Sunil Kaushal: Waitakere Indian Association President on the new report examining the economic contributions of Kiwi-Indians

New numbers from the Waitakere Indian Association show Kiwi-Indians contributed more than $37 billion to the economy annually to March 2025. 

The association argues this demonstrates the community is critical to the success of the India-New Zealand FTA.

NZ First has railed against the FTA, saying it'll allow more Indian migrants into the country. 

President Sunil Kaushal says the numbers are clear.

"We need to set the record straight - the Kiwi-Indian community has been there for 200 years."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now a new report out ahead of Mody's visit tomorrow
puts a dollar figger on Indian contributions to the economy.
Indian New Zealand has generated thirty seven billion dollars in
economic activity in the year to March twenty twenty five.
That actually works out around eight and a half percent
of our GDP. They are also responsible for supporting over
two hundred and twenty thousand jobs. So Neil Koschel is
the president of the wait Taket Indian Association and with

(00:21):
us Ho sail I hear, I'm very well, thank you.
Why do you feel like you had to do this?

Speaker 2 (00:28):
I think we need to set the records trait and
the Indian community. Kivy Indian community has been there for
two hundred years and we did a report in twenty
which only took a small portion of the Kiev Indian's
economy which was ten billion. But in this report we've

(00:48):
also included businesses which are thirty four thousand businesses that
are contributing. And also we took our stance on the
education as well as tourism. And in tourism we can
see that the numbers are about eighty one thousand and
twenty twenty five and that's about nineteen percent up pandemic.

Speaker 1 (01:12):
Yeah, did you feel to get to my question, do
you feel like you need to defend the Indian migrants
contribution at the moment given the way that some of
the politics is playing out here.

Speaker 2 (01:22):
No, Look, there will always be and essays you know,
and who won't agree. But the numbers speak for themselves
and it's great for the general Kiwis and you know
for kiv Indian community and in history has shurn us
and it has been proven.

Speaker 1 (01:40):
Are you going to the spark event? Yes? Are you?

Speaker 2 (01:45):
Yes? I am yeah, we're you.

Speaker 1 (01:46):
Looking forward to it? Tell me what is this thing?
Is it basically just a giant rally?

Speaker 2 (01:52):
No? I think Look, it's a historic visit. We have
to agree that forty years ago was the last time
an Indian prime minister came. Yeah, and India, India is
now not a country. It's huge geopolitics, it's huge in economics.
And you know, this is this is at a big

(02:12):
level that we've got and we are actually in New Zealand.
We are fortunate that that the prime minister of a
country is like India is coming here. So and you know,
the diaspora are numbers, and not only diaspora but others
friends of India will be there and India is a
very important market for us.

Speaker 1 (02:31):
So what is it? What what happens at this event?
Is it going to be like are they sing alongs?
Is it is there some sort of like performance on
stage or is it literally just listening to him?

Speaker 2 (02:41):
No? I think I think there would be some cultural
events as in performances, and then that's what happened in
Australia and other parts of the world and showcase of
diversity of India because India is made up of multiple
multiple states, so every state is very different culturally also,
so it will be a greatress of Indian Indian diasporas

(03:04):
in different cultures out there. So and then obviously Prime
Minister more the addresses, the Kiwi Indians, all good stuff.

Speaker 1 (03:13):
Well, have a good time, Seil, Thanks very much, Sneil Koschel,
Why targeting Indian Association President For more from hither Duplessy
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