Also known as "Raju"
11 November 1947 – 23 October 2025
Also known as "Raju"
11 November 1947 – 23 October 2025
BADIANI, Rajnikant Haridas - Rajni, Raju, Raj to most. Passed away peacefully at home on 23 October 2025, surrounded by his closest loved ones.
Dearly loved son of Kanchanben and the late Haridas Badiani. Treasured husband of Tabu. Cherished father of Renu and Arti, and father-in-law to his sons, Vinay and Richard. Adored Nanaji of Mala, Rahi, Shaan and Avni. Beloved brother of the late Jayantbhai, Lataben, Gitaben, Dineshbhai, Jayshreeben, Hanshaben, Bharatbhai and Bhavnaben. Respected and loved by his many nieces and nephews across Raju’s and Tabu’s families and his New Zealand whānau.
Special thanks to the support of the Mary Potter Hospice for their quiet and holistic care.
In lieu of flowers donations to Cancer Society New Zealand and The Mary Potter Hospice Foundation would be appreciated and may be made online.
A service for Raju will be held at the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel, 375 Adelaide Rd, Newtown, Wellington on Tuesday 28th October 2025 at 11am, thereafter private cremation.
Parking at the venue is limited so please factor this into your travel arrangements.
It was Raju’s wish that his funeral be a celebration of his life and he wanted people to wear something colourful.
Messages and tributes can be shared on this page. Cards may be sent to: c/- PO Box 7123, Wellington 6242.
Raju’s funeral service will be livestreamed via this tribute page.
Love and Light
Om Shanti Shanti
Funeral service held at The Wilson Funeral Home Chapel
Our heartfelt condolances to Tabuben, Badiani Parivar and entire extended families Our prayers and thoughts are with you. We pray for the departed soul to rest in eternal 🙏 Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
Dear Tabumasi, Renu and Arti this beautiful tribute full of warmth and love reflects Rajnimasa’s rich and joyful life perfectly. Our deepest regards and love to all of you, Rupali & Arun
Dear Tabu, Renu, Arti and all your whanau my deepest sympathy to you all at the loss of a wonderful warm unique human being. I have so many fond memories of Raju Kaka. I will never forget the warmth he showed at our first meeting at Arti's 21st. And from that day onwards he would always greet me with his warm heart and a hearty Kia Ora! He was always genuinely interested in everyone he met. There were also many times at various family gatherings that he said the most remarkably positive things and provided real insights into how to look at the world, which will stay with me. I think the most important principle he shared is that we all matter as humans and should be respected equally. We could do with more people with that outlook in this world. I will miss him. I am so sorry I couldn't make the tribute in person today, but I have seen it online and it was wonderful and fitting and everything he deserved. My thoughts with you all. Grant
We will always keep you in our memories of holidays together specially India we’re when ladies were busy shopping Rajni and I were having teas and coconut at the kiosks. Our time together on the Alaska cruise. I and again at that Norwegian cruise. I have many memories in the form of photographs. I particularly remember once in London we had lovely Fish in a club restaurant near his mother’s house. He will remain in our hearts always.
Dear Tabu, Arti, Renu and your wonderful whanau, thinking of you and your amazing Raju and all the adventures you had together. Love to you all.
Mera naam Raju gharana ye naam, behti hai Ganga vahaan mera dham..... Ganga has taken you to the new experiences and new surrounding, where you will find nothing but serenity and the laugh you so dearly possessed, shared and made everyone feel at home in your heart. From the moment we met in the mid seventies, we knew we would be very close to each other, That was the phase when we nurtured our relationship and enjoyed so many wonderful, milestones, events, outings and so on, up until I had to find a different path in life and move to Auckland. You are very much in heart and will always remain there, Raju. You haven't left. You are still present now in different form, but yes, you are present and I certainly feel it. ૐ શાંતિ શાંતિ શાંતિ .
Rajnibhai you will be missed dearly. Your good memories will stay with us forever. Our prayers are with you all. Raju my dear friend there is one way to describe you, larger than life ,you had qualities that we admired,your positivity and smile May your soul achieve eternal peace om shanti om Lata & Kishor
Our deepest condolences you and your family. Rajubhai will always be remembered for his smiling face, humble, sweet & kind nature. Ma God give you strength at this difficult time & in the coming days. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
Dearest Tabuaunty and Family, Our deepest condolences. Rajuuncle was a wonderful person who we are grateful to have known and spent time with. Thinking of you all. Jai Shree Krishna.
Dear Tabu we are praying with you and your family. Love you always
What lovely words. We recognise them all. A terrific tribute and celebration for a most fabulous and generous man. Fly high Raju and keep an eye on us all. Yours was a life richly lived. Legend.
Thinking of you all.
Dearest Tabu, Aarti & the Badiani/Nathwani families. We had the good fortune to spend some premium time with you and Rajnikumar only in March this year in Wellington. He immediately struck us with the impression of a thorough gentleman. May Lord Krishna give you all the strength to sustain this heavy loss. We share your pain and grief. We can only look back and celebrate his life with fond memories. Jai Shree Krishna 🙏.
Dear Tabu mami, Renu, Arti and all the family, We are sending our love and prayers at this very difficult time. We will remember Rajni mama fondly, especially when we visited New Zealand - the fun we had gardening together. Our deepest condolences. Love from Rishi, Jyoti and Lily
Dearest Tabu, Renu, Vinay, Arti, Richard, Mala, Rahi, Shaan and Avni. Please accept our deepest condolences. We will miss Ranji-Bhai. Our prayers and thoughts are with you all.
To happy soul Rajni 🙏🙏🙏
Our deepest condolences to all the family. May dear Rajnibhai's sweet soul rest in eternal peace Sending you all love and light Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
Our deepest condolences to you. Rajnibhai's kind and jovial nature will always be remembered. May god give you all the strength and keep his memories strong. May his kind soul rest in peace! Jai Shri Krishna
Dear Tabu mami, Renu, Arti, Vinay, Richard and family, Thinking of you all at this time and sending you lots of love and prayers We will always remember Rajni mama fondly and with the same positivity he projected to the world.
Dear Tabu masi and family My deepest condolences to you and your families. Thoughts and Prayers are with you all in this difficult time. May his soul be blessed. Om shanti Shanti Shanti Indira Parmar
Thinking of you all Bhabhi, Renu, Arti and family Love and light to you all Jai Shree Krishna 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Dearest Tabu, Renu and Aarti and families. My deepest condolences to you all.Thiniking of you at this difficult time. May you find comfort in knowing Rajubhai touched the lives of everyone and we are so enriched for having known him. We miss his lovely energy at the Cancer Society. Om shanti, Shanti, Shanti. RIP Rajubhai
Dear Tabu, Renu and Arti, From visiting your home many times as a child, I remember Raju as a very warm-hearted and welcoming man. Thinking of you and your family at this time. Love, Phyllida
To Tabu and family, sincere condolences Thinking of you all at this time Love Suzie
Funeral service held at The Wilson Funeral Home Chapel

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