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21 November 2014

21 November, 2014 Vol. 6 Issue 18 | www.iwk.co.nz

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New Zealands first Kiwi-Indian weekly news magazine

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The Pulse of Kiwi-Indians

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21 November 2014

COVER STORY

Of Narendra and Tony, selfies and hugs

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IWK Bureau

ndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and

his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott have
built a camaraderie over the past few months,
especially the last five days at the G20 Summit
in Brisbane, Australia.
The two leaders clicked a selfie together
and Abbott referred to Modi with his first name
Narendra, and said he is like a brother.
During his address to the Australian
Parliament, Modi also took a playful dig at
Abbott, telling lawmakers that making them
listen to him - the third head of government in
three days to address Parliament - was Abbotts
way of shirt-fronting them.
Im the third head of the government
you are listening to this week, I do not know
how you are doing this! May be, this is Prime
Minister Abbotts way of shirt-fronting you,
Modi said, to laughter from the lawmakers.
He was referring to Abbotts threat to shirtfront Russian President Vladimir Putin at the
G20 over the MH17 crash during their face-toface encounter.
However, when both Abbott and Putin were
finally face to face, they indulged in some koala
cuddle.
Shirt-fronting is a term used in Australian
rules football, referring to an aggressive, fronton physical challenge.
Modi and Abbott also took an autographed
selfie together, in a mark of their growing
friendship, and exchanged warm hugs.
The relationship between the two of us has
become very strong, and there is no formality

between the two of us, Modi said, at a

reception hosted by Abbott in the Melbourne
Cricket Ground.
He and Abbott shook hands smiling widely
and the Australian prime minister gave him a
warm hug.
The two prime ministers then posed for an
autographed selfie, smiling and chatting.
The selfie was posted on the Modis twitter
handle, with the words With my friend @
TonyAbbottMHR at the MCG.
He also tweeted: PM @TonyAbbottMHR
came in September. He was the first guest since
we formed the Government.
People asked me isnt it too soon to visit
Australia after @TonyAbbottMHR just visited.
I said I cant say no to my friend Tony, went
the tweet.
Their camaraderie was reflected during the
reception at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
(MCG) where Abbott said Modi is like a
brother.
Narendra and I, Abbott said on a couple of
occasions, while Modi called him Tony.
Modi is the first Indian prime minister to
visit Australia in 28 years after Rajiv Gandhi
in 1986.
The two leaders also shared a hug when
Abbott welcomed him to the G20 in Brisbane.
Modi visited four cities - Brisbane, Sydney,
Canberra and Melbourne - during his five-day
visit to Australia.
Abbott was in India in September, the first
head of government to pay a bilateral visit to
the Modi government which took over in May.

COVER STORY

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

India scores at G20

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An analysis of the promises made and issues discussed at the recently concluded G20 summit in
Brisbane last weekend, that raised the hopes of the Indian diaspora to unprecedented heights

riginally formed at the level of finance

ministers and central bank governors in
1999 after the East Asian economic crisis, the
G20 assumed significance after its elevation to
a summit-level forum in 2008, following the
global financial crisis.
Summits have been held in Washington,
London, Pittsburgh, Toronto, Seoul, Cannes
and Los Cabos. This year, it was hosted by
the Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, in
Brisbane.
Besides India, the G20 comprises Argentina,
Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France,
Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico,
Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South
Korea, Turkey, Britain, the US and the EU.
Concerns over black money
The G20 Summit concluded in Brisbane,
Australia, last weekend with its leaders
endorsing Indias concerns over black money,
while promising a new global transparency
standard that will modernize international tax
rules and allow automatic exchange of related
information between governments to curb illicit
outflow of money estimated at over $1 trillion
annually.
India, being represented at the summit by
Prime Minister NarendraModi, immediately
called this development an unprecedented
success, and said the next step will be the
delivery of an action plan, along with the
Organisation of Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD). The two forums

Modi gets a warm traditional welcome by Australian tribal dancers

represent 44 countries and 90 per cent of the

world economy.
We are taking actions to ensure the fairness
of the international tax system and to secure
countries revenue bases. Profits should be taxed
where economic activities deriving the profits
are performed and where value is created, the
G20 leaders said in a joint communique at the
end of the eighth summit, promising to finalise
work by end-2015.
This was precisely what Prime Minister
NarendraModi had specifically said and

sought during a session on Delivering Global

Economic Resilience on the second day of
the summit in this west Australian city, while
also wanting systems that will help countries in
getting back the ill-gotten monies stashed away
abroad.
At this Summit, G20 Leaders have
endorsed a new global transparency standard
that will leave no place for tax cheats to hide.
More than 90 jurisdictions will begin automatic
exchange of tax information, using a common
reporting standard by 2017 or 2018, said

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot, the

summit chair and host.
India has no official estimates of illegal
money stashed away overseas, but the unofficial
ones range from $466 billion to $1.4 trillion.
In fact, according to Indian interlocutors,
such strong words on illicit money and
imposition of curbs in the communique
would not have been possible without Indias
intervention, since the original draft did not
contain a language that was satisfactory for
India.
They said the prime minister and his official
team led by his Sherpa, Railway Minister
Suresh Prabhu, got strong endorsements for
New Delhis stand, notable Brazil and South
Africa, to make this happen.
India scores at G20, the external affairs
ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin
tweeted. He and Minister Prabhu even termed
the outcome unprecedented success.
The G20 communique addressed concerns
going beyond G20, developmental issues
-- employment, Indias prime concern, was
a central issues of discussion, Prabhu told
reporters at a post-summit briefing.
The tax and related black money issue apart,
several other issues which New Delhi pursued
vigorously in Brisbane found echo at the G20
Summit - reducing the cost of remittances from
abroad, of which India is the largest beneficiary
at $70 billion annually, collaborations on
energy, infrastructure financing, inclusive

COVER STORY

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

growth, job creation and energy security.

The communique also specifically welcomed
Red
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the breakthrough between
United
States at the World Trade Organisation (WTO)
and saw this as paving the way for a pact that
will help ease the processes involved in global
commerce, and move forward in addressing
the concerns of developing countries on food
security.
Cut cost on remittance
The G20 promised strong, practical
measures to reduce the global average cost of
transferring remittances to 5 percent, which
goes up sometimes as high as 10 percent.
The communique also promised to raise
global growth to deliver better living standards
and quality jobs for people across the world to
ensure financial inclusion. It specifically set a
target of raising the output of G20 members by
around 2.1 percent by 2018 and the necessary
steps towards achieving this.
India said this was significant. We have $2
trillion of extra global economic growth, which
will happen because of this 2 percent growth
rate, that we are talking about. I think India
would benefit, but India will also contribute,
Prabhu said.
Clean and sustainable energy
Let us make an ambitious and innovative
effort to make renewable, especially solar
energy, competitive with conventional energy,
Modi said at the G20 summit, calling for a
global effort to make clean energy available to
all through concerted actions.
In Gujarat, the canal-top project worked
well and saved water, too, he added.
Built at a cost of over $16 million, the 10
MW Narmada canal top solar photovoltaic
project will produce 16.2 million units of
electricity in the first year into the grid. The
power will be used in five pumping generators
located along the Saurashtra branch canals for
lift schemes.
The
Gujarat
government
recently
completed this project to save land and water
evaporation. It was listed among the Worlds
top 100 infrastructure projects by international
accounting firm KPMG.
Another 1 MW solar power plant is already
successfully operating on another stretch of the
Narmada canal.

At this Summit,
G20 Leaders have
endorsed a new global
transparency standard
that will leave no
place for tax cheats to
hide.
Seeking a collective R&D effort and
collaboration on clean energy, Modi urged the
leaders of major economies to set up a global
virtual centre for clean energy research and
development, with adequate public funding
for collaborative projects in diverse sources of
clean energy, smart grids and energy efficiency.
Bi-lateral
powers

meetwith

world

Modi had a first-time bilateral meeting

with Saudi Arabias Crown Prince and Deputy
Prime Minister Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
who congratulated him as prime minister of a
friendly country. The Saudi crown prince said
his country was ready to cooperate with India
in all sectors.
Meeting with German Chancellor Angela
Merkel ahead of the G20, Modi said that
our relations are deepening...Waiting for
your visit, according to tweets posted by the

Modi addresses the joint session of Parliament of

Australia at the Parliament House in Canberra

Modi unveils Mahatma Gandhis statue at Roma

Street Parkland, Brisbane

external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed

Akbaruddin.
Just ahead of the second days plenary
session, Modi, along with Abbott and US
President Barack Obama posed for a photo
op. Abbott said world leaders spoke from the
heart and worked in a spirit of collaboration
to show we can do more for the world when we
work together.
People right around the world are going
to be better off, and thats what its all about,
Xinhua quoted him as saying. The thing
about the G20 is that it is large enough to be
representative of the wider world and its small
enough to be effective.
He said all these measures would boost the
global economy and create millions of jobs.
Abbott also confirmed that the G20 agreed
to the goal of reducing the gap in participation
rates between men and women in the workforce
by 25 percent by 2025, adding 100 million
women to the labour market.He also said that
climate change was on the agenda.
The G20 has shifted a gear from responding
to events to setting an agenda for growth, he
said.Through cooperation, accountability, and
concrete plans the countries of the world will be
better off because we met together.

forward, thinking with ambition, acting with

speed; seeking growth not just for growth, but
to transform the quality of life of every Indian.
He said Australia is viewed as a major
partner in every area of our national priority,
including in providing skills, healthcare and
building homes and in energy, building smart
cities, in agriculture and in technologies to save
water.
Amid ongoing maritime and territorial
disputes in the South and East China Seas,
Modi said oceans are our lifelines. But, we
worry about its access and security in our part
of the world more than ever before.
He said both countries can play their part in
maintaining maritime security.

Recalling Gandhis legacy

Modi unveiled a statue of Mahatma Gandhi
in Brisbane, saying that the Mahatmas legacy
is still relevant today.Mahatma Gandhi is as
relevant today as he was in his lifetime, Modi
said at a function where he unveiled the Gandhi
statue at Roma Street Parkland here.
Addressing a gathering of the IndianAustralian community at the venue, following
the conclusion of the G20 Summit, the prime
minister said: On October 2 (1869), a person
was not born in Porbandar, but an era was
born, referring to the Mahatma.
Non-violence was an article of faith for
Mahatma Gandhi, Modi told the Indian
diaspora.
The statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Brisbane
is sculpted by Ram Sutar of New Delhi. The
programme organisers, on their part, said that a
bridge would be named after Mahatma Gandhi
in Springfield, a satellite city of Brisbane.
Maritime Security
Modi, the first Indian Prime Minister to
address the Australian Parliament, said both
need to strengthen their security cooperation
to combat terrorism and cooperate closely
in international forum like the East Asia
Summit, the G20 and the Indian Ocean Region
Association.
Modi said that in the six months since his
government has been in office, we have moved

But, we do not have to rely on borrowed

architecture of the past. Nor do we have the
luxury to choose who we work with and who
we dont, he said.
He said both sides need to work together
and with others to create environment and
culture that promotes the currency of coexistence and cooperation; in which all nations,
small and big, abide by international law and
norms, even when they have bitter disputes.
China is locked in territorial disputes with
countries in Southeast Asia over islands and
rights over water zones.
Modi called for deeper bilateral cooperation
to combat terrorism, but he said with it
turning into a global problem, it requires a
comprehensive global strategy.
He said there should be a policy of
no distinction between terrorist groups or
discrimination between nations and a
resolve to isolate those who harbour terrorists,
willingness to empower states that will fight
them; a social movement against extremism in
countries where it is most prevalent; and, every
effort to delink religion and terrorism.
Modi also highlighted his governments
Make in India mission and said Much
of Indias future cities and infrastructure
is yet to be built and so we have a unique
opportunity to make our choices now.
Democratic values connect us. Want to hear
from you all, Modi said.
India and Australia marked a new synergy
in bilateral relations as they agreed on a
framework for security cooperation to boost
defence, civil nuclear and economic ties even
as Modi ended a hectic five-day, four-city visit.
The two countries signed five agreements,
including one on exchange of sentenced
prisoners, while Modi also addressed the
Australian Parliament, the first Indian prime
minister to do so.
Compiled by Paula Ray

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COVER STORY

Paula Ray

t all began with the Australian Prime Minister

Tony Abbott extending an invitation to his
Kiwi counterpart, John Key, to attend the G20
Summit earlier this year.
At the recently concluded hobnobbing of
world leaders in Brisbane, many issues were
taken up that is also of concern to Aotearoa.
These include strengthening growth, job
creation, and building global economic
resilience.
The G20 countries together make up for
85 per cent of global economic activities and
75 per cent of global trade. From among the
20 economies present, NZ has trade ties with
14 of them. So the invitation was of strategic
importance to NZ, and also to Australia.
By extending the invitation to Key as his
guest, Abbott, who chaired the Summit this
year, opened the doors for the former to engage
in productive discussions with European
leaders. Ebola and ISIS proved pivotal in many
discussions around global economic recovery
through robust future projects.
The invitation also showcased the attitude
of the Abbott government towards its island
neighbour. Perhaps one could interpret it as a
big brotherly arm around the smaller economy.
But definitely there is no question of sibling
rivalry.
NZ is a small trading nation compared to
the G20. However, it is an important trading
partner to many big economies around the
world. So Keys engagement with the world
leaders provided valuable inputs. New
Zealands economic prospects are closely
intertwined with those of G20 member
countries, commented Key on the eve of the
Summit, that saw the big three leaders in the
same room: Obama, Putin and Xi.
In fact, Key started on his journey to meet
world leaders earlier in the week when he
attended the APEC leaders summit in Beijing
and finalised the Trans-Pacific Partnership
(TPP) trade deal, while China used this
opportunity to restart talks on an APEC-wide
FTA. Interesting to mention here, China is not
part of the TPP deal.
On this trip Key also inaugurated the New
Zealand Consulate-General in the Western
Chinese city of Chengdu. New Zealand is
among the first group of countries in the world
to open a diplomatic post in Chengdu, said
Key.
This is a natural continuation of our

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

Key to G21

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How did G20 become G21? In what possible ways could it benefit Prime Minister John Key,
and New Zealand in particular? Let us explore
expanding and increasingly close relationship
with China. The Consulate-General in Chengdu
is one of six new posts the Government has
opened since 2008. The others are in Abu
Dhabi, Addis Ababa, Myanmar, Barbados and
Honolulu.
Keys trip to China was followed by a
stopover at Myanmar to attend the East Asia
Summit that deals with regional security. The
G20 Summit was the third international meet
that Key attended at the end of the same week.
During the same week, German Chancellor
Angela Merkel expressed support for an
EU-NZ FTA during her visit to Auckland.
By the time Key landed in Brisbane, he had
already met some of the G20 leaders and was
conversant with their views on certain issues of
global interest.
A crucial Free Trade Agreement was
concluded on the first day of the G20 summit,
between NZ and the Republic of Korea.
Korea is one of New Zealands biggest and
most important trading partners, said Trade
Minister Tim Groser. The FTA will deliver
real economic benefits for both our countries. It
will create more opportunities for our business
and will deliver cheaper products to consumers.
Its a win-win agreement.
The G20 Summit, thus, turned out to be
an opportunity for NZ to not only showcase
its economic and trade credentials,but also
upgrade the countrys profile with regard to
upcoming business potentials. To Key it was
a chance of a lifetime not only to make the
countrys impact felt among the leaders of the
richest economies of the world, but also to
strengthen his governments position on his
home soil.
It helps that NZ also got elected to the
Security Council, thereby strengthening the
countrys position in international affairs. The
G20 Summit aided Key to do his homework and
thereby boost its veto power in the countrys
favour before NZ formally took its seat at the
Security Council in January 2015.
The P-5 members of Security Council have
the power to veto down any reform suggested
by other members of the Council. The G20
Summit gave Key an opportunity to meet these
powers and discuss options for reform before
meeting them officially on the floor of the
Council.
Key staying at the same hotel as French
President Francois Hollandehad crucial
strategic potential, given that France has so far

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key speaks during the 22nd APEC Economic Leaders meeting at the
Yanqi Lake International Convention Center in Beijing

Brothers in arms: Key with his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott at the G20 summit in Brisbane;
(Below) Key at the East Asia Summit in Myanmar

been the only P-5 member open to reform.

