Indian Community Celebrates 79th Independence Day Across New Zealand

Indians and people of Indian origin across New Zealand celebrated the 79th Independence Day of India with a series of events held nationwide on August 15. The largest gathering took place at the Indian High Commission in Wellington, where over 400 attendees enjoyed patriotic performances and cultural presentations.

The festivities commenced with the hoisting of the Indian National flag by Neeta Bhushan, the High Commissioner of India to New Zealand. Bhushan also read excerpts from the annual address delivered by Indian President Droupadi Murmu, commemorating the struggle for independence that began on August 15, 1947, after two centuries of British rule.

Celebrations were organized in various cities, including Auckland, Christchurch, and Palmerston North, featuring flag hoisting ceremonies and cultural showcases. Events included performances by students from the Wellington Hindi School and Khandallah School, as well as dance presentations from the Shivam Dance Academy and the Sri Chakra School of Fine Arts.

In Auckland, Madan Mohan Sethi, Consul General of India, led the local celebrations and emphasized the strengthening ties between New Zealand and the Indian community. He noted that the opening of the Indian Consulate General in Auckland last September has allowed for a more vibrant celebration this year, which includes a multi-city festival titled “The World and Us,” highlighting shared cultural values.

The President of the New Zealand Indian Central Association, Veer Khar, urged the community—now the third largest ethnic group in New Zealand—to unify and seek greater political representation. Currently, the New Zealand Parliament includes two Members of Parliament of Indian descent: Labour’s Priyanca Radhakrishnan and ACT’s Parmjeet Parmar. Both MPs spoke about their Indian heritage, with Radhakrishnan stating, “Today we celebrate the value of democracy—something worth fighting for,” while Parmar expressed, “For me and my family, both India and New Zealand are home.”

The celebrations continued with a culinary showcase at Auckland’s North Shore, featuring renowned chefs from India, including Satyanarayana Pandari and Anuj Mathur. Guests enjoyed signature dishes like Hyderabadi biryani and Bengali fish curry. Culinary educators from India, Prem Ram and Suprabhat Banerjee, highlighted the potential for food diplomacy between the two nations, stating, “Indian cuisine is so diverse it can be combined with any other cuisine of the world.”

A friendly Masterchef competition is scheduled for Saturday, where Indian and New Zealand chefs will face off in a mystery box challenge. Additional events include a cultural evening featuring Shibani Kashyap, one of India’s top singers, at Auckland’s Dew Drop Events Centre on August 16 and at Hamilton’s Waikato Indian Association Hall on August 17.

These celebrations are free and aim to foster a sense of community and cultural exchange. A cross-cultural fashion show, curated by the Whiria Collective alongside India’s CD Foundation, will also showcase the collaborative efforts between Māori and Indian cultures.

The Independence Day festivities, running from August 15-18, reflect the growing connections between the Indian community in New Zealand and their homeland, reinforcing the values of unity, culture, and shared heritage.