Mrs Anuradha Ramkumar, of Auckland, MNZM, for services to Indian classical dance
Anuradha Ramkumar established Nrityabhinaya Anuradha’s School of Indian Dances. She has worked to preserve two classical forms of dance, Bharatha Natyam and Kuchipudi, and has been a Guru (teacher) to more than 500 students across 26 years. She has provided opportunities for future generations of New Zealand Indians to maintain links to their cultural heritage through dance. Her students feature in community events across New Zealand and her annual dance productions. She has incorporated elements of Māori culture as an ode to recognising connections between Indians in New Zealand and tangata whenua. Mrs Ramkumar has directed several dance productions depicting Indian mythologies and social themes.