At the working dinner, Key had a brief chat
with the Russian President Vladimir Putin
which was mostly a monologue as Putin didnt
say much. But the Kiwi PM voiced his views,
along with other world leaders, against Russias
encroachment in Ukraine and also the crash of
the Malaysian aircraft on the disputed land,
stalling all investigations on the crash. Key
also pointed out that two New Zealanders were
travelling on the ill-fated flight.
This
exchange
showcased
Keys
determination to take a stand on what NZ feels
strongly about. In fact, he later defended it
by saying that you dont need to be rude or
disrespectful, but you wouldnt change your

position just because it is an international

event. Its another story that Fonterra continues
to export dairy products to Russia, because
NZ doesnt have formal trade sanctions with
Russia.
Although Abbott averted it, Obama brought
up the issue of climate change and giving it a
much-required momentum. Keys position in
favour of the cause will perhaps earn NZ a say
at the Paris Climate Summit in 2015, where
countries will have to submit their reports on
20/20 emission targets. However, a stricter
fuel efficiency plan might end up raising the
power bill of poorer households in the country
something that the current government
wouldnt want to engage in.

COVER STORY

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

Overwhelmed, honoured and humbled

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Modi promises Sydneys euphoric diaspora a resurgent India

IWK Bureau

n a replay of the crowd and the euphoria at

New Yorks Madison Square Garden, Indian
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was Monday
cheered lustily by an over 16,000-strong
gathering of the Indian diaspora at Sydneys
Allphones Arena, where he promised to fulfill
their expectations of a resurgent India.
Modi, who arrived from Brisbane earlier in
the day after attending the G20 summit meeting,
spoke for an hour at the Allphones Arena
where people wore T-shirts with Modi photos
emblazoned on them.
Hundreds of fans had arrived by the Modi
Express train from Melbourne in the morning.
To deafening chants of Modi, Modi
interrupting his speech, the prime minister, attired
in a white kurta pyjama with a blue sleeveless
jacket to match, also promised the diaspora visa
on arrival and merging of the Person of Indian
Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizenship of India
(OCI) cards by January.
Speaking in Hindi, Modi said there was no
reason for India to lag behind any longer.
Do you believe that the country can rise
again, become powerful and capable of helping
other countries again, he asked to loud cheers
from the crowd.
I dont see any reason for the country to
remain behind, fate has decided that it must
progress, he said to wild cheers.
Organisers of the event had said Modis
address at the Allphones Arena would rival the
Madison Square Garden address Sep 27 where
too he had received an ecstatic welcome from an
over 16,000-strong gathering of Indian diaspora.
Overwhelmed, honoured and humbled. Will

never forget this day, is how Modi tweeted later.

Modi also spoke of the schemes launched
by his government, including the Clean India
and Make in India programmes, and invited the
diaspora to join in the Swachh Bharat campaign
and contribute towards building toilets in their
villages back home in India.
He said that today, people, including
industrialists, are participating in the Clean India
mission. I salute them.
He said that on the 150th anniversary of
Mahatma Gandhis return to India in 2019, the
least we can do for Mahatma Gandhi is have a
clean India.
He said it would give a fillip to tourism in the

country, besides improving the lives of the poor.

It took 28 years for an Indian PM to make
the few hours journey to Australia. Now you will
not have to wait 28 years, he said, referring to
the shared values of democracy, and the love for
cricket that India and Australia share.
Earlier,
during
his
meeting
with
businesspersons in Queensland, Modi told them
that Queensland can be an important partner in
Indias development.
At the breakfast meet hosted by Queensland
Premier Campbell Newman, Modi proposed
that businesspersons can participate in his
governments Clean Ganga programme and
also suggested that India can import LNG from

Queensland.
He said he was pleased that Queensland
will be participating in the Vibrant Gujarat
summit in 2015 to showcase its infrastructural
capabilities and that trade delegations from
Queensland have been sent to other Indian cities
like New Delhi and Kolkata as well.
Modi later left for Canberra, where he will
address the Australian parliament Tuesday and
hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Tony
Abbott.
He is among three world leaders who have
been invited to address the Australian parliament,
besides Chinas Xi Jinping and Britains David
Cameron.

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COVER STORY

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

Politicking Animals
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Koalas, which are not actually bears but rather marsupials that carry their young in a pouch, are an iconic symbol of Australia.
During the G20 Summit, the leaders visited Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, founded in 1927, which is home to more than 130 koalas.
They were offered a koala bear each to hold and cuddle, as a special Australian welcome. Interestingly, koalas sleep for up to 20 hours
a day and feed on a diet of special eucalyptus leaves, but are notoriously capricious. Hence, park officials had been training
the animals how to behave ahead of the high-status visit. Paula Ray presents a selection of pictures.

US President Barack Obama and Australian PM

Tony Abbott pose with kissing koala bears in
their arms

NZ Prime Minister John Key - G21 cuddles a koala

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was

charmed by the grey cuddly bundle. With a big
smile, he patted the koala bear as Australian Prime
Minister Tony Abbott looked on smilingly

Russian President Vladimir Putin, a wildlife lover,

cuddled a koala too. He picked up a koala bear in
his arms, while Abbott held one in similar
fashion backstage.

President Obama has a big laugh while holding the

koala, as Abbott looks on
German Chancellor Angela Merkel too tangled with a koala backstage.
But here we see her petting a kiwi bird during her recent visit to Auckland.

COVER STORY

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

Modi rules Australian media; NZ media silent

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ndian Prime Mininster Narendra Modi

rules Australian media headlines following
the G20 summit and his tour of four cities:
Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.
The Kiwi media is lapping up Prime Minister
John Keys attendance at the global summit as
the G21 member. However, in contrast to its
neighbour, the local medias silence on Modi is
conspicuous.
Global glam queen Kim Kardashian must
be ruing the timing of her visit to picturesque
Australian as it is Modi who is dominating the
media headlines Down Under, reports Paritosh
Parasher.
Modis name is all over the electronic and
print media following the conclusion of his
visit to Australia. Modi signed a number of
agreements with his Australian counterpart
Tony Abbott and addressed several exclusive
gatherings in Melbourne.
Canberra rolls out red carpet for Modi
is a headline being used by a number of the
media outlets to mark Modi laying a wreath
in the Australian capital citys War Memorial
along with Abbott. The visuals of Modi
paying homage to the Australian war heroes
were beamed live to the Australian television
audience.
Modi became the first Indian prime minister
to address a joint session of the Australian
parliament. His address in flawless English was
televised live by the state-owned Australian
Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) from
Canberra.
The Indian prime ministers visit to
Melbourne has attracted both the Australian
and Indian medias attention which could be
gauged by the fact that the headline Narendra
Modi and Tony Abbott reveal new India-

Australia military agreement is the Most

Popular headline on the portal of the leading
Melbournian newspaper The Age.
Another The Age article headlined Deeply
linked destinies: Indian Prime Minister
Narendra Modi calls for new era with Australia
is also among the Most Read articles list.
If Modis media managers wanted him
to be seen as a person with sense of humour,
they have been successful as his reference to
shirt-fronting (an Australian football term for
a front-on challenge that knocks an opponent
to the ground) in the speech to the joint session
was noticed and lauded by the Australian media.
The Modi mania was not restricted just to
swooning audiences and media headlines as the
visit is also dominating a section of the social
media. The Twitter hash-tag #modiinAustralia
as been topping the trends for the last three-four
days.
The proceedings of the Australian Senate,
which are broadcast live through ABC Radio,
were also punctuated with the reference to the
various agreements Australian government
representatives signed with their Indian
counterparts. Like Australian media, the Senate
also discussed implications of the State Bank
of India offering a loan of $1 billion to Indias
business moghul Gautam Adani for a mega coal
mine in Queensland.
The impact of the Modi visit was also felt
by the office-goers Tuesday evening as traffic
around Melbournes Central Business District
was gridlocked for hours. Besides addressing
Indian and Australian business leaders at the
palatial residence of Victorias governor, Modi
also visited the iconic Melbourne Cricket
Ground for a banquet given in his honour by
Abbott.

(Top): Actress Tannishtha Chatterjee and Australian

cricketer Brett Lee interact with Prime Minister
Narendra Modi at Sydney Allphones Arena; Modi
interacts with the public at the Civic Reception, at
city hall in Brisbane

10

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

A life of infinite possibilities

Red

Black

Orange

SGI NZ celebrates 50th anniversary in Auckland

Maya Shivam

uddhist philosopher, author and

peacebuilder, Daisaku Ikeda is president
of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), a
Buddhist NGO with more than 12 million
members around the world. He is also founder
of the Institute of Oriental Philosophy,
the Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and
Dialogue, the Toda Institute for Global Peace
and Policy Research and the Soka education
system (see Soka University of America,
Soka University (Japan), research on Soka
education system.)
Over the years, Ikeda has engaged many
of the worlds leading thinkers in dialogue
and written extensively on a range of issues
related to peace and human security. His
annual proposals for peace issued each year
on the anniversary of the founding of the
SGI - January 26, 1975 - review the state
of the world and offer practical suggestions
grounded in Buddhist philosophy.
Ikeda has been a continuing source of
inspiration for the SGIs global grassroots
activities in such areas as human rights
protection, nuclear abolition, disarmament,
sustainable development and cultural
exchange.
In New Zealand, these activities have
included the collection of 60,000 signatures
in a street appeal in support of the Abolition
2000 petition to abolish nuclear weapons
(1998), promoting the award winning antiviolence programme Victory Over Violence
Aotearoa (2003-) and an anti-bullying
programme for high school students, iChoose
(2012). In September 2000, the Rotorua
District Council established the Ikeda Hall
Peace Garden in honour of Ikedas peace
efforts, under the leadership of Grahame
Hall, then mayor of the city
Ikeda has received numerous academic
honours, honorary citizenships and awards
from around the world for his contributions
of peace and education, including several
from New Zealand.
In an interview with Alastair Thompson
the co-founder, editor and publisher of Scoop
Independent News, New Zealands oldest
and largest independent online
news outlet, Dr Ikeda
shared his

SGI President Dr. Daisaku Ikeda; (Below): The water hemisphere in the quest for global harmony

thoughts on peace and the importance of New

Zealand in building peace across the globe.
He explained that Soka Gakkai founding
president Tsunesaburo Makiguchi was an
educator who prioritised the happiness
of children in prewar Japan, at a time the
foremost objective of education was to foster
obedient servants of the state.
He was also a geographer. In his 1903
book The Geography of Human Life, he
presented an idea quite different from the
conventional way of

seeing the Earth - two-dimensional maps

divided into national territories. Instead, he
said we could divide the globe into a land
hemisphere and a water hemisphere. He
illustrated this using two circular-shaped
maps, with London serving as the pole of
the land hemisphere and New Zealand as
the pole of the water hemisphere. Seeing
the oceans as thoroughfares connecting
countries instead of as something that divides
them, Makiguchi emphasised the importance
of fostering an ethos that

could open up paths of peace, friendship and

harmonious coexistence.
I think it is extremely significant even
from a contemporary standpoint that
New Zealand is at the centre of this water
hemisphere composed of oceans filled with
infinite possibilities.
During the two world wars of the
twentieth century, the Atlantic Ocean became
a battlefield. The Pacific Ocean, which both
our countries face, also saw many fierce
battles during World War II. Based on the
lessons of history, the world now needs
a culture that celebrates diversity such as
that fostered in New Zealand over many
decades. The adamant will to never repeat
the atrocities of war is also indispensable,
as seen in New Zealands unambiguous
stance against nuclear weapons and efforts to
develop the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone

Daisaku Ikeda president of SGI, has

been a continuing
source of inspiration
for the SGIs global
grassroots activities in
such areas as human
rights protection,
nuclear abolition,
disarmament,
sustainable
development and
cultural exchange
Treaty (the Treaty of Rarotonga).
The first nation in the world to grant
women suffrage, New Zealand has also
consistently been known for its emphasis on
the guarantee of human rights and a strong
social welfare system. Upholding
human rights and

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

humanitarianism as national priorities, New

Zealand has provided an example that should
Red
Black
Orange
be emulated by nations around the world.
In The Geography of Human Life,
Makiguchi called for a transformation in the
modes of competition among nations: from
military, political and economic competition
that pursue ones own interests at the expense
of others to a humanitarian competition that
seeks to bring out the best of each nations
qualities through efforts to contribute to the
well-being of other countries and the world.
I believe that New Zealands strong
traditions of fairness and concern for the
vulnerable can help lead the world in the
direction of humanitarian competition in
the 21st century. Nothing can justify the
continuation of the current state of the world
where so many people suffer in a cruel zerosum game in which the strong prey upon the
weak.
Through humanitarian competition aimed
at pursuing peace and happiness for both
oneself and others, we can build a win-win
world that allows the dignity of all people
to shine. It is my earnest hope that Japan
and many other countries will follow in the
footsteps of New Zealand in order to create
such a truly humanistic global society.
SGINZ
recently
celebrated
the
anniversary of President Ikedas first and
only visit to Oceania when he travelled to
Melbourne Australiain May 1964. Also that
just 3 months later, Soka Gakkai member,
Yuki Johnson arrived in New Zealand and
became our organizations very first pioneer.
The event held on 15th November was
attended by 1001 SGINZ members from
around the country including 3 senior leaders
from Japan, Mr Tsutsumi, Mrs Matsue and
Mr Ishikawa - the top coordinators for the

NEW ZEALAND

11

North American and Oceania regions and

other overseas members.
The theme of the occasion was
Celebrating a Life of Infinite Possibilities,
which expresses the core philosophy of the
SGI, namely the potential of human life to
become aware of its great power, to draw it
forth and manifest it in its environment in
a way whereby people can surmount any
obstacle, overcome any suffering and live a
live that benefits both oneself and society.
Although each of the 1001 participants
have various roles and careers to fill in
society, it is hoped that individually, they will
come to feel a shared desire to inspire others
to believe in their inherent capacity as well
and impart value to their living and working
environments, thus creating a more humane
and peaceful world.

(Top): SGIs 50th anniversary celebrations at AMI Netball stadium, Auckland; (Above): Victorious
March Brass band performs at the event

Nothing can
justify the
continuation of
the current state
of the world where
so many people
suffer in a cruel
zero-sum game in
which the strong
prey upon the
weak

12

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

Security Digest
White Ribbon
Family Violence

his November is the month-long campaign

for White Ribbon, which is an international
movement to end violence towards women. NZ
police has joined with the community partners
to increase awareness about family violence
and encourage people to speak up if they know
anything about someone who is being hurt. On
an ongoing basis, Police take a multi-agency
approach towards lowering levels of family
violence by coordinating with their partners.
NZ Police Family Violence team is working
on a coordinated community campaign to reduce
the number of incidents this summer alongside
a number of their partner agencies. Keep an eye
out for more information around the campaign
and activities within the District, and also
make sure you look out for friends, family and
neighbors this summer. It can be a tough time
of year and some members of our community
need more support than others.
Any kind of family violence - physical,
verbal or emotional is unacceptable in the
community at any time and should be reported

to Police. Family violence is an ongoing,

year-round issue that doesnt discriminate by
ethnicity or gender. If you know someone who
is a victim of family violence, you can help by
listening and being supportive, ensuring the
person and any children are safe and finding out
what help is available in the community.
There are many good community resources
available to help you and Crimestoppers is
great way for you to pass on information to
the Police without having to identify yourself.
If you have seen or heard something that you
dont think is right, make sure you speak up
its anonymous. Call Crime stoppers on 0800
555 111.

Drink Driving Law

Change

Red

The new lower limit is a significant opportunity

to reduce the number of people killed on the
roads and lessen the lifelong impact that drink
driving has on families and in the communities.
Police said that many drivers are already
taking the new limits on board and moderating
their behaviour by not having any alcoholic
drinks at all before driving.
The new legislation lowers the adult breath
alcohol limit from 400mcg of alcohol per litre
of breath, to 250mcg. The blood alcohol limit
will reduce from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml
of blood (0.08), to 50mg (0.05). This means
that adult drivers who commit an offence
between 251-400mcg of breath will face an
infringement penalty of $200 and receive 50
demerit points. Drivers who accumulate 100
or more demerit points from driving offences
within two years will receive a three month
driver licence suspension. For drivers under
20, the limit stays at zero.
Over the last 10 years, fatal crashes caused
by drink-driving have claimed the lives of

Black

Orange

around 1,100 people and caused serious injuries

to another 5,300, so police has advised that
everyone continues to play their part to make
the roads safer for everyone. Anyone caught
drink driving and breaking the law can expect
to face the full consequences.

