(From left) Suraj Malage, Shay Singh, Sripriya Somasekhar, Moushumi Das and Arrun Soma of the Indian Origin Pride New Zealand attend the Rainbow Excellence Awards in Auckland on Friday. Photo: Supplied
Indian Origin Pride New Zealand has made history as the first ethnic organisation to win an award at the New Zealand Rainbow Excellence Awards.
Organised by The Pride Pledge, the annual awards celebrate workplace leadership, innovation, best practice and collaboration among organisations committed to rainbow diversity and inclusion.
Indian Origin Pride received the Community and Advocacy Award at the 2025 New Zealand Rainbow Excellence Awards held in Auckland on Friday.
Launched in 2022, the organisation supports and advocates for Indians who are part of the rainbow community.
The organisation now runs retreats and peer-support programmes for the Indian rainbow community nationwide.
The Community and Advocacy Award recognises rainbow organisations and their supporters that make a measurable impact through programmes, campaigns, events or initiatives addressing specific issues or opportunities.
"We receive it for the entire rainbow community in Aotearoa New Zealand," said Arrun Soma, co-founder of Indian Origin Pride New Zealand.
"You see five of us on stage. There are millions standing alongside us."
Board member Sripriya Somasekhar described the recognition as a "huge milestone" for the Indian rainbow community in New Zealand.
"There is quite a lot of stigma and taboo around rainbow issues in Indian communities, making it really difficult to have some important conversations and what we do is listen," Somasekhar said.
Somasekhar said Indian Origin Pride worked with community leaders and organisations to promote inclusion and create safe spaces for Indians who are part of the rainbow community.
She said the award would give the organisation greater visibility and influence in its advocacy work.
"I'm hoping this award will send out the message that we're here and we're not going anywhere but also that we're ready to go on a journey with our communities," Somasekhar said.
"This is an iconic moment for our community."
