians out, all it has really done is slightly changed the kind of people arriving on our shores. The Indians now arriving are skilled, equipped and ready to form a significant part of the workforce.
It is indeed a matter of pride that the five per cent of the total Kiwi population contributes to over eight per cent to the New Zealand economy and growing. That is a real indicator of the growing face of the Kiwi Indian. Coming from a Country which does not have dole or any such social-benefit system, we come engrained with the capacity and attitude to work hard, persevere and make our place. It is thus not surprising to see that Indians today are truly contributing in all significant spheres in the community. We have always been known for our business acumen, however, we are now making our presence in the Public Sector, the Emergency Services, the Medical Services, the Corporate and Finance sectors and even New Zealand Politics. The Kiwi Indians are now a growing force that can no longer be overlooked. It is a voice that is being heard loud and clear and the one medium that never pulls back from bringing out such positive stories of the Indian community is Indian Weekender. Indeed, we speak the language of the community and are the kaleidoscope of the Kiwi Indian community to the world.
This is our 200th issue and we want to celebrate along with the entire community. After all, it is only because of our readers, advertisers, supports and friends that we have been able to be the number one choice of the people. A publication that was born in the thick of the recession, one that the pundits predicted would die before the end of its first year, stands tall and proud and now 200 (issues) strong. The journey has not been easy, definitely not a bed of roses. We have been assailed by many storms and persecutions, brickbats and stones but the one thing that has kept us going is the support from our community.
Thank you for your Support
-Team Indian Weekender.
Even though we feature the success stories of migrants having settled in New Zealand, we decided that on the occasion of our 200th issue we will bring out a little slice of the various fields that the Kiwi Indians are engaged in and contributing in. Needless to say, each one has behind them, their own unique story of hard work, perseverance, and persistence to make this “God’s own country” their home. This 200th issue is dedicated to the rising face of the Kiwi Indian.
Ajay Kumar
Managing Director, Global Financial services Ltd
Immigration Status: Citizen
Ajay arrived in New Zealand in 1998 with his wife and two children. He single-handedly started his company and is now one of the largest mortgage advisers and a leading insurance advisor in New Zealand. He is a proud father of a son who is a qualified software engineer and MBA, and a daughter who has majored in Property Finance and Commerce. Ajay gives the credit of his success to his customers, his team, banks, insurance companies and well-wishers.
Mahesh Ranchhod
CEO, Ranchhod Property Group and Ranchhod Foundation.
Immigration Status: Citizen
The Ranchhod Group is a group of New Zealand and Australian companies designed to invest in and manage commercial properties in Australia and beyond.
Born and brought up in New Zealand, Mahesh moved 14 years ago from Wellington to shift from car, rental and finance industries to property business opportunities in Auckland. During the global financial crisis in 2008, the Ranchhod group ceased the opportunity by purchasing commercial real estate in Auckland CBD and gradually expanded their business to Australia. Now the group has offices in Sydney and Brisbane and is soon opening one in Wellington.
Mahesh’s wife- Tejal Ranchhod, a Chartered Accountant, is also involved in the Ranchhod Group as the senior accountant while his father Raman Ranchhod- QSM also continues to serve the group even after retirement.
Mahesh bears a passion for property and to serve humanity. The Ranchhod Foundation is involved in many philanthropic projects to help those in genuine need for the basics in life such as food, water and shelter. Mahesh recently travelled and personally contributed to the relief operations for the earthquake-hit Nepal with trucks of blankets and food supplies. The foundation also helps the local community in New Zealand with various projects such as Star Ship Hospital and Shanti Niwas Emergency Housing Project for abused elderly. The foundation has also established a hospital in India.
The foundation is also a part of various humanitarian projects around the world such as World Vision, Fiji Humanitarian Aid, fee sponsorship for students from India, free medical camps and eye check-up camps in India. There are several other humanitarian projects in the pipeline.
Rupal Chirag Sinh Solanki
Thespian and full-time voluntary worker
Immigration Status: Citizen
Rupal arrived in New Zealand in December 2004 to join her husband. A firm believer in Jesus Christ, Rupal is involved in various voluntary activities to help and support communities in Auckland. She is a known face in the theatre fraternity of Auckland, having performed in more than 10 full-length plays and 15 small plays and skits. She is the reigning Mrs India New Zealand and believes that it is never too late to achieve your dreams. Mother of a six-year-old boy, she considers her family as her greatest strength. Her husband Chirag Sinh Solanki is a well-known name in academic industry and is also an actor. Rupal feels that her journey has become memorable and more interesting with her husband and son also joining her in her passion towards performing arts.
Rupal is currently playing different roles by working as a victim support worker with Glenn Innes Police Station, a bible teacher, a jingles and short scripts writer and a character model.
