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VIEWLINK<br />
Welcome<br />
Ranil<br />
Wickramasinghe<br />
BUSINESSLINK<br />
Where there is a<br />
Will, there is no<br />
uncertainty<br />
COMMUNITYLINK<br />
PAGE 12 PAGE 16 PAGE 26<br />
World Vegetarian Day<br />
<strong>October</strong> 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
ENTERTAINMENTLINK<br />
PAGE<br />
31<br />
The English Fortnightly (Since November 1999)<br />
Issue 355 | <strong>October</strong> 1, <strong>2016</strong> | Free<br />
Hindi film Actor<br />
Imraan Hashmi<br />
to star in Radio Tarana<br />
Manukau Diwali<br />
<strong>October</strong> 24, <strong>2016</strong>,<br />
Vodafone Events Centre<br />
phone<br />
09 533 6377<br />
editor@<br />
indiannewslink.co.nz<br />
website<br />
www.indiannewslink.co.nz<br />
facebook<br />
/indiannewslink<br />
twitter<br />
/indiannewslink<br />
LinkedIn<br />
/indiannewslink<br />
Gandhi Nivas<br />
Fundraiser<br />
impacts<br />
The second annual fundraising dinner<br />
and auction held on September 16, <strong>2016</strong><br />
at Waipuna Highbrook was a highly<br />
successful event. A report with two<br />
pictures appear on Page 3.<br />
The images here show<br />
Businessman faces<br />
indecent assault charges<br />
Bevan Hurley<br />
A<br />
prominent businessman has<br />
been charged with indecently<br />
assaulting two female employees.<br />
The man, 71, is alleged to have<br />
inappropriately touched two women,<br />
a married sales executive and a single<br />
mother, while he was shareholder and<br />
director of a media company.<br />
Police said on Monday (September 26,<br />
<strong>2016</strong>) that a man had been charged with<br />
two counts of indecent assault.<br />
The man denied any knowledge of<br />
the allegations when approached at the<br />
weekend.<br />
He referred media inquiries to his<br />
lawyer Aaron Kashyap.<br />
Kashyap confirmed he was representing<br />
the man in relation to the charges,<br />
but declined to comment further.<br />
Vulnerable situation<br />
Both women allege the grandfather,<br />
promised to help them with their careers<br />
if they “come close to him.”<br />
In an interview with Stuff, one woman<br />
broke down into tears as she described<br />
how the man had allegedly encouraged<br />
her to enter into a relationship with him.<br />
“He abused our trust and took<br />
advantage of us when we were in a very<br />
vulnerable situation,” said the woman.<br />
The women arrived in New Zealand<br />
on student visas, before gaining working<br />
visas and finding employment at the<br />
media company.<br />
One of the women had their work visa<br />
sponsored through the company.<br />
They say they looked at the man as a<br />
father figure, and he would refer to them<br />
as his daughters.<br />
The man has since quit his position at<br />
the company.<br />
The complaints relate to two incidents<br />
that occurred in 2015.<br />
The women allege he got them to get<br />
into his car under false presence, and<br />
the alleged assaults occurred while they<br />
were driving around greater Auckland.<br />
Appeal to Human Rights<br />
Last month, after gaining residency,<br />
the women laid a complaint with the<br />
Human Rights Commission. The HRC<br />
refused to comment, but the women said<br />
the matter was referred to police.<br />
On Tuesday afternoon, police issued a<br />
statement to say a 71-year-old man had<br />
been charged.<br />
The above story appeared in the<br />
Stuff Website on September 26, <strong>2016</strong><br />
and has been reproduced here with<br />
the approval of the publication.<br />
Sanjesh Narayan of Radio Tarana<br />
told us that the businessman appeared<br />
before the Auckland District Court on<br />
Thursday, September 29, <strong>2016</strong>. He was<br />
granted name suppression and bail.<br />
He will appear at the Court again on<br />
Wednesday, December 7, <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
SAME DAY CREDIT<br />
TOANY INDIAN BANKACCOUNT<br />
*Conditions Apply<br />
HEAD OFFICE AND BRANCH:<br />
632 Dominion Road<br />
MANUREWA:<br />
19/185 Great South Road<br />
AUCKLAND CBD:<br />
32, Queen Street<br />
PAPATOETOE:<br />
302, Great South Road<br />
Ratna Venkat presenting a traditional<br />
classical dance ‘Shakti’<br />
AVONDALE :<br />
195, New Windsor Road<br />
WELLINGTON:<br />
233-237 Lambton Quay<br />
Melissa Lee amuses Gurpreet Arora, Satvir Sen and Ranjna Patel with her Auctioneering skills and Dame<br />
Susan Devoy with Zoya Salim Kara and Sucharita Verma<br />
Politicians ignore death of young <strong>Indian</strong><br />
But community rallies support to family<br />
Venkat Raman<br />
venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />
None of the three<br />
parliamentarians<br />
of <strong>Indian</strong> origin has<br />
bothered to express<br />
even words of solace over the<br />
death of a young <strong>Indian</strong> last<br />
weekend but communities<br />
across the country have<br />
expressed their solidarity.<br />
Foremost among them were<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> High Commissioner<br />
Sanjiv Kohli and Head of<br />
Chancery at the High Commission<br />
Sandeep Sood.<br />
As a prominent community<br />
worker said, “It happens all<br />
the time. Our politicians do<br />
not consider people from<br />
South India as their responsibility.<br />
We have to, and will<br />
help ourselves.”<br />
Twenty-five-year-old Pavin<br />
Pramoth died in a traffic<br />
accident around 415 pm on<br />
Saturday, September 24, <strong>2016</strong><br />
as his car crashed into an<br />
electricity pole on Ketemarae<br />
Road, Hawera in South<br />
Taranaki.<br />
Pavin was the sole occupant<br />
of the car at the time of the<br />
deadly accident.<br />
The Police notified two of<br />
his close friends, including<br />
Jegan Ramar, who contacted<br />
Pavin Pramoth<br />
us for help and assistance.<br />
Instant help from above<br />
We contacted Mr Sood and<br />
soon thereafter Mr Kohli.<br />
Their support was not<br />
only instantaneous but also<br />
moving.<br />
Mr Sood said that the<br />
High Commission would do<br />
everything possible for the<br />
repatriation of the body of<br />
the deceased to his parents in<br />
Theni, a small town near Madurai<br />
in Tamil Nadu and offer<br />
financial help. Shortly thereafter,<br />
Mr Kohli contacted us to<br />
say that the High Commission<br />
‘would go beyond and pay for<br />
the entire cost including that<br />
of undertakers.’<br />
Qualityadviceisassured through<br />
ateam of Licensed Immigration Adviser /Ex-Immigration Officer.<br />
We provide tailor-made solutions to individual<br />
migrant and their families seeking to study,work,<br />
invest,dobusiness and livein<br />
NewZealand permanently<br />
Overwhelming support came<br />
as <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong> Community<br />
Fund Chairman Wenceslaus<br />
Anthony appealed to the public<br />
for donations and commenced<br />
with his own personal contribution.<br />
Ilango Krishnamoorthy,<br />
Suresh Kumar, Roshni Shetty,<br />
Ravi Bedadala, Sun Arunagiri<br />
and BA Narasimhan, were<br />
among the first to remit varied<br />
amounts into the Fund.<br />
Employer moved<br />
Sandeep Agarwal, who<br />
employed Pavin, announced<br />
his company’s contribution<br />
of $5000 to the Fund. He also<br />
travelled to New Plymouth<br />
to oversee the completion of<br />
formalities related to transportation<br />
of the body.<br />
“Pavin Pramoth had been<br />
working with us for eight<br />
months now. He was truly an<br />
honourable man and held high<br />
respect amongst all. As responsible<br />
employers, we feel it is<br />
