Community
The High Commissioner of India in New Zealand, Ms Neeta Bhushan had a successful visit to Invercargill in mid-June, and attended the International Day of Yoga hosted by the Indian Community in Southland (ICS).
The two-day visit also included engagements with the local community, city officials, and regional business representatives.
Vinay Sood, President of ICS, shared the excitement of the local Kiwi-Indian community and said it was an honour to host her for the first time.
More than 80 community members gathered at Hansen Hall in SIT to participate in a yoga practice, and Ms Bhushan and HCI official Durga Dass also took the opportunity to meet community members and address their concerns about passports, visas, and other related matters.
Ms Bhushan later visited the Southland Hindi School, the only institution in Southland dedicated to teaching the Indian language to the next generation of Indian community members, ensuring their connection to their heritage.
Himani Mishra, who runs the Southland Hindi School, said “the visit has definitely lifted up our confidence, paving the way for more new positive things.”
The High Commissioner then met with Dr. Teri McClelland, International Manager at the
Southern Institute of Technology (SIT), which boasts a large number of Indian students.
“I was pleased to meet with Her Excellency and discuss India’s rapidly growing economic base and potential opportunities for India/New Zealand cooperation and partnerships.”
Approximately 15% of SIT’s current international students are from India, and they look forward to strengthening its partnerships with India in the future.
During her visit, Ms Bhushan engaged with the Mayor of Invercargill, Nobby Clark, to discuss various topics, including the need for an improved trade relationship between New Zealand and India.
Mayor Clark emphasised the importance of forging a stronger bond, stating, “New Zealand needs a better trade relationship with India, as both countries have trade and expertise the other needs for their development.”
Showing a keen interest in the opportunities presented by the Southland region for trade and investment, Ms Bhushan met with representatives from local businesses.
She highlighted the strategic importance of India and the strides made by the country in world trade and economics.
Scott O’Donnell, director of HWR Group said it was great to meet her excellency and understand the opportunities for trade and tourism.
“ NZ needs to widen its export market horizon with countries like India and spread risk rather than depending on only one country.”
Vinay said overall, the high commissioner’s visit was very productive, where she could meet the Indian diaspora in Southland, create awareness about good health through yoga and meet the community and business leaders in Southland.