An Indian rainbow organisation has been recognised with a gong at one of New Zealand's leading community awards.

Indian Origin Pride New Zealand received the honour in recognition of its advocacy work for Indian rainbow communities at the 12th Annual Indian Newslink Sports, Community, Arts and Culture Awards in Auckland in July.

The Indian Newslink prize-giving ceremony was held in the same month as the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame Awards, organised by Indian Weekender.

Together, the events celebrated people, charities and organisations making a difference across New Zealand in community service, sport, culture and the arts.

Venkat Raman, editor of Indian Newslink, said the awards continued to motivate people across New Zealand by recognising achievement, service and cultural exchange.

"The event's inclusive spirit, its recognition of diverse cultures and its emphasis on service strengthen the belief that excellence is achievable and meaningful," he said.

"In doing so, the awards help shape a more confident, connected and motivated New Zealand."

More than 40 prizes were handed out across six categories at the Indian Newslink awards.

"We are so proud to have received this award because it is special as it comes from the Indian community itself," said Arrun Soma, co-founder and chair of Indian Origin Pride New Zealand.

The recognition follows another milestone last year, when Indian Origin Pride became the first ethnic organisation to be honoured at the New Zealand Rainbow Excellence Awards, taking out the Community and Advocacy prize.

Soma said being honoured by the Indian community carried particular significance.

"[It is] really important to be recognised by the very community that we are from so we feel part of it, we feel included and we feel empowered in our own Indian spaces," he said.

Soma said hearing the applause as the group walked onto the stage was a memorable moment.

"It was such a great feeling to be in an Indian space and to be recognised alongside other wonderful people doing great things for the Indian community," he said.

"It's been a matter of pride, excuse the pun, and a matter of real privilege to be carrying this work," he said.

"But I would say this recognition is the Indian community showing that it can stand up for some of its most vulnerable people, and it can feel empowered in itself to do right by those people who need their support."

Soma said attitudes towards Indian rainbow communities were improving, but there was still a long way to go.

He encouraged community organisations to work with Indian Origin Pride to make their spaces more inclusive.

"I think there's a long way to go and we would encourage the Indian community, associations and sports clubs that are well represented across Aotearoa New Zealand to come forward and engage with Indian Origin Pride New Zealand," he said.

"Reach out to us. Let's look at making your spaces more inclusive for our rainbow Indian whānau so they feel like your spaces are places for them too."

Earlier in July, Indian Weekender's Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame Awards recognised Dawoodi Bohras of New Zealand as Kiwi Indian Community Organisation of the Year and inducted Una Jagose, New Zealand's first female solicitor-general, into the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame.

Indian Weekender founder Bhav Dhillon said the awards celebrated people who had broken barriers.

"We are trying to create role models for the younger generation, inspiring them to dream bigger, achieve more and make an even greater contribution to the country's future," he said.

Other honours included the Friend of India Award, presented to Simon Bridges, and the Kiwi Indian Business Leader of the Year award, won by Suresh Balar.

"When a community's work is acknowledged by its peers in a room filled with the very people who shape and serve this nation, it becomes something larger than an award," said Shabbir Rajkotwala, trustee and outreach lead at Dawoodi Bohra New Zealand.

"It becomes a validation that the small, consistent acts of service, often done without any expectation of recognition, do matter and are seen."

Rajkotwala said the award belonged to every volunteer, many of whom had quietly given up their weekends to serve the community.

Last year, the group signed a memorandum of understanding with Matuku Link through its global Project Rise initiative, which brings together volunteers and local experts to support environmental conservation and protect native wildlife.

The community has pledged to plant 4000 native trees each year as part of a three-year partnership with Matuku Link, a 37-hectare bush and wetland restoration project in West Auckland.

"We are deeply humbled and truly grateful to receive the award," Rajkotwala said.

Prayas, an Indian theatre group, was also recognised at the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame Awards, winning the Kiwi Indian Arts, Culture and Heritage Award.

"This recognition belongs to every Prayas actor, director, producer, backstage crew member, funder and audience member who has been part of the Prayas 20-year journey," said Sudeepta Vyas, co-founder of the theatre group.

Founded by Amit Ohdedar and Sudeepta Vyas in 2005, Prayas has spent two decades building bridges between Indian theatre and Kiwi audiences while creating space for community-driven productions in English.

Last year, the group marked the milestone with Pitārā: A Box of Memories, featuring scenes from seven of its previous productions: Charandas Chor: The Honest Thief, Kingdom of Cards, Rudali, Love N' Stuff, Swabhoomi, Dara and Dreaming the Next 20 Years of Prayas.

Vyas said the group was currently preparing for its next production, Mama Moo, which opens in September.

The Indian Weekender event also included the announcement of a merger between Indian Weekender and Indian News, another long-standing publication serving New Zealand's Indian community.

"This merger brings together two trusted publications to create an even stronger voice for our community," Dhillon said.

Yugal Parashar, editor of Indian News, described the merger as a "historic development" in New Zealand's ethnic media landscape.

Parashar said the combined publications would create a stronger and more influential voice for the Indian community while maintaining their separate editorial identities.