Nimi Bedi
Special Advisor, Community Empowerment Unit, Auckland Council
Immigration Status: Citizen
Nimi’s journey in New Zealand has been quite exciting and challenging. She arrived here in 2002 and didn’t have any friends to guide or support her.. But as she persevered, life itself taught her to become a stronger and a better human being. Today she is well settled and contributing immensely to the community. Her husband is an interpreter in Auckland while her son lives in Christchurch with his wife and son.
Nimi believes that her zeal to provide advice and support to new migrants, which they were deprived of, has helped her reach her current position. She feels that the diversity of Auckland has given her the opportunity to understand interfaith and intercultural similarities with all possibility to embrace the differences.
Kashika Singh
Radio Jockey, Producer and Promotion Executive, Humm 106.2 FM
Immigration status: Resident
Kashika Singh is a popular name in the Kiwi-Indian community and is often considered as the face of popular Indian Radio channel Humm FM. She hosts the mid-morning show catering to lifestyle. She also manages the promotions and is part of the marketing team. Although Kashika got her residency back in 2004 but arrived in New Zealand in 2011 from Dubai while husband was already settled here.
Kashika feels that she got her artistic instincts from her parents and thr environment around her as her father was the Director at All India Radio back home and mother was a classical singer. She feels that her husband and two daughters are her support system. Music is the common interest of her family.
Kashika’s career started with an advertising agency and grew as a successful hospitality manager. She has come a long way in her professional journey by hosting TV shows for Doordarshan, Zee TV in India and Channel 729 in Dubai with 100 episodes of cookery shows. She has worked with various radios in Mumbai and Dubai as voice-over artist and has also been master of ceremonies for various Bollywood shows. With her strong background in show-biz she has been entertaining the Kiwi-Indians since then.
Garry Gupta
Director, Media Solutions Kiwi Ltd.
Immigration Status: Resident
Garry moved to his family in New Zealand in 2010. His family hails from New Delhi with ancestors belonging to the original trader class of the Chandni Chowk area of old Delhi. His family, even today, follows the tradition of a joint family with his own family, parents and brother’s family all living together in Auckland.
Garry had extensive film-production experience after working with Rajshri Films in India which helped him enter New Zealand with the job of line-producer for the first Indo-Kiwi movie—Curry Munchers. He then moved to marketing and business development of popular media brands in Auckland including Indian Weekender and Humm FM. Alongside, he also managed marketing communications of the India-New Zealand Business Council. Since 2015, he has been working towards growing a boutique digital marketing agency, which serves SMEs with new websites, social media marketing, email-marketing and various other forms of digital marketing with an aim to provide the best marketing leverage to the Kiwi-Indian community.
Rajeev Kumar
Renal Physiologist
Immigration Status: Resident
Rajeev lives in Auckland with his wife, Madhu and 11-month-old son Ryan. Born and brought up in Bihar, India, he completed his degree from St Johns Medical College, Bangalore. Being a cricket-fan, he first came to New Zealand on visitor visa to watch India-New Zealand cricket match in 2008.
During his stay of one month here, he travelled across and realized that this is the place where he would like to spend the rest of his life. The warm and welcoming nature of people here made him build his career in this country. He got a job in Auckland Hospital and joined it in 2009 after getting the appropriate visa. Since then he’s offering his services to the hospital and says he loves his job.
Archita Wad
Fashion Planner
Immigration status: Resident
Archita hails from Mumbai India and lives in New Zealand with her husband. Her husband arrived here in 2005 as a student while she joined him in 2009. Both of them work for reputed companies in the country and hold good positions. Archita feels grateful for what the country has offered them.
Chirag Sinh Solanki
Academician and Thespian,
Owner, International College of New Zealand,
Secretary, Rangmanch
Immigration status: Citizen
Chirag is living in New Zealand since 2001 and has been through a rollercoaster of ups and downs. Chirag is a follower of Christ and says that when the Bible says that ‘the promised-land is the land of honey and milk’, God might have meant Aotearoa. He says that the challenges that this land threw upon him have only helped him reach where he is today. He is married to the reigning Mrs India New Zealand Rupal Solanki. His son Siddhraj is a hard core cricket and soccer lover and has been awarded the Player of the Year 2015. Theatre is at the core of the Solanki family as they spend most of their weekends and couple of evening every week, over nine months of the year in script writing, script reading, and drama rehearsals.
Sekhar Bandyopadhyay
Director, New Zealand India Research Institute;
Head, School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations; Professor of Asian History
Immigration status: Citizen
Sekhar has been living in New Zealand for almost 24 years now. He holds two administrative positions at Victoria University of Wellington and also teaches courses on modern Indian history.
