The youngest and first woman Mayor in New Zealand, Sukhi Turner, formerly Sukhinder Kaur Gill, is a cheerful sprightly woman.
At the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards she could not keep the grin off her face.
Sukhi Turner's political career began with her election as councillor of Dunedin in 1992 and was then elected Mayor. She was re-elected in 1998 and won for the third time in 2001.
Ludhiana-born, Sukhwinder, is one of the few Indians who have risen to such heights in New Zealand politics.
Sukhi is married to former New Zealand cricket captain, Glenn Turner since 1973.
She was given the award for her contribution to the Diaspora in its political, economic, social integration with the community at large in New Zealand.