Gaurav Sharma, Radio New Zealand (RNZ) Journalist Profile

Articles

Ranjna Patel leads Asian recipients of King’s Birthday Honours

6 days ago | rnz.co.nz | Gaurav Sharma

More than a dozen Asian New Zealanders have been recognised in this year's King's Birthday Honours List for their services to the country. Business and community leader Ranjna Patel heads the list after being appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to ethnic communities, health and family violence prevention.
What ethnic communities get from Budget 2025

2 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Gaurav Sharma

In response to demands from the ethnic community for tougher penalties for young offenders, the government has unveiled what it calls a "significant financial boost in Budget 2025 ... to help serious and persistent young offenders turn their lives around". "This government's efforts to keep the public safe and reform young offenders is already bearing fruit," Minister for Children Karen Chhour said.
Why the Indian Panthers’ debut season ended in failure

2 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Gaurav Sharma

Indian Panthers CEO Parveen Batish has blamed the franchise's inability to bring less than half of its Indian-based players to New Zealand as the main reason for withdrawing his team from the National Basketball League. Just three of the 10 Indian players initially named in the squad travelled to New Zealand, an outcome Batish blamed for the franchise's disastrous debut season.
Asian representation in Parliament continues to grow as Vanushi Walters enters House

3 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Gaurav Sharma

New Zealand's Asian communities eyed greater representation in Parliament in the run-up to the 2023 election, with political parties on both sides of the aisle nominating a diverse list of candidates. Those hopes were shattered on election night, with just eight of those candidates securing a seat in the Beehive. This was the same number of Asian-origin MPs in Parliament during the 2020-23 term, as well as the parliamentary term that preceded it.
Stanford spars with Radhakrishnan over email ‘spam’ remark in House

3 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Gaurav Sharma

A Labour MP of Indian origin has accused the immigration minister of painting migrants in a "negative light" during an answer to a question in Parliament last week. On 6 May, Labour's Willow-Jean Prime asked Erica Stanford, a National MP, to confirm every single email related to her ministerial portfolios, which had ever been sent to or from her personal email account, had been captured for official record.
Stanford spars with Radhakrishnan over email ‘spam’ remark in House

3 weeks ago | radionz.co.nz | Gaurav Sharma

A Labour MP of Indian origin has accused the immigration minister of painting migrants in a "negative light" during an answer to a question in Parliament last week. On 6 May, Labour's Willow-Jean Prime asked Erica Stanford, a National MP, to confirm every single email related to her ministerial portfolios, which had ever been sent to or from her personal email account, had been captured for official record.
India consular delays caused by errors related to application payments

3 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Gaurav Sharma

Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand Neeta Bhushan has rebuffed criticism on social media regarding delays in consular services provided by the Indian mission in Wellington and the new consulate general in Auckland. Kiwi Indians have been increasingly critical on social media of delays they have encountered in receiving consular services such as passport renewals and visa applications in recent months, especially if refunds were involved.
Luxon calls for an ‘all of New Zealand’ investment in India relationship

1 month ago | rnz.co.nz | Gaurav Sharma

Calling India a major geopolitical power and a significant global and regional security actor, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has reiterated the importance of the South Asian nation to New Zealand. "Our relationship with India is so significant that I want to see an 'all of New Zealand' effort, with government, business and community all moving in the same direction," Luxon said in a keynote speech at the India New Zealand Business Council summit on Friday.
Ethnic MPs condemn race-based criticism of their political work

1 month ago | rnz.co.nz | Gaurav Sharma

Lawmakers representing New Zealand's ethnic communities have condemned critics for focusing on their ethnicity when disagreeing with policies they are proposing. The remarks follow the torrent of abuse on social media that ACT lawmaker Parmjeet Parmar received after she drafted a member's bill to prevent universities from allocating resources based on race.
New Zealand's Indian community unites in condemning Kashmir terror attacks

1 month ago | rnz.co.nz | Gaurav Sharma

About a hundred people gathered at Auckland's Aotea Square on Thursday evening for a candlelight vigil expressing solidarity with victims of a terror attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which took place on Tuesday afternoon India time. At least two dozen people died after gunmen opened fired on tourists near the picturesque town of Pahalgam in the Himalayas. Foreign Minister Winston Peters strongly condemned the terror attacks in a social media post.