He lives with his wife Srilekha and daughter Sohini who is currently finishing a law degree at Victoria Law School. He joined Victoria University in 1992 as a young lecturer in History with the duty of teaching modern Indian history. From there he gradually rose to the position of Professor in 2006 and was appointed Deputy Dean in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. In 2012, he was appointed the inaugural director of newly established New Zealand India Research Institute. In January 2016, he was given the additional duty of heading the School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations.
In 2009 he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand—the most prestigious academic honour in this country. In his academic career he has written six books and edited or co-edited eight books. In 2014, for his book Decolonization in South Asia, the Government of West Bengal, India honoured him with the 'Rabindra Smriti Puraskar', its highest literary award.
Vimmi Joneja
Teacher
Immigration status: Citizen
Vimmi’s is a small family of four with her husband and two children. She arrived in New Zealand in 2001. Like other migrants Vimmi and her family also had a teething phase where the family faced struggles and challenges. They moved across the country for about 5 years for job opportunities. From last 10 years her family is settled in Auckland and are doing well.
Jeet Suchdev
Founder, Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust; Social worker
Immigration status: Citizen
Jeet moved to New Zealand in 1987 and ran successful businesses in hospitality and tourism sectors. He founded BSCT in 1995 to fulfil his dream to serve the community and assist the vulnerable, to build a stronger and cohesive community. Under his leadership and guidance BSCT has evolved to become a successful community organisation and has been recognised for its work.
He says his supportive family allow him to do social work which is highly challenging and time consuming. Jeet is a Justice of peace and recipient of Queen Service Medal. He is currently a trustee of the Auckland Regional Migrant Centre and an ex-member of Auckland Mayor's Ethnic People’s Advisory Panel. He is a believer of ‘service to man is service to God’ and wishes to continue offering his services for the betterment of the community.
Ameya Naik
Business Development Manager- Global Sales, The Langham
Immigration status: Resident
Ameya came to New Zealand as a student in 2008 to study International Hospitality Management from AUT, while his family stays in Mumbai, India. During his studies, he worked part time at the Sky City-The Grand hotel and joined The Langham—one of the best five star luxury hotels in New Zealand, in 2009. He joined The Langham with an entry level role and gradually got promoted as a BDM—Global Sales. He current looks after groups, meetings and incentive business for the hotel and weddings.
Pawan Arora
Accounts Manager and student
Immigration status: Citizen
Pawan arrived in New Zealand in 2000 with his parents and is currently studying B.Com./LLB. His parents are currently in the hospitality industry, running successful Indian restaurants in Auckland and he plans to join the family business. He believed that joining the family business is one of the best decisions he has ever made as it has allowed him to come across a number of challenges that a business faces which an ordinary internship from past experience does not cater for. He began working at the family business over six years ago when he was still at high school. Gaining experience by working within the accounts department over the past couple of years has allowed him to currently take up the role of Accounts Manager.
Prabhu Singh
Accountant
Immigration status: Citizen
Prabhu belongs to a business class family from Mumbai and moved to New Zealand in 2004. He realised the potential in property investment in New Zealand and has been actively involved in property investment ever since. Having a finance background, he opted to utilise his expertise in the area and worked in the same field to ensure a good lifestyle and spend quality time with the family as well. He enjoys a great social circle and social recognition that comes with his wife Kashika Singh’s profession as a radio jockey. Being a “Mumbaikar” and having also lived in the fast lane in Dubai for a number of years, New Zealand provided the perfect contrast giving him the perfect work and family life balance. It is a decision which he says he will never regret.
Gurpreet Sidhu
Yoga Instructor
Immigration status: Citizen
Gurpreet turned her passion and love for yoga into her profession and is now helping others transform their lives though the ancient Indian healing mechanism. After arriving in New Zealand in 2001 and being a qualified Yoga teacher, Gurpreet decided to dedicate her life to the service of people by sharing her knowledge of the age-old wisdom and wellbeing technique. She teaches group classes at her yoga studio and also shares, with the community, her yogic wisdom of importance of healthy body and mind in our life.
Nilesh Dasharath Redekar
Transportation Planner
Immigration status: Citizen
Nilesh’s journey in New Zealand began in 2006 as a student in Canterbury University and he was lucky enough to secure a job in the council after his studies. The Kiwi-land has given him many opportunities at personal, professional and social level.
Sebin Subash
Owner, Southern Spices restaurant
Immigration status: Resident
Year arrived in New Zealand: 2009
Sebin arrived here in 2009 and lives with his wife and a daughter. After starting his journey as a chef at Lincoln University, Sebin is now a proud owner of a restaurant. He believes that slowly and steadily, hard work and patience always pays.
