Indian-origin duo honoured with New Zealand Order of Merit for contributions to tech and community
Indian-origin technologists
and community leaders
Sunit Prakash
and
Lalita Kasanji
have been named Members of the
New Zealand Order of Merit
, a rare recognition awarded for exceptional service to the nation.
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The honour acknowledges their decades-long efforts to promote the digital technology sector and strengthen ties between India and New Zealand.
The couple, both dual New Zealand and Australian citizens, are the first members of the Indian community to be awarded this title for services to Information Technology a field in which only about fifteen people have been recognised since 1995. Their work culminated in the founding of the New Zealand Centre for Digital Connections with India in 2023, a venture aimed at fostering digital and tech collaborations between the two countries.
Their research, using both global and socio-cultural analysis, revealed that Indian IT professionals contribute approximately NZD 350 million to the New Zealand economy each year. Drawing on personal experience, they highlighted the value of this underrepresented community, creating programmes to enhance their visibility and success. 'Sunlight is a powerful disinfectant, and we are bringing a magnifying glass,' said Sunit Prakash, emphasising their mission to bring attention to this untapped resource.
Their recommendations also laid the groundwork for a potential Digital and IT Trade Delegation to India, aligning with New Zealand's ongoing efforts to negotiate a free trade agreement with one of the world's fastest-growing economies. As Lalita Kasanji noted, 'Till I met Sunit, like the rest of New Zealand, Digital India and new Indians had been invisible to New Zealand.'
The couple's achievements follow a strong family legacy.
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Lalita's mother, Mrs. Ruxmani Kasanji, received the same honour in 2019 for her community service. Their son, Arjun Prakash, is a Quad Fellow pursuing a PhD in Artificial Intelligence in the United States.
Their initiative, which has been entirely self-funded and independent, brings together a professional community committed to meaningful change through mentoring, policy submissions, and public engagement.
With over 320,000 people of Indian origin in New Zealand and a significant presence in the tech sector, the duo's work aims to further integrate this talent into national development as India's global importance continues to grow.
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