In one of his strongest tributes to the community, Christopher Luxon has said Kiwi-Indians have become essential to New Zealand’s hospitals, schools, businesses and everyday life.

The prime minister said the Indian diaspora are “helping hold up the New Zealand that all of us rely on”, in a sweeping tribute to the community.

Speaking to at least 10,000 thousands gathered at Spark Arena in Auckland for Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s community reception on July 11, Luxon said the contribution of Kiwi-Indians could be seen throughout everyday New Zealand life.

Advertisement

Luxon’s tribute came after Brian Tamaki called for New Zealand to be “purged” of Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims. It also followed warnings that debate around the India free trade agreement was fuelling anti-Indian sentiment.

The two prime ministers share a light moment at the community reception.

“Whoever you are in this country, this community is already part of your story, whether you have noticed it or not,” Luxon said.

He then began listing the people who quietly keep the country functioning. “It’s the nurse who holds your mum’s hand on the night shift when you can’t be there yourself,” he said.

“It’s the doctor in the emergency department at three in the morning, and it’s the GP who finally gets your kids seen.”

“It’s the dairy owner who knows your name and your order and keeps the lights on at the end of the street.”

“It’s the family who took a punt on a small business, took a risk and now pays the wages of your neighbours.”

The list continued.

“It’s your local accountant who’s helping you through your finances and, importantly, your tax returns,” Luxon said.

“It’s the engineer who designs the roads that you drive on.”

“It’s the IT specialist who keeps your bank and your hospital running.”

“And it’s the teacher who stands in front of your children every single morning.”

Then came the line that defined the speech.

“Every single day, in a thousand quiet ways most of us barely stop to see, it is this community, the Indian Kiwi community, that is helping hold up the New Zealand that all of us rely on.”

Luxon said the community had enriched New Zealand “economically, socially and culturally”.

“Without you, we simply wouldn’t be the New Zealand we are today,” he said.

He spoke of migrants working long hours, sometimes holding down two or three jobs, to save for a first home, establish a business or give their children opportunities they had not had themselves.

“I see how incredibly hard you work to get ahead,” Luxon said.

“Working long hours, even two jobs or three jobs, just to get the deposit for that first home or for that first business, or to give your kids the opportunities you never had.”

Luxon also cited a report released during the week which estimated that New Zealand’s 330,000-strong Indian community contributed about $37 billion to the economy each year and supported 220,000 jobs.

But he said the community’s true significance lay beyond those figures.

“Let me tell you what that really looks like, not in numbers, but in everyday New Zealand life,” he said.

Luxon described the Spark Arena gathering as a “family reunion” and recalled Modi calling the Indian community a “living bridge” between the two countries.

“Tonight, standing in this room, we see that bridge in full,” he said.

Luxon also said Kiwi-Indians had become successful across every part of New Zealand society.

“You are younger, you are wealthier, and you are better educated too,” he said.

But his central message was that the community was not peripheral to New Zealand life. It was embedded in it. He called that “the real contribution”.

“You are a great example and an inspiration to every New Zealander,” Luxon said.

Then he thanked the community three times.

“On behalf of myself, on behalf of my government and on behalf of New Zealand, let me simply say to each and every one of you here tonight. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”