Hitesh Sharma
Director, Revel Events Ltd
Director, Mumbai Memories Ltd
Immigration status: Resident
Starting his New Zealand journey as a student in 2008, Hitesh completed his degree in event management from CPIT, Christchurch. He lives with his wife in Christchurch, while his extended family lives in Bhopal, India. Soon after completing his studies, Hitesh secured an internship with Christchurch City Council’s events team. Later, he joined Vbase, one of the biggest venue management companies in New Zealand. Currently, Hitesh is working as the event coordinator in CPIT’s marketing team.
Thomas Shaji Kurian
Business Development Manager, Bidvest Foodservice Christchurch
Immigration adviser, RIYA migration consultants
Immigration status: Citizen
Being in New Zealand for around 14 years now, Thomas feels that moving here was one of the best decision he ever made. Although he was uncertain about his decision to move to New Zealand back in 2000, but the success and contentment he has achieved now makes him think otherwise. Thomas’s wife Elizabeth works for MBIE and son is studying Masters of Child and Family Psychology.
Aditi Patel
Dentist
Immigration status: Citizen
Aditi arrived in New Zealand in 1996 with her family of five, her husband, two adult daughters, her mother in law and her dog Hugo. Aditi says their journey was hard initially for the first 7 years, but describes it as “totally worth it”. Since both she and her husband are medical professionals Aditi says that her husband and she had to requalify to be able to practice in New Zealand. The hard work paid off and we are settled now. Describing her work as a Dentist, Aditi says, "I create dream smiles".
Nilima Venkat
Project Manager, Shanti Niwas Charitable Trust
Immigration status: Citizen
Nilima Venkat is a well-known name in the Indian community. She migrated from Nigeria to New Zealand in 1998 with her husband and three daughters. As an immigrant, she realised the challenges that come with ‘being different from the mainstream’. For her family and herself, settling in New Zealand was a positive experience albeit a hard one in the beginning. New Zealand’s multi-cultural society’s acceptance of Indian cultures and festivals made the settlement process easier for her. She has been involved in Shanti Niwas Trust since 1999 in various capacities for the wellbeing of seniors and the Kiwi-Indian community. She is also involved in various organisations such as The Asian Network Inc., Sahayata, Member of the Counties Manukau Police South East Asian Advisory Board, Asian consumer representative, HDC's Consumer Advisory Group, etc. She was awarded Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in 2013. She is a Justice of Peace and feels happy to be able to contribute to the community as a whole and to the South Asian community in particular.
Punita Grover
Teacher
Immigration status: Citizen
Punita is a proud mother of two sons—a doctor, and an avionics engineer in Royal New Zealand Air Force. Her husband Prakash is a Psychologist and a speech pathologist and runs a successful practice in Auckland. She qualified as a special educator around 32 years ago and has been working as a teacher for special learning needs since then. Punita and her family came to New Zealand in 2003, ready to give their lives a fresh start and to change, adapt and learn. This attitude towards life eventually paid off and, Punita and her husband were working in their respective fields with a month of their arrival. She believes that their journey in New Zealand has been relatively smooth and more rewarding as her children excelled in their academics and reduced their challenges to a significant level.
Prakash Grover
Senior Psychologist, Speech Pathologist and Counsellor
Immigration status: Citizen
Prakash lives with his wife Punita Grover who is a senior special educator (teacher) in Ministry of Education School in Auckland. His elder son, a doctor, works in a prominent hospital in Perth while the younger one is employed with the New Zealand Defence Force.
Prakash believes that journey of migration for his family was based on the foundation of four pillars: proactive preparation and landing here as largely informed, togetherness and support of each other and for each other, keeping the focus on adapting and learning fast, and positive socialisation and networking. Immigration journey for their family was relatively smooth, the reason being, collecting all relevant facts about the needs, cultural aspects, social structures, educational details and potential hazards in the country.
Aditee Naik
Management and mentoring professional
Immigration status: Citizen
Education brought Aditee to New Zealand over eight years ago and invited her parents to live along with her a few years ago. New Zealand is now her home to. She says that she enjoys the best of both worlds—Indian culture as well as the kiwi lifestyle.
Shriya Bhagwat-Chitale
Communications professional
Immigration status: Resident
After arriving in 2012 with her husband, Shriya now works as a communication professional with a particular interest in health communications. Although she lives with her husband only but she considers her friends as her extended family in Auckland. Living in New Zealand has been interesting and has presented unique challenges for both Shriya and her husband. What she appreciates the most about her life here now is that she has plenty of time for her work, volunteering, friends and family.
Statistics New Zealand has indicated a growing trend in the number of people immigrating to New Zealand. This figure has been boosted by the numbers of students from India and China. Amongst the long-term immigrants, though, after the number of people returning from Australia, the largest influx...
