More than a dozen Asian New Zealanders have been recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours List, with several Indian-origin individuals acknowledged for their outstanding contributions to the community, health, technology and multicultural initiatives.
Topping the list is Ranjna Patel, who has been appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to ethnic communities, health, and family violence prevention.
Patel co-founded Tāmaki Health in 1977, which has since become New Zealand’s largest privately owned primary healthcare group, serving over 330,000 patients. She was the first person of Indian origin to be inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame in 2024 and the first woman to receive the Kiwibank Innovator of the Year award in 2021.
In 2014, she co-founded Gandhi Nivas, an early intervention initiative for men at risk of family harm, which has supported more than 6,000 families in Auckland. Patel said she was humbled by the recognition and described it as a reflection of her commitment to community well-being, social cohesion, and inclusive problem-solving.
Panchanatham Narayanan, president of the New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Councils, has been appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to multicultural communities.
Already a Queen’s Service Medal recipient, Narayanan was recognised for his leadership in Huarahi Hou, a community-based integration model grounded in New Zealand’s bicultural foundations. He dedicated the honour to the resilience and diversity of New Zealand’s multicultural communities.
The husband-wife team of Sunit Prakash and Lalita Vanmali Kasanji were appointed Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the Indian community and contributions to New Zealand’s IT sector. They co-founded the New Zealand Centre for Digital Connections with India in 2023 to foster digital and technology collaboration.
Prakash noted their work addressed a previously unoccupied space connecting New Zealand, India, and digital innovation. Their joint research has also highlighted the contributions of Indian IT professionals in New Zealand and provided frameworks for visibility and growth.
Narendra Bhana, Parminder Kaur, and Narayanan Kutty Pulloothpadath were each awarded the King’s Service Medal for services to the Indian and multicultural communities.
Bhana, a former president of the New Zealand Indian Central Association, emphasised the importance of political engagement and leadership development within the Indian community.
Kaur, who leads the Indian NZ Association of Christchurch and runs the Women’s Helping Hand Trust, dedicated her honour to the women and volunteers she has worked with.
Pulloothpadath, who has been active in community advocacy in Taranaki for 25 years, echoed similar sentiments about community service and inclusion.
With Indians comprising 6% of New Zealand’s population, these Indian-origin honourees reflect the growing recognition of the significant contributions made by ethnic communities in shaping a more inclusive and diverse Aotearoa New Zealand.
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