Striving for the wellbeing of Kiwi Indians
If there has been one rallying point for Kiwi Indians for the better part of the past century, it has to be the one organisation that has grown from strength to strength encompassing people of Indian origin in all corners of this small country: The New Zealand Central Indian Association (NZICA).
According to records, the first Indian migrated to New Zealand in 1890. The outlook toward Indians and immigrants in general in those days was a far cry from what it is today. Ideas such as racial equality barely existed. Early migrants who came here mostly from the Indian states of Punjab and Gujarat were put to great hardship not just by the climatic conditions that were vastly different from the tropical climes of India, but also by problems of language and racial discrimination.
The Indian community throughout New Zealand at that time in its history, felt the need for a single body to represent them in their fight against oppressive legislation and discriminatory immigration policy, and to promote harmony between Indians, the Maori people, and the dominant European population in New Zealand; and to respond to misleading propaganda concerning Indians living in New Zealand.
The New Zealand Indian Central Association was thus formed in 1926 with three branches Auckland, Taumarunui (which was called the Country Section) and Wellington, where there was a sizeable population of Indians residing.
As well as the ideals of getting Indian settlers on an equal footing with the European population, the founders of the Association also had at heart the cause of all Indians, be it political, educational, health, welfare or cultural identity.
Today the three branches have grown into ten independent, self governing, incorporated branches throughout New Zealand, all affiliated to the New Zealand Indian Central Association which is an incorporated body.
The Officers of the Association consist of the President, Vice President, General Secretary, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer. The affairs of the Association are managed and controlled by the Executive Committee plus a nominated member from each affiliated branch. The executives meet each quarter or more often if the need arises. The officers and the committee are elected at the annual conference attended by delegates from each branch.
Mr Veer Khar, the frank and outspoken General Secretary of NZICA told Indian Weekender that the association continues to work hard toward getting all Indian organisations within New Zealand to affiliate with it, “The more united we stand, the stronger we become,” he said.
New Zealand, for a long time, was far from a level playing field for immigrants and had one of the most racist attitudes of any country in the earlier decades of the last century. “Our forefathers fought inequities one problem at a time and slowly worked hard to gain more and more acceptance. What we are today is thanks to their tireless efforts,” he said.
“We are also thankful to New Zealand leaders like former prime minister David Lange who loved the Indian community and worked closely with our previous generation.”
Still, the manner in which European New Zealanders and others view Indians needs to change in line with what modern Indian have come to stand for, Mr Khar said. Because of the early settlers who took up agriculture and managing corner dairies in a big way for several decades, there has always been a tendency to view Indians as farmers and smalltime retailers or even taxi drivers.
“The modern Indian immigrant has come a long way,” he said. “We are now thriving in every conceivable field be it business, industry, white collar work, media, journalism, they are technocrats, the whole works. That recognition has been a little slow in coming.”
Proportionate to its population, Indians are poorly represented in the New Zealand parliament or even official bodies, he said. “There are hundreds of government bodies and boards. How many Indians do you see on them?”
He said NZICA has been taking up such issues and that both parliamentarians of Indian origin today – one each in the two main political parties – are a result of the pressure that NZICA has steadily and assiduously built over the years, he said.
But there were several issues that Indians faced in several sectors such as immigration, social development, security and health.
“Go to the immigration website – you will see job and education opportunities for students from overseas countries, especially Europe, South East Asia and even China. But you won’t find this for Indians.
“So the responsibility of NZICA and its branches is to ensure that we get an equal opportunity everywhere. NZICA is also a platform to link to our roots and opportunity for people to network within the community and foster a sense of belonging for children.
“We also need to impress upon India that what they are doing right now is not acceptable. The way the Government of India is not even able to send a new High Commissioner for the past six months shows how lightly they take such an issue. Also there is not even a body formed to look at the FTA even six months after the elections in India although the New Zealand government is so keen on it and continuously following up.”
There was a stark contrast in the way in which China pursued its FTA with New Zealand and the way that India is doing it, he said.
NZICA has always strived to be apolitical and has had a neutral political stance, he said. The two MPs of Indian origin have had one year to settle in, he said. “It is now time to ask them what have they delivered to the community. Contrast that with how changes in the immigration rules because of appropriate lobbying from the Chinese community is all set to help more Chinese people to immigrate here. Is there a similar assistance to boost the Indian community? We don’t see it there.”
