Indian Newslink Sept 1, 2016 Digital Edition

HOMELINK 

Abandoned child 

soars to heights of 

care and share 

VIEWLINK 

Thank Indian 

Government 

for rescue in Kuwait 

BUSINESSLINK 

ACCOUNTANTS & 

TAX EXPERTS 

PAGE 03 PAGE 12 

PAGE 13 

The English Fortnightly (Since November 1999) 

Issue 352 | September 1, 2016 | Free 

SPORTSLINK 

PAGE 

32 

Olympic heroes receive 

historic welcome in Fiji 

phone 

09 533 6377 

editor@ 

indiannewslink.co.nz 

website 

www.indiannewslink.co.nz 

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/indiannewslink 

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Indian Restaurants allege discrimination 

Undue Work Visa delays cause distaste 

Venkat Raman 

editor@indiannewslink.co.nz 

Owners of Indian restaurants 

in New Zealand are 

fast running out of spice, 

with many of them facing 

a bleak future with the allegation 

that Immigration New Zealand 

(INZ) is targeting them. 

Many of them have complained 

of undue delays in processing 

applications for work visas- either 

filed by them on behalf of their 

employees or by migrants directly 

with job offers. 

“Since the ‘Masala Episode’ 

erupted two years ago, all Indian 

restaurants are being painted with 

the same black brush. We operate 

an honest, healthy business, paying 

our employees in accordance with 

the laws in force. If they have the 

right to inspect our premises, check 

our records and be satisfied with 

our compliance. It is not fair to 

keep us hanging,” the owner of a 

popular restaurant brand, told us 

requesting anonymity. 

He was not alone with his cagrin 

over INZ. 

There is a growing feeling of 

insecurity and anxiety among 

Indian restaurant owners in New 

Zealand – at least in Auckland 

which accounts for not less than 

300 Indian restaurants of varying 

sophistication, levels of service and 

of course quality. 

The average diner is spoilt for 

choice and Indian cuisine has its 

SAME DAYCREDIT 

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*Conditions Apply 

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MANUREWA: 

19/185 Great South Road 

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widespread draw. 

At the other end of the scale are 

restaurant owners who constantly 

flout the law, force their workers 

(mostly on work visas) to work 

long hours, pay them far less than 

the minimum wage and expect 

them to do jobs for which they 

have been contracted. 

Posers to INZ 

We wrote to INZ the following: 1. 

INZ is targeting Indian businesses 

in general and Indian Restaurants 

in particular, suspecting everyone 

as ‘Masala.’ Decisions on Visa 

applications are either inordinately 

delayed or declined 2. Some 

restaurants have not had the 

benefit of any response- approval 

or denial – for their work visa 

applications for more than nine 

months 3. According to three 

restaurants (names supplied), they 

have stood down staff since their 

work visas have expired but applications 

for work visas have not 

been processed for the past nine 

or so months. 4. These restaurant 

owners have said that anyone from 

INZ, IRD or Labour Inspectorate 

can visit their restaurants and 

satisfy themselves of legality of 

their operations, compliance with 

all laws in force. 

Following was response from 

INZ Area Manager Darren Calder: 

INZ rejects any assertion that it 

discriminates against businesses 

in India. 

INZ is committed to delivering 

Kindness like the Ganges flowed 

Tribute to a departed friend 

on Thursday, August 25, 2016 at He migrated to New Zealand 

Venkat Raman 

the Pukekohe Indian Association more than 55 years ago. 

editor@indiannewslink.co.nz 

Centre followed by a private 

He was perhaps the first and 

cremation. 

only dairy, fruit and vegetable shop 

How do you write about 

He left this world rather early- he owner in Albany (North Shore City) 

the death of a dear 

was just 79, short of three months in 1962. About eight years later, 

friend? Do you know 

to becoming an octogenarian – just he moved to Pukekohe to become 

how fast it takes a human 

as he was early to come into this a market gardener, a profession 

to feel helpless at the hands 

of fate? How you seen a grown up 

man cry? 

Ganges Singh was a different 

kind of person – never at odds 

with the good, never anchored 

ill-will and ever ready to help. 

He passed into a better world 

on Sunday, August 21, 2016 after a 

brief illness. 

world. 

Early arrival 

Born at sea aboard ‘SS Ganges’ 

carrying his parents (the late 

Bakshi and Udam Kaur Singh) 

migrating from Punjab in India 

to Fiji, he needed special care as a 

baby who arrived a little too soon. 

His passion for hard work took his 

career through a variety of jobs 

that he pursued for the next three 

decades. He launched his working 

life with the late Juwula Singh, who 

was to become his father-in-law a 

while later. 

Farewell, Ganges, my friend, you 

made not just your wife Pritam 

Kaur, son Rashpal, daughters 

Tasbir and Parjeet and four 

grandchildren poor, but many of us 

More than 2000 people attended Ganges Singh 

beginning with the Public Works as well. 

a ‘Celebration of Service’ held 

(Photo Courtesy: Dave Pope Photography) Department in Fiji. 

I would forever cherish the long 

the fastest possible service for 

visa applicants. Over the past 12 

months, INZ has processed over 

80% of temporary visa applications 

within 24 days on receipt of an 

application. However, as with all 

applications, processing times will 

always depend on the complexity 

of an application or where more 

information is needed. 

Without specific details we 

are unable to comment on the 

allegation that an application has 

taken over nine months to process. 

We would encourage anyone with 

concerns on their application to 

talk directly to INZ. 

Additional reading: Our Leader, 

‘Delays spoil the taste at Indian 

Restaurants’ under Viewlink. 

Qualityadviceisassured through 

ateam of Licensed Immigration Adviser /Ex-Immigration Officer. 

We provide tailor-made solutions to individual 

migrant and their families seeking to study,work, 

invest,dobusiness and livein 

NewZealand permanently 

meetings and telephone conversations 

that we entertained with each 

other for almost 17 years. 

Several Firsts 

New Zealand will not forget that 

you had a series of firsts to your 

credit. You were the first Punjabi 

to be awarded a Queen’s Service 

Medal (QSM), the first Trade Union 

Leader to represent the Indian 

community, the first person of Indian 

origin to be elected President 

of the Association of the Justices of 

Peace Inc and many others. 

Your list of accolades, citations 

and awards is too long to be 

listed here. Suffice to say that 

you deserved more. 

09 272 4424 021 144 6641 saif@ianzl.co.nz 

Mone Transfers • Money Exchange •Wire Transfers 

www.relianzforex.com 

Dial: 0508 41 11 11 

Fast. Reliable. Friendly Service. 

Level1-166 Harris Road, 

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www.immigrationadvicenz.com 

Like us on “Facebook” 

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SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 

02 HOMELINK 

Mumbai shipping manager refutes sailor’s reports 

Another three part-series of Iraqi occupation of Kuwait | Related Story under Viewlink 

Following the release of ‘Airlift,’ a Hindi film which was based on the Gulf War of 1991 following the 

occupation of Kuwait by Iraq in August 1990, we had run a series of three articles from Captain Zain 

Juvale, who was the Captain of ‘MV Safeer,’ a Cargo ship that was at that time in the Kuwaiti waters. 

The series appeared in our February 15, March 1 and March 15, 2016 issues. Some of his comments were 

challenged (Indian Newslink, April 1, 2016) by Suresh Mal Mathur who was Second Secretary at the Kuwaiti 

Embassy in Safat, Kuwait during the occupation. 

Now, Hanif Mohammed Ibrahim Modak, son of the late Captain Ibrahim Hussain Modak, Joint Owner 

of ‘MV Safeer’ has further refuted some of the claims of Captain Juvale. His comments, which he says 

‘clarifies issues’ appear on this page, under Viewlink and in our next one or two editions. 

Some basic credentials 

Hanif Mohammed 

Ibrahim Modak 

I 

have been actively involved 

in ship management services 

since 1981. 

I have managed ships of The 

National Iranian Tanker Company 

(an undertaking of the Iranian 

government), The Shipping Corporation 

of India (an undertaking of 

the Indian government) and ships 

of several other owners. 

Regarding the evacuation of 

Indian nationals on ‘M V Safeer’ 

from Kuwait, I was fully involved 

with the mission assisting Captain 

V R Kekobad (Joint Owner). He 

was negotiating with the Ministries 

of Shipping and External 

Affairs of the Indian government 

and Iraqi authorities from India. 

Late Captain Ibrahim H Modak 

was negotiating with various 

authorities from the owner’s office 

in Dubai (United Arab Emirates). 

I am in possession of all the 

original documents such as ship’s 

log book, original radio messages 

sent by the Master (Captain Zain 

Juvale) and correspondence with 

government authorities. 

Suresh Mal Mathur, Second 

Secretary at the Indian Embassy 

in Kuwait had boarded M V Safeer 

on August 11, 1990 and August 21, 

1990. 

These are the basic facts. I 

would now like to answer and 

clarify some of the statements and 

comments made by Captain Juvale 

in Indian Newslink. 

Sorry, no guns 

The derogatory statements 

made by Captain Juvale regarding 

the Indian government need to 

be corrected and put out in the 

public domain. 

He had said, “I was the Captain 

of ‘Safeer,’ a cargo ship in the 

Kuwaiti waters. I was captured 

along with my crew at gunpoint 

and held captives for 35 days in 

Kuwait.” 

However, only August 2, 1990 

(the day Iraq invaded Kuwait), the 

officers and crew were mustered 

outside the ship on the jetty and 

held at gunpoint. On the same day, 

the crew returned to ‘Safeer,’ and 

no guns were pointed at them until 

they sailed away on September 

3, 1990. In fact, the Iraqi soldiers 

were friendly to them. 

Not the first evacuation 

Captain Juvale had said, 

“Through sheer determination, 

persuasion, and tactful handling 

of the Iraqi forces, I managed 

not only to get my crew and ship 

released but also rescued 725 

Indians on board my small cargo 

ship, through mined waters. This 

was the first batch of Indians to 

be successfully rescued out of 

Kuwait.” 

This is incorrect. The first 

batch of Indians left Kuwait with 

Inder Kumar Gujral, External 

Affairs Minister, who had visited 

Kuwait and Iraq, met President 

Saddam Hussain and obtained his 

permission for Indians living in 

Kuwait and Iraq to leave by road, 

sea or air under arrangement with 

the Indian government for for safe 

evacuation of its citizens. 

Editor’s Note: Captain Zain Juvale’s 

three-part article that appeared 

in our February 15, March 1 

and March 15, 2016 issues was 

triggered by ‘Airlift,’ an Akshay 

Kumar film in Hindi, which 

over-dramatised and over-stated 

the hero in the Kuwaiti Theatre. 

Those of us who lived in Kuwait 

and/or covered the occupation 

of the Arab Gulf State by Iraq 

from August 2, 1990 and the ‘Gulf 

Storm’, the First Gulf War that 

led to the liberation of Kuwait on 

February 28, 1991 (after five days 

of war), would know that the film 

was far from depicting what really 

happened during those days. 

While the evacuation of Indians 

from Kuwait through Amman, Jordan 

and not through Saudi Arabia 

(which would have been easier 

and faster) was undoubtedly the 

single largest human exercise of 

the modern era, it was nothing 

like what the film portrayed. I was 

among those who was in Kuwait 

in the days following its liberation 

and what I saw and reported was 

more heart-rending and tragic 

than anyone could have imagined. 

Sanjeev Kohli, now High Commissioner 

of India in Wellington, 

was a Second Secretary at the 

Indian Embassy in Kuwait, which 

was closed by Inder Kumar Gujral, 

External Affairs Minister following 

his meeting with Saddam Hussein 

in late August 1990. Mr Kohli was 

sent to Amman, Jordan, to oversee 

evacuation of Indians who arrived 

from Kuwait. The evacuation was 

also overseen by Charles Manuel, 

who was at that time Manager of 

Air India in Bahrain, which looked 

after Jordan, an offline station. 

Please read the continuation of 

the report by Hanif Mohammed 

Ibrahim Modak under Viewlink 

and in our next one or two 

issues. 

If you have been involved in 

the Kuwaiti Theatre during the 

Iraqi occupation, please write 

to editor@indiannewslink.co.nz 

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HOMELINK 

Abandoned child soars to heights of care and share 

An inspiring story of love and care from Mother Teresa 

Venkat Raman 

venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz 

New Zealanders will have a unique 

opportunity of listening to one of 

the most interesting personalities 

who has won the hearts of people 

all over the world despite a difficult and 

challenging childhood. 

Gautam Lewis, Chief Executive of ‘Freedom 

in Air,’ a not-for-profit organisation that 

helps physically challenged people become 

qualified pilots in the United Kingdom, will 

be the Guest Speaker at the Seventh Annual 

Mother Teresa Interfaith Meeting and the 

Ninth Annual Indian Newslink Indian 

Business Awards to be held in November. 

While the Interfaith Meeting will be held 

at St Paul’s College, 183 Richmond Road, 

Ponsonby, Auckland at 230 pm on Sunday, 

November 27, 2016, the Business Awards 

Ceremony will begin at 5 pm on Monday, 

November 28, 2016 at Sky City Convention 

Centre. 

Interfaith Committee 

Mother Teresa Interfaith Committee 

Chairman Wenceslaus Anthony said that 

the Interfaith Meeting this year acquires a 

special status since Mother Teresa would be 

canonised by Pope Francis on September 4, 

2016. 

“Mother Teresa stood for peace, love and 

harmony and worked hard throughout her 

life for the poor and the needy. Those with 

special needs received her special attention 

and it is appropriate that Mr Lewis is with us 

this year,” he said. 

Born in Kolkata in 1977, Mr Lewis 

contracted polio when he was three years 

old and was abandoned. He was raised at 

Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in 

Kolkata for two years and thereafter at the 

Rehabilitation Centre outside the City for 

another two years. It was here that his life 

changed. 

Dr Patricia Lewis, a nuclear physicist 

adopted him and they moved permanently 

to England, where he attended the prestigious 

Bedales School. 

After obtaining a business degree, Mr Lewis 

entered the music industry and worked for 

renowned management agencies including 

Ricochet Artist Management, Creation 

Management and Poptones Records. 

While working with Alan McGee (the 

driving force behind Oasis) at Creation 

Management, he co-managed groups such as 

‘The Beta Band’ and the Libertines. 

In 2007, Mr Lewis fulfilled his childhood 

dream and became a qualified pilot, passing 

all his ground and air examinations in just 

six months. 

Still dependent on crutches from his childhood 

battle with polio, he founded ‘Freedom 

in the Air,’ a flying school for people with a 

range of disabilities. 

The not-for-profit organisation is committed 

to empowering disabled people through 

the freedom that flight offers, benefitting at 

emotional, physical and professional levels. 

Mother’s Memory 

“It is impossible for me to forget Mother 

Teresa, soon to be Saint Teresa of Kolkata. 

Mother gave me a chance to escape poverty 

and to a different destiny in London, England,” 

Mr Lewis said. 

Mother Teresa would have been pleased 

to see the rise in stature of an abandoned 

boy who is today a source of inspiration to 

hundreds of people. 

Throughout her life, Mother believed in 

the human effort to lift the downtrodden. 

Gautam Lewis 

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04 


LOCAL ELECTIONS-auckland mayoralty 

Auckland needs more police on the beat 

Phil Goff 

For more than three years, I have 

been battling to get government 

recognition of the critical shortage 

of Police in Auckland. 

I have raised it in questions to the 

Minister, in the Annual Financial 

Review and Budget estimates debates, 

and in the media. 

Year after year, the response has 

been denial that there is any problem. 

Police Minister Judith Collins has 

repeatedly said that the Police had 

adequate resources. Crime, she said, is 

going down. 

Unfortunately for the Minister, the 

weight of evidence against her position 

has been growing and will become 

irresistible. 

Indian retailers worry 

Indian retailers have for a long time 

been complaining that crime and 

violence have been increasing and 

statistics back them up. Robberies, 

burglaries and assaults have been 

rising across Auckland. There have 

been 13% more burglaries per year, 

12% more robberies and 6.5% more 

assaults this year than last. 

The Police response to growing crime 

has fallen short of what we need. 

People reporting crime and even 

giving evidence to Police that identifies 

offenders have too often been told that 

Police are too busy to help. 

Crime resolution figures have 

steadily been getting worse over the 

last four years with more than 92% 

of burglaries across Auckland going 

unresolved. 

Falling ratio 

In a press statement on the eve of 

the 2008 General election, John Key 

promised, and I quote directly, ‘We 

will boost overall New Zealand Police 

numbers so there is one officer for 

every 500 people, and we will keep this 

ratio as the population grows’ (October 

20, 2008).” 

In fact, the reverse has happened. 

The ratio of police officers to 

population was 1:486. Today it is 1:504. 

Research findings 

According to research done for me 

by the independent Parliamentary 

Library, we need 630 additional police 

officers in Auckland to achieve the ratio 

promised by the Prime Minister. 

Police Association President Inspector 

Greg O’Connor admits that there is a 

serious shortage of frontline staff. He 

attributes rising crime to having too 

few Police to deter criminals from 

offending. 

This situation simply isn’t good 

enough. People have the right to feel 

safe in their homes and businesses and 

out in the community. 

As I move around Auckland meeting 

thousands of people, I get constant 

feedback from the public that they 

want a more effective and better 

resourced response to crime. 

I agree with that absolutely. 

Auckland in particular has once again 

suffered because rapid population 

growth has not been matched by the 

resources to cope with it. 

Policing is a central, not a local 

government, responsibility. 

However, as Mayor, I will be a strong 

advocate for our City getting increased 

Police resources which match our 

share of the Country’s population and 

its growth. 

