Auckland, 5 September 2026: The Andhra Pradesh Kiwis Association New Zealand (APKANZ) has been officially inaugurated in Auckland, creating a new community platform aimed at bringing together people with roots in Andhra Pradesh living across New Zealand.
The launch was held on Saturday, 5 September, at Mount Roskill War Memorial Hall and attracted families, community representatives, leaders of Indian associations and supporters from across Auckland.
Dr Madan Mohan Sethi, Consul General of India in Auckland, attended the event as Chief Guest.
Former New Zealand Government Minister Hon Michael Wood and New Zealand Indian Central Association President Veer Khar attended as Special Guests and extended their best wishes to the newly established organisation.
The inauguration also brought together representatives from a wide range of community organisations, reflecting the broader multicultural support for the initiative.
Among those attending were Auckland Tamil Association President Vai Ravindran, Bharatiya Samaj President Jeet Suchdev, New Zealand Telugu Association President Janak Raj Bandi, Kalyan Kasuganti from Telangana Central Association New Zealand, representatives from Hindu Malayali Sangam, Kannada Kuta and Basava Samithi, along with Ravi Gupta from Bihar Jharkhand Sabha Australia & New Zealand.
Other community members and guests included Rani Nalam, Indira Sirigiri, Vasu Kunapally, Ilango Krishnamurthy and Ram Mohan Dantala.
New executive team announced
APKANZ will be led by President Bujje Babu Nelluri, with Guru Sai Sushwanth Konigeti serving as Secretary and Rajasimha Reddy Vutukur as Treasurer.
The Executive Committee also includes Aravinda Singavarapu, Naidu Karanam, Karthik Subramani Gendikotta, Lokesh Vemuri, Lakshman Jommala, Srinivas Nagabathula and Durga Prasad Tala.
The organisation's Advisory Committee comprises Bala Venu Gopal Reddy Beera, Praveen Kumar Motupally and Chowdary Gattipati.
Focus on culture, families and community connection
Speaking at the launch, APKANZ President Bujje Babu Nelluri thanked community members, guests, volunteers and supporting organisations for contributing to the event.
He said the organisation was intended to become more than simply another community body.
“This is not just the beginning of an organisation; it is the beginning of a new journey for the Andhra Pradesh community in New Zealand.”
He said APKANZ aims to unite the community, preserve and promote Telugu and Andhra culture and traditions, support families and younger generations, and strengthen relationships with New Zealand's wider multicultural community.
The organisation says it wants to build an inclusive and transparent platform representing the aspirations of Andhra Pradesh people living throughout New Zealand.
The strong turnout at the inauguration signals growing interest in creating more structured cultural, social and community connections for Andhra Pradesh families in the country.
With its leadership team now formally introduced, APKANZ will begin the next phase of developing its community programmes, cultural activities and wider engagement across New Zealand.
Andhra Pradesh Kiwis Association New Zealand
Andhra Roots • Kiwi Spirit