our duty to assist in any way<br />
we can to make this grieving<br />
period as easy as possible for<br />
his family,” he said.<br />
Donations can be made to the<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong> Community<br />
Fund Account<br />
03-0207-0009395-002.<br />
09 272 4424 021 144 6641 saif@ianzl.co.nz<br />
Money Transfers • Money Exchange • Wire Transfers<br />
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02<br />
HOMELINK<br />
<strong>Indian</strong>s build bridges of goodwill, friendship<br />
Venkat Raman<br />
venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
The <strong>Indian</strong> Diaspora has<br />
a unique advantage of<br />
linking two cultures and<br />
function as ambassadors<br />
of goodwill and understanding,<br />
a senior <strong>Indian</strong> politician has<br />
said.<br />
“New Zealand and India are<br />
two countries that are linked by<br />
common destiny, common bond<br />
and common penchant for democratic<br />
traditions. We should<br />
engage in discussions that<br />
strengthen our bond and common<br />
good. We must promote<br />
mutual interests and objectives,”<br />
she said, speaking at an<br />
event organised by the <strong>Indian</strong><br />
Culture Centre in Wellington.<br />
“India’s engagement with the<br />
world is not limited to exports<br />
and imports. We have strong<br />
ties with friendly nations and<br />
cooperate with them in every<br />
field,” she said.<br />
Distinguished Visitors<br />
Ms Mahajan, a senior politician<br />
from Indore, Madhya<br />
Pradesh, is the second woman<br />
speaker of Lok Sabha, elected to<br />
the office following the election<br />
of the Bharatiya Janata Party<br />
(BJP) to power in the general<br />
elections held in May 2014.<br />
She was leading a delegation<br />
of five cross-party MPs and 12<br />
Parliamentary Affairs officials<br />
from India to New Zealand on<br />
the invitation of Speaker David<br />
Winston Peters with Sumitra Mahajan and Mahesh Bindra at the Dinner Reception on<br />
September 18<br />
Carter. Earlier, on September<br />
18, speaking at a dinner hosted<br />
by New Zealand First MP<br />
Mahesh Bindra at the Langham<br />
Hotel, she said that India has<br />
never been an aggressor with<br />
territorial ambitions over other<br />
countries.<br />
“We are a country of<br />
peace-loving people. We have<br />
never invaded any country. We<br />
have always promoted goodwill<br />
and harmony. As such, we<br />
identify the <strong>Indian</strong> Diaspora<br />
as <strong>Indian</strong>s and then as Kiwi<br />
<strong>Indian</strong>s. They live and represent<br />
the <strong>Indian</strong> fraternity in New<br />
Zealand,” she said.<br />
Greater Cooperation<br />
New Zealand First Leader<br />
Winston Peters called for<br />
great cooperation among<br />
Commonwealth countries in<br />
general and New Zealand and<br />
India in particular.<br />
“The combined Gross<br />
Domestic Product of<br />
Commonwealth countries is<br />
predicted to hit US$14 trillion<br />
by 2020.<br />
“We already have a model<br />
for what could happen<br />
with our Closer Economic<br />
Relations with Australia. We<br />
believe that we should now<br />
have ‘Closer Commonwealth<br />
Economic Relations’ and CCER<br />
is about Free Trade. It could<br />
be the means to bring in other<br />
Commonwealth States, alongside<br />
your country, which is an<br />
emerging economic giant.<br />
It could make the<br />
Commonwealth an economic<br />
colossus,” he said.<br />
Community honours<br />
New Zealand India Central<br />
Association (NZICA) and<br />
Auckland <strong>Indian</strong> Association<br />
(AIA) hosted a luncheon reception<br />
at the Mahatma Gandhi<br />
Center on September 18.<br />
Paying tributes to the <strong>Indian</strong><br />
community, Ms Mahajan said,<br />
Sitar Recital by Tiara Kelly accompanied by Basant Madhur (Tabla), Ashish Ramakrishnan<br />
(Vocal), Delan D'Souze (Keyboard) and Ritesh Vaghela (Octopad) at the dinner<br />
hosted by Mahesh Bindra at the Langham Hotel, Auckland<br />
Sumitra Mahajan with (from left) Harshad Patel, Bhikhu Bhana, Sanjiv Kohli and AIA<br />
President Parshotam Govind<br />
“Together, we have to prosper;<br />
we have to share our resources<br />
and help each other grow, both<br />
economically and culturally,”<br />
she said.<br />
She presented mementos to<br />
a number of organisations promoting<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> culture, language<br />
and traditions.<br />
Among the other speakers<br />
were former NZICA and Current<br />
Presidents Harshad Patel and<br />
Bhikhu Bhana, <strong>Indian</strong> High<br />
Commissioner Sanjiv Kohli<br />
and AIA President Parshottam<br />
Govind.
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
“Make New Zealand Family Violence Free”<br />
HOMELINK<br />
03<br />
Venkat Raman<br />
venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />
man in this room<br />
should stand against family<br />
violence and pledge to make<br />
“Every<br />
New Zealand a Family Violence<br />
Free Zone,” Vic Tamati, a promoter of<br />
‘It’s Not OK’ Campaign and Founder of ‘Safe<br />
Man, Safe Families’ Project said, speaking at<br />
the Gandhi Nivas Fundraising dinner held<br />
on September 16, <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
“Your job is to make sure that you do that,<br />
so that those who remain sitting (the women)<br />
are forever, and ever, safe,” he said.<br />
Tamati was the Guest Speaker at the second<br />
annual dinner series held at Waipuna<br />
Conference Centre, Highbrook.<br />
Tamati has been doing talks around the<br />
country since 2007, becoming involved<br />
with ‘It’s Not OK’ campaign, after he was<br />
approached by a film crew looking for<br />
someone who had perpetrated family<br />
violence and changed their lives to make an<br />
advertisement for the campaign.<br />
Violent past<br />
He explained his family circumstances<br />
and how he was beaten by his father, who<br />
migrated from Samoa more than 65 years<br />
ago.<br />
He did the same to his wife and children,<br />
until he realised one day “it was all wrong.”<br />
He has since turned a new leaf, advocating<br />
non-violence and asking men to do the<br />
same. He has never let his anger get the<br />
better of him.<br />
His speech at Gandhi Nivas was punctuated<br />
by humour and hard-hitting reality,<br />
and an honest admission of a past that had<br />
caused him, his family and the community<br />
around him pain and grief.<br />
Gandhi Nivas is a partnership between<br />
Vic Tamati speaking at the event<br />
Auckland-based medical provider<br />
network Nirvana Health Group,<br />
Counties Manukau Police and Sahaayta<br />
Counselling and Social Support. The<br />
partnership was established using<br />
a Lotteries Commission grant and<br />
receives on-going funding from Total<br />
Healthcare PHO and other private<br />
funders.<br />
The Concept<br />
The concept grew from discussions<br />
between Counties Manukau Police<br />
and their South Asian Police Advisory<br />
Board (members of which are Ranjna<br />
Patel, Venkat Raman, Ibrar Sheikh,<br />
Moses Singh, Sohail Chaudary and<br />
Manjula Walgampola), with the objective<br />
of providing early intervention<br />
and prevention services to people<br />
identified at risk of committing domestic<br />
violence to help them change their<br />
behaviour, reduce the likelihood of<br />
further domestic violence and increase<br />
safety for families.<br />
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04<br />
HOMELINK<br />
More than 150 businesswomen<br />
met at the first<br />
ever New Zealand India<br />
Business Women’s<br />
Conclave on Friday, September<br />