Given my track record of 

campaigning for this in Parliament, 

central government (led by either 

Party) will be on notice for what they 

can expect to hear from the incoming 

Mayor and Council. 

All we want is a fair go. 

Phil Goff is a candidate for Auckland 

Mayoralty.


Veto power will hold the 

Council to account 

Mark Thomas 

Only 15% of Aucklanders 

are satisfied 

with the Auckland 

Council and just 17% 

trust it to make good decisions. 

Only 8% of people say they are 

advocates for Council! 

If this was the real world, the 

Auckland Council would have 

gone out of business. 

This problem has been 

getting worse since the Council 

was established in 2010 and 

urgent steps are needed to 

change it. We are supposed to 

be Local Government, but our 

actions are actually moving 

us further away from this 

purpose. 

Declining power 

To address this, I have 

announced that I will establish 

new citizen veto powers by 

introducing binding referenda, 

move to greater on-line decision-making 

and dramatically 

boost Local Board powers. 

I will introduce a new 

veto power, where 15,000 

Aucklanders can require 

the Council to run a poll to 

overturn a decision made. 

The result will be binding on 

Council. 

Local boards, which I will 

rename local councils to better 

describe their purpose, will 

have ability by working together 

to block any governing 

body decision they disagree 

with and propose an alternate 

option. 

This will happen automatically 

unless the Councillors 

vote by 75% to override. 

I will also make it easier for 

Aucklanders to require action 

from councils by initiating 

polls on key issues. 

Reducing costs 

About 90% of the 27,000 

people who submitted on 

the current ten-year budget 

wanted governance and 

administration costs reduced. 

Nothing changed and we are 

fooling ourselves if we think 

we can continue to ask people 

what they want and then not 

deliver it. 

I have based some of these 

ideas from Switzerland’s 

‘direct democracy’ model of 

local government and also 

the online engagement taking 

place in some American cities. 

I toured Switzerland 

earlier in my career and saw 

firsthand the benefits a welldesigned, 

direct democracy 

system could have building 

much greater engagement. 

The purpose here is not to 

stop good decision-making by 

have citizen’s regularly reject 

council decisions. The effect of 

my policy will be to improve 

the quality of the Council’s 

decisions and better connect it 

to the people it is supposed to 

represent. 

Setting priorities 

My new council budget 

setting approach will automatically 

include the top five local 

board priorities in the ten-year 

plan. 

I will also directly poll Aucklanders 

on key issues each 

year and require this to be 

included in decision-making. 

I will transfer all local 

decision making power to local 

councils, including all facilities, 

parks and libraries. They will 

sit together with the Councillors 

as joint decision-makers 

on a new council Business 

Committee which will decide 

contracts and procurement. 

The current disillusion 

with the Council has spread 

to the mayoral election, with 

only name recognition driving 

preferences. 

The Auckland Council has 

enormous potential, but is on 

life support at the moment. 

Radical surgery is essential 

and that is what my plans will 

deliver. 

Mark Thomas is a candidate 

for the Auckland 

Mayoralty. 

HOMELINK-auckland mayoralty 

05 

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06 LOCAL ELECTIONS-LOCAL BOARDS 

Labour delegates promise accountability 

Dr Ashraf Choudhary 

Democracy is government 

by the people for 

the people, and is a precious 

right, hard won 

down through history. But democracy 

has a price. It is for 

all of us to take part in the process 

of voting for the right 

candidates. 

Auckland government is 

headed by a Mayor, who is elected 

by everyone. 

This is the only position for 

which all Aucklanders vote. 

There are 20 Councillors elected 

with the Mayor to govern the 

whole region. 

They are chosen on a ward 

basis rather like electorate MPs. 

Local Boards 

The second level or tier of 

government is local; where 

Local Boards are the ruling bodies. 

Their jurisdiction is over 

roads, drainage, parks, libraries 

and so on. 

They are also responsible 

for local planning and 

development. 

At the local level people are 

elected to the local boards to 

look after their areas. While 

their powers to affect matters 

are limited, they have significant 

influence on what the 

council does in their patch. 

Labour Team’s four candidates 

are standing for election 

to the Otara-Papatoetoe Local 

Board (Papatoetoe Ward) in the 

coming local body elections. 

Our candidates are Ivoni 

Fuimaono, a Christian Pastor, 

and very active in the Pasifika 

community in many ways; Ross 

Robertson, a current Otara- 

Papatoetoe Local Board Deputy 

Chair, and retired Member of 

Parliament for the Manukau 

East electorate which includes 

Papatoetoe; Dawn Trenberth, 

a childcare teacher who has 

a lifetime involvement in the 

Papatoetoe community; and myself 

(Dr Ashraf Choudhary) with 

a distinguished academic career 

with many years as a Professor 

at Massey University and a former 

Member of Parliament for 

9 years. 

All of us are family people. 

Community service 

Our team emphasises the importance 

of community in local 

government. For some their primary 

focus is on the costs especially 

through rates. While this 

is a legitimate concern one of 

the effects of such thinking in 

the past for Auckland has been 

that the community has suffered, 

including in respect of 

local services such as the traditional 

functions of roads, drainage 

and transport. 

While council rates cannot be 

allowed to increase at an unacceptable 

level, it is proper to invest 

in the future of Auckland; 

where individuals, families or 

central government cannot supply 

needs for our communities 

by themselves, it often falls to 

local government to do so. 

Among these are facilities 

such as libraries, social gathering 

centres, sports including 

playing fields and Citizens 

Advice Bureaux. 

Furthermore, the local board 

can support other initiatives in 

different ways. These are paid 

for mainly by rates levied by the 

council on those who own properties 

in the area. 

Our Labour Team stands for 

Dr. Ashraf Choudhary Ivoni Fuimaono Ross Robertson Dawn Trenberth 

accountability of actions of local 

board members and enhancement 

of transparency in 

governance. 

We will not tolerate conflict of 

interest when making decisions 

for welfare of our community. 

We will promote unity in diversity, 

justice and equity in our 

actions. 

Dr Ashraf Choudhary is a 

Candidate for Otara-Papatoetoe 

Local Board (Papatoetoe 

Ward) and a Candidate for 

Counties Manukau District 

Health Board.


Diversity ticks in Howick Board election 

LOCAL ELECTIONS-LOCAL BOARDS 

07 

The Seven Contestants (from left) Alan Papprill, Tofik Mamedov, Baljit Kaur, Gyanandra Kumar, Mark Johnson, 

Allan Hawea and Tania Mahoney. 

The Labour Party wants to reflect the 

evolving and diverse community in 

Howick (East Auckland) and hence is 

contesting in the Howick Local Board 

election with seven candidates. 

Alan Papprill, who has lived in Howick for 

more than 17 years, said that the current 

Board needs a shake up to reflect the cultural 

diversity. 

“It needs new faces and fresh ideas,” he said. 

Mr Papprill, who has taught English at Howick 

College for six years, has a personal interest 

in being a strong voice for the arts, culture and 

heritage groups in the Howick Ward to create a 

more vibrant community. 

“I was talking to a local businessman recently 

who, just like me, wished Howick had more of 

a heart. He suggested filling Cook Street with 

stalls and entertainers at the Saturday Market 

so that Howick Village becomes the place to 

meet every weekend. It is fantastic ideas like 

these that not only create a vibrant community, 

but also deserve to be heard by a responsive 

and community focused Local Board,” he said. 

Tofik Mamedov, who has extensive community 

service and governance experience, is 

contesting in the Howick Ward and Auckland 

Council. 

“I am passionate about Auckland and committed 

to working across political boundaries 

to achieve the best for Howick and its people,” 

he said. 

Publisher Mark Johnson, who has a young 

family, is contesting in the Botany Ward as a 

resident for the past decade. The former high 

school teacher from Botany Secondary College 

South Auckland is a huge and diverse 

place undeserving of its negative 

reputation. 

But unfortunately it has become a 

metaphor for poverty and deprivation 

About 10% of Pacific peoples aged over 15 

years are diagnosed with diabetes, approximately 

three times diagnosis rate of the total 

New Zealand population. 

Our citizens of Indian descent are no 

different. 

Obesity figures bloat 

Obesity in New Zealand has also become 

an important national health concern in 

recent years. According to the World Health 

Organization (WHO), New Zealand has the second-highest 

prevalence of overweight adults. 

New Zealand Health Survey of 2014/15 also 

found that almost one in three adults (aged 15 

years and over) were obese. 

The reasons for the relatively poor health of 

Pacific peoples in New Zealand are numerous 

and complex. Poor housing conditions and 

poverty are major factors associated with many 

health issues. 

Keeping pace 

These are some of the challenges facing the 

governing board of the Counties Manukau 

District Health Board in their decision-making 

to make our region a healthier place to live. 

Population in our region is growing fast and 

becoming diverse, and our health services must 

keep pace with these demographic changes. 

is committed to the development of inclusive 

communities for the younger generations. 

“I cannot think of one public space in this 

area dedicated to young residents and their 

families. We need a community centre,” he 

said. 

Baljit Kaur, a resident of Ormiston, is contesting 

for the first time on Labour ticket. 

The Medical Underwriter for Southern 

Cross Health Society is focusing on bringing 

more cultural diversity to the board and make 

positive links within community groups. 

“As a Chairperson for New Zealand Sikh 

Women Association Otahuhu, we support 

families experiencing the dynamics of domestic 

violence to lead productive and harmonious 

lives,” she said. 

Passionate about public safety, lobbying for 

better transport systems, stronger community 

links and heritage preservation is former 

Policeman Gyanandra Kumar, contesting the 

Botany Ward and Auckland Council. 

Allan Hawea, is standing in the Pakuranga 

Ward. 

“I want to bring to the local board greater 

representation of the growing multi-cultural 

and tangata whenua face of the Ward,” he said. 

The ordained Anglican minister serving 

South Auckland, has held positions on numerous 

health and social services organisations at 

the governance level. 

Tania Mahoney wants to see more community 

connectivity and more emphasis on cultural 

diversity in Pakuranga. 

“I believe Pakuranga needs to regain 

community spirit.” 

Manukau Health Board needs quick remedy 

Labour candidates for the Counties Manukau District Health Board election (from left) Barry Kirker, Mohanan 

Morghanan, Apulu Reece Autagavaia, Ala Bakulich, Alistaire Hall, Dr Ashraf Choudhary, and Dr Neru Leavasa 

Labour Party has put up a team of competent 

candidates to stand for the forthcoming 

elections of the governing board of the Counties 

Manukau District Health Board. 

We are delighted to have medical and legal 

experts, policy makers and community representatives 

in our highly diverse team. 

We aim to provide high calibre leadership for 

decision-making in the CMDHB governance. 

The Mission 

We stand for (1) Improved community 

services for elderly care and medical chronic 

conditions (2) Improved community programs 

to combat obesity and reduce the risk of 

obesity related illnesses (3) Better integration 

of services between primary and secondary 

care to treat Type II diabetes (4) Faster access 

to cancer treatment (5) Better integration with 

social services to provide health care that 

addresses the social determinants of health and 

(6) Retention of all CMDHB land assets for the 

use of public health services. 

Unlike the Local Council election where 

voting is by the First Past the Post system where 

you give a tick for the candidates, voting for the 

CMDHB is by Single Transferable Vote (STV) 

system. 

Please Rank Labour candidates, of your 

choice, by giving each person a different number 

between 1-7. Number 1 is the highest rank. 

Dr Ashraf Choudhary is a candidate in the 

Counties Manukau District Health Board 

election. 

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08 


EDUCATIONLINK 

Hindi week to highlight language value 

Staff Reporter 

info@indiannewslink.co.nz 

The Hindi Language Week will 

be celebrated in Auckland 

next weekend. 

About 15 schools in the 

Auckland region are expected to 

participate in the resource based 

programme organised by the Hindi 

Language and Culture Trust of New 

Zealand and Teach Hindi New 

Zealand. 

The Hindi Language Week will 

be held from September 12 to September 

16, 2016 in the participating 

schools throughout New Zealand. 

It will also recognise September 14, 

2016 as ‘World Hindi Day.’ 

JennySALESA 

MP forManukau East 

Growing importance 

The Programme will be held at 

Primary, Intermediate and High 

Schools, covering a wide range of 

subjects that will appeal to the young 

minds. 

Schools Programme Director 

Satya Dutt said that the weeklong 

‘National Hindi Language 

Celebrations’ has been growing from 

strength to strength since it was held 

in 2012, 2013 and 2015. 

Papatoetoe High School (located 

at Nicholson Avenue, Papatoetoe) 

will conduct the Programme from 

September 12 to September 16, 2016. 

Varied activities 

“The Programme will include 

Electorate Office 

7FultonCres, Otara 

09 274 9231 or 278 9972 

jenny. .salesa@parliament.govt.nz 

Papatoetoe 

YouthLine Building, 

145 St 

George Street,Papatoetoe 

Friday 

mornings 9.30am to 12pm 

Otahuhu 

Otahuhu Town Hall, 

10-12 high street,Otahuhu 

Monday morning 9am to 12pm 

Authorised by JennySalesa 

Parliament Buildings,Wellington 

Participants in the Hindi Week 2015 

speeches, introduction to Hindi, 

simple translation, dance drama, 

yoga, posters, Hindi film music and 

a number of other activities. The resources 

can be used each day for five 

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to 10 minutes or as it suits the school. 

The resources can blend well with 

other languages. Maori, Samoan and 

Tongan languages are used wherever 

possible,” Mr Dutt said. The Hindi 

Learn English with us! 

Join our English for Migrants programme 

Did you pre-pay Immigration 

NZ for English lessons? 

· Learn English at home 

· Our professionally-qualified 

teachers teach in your house 

· Learn at your own pace, 

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need for life here 

Language Week will commence 

with Meet & Greet and Relationship 

on September 12, followed by Days 

of the week, Numbers and Colours 

(September 13), Classroom objects 

(September 14), Food and Time 

(September 15) and Parts of the Body 

(September 16). 

Other activities would include a 

speech competition between 930 am 

and 230 pm on September 14 and 

a cultural programme between 630 

pm and 10 pm on September 16. 

Further information can be 

obtained from Satya Dutt on 021- 

1127291. 

Email: praveena_prasad1@yahoo. 

com.au 

Hindi is 4th Language of New Zealand 

and 3rd language of Auckland 

Visit www.englishlanguage.org.nz 

to contact your local centre 

Papatoetoe needs strong leadership 

Narinder Singla 

The ensuing local government 

elections 

are important to all 

of us in New Zealand, 

for once in three years, we 

get an opportunity to select 

people who we believe can 

work in our best interests. 

Local elections acquire 

importance not just for the 

office of the Mayor and 

Councillors but also that of 

Local Boards and District 

Health Boards. These 

local bodies are even more 

important because they 

immediately impact on our 

lives. They are concerned 

with our immediate areas, 

streets, educational institutions 

and neighbourhoods. 

It is therefore important 

that all of us who are eligible 

to vote, must exercise our 

franchise so that we live in 

safer, healthier and progressive 

communities. 

Similarly, District Health 

Boards, elections to which 

are a part of the local 

government polling, are 

also important, because 

they ensure that all of us 

receive improved health 

care through better primary, 

secondary and specialist 

facilities. 

Celebrating diversity 

As an Independent Candidate 

for the Papatoetoe 

Local Board and Counties 

Manukau Health Board, I 

am keen that our region 

receives the facilities that it 

deserves. 

I am also keen that ethnic 

communities receive the 

attention and services that 

they deserve; and that their 

lot is improved. 

As a resident of Papatoetoe 

for the past 14 years, 

I have experienced its 

challenges and problems, as 

much as I have witnessed it 

growth. 

I am also aware of the 

growing needs of the Indian 

community, which accounts 

for almost a third of the local 

population. 

At public gatherings, social 

events and other places, I 

hear our people saying that 

they often feel neglected. 

They believe that despite 

a constant rise in rates and 

cost of living, they have not 

seen much improvement in 

amenities and facilities. 

High growth potential 

Papatoetoe is home to 

a large number of Indian 

businesses, professionals 

and others who contribute 

significantly to the local 

economy. 

As a Justice of the Peace 

and Marriage Celebrant, I 

am keen to promote sound 

family values; as Chairman 

of the Hunters Corner 

Town Centre Society Inc, I 

work with Council officials, 

businesses, educational 

institutions and community 

groups to create a more 

congenial commercial 

and social environment. 

We need to act together to 

reduce social ills. We must 

strengthen the bylaws to 

regulate street prostitution, 

violence and make our 

residential areas safer. 

Strong commitment 

If elected to the Local 

Board, I will work to (a) 

make our streets, public 

places and homes safer (b) 

improve healthcare, create 

better civil and community 

facilities and amenities (c) 

tighten Council bylaws to 

control street prostitution, 

graffiti and other social challenges 

(d) facilitate growth 

of businesses (e) improve 

our roads, drainage system, 

parks, libraries, sports 

centres and swimming pools 

I will work for better 

sports and recreational 

facilities. 

I will exercise all efforts to 

reopen the Citizens Advice 

Bureau in Papatoetoe, so 

that people can benefit from 

its various services. 

I will certainly work for 

enhancement of transparency 

in governance and for 

welfare of our community. I 

will promote unity in diversity, 

strengthen and protect 

our vibrant communities. 

Narinder Singla is a candidate 

in the ensuing Papatoetoe 

Local Board and 

Counties Manukau District 

Health Board elections.


Auckland teachers awarded study scholarship 

Zayed College for Girls Board of Trustees Chairperson Shahela Qureshi, Thara Ebrahim, 

Fawziyyah, Principal Regina Rasheed, Elena Bernardo and Head Girl Hannah Alkotub 

Venkat Raman 


Four teachers at Zayed College 

for Girls in Auckland 

have been granted four 

Auckland Airport 50th 

Anniversary Scholarships for 

further tertiary studies. 

