~ Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame 2019 ~

Hall of Fame Inductee 2019

Sir Anand Satyanand

Anand Satyanand, a Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame inductee, 2019, is a distinguished New Zealand public figure whose career in law and public service spans more than five decades.

Born in Auckland in 1944 to a Fiji Indian family, he was educated at Sacred Heart College and later completed a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Auckland in 1970. After working in legal practice, he was appointed a District Court Judge in 1982, serving in Palmerston North and Auckland. He also contributed to judicial education and served on the Prison Board and National Parole Board.

In 1995, he was appointed Parliamentary Ombudsman, serving two terms and gaining a reputation for fairness and integrity. He later served as Governor-General of New Zealand from 2006 to 2011.

Following his term, Sir Anand continued in public service, including roles as Chair of the Royal Commission into Historical Abuse in State Care and Faith-based Institutions and as Chancellor of the University of Waikato.

He has received numerous honours, including appointment as a Knight Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit and the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award in 2011. He was also awarded the Royal Order of the Crown of Tonga.

Sir Anand Satyanand’s career reflects a sustained commitment to public service, leadership, and contribution to New Zealand society.

Sarpreet Singh

Young Achiever of the Year 2019

Born in Auckland, Sarpreet grew up in Manukau playing football from the age of five and later played for Onehunga Sports. He represented Auckland at the Australian National Futsal Championships, winning the most valuable player award and attracting interest from Premier League side Everton.

He moved to Wellington Phoenix Soccer School at the age of 16 and later contracted to join Wellington Phoenix club after playing one and a half years at the school. He got his first taste of senior football as a substitute in an A-League game against Melbourne City in February 2017.

He earned his first senior New Zealand cap, in March 2018, and got his first international goal against India, playing in India where he was immensely popular amongst youngsters. In June this year, he became the first player of Indian descent and the first from New Zealand to be contracted by the famous European club Bayern Munich of Germany to play in Europe.

Harshad Patel

Community Excellence Award Winner 2019

Harshad Patel, former vice-president of Auckland Indian Association and New Zealand Indian Central Association, two of the oldest Indian community organisations in New Zealand has been named as the recipient of the Kiwi Indian Community Service Excellence award 2019.

Mr Patel has tirelessly worked for over three decades of the four decades of his tenure in New Zealand and has tried to bring the community together through different events and activities.

What makes Harshad Patel deserving for this coveted title and award is his dedication toward the service of the Indian community for decades that too from the time when social media did not exist and gathering a significant number of people for an event or for a cause was a dire challenge.