The Waitakere Indian Association supports the wider west Auckland community through education, community programmes and cultural celebrations. Throughout its 25-year history, the association has remained dedicated to its purpose of uniting the community and celebrating culture.

Its President, Sunil Kaushal, has been involved for many years. He shared how the association works to support everyone in the community, regardless of their ethnicity, culture or religion. It doesn’t matter if you’re Sikh, Buddhist, speak Hindi, Gujarati or Tongan – the association works for all.

One of its early initiatives was to establish a community Diwali celebration in Auckland. When it first hosted the event in 2000, about 180 people turned up – more than the association had expected. Now, about 20,000 to 25,000 people attend the event at Trusts Arena each year. It’s a chance for the Indian community to celebrate an important festival and share their culture with the wider community.

The association also organises an annual event in celebration of Holi, the festival of colour, spring and love. Thousands of people come together for the occasion, arriving in white clothes and leaving head to toe in colour.

It’s important that the association’s work is inclusive of all communities and everyone feels welcome, Kaushal expressed.

“It’s all a labour of love.”