By Geet G
Indian Newslink brought together political leaders, diplomats, community advocates, athletes, artists and cultural organisations for the 12th Annual Sports, Community, Arts and Culture Awards 2026, held at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre in Auckland on Monday, 27 July.
Webfit News attended the event as an invited guest and sincerely thanks Venkat Raman MNZM, Editor and General Manager of Indian Newslink, for extending the invitation and warmly welcoming the Webfit News team.
The evening reflected Venkat Raman’s long-standing vision of recognising people whose work often happens quietly, away from headlines and public attention. Through these awards, Indian Newslink provided a respected platform for individuals and organisations contributing to sport, community service, arts and cultural preservation across New Zealand.
The event was not simply an awards ceremony. It was a celebration of service, identity, discipline, creativity and the strength of New Zealand’s diverse communities.
Political and diplomatic leaders recognise the community’s contribution
The programme welcomed a distinguished group of political and diplomatic guests, including:
- Hon Todd McClay, Minister of Trade and Investment
- Hon Chris Penk, Minister of Defence
- Rt Hon Chris Hipkins, Leader of the Opposition and Labour Party
- Hon Carmel Sepuloni, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party
- Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Member of Parliament
- Hon Jenny Salesa, Member of Parliament
- Dr Madan Mohan Sethi, Consul General of India
Speakers acknowledged the growing contribution of the Indian diaspora and other multicultural communities to New Zealand’s social, economic and cultural life.
Across the evening, political leaders praised the role played by community organisations and independent ethnic media in connecting people, recognising achievement and encouraging participation in public life.
They also acknowledged Venkat Raman’s commitment and the sustained work behind Indian Newslink’s community initiatives. Their remarks reflected appreciation for his vision in building platforms that celebrate people from different professions, generations and cultural backgrounds.
While the speakers approached the occasion from different political perspectives, the common message was clear: New Zealand’s diversity is one of its strengths, and the people serving their communities deserve meaningful public recognition.
Dr Madan Mohan Sethi also acknowledged the contribution of the Indian community to New Zealand and the importance of preserving cultural identity while participating fully in the wider society.
A carefully delivered community celebration
The programme began with guests arriving at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre, followed by an introduction from the masters of ceremonies, Stutie Sharma and Rushabh Trivedy.
The formal proceedings included an invocation by Rashi and Avishi Jain, addresses from the invited dignitaries, cultural performances, dinner and the presentation of awards across several categories.
A major event of this scale requires months of preparation, coordination and voluntary effort. Indian Newslink recognised the members of its working group:
- Bhikhu Bhana
- Ravi Nyayapati
- Rutul Joshi
- Shanti Ravi
- Stutie Sharma
- Kashika Singh
- Viraf Todywalla
- Madhavi Nyayapati
- Rushabh Trivedy
Their collective work helped the evening run smoothly and created a welcoming atmosphere for recipients, families, political representatives and community leaders.
Independent judging process
The nominations were evaluated by a distinguished panel comprising:
- Hon Vanushi Walters
- Hon Rima Nakhle, Member of Parliament, National Party
- Barrister and Solicitor Kathleen Morrison
- Dame Ranjna Patel
- Former Waitakere City Council Chief Executive Vijaya Vaidyanath
According to the event programme, the judges assessed nominations across the different categories with objectivity, integrity and honour.
This independent process is important because awards carry greater meaning when recipients are selected through clear evaluation rather than popularity alone.
Performances bring energy and colour to the evening
The awards were balanced with cultural performances reflecting the richness of New Zealand’s multicultural communities.
Ratna Venkat Wilson presented an Indian classical dance performance. Her artistic journey began at a young age, and her work draws on several classical traditions, including Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak and Odissi.
The ECANS NZ Dance Academy presented a Sri Lankan traditional dance, adding another cultural dimension to the evening.
V4U Entertainments also performed during the programme, while the Abhinayaa Indian Dance Academy presented traditional Rajasthani folk dance. The academy’s performance celebrated the music, movement, colour and storytelling traditions associated with Rajasthan.
These performances were more than entertainment between speeches and awards. They demonstrated how cultural traditions continue to be taught, adapted and proudly shared by younger generations in New Zealand.
Elite Sports Awards recognise high-level achievement
The Elite Sports Awards recognised individuals who have demonstrated excellence in competitive sport and coaching.
The recipients were:
- Nensi Patel, for achievements in cricket
- Sarpreet Singh, for achievements in football
- Dr Rahul Das, for excellence as a rugby coach
- Kiranpal Pannu, for achievements in tennis
Their recognition highlighted the growing presence of athletes and coaches from diverse communities across New Zealand sport.
The awards also sent an important message to young people: achievement at an elite level requires consistency, discipline and years of work that the public may not always see.
Sports Awards celebrate dedication across disciplines
The Sports Awards recognised achievement across karate, carrom, long-distance running, cricket and hockey.
Recipients included:
- Eesha V Ranchhod, for achievements in karate
- Pankaj Monga, for achievements in carrom
- Prashanta Padiyar, for achievements as a marathon runner
- Selwin Sanjay, for achievements in cricket
- Tarendra Singh Sokhi, for achievements in hockey
The range of sporting disciplines represented was one of the strengths of the awards. It showed that sporting excellence is not limited to the most commercially visible codes.