Among the recipients were 

Principal Regina Rasheed 

($10,000 to pursue Masters 

of Educational Leadership), 

Head of Physical Education 

Elena Bernardo ($3000 for 

a Postgraduate Certificate 

in Digital and Collaborative 

Learning), Head of English Tara 

Ebrahim ($10,000 towards her 

PhD in Education and Science), 

Teacher Fawziyyah Rafiq ($7427 

for Postgraduate Diploma in 

Education). 

The Scholarships were 

awarded as a part of the 50th 

Anniversary Celebrations of 

Auckland Airport, with which 

the School has a close working 

relationship. 

Improved teaching 

Zayed College for Girls 

Teacher and Career Advisor 

Fawziyyah Rafiq said that the 

Scholarships will allow teachers 

to explore and implement 

pedagogical practices relevant to 

students in the 21st century. 

“This will enhance student 

achievement and provide 

greater opportunities and 

increased pathways into tertiary 

studies for our young women. 

Zayed College for Girls is excited 

to work closely with Auckland 

Airport over the next two 

years,” she said. 

She said that Auckland Airport 

will help the students of the 

College in 2016-2017 in employment 

and higher education 

and training and support its 

education programmes. 

Graduate Programme 

“We have in place a Graduate 

Scholarship Programme under 

which our Year 13 students will 

be eligible to apply for one of 

the eight scholarships offered 

by Auckland Airport in 2016. 

Graduate scholars gain paid 

summer employment at the 

Airport working as Passenger 

Experience Assistants. The 

Airport also gives them a 

laptop and $2000 towards their 

tertiary fees,” Ms Rafiq said. 

The agreement with Auckland 

Airport will also allow 

Year 13 students of Zayed College 

to apply for paid Summer 

Internships with retailers at the 

Airport, subject to confirmation 

from the retailers. 

Summer Interns 

“Auckland Airport is also 

working with the Airport Jobs 

and Skills Hub and employers 

to confirm opportunities to 

expand work placements on 

the airport development,” Ms 

Rafiq said. 

Ms Rasheed said, “We 

truly appreciate the Airport’s 

support for our school. We 

want our students to integrate 

and contribute positively to 

New Zealand and the local 

community, and these Scholarships 

will help our teachers 

support students to achieve our 

objectives.” 

Read related report under 

Businesslink. 

09 

EDUCATIONLINK 

Student group highlights race 

relations with a differenc 



You can access the video on 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpEzMKIO9UQ 

A 

group of students called, 

‘the Auckland Law 

Revue’ has produced a 

video to highlight and 

raise discussion around race 

relations in New Zealand. 

John Kingi, a law student at the 

University of Auckland said that 

the video is a parody of ‘Sorry 

Video’ of Justin Bieber based on 

the Treaty of Waitangi. 

“New Zealand is the poster 

child of strong race relations, as 

we proudly trumpet our record 

of exemplary human rights on 

the world stage. And yet, over 

the 170 years since the Treaty of 

Waitangi was signed, our government 

is yet to issue an apology 

to Maori for the mishandling of 

the Treaty of Waitangi, not to 

mention the endemic marginalisation, 

dislocation and alienation 

that has flowed since,” Kingi said. 

Irony not lost 

He said that the irony was not 

lost on the Auckland Law Revue, 

which decided to take a look 

at what a formal apology from 

our government might look like 

(assuming that our members of 

government were half as talented 

as our wonderful cast). 

“In the two days since the 

release of this video we have 

had over 100,000 views across 

various platforms, thousands of 

shares and thousands of people 

discussing this video and the 

issues raised,” he said. 

Mr Kingi said that the Auckland 

Law Revue is a non-political 

group and is just keen on raising 

awareness among the current 

generation to ensure that the 

‘same mistakes of the past are 

avoided.’ 

“The video brings to light the 

contentious history between 

Māori and Pākehā that has 

existed for more than 170 years. 

It uses wit and humour to call 

out a tokenistic approach by 

government in its efforts as a 

Treaty partner,” he said.

10 


BUSINESSLINK 

We could do better as a Cooperative Economy 

Venkat Raman 


The success of corporate 

giants such as Fonterra 

and Foodstuffs New 

Zealand has triggered the 

expansion of the concept to other 

sectors of the economy and 

the move of two major universities 

could see a paradigm shift in 

the corporate world. 

While Fonterra has led to the 

success of companies like ‘Amul’ 

(Anand Milk Union Limited) in 

India, there are larger cooperatives 

in America and Europe 

(Examples: Credit Agricole 

Group of France with revenues 

of US$ 105 billion and Zen-Noh 

of Japan with annual earnings of 

US$ 60 billion) that could encourage 

the establishment of more 

cooperatives in New Zealand. 

Universities Study 

A major step in this direction 

was taken last week with an announcement 

that researchers 

from the University of Auckland 

are joining forces with colleagues 

at Massey University 

and the sector body, Cooperative 

Business New Zealand, to produce 

the first ever comprehensive 

analysis of the cooperative 

economy. 

A University of Auckland press 

note said, “Ask the person next 

to you and chances are they can 

rattle off the names of two or 

three New Zealand cooperatives. 

But, ask what cooperatives offer 

New Zealand, and you might 

have them stumped.” 

Cooperatives are member-owned 

organisations, 

meaning that the users of the cooperative 

are also the shareholders 

in the organisation. 

Cooperative Business New 

Zealand describes Cooperatives 

as business owned and democratically 

controlled by their 

members –people who use cooperative 

services or buy its goods 

but have a number of special 

characteristics. 

“They return surplus revenues 

to their members in proportion to 

their use of the cooperative, not 

in proportion to their investment 

or share ownership. Cooperatives 

are conscious of the need to operate 

profitably rather than at 

a loss. Cooperatives must meet 

their members’ needs either by 

their produce at the best price or 

by providing affordable and high 

quality goods and services, rather 

than maximising profit.” 

A joint report, called, 

‘Cooperative Economy of New 

Zealand,’ from University of 

Auckland and Massey University 

is expected to be released in 

December. 

Comprehensive data 

The report will synthesise data 

from three years of surveys and 

case studies from both universities, 

as well as fresh data collected 

about the top 30 New Zealand 

cooperatives. 

The study is being funded 

by Fonterra (lead sponsor), 

Ballance Agri-Nutrients, CDC 

Pharmaceuticals, Coop Money 

NZ, Farmlands, Farmers Mutual 

Group, Foodstuffs – South Island, 

Market Gardeners, Mitre 10, 

Ravensdown and Silver Fern 

Farms. 

Dr Lisa Callagher, Senior 

Top 10 Cooperatives in New Zealand 

Financial Year 2014-2015 Annual revenue in NZ$ 

1 Fonterra 18,845,000,000 

2 Foodstuffs North Island 6,238,889,000 

3 Foodstuffs South Island 2,721,341,000 

4 Silver Fern Farms 2,434,417,000 

5 Farmlands Cooperative 2,210,035,000 

6 Alliance Group 1,501,593,000 

7 Mitre 10 (New Zealand) 1,135,000,000 

8 Ballance Agri-Nutrients 892,795,000 

9 Southern Cross Healthcare 817,823,000 

10 Independent Timber Merchants 750,000,000 

Lecturer in Management and 

International Business at the 

University of Auckland said that 

the report will provide accurate 

facts and figures about what 

coops contribute to the country, 

which goes beyond dollars and 

cents. 

“Within the sector, organisations 

are aware of some of the 

real social and economic value 

cooperatives provide their 

members and their communities. 

Examples were highlighted 

at Cooperative Business New 

Zealand’s annual awards dinner 

last month,” she said. 

‘Cooperative Leader of the Year’ 

Mark McHardy, General Manager 

of Farmlands Fuel, was recognised 

with an award not only for 

leveraging the Cooperative’s collective 

buying power and for 

its health and safety record, but 

also for bringing Super Rugby 

back to grassroots with pre-season 

trainings and matches hosted 

on paddocks owned by one of 

Farmlands’ shareholders. 

Good Governance 

Phil McKendry, chairman 

of Ashburton Trading Society, 

received the Outstanding 

Cooperative Contribution award 

for years of championing both the 

commercial and social interests 

of the society’s members. 

“Our own case studies highlight 

some exemplary practices around 

governance training, and support 

for innovation,” Dr Callagher 

said. 

“What this report will do is 

move beyond anecdote and case 

studies to identify strengths and 

needs across co-ops, and inform 

key stakeholders about the nature, 

extent and importance of cooperatives 

in New Zealand. It will 

also create a benchmark method 

for monitoring cooperatives’ ongoing 

contribution.”


12 VIEWLINK 

The English Fortnightly (Since November 1999) 

Issue 353 | September 1, 2016 

Delays spoil the taste 

at Indian Restaurants 

Our front page story in this issue has the potential to make 

you angry – either at Immigration New Zealand (INZ) or at 

employers who depend on migrant labour to conduct their 

business. 

There are then political parties such as Labour, Greens and New 

Zealand First, who believe that immigration must be kept under 

check and that we have the right to choose the type of migrants we 

need and not the other way around. 

The ruling National Party and its allies, supported by mainstream 

media, are of the view that we should allow more migrants so that 

the economy can continue to grow. 

Hard Questions 

Some sections of the media say that migrant labourers who are 

victimised must go to the authorities and complain and that the 

government should deport the erring employers if they are migrants 

themselves. 

No one of course asks the question, “Since most of these employers 

are New Zealand citizens, how can you deport them?’ or ‘A few 

education agents or advisors make false promises to students that 

they can secure jobs and permanent residence as soon as they arrive 

in New Zealand. Who is supervising such people?” 

From whichever standpoint you may view, the issue rests on 

sticky thorns. 

Reports of migrants being overworked and underpaid – not just 

by owners of restaurants but also by other retailers, manufacturers 

and others – are heard, read and seen from time to time. Again, 

these are not confined to the Indian community. 

Silent sufferers 

Exploitation of workers has always existed, and will continue to 

exist, so long as victims willingly submit themselves to such exploitation. 

There is little that anyone can do if these people – migrant 

workers, students and even overstayers, remain silent for fear 

of reprisal and even deportation. 

There are processes within the government, law-enforcing authorities, 

through the Human Rights Commission, Indian associations 

and groups and also this newspaper – processes that can 

bring justice to the victims and ensure that perpetrators are punished 

according to the law. 

But the issue that we have raised on our front page relates to exploitation 

of another kind- if indeed such exploitation exists. 

It is the allegation of exploitation by a government agency – INZ 

– of a business community that, according to those affected, has 

been targeted for ‘exclusion.’ 

Too long to bear 

Several restaurant owners have told us during the past months 

that the applications of potential workers have been pending with 

INZ for nine or more months for no rhyme or reason. 

“It should not take a government department this long to decide 

on work visa applications. If this government wants small businesses 

to thrive, they should then ensure that such discrimination 

does not exist. Let INZ decline these applications but should give us 

valid reasons for doing so,” they said. 

This newspaper is aware of at least three Indians who came to 

New Zealand on ‘Work to Residence Visa’ (another undesirable way 

of granting permits) had to wait for two years before their work permits 

could be issued despite submitting genuine job offers and all 

other documents. Two of them returned home highly frustrated, 

while the third man managed to obtain permanent residence after a 

long struggle. 

Workers’ Rights 

According to Martin Ruhs of Oxford University, countries with 

more rights for migrant workers tend to be less keen on admitting 

new ones. 

In the Arab Gulf States and Singapore, where migrants have few 

rights on paper, the foreign workforce is huge: 94% of workers in 

Qatar were born abroad. Sweden and Norway, where migrants can 

use public services, claim welfare benefits and bring in dependents, 

admit relatively few purely economic migrants. 

There is a vigorous—and sometimes ill-tempered—debate among 

academics about the impact of low-skilled migration, both legal 

and illegal, on wages. 

This dispute, however, is only part of a much broader debate. 

Most other research finds that immigrant flows harm at least some 

workers, as economic theory usually predicts they should when immigration 

changes the balance of skills in an economy. The debate 

is over precisely who suffers, and how much. 

Indian Newslink is published by Indian Newslink Limited from its offices located at Level 

1, Number 166, Harris Road, East Tamaki, Auckland 2013 and printed at Horton Media 

Limited, Auckland. All material appearing here and on our web editions are the copyright 

of Indian Newslink and reproduction in full or part in any medium is prohibited. Indian 

Newslink and its management and staff do not accept any responsibility for the claims 

made in advertisements. 

Managing Director & Publisher: Jacob Mannothra 

Editor & General Manager: Venkat Raman; 

Production Manager: Mahes Perera; Graphic Designer: Shine Kumar 

Phone: (09) 5336377 Email: info@indiannewslink.co.nz 

Websites: www.indiannewslink.co.nz; www.inliba.com; www.inlisa.com 

“Thank Indian Government for 

rescue in Kuwait” 

Mumbai shipper refutes skipper’s comments in Indian Newslink 

First of Three Parts 

“Unfortunately, in the past 25 years, successive governments at the Centre and the State 

levels in India have failed to acknowledge my humanitarian mission, as I defied their warning 

and went ahead with my mission. Its success was a slap in the face of the prophets of doom,” 

Captain Juvale had said in his three-series of articles that appeared in February 15, March 1 

and March 15, 2016 issues of Indian Newslink. 

Hanif Mohammed 

Ibrahim Modak 

MV Safeer was released 

due to the intervention 

of the Indian government. 

The ship’s owners first met the 

Iraqi Consular representative in 

Mumbai with a request to allow 

consular access by an official from 

the Indian Embassy in Kuwait to 

visit ‘MV Safeer.’ Their prime concern 

was the safety and welfare 

of the crew and then that of the 

vessel and its cargo. The owners 

also requested the Iraqi authorities 

to help with the eventual release 

of the vessel. 

The Iraqi representative told 

the owners to request the Indian 

government to contact the Iraqi 

Embassy in New Delhi. They took 

up this matter immediately with 

the Shipping and External Affairs 

ministries. 

Preparing for evacuation 

On August 30, 1990, on the 

instructions of K P Fabian, Joint 

Secretary (Gulf) at the External 

Affairs Ministry, Captain Kekobad 

The following letter (sent to us 

by Hanif Modak) was reportedly 

written by Nazir Mulla, who was the 

Chief Officer aboard ‘MV Safeer’ to 

Captain Zain Juvale on March 13, 

2016 following the latter’s articles in 

Indian Newslink. 

Dear Captain Zainul Abideen 

Hearty Congratulations for ‘The 

Unsung Hero Community Award.’ 

As you are aware, the evacuation of 

722 Indians on ‘MV Safeer’ was once 

again in limelight in Midday issue 

dated February 6, 2016. All this momentum 

was caught after release of 

the movie ‘Air Lift.’ Also, Oyster had 

called media and ‘Safeer’ was again 

in news after 25 years. However, I 

was out of India during this period. 

Recently I was in Oyster’s office and 

to my surprise, I happened to view 

‘Safeer’ logbook signed by us. Also, 

I read some of your writings that 

you have released in news. I see that 

few things are unfairly exaggerated, 

exploited and not in line with actual 

facts that we faced in Iraq occupied 

Kuwait. Following are some for 

example: 

During the first military action, 

where all crew was captured by Iraqi 

sent a detailed message to the 

Master of ‘MV Safeer’ regarding 

evacuation. This message 

was sent from the External 

Affairs Ministry to the Indian 

Embassy in Kuwait. 

The Master communicated 

to Captain Kekobad on August 

31, 1990 through the Indian 

Embassy in Kuwait and also 

spoke to Mr Fabian regarding 

preparations for the evacuation. 

He again communicated 

to Mr Fabian on the following 

day (September 1, 1990) after 

Captain Mathew, Nautical Advisor 

to the Kuwaiti government 

visited the vessel and checked 

its preparedness to undertake 

the voyage. 

All the above are facts, 

entered in the Ship’s Log Book, 

duly signed by Captain Juvale 

and Chief Officer Nazir Mulla. 

Original Logbook 

I have in my possession the 

ship’s original logbook signed 

by Captain Zain Juvale and 

Chief Officer Nazir Mulla, radio 

messages sent by the Master to 

the External Affairs Ministry 

on departure from Kuwait, the 

Indian Consulate in Dubai and 

to owner’s office in Dubai. All 

Soldiers and was forced to line up on 

wharf in surrendered position with 

our hands on our heads. After this, 

there was no any harassment to the 

crew. None of the crew faced a gun 

six inches from his eyes with soldiers 

fingers ready on the trigger nor did 

any crew face soldiers standing 

behind them pointing gun on their 

heads at a blank range. 

On no occasion during our 35 days 

of stay in Kuwait did the ship run 

short of food. ‘Safeer’ being a rice 

carrier, had stores full of rejected/torn 

bags sufficient for the entire crew to 

survive for at least nine months in 

dire situations. Later, the soldiers had 

opened a canteen in Port Shuwaikh 

and poured boxes of chicken and 

other stuff on the ship. In fact, some 

Iraqi authorities and soldiers used to 

have their meals from the vessel. 

Where were the mined waters? Had 

Iraqis laid mines in Kuwaiti waters? 

No. We had no such briefing when we 

left Kuwait with 722 Indian refugees. 

Also, vessel had followed the same 

route out with reverse courses when it 

sailed from Kuwait. 

I also read/heard somewhere that the 

vessel had a welcome message with 

other relevant documentation 

pertaining to the negotiations 

with the Indian government 

and the Iraqi authorities were 

also dispatched. 

If the Master was claiming 

to defy the Indian government, 

then why were all 

these communications sent 

requesting to arrange for safe 

disembarkation of 722 Indian 

nationals who were evacuated 

from Kuwait? 

