Gathering of 14 Indian social organisations in South Auckland on 15 March 2025, to set up an umbrella organisation for raising a collective community voice etc. Photo: Supplied
Fourteen community groups have united under an umbrella organisation to advocate on issues that affect Indians in New Zealand.
Individuals who claim Indian heritage now comprise the third-largest ethnicity in the country.
"Indians have been living in New Zealand for more than 100 years," said Arunjeev Singh, general secretary of Kiwi Indian Charitable and Social Club New Zealand, which initiated the meeting. "But apart from a token representation here and there, we have largely remained invisible.
"The Indian community is in [an] intensive care unit here and it needs to come out of it to make a mark in New Zealand society. That's why we are proposing to establish an umbrella organisation with all the 14 organisations present here as members.
"We propose to call the organisation Indian Community Union (ICU) NZ, which will have a secretariat based in South Auckland.
"Our main purpose will be to gather Indian community feedback on issues, pass it on to the government and have a say in policymaking.
"In addition, our secretariat will publish an exhaustive directory of Indian community organisations with their area and nature of activities.
"It will recognise and award people doing outstanding work in the community. It will support and provide guidance to victims of crime, family violence and workplace exploitation."
Representatives of the organisations attending the meeting all supported Singh's proposal.
Rajesh Goel, president of the Auckland Indian Retailers Association, noted how it was "always a struggle for Indian community organisations to secure funding for their activities".
"I urge you all to stand as many candidates as possible in the upcoming local government elections," Goel said. "We need a seat at the table to influence decisions. We need to let go our personal differences and animosity if we want the status of Indian community to change in New Zealand."
Sunil Das of Hindu Foundation NZ agreed.
"Indian organisations work individually, which lessens our impact," Das said. "The need for everyone to come together is greater than ever now."
Chetan Joshi, chairperson of the Uttarakhand Association of New Zealand, called for the proposed umbrella organisation to have a dedicated helpline to aid community members in distress.
Jeet Sachdev, founder of Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust, wanted members to devote some time regularly for community activities.
"We believe apart from funding, time is the most important commodity," Sachdev said. "So, I urge you to devote as much time as possible for the betterment of society in general."
Representatives of Indo Kiwi Seniors Association called for a special focus on senior issues in the community, which are often hidden, as "seniors don't always share their problems vocally".
Lehmber Singh from the New Zealand Council of Sikh Affairs highlighted the need for a common platform to share each other's work in their respective domains.
"The Indian community is blessed to have so many well-meaning organisations working for the society. Unfortunately, not many in the community and among the wider public, are aware of these activities," said Lehmber Singh, who is also known as Rana Judge. "Hopefully [ICU NZ] can change that."
Arunjeev Singh said the community and umbrella organisation should both be able to prosper so long as they remained unified.
"Many differences between Indian community members and organisations reach the courts, which is always a costly affair, he said.
"Our secretariat can work as a mediation centre to settle these disputes out of court," he said.
"This will be financially prudent for both sides, as well as earn some money [for ICU NZ] to aid our activities."
