www.iwk.co.

nz
28 November 2014

28 November, 2014 Vol. 6 Issue 19 | 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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28 November 2014

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SAARC SUMMIT

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

Saarc Summit: hope of south asia

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ith all eyes on Indian Prime Minister

Narendra Modis take on the future of
South Asia, the 18th Saarc Summit commenced
in Kathmandu, Nepal this Wednesday.
Apart from host Nepal, all seven heads of
state and government are in Kathmandu to
attend the summit. As chair of Saarc, Maldivian
President Abdulla Yameen Abdul opened the
summit and handed over the responsibility of
the chair of the regional bloc to Nepals Prime
Minister Sushil Koirala.
This is the third time Nepal is organising the
summit -- first in 1987 and then again in 2002.
Ahead of the summit, three meetings at
foreign ministers, foreign secretaries and joint
secretaries levels decided to scrap three Saarc
regional centres and merge four others into one.
It also decided to improve agricultural
productivity, food and nutritional security,
enhance cooperation on trade, economy,
finance, investment, energy, connectivity,
health, education and agriculture and bring
about project-based engagement of the Saarc
observers.
It decided to accord body status to the
South Asian Womens Development Forum
and upgrade the Saarc Tuberculosis and HIV/
AIDS Centre laboratory to a Supranational
Laboratory as the agenda for the summit.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif,
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa,
Afghanistan President Mohammad Ashraf
Ghani, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina, Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen
Abdul and Bhutanese Prime Minister
Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay are attending the
summit.

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NEW ZEALAND

23 May 2014

SAARC SUMMIT

info@trustinsurance.co.nz

Collective efforts more important

in Saarc region: Modi
N

owhere in the world are collective efforts more

important than in south Asia, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi said at the South Asian Association for
Regional Cooperation (Saarc) Summit in Kathmandu this
Wednesday.
Nowhere in the world are collective efforts more
urgent than in South Asia; and, nowhere else is it so
modest: PM @narendramodi ministry of external affairs
spokesman Syed Akbaruddin quoted Modi in a tweet.
How much have we done in Saarc to turn our natural
wealth into shared prosperity Modi asked.
He, however, reassured the summit that south Asia is
slowly coming together.
The prime minister also said that the future he dreamt
for India was the future that he wished for the entire Saarc

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

trustinsurance.co.nz

Modi Speak @ Saarc

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India to give business visa for 3-5
years for Saarc

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region.
The future I dream for India is the future I wish for
our entire region...I have traveled the world from the
middle of the Pacific to the Atlantic and I see a rising tide
of integration...
Modi added that there was much to learn from each
other, even more - to do together.
I know India has to lead and we will do our part..
hope, each of you will, too, he added.
Established in 1985 in Bangladesh, the Saarc is a
regional association of eight south Asian countries, namely
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives,
Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan joined Saarc
as its eighth member state in 2007.

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ndia will give business visa for no

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. Keep yourself
your
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I also believe that if we canand
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for ouratregion,
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guaranteed.. Just one simple phone call.
He noted: India has huge trade surplus with Saarc countries. I believe
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ndia is prepared to connect students in 0800
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Modi said. He also highlighted the need to use the strength of shared
heritage and diversity.
We should use strength of shared heritage and our diversity to
encourage tourism within our region and present south Asia to the
world, he said.
Set up in 1985, the Saarc is a regional association of eight south
Asian countries -- Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives,
Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan joined the grouping as its
eighth member state in 2007.

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Modi announced the launch of a satellite for the Saarc
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We
plan to launch our satellite for the Saarc region by the Saarc Day
in 2016, external affairs ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin tweeted,
citing Modi.
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SAARC SUMMIT

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

India -Nepal ink nine deals

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epals happiness gives us joy, said

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his
second visit to the Himalayan country in 100
days as both sides inked nine agreements,
further cementing their close ties.
Modi, who in his departure statement said
the fact that he was visiting Nepal twice in
the six months since he took over reflects the
importance we attach to our unique and special
relations with Nepal, also held delegationlevel talks with his Nepali counterpart Sushil
Koirala.
Modi, who is in Kathmandu to attend the
18th SAARC Summit, urged Nepal to frame
its much-awaited constitution early and on the
basis of consensus.
Addressing a gathering during handing over
of a 200-bed trauma centre built by India, Modi
said writing the constitution was taking too
much time and urged Nepal to finish the work
on the basis of consensus and not majority.
He said the constitution should be like a
bouquet, with each flower representing each
strata of the Nepali society - the Madhesis, the
Maoists and Pahadis - providing them rights.
Modi said India will not interfere and has
never interfered in Nepals affairs, but added
that Nepals happiness is reason for us to
smile, so write it fast.
Political parties have set Jan 22 as the
deadline to draft the constitution.
The trauma centre has been built by India at
a cost of Rs.1.5 billion in the citys Bir Hospital,
the oldest medical facility in the country.
Among the dozen agreements inked was one
for project development agreement (PDA) for
the Arun III Hydropower project.
Both sides also kicked off a KathmanduDelhi bus service being run by the Delhi
Transport Corporation (DTC).

Modi also handed over the keys of a Dhruv

Advanced Light Helicopter to the Nepali army
and a mobile soil testing laboratory to the
country.
He said a lot of trust has been put into

The prime minister said he was aware of the

disappointment of the people in the three places
and assured them that he will visit them in the
near future.
He said the bilateral decisions that were

their bilateral relations.

A big horsepower engine of trust has been
fitted into their relations in the 100 days since
his last visit to Nepal in August, he said.
Referring to his decision not to visit
Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, as
well as Janakpur and Muktinath, which both
Hindus and Buddhists hold as sacred, Modi
said it was due to paucity of time.This time, I
was keen to go by road because I wanted to see
the difficulties the people of Nepal and Indians
on that side face and help mend matters. But
due to shortage of time, I could not do it, he
said.

stuck for the past 25 years were now being

pushed forward.Between my first visit, and my
second, decisions have been taken to change
lives in Nepal, and give happiness to India, the
prime minister said.
Modi said the hydropower projects Pancheshwor, Upper Karnali and Arun III - that
were stuck for many years have been pushed
forward and that all the Nepal parties have
shown farsightedness in backing the projects
with India.
He said a new electricity transmission line
was being set up between the two countries.
One new transmission line of 1,000 MW

is being installed, and Nepal will light up, he

said.
Modi said the $1 billion line of credit which
he had announced during his last visit was
being finalised.
Both countries also inked the Motor
Vehicles Act that would allow regular bus
service between the two nations.
The other agreements and memoranda of
understanding (MoUs) inked include on setting
up of a Nepal Police Academy, on tourism and
traditional medicines, Sister City Agreements
between Janakpur and Ayodhya, Kathmandu
and Vanarasi, and Lumbini and Bodhgaya.
Modi later called on President Ram Baran
Yadav at his office in Sheetal Niwas.
The Indian prime minister also held a
meeting with leaders of the largest party Nepali
Congress at Soaltee Hotel, where he is staying,
as well as with members of other political
parties.

Modi inaugurates trauma centre in Kathmandu

and bus service between Kathmandu & Delhi

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

Words that move world leaders

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Swami Suhitanandaji Maharaj, General Secretary of Ramakrishna Mission at Belur Math in Kolkata, India, stopped by Auckland last weekend,
on his way to Fiji. He spoke to Indian Weekender about how the saints teachings are oft quoted by the likes of Obama and Modi

Paula Ray
Instead of succumbing to division, you
have shown that the strength of India the
very idea of India is its embrace of all
colors, castes and creeds. Its the diversity
represented in this chamber today. Its the
richness of faiths celebrated by a visitor to
my hometown of Chicago more than a century
ago the renowned Swami Vivekananda. He
said that, holiness, purity and charity are not
the exclusive possessions of any church in the
world, and that every system has produced men
and women of the most exalted character.
US President Barack Obama,
the Parliament in New Delhi, 2010

India must conquer the World and nothing

less than that is my ideal, Swamiji famously
said. He had a very strong vision for our nation
and it is incumbent upon us to realize those
dreams of Swamiji by making his Vision for
India a reality!
Indian Prime Minister,
Narendra Modi, 2014

In fact, during Modis Washington visit,

President Barack Obama gifted him a copy of
the rare book, The Worlds Congress: Religions
at the Worlds Columbian Exposition. It is
about the 1893 summit of world religions where
Swami Vivekananda made his presence felt.
Later, Modi tweeted that it was a gift he would
cherish forever. Modi and Swami Vivekananda
share their first names the latter being named
at birth Narendra Nath and this was highly
publicised during BJPs party campaigns.

the Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, Sri

Lanka, Switzerland and the UK.
Ramakrishna Mission is a good platform to
execute the saints goals ofpPeace, tolerance
and acceptance.

The campaigners would often draw parallels

between the two Narendras parted by a century,
both upholding similar ideals.
His Masters Voice
Last weekend Swami Suhitanandaji
Maharaj, General Secretary of Ramakrishna
Mission at Belur Math, Howrah, near Kolkata,
India, stopped by Auckland. He was on his way
to Fiji, to inaugurate the universal meditation
centre at the Ramakrishna Mission in Nadi.
Indian Weekender was fortunate enough to
meet him and ask a few questions:
What are the ideals and beliefs on which
Ramakrishna Mission is based?
The mission is a philanthropic organisation
founded byRamakrishna Paramhansas chief
discipleVivekanandain early 1900s. The saint
researched all religions and found that all of
them believe in truth. So there is no religion
superior to the other; there is no difference
between them. Vivekananda took it upon
himself to spread the words of his guruji and
hence, set up the Missions.
The mission conducts extensive work in
health care, disaster relief, rural management,
tribal welfare, elementary and higher education
and culture. It uses the combined efforts of
hundreds of orderedmonksand thousands of
householder disciples. The mission bases its
work on the principles ofkarma yoga, which
leads to gradual development of body, mind
and intellect.
The mission is headquartered atBelur
Mathand is committed to bringing about amity
among all religious beliefs. Ramakrishna had
said: I dont belong to any nation. I belong to

Swami Suhitanandaji Maharaj

the world.
The saint also believed that men should not
decide what is right for women and that women
should take their own decisions and run their
own monastery. Hence, Sarada Math was set
up after his wife Sarada Devi for womens
development and they have their own aims and
objectives.
There are about 171 centres around the
world that are affiliated to the central body in
Belur. Of them, tere are 128 in India, 13 in
the USA, 12 in Bangladesh, 2 in Russia, and
one each in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Fiji,
France, Germany, japan, Malaysia, Mauritius,

Are Ramakrishna Paramhansas teachings

relevant in contemporary world?
Ramakrishna Mission is non-political, nonsectarian and believes in ones own salvation
and for the welfare of the world.
Humans exploit resources to create wealth
and live a healthy life. But they cannot live
by bread alone. This wealth can give physical
comfort, but can it bring mental peace? Can
wealth remove misfortune?
Ramakrishna teaches to compensate the
deficiency of wealth. Science forms what
religion reforms. Science does not bring
revolution, religion does. But what is religion?
It is a philosophy that teaches one to lead a
certain pattern of life. What sort of life? If a
man with an ideal commits one error, without
an ideal he will commit a thousand errors.
How did you find the Ramakrishna Vedanta
Centre in Auckland?
The Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre has an allinclusive approach and not one or two people
running it. There is involvement of people,
making it a democratic setup. It is doing
well. Our Math has accepted the functioning
of the Vedanta Centre. We have decided to
send a Maharaj (saint) from India to head the
institution.
How does a centre affliliated to Ramakrishna
Mission differ from the Vedanta Centre in
Auckland? Suppose there is a dispute over the

(Below and right): Cultural evening organised by Ramkrishna Vedanta Centre; (bottom) Swami ji with
the Indian High Commissioner

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

management of the centre and the concerned

people call up the central office at Belur
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Math for a solution,Black
we will say: Do
what
you think is right. Whereas, if the Mission
has our affiliation and the management asks
for intervention over a dispute, we tell them:
Please give us a few days and we will get back
to you with a solution.
We hear Indian Prime Minister Narendra
Modi is an ardent follower of Swami
Vivekananda. Can you enlighten us on it?
Yes, Narendra Modi is a follower of Swami
Vivekananda. When he was 17 years old, he
had wanted to become a monk. But the saint incharge of the Ahmedabad Mission rejected him
and asked him to go back to studies. But Modi
went back to him after a few years. This time
the saint told him that he was destined to serve
the people in other ways.
Modi today is translating Vivekanadas
concept for India, that the country will rise.
Modi has been quoted as saying:
I was greatly influenced by Swami
Vivekananda. ...That was another world which
I have loved. ...I am sure the youth is deeply
inspired by Swami Vivekananda and will carry
forward his ideals for Indias growth.
In fact, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee,
though not a disciple, is a follower of
Ramakrishna and has made generous donations
for the Missions many causes.

Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre,

Auckland
RKVC, as it is popularly called, was set up
in 2005 in Auckland. They engage in a lot of
activities, the latest being a cultural evening for
Swami Suhitanandaji Maharaj last weekend.
If you would like to partake in their activities,
please refer to the following details.
Address: Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre of
New Zealand, 27 Arawa Street, New Lynn,
Auckland, New Zealand.
Contact: Harish Sundarji, President
09 627 0499/ 021 733 468; Monnay Kumar,
Secretary 09 576 3103/ 021 167 5134
For further details: http://www.rkvc.org.nz/

NEW ZEALAND

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

Lorde reigns supreme at 2014 VNZMAs

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IWK Bureau

ollowing a hugely successful year locally

and internationally,Lordehas done it again
taking out no less than six Tuis (awards) at the
49th annual Vodafone New Zealand Music
Awards.
Almost half a million Kiwis tuned into FOUR
last week for LIVE coverage of the Vodafone
New Zealand Music Awards (VNZMAs) and
the Mentos Red Carpet Special, reaching the
biggest television audience in VNZMA history.
The North Shore teen takes out two of the
most coveted awards - the Mentos Album of
the Year for Pure Heroine and the Vodafone
Single of the Year Tui for Team. Lorde also
collects Tuis for Best Female Solo Artist, The
Edge Best Pop Album, Vodafone Highest
Selling Single for Royals and the International
Achievement Award.
Lordes rapidly growing awards collection
now includes four Tuis from the 2013
VNZMAs, an APRA Silver Scroll, The Taite
Music Prize, two Grammys, a Brit Award and
a MTV Video Music Award.
South AucklandsDavid Dallasrounds out
a successful 2014 with two Tuis for Best Male
Solo Artist and Best Urban / Hip Hop Album
for Falling Into Place after opening for global
rap sensation Eminem.
Stan Walker, star of the upcoming
international hip-hop film Born To Dance,
also claims two Tuis; taking home the NZ On
Air Radio Airplay award for Bulletproof and
Vodafone Peoples Choice.
Broods, the hugely popular sibling duo from
Nelson - and newcomers to the Vodafone New
Zealand Music Awards - take home their firstever Tui for Breakthrough Artist of the Year.
The winners have been announced tonight

