Supreme Sikh Society of New Zealand

Sikh organization in New Zealand

Supreme Sikh Society

ਸੁਪਰੀਪ ਸਿੱਖ ਸੋਸਾਇਟੀ

Official seal

Abbreviation| SSSNZ
Formation| 6 June 1982; 42 years ago (1982-06-06)
Type| Nonprofit
Registration no.| CC37711
Legal status| Registered charity
Headquarters| Takanini Gurdwara

Membership (2024)

| 550 (financial)
2,000 (non-financial)

Official languages

| Punjabi, English

Secretary General

| Ranvir Singh Lali

President

| Kartar Singh Dhaliwal

Vice President

| Harwinder Kaur

Treasurer

| Manjinder Singh Bassi

Spokesperson

| Daljit Singh Virk

Main organ

| Executive Committee
Affiliations| New Zealand Central Sikh Association

Revenue (2023)

| NZ$5.3 million
Expenses (2023)| NZ$3.3 million
Staff| 20 (in 2023)
Award(s)| People’s Choice NZ Food Heroes Award
Website| www.supremesikhsociety.co.nz

Formerly called

| New Zealand Sikh Society Auckland Branch

The Supreme Sikh Society of New Zealand is the largest Sikh body in New Zealand responsible for overseeing the day to day operations of gurdwaras, educational institutions and sports facilities.[1] The Society is a registered charity with more than 550 financial members and 2000 non-financial members.[2] The president and most senior officeholders belong to the decision-making committee, known as the Executive Committee.[3]

The Rules and Regulation Committee are the disciplinary authority over the Executive Committee. All members of the Executive Committee, who are elected by an annual general meeting for the term of two years or to fill a position, are responsible to financial members.[4]

## Name

[edit]

The original name of the organisation was "New Zealand Sikh Society Auckland Branch", changed on 2 September 2012 to "Supreme Sikh Society of New Zealand". In casual conversation or writing, the abbreviation "SSSNZ" is sometimes used. Because the headquarters of the Society is the Takanini Gurdwara complex, "Takanini Gurdwara" is commonly used as a metonym for the organisation.[5]

## History

[edit]

Established as the New Zealand Sikh Society Auckland Branch, the Supreme Sikh Society was formed by the Waikato based New Zealand Sikh Society on 6 June 1982 as its Auckland branch. The then Secretary, Jasbir Singh Kalkat made a statutory declaration on 8 June 1982, that the Society was to purchase a property on the corner of Princes Street and Albert Street near the Ōtāhuhu town centre to build a gurdwara.[6]

## Honours

[edit]

The Supreme Sikh Society was honoured with the 2020 People's Choice NZ Food Heroes Award out of 340 nominated organisations for providing food and essential services to people in need during the COVID-19 lockdowns.[7] Hon Dr Megan Woods and Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki proposed motions in the House to congratulate the New Zealand Sikh community and the Supreme Sikh Society for assisting people in their time of need throughout the COVID-19 lockdown period.[8]

## Presidents of the Supreme Sikh Society of New Zealand

[edit]

* Prakash Chandar Sundh (1980-1981)
* Balihar Singh (1981-1982)
* Prithipal Singh Basra (1982-1986)
* Jasvir Singh Kalkat (1986-1990)
* Manjit Singh Shergill (1990-1991) (1992-1993) (1996-1997)
* Piara Singh Buall (1991-1992) (1993-1996)
* Pargat Singh Buall (1997-1998)
* Sukhwinder Singh Basra (1998-1999)
* Ram Singh (1999-2000)
* Swaran Singh (2000-2003)
* Daljit Singh Virk (2003-2005) (2006-2007)
* Santokh Singh Bodal (2005-2006)
* Manpreet Singh Grewal (2007-2008)
* Rajinder Singh Jindi (2008-2009)
* Gurnam Singh Toor (2009-2010)
* Tarsem Singh Dhirowal (2010-2011)
* Hardeep Singh Billu (2011-2012)
* Amar Singh Lahoria (2012-2013)
* Barinder Singh Jinder (2013-2015)
* Harmesh Singh (2015-2017)
* Ranvir Singh Lali (2017-2020)
* Jaswinder Singh Nagra (2020-2022)
* Jasvir Kaur (2022-2024)
* Kartar Singh Dhaliwal (2024-Incumbent)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Kaur, Gurpreet (2019). Maintaining the Panjabi Language and Culture: Auckland’s Sikh Gurdwaras and the Home Domain (PDF). Auckland: Auckland University of Technology. p. 45. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
2. ^ "Charity Summary". Charities Services. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
3. ^ "Executive Committee". Supreme Sikh Society of New Zealand. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
4. ^ "Declaration For Adoption of New Constitution". Retrieved 5 September 2021.
5. ^ Theunissen, Matthew (20 August 2020). "Thousands of Aucklanders turning to food banks". RNZ. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
6. ^ Kalkat, Jasbir Singh. "Statutory Declaration". MBIE. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
7. ^ Kumar, Arvind (16 October 2020). "Sikh society wins prestigious award for service to community". Stuff. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
8. ^ Woods, Hon Dr Megan. "Order Paper". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 4 September 2021.

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