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The NZ Hindu Women Forum, a service division of the Hindu Council of New Zealand (HCNZ), is launching a nationwide series of seminars and workshops to explore opportunities arising from the proposed New Zealand–India Free Trade Agreement (FTA). These events will be held across Auckland, Wellington, and other major centres throughout New Zealand in the coming months.
The inaugural seminar, titled “Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs, Businesses and Community Growth,” will be held on Sunday, 14 June 2026, at 4:30 pm at the Consulate General of India Office, Level 14, SAP Tower, 151 Queen Street, Auckland.
Over 100 people have already registered for this seminar. The seminar will be inaugurated by His Excellency Dr Madan Mohan Sethi, Consul General of India to New Zealand.
Guest Speakers:
•Dr Madan Mohan Sethi – Consul General of India, Auckland
•Dr Rahul Sen – Senior Lecturer, Auckland University of Technology
•Ms Mallika Janakiraman – Founder and Chairperson, Wahine Charitable Trust
The seminar series will serve as a lead-up to the Second New Zealand Hindu Women Conference, themed “Women Entrepreneurs – Leading Progress, Powering Prosperity,” which will be held in Auckland on Sunday, 30 August 2026.
Building on the success of the inaugural conference held on 20 September 2025 at the High Commission of India in Wellington, the Forum continues its mission of empowering women and strengthening communities. The first conference, themed “Empowering Women – Strengthening Communities,” brought together women from diverse backgrounds to engage in meaningful discussions on leadership, entrepreneurship, professional development, and community service.
One of the significant outcomes of the inaugural conference was the establishment of the Hindu Women Entrepreneurs Network, which continues to connect, support, and promote Hindu women entrepreneurs and professionals throughout New Zealand.
The objectives of the Seminar/Workshop Series are to:
•Create a platform for Hindu women entrepreneurs, professionals, and emerging leaders to connect, collaborate, exchange ideas, and inspire one another.
•Promote leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation, trade, and community service by integrating timeless Hindu values with modern opportunities.
•Raise awareness of the potential opportunities arising from the proposed New Zealand–India Free Trade Agreement and encourage greater participation of women in business, investment, exports, and international engagement.
• Strengthen networks within the wider Bharatiya community and explore practical pathways for trade, enterprise, and economic development between New Zealand and India.
•Foster greater understanding of how women-led businesses can contribute to economic growth, community wellbeing, and stronger bilateral relationships.
The Auckland seminar is being coordinated by a dedicated team of volunteers:
Coordinator: Mrs Shivani Arora
Joint Coordinators: Mrs Neelu Taore and Ms Madhavi Vora
The Forum has also invited Her Excellency the High Commissioner of India to New Zealand to inaugurate a similar seminar in Wellington in the near future. The Wellington event is being coordinated by Dr Amita Fotedar and Mrs Shyama Kumar.
Further seminars and workshops are planned for other major centres, including Christchurch, Hamilton, Tauranga, and Rotorua, subject to speaker availability and local community support.
Through this initiative, the NZ Hindu Women Forum reaffirms its commitment to promoting women’s leadership, entrepreneurship, and economic participation while contributing to stronger people-to-people, cultural, and economic ties between New Zealand and India.
If you are interested in participating in this event, please register online using the following link:
https://www.tinyurl.com/HWFSeminarFTA
Looking forward to welcoming you to exciting event.
For further information, please contact:
Dr Guna Magesan
President, Hindu Council of New Zealand
Mobile: 021 0345621; Email: [email protected]
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