(November 20) at the Vodafone New Zealand

Music Awards ceremony, held at Aucklands
Vector Arena.
Other winners include previous Critics
Choice nomineesThe Naked And Famous,
who take home the Tui for Steinlager Pure Best
Group. Best Rock Album goes toBlacklistt;
while the Tui for Best Alternative Album goes
to solo-act turned bandTiny Ruins.
Fresh off the back of shows in the US and
UK, family opera trio Sol3 Mio add to their
Tui collection taking out the award for FOUR
Highest Selling Album. The group picked up
the Best Pacific Album Tui earlier this year (8
May). Tama Waiparatakes home the Tui for
Best Roots Album for Fill Up The Silence
and Best Electronica Album is awarded
toOpiuofor Meraki.
Campbell Hooperclaims his Tui for NZ On
Air Best Music Video for his work on The Naked
And Famous Hearts Like Ours while the Best
Maori Album goes toRob Ruhafor Tiki Tapu.
The Tui for Best Gospel / Christian Album goes
toMosaic Musicfor You Surround and Best
Classical Album goes toJack Bodyfor Poems
of Love and War.
Recorded Music New Zealand Chief
Executive Damian Vaughan says hes blown
away at the quality of all this years finalists
and winners.
As always, the show itself has been
outstanding and the performances amazing.
Congratulations to all the finalists and
winners and a special congrats once again to
Supergroove as the NZ Herald Legacy Award
recipients and inductees into the NZ Music
Hall of Fame. Guests at the event, hosted by
Shannon Ryan and comedian Dai Henwood,
were treated to live performances by some

of the biggest names in New Zealand music

including Benny Tipene, Blacklistt, Broods,
David Dallas, Sol3 Mio and Tiny Ruins.
Perhaps the biggest crowd pleaser on the
night was a tribute performance in honour of
the 2014 NZ Herald Legacy Award recipients
Supergroove performed by female music
powerhouses Hollie Smith, Iva Lamkum, Ria
Hall and Tali. They were accompanied by The
Levites under the music direction of Jacob
Nansen. The NZ Herald Legacy Award was
presented to Supergroove on the night by Slave
and Otis.
Tui recipients who have received their
awards during the year are:
Best Jazz Album Nathan Haines for
Vermillion Skies
Best Folk Album Tattletale Saints for
How Red is the Blood
Best Pacific Music Album Sol3 Mio for
Sol3 Mio
Best Country Music Album Kaylee Bell
for Heart First
Best Album Cover Anna Taylor & Ken
Clark The Nihilist (Liam Finn)
Best Engineer Joel Little Pure
Heroine (Lorde)
Best Producer Joel Little Pure
Heroine (Lorde)
Best Childrens Music Album
Anika Moa Songs for Bubbas
NZ On Air 2014 Critics Choice Prize
Randa

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NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

IT programme no
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cost blowout

ollowing discussion of an update on

Auckland Councils Information Services
Transformational Programme at Finance and
Performance Committee, council has released
the report publicly.
Committee agenda item sought to bring
forward $24m to be spent in the earlier stages of
the project, enabling efficiencies to be achieved
later on.
The report (attached) covers the
consolidation of core council information
technology systems and addresses the
reprioritisation of the programme to optimise
outcomes, and the extension and enhancement
of the testing programme.
Chief Operating Officer Dean Kimpton says
there is no cost blowout and rigorous risk
management processes are being applied to the
programme.
There is no change to our overall IT budget
and no increase in funding required; however,
the NewCore component of the overall
programme has increased in cost and will
require an additional year to complete.
We want to simplify our processes so
Aucklanders have systems that are customerfriendly and easy to use, at their fingertips.
Building consents, resource consents, rating,
dog licensing and the booking of community
facilities are some of the areas that will benefit
from more customer-friendly online and IT
systems, Mr Kimpton says.
An independent chief information officer
(CIO) reference group, made up of CIOs
from a range of public sector and corporate
organisations, has brought strong governance
oversight to the councils IT transformation
programme, and has endorsed the approach
taken.

Rating valuation
objection period
extended

he period for people to object to their

2014 rating valuation has been extended
until5pm Tuesday 23 December 2014.
Acting CFO Kevin Ramsay says website
issues have meant some people had difficulty
accessing new values online when they were
made available on Monday 10 November 2014.
Early in the week
we had unprecedented
demand
on
our
website, which meant
there was intermittent
service for users
trying to access new
values.
We were able
to help many people
over the phone to find
New s from
out their value and we
are still encouraging people to call 0508 000
021 for assistance.
By now most property owners should have
received their new values in the mail.
Council property valuations key facts
Valuations, which are completed every three
years, will be used to help determine the share
of rates for each property for year beginning1
July 2015, but have no impact on the amount of
rates council collects overall.
This years property revaluation showed an
average capital value increase of 29 per cent
since 2011.
The average residential capital value
increase was 34.8 per cent.

Council finalist in
International Urban
Innovation Award

hristchurch City Councils Christchurch:

Our Ever Evolving City initiative has been
shortlisted for a prestigious urban innovation
award.
It is one of 15 initiatives shortlisted for
Guangzhou International Award for Urban
Innovation (Guangzhou Award) from a total
of 209 initiatives
were submitted from
159 cities and 55
countries.
Im absolutely
delighted that we
have been selected
as a finalist for this
particular
award.
Being innovative and
trying new ways of
t he Counc il doing things is what
the Council strives
for, says Mayor
Lianne Dalziel.
Mayor Dalziel says being shortlisted in a
competitive field reflects the high calibre and
standard of work and commitment of Council
staff.
The Guangzhou Award aims to reward
innovations to improve the socio-economic
environments in cities and regions, promote
sustainability and advance the livelihood of
their citizens. Presented biennially, the award
will encourage and recognise outstanding
innovative projects and practices in the public
sector.
The Guangzhou Award Ceremony will
be held on Friday 28 November 2014 in
Guangzhou, China.

MAYORALDRIVE

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.

Seasonal set net ban

to protect public
safety

et netting will be banned inArmy Bay and

Te Haruhi Bay within Shakespear Regional
Park during summer from this year in an effort
to reduce public safety concerns at the popular
swimming beaches.
Auckland Councils Regulatory and Bylaws
Committee has approved a control that will
prevent set nets being laid at these bays
between20 Decemberand31 Marchevery year.
The prohibited area extends 200m offshore.
Shakespear is one of most popular regional
parks, with thousands flocking there to swim
and take part in a range of water-related
activities in summer, including set netting
which is causing a conflict and of more concern,
a risk to public safety, says committee chair,
Councillor Calum Penrose.
Unfortunately, swimming, boating and set
netting do not mix and council is concerned
about the safety of all beach users. The seasonal
ban only applies toArmy Bay and Te Haruhi
Bay.
He says park rangers get dozens of
complaints every year about the nets causing an
obstruction for people and water craft getting
tangled up in the nets.
Set netting will still be permitted at
Okoromai Bay and other fishing practices are
also allowed in all bays.
The committee also directed staff to monitor
set net activity on Hatfield, Omaha and Browns
Bay beaches this summer in light of similar
concerns raised by local residents and the
Hibiscus and Bays and Rodney local boards.

10

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

Race-Hate not for NZ

ace Relations Commissioner Dame Susan

Devoy has condemned the latest hate
attacks on New Zealand children.
Cowards and thugs taking part in hate
attacks on Kiwi kids need to know their
behaviour has no place in New Zealand, said
Dame Susan.
I urge all Kiwis to not be bystanders and
to stand up for the victims if they witness race
hate attacks or abuse in their communities. Im
confident that everyday Kiwis will not stand for
our neighbourhoods becoming the setting for
the race hate we see on our television screens.
This weekend Jewish New Zealanders
went public after an attack on a pre-schooler.
Recently Muslim Kiwis also appealed for calm
after women and children reported attacks
walking home from school. In August the
Human Rights Commission met with and
issued a statement supporting Jewish Kiwis

after leaders reported a spike in anti Semitism

in the wake of the ongoing Gaza conflict. The
commission is also supporting Muslim Kiwis,
with FIANZ leaders reporting a spike in
Islamaphobic hate attacks in the wake of the
ongoing ISIS terror campaign.
When our Kiwi kids are scared to wear a
yarmulke or a head scarf because some adult
may abuse and attack them: we have failed,
said Dame Susan.
New Zealand has an excellent international
human rights record but it is not worth the
paper it is written on if New Zealand children
are under attack because of their religion or
their ethnicity.
Dame Susan says the NZ Police does
an excellent job working alongside ethnic
communities and she hopes they will show no
lenience on those bullies attacking some of our
most vulnerable people.

Tis the season

Red

he Cricket World Cup trophy is on tour

visiting throughout New Zealand visiting
22 centres. This week the trophy visited
Octagon, Dunedin on Wednesday morning.
Kiwis made the most of the great opportunity
to see the World Cup Trophy when it arrived in
the city as part of a nationwide tour.
Cricket World Cup, the Dunedin City
Council and Otago Cricket staged a community
event in the Octagon which featured an
interactive exhibition on the history of the
tournament, a chance to test your cricket skills,
giveaways and the opportunity for a free photo
with the trophy. Fans got an exclusive chance
to meet cricketing legends Chris Harris, Ken
Rutherford and Shayne OConnor, plus local
cricketing star Suzie Bates and some Otago
Volts.
DCC Events Special Projects Co-ordinator
Tammy Jackman said, Excitement is
building for this international event and this
is a wonderful opportunity to get down to the
Octagon and get your photo taken with one of
the greatest sporting trophies in the world.
The Octagon event ran from 6am to 9am
and Ms Jackman was encouraging people to
swing by before work and school to join in the
fun. The trophy was piped into the Octagon at
6.40am. The Terrace Bar opened early so people
can head there for breakfast and the chance to
pick up free tickets to the next Volts game.
At 9.30am, the trophy left the Dunedin
Railway Station on the Taieri Gorge Railway,
heading to Middlemarch.
The 11th ICC Cricket World Cup is being
hosted by New Zealand and Australia from 14
February to 29 March next year. Dunedin is
one of seven New Zealand cities which will
host matches. The first game in Dunedin will
be played on 17 February. All Dunedin matches
will be played at the highly-regarded University
Oval.
For more details, visitwww.dunedin.govt.
nz/cricketworldcup.

Orange

he festive season is fast approaching, so make sure you take the time to
refresh your understanding about providing refreshments.
With recent changes to legislation around blood alcohol levels, knowing
whats legal and responsible will help keep you, your family and others
safe.
From 1 December the blood alcohol level for people over 20 will be
lowered from 80 milligrams per 100ml of blood to 50 milligrams. A zero
tolerance for people under 20 has been in place since 2011.
Be a responsible host and ensure that guests have access to nonalcoholic drinks, food and safe transport home or a bed to sleep in
says Wayne Jameson, head of Environmental Protection Services.
Its also a case of knowing who you can supply alcohol to. The
legal age of purchase is 18, and you can only supply alcohol to a
minor if youre their legal guardian.
If youre a friend, or an aunt, uncle,
cousin, or grandparent and youre
not raising the young person, then
youre not a legal guardian.
Alcohol can be supplied
at private functions on private
property such as at reunions,
celebrations, barbeques and gettogethers.
If youre planning to sell or
supply alcohol in a public space or in
commercial premises, then you need
to contact Council to ensure that youre
not breaking the law.
Council administers the local Liquor
Control Bylaw, which prohibits the
consumption of alcohol in the central
business district outside of licensed
premises.

Cricket World Cup Trophy tour continues

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www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

NEW ZEALAND

Niche needs for ethnic media

Red

Susan Nemec

Black

Orange

hat is ethnic media and what potential

does it hold in the future for communities,
inter-ethnic communication and advertisers?
Questions such as these underpinned many of
the topics discussed by a number of panelists
at the recently held Forum on Ethnic Media
at the Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae in Mt
Alberts Unitec. Hosted by the Department
of Communications the forum emerged as a
response to the inadequacies of mainstream
media to address the communication needs of
Aucklands vastly changing demographic that
is more culturally diversity than London.
Ethnic media can provide a variety of
functions in terms of creating both an imagined
and a real community for its audience to creating
economic opportunities for both small business
advertisers and providing a portal for New
Zealand industry and government initiatives
and interventions. Fezeela Raza from the
EEO Trust made the point that ethnic media
should be considered as fluid and dynamic and
not necessarily representing an homogeneous
group but rather representing an opportunity
for the various voices within an ethnic group to
have a civic presence.
With this in mind ethnic media can provide
entertainment and information and reduce a
sense of isolation for the many individuals
within a community.
Ethnic media channels can also expect
to prosper if they produce a high quality,
cost-effective and measurable product that
convinces advertising agencies, businesses and
governement and ad hoc agencies to allocate
a bigger share of their advertising budgets.
Niche Medias General Manager Paul Doyle
says a number of communications executives

are astounded by the growing size and buying

power within the various niche markets of New
Zealands ethnic groups.
Doyle is convinced in the business potential
of ethnic media. Weve been advocating on
behalf of ethnic, or as I prefer niche, media
organisations for some 13 years now to build
the sectors reputation and viability.
It hasnt been easy to compete with
mainstream media which attracts nearly all
advertising revenue, leaving ethnic media with
less than 1%. The research weve invested in is
starting to pay dividends for the ethnic sector
but we have a long way to go to reach funding
parity for 46% of the Auckland population
which is Asian, Maori and Pacific.
Social media has also dramatically increased
the potential for audiences consuming ethnic
media. Roshila Prasad, Chief Executive of
Radio Humm says when the station first
started having an on-line presence linking
transnational Indian groups around the world
there were at first 178000 hits a month. This
has steadily grown to 9.5 million hits a month
and is still growing. Bernie ODonnell from
the indigenous radio station, Radio Waatea,

confirms that audience hits from Waateas

website are tangible evidence to funders and
advertisers of a growing audience.
Many panelists spoke of the potential for
ethnic media to build cultural bridges between
their own communities with both mainstream
media and Maori. Dr Camille Nakhid from

11

Auckland University of Technology challenges

ethnic media to tell mainstream more about
themselves and relate more to Maori issues
and concerns. Prasad, from Radio Humm,
points out that her station tries to provide a
culturalbalance of social and political issues
between the local Indian community and those
of their adopted country of NZ.
For example Maori language week is
promoted by Radio Humm and national
celebrations such as Anzac Day and Waitangi
Day are also given air time.
ODonnell reminded the audience that
Maori media, which has the potential to provide
migrants with a window into the life of Maori
in New Zealand, wants to make connections
with other cultures in order that different ethnic
groups may understand a Maori world view, its
culture and language.
This is important to understand as Maori
provided the framework for the signing of New
Zealands founding document with the British,
the Treaty of Waitangi. Maori have a different
way of looking at the world and it beneficial to
all groups in New Zealand that migrants have
the opportunity to find connections with New
Zealands original people.
Susan Nemec, PhD candidate at University
of Auckland, is researching on the extent to
which Maori Television helps to build cultural
bridges between Maori and migrants. Readers
are invited to participate in this survey for which
they will have the opportunity of entering a
draw to win an iPad. Participants of the on-line
survey do NOT have to watch Maori Television
to be involved at this stage. The survey can
be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/
s/6F66Z8C and should be completed no later
than December 5th, 2014.

12

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

From the desk of I am Woman

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25th November

White Ribbon Day - Say NO to

violence against women

IWK Bureau

hite Ribbon Day is the international day

for the elimination of violence against
women and occurs each year on 25 November.
Family violence is a growing concern for
the Indian Community with more and more
instances of such acts coming to fore. We
believe that domestic violence amongst the
South Asian community has always existed,
but due to initiatives to educate and empower
women along with more awareness these are
now being reported.