Statistics New Zealand has indicated a growing trend in the number of people immigrating to New Zealand. This figure has been boosted by the numbers of students from India and China. Amongst the long-term immigrants, though, after the number of people returning from Australia, the largest influx of skilled migrants, is from India. This phenomenon is also not new and the numbers of skilled migrants from India has been consistently high and rising. Although initially it seemed like the immigration policy was designed to keep Indians/Asians out, all it has really done is slightly changed the kind of people arriving on our shores. The Indians now arriving are skilled, equipped and ready to form a significant part of the workforce.
It is indeed a matter of pride that the five per cent of the total Kiwi population contributes to over eight per cent to the New Zealand economy and growing. That is a real indicator of the growing face of the Kiwi Indian. Coming from a Country which does not have dole or any such social-benefit system, we come engrained with the capacity and attitude to work hard, persevere and make our place. It is thus not surprising to see that Indians today are truly contributing in all significant spheres in the community. We have always been known for our business acumen, however, we are now making our presence in the Public Sector, the Emergency Services, the Medical Services, the Corporate and Finance sectors and even New Zealand Politics. The Kiwi Indians are now a growing force that can no longer be overlooked. It is a voice that is being heard loud and clear and the one medium that never pulls back from bringing out such positive stories of the Indian community is Indian Weekender. Indeed, we speak the language of the community and are the kaleidoscope of the Kiwi Indian community to the world.
This is our 200th issue and we want to celebrate along with the entire community. After all, it is only because of our readers, advertisers, supports and friends that we have been able to be the number one choice of the people. A publication that was born in the thick of the recession, one that the pundits predicted would die before the end of its first year, stands tall and proud and now 200 (issues) strong. The journey has not been easy, definitely not a bed of roses. We have been assailed by many storms and persecutions, brickbats and stones but the one thing that has kept us going is the support from our community.
Thank you for your Support
-Team Indian Weekender.
Even though we feature the success stories of migrants having settled in New Zealand, we decided that on the occasion of our 200th issue we will bring out a little slice of the various fields that the Kiwi Indians are engaged in and contributing in. Needless to say, each one has behind them, their own unique story of hard work, perseverance, and persistence to make this “God’s own country” their home. This 200th issue is dedicated to the rising face of the Kiwi Indian.
Ajay Kumar
Managing Director, Global Financial services Ltd
Immigration Status: Citizen
Ajay arrived in New Zealand in 1998 with his wife and two children. He single-handedly started his company and is now one of the largest mortgage advisers and a leading insurance advisor in New Zealand. He is a proud father of a son who is a qualified software engineer and MBA, and a daughter who has majored in Property Finance and Commerce. Ajay gives the credit of his success to his customers, his team, banks, insurance companies and well-wishers.
Mahesh Ranchhod
CEO, Ranchhod Property Group and Ranchhod Foundation.
Immigration Status: Citizen
The Ranchhod Group is a group of New Zealand and Australian companies designed to invest in and manage commercial properties in Australia and beyond.
Born and brought up in New Zealand, Mahesh moved 14 years ago from Wellington to shift from car, rental and finance industries to property business opportunities in Auckland. During the global financial crisis in 2008, the Ranchhod group ceased the opportunity by purchasing commercial real estate in Auckland CBD and gradually expanded their business to Australia. Now the group has offices in Sydney and Brisbane and is soon opening one in Wellington.
Mahesh’s wife- Tejal Ranchhod, a Chartered Accountant, is also involved in the Ranchhod Group as the senior accountant while his father Raman Ranchhod- QSM also continues to serve the group even after retirement.
Mahesh bears a passion for property and to serve humanity. The Ranchhod Foundation is involved in many philanthropic projects to help those in genuine need for the basics in life such as food, water and shelter. Mahesh recently travelled and personally contributed to the relief operations for the earthquake-hit Nepal with trucks of blankets and food supplies. The foundation also helps the local community in New Zealand with various projects such as Star Ship Hospital and Shanti Niwas Emergency Housing Project for abused elderly. The foundation has also established a hospital in India.
The foundation is also a part of various humanitarian projects around the world such as World Vision, Fiji Humanitarian Aid, fee sponsorship for students from India, free medical camps and eye check-up camps in India. There are several other humanitarian projects in the pipeline.
Rupal Chirag Sinh Solanki
Thespian and full-time voluntary worker
Immigration Status: Citizen
Rupal arrived in New Zealand in December 2004 to join her husband. A firm believer in Jesus Christ, Rupal is involved in various voluntary activities to help and support communities in Auckland. She is a known face in the theatre fraternity of Auckland, having performed in more than 10 full-length plays and 15 small plays and skits. She is the reigning Mrs India New Zealand and believes that it is never too late to achieve your dreams. Mother of a six-year-old boy, she considers her family as her greatest strength. Her husband Chirag Sinh Solanki is a well-known name in academic industry and is also an actor. Rupal feels that her journey has become memorable and more interesting with her husband and son also joining her in her passion towards performing arts.
