Venkat Raman
Auckland, April 6, 2025
Community Leader Veer Khar was elected to the post of President of the New Zealand Indian Central Association (NZICA) at its Annual General Meeting at Bharat Bhavan, Wellington, on April 5, 2025.
He won the coveted post in a two-cornered contest against incumbent Vice President Taruna Bhana.
Ms Bhana was elected to the post of General Secretary at the AGM.
Among the others who were elected included Dhansukhlal (Vice-President), Ratilal Champaneri (Treasurer) and Kalyan Rao Kasuganti (Assistant Secretary).
Narendra Bhana, the outgoing President, will be an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee.
The Annual General Meeting was followed by the Annual Gala Awards Ceremony, at which Finance and Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis was the Chief Guest. We do not have the names of the winners or the details of the event.
Mr Khar, who will shortly complete his term as President of the Indian Association (Manukau) New Zealand, steps into the coveted role at the most significant moment in the history of NZICA- its 100th Anniversary, which will be marked next year.
He brings decades of experience in community work, both at NZICA, at which he was the General Secretary for three years from 2007 to 2010.
India-NZ Sports Unity hits 100
We do not have details of the Centenary Celebrations yet, but 2026 will be a significant year since New Zealand and India will mark the 100th year of Sports Relationship as NZICA also celebrates its Centenary Year. During his visit to New Delhi last month, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon witnessed with India’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Sports Minister Mark Mitchell and External Affairs Dr Jaishankar Subrahmanyam.
The MoU, signed at Hyderabad House on March 17, specifies “Sporting Unity events in 2026 to recognise and celebrate 100 years of Sporting Contact between India and New Zealand.”
NZICA will do well to take a proactive interest and participate in the forthcoming ventures.
Constructive engagement with the government of the day on progressing improved relations with India, advocating policies that will enhance the safety and welfare of the Indian Diaspora in New Zealand and seeking fairness in all dealings are some of the positive aspects of NZICA since its inception in 1926.
Far from being an organisation with its hitherto reputation of nonchalance, the leadership of this apex Indian body appeared to have matured into an inclusive organisation. The community could continue to hope of being heard and having at least some of its woes redressed.
Indians understand their own complexity better than others do. They are a nation of people with such inexplicable diversity – of language, culture, custom, cuisine and even politics – that there can be no single organisation to represent them. We are like a chariot pulled by 23 or more horses in different directions. Which is why, there is a need for a strong and able charioteer who could deftly handle such mammoth horsepower and channel it towards a common destination.
Creating a synergy
It is only an organisation like the NZICA that can create synergy among the multifarious segments of the Indian community and work towards a common purpose. In a sense, it reflects the Indian polity itself: a governing body at the centre, letting a plethora of bodies (associations based on region, language and culture) function as independent entities and yet integrating them into a harmonious whole.
The NZICA has not yet achieved such integration as yet but has demonstrated the will to do so and is moving forward with the right attitude.
According to the NZICA website, the Organisation provides a central channel for Indian communities to voice concerns and work with other associations as a collective force.
“Through this unity, we can make a difference for our families and communities. We provide a link between Indian communities around New Zealand to exchange information on matters of common interest that may conserve, promote and advance generally the interests, welfare and status of Indians,” it says.
We wish the new team well and will cover NZICA events as and when information gets to hand.
In due Course: Our Leader, “A premier Indian organisation hits a clean ton.”
