Queen's Birthday Honours: Giving a voice to the Indian community

Robert Khan, founder of Radio Tarana. Photo / Purcell

Robert Khan is the man behind one of the most successful independent radio brands in the country.

Khan founded Radio Tarana in 1996 for Auckland's Indian and Hindu speaking communities.

He also created the first ethnic radio partnership with NZME on iHeart in 2014.

A year later he created a commercial joint venture with MediaWorks, the first of its kind with an independent ethnic broadcaster.

Radio Tarana's successful business model has been used to champion the cause of ethnic media, resulting in revenue increases for many ethnic media outlets throughout New Zealand.

Khan is an elected member of the New Zealand Radio Broadcasters Association and was instrumental in the development of the new 2016 New Zealand Radio Research Model.

Khan has been a member of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's Small Business Advisory Group for four years, and in 2002 led the organisation of the inaugural New Zealand Police and Immigration Department workshops for the Indian community.

He is the founder of the annual South Auckland Diwali Festival of Lights, and the founder of the Festival of India.