The first Parsi to join the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) is 23-year-old Zariab Karkaria. When Parsiana contacted him in the second week of December 2023, he had just completed the three-month basic military training course. "It’s a challenging course, designed to transform you from a civilian to a military personnel, and it really tests your mental and physical abilities,” he mentioned.
Graduating from basic training along with 31 other recruits, in January this year he started his aeronautical engineering training course with the RNZAF which will last around two years. "After completing this course, I could apply to be an engineering officer and take on more responsibilities and leadership duties or I could apply for the RNZAF pilot course,” he stated.
Top: Zariab Karkaria (center); above, from l: Kaizad, Zariab, Dilshad, Behzad Karkaria, (rear) Danesh Karai
While his immediate priority is "to gain some valuable experience working alongside military personnel and aircraft,” Karkaria also plans to obtain a commercial pilot license over the next few years. "I have always been fascinated with flying, particularly after the Top Gun movie was released! In fact, I’d started taking flying lessons while I was 17 years old and still at school.”
Following his early education at Anchorage Park in Pakuranga, Farm Cove Intermediate in Manukau and Pakuranga College, he pursued his four-year mechanical engineering degree studies at the Auckland University of Technology, graduating with honors in 2023. That is when he decided "to give RNZAF a crack,” stated Karkaria.
Born in Ahmedabad, India, Zariab had migrated with his parents Dilshad and Kaizad to Auckland, New Zealand when he was two years old. While Dilshad currently works as a train manager with Auckland Transport, Kaizad is a chef with the Marriott Group. Younger brother Behzad who is a drummer is pursuing his Bachelors of Jazz and Performing Arts at the Auckland University. Both brothers are ordained priests.
Having performed many jashan, navjote and funeral ceremonies for Zoroastrians in Auckland, Zariab stated, "My Zoroastrian roots have always been my strength and guiding force in life.” Active with the Zoroastrian Association of New Zealand (ZANZ), he mentioned that they have recently started a "ZANZ-Next Generation social group to further engage youth within our community by hosting social gatherings, sports events, camps, fundraising events and more.” He considers himself privileged to have attended the World Zoroastrian Youth Congress in London last year and the one prior in Los Angeles.