23, <strong>2016</strong> at the Langham Hotel in<br />
Auckland.<br />
Among them were 42 entrepreneurs<br />
of public and private undertakings<br />
in India, representing the<br />
Women’s wing of the Federation<br />
of <strong>Indian</strong> Chambers of Commerce<br />
& Industry (FICCI).<br />
Their organisation, called,<br />
FICCI Ladies Organisation (FICCI<br />
FLO) has been a major source of<br />
strength in a hitherto male-dominated<br />
society.<br />
Most men present at the event<br />
took a step back as businesswomen<br />
from both countries shared<br />
their experience and knowledge<br />
in managing their commercial or<br />
non-commercial enterprises and<br />
raising their families.<br />
Career & Home<br />
The audience, also comprising<br />
businessmen and lawmakers,<br />
heard how men, at least in some<br />
families, have come to accept<br />
their role as homemaker and<br />
caregiving parent, while their<br />
spouses or partners pursued<br />
successful careers, raising the<br />
standard of living of the entire<br />
family.<br />
Among them was Melanie Auld,<br />
Global Marketing Manager of<br />
Zespri International. She manages<br />
a large, grower-owned company,<br />
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
Business Conclave brings forth the power of women<br />
Venkat Raman<br />
venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />
Vinita Bimbhet (Centre) and others at the Women’s Conclave on September 23<br />
while her husband is happy to stay<br />
at home and look after their child.<br />
Increasing the representation<br />
of women in governance roles is<br />
a challenge faced by almost all<br />
countries of the world but New<br />
Zealand and India now have an<br />
opportunity to address that challenge<br />
through concerted efforts.<br />
On that note, the Conclave,<br />
organised by India Trade Alliance<br />
(ITA), with the support of a<br />
number of local organisations,<br />
can claim to have achieved the<br />
purpose of creating primary<br />
awareness of the need to raise the<br />
profile of women in the corporate<br />
world.<br />
Visitors inspired<br />
Vinita Bimbhet, who led the<br />
delegation from India as FICCI<br />
FLO President was inspired.<br />
She said, “I can now see why Kiwi<br />
women lead the world in many<br />
sectors. I can see their energy,<br />
innovative spirit and enthusiasm.”<br />
Stating that New Zealand has<br />
one of the least-regulated markets,<br />
she said, “Fertile soil and excellent<br />
growing conditions coupled with<br />
sophisticated farming methods<br />
and advanced agricultural<br />
technology provide the ideal environment<br />
for pastoral, forestry and<br />
horticulture activities.”<br />
A panel discussion, under the<br />
theme, ‘Leadership, Innovation &<br />
Entrepreneurship’ witnessed eight<br />
women sharing their experience<br />
in business and the journey that<br />
they have travelled, meeting<br />
physical, psychological, financial<br />
and other odds.<br />
Discussion Panel<br />
Zeina Ali (who wrote her first<br />
article titled, ‘Homogenisation of<br />
the New Zealand Workforce,’ in<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong>, August 1, 2003<br />
issue), Partner at SenateSHJ was<br />
the Moderator. Her panelists included<br />
Dame Wendy Pye (Wendy<br />
Pye Publishing), Dr Michelle Dickinson<br />
(OMG Tech), Jo Pennycuick<br />
(ReDesign Group), Melanie Auld<br />
The Panelists with Moderator Zeina Jalil<br />
(Zespri) Jayanti Dalmia (Dalmia<br />
Group), Kiran Gore (AquaAgri<br />
Greentech), Ranjana Agarwal<br />
(Vaish & Associates) and Namita<br />
Gautam (Sheela Foam).<br />
Dame Wendy cited education as<br />
the only way to enable women to<br />
manage new roles, while Dr Dickinson<br />
encouraged the attendees to<br />
not only think of gender equality<br />
in terms of male and females but<br />
also in terms for socio-economic<br />
diversity.<br />
Kiran Gore, who brought<br />
Cable TV to <strong>Indian</strong> households,<br />
described how, as a stay-home<br />
mother, she was encouraged by<br />
her husband to launch into this<br />
business.<br />
Work-Life Balance<br />
Ms Pennycuick said that the<br />
most difficult aspect of a working<br />
mother was to balance home<br />
and work with the support of the<br />
partner at home and colleagues at<br />
work place.<br />
“The energy and expertise of<br />
Auckland votes up but not high enough<br />
Electors from across the region<br />
can see how the vote tally is<br />
rising – North, South, West,<br />
East and Central - to swell the<br />
show your love campaign<br />
hearts on digital bill boards.<br />
Between now and midday<br />
on Saturday, <strong>October</strong> 8, <strong>2016</strong>,<br />
more than one million eligible<br />
voters can cast their ballots to<br />
determine the leadership of<br />
Auckland for the next three<br />
years.<br />
Daily Counting<br />
Auckland Council is keeping<br />
a week-day tab on votes as<br />
they are counted with the<br />
latest tally showing a bump to<br />
13.2 % up 2.4% from the same<br />
time in 2013.<br />
The hearts, which measure<br />
the percentage of incoming<br />
votes, sees the highest turnout<br />
since voting opened on September<br />
16, is in Central with<br />
21.3% of votes returned from<br />
Waiheke Island and 19.2%<br />
from Great Barrier Island.<br />
Next is in the North with<br />
18.9% of Rodney-Warkworth<br />
votes and just behind is<br />
Rodney-Wellsford with 18.5%<br />
of possible votes counted.<br />
“We want people to show<br />
they love where they live by<br />
voting. Publishing the vote<br />
count as it comes in shows<br />
what parts of Auckland are<br />
voting and we hope that will<br />
be a reminder to get the ballot<br />
in the mail now,” Auckland<br />
Council’s Elections Planning<br />
Manager Glyn Walters said.<br />
Handy Map<br />
There is a handy map with<br />
the location of NZ post boxes<br />
and ballot boxes in local libraries<br />
and council service centres<br />
on http://showyourlove.co.nz/<br />
and there are also seven giant<br />
heart ballot boxes at Orewa,<br />
Takapuna, New Lynn, Britomart,<br />
Manukau, Pakuranga<br />
and Pukekohe.<br />
If you are not on the<br />
electoral roll, you can still vote<br />
if you enrol by 4 pm on Friday,<br />
<strong>October</strong> 7 and register for a<br />
special vote.<br />
Please call the Electoral<br />
Office on 0800-92 822 for more<br />
information.<br />
Vote counting will continue<br />
on a daily basis and be<br />
available on the website from<br />
2pm each day, up to Friday,<br />
<strong>October</strong> 7.<br />
A progress result will<br />
be available from 2pm on<br />
Saturday <strong>October</strong> 8 and the<br />
final outcome confirmed on<br />
Thursday, <strong>October</strong> 13, <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
each of these keynote speakers<br />
and panelists has definitely helped<br />
our delegates to develop deeper<br />
insight in to the NZ India Market<br />
and develop on the best practices<br />
shared,” FICCI FLO Executive<br />
Director Rashmi Sarita said.<br />
Annu Sharma, Founder and<br />
Chief Executive, ‘I Am Woman’<br />
was the Master of Ceremonies.<br />
Among the highlights of the<br />
Conclave was a Memorandum<br />
of Understanding (MoU) signed<br />
between ITA and FICCI FLO to<br />
build on the business networks<br />
formed.<br />
Movie trailer<br />
A preview of ‘Stars in Her Eyes,’<br />
directed by Athina Tsoulis was<br />
shown at the Conclave.<br />
Featuring local Kiwi <strong>Indian</strong><br />
stars, it is due for release in<br />
November <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
The movie was shot in collaboration<br />
with Unitec.
