Sunit Prakash and Lalita Kasanji co-founded the New Zealand Centre for Digital Connections with India in 2023, an initiative dedicated to accelerating digital and technology collaboration between New Zealand and India.
With Indians making up 6% of New Zealand’s population, these honours highlight the vital role of ethnic communities in building a more inclusive and diverse Aotearoa.
The controversy comes at a time when Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has called for an “all-of-New Zealand” approach to strengthening ties with India.
“This museum will celebrate a vital thread through the history of our modern nation. I can’t think of a better site than Haymarket – a place synonymous with the Chinese-Australian story – or a more fitting time of year to open it.”
In a pointed swipe at Hanson’s long-held position that migrants dissatisfied with Australia should leave, Payman said the same logic could apply to the veteran Queensland senator.