Red Light Campaign

his month as a Police District, Counties

Manukau be focusing on intersections with
Auckland Transports November Red Means
Stop Campaign. This operation is conducted
throughout Auckland Metropolitan Police Area
and the objective is to reduce the number of
serious and fatal crashes at intersections.
Intersections can be deadly and we want
you to stay safe on the road. Please remember
the most simple of road rules red means stop.
Dont put your or anyone elses life at risk by
making the dangerous decision to run a red
light. Keep an eye out for the police on the road
this month.

here are just a couple of weeks to go until

a new lower alcohol limit for adult drivers
comes into effect. From now onwards NZ
Police be handing out information to drivers
about the new lower limits at every checkpoint
and to every driver that is stopped by Police.

Concert Review- Sandhya Sanjana and Raagtime

IWK Bureau

usic lovers in Auckland have been treated

to a wonderful set of performances by
Sandhya Sanjana and RaagTime over the past
two weeks.
The band performed at Aucklands premier
jazz venue- the Creative Jazz Club, 1885
Britomart on the 5th Nov. This was followed by
a concert at the Fickling Centre, Three Kings
on Saturday 15th Nov and the grand finale was
a private concert hosted by Edwin and Anjana
at the Blockhouse Bay Boat Club on Sunday
16th Nov 2014.
Sandhya and RaagTime (feat Manjit Singh
tabla, Jo Shum- bass, Jim Langabeer sax,
Jason Orme drums and Ben Fernandez
piano) captivated the audience with their
music - an excellent blend of East and West.
The band performed compositions by Sandhya
which included tunes like Sanny, Karma, Aziza,
Kaash, Change, Alentejo and Lakshmi from
her CD Random Access Melody. They also
performed popular jazz standards like Afro
Blue, One Note Samba, All Blues.
There was wonderful interplay between
the various musicians. Sandhyas vocal lines
and phrases complimented perfectly by Manjit
Singh on tabla and bols and Jason Orme on
drums and percussion. Pianist Ben Fernandez
laid down the harmonic landscape and was
ably supported by Jo Shum with her wonderful
playing on Upright Bass.
Kiwi jazz icon Jim Langabeer added
colour to the music with his groovy lines on
saxophone and flute. These are musicians of
a very high caliber and that was reflected in
the performance. The music was technical at
times with rhythms and harmonies that were
constantly changing and evolving. However

the musicians made it look effortless and most

importantly made an excellent connection with
the audience who played a very important part
in this performance. There were claps, hoots ,
singalongs and constant feedback and support
from the audience. It spurred the musicians
on and there was an electric atmosphere in the
room. Sure everyone went back home on a
musical high.
Each concert was unique in its own way. The
concert at the Jazz Club had some of Aucklands
leading musicians in the audience. The place
is one of the best venues for live jazz in the
country and features leading jazz musicians and
bands from NZ and overseas every week. The
band got an excellent review from a leading
music journalist Mr John Fenton. (check out his

jazz blog http://jazzlocal32.com/2014/11/16/

sandhya-sandana-the-cjc/ )
The Concert at the Fickling Centre was
special as The RaagTime Trio comprising
of Ben, Manjit and Jo announced the release
of their CD RaagTime that has Bollywood
and jazz tunes played in their own unique style.
Sandhya also released her latest EP RagaJazz.
The audience also enjoyed some tasty Indian
food catered by Bobby Arora of Little India.
Sandhya, Manjit and Ben also performed at
a house concert on Friday 14th Nov organized
by Dhananjay and Meera Basrur at St Heliers,
Auckland. Sandhya performed her Nava Rasa
Suite there with vocals , piano and tabla and
it was very well received. The Nava Rasas or
the nine emotions are the basis of all Classical

Indian Dance, music and theatre.

The scenic setting of the Blockhouse Boat
Club provided an excellent backdrop for
the finale concert of Sandhya Sanjana and
RaagTime. The concert was hosted by Edwin
and Anjana. There was a mix of people from
different cultures, backgrounds and professions
in the audience all with one thing in commona love of music and the arts. The concert was
streamed live on the internet to friends and
contacts around the world. Sandhya first visited
New Zealand in December 2013 and performed
at a concert at the BoatClub with RaagTime. It
was a magical evening and she was glad that
she could perform there once again this year
with RaagTime.
The organisers presented each musician with
a shawl. There was also a shawl presented to
Bens son Joshua Fernandez who will be 5 years
old soon but has already started making forays
as a pianist and drummer. Think Joshua and
Manjits children Swarleen and Rhythmpreet
are the next generation of musicians and they
have already been talking about forming their
own band!!
It has been a super musical experience for
us all. We have enjoyed listening to Sandhya
and Raagtime. Each concert was a unique
experience. We look forward to many more
concerts by RaagTime in the coming year.
Sandhya plans on visiting New Zealand again
next year and we sure look forward to that too.
For information on the band and their
music visit www.benfernandez.net and www.
facebook.com/raagtimefusion. It will be great
to support this excellent band and team of
musicians by attending their gigs and events
and spreading the word to your friends and
contacts.

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

Auckland Plan report

Red
Blackprogress
Orange
shows good

uckland is delivering on key Auckland

Plan targets including a reduction in water
consumption, an increase in access to sports
fields and growth in the citys GDP.
The Auckland Development Committee last
week received the third annual Auckland Plan
progress update which tracks the progress of
the plans actions and achievements over the
past year.
Although the implementation of the plan has
just begun, areas that still need improvement
to reach set targets include levels of alcohol or
drug impaired driving, low home ownership
levels and lower than average export growth.
Auckland Development Committee Chair
Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse says the report is
encouraging, however as expected some areas
need improvement.
This report shows many positive
developments and progress we should be proud
of as a region, she says.
We have launched the new electric train
services, completed the roll-out of the AT HOP
card system, and we heard last month how
Aucklanders are now making 12 million train
journeys each year, overtaking Wellington for
the first time.
The report notes that since the opening of
the Panmure Station in January there has been a
57 per cent increase in passenger numbers with
an average of 1,116 passengers a day compared
to 100 in 2002.
The report says the council can look to
events like the NRL Nines, which delivered
$9.35 million in GDP to Auckland, to highlight
the economic strength of the city and help boost
visitor numbers.

NEW ZEALAND

Comments sought on
new road

hristchurch City Council and the NZ

Transport Agency are inviting submissions
on four connected projects aiming to ease travel
to and from areas north of the city.
The City Council is applying to designate
land for a new road called the Northern Arterial
Extension through the Cranford Basin to
join the NZTAs long-planned Northern
Arterial at Queen Elizabeth II Drive, and to
upgradeCranford Street.
The
Transport
Agencys Highway
Manager
Colin
Knaggs says the
Northern Arterial is
critical not only to
reduce
congestion
and travel times but to
provide better access
to the central city
and improve public
Ne w s from
transport links and
efficiency, as well as
providing safer cycling and walking facilities.
Capacity onCranford Street northofInnes
Roadwill be increased to four lanes, with a
raised median and cycle lanes being provided.
On-street parking will be removed. A new
roundabout will be built whereCranford
Streetjoins the Northern Arterial Extension and
a pedestrian and cycling overbridge will also be
provided.
Residents whose properties are affected by
the changes have already been consulted and
negotiations are continuing where the Council
needs to purchase land.
Submissions can be made on the Have Your
Say section of the Councils website until 19
December.

Mazda helping drive

Zoo conservation
efforts

azda New Zealand is growing its support

for Auckland Zoo, coming on board as a
principal partner a move thats helping the
Zoo with its conservation efforts in Auckland
and throughout the country.
Three vehicles, a Mazda 3, a Mazda BT-50
and a Mazda CX-9 are now covering all bases
for the Zoo to relocate or release animals,
transport
staff,
and also transport
equipment
for
fieldwork activities
a growing role.
The
Zoos
Ectotherms
team
were
delighted
to be the first to
road-test the new
t he Counc il a l l i g a t o r - t h e m e d
Mazda CX-9. The
CX-9 enabled us to
chaperone one of our fivealligators,Doris, to a
Northland facilityand carry out the important
role of settling her inwith an amorous male.
A spacious seven-seater, this vehicle was ideal
for this team effort, and being such a beautiful
beast, we felt it only appropriate to officially
name her Doris, says Ectotherms team leader,
Don McFarlane.
Auckland Zoo director Jonathan Wilcken
says its fantastic to be welcoming Mazda as
a principal partner.
In February next year, Mazda and the
Zoo will be giving Auckland Zoo visitors the
opportunity to participate in Monkeys in a
Mazda a competition to win a new Mazda 2.

MAYORALDRIVE

JACK IMMIGRATION
CONSULTANTS LTD

Penguins join the fun

this Christmas at the
Auckland Zoo

he Penguins of Madagascar, Santas grotto

and carolling elves are only some of what
will make this years Christmas at the Zoo an
extra special one. Join the fun at Auckland Zoo
on Saturday 6 December from 5pm-8pm, and
you could win one of many prizes up for grabs.
Enjoy the festivities, check out the summer
fun, waddle to the Penguins of Madagascar
interactive activity centre or have your photo
taken with Skipper, Rico, Kowalski and Private.
There will also be the hugely popular
Singing Santa show and the guest of honour,
Santa Claus, will once again arrive in style for
his starring role.
Along with the Christmas concert, there
are special scheduled animal encounters and
surprise up-close encounters with the animals.
Event details
Christmas at the Zoo takes place
onSaturday 6 December from 5pm-8pm.
Santas Grotto is at WildZone from 5pm7pm
Tickets for Christmas at the Zoo are
available from Eventfinda (booking fees
apply), at 09 360 3805 or in person at the
Zoos Information Centre.
Friends of the Zoo receive 50% discount if
the purchase prior to28 November
General admission early bird 20% until28
November
No family passes for early birds
All tickets full price from28 November
Early bird ticket purchases go in the draw
to win tickets to a special preview viewing
of The Penguins of Madagascar.

Prime Takapuna Investment

Unit B, 106 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna, Auckland

For Reliable - Professional - Ecient

Immigration Advice

Boundary lines are indicative only

Multi tenanted strip retail investment returning $79,500pa + GST and OPEX
Two functional shops with rear access
Total net lettable area approximately 133.7m
Split risk with two tenancies
Retail investments of this calibre on Hurstmere Road are not available often

Located in the heart of the Takapuna retail district, this property enjoys dual frontage to
Hurstmere Road, lots of street appeal and neighbours that are local, national and
international.

Licensed Immigration Adviser

With Takapuna beach, the bus terminal, public car parks, access to the motorway and
many more amenities this location is looking to be intensified under the PAUP (Proposed
Auckland Unitary Plan) zoning with the ability to build up to five levels (subject to consents).
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Property Details
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Floor Area
133.7m
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Land Use
Business 3
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

124 Church Street, Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand

Phone: 09 276 5050, 09 276 4771, Fax: 09 276 4781
Email: jackimmigration@yahoo.com, visit: www.jackimmigration.com
Ofce Opens: Monday to Friday - 9:00am to 5:30pm

www.bayleys.co.nz/377286

Skilled Migrant Category

Long Term Business Visa
Work Visa
Family Categories
Visitor Visa
Student Visa
Job Search Visa

Joga Singh

13

PAUP
Business Metropolitan Centre - Takapuna 1 Sub-Precinct A
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Tenancy
Details
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name
of Tenant
CH&S Homestar
Golden Ling Limited
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Term
of Lease
Three (3) years, one (1) month Two (2) years
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Commencement
Date 3rd December 2012
20th October 2014
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Net Rental

$37,500pa + GST and OPEX

$42,000pa + GST and OPEX

Auction (unless sold prior)

11am, Wednesday 3rd December 2014
Maritime Square, Ground Floor
4 Viaduct Harbour Avenue
Auckland, New Zealand
Deep Purohit
M +64 21 190 9494
B +64 9 489 0981
deep.purohit@bayleys.co.nz
Devereux Howe-Smith Realty Ltd, Bayleys,
Licensed under the REA Act 2008

Simon Aldridge
M +64 21 774 951
B +64 9 489 0982
simon.aldridge@bayleys.co.nz
Devereux Howe-Smith Realty Ltd, Bayleys,
Licensed under the REA Act 2008

Damian Stephen
M +64 21 80 80 92
B +64 9 489 0810
damian.stephen@bayleys.co.nz
Devereux Howe-Smith Realty Ltd, Bayleys,
Licensed under the REA Act 2008

14

POWER COLUMN

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

Working together to life educational achievement

Red

Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi

National List MP

ere getting closer to the end of the year,

which for our older children, means
theyre in the middle of exams. Im sure
theyve all been studying hard, and I wish them
the best as they put their knowledge to the test.
I have already been lucky enough to meet
Senior Students at Aorere College. It is always
a pleasure to attend and meet students at the

college. Its also great to see our students

buoyed by success, and looking forward to the
future.
National is spending more than ever on
education. We have increased spending in
schools by over $600 million, and were putting
$359 million into our Investing in Educational
Success Initiative. This will boost the quality
of teaching and leadership in our schools, and
see communities of schools form to focus on
lifting educational achievement together.
As a community, I believe we all want
the best for our children wherever they are
learning. It makes sense to me for our schools

to be working alongside each other to share

knowledge, expertise, and best practice.
It will benefit all our schools, our teachers,
our students, and the future of our communities.
Our children are growing up to be our local
business owners, workers, and entrepreneurs. I
want to see them given the best tools available
to help them get there.
That means investing in improving the
quality of our teaching, and investing in
better infrastructure and resources, such as the
Network for Learning. This gives our students
access to fast, reliable internet, and todays
modern learning environment.

Black

Orange

I would also like to encourage the great

teachers we have here in Manukau East to
apply to the new Teacher-led Innovation Fund.
The fund will give teachers the time and
resources they need to do practical research
on new ideas for the classroom, to test them,
and then to share what works with others
to develop new ways of helping our children
and young people achieve at school. (www.
education.govt.nz/ies-teacher-led-innovationfund)
National is focusing on improving
performance in the schooling system to ensure
every child has the opportunity to succeed.

NZ Super affordable if we stop avoiding

the obvious
Winston Peters
NZ First leader

care-mongering about the cost of New

Zealand Super continues with some in the

public and the media now convinced that it is

not affordable. They are wrong.
NZ Super from the point of view of cost
only takes 4.1 per cent net of GDP, much less
than similar pensions in other OECD nations.

The number of people entitled to receive NZ

is heading beyond 70,000. Why dont some

Super will rise 14 percent in the next four years,

commentators have the courage to talk about

and thats now causing a scramble of concern.

that? They are blithely avoiding the obvious.

ndrew Little is the new Labour Party

leader as announced in a press conference
held on Tuesday in the Labour Party Caucus
room at Parliament.
The first two rounds of counting eliminated
Nania Mahuta and David Parker, leaving Grant
Robertson against Little. Caucus and party
member votes favoured Grant Roberston, but
a strong vote from union affiliates decided the
vote for Little.
The decision was a close one, said Little,

Its impossible to name a country where

Kiwis can receive a pension after living there

There has been all sorts of loose talk about

For years New Zealand First has highlighted

the cost of baby boomers who are reaching their

excess demand on NZ Super from immigrants

New Zealand Firsts policy is to have NZ

senior years.

who are eligible at 65 after being here only 10

Super tied to the time a person has lived in New

years.

Zealand, so a person who has been here only 10

However, the Cullen Fund was set up to

cost smooth this very event, and lets not forget

There is no requirement for a person who

these baby boomers have also been paying

fits the 10-year entitlement to have worked or

taxes for a long time.

paid taxes, in other words they may not have

The number of people who have acquired

super after only 10 years in New Zealand

who won in the third round of voting with a

total of 50.52%, compared to Grant Robertsons
49.48%.
Little said that the party organisation
would be under review but would like to see
Roberston, Parker and Mahuta among the
senior leadership.
In preparation for the 2017 election, Little
said he did not want to run a campaign similar
to Prime Minister John Key who he described
as running one of nastiest smear campaigns
weve seen in New Zealand politics.
He identified the capital gains tax and the
retirement age as two policies that would be
under review for the 2017 election.
Grant Robertson also said that he would not
be putting his name forward to lead the Labour
Party in the future, this being his third failed
attempt.

