From Sandringham to the CBD, Auckland Gets a Live Desi Show
Auckland is home to the largest South Asian community in New Zealand. The Indian population is concentrated in areas like Sandringham (nicknamed Saris and Samosas central by locals), Papatoetoe, and Manukau in South Auckland. The University of Auckland and AUT attract Indian students, and the tech and healthcare sectors retain them. The community has real depth.
The format from New York: real dates happen on stage, the audience votes, and the night ends with a mixer where everyone meets everyone. Auckland's desi community has outgrown the Diwali in Aotea Square once a year model, and Sandringham's chai spots deserve a proper singles night that matches the energy of the neighbourhood.
New Zealand's Indian population has more than doubled in recent census counts. Auckland absorbed most of that growth. But the social programming hasn't kept pace. Diwali in Aotea Square is great, but that's once a year and it's not exactly a singles event. The gap between cultural celebrations and actual dating events is wide.
Kiwi dating culture is laid back, which is nice until you realize "laid back" sometimes means nobody makes a move. For South Asians navigating that on top of family expectations, a show where the purpose is explicit and the vibe is fun is a welcome change.
Auckland is our primary New Zealand target. to be the first to know when we announce dates.
Is the Auckland show open to all South Asians or just Indians?
The show welcomes everyone in the South Asian community and anyone interested in dating within it. Sri Lankan, Nepali, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Indo-Kiwi singles are all welcome.
Can I apply to be a contestant on stage?
Yes. Use the apply link below to submit your application. Contestants are selected based on personality, openness, and willingness to have fun on stage.
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What we collect
When you use garammasaladating.com, we may collect:
Email address (if you subscribe to our newsletter or apply to be a contestant)
Phone number (if you provide it via the newsletter form)
Name, age, and application responses (if you apply to be a contestant)
Basic analytics data (pages visited, device type, referral source)
How we use it
To send you show announcements, ticket links, and discount codes
To review contestant applications and contact selected applicants
To understand how people use the site so we can improve it
Third-party services
We use the following services that may collect data:
Eventbrite for ticket sales and event management
Firebase for storing contestant applications
Vercel Analytics for website performance monitoring
PostHog for product analytics
Google Tag Manager for marketing analytics
Meta Pixel for ad performance tracking
Each of these services has its own privacy policy governing how they handle your data.
Cookies
We use cookies and similar technologies for analytics and marketing. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, though some site features may not work as expected.
Your data
We don't sell your data to anyone. If you want your information removed, email us at contact@garammasaladating.com and we'll delete it.
By using garammasaladating.com or attending a Garam Masala Dating show, you agree to these terms. If you don't agree, that's fine, but you shouldn't use the site or attend the show.
Tickets and events
Tickets are sold through Eventbrite and are subject to Eventbrite's terms and refund policies.
We reserve the right to refuse entry or remove anyone from an event for disruptive, disrespectful, or unsafe behavior.
Show dates, venues, and lineups are subject to change. We'll do our best to notify ticket holders of any changes.
Contestant applications
Submitting an application does not guarantee selection or appearance in the show.
We may use your application responses internally to cast the show. We will not publish your written answers without your consent.
If selected, you agree to participate in good faith and treat your date and the audience with respect.
Selection is entirely at our discretion. We have no obligation to explain our decisions, include your participation in any recording or promotional material, or cast you in any specific role.
Contestant eligibility
To apply or participate as a contestant, you must meet the following requirements:
You must be 18 years of age or older.
You represent that you are in good health and able to participate fully in a live show.
You agree not to participate while under the influence of any substance that impairs your judgment or ability to engage with others.
Participation is voluntary. You are not an employee of Garam Masala Dating and are not entitled to compensation of any kind.
Personal and emotional risks
Participating as a contestant on Garam Masala Dating means going on a blind date in front of a live audience. This carries real emotional and reputational risks, including public rejection, embarrassment, and the disclosure of personal information.
By applying and participating, you acknowledge these risks. You consent to the inclusion of your personal stories, experiences, and information shared during the show in our production and promotion. Any connections or relationships that arise from your participation are entirely your own responsibility.
Likeness and media rights
By attending a Garam Masala Dating show, you acknowledge that the event may be photographed or recorded. These photos and videos may be used on our website, social media, and marketing materials. If you'd prefer not to be featured as an audience member, let us know at the event or email us afterward.
If you participate as a contestant, your rights grant is broader. By applying and appearing in the show, you grant Garam Masala Dating the right to capture and use your name, likeness, photographs, voice, personal characteristics, and any information shared during the show, in connection with the production, distribution, and promotion of the event across all media now known or developed in the future, without monetary compensation. We may edit or modify this material as we see fit. You understand that the publicity associated with the show is the consideration for this grant.
Photos, videos, recordings, and other materials you submit as part of your application, and any content derived from them, may remain published, archived, and used by Garam Masala Dating indefinitely. To the fullest extent permitted by law, you waive any right to demand removal, deletion, or takedown of such submitted materials or any content derived from them.
Confidentiality
If you are selected as a contestant, you agree not to publicly disclose the identity of other contestants, the outcome of your date, or details of the casting process before the show takes place, without our prior written approval.
We understand that you may share things with close friends and family, but public posts, media appearances, and social media disclosures about the show before it happens may affect other participants and the integrity of the event. Breaching this may cause us real harm, and we reserve the right to seek appropriate relief.
Non-disparagement
Whether or not you are selected to appear in the show, you agree not to make, publish, or cause to be published any false, misleading, or disparaging statements about Garam Masala Dating, its producers, hosts, staff, sponsors, partners, or cast, in any medium or format, including social media, interviews, reviews, or public commentary.
Nothing in this section prevents you from making truthful statements required by law. This provision applies to applicants regardless of whether they are selected, and to contestants before, during, and after the show.
Content
Everything on this site (text, design, photos, code) belongs to Garam Masala Dating unless otherwise noted. Don't copy it without permission.
Liability
We run a comedy dating show. We do our best to create a safe, fun environment, but we are not responsible for what happens between audience members or contestants outside of the show.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Garam Masala Dating, its producers, hosts, staff, and affiliates are not liable for any claims arising from your participation as a contestant or audience member, including personal injury, emotional distress, defamation, or invasion of privacy. Your participation is at your own risk.
Governing law and dispute resolution
These terms are governed by the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. Any disputes arising from these terms or your participation in the show shall be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located in New York County, New York, or by binding arbitration in New York County under rules selected by Garam Masala Dating, at our election.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, you waive any right to participate in a class action, collective action, or representative proceeding against Garam Masala Dating or its affiliates. You also waive any right to trial by jury in any dispute arising from these terms or your participation.
Changes
We may update these terms from time to time. If we make significant changes, we'll note the updated date at the top of this page.
