Several prominent Indian-origin New Zealanders have been recognised in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours for their outstanding contributions to multiculturalism, governance, education, healthcare, community service, and the screen industry.
Among those honoured is Archna Tandon, who was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for her services to multicultural communities.
Over the past three decades, Tandon has played a leading role in supporting migrant resettlement, women’s empowerment, social cohesion, and interfaith dialogue through organisations such as the Christchurch Migrant Centre, Christchurch Resettlement Services, and the Canterbury Indian Women Group Trust.
Speaking to RNZ, Tandon said the honour reinforced her commitment to fostering a more inclusive New Zealand and highlighted the need for stronger support for ethnic community organisations and greater representation in government decision-making.
Sumati Govind, former treasurer of the Wellington Indian Association, was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for her services to governance and the Indian community. Govind has dedicated more than 40 years to serving on boards and trusts across the health, sport, retirement, and community sectors. She has also advocated for improved ethnic representation and more detailed ethnic data collection to better reflect the needs of Indian New Zealanders.
Also receiving an MNZM was Shuchi Kothari, recognised for her services to the screen industry and Asian representation in New Zealand media.
A filmmaker, academic, and co-founder of the Pan-Asian Screen Collective, Kothari has spent more than 20 years promoting diversity and inclusion within New Zealand’s screen sector.
She has called for greater efforts by funding agencies to ensure equitable opportunities for Asian creatives and storytellers.
Among the recipients of the King’s Service Medal (KSM) was Raveen Annamalai, honoured for his contributions to multiculturalism and the promotion of Tamil culture in New Zealand. He has held leadership positions in several Tamil and multicultural organisations at both regional and national levels.
Vijeshni Rattan was also awarded the King’s Service Medal for her dedication to community service, language education, and cultural preservation. As principal of Wellington Hindi School and an active leader within the Hindu community, she has worked to strengthen cultural identity and encourage interfaith understanding.
Another recipient, Dr Shanthi Selvakumar, received the King’s Service Medal for her services to migrant and refugee communities. A long-time advocate for migrant women and children affected by domestic violence, she has provided free medical care to vulnerable groups and supported organisations assisting victims of abuse. Dr Selvakumar has called for increased awareness of domestic violence within migrant communities, including multilingual resources, school-based education programmes, and stronger outreach through community and faith-based organisations.
The 2026 King’s Birthday honours highlight the growing contributions of Indian-origin New Zealanders to public life, recognising their impact on community development, social inclusion, cultural preservation, and public service across the country.