Asians in the Bay Awards: 'Our diversity is our strength'

Sajeela Ismail won the Best Asian Tertiary Student Award for completing a Masters of Health Science at EIT. Photo / Supplied

Hawke's Bay's Asian community came to together to celebrate success in their communities at the annual Asians in the Bay awards on Monday.

Currently run by the Multicultural Association Hawke's Bay, the event, which has been held since 2012, celebrates Asian achievement and contribution to the region.

There are now six categories with a winner and runner up announced in each.

Multicultural Association president Sukhdeep Singh said it was a "great community connector event" where the community joined to celebrate "the great work our Asians do".

Vietta Campbell, Lily Brummer and Nurasiah Roberts at the event. Photo / Paul Taylor

"Our Hawke's Bay's community diversity is our strength.

"Appreciation and recognition are so powerful motivators leading to a change the attitude of our community towards the migrants.

"This is our way to recognise the huge economic and social contribution of Asians in the bay.

"I believe that these awards will help to create a harmonious, collaborative and respectful multicultural society where all have the opportunity to participate."

Sajeela Ismail, who won the Best Asian Tertiary Student Award, said she was "just so happy" to receive the award.

Ismail completed a Masters in Health Science at EIT last year after arriving in Hawke's Bay from India just before the Covid-19 lockdown.

She said she received the award because of her grades in her degree but also because of the community work she does volunteering for organisations including Volunteering Hawke's Bay and Habitat for Humanity shop.

"It was an amazing night ... getting to connect with a lot of communities and all the communities together.

"So far all the events I have been attending are not this diverse, yesterday was totally an awesome experience."

Chanika Lokuge, also an EIT student, was the runner up and University of Otago student Cameron Joe was highly commended.

St John's College student Ishan Parmar won the Best Asian Secondary Student Award, Central Hawke's Bay College student Charles Batistis was the runner up and Havelock North High School student Cindy Wang was highly commended.

The winner of the Best Asian Practising Professional Award was Chrisly Villanueva and the runner up was Syed Khurram Iqbal.

Spice King Wholesale was named as the Best Asian Business and My Chauffeur Ltd was the runner up.

The Best Asian Restaurant Award was given to Namaskar Indian Cuisine in Havelock North and the runner up was Star of India in Hastings.

Kami Bay – Indonesian Community Hawke's Bay was named the winner of the Best Asian Community Award and the runner up was the Kerala Cultural Community Hawke's Bay Inc.