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
Loveable City should<br />
also be liveable<br />
ELECTIONLINK<br />
05<br />
Phil Goff<br />
Voting papers would have now been<br />
delivered to your house.<br />
If you have not already voted,<br />
please make an effort to do so.<br />
It is really important.<br />
Every one of us has an equal say in determining<br />
who will represent us in the roles<br />
of Mayor, Councillors and your Local Board<br />
and District Health Board.<br />
It is about the future of our city, the direction<br />
towards which it should go and about<br />
ensuring that we have the leadership we<br />
need.<br />
To me, the goals for Auckland are very<br />
clear.<br />
We need strong efforts and advocacy<br />
to stop growing congestion gridlocking<br />
Auckland. With 800 new cars on the road<br />
each week in Auckland, congestion will get<br />
worse unless we put in place an efficient<br />
and convenient public transport system.<br />
Unwanted position<br />
With average house prices in Auckland<br />
now over $1 million Auckland has the unwanted<br />
position of being the fourth least affordable<br />
city in the world.<br />
Young home seekers cannot afford the<br />
Kiwi dream of owning their own home.<br />
Renters are struggling to cope with<br />
rent rises well above the level of overall<br />
inflation.<br />
Homelessness is increasing. We have to<br />
increase the supply of housing, with the<br />
Auckland Council ensuring that there is<br />
enough land zoned for building and that the<br />
building consent process is efficient.<br />
The government needs to help fund infrastructure<br />
to service the growth and ensure<br />
the building of more affordable and more<br />
social housing.<br />
Improving performance<br />
We need our city to be New Zealand’s best<br />
performing city.<br />
That means an efficient Council that cuts<br />
waste and duplication.<br />
It means changing the culture of Council<br />
so that it is transparent, responsive and<br />
accountable.<br />
We have to sustain a city that is inclusive<br />
of and celebrates all cultures and faiths.<br />
We should also be inclusive of all people<br />
regardless of their incomes, making sure<br />
that every child has a good start in life and<br />
can achieve to his or her full potential.<br />
The Mayor cannot do that alone. He or she<br />
needs to work with the community to make<br />
the city a better place.<br />
We also need a fairer share of the revenue<br />
that Government gains from growth<br />
in Auckland through its tax system to help<br />
meet the costs of providing for that growth.<br />
Your vote can help provide a strong majority<br />
for the incoming Mayor, demonstrating<br />
to central Government that the Mayor<br />
has the mandate and the authority from the<br />
people of Auckland to act on their behalf.<br />
Phil Goff is a candidate for Auckland<br />
Mayoralty.<br />
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06<br />
ELECTIONLINK<br />
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
CMDHB must follow healthy policies<br />
Narinder Singla<br />
The New Zealand economy is stated<br />
to be very healthy but are New<br />
Zealanders healthy? How is the<br />
Counties Manukau District Health<br />
Board (CMDHB) for instance, responding<br />
to the challenges of the times?<br />
As a resident of the CMDHB catchment<br />
area, I am concerned that the delivery<br />
of healthcare is far from satisfactory.<br />
Long, unexplained and inexcusable delays<br />
occur in treating patients affected<br />
by Cancer. There is a long wait list of patients<br />
to receive proper treatment.<br />
Diabetes, Obesity, cardiovascular diseases<br />
are among the issues that are affecting<br />
a large section of our resident<br />
population.<br />
Type II Diabetes is on the rise and<br />
therefore requires urgent attention.<br />
Our Asian communities are expected to<br />
grow rapidly over the next 15 years.<br />
Understanding issues<br />
It is important that we understand and<br />
address health issues that specifically affect<br />
these communities.<br />
Asian women have a higher rate of contracting<br />
the virus that causes cervical<br />
cancer and many do not understand the<br />
link between the virus and the cancer.<br />
Young Asian women are less likely to<br />
participate in the new Cervical Cancer<br />
Vaccination Programme.<br />
Breast screening rates are low.<br />
International research shows migrant<br />
women tend to present with more advanced<br />
breast cancers and are more likely<br />
to have a mastectomy.<br />
In particular, women in our <strong>Indian</strong><br />
communities have higher levels of cardiovascular<br />
disease and are less likely to<br />
take part in screening programmes for<br />
breast and cervical cancers, as well as<br />
lower rates accessing health services.<br />
Patients should be at the centre of all<br />
health services.<br />
Better access needed<br />
We want to ensure better access to<br />
healthcare, which is why we are providing<br />
more funding into frontline health.<br />
I am a candidate for CMDHB and if<br />
elected, I will work with the officials to<br />
ensure appropriate utilisation of assets<br />
to optimise benefits to the resident communities<br />
and prepare a good Health Plan<br />
that takes into account future needs.<br />
The District Health Board should also<br />
have strategic plans for early and effective<br />
treatment of cancer patients. Delays<br />
in treatment will not only be risk to the<br />
health of people but also erode their faith<br />
in the system.<br />
Reducing waiting time<br />
I will also work with the concerned to<br />
try and improve the complement of doctors,<br />
medical specialists, nurses and other<br />
staff to reduce the waiting time in<br />
hospitals.<br />
Obesity is a major problem in New<br />
Zealand and Counties Manukau District is<br />
no exception. Our young men and women<br />
should be encouraged to lead healthy,<br />
active lives, following healthy food habits.<br />
Education is the key to success.<br />
As a member of CMDHB, I will initiate<br />
good education programmes for our<br />
young people at schools so that they become<br />
aware of health issues early in life.<br />
Narinder Singla is a candidate in the<br />
ensuing Papatoetoe Local Board and<br />
Counties Manukau District Health<br />
Board elections.<br />
If you do not vote, do not complain<br />
Apurv Shukla<br />
Elections to the City Councils are<br />
underway.<br />
Voting papers have gone out, and<br />
the last day for returning the ballot<br />
papers is by mid-day on <strong>October</strong> 8.<br />
Local elections are held to choose mayors,<br />
councillors, local board members and<br />
district health boards members for city<br />
councils in the country.<br />
This electoral process presents a once<br />
in a three-year opportunity for us to elect<br />
people who will be running the municipal<br />
governments in our towns and cities.<br />
Councils play a big role in our daily<br />
lives. They decide the rates and have a major<br />
part to play in the housing and transport<br />
sectors of the city. Water supplies,<br />
parks and gardens, leisure centres and<br />
sports fields are managed by the council.<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> candidates<br />
The local body elections this year will<br />
also witness many candidates from the<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> subcontinent and Fiji contest.<br />
This increased presence in the local government<br />
electoral process bears a direct<br />
co-relation to the increasing population of<br />
people identifying themselves as of <strong>Indian</strong><br />
origin.<br />
Chances of success for these individuals<br />
will depend on a combination of factors,<br />
the most important of which will be<br />
their ability to connect with the local ethnic<br />
population.<br />
People enjoying a profile in the community<br />
and seen as diligent and conscientious<br />
citizens will have an edge over the others.<br />
Factors to consider<br />
It is imperative that they get the people<br />
in their areas to exercise their franchise.<br />
Voters also have to use their discretion,<br />
and not look favourably at candidates just<br />
because of their ethnicity. Have they stood<br />
by the community in times of need? Are<br />
their political affiliations and thoughts<br />
consistent over a period of time? Do we<br />
genuinely believe in them for wanting to<br />
be in the Councils for the right reasonsand<br />
not merely using it as a spring board<br />
for bigger things?<br />
The deciding factor should be the vision<br />
the candidate has for the area. Do their<br />
ideas offer something new, achievable and<br />
are fiscally prudent or not? Can we trust<br />
them to be strong members of the council<br />
and not mere pushovers?<br />
Plaguing Issue<br />
The biggest issue plaguing local body<br />
elections in New Zealand is the dismal voter<br />
turnout. The last elections in 2013 saw<br />
a voter turnout of around 41% across the<br />
country with Auckland recording a poor<br />
34%. Even more disturbing is the fact that<br />
this represented a 15% drop over the elections<br />
in 2010.<br />
Compare it to national elections where<br />
the turnout is close to 80% and it presents<br />
an even sadder state of affairs. Voter apathy<br />
to the electoral process is disappointing,<br />
and is akin to them shirking their civic<br />
responsibility.<br />
We are privileged to live in a democracy<br />
which lets us have our say in how the affairs<br />
of the country are run. It is our duty<br />
to vote in these elections. Taking some<br />
time to find out about the candidates, and<br />
what they stand for, and matching them<br />
with our concerns -will help us make informed<br />
decisions on whom we vote for.<br />
If we do not vote- we have no grounds to<br />
complain when Councils do not meet our<br />
expectations.