10 years. Why are we so generous?

years would not receive Super in full.

This is a sure way to protect the affordability
of NZ Super.

contributed at all.
That is totally unfair to Kiwis who have

Andrew Little elected Leader of Labour Party

worked all their lives and paid taxes.

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www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

NEW ZEALAND

15

Gender roles and romantic relationships

Red

Black

Orange

ndian women born in New Zealand can

face conflicting values when it comes
to defining gender roles and establishing
romantic relationships.
Ishta Singh, a South African-born Indian
whos lived in New Zealand since she was
10, is studying the issue for her masters
degree at the University of Waikato.
She says young Indian women who are
brought up in New Zealand have to negotiate
across cultures as they try to fit in with their
parents rules and wishes for their future
alongside living day-to-day in a more liberal
New Zealand environment.
Indian families are usually very

patriarchal and so women are likely to

take a subservient role in any romantic
relationship, says Ishta. But if youve
grown up in contemporary New Zealand
youre likely to have a different notion of
how relationships should be. For example, a
young Indian woman in New Zealand might
not want an arranged marriage, she may want
to go out on dates, go out with someone who
isnt Indian.
Ishta hopes her research will reveal
more about how young women deal with
the expectations of parents and their
own expectations and it may also help
us understand why some women stay in

unhappy relationships.
Ishta is seeking Indian women aged
between 18 and 25 who have grown up in
New Zealand and who would be happy to
participate in focus groups to talk about their
experiences of negotiating their way through
relationships. She promises anonymity.
Psychologist Dr Neville Robertson, one
of Ishtas degree supervisors, says Ishtas
research may also assist different service
providers better deal with situations of
family and culture conflict. I think the focus
groups will be empowering for some women,
knowing theyll be in a situation where
they can openly discuss their situations and

bounce ideas off one another.

For more information, contact Ishta Singh
on is31@students.waikato.ac.nz

ICC Cricket World

Cup 2015 Trophy
Tour comes to
Christchurch
The opening of the ICC Cricket World Cup
2015 is now less than 100 days away and this
week sees the Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour
visit Christchurch.
After a busy week travelling the country,
the Trophy Tour comes to Christchurch this
weekend, where fans can share in the exciting
build up to one of the worlds biggest sporting
occasions.
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Trophy
Tour - Christchurch visit details:
Saturday 22 November, 10am to 2pm at
Burwood Park, New Brighton Road: The
Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour arrives
in Christchurch on Saturday in Burwood
Park where a family-friendly fun-day will
provide the opportunity for fans can to get
their photo taken with the Cricket World
Cup and pitch their cricketing wits in the
Skill-Zones.
Monday 24 November, 6am to 10am
at The Commons (Gap Filler site at the
corner of Kilmore and Durham streets):
The Trophy Tour continues with a longbreakfast on Monday morning where
Mayor Lianne Dalziel will welcome the
Trophy Tour into the city. You will also be
joined by some special guests, breakfast
TV and performances from our multicultural communities.

Emirates Airlines Special fares to Indian Sub continent

starting from $1680.00* (inclusive all taxes),
*Travel dates : 16th Jan to 31st Oct 2014
*Sales Expiry : 8th Dec 2014 @ 4:00pm
Malaysia Airlines Special fares to Indian Sub continent
starting from $1685.00* (inclusive all taxes),
*Travel dates : 22nd Oct to 8th Dec 2014
*Sales Expiry : 24th Nov 2014 @ 4:00pm
Malaysia Airlines Special fares to Indian Sub continent
starting from $1585.00* (inclusive all taxes),
*Travel dates : 3rd Oct to 17th Nov 2014
*Sales Expiry : 30th Nov 2014 @ 4:00pm
Thai Airways Special fares to Indian Sub continent starting
from $1665.00* (inclusive all taxes),
Free accomodation for more than 6 hours halt
*Travel dates (Ex Auckland): 1st Oct to 26th Nov 2014,
16th Jan to 30th Apr 2015
*Sales Expiry : 24th Nov 2014 @ 4:00pm

16

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

Red

Black

Orange

Do not judge me by my success, judge

me by how many times I fell down and
got back up again.

Editorial

From the desk of the

Managing Editor

- Nelson Mandela

Pick of the week

sat on the edge of my seat, my heart swollen with pride as I watched Prime Minister
Abbott deliver his welcome address to Modi at the Australian Parliament. This is the first
time that an Indian Prime Minister has addressed this assembly. Abbott and the leader of the
opposition, Shorten, delivered well researched speeches in honour of our national hero who
deserved every single word of it.
Prior to that Modi had delivered another master stroke at the blockbuster that unfolded
at Allphones Stadium at Sydney. Volunteers, who took days off from work to organise
the Sydney event, had promised a reception more grand than the one Mr Modi received
in September at the famous Madison Square Garden in New York, the playground of the
biggest rock stars. About 220 Modi fans traveled 11 hours from Melbourne to Sydney on
a specially chartered train decked in Indias national colours, called the Modi Express. A
special Gujarati meal was served on board the train.
There are around 450,000 people of Indian origin in Australia, including many from the
student community. Modi fever grips Sydney, the Canberra Times said in a headline on
Sunday. The city will get a dose of Modi-mania when the Indian Prime Minister makes
a quick-fire, high-energy visit, the newspaper said in a report on its online edition. While
about 20,000 packed audience was being enthralled by this magician, outside the Allphones
arena, there was Indian food, people in Modi masks, drummers and dancers. About 5,000
people who could not get tickets to the show inside watched MrModi speak on big screens
outside the venue.
Many pacts and agreements were signed following the G20 and various other meetings
followed. We have tried to put together all the highlights in this issue. Our journey will
continue to Fiji as the Modi wave travels there, in our subsequent issue.
Although political analysts and critics have much to say about Modis governance and
style, one thing is certain that the man is a magician when it comes to communicating with
the hearts of the people. Its a treat to even watch the reception that follows his visits, whether
it is the Allphones Stadium in Sydney or the Parliament in Canberra.
One can only hope that in times to come New Zealand will also have the opportunity to
welcome this sheer ball of energy, so we Kiwi-Indians can also feel the Modi frenzy.
Also, in this issue are more details on the G20 and how it became G21 with the presence
of our own Prime Minister John Key attending as a special invitee and the agreements that
were bagged in the process. More details will follow in subsequent issues.
Indian Weekender is really honoured and glad to receive regular readers contributions.
We love to feature them in our issues and would like to encourage more of our readers to
write to us.
One of the most inspiring points that Modi made in his speech was about the greatness of
the Gods that were considered to have a hundred hands so how much greater is the strength
of Mother India who has 250 crore hands. These are represented by all of us. Let us become
those people who strengthen our motherland wherever we may be. Let us do our best in all
our endeavors and be the achievers that our motherland is proud of.

This photograph of Kim Kardashian on the cover of Paper magazine was supposed to Break the
Internet and it did, considering how viral it went in the past few days on social media. As if that
wasnt enough, Kardashian has tried to justified the implications of the visual, via the following
tweet: And they say I didnt have a talent...try balancing a champagne glass on your a** LOL
#BreakTheInternet #PaperMagazine

Giri Gupta

Indian Weekender Volume 6 Issue 18

Publisher: Kiwi Media Group Limited
Managing Editor: Giri Gupta | girigupta@xtra.co.nz
Associate Editor: Paula Ray | paula@indianweekender.co.nz
Associate Editor: Maya Shivam | editor@indianweekender.co.nz
Correspondent: Swati Sharma | reporter@indianweekender.co.nz
Chief Technical Officer: Rohan Desouza | rohan@indianweekender.co.nz
Graphic Design and Layout: Mahesh Kumar | designer@ indianweekender.co.nz
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Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher
is not responsible for advertisers claims as appearing in the publication

Kia Ora

Pronounced: Kyora
Mori Greeting : Be well/healthy.
Kia Ora. How may I help you?

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OPINION / EDITORIAL

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

Secrets of the dominant

Hindu Goddess

Red

Black

Orange

M.R. Narayan Swamy

itle: 7 Secrets of the Goddess; Author:

Devdutt Pattanaik; Publisher:
Westland
Ltd;
Pages: 259
Title: Shikhandi
and Other Tales
They Dont Tell
You;
Author:
Devdutt Pattanaik;
Publisher: Penguin
Books; Pages: 179
G o d d e s s
Lakshmi massages
Lord
Vishnus
feet; is this male
domination? Goddess
Kali stands on Lord
Shivas chest; is this
female domination?
Lord Shiva is half
a woman; is this gender equality? Devdutt
Pattanaik, a medical doctor by education and
a mythologist by passion, delves into these
questions and more as he unveils the secrets
of seven goddesses, including Gaia, the earth
mother in Greek mythology.
According to Pattanaik, the value placed on
the feminine has been attributed to the popularity
and influence of the village goddesses or grama
devis, which have been revered in settlements
across rural India since the dawn of time. This

is more so in southern India. So important

are the Hindu goddesses that any attempt to
worship god without goddess is discouraged.
T h e
Puranas underline that the essence
of all male gods is female, but the
opposite is not true.
Using
photographs
and
calendar art, Pattanaik delves
into the secrets of (besides Gaia)
Kali, Gauri, Durga, Lakshmi and
Saraswati. The author also writes
about Vitthai, the mother Vitthal
in the eyes of Maharashtras
sage Dnyaneshwar. Vitthal is the
popular name of Lord Krishna
in the state.
Shikhandi is all about
queerness in Hindu tradition Shikhandi who became a man
to satisfy the wife, Mahadeva
who became a woman to
deliver his devotees child,
Bhagirath who was born of two women, Aruna
who became a woman when the sun passed,
Ila who became a man when the moon waned,
Samavan who became the wife of his male
friend, and so on. The celebration of queer
ideas in Hindu stories, symbols and rituals is in
stark contrast to the ignorance and rigidity we
see today in Indian society.
M.R. Narayan Swamy is Executive Editor at
IANS. He can be reached on narayan.swamy@
ians.in <mailto:narayan.swamy@ians.in>.
The views expressed are personal.

India and New Zealand:

the economic connections
n
cademic
ccount

istorically, since New Zealands national

history and identity had been very
much embedded in the history of the British
Empire, her connections with India were more
substantial than is often recognised. Tony
Ballantyne has mentioned the constant traffic
of people, ideas and material goods across the
empire constituting the relational quality of the
imperial past. In terms of ideas, Indocentric
theories of Aryanism were used in New
Zealand in the second half of the nineteenth
century to understand the ethnic origins of the
Maori. Ballantyne and Brian Moloughney have
further shown how consumer goods from India
regularly found their way into New Zealand
markets in the nineteenth century, and New
Zealand timber was shipped to India to pay for
these imports.
Import of Indian consumer goods increased
phenomenally in the late nineteenth century;
Indian and Ceylon tea was a prime example.
According to a report in the Evening Post (19
August 1895) New Zealand was exporting
3,667,585lb of tea in 1895, and more than 97
per cent of it was coming from South Asia
India and Ceylon.
By 1908 tea consumption in New Zealand
rose to about 6.5 lb per person per year; and
by this time Chinese tea had been virtually
displaced by South Asian tea (Evening Post,
8 August 1908). But in exchange, very few
New Zealand products had a market in India
and as a result New Zealand faced an adverse
balance of trade. A meeting of the Auckland

Prof Sekhar Bandyopadhyay

Director of New Zealand India Research Institute

Provincial Agricultural Association on 22

August 1891 noted with alarm that import from
India amounted to 200,000 per annum, but
little is being sent back in return. It argued
that tin meats for the Indian Army, colonial
oats for the cavalry and artillery horses might
have some demand in India (Evening Post, 24
August 1891). But that could hardly redress the
trade imbalance the situation only suggests
how popular the Indian consumer goods were
in New Zealand colonial society.
Compare that situation with the current one.
In the year to June 2013, according to MFAT
figures,New Zealand exports to India amounted
to NZD 725,912 million, while imports
amounted to NZD 398,416 million. This means
that the balance of trade has now been tilted in
favour of New Zealand.
However, the structure of trade remains
largely the same, with New Zealand exporting
mainly primary products like dairy, wood, wool,
some machinery and coal, while importing
medicines, textiles, apparel, precious stones
and some machinery.
While the total volume of bilateral trade has
doubled since 2007, if we look at the last few
years figures, it now seems to have reached
a plateau, and any further expansion would
depend on innovation, initiative and finally,
successful completion of an FTA. Hopefully,
the November visit of Mr Nathan Guy, the NZ
Minister for Primary Industries, with a business
delegation to India will bring in some good
news.

17

BJP-Congress tension
will hurt reforms

Amulya Ganguli

t has long been said that the economic

reforms are irreversible. Moreover, the Left
claims that both the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) and the Congress are on the same page
on this subject since they both pursue what the
Communists call neo-liberal policies.
Yet, there are complications. As was evident
from the stalling of reforms in the twilight

years of the Manmohan Singh government,

presumably because of the reservations of
Sonia Gandhi and her Left-of-centre National
Advisory Council, the market-oriented
initiatives do have powerful critics.
Where the BJP is concerned, the very fact
that the supposedly pro-business Narendra
Modi is going slow in the matter of introducing
big-ticket reforms shows how hard it is for even
supporters of reforms to push ahead.
Now, another bump has appeared on the road.
It is the increasing bitterness between the two
national parties - the BJP and the Congress.
The acrimony between them was palpable not
only from the Congress belligerence on the
day when the BJP government in Maharashtra
won a controversial trust vote, but also from the
Congress decision, bordering on crudity, not to
invite the prime minister to the functions which
it has organized on the occasion of Jawaharlal
Nehrus 125th birth anniversary.
It is another matter that Modi will not be in
India when these are held. But the Congresss
gratuitous discourtesy towards him does not
show the party in a favourable light, especially
when it is celebrating the birthday of one of the
most cultured personalities in Indian public life
- past and present.
Both these displays of aggression have
been interpreted as evidence of a demoralized
outfit trying to boost its flagging spirits with
a show of street-level machismo. But what is
more important than the Congress in-yourface rudeness towards the BJP is the distinct
possibility that the two parties will be on the
lookout for each and every opportunity to trip
one another up.
Whatever impact such offensive conduct
has in the political field, what is worrisome for
the country is the resultant roadblocks which
the reforms may face in the coming days.
It goes without saying that notwithstanding
the BJPs majority in the Lok Sabha, it still
needs the Congress support in the two houses
of parliament to implement measures like
amending the land acquisition law, introducing
labour reforms, passing the Goods and Services
Tax (GST) and take other steps such as
disinvestment.
However, the Congress is unlikely to
cooperate in its present combative mood. Even
in normal times, Indian politicians tend to
oppose when sitting in the opposition benches
what they supported when in power. It was
in keeping with this cussed attitude that the

Congress forced the BJP to send to the select

committee the proposal to raise the foreign
investment cap in the insurance sector to 49
percent, which used to be the Congress own
proposition.
Now, it is likely to be even more
obstructionist. What is more, its wilful
tendency to thwart any pro-reforms move will
be aggravated by its belief that the party needs
to turn Left.

