Some Aucklanders may consider Pukekohe as a ‘sleepy little town’ full of farmers, gardeners and growers, conveniently ignoring the fact that without them, supermarkets and superettes would not be able to provide them with their daily vegetables and fruits and of course dairy products.
Far from being a ‘town for out-of-towners,’ Pukekohe is regarded increasingly as a desirable lifestyle destination and a progressive part of Auckland for those seeking an alternative to city living.
It offers business owners the advantage of lower set-up costs and easy accessibility to transport networks without congested traffic flows.
In recent years, Pukekohe has seen the introduction of several big brand names and new developments in the retail sector.
The rise of shopping malls has shown that businesses have recognised the need to cater to the evolving trends.
Pukekohe’s proximity to Auckland and Hamilton also make it an easy destination for visitors heading south to Rotorua and the Bay of Plenty, or those travelling from Thames, the Coromandel and the Hauraki Plains to shop in an environment that provides friendly, personal ambience reminiscent of smaller New Zealand towns.
Its retail area offers boutique style shopping with designer clothing and accessories, interior design, book and craft stores, flower and gift shops, home wares, banks and all the usual service businesses expected of a busy town.
Add to this mix cafes and restaurants, boutique bed and breakfast and tourism operators, you have everything desirable for a good lifestyle.
Thriving Community
The Indian community in Pukekohe is one of the most vibrant ethnic groups in New Zealand and over the years, a number of Indians have established their reputation as enterprising and hard working people.
Among them are Councillors, businesspersons, engineers, doctors, lawyers, consultants and other professionals.
Four sons of Pukekohe have thus far been honoured by Queen Elizabeth II (New Year and Birthday) making them the pride of the community. Here is a brief note about them, extracted from our earlier reports.
Prithipal Singh Basra
Known to people of almost all segments of the Indian community, Prithipal Singh Basra is understandably a leader who is constantly consulted by associations and individuals, on matters ranging from immigration to social, community and religious issues.
His presence in a variety of events including political meetings, social gatherings, business sessions and entertainment programmes is seen as a source of respect and comfort. He has been the President of the Pukekohe Indian Association, the New Zealand Central Indian Association, Sikh Society and many other organisations.
The Queen appointed Mr Basra Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in 1998 in her Birthday Honours List, one of the first Indians to receive such a high status.
He remains a great source of inspiration to a cross-section of the community.
Ganges Singh
Ganges Singh was perhaps the first and only dairy, fruit and vegetable shop owner in Albany (North Shore City) in 1962. About eight years later, he moved to Pukekohe to become a market gardener, a profession that he pursued for the next three decades.
Mr Singh has a series of firsts to his credit. He was the first Punjabi to be awarded a Queen’s Service Medal (QSM) in 1990, the first Trade Union Leader representing the Indian community, the first person of Indian origin to be elected President of the Association of the Justices of Peace Inc and many others.
Born at sea aboard ‘SS Ganges’ carrying his parents migrating from Punjab in India to Fiji, he needed special care as a baby who arrived a little too soon. His passion for hard work took his career through a variety of jobs beginning with the Public Works Department in Fiji. Migrating to New Zealand, he launched his working life in Pukekohe with the late Juwula Singh, who was to become his father-in-law a while later.
Manjit Singh
Pukekohe Resident and Community Leader Manjit Singh has been a source of endearment and inspiration for many New Zealanders since his arrival in the country 23 years ago.
Since then, he has served the Indian community through a number of organisations. These include the New Zealand Sikh Society (Member), the Auckland Sikh Society (Member & later President), New Zealand Punjabi Cultural Association (President),
President of NZ Punjabi Cultural Association for 2004 to 2007, the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (Pukekohe), New Zealand Indian Central Association (currently Treasurer) and the Pukekohe Indian Association (currently Vice-President).
“I love to work in the Community and for the Community and will humbly carry on. It is a great honour to receive this recognition,” he said.
Magan Ranchhod
Magan Ranchhod is one of the most respected residents in Pukekohe, which has been his home for decades. He enhanced his father’s image with honesty, integrity and dignity and has been a major contributor to the farming community in Bombay Hills and beyond.
Community leaders and others were therefore pleased when the Queen honoured him with a QSM (Birthday Honours) in June 2003.
Since his arrival as a youngster in 1947 with his father (who had settled here earlier), Mr Ranchhod has been a New Zealander par excellence and his services to the Indian community over the years have been widely appreciated and acknowledged.
Ranchhod Senior is said to be the first Indian who began farming in Bombay Hills in the 1940s. Residents say Magan Ranchhod is among the sons of Gujarat who brought a new meaning to social fusion and fostered the country’s multicultural profile. Today they celebrate his achievement as their own.
He was elected to the Auckland Super City Local Board at the Local Government elections 2010, polling the second largest number of votes in the Pukekohe Subdivision of the Franklin Local Board. He was the only male member of the Indian community to be elected to the local board (the other person being Ella Kumar from the Puketapapa- Mt Roskill- Local Board).