Community-level athletes, specialist competitors and long-serving sportspeople all play a role in building healthier and more connected communities.
Special Commemoration Awards honour service and legacy
The Special Commemoration Awards carried particular emotional significance, recognising people and organisations whose service has created a lasting impact.
Recipients included:
- Ravinder Singh Virk, for services to communities
- Pukekohe Indian Association, recognising 90 years of service to the Indian community
- Sanjay Badakere, posthumously, for services to arts and culture
- Vinod Menon, for services to communities
- Jagtar Singh, posthumously, for services to the Sikh community
- Organisation of Hindu Malayalees New Zealand, represented by Dr Smitha Nair, for services to the Kerala Hindu community
- Sakthi Krishnamurthi, for services to communities
- Amanjot Singh, for inspiring youth through oratory skills
- Bhumit Patel, for services to communities
- Venkat Subramaniam and Kavitha Venkatachalam, for services to the Hindu community
- Krish Naidu, for services to the Fiji Indian community
- Bhavisha Patel, for services to the Indian community
The event also remembered community figures who had passed away, including Raman Ray Ranchhod, Wenceslaus Anthony, Dr Robert Khan Senior, Ravin Lal, Baljit Kaur and Vira Raghava Nyayapati Swami.
This moment of remembrance gave the evening depth. It acknowledged that today’s community institutions were built through the commitment of people who gave their time, knowledge and leadership over many years.
Community Awards recognise service at the grassroots
The Community Awards celebrated people whose work has supported different communities, age groups and social causes.
Recipients included:
- Jai Singh, for promoting civic consciousness
- Ajaz Nawab, for services to the Pakistani community
- Chetan Joshi, for services to the Uttarakhand community
- Shay Singh, for services to LGBTQIA+ Indian communities
- Dr Sudesh Wasanori, for services to the Indian community in Wellington
- Robin K Babu, for services to the Malayali community in Auckland
- Sunil Das Karangalpady, for services to the Hindu community
- Jit Kaur, for services to the Sikh community
- Kritika Selach, for services to youth
- Nazia Patel, for services to the Indian community
- Tara Jyothi Vangipurapu, for promoting spiritual growth
- Santhi Sappa, for services to children with special needs
These recipients represented the practical side of community leadership. Their work includes advocacy, mentoring, cultural support, inclusion, faith-based service and assistance to families.
Much of this work is voluntary and often receives little recognition. That is precisely why awards of this kind matter.
Arts and Culture Awards celebrate identity and creativity
The Arts Awards recognised:
- Mohammad Hassaan Mirza, for services to the Pakistani community
- Khadija Soomro, for services to the Pakistani community
- Kulwant Kaur Chopra, for services to the Sikh community
- Nabira Faisal, for services as a volunteer
- Sharmila Muthukumar, for services to the Tamil community
The Culture Awards were presented to:
- D4Dance Dreamerz, represented by Arun Thambi, for promoting classical dances
- Siva Subramaniam, for promoting Tamil culture
- Viraf Todywalla, for achievements as a producer and presenter
- Charu Chutani, for achievements as a Kathak dancer
- Dhanak Humayun, for achievements in beauty and fashion
- Radhika Ravi, for promoting Indian classical dances
Together, these recipients demonstrated that cultural work takes many forms. It can involve dance, presentation, volunteering, community leadership, fashion, language, performance and the preservation of traditions.
Indian Newslink’s broader community role
Established in 1999, Indian Newslink has developed beyond its role as a newspaper.
Its wider initiatives include the Indian Business Awards, the Indian Newslink Lecture Series, the Festival of South India and the Sports, Community, Arts and Culture Awards.
Each initiative serves a different purpose, but the underlying goal remains consistent: to create credible platforms for recognition, public discussion, cultural expression and community connection.
The Sports, Community, Arts and Culture Awards, established in 2012, have continued to grow and now recognise recipients from Indian, Fiji Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan and Nepali backgrounds.
That broader inclusion reflects the reality of modern New Zealand. Communities maintain their individual identities while also sharing experiences, challenges and aspirations.
A night built around recognition
The strongest feature of the evening was not political status, ceremony or formality. It was the recognition of people who have given years of service to others.
Some recipients were already well known. Others were individuals whose contributions may be familiar only within their local communities. Placing all of them on the same stage was a reminder that leadership does not always come with a title.
Indian Newslink and Venkat Raman MNZM deserve appreciation for continuing to create a platform where sporting excellence, community service, artistic contribution and cultural leadership are treated with equal respect.
Webfit News congratulates all recipients, performers, judges, volunteers and members of the working group who contributed to the success of the 12th Annual Indian Newslink Sports, Community, Arts and Culture Awards 2026.
The 13th edition of the awards is scheduled to take place on Monday, 26 July 2027.
Photo Credits: Event photographs used in this article were captured during the 12th Annual Indian Newslink Sports, Community, Arts and Culture Awards 2026. All photographs remain the property and copyright of Indian Newslink and/or their respective photographers and are used by Webfit News for editorial news reporting purposes with appropriate acknowledgement.