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
How the election process works<br />
Local elections will be held in September<br />
and <strong>October</strong> <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
These elections are for city and<br />
district councils, regional councils<br />
and District Health Boards. The Electoral<br />
Commission does not run these elections<br />
but is responsible for getting as many<br />
people as possible enrolled in time to vote.<br />
You should be enrolled to vote in the <strong>2016</strong><br />
Local Elections.<br />
Local elections are held once every three<br />
years. The local elections will be held by<br />
postal vote in September and <strong>October</strong> this<br />
year.<br />
Everyone correctly enrolled by Friday,<br />
August 12, <strong>2016</strong> will get their voting papers<br />
for the <strong>2016</strong> local elections sent to them by<br />
mail.<br />
If you enroll after this date, you must<br />
request special voting papers from your<br />
local council electoral officer.<br />
Candidates’ Campaigns<br />
How do electors find information about<br />
candidates?<br />
Candidates will generally promote themselves<br />
from the time their nominations<br />
are confirmed until the end of the election<br />
period. Often, they will use newspaper or<br />
radio advertising, billboards and leaflets<br />
delivered to mail boxes.<br />
Some may use the internet - a new website.<br />
Candidates will also attend public meetings<br />
where they can present their views and<br />
answer questions from electors. The local<br />
news media will normally run stories about<br />
candidates and their campaigns during the<br />
elections.<br />
Candidates may also provide a ‘candidate<br />
profile statement’ to the electoral officer<br />
with their nomination, which the electoral<br />
officer has to include with the voting documents<br />
posted to electors. This information<br />
might also be on the local council’s website.<br />
The System<br />
Votes are processed, but not counted, as<br />
they arrive. The announcement of the<br />
preliminary results will depend on the<br />
flow of the returned voting documents to<br />
electoral officers.<br />
Electoral officers have the discretion<br />
to announce progress results (i.e. votes<br />
counted to date), and some do so very<br />
soon after midday on polling day (Saturday<br />
<strong>October</strong> 8, <strong>2016</strong>) for First-Past-the<br />
Vote (FPP). This tends to happen more in<br />
larger areas, where there are many votes<br />
to count. The preliminary results (i.e. the<br />
count of all ordinary votes, and validated<br />
special votes) for smaller councils using<br />
FPP might be available within a few hours<br />
of the close of voting on polling day.<br />
Under FPP, candidates’ vote tallies increase<br />
progressively as more and more<br />
votes are counted. It is possible to predict<br />
whether the uncounted votes could alter<br />
the outcome after a progress result, based<br />
on the margins between the candidates<br />
and how many votes there are left to<br />
count.<br />
However, the nature of ‘Single Transferable<br />
Vote’ (STV) voting means that a<br />
very few votes can alter the result of an<br />
election by changing the order in which<br />
candidates are excluded and their votes<br />
transferred.<br />
As a result, it is less clear how a relatively<br />
small number of votes will affect<br />
the final result under STV. This is why<br />
progress results are generally not made<br />
in STV elections.<br />
Source: Electoral Commission, New<br />
Zealand<br />
ELECTIONLINK<br />
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RUNNING OUT<br />
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BC5816_IN_110<br />
Vote before 12pm<br />
on Saturday 8 <strong>October</strong>.<br />
Find out how at
08<br />
EDUCATIONLINK<br />
Youngsters expect changes to<br />
Superannuation<br />
A<br />
majority of young New<br />
Zealanders believe that<br />
the country’s Superannuation<br />
scheme will<br />
undergo significant changes by<br />
the time they retire.<br />
This is the finding of a Survey<br />
conducted by the Westpac Massey<br />
Fin-Ed Centre.<br />
The Survey had respondents<br />
in the 21-26 age group, and was<br />
an interim update to the Centre’s<br />
20-year longitudinal study.<br />
About 45% of the respondents<br />
were of the view that the New<br />
Zealand Superannuation Scheme<br />
would not suffice when they<br />
retire, while almost 85% of the<br />
participants said that the age<br />
of eligibility for the benefit will<br />
increase by the time they retire.<br />
About 63% of those surveyed<br />
said that the benefit will be eventually<br />
mean-tested.<br />
Changing support<br />
Report co-author Dr Claire<br />
Matthews said that the Survey<br />
provides evidence that younger<br />
New Zealanders accept they will<br />
not retire with the same level of<br />
government support as today’s<br />
retirees.<br />
“The people who are most<br />
opposed to the age of eligibility<br />
increasing are those currently<br />
retired or close to retirement. Yet,<br />
younger people, who will be the<br />
most affected, are already getting<br />
the message that receiving New<br />
Zealand Superannuation at age<br />
65 is reasonably unlikely,” she<br />
said.<br />
The truth is it is not sustainable<br />
for New Zealand Super to be<br />
available at 65, she added.<br />
“The government needs to<br />
move sooner rather than later<br />
because the longer they leave it,<br />
the harder it is going to be. With<br />
enough time, the age of eligibility<br />
can be raised gradually, which<br />
lessens the impact on everyone,”<br />
Dr Matthews said.<br />
KiwiSaver benefit<br />
Westpac Head of Investments<br />
and Insurance Suzanne Wolton<br />
said that over 90% of Survey<br />
participants had taken control of<br />
their retirement plan by enrolling<br />
in KiwiSaver.<br />
“But less than 30% of those<br />
people are contributing to KiwiSaver<br />
at the higher rate of 8% and<br />
hence there is a large proportion<br />
of younger KiwiSaver investors<br />
who may need to assess whether<br />
they are putting enough money<br />
for their retirement,” she said.<br />
The Survey also found that<br />
more than 43% of respondents<br />
were dissatisfied with their<br />
current financial status,<br />
which had increased from<br />
40% in 2014 and 30% in 2012.<br />
While almost all participants<br />
saw the value of<br />
owning a home by the time<br />
they retire, many appeared<br />
overly optimistic about their<br />
prospects, with 86% believing<br />
that they will have a freehold<br />
home by retirement,<br />
significantly higher than the<br />
current home ownership rate<br />
of 64.8%<br />
Significant gap<br />
“That is quite a significant<br />
gap between the expectation<br />
and reality of freehold home<br />
ownership. It also emphasises<br />
the important role of<br />
KiwiSaver in helping people<br />
to realise their home ownership<br />
ambitions with the availability<br />
of the KiwiSaver first<br />
home withdrawal option,” Ms<br />
Wolton said.<br />
Less than half the survey<br />
respondents were on track<br />
to achieve their retirement<br />
goals but 62% felt ‘in control’<br />
of their financial situation<br />
and 73% felt good about their<br />
money management skills.<br />
Dr Matthews said that there<br />
was a concern that some<br />
young people are over-confident<br />
about their money skills.<br />
“To a large extent, they are<br />
still relying on advice from<br />
family and friends, although<br />
there is a growing number<br />
researching on the internet<br />
as well, which you would expect.<br />
Unfortunately, all these<br />
sources of information can be<br />
fantastic, but they can also be<br />
pretty doubtful,” she said.<br />
A<br />
group of students from<br />
the University of Auckland<br />
won the acclaim of ‘Foundation<br />
North,’ an Auckland<br />
based organisation that helps communities<br />
for its innovative idea of<br />
enabling people to mussel beds in<br />
the Hauraki Gulf and livestreaming<br />
the beds to sponsors so they can<br />
watch their mussels grow.<br />
Another group of students received<br />
accolades from the Yealands<br />
Family Wines, which sought ideas<br />
for sustainably disposing of the<br />
3% of the posts that break in their<br />
vineyards every year.<br />
Fonterra invited sustainable<br />
packaging ideas. Teach First New<br />
Zealand invited ideas for building<br />
their brand awareness to eligible<br />
students.<br />
Solve It Challenge<br />
Twenty teams of students entered<br />
the ‘Solve It Challenge,’ run by the<br />
Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship<br />
of the University of<br />
Auckland Business School.<br />
They were divided into five teams<br />
to tackle each problem.<br />
The first and second placed winners<br />
received respectively $5000 per<br />
team and $3000 per team.<br />
“Livestreams are an engaging<br />
and popular way for people to stay<br />
in touch with nature,” Tiger Chen, a<br />
Bachelor of Commerce student, said.<br />
Carbon-Negative Winery<br />
The winning team for Yealands<br />
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
Growing mussels,<br />
shedding carbon fetch money<br />
Staff Reporter<br />
info@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />
The winning team picked by Yealands Family<br />
Family claimed that its idea could<br />
make the vineyard, already a pioneer<br />
in innovation and sustainability,<br />
the first carbon-negative winery<br />
in the world.<br />
It involves converting broken<br />
vineyard posts into a biofuel called<br />
biochar through a process known as<br />
pyrolysis. Biochar – charcoal from<br />
agricultural waste - acts as a carbon<br />
sink, removing carbon emissions,<br />
as well as improving soil quality to<br />
increase productivity.<br />
Team member Ray Cai, who is<br />
pursuing his Master’s degree in<br />
Biomedical Engineering, said that<br />
the students sought advice from<br />
University of Auckland Professor<br />
Ajit Sarmah who has extensive<br />
experience in the field of turning<br />
biomass into biofuel, and holds<br />
related intellectual property.<br />
“We hope to establish a smallscale<br />
pyrolysis plant on Yealands,”<br />
he said.<br />
Fonterra chose as winners a proposal<br />
to make 100% biodegradable<br />
boxes lined with wool for transporting<br />
dairy products.<br />
JennySALESA<br />
MP forManukau East<br />
Electorate Office<br />
7FultonCres, Otara<br />
09 274 9231 or 278 9972<br />
jenny. .salesa@parliament.govt.nz<br />
Papatoetoe<br />
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145 St<br />
George Street,Papatoetoe<br />
Friday<br />
mornings 9.30am to 12pm<br />
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10-12 high street,Otahuhu<br />
Monday morning 9am to 12pm<br />
Authorised by JennySalesa<br />
Parliament Buildings,Wellington<br />
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EDUCATIONLINK<br />
09<br />
Remembering a<br />
true friend at BNZ<br />
Anthony Healy<br />
The news that former chairman<br />
John Waller had passed<br />
away last week was received<br />
with great sadness by<br />
people at BNZ.<br />
John will be known to many<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong> readers as a great<br />
supporter of the local business community<br />
who attended<br />
the <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong><br />
<strong>Indian</strong> Business<br />
Awards every year.<br />
John’s business<br />
career was an outstanding<br />
one. It was<br />
characterised by the<br />
exercise of a brilliant<br />
mind, achievement<br />
and influence, often<br />
during the most challenging<br />
of times.<br />
John Waller served<br />
the BNZ and NAB<br />
board eight years.<br />
He joined the bank’s<br />
board in 2008, taking<br />
up the role of chairman<br />
later in that year.<br />
Some observers might say John’s<br />
timing was impeccable – with the<br />
judgement to match. As an expert<br />
in managing business insolvencies,<br />
he arrived at the BNZ just as the<br />
global financial crisis was taking<br />
hold – bringing with it the prospect<br />
of insolvency for the world’s financial<br />
system as a whole.<br />
John’s judgement and experience<br />
guided our company through<br />
the GFC and helped us to make the<br />
right decisions for our customers.<br />
He was rightly proud of the fact<br />
that at the height of the crisis BNZ<br />
lent more money to New Zealand businesses<br />
than all of our competitors<br />
combined.<br />
Throughout his time at BNZ, John was<br />
immensely generous with his time. He<br />
mentored and influenced many people,<br />
including two CEOs. He was a role model<br />
to so many of us.<br />
I enjoyed John’s unstinting support<br />
from the time I was appointed CEO and<br />
I know how much I benefitted from his<br />
counsel and guidance on many issues.”<br />
John Waller had many interests and<br />
passions.<br />
There was his family, of course, and<br />
also his role as chair<br />
of the Eden Park Trust<br />
board during the 2011<br />
Rugby World Cup.<br />
Eden Park was the<br />
stage for a memorable,<br />
if nerve-wracking,<br />
All Blacks triumph on<br />
23 <strong>October</strong> 2011. I will<br />
ll always remember<br />
the emotion etched on<br />
John’s face that night<br />
as he cheered on his<br />
team.<br />
John’s battle with<br />
prolonged ill-health<br />
was faced with the<br />
same fortitude and<br />
courage he demonstrated<br />
throughout his business career.<br />
John Waller was a good man. The<br />
many BNZ people he worked with and<br />
influenced will miss him greatly, and<br />
we extend our collective sympathies to<br />
his wife, Jinny, and their family.<br />
Rest in peace, John.<br />
Anthony Healy is Chief Executive and<br />
Managing Director of BNZ. <strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Newslink</strong> extends its condolences to<br />
the family of the late John Waller, his<br />
former colleagues and all BNZ staff.<br />
He was a great friend of<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong> and his loss<br />
would be irreplaceable.<br />
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The Country Section New Zealand<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> Association (CSNZIA) celebrated<br />
its 90th Anniversary on<br />
Saturday, September 17, <strong>2016</strong> at<br />
the Gordonton Hall, Gordonton.<br />
President Madan Jeet Singh Bange paid<br />
tributes to the pioneers who transformed<br />
their dream into reality by forming such<br />
powerful and dedicated organisations<br />
like CSNZIA, New Zealand <strong>Indian</strong> Central<br />
Association (NZICA) and New Zealand<br />
Sikh Society.<br />
NZICA President Bhikhu Bhana highlighted<br />
the dedication, hard work and<br />
steadfastness of CSNZIA, NZICA and their<br />
members to uplift the fortunes of <strong>Indian</strong>s<br />
in New Zealand.<br />
NZICA Past-President Ashok Darji listed<br />
the achievements of NZICA and Country<br />
Section. Vice-President Hardial Singh Deo<br />
thanked the gathering.<br />
There was good response from the<br />
members, families, friends and local<br />
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All the local MPs were present at the<br />
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Rupinder Singh Virk and Satwant Kaur<br />
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Among the other members of the<br />
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Singh Randhawa (General Secretary),<br />
Jagroop Singh Minhas (Treasurer)<br />
and Amarjit Singh Minhas (Assistant<br />
Secretary), Rupinder Singh Virk<br />
(Past-President).<br />
The cultural programme highlighted<br />
Punjabi culture and tradition.<br />
A booklet outlining the history and activities<br />
of CSNZIA was released to mark<br />
the 90th anniversary celebrations.<br />
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10<br />
FIJILINK<br />
Leaked documents stink of gross abuse<br />
Mahendra Sukhdeo<br />
One of the largest exposé<br />
of leaked documents containing<br />
graphic incident<br />
reports of atrocities on<br />
the asylum seekers in Nauru was<br />
published by Australia’s Guardian<br />
early this month (August, <strong>2016</strong>). It<br />
has made headlines globally.<br />
More than 2000 reports of about<br />
8000 pages provide a chilling<br />
choreography of assaults, sexual<br />
abuse, self-harm and mental<br />
torture on the interns.<br />
Although children represented<br />
only 18% of the detainees, more<br />
than 51% of the incidents appertained<br />
to them.<br />
These findings arise on the back<br />
of a damning report by Channel<br />
Nine’s ‘Four Corners Programme’<br />
that scripted the brutality meted<br />
to aboriginal juvenile detainees in<br />
Northern Territory.<br />
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull<br />
had no option but to announce<br />
a Royal Commission to enquire<br />
into these allegations, but confined<br />
it to the Northern Territory whereas<br />
there were equally credible<br />
reports of abuse in other parts of<br />
the country.<br />
The Nauru Files<br />
The staff incident reports, cumulatively<br />
called the ‘Nauru Files’<br />
comprise a cohort of banality such<br />
