Wenceslaus Anthony

In 2017, Anthony received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice decoration of the Roman Catholic Church.

In the 2014 New Year Honours, Anthony was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to New Zealand–India relations. Functions to honour his achievement by the various communities he serves in were held across Auckland and in India.

In June 2012, Anthony was appointed as a Director on the Board of Bank of Baroda in New Zealand.

Anthony was the first person of Indian origin to be appointed Chair of the India New Zealand Business Council -INZBC that looks after Trade and Business between India and New Zealand and completed his term in June 2013. He was the head of Government Relations in INZBC. He continued to be actively involved in India New Zealand trade relations. Anthony was a special guest at the fourth anniversary of the New Zealand branch of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) held at Alexandra Park in Greenlane, Auckland on Saturday, 27 October 2012 . The Hon'ble Speaker of India Parliament, on her official visit to New Zealand, presented a memento to Anthony in appreciation of his contribution to the community.

Anthony migrated to New Zealand in 1999 and established WAML Group with offices in New Zealand, Australia, India, Sri Lanka, Singapore and other countries. In 2001 Anthony was member of New Zealand Ministerial Delegation to India with Paul Swain, Minister of Information Technology. He was also an important member of the Official Delegation of New Zealand Prime Minister John Key during his state visit to India in June 2011, where he attended a State Banquet with then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Vailankanni Wenceslaus Melchoir Anthony MNZM (28 September 1957 – 23 July 2017) was an Indian-born New Zealand businessman, the chairman and managing director of WA Marketing Ltd (WAML Group) and the chairman and Director of Pact Industries Pty Ltd, Australia. He was a recipient of the title, Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit and the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice.

Anthony was born on 28 September 1957 in Myanmar, in a Tamil family to Anthony and Gracy. He had a brother and three sisters. He studied at Don Bosco, Calcutta and graduated with a B.Com (Hons), then a M.B.A. from Loyola College, Chennai. He was married to Susan and the couple had two children, Sneha and Akash. He died on 23 July 2017 at Apollo Hospital, Chennai, due to multiple organ failure.