In a landmark recognition of the Indian diaspora’s contribution to New Zealand’s digital economy, Sunit Prakash and Lalita Kasanji have been appointed Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in the King’s Birthday 2025 Honours List.
The husband-wife duo are the first Indian-origin recipients to be honoured by New Zealand for services to Information Technology and the Indian community, joining a very select group of just 15 people recognised in this field since 1995.
Long-time digital and community advocates, Prakash and Kasanji lived in Seaforth, NSW, from 1997 to 2007, where Prakash served as Director of Support Operations Asia Pacific Japan (APJ) for a Nasdaq-listed tech company.
“I was able to compare New Zealand against Australia and the rest of APJ and saw firsthand the Indian tech community in Australia, as well as the advanced relations between Australia and India.”
Upon returning to Wellington, the couple co-founded the New Zealand Centre for Digital Connections with India in 2023, an initiative aimed at accelerating collaboration between the two countries in tech and digital innovation.
Their influential research, combining global tech expertise with sociological insight, revealed that Indian IT professionals contribute over NZ$350 million annually to New Zealand’s economy. They identified predictors of success and developed catalyst programs to enhance visibility and growth among the community.
Drawing from their own migration and settlement experiences, they recognised that Indian professionals in New Zealand possess unique insights and cross-market expertise. Yet, this value was often under-appreciated.
Their advocacy led to a formal recommendation to the government for a Digital & IT Trade Delegation to India, aligning with New Zealand’s efforts to strengthen ties with one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
“As new arrivals to New Zealand, Indians take the tall poppy syndrome very seriously,” noted Kasanji. This awareness inspired the couple to foster a highly engaged, professionally curated community of Indian tech workers – a first in New Zealand.
Their work has been acknowledged nationally, not just for elevating the Indian tech diaspora but also for shaping policy conversations around trade, talent and digital transformation.
Prakash holds an MBA from NMIMS, Mumbai, and has worked with global IT leaders including IBM Sweden and IBM NZ. He’s a published author and an active voice in tech and policy forums.
Kasanji, a sociologist by training, completed her Master’s at Victoria University of Wellington with a focus on Gujarati migration. She was a founding employee at the precursor to the Ministry for Ethnic Communities and continues to serve on numerous business and community boards, including collaborations with the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
Their son, Arjun Prakash, a Sydney University graduate and Seaforth Public School alumnus, is currently pursuing a PhD in Artificial Intelligence in the US as part of the inaugural Quad Fellowship.
This honour comes as New Zealand actively seeks to boost digital trade and finalise a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India. The strategic importance of India – both as an emerging tech powerhouse and talent source – is reflected in the timing and significance of this award.
With Indians comprising 6% of New Zealand’s population and forming a significant share of its 120,000-strong digital and IT workforce, this recognition underscores a long-overdue acknowledgement of decades of quiet, yet transformative, contribution.
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