Rahul Gandhi has said that the Congress

follows the path of love while others prefer to
be angry. But currently, there is no love lost
between the saffron outfit and the (no longer)
Grand Old Party.
As for the BJP, its disadvantage is that it
is virtually bereft of friends at present. Where
the reforms are concerned, it is alone for all
practical purposes.
Except for the Biju Janata Dal, it cannot
expect support from any other party, for the
other splinter Janata groups - Laloo Yadavs
Rashtriya Janata /Dal (RJD) and Nitish Kumars
Janata Dal-United - are Lohiates in their belief
with an emphasis on caste and socialism.
It is the same with Mulayam Singh Yadavs
Samajwadi Party, H.D. Deve Gowdas Janata
Dal-Secular and Mamata Banerjees Trinamool
Congress.
In a line-up in parliament, therefore, a large
number of parties will be against the BJP.
The latter has also made its case worse by
alienating some of its allies like the Shiv Sena.
Furthermore, there are reports that the BJP is
not too keen on maintaining its present ties with
the Akali Dal.
What this seeming vulnerability of the BJP
means is that it will not be too confident in
rebuffing the Congress even as the latter ups
the ante.
The BJPs nervousness is evident from the
fact that despite its success in emerging as the
first party in Maharashtra, the party botched its
case by the dubious manner in which it won the
trust vote.
However, nearly all the parties appear
to have had their own varying reasons for
avoiding a clear count of votes. For instance,
the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) would
not have relished being seen openly lending
support to the BJP while the latter was chary of
being in the company of what Modi called the
naturally corrupt party.
Similarly, the Congress could not afford to
oppose Devendra Fadnavis government along
with the communal Shiv Sena, and the Sena
itself could not take the risk of some of its
members voting for the wrong side.
Since the Maharashtra government has
started its journey on a faltering note, the BJP
has realized that it is not all achhe din. The
Congress cannot but take advantage of its
difficulties.
Amulya Ganguli is a political analyst.
The views expressed are personal. He can be
reached at amulyaganguli@gmail.com

18

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

FIJI

Modi gets traditional Fijian welcome

ndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was

accorded a traditional iTaukei ceremonial
welcome at the Albert Park in Suva, Fiji. Modi
is the first Indian prime minister to visit Fiji
in 33 years. Earlier, Modi was received at the
airport by Prime Minister Bainimarama.
The traditional welcome ceremony was
conducted by people from Sorokaba in Ba.
The welcome was designed to greet Modi
in the proud iTaukei tradition, and also
in a way befitting a leader who rose from
humble beginnings to lead the worlds largest
democracy, said the Fijian government.
Modi is the first Indian prime minister to
visit Fiji since Indira Gandhi travelled there in
1981. The Fijian government said Modis visit
was a national event, not a political one. It
is an opportunity for our nation to engage the
leader of the worlds largest democracy and one
of Fijis most important international partners
in discussions that are critical for Fijis future.
The visit to Parliament is an opportunity
for the elected representatives of all the Fijian
people -- not just government -- to share in this
visit. Obviously, the government has primary
responsibility for the visit and the official
discussions, but it has taken care to ensure that
H.E. Prime Minister Modi experiences a visit
with all the people of Fiji.

Fijians shake
hands with
Modi, click
selfies

housands of people gathered at

Albert Park in the Fijian capital to
welcome Modi. After the traditional
iTaukei ceremonial welcome by the
people of Sorokaba in Ba, Modi went
around to meet the visitors, and shook
hands as many primary and secondary
school students took selfies with him.
Among the crowd was 76-yearold Hari-Narayan who was at Albert
Park to see then Indian prime minister
Indira Gandhi during her visit in 1981.
He said he was happy at the visit of
Modi.
>>

NEWS in BRIEF
Black

Orange

Dengue deaths

Dengue virus has affected more than

28,000 people in Fiji. They were diagnosed
positive, of whom 14 died, reports the
Ministry of Health. Although a breakdown
of the numbers were not available, but the
highest numbers were recorded in the central
division. Most patients are cared for in the
CWM Hospital, said the report. The outbreak
began in November last year and ended early
this year.

French connection
with Fiji

Fiji can be hub for Indian ties with Pacific

Islands
Modi said that Fiji could serve as a hub for
stronger Indian engagement with the Pacific
Islands and acknowledged that Indo-Fiji
relations have at times been adrift; and that our
cooperation should be much stronger than it is.
Modi said he had had very productive talks
with his Fijian counterpart and complimented
him for seeking to build an inclusive Fijian
nation, which guarantees rights, and provides a
life of opportunity and dignity, to all its citizens.
Both sides have agreed to consult more
closely on international issues of mutual
interest, including international trade, climate
change, United Nations Peacekeeping and UN
reforms, he said.
He said India and Fiji will expand their
defence and security cooperation, including
assistance in defence training and capacity
building.
India will remain a committed development

Red

partner for Fiji, he said and thanked him for

support on Indias new assistance projects in
Fiji, including a Parliament Library and a fund
of $5 million to promote small business and
village enterprises in Fiji.
We will do more in other areas such as
tourism and cultural exchanges. I am happy to
announce visa on arrival for Fijians, he said.
Modi said India is prepared to increase
cooperation in renewable energy, especially
solar and wind energy, and in building capacity
to adapt to climate change. India is also
prepared to share experience and expertise in
disaster management and response.

He also thanked Fiji for hosting Indian

scientists for tracking Indias Mars Mission
earlier this year. He said he was confident that
the visit would mark the start of a new era of
India-Fiji relations.
India ready to partner with Fiji
As Fiji adjust to the changing global
markets, India is prepared to be your partner
in making your existing industries stronger and
finding new opportunities for the youth, Modi
said in his address to Fijis Parliament.
He added that for countries like India
and Fiji, village and small and medium size
industries were the source of enterprise and
employment. He also announced a line of credit
worth $17 million for Fiji.
Agriculture supports a majority of the
population in India and Fiji. As the largest
producer of milk, India can help your dairy
industry which can also contribute to your
exports, Modi said.
The Prime Minister said that India was
willing to build a digital Fiji and prepare the
youth to integrate Fiji with the global IT
network. In this digital age, every nation can
be a part of the global information industry. It is
an industry that offers a great path to prosperity
and it has the right carbon footprint. We are
pleased to set up a centre for excellence in
information and technology here in Fiji.

Following the stability post-election,

former French Ambassador whose stint in
Fiji ended last week, Gilles Montagnier, said
the future of the country looks positive. With
the recent lifting of sanctions, Fijis economy
is expected to improve. These efforts would
alleviate poverty and reduce inequality in the
society.
Montagnier said he enjoyed his experience
during his four-year stint in Fiji and was
saddened by his departure. Four years may
seem very long, but for me it has been very
very short, Montagnier said.
It has been four interesting years. And
we are proud to have been the only western
embassy that was confident and said so that
Fijis roadmap was credible and that the
elections would be free, fair, transparent and
credible. We have been right, Montagnier
said.
With the lifting of sanctions you will have
better growth, so I think Fiji will improve
in the fight against poverty, inequality and
building a peaceful multiracial nation.
Montagnier said he was looking forward
to his retirement in South of France, where
he plans to write a memoir of his time in Fiji.
He is succeeded by Michael Djokovic, who
completed a three-year posting in Port Vila
in Vanuatu.

Turtle protection
project

A turtle protection project in has resulted

in an increase of the marine animals
population in the Malolo islands, in Fiji.
Organised by Mamanuca Environment
Society, the project allowed for the tagging
of 22 turtles that were released in the past
two years while a total of 99 hatchlings were
recovered and released in the same period,
reports Fiji Times.
Project manager Marica Vakacola said
UNDP and Global Environment Facility
Small Grant Program Mamanuca Sea Turtle
Conservation Project encouraged the active
participation of tourism operators and the
local community.
The first phase of the turtle conservation
project from 2008 to 2011 resulted in active
participation of the targeted stakeholders
through promoting community and resort
education awareness, establishing protocol
and policies to monitor breeding and foraging
of marine turtles, integrating biological
research components at community and resort
level and establishing standardised turtle
conservation guidelines on best practices for
resorts, she said.
A total of 12 Hawksbill turtles were
placed in the Mana Island Resort turtle pond
with only five left to be tagged and released
into the wild.

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

Red

Black

INDIA

19

Orange

Rockstar Modi rocks on..

he world had not yet recovered from the

rockshow that unfolded at Maddison square
gardens in New York when Modi delivered his
encore perfoemance at the Allphones Stadium
at Sydney. Addressing thousands that filled
the stadium to capacity while many thousands
waited outside watching him on big screens,
Modi stated that he was not deserving of the
affection and welcome he had received, instead
it was the 125 crore Indians that deserved it. The
address had all the ingredients of a sellout Modi
performance. Starting his speech in English
and acknowledging the indigenous Australian
peoples, Modi switched to Hindi amidst chants
of Modi-Modi and Bharat Mata Ki Jai.
Typical of his style, Modi communicated
with the people, in simple heart warming
words, playing on their heart strings, invoking
patriotism and pride for their home country.
He praised the Indian diaspora for their
contributions to Australia and drew out the
long standing ties between the two countries,
including our love for Cricket. He talked about
cricket and the cultural history that linked
India and Australia. It was then that Modi
delivered his mastr stroke, stating that You can
take off from India at night and reach Australia
the next morning. But it took 28 years for an
Indian PM to reach Australia. I promise you
will never need to wait that long again.
This assurance by the Prime Minister comes
amidst the environment of fostering strong
relationships with Australia. When the leaders
of the two countries met, outside the rubric
of G-20, trade was top of the list. Australia
continues to be a major exporter of coal, gold,
copper ores and concentrates, vegetables,

services to India and importer of passenger

motor vehicles, medicaments, pearls, gems
and jewellery. There is also enormous scope
beyond coal and uranium in the energy sector,
and Australia can tap into the Indias renewable
energy efforts which suffer from various
impediments.
Australias Direct Aid Programme (DAP)
continues to fund small-scale sustainable
development projects in several states and union
territories, especially in vocational training
for youth; solar power and end-user training
and electrification of hundreds of households;
construction of diversion based irrigation to
create permanent irrigation facilities; womens
economic empowerment; access to education
for women and girls; and capacity development
for people with disabilities. These initiatives
also complement Modis vision for inclusive

development and better governance.

Prime Minister Abbot while generously
praising Modi and welcoming him to address
the Australian Parliament, where Modi
became the first Indian Prime Minister to do
so, stated We can never forget that India is an
intellectual powerhouse and potential economic
powerhouse. Science, medical research are
strengths of India.
Abbott also stated Trade means jobs, trade
means prosperity, we both need more jobs
and prosperity and that is what this particular
visit is all about. India and Australia seek early
conclusion of negotiations for a comprehensive
economic partnership agreement.
Modi delivered his message of Make in
India clearly stating thet the economic climate
in India has changed and that it was a lot
easier to convert opportunities into concrete

outcomes. India and Australia have signed

pacts on social security, transfer of sentenced
prisoners, combating narcotics trade, tourism,
and Arts.PM Modi also sought an early closure
of India-Australia nuclear deal to facilitate the
import of Uranium. India and Australia have
also established a framework for bilateral
security cooperation as they stepped up their
defence collaboration for advancing regional
peace and combating terrorism among other
challenges. Mr. Modi, while addressing the
Parliament, also called for collaboration in
the field of maritime security. During the joint
statement after the signing of the agreements,
PM Modi said, This is a natural partnership.
Huge opportunities of partnership in every area
we can think of.
How this relationship develops further and
grows needs to be seen, however at this juncture
one cannot but wonder why New Zealand failed
to rise to the opportunity of furthering its ties
with the worlds largest democracy. For years
it has been toying with a trade agreement with
India, which has not taken any concrete shape
or form. While its neighbor across the ditch
has made most of the emerging and one of
the fastest growing economies in the world,
it seems for now, New Zealand will remain a
silent spectator as Modi makes his way to Fiji,
from where he will travel on to Myanmar.
So while the political top guns in India
and Australia rejoice at a successful G20, for
Joe Public of Indian origin it has been a total
paisa wasool performance of travelling in the
Modi Express and listening and watching Modi
deliver his rockstar strokes.

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20

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

INDIA

NEWS in BRIEF
RSS, BJP leaders to address world Hindu
congress
BJP and RSS leaders will address an international conference beginning in New Delhi,
India Nov 21 that seeks to provide a global platform to Hindu society to formulate solutions to
the myriad challenges it faces by it.
The World Hindu Congress 2014 (WHC) is being organised by the World Hindu Foundation
and is expected to see participation of about 1,500 delegates from 40 countries.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat and Tibetan leader the Dalai
Lama would address the inaugural session of the three-day conclave.
Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah and union ministers Smriti Irani, Nitin Gadkari
and Nirmala Sitharaman are scheduled to address subsequent sessions.
The conference, to be addressed by educationists and scientists, will see 45 sessions.
WHC coordinator Liza Bhansali said the event has gained traction due to the BJP-led NDA
being in power.
She said people were influenced by Prime Minster Narendra Modi taking pride in his
heritage.
Because we have a prime minister who has talked of his Hindu nationalist identity,
peoples mindset has changed a bit. People (of Hindu descent) are happy to acknowledge their
Hindu heritage, Bhansali said.
The organisers said the WHC was taking place after discussion and preparation spread over
10 years.

Kolkata hospital gives free health cards to

60 children of sex workers

rom being brought up in the gloomy bylanes of the city to ill nourishment and poverty,
these children have faced it all. 60 such kids of sex workers in Kolkata with exceptional
football talents have been medically adopted by a leading hospital in the southern outskirts
of the city.
The Peerless hospital, partnering the Indian Super League franchise Atletico De Kolkata,
has decided to give free health cards, free annual health checkup cards and free ISL match
tickets to the budding footballers, who are members of the Durbar Sports Academy.
Hospital managing director Dilip Samaddar said: We will adopt the 60 children of Durbar
Sports Academy to take care of their medical needs. The children of this club have really
shown great efforts to journey from regional to international sporting initiatives.
The youngsters had one field training session with the players of Atletico De Kolkata. They
looked awestruck finding themselves face-to-face with their footballing heroes.

Commercial operation of Kudankulam

N-plant only in 2015

ommercial operation of the first 1,000 MW unit at Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project
(KNPP) is expected to happen only next year with the Central Electricity Regulatory
Commission (CERC) agreeing to the petition filed by Nuclear Power Corporation of India
Ltd (NPCIL).
The CERC by its Nov 10 order has permitted NPCIL to feed infirm power into the southern
gird till Jan 22, 2015 on a petition by the Indian atomic power plant operator.
Infirm power is the one that is generated by a power unit that has not begun commercial
operations.
The NPCIL had made the application to CERC seeking its permission to feed infirm
power till Jan 22, 2015 or till the unit achieves commercial operation, which ever is earlier.
The CERC had earlier permitted NPCIL to feed infirm power into the grid till Oct 10, 2014
from the first KNPP unit.
However, the unit stopped operations Sep 26 as its turbine blades and diaphragm were
damaged. The NPCIL is replacing the components from the second unit being set up there.
According to NPCIL, the turbine problem is expected to be resolved by Dec 22, 2014 and
one months time is needed for eventualities.
Indias atomic power plant operator NPCIL is setting up two 1,000 MW Russian reactors
at Kudankulam in Tirunelveli district, 650 km from here. The total outlay for the project is
over Rs.17,000 crore.
The first unit attained criticality, which is the beginning of the fission process, on July 2013.
The unit has started power generation and has been connected to the southern grid.

Centre wants to provide low-cost education:

Irani

he central government wants to provide greater access to quality education for more
number of students, union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Irani
said.
Talking to the media here, Irani said the central government was working on providing
quality education at low cost to students.
Irani was here to address the concluding session of the 60th national conference of the
Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) here.
She said some graduate, post-graduate and other courses in central universities, Indian
Institutes of Management (IIMs) and Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) will be offered
online to help students interested in obtaining higher education by paying less fee.

Connect with spiritual

past, Pranab says at temple
Red

ork on the construction of a mammoth

Krishna temple began in Vrindavan,
with President Pranab Mukherjee asking
Indians to reconnect to their spiritual past.
Mukherjee took part in the prayers to put up
an idol of Shesh Nag at the foundation of the
temple that will be 700 feet tall when completed
after five years.
As we now make the transformative
change from being a developing to a developed
economy, there will be immense pressures on
our socio-economic and moral fabric. It is,
therefore, imperative that we reconnect to our
spiritual dimensions, the president said in his
speech.
There can be no better way of doing this
than spreading the Bhagavad Gitas message of
universal love and humanity, he said.
Expressing happiness that the temple will
disseminate the message of the Bhagavad Gita
and Srimad Bhagavatam, Mukherjee said the
message was particularly relevant today.
While we as a nation move up the
developmental ladder, it is essential that our
spiritual core, which forms the bedrock of our
civilisation, remains undiluted and strong as
ever.
Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik, Minister
of Prisons Balram Yadav, MP Hema Malini and
key officials of the International Society for
Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) were also
present.
Madhu Pandit Dasji, chairman of the temple
project, said this would help shape Indias
future and bring spirituality back in our lives.