VIOLENCE TOWARDS WOMEN IS

NEVER ACCEPTABLE
Its OK to ask for or offer help
No violence is tolerable. If you know
someone who is being frightened or
intimidated by the behaviour of someone
else, it is not OK.
Violence isnt just physical. Its also
emotional or verbal behaviour used to
control someone through fear.
VIOLENCE IS NOT JUST PHYSICAL
Psychological/emotional violence is a very
common form of violence experienced by
women and children. Many women say it is the

worst kind of abuse. Psychological/emotional

abuse is about manipulation and coercion, and
affects your emotions and personality, rather
than your body. Victims of emotional abuse
can feel like they are going mad, are very
frightened, and feel like they have no choices
and are often made to feel like its their fault.
This form of abuse is often underestimated. Its
not recognised by many people because it can be
subtle and hidden. Survivors say psychological
abuse attacks their spirit and self-esteem and its
effects can last the longest.
MEN ARE PART OF THE SOLUTION
Whether you are a husband, father, son,
brother, uncle or granddad we all have women
in our lives that we love and wouldnt want to
see subjected to violence. The campaign aims
to change mens attitudes and behaviours,
predominantly through men talking to men.
Men are role models for our children. We need
to nurture a culture that encourages respect
and rejects violence. Like our White Ribbon
Ambassador, Ruben Wiki, we can play sports
and engage in physical activities with controlled
aggression, but we must not bring violence into
our homes.
By wearing a White Ribbon, you can make

White Ribbon Ride2014

The 2014 Ride 18-29 NOVEMBER

he White Ribbon Ride is New Zealands

most exciting initiative to tackling this
countrys crippling domestic violence record.
Violence destroys families, sets our children
on a destructive journey and affects one in
three women. This week-long motorcycle tour
happens every November White Ribbon
Month, and is a powerful and inspirational
voyage for all involved. In 2013 the ride was
featured at the International White Ribbon
Conference.
A lead group of riders steer convoys through
towns in the North and SouthIslands, picking
up support riders in every region along the
way. In many regionslocal riders will lead the
White Ribbon into their town. Please contact
us if you would like to support the kaupapa
by leading the riders in your local region.
Events are organised in every town, ranging
from school visits, marches and breakfasts,
to fashion parades, quiz nights and Dads and
Lads days. Every event is an opportunity to
bring this issue into the open and get people
talking. In 2013, thousands came out to meet
the riders and hear their important messages.
Joining the Ride is free and easy (though if
you are taking part for more than a day trip you
may wish to eat and sleep with the Riders).
For more details, visit: http://whiteribbon.
org.nz

it clear to other men that you do not tolerate

violence towards women. White Ribbon Day is
the international day when people, particularly
men, wear a White Ribbon to show they
wont tolerate, condone or remain silent about
violence towards women.
You can also make sure your home, business,
sports club is a safe environment where abusive
behaviour is not tolerated.
You can break the silence around domestic
violence by challenging comments, statement
and actions that are abusive, and supporting
those who wish to change their abusive
behaviour.
YOU CAN HELP FIX THIS PROBLEM
Check that your actions and those of your
mates are OK. Be man enough to make a call
on inappropriate behaviour.
Make sure the women you know are OK. If
not, start a conversation with them, with their
partners, or with someone who can help.
For advice, call the helplines Its Not Ok
0800 456 450 or Womens Refuge 0800 733
843 or visit www.nnsvs.org.nz
Wear a white ribbon every day, join a White
Ribbon project or activity and show your
support!

Men need to play

leadership role

cross New Zealand White Ribbon

Day was celebrated in a wide range
of diverse ways from marches, lighting up
the Sky Tower, handing out White Ribbons,
events with the White Ribbon (motorcycle)
Riders, and even an activity where men
wore womens shoes toshow their support
forending mens violence towards women.
These events all helped to raise the issue
of mens violence, says Judge Boshier,
Chair of the White Ribbon Committee.
There is a role for government, there
is a role for councils and other regulatory
bodies, but today on White Ribbon Day, I
want to acknowledge the role men have.
This year White Ribbon is asking men
to visitwhiteribbon.org.nzand take The
Pledge to never commit condone or remain
silent about violence towards women.
Its a simple concept, says Judge
Boshier. Men have the ability to influence
other men and we are asking men to step up,
and speak up. Whether its in the workplace,
at social events or in your own family
staying silent is no longer acceptable.
We must and we can turn this around.
But we can only do this if men are willing to
play a leadership role.

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

Red

Walk a Mile In HerShoes

Black

Orange

NEW ZEALAND

13

his year White Ribbon are introducing the global event Walk a Mile In Her Shoes.

The mile walk consists of two unique components, the physical walk where men are
expected to wear heels (or footwear that is not their everyday shoes); and the opportunity
to highlight and discuss the issue and ramifications of sexual, physical and emotional abuse
toward women. It also enables you to find people to sponsor your walk to raise funds for White
Ribbon.

Starts Saturday 29th November 2014

Entry $10 per walker- do it yourself or grab
some mates
A fun way to support serious cause!
For more details, visit www.whiteribbon.org.nz

Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi encourages men to

take the White Ribbon Pledge
Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi attended the
White Ribbon Dinner in Greenlane on 27th
November 2014
I am proud to affirm The Pledge I have
taken to never commit, condone or remain
silent about violence towards women,
Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi said
I encourage all the men in our community
to do the same. Sons, fathers, brothers, and
husbands, should all join together and stand
against this cowardly violence.
We know that while our nation is
experiencing its lowest crime rate in 35 years,
violent crime is not falling as fast. About half
of all homicides in New Zealand are a result
of family violence. This is unacceptable,

Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi said.

On average 14 women are killed every
year by their partners or ex-partners.
This has to stop. The National-led
Government has introduced a crossGovernment package to help address family
violence. We want Kiwi homes to be safe
places for women and children, and to ensure
victims are not re-victimised.
But laws and governments alone cannot
change behaviour. I want to see more
men getting involved with the campaign
and saying no to violence against women.
Signing up to the pledge is the first step.

Support for Men on White Ribbon Day

ew Zealand First Spokesperson for

Womens Affairs Tracey Martin
would like to acknowledge the men across
New Zealand who today make a pledge
not to commit violence against women and
children.
As more and more men campaign
to raise awareness of this physically and
emotionally damaging behaviour they
become a powerful part of the solution to
ending violence against women.
If the violence is to stop, and it must,

then it is vital that men are part of the change

by taking responsibility for their role in
putting an end to it.
These men give a voice to highlighting
the unacceptable actions of those who would
condone, remain silent or raise their fists
against women across Aotearoa who are
bashed behind closed doors.
Making this a joint gender issue goes
hand in hand with speaking out as the first
step towards solving this problem, says Ms
Martin.

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14

POWER COLUMN

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

Broadband improving access for our communities

Red

Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi

National List MP

nder National, more of our schools,

hospitals,
businesses,
and
rural
communities are getting better access to faster
broadband.
Faster and more reliable broadband is
making a difference to the way firms do
business, the way kids learn, and the way health
services are delivered to patients.
Connections to broadband have increased

by nearly forty per cent over the past quarter,

meaning
more
households,
hospitals,
businesses, and schools have joined the fibre
network.
Here in Auckland 5100 more users
connected to Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) in
the past quarter. Thats a 39 per cent increase.
National is committed to building worldclass fibre infrastructure, because we recognise
the long-term gains it will bring.
Faster broadband is critical to growing the
economy, driving innovation, and improving
outcomes in education, health, and the not-forprofit sector.

More than half a million households,

businesses, schools and health centres are now
able to connect to the Governments Ultra-Fast
Broadband network, which continues to rollout
ahead of schedule.
The UFB rollout will deliver fibre capable
of peak speeds of at least 100 Mbps to Kiwis
where they live, work, and study. The latest
quarterly figures on the UFB rollout show about
536,000 end users are now able to connect to
UFB around the country, and a total of 55,000
users are connected, an increase of 39 per cent
on the last quarter.
As fibre is rolled out across towns and

Black

Orange

regions all over the country, were seeing more

and more Kiwis taking up connections and the
benefits of increased speeds and reliability that
fibre provides.
Faster broadband is a key part of Nationals
plan to build a stronger economy, lift wages,
and provide the world-class services families
need.
Our next step is extending our UFB target
from 75 per cent to 80 per cent of New
Zealanders having access to world-class
connectivity, enabling Kiwis to have access to
the best technology they can as they compete
on the world stage.

A vibrant and independent Third Sector

Barry Coates
Green Party

eneath the surface of the official levels

of our government and business sector,
there is another world the Third Sector
populated by dedicated volunteers and overworked staff in thousands of communitybased
organisations,
Non-Governmental
Organisations, membership associations and
trade unions, social services providers, and
support networks. The Third Sector is, in many
ways, part of our DNA as a society.
In many countries, the Third Sector is
the lifeline for ensuring that those who need

support are not neglected. It is often the only

effective way to get food to marginalised
communities, to supply clean drinking
water, support agriculture or to ensure that
entitlements get through to the poorest people.
Through my career, most recently as CEO of
Oxfam New Zealand, I have been privileged
to see the vibrancy and dynamism of the Third
Sector in many countries, and particularly in
India, where millions of dedicated volunteers
and workers provide help with basic needs and
support for peoples rights.
It is therefore disturbing to see the findings
of a recent report by Victoria University Fears,
constraints and contracts which documents
the ways in which New Zealand governments
have stifled critical comments, interfered
inappropriately and instituted a contractual

New faces, wise heads

abour Leader Andrew Little today

announced a bold new caucus line up
which brings forward new talent and draws on
the partys depth of experience.
Labour has many new and highly capable
MPs who will have the opportunity to prove
their ability. At the same time our senior hands
will be on deck to take the fight to the Nationalled Government and support our upcoming
stars, Andrew Little says.
I am pleased to announce Annette King
will be my deputy for the coming year. In recent
weeks she has shown how crucial her wisdom
and strength is to Labour.
Grant Robertson will be my Finance
spokesperson and number three. He is one of
the best performers in Parliament and is more
than a match for Bill English.
Nanaia Mahutas lead role in Labour
regaining the Mori seats is recognised in her
number four position and her reappointment as
Mori Development spokesperson.

Talented up and comers Carmel Sepuloni,

Kelvin Davis and David Clark are taking on
key roles and will be important members of my
front bench.
These roles will be reviewed in a year to
ensure Labour has the strongest possible team
to head into the 2017 election.
This is an exciting new line up and Im
looking forward to getting down to business,
said Andrew Little.

culture of compliance and measurement that

gets in the way of effective work. There needs
to be more respect from the government, not
only National-led government, but Labour-led
government as well, for the independence of
the Third Sector and its role in building and
maintaining a dynamic democracy. There needs
to be space for the Third Sector to criticise when
things are going wrong, but also to partner with
government to achieve mutually-agreed aims in
a spirit of partnership.
A new approach is needed. The Green Party
believes that a well-resourced and accountable
Third Sector is crucial in reducing child poverty,
intervening early to help young people a risk,
helping new migrants to settle in New Zealand,
protecting and restoring our environment
and supporting vulnerable members of our

communities. The relationships should be

respectful of the independence of the Third
Sector and their contribution to democracy,
but also strong on forging effective and
accountable partnerships for delivering agreed
outcomes. We can more harness the energy and
enthusiasm of the Third Sector to build a fairer,
cleaner and smarter society.
Barry Coates was a Green Party candidate
for Mt Roskill and narrowly missed out on
becoming an MP. He has lengthy experience
in the Third Sector, most recently as Executive
Director of Oxfam New Zealand 2003-2014. He
has a Masters degree in management
from Yale University.

Labour Party Caucus 24 November 2014

1
2
3
4
5

Andrew Little
Annette King
Grant Robertson
Nanaia Mahuta
Phil Twyford

Leader of the Opposition, Security and Intelligence

Deputy Leader, Health
Finance
Maori Development
Housing, Transport
Shadow Leader of the House, Senior Whip, Education, Early
Childhood Education
Social Development, Junior Whip

Chris Hipkins

Carmel Sepuloni

Kelvin Davis

Police, Corrections, Associate Justice (Sexual & Domestic

Violence), Associate Education (Maori Education), Associate
Regional Development

Jacinda Ardern

Justice, Children, Small Business, Arts, Culture, Heritage

10

David Clark

Economic Development, Associate Finance, Associate Health

(Mental Health)

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

NEW ZEALAND

The great Punjabi extravaganza

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unjabi community in Auckland witnessed

one of the largest event in Auckland last
weekend. Saanjh Cup 2014 was the 2nd annual
Bhangra and Gidda competition held in
Manukau, Auckland with 13 teams participating
from different parts of the north island.
With more than 100 performers and an
enthusiastic crowd turnout of close to 2000
people, the event was a fine example of talented
young dancers and the presence of a strong
Punjabi community in New Zealand.
The full packed event was supported by
23 sponsors, organised by Saanjh Sports &
Cultural Club and managed by Pal Productions.
Besides the performance, the event centre
also had lip smacking food items arranged for
the audience. The menu included samosas,
kachori, gulab jamoon, pakora and soft drinks.
The event was completely smoke and alcohol
free, and was very well organised by the Saanjh
group.
The dance groups have been practicing more
than 4 months for the competition, coordinating
every day to make time for rehearsals. The
performing groups belonged to different parts
of the north island, like the Anak Punjab Di
group from Takanini, Papatoetoe, Mangere,
Manurewa, Manukau etc.
The performing groups were judged on the
basis of opening steps, costume, make up, props
used on stage, transition and steps, expressions,
co-ordination, ending the performance and
originality of choreography.
The enthusiasm among the audience
was phenomenal and the performers were
encouraged with hooting, applause and
whistling.
Winners were declared as follows:
Best Female Gidda Performer: Asthi
Chauhan (Virasat Foundation)
Best Female Bhangra Performer: Labpreet
Sindhu (APD Girls)
Best Male Bhangra Performer: Gurinder
Singh
We are promoting the Punjabi core
cultural dance and that includes real life
scenarios and dialogues in our performance.
We have been practicing for the last 2 months
mostly weekends trying to bring the real
Punjabi culture in our gidda performance
mentioned one of the performers of the Virasat
Foundation, the winners of both Bhangra and
Gidda performance.
The Saanjh Cup 2014 was a fine example
that even overseas how deep rooted are the
people of Punjab to its culture and traditions,
and the unity of the community in New Zealand.
Compiled by Rizwan Mohammad

Audience,
performers and
winners at
Saanjh Cup
2014

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15

16

SPECIAL FEATURE

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

Governance, Governance, Governance

Red

Maya Shivam

Modi wins with absolute majority

n the six months he has ruled India, Prime

Minister Narendra Modi has demonstrated
a new style of governance, of a taskmaster
in his own words, peppered with some out-ofthe-box thinking that has won him admirers and
raised hopes among the people at a level unseen
in recent years.
This is the overall assessment of the
64-year-old master communicator, who is seen
heading the most powerful Prime Ministers
Office (PMO) after the Indira Gandhi era deftly
merging the needs of modern India with subtle
touches of Hindutva politics.
Having decimated the Congress, he has
promised to improve governance, create new
jobs, boost infrastructure and clean up India,
among a host of other initiatives, while charting
a fresh path to improve the countrys ties with a
host of nations from West to the East.
After taking office May 26, he has sought
to remove sloth from officialdom and to make

The swearing-in ceremony

Successful launch of Indias Mars Mission

Japan visit

Launch of Make in India Initiative

Bhutan visit

BRICS summit

Black

Orange

the government target-driven and decisive.

