NZ Business Connect welcomed the festive season in style with its highly anticipated 2024 Annual Hamilton Christmas Party at the beautiful Rua Resort in Temple View. Members and guests gathered on December 3rd for an evening of celebration, networking, and holiday cheer.
Jujhar Singh RandhawaRichard Harris
Photo Credit to Maruchelle Snyman from Shootography Za
The evening was filled with highlights, starting with homemade catering lovingly prepared by Colleen and her team from Rua Resort, whose warm hospitality set the perfect tone for the night. Newly appointed Chairman Jujhar Singh Randhawa delivered a heartfelt speech, expressing his gratitude to the NZ Business Connect community and sharing his vision for NZ Business Connect’s future.
NZ Business Connect team member, Fiona, added a musical touch to the festivities, with a stunning saxophone performance and led a delightful ukulele carol sing-along that had everyone join in and spread holiday cheer.
The evening also featured a Secret Santa gift exchange, which brought plenty of laughter and surprises. Members also came together in the spirit of giving by donating to NZ Business Connect’s chosen social giving charity, Women’s Refuge, making a meaningful impact on those in need during the holiday season, thank you.
Excitement was high for the evening’s competitions, with Lawrenson Group vouchers generously provided by MediaPA. Richard Harris from Body IQ NZ won a voucher from the Business Card Draw, Paul Tierney from Here 2 Care Charitable Trust won Best Hat/Accessory for his customised “Paul” Santa hat, and Isaac Whatnall from IClaw was the lucky recipient of a re-drawn Best Dressed prize, also earning a voucher and wine.
As the evening wound down, the room buzzed with gratitude and excitement for the year ahead. NZ Business Connect extends its heartfelt thanks to Colleen for hosting and catering for this joyous occasion and for all who made the event such a success. Here’s to a relaxing holiday season and a prosperous New Year – see you all in 2025!
Such was the success of this year’s Diwali event in Hamilton that organisers are already anticipating an even larger-scale community event next year.
“This year’s Diwali event in Hamilton drew an outstanding crowd of more than 11,000 people which easily surpassed last year’s numbers and well and truly exceeded our expectations,” said Hamilton Diwali head of events Jujhar Randhawa.
“Despite a few showers at the start the turnout remained incredibly strong which was a testament to the community’s enthusiasm and dedication to the event,” he said.
“The event was a resounding success featuring beautiful and powerful performances, a wide variety of food stalls and many multi-ethnic attendees who enjoyed every minute. The fireworks display at the end was breath-taking and truly the icing on the cake of a wonderful evening of entertainment,” Mr Randhawa said.
“It was our 34th Hamilton Diwali Mela and the second at an outdoor venue and it marked a significant achievement by all of those concerned. It has now become the largest Indian event in the region and is ranked one of the largest Indian events in New Zealand.”
Mr Randhawa said the continued growth of the Mela highlighted the importance of the community especially given the large number of new families who have migrated to the Waikato region in recent years.
“This family friendly event has become a beloved tradition with the outdoor picnic style set up enhancing the experience for everyone.
“Being the second biggest Diwali event in New Zealand signifies more than just scale. It underscores the vibrant cultural tapestry of our community and its welcoming spirit. The event fosters a sense of unity and pride among attendees from diverse backgrounds. It’s not just a platform for cultural exchange but also a means to foster community spirit. New families, especially those who have recently migrated, find in it a welcoming tradition that helps them feel at home,” he said.
Mr Randhawa acknowledged the importance of sponsors in the event’s success.
“This year we were fortunate to have a robust number of sponsors who supported us both financially and through their services. Phoenix Decorations Hire adorned our stage beautifully and their marquees showcased the event. Green Gorillas managed waste services efficiently and Quality Traffic Management ensured smooth traffic flow. MediaPA facilitated sponsor interviews while JSR Refrigeration and Air Conditioning supplied essential chiller services while Cloud Media kept our website updated,” he said.
Mr Randhawa calculated he invested 800 hours of his own time into the Waikato Diwali Mela 2024 but it was worth every minute.
Looking ahead to next year Mr Randhawa is predicting an even bigger and better 35th Waikato Diwali Mela.
“We expect more sponsorship, greater involvement from the community and enhanced awareness of the Diwali event among non-Indians. The continued growth of this celebration reflects its vital role in our region’s cultural fabric and we are excited about what the future holds,” he said.
By Phillip Quay
Such was the success of this year’s Diwali event in Hamilton that organisers are already anticipating an even larger-scale community event next year.
“This year’s Diwali event in Hamilton drew an outstanding crowd of more than 11,000 people which easily surpassed last year’s numbers and well and truly exceeded our expectations,” said Hamilton Diwali head of events Jujhar Randhawa.
“Despite a few showers at the start the turnout remained incredibly strong which was a testament to the community’s enthusiasm and dedication to the event,” he said.
“The event was a resounding success featuring beautiful and powerful performances, a wide variety of food stalls and many multi-ethnic attendees who enjoyed every minute. The fireworks display at the end was breath-taking and truly the icing on the cake of a wonderful evening of entertainment,” Mr Randhawa said.
“It was our 34th Hamilton Diwali Mela and the second at an outdoor venue and it marked a significant achievement by all of those concerned. It has now become the largest Indian event in the region and is ranked one of the largest Indian events in New Zealand.”
Mr Randhawa said the continued growth of the Mela highlighted the importance of the community especially given the large number of new families who have migrated to the Waikato region in recent years.
“This family friendly event has become a beloved tradition with the outdoor picnic style set up enhancing the experience for everyone.
“Being the second biggest Diwali event in New Zealand signifies more than just scale. It underscores the vibrant cultural tapestry of our community and its welcoming spirit. The event fosters a sense of unity and pride among attendees from diverse backgrounds. It’s not just a platform for cultural exchange but also a means to foster community spirit. New families, especially those who have recently migrated, find in it a welcoming tradition that helps them feel at home,” he said.
Mr Randhawa acknowledged the importance of sponsors in the event’s success.
“This year we were fortunate to have a robust number of sponsors who supported us both financially and through their services. Phoenix Decorations Hire adorned our stage beautifully and their marquees showcased the event. Green Gorillas managed waste services efficiently and Quality Traffic Management ensured smooth traffic flow. MediaPA facilitated sponsor interviews while JSR Refrigeration and Air Conditioning supplied essential chiller services while Cloud Media kept our website updated,” he said.
Mr Randhawa calculated he invested 800 hours of his own time into the Waikato Diwali Mela 2024 but it was worth every minute.
Looking ahead to next year Mr Randhawa is predicting an even bigger and better 35th Waikato Diwali Mela.
“We expect more sponsorship, greater involvement from the community and enhanced awareness of the Diwali event among non-Indians. The continued growth of this celebration reflects its vital role in our region’s cultural fabric and we are excited about what the future holds,” he said.
