Indian Community in New Zealand Celebrates 79th Independence Day

Members of New Zealand’s Indian community celebrated India’s 79th Independence Day with a series of vibrant events held across the country on August 15, 2023. The festivities included flag-hoisting ceremonies, cultural performances, and community gatherings in cities such as Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Palmerston North.

Flag Hoisting and Cultural Showcases

At the Indian High Commission in Wellington, High Commissioner Neeta Bhushan hoisted the Indian National flag and shared excerpts from the annual address delivered by Indian President Droupadi Murmu. The event drew over 400 attendees, who enjoyed patriotic songs and cultural presentations from students of the Wellington Hindi School and Khandallah School. Performances from Shivam Dance Academy, Sri Chakra School of Fine Arts, and the Wellington Marathi Association further enriched the celebrations.

In Auckland, the Consulate General of India, Madan Mohan Sethi, led similar festivities, emphasizing a new era in New Zealand-Indian relations. Sethi expressed his gratitude to the community and highlighted the increasing cultural ties between the two nations.

Calls for Political Representation and Community Unity

Veer Khar, President of the New Zealand Indian Central Association, urged the community, which is now the third-largest ethnic group in New Zealand, to unite and advocate for greater political representation. This call resonated during remarks made by the two Members of Parliament of Indian origin, Priyanca Radhakrishnan of the Labour Party and Parmjeet Parmar from ACT. Radhakrishnan noted the importance of celebrating democracy, stating, “Today we celebrate the value of democracy—something worth fighting for.” Parmar echoed this sentiment, referring to both India and New Zealand as home.

Local officials, including Vince Cocurullo, the Mayor of Whangārei, expressed excitement about hosting a part of the Independence Day celebrations in his district next week. On August 18, the Whangārei District Council, in collaboration with the Indian Consulate, will host a business meeting and culinary showcase.

Culinary and Cultural Events

The celebrations this year are particularly significant thanks to the opening of the Indian Consulate General in Auckland in September 2022. Sethi mentioned that the festivities have expanded to include a multi-city, multi-day Indian festival titled ‘The World and Us’, which aims to highlight shared cultural values, cuisine, and commerce between India and New Zealand. Events are scheduled from August 15-18, featuring activities in Wellington, Auckland, Hamilton, and Whangārei.

Alongside the various cultural events, an Indian food festival commenced in Auckland on August 15, where renowned Indian chefs Satyanarayana Pandari and Anuj Mathur showcased signature dishes like Hyderabadi biryani and Bengali fish curry. Culinary educators Prem Ram and Suprabhat Banerjee participated in discussions aimed at strengthening food diplomacy between the two nations.

A friendly Masterchef competition featuring Indian and New Zealand chefs is set for Saturday, where participants will face a mystery box challenge. The celebrations will also include cultural evenings at Auckland’s Dew Drop Events Centre on August 16 and at the Waikato Indian Association Hall in Hamilton on August 17. These events are free and will be headlined by one of India’s prominent singers, Shibani Kashyap.

As part of the celebrations, a cross-cultural fashion show will be curated by Whiria Collective and India’s CD Foundation, showcasing the rich blend of Māori and Indian cultures.

The series of events marks a significant moment for the Indian community in New Zealand, reflecting their heritage while fostering deeper connections with their host country.