The former Gujarat chief minister, now the
Bharatiya Janata Partys tallest leader, also
favours rules and processes that are people
friendly.
Former cabinet secretary Prabhat Kumar
calls Modi a decisive leader who has taken
some major initiatives but said it was too early
to judge his governments performance.In the
last 25 years, I have not seen a prime minister
as decisive as him. The way he looks at the
India of future, he has a dream, Kumar said.
He appears very authentic.
Kumar thinks that the next annual budget,
expected in February 2015, would be a major
policy document. Thereafter, the results will
have to be shown (on the ground).
For now, what has generated nationwide
interest is the Clean India campaign Modi
announced from the Red Fort in his first
Independence Day address.
The other major initiatives of the BJPled government include Jan Dhan Yojana,

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

Red

Black

SPECIAL FEATURE

17

Orange

Sharamev Jayate, Saansad Adarsh Gram

Yojana, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya
Grameen Kaushalya Yojana, Sardar Patel Awas
Yojana and Jeevan Praman.
Modis critics, however, accuse him of
centralising all authority in his hands - a la
Indira Gandhi.
Chennai-based political analyst M.R.
Venkatesh said that there was almost no
corruption now at the top level in the
government. Modi should now start fixing
targets for the bureaucracy. Modi is the single
point in the central government, and that is also
the weakness.
Politically, Modi has kept up the BJPs
winning momentum in Haryana where the party
has taken power on its own for the first time
and, more important, in Maharashtra, albeit by
running foul of the Shiv Sena.
Unlike any other prime minister, Modi
addressed the nation on the radio regularly.
Modi also makes extensive use of the social

media and at the same time welcomes feedback

and suggestions.
Modi has been personally involved with the
initiatives of the government, setting targets
and pushing officials to squeeze timelines.
The prime minister is also determined to
clean up the polluted Ganga, the holiest of rivers
for millions of Hindus. But there are enormous
challenges. The millions who voted for the
BJP after Modis election promise of providing
achche din (good days) want quick answers to
the many problems that confront India.
The most important however is the upward
path that Modi has paved for the Indian
Diaspora all over the world. He is being
heralded as the Roackstar Prime Minister
who has ruled the media in all countries he has
visited. He has most number of fans following
him on Facebook and Twitter. While he remains
the top contender for the Times Magazine
Person of the year, for us he is already the Man
of the Decade!

Diwali at Siachen Glacier

Australia visit

On board INS Vikramaditya

Fiji tour

At the White House

Madison Square Garden address

Saarc summit in Nepal

18

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

Red

Black

Orange

You get in life what you have the courage

to ask for

Editorial

- Oprah Winfrey

From the desk of the

Managing Editor

odi Government completes six months in power and Indian Weekender has followed
Mr Modi, its charismatic leader, every step of the way. Our very own India Modi-fied
started as an ode to Indias rising hope. Today, six months later, India stands tall because of the
numerous initiatives undertaken by the Government., and its growing foreign relationships.
Mr Modis visits to Japan, the United States, Australia, Fiji, the BRIC conference, the G20
Summit and now SAARC, have left a glowing footprint of Indias inevitable shining future
if this trend is to continue. Amongst all this, lets not forget the countrys footprint on Mars,
and our bold plans to further conquer the final frontier.
As Mr Modi continues to take bigger and bigger strides in improving our Nation and
its image across the globe, we need to reciprocate with our individual responsibilities and
ensure that we do nothing that brings disrepute to the name of our Country of birth. Let us
remain conscious at all times, of our actions and the direct effect they have on the image of
our country. Within us lies great ability to be recognised as a strong workforce, and we need
to bring forth that potential to shine through unity. In the words of Mr Modi may the force
be with you.
November 25th is White Ribbon Day its a day to say NO to violence against women.
Its a day for men to take a pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence
towards women. Domestic violence is a big part of the total number of crimes that are
committed in New Zealand. On an average 14 women are killed every year by their partners
or ex partners in New Zealand. This is not acceptable. What is so manly about hurting another
person? It is imperative then as a community, we take up this cause and say NO to violence
against women.
Our favourite high- cricket, is slowly taking over. With the trophy doing the rounds, one
cannot but help envision the excitement and fervour when the Indian Cricket team actually
arrives and we are able to see the masters in action.
Also, as another round of the festivities season approaches, we have to remain mindful
of the change in alcohol limits effective from 01December, before we take our place behind
the steering wheel.
In our current issue, we serve up another serving of Modi- mania, as he completes six
glorious months in office as Prime Minister. We also bring to you updates on all the local
happenings and everything that has made news. We hope all our readers enjoy our publication
as much as we enjoy putting news together for you. We are remaining true to our promise and
adding more and more value to it. Please not the inclusion of Kiwiana that brings for you
a new Kiwi word every week and keeps up with our embracing the culture of the Country
we have chosen to call home. Also included is a Careers column, that brings you new ideas
when stepping out to join the work force or when you find yourself in between jobs. We
will continue to keep this endeavour going, and with your support improve your reading
experience with every issue.
I sign off by expressing my excitement and pride at the news of President Obama of the
US of A consenting to attend the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi as the Chief Guest. This
will be a big leap forward for India.

Kai

Pronounced: Kaai
Maori word for food (can be used as verb or noun)
Usage: There was plenty of kai on the table.

Pick of the week

Giri Gupta

Indian Weekender Volume 6 Issue 19

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
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Chief Technical Officer: Rohan Desouza | rohan@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

Indian Weekender is published by Kiwi Media Group, 98 Great South Road, Auckland
Printed at Guardian Print, Ashburton
Copyright 2014. Kiwi Media Group. All Rights Reserved.

As the sun set, a New Zealand skydiving record was made on Sunday 23 November,
breaking a decade old NZ skydiving record!
3 planes and 35 sporties took to the skies to make the last dock as 35 people formed
a snowflake in the sky over Lake Taupo, beating a NZ record set in 1992 when
30 skydivers formed a big way formation.

Tip from the trenches

Hammock camping
No need to worry about uneven, rocky, wet, muddy,
bug-infested ground. Look for sturdy trees; attach
wide webbing straps around the trunks (to protect the
bark) to create attachment points; loop the hammock
rope through the straps; keep the hammock about
chair height; add a tarp for rain and wind protection.
Courtesy of hammockforums.net

OPINION / EDITORIAL

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

19

Modi visit brought renewed confidence

about India: Experts

Red

Black

Orange

he G20s rock star is how a Western daily

described him. Prime Minister Narendra
Modi in his 10-day three-nation blitz was on
a diplomatic overdrive, attending multilateral
gatherings, meeting world leaders, business
honchos and also addressing the diaspora - all
of which helped bring a renewed confidence
about India, say experts.
Modi, who returned Thursday after
visiting Myanmar, Australia and Fiji, met over
40 world leaders and heads of international
organisations during the Asean-India, East
Asia Summit, the G20 and the India-South
Pacific Island nations meet.
He also spoke at length at each fora,
reassuring the world and regional leaders
about the ease of doing business in India and
the change in policies under his government.
I would say that Prime Minister Modi
has arrived on the regional and international
political arena. In a way, he has been able to
establish his credibility and along with that
there is renewed confidence about India,
leading strategic expert C. Uday Bhaskar said.
But Bhaskar, director of think tank Society
for Policy Studies (SPS), added that alongwith
the renewed confidence about India in the
spheres of economy and trade and politics,
now expectations are aroused that India will
be able to deliver.
He said the Indian system will have to
deliver, and the commitments made will be on
test.
It was a successful visit. But now our
ability to deliver is something that needs to
be demonstrated, that is the real challenge for
Modi, he added.
According to Bhaskar, the first time meet
with the 14 Pacific Islands in Fiji holds a lot of

strategic importance.
India has engaged for the first time with the
South Pacific as a community. There is a lot of
strategic significance in that, as for a long time
China has been making consistent attempts to
increase its footprints in the region.
He said the 14 Pacific Island nations have
an important element for voting in the UN,
where each nation carries one vote, but many
of them look up to India for critical subjects
like health, and IT.
Bhaskar feels the Nov 19 visit to Fiji, the
first by an Indian prime minister in 33 years,
and the meeting with the Pacific Island nations
was strategically the most important of Modis
engagements this time.

According to former Indian envoy Sheel

Kant Sharma, Modis visit to Australia, during
which the G20 endorsed Indias concerns
about black money and tax avoidance after an
intervention by the prime minister was very
significant.
The point was important at the G20, to
have transparency and automatic sharing on
information in transfer of money that underlie
remittances. We get a clear idea of what we get,
and also about black money, of unauthorised
transactions and tax havens. They need not
have the insularity they have enjoyed all this
while. That point was duly adopted by the
G20, Sharma told IANS.
He feels Modis intervention was a

success. What he said was not airy fairy. It was

out of substantive points, out of preparation.
He made substantive points without any
superficiality.
The former envoy, who has served as Saarc
secretary general, said the Fiji visit was
overdue and timely though the number of
Indian diaspora there are small compared to
Australia.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting
Fiji tomorrow (Nov 21). There can be no
comparison between India and China and
the Chinese ability to dole out money. China
has been on a binge in the ability to dole out
money to get the South Pacific islands on their
side, he said.
He said that according to some articles,
there were a large number of Chinese
expatriates living in some of the islands there,
but not in Fiji.
Sharma said the South Pacific Island
nations are favourably disposed towards
India.
Modi met the leaders there, that is another
very good diplomatic initiative. It is the first
time our prime minister has gone down South
for such a long time.
He said the Myanmar visit emphasised that
the governments policy was not just Look
East but Act East. The two summits were
both successful for him. The target for trade
for Asean is $100 billion, and we are thinking
of bigger investment, he added.
The Guardian in an article titled From
international pariah to the G20 as political
rock star, described Modi as one of the most
popular figures at this G20. A leader others
want to see, and be seen with.

Modis six months: Pursuing his own line and pace

Amulya Ganguli

ooked at from one angle, the six months

of Narendra Modis tenure may be a cause
of disappointment for some. For the corporate
sector, for instance, the absence of big ticket
reforms is bound to detract from the prime
ministers go-getter image. The business houses
may not have said anything as yet about their
dissatisfaction, but it is clear by now that Modi
is not an ideologically-driven right-winger like
Ronald Reagan or Margaret Thatcher.
Instead, he evidently likes to pursue his
own line and at his own pace. He will not be
hustled, therefore, into drafting a hire-andfire labour reforms policy which is favoured
by industrialists, nor into a return to land
acquisition laws reminiscent of the 1894 rules
which have now been scrapped.
What is more likely is that he will tweak
these laws, including those on environment,
and not opt for drastic changes. In this respect,
Modi is a reformer, not a radical.
Any expectation, therefore, that his partys
majority in the Lok Sabha will make him
ride roughshod over the existing rules and
regulations will not be fulfilled.
One reason why such dramatic changes
have been expected since Modi appeared on
the scene like a rock star, as even the foreign
media describe him, is the pent-up frustration
in the last years of the previous government
among both businessmen and ordinary people
caused by the stalled reforms and policy

paralysis. It was hoped, therefore, that Modis

changes would be in the nature of a no-holdsbarred recourses to a fast-growth path.
Since this hasnt been the case, the belief is
that he is as much of a pragmatist as any other
politician who will not like to unnecessarily
overturn the apple cart.
As a result, while avoiding major changes,
the prime minister is currently focussing on
what can be deemed small things, such as
toilets, cleanliness, e-governance, encouraging
the underprivileged to open bank accounts and
the celebrities as well as the MPs to adopt
villages. The last venture has even persuaded a
well-known Communist economist to mock the
projects as being aimed at turning the people
into mendicants.
There is also another kind of disappointment
for some people with Modi. It is the result of
the fact that there hasnt yet been what Mani
Shankar Aiyar called the Godhra moment.
According to the former Congress MP, Modi
is waiting for such an outbreak of communal
violence to reveal his real self just as Hitler
used the Reichstag fire to impose one-party rule
on Germany.
Although the recent riots in Trilokpuri
and the communal tension in Bawana on the
outskirts of Delhi have been seen as examples
of the local foot-soldiers of the saffron brigade
fishing in troubled waters, especially with
next years elections to the Delhi assembly in
mind, there havent, mercifully, been any major

incident.
What is more, the likes of Yogi Adityanath
and Sakshi Maharaj have not only fallen silent,
they have desisted - or have been prevented
- from carrying on their earlier vicious
propaganda on love jehad in Maharashtra
on the eve of the polls as their followers had
threatened to do. It is not impossible that Modi
is more serious about his proposed 10-year
moratorium on sectarian animosity than what
his hotheaded followers had assumed.
It is noteworthy that the Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief, Mohan
Bhagwat, did not mention the phrase, love
jehad, in his customary Vijaya Dashami
speech as he did on earlier occasions. Nor did
he set any deadline for the construction of the
Ram temple, or say that all Indians are Hindus.
Interestingly, the BJP has indicated that it
will go soft on the question of scrapping Article
370 of the Constitution which confers a special
status on Jammu and Kashmir. Evidently, the
hopes which the party entertains of scoring an
unlikely victory in the impending assembly
elections in Jammu and Kashmir have
persuaded it to dilute one of the key items on
its pro-Hindu agenda. Not only that, the BJP
has even said that Islam will prosper under
its rule, a claim which is likely to baffle both
Hindus and Muslims, especially the bigoted
among them.
There is little doubt, therefore, that Modi has
decided to follow a path of moderation which

cannot but have a calming effect on the saffron

brotherhood. From the standpoint of at least
curbing, if not ridding society of any innate
communal poison, this evidence of sobriety can
be considered to be one of the major features of
his first six months in office. Its value is much
higher than any achievement, or lack of it, in
the economic field.
That the country is advancing even in the
economic sector is however evident from the
projection of a 6.3 percent growth rate next
year by Morgan Stanley. If the trend continues,
then Modi can further consolidate his position
at the national level even if there are setbacks
like the possibility that the BJP may flounder
in Maharashtra because of its failure to get a
majority in the state legislature.
One reason why Modis first six months in
office have been relatively trouble free is that
the Congress not only continues to remain in the
doldrums but also that its internal tensions,
as Rahul Gandhi once said, have not subsided,
as was evident from the virtual boycott of
the partys observance of Jawaharlal Nehrus
125th birth anniversary by party stalwarts like
A.K. Antony, P. Chidambaram, Sushil Kumar
Shinde, Kamal Nath, Ghulam Nabi Azad and
others.
Amulya Ganguli is a political analyst.
The views expressed are personal. He can be
reached at amulyaganguli@gmail.com

20

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

FIJI

India to play role of Vishvaguru: Modi

Red

rime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday

said India will once again play the role of
Vishvaguru or teacher to the world.
In an interaction with representatives of
civil society at the Fiji Technical University
here, Modi said India would use the strengths
of its democracy and young population for the
benefit of mankind.
Stating that the coming age would be the age
of knowledge and technology, Modi said it was
essential to keep adding to the knowledge base,
and to keep up the pace of new discoveries and
inventions.
Remarking that Indias ancient sages had
spoken about Indias global responsibility,
he said India would play a pivotal role in the
coming Gyan Yug playing the role of a
Vishvaguru.
The prime minister said the Indian
government was giving priority to skill
development so that these strengths could be
leveraged for the benefit of the whole world.
He also talked about ending the digital divide,
saying we have to prepare for the future to
help the world.
The prime minister, who was in Fiji on the
last leg of his 10-day three-nation tour, said

Black

Orange

India and the Pacific island nation had many

shared values, and it was the responsibility of
both sides to strengthen these values.
Ethnic Indians comprise 37 percent of Fijis
population of nearly 900,000.
Most of them are descendants of indentured
labourers who were brought in by British rulers
from India between 1879 and 1916 to work in
the countrys sugarcane plantations.
Observing that Fiji had chosen the path of
democracy to move forward, the prime minister
said this had set an example that would exert
a positive influence in the wider Pacific region
as well.
The prime minister also spoke of the
initiatives that he had announced earlier in
the day after landing in Fiji. These include
visa on arrival for Fiji and other Pacific island
nations, a line of credit of $70 million for a cogeneration power plant, doubling the number of
scholarships and training slots in India for Fiji
and setting up of a special adaptation fund of
$1 million to provide technical assistance and
training for capacity building to Pacific island
nations on the issue of global warming.

