Auckland witnessed a powerful evening of culture, business dialogue, and community connection as Indiaspora, the Consulate General of India in Auckland, and the Auckland Business Chamber hosted the first New India–NZ Roadshow at Te Mahurehure Cultural Marae.
The theme for the night was Time to Dream, Decide, Dare. The event brought Māori leaders, Indian leaders, diplomats, MPs, entrepreneurs, youth innovators, educators, and corporate partners together for honest conversations about the future of the India–New Zealand relationship. The program combined a Māori welcome, keynote speeches, trade and talent panels, food innovation and a moving cultural closing.
A Māori Welcome that Set the Tone
Manisha and Mahia began the evening with a warm Māori welcome that created a genuine sense of belonging. This was followed by a devotional Ganesha Kriti by Harish Shiva Shankar. Indiaspora Ambassador Mallika Janakiraman then opened the roadshow and reminded the audience that partnerships grow when people from different worlds sit together in trust.
Simon Bridges: “You are the double agents between our countries.”
Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges delivered a lively keynote. He opened with humour and praised Auckland as one of the most exciting multicultural cities in the world. He highlighted the growing influence of the Indian diaspora in New Zealand and said:
“The Indian community is already transforming New Zealand. For such a new migrant community to do so well is extraordinary.”
He explained how Indian leadership is shaping global business and said Indian Americans have even helped America become competitive in cricket. Bridges also spoke about the Free Trade Agreement and commended Minister Todd McClay for relentlessly engaging with India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.
He added:
“The trade deal will open the door, but people like you will walk through it. You are bridges. You are the double agents between our countries.”
He reminded businesses that if New Zealand wants real growth, it must approach India with serious intent instead of short visits and goodwill tours.
Trade and Business Panel: Dairy, Hospitality, Venture Capital, and More
Earl Rattray: “India teaches you competition like nowhere else.”
Dairy leader Earl Rattray shared how he co-founded a modern dairy venture in Delhi with three Indian IT professionals. He explained that India’s dairy sector is massive but fragmented, and even one percent market share can create a significant business.
He said:
“We were the first to bottle fresh milk in glass in Delhi. Within months fifty brands copied us. Some were pouring milk in their apartments and labelling it organic. That is India. It keeps you sharp.”
He also said Indian consumers place a high value on purity, which gave their brand natural traction.
Bindi Shah: “The diaspora itself is a strategic advantage”
Crowe partner Bindi Shah spoke about the need for smoother capital mobility, better regulatory alignment, and stronger support for women-led ventures. She explained how Indian investors value compliance and trust, which New Zealand offers.
She said:
“With more than three hundred thousand people of Indian origin in New Zealand, we already have a strong bridge. Indian women entrepreneurs here are driving cross border business like never before.”
Geoff Allott: “India is infectious. You go once and you keep going back.”
Former Black Cap Geoff Allott spoke about entering the Indian hospitality sector more than a decade ago, when almost no New Zealand food was available there. He shared that once premium hotel chains like Taj, Oberoi, ITC, and Marriott trusted his products, the rest followed quickly.
He credited cricketing legends like Stephen Fleming and Daniel Vettori for opening doors through trust and reputation.
He said:
“Boards need to take India seriously and think in three to five year cycles. Twelve months is not long term. India moves fast when it trusts you.”
Mahesh Muralidhar: “New Zealand must learn to see scale”
Startup mentor and VC leader Mahesh Muralidhar explained that India’s strongest opportunities lie in the middle layer of consumers who spend 100 to 300 USD a month. He also spoke about how Indian and Māori worldviews both begin with the idea of creation coming from the void. He said this creates natural cultural alignment.
He noted:
“India and Māori share identity that is proud, layered and spiritual. This is why both communities connect deeply in New Zealand.”
He added that New Zealand athletes, including mid-level cricketers, could build massive brands in India with the right marketing strategy.
Three MPs Share Their Vision
Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan
Priyanca Radhakrishnan spoke about the need for purpose-driven leadership. She said:
“Politics without purpose is power for its own sake. Leadership must be grounded in real lives.”