Indian Newslink had carried 

an article by Suresh Mal 

Mathur, former Second Secretary 

at the Indian Embassy 

in Kuwait in its April 1, 2016 

issue in which he had said that 

intensive discussions were held 

with the concerned ministries 

of the Indian government with 

the involvement of the owners 

of ‘MV Safeer.’ 

He has also confirmed that 

the Master’s claims (that the 

international shipping industry 

had ignored his plight) are 

incorrect and exaggerated. 

He had taken Captain Juvale 

to meet External Affairs Minister 

Inder Kumar Gujral when 

he visited Kuwait on August 21, 

1990. 

Mr Mathur can vouch to all 

the facts since Mr Gujral is no 

more. 

Hanif Modak is Managing 

Director, Oyster Ship Management 

Private Limited 

based in Mumbai, India. He 

has provided us extensive 

information on ‘MV Safeer’ 

of which his late father was 

one of the owners. He has 

also provided newspaper 

clippings of the evacuation 

story that appeared in Indian 

newspapers. These and another 

part of his article will 

appear in our next issue. 

music from a UAE Naval ship when 

she berthed in Dubai, which is not 

true. 

I must emphasise that the unprecedented 

operation that led to successful 

evacuation of 722 Indians from 

Kuwait on a small cargo ship was not 

a one-man show. 

It was not all about ‘I,’ ’Me’ and 

‘Myself.’ 

It was a joint effort, a diligent and 

extra ordinary team work by all the 

crew of ‘Safeer,’ who had poured 

this success at the Master’s feet and 

they all deserve to be called unsung 

heroes. 

The mission was unique in its nature. 

In addition, the Indian Embassy, 

community workers in Kuwait, 

Iraqi Authorities and extremely 

cooperative Iraqi soldiers, Indian 

government authorities in New Delhi 

and the Ship owners played a crucial 

role in making the ‘Safeer Mission’ 

successful. 

It is needless to say that the Mission 

would not have been possible had the 

Owners rejected or objected carriage 

of passengers on their cargo ship. 

Best Regards 

Captain Nazir A I Mulla


Mukesh Arora 

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14 BUSINESSLINK 

Food Mission brings a 

unique flavour of 

Taiwan 

Venkat Raman 


Importers, wholesalers, 

distributors and other major 

players in New Zealand’s 

food industry would have 

an opportunity to understand 

and undertake dealership of a 

wide range of products from 

Taiwan this month. 

The Taiwan Food Trade Mission 

will be at Langham Hotel 

(83 Symonds Street) in Central 

Auckland from 10 am to 1 pm 

on Monday, September 19, 2016. 

The Trade Mission is being 

organised by the Bureau of 

External Trade of the Ministry 

of Economic Affairs of the 

Government of the Republic of 

China (Taiwan) in association 

with the Taiwan External Trade 

Development Council (TAITRA) 

and Taiwan Trade Centre, 

Sydney. 

Extensive range 

The visiting companies will 

showcase a wide range of products 

including Rice & Cereals, 

Noodles, Frozen Seafood, Prepared 

Food, Preserved & Canned 

Food, Sauces & Dressings, 

Confectioneries, Drinks, and Tea 

varieties. 

New Zealand importers 

and traders will be able to 

meet the visiting company 

representatives on one-to-one 

basis and consider possibilities 

of mutually beneficial business 

partnerships. 

Taiwan's food and beverage 

sector has been experiencing 

healthy growth, posting record 

sales of US$ 3.40 billion in the 

January-¬March 2016 quarter, 

up by 3.1% over the previous 

year. The sales were mostly 

from restaurants, takeaways 

and Taiwan’s ubiquitous tea 

shops. 

Taiwan is New Zealand’s tenth 

largest trade partner (after India) 

with annual two-way trade 

of about $1.25 billion as at the 

end of September 2015. Of these, 

goods accounted for about 

$1.1 billion. There is immense 

potential for increasing trade. 

Preferential Tariff 

Taiwan’s products are known 

for their high quality of production, 

hygiene and rigid controls, 

enhanced by the friendly 

attitude of its manufacturers and 

exporters. 

New Zealand and Taiwan 

agreed a comprehensive free 

trade pact on July 10, 2013 in 

Wellington. Called, ‘ANZTEC’ 

(Agreement between New Zealand 

and the Separate Customs 

Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, 

Kinmen and Matsu on Economic 

Cooperation) it aims to facilitate 

mutually beneficial economic 

co-operation and enhance 

bilateral and regional trade. 

ANZTEC delivers preferential 

tariff access that gives New 

Zealand exporters a key competitive 

advantage in an important 

‘Affluent-Asia’ market of 23 

million people. It also includes 

innovative provisions on film 

and television, indigenous 

cooperation and air links that 

will expand existing creative, 

cultural and people-to-people 

links. 

A Taiwan government spokesperson 

said that trade liberalisation 

has opened up dual-market 

opportunities, providing options 

for consumers in two places. 

“We recognise that professionals 

in the Food & Beverage 

industry in New Zealand 

regularly come across a wide 

range of emerging trends and 

products. The visiting delegation 

of Taiwanese vendors will exhibit 

their latest, most innovative 

and finest products. This event 

will provide an opportunity to 

discover what is new, but most 

importantly, provide businesses 

with the knowledge and 

information that will give them 

a competitive edge within the 

industry.” 

Global flavours 

As home to ethnic diversity, 

Taiwan has incorporated the essence 

and flavours of foods from 

all over the world and developed 

well-known food processing 

industries, ensuring consumers 

safe, quality, and healthy foods. 

The visiting delegation will 

showcase their latest and best. 

Founded in 1970 to help 

promote foreign trade, TAITRA 

is the foremost non-profit trade 

and investment promotion 

organisation in Taiwan. 

It boasts of a well-coordinated 

trade promotion and information 

network of over 1200 

trained specialists stationed 

throughout its Taipei headquarters, 

four local branch offices in 

Hsinchu, Taichung, Tainan and 

Kaohsiung, and over 50 overseas 

branches worldwide. 

Together with its sister organisations, 

the Taiwan Trade Center 

and Taipei World Trade Center, 

TAITRA has created a wealth 

of trade opportunities through 

effective promotion strategies. 

Websites: www.taiwantrade. 

com.tw; www.taitra.org.tw 

Court upholds Solicitor’s appointment 

Supplied Content 

In a recent case concerning 

a business rivalry between 

two companies, the plaintiff 

company, among other 

things, had alleged that the 

respondent company and its 

Directors/Shareholders had used 

confidential information for their 

benefit in breach of contractual 

and fiduciary duties. 

Following this, ex-parte search 

and discovery orders were made 

by the High Court to conduct 

a search at the business and 

residential premises of some of 

the defendants. 

Justice John Faire of the High 

Court appointed Gurbrinder 

Aulakh, Barrister & Solicitor as the 

independent solicitor to supervise 

the carrying out of the orders. 

He was also authorised to 

assist the Government Registered 

Private Investigators in the implementation 

of the Search Order. 

Search warrant 

Following this, Mr Aulakh, 

accompanied by the government 

registered private investigators, 

conducted the search of the business 

and residential addresses of 

the defendants mentioned in the 

order. 

They also seized the material 

that was the subject of these 

orders. 

A report of the search and 

seizure was then filed to the High 

Court. 

Some of the electronic equipment 

seized during the search 

were not accessible. 

Justice Ed Wylie made consent 

orders requiring the defendants 

to provide all the passwords, to 

Mr Aulakh, to access computers 

seized during the search. 

He was also authorised to assist 

the investigators in copying relevant 

material from documents 

and equipment seized. 

When the matter came before 

Duty Judge Justice Patricia Courtney, 

the defendants, through their 

lawyer claimed that the appointed 

independent solicitor lacked the 

requisite independence due to his 

proximity with the counsel for the 

plaintiff. 

Judges’ Notes 

Later, Justice Matthew Muir 

made timetabling orders for the 

production of affidavits. 

The matter then came up for 

hearing before Justice Christian 

Whata at the High Court on 

August 3, 2016. 

He took note of the High Court 

rules and the relevant authority 

that the execution of the order 

should be supervised by an experienced 

solicitor from a firm other 

than the plaintiff’s solicitor. 

He took note of the memorandum 

filed by the independent 

solicitor. The memorandum 

noted that he re-qualified in New 

Zealand and had now been practicing 

as a barrister & solicitor 

independently of any other firm. 

The Judge considered the 

certificate of the President of the 

High Court Bar Association in 

India certifying that Mr Aulakh, 

his good friend, has been a lawyer 

since 1998 and remained on the 

executive committee of the High 

Court Bar Association in 2001. 

Experience certified 

Justice Whata, having consid- 

Gurbrinder Aulakh 

ered the application and relevant 

documents made the observation 

that “………I am satisfied that Mr 

Aulakh, having been practicing 

as a solicitor in India and then in 

this country for 18 years is amply 

experienced to bring the requisite 

independent judgement to the 

execution process………….” 

The High Court upheld Mr 

Aulakh’s appointment as the independent 

solicitor and dismissed 

the application of the defendants. 

The defendants have been 

directed to provide further and 

better particulars and complete 

the discovery, while the plaintiffs’ 

counsel is to provide a detailed 

explanation as to his interests in 

the first plaintiff company. 

Verdict on 

$9.2 million 

mortgage fraud 

Supplied Content 

Serious Fraud Office 

A case involving a series 

of fraudulent property sales 

and purchases conducted 

by an Auckland woman and 

a number of her relatives 

and associates concluded in 

sentencing at the Auckland 

District Court on August 17, 

2016. 

Eli Devoy (aka Ellie Stone, 

AKA Eli Ghorbani, AKA 

Elaheh Ghorbani Sar Sangi) 

was sentenced to five years’ 

imprisonment with a minimum 

period of imprisonment 

of two years and 

six months (50% of the 

sentence). 

She was the principal defendant 

in an extensive 

mortgage fraud scheme 

prosecuted by the Serious 

Fraud Office (SFO) where 

five defendants were guilty 

of Crimes Act charges. A 

ten-week trial was held in 

the Auckland District Court 

from February to June this 

year. 

The additional defendants 

who participated in 

Mrs Devoy’s scheme were 

Mehrdad Ghorbani (aka 

Mohammad Ghorbani 

Sarsangi), who was sentenced 

to two years and seven 

months’ imprisonment, 

Mehrzad Ghorbani (aka 

Mehdi Ghorbani) who was 

sentenced to 10 months’ 

home detention and Mehran 

Ghorbani (aka Massoud 

Ghorbani, aka Ken Williams) 

who received seven months’ 

home detention. 

A further defendant, 

Nasrin Kardani, has been 

remanded on bail until 

9 September 2016 for 

sentencing. 

The group conducted a series 

of sales and purchases 

of 11 properties in the 

Auckland area between July 

2007 and December 2010. 

They deceived lending institutions 

into approving 

mortgage applications that 

contained false information 

and supporting documents 

and the offending amounted 

to approximately $9.2 

million. 

SFO Chief Executive Julie 

Read said, “We welcome 

the decisions of His Honour 

Judge Gibson today which 

demonstrates that there 

are significant penalties 

for those who do not provide 

truthful information to 

banks and lenders.” 

-Serious Fraud Office Press 

Release


BUSINESSLINK 

Spying law should be fair and intelligent 

15 

David Shearer 

Last fortnight in 

Parliament, I spoke on 

the first reading of the 

Bill intended to reform 

our intelligence agencies. 

The ‘Intelligence and Security 

Bill’ is intended to bring our intelligence 

laws into line with today’s 

environment and context. 

Terrorism continues to 

change and evolve, and the increase 

in cybersecurity attacks 

on our government departments 

and organisations has 

been staggering. 

We need the best defence to 

protect Kiwis, but there is possibly 

no more sensitive an issue 

than the work of our intelligence 

agencies. 

Ensuring safety 

The challenge we face is this: 

We need to make sure New 

Zealanders are safe and secure 

and our basic rights and freedoms 

from attack are protected, 

while at the same time ensuring 

that our privacy is maintained. 

In a positive move, the government 

has sought the support 

of Labour over the proposed bill 

and has left some fundamental 

decisions – for example the 

definition of national security – 

to be defined through the select 

committee process after listening 

to submitters. 

A bipartisan approach will 

help to ensure the resulting 

laws will be strong and robust. 

As one of the five members 

of the Intelligence and Security 

Committee, I welcome this new 

direction taken by Attorney 

General Chris Finlayson. 

Three years ago, (Prime 

Minister) John Key rammed 

new spy laws through 

Parliament with a majority of 

just one. That short-sighted 

move eroded the confidence of 

the New Zealand public in our 

intelligence agencies. 

Dangerous situations 

We need and want our agencies 

to have the broadest possible 

powers to combat threats 

to New Zealanders, but to only 

be permitted to use those powers 

in carefully-defined circumstances 

and with a full range of 

checks on what they are doing. 

For example, it is currently 

illegal for the Government 

Communications Security 

Bureau (GCSB) to use its electronic 

expertise to spy on any 

New Zealander. 

That has thrown up some 

problems: imagine a New 

Zealander is taken hostage 

in Syria and we detect a New 

Zealand telephone being used 

there and believe it is linked to 

the hostage situation. Sadly, we 

cannot listen to any conversations 

because the phone might 

belong to a New Zealander and 

the GCSB is forbidden to spy on 

New Zealanders. 

The same problem could occur 

if a New Zealander travels 

overseas to join the Islamic 

State. It would be illegal for 

GCSB to listen to that person’s 

phone despite the fact it could 

pose a security threat. 

Under the new legislation, 

New Zealanders will be able to 

be spied up on by the GCSB but 

only in exceptional and highly 

regulated situations. 

GCSB must obtain a warrant 

from the Attorney General and 

the Commissioner of Warrants, 

who is a retired judge. 

On top of that, every warrant 

will later be scrutinised by the 

Inspector of Intelligence to ensure 

that it was justified. 

Striking the balance 

In this way, we strike a balance 

between enabling the 

agencies to combat terrorism 

and stamp out people trafficking 

and other heinous crimes 

by giving them the powers they 

need to do that, but ensure that 

New Zealanders going about 

their everyday business can 

never be spied upon – or ever 

fear they are. 

The Bill will go through the 

Select Committee of which I am 

a member. 

There are aspects of the 

Bill we will scrutinise closely, 

and will want to obtain advice 

on from experts such as the 

Privacy Commissioner, the Law 

Commission and others, to ensure 

that it is rigorous but enables 

the agencies to do their jobs. 

However, I have said on many 

occasions that when it comes to 

terrorism, intelligence agencies 

can only do so much. 

The terrorism that we have 

seen around the world stems 

from people who are isolated 

and disenfranchised in the communities 

they live, and many 

of them have mental health 

problems. 

It is the strength of our relationships 

with every member of 

our community, in particular the 

Muslim community, that is our 

first and most important line of 

defence against terrorism. 

Overwhelmingly New 

Zealand’s Muslim community is 

law-abiding, hard-working, family 

oriented and puts a premium 

on good education for their children 

so that they can prosper 

and contribute to New Zealand. 

Having strong, fair intelligence 

laws is vitally important, but it’s 

only part of the picture. 

David Shearer is an elected 

Member of Parliament from 

Mt Albert in Auckland and 

Labour Party’s spokesman for 

Foreign Affairs.

16 


BUSINESSLINK 

Oporto family sharpens focus 

on better communities 

Oporto is rebuilding for a brighter future in New 

Zealand and modernising the brand, bringing our 

family back together with sharpened focus over the 

next 18 months. 

Oporto is rebuilding for a 

brighter future in New 

Zealand and modernising 

the brand, bringing 

our family back together with 

sharpened focus over the next 

18 months. 

The Oporto Family 

Oporto started as a family 

business 30 years ago at Bondi 

Australia. 

Today it is the Seventh largest 

brand in Australasia, with 150 

stores. 

Most of the franchisees’ 

families work for Oporto. 

The Oporto family is made up 

of Customers, Franchisees, Team 

Members, Suppliers and the 

Community. 

Their success is determined 

by competence, commitment, 

quality of service and unity. 

A Turning Point 

This year was a turning point 

for Oporto New Zealand. 

Oporto New Zealand is a top 

performer with a growth in 

business by 12%. 

The Company launched its 

state-of-the-art website (www. 

oporto.co.nz) with analytical 

capabilities and nutrition 

information 

The Company also also 

upgraded its POS System and 

Chef-mate Kitchen Ordering 

System to Version 6 for faster 

processing and instore product 

delivery. 

Family Recipe 

The New Zealand stores also 

witnessed the return of the 

‘Original Chilli Sauce.’ 

This is the recipe of the family 

of Founder Antonio Cerqueira, 

which made the brand famous 

on both sides of the Tasman. 

Oporto will advance its menu 

by adding a Dinner Day Party 

focus to its famous Portuguese 

Flame Grilled Chicken and new 

sides. 

Spicy Portuguese campaigns 

highlight Oporto’s ‘Live Spicy, 

Leverage Our Portuguese Origins’ 

showcasing unique quality 

and taste. 

As a company that caters 

to the evolving tastes of its 

The strength of life and business partnership- 

Lawrence & Erica Perera 

customers, Oporto launched its 

‘Food Court Trial,’ to understand 

market preference and improve 

its market share. 

The feedback will be the basis 

of significant changes in the 

menu. 

Uniform Status 

Among the significant and 

noticeable changes effected 

related to the Oporto uniforms, 

which literally came out of the 

1990s. 

Customers say, “Members of 

the Oporto family not only look 

smart in their new uniform but 

also wear it with pride. They are 

endearing.” 