Indian
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi
during his Fiji
tour

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

Apollo Hospitals, Fiji

University sign MoU

Red

Black

Orange

pollo Hospitals and Fiji National

University have signed a memorandum
of understanding (MoU) for healthcare
collaboration.
The MoU was signed by Sangita Reddy,
Joint Managing Director of Apollo Group of
Hospitals, and Ganesh Chand, vice chancellor
of Fiji National University, on the eve Prime
Minister Narendra Modis visit to the university.
The MoU entails initiatives like enhancement
of the healthcare infrastructure in Fiji, enabling
better access to high quality care for the people
of Fiji with telemedicine and referral to Apollo
Hospitals for advance ailments.
Besides, establishment of a clinic with
outpatient specialist consultation services,
state-of-the-art diagnostic services, 24X7

emergency care access, diabetes management

services and sharing of content on medical
education and training programmes, including
e-learning portfolio.
Apollo Hospitals has created a new model of
healthcare which delivers the highest standards
of medical care in a cost effective manner. We
believe that this model is appropriate for most
of the developing geographies in the world,
said Sangita Reddy in a statement.
Modi, his Fijian counterpart Frank
Bainimarama and Fijis Health Minister
Jone Usamate welcomed this initiative and
opined that this is the beginning of a long
and substantive engagement between Apollo
Hospitals and Fiji.

FIJI

21

2015 Budget: Summary

of revenue policies
INCOME TAX ACT (ITA)
Disaster Relief for Farmers
200% tax deduction for voluntary
contribution of cash donation by taxpayers
towards a Farmers Emergency Fund
Account for disaster relief, with minimum
contribution of $10,000.
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Incentives
The scope of SME Income Tax Incentive
will be extended to cover the entire
Agriculture sector.
Commercial
Agriculture
and
Agro
Processing Incentives
The minimum initial level of investment
will be reduced from $2m to $250,000 to
be aligned with the TFR thresholds:
$250,000 - $1,000,000 Capital Investment
5 years tax holiday
$1,000,000 - $2,000,000 Capital Investment
7 years tax holiday
$2,000,000 and above Capital Investment
13 years tax holiday
The incentive will be extended to 31
December 2018.
ICT Incentives
The scope of the ICT incentives will be
extended to include setting up of ICT
accredited training institutions and ICT
start-ups involved in the application design
and software development.
The benefits will include:
150% deduction for all ICT start-up
costs (no conditions such employment
requirements attached).
Duty-free and VAT exemption on all
items imported which is required for the
establishment.
Export Income Deduction
Export Income Deduction rate will be
increased from 40% to 50%.
Eleventh Schedule Incentives
The definition of project under the
Hotel Investment Tax Incentive (Eleventh
Schedule of the Income Tax Act) will be
expanded to include the buying and selling
of residential units in hotel and integrated
tourism developments.
The current Short Life Investment
Package incentives (Eleventh Schedule
of the Income Tax Act) will be expanded
to include new apartments provided the
length of stay is not more than 6 months.
Accelerated Depreciation
The Accelerated Depreciation Allowance
for buildings, Plants and Machineries will

be extended to 31 December 2018.

Bio-Fuel Production Incentive
Bio-Fuel Production incentives (10year tax holiday) will be extended to 31
December 2018.
Savings for those earning $16,000 or below
Individuals earning $16,000 and below
will be exempt from paying resident
interest withholding tax on any interest
earned from savings.
Tax Administration Decree (TAD)
The TAD will be amended to change the
Chairmanship of the Tax Agents Board to
the Permanent Secretary for Finance or his
appointed representative.
CAPITAL GAINS TAX
CGT on Transfers on Love and Affection
CGT will be exempt on Love and affection
transfers:
parents to children and vice versa
within siblings and;
between spouses;
between grandchildren and grandparents
and vice-versa.
CGT Valuation
The current practice of independent
valuation by Solicitor General will remain.
From 2015, Solicitor General will pay the
Valuers.
CGT on gain made from sale of shares for
companies listed in the South Pacific Stock
Exchange
- CGT legislation will be aligned with the
Income Tax Act to exempt CGT on gains made
from sale of shares arising from reorganization,
restructure and amalgamation of private
company for purpose of listing on the South
Pacific Stock Exchange.
FRINGE BENEFIT TAX
FBT on Accommodation Provided to Hotel
Executives.
FBT levied will be extended to include
all accommodation provided to hotel
executive managers, irrespective of the
location of the hotel.
Apportionment of FBT charged on Motor
vehicle if the benefit given to the employee is
also used for business purposes.
The value of the benefit from motor vehicle
is reduced by 50% and leftover 50% will
be charged FBT. This will provide clarity
and will not require keeping of log books.
Non-Deductibility of FBT
Consequential amendment will be done
to Section 19 of the Income Tax Act to
formalize the non-deductibility of FBT.

India, Fiji ink three MoUs during

Modi visit

ndia inked three MoUs with Fiji, including

on earmarking land for diplomatic mission
buildings in each others capitals, during
Modis visit to Fiji.
The first MoU was for training programmes
for diplomats, signed between the Foreign
Service Institute of India and the ministry of
foreign affairs of Fiji.
This will foster closer exchanges between
India and Fiji, as well as the Pacific region, an
official statement said.
The second MoU was on earmarking land
in New Delhi and Suva for the construction of
their diplomatic missions. This will provide

a permanent location for the conduct of our

relations and will be an iconic presence in
Suva, it said.
The third MoU was for extending a $70m
line of credit for establishing a co-generation
plant at Rarawai Sugar Mills in Fiji.
This will expand the scope of bilateral
cooperation in the sugar sector by enhancing
value addition and addressing climate change
concerns.
India had earlier provided assistance for
upgradation and product development at three
of Fijis major sugar mills, it said.

22

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

INDIA

Murli Deora: Congresss long-time Mumbai strongman

breathes his last
Red

round 12 years ago, when industrialist

tycoon Dhirubhai Ambani was battling for
life in a Mumbai hospital, close family friend
and Congress leader Murli Deora virtually
served as a one-man army, keeping the prying
media and politicians at bay.
The Ambani family almost seemed
dependent on Deora as he handled all media
queries and calls from industry czars. He
managed it with his finesse, firmness and
courtesy for several days.
Ambanis sons - now industrial tycoons
Mukesh and Anil - regarded and addressed
Deora as uncle, so deep was their respect for
him.
Deora, 77, breathed his last Monday
morning after a prolonged illness, bringing to
an end an era in which business, politics and
glamour mixed headily for everybodys mutual
benefit.
Starting his political career as a Congress
municipal corporator in the mid-1960s for
two terms, and later a term as a member of
the legislative council in Maharashtra, Deora
quickly drew attention of his party bosses and
went on to become a four-time Lok Sabha
member and three-term Rajya Sabha member.
In between, he became the countrys
petroleum minister, serving with aplomb and a
tenure which is remembered even today.
Deora became close to three generations
of the Gandhi family, starting with late prime

minister Indira Gandhi.

He subsequently became one of the key
confidants and advisors of her son, late Rajiv
Gandhi, followed by his widow Sonia Gandhi
and their son Rahul Gandhi.
In his political career spanning nearly five
decades, Deora served as the president of the
Mumbai Regional Congress Committee for a
whopping 22 years.
Known for his fund-raising abilities, Deora
had on one occasion harboured an ambition to

Apex court directs CBI chief

to step aside from 2G case
S
uspecting the conduct of Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI) chief Ranjit Sinha, the
Supreme Court Thursday asked him to withdraw
from the 2G telecom spectrum allocation case,
but also said this was not a stricture against the
premier probe agency.
An apex court bench of Chief Justice H.L.
Dattu, Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice A.K.
Sikri said the senior-most officer heading the
investigating team in the 2G case must now
take over the probe into the alleged scam in the
allocation of 2G telecom spectrum.
Holding as credible the allegations of
interference and scuttling of probe by Sinha
in the cases, the court recalled its Sep 15 order
directing the petitioner, the non-profit Centre for
Public Interest Litigation, to reveal the identity
of the whistleblower who gave information on
Sinhas alleged interference.
The court, while not passing a detailed order
with reasons, said it was delivering this order
as it felt it would otherwise affect and hurt the
image of the countrys premier probe agency.
We are not purporting to pass an elaborate
order. Prima facie, this (allegation against
Sinha) appears to be credible and it requires to
be accepted. We reiterate we do not intend to
spoil the reputation of the institution by passing
a detailed order, the court said.
We suspect your (Sinhas) actions.
The suspicion is substantiated by special
public prosecutor Anand Grover, who is our
representative, who has gone through the
records. He has given synopsis of the file
noting, the court observed.
Prima facie it appears that things are not
well. It inspires no confidence and would
amount to derailing the trial. You cant brush
aside their (the petitioners) statements as false
and malicious, the court added during the

course of the hearing.

When it appears to us that things are not
well, somebody may take over and proceed. We
dont want to pass an order casting aspersions
on the investigation, the court told senior
counsel Vikas Singh, who appeared for Sinha,
while directing his client to recuse himself from
the investigation.
Acknowledging that Sinhas conduct in
handling related cases of Dayanidhi Maran,
Reliance Telecom and others did not inspire
the courts confidence, Vikas Singh sought to
establish the bona fides of the CBI director by
seeking a look at the files placed as evidence .
He said the view taken by Sinha in the
Dayanidhi Maran-Maxis-Aircel case and
Reliance Telecom case, among others could
have different interpretations. But if Sinhas
actions and opinions are suspected, then
nothing remains to be said, Vikas Singh told the
court, defending his clients position.

become the treasurer of the All India Congress

Committee, but his moves were nullified by late
Sitaram Kesri with whom he locked horns.
His tenure as MRCC chief is credited with
successfully checking the growth and influence
of the rival Shiv Sena in the commercial capital,
though the latter, in alliance with the BJP,
managed to control the Municipal Corporation
of Greater Mumbai.
As a key party functionary, Murli bhai,
as he was known, was on back-slapping terms

Black

Orange

with top corporate heads, media barons, leaders

of rival political parties and celebrities.
One of the few politicians who realised the
influence of the media, Deora respected all
journalists.
Besides the corporate and the media, he also
maintained excellent relations in diplomatic
circles and personally knew many global
leaders.
At the international level, he was active in
various fora, including serving as international
president of the Parliamentarians for Global
Action in 1995-96 and later as India chief in
2002-2004, and the following year as vice
president of the International Federation of Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The Congress rewarded him with a berth in
the union cabinet in 2006, as the petroleum and
natural gas minister.
Later, he was assigned corporate affairs
for a year, even as his son Milind, a suave and
young Gen-Next politician, started to get into
his fathers shoes.
Deora also served in various state and
central committees, and in organisations like
Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) as director.
Deora, survived by his wife Hema, sons
Milind and Mukund, was cremated with state
honours at the Chandanwadi crematorium
Monday in the presence of a huge crowd of
mourners and admirers.

Government confident of
passing insurance bill

he Narendra Modi government expressed

confidence at getting the insurance bill,
which seeks to raise the cap on foreign equity
in the sector from 26 percent to 49 percent,
through parliament even as some opposition
parties appeared allied against the measure.
We are committed. We want insurance
reforms at the earliest and I am confident
of getting the support of major opposition
parties as they have all given a commitment,
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah
Naidu said.
Sources said government is trying to bring
together parties which may support it in the
upper house where it is in a minority.
The insurance bill, which is presently with
a select committee of Rajya Sabha, is likely
to be tabled in the upper house as per the
committees mandate.
The BJP-led government is in minority
in this house, while parties like Trinamool
Congress, Left parties, and the newly formed
block of former Janata Dal parties including
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Samajwadi Party
(SP) and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) have
openly opposed the bill.
Sources said government is trying to seek
support from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) to ensure numbers.
The main opposition party in the upper
house, the Congress has kept its cards to
itself, with party leader Kamal Nath saying
a decision will be taken only after seeing the
report of the select committee.

We will take a call on the insurance

bill after the report of the select committee
comes, Kamal Nath told the media in the
parliament complex.
The bill was sent to a select committee of
the Rajya Sabha during the last parliament
session. The report is supposed to be tabled
Nov 28.
Kamal Nath said the Congress will
cooperate with the government in the passage
of key bills and will play a constructive role
in parliament.
There has to be a discussion on contentious
issues before taking a final decision, he said
on the bill. We will consult other opposition
parties and form an opinion, he added.
However, in a surprise turn, BSP supremo
Mayawati Monday said there was no reason
for her party to oppose the insurance bill if the
select committee accepts its suggestions.
The select committee hasnt taken
a decision on insurance bill yet, if our
suggestions are accepted why would we
oppose it, she asked while speaking to the
media outside parliament.
The Trinamool, which has been opposing
the bill, said they will not let it pass. There
is no question of passing the bill. First let it
be taken up, clause by clause, in the select
committee, party leader Derek OBrien said.
JD-U leader K.C. Tyagi had Sunday said
their newly formed block with SP and RJD,
along with other parties will stop the bill from
being passed.

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www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

Red

Black

Orange

NEWS in BRIEF

Cabinet approves 3 major power projects

he Union cabinet approved three major projects for the power sector, the power ministry
said in a statement.
The projects are the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana, Integrated Power
Development Scheme and the North Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project.
The North Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project aims to strengthen the intrastate transmission and distribution system at a projected cost of Rs. 5,111 crore, including a
capacity-building expenditure of Rs. 89 crore, the statement said.
The scheme is to be implemented with World Bank assistance, it added. The Integrated
Power Development Scheme is designed for urban areas and entails an expenditure of Rs.
32,612 crore.
The Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana is targeted at the rural areas. The scheme
entails a total investment of Rs. 43,033 crore, while for 2014-15, the government has allocated
Rs. 500 crore.
The cabinet had earlier approved Rs. 39,275 crore for the scheme, which includes budgetary
support of Rs. 35,447 crore under the earlier Rajiv Gandhi Gram Vidyutikaran Yojana. This
outlay will be carried forward to the new scheme, in addition to the outlay of Rs. 43,033 crore.

TAPI countries agree to start pipeline

project by 2015

aking another step towards realising the ambitious TAPI (Turkmenistan-AfghanistanPakistan-India) natural gas pipeline project, petroleum ministers of the four countries met
in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan and agreed that steps will be taken to start the project by 2015.
It was decided that the next meeting of the steering committee will be held in February
2015 in Islamabad, the petroleum ministry said in a statement on the 19th round of TAPI
steering committee meeting attended by Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Pradhan had a separate meeting with Pakistans Minister of State for Petroleum Jam Kamal
Khan in Ashgabat, the statement said.
The two ministers discussed various issues of mutual interest including expediting the
TAPI project and possibility of supply of LNG to Pakistan from India, it added.
The TAPI pipeline will export up to 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas per annum from
Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India over a period of 30 years. It will enable
landlocked Turkmenistan, which has the worlds fourth largest proven gas reserves, to expand
its gas export market to the southeast.
Last week, state-run gas utility GAIL India, along with state gas companies of Turkmenistan,
Afghanistan and Pakistan set up a company that will build, own and operate the 1,800-km gas
pipeline across the four countries. The national companies will own equal stake in the TAPI
Pipeline Co.
The company has been incorporated as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in the Isle of Man,
a British Crown dependency in the Irish sea.
The pipeline is expected to carry 90 million metric standard cubic metres of gas daily,
of which India and Pakistan would get 38 mmscmd each. Afghanistans share would be 14
mmscmd but the country has indicated that it may take only 1.5-4 mmscmd, which will result
in the balance being shared equally by India and Pakistan.

