Every community thrives on merit, integrity, and genuine contribution. Recognition, when done right, uplifts not just individuals, but the collective spirit and the entire community. But what happens when awards become transactional, cyclical, or worse, repetitive and predictable?
In recent years, a concerning trend has emerged within our Kiwi Indian community in New Zealand where annual “community awards” are distributed en masse, often to the same familiar faces, with allegedly little transparency or vetting. In some cases, the selection process appears to hinge more on proximity to the organiser than on actual community impact.
When nearly 80-plus awards are handed out in one evening, year after year, many allegedly without any substantive, measurable contribution, it doesn’t just dilute the value of recognition; it diminishes the credibility of the entire community in the eyes of local leaders, media, other ethnic groups, and most importantly, our future generations.
While the intent to celebrate community contributions is admirable, the execution leaves much to be desired. Awards, after all, are not just plaques or certificates. They are symbolic endorsements of achievement, inspiration, and leadership. If every gesture of goodwill or networking effort is converted into a trophy, the act of truly making a difference loses its sanctity.
This is not a critique of those who receive accolades, but a call to re-evaluate the integrity of how we celebrate excellence. Awards should be earned —not distributed en masse akin to return gifts we received as children when we went to birthday parties. Recognition should inspire future generations, not raise eyebrows. When recognition becomes routine and allegedly unjustified in some cases, it risks turning into mockery.
True leadership is humble. True contribution doesn’t seek applause. And true recognition, when rare and deserved, undoubtedly has the power to uplift the entire diaspora.
And here’s the most unfortunate part:
Some of the recipients are indeed respected, senior individuals whose decades of service deserve recognition. But their contribution is belittled when they are made to share the stage with others whose impact is questionable at best.
When everyone gets an award, no one really does.
Local politicians and community leaders see through this charade, but keep quiet. And in the process, the respect and dignity of our entire community is undermined. A handful may be enjoying their moment in the spotlight, but it comes at the cost of collective credibility.
Let’s not confuse visibility with value, or familiarity with excellence.
Recognition should be earned through integrity, service, and long-term impact; not distributed like tokens of favour. Our community is rich with talent and service, but we owe it to ourselves and to future generations to raise the standard, not lower the bar.
It’s time to bring accountability, merit, and true meaning back to community recognition. Our community deserves better. And the next generation is watching —we need to lead by example.
Let us collectively take ownership and make our best endeavours to move toward a more transparent, inclusive, and accountable model of community recognition. It’s not about giving fewer awards; it’s about giving them with greater thought, rigour, and responsibility. That’s the real honour our community needs and deserves.
ISSUE
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