System Improvement 

The change in ownership and 

management of Oporto New 

Zealand last year accorded 

an opportunity to review the 

performance of the Company, 

its stores, products and services 

not only to be in line with the 

Every Oporto Story has the family flavour Rebecca, Rachel and Reuben Pereira at the 

Indian Newslink IBA 2015 

Franchise Engagement 

exacting standards of the Oporto 

brand, but also profitability and 

market status in New Zealand. 

The exhaustive review 

enabled the Company to benchmark 

standards and practices 

to improve productivity and 

profitability. 

Career Progress 

Implementation of ‘Pathways’ 

has enabled Oporto New 

Zealand to have in place career 

advancement opportunities 

from staff level to that of being 

a successful franchisee. Oporto 

Management considers its both 

a privilege and responsibility to 

shape the careers of people and 

make them successful members 

of the community. A new, worldclass 

training platform provides 

the appropriate learning tools 

and support to enable every 

member of the Oporto team to 

skills development and management 

expertise. 

The most significant achievement 

of Oporto New Zealand is 

its renewed Franchisee Engagement 

and faith in the brand. 

Currently, in Auckland, Franchise 

opportunities are available 

in Glenfield Mall Auckland 

(North Shore), Hunters Plaza 

(Manukau), Drive through site 

in East Auckland and four other 

sites under review in Auckland. 

Sites are also available in 

Palmerston North, Lower Hutt, 

Rotorua and Hamilton. 

For further information, 

please contact Rebecca 

Perera. Email: Franchise@ 

oporto.co.nz 

Oporto New Zealand is the 

Sponsor of ‘Business Excellence 

in Retail Trade’ Category 

of Indian Newslink Indian 

Business Awards for the 

second successive year. 

Bot is next coming up on your screen? 

Anand Mokashi 

The Board of Governance ofGandhi Nivas 

has the pleasure of welcoming you to a 

Fund Raising Dinner 

Tickets: $150 plus GST per person 

Tables seating ten persons each 

at $1500 plus GST available 

(With Entertainment, Raffles and Auction) 

On Friday, September 16, 2016 at 630 pm 

At Waipuna Conference Suites 

60 Highbrook Drive, East Tamaki 

Guest Speaker 

Vic Tamati 

Lead Voice of ‘It’s Not OK’ Campaign 

Exciting Auction By 

Melissa Lee 

Member of Parliament 

Contact: Ranjna Patel 

Phone: (09) 2747823; 027-2788111 

Email: ranjna@ethc.co.nz 

Just as we were coming to terms 

with the takeover of traditional 

marketing by social media, we 

find ourselves in the midst of ‘Bot 

Invasion.’ 

The way in which bots (origin-robots) 

are proliferating the worldwide 

web is indicative of their potential to 

become the next big thing. 

I got interested in bots a couple of 

months ago and started studying and 

understanding them. Many companies 

are now starting off with bots and 

this will only grow further. 

What is a bot? 

A Bot is a small programme that 

can interact with anyone as if it were 

a trained human being. To start 

using a bot, you would just open a 

conversation as if you are chatting 

with a friend. 

The difference is that instead of a 

person on the other side there would 

be a programme with a certain level of 

artificial intelligence to handle pre-set 

tasks. 

Think of bots as apps (small programs) 

with a chat interface (conversational 

user interface). 

The concept is of course not new. 

The reason for its sudden revival is 

that, now smartphones have become 

the centre of daily life for communication, 

entertainment, information 

sourcing, planning and even conducting 

business. 

Due to this paradigm shift, Mobile 

Apps development has grown significantly. 

We now have apps for banking, 

weather, payments and so on. 

These apps crowd the mobile desk 

top, making them cumbersome to use. 

This is where bots come in. They make interactions 

with apps easier and more conversational. 

Webgiants like Techcrunch have already coined 

a term for this explosion. They call this the dawn of 

‘Conversational Economy.’ 

Apps like Facebook messenger and Wechat now 

allow third party bots to be developed and used along 

with the app. 

For example, Wechat, highly popular in China, 

supports bots that facilitate instore payments, hailing 

a taxi, transfer money, split a bill and do many more 

things. 

Chinese call the app ‘Wechat Universe.’ 

What can a bot do? 

In short anything. You can talk to a bot and it will 

give a smart answer. 

Bots can show you images, videos, send you links 

and sell you stuff. 

You can ask them about the weather, tell them to 

send you a joke, play with you, make a payment or 

even purchase directly from a bot. 

(Image source: TechCrunch “Forget Apps, Now the 

Bots Take Over”) 

Is it complicated? 

Not anymore! Even for those who are not technically 

savvy, user-friendly services like Motion.ai and 

OnSequel.com make it easy to develop bots. Both allow 

creation of bot interactions like flowcharts. Of course, 

there is a bit of learning involved but then, that is only 

to be expected. 

Bots are here to stay. 

Can we do something about them? 

Yes, make friends with them, they will outlast us. 

Anand Mokashi is an IT Lecturer, Consultant and 

Digital Media Specialist with a passion for all things 

online. Email: anand_mokashi@consultant.com


BUSINESSLINK 

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18 BUSINESSLINK 

Financial muscle strengthens 

small business bodies 

Harry Ferreira 

I 

am often amused when I 

hear large businesses talking 

about how they know 

small business and what it is 

like to run a small business. 

There might be some parallels; 

however, there are some really 

big differences as well. 

We are a bank, a big business 

and our role is not to try to be 

like a small business or say, ‘We 

understand you.’ 

Our role is to nurture and support 

small businesses and lend 

our resources to providing them 

with what they need to grow – 

advice, great service and innovative 

products that enhance 

the way they do business. 

Starring role 

Small businesses have the 

starring role, they are the life 

blood of this economy and bigger 

businesses should be using 

their size, scale and resources to 

understand what they need, and 

not pay lip service to ‘understanding 

them.’ 

I am proud to say that is something 

my team and I truly do 

look to achieve. 

This year we have been 

Harry Ferreira (left) Jose George General 

Manager, Canstar New Zealand 

awarded Canstar’s ‘New 

Zealand’s Best Small Business’ 

bank for the Sixth year in a 

row. As part of the awards process, 

I have been able to reflect 

on what we have been doing 

to continue to improve how we 

serve small business owners in 

New Zealand. 

The award suggests that our 

efforts are continuing to pay off. 

Our ambition for small businesses 

in New Zealand is to help 

nurture and support and only 

deliver solutions that will enhance 

the way we do business 

with our customers and they do 

business with their customers. 

This in turn will create a different 

banking experience for 

our small business customers. 

Beneficial initiatives 

Over the last few years, we 

have introduced a number of 

pretty cool initiatives focused on 

helping New Zealand businesses 

be good with money. 

We run ‘BNZ Connect’ events 

that help small businesses connect 

with one another. 

Our Canstar award-winning 

suite of products such as 

‘PayClip’ and our ‘Business First 

Credit Cards’ give our customers 

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In the last year, we have expanded 

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opening new centralised business 

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in Hamilton and Christchurch. 

Canstar highlighted our innovative 

products and services as 

one of the main reasons they see 

us at the forefront of small business 

banking in New Zealand. 

This gives us the drive and 

motivation to keep making 

things better and to keep 

innovating. 

Investment in Innovation 

We invest heavily in innovation. 

We have a team with the 

scope to think holistically about 

the customer experience both 

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with a brief to think beyond 

banking. 

Technology is playing an ever 

increasing part in providing 

customers with better access to 

business mangers when they 

need them and a better ability 

to transact when it suits them. 

We also spend a lot of time 

away from our desks visiting 

our small business customers 

and listening to their ideas and 

plans for the future. This helps 

drive us to work with them to 

achieve their goals. 

Through this approach, our 

offering has become about more 

than just banking. 

We believe that this is our key 

difference, as this philosophy allows 

us to remove the perceptions 

around what a bank is and 

lets us think creatively about 

what a bank could be. 

Harry Ferreira is Head of 

Small Business at BNZ. 

BNZ is the Title Sponsor of the 

Ninth Annual Indian Newslink 

Indian Business Awards and 

‘Supreme Business of the 

Year’ and ‘Best Large Business’ 

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the Title Sponsor of the Sixth 

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20 COMMUNITYLINK 

Goddess Saraswathi begins new 

chapter in Auckland 

Noothana Kumbhabishegam at Sri Subramaniyar Aalayam 

Venkat Raman 


Hindus will have a 

unique experience of 

witnessing the ‘installation’ 

of the Deity of 

Goddess Saraswathi at a series 

of events currently being held 

at Thiru Subramaniyar Aalayam 

located at 69 Tidal Road in 

Mangere, Auckland. 

It is understood that this 

would be the first time that 

the ‘Murthi’ or ‘Vigraha’ of the 

Goddess of Knowledge is being 

installed at at Temple in New 

Zealand. 

The ceremony, which ‘energies’ 

the Deity, constitutes an 

important event in the history of 

a Temple and is always accompanied 

by a series of religious 

rituals, prayers, Aartis and 

Maha Prasad. 

A marriage like environment 

prevails in the place of worship, 

marked by piety, goodwill and 

community participation. 

A member of the the Priests 

and Temple Committee of Thiru 

Subramaniyar Aalayam said 

that the preparation for the ‘Installation 

Ceremony,’ known as 

‘Noothana Kumbhabishegam,’ 

began on August 14, 2016. 

“The ceremony commenced 

with ‘Jalathivasam,’ at which 

the Murthi was placed in a 

sleeping position under water 

for 11 days. On August 25, 2016, 

the Deity was made to sleep on 

a bed of rice during an observance 

called, ‘Dhanyathivasam.’ 

The Main Prayer will start on 

September 2, 2016,” he said. 

He said that devotees will be 

able to offer oil to the Goddess 

after 8 pm on September 

3, participate in the Maha 

Kumbhabishegam between 11 

am and 12 pm on September 4 

and celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi 

on September 5, 2016. 

“The highlight of the events 

would be the ‘Noothana 

Kumbhabishegam Ceremony’ 

on September 4 conducted by 

our Temple Priests Maharajan, 

aka Manikandan (or Mani) 

and Ganapathy Subramaniam 

Karthik. 

“We are actively seeking 

the participation of artistes to 

perform music or dance on this 

occasion, as ‘Upacharam,’ (Obeisance) 

to Goddess Saraswathi,” 

he said. 

Sponsorship for conducting 

various Poojas, Homam and 

‘Mandalabhishegam’ is also 

available, he added. 

‘Breathing Life’ 

Hinduism specifies special 

‘Installation Ceremony’ for Goddess Saraswathi 

The Deities at Thiru Subramaniyar Aalayam 

ceremonies in which sacred 

images are formally installed in 

Temples. These ceremonies are 

given two names: ‘Murthi Sthapanam’ 

and ‘Prana Pratishta.’ 

‘Murthi’ denotes ‘Sacred Image,’ 

while ‘Sthapanam’ means 

‘Installation.’ 

‘Prana Pratishta’ means 

‘Breathe Life.’ In other words, it 

is bringing the Sacred Image to 

life. 

‘Murthi Sthapanam’ is now 

Om Sivamayam 

Om Saravana Bhavaya 

Thiru Subramaniyar Aalayam 

69 Tidal Road, Mangere, Auckland 

Lord Hanuman at Thiru Subramaniyar 

Aalayam 

common outside India because 

of the growing number of 

Hindus and the increasing 

involvement of young people 

in traditional ceremonies. Such 

ceremonies are elaborate in 

Temples involving priests from 

the community and include 

immersing the Sacred Image in 

water, rice, and flowers; bathing 

the Sacred Image in milk, 

yogurt, clarified butter (ghee) 

and other sacred substances. 

Havans and Homams are also 

becoming more significant. 

Murthi Sthapanam ceremony 

is not usually performed in 

private homes. 

An Agreement 

There are two ways to understand 

the Murthi Sthapanam 

ceremony. 

The first is as a contract. 

An Agreement is established 

Noothana Saraswathi Devi Kumbabishegam 

Installation of Saraswati Devi | September 4, 2016 

between the Deity and a Temple 

congregation. The Deity ‘agrees 

to descend’ into the Sacred Image 

and the congregation agrees 

to care for the Deity in the form 

of service (Seva). 

The ceremony denotes 

‘Awakening of the Deity’ within 

the stone or metal. 

The other view is more 

theological. 

By definition, God is all-pervading 

and omnipresent and 

hence the idea of establishing 

the breath of the Deity within an 

image is impossible. 

“God is already there!” theologians 

say. 

Awakening the mind 

“The purpose of the ceremony 

is not to establish the Deity 

within the image, but to awaken 

the mind of the participants 

through the power of ritual, 

to the presence of Divinity 

within the Sacred image. At 

the beginning of the ceremony 

people see only stone or metal, 

but at the end they see God! The 

real installation takes place not 

in the stone or metal image, but 

in the minds and hearts of the 

participants.” 

This is the power of ritual. 

The culmination of such a 

ceremony is when the ‘eyes’ of 

the image are actually opened. 

In some instances, a sculptor 

will chip away at the eyes of the 

image and ‘open’ them up. 

In some Temples, a dignitary 

will be invited to remove a 

covering from the eyes of the 

image with a golden coin or 

similar object. The first thing the 

newly infused Deity will see is 

an image of Him or Herself as a 

mirror is held before the newly 

“awakened” image. 

Friday 

September 2, 2016 

10.00 am to 

12.00 pm 

6.30 pm 

to 8.30 pm 

Aacharya Varuman, Sangalpam, Vigneshwara Pooja, Punniyaga Vaachanam, 

Deva Anughnyai, Maha Ganapathi Homam, Navagraha Homam, 

Sri Mahalakshmi Homam Poornakuthi, Deeparaathanai, Prasaatham Distribution. 

Vigneshwara Poojai, Thirthasanhiriharanam, Vasthu Shanthi, Pravesapali, Angurarpanam, Rakshbhandanam, 

Kumba Alangaram, Kadamba Yagasalai Pravesam, Yagasaalai Poojai (First) Saraswathi Moolamanthira Homam, 

Poornakuthi, Deeparaathanai, Prasaatham Distribution. 

Singer: 

Vishnu Priya Mallela 

at 7:30pm 

Saturday 


10.00 am to 

12.00 pm 

6.30 pm 

Vigneshwara Poojai, Punniyagavaachanam, Yagasaalai Poojai (Second), 

Thiraviyakuthi, Poornakuthi, Deeparaathanai, Prasaatham Distribution. 

Vigneshwara Poojai, Punniyagavaachanam, Yagasaalai Poojai (Third),Kanya Poojai, Suvasini Poojai, Thiraviyakuthi, 

Poornakuthi, Deeparaathanai, Prasaatham Distribution. Rathna niyasam (offering of precious metal & Navaratna to God), 

Ashtabhanthanam. Applying oil by Devotees - Saraswathi Devi Ennai Kappu 

Flute: 

Akshay Narayan and team 

at 11:00am 

Veena Recital by 

smt. Bhavani’s Students 

at 7.30 pm 

Sunday 


9.30 am 

11.00 am 

Vigneshwara Poojai, Bhimba Suthi, Murthi Rakshabhandanam, Yagasaalai Poojai (Fourth), Naadi Santhanam, 

Sabarsakuthi, Thiraviyakuthi, Poornakuthi, Yathrathanam, Deeparaathanai, Maha Kumbabishegam. 

Noothana Saraswathi Devi Maha Kumbabishegam, Maha Abishegam, 

Alangaram, Maha Deeparathanai, Prasaatham Distribution. 

Singers: 

Bobby Naidoo 

Andra Bhajans 

Dance Recital: 

Ratna Venkat 

For further details please contact, 

Ilango Krishnamoorthy – 09 263 8854 / 021 739 879 | Charanya Mohanakrishnan – 09 962 7777 / 02 1025 30397 

Subbiah Mahalingam – 09 579 9094 / 021 2050 347 Rajaguru Rajamanickam – 09 845 8243 / 09 845 8243 

Rajkumar Velu – 022 1873 807 | Karthik Gurukkal - 022 184 6144 | Mani Gurukkal - 022 161 7692 

Mandalabishegam for Saraswathi Devi 

45 days Mandalapoojai Starts on September 5 , 2016 

Sponsors Welcome • Performances Welcome on these days.


COMMUNITYLINK 

Experience Ramayan as a manifestation of your self 

The biggest ever local production from September 30 

21 

Swami Atulananda 

From time immemorial, 

storytelling has arguably 

been man’s most valuable 

tool to stoke the dormant 

fires of his imagination, inspiring 

the great minds of the ages 

and ultimately, history itself. 

Why are stories so effective at 

influencing us? 

The greatest tales break all the 

human barriers. 

The greatest tales, when 

brought to life by a master 

storyteller, can hold a restless 

child at rapt attention and give 

the grizzled veteran a knowing 

smile simultaneously. 

The greatest tales tell the story 

of life itself. 

Triumph of imagination 

The Ramayan is seen by 

some as a triumph of human 

imagination and others as history 

(Itihaasa), but the realised 

minds revel in it as His story. 

Whichever way it is seen, it 

is undoubtedly one of the most 

influential ancient epics of mankind 

- one that has provided the 

building blocks of Indian culture 

for thousands of years. 

The story of Ram, the flag 

holder of virtue, duty and nobility 

takes the listener on a journey 

through the entire gamut of 

human emotion. 

There is love, betrayal, tragedy, 

crime, friendship, deceit, 

war. 

You name it, the Ramayan has 

it. 

However, what takes this 

epic into the upper echelons of 

human achievement is its subtle 

life lessons to man. 

The Ramayan is not a mere 

story. It is the path to human 

perfection, manifest as Ram. 

Today they are immortalised 

as Gods, but in essence, each of 

the colourful cast in the story 

are symbols of the various states 

of mind that we all go through. 

