Venkat Raman
Auckland, April 17, 2024
Members of the Indian Association of Manukau New Zealand, a trailblazer among community organisations in the country have retained Veer Khar as their President while electing an Executive Committee that is extensive and diverse.
Among the other key officials are Surjeet Singh Suchdeva, Sanjay Moza (Vice-Presidents), Sai Kumar (General Secretary), Jyostna Mistry (Treasurer), Krishna Govind (Assistant Secretary), Banvant Dayal (Assistant Treasurer) and Suresh Ramji, Chief Operating Officer.
Members of the Executive Committee (listed by us alphabetically) include Amart Kanji, Chanchal Sidhu, Hira Dahya, Keshav Govind, Kokila Patel, Kuljeet Sidhu, Narendra Singla (Chairperson, Crime Prevention), Padma Patel, Dr Primla Khar (Immediate Past President), Rita Moza, Tarun Ohuja, Tej Narain Misra, Usha Patel and Vasanti Govind.
About the Indian Association of Manukau
The Indian Association of Manukau is a proud component of the Indian Diaspora and one of two or three such organisations to own two properties in prime locations. As well as organising Indian Festivals and national observances such as the India Independence Day (despite the efforts of some to quell it), this Association cares for the elderly with a weekly programme called ‘Anandam’ (Happiness).
This Reporter has witnessed a few programmes which engage senior members of the community, who often feel lonely or neglected in their own homes. The Programme comprises a variety of activities including book or play reading, Yoga, health checkup, and participation in annual Hindu festivals such as Holi, Navaratri and Diwali.
The Association also partners with Age Concern New Zealand to provide useful activities.
In her Annual Report for the year ending March 2022, Dr Primla Khar mentioned the Association’s role during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Making full use of social media platforms, we created and released a Covid Video (multilingual) for mass education. Indian Association of Manukau is represented in ‘Global Doctors,’ an international collaboration of healthcare professionals, responding with distant consultations in rural India. We also partnered with the Ministry of Social Development and Lottery grants to facilitate Covid support,” she said.
While the property of the Association at 57 Hillside Road in Papatoetoe (known as The Community Centre) continues as a venue for internal and external events, the new premises at 25 Tui Road (off Great South Road) in Papatoetoe has become a new landmark in Auckland.
The credit for this impressive, multi-million dollar facility goes to Mr Khar and his team. This venue, called, The Diversity Centre is increasingly becoming the choice of people organising community, family and other events.
Indian Association Manukau cares for the Elderly Video
About the Diversity Centre
The following is from our earlier report.
The Diversity Centre boasts several facilities and amenities that rival some of the larger, opulent and ‘branded’ venues in and around Auckland. The property, constructed on a land area of 2000 Sq Mts, owned and managed by the Indian Association of Manukau, towers over four floors, with the built-in possibility of rising higher as needs grow in the coming years.
The ground floor accommodates offices with a facility for showrooms, a lobby, a gymnasium and space for up to 70 cars to park. The First Floor, accounting for about 500 Sq Mts, is an ideal venue for entertainment, cultural and social programmes seating 500 people (Theatre Style) or catering to about 300 diners at their tables. As well as a modern kitchen, this floor has the latest multimedia technology. This is a self-contained area, with access to Restroom and other facilities.
The Second Floor (400 Sq Mts) offers several possibilities.
With flexible partitioning, this floor can at once be an education centre, training school, and a venue for small conferences, board meetings or lectures. Communities can conduct language and other classes for children, youth and adults if they so desire. This floor is also self-contained with a kitchen, restroom and other facilities. Any event for about 200 persons can be conducted on this floor.
Apartments for Visitors and Refugees
The Third Floor was of special interest to us.
As Mr Khar explained about two years ago, this floor would lift the Indian Association of Manukau to an elevated level of service, not just for the Indian community but for anyone who seeks to use the facilities.
“Seven Independent Units for use as apartments for couples, shared accommodation for visitors to Auckland or for those who wish to hire them on a long-term basis will be the feature of this floor. This could also be a centre for refugees. We propose to discuss these possibilities with our Members of Parliament and see if they could be of help,” Mr Khar said.
All the floors are served by an elevator.
From its humble beginnings in 1979 (known at the time as South Auckland Indian Cultural Society Inc), the Indian Association of Manukau has come a long way with impressive milestones. Its objective of involving all members of the community, especially the youth, continues with renewed spirit every time a new band of officials enter the scene.
“The world around us, the Indian Diaspora and our original name have changed, but not our original objectives. Our Association is perhaps the only community entity that has people from all religious beliefs. This is reflected in our Executive Committee,” Mr Khar said.
