We congratulate five other six other achievers on the King’s Birthday Honours List
Venkat Raman
Auckland, June 2, 2025
It is with immense pride and heartfelt approbation that we announce the appointment of Ranjna Patel to the esteemed rank of Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
This singular honour, conferred by His Majesty King Charles III as part of his Birthday Honours List, and proclaimed by the New Zealand government, stands as a testament to a lifetime of unwavering dedication, transformative leadership, and profound service to the communities of Aotearoa New Zealand.
The New Zealand Order of Merit, established in 1996, recognises individuals who, in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and the nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions, or other merits.
(Video by Neela Patel)
Appointment as a Dame Companion is a distinction of considerable significance, reflecting a sustained and exceptional impact. It signifies an acknowledgement, at the highest echelon, of an individual’s profound influence and their role in shaping a better society.
Ms Patel is the second woman of Indian origin to be conferred with this Honour.
Sukhi Turner, a former Mayor of Dunedin was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2002 and with the reinstatement of the honours by the John Key government in 2009, she was recognised as a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Titles and Honours
Ms Patel received the Queen’s Service Medal in the New Year Honours List in 2009 and was appointed as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit New Year Honours List 2017. She was the first person of Indian origin to be inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame in 2024. She was honoured with the Best Businesswoman of the Year Award at the Indian Newslink Business Awards 2011 and the Special Commemoration Award in 2023.
She said that the honour is both humbling and surreal.
“Such a distinction is beyond anything I had imagined. I stand on the shoulders of so many who have inspired, supported and believed in me. This Honour is not mine alone, it belongs to thousands of people who have worked with me at East Tamaki Healthcare, Tamaki Health, Gandhi Nivas, New Zealand Police, my wise counsel at Sahaayta Counselling Services, the community behind Swaminarayan Temple, my husband Dr Kanti Patel, my children and grandchildren. I am accepting this Honour on behalf of all who trusted my leadership,” she said.
A Compelling Narrative
Born and raised in Auckland, Ms Patel supported her husband Dr Kanti Patel extensively in establishing East Tamaki Healthcare, a medical clinic in South Auckland, which later became the largest primary healthcare provider in New Zealand. Her services were sought by Bank of Baroda (NZ) Limited as a Non-Executive Director in 2013, a position that she held with dignity and honour for six years. She adheres to the great principles and teachings of Swaminarayan a Hindu Deity and partnered with her husband Dr Kanti Patel in constructing a multimillion-dollar Community Centre in 2023. The facility is considered as a gift to the community.
Ms Patel’s journey is a compelling narrative of vision, tenacity, and a deeply ingrained ethos of care. Her ascent in both life and career is characterised not by meteoric, ephemeral flashes of success, but by the steady, incandescent glow of persistent effort and a genuine commitment to the wellbeing of others. In 1977, she embarked on a path that would redefine primary healthcare accessibility, particularly for underserved populations.
What began as a modest general practice in Ōtara, East Tamaki Healthcare, driven by an intuitive understanding of community needs and a desire to dismantle barriers to healthcare, burgeoned into Tāmaki Health. This organisation, under the astute guidance and entrepreneurial spirit of Dr and Ms Patel, has become the largest privately owned primary healthcare group in New Zealand, a testament to its innovative approach and unwavering focus on patient-centric care.
She possessed the remarkable ability to perceive a need and to marshal the resources, intellect, and sheer determination required to address it, often challenging conventional models to achieve greater efficacy and inclusivity.
Gandhi Nivas
Beyond the realm of healthcare provision, Ranjna Patel’s profound compassion and astute understanding of societal challenges led her to confront the pervasive issue of family violence.
It was on December 1, 2014 that, driven by a desire to effect meaningful change and to move beyond merely addressing the symptoms of this deeply rooted problem, she co-founded Gandhi Nivas, with three others, including this Reporter.
This ground-breaking initiative provides early intervention and prevention services for individuals at risk of perpetrating family harm. Its innovative approach, focusing on behaviour change and providing culturally appropriate counselling and support, has achieved remarkable success in reducing reoffending rates and fostering safer communities. Gandhi Nivas stands as a beacon of hope, a tangible manifestation of our collective belief in the potential for positive transformation and courage to tackle complex social issues head-on.
Ms Patel’s contributions have not been confined to these flagship endeavours.
Throughout her career, she has been an advocate for ethnic communities, a champion for women in leadership, and a guiding voice on numerous advisory boards, including the Police Commissioner’s National Ethnic Forum and the Mental Health Foundation.
Her wisdom, born of experience and empathy, has been sought by many, and her influence has permeated various sectors of New Zealand society. She has consistently demonstrated an extraordinary capacity to bridge cultural divides, foster understanding, and empower those around her. Her earlier recognitions, including the Queen’s Service Medal and her appointment as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, were but precursors to this latest, most distinguished honour, underscoring a consistent and evolving dedication to public service.
On behalf of Indian Newslink, and indeed, the wider community that has been touched by her remarkable work, we extend our most sincere and enthusiastic congratulations to Dame Ranjna Patel. This appointment is a fitting acknowledgement of her extraordinary contributions, her indomitable spirit, and her enduring legacy. It is a celebration not only of her past achievements but also of the ongoing inspiration she provides. May this honour be a source of immense personal satisfaction, and may it further illuminate the path for others to follow in her formidable footsteps. Her life’s work embodies the very essence of meritorious service, and New Zealand is unquestionably richer for her tireless endeavours.
Please read our next story to congratulate six other achievers featured on the King’s Birthday Honours List 2025.