Black

Orange

The temple is being built at the exact

location where Sri Krishna with his family
shifted from Gokul to Vrindavan.
Governor Naik said he was hopeful the
project would be completed before time, unlike
government projects which usually breach
deadlines.
President Mukherjee also visited the Bankey
Bihari temple.

Women are backbone of

nation, says Tendulkar

n his first visit to a village which he

has decided to adopt for development,
cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar said women are
backbone of all families in India and the nation.
Addressing women in Puttamrajuvari
Kandriga, a small village of a little over 500
population, the parliamentarian urged them to
ensure cleanliness and inculcate clean habits in
their children.
In his brief address to the members of
womens Self-Help Groups (SHGs), he said a
woman makes sacrifices for her husband, son
or daughter and for the entire family.
When the government declared Bharat
Ratna to me, I declared in my brief statement
that this is for my mother and all mothers of our
nation and for all the sacrifices they make, the
41-year-old said.
We speak about Swachch Bharat. Most of
diseases are spread because we dont wash our
hands properly. We sometimes feed our children
with those unwashed dirty hands. We also dont
teach children how to wash hands and take
things for granted that nothing will happen to
our children and that is when something goes
wrong with family, he said.
Tendulkar, who retired from cricket a
year ago, spent three hours in the village.
He unveiled a pylon to adopt the village and
launched various development works.
He laid foundation stones for various
programmes and reviewed with officials the
works for construction of houses, toilets, roads,
water supply, drainage, school, community
centre and other amenities.
The Rajya Sabha member has provided

Rs.2.79 crore of his MP Local Area

Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds for
various works in Puttamrajuvari Kandriga.
The state government has also come forward
to provide matching grants to make it a model
village.
This was Tendulkars first visit to the village
after his announcement to adopt it under Sansad
Adarsh Gram Yojna.
This is the first step towards development
of this village and I feel to make a change is not
as difficult as maintaining what has changed,
Tendulkar told women.
The first innings has just started, but in
the second innings you are going to play by
maintaining and looking after this place, he
remarked amid loud cheers by the youngsters.
We have also created toilets. It is important
to keep them clean and teach your children
so that they grow up in the right manner and
become bright stars of our nation, he said.
Andhra Pradesh Minister for Urban
Development P. Narayana and Nellore
District Collector N. Srikanth explained
various development works to be undertaken.
Tendulkar heard with keen attention when an
SHG member explained how the womens
groups are formed, and how they save money
and undertake various social activities.
A festive atmosphere prevailed in the village
as local residents, especially youngsters, were
excited to see and meet the cricket icon. He
shook hands with school children, interacted
with them and also played some cricket with
them.

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

INDIA

21

Dont want ties to be held hostage to Kashmir issue:

Pakistan envoy

Red

Black

Orange

akistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit

said his country doesnt like the relationship
with India to be held hostage to the Jammu and
Kashmir issue but both countries should make
sincere efforts to resolve the problem.
Expressing the hope that the bilateral talks
will resume, he said at the end of the day the
two countries will have to talk to each other.
Both our countries do recognise that
Jammu and Kashmir is a problem which needs
to be resolved. As part of dialogue process in
the past we have been trying to resolve it.
One would hope the problem is resolved
to our mutual satisfaction and resolved in just
and fair manner, he said during an interaction
with the media at the Hyderabad Press Club last
weekend.
There are other issues our countries have
been talking about. There are 10 segments
within the framework of composite dialogue
and Jammu and Kashmir is one of them.
We would not like our relationship to be
held hostage to one single issue but we would
like to talk. Sincere efforts should be made to
resolve the issue and both countries need to do
it, he said.
Let us hope because at the end of the day
we will have to talk to each other. It may not
happen this year. It may not happen next year
but at the end of day, our two countries will be
talking to each other, he added.
About 20 years ago, Pakistan used to have
pre-conditions for talks. First resolve Jammu
and Kashmir dispute then we will talk... but that

did not work. We have to talk to each other with

an open mind, the high commissioner said
when asked about the Modi governments stand
that Pakistan should decide whether it wants to
hold talks with India or Kashmiri separatists.
India called off talks between foreign
secretaries in August after the Pakistani high
commissioner held meetings with Kashmiri
separatist leaders.
Concurring with Indian External Affairs
Minister Sushma Swarajs statement that there
are no full stops in diplomacy, he hoped that
process of dialogue will resume.
Jammu and Kashmir is a part of composite
dialogue. Whenever the dialogue process is
resumed, we will be able to build on the past

Only united efforts can

save children: Satyarthi

achievements and move forward.

It is in our mutual interest. It is not that my
country is doing favour to India or India doing
favour to Pakistan. Peace is in mutual interest.
It is also in regional interest, he said.
When asked about ceasefire violations by
Pakistan, Basit said: Obviously our position
is different. He stressed the need for both
the countries to adhere to all agreements and
declarations made in the past.
He also underlined the need for focusing on
positivity.
There is too much negativity in our
bilateral narrative. Unless we think positive,
things will not move forward. If we start
thinking positive about each other we can also

Indian democracy owes

much to independent
press: Rathore

he success of Indian democracy owes much

to an independent and responsible press
which has played a crucial role in educating and
empowering the masses, Minister of State for
Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan
Singh Rathore said.
Journalists have acted like soldiers, utilising
the weapons of pen and newspaper columns, he
said in his address at a function organised by the
Press Council of India here to commemorate
National Press Day.
Rathore reiterated the governments
commitment to protect, preserve and promote
freedom of the press.
He called upon journalists to maintain
professional integrity and ethical standards in

nly the collective efforts of law enforcers,

NGOs and people can save children from
human traffickers, Nobel Peace Prize winner
Kailash Satyarthi said.
Child trafficking was one of the worst forms
of human rights abuses, he told a workshop
here organised by the National Security Guard
Wives Welfare Association.
The 60-year-old Satyarthi was named
winner of the 2014 Nobel prize for peace along
with teenager Malala Yousafzai from Pakistan.
The function was held at Manesar, some 20
km from Gurgaon.
To save India, we will have to save the
childhood of our children from every section of
the society. The goal can be achieved only by
collective efforts, Satyarthi said.
He said Haryana was counted as one of the
developed states of the country but it accounted
for a large number of cases of trafficking of
young females.

He gave an example of a young woman in

Sonipat district trafficked from a north-eastern
state who was sold by a man who claimed to
be her husband.
He favoured a stringent law for the safety
children in the country and made a strong
appeal to Save the Childhood of every child.
Satyarthi said it was imperative that the
society takes care of the right to education,
health and freedom of all children.
Satyarthi has worked for child rights for over
30 years through the Bachpan Bachao Andolan,
an NGO which is credited with freeing over
80,000 children from bonded labour across
India.
He lauded the working and ideology of
Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The event was attended by NSG Director
General J.N. Choudhury, his wife and several
NSG personnel and NGOs besides scores of
children.

create opportunities and find solutions to our

problems, he added.
He urged the Indian media not to look at
Pakistan through past prism which is no more
valid. He claimed that Pakistan has progressed
in many ways with a vibrant civil society, free
media, active NGOs and advocacy groups.
Evading reply to a query as to why Pakistan
continues to harbour Dawood Ibrahim and
Hafiz Saeed, the Pakistani envoy claimed
that Pakistan is suffering from terrorism since
Soviet occupation of Afghanistan back in 1979.
He said Pakistan lost 55,000 innocent
civilians in suicide bombings since 2004. He
also referred to a report by the World Bank that
Pakistan incurred losses of $1 billion in last 12
to 13 years.
Stating that the present governments of both
the countries have the agenda of economic
development, he said there was no reason why
the two neighbours work together to overcome
the challenges.
The Pakistani envoy said it was unfortunate
that when globalisation is taking place and
regions are coming together, south Asia is
lagging far behind in terms of economic
cooperation.
The intra regional trade in south Asia is just
4 to 5 percent, against 55 percent in European
Union and 25 to 30 percent in ASEAN.
Terming the current bilateral trade of $2.3
billion as miniscule when compared to the
potential, he felt that this can be immediately
enhanced to $5 to 10 billion.

their pursuit of truth.

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar
said freedom of press was sacrosanct in a
democracy and that this freedom came with
responsibilities.
The media has to facilitate active
discussions and debates on various issues of
national importance, he added.
The function also witnessed the conferring
of national awards in various categories on print
journalists for their outstanding contributions in
various fields.
National Press Day marks the day of
establishment of the Press Council of India
(PCI) as a statutory agency to ensure free and
responsible press.

22

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

INDIA ABROAD

Making Bend It like Beckham musical

most enjoyable: Gurinder Chadha

urinder Chadhas iconic feisty film on

female football Bend It Like Beckham
is ready to hit the British stage with loads of
Bollywood styled songs and dances. The British
film director of Sikh origin is truly upbeat and
says desis everywhere would be proud.
Though the play opens in London May 15,
2015, tickets for the first show went on sale
Nov 7.
This is a proud moment for desis
everywhere. We will have our own Punjabi
British musical adorning the West End. A story
celebrating and sung in our own words of the
last 50 years of our history in Britain. When that
dhol starts, I imagine everyones shoulders
will start moving up and down regardless of
nationality, Chadha said.
She says adapting the film to the stage was
not easy, but definitely great fun.
Developing Bend It Like Beckham for
the stage has been the most enjoyable creative
process of my career so far. It was always my
intention to build on the film and to present its
themes and storylines to live audiences in an
exciting new dynamic way, said the filmmaker,
who is also known for movies like Bhaji On
The Beach and Bride and Prejudice.

Chadha says she has been inspired by

musicals ever since she was a little girl.
Now with Bend It like Beckham, such
a familiar story to so many, I believe we are
presenting a totally new kind of musical - part

West End, part London Punjabi, but wholeheartedly British.

Im very excited for us to take our place
with so many inspirational musicals past and
present in my hometown London, she added.

Indian-origin girl makes PowerPoint

presentation fun

f the mere thought of making PowerPoint

presentations leaves you bored, then turn
to these free, user-friendly online tutorials,
courtesy a 10-year-old Indian-origin girl and
probably the worlds youngest teacher of online
software tutorials.
Teaming up with her father and entrepreneur
Rajesh Kalra, Arkshya has brought the
otherwise dull PowerPoint software to life with
mind-blowing, three-dimensional (3D) tricks.
Together, the father and daughter have
created over 25 online tutorials filmed in
professional studios to toe-tapping music.
These will be available on their web site

RKPhotoMagicTrix.com before Christmas.

With these tutorials, you can make the clouds
move in a still picture, make unwanted people
vanish from an image, replace backgrounds
with video, enhance and sharpen pictures,
create 360 degree scene effects, and use 3D
effects to make a jumbo jet appear as if it is
flying in a still picture.
Apart from teaching how to make 3D graphs,
pie charts, arrows buttons and infographic
charts, the father and daughter will also unravel
and push animations to a level never seen
before.
Without tutorials, it is easy to transform

a boring PowerPoint presentation into an

entertaining, yet simple, slideshow, Arkshya
added.
Additionally, they are using PowerPoint to
make tattoo effects, draw sceneries and animate
them, change dress colours, change eye colours,
colour or streak hair for a funky look, replace
broken teeth, create a horror look or even do
make up using the national colours.
Kalra founded RK Photo Magic Trix in 2013
with a desire to teach the little known tricks in
Photoshop through lively interaction and music.
Soon, the company expanded to include
PowerPoint.

Sikh farmer honoured in California

idar Bains, a farmer known as the Peach

King of California, was honoured by
California Governor Jerry Brown for his
service to society, media reported.
Brown praised Bains and thousands of
other immigrants from India who he said have
enriched the US with their culture and work

ethic, The Sacramento Bee reported.

Its an honour and a privilege to be here,
Brown told some 2,000 Sikhs who came
from as far away as Los Angeles to the West
Sacramento gurdwara.
Brown talked about his own familys
immigrant history.

What builds California and America is not

one group or any bureaucracy... its individual
families, Brown said. My own ancestors
from Germany came across the plains looking
for a better life.
Amar Shergill, a Sikh activist and attorney,
said: The Sikh community is at a turning point
that many immigrants go through. Were no
longer looking inward. Were politically active,
and the governor recognises this.
Brown signed into law two legislative bills
-- Assembly Bill 1964 and Senate Bill 1540 in
2012.
The 1964 bill protects workers who wear
sacred turbans, hijabs and yarmulkes and 1540
bill changes how history and social sciences are
taught in schools so that students learn about
the history, tradition and theology of California
Sikhs, the report said.
Bains, who arrived in California in 1958
from Punjab at the age of 18, is now a multimillionaire.
He owns about 40,000 acres of land in
Sutter, Yuba, Butte, Sacramento, Glenn and
Tehema counties, said his son Karm Bains.
We are blessed. We farm peaches, prunes,
walnuts and almonds and have processing
plants.

Nikki Haley seeks

Red
Black
Orange
strong business
ties
with India

outh Carolina Governor Nikki Haley last

week sought building of business ties
between her state and Indian companies.
India is my second home. Attracting
investments from overseas companies is my
job, but building business ties with Indian
companies is my personal desire. Hence,
I request CII to facilitate this as much as
possible, Haley said.
She was addressing business leaders and
entrepreneurs at an interaction on Doing
Business with South Carolina organised by
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in
Chandigarh.
Haley is leading an 18-member delegation
from South Carolina. She said companies from
Punjab and Chandigarh could come and invest
in South Carolina.
Come, invest and set up a business in South
Carolina and we at the government level will
service you as an added employee as well. We
will assign a specific project manager to you
who will handhold you right from the beginning
concerning all aspects like land, labour,
financing, source of raw material, marketing,
legal formalities, transportation facilities etc,
Haley said.
I believe if businesses are doing well in a
state, all else like education, jobs, economy,
health will fall perfectly in place and take care
of them.
Hence, the first thing I did after taking
over was to do away with the regulations,
bureaucracy and labour unions hurting the
business. I set up a committee on business
promotion with all industry members on the
board, she said.
She said the key sectors to invest in South
Carolina included automobile, aerospace, IT,
pharmaceuticals, rubber and textiles.
She offered prayers at the holiest of Sikh
shrines, Harmandar Sahib, popularly known
as Golden Temple. She also visited Jallianwala
Bagh and the Guru Nanak Dev University to
meet students there. She met her relatives also.
Haley was re-elected governor of South
Carolina recently.
This is Haleys first visit to her familys
home state in nearly four decades. Born in
1972, Nikki had last visited Amritsar as a twoyear-old. Her father Ajit Singh Randhawa used
to live in Verka.
Relatives of Haley, who was Nimrata
Randhawa before her marriage, had celebrated
in Verka when she became South Carolina
governor for the first time in Nov 2010.
She became the first Indian-American
woman to become governor of a state in the
US.

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

SPORTS

23

Kohlis century helps India sweep ODI series

Red

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ndia skipper Virat Kohli led from the front

with a smashing unbeaten century to guide his
team to a three-wicket win in the fifth and final
One-Day International (ODI), clean-sweeping
the series 5-0 at the JSCA International Stadium
in Ranchi.
On a day of captains, Sri Lanka skipper
Angelo Mathews hammered a brilliant 139 not
out to guide the visitors to a challenging total
of 286/8 after electing to bat. However, despite
a few hiccups, Kohlis knock of 139 not out
off 126 deliveries -- his 21st ODI ton -- guided
India home with eight balls to spare.
After hitting his first ODI century, Mathews
gave Sri Lanka a brilliant chance in the match
as he bowled Indian openers Ajinkya Rahane
(2) and Rohit Sharma (9), who hit a worldrecord 264 in the previous match at Kolkata,
with the score reading 14/2 in the fifth over.
In come Ambati Rayudu (59) and man of
the series Kohli who joined hands to strike an
important 136-run third-wicket partnership to
stabilise the reeling Indian ship. Rayudu hit
a smooth half-century, which included eight
boundaries and a six, with Kohli giving him
good company.
However, a terrible misunderstanding led to
Rayudus run-out with Indias score at 150.
Ajantha Mendis spin became a mystery
for Indian batsman as the 29-year-old made a
brilliant turnaround for the visitors, giving them

a real chance to salvage a win.