as death threats, sexual favours,<br />
physical exposures, snapping of<br />
voyeuristic pictures, self-harm and<br />
assaults.<br />
They profile the indignation,<br />
desperation, molestation and<br />
exploitation suffered by the<br />
defenceless detainees.<br />
The inhuman living conditions<br />
would appear to be identical with<br />
the detainees at Manus Island<br />
in Papua New Guinea (PNG).<br />
Reportedly, there are 442 asylum<br />
seekers in Nauru and 854 at Manus<br />
is inflicting an annual expenditure<br />
of A$ 1.2 billion.<br />
It is estimated that the average<br />
cost of each detainee over the four<br />
years was approximately A$ 1<br />
million.<br />
Outsourcing Settlement<br />
But the worst revelation refers<br />
to the deliberate failure of the<br />
governmental bureaucracy to<br />
respond to cases of abuse.<br />
In my last article (<strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Newslink</strong>, June 1, <strong>2016</strong>), I had written<br />
that Australia had contracted<br />
out its national and international<br />
obligations by detaining almost<br />
indefinitely the asylum seekers<br />
in their ‘client states’ such as PNG<br />
and Nauru, both third world island<br />
nations. This callous policy has<br />
been a subject of constant criticism<br />
by the United Nations and other<br />
international organisations.<br />
Further, by contracting out<br />
inspectorial and safety services<br />
to Broadspectrum (previously<br />
known as Transfield Services) and<br />
its sub-contractor Wilson Security,<br />
Australia has absolved itself from<br />
its governing role.<br />
The expose of the Guardian (with this photograph) has ruffled feathers in Australia.<br />
In fact, like some known business<br />
houses and politicians, Wilson Security<br />
headquartered in a safe haven<br />
does not have to pay the required<br />
tax in Australia.<br />
In this regard, the Company is in<br />
the same league as the Australian<br />
Prime Minister himself.<br />
No Passion or Compassion<br />
Following the publication of<br />
Nauru files, 26 former ‘Save the Children’<br />
workers and more than 1800<br />
university academics across Australia<br />
petitioned the Government to<br />
end rigorous refugee regime. These<br />
pleadings don’t matter.<br />
What has prompted Australia to<br />
abandon compassion and passion<br />
for humanity in favour of an ironclad<br />
policy of blockade on refugee<br />
boats, denial of entry of the asylum<br />
seekers into Australia, detaining<br />
them indefinitely in off-shore<br />
detention centres under unchecked<br />
horrific conditions, silencing the refugee<br />
related critics and sanctioning<br />
billions of dollars of taxpayers till?<br />
Mainstream Support<br />
Undoubtedly, the policy has a<br />
broad mainstream support of the<br />
major two parties and is being<br />
championed by minor extremist<br />
fringe parties and interest groups.<br />
The return of Pauline Hanson<br />
would further galvanise the political<br />
and policy divide. Ironically, “stop<br />
the boats” is a political mantra in<br />
Australia.<br />
Resulting from the PNG High<br />
Court ruling that the detention<br />
of refugees at Manus was illegal,<br />
Australia has now agreed to shut<br />
the despicable ghetto by April, 2017.<br />
There are now fervent pleas led by<br />
the Amnesty International for the<br />
refugees to be resettled in Australia.<br />
Would Australia show some mercy?<br />
Failed Policy<br />
The refugee policy is a failure in<br />
humanitarian, fiscal and diplomatic<br />
terms.<br />
The Australian mainstream<br />
mindset would not allow any<br />
modification of the creed. It is a<br />
sad commentary, but I venture to<br />
hazard a guess that some would be<br />
financially induced to return home<br />
or settled in another developing<br />
country and the remaining refugees<br />
would be transferred to the<br />
notorious confines of the Christmas<br />
Island.<br />
Global Inequity<br />
Globally, the scale of distribution<br />
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
of refugees amongst the nations is<br />
pathetic. The six wealthiest countries,<br />
US, China, Japan, France and<br />
UK, which between them account<br />
for 60% of the world economy, host<br />
only 9% of the refugees (Oxfam<br />
Report).<br />
In contrast, more than 50% of<br />
world’s refugees (about 12 million)<br />
live in Jordon, Turkey, Palestine,<br />
Pakistan, Lebanon and South Africa<br />
despite these countries making up<br />
only 2% of the world economy.<br />
Once again, there is no level<br />
playing field. While the refugee<br />
crisis is a challenging problem of<br />
the new millennium, it is morally<br />
reprehensible that poorer countries<br />
and poorer people shoulder bulk<br />
of the responsibility for which they<br />
are not responsible.<br />
The report card of the ‘UNHCR<br />
Global Trends 2015’ indicates that a<br />
record of more than 65 million people<br />
left their home due to violence,<br />
war and human rights violations,<br />
most of which was inflicted by the<br />
Western powers and their cohorts<br />
in the Middle East and Northern<br />
Africa.<br />
The refugee deal between the<br />
EU and Turkey in March, <strong>2016</strong> and<br />
the continuing Australian policy of<br />
dumping refugees in poorer ‘client’<br />
countries are evidence of the<br />
deflection of their moral compass.<br />
Mahendra Sukhdeo is a writer,<br />
researcher and author of ‘Aryan<br />
Avatars.’ The second edition of<br />
the book has been printed by the<br />
University of the South Pacific<br />
and is available through its bookstore.<br />
The digital edition can be<br />
accessed through ‘Smashwords.’<br />
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Josaia Voreqe<br />
Bainimarama<br />
Midway through our current<br />
Parliamentary term, the<br />
Fiji First government has<br />
decided to reinvigorate our<br />
Cabinet with a reshuffle of Ministerial<br />
responsibilities.<br />
This reshuffle will enhance our<br />
ability to continue to provide the high<br />
level of service that the Fijian people<br />
have come to expect.<br />
I will be assuming the role of<br />
Foreign Minister in addition to my<br />
current duties as Prime Minister,<br />
Minister for iTaukei Affairs and<br />
Minister for Sugar.<br />
The current Foreign Minister, the<br />
Honourable Ratu Inoke Kubuabola,<br />
will move to the Defence, National<br />
Security and Immigration portfolio.<br />
The other changes are as follows:<br />
The Honourable Rosy Akbar is<br />
appointed the new Minister for Health<br />
and Medical Services, replacing the<br />
Honourable Jone Usamate, who<br />
moves to the position of Minister<br />
for Employment, Productivity and<br />
Industrial Relations.<br />
The current Employment Minister,<br />
the Honourable Semi Koroilavesau,<br />
becomes Minister for Fisheries.<br />
The Honourable Osea Naiqamu,<br />
the current Minister for Fisheries<br />
and Forestry, retains the portfolio of<br />
Minister for Forestry.<br />
Additional responsibility<br />
The current Minister for<br />
Industry, Trade and Tourism, the<br />
Honourable Faiyaz Koya, retains<br />
those responsibilities but is given<br />
the additional portfolio of Lands and<br />
Mineral Resources.<br />
An assistant minister will be<br />
appointed in due course.<br />
The current Minister for Lands and<br />
Mineral Resources, the Honourable<br />
Mereseini Vuniwaqa, will assume<br />
the position of Minister for Women,<br />
Children and Poverty Alleviation,<br />
currently held by the Honourable<br />
Rosy Akbar.<br />
In addition to these full members<br />
of the Cabinet, I have decided<br />
to appoint the current Assistant<br />
Minister for Health and Medical<br />
Services, the Honourable Veena<br />
Bhatnagar to the position of Assistant<br />
Minister for Women, Children and<br />
Poverty Alleviation, reporting to<br />
Minister Vuniwaqa and focussing<br />
on enhancing the rights of disabled<br />
people.<br />
She will be replaced at Health<br />
by the Honourable Alex O’Connor,<br />
who will become the new Assistant<br />
Minister for Health and Medical<br />
Services, focussing on public health<br />
and reporting to Minister Akbar.<br />
I thank our Ministers and Assistant<br />
Ministers for their service over the<br />
past two years and look forward<br />
to working closely with them in<br />
their reassigned portfolios for the<br />
remainder of the Government’s term<br />
as we serve the Fijian people and take<br />
our nation forward.<br />
Josaia Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama<br />
is Prime Minister of Fiji. The above<br />
was his statement issued on September<br />
9, <strong>2016</strong>.