If there has been one rallying point for Kiwi Indians for the better part of the past century, it has to be the one organisation that has grown from strength to strength encompassing people of Indian origin in all corners of this small country: The New Zealand Central Indian Association (NZICA).
...
If there has been one rallying point for Kiwi Indians for the better part of the past century, it has to be the one organisation that has grown from strength to strength encompassing people of Indian origin in all corners of this small country: The New Zealand Central Indian Association (NZICA).
According to records, the first Indian migrated to New Zealand in 1890. The outlook toward Indians and immigrants in general in those days was a far cry from what it is today. Ideas such as racial equality barely existed. Early migrants who came here mostly from the Indian states of Punjab and Gujarat were put to great hardship not just by the climatic conditions that were vastly different from the tropical climes of India, but also by problems of language and racial discrimination.
The Indian community throughout New Zealand at that time in its history, felt the need for a single body to represent them in their fight against oppressive legislation and discriminatory immigration policy, and to promote harmony between Indians, the Maori people, and the dominant European population in New Zealand; and to respond to misleading propaganda concerning Indians living in New Zealand.
The New Zealand Indian Central Association was thus formed in 1926 with three branches Auckland, Taumarunui (which was called the Country Section) and Wellington, where there was a sizeable population of Indians residing.
As well as the ideals of getting Indian settlers on an equal footing with the European population, the founders of the Association also had at heart the cause of all Indians, be it political, educational, health, welfare or cultural identity.
Today the three branches have grown into ten independent, self governing, incorporated branches throughout New Zealand, all affiliated to the New Zealand Indian Central Association which is an incorporated body.
The Officers of the Association consist of the President, Vice President, General Secretary, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer. The affairs of the Association are managed and controlled by the Executive Committee plus a nominated member from each affiliated branch. The executives meet each quarter or more often if the need arises. The officers and the committee are elected at the annual conference attended by delegates from each branch.
Mr Veer Khar, the frank and outspoken General Secretary of NZICA told Indian Weekender that the association continues to work hard toward getting all Indian organisations within New Zealand to affiliate with it, “The more united we stand, the stronger we become,” he said.
New Zealand, for a long time, was far from a level playing field for immigrants and had one of the most racist attitudes of any country in the earlier decades of the last century. “Our forefathers fought inequities one problem at a time and slowly worked hard to gain more and more acceptance. What we are today is thanks to their tireless efforts,” he said.
“We are also thankful to New Zealand leaders like former prime minister David Lange who loved the Indian community and worked closely with our previous generation.”
Still, the manner in which European New Zealanders and others view Indians needs to change in line with what modern Indian have come to stand for, Mr Khar said. Because of the early settlers who took up agriculture and managing corner dairies in a big way for several decades, there has always been a tendency to view Indians as farmers and smalltime retailers or even taxi drivers.
“The modern Indian immigrant has come a long way,” he said. “We are now thriving in every conceivable field be it business, industry, white collar work, media, journalism, they are technocrats, the whole works. That recognition has been a little slow in coming.”
Proportionate to its population, Indians are poorly represented in the New Zealand parliament or even official bodies, he said. “There are hundreds of government bodies and boards. How many Indians do you see on them?”
He said NZICA has been taking up such issues and that both parliamentarians of Indian origin today – one each in the two main political parties – are a result of the pressure that NZICA has steadily and assiduously built over the years, he said.
But there were several issues that Indians faced in several sectors such as immigration, social development, security and health.
“Go to the immigration website – you will see job and education opportunities for students from overseas countries, especially Europe, South East Asia and even China. But you won’t find this for Indians.
“So the responsibility of NZICA and its branches is to ensure that we get an equal opportunity everywhere. NZICA is also a platform to link to our roots and opportunity for people to network within the community and foster a sense of belonging for children.
“We also need to impress upon India that what they are doing right now is not acceptable. The way the Government of India is not even able to send a new High Commissioner for the past six months shows how lightly they take such an issue. Also there is not even a body formed to look at the FTA even six months after the elections in India although the New Zealand government is so keen on it and continuously following up.”
There was a stark contrast in the way in which China pursued its FTA with New Zealand and the way that India is doing it, he said.
NZICA has always strived to be apolitical and has had a neutral political stance, he said. The two MPs of Indian origin have had one year to settle in, he said. “It is now time to ask them what have they delivered to the community. Contrast that with how changes in the immigration rules because of appropriate lobbying from the Chinese community is all set to help more Chinese people to immigrate here. Is there a similar assistance to boost the Indian community? We don’t see it there.”
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