~ 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.

Shri Late Harshad Patel

Community Excellence Award Winner 2019

Community Services Excellence Award (2019), Shri Late Harshad Patel, was a highly respected leader whose 30 years of service significantly contributed to the empowerment and integration of the Indian community in New Zealand.

He passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family in 2025; he was 75.

Shri Late Harshad Patel was born in 1950 in Onjal, India and migrated to New Zealand in the year 1950 as a young man and has gone on to contribute immensely in his workplace as well as in the community. A qualified biochemist, he has spent most of his life at the service of Watercare and he has worked diligently and with pride to improve the safety and quality of drinking water in Auckland.

Harshadbhai, also commonly referred to as Harsh, spent more than 30 years serving the community especially as a leader in one of the oldest Indian organisations in New Zealand. He was the President of Auckland Indian Association and the New Zealand Indian Central Association, and a life member of both. He was even a Trustee to the Mahatma Gandhi Charitable Trust that was aimed at community development; a testament to his long-term interest in community development.

He was also an ardent supporter of cultural preservation, and was instrumental in founding the Centre for Indian Performing Arts (CIPA) at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre, where artists could be shown and Indian music, dance and theatre promoted in New Zealand. He had also played a pivotal role in making the Navratri dandiya festivals in Auckland one of the biggest and most lively cultural festivals in the nation.

In addition to leadership and organisation, Harshadbhai was also a talented musician who united people through his music, which he used to perform in various events at communities and encouraged a feeling of cohesion and happiness.

He received the Queen Service Medal as recognition of his lifetime service to the community in terms of his immense contributions to the community.

He have left behind an unremarkable legacy with humility, serving and cultural pride as an example to the generations to come that through commitment and passion we can unite communities and leave a lasting impact.