INDIA

Varsities should adopt strategy

to perform better: President
P
resident Pranab Mukherjee Thursday
said Indian universities should adopt an
effective strategy to achieve higher rankings in
the list of best global institutions.
Though in ancient India, there were
globally-famed seats of learning like Nalanda,
Takshashila and others, the scenario today
is starkly different. Our institutions lag in
international rankings brought out by reputed
agencies.
Few of our leading institutions deserve a
better position though. They need to adopt an
effective strategy to project their achievements,
Mukherjee said at the 12th convocation of
Tezpur University in Assam.
Mukherjee said only change can lead to
progress.
Faculty shortage has to be mitigated
through expeditious recruitment of talented
scholars. Faculty development need to be
promoted through regular conduct of faculty
recharge programmes and teaching as a career
needs to be made appealing.
Also the industry engaged through
institutional mechanisms needs to be
incorporated to train students, he said.
Each central university ought to set
up an Industry Interface Cell, comprising
representatives of the local industry, industry
associations, alumni and faculty.
The cell would draw up a calendar towards
various collaborative activities like joint
research, faculty exchange, and sponsoring of
chairs and endowments. Success of initiatives
like Make in India hinges on manufacturing
quality industrial products where academiaindustry interface would play a very crucial

role, he said.
Emphasising on research work, Mukherjee
said that as a developing nation, Indian
universities have to search for solutions to
issues like renewable energy, climate changes,
drinking water, sanitation and urbanisation.
Our universities have to be the breeding
ground for creative quests and cutting-edge
technological developments. They have to
encourage their students to satiate their curiosity
and chase their creativity. They have to imbibe
in these young minds a scientific temperament
and a spirit of inquiry, he said.

Use of technology has become game

changer for polls: EC

ppropriate use of technology has become a game changer in elections and can help in
meeting many challenges, Election Commissioner HS Brahma said.
During an interaction with a delegation of MPs from Bangladesh, Brahma underscored the
need for increased voter enrollment and encouraging the registered voters to come out to vote,
a release said.
The delegation of ten MPs from Bangladesh was led by Muhammad Faruk Khan. Besides
Brahma, they also met Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi.
Zaidi briefed the delegation about election expenditure issues related to political parties
and candidates in India. He described the role of the expenditure observers and monitoring
team in the expenditure monitoring of elections, the release said.

Akash missiles hit target

ndia test fired two Akash surface-to -air missiles successfully from a base in Odisha.
The two missiles were simultaneously launched from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at
Chandipur in Balasore district against two flying targets.
The test was successful. The missiles intercepted moving unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAV), Chandipur ITR director M.V.K.V. Prasad told media.
The exercise of launching the missiles was carried out by Indian Air Force personnel as
part of their user training.
The medium range missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO), is a medium-range surface-to-air anti-aircraft defence system with a
strike range of 25 km.
While it can carry a warhead of 60 kg, it has the capability to target aircraft up to 30 km
away and is packed with a battery that can track and attack several targets simultaneously.

23

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

24

NEWS in BRIEF
Indian-origin legendary hotel doorman
dies

ottarapattu Chattu Kuttan, the legendary doorman at the Galle Face Hotel here, who
served dignitaries like Lord Mountbatten, Princess Elizabeth, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru,
Mahatma Gandhi, Yuri Gagarin and Arthur C. Clarke, has passed away, media reported.
Kuttan left his village in Kerala when he was 17 years old and reached Sri Lanka in 1938
looking for a job. He joined the hotel as a bell boy-cum-waiter in 1942, where he continued to
serve until his death, the Daily Mirror reported.
He was 91 years old. Kuttan virtually became the trade mark of Sri Lankas hospitality
industry as well as the Galle Face Hotel.

Indo-American press club inaugurated in

New Jersey

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

INDIA ABROAD

n Indo-American Press Club (IAPC) has been inaugurated in New Jersey to be the voice
of those who are working in the media world and strive to be the conscience of the larger
society.
The new club was inaugurated Saturday at the Homewood Suites of Hilton, East Rutherford,
New Jersey on Saturday with the lighting of the traditional lamp at an event attended by nearly
200 media persons, corporate and community leaders and sponsors
In his inaugural address, Suneel Hali, founder and publisher of Cinemaya Media emphasised
the key role being played by the media.
Journalists are extraordinary people dedicating their lives to an extraordinary mission to
serve the humanity, and to be the conscience of the society, he said.
In his presidential address, Ajay Ghosh, said IAPC was formed with the lofty ideal of
providing a common platform to journalists of Indian origin living in the US, while fostering
closer bonds and cooperation among an extensive network of journalists across the nation.
Ginsmon Zacharia, chairman of the Board of Trustees, said, While striving to have
greater coordination and networking among journalists, our motto is to be the voice of the
community of Indian American journalists.

Lone Indian American

lawmaker Ami-Bera stages
comeback win
Red

miresh Ami Bera, the lone Indian

American lawmaker in the US House of
Representatives, repeated history as he edged
out his Republican opponent in a California
race two weeks after the elections.
Bera, who had won in a similar fashion in
2012, trailed Republican Doug Ose by more
than 3,000 votes at the close of election night
and steadily closed the gap as election officials
tallied tens of thousands of remaining ballots.
He led Doug, who had served in Congress
from 1999 to 2005, by 1,432 votes with nearly
all ballots counted in the seat covering suburban
Sacramento county, media reported.
Bera, the third Indian American House
member after Dalip Singh Saund and current
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, had ousted
then sitting Republican House member Dan
Lungren in 2012.
Its been my honour serving this community
as a doctor for the last 19 years and I am
grateful I will have the opportunity to continue
serving as the representative for Californias
7th Congressional District in Congress, Bera
said in a statement.
If you remember in the contest in 2012, we
were tied and after the ballots were counted,
we won by over 9,000 votes, Bera, who was
attending Congressional Diwali celebrations on
Capitol Hill in Washington, said.
Ose congratulated Bera on the hard fought
win saying he celebrates the fact that our
institutions and our laws provide us a system
whereby elections can be peacefully resolved.

Black

Orange

The race was deemed the most expensive

one with both candidates spending at least
$19.6 million in the campaign, according to the
Centre for Responsive Politics.
Former US president Bill Clinton too had
come to rally support for the embattled Bera.
Two other Indian American aspirants for the
House were defeated in the mid-term election.
In the battle for Silicon Valley, IndianAmerican Rohit Ro Khanna conceded defeat
after giving seven-term incumbent Mike
Honda the toughest fight of his life and in
Pennsylvania, Manan Trivedi failed to make it
even in his third attempt.
In Hawaii, Tulsi Gabbard, a HinduAmerican, was re-elected for a second term
after briefly eyeing a vacant Senate seat.

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

Obamas immigration
plan falls short of Indian
techies hopes

Red

Black

Orange

s President Barack Obama camapaigned

to sell his immigration plan to shield up to
five million people from deportation and retain
high-skilled immigrants, largely from India and
China, analysts called it a mixed bag.
Obamas plan, according to the White
House, focuses on cracking down on illegal
immigration at the border; deporting felons, not
families; and accountability through criminal
background checks and taxes.
It would also make it easier and faster
for high-skilled immigrants, graduates, and
entrepreneurs to stay and contribute to our
economy, as so many business leaders have
proposed.
Nearly six million Mexicans make up
over half of an estimated 11.2 unauthorised
immigrants in the US.
India is a distant fourth top source country
with 450,000 living in the country without
papers, according to a new Pew Research
Centre report.
While about 8.1 million unauthorised
immigrants make up 5.1 percent of the US
labour force, many of them engaged in low
paying jobs that Americans dont want to do,

Indians cornered nearly two thirds of the total

work permits for skilled workers in 2012.
What hes offering is a common sense
first step to fixing a broken system, Obama
Friday told a rowdy crowd at Del Sol High
School in Las Vegas, where two years ago
he had outlined his post-election promise to
finally reform immigration in his second term.
Our immigration system has been broken
for a very long time, and everybody knows
it, Obama said asserting his plan was not
amnesty as alleged by his Republican critics.
Obama claimed he tried everything to work
with Congress and chastised Republicans in the
House for refusing to vote on the immigration
reform bill that passed the Senate.
I cajoled and I called and I met. I told
[House Speaker] John Boehner, Ill wash your
car. Ill walk your dog. Whatever you need me
to do, just call the bill. Thats how democracy
is supposed to work, he was quoted as saying
by ABC News.
Commenting on Obamas order, The
Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) said it will
have only moderate benefits for the technology
industry.
To help the technology sector, Obama has
agreed to increase the number of foreign
graduates of American universities with
STEM - science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics - degrees stay in the US to ease
employment pressures and enable qualified
students to stay in the country, it noted.
But it does not address industry hopes of
keeping these individuals here on a long-term
basis, CFR said as it does not increase the
number of H-1B visas for high-skilled experts,
currently capped at 65,000.
The Washington Post agreed that the rule
changes would make it easier for those from
abroad to get a toehold in the US tech industry
but will not address one of the tech industrys
top policy priorities: increase in H-1B visas.

Under Satya Nadella Microsoft

emerges as worlds 2nd top firm
U
nder the leadership of its new IndianAmerican CEO Satya Nadella, Microsoft
has overtaken oil giant Exxon Mobil to become
the worlds second most valuable company
after iPhone maker Apple Inc.
Nadella restructured Microsoft that has
been struggling with the declining market in
personal computers to focus on cloud services
and mobile technology while cutting jobs and
company expenses, Tech Times reported.
The effort has resulted in stock surges
with Microsoft now the second most valuable
company in the world, it said.
Exxons stock currently has a market
capitalization of $402.66bn, down from
$483.1bn earlier this year.
In May, the total market value of Microsoft
was $343.8bn but it shares closed at $49.58 on
Nov 14, giving it a corresponding market value
of $408.7 billion, exceeding that of Exxons
which has fallen by more than 6 per cent
because of plummeting oil prices.
Although Microsoft has obviously done
better compared with other tech stalwarts
Oracle, IBM and Hewlett-Packard, it continues
to face the challenges of Apples dominance,
Tech Times said.
In the mobile industry, people refer to the
companys Surface tablets as iPads and even

knockoff iPads, it noted.

Forbes latest list of the worlds most
valuable brand is dominated by tech giants
with tech companies Apple, Microsoft and
Google getting the top three spots followed by
Coca-Cola and IBM ranking fourth and fifth
respectively, Tech Times noted.

INDIA ABROAD

25

Indian students rediscover US

as education destination
A
fter three years of decline, the number of
Indian students at US campuses increased
by six percent to 102,673 in the 2013-14
academic year, according to a new report on
International Educational Exchange.
The number of international students at
colleges and universities in the US increased
by eight percent to a record high of 886,052
students in the 2013-14 academic year, the
2014 Open Doors Report found.
The overall number of international students
in the US has grown by 72 percent since the
first International Education Week briefing was
held in 2000, it noted.
There are five times as many Chinese
students on US campuses as were reported in
Open Doors 2000; almost two-and-a-half times
as many Indian students; seven-and-a-half
times as many Vietnamese students; and more
than 10 times as many Saudi students.
In 2013-14, there were 66,408 more
international students enrolled in US higher
education compared to the previous year.
While students from China and Saudi
Arabia together account for 73 percent of the
growth, a wider range of countries contributed
to the increase, with India, Brazil, Iran and
Kuwait together accounting for an additional
18 percent of growth, the report found.
The number of Indian students increased
by 6 percent to 102,673, reversing a three-year
trend of declining numbers of Indian students
at US campuses. The increase was driven by

enrollment at the graduate level.

Students from the top three places of
origin -- China, India, and South Korea -- now
represent approximately 50 percent of the total
enrollment of international students in the
US, with the number from China and India
increasing, and the numbers from South Korea
declining.
Each of the top 25 places of origin had
5,000 or more students in the US. There were
increases in the number of students from
17 of the top 25 places of origin, including
Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Germany,
Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kuwait,
Mexico, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Britain,
Venezuela, and Vietnam.
The report also found that more American
students -- a total of 289,408 -- studied abroad.
There were declines in the number of
American students going to China, Australia,
Argentina, India, Mexico, Ecuador, Israel,
Chile, and New Zealand.
The US hosts more of the worlds 4.5 million
globally mobile college and university students
than any other country in the world, with
almost double the number hosted by Britain,
the second leading host country, according to
the report.
International students spending in all 50
states contributed more than $27 billion to
the US economy in 2013, according to the US
Department of Commerce.

Indian American student wins 2014

International Childrens Peace Prize

ndian-American student Neha Gupta has won

the 2014 International Childrens Peace Prize
Award for her exceptional work to raise money
for underprivileged children around the world.
Netherlands
King
Willem-Alexander,
former archbishop and Nobel Peace Prize
winner Desmond Tutu and Nobel Peace Prize
winner Malala Yousafzai presented Gupta with
her award during a ceremony at The Hague,
Netherlands.
Inspired by what she saw during a visit to
India with her grandparents, Gupta founded
Empower Orphans, an organization designed
to support orphaned and abandoned children in
India and the US.
Her work, which she started at age 9, has
grown into a charity that to date has raised over
$1 million and has helped more than 25,000
children.
The list of projects includes opening
libraries, developing paths to health care, and
promoting education.
The award is widely accepted as the most
prestigious international award a young person
can win.
Last years winner, Malala Youzafzai, a

Pakistani activist for female education, went on

to become the youngest recipient of the Nobel
Peace Prize for 2014.
Nehas leadership, vision and work ethic
have helped countless orphaned, abandoned and
impoverished children, and most remarkably
she was just a child herself when she began this
work, said Penn State President Eric Barron.
Were very proud that she has been
recognized with the 2014 International Peace
Prize, and hope that this visibility will inspire
others to also pursue worthy endeavours to
benefit humankind.
The International Childrens Peace Prize
was created by the Amsterdam-based childrens
rights organization, KidsRights, and is awarded
to a child whose work and actions have made
a significant, positive impact in improving
childrens rights worldwide.
While the focus of her work began with
orphans in India, Gupta has also helped many
families around Philadelphia, where her family
lives.
Along with the prize, a 100,000 Euro grant
will be given to projects closely associated
with Guptas area of dedication.

26

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

CAREER

Tough jobs may protect

memory
Red

Tips to answer questions

at job interviews

ts the centre of a job seekers worst

nightmares being in an interview for their
dream job and not being able to answer a
question theyve just been asked. Many people
talk to a professional job interview coach
because they have a real fear of tripping up
over one of the questions theyre asked during
an interview. Such thoughts can fill job seekers
with dread, and make them anxious when
facing into an interview. However, there are
some strategies you can use to make sure that
this nightmare doesnt happen in an interview
for your dream job.
Dont Forget to Listen
Interviews
can
be
nerve-racking
experiences, and its easy for an interviewee to
get lost for a moment in the anxiety and tension.
Its important, however, that job seekers keep
their focus and listen to the interviewers when
theyre asking questions. Seeming distracted
will not make a good impression on potential
employers. One way to help keep focused is
to keep eye contact with whoever is speaking
during the interview. It will help convey interest
and project a sense of confidence.
Maintain Positivity

Interviewers can often ask awkward

questions, or sometimes interviewees can trip
up trying to answer a simple question. One
way to face awkward questions and avoid
tripping up is for job seekers to keep a positive
theme running through their answers. Potential
employers dont want to employ someone
whos leaving their current job because they
cant stand their boss or their work colleagues.
Focusing on the positive aspects of a new job
such as fresh challenges and new opportunities
gives a better impression to interviewers, and
helps them picture the interviewee as a positive

person who would fit in well with their team.

