The Indian Weekender, 01 July 2022

Read online www.iwk.co.nz Friday, July 01, 2022
NEW ZEALAND 3
Heartfelt farewell for outgoing High
Commissioner
DEV NADKARNI
Leaders representing
nearly every Kiwi-Indian
diaspora organisation in
Auckland came together to
farewell outgoing Indian High
Commissioner Shri Muktesh
Pardeshi at the Auckland Indian
Association’s Mahatma Gandhi
Centre last Sunday.
The impressive turnout
reflected Shri Pardeshi’s
popularity among Kiwi
Indian communities across
New Zealand.
Among the more accessible,
friendly and action-oriented
envoys from India in recent
decades, Shri Pardeshi’s stint in
New Zealand has been marked
by a range of substantial
achievements, in spite of
pandemic-related restrictions
during a considerable part of
his tenure.
Thanking the diaspora for
its support and affection
throughout his tenure, the
High Commissioner outlined
the important developments
that marked his tenure
in New Zealand.
Among the more significant
ones, was the opening of
the new Chancery building in
Wellington.
In the making for more than
a decade, the project picked up
pace only in the past few years
but has been plagued by delays.
The contractor assigned the
project ceased operations just
before Shri Pardeshi arrived
in New Zealand, leaving the
building half finished.
His first task on arrival was
to award the contract to a new
company. He saw it completed
and inaugurated just weeks
before his tenure ended.
He described the salient
features of the new facility that
ultimately cost $90 million.
SAs well as being a High
Commission that will deliver
consular services and
represent the Republic of India
in New Zealand, the facility
is a hub for the Kiwi-Indian
community, he said.
The multipurpose auditorium
and flexible spaces that can
cater to a range of activities
are designed to bring
communities together.
He said the new building
was the cynosure of eyes in
the diplomatic corps and that
there wasn’t another chancery
building as grand as this one in
the capital.
The building symbolises the
abiding interest of India in New
Zealand: “It’s an expression of
our close interest in India New
Zealand relations and in the
welfare of our people.” Inviting
the community to participate
and utilise the facilities
afforded by the new facility,
Shri Pardeshi said, “We will
also partner with community
organisations wherever they
are, if they have something
coming up in Wellington, please
contact us.
Despite Covid-19, trade
between NZ and India had
continued to grow.
“In spite of travel related
When some 20
flights came to
Auckland and
airlifted people... the
template was set...
direct flight in 16
hours plus [flying
time] was possible.”
challenges, both sides have
maintained contact – only
last week our two foreign
ministers met in Rwanda, where
they are there to attend to
the Commonwealth Summit.
Before that, they had met
three months back in Paris.
Six months back, they had a
virtual meeting, just before
the outbreak of Covid-19, the
then Deputy Prime Minister,
Winston Peters had gone
to India with a big business
delegation,” he said
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