Mendis took the wickets of Robin Uthappa
(19), debutant Kedar Jadhav (20), Stuart Binny
(12) and Ravichandran Ashwin (0) to turn the
tables on India with the target suddenly looking
monumental with their score at 231/7.
Kohli, however, slowly kept the run-flow
going and finally found support in left-hander

I still have lot more

to do: Rohit Sharma

fter cracking a world record 264 against

Sri Lanka in an ODI last week,
Indias stylish opener Rohit Sharma
made it clear that he would not rest on his
laurels, as he had still lot more to do.
Having set the stage for Indias
emphatic 153-run win over the islanders
at the Eden Gardens with his dream
comeback innings, when he surpassed
Virender Sehwags existing world record
of 219, the 27-year-old Mumbaikar said he
was now a happy man.
I am happy, not relieved. I can tell
you that at a young age, I never thought
I will play that kind of innings and all the
records happened to me. Still there is lot
more to do, he said at the post-match
media conference.
Sharma, who had to pull out
midway into the England trip in August
following a finger injury and remained out
of action this long, is now also the first player
in ODI history to score two double hundreds.
Stating that the last two and a half months
were not easy, Sharma thanked the BCCI and
physio Vaibhav Dhaga for his comeback.
The last two and half months were very
tough time for me. The BCCI (Board of
Control for Cricket in India), its physio, and
lot of others helped.
Thanks to all of them, specially the
physio. Without his help, I wouldnt have
made a comeback.
The right-hander, who struck 33
boundaries and nine sixes during his
173-ball essay, said the initial overs
were not easy as he had been out of
competitive cricket for some time.
After being away from
competitive cricket for months,
the initial overs were not easy.
Shot-making and execution
were not easy. I

showed my determination and I like to thank

(opening partner) Ajinkya Rahane who helped
me settle down.
Asked whether Sehwags
record was there at the back
of his mind, Sharma said:
I knew about this innings.
The last time when I scored a
double hundred someone told
me about that innings.
But this time
when I batted, it
w a s
not in my
mind. But
sometime
after scoring
the 200, when
I saw all my
colleagues giving me a
standing ovation, I realised I
had broken it.
Sharma said he had no
problem whether he was
asked to open the innings or
play in the middle order.
Its upto the team
management. The World
Cup is around. I will play
wherever they want me
to.
Sharma said he
would celebrate the
knock as it was a special
moment in his career.
Its a great innings in a
great ground.
He said the coming
Australia series would be
very challenging.
Its a tough team and
a tough series. Playing in
Australia is not so easy.

Axar Patel (17 not out).

Once he got the support he needed, the
stand-in India skipper hit a flurry of sixes and
boundaries and the target kept getting closer
and closer till Kohli hit a six to win the match
-- and clean-sweep the series.
Earlier, Sri Lanka got off to a decent start
with opener Tillakaratne Dilshan (35) in

punishing mood.
Debutant Niroshan Dickwella (4) was
the first to be dismissed in the fifth over. The
visitors suffered another setback in the next
over as the dangerous Dilshan was sent packing
by the innocuous medium-pace of Binny.
Sri Lanka lost some impetus after Dilshans
dismissal and lost further ground following two
more quick strikes by India.
Wicketkeeper batsman Dinesh Chandimals
(5 runs off 31 balls) struggle at the crease was
brought to an end by Patel, who picked up two
wickets.
Former captain Mahela Jayawardenes (32)
blossoming innings came to a pre-mature end
as Sri Lanka slumped to 85/4 after 18.3 overs.
Man of the Match Mathews and Lahiru
Thirimanne (52) got together and stitched a
128-run stand for the fifth wicket to bring the
islanders back in the game.
The Sri Lanka skipper smashed 10 sixes
on way to his maiden hundred and, thanks to
his blitzkrieg at the fag end of the innings, the
visitors managed to score 73 runs off the final
five overs despite losing three wickets.
Dhawal Kulkarni picked up three wickets
but received some stick from the Sri Lankan
batsmen, conceding 57 runs off his eight overs.
Patel and Ashwin chipped in with two wickets
each while Binny took one.

Saina, Srikanth clinch

China Open titles

eading Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal

clinched the womens singles crown of the
$700,000 China Open Super Series Premier
but compatriot Kidambi Srikanth grabbed all
the headlines by pulling off the biggest upset
of his career when he beat two-time Olympic
champion Lin Dan to win the mens singles title
in Fuzhou.
While sixth seeded Saina won her second
Super Series title of 2014 by overcoming
Japanese Akane Yamaguchi 21-12, 22-20 in 42
minutes, Srikanth stunned the five-time World
Champion Chinese 21-19, 21-17 in 46 minutes
at the Haixia Olympic Sport Center.
Srikanth on the eve of the summit clash
said that it was his childhood dream to play
Super Dan in a final, that too in his own
backyard. Come Sunday, he not only fulfilled
his dream but went one step better by ousting
the legendary Chinese in straight games to earn
his first win in three outings against Dan.
Srikanth, ranked No.16 in the world, took
off well and fast by going into a 9-4 lead in the
first game. However, Dan, in his usual style,
took time to get into his rhythm to close the gap
at 15-all.
It was neck-and-neck till 19-all but Srikanth
held his nerves to take the next two points and
bag his first ever game against Dan, often called
the greatest ever shuttler.
The 21-year-old Hyderabadi came out with
his best strokes just when it mattered most to
clinch six of the next eight points and earn the
biggest win of his career.
Great wins! It is fantastic for both of
them and Indian badminton. For Srikanth, it
was a big match and at the end of it he kept
his nerve to earn the big win. Overall, he has
played some high level badminton throughout
the tournament, chief national coach Pullela
Gopichand told media.
The World No.16 Indian, on the eve of the
summit clash, had said that it was his childhood
dream to play Dan in a final, that too in his own
backyard. He not only fulfilled his dream but

went one step better.

He is only 21 years old. The first time he
played against Lin Dan, he was over-awed with
the situation. The second time the amount of
respect was still there. But now he did it, Gopi
said of Srikanth, who had lost his previous two
meetings against Dan.
Earlier in the womens singles final, Saina
totally dominated her World No.35 Japanese
opponent in the first game. At one point the
World No.5 Indian took seven successive
points to take a 15-7 advantage. It was only a
matter of time before Saina sealed the game in
her favour.
However, the 17-year-old Akane upped the
ante in the second game and Saina had to come
out with her best to keep the Japaneses points
in check. The Indian was given a scare when
the unseeded Akane reached gamepoint at 2019. But Saina doused the lead and won the next
two points to bag her first China Open title.
So happy to win my 3rd title this year.
Great feeling to win the China Open. One of the
toughest tournaments, tweeted Saina, who had
also won the Australian Open Super Series in
June and the India Grand Prix Gold in January.

24

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

EDUCATION

NZSE celebrates a decade

of transforming lives

elebrating its 10 year anniversary this

month, New Zealand School of
Education (NZSE) has been
committed
to
providing
alternative tertiary education
opportunities for Kiwis and
international students to
help them transform their
lives through the power
of learning.
NZSEs
key
differentiator is its focus on
giving second chance learners
an opportunity to embrace
an exciting tertiary educational
experience.
No matter what their life experience,
NZSE is here to ensure that every student is
equipped with the necessary qualifications and
provide them with a steady launch pad should
they choose to pursue their degree or go out
into the working world, said Brijesh Sethi,
Managing Director of NZSE.
We have always been passionate about
taking in second chance learners or those that
may that have fallen through the cracks in the
school education system. We take great pride
in transforming the lives of these students and
will continue to keep doing so.
Our aim is not to churn out graduates but to
give everyone individualised attention to help
them discover their potential and this is done
through small classes, strong student support
and practical based programmes, continued
Brijesh.

Vodafone Warriors star player, Ben Henry,

learnt quickly that playing professional
league will not last forever and that
it was important to get a tertiary
education under his belt.
NZSE provided him with
the flexibility to be able
to realise his educational
goals.
Through
school,
my favourite subjects
were computer studies,
engineering and PE. When
I joined the Vodafone Junior
Warriors and league turned into my
career, I kept it top of mind that playing
professionally will not last forever, recounts
Ben.
Ben has since finished the first part of the
Computer Studies course at NZSE and will
return in the first semester of 2015 to continue
his education.
Over the years, NZSE has made a name
for itself in providing quality educational
experiences and has managed to build strategic
academic partnerships with universities and
polytechnics such as AUT, Unitec, Massey and
Southern Cross University in Australia amongst
many others which means their graduates have
direct pathways into degree programmes.
Looking to the future, NZSEs focus is
to continue building and strengthening its
relationship with both tertiary and industry
partners and growing its presence both in
New Zealand and in export education within
strategic markets such as India and China.

Business Award for SITs

Sarang Harake
Red

IT Hospitality and tourism tutor Sarang

Harake was acknowledged for his
contribution to the hospitality sector at the
Queenstown Business Awards earlier this
month.
Sarang who also works as the Food and
Beverage Manager for both Sky City Casinos
in Queenstown was nominated for his strong
performance in creating changes such as the
Wild Tyme Restaurant turning it into a Sports
Bar and initiating the 10 for 10 lunches which
have both become largely popular for tourists
and locals.
Holding a Postgraduate degree in Hotel
Management and Hospitality Sarang started
his career as an apprentice at Intercontinental
Wellington, moving his way up to Assistant
Restaurant & Bar Manager.
He then took on the challenge as a Restaurant/
Bar Managerat Skyline Rotorua, before seeing
the bright lights of Queenstown to become Food
and Beverage Manager for Millennium Hotel.
Sarang then moved onto his present position
managing two restaurants and three Bars under
the two Sky City Casino establishments in
Queenstown, while also leading his busy life as
part time tutor on the Diploma in Hospitality
and Tourism Management at SITs Queenstown
Campus.
Richard General Manager for Sky City
Queenstown states Since SKYCITY took
full ownership of the Queenstown casino
we regularly host VVIP international guests
from around the world. This is a critical part
of Sarangs role and he has ensured his team

Black

Orange

deliver exceptional service. Many of our guests

come from China and Sarang has developed a
tailored menu suited to their tastes. A grade
A has also been achieved for the Wild Tyme
Restaurant
Amanda Watt Queenstown Campus Manager
adds, Sarang has been teaching on the Diploma
in Hotel and Tourism Management programme
at SIT Queenstown for the last two years. His
drive to succeed and professionalism is an
inspiration to our students. We congratulate
Sarang on becoming a finalist for the Young
Business Person of the Year Award and wish
him all the best in his career.

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

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FEATURES

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From the deskBlack
of I am Woman

Men too need gender equality

A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men. Gloria Steinem
In honour of all the men who stand up for
and uphold the rights of women, not only in
their lives but also around them, we feel it is
imperative that we support the cause of men.
Why are men deprived of gender neutral
laws? Why should not the domestic violence
act be made gender neutral? And why are
fathers deprived of childrens custody in case
of separated spouses? These are some of the
posers by mens rights activists on the occasion
of International Mens Day (Nov 19).
Just like women, men too are victims of
sexual harassment at workplaces, especially in
urban India, according to Kumar V Jahgirdar,
president of Bangalore-based Child Rights
Initiative for Shared Parenting (CRISP).
This fact, he said, is not often acknowledged
and, consequently, men continue to suffer
silently.
The recent changes in law related to
workplace harassment must be made gender
neutral so that victims who are male are also
offered protection and justice.
For him, International Mens Day, which
began in 1999 and is observed every year on
Nov 19, is a day to highlight the long ignored
problems of men, especially those who are
married.
Jahgirdar said men should get adequate
paternity leave just like women.

This will enable the dads to provide

emotional and physical support to the infant
baby.
Another mens rights activist Rajesh
Vakharia, who is the president of Save India
Family Foundation (SIFF), said: As the world
moves towards gender equality and gradual
elimination of traditional gender roles, we have
to keep reminding ourselves that gender equality
is a two-way street.
Freeing women from traditional gender
roles is only one part of the game, which will

achieve nothing, if attempts are not made to free

men as well from traditional roles and social
expectations, he said.
Vakharia said it was foolish to expect men
to believe in gender equality and change their
mindset, while expecting them to meet old
traditional social expectations.
Giving examples, he said many men have
come to him wondering why they are not
given enough access to their children or shared
parenting during separation while they changed
the diapers and spent enough time nurturing their

kids.
The older men running Indian courts tend
to believe that a man cannot nurture a child and
taking care of children is primarily a mothers
duty, he said.
Jahgirdar said it was strange that after 65
years of Indias independence, not a single study
has been done by the government that is related
to the domestic and social life of a man and in
understanding his problems.
No study has been conducted by any
government agency on reasons of more suicides
by the married men than the women, he argued.
Quoting the National Crime Records Bureau
report for 2013, he said 64,098 married men
committed suicide as against 29,491 married
women.
Its startling to know that every nine
minutes, a married man commits suicide in
India.
SIFF founder member Anil Kumar asked:
If the whole world is about eliminating gender
roles, then why no one questions the moral and
legal duties of a man to pay maintenance and
alimony to a working wife during separation?
CRISP, with regional chapters in Delhi,
Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai
and Lucknow, released a documentary film
Moustache, which showcased the problems
faced by men in their day-to-day lives.

Ramakrishna Vedanta Centres

of New Zealand Inc.

Cordially invites you to a

Cultural Evening & Dinner

in honour of

Revered Swami Suhitanandaji Maharaj

(General Secretary, Ramakrishna Math & Mission)

Saturday 22 November 2014

7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Blockhouse Bay Primary School Auditorium

584 Blockhouse Bay Road, Auckland

26

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

GLITTERATI

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Having a party? We would like

to hear from you. Reach us at
editor@indianweekender.co.nz
and get featured on Glitterati

All that glitters and more...

Keeping
the Indian
tradition of Kitty
parties
alive

Bollywood Affairs
DJ Charlie
rocks Wellingtons
night life

EVENTS

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

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27

WHATSOn
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Cultural Evening

Date: Saturday 22 November 2014

Time: 7pm to 9pm
Venue: Blockhouse Bay Primary School
Auditorium, 584 Blockhouse Bay Road,
Auckland
The Ramakrishna Vedanta Centres of NZ
are inviting everyone to a Cultural Evening
followed by Dinner in honour of Revered
Swami Suhitanandaji Maharaj (General
Secretary, Ramakrishna Math & Mission)
onSat 22/11/14. The function is open to
the public and all are cordially invited to be
part of the special occasion.

Welcome to Auckland

Date: Friday 28 November 2014

Time: 9:30 am to 2:30 pm
Venue: Albany House, 575 Albany
Highway.
In this one day interactive workshop for
migrants to Auckland & New Zealand you
will discover the basics of Maori and Kiwi
cultures and what the Treaty of Waitangi
is all about, learn about Auckland, the
council and services provided, Understand
more about the NZ health system, get to
know useful, handy everyday tips, find
out what local activities or programs are
available. Light refreshmets and lunch will
be provided. Entry fee: $10.

Jagad Guru Speaks

Date and Time: Thursdays at 8:30pm and

Sundays at 11:30am
Venue: Face TV (Sky 083)
For thought provoking and uplifting
insights into who you are and your

purpose in life, tune into Jagad Guru

Speaks. Jagad Guru Chris Butler is
a direct disciple of His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami and a
paramahamsa in a line of great Vaisnava
acharyas. He communicates the message
of spiritual love and wisdom worldwide,
speaking the Eternal Truths of sanatanadharma. He encourages us to follow the
core principles of Bhakti and Karma yoga,
seeking shelter in Bhagavan and the
Transcendental Yoga Sound.
The Truth shared by Jagad Guru is your
key to inner peace and happiness.
For more information call 0800 TVSHOW
or visit www.meditationnewzealand.co.nz

Interfaith meeting

Date: Saturday 22nd November 2014

Time: 2pm to 3:15 pm
Venue: Christ the King Church, 260
Richardson Road, Mt Roskill
The Mother Teresa Inter Faith Committee
invites everyone to honour one of the
20th centurys greatest figures, Mother
Teresa of Calcutta in homage to inspiring
Leadership and Community work. The
commemorative ceremony will be led by
Hon.Peseta Sam Lotu- liga- Minister of
Ethnic Communities and the Indian High
Commissioner H.E.Ravi Thapar will be
lighting the lamp. The function is open
to the public and all are cordially invited
to come and be part of this very special
ceremony. The event will commence at
2.00 pmand will conclude at 3.15 pm.

Christmas Parades,
Carols and Festivals
Get into the festive spirit by taking part in
these local events to celebrate Christmas.
Following are a few event that you can join
this weekend.