The unfailingly noble Ram, dedicated 

Sita, the single-pointed 

focus of Lakshman, devoted 

Hanuman, arrogant and proud 

Ravan and weak-minded 

Kaikeyi among many others are 

the personification of our very 

own mindset at various stages 

in life, under all manner of 

motivations. 

To understand the strengths 

and weaknesses of our own 

mind through the fates of these 

characters, and rise above 

them to attain the perfection of 

Ram is the journey of the inner 

Ramayan. 

Youth Venture 

This month, the youth of 

Chinmaya Mission New Zealand, 

formally named ‘Chinmaya 

King Janak’s court for Sita Swayamvar 

Yuva Kendra’ (CHYK) take the 

epic to the stage in a unique, all 

English production on the scale 

rarely seen for Indian drama in 

New Zealand. 

Featuring a cast and crew of 

over 60 local youth, the 150-minute 

performance showcases a 

mix of modern dialogue and 

dance to present the epic. 

The script brings out the 

essence of the subtleties without 

the intensive vocabulary, and 

will appeal to the young and old 

alike. 

Colourful costumes, stunning 

choreography incorporating 

many styles of dance and a 

powerful soundtrack make 

this a complete experience that 

cannot be missed. 

The Mission 

Founded in 1951 by the disciples 

of Swami Chinmayananda 

under his name, Chinmaya 

Mission is a spiritual movement 

that aims for inner growth at 

individual and collective levels. 

Ravan kicks his brother Vibhishan 

Today, the Mission benefits 

millions worldwide by offering 

a wide array of Vedanta study 

forums for all ages, promoting 

Indian classical art forms, and 

operating numerous social 

service projects worldwide. 

Chinmaya Nikunj, the 

Auckland ashram located in 

Mangere, has been operational 

for over seven years under 

the resident teacher, Swami 

Atulananda. 

Plans are underway to expand 

the facilities by building a new 

activity centre for additional 

capacity. 

Reliving the Legend 

It is to fundraise for this noble 

endeavour that Ramayan - The 

Legend Relived was conceived. 

The Auckland CHYKs have 

successfully held various 

fundraising events over the 

years, from stage productions 

to garba and quiz nights with 

the purpose of expanding their 

activity base and attracting new 

youth to get inspired by the 

teachings of Vedanta. 

These events are entirely 

organised by the youngsters 

and offered as their sincere 

dedication to the cause, but this 

year’s stage production is on 

a bigger scale than any other 

CHYK fundraiser in Auckland. 

Several months in the making, 

this promises to be a truly 

special event, and all the funds 

raised go towards a highly noble 

cause. 

If you are looking for a night 

of enlightening entertainment, 

then come with your family and 

friends - there are three shows 

to choose. 

Marketing material for the 

event has been setting social 

media on fire! 

Witness the timeless values 

and culture of ancient India 

brought to life. 

We have heard the story, now 

relive the legend!



Prophetic Prayers and Meetings 

with Master Healers 

Sister Sunila Prasad 

Paul and Evangeline Dhinakaran with their children 

Jason and Sunila Prasad with Alick Narayan at the Prayer Tower 

Music has the power of Prayer 

Dr Paul Dhinakaran, 

his wife Evangeline, 

their son Samuel and 

daughter Stella Ramola 

(Sweety) will be in Auckland 

from September 8 to September 

10, 2016. 

They will conduct a Prophetic 

Prayer Conference and Blessing 

Healing meetings at Church 

Unlimited, 3 Te Atatu Road, 

Glendene. 

A Youth Meeting will be held 

on Sunday, September 11, 2016 

with Sam and Sweety at Indian 

Christian Life Centre, 8/23 

Springs Street, East Tamaki. 

Elders who have a passion for 

worship and music are also 

welcome. 

God has been using the 

Dhinakaran family to bring His 

Word to His people in a powerful 

way and confirming His 

Word through signs, wonders 

and miracles. 

Prophetic Prayer 

This is a wonderful opportunity 

for Ministry leaders and 

church pastors to bring their 

leadership teams, especially 

young people to attend the 

Prophetic Prayer Training. 

Dr Dhinakaran describes 

Prophetic Prayer as ‘knowing 

the mind of God and praying 

accordingly.’ 

That is what will bring the 

Kingdom of God upon the 

earth. 

That is the grace of God given 

to you to fulfil His plans for you 

even before the foundations of 

the earth. 

Praying for the prophecies 

to come to pass in this natural 

world in a supernatural way is 

in itself a Ministry. This is called 

Prophetic Prayer. 

Prayer Conference 

Jesus Calls Prophetic Prayer 

Conference, which will be 

held from 930 am to 430 pm, 

will teach participants how to 

hear the word of the Lord and 

be filled with the Holy Spirit’s 

overflowing power. They will 

receive the prophetic anointing 

and experience the presence of 

God in a new way. 

Nine gifts of the Holy Spirit 

will be taught including how to 

use them daily. 

There is minimum registration 

fee, applicable to one day 

or all three days. 

Please call (09) 6207160; 

Website: www.jesuscallsnz.com 

Blessing Healing Meetings 

These are evening meetings 

open to all, scheduled to 

be held from 7 pm on Friday, 

September 9 and from 6 pm on 

Saturday, September 10, 2016. 

We expect a large crowd on 

both days and hence early seating 

is advised. 

Jesus Calls Prayer Tower 

‘Jesus Calls,’ is a Ministry 

that attracts millions of people 

around the world to pray 

for someone who is in distress 

– not just out of physical ailment 

but out of mental agony, 

marital incompatibility, physical 

deficiencies and a thousand 

of problems, complaints and 

hopeless situations. Hundreds 

of priests, prayer-leaders, volunteers 

and community workers 

engage themselves in prayer 

and community service, seeking 

God’s Mercy, almost always 

for people who they neither 

know nor met. And almost always 

Prayer works. Believing is 

everything. 

Jesus Calls New Zealand 

Prayer Tower is located at 

1/80 Carr Road, Mt Roskill 

and is open from Monday to 

Friday (9 am to 6 pm) to offer 

prayers for those who call 

or visit. After hour prayers 

are offered through 24/7 free 

phone line 0800- 537872 (0800 

JESUSCALLS) 

Healing Blessing Meetings are 

held every Tuesday from 7 pm at 

the Prayer Tower. 

A different person minsters 

the Word of God each week. 

Each week there is a different 

person ministering the Word of 

God. Every person attending can 

receive individual prayers. 

As Dr Paul Dhinakaran (Co- 

Founder & President of the 

Ministry) told us during his visit 

to Auckland earlier this year 

(Indian Newslink, February 15, 

2013), “God relieves us from the 

burden of all ailments. There is 

no greater power on earth than 

prayers, offered by people who 

surrender themselves completely 

at the Lord’s feet.” 

Jesus ordains 

It is understood that his father, 

the late DGS Dhinakaran 

was ‘personally ordained’ by 

Jesus Christ through a ‘vision’ to 

bring comfort to people through 

prayers. 

Dr Paul Dhinakaran and his 

late father established Karunya 

University in 1986 as per the 

‘Divine Vision’ given to them. 

The mission of Karunya is to 

raise prophets and leaders like 

Daniels, Josephs and Esthers 

who will hold high positions in 

the government and corporate 

sectors. Karunya is located in a 

lush green valley of 700 acres 

near Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. 

Dr Dhinakaran’s wife 

Evangeline also brings healing 

and God’s anointing to 

multitudes of people through 

her prayer. She inspires others 

by her simple ways and 

humbleness. 

Christ’s Message 

There are many ‘miracles’ that 

occurred in his life, the most significant 

of which was ‘The Call,’ 

which he received from Jesus 

Christ a few weeks after the 

death of his father on February 

20, 2008. It was the same vision, 

with the same message that his 

father had experienced several 

years earlier. 

The Voice said: “I have started 

a new era now. The old era has 

ended with your father. The new 

era is the one that has to prepare 

the world for My Second 

Coming. I will raise millions of 

prophets and apostles. I will operate 

the apostolic power and 

the prophetic gifts in the world.” 

One of his early successes 

was the attention that he 

drew with the management of 

‘Doordarshan,’ the state-owned 

television channels. ‘Jesus Calls’ 

is now televised through private 

channels throughout India, 

Europe and the Middle East. 

Sister Sunila Prasad and her 

husband Brother Jason Prasad 

manage Jesus Calls Prayer 

Tower in New Zealand. They 

are helped by ‘Volunteer 

Prayer Warriors,’ who visit 

during the day to intercede in 

the name of Jesus.


Jesus Calls 

PRAYING FOR THE WORLD 

COMMUNITYLINK 

23 

BLESSING HEALING MEETING 

COME & RECEIVE YOUR MIRACLE 

Conference Speakers 

Dr. Paul Dhinakaran 

Sis Evangeline Paul Dhinakaran & Family 

This page has been kindly sponsored by 

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Saturday 10 September - 6 pm 

www.jesuscallsnz.com 

PROPHETIC PRAYER CONFERENCE 

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Limited Seating Register Today! 

September 2016 

9.30am - 4.30 Pm 

Thursaday 8, Friday 9 & Saturday 10 

For Further Information Contact: 

M: 027 4 772937 Or 021 120 8581 

P: +64 9 6207160 

Admin@jesuscalls.org.nz 

Includes: 

Morning & Afternoon Tea 

Lunch Plus Conference Pack 

Venue 

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3 Te Atatu Road, Glendene 

Auckland, New Zealand 

24X7 PRAYER LINE 0800 53 78 72 (0800JESUSCALLS) 

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Out of Control organisations frustrate Aucklanders 

Vic Crone 

Council Controlled 

Organisations 

(CCOs) are 

failing to provide 

Aucklanders value 

for money. A lack of 

unison, efficiency 

and duplication of 

activities amongst the 

CCOs, means our city is 

unable to reach its true 

potential. 

It is time we started 

taking back control of 

the six CCOs, namely 

Watercare, Auckland 

Transport, Panuku 

Development Auckland, 

Auckland Council 

Investments, Auckland 

Tourism, Events and 

Economic Development 

(ATEED) and Regional 

Facilities Auckland. 

Promise undelivered 

We are far from the 

efficient Super City that 

we were promised six 

years ago and much 

of that has to do with 

the way our CCOs are 

operating. 

On top of this, there 

are increasing concerns 

about the performance 

and accountability 

of the organisations, 

specifically not working 

well together and 

not being run with 

the productivity of a 

business. 

For example, from 

what I have seen, there 

are a number of ATEED 

functions duplicating 

activities in other 

council organisations 

such as the innovation 

unit. 

The last thing 

Aucklanders want is 

their rates funding 

inefficiency. 

Therefore, we need 

to do a better job at 

organising the activities 

of the core CCOs, 

which make up 50% 

of Council’s annual 

operating budget ($3.48 

million). 

Action needed 

We cannot elect 

a Mayor who will 

champion the status 

quo. 

We need a visionary 

leader who is able 

to drive efficiencies 

within the CCOs, 

reduce the duplication 

of resources and 

activities and ensure 

the organisations work 

effectively together 

toward aligned goals. 

To guarantee Council 

is delivering the world 

class outcomes that 

Auckland deserves, the 

CCOs need to be judged 

on a world class scale. 

As Mayor, I will 

be working with 

Councillors on the 

Accountability 

and Performance 

Committee and will 

introduce stronger, 

more ambitious targets 

for CCOs that will be 

benchmarked against 

international standards. 

We need to see a lift in 

performance. 

Taking it Local 

At the moment, 

there is a growing 

disconnection between 

CCOs, Council, 

elected members 

and Aucklanders, 

Local boards are 

also increasingly 

being tagged as an 

afterthought by many 

CCOs. 

As a result, 

Aucklanders are 

frustrated with how 

their communities are 

developing. 

It is important that 

we put neighbourhood 

development back 

in the hands of 

communities where it 

belongs. 

Local boards know 

their communities 

and are answerable 

to the public for CCO 

activities. This needs to 

be reflected in the way 

CCOs undertake crucial 

local decisions. 

Auckland has the 

potential to be a world 

class city but we need 

strong, fresh leadership 

to pave the way. 

Vic Crone is a candidate 

for Auckland 

Mayoralty. Related 

stories appear under 

Homelink. 

Airport promotes 

Islamic Awareness 

Auckland Airport marked 

‘Islamic Awareness 

Week’ last month. 

Many organisations 

throughout the country supported 

the programme held from 

August 22 to August 27, 2016. 

Auckland Airport General 

Manager (People & Safety) Anna 

Cassels-Brown said that her organisation 

was proud of the role 

it plays in bringing people together 

and is building strong relationships 

with international 

and local Muslim communities. 

“Countries with large Muslim 

populations like Indonesia, 

Malaysia and the Middle East are 

important emerging markets for 

New Zealand. We are welcoming 

increasing numbers of business 

and leisure travellers from 

these countries through our airport. 

We are also continuing to 

diversify our team to meet the 

needs of these and other customers,” 

she said. 

She said that Auckland Airport 

is also building local relationships 

with Zayed College for Girls 

and Al-Madinah School, two institutions 

located close to the 

Airport. 

“We were delighted to 

award Auckland Airport 50th 

Anniversary Scholarships to four 

teachers from Zayed College to 

support their professional development,” 

she said. 

Read related report under 

Educationlink. 

Special Workshops 

for music enthusiasts 

Sangam donates 

$10,000 to cyclone 

victims 

Sandhya Badakere 

Venkat Raman 


Music lovers keen 

to improve their 

singing ability will 

have a unique 

opportunity of attending three 

workshops. 

Auckland based Swar 

Sadhana Music Academy is 

conducting the Workshops on 

three consecutive Sundays- 

September 18, September 25 

and October 2, 2016. 

The venue is still being 

finalised but it would be in 

the Mt Roskill area and the 

Workshops will be held from 11 

am to 3 pm on all the days. 

Academy Director and 

Principal Sandhya Rao will 

conduct the Workshop with the 

guidance of Mayur Tendulkar 

and Vibha Trivedi, both 

qualified teachers and the 

support of established singers 

including Ritika Badakere, 

Mayuri Bhole, Ekta Kumar and 

Srishaa Iyer. 

Understanding Music 

“The Workshops are in 

effect an interactive course 

which provides for essential 

understanding of the musical 

notations, voice training and 

voice production technique and 

music notation and its practical 

relevance,” she said. 

Workshop participants will 

be able to sing confidently, she 

added. 

“The sessions are designed 

to provide an encouraging and 

enjoyable learning experience. 

On conclusion of the course, 

all participants will receive 

a valuable training guide, 

including a CD and booklet to 

continue practicing on their 

own. Seats will be limited to 

ensure personal attention,” 

Sandhya Badakere said. 

The Academy is serious 

and systematic in imparting 

knowledge among students who 

show promise and passion for 

Hindustani classical music. 

“Everyone begins at the entry 

level and progresses through 

tests and examinations. Piety 

and practice hold the key to 

individual success. It takes 

years of training, rehearsing 

and attention to finer details. 

Music is part of our tradition 

and is revered with fear and 

anxiety. Nothing is more 

important than its preservation, 

to be bequeathed to the next 

generation,” Ms Badakere said. 

Valuable affiliation 

She said that the Academy 

has affiliation with Sur Jhankar 

Academy based in Mumbai, 

enabling students to achieve 

qualifications up to Diploma 

level, recognised by the 

Maharashtra government. 

Further information about 

the Academy and the forthcoming 

Workshops can be 

obtained from Ms Badakere 

on (09) 6270009 or 022-1060913 

or from Mr Tendulkar on 

021-02256503. 

Seen at the Fiji Sangam Convention Dinner 2016 (from left) are Yashoda Achary, Dharam 

Raj, Sada Siwan Naicker, Kushma Nair and Sudha Karan. 



Members of the Then 

India Sanmarga Ikya 

(TISI) Sangam Inc 

has donated $10,000 

for the victims of Tropical 

Cyclone Winston that devastated 

Fiji on February 25, 2016. 

The money was mobilised 

at the Fiji Sangam Convention 

Dinner 2016 held in Auckland 

last month. 

New Zealand Sangam 

President Dharam Raj handed 

over a cheque for $10,000 to Fiji 

Sangam President Sada Siwan 

Naicker at the dinner. 

Among those present were 

Sangam Secretary Kushma 

Nair and Committee Members 

Yashoda Achary and Sudha 

Karan. 

Supporting children 

Ms Nair said that TISI Sangam 

in Fiji had undertaken the responsibility 

to provide supplies 

and assistance to children in affected 

schools. 

“Dharam Raj thanked the 

Sangam Community and 

Businesses in Auckland for 

their help and support in making 

the charity event a success. 

TISI Sangam in New Zealand is 

proud that it was able to contribute 

in the rebuilding process 

after Cyclone Winston’s wrath 

in Fiji,” she said. 

Organisations such as the 

‘Then India Sanmarga Ikya 

Sangam’ have been concerting 

efforts to encourage their members 

and families to retrace 

their roots (in this case, Tamil) 

and revive their mother tongue. 

The Sangam has its branches 

in all the countries where the 

Indo-Fijian Diaspora is present 

and their activities include language 

classes, cultural and literary 

programmes and of course 

soccer.


COMMUNITYLINK 

25 

Model of the Fortnight 

Pursuit of worthy cause adds meaning to life 

Education should be 

available to all and 

if you educate a girl, 

you would educate the 

world, says Akanksha Singh, 

our Model of the Fortnight. 

This young woman from 

Lucknow, the ‘City of 

Nawabs’ in North India, 

believes in taking risks 

and facing challenges 

in life for 

self-improvement. 

