Toi Ohomai Alumni Win People's Choice Award

A restaurant owned by Toi Ohomai graduates, that impressed New Zealand Prime Minister Rt Hon Christopher Luxon, has won the People’s Choice Award at the 2025 Selwyn Awards.

Aman Deep and Veena Devi opened Ratana Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria in Rolleston in 2022, having moved south from Rotorua to be closer to family. The pair, who met at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology’s Mokoia campus in Rotorua, both studied a Diploma of Cookery (Advanced) but were in different intakes, completing their qualifications six months apart in 2019.

On Saturday night, at the Selwyn Awards hosted by Jeremy Corbett in Canterbury, Aman and Veena claimed the People’s Choice Award for Ratana Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria, which was recognised as the area’s most loved local business for 2025. More than 5,000 people cast votes for the award.

Aman says the win is a meaningful reflection of the hard work and dedication he and his wife Veena have poured into their restaurant over the past two and a half years.

“The support and votes of confidence from the local community motivate us to keep striving for excellence. We’re proud to be part of Selwyn and to share our love of food with others. It’s an honour to see Ratana continue to grow in popularity.”

In April this year, New Zealand Prime Minister, Rt Hon Christopher Luxon, dined at Ratana with government representatives.

“He gave our chorizo and prawn dish a 10 out of 10,” Aman says.

Ratana Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria serves a traditional Italian menu featuring hand-stretched wood-fired pizzas, homemade pasta, antipasti, fresh salads and dolce (desserts), all made using fresh, New Zealand-grown ingredients.

It’s not the first time Aman and Veena’s work has gained recognition. Before relocating to Rolleston, the couple owned Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria at Lynmore Junction in Rotorua. During their tenure, Giovanni’s won the Ethnic Food Award at the 2021 Hospitality Awards. Previously, during Veena's final year of culinary training at Toi Ohomai, she won a silver medal at the 2019 Waikato Culinary Fare.

Aman says his time studying a Diploma in Cookery (Advanced) at Toi Ohomai was formative, both professionally and personally.

“I gained a good grounding in important culinary arts, hospitality and business skills. My tutor, Sarj Hada, was great. The best teacher I have ever had! Veena was taught by Tik wang Tan, who she says was excellent too.”

“Veena and I met at Toi Ohomai, and now we’re married and about to welcome our first child, so it’s an important part of my story,” Aman says.

Selwyn District Mayor, Sam Broughton, said the 2025 Selwyn Awards, held on Saturday 9 August at Selwyn Sports Centre, was an inspiring evening celebrating individuals, community groups and organisations from across Waikirikiri Selwyn who help make the district a great place to call home and a great place to do business.

“We are lucky in Selwyn to have some incredible people. The Selwyn Awards is a great opportunity to acknowledge their work, their innovation and their passion,” Mayor Broughton said.