Rupal is currently playing different roles by working as a victim support worker with Glenn Innes Police Station, a bible teacher, a jingles and short scripts writer and a character model.
Nimi Bedi
Special Advisor, Community Empowerment Unit, Auckland Council
Immigration Status: Citizen
Nimi’s journey in New Zealand has been quite exciting and challenging. She arrived here in 2002 and didn’t have any friends to guide or support her.. But as she persevered, life itself taught her to become a stronger and a better human being. Today she is well settled and contributing immensely to the community. Her husband is an interpreter in Auckland while her son lives in Christchurch with his wife and son.
Nimi believes that her zeal to provide advice and support to new migrants, which they were deprived of, has helped her reach her current position. She feels that the diversity of Auckland has given her the opportunity to understand interfaith and intercultural similarities with all possibility to embrace the differences.
Kashika Singh
Radio Jockey, Producer and Promotion Executive, Humm 106.2 FM
Immigration status: Resident
Kashika Singh is a popular name in the Kiwi-Indian community and is often considered as the face of popular Indian Radio channel Humm FM. She hosts the mid-morning show catering to lifestyle. She also manages the promotions and is part of the marketing team. Although Kashika got her residency back in 2004 but arrived in New Zealand in 2011 from Dubai while husband was already settled here.
Kashika feels that she got her artistic instincts from her parents and thr environment around her as her father was the Director at All India Radio back home and mother was a classical singer. She feels that her husband and two daughters are her support system. Music is the common interest of her family.
Kashika’s career started with an advertising agency and grew as a successful hospitality manager. She has come a long way in her professional journey by hosting TV shows for Doordarshan, Zee TV in India and Channel 729 in Dubai with 100 episodes of cookery shows. She has worked with various radios in Mumbai and Dubai as voice-over artist and has also been master of ceremonies for various Bollywood shows. With her strong background in show-biz she has been entertaining the Kiwi-Indians since then.
Garry Gupta
Director, Media Solutions Kiwi Ltd.
Immigration Status: Resident
Garry moved to his family in New Zealand in 2010. His family hails from New Delhi with ancestors belonging to the original trader class of the Chandni Chowk area of old Delhi. His family, even today, follows the tradition of a joint family with his own family, parents and brother’s family all living together in Auckland.
Garry had extensive film-production experience after working with Rajshri Films in India which helped him enter New Zealand with the job of line-producer for the first Indo-Kiwi movie—Curry Munchers. He then moved to marketing and business development of popular media brands in Auckland including Indian Weekender and Humm FM. Alongside, he also managed marketing communications of the India-New Zealand Business Council. Since 2015, he has been working towards growing a boutique digital marketing agency, which serves SMEs with new websites, social media marketing, email-marketing and various other forms of digital marketing with an aim to provide the best marketing leverage to the Kiwi-Indian community.
Rajeev Kumar
Renal Physiologist
Immigration Status: Resident
Rajeev lives in Auckland with his wife, Madhu and 11-month-old son Ryan. Born and brought up in Bihar, India, he completed his degree from St Johns Medical College, Bangalore. Being a cricket-fan, he first came to New Zealand on visitor visa to watch India-New Zealand cricket match in 2008.
During his stay of one month here, he travelled across and realized that this is the place where he would like to spend the rest of his life. The warm and welcoming nature of people here made him build his career in this country. He got a job in Auckland Hospital and joined it in 2009 after getting the appropriate visa. Since then he’s offering his services to the hospital and says he loves his job.
Archita Wad
Fashion Planner
Immigration status: Resident
Archita hails from Mumbai India and lives in New Zealand with her husband. Her husband arrived here in 2005 as a student while she joined him in 2009. Both of them work for reputed companies in the country and hold good positions. Archita feels grateful for what the country has offered them.
Chirag Sinh Solanki
Academician and Thespian,
Owner, International College of New Zealand,
Secretary, Rangmanch
Immigration status: Citizen
Chirag is living in New Zealand since 2001 and has been through a rollercoaster of ups and downs. Chirag is a follower of Christ and says that when the Bible says that ‘the promised-land is the land of honey and milk’, God might have meant Aotearoa. He says that the challenges that this land threw upon him have only helped him reach where he is today. He is married to the reigning Mrs India New Zealand Rupal Solanki. His son Siddhraj is a hard core cricket and soccer lover and has been awarded the Player of the Year 2015. Theatre is at the core of the Solanki family as they spend most of their weekends and couple of evening every week, over nine months of the year in script writing, script reading, and drama rehearsals.