“Learning 

and trying 

things out of 

your comfort 

zone 

is what 

grows 

you 

as a 

person. Pursuing a cause gives 

meaning and purpose to life,” 

she said. 

Academic Excellence 

Academic excellence and 

scholarship that she obtained in 

India encouraged her parents 

to send her to New Zealand for 

higher studies five years ago. 

Completing successfully postgraduate 

(Masters) degree in 

Bioscience Enterprise at the 

University of Auckland, she 

joined Thermo Fisher Scientific 

New Zealand. 

“I miss my parents, three 

brothers, a sister, cousins – all 

members of my extended family. 

I am grateful to New Zealand, 

which has given me a good start 

to my career,” she said. 

Personality development 

However, New Zealand has 

not only appealed to her as a 

‘breathtaking country,’ but has 

also fulfilled her desire to seek 

self-development. 

“I have always 

wanted 

to be 

self-sufficient 

and 

being here 

has made 

me fiercely independent, strong 

and opened new horizons. I 

love travelling and have been 

to most of the places in North 

Island,” she said. 

We had featured her briefly 

exactly a year ago (Indian 

Newslink, September 1, 2015) 

as a participant in Miss Indianz 

event. 

“That event gave me exposure 

and spiked my interest in modeling, 

which I see as a way of expression 

and creative pursuit. I 

look forward to professional opportunities,” 

she said. 

Away from her professional 

life, Akanksha loves reading, 

shopping, watching movies and 

reality shows. 

“Anything Bollywood interests 

me,” she said. 

-Venkat Raman 

Pictures by Andrew Bignall, 

Dezant Grayman, Brian 

Livingstone, Ronald Winstone 

and Dave Bradley 

If you are interested in being 

featured in our ‘Model of the 

Fortnight’ series, please write 

to editor@indiannewslink. 

co.nz 

Umbrella body calls for Open Forum 

Venkat Raman 


Issues facing the Indian community 

will come into focus 

at an Open Forum being 

organised by New Zealand 

Indian Central Association 

(NZICA). 

Association General Secretary 

Prakash Biradar said that all associations 

catering to people of 

Indian origin are welcome to attend 

the Forum that will be held 

at Mahatma Gandhi Centre, 145, 

New North Road, Eden Terrace, 

Central Auckland on Sunday, 

September 11, 2016 from 2 pm 

to 5 pm. 

“The aim of this wider community 

forum is to actively involve 

all the Indian groups to 

continue doing their good work 

as independent associations and 

groups having a link to NZICA. 

This forthcoming programme 

is being arranged to strengthen 

the Indian bonds working together 

for a united voice,” he 

said. 

Impressive growth 

Former NZICA President and 

currently the Association’s 

Wider Community Forum 

Chairman Paul Singh Bains will 

front the Forum. 

NZICA is celebrating its 90th 

anniversary this year. 

Established in 1926 with 

three branches, the Association 

today accounts for ten Full 

Branches, one Associate Branch, 

five Associate Members and 

one Probationary Associate 

Member. 

“Fighting against discriminations, 

NZICA members have 

worked relentlessly in the last 

90 years creating a good living 

environment for Indians in 

New Zealand. The Association 

takes a lead role with other Indian 

groups to handle issues such as 

Immigration, Race relations, 

Discrimination, Human Rights, 

Health and Welfare, Law and 

Order, Indian Cultural Events, 

Portability of retirement pension, 

Overseas Citizenship of India, 

Political representation and 

Indian media,” Mr Biradar said. 

Prakash Biradar 

Paul Singh Bains 

K S Bakshi at an Open Forum 

What: 

Who: 

Where: 

When: 

Contact: 

Open Forum 

New Zealand Indian Central Association 

Mahatma Gandhi Centre, 145 New North Road, 

Eden Terrace, Auckland 

Sunday, September 11 at 2 pm 

Paul Singh Bains, Phone: (07) 839 1516 or 

0211673974 

Email: pauldbains@xtra.co.nz 

Prakash Biradar Phone: 022 399 0322 

Email: secretary@nzindians.org.nz



Sounds of Silence hum with melody and soul 

Ratna Venkat 

ratna@indiannewslink.co.nz 

Auckland based Hindustani 

Classical musician 

and Director of Aarohi 

Academy of Music 

Vidya Teke and her team are 

gearing up for their forthcoming 

concert titled ‘Khamoshiyaan 

Gun Gunane Lagi’ on Saturday, 

September 24 at Dorothy Winstone 

Centre, Auckland Girls’ 

Grammar School. 

Third in a Live-in-Concert 

series dedicated to Hindi 

Cinema’s ‘Queen of Melody’ Lata 

Mangeshkar (known as Lata Ji), 

the Concert is being organised 

and managed by Vidya Teke and 

her husband, Shekhar Babanrao 

Teke. 

The programme will commence 

at 630 pm. 

Passion spurs proficiency 

Originally from Pune, Maharashtra, 

Vidya’s passion for 

Hindustani classical music and 

singing began in her formative 

years. 

She initially trained under the 

guidance of her father Ashok, 

and later under the aegis of 

Bhakti Page Gokhale from the 

‘Gwalior Gharana,’ and Neha 

Deshpande in Pune. 

Blessed with a melodious 

voice, coupled by passion for 

excellence on stage, Vidya participated 

in a number of singing 

competitions in India such as 

“Sa Re Ga Ma Pa.” 

After migration to New 

Zealand in 2007 with her family, 

Vidya won in ‘Kaun Banega 

Superstar,’ a singing contest in 

Auckland which proved to be 

a turning point in her musical 

career. 

Important Concerts 

Her résumé includes conducting 

and performing at various 

stage shows and live-in-concerts 

in India, New Zealand and Fiji. 

Some of them have involved 

popular singers from the Hindi 

film industry such as Annu Kapoor, 

Amit Kumar and Bankim 

Pathak. 

Recently, Vidya was a female 

lead singer at the ‘Mohammed 

Aziz Live-in-Concert’. 

A versatile singer adept not 

only in Hindustani Classical, but 

Arohi Academy of Music Presents 

Khamoshiyaan gun gunane Lagi 

Live in Concert: Tribute to Lata Mangeshkar 

Doroty Winston Centre, 16 Howe St, Auckland 

24 September 2016 6:30pm Onwards 

also Semi-Classical and Light 

Music, Vidya has lent her voice 

in other languages besides Hindi 

and her native Marathi. These 

include Bengali, English, Gujarati, 

Kannada and Malayalam. 

Vidya’s ability to entertain 

audiences led to her attracting 

students in 2010 when she 

opened her institution ‘Aarohi 

Academy of Indian Music,’ of 

which she is the sole Director 

and Principal. 

Lessons for all 

“As our Academy’s motto is 

to spread Indian culture and 

musical traditions amongst 

New Zealanders, we are proud 

to have students who come 

from different age groups and 

backgrounds, such as children, 

youngsters, housewives and 

senior citizens,” Vidya says. 

Besides teaching the four 

types of Indian music (Classical, 

Semi-Classical, Light and Film), 

Vidya is committed to giving 

exposure to her students and providing 

platforms to display their 

vocal talent, either by karaoke or 

accompanied by a live orchestra. 

“My dream is to impart quality 

education in singing and to carry 

forward Indian music culture 

here in New Zealand. Potential 

students keen to learn are welcome 

to start their training at our 

Academy any time,” says Vidya. 

Aarohi Academy of Music 

is affiliated with Gandharv 

Mahavidyalaya in Pune, one of 

What: 

Who: 

When: 

Where: 

Tickets: 

Contact: 

the foremost music institutes in 

India. 

The Concert 

‘Khamoshiyaan Gun Gunane 

Lagi’ will feature Vidya and other 

well-known Auckland singers, 

and students from her Academy. 

They will be supported by a live 

orchestra with Hemant Thaker 

(Keyboard), Joscel Alexander 

(Acoustic Drums), Joseph Alexander 

(Octopad), Monitosh Thaker 

(Guitar), Navneel Prasad (Tabla), 

Rezwan Ashraf (Guitar) and 

Shivam Padayachi (Bass Guitar). 

‘Khamoshiyaan Gun Gunane Lagi’ 

Live-in-Concert Tribute to Lata Mangeshkar 

Aarohi Academy of Music 

Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 630 pm 

Dorothy Winstone Centre, Auckland Girls’ Grammar School, 

16 Howe St, Newton, Auckland 

$20 per person 

For group bookings and more information, please call 

Shekhar Babanrao Teke on 021-02736054 

Email: aarohimusic.nz@gmail.com 

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ARTLINK-Ratna Venkat 

27 

Look above the Sky, muse and cry 

Ashok Kochhar 

kochhara55@gmail.com 

A 

blanket from the 

heavens up above 

Since time immemorial, 

people have been 

looking towards the Sky for 

various reasons. 

At times it is to seek a message 

from the world above us, and at 

times it is to make a wish to the 

Almighty. 

While some are gestures of 

respect, others are those of hope 

and belief. 

There may be a deep meaning 

to these gestures. 

This practice is not related to 

one religion but all have some 

or the other ritual requesting 

the Sky above to shower its 

blessings. 

Eternal Phenomenon 

Maybe it is the magnanimity of 

the skies. It helps us relate to 

the idea of a being, much greater 

than us, and a phenomenon 

that is ever present, yet hardly 

makes its presence apparent. 

We humans like to find signs in 

every act of nature, and sky is 

one of the most dramatic and 

theatrical displays of nature, 

which keeps changing every 

hour of the day. 

At times, you cannot help 

but feel like a child, watching 

an act in a play, where many 

emotions are unveiled through 

the form of light and thunder, as 

if Mother Nature is putting up a 

show for her loved children. 

Of course a clear day is beautiful 

and evenings are worth 

noticing. 

Masters say there has to be 

dark to appreciate the stars. 

In all the conditions, we are 

looking at sky. 

If one sits for a while in 

solitude and concentrate on the 

Sky, there is a possibility of a 

two-way conversation. 

Fascinating moods 

As a visual artist and a 

photographer, I am always fascinated 

by the changing moods 

of Sky and clouds floating like a 

boat in a calm lake. 

When there is no cloud, one 

witnesses the farthest point. 

At the same time, one gets 

scared when the Sky gets angry, 

flooding lands with the frightening 

sound of lightning. 

And then comes the serene 

night sky, filled with the glittering 

starry blanket, as if telling a 

story of all the eras gone by and 

of all that are yet to come. 

Ashok Kochhar is an international 

photographer, in love 

with everything that is good 

on earth and the sky above. 

The sea begins where the sky ends 

Is this fire in the Sky 

Could this be the Gateway to Heaven 

Every Cloud carries a message 

This could have inspired Kalidas 

Like a waterfall, clouds bring energy


28 ARTLINK-Ratna Venkat 

Taste and stats make Salmon a great choice 

Coming from South East Asia 

where there is an abundance 

of seafood, one of the things I 

truly miss is the variety of fish 

available at the markets there. 

Since moving to Auckland, I have 

dabbled with much disappointment 

the fillet of fish you get from the local 

supermarket. 

The fillets of thinly sliced fish are 

most certainly not suited for our 

eastern recipes. 

However, one type of fish I have 

grown to appreciate here and enjoy 

cooking is Salmon. It is not a common 

fish in Asia and what is rarely available 

is not fresh and delicious as what you 

get here. 

Salmon is today a very popular food 

worldwide. 

It is classified as an oily fish and so is 

devoured only in small portions. 

Salmon is healthy because of the high 

levels of protein, Omega 3 fatty acids 

and vitamin D in it. 

Omega 3 fatty acids have been 

linked to lower blood pressure and 

reducing the risk of blood clots and so is 

considered an excellent source of ‘good 

cholesterol.’ 

With its delicate and sweet pink flesh, 

Salmon is easy and quick to cook and 

is very delicious once you acquire the 

taste for it. 

If the western recipes have not 

converted you to a Salmon lover, then 

surely the following flavoursome 

eastern recipes below will. 

I would like to share an India-inspired 

Salmon recipe – Grilled Salmon 

with a Spicy Tomato Gravy, served with 

Cauliflower Rice and a fresh salad such 

as Apple and Fennel Slaw. 

Another recipe is an Asia-style Grilled 

Salmon with Hoisin Sauce, served with 

Gai Lan and Steamed Rice. Experiment 

and enjoy! 

Grilled Salmon with Spicy Tomato Gravy 

Ingredients 

method 

Notes and 

Legends: 

1. Quantities of 

sugar and salt are 

recommendations; 

please add or 

reduce to suit 

individual 

requirements 

2. Tsp: Teaspoon 

Tbsp: Tablespoon 

• 4 fillets of Salmon – rinse and 

pat dry with paper towel 

• 1 large red onion – peeled 

• 4-5 cloves of garlic – peeled 

• 1-inch piece ginger – peeled 

• 2 fresh red chillies 

• 1 tbsp chilli powder 

• 1 tbsp cumin powder 

• 1 tsp turmeric 

• 1 tsp coriander powder 

• Salt to taste 

• 1 tbsp fenugreek (methi) leaves 

• 2-3 tbsp tomato paste 

• 1-2 tsp sugar 

• ½ cup of light cream 

• Water 

• Olive/Vegetable Oil 

1. Remove any fine bones if any from Salmon fillets. 

2. Smear some olive oil on the fillets before putting them skin 

side up on a grease paper lined baking tray. 

3. Grill on high for about 10 minutes until cooked and skin is 

brown and crispy. Set aside. 

4. Blend the onion, ginger, garlic and fresh chillies into a fine 

paste. 

5. Heat a wok with some oil in it and fry the blended paste. 

6. When the mixture is brown and the oil is released, add the 

chilli, cumin, coriander and turmeric powder and mix well. 

7. Add salt to taste. 

8. When the mixture is fragrant, add the tomato paste and then 

sugar to balance off the sourness of the tomato. Mix well. 

9. Add the cream and enough water (about one cup) to make a 

thick gravy. 

10. Mix well and add the methi leaves and allow the gravy to 

come to the boil. 

11. Taste and adjust seasoning of gravy before turning off the 

flame. 

12. Place the grilled Salmon fillets on a serving platter and pour 

the gravy over the fish. 

Cauliflower Rice 

Ingredients 

• 1 head of Cauliflower 


• Water 

• Chopped fresh herbs (optional 

method 

1. Use a food processor to 

blitz the cauliflower into 

little pieces which 

resemble rice. 

2. Place the chopped 

cauliflower into a sauce 

pan with a sprinkling of 

water. 

3. Cover and steam for 

a minute or two as cauliflower 

cooks very quickly with very 

little water. 

4. Add salt and stir through 

some chopped fresh herbs if 

you like. Otherwise leave it 

plain. 

5. Serve warm as a refreshing, 

light alternative to calorie 

laden rice. 

Serve with Cauliflower Rice and a fresh salad such as Fennel and Apple Slaw. 

Asian Style Salmon with Hoisin Sauce 

method 

Ingredients 

• 4 fillets of Salmon – rinse and pat dry 

with paper towel 

• 3 tbsp Hoisin Sauce 

• 1 tbsp dark soy sauce 

• 1 tbsp light soy sauce 

• 1 tbsp fish sauce 

• Dash of sesame oil 

• Salt & Pepper 

• 2 fresh red chillies 

• 4 cloves garlic – peeled 

• 1-inch piece ginger – peeled 

• 1 bunch of spring onions – sliced 

• Olive oil 

1. Remove fine bones if any from Salmon fillets and place them on a large deep plate. 

2. Finely chop the red chillies, garlic and ginger and put into a bowl. 

3. Add the hoisin sauce, light and dark soy sauce, fish sauce, sesame oil, salt and pepper 

into the bowl and mix well. 

4. Smear the mixture all over the fish and set aside for half hour to marinate. 

5. Pour some olive oil on the marinated Salmon fillets and place them skin side up on a 

grease paper lined baking tray. 

6. Grill on high for about 10-15 minutes until cooked and the skin is brown and crispy. 

7. Serve while warm with greens such as steamed Gai Lan and steamed Jasmine rice. 

Steamed Gai Lan 

Ingredients 

• 2 bunches of Gai Lan (or 

Bak Choy if Gai Lan not 

available) 

• 2-3 cloves of garlic – 

peeled and chopped fine 


• Vegetable Oil 

• Water 

method 

1. Wash and slice the stem 

diagonally so it cooks 

through quick. Slice the 

leaves as well. 

2. Heat some oil in a wok 

and fry the chopped 

garlic until fragrant. 

3. Toss in the sliced Gai Lan 

and mix well. 

4. Add salt to taste. 

5. Add a quarter cup of 

water and cover the wok 

and steam for about 2 to 

3 minutes. 

6. The greens should be 

firm yet cooked through. 

7. Take off the flame and 

serve hot. 

Disclaimers: Geetha Nair and Indian Newslink absolve themselves of any responsibility relating to the ingredients, cooking methods and other matters relating to ‘Geet’s Kitchen’ column. Some ingredients may 

not be available and may cause allergy in some people. Caution must therefore be exercised and Geetha Nair and Indian Newslink will not be responsible to any health issues in this connection. Please consult 

your General Practitioner, Nutritionist or such others you may be consulting in connection with your dietary requirements.


entertainmentlink 

Multitask expert to present Carnatic music concert 

Venkat Raman 


29 

A 

Consultant Physiatrist 

and Medical Director, 

a linguist adept in 

Tamil, English, Hindu, 

Marathi, Bengali and other languages, 

a community worker 

with a record of rehabilitation 

work and a recipient of State 

and National Awards would 

be presenting a Carnatic Vocal 

Music Concert in Auckland on 

Saturday, September 3, 2016. 

Organised by the New 

Zealand Carnatic Music Society, 

the Concert will be held from 

530 pm at the Blockhouse Bay 

Community Hall (located at 

546 Blockhouse Bay Road), 

Blockhouse Bay. 