Emergency Strategy
In his book Winning Job Interviews, Dr Paul
Power gives a handy formula for answering
questions that job seekers might otherwise
struggle to answer. He recommends that the fail
safe answer to any question can be summed up
in an easily remembered formula: Experience
+ Knowledge + Personal Characteristics =
Fail Safe Answer. Highlighting knowledge
and experience allows a job seeker to
showcase their achievements to interviewers.
Highlighting personal characteristics enables
the job seeker to show what they uniquely bring
to the table, and how well they can function
both independently and as part of a team.
KISS
Keep it short and simple! Some job seekers
can get overwhelmed and give over elaborate
answers during an interview. Its best to keep
answers simple and not to go over one or two
mintues. One of our job interview coaches
here always says; Keep your answers simple
and to the point. Interviewers dont want to be
overloaded with too much information. They
want to know that you can communicate your
ideas in a way that isnt off putting.
Interviews can be stressful for job seekers,
but they dont have to be the stuff of nightmares.
Following simple strategies can help to turn
interviews into a positive experience for job
seekers. Some people choose to solicit the
help of job interview coaches to help develop
strategies to take the edge off answering job
interview questions.
Arthur Parker-Ramani is a professional CV
writer & interview coach at King of CV
in Auckland and can be reached for any
questions at info@kingofcv.com

Two bedrooms, one bathroom,

large lounge and separate kitchen.
Located within easy walking distance to Newmarket, bus stop,
train station, supermarket and medical facilities.
Situated within the Grammar Zone and Epsom Girls Zone.
Rent $500/week includes water and power.
96 Great South Road, Epsom. Contact 021-915361

f you hate your job because it requires

complex work with other people or data,
you may now discard the negative thoughts as
researchers have found that complex jobs help
people retain their memory and thinking skills
even after retirement.
The study found that people who held jobs
with higher levels of complexity with data and
people, such as management and teaching, had
better scores on memory and thinking tests.
These results suggest that more stimulating
work environments may help people retain their
thinking skills, and that this might be observed
years after they have retired, said study author
Alan Gow from Heriot-Watt University in
Edinburgh, Scotland.
Our findings have helped to identify the
kinds of job demands that preserve memory and
thinking later on, Gow added.
For the study, the researchers tested memory
and thinking abilities of 1,066 Scottish people
with an average age of 70. The tests looked at
memory, processing speed and general thinking

Black

Orange

ability.
Researchers also gathered information about
the jobs participants held. The job titles were
assigned scores for the complexity of work with
people, data and things.
For example, complex jobs might involve
coordinating or synthesizing data, while
less complex jobs might involve copying or
comparing data.
In terms of working with others, more
complex roles might involve instructing,
negotiating or mentoring, while less complex
jobs might involve taking instructions or
helping.
The analysis used levels of complexity
according to the Dictionary of Occupational
Titles.
Examples of jobs that score highly for the
complexity of work with people are: lawyer,
social worker, surgeon.
Examples of jobs that score highly for the
complexity of work with data are: architect,
civil engineer, graphic designer or musician.

Accepting equation with

boss, key to excelling in job

nstead of faking it, coming to terms with the

actual equation you share with your boss may
help you perform better, a study shows.
Workers are more motivated if they and
their supervisors see eye-to-eye about a bad
relationship than if they have different views
about their relationship, the findings showed.
Seeing eye-to-eye about the employeesupervisor relationship is equally if not
more
important
than
the actual quality of the
relationship, said Fadel
Matta, lead investigator
and management researcher
at the Michigan State
University in the US.
Past research suggests
workers and their bosses
often have differing views
about the quality of their
relationship.
The new study involving
280 employees and their
bosses showed that motivation suffered when
an employee believed he or she had a good
relationship with the boss but the boss saw it
differently.
The finding also held true even when the

boss believed the relationship was good but the

subordinate did not.
The two were surveyed separately, meaning
the boss did not necessarily know how the
employee felt about him or her, and vice versa.
Interestingly, employee motivation was
higher - and the employee was more apt to go
above and beyond his or her basic job duties when the worker and supervisor saw eye-to-eye

about the relationship, even when it was poor.

The study examined a wide range of
employees - from cashiers to senior managers
- in a host of industries, including automotive,
retail and financial services.

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

SPORTS / EDUCATION

27

New Zealand bat makers India connect: Tendulkar,

Dravid and more

Red

Black

Orange

Radhika Bhirani

estled in Waipawa, a small town in

Hawkes Bay in North Island, a region
famous for its wines, James Laver has been
carving many a cricketing dream - literally!
With two decades experience in making
customised bats and a clientele of greats like
Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Brian
Lara, the master craftsman says almost 60
percent of his customers are Indian.
This, considering that India itself is one of
the leading manufacturers of cricket bats in
the world. But Laver offers an edge over most
under his brand Laver & Wood.
He agrees that quality of manufacture in
mass production of cricket bats has changed
dramatically over the past 20 years, but said
that a customised bat ensures a cricketer gets
something suitable.
Laver, an expert in shaving and shaping the
blade of a bat, himself hand-crafts each piece
individually to suit a customers specifications
after carefully understanding and reviewing the
requirements laid down.
Whats more, this can be done by phone,
email or even over a Facebook chat.
Months ahead of the 2015 ICC World Cup,
the man with a towering personality stands tall
at 6 5 for a walk and talk at the sprawling Te
Awanga, where amidst multiple hectares lie
green pastures, mountains, sheep and cattle, is
a uniquely situated and awe-inspiring cricket
pitch for members of a Clifton County Cricket
Club.
Most customers of my bats, say 60 percent
of them, would be from India...actually from
Indians across the world. Apart from quite a

few in India, there are a lot of Indian expats

too, Laver, who once visited India as a
teenager said.
Id love to visit the country again. I have a
few bats from India as Ive some friends who
send them for me to test. Ive always liked the
techniques of how bats are made in India.
But some Indian bat makers send them to
me to check whats right or wrong about them.
So, we do some consultancy on bats as well,
the 42-year-old said during the tete-a-tete on

a bright, sunny and windy afternoon here, just

days after the World Cup trophy toured Napier,
one of the cities which will host matches here
next year.
Lavers clients range from those who play
social cricket to those who play in good leagues
and of course those who play first-class cricket.
And Indians apart, cricket lovers in Australia,
New Zealand, Malaysia, Brazil and Hong Kong
are also a good market for the bat-maker.
But as he rightly describes it, its people

International sporting stars to study atSIT

fter conquering 6 of the 7 peaks of the

world Indian twins Tashi and Nungshi
Malik are set to take on their next adventure.
The Malik twins have each been awarded a
New Zealand India Sports Scholarship (NZISS)
to study the Graduate Diploma in Sport and
Exercise at the Southern Institute of Technology
(SIT) in Invercargill in 2015.
Before coming to study in New Zealand the
sisters have a goal of climbing the final of the
7 peaks, Mt Vinson in Antarctica December
2014. This will make the Malik twins the first
siblings and first twins to successfully climb all
7 peaks of the world.
This is part of mission #2 for 7 which was
born out of the juxtaposition of our love for
mountaineering and our desire to fight for the
cause of Indian girl child. Coming from a place
with female feticide and increasing violence
against the girl child, we want to stand for her
as she climbs mountains through lifes journey.
Using our mountaineering as a metaphor for
lifes climbs and breaking gender stereotypes,
we want to show her that she can conquer every
obstacle thats thrown her way.
The New Zealand India Sports Scholarship
is funded by the New Zealand government will
cover all 2015 tuition fees to study at SIT for
Tashi and Nungshi plus a contribution to their
living costs.
Ten lucky scholars from India were awarded
a NZISS to study at institutions in New
Zealand. SIT secured the highest number of
awardees with three of the ten scholarships
coming to study the Graduate Diploma in Sport
and Exercise in 2015. Yogesh Sharma joins the
twins as SITs third NZISS awardee.
Yogesh is a physiotherapist by profession
and is actively involved with private Cricket
Academies in Delhi (North India) giving

who want something a little more special and

personalised.
In the past, Ive done bats for Brian Lara,
(Sachin) Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and a lot of
Sri Lankan players. Sachin has used my bats
for the past few years. Sanath Jayasuriya has
been a very good customer of ours, apart from
Mahela Jayawardene, he said.
In fact, Jayasuriya scored a double ton in
a 1998 England-Sri Lanka match with a bat
crafted by Laver.
It was the first bat I made for him. He
still has that bat and always had me make the
same bat specifications until his retirement, he
recollected.
Laver is definite about ending up with a
lot of trade during the upcoming World Cup,
courtesy the players last minute rush - which
by now hes quite used to.
He estimates he would have hand-crafted
nearly 40,000 bats in his 20-year love story
with bat making, before which he was inclined
towards carving furniture and random items
using wood.
A qualified construction engineer, Laver,
who was brought up in Kenya and briefly in
the Solomon Islands, took up a related job in
1990 in Britain. But when recession struck, he
changed track to start a new career in 1991 as a
bat maker. He worked as an apprentice with bat
maker Millichamp and Hall in Somerset, before
moving to New Zealand in 1998 to set up Laver
& Wood in 1999.
Britain is from where he gets his supply of
quality English willow, using which he makes
over 1,500 bats a year. This year, hes hoping to
score about 1,800.

SIT initiates further

partnerships with
China

young cricketers physical training and cricket

coaching. He was a local physician/trainer for
the Canadian National Cricket Team when
they were in India for the Cricket World Cup
warm-up games. Sharma has also assisted the
Rajasthan Royals (Indian Premier League)
team on various occasions.
The scholarship winners were delighted to
receive their awards from Stephen Fleming
- Former Black Caps captain and Primary
Industries Minister Nathan Guy in New Delhi
at a special celebration to kick off the 2015
World Cricket Cup (to be held in New Zealand
and Australia).
SIT, CE Penny Simmonds said she was
delighted that SIT had secured the most
scholarships of any Tertiary Institute and
having meet Tashi and Nungshi Malik she is
sure they and Yogesh Sharma will be real assets
to the Southland community while they are at
SIT next year. Ms Simmonds said she hoped
community organisations would make the most

of having three high profile Indian sports people

in our midst by asking them to speak and take
part in community activities.

he Southern Institute of Technology (SIT)

hosted delegates from GuangDong PuNing
city representing government, investors and
the GuangDong Puning Vocational School on
Friday 14 November.
The purpose of the visit was to evaluate the
possibility of a partnership between SIT and the
GuangDong PuNing Vocational School. The
relationship between the two institutions was
initiated by former Invercargill MP Eric Roy
who introduced Guangdong Puning Vocational
School to SIT.
The Chinese delegation led by Mr Huanhua
Hu President Puning Municipal Peoples
Government met with SIT Chairwoman Sarah
Brown, SIT Deputy CE Corporate Bharat
Guha, His Worship the Mayor of Invercargill
Tim Shadbolt, Invercargill MP Sarah Dowie
and Invercargill City Council Chief Executive
Richard King.
Ms. Ping Chen, Immigration lawyer who
accompanied the delegation stated that The
delegation want to build our friendship with
SIT and Invercargill closer. We have a lot in
common as we are both vocational institutes,
we are both public institutes and we both want
to provide the best for our students.
The delegation formally invited SIT
representatives, Invercargill MP Sarah Dowie
and His Worship the Mayor of Invercargill Tim
Shadbolt to visit Puning and the Guangdong
Puning Vocational College.

28

FEATURE

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

On top of the world

Red

Black

Orange

Paul Ross, founder of Pacific Kids, climbed to the top of Mt Kilimanjaro last weekend to raise funds
for his orphanage in Fiji, Loloma Homes. In this part, we talk about his journey to become the person
he is today

Paula Ray

n June 2004, Paul Ross received some news

that changed his life forever. His mother and
he were diagnosed with cancer on the same day.
Unfortunately, she passed away seven weeks
later. But Ross continued with his struggle and
finally overcame the illness.
Ross remembers, My mother was my best
friend and having been raised with four brothers
and a sister with me being the youngest by 11
years, they left home when I was very young.
So it was basically mum and I. My step dad
had passed away in 2003 and my mum had lost
her will to live, which was very hard for me
to accept. Having said that when we were both
diagnosed on the 14thJune 2004, I was purely
focussed on my survival as my biggest fear was
not giving my then six- month-old daughter
away on her wedding day.This was my driver
and I never looked back this has taught me
the value of life: live each day, hear the birds
in the trees and be both present and live each
moment.
During this time, he spent a lot of time in a
hospice and was very touched by the support and
comfort he received there. All of the caregivers
in the hospice were volunteers and each had
their own stories to tell of how they lost loved
ones. These experiences touched him in such a
way that he felt it was his responsibility togive
backand make a difference to someone else
in need.

Indian Weekender Exclusive

Giving Back
In January 2010, one of his senior employees
at Power Marketing, Leith Gray was killed in
a car accident leaving behind his partner and
eight- month-old baby. This was Rosss first
opportunity togive back. I set up a trust
fund for baby Eden to ensure she would be
ok financially in years to come, says Ross.
Between his staff and himself, they raised
enough funds to support Leiths family. In
fact, on January 14, I transferred $8,500 to an
account for Edens schooling, adds Ross.
The next opportunity togive backcame
from a family vacation to Fiji. A family friend
of offered to take Rosss daughter, Estella and
some of her friends to visit an orphanage where
she does a lot voluntary work when she visits
Fiji.
The girls were very moved by this experience
and loved playing with the children. They came
home with many stories and a huge realisation
that the lives of these children were so very
different from their own. That night when
Estella went to bed, she was very emotional.
When I asked her what was wrong she
broke down into tears. I have never seenher cry
like this before and she explained that she really
wanted to help these kids, says Ross.
Estella asked, Can we adopt one of the
little girls because she doesnt have a Mummy
or Daddy. The following day Estella and her
friends walked around the pool at the Hilton
Fiji and asked adults to donate money to the
Orphanage. They got $264 and purchased some
of the items on the Orphanages basic wish
list and delivered them on their next visit.
Upon their return, my wife Leysa& I sat
down with Estella to form a plan to help our
Pacific children andgive back.
Ross says, This journey started from
Estellas vision as a seven-year-old and this
has touched her like nothing else. In September
this year, her class of 15 students from Year 6
at Kohia Terrace school, visited the home for
a week where we built gardens, sandpits and

erected a trampoline. Rosss ultimate dream

is to be across the Pacific in five years and to
establish a home aptly named Estellas hom.
After they started with their work, the
employees were asked if they would be happy
to donate from their pay each week to go into
a fund.Allof my staff said yes and they
contribute $2 to $20 per week, says a proud
Ross.
Although I am the driver behind this
initiative, I am only one of many coming
together to make this possible. The aim of our

foundation is to help families and the children

who are less fortunate and the motivation is to
simply give back, says Ross. Together we
canmake a difference.I have had the last 3.5
years working with so many wonderful people
and thank you sincerely from the bottom of my
heart.
He adds, The joys of having a supportive
wife as Leysa lets me follow my goals and
aspirations. I know without her support and
blessing, this simply wouldnt be possible and
its that simple.

(R to L from above): Paul Ross with children at

Loloma Home; Estella with her friends at the
Home; Ross atop Mt Kilimanjaro; with his family

ENTERTAINMENT

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

Harry Baweja happy

Red
Black
with reactions
to Orange
Chaar Sahibzaade

ilmmaker Harry Baweja says he is happy

with the reactions he has been getting to his
animated film Chaar Sahibzaade.
I am extremely happy with the reaction
that I am getting from my audience and from
the industry people. It has been great so far, I
feel blessed, said Baweja who has directed the
film.
Chaar Sahibzaade, that released Nov 6,
deals with the story behind the reverence for
Guru Gobind Singh.
Baweja says it was a time consuming
process to make this animation film.
It was a tedious job to make an animation
film. I had no choice but to make it in animation.
I hope we make more animation films in India.
It took close to three years for me to make this
film, he said.

