Mayor Tim Macindoe and Councillor Emma Pike, Chair of Community, have extended their deepest sympathy on the passing of Emeritus Professor Asad Mohsin, MNZM, a respected academic, community leader, and 2022 Hamilton Civic Award recipient.
Mayor Tim Macindoe said “Dr Mohsin was an outstanding community leader who will be deeply missed. On behalf of Hamilton city, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the many communities he served.
“I had the privilege of knowing Asad for many years and respected him greatly. I will always remember his courageous and dignified leadership following the 2019 Christchurch mosque attack, and the compassion, wisdom and reassurance he offered, not only to our local Muslim community but to our entire city, at a time that was so traumatic for all New Zealanders.”
Dr Mohsin built a distinguished academic career at the University of Waikato as Professor of Tourism and Hospitality Management, contributing significantly to research, teaching, and leadership within the university. Over many years he influenced and mentored generations of students and colleagues. His academic work focused on halal tourism, service quality in the hospitality industry, and broader tourism management research, complemented by his editorial contributions to journals such as the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management.
He later served as Assistant Vice-Chancellor for Community Engagement, reflecting his strong belief that universities should play an active role in supporting and strengthening the communities around them.
Beyond academia, Emeritus Professor Mohsin was a highly respected leader within the Waikato Muslim community. He served as the President of the Waikato Muslim Association and the Waikato Multicultural Council between 2014 and 2023, working tirelessly to support families, students, and newcomers, and building stronger understanding between cultures, faiths, and communities.
Following the 2019 Christchurch mosque attack, Emeritus Professor Mohsin facilitated a $30,000 annual scholarship fund through a Memorandum of Agreement between the University of Waikato and the Waikato Muslim Association for annual awarding to four Muslim students, creating opportunities for young people and reinforcing education as a pathway to hope and unity.
Emeritus Professor Mohsin’s lifelong service to the community was widely recognised. In 2022 he received a Hamilton Civic Award for his outstanding voluntary service to the people of Hamilton, recognising his leadership in the Muslim community and his work strengthening multicultural connections across the city. In 2025 he was also appointed as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the Muslim community and to education.
“Emeritus Professor Mohsin believed deeply in bringing people together,” Councillor Pike said.
"He initiated the first Multicultural Day in Hamilton, now held annually, to celebrate the diversity that enriches our city and the wider Waikato region. His legacy will live on in the many students he inspired, the communities he strengthened, and the values of understanding, compassion, and unity that he championed throughout his life. On behalf of the city, we extend our deepest condolences to all who knew and loved him.”