It may sound that four singers 

would be on stage at the 

Concert. 

But that would not be so. 

The evening would belong to 

Dr Sunder Subramaniam, who 

is known as a manifestation of 

several talents and an expert in 

each. 

He will be supported by 

our own Masters Dr Ashok 

Malur (Violin) and Dr Suresh 

Ramachandra (Mridangam). 

Early beginner 

Introduced to music by his 

mother Parvathy when he was 

very young, Dr Sunder attended 

music classes under the tutelage 

of Vaidyanatha Iyer in 

Dr Sunder Subramaniam 

Chembur, Mumbai and later under 

the training of Palghat T S 

Anantharaman. His other mentors 

were Vidushi T Brinda and 

Vidwan Trichy Swaminatha 

Iyer. 

He is also a disciple of D K 

Jayaraman and T K Govinda 

Rao. 

His penchant for Carnatic 

Music began to grow even as 

he gained experience and proficiency 

in Bengali and Marathi 

classics. 

Public debut 

Dr Sunder’s first public performance 

was in Bengali music 

at a concert held at Birla 

Mandir, Mumbai in 1975, followed 

by a National Integration 

Music Programme conducted 

by his teacher Moloy Ghose 

at Shanmukhananda Hall, 

Mumbai. 

His first solo music concert 

was at a Temple close to home 

in Ayanavaram during the 

Navaratri festival in 1982. 

Since then, he has performed 

at more than 400 concerts in 

India and other countries. 

Music Promotion 

Accepting an invitation 

from the then Chairman of 

Shriram Group of Companies 

R Thyagarajan, Dr Sunder took 

charge as Honorary Convenor 

of the Music Forum Chennai to 

create audiences for classical 

music and give lecture demonstrations 

on music appreciation. 

The growing public interest 

encouraged him to organise 

these on several successive occasions 

in Tamil Nadu. 

Medical prowess 

His medical qualifications 

are impressive (MD 

Degree in Physical Medicine 

& Rehabilitation from Dr 

MGR Medical University, 

MOBS from Stanley Medical 

College, Chennai, Postgraduate 

Diploma in Physical Medicine 

and Rehabilitation from 

Madras Medical College, 

Ergonomic Principles for 

Workplace Assessment 

and Design Programme 

at Lansing, University of 

Michigan USA, Certificate in 

Occupational Health with training 

in Industrial Health and 

Ergonomics).Dr Sunder is currently 

Consultant Physiatrist 

and Medical Director at Prem 

Center located at Thirvanmiyur 

in Chennai. 

Dr. Sunder is one of the few 

practitioners of the rare specialty 

of Physical medicine and 

rehabilitation in India today. 

Physical medicine deals with 

the management of musculoskeletal 

and neurological disorders 

with physical methods of 

treatment. Biomechanics, and 

prescription of posture and exercise 

form important components 

of management in 

the field of physical medicine. 

Rehabilitation deals with the 

medical management of the 

handicapped. 

WITH GOD, NOTHING IS 

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from Israel. 

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I was suffering from insomnia and anger 

problems. I anointed myself along with my 

bed and pillow every night with the Holy Oil as 

it was of significant value to me and with it, I 

prayed to God, saying that I had enough of 

this problem and I wanted to get rid of it. The 

more I came to the meetings held in the 

UCKG Help Centre, the more I learnt about 

how to use my faith and belief in God’s ability 

to do the impossible and within time, I noticed 

that I no longer had nightmares; I started to 

sleep peacefully which led me to have control 

over my anger. I was no longer getting irritated 

and could approach people without getting 

angry. Today, I’m free from all my problems. 

Irene Lata 

OTHER LOCATIONS: 

The UCKG does not claim to heal people but believes that 

God can through the power of faith. Always follow your 

doctor’s instructions. This ad contains stories from UCKG 

members across the world. Individual experiences vary but 

we believe God’s power is available to everyone. UCKG Help 

Centre is a New Zealand Registered Charity – 9059642.


30 entertainmentlink 

Shreya Ghoshal puts Wellingtonians on a trance 

A Correspondent 

Shreya Ghoshal had her audience swinging Never a dull moment at the Wellington Concert Hrishikesh Ranade, the upcoming music star 

Three years ago, speaking 

to Indian Newslink 

from her home in 

Mumbai, Shreya 

Ghoshal had said that New 

Zealand was her favourite 

country and that she wished 

to perform in many cities and 

avenues. 

That wish was fulfilled in 

Wellington, her debut in the 

Capital, on August 19, 2016. 

She was the star of ‘Deewani 

Mastani Shreya Ghoshal in 

Concert’ organised by Hitesh 

Vyas and Arvind Shetty of ‘Rock 

on Music’ at Michael Fowler 

Centre. 

“This is the best show that we 

have ever organised,” they said. 

Riveting numbers 

More than 2000 people attended 

the event. Among them 

were New Zealand First Leader 

Winston Peters, his fellow 

Member of Parliament Mahesh 

Bindra, National MP Kanwaljit 

Singh Bakshi and India’s High 

Commissioner to New Zealand 

Sanjeev Kohli. 

Shriya was accompanied by 

Hrishikesh Ranade, an upcoming 

male singer. 

She set the pace for the 

evening’s melody with ‘Mohe 

Rang Do Laal’ (a classical song 

from ‘Bajirao Mastani’, a hit 

film starring Deepika Padukone 

and Ranveer Singh) and quickly 

followed with a number of 

popular numbers including a 

tribute to Madhubala, ‘Kehte 

Hain Ye Deewani Mastani Ho 

Gayi Deewani’ (from ‘Bajirao 

Mastani’) and ‘Agar Tum 

Mil Jao’ (picturised on Udita 

Goswami and Emraan Hashmi 

for ‘Zeher’). 

Among the songs that called 

for repeated encores were ‘Sun 

Raha Hai Na Tu’ (‘Aashiqui 

2’), Barso Re Megha (‘Guru’), 

‘Manwa Lage’ (title track) and 

‘Radha’ (‘Student of the Year’). 

Mass Entertainer 

While her fans say that she 

has rendered thousands of 

songs,’ no one really seems to 

know the accurate number, 

not even the artiste herself. 

“I have never kept a record 

of the songs that I have 

sung over the years. They 

have been in several languages, 

put to track at different studios 

throughout India. When 

Arvind Shetty, Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Sanjeev Kohli, Winston Peters, Mahesh Bindra and Hitesh Vyas at the Concert 

I stand behind the microphone, 

either at the studio or on stage, 

my anxiety is to do my best and 

not disappoint my music directors, 

lyricists, producers, directors, 

show organisers and most 

important of all, my fans,” she 

said. 

Challenging task 

From the first song that she 

rendered as a playback singer 

picturised on Aishwarya Rai 

for ‘Devdas’ 14 years ago to the 

latest numbers in yet-to-be-released 

such as ‘Saanson Mein 

Tum’ (‘Gehri Chaal’), ‘Dillagi, 

Yeh Dillagi’ (‘Dillagi’), ‘O Sathiya’ 

(‘Mohabbat Ho Gayi Hai Tumse’) 

and the title track from ‘Dil Mile 

Na Mile,’ Shreya has maintained 

her composure as a simple and 

friendly person, never letting 

success go to her head. 

“Every song is a challenge and 

I have never considered that 

I have done my best. I continue 

to learn and with every song, 

the anxiety is to improve on the 

previous number. The success 

of songs and films make me to 

do better,” she said. 

14th 

Annual 

Event 

PRESENT 

MISS INDIANZ 2016 

ACelebration of Kiwi-Indian Elegance 

Saturday 17th September, 7:30pm, Aotea Centre 

Book your tickets now atwww.aucklandlive.co.nz 

Participate in Miss Popular voting and beintowin fantastic prizes. For details visit www.missindianz.co.nz


entertainmentlink 

31 

Call it Heritage Reconnection, not beauty junction 

Swapna Parikh 

From academics to sporting 

champs, career professionals 

to high school 

students, there are 26 

beautiful and diverse women 

who share one common dream: 

to take home the coveted title of 

Miss Indianz 2016. 

They do not have wait long. 

In about two weeks, Bollywood 

will descend upon Auckland’s 

Aotea Centre for the much-anticipated 

Miss Miss Indianz 

event. 

Now in its 14th year, this 

event will be a visual extravaganza 

of glitz, glamour, fashion, 

music and dance. 

Cultural engagement 

A spectacular celebration 

of Kiwi-Indian culture, Miss 

Indianz will bring together 

women from mixed ethnic 

backgrounds to showcase their 

unique identities. 

“It will boost my confidence 

and help me play a positive role 

Bablin Kaur 

in the community,” says nursing 

student and pageant contestant 

Karishma Patel. 

“I hope to influence other 

young women of Indian origin 

to stand up and be proud 

of who they are and what they 

wish to achieve.” 

For Auckland-born Natalie 

Nand, the event provides a 

great opportunity to reconnect 

with her Indian heritage. 

“My identity was not very 

close to my roots while I was 

growing up,” says Natalie, who 

has a degree in Psychology 

and works as a mental health 

specialist. 

“I started learning Hindi film 

dances and Bharata Natyam 

this year and decided to enter 

Miss Indianz as a way to engage 

with the Indian community and 

find out what it means to be a 

Kiwi-Indian.” 

Specialist Organisation 

Produced by specialist event 

company, Rhythm House and 

supported by Radio Tarana 

and Indian Newslink, Miss 

Indianz 2016 will be held on 

Saturday, September 17 at Aotea 

Centre in Auckland’s Central 

Business District. 

While more than 500 people 

will be present at the venue, 

at least 10,000 others will follow 

the proceedings on social 

media. 

After a traditional Maori welcome, 

festivities will begin with 

the ‘Kiwi Girl’ round, giving contestants 

a chance to showcase 

their love for New Zealand’s 

high fashion. 

I believe that this segment 

captures the true spirit of Miss 

Indianz. 

Since its establishment in 

2002, we have opened the 

show with the Saree round but 

this year we want to emphasise 

more on our unique Kiwi- 

Indian identity. 

We encourage our contestants 

to embrace Te Reo and Maori 

Tikanga, not just their native 

language; and aim to showcase 

not just Indian talent, but Kiwi- 

Indian talent. 

This year’s contestants come 

from Queenstown, Wellington, 

Hamilton and Auckland. 

They belong mixed ethnic 

groups such as Tongan-Indian, 

Kiwi-Indian, Anglo-Indian and 

other communities. 

Miss Indianz is all about celebrating 

their unique identities. 

Tickets will be available from 

August 1, 2016 from www.aucklandlive.com 

For further details, please visit 

www.rhythmhouse.co.nz 

or call Dharmesh Parikh on 

021-2727454; Email: events@ 

rhythmhouse.co.nz 

Here are the profiles of the 

last set of two Miss Indianz contestants 

– part of a journey that 

we began in our April 15, 2016. 

This is therefore our tenth instalment 

(we seemed to have 

got the number wrong earlier!). 

MISS 

INDIANZ 

Now in its 14th year 

Saturday, 


at 730 pm 

Aotea Centre, Auckland 

Tickets available now 

www.aucklandlive.com 

Swapna Parikh is 

Event Producer, 

Miss Indianz 2016. 

Beauty and talent come 

with a heart as Bablin 

Kaur plans to help such 

deserving organisations 

as Kidney Kids NZ, SPCA and 

Auckland City Mission. 

Born in a middle class family 

in Chandigarh, Bablin is keen 

to become independent and and 

create a better environment 

for her family, relatives and 

friends. 

“There are many people who 

are stressed for money. I owe a 

lot to New Zealand and I hope 

to make a difference by helping 

my local community in every 

way possible. I believe in hard 

work,” she said. 

A graduate (Bachelor’s degree) 

in Business (Accounting) 

from Unitec, she has qualifications 

from the University of 

Applied Sciences, Graz, Austria 

and ICL Business School in 

Auckland. 

Bablin is a recipient of several 

trophies and awards for 

academic excellence while studying 

at the famous Doon Public 

School in India. 

Simran Madan 

A 

qualified dancer, 

Simran Madan strongly 

believes that Miss 

Indianz 2016 will be 

a turning point in her life and 

career. 

The Auckland-born teenager, 

who scored high at her 

NCEA Levels 1 and 2 appearances, 

apart from becoming 

the Junior Champion in Latin, 

Ballroom and New Vogue dances 

last year, says that the forthcoming 

event will boost her 

self-confidence. 

Miss Indianz will help me to 

learn about communication 

and leadership skills. It creates 

learning experiences about 

building friendships and it is a 

great window of opportunity 

as it opens doors to modelling, 

acting and performing; these 

would enable me to contribute 

effectively to our larger community,” 

she said. 

Inner beauty is more important, 

she said, adding, “The 

real woman should not only 

be beautiful but also be intelligent 

and capable of taking interest 

in various important issues 

around us.”


32 SporTSLINK 

Olympic heroes receive historic welcome in Fiji 

Rugby Sevens bring home their first gold 

Apurva Shukla 

History will mark August 11, 

2016 as one of the greatest days 

for Fiji sport. 

It was the day when the 

Fiji Rugby Sevens team won 

the first gold medal for their 

nation at the Rio de Janeiro 

Olympic Games. It capped off 

a spectacular two-year run of 

domination of the sport for the 

Island nation. 

Rugby sevens made its debut 

at Rio and found deserving 

champions in the Flying Fijians. 

Spectacular Play 

The Fijian style of Rugby is all 

flair and finesse. 

The ability to keep the ball 

alive combined with their 

trademark creativeness is the 

platform on which their game 

is built. 

It was this skill, coupled by the 

passion and exuberance that led 

the side to win, easily beating 

Great Britain 43-7 in the finals at 

the Deodoro Stadium in Rio. 

On route to the summit clash, 

the team had knocked out 

pre-tournament favourites New 

Zealand 12-7 in the quarters, 

before beating the tenacious 

What a win it was! - The Rugby Sevens soon after victory Thousands greet their national heroes in Nandi on August 21 

Japanese 20-5 in the semi-finals. 

Captain Osea Kolinisau and 

winger Josua Tuisova were the 

outstanding players. Tuisova, 

nicknamed the ‘Human Bulldozer’ 

for his supreme physicality 

on the Rugby field; has been 

seldom successfully tackled by 

his opponents. 

Coach Ben Ryan has also had 

a profound impact on the team 

since being appointed the coach 

in 2013. 

The Englishman has turned 

the team into a fitter and more 

consistent unit. The strong Fijian 

defence has Ryan’s stamp all 

over it. 

High State Honours 

Fiji has been sending its 

athletes to Olympics since 1956 

(Melbourne) but the win at 

this year’s event was a perfect 

reward for hard work and 

support that the team received 

from the country’s government 

and people. 

Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe 

Bainimarama and his ministerial 

colleagues were among thousands 

of people present at the 

Nadi International Airport when 

their national heroes returned 

home on August 21, 2016. 

He later joined President 

Jioji (George) Konousi Konrote, 

ministers, Members of Parliament, 

government officials and 

community leaders and ordinary 

New Zealanders at Prince 

Charles Stadium to accord the 

team a warm reception. 

Mr Konrote made Coach Ben 

Ryan a Companion of the Order 

of Fiji, the highest civil honour 

in Fiji, while the Fijian players 

and team managers were made 

Officers of the Order of Fiji. All 

of them received a cash award of 

US$ 30,000 each. 

Good Example 

The win for Fiji is a good 

example of how single-minded 

devotion and passion towards 

a goal can help overcome 

obstacles. 

Fijian players do not have 

access to world class facilities or 

have a Rugby Union flush with 

funds. What they do have is 

unadulterated love for the sport. 

This has led to thousands 

playing the game, and establishment 

of a strong domestic Rugby 

structure. 

Colonial Cup and Pacific Rugby 

Cup produce battle-hardened 

players ready to step up to the 

demands of international Rugby 

Sevens. 

Fiji can and should achieve 

more in sports like Test Rugby 

and Soccer. 

Global sporting authorities 

should divert more resources 

towards Fiji- their success is 

good for sport in general. 

Some home truths 

In his speech at the Reception, 

Mr Bainimarama said that the 

Gold Medal ‘glittered as bright as 

the Pacific Sun.’ 

“We are all very lucky not 

only to see Fiji win Gold at the 

Olympics but also to be living in 

a golden age. Forty-Six years after 

Independence, we are finally 

showing the promise as a nation 

that most of us of a certain age 

always knew was there. But 

which we were squandering by 

not being able to work together 

as a team. 

The full text of Mr Bainimarama’s 

speech can be accessed 

on the Fiji Government Website 

(www.fiji.gov.fj). 

9th Annual 

INDIAN 

BUSINESS 

AWARDS 

2016 

Let us Celebrate 

your success 

Gala Black Tie Awards Night 

with Cocktails and Dinner 

Monday, November 28, 2016 

at Sky City Convention Centre 

Corner Victoria & Federal Streets, Auckland City 

From 615 pm to 915 pm 

Master of Ceremonies 

Jackie Clarke 

Cocktails and Networking from 5 pm to 615 pm 

Dinner, Entertainment, Awards Ceremony 

For tickets, 

priced at $150 plus GST (including cocktails and dinner) 

contact us on Phone (09) 5336377 or (09) 3910203 

Email: editor@indiannewslink.co.nz 

www.indiannewslink.co.nz; www.inliba.com; www.inlisa.com 

Indian Newslink Indian Newslink 

P O Box 82338 P O Highland Box 82338 Park, Highland Manukau Park, 2143 Manukau 2143 

Phone (09) 5336377 Phone (09) • info@indiannewslink.co.nz 

5336377 • info@indiannewslink.co.nz 

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