Orewa Santa Parade

Date: Saturday 22 November 2014

Time: 12.30pm-2pm
Parade route: HBC Highway between
Alice Road and Weiti Road, Orewa
Contact: Call Hellen Hyndman on 021 716
713 or emailhellen@orewabeach.co.nz

Glenfield Lions Santa

Parade

Date: Sunday 23 November 2014

Time: 11am-noon
Venue: Parade route: High Road,
Glenfield Road, Bentley Ave, Chartwell
Ave, Archers Road, finishing at
Marlborough Park for the Christmas Gala
Contact: Call Michael Pollitt on 021 188
5584 or email mpollitt@pl.net

Westfield Manukau
Santas Arrival Parade

Date: Friday 21 November 2014

Time: 6.30pm-8pm
Venue: Parade route: Start on Osterley
Way, left on Putney Way, left on Leyton
Way, left on Amersham Way, left on
Osterley Way
Contact: Call Cara Cantwell on
027 490 5258 or email: cara@
crackerjackpromotions.co.nz

Papatoetoe Santa
Parade

Date: Wednesday 26 November 2014

Time: 6pm-8pm (parade starts 7pm)
Venue: Parade route: School Corner,
Great South Road, Kolmar Road,
Wentworth Ave
Contact: Email Jenn Jefferson on
papatoetoesantaparade@yahoo.co.nz
Other information: Aucklands second
largest and most multicultural Christmas
parade

Henderson Christmas
Glenfield Christmas Gala Festival
Date: Sunday 23 November 2014
Time: noon-4 pm
Venue: Marlborough Park, Glenfield
Contact: Call Michelle Whiu on
027 315 9213 or emailmichelle@
bngcommunitytrust.org.nz
Other information: Christmas Gala with
food and entertainment, following on from
Glenfield Christmas Parade

Date: Saturday 22 November

Time: 10am-2pm
Venue: Great North Road and Catherine
Plaza, Henderson
Contact: Call Tracy Haggo on 09 301
0101 extn (42) 8810 or emailtracy.haggo@
aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Other information: Free face painting,
sausage sizze, candy floss popcorn and
ice creams.

THIS MONTHS SPECIAL

at the gateau house
TIRAMISU, Standard Size

Normally $48 | Now $40 only

offer valid only 01/11/2014 - 30/11/2014

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE LOG

Normally $23 | Now $18 only
offer valid only 16/11/2014 - 30/11/2014

More cakes are available for

Birthday, Wedding and special occasions

the gateau house

www.gateauhouse.com
Queen Street, CBD High Street, CBD Newmarket
Dannemora Henderson Glenfield

Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi

N AT I O N A L L I S T M P

AUCKLAND OFFICE: Unit 1, 131 Kolmar Rd, Papatoetoe, Auckland

Ph: 09 278 9302 | Email: bakshi.mp@parliament.govt.nz

Postal Address: PO Box 23136, Hunters Corner, Auckland 2025

www.bakshi.co.nz

www.national.org.nz

28

ENTERTAINMENT

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

Salmans sister gets the reel big fat

Indian wedding

op Bollywood stars descended on

Hyderabad Nov 18 as Salman Khans
youngest sister Arpita tied the knot with her
long-time fiance and businessman Ayush
Sharma at a gala ceremony.
The actors family had booked the entire Taj
Falaknuma, the luxury heritage hotel of the Taj
Group located in the old city, for two days, to
ensure that nobody gatecrashes the festivities.
The popular star, who has a huge fan
following in this city, invited Prime Minister
Narendra Modi for the wedding but the latter
couldnt make it.
The superstar personally met Modi a few
days ago in Delhi to invite him but the prime
minister expressed his inability as he will
be away on a three-nation tour to Myanmar,
Australia and Fiji.
Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan
topped the long list of invitees to the wedding.
Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif, Hritik Roshan,
Deepika Padukone, Saif Ali Khan, his wife
Kareena Kapoor, Dharmendra, his wife Hema
Malini, Karan Johar, David Dhawan and
several other film personalities were seen in the
gala ceremony.
From Tollywood, as Telugu film industry
is popularly called, actor-turned-politician
Chiranjeevi, his son Ram Charan Teja,
Nagarjuna, Venkatesh and their families were
among select guests.
The palace, which the Taj Group converted
into a luxury hotel and threw it open four years
ago, has 60 lavish rooms, decorated halls and
a 101-seat dining hall, said to be the biggest in
the world. Its Durbal Hall, embellished with
intricately carved wooden ceilings, parquet

flooring, regal walnut wood furniture and

handcrafted mirrors, had once hosted guests
like King George V and Czar Nicholas II.
Located five kilometres from Charminar,
Falaknuma, or mirror of the sky in Urdu, is
the scorpion-shaped, all-marble palace and was
once the residence of Mir Mahboob Ali Khan
(1869-1911), the sixth Nizam.
Perched atop a hill, the palace in 2010
opened its doors to guests with all its opulent
interiors and breathtaking views.
Sources said Hyderabad-born actress Dia
Mirza also wanted to celebrate her wedding at
Falaknuma but negotiations for a better price

made no progress and she finally dropped the

plans.
A couple of suites, including the one which
was used by Nizam, are the most expensive.
The hotel charges over Rs.5 lakh a night for the
Nizam suite.
Its not just Rs.2 crore which Salmans
family spent on the celebrations. All the
wedding planners, caterers and specialists
providing services from makeup to decoration
to mehendi and sangeet flew in from Mumbai
for the grand celebrations.

Historic Move by Manukau Indian Association

Any member who has either donated an amount $100.00 or more or
have paid an amount of $100.00 or more towards future membership
fees; will be awardedpermanent Financial membership of the
Association
Please join as members of the association by:
1. Pay $100 (life financial membership) or $10 (for yearly membership)
into the account number given on the attached form
2. Scan and send the completed form (attached) to
secretary@manukauindians.org.nz
As a member you are:
1. A part of the team that decides associations agendas and
activities
2. Invited to various community functions and discussion forums
3. Able to seek assistance in matters related to government of New
Zealand (e.g. immigration, social welfare, human rights etc)
4. Able to seek assistance in matters related to government of
India (e.g. high commission services, trade, travel info etc)
5. Can voice concerns regarding issues (e.g. law and order,
women atrocities, discrimination at work place etc)
6. Able to get yourself and your children to participate in the
cultural programs and other social events
Most Importantly: By becoming a member, you are a part of the change
that you want to bring about.

Please join and encourage others.

I am not in a hurry to
work with Black
Kareena:Orange
Red
Saif Ali Khan

ctor Saif Ali Khan, who has roped in his

wife Kareena Kapoor to do a cameo in
his next film Happy Ending, says he is in no
hurry to work with the actress.
I am not in a hurry to work with her. It
would be a rare man who would like to work
every time with his wife. It would be nice for
me to work in a different world and then come
home to meet her, Saif told reporters in a
group interview.
Directed by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K,
Happy Ending also stars Govinda, Kalki
Koechlin, Ileana DCruz and Ranvir Shorey.
Saif, who was previously seen in Bullett
Raja and Humshakals, says he was very
comfortable doing Happy Ending as it was a
romantic-comedy.
Its like a comfort zone because we have
worked in this world before. However, within
this space we couldnt do the same thing again,
we had to do something different. Directors Raj
and DK have written a great script with a sense
of humour.
My character has ex-girlfriends and
complications in life, there is another character
who is his alter ego -- the double role, he said.
The film is slated for a Nov 21 release

ENTERTAINMENT

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

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Need support
for Liars Dice:
Nawazuddin Siddiqui

ilm Liars Dice starring Nawazuddin

Siddiqui is Indias official Oscar entry for
the best foreign language film category but the
actor says the filmmakers dont have funds to
screen the movie at the academy awards on a
very grand scale.
The movie is a small budget movie. We
need to screen the movie on a big scale there,
but we dont have the money and are searching
for support, said the actor, who was in the
national capital for an event recently.
The film revolves around Kamala who lives
in the remote village of Chitkul on the KinnaurTibet border and sets off on a journey with her
three-year-old daughter and a pet goat to find
her husband, Harud, who had left to take up a
construction job five months ago.

Kim Kardashian to
enter Bigg Boss
house

merican reality TV star Kim Kardashian

is going to enter Bigg Boss 8 on her
maiden trip to India.
The 34-year-old will be seen in the Bigg
Boss house Nov 22 as a guest to interact with
the contestants including Karishma Tanna,
Diandra Soares, Gautam Gulati and Upen Patel.
Kim is excited to visit India and her stay in
the Bigg Boss house.
She said in a statement: Namaste India
(Hello India) main Kim Kardashian aa rahi
hoon India (I, Kim Kardashian am coming to
India) Bigg Boss ke ghar mein (at the Bigg
Bosss house).

Alia Bhatt to endorse

Caprese brand

People think
adventure junkies are
mad: Gul Panag

Grab a SIM to get this plan:

Low international rates

to mobiles and landlines in countries above plus more

ctress Gul Panag, who is the face of the

adventure campaign Kingfisher Blue Mile,
said its a general convention that adventurous
people are mad.
Adventure to me is about pushing my
limits, pushing my endurance limits and taking
extremely calculated risks, the actress said in
an interview.
Most people think adventure is being
reckless. The typical person out there thinks,
People who are adventurous are actually mad.
No, theyre not.
Theyre not reckless at all. They plan and
they calculate and then you take risks. Those
who pursue adventure are essentially people
who understand the risks involved, cater for
them and then push their limits, she added.
The campaign will take adventure and
wanderlust seekers on a thrilling trekking
expedition to Everest base camp.
Blue Miles will be aired on NDTV Good
Times.

Want Rajinikanth
to join politics, says
filmmaker Ameer

F
B

ollywood actress Alia Bhatt has been

roped in as the brand ambassador of ladies
fashion accessories brand Caprese.
Alia will present the new autumn-winter
collection of Caprese filmed at an ancient
styled piazza in Europe, said a statement.
What attracts me the most to the brand is
the vibrant colors that the collection offers. It
has an array of trendy pop and neon shades.
The new autumn-winter collection is a perfect
mix of high-fashion with chic appearance and
quality. So come buy Caprese, said Alia.
Revealing the actress as its ambassador to
the audience, the brand has also announced
#WhosThatGirl? contest on social media
platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
inviting young fashionistas to participate and
win exiting Caprese goodies.

$2 for 60mins

ilmmaker Ameer Sunday urged superstar

Rajinikanth to join politics as his fans want
him to become chief minister.
Ameer was one of the chief guests invited
for the audio launch of K.S. Ravi Kumardirected Tamil actioner Lingaa Sunday.
Rajini sir should enter politics. His fans
want him to become chief minister. We all
believe he will join politics soon, Ameer told
reporters here.

to landlines in 20+ countries

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see meramobile.co.nz

29

nO

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these countries from 28 August 2014 and until 31 January 2015.

29

30

FEATURES

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

Mediating the magical journey

Red

Black

Orange

Prabha Govindasamy, co-director of Giles Brooker Foundation, facilitates exposure of Kiwi students to Indian technologies and traditions

Paula Ray

e have heard of one, extremely bright,

student winning an envious scholarship
to study at a reputed institution overseas or
go on an exchange programme. It is not often
that we see 15 students receive the Prime
Ministers Scholarship for Asia and go for an
exchange programme. Whats more, these are
Kiwi students going to an Indian institution.
One of the people instrumental behind this
collaboration is Pabha Govindasamy, codirector of Giles Brooker Education.
We helped NZIFT (New Zealand institute
of Fashion Technology) make a group
application that proposed a project aligned with
the PMs strategy towards India. The funding
we quoted was approved no questions asked,
explains Govindasamy.
Soon after, Giles Brooker and Govindasamy
took Kevin Smith, director of NZIFT, to an
Indian village called Doddampalayam, near
Coimbature, where weaving silk sarees is the
family business of every household. Kevin
was amazed and impressed by the operations of
these small scale handloom units, remembers
Govindasamy.
Smith hand-picked sarees and brought them
back with him. The Fashion Tech students, till
last year, had to design their graduation project
with toilet rolls from Kleenex. This experience
has modified the course work. This year, they
had to design western outfits by creatively
using the five-yard saree, along with its borders

Singapore Airlines on our future projects too,

adds Govindasamy.

Prabha Govindasamy
and pallu.
Each of the 45 students from the institutes
Diploma courses in Auckland and Wellington
campuses, was given a saree to design. Of
them, the 10 best were picked up by Resene
and Apparel magazine for present their work
at the NZ Fashion Week earlier this year. And
15 of the promising students were chosen
by NZIFT, under the supervision of Smith,
to become the PMs representative in India.
They were tested for several other skills, other
than their designing skills, to ensure that they
had the personality to cope with India and its
uniqueness, says Prabha.
These 15 students are currently at Bannari
Amman Institute of Technology in Coimbature.
Afterall, the $86,000 scholarship fund had to be
spent judiciously and Govindasamy has been
involved in the project to ensure just that.
In 2013, Govindasamy took a group of
seven students pursuing a nursing degree at
MIT, Auckland, to another Coimbature-based
institution to pick up additional skills.
It may be mentioned here that about 70 per
cent of the Malayalee nurses, famous worldwide
for their nursing skills, study at nursing
colleges in Coimbature the educational hub
for engineering, arts and science disciplines.

There was enough speculation from among

the Kiwi-Indian community on how Kiwi
students will cope with India. How would they
benefit from an Indian education system, when
the flow of students is mainly the other way
around, says Govindasamy, who has taken this
as a challenge to prove otherwise.
As such, the pastoral care of the domestic
Kiwi students in India, will be on a par with
the standards provided to international students
in NZ. Their safety and security in India
is of utmost priority. Thats why I chose
Coimbature. Its best to do it in a city that I am
familiar with, says Govindasamy, who grew
up in the same city in India.
Another feature to the cap is the sponsorship
offered by Singapore Airlines, who offered the
students subsidised services. They also made
a special announcement on-board the flight
to welcome the students. It is a very special
gesture and we are so touched by it, says
Govindasamy.
The next project Govindasamy is looking
forward to involve environment science student
from AUT, who would be taken on a tiger
conservation project in Rajasthan, in 2015.
Students have already started registering for the
project. We would like to work jointly with

www.iwk.co.nz
21 November 2014

FEATURES

31

Western spin on
Eastern sheen

Red

Black

Orange

New Zealands future fashion designers show off

their runway collections

Paula Ray

fter just two years of intensive study,

NZ Institute of Fashion Tech Diploma
students produce a Diploma Showcase for
industry, family and friends.
This year the students brief was to create
a commercial, ready-to-wear collection, for
an individually chosen and researched target
market within New Zealand. Their ranges are
supported by storyboards, technical patterns
and documentation that would enable them
to go straight into domestic or off-shore
production immediately after the show.
The show was a stand-out success with
many of the top industry players attending
and several scouting out new

talents to employ and assist with their business

growth.
As part of the show, these same students also
showcased their designs from the Resene NZ
Fashion Tech Colour of Fashion challenge,
held earlier this year.
In a first of its kind fashion education in
the country, the vibrant colours and patterns of
hand-woven silk sourced from south India were
transformed into high fashion designs by the
Diploma students, both at the Wellington and
Auckland branches.
This was made possible by an exciting
collaboration with Resene. Their Colour of
Fashion project took the students out of the
classroom and gave them
a real international and
commercial
experience
through the NZ Fashion
Week participation.
The fabulous results
exceeded the expectations
of everyone involved in
the project with 10 of
the designs opening the
five Designer Selection
Shows at NZ Fashion
Week in August. Six
looks were also featured
in NEXT magazine, and
a further nine looks
were showcased in
New Zealands leading
fashion
industry
magazine,
Apparel,
says Kevin Smith,
director of NZ Institute
of Fashion Tech.

NZ Fashion
Tech your best
opportunity for
a great fashion
career

70%

of New Zealands
fashion industry
employ
ONLY our
graduates*
* See our website for stats

NZ Fashion Tech

AUCKLAND CBD
MANUKAU CBD | WELLINGTON CBD
Students showcase their creations: (left to right) Green/Blue collection by Tori Green,Rebecca Hal,
Jialing Wang; Wine/Pink collection by Madison Jarvie, Lizzy Bullock, Rachael McKay

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