If you’re reading this, it’s for a reason. Perhaps you need support. Perhaps you’re supporting someone else. Perhaps you just care deeply for the health, wellbeing and happiness of others. What matters most is that you’re here. And we are here for you.
This is our first blog at Indian Origin Pride New Zealand – an organisation we’re proud to launch for a community in need.
It’s important we tell you about our journey so you know it’s meaningful, authentic and deeply personal.
It all started with Wellington Indian Pride; a regional organisation launched in 2021 to create a happy place for rainbow Indians connected to Wellington. It worked with the Wellington Indian Association to encourage the wider Indian community to be a more diverse and inclusive place.
At Wellington Indian Pride, there was always a diya lamp to guide the journey. To provide healing, hope, health and happiness. To give us and those around us enlightenment, prosperity, knowledge and wisdom.
The diya didn’t burn out. Instead, it burnt brighter as the organisation got bigger. There was a clear need for a national organisation.
And with that, Wellington Indian Pride evolved into Indian Origin Pride New Zealand so that our reach can be bigger and better – and most importantly so that more Indian families in Aotearoa can benefit from our work.
IOPNZ recognises that the Indian diaspora is spread throughout the world, but that we all originate from India and many of us live in Aotearoa New Zealand.
There’s five us behind IOPNZ, and you’ll find information about us on the website. We are here in equal parts passion, collaboration, and positive change.
We’ve already had some fantastic and meaningful conversations with New Zealand Indian and rainbow community leaders alike – and we are getting great feedback from both groups. We will continue working with change makers to ensure we are a loud and proud voice.
This work isn’t just about rainbow Indian families – it is about the whole Indian community here becoming a more diverse and inclusive place. We can no longer sit silent; for that marginalises the marginalised. We must all be loud and proud, and we must be active in bringing us all together.
What matters most, is that this is for you. All of you. You are the community we need. You are the people who create change.
Vinod, Shay, Michelle, Arrun and Sunita (l to r)
Indian Origin Pride New Zealand founding members