She also noted that Indian youth in New Zealand are becoming leaders in tech, science, and community work, and added that more student pathways are being explored.
Hon Rima Nakhle
Rima Nakhle spoke with warmth and honesty. She said:
“People say find your why. For me it is find your who. Who do you serve. That is what keeps you grounded.”
She shared that every Indian home she visits feeds her before she sits down and joked that she might soon become part of the extended Indian family.
Hon Nancy Lu
Nancy Lu spoke with enthusiasm about the growing partnership between the two countries. She said:
“India accounts for six percent of New Zealand’s population. Our shared future depends on working together.”
She explained that Indian professionals play a key role in health, tech, and education. She also hinted that progress on direct flights between Auckland and India is closer than people think.
Dr Madan Mohan Sethi’s One-Year Reflection as Consul General
Consul General Dr Madan Mohan Sethi delivered one of the most heartfelt speeches of the night. He marked exactly one year since he took charge of the CGI office in Auckland and explained that the consulate’s work is not limited to processing a few thousand passport and visa applications.
He said:
“Our work is not just stamping passports. It is helping people feel supported, represented and connected. We help with family issues, job issues and student wellbeing. We try to help every person who walks through our door.”
Dr Sethi shared that he has met more than five thousand people across the country in the past twelve months. He said it makes him proud to see Indian families working hard, doing well, and contributing to New Zealand.
He emphasised the potential of the India–NZ relationship and said the Free Trade Agreement remains one of the most important priorities for the coming years. He also spoke about tourism and said:
“Twenty million Indians travel overseas every year. Only eighteen thousand visited New Zealand last year. Can we make this two hundred thousand. The opportunity is huge.”
Culinary Diplomacy by Chef Dinesh and Chef Diana
The food experience became a highlight of the evening. Chef Dinesh and Chef Diana from Ohui Restaurant presented a fusion menu that connected Indian flavours with Aotearoa ingredients. Dishes included crispy eggplant with chicken 65 spices, millet arancini with coconut chutney, Thai-style pani puri, mango kulfi with kawakawa, and a refreshing nanari chilli mojito.
Guests praised the creativity and the blend of both cultures.
Youth Innovation: Vimana Smart Safety Device
Young innovators Sandhya and Ruben introduced their startup Vimana. They demonstrated a wearable safety device that works through voice activation. The device responds to multiple trigger words in different languages and sends instant alerts to trusted contacts.
They shared their vision:
“We want to make this device accessible to every family in New Zealand and India.”
Their presentation drew strong applause and the attention of mentors.
Talent, Identity and Culture Panel
Gareth from Scitex Recruitment
Gareth shared insights from the New Zealand job market. He explained that flexibility is now the top priority for employees. He added that leadership quality is the biggest factor that decides whether people stay or leave their jobs.
Nike Sharma
Nike spoke about the philosophical links between Indian and Māori cultures. He highlighted how both traditions begin with the idea of the void and of creation arising from potential. He said Indian culture carries a strong identity, while Māori culture builds deep connection through ancestry and breath.
A Moving Māori Closing by Fred William and Umania Williams
Father-daughter duo Fred William and Umania Williams closed the evening with a powerful cultural message. Fred explained the meaning of the hongi as an exchange of breath and the sharing of life. He outlined the three layers of whakapapa: whanaungatanga, matemateone, and ukai.
He said:
“When you enter a whare, you enter our story. Tonight we entered yours too. Our stories are not so different. Tonight we are whānau.”
The entire room stood to applaud.
A Night of Trust, Vision, and New Possibility
The New India–NZ Roadshow created meaningful connections between Māori leaders, Indian leaders, business owners, students, MPs, and the wider community. It showed that India and New Zealand are stepping into a new stage of deeper partnership built on trust, shared identity and ambition.
The closing message captured the heart of the night:
Time to Dream. Time to Decide. Time to Dare.
PS: webfitNews covered this news on behalf of Bihar Jharkhand Sabha Australia & New Zealand