Sekhar Bandyopadhyay
Director, New Zealand India Research Institute;
Head, School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations; Professor of Asian History
Immigration status: Citizen
Sekhar has been living in New Zealand for almost 24 years now. He holds two administrative positions at Victoria University of Wellington and also teaches courses on modern Indian history.
He lives with his wife Srilekha and daughter Sohini who is currently finishing a law degree at Victoria Law School. He joined Victoria University in 1992 as a young lecturer in History with the duty of teaching modern Indian history. From there he gradually rose to the position of Professor in 2006 and was appointed Deputy Dean in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. In 2012, he was appointed the inaugural director of newly established New Zealand India Research Institute. In January 2016, he was given the additional duty of heading the School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations.
In 2009 he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand—the most prestigious academic honour in this country. In his academic career he has written six books and edited or co-edited eight books. In 2014, for his book Decolonization in South Asia, the Government of West Bengal, India honoured him with the 'Rabindra Smriti Puraskar', its highest literary award.
Vimmi Joneja
Teacher
Immigration status: Citizen
Vimmi’s is a small family of four with her husband and two children. She arrived in New Zealand in 2001. Like other migrants Vimmi and her family also had a teething phase where the family faced struggles and challenges. They moved across the country for about 5 years for job opportunities. From last 10 years her family is settled in Auckland and are doing well.
Jeet Suchdev
Founder, Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust; Social worker
Immigration status: Citizen
Jeet moved to New Zealand in 1987 and ran successful businesses in hospitality and tourism sectors. He founded BSCT in 1995 to fulfil his dream to serve the community and assist the vulnerable, to build a stronger and cohesive community. Under his leadership and guidance BSCT has evolved to become a successful community organisation and has been recognised for its work.
He says his supportive family allow him to do social work which is highly challenging and time consuming. Jeet is a Justice of peace and recipient of Queen Service Medal. He is currently a trustee of the Auckland Regional Migrant Centre and an ex-member of Auckland Mayor's Ethnic People’s Advisory Panel. He is a believer of ‘service to man is service to God’ and wishes to continue offering his services for the betterment of the community.
Ameya Naik
Business Development Manager- Global Sales, The Langham
Immigration status: Resident
Ameya came to New Zealand as a student in 2008 to study International Hospitality Management from AUT, while his family stays in Mumbai, India. During his studies, he worked part time at the Sky City-The Grand hotel and joined The Langham—one of the best five star luxury hotels in New Zealand, in 2009. He joined The Langham with an entry level role and gradually got promoted as a BDM—Global Sales. He current looks after groups, meetings and incentive business for the hotel and weddings.
Pawan Arora
Accounts Manager and student
Immigration status: Citizen
Pawan arrived in New Zealand in 2000 with his parents and is currently studying B.Com./LLB. His parents are currently in the hospitality industry, running successful Indian restaurants in Auckland and he plans to join the family business. He believed that joining the family business is one of the best decisions he has ever made as it has allowed him to come across a number of challenges that a business faces which an ordinary internship from past experience does not cater for. He began working at the family business over six years ago when he was still at high school. Gaining experience by working within the accounts department over the past couple of years has allowed him to currently take up the role of Accounts Manager.
Prabhu Singh
Accountant
Immigration status: Citizen
Prabhu belongs to a business class family from Mumbai and moved to New Zealand in 2004. He realised the potential in property investment in New Zealand and has been actively involved in property investment ever since. Having a finance background, he opted to utilise his expertise in the area and worked in the same field to ensure a good lifestyle and spend quality time with the family as well. He enjoys a great social circle and social recognition that comes with his wife Kashika Singh’s profession as a radio jockey. Being a “Mumbaikar” and having also lived in the fast lane in Dubai for a number of years, New Zealand provided the perfect contrast giving him the perfect work and family life balance. It is a decision which he says he will never regret.
Gurpreet Sidhu
Yoga Instructor
Immigration status: Citizen
Gurpreet turned her passion and love for yoga into her profession and is now helping others transform their lives though the ancient Indian healing mechanism. After arriving in New Zealand in 2001 and being a qualified Yoga teacher, Gurpreet decided to dedicate her life to the service of people by sharing her knowledge of the age-old wisdom and wellbeing technique. She teaches group classes at her yoga studio and also shares, with the community, her yogic wisdom of importance of healthy body and mind in our life.
Nilesh Dasharath Redekar
Transportation Planner
Immigration status: Citizen
Nilesh’s journey in New Zealand began in 2006 as a student in Canterbury University and he was lucky enough to secure a job in the council after his studies. The Kiwi-land has given him many opportunities at personal, professional and social level.