Hiranis directorials like 3 Idiots and

Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. are entertaining, and
yet convey a strong message. And Karan Johar
says he is envious of him.
Ive been pitted against everyone and I feel
envious, not jealous. I am envious of Hirani.
Ive never managed to do what he does. His
movies have genious ideas. I dont have the
ability perhaps. I would love to make those
kind of movies. Hirani has strong screenplays. I
hope I get such screenplays, Karan Johar said
during a session titled An afternoon at Film
Bazaar with Rajeev Masand on the final day
of Film Bazaar here Monday.
Hiranis next movie titled PK which stars
Aamir Khan will soon hit the theatres.

Salmans Kick to get

a sequel soon?

alman Khan has never done a sequel to his

films, except for Dabangg, but that might
change soon with a sequel of the superstars last
released film Kick.
According to sources close to the project,

Karan Johar wants

to make films like
Hirani

aran Johar has been wowing the audience

with his breezy entertainers since 1998,
but the filmmaker says he doesnt have the
ability to make films like Rajkumar Hirani.

Priyanka Chopra picks garbage for

Clean India campaign

ctress Priyanka Chopra took it upon

herself to clean up a garbage-strewn
neighbourhood in Mumbai as part of her efforts
towards Prime Minister Narendra Modis Clean
India campaign.
Gandhiji said Be the change you want to
see - thank you @narendramodi for reminding
me of that! #MyCleanIndia can happen!
#ChangingMindsets, Priyanka posted on
Twitter Monday after sharing a video link.
The 11-minute video chronicles how the
efforts began, how Priyanka herself picked up
the garbage, how the place was beautified, and
how happy the residents were over the 16-day
effort, which saw Priyanka along with her team
cleaning up an area in Versova here.
In the video, Priyanka also shared her idea
of contributing to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
this way.
It took me a little longer than I wanted, but
when the prime minister asked me to be one of
his navratnas, I was very excited. But I wanted
it to be something that could be sustained, she
said.
Priyanka chose a place in Versova which
she had visited during the shooting of her film
Agneepath.
Her idea was not to just clean up the place,
but rehabilitate it.
Thats the best we can do and eventually
then its up to them (the residents) to sustain
it. I think the idea of doing this is to create
something which is long lasting. And I hope for

Kick, directed by Sajid Nadiadwala, which is

Salmans highest grosser to date, may write out
its sequel sooner than expected.
Kick has become the highest grosser of
Salmans career. It has so far accrued a total
box-office collection of Rs.234 crore. That
beats the earlier Salman starrer Ek Tha Tiger
which netted Rs.188 crore worldwide.
Sajid is now being told by his distributors
and friends to carry the story forward into
a sequel because it makes a lot of business
sense, a source said.
Nadiadwala, however, is in two minds as he
has his hands full as a producer.

Ungli not a typical

Bollywood film:
Emraan Hashmi

ctor Emraan Hashmi says his forthcoming

movie Ungli is not a typical Bollywood
film, but he admits that some elements have
been added to it to make it more mainstream.
It (Ungli) is not a typical Bollywood
film, the 35-year-old said in an interview.
(It is) A film having social relevance, along
with other elements of society like corruption,
where the common man is not able to raise
his voice against corrupt powers and injustice
happening to him and a gang, whose extreme
measure is to fight injustice, comes to help
him. I think this has rarely happened in our
Bollywood films, he added.
Directed by Rensil DSilva, Ungli is a
fun take on the angst of todays youth and
chronicles the story of five friends, who act
as vigilantes against the corrupt powers and
injustice.
Ungli also stars Kangana Ranaut, Sanjay
Dutt, Randeep Hooda, Neha Dhupia and Neil
Bhoopalam. It will hit the theatres Friday.

29

Will make stupid films

if dont watch world
cinema: Vidhu Vinod
Chopra

ilm maker-producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra

Friday said Indian film-makers need to
watch world cinema to grow or else the industry
will keep making stupid movies.
I come from a small village in Kashmir and
I have seen only Hindi movies. Unless we see
world cinema how will we grow? If we dont
watch world cinema we will keep making
stupid films. Today I met two to three film
makers and I felt great that people take out time
and come here to watch movies, Chopra told
reporters at the 16th MAMI film festival.
Film-maker Anurag Kashyap presented one
of Chopras most successful films Parinda in
the presence of its lead actors Anil Kapoor and
Jackie Shroff.
The film also had Madhuri Dixit and Nana
Patekar in lead roles.
While this year the MAMI film festival saw
many celebrities being part of it, Chopra says
star power helps the festival.
The 16th MAMI film festival will continue
till Oct 21.

Punjabi cinema not just

about balle balle

the best, and that it stays this way (clean), she

said.
Priyanka, who believes a change in mindset
is the need of the hour for a clean and green
India, is seen slipping her hands into a pair of
pink gloves to pick garbage herself, and she
seeks the help of the neighbourhoods children
for the activity.
At the end of it all, the place looks clean and
colourful with some graffiti and some plants.
She said: I wanted to do a bit more that just
cleaning a few piles of garbage.
Her effort was lauded by Modi in a
tweet saying: An innovative effort by @
priyankachopra. It is a wonderful way to bring
people together to create a Swachh Bharat.
Kudos! #MyCleanIndia.

unjabi filmmaker Manjeet Mann, who coproduced National Award-winning film

Shaheed-e-Mohabbat Boota Singh, says
there are movies from her state that are rich in
content too.
During a session titled Cinemas of India
- Punjabi cinema at the Film Bazaar, which
concluded here Monday, she talked about the
common misconception when it comes to
Punjabi movies.
Punjabi cinema is not just about balle
balle. I like to make films on true stories and
most of them are tragedies, said the director of
Sukhmani - Hope for Life.
Anurag Singh, who has directed hit Punjabi
films like Jatt and Juliet and Punjab 1984,
agreed with her, but said the majority is just
slapstick comedy.
This year around 42 films released and 80
percent of those films are similar. They are all
comedies, that too slapstick. So, the audience
will ultimately get bored of it. We need to make
more movies with strong content to make the
industry grow, he said.
Distributor Munish Sahni, who was also one
of the panelists, believes the technicians need
to be more professional.
The Punjabi film industry is unorganised.
Many people assume distribution is just a part
time job, but its not, he said.
The other challenge Punjabi filmmakers
face is getting satellite rights.

There are hardly 4-5 local channels that

play more of Punjabi songs than movies.
So, there is not much support from satellite.
Music companies also dont pay us as they say
physical sale of music doesnt take place. That
is not true because you cant run a company if
you are not earning profit, said Anurag Singh.
They, however, said they get good business
from overseas.
At least 50 percent of the money is
recovered from overseas, Sahni said, adding
that Canada is a strong market for Punjabi
cinema.

30

ADVERTORIAL

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

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WHATSOn
Chakravyuh- Lethal
Circles

Date: Tuesday 2nd Dec 2014

Time: 11 am
Venue: Hollywood cinemas, Avondale
The first NZ made Hindi film Chakravyuh
lethal circles is running for an additional
show. This is after all four shows in Hoyts
Sylvia park were appreciated by audiences
and the film back for one more show this
December, as per public demand.

Parade route: Mayoral Drive, Queen

Street, Customs Street West and Albert
Street
The Christmas cheer continues straight
after the parade at Santas Party - a party
for everyone. There will be a whole lineup of family entertainment with singing,
dancing, character costumes and Santa
himself. For more than 80 years, the
Farmers Santa Parade has brought joy to
the children of Auckland and this year is
no exception.

When: Saturday 29 November, 11.30am12.30pm

Parade route: Station Road, Oympus
Road, Matheson Road, Rodney Road
(SH1), Harrison Street and back onto
Station Road
Contact: Call Tony Sowden on 027 475
2975 or email tony.sowden@xtra.co.nz
Event listing: Wellsford Santa Parade

Rath Yatra Festivals

2014

Warkworth Santa
Parade

When: Wednesday 4 December, 6.30pm7.30pm

Where: Albany Lakes, Albany
Contact: Call Shaun Collins on 021 508
980 or email shaun@lacticturkey.co.nz
Other information: A 2.5km fun run or
walk for dressed-up Santas. The main
purpose of the event is to raise funds for
the KidsCan charity

Date, time and Venue: 29 Nov 2014 10:30

am Santa Parade, Manurewa
29 Nov 2014 6:00 pm Santa Parade, Otara
30th Nov 2014 3:00 pm Sanata Parade,
Howick.
Check in at assembly point at least 30
minutes before parade starts. Rath Yatra
will be followed by Picnic and Prasadam at
Mission Bay.

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.

Farmers Santa Parade

and Santas Party

When: Sunday 30 November, Parade

2pm, Santas Party 3.15pm-5.30pm (rain
date: 7 December)

When: Saturday 29 November, noon-3pm

Parade route: Parade begins from Alnwick
Street, turns onto Neville Street, along
Queen Street, up Mill Lane, then back
down Neville Street for a second lap
Contact: Call Nicola Jones on 021 645
129 or emailinfo@warkworthbusiness.org.
nz
Event listing: Warkworth Santa Parade

Mairangi Bay Christmas

Parade

When: Saturday 29 November, noon1.30pm

Parade route: Starts at Mairangi Bay Park,
proceeds down Ramsgate Terrace to
Beach Road and Montrose Terrace
Contact: Call Dick Mogridge on 021 802
705 or email dmogridge@pbsea_tow.com

Wellsford Christmas
Parade

Great New Zealand

Santa Run

Manurewa Santa Parade

When: Saturday 29 November, 10.30am11.30am

Parade route: Start at the Station Road
carpark, right on to Northcrest Way,
right on to Great South Road, right on to
Weymouth Road, right on to Selwyn Road,
right on to Station Road, left into Station
Road carpark
Contact: Call Johnathan Smith on 027 222
5516 or email eventimento@gmail.com

Otara Christmas Parade

When: Saturday 29 November, 6pm-7pm

Parade route: Bairds Road Otara

Contact: Call Ruanna Letalu on

021 254 5486 or emailtrust@
immanuelworshipcentre.org

Howick Santa Parade

When: Sunday 30 November, 1pm4.30pm

Parade route: Starting on Fencible Drive,
turn right onto Wellington Street, turn right
onto Picton Street and finish on Cook
Street
Contact: Call Emma Smith on 09 271
8084 or email emma@times.co.nz

Mangere Bridge Santa

Parade

When: Thursday 4 December, 6.30pm8.30pm

Parade route: Start on Domain Road,
left onto Coronation heading north, head
south onto Coronation back onto Domain
Road
Contact: Call Kate Adams on 021776139

Great New Zealand

Santa Run

When: Wednesday 4 December, 6.30pm7.30pm

Where: Harbourview Reserve, Te Atatu
Peninsula
Contact: Call Shaun Collins on 021 508
980 or email shaun@lacticturkey.co.nz
Other information: A 2.5km fun run or
walk for dressed-up Santas. The main
purpose of the event is to raise funds for
the KidsCan charity

www.iwk.co.nz
28 November 2014

FEATURE

31

Bloggers Park
Red

Black

Orange

NZ Fashion Tech students, on an exchange study programme,

blog from Sathyamangalam, Tamil Nadu

Erin Wellington

hen we arrived in India we were greeted

at the airport by a team from the Bannari
Amman Institute of Technology with flowers.
On Sunday we got to visit two temples. The
Bannari Amman temple was beautiful and
painted with such bright colours. Learning about
the culture and religion has been an amazing
experience. The temple was so populated and
was our first experience of the Hindu culture.
Monday was orientation day and we met
with the faculty, then the students. We had our
first textile class here.
I started doing yoga on Tuesday morning
and I find it not only relaxing on my body but
on my mind also. It definitely helps with my
homesick heart. We have been learning spinning
and weaving this week, with a few classes and
industry visits. The manufacturing factories
are such a large scale. I love the importance
of fashion and textiles here in India. I find it
empowering to my passions.
We also visited a manufacturer that makes
home wares. We bought some things wholesale,
I got a little apron with a giraffe on it for my
nephew, and some beautiful towels.
The weekend was for shopping. We went
to Brookfields on Saturday and Texvalley on
Sunday. I bought three sarees, some dresses
and five scarves. The fabrics and patterns are so
intricate and beautiful. I bought some beautiful
bangles and a marble chess set for my mum and
sister.
The food here is amazing. We have eaten
at 3 restaurants and each time its so different.
I thought I wouldnt be able to handle the
spice, but Im definitely managing. I also had
McDonalds at the mall and I love how many
vegetarian options there are. I wish it was like
this in NZ!

Te Aroha Goodwin

hen I boarded the plane in New Zealand,

I really did not know what to expect
from our stay in India. In one week we have
seen, heard, tasted and experienced so much
already, that I think anything is possible and
there is still so much more to come!
In 7 days we have visited 2 temples in
Bannari Amman, seen spinning, weaving and
manufacturing mills around the region, eaten at
4 star restaurants and visited very large malls.
But before I go into that I need to mention
the sarees and the traditional dresses. I have
never seen so much bright beautiful colours and
patterns in my life - so many different fibres and
patterns. The women all look beautiful and they
dress with pride.
The temples are so beautiful: Old and full of
history. We were fortunate enough to be a part

of the rituals and witness others.

The spinning and weaving mills blew me
away. The amount of yarn and fabric that is
made here is incredible! At the Manufacturing
mill it was really interesting to see what we
have practiced for so long, done on a larger
scale.Such hard workers. And then we had a
chance to shop! We went to Brookfield mall
which is a 5 story city mall. It reminded me of
a cruise.
BIT is a beautiful institution.Surrounded by
forest and coconut trees, it is a haven. Although
there are two types of heat we have to get used
to: The food has been a test for everyone. I
thought it would be spicy, and that it is. It is
soooo yummy though, and our lovely chefs
are continuously trying to come up with ways
to change things up and accommodate to our
needs. The hard part of this is learning the
names of all the different foods! And secondly,
the temperature here is often hotter than NZ
summer. I think today, at 11:30 this morning, it
was approx 28 degrees. The locals tell us this is
their cold season. Haha!!

Ting Yu

NZ Fashion
Tech your best
opportunity for
a great fashion
career

ery hot...!
The Indiatrip has been such afantastic
experience so far. We have been looked afterso
well here by the locals. Our chef Udhayakumar
isone of the nicest person Ive ever met. He
always tries his best to cook the food we
enjoy.He made us Frenchtoast this morning
for the first time, and he calls it bread omelette.
The house we stay in is so nice and clean. Our
bed sheets and pillow casesgetchanged every
third day and our house gets cleaned every day.
They do everything they could to make us feel
welcome and at home.
The staffat BIT is so nice to us, especially
Professor Shyamala and Assistant Professor
Ayeshvaryaa look after us. They cometo visit
us after dinner and chat with us. We talk about
all sorts of things, from ourtraditions to our
lives and of course, shopping.
The factories arequite far away from the
BIT campus so it takes from one and half hours
to three hours to get there. It was fantastic
because we got to see the ruralside of India,
lots of coconut trees,banana trees and houses
made from coconut tree leaves.
We put our palms together andsay
Namaste to greet each other. Most people
think Namaste means Hello.But the true
meaning of the word is absolutelybeautiful.
It means I honour the place in you in which
the entire universe dwells. I honour the place
in you which is of love, of truth, of light and of
peace. When you are in that place in you and I
am in that place in me. We are one.

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