5th June 2025, Wellington
Dual NZ-Australian citizens of Indian origin Sunit Prakash and Lalita Kasanji have been honoured as Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the IT industry and the Indian community.
With parallels to India’s national awards, they are awarded to those “who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and the nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions, or other merits”.
Since 1995 New Zealand has recognised only about fifteen recipients for services to Information Technology. This is the very first awarded to members from the Indian community.
The husband-and-wife duo co-founded the New Zealand Centre for Digital Connections with India in 2023 to accelerate and incubate digital and tech collaboration between the two countries.
Their seminal research with a combination of global, tech and ethno-sociological lens, showed that Indian IT professionals contribute $350M to New Zealand’s economy every year. They identified predicators to success and created catalyst programs for visibility, growth and success.
Drawing from lived experiences, they recognized that the community of Indian IT professionals in New Zealand possessed unparalleled knowledge, expertise, insights, and connections in both markets. The intrinsic value was not fully recognised, and they made it their mission to create visibility and generate opportunities.
“Sunlight is a powerful disinfectant, and we are bringing a magnifying glass” – Sunit Prakash
This formed the basis of their submission recommending New Zealand take a Digital & IT Trade Delegation to India to enhance trade relations and promote innovation.
It comes at a time when New Zealand is keenly pursuing an FTA with India which not only is one of the world’s fastest growing major economies, but also a global source for IT skills and talent – its most distinguished alumna leading global tech companies in the US.
Sunit Prakash did his MMS from NMIMS Bombay University (1987) and lived and worked in Sweden, Australia and New Zealand. Lalita Kasanji has her roots in Surat and her family has been in Wellington since 1912.
“Till I met Sunit, like the rest of New Zealand, Digital India and new Indians had been invisible to New Zealand. This perception markedly changed with New Zealand PM Luxon’s recent visit to India” – Lalita Kasanji.
320,000 Indians form 6% of New Zealand’s population and make up a significant proportion of its 120,000 strong digital and tech work force. Indian IT professionals have been deploying systems in New Zealand since the mid-80’s.
A consequential outcome has been the creation of a first-of-its kind, highly engaged, professional curated community.
As pioneers and champions their achievements and outcomes have been recognised nationally.
In a rare trifecta, they follow in the distinguished footsteps of Mrs. Ruxmani Kasanji – Lalita Kasanji’s mother – who was awarded a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2019 for her services to the Indian community.
Their son Arjun Prakash was in the inaugural cohort of Quad Fellows pursuing a PhD in Artificial Intelligence in the US.
Sunit Prakash is an IT professional based in Wellington and previously in Sydney for a Nasdaq listed company responsible for Support Operation Asia Pacific Japan. He holds an MBA from NMIMS, Bombay University, one of India’s top business schools. Through his work and cohort, Sunit has a close connection with successful Indian diaspora in IT, in Australia, Singapore and Silicon Valley. He is a published author and has written extensively on New Zealand, India, and technology and is regularly published in the national and professional press.
https://www.linkedin/com/in/sunitprakash
Lalita Kasanji completed her Masters in Sociology from Victoria University of Wellington, examining the settlement of the Gujarati community in Wellington and their integration into New Zealand society. She played a key role in the Department of Internal Affairs’ Ethnic Affairs Service in the 1990’s which was a precursor to the Ministry for Ethnic Communities. In her position she produced publications, presented at conferences, held workshops, and worked across agencies relating to ethnic communities. Currently she is an active board member for business and community organisations.