Sebin Subash
Owner, Southern Spices restaurant
Immigration status: Resident
Year arrived in New Zealand: 2009
Sebin arrived here in 2009 and lives with his wife and a daughter. After starting his journey as a chef at Lincoln University, Sebin is now a proud owner of a restaurant. He believes that slowly and steadily, hard work and patience always pays.
Hitesh Sharma
Director, Revel Events Ltd
Director, Mumbai Memories Ltd
Immigration status: Resident
Starting his New Zealand journey as a student in 2008, Hitesh completed his degree in event management from CPIT, Christchurch. He lives with his wife in Christchurch, while his extended family lives in Bhopal, India. Soon after completing his studies, Hitesh secured an internship with Christchurch City Council’s events team. Later, he joined Vbase, one of the biggest venue management companies in New Zealand. Currently, Hitesh is working as the event coordinator in CPIT’s marketing team.
Thomas Shaji Kurian
Business Development Manager, Bidvest Foodservice Christchurch
Immigration adviser, RIYA migration consultants
Immigration status: Citizen
Being in New Zealand for around 14 years now, Thomas feels that moving here was one of the best decision he ever made. Although he was uncertain about his decision to move to New Zealand back in 2000, but the success and contentment he has achieved now makes him think otherwise. Thomas’s wife Elizabeth works for MBIE and son is studying Masters of Child and Family Psychology.
Aditi Patel
Dentist
Immigration status: Citizen
Aditi arrived in New Zealand in 1996 with her family of five, her husband, two adult daughters, her mother in law and her dog Hugo. Aditi says their journey was hard initially for the first 7 years, but describes it as “totally worth it”. Since both she and her husband are medical professionals Aditi says that her husband and she had to requalify to be able to practice in New Zealand. The hard work paid off and we are settled now. Describing her work as a Dentist, Aditi says, "I create dream smiles".
Nilima Venkat
Project Manager, Shanti Niwas Charitable Trust
Immigration status: Citizen
Nilima Venkat is a well-known name in the Indian community. She migrated from Nigeria to New Zealand in 1998 with her husband and three daughters. As an immigrant, she realised the challenges that come with ‘being different from the mainstream’. For her family and herself, settling in New Zealand was a positive experience albeit a hard one in the beginning. New Zealand’s multi-cultural society’s acceptance of Indian cultures and festivals made the settlement process easier for her. She has been involved in Shanti Niwas Trust since 1999 in various capacities for the wellbeing of seniors and the Kiwi-Indian community. She is also involved in various organisations such as The Asian Network Inc., Sahayata, Member of the Counties Manukau Police South East Asian Advisory Board, Asian consumer representative, HDC's Consumer Advisory Group, etc. She was awarded Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in 2013. She is a Justice of Peace and feels happy to be able to contribute to the community as a whole and to the South Asian community in particular.
Punita Grover
Teacher
Immigration status: Citizen
Punita is a proud mother of two sons—a doctor, and an avionics engineer in Royal New Zealand Air Force. Her husband Prakash is a Psychologist and a speech pathologist and runs a successful practice in Auckland. She qualified as a special educator around 32 years ago and has been working as a teacher for special learning needs since then. Punita and her family came to New Zealand in 2003, ready to give their lives a fresh start and to change, adapt and learn. This attitude towards life eventually paid off and, Punita and her husband were working in their respective fields with a month of their arrival. She believes that their journey in New Zealand has been relatively smooth and more rewarding as her children excelled in their academics and reduced their challenges to a significant level.
Prakash Grover
Senior Psychologist, Speech Pathologist and Counsellor
Immigration status: Citizen
Prakash lives with his wife Punita Grover who is a senior special educator (teacher) in Ministry of Education School in Auckland. His elder son, a doctor, works in a prominent hospital in Perth while the younger one is employed with the New Zealand Defence Force.
Prakash believes that journey of migration for his family was based on the foundation of four pillars: proactive preparation and landing here as largely informed, togetherness and support of each other and for each other, keeping the focus on adapting and learning fast, and positive socialisation and networking. Immigration journey for their family was relatively smooth, the reason being, collecting all relevant facts about the needs, cultural aspects, social structures, educational details and potential hazards in the country.
Aditee Naik
Management and mentoring professional
Immigration status: Citizen
Education brought Aditee to New Zealand over eight years ago and invited her parents to live along with her a few years ago. New Zealand is now her home to. She says that she enjoys the best of both worlds—Indian culture as well as the kiwi lifestyle.
Shriya Bhagwat-Chitale
Communications professional
Immigration status: Resident
After arriving in 2012 with her husband, Shriya now works as a communication professional with a particular interest in health communications. Although she lives with her husband only but she considers her friends as her extended family in Auckland. Living in New Zealand has been interesting and has presented unique challenges for both Shriya and her husband. What she appreciates the most about her life here now is that she has plenty of time for her work, volunteering, friends and family.
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