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
Reshuffle creates Cabinet<br />
within Cabinet<br />
FIJILINK<br />
11<br />
Dr Biman Prasad<br />
The recent Cabinet reshuffle by<br />
Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe<br />
Bainimarama proves beyond<br />
doubt that only a handful of<br />
Ministers control more than 80% of the<br />
National Budget and are vested with<br />
the responsibility of making critically<br />
important decisions on national<br />
policies, precious natural resources and<br />
governance of our country.<br />
This reshuffle has basically created a<br />
‘Cabinet within a Cabinet.’<br />
Apart from the Prime Minister, Fiji<br />
now has three Ministers who hold<br />
multiple portfolios and can be likened to<br />
‘Super Ministers.’<br />
Conflict of interest<br />
The reshuffle has disregarded issues<br />
of transparency, conflict of interest and<br />
decision-making based on impartiality.<br />
We now have a Minister for Industry,<br />
Trade and Tourism, as well as Lands<br />
and Mineral Resources. This means<br />
one person will make decisions when it<br />
comes to tourism development and land<br />
use as well as development of mineral<br />
based industries.<br />
This is similar to the general secretary<br />
of Fiji First (Attorney General) also being<br />
Minister for Elections. Fiji always had a<br />
distinctly separate Ministry and Minister<br />
for Lands and Mineral Resources.<br />
How the new Minister expects to<br />
handle two important portfolios is only<br />
known to him and the Prime Minister?<br />
We may have different political views<br />
but outgoing Minister for Lands and<br />
Mineral Resources was at least seen to<br />
have been doing her job responsibly and<br />
articulated issues well in Parliament.<br />
Suitability questioned<br />
The latest bungling by Honourable<br />
Faiyaz Koya when he categorically<br />
denied that Fiji had withdrawn<br />
from Pacer Plus negotiations despite<br />
conclusive evidence in the media that<br />
he had made an announcement to<br />
this effect, confirms our doubts on his<br />
suitability to handle both portfolios.<br />
The National Federation Party is<br />
concerned that the Prime Minister has<br />
also assumed the role of Foreign Affairs<br />
Minister while still being in charge of<br />
two very important ministries of i-Taukei<br />
Affairs and Sugar.<br />
Even before the reshuffle, Mr<br />
Bainimarama could not extricate from<br />
his Prime Ministerial and hectic travel<br />
schedule to give close attention to these<br />
two portfolios.<br />
Undoubtedly, both ministries will<br />
receive negligible attention with<br />
increased travel required by the Prime<br />
Minister as Foreign Minister.<br />
Clarification needed<br />
Mr Bainimarama should also clarify<br />
what he meant when he said Foreign<br />
Affairs and Trade needed to work<br />
together. Does he mean this wasn’t<br />
happening before when Ratu Inoke<br />
Kubuabola was Foreign Affairs Minister?<br />
And why two Ministers have single<br />
portfolios of Fisheries and Forests<br />
respectively? Why could not have the<br />
Prime Minister appointed any one of<br />
them as Sugar, i-Taukei or Foreign Affairs<br />
Minister?<br />
This does not make sense when other<br />
ministers have two or more portfolios,<br />
while a few have multiple portfolios.<br />
Reshuffle of Cabinet is the prerogative<br />
of the Prime Minister.<br />
But any reshuffle must be based on the<br />
ability, competency and suitability of a<br />
Minister to hold certain portfolios.<br />
We reiterate that the reshuffle does<br />
not consider these prerequisites and<br />
seemingly smacks of a ‘Cabinet within a<br />
Cabinet.’<br />
Dr Biman Prasad is Leader of the<br />
National Federation Party of Fiji and a<br />
Member of Parliament. He issued the<br />
above statement on<br />
September 19, <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
Look out for your $345 from Entrust.<br />
Former Otago<br />
lawyer suspended<br />
New Zealand Law Society<br />
Supplied Content<br />
Former Otago lawyer Greg<br />
Roderick Stewart has admitted<br />
two charges in the<br />
New Zealand Lawyers<br />
and Conveyancers Disciplinary<br />
Tribunal and has been suspended<br />
from legal practice for 18 months<br />
from 6 September <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
Mr Stewart, who voluntarily<br />
stepped down from practice before<br />
the hearing, has also been<br />
censured.<br />
The first charge was one of negligence<br />
in his professional capacity<br />
of such a degree as to reflect on his<br />
fitness to practise or as to bring his<br />
profession into disrepute.<br />
This resulted from trust account<br />
irregularities which included<br />
a failure to keep adequate<br />
records, having client balances<br />
overdrawn, failing to reconcile<br />
trust bank accounts with the<br />
trust ledger, and incorrectly certifying<br />
compliance with the Lawyers<br />
and Conveyancers Act 2006 and<br />
the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act<br />
(Trust Account Regulations) 2008.<br />
Serious charge<br />
The second charge was one of<br />
misconduct for breaching Rule<br />
5.5.1 of the Conduct and Client Care<br />
Rules by providing banking services.<br />
The rule prevents a lawyer from<br />
operating a business which provides<br />
services to a client, unconnected<br />
with regulated services.<br />
The Tribunal considered this<br />
charge to be serious because of<br />
the privileged nature of a lawyer’s<br />
trust account. The way this<br />
had been used as a selling point for<br />
banking services meant there was<br />
a serious risk of lawyers beaching<br />
their obligations to uphold the rule<br />
of law and facilitate the administration<br />
of justice in New Zealand.<br />
Mr Stewart was ordered to pay<br />
the New Zealand Law Society costs<br />
of $16,000 and to reimburse hearing<br />
costs of $2488.<br />
A New Zealand Law Society Press<br />
Releasew<br />
AEC/PR/0074C<br />
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12<br />
VIEWLINK<br />
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
The English Fortnightly (Since November 1999)<br />
Issue 355 | <strong>October</strong> 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
Let us fan<br />
the Glowing<br />
Flame of Asia<br />
And welcome Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickramasinghe<br />
The visit of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil<br />
Wickramasinghe to New Zealand augurs well with<br />
this country’s pronounced desire to enhance bilateral<br />
relations with the Island nation of the <strong>Indian</strong><br />
Subcontinent.<br />
The three-day visit from today (<strong>October</strong> 1) will provide another<br />
opportunity for Wickramasinghe and his New Zealand<br />
counterpart John Key to engage in more meaningful dialogues<br />
and strike new grounds of partnership.<br />
Although Mr Wickramasinghe has been here before (in May<br />
2012) to attend a meeting of the Executive Committee of the<br />
International Democratic Union, the current visit would be<br />
the first by a Sri Lankan Prime Minister. He will be accompanied<br />
by his wife, Professor Maithree Wickramasinghe, four<br />
Sri Lankan Ministers, and a Sri Lankan business and media<br />
delegation.<br />
Mr Wickremesinghe and his delegation will be formally<br />
welcomed in a ceremony at Government House in Auckland<br />
today, followed by bilateral talks.<br />
They will also attend a range of official, business and community<br />
events in Auckland, Waikato and Wellington.<br />
Exciting opportunities<br />
Mr Key said that he was struck by the range of ‘exciting opportunities<br />
for New Zealand’ during his visit in February and<br />
that an increasing number of New Zealand businesses were<br />
recognising this potential.<br />
“Under Prime Minister Wickremesinghe’s leadership, Sri<br />
Lanka has entered a new phase in its post-civil war development.<br />
New Zealand is keen to support the important steps<br />
the country is making towards reconciliation and rebuilding<br />
through increased political and economic contact,” he said, in<br />
a Welcome Announcement.<br />
Enduring friendship<br />
New Zealand and Sri Lanka have a longstanding friendly relationship,<br />
with official contact centred around membership<br />
in the Commonwealth and United Nations.<br />
We also enjoy strong rivalry on the cricket pitch, while forging<br />
more sporting connections through Rugby, which is growing<br />
in popularity in Sri Lanka.<br />
There are more than 12,000 Sri Lankans living in New<br />
Zealand.<br />
Human Capital flow<br />
While the Sri Lankan population here is more than 12,000,<br />
about 8000 New Zealanders visit Sri Lanka every year as<br />
tourists. However, the number of Sri Lankans visiting New<br />
Zealand every year is only 2500 a year but there is scope for<br />
increase.<br />
The two Prime Ministers would confer on the areas of economic<br />
cooperation and scope for increasing bilateral trade<br />
and said that Sri Lanka exports quality products and services,<br />
chief among which are Tea and Cinnamon.<br />
International student arrivals from Sri Lanka, placed at 1000<br />
last year, also has scope for improvement. Mr Key said that<br />
his government welcomed the efforts being made in various<br />
fields including Veterinary Sciences, Pilot Training and<br />
Accounting.<br />
Mutual love for sports, especially Cricket and Rugby was<br />
also noted.<br />
Mr Key described Sri Lanka as ‘The Glowing flame of Asia’<br />
and commended the country’s programme of national reconciliation<br />
and constitution reforms.<br />
New Zealand does not have a direct aid programme in Sri<br />
Lanka, but the New Zealand government provides funds to<br />
the United Nations and partner NGOs working in Sri Lanka.<br />
There are opportunities for New Zealand NGOs to apply for<br />
funding from New Zealand’s Aid Programme’s Partnerships<br />
Fund, which focuses on sustainable economic development<br />
initiatives.<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong> is published by <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong> Limited from its offices located at Level<br />
1, Number 166, Harris Road, East Tamaki, Auckland 2013 and printed at Horton Media<br />
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of <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong> and reproduction in full or part in any medium is prohibited. <strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Newslink</strong> and its management and staff do not accept any responsibility for the claims<br />
made in advertisements.<br />
Managing Director & Publisher: Jacob Mannothra<br />
Editor & General Manager: Venkat Raman<br />
Production Manager: Mahes Perera<br />
Phone: (09) 5336377 Email: info@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />
Websites: www.indiannewslink.co.nz; www.inliba.com; www.inlisa.com<br />
Final notes of differences<br />
between the Master<br />
and Owner<br />
Third and Last Part of first evacuation of <strong>Indian</strong>s from Kuwait<br />
Following the release of<br />
‘Air Lift,’ a Hindi film early<br />
this year, a number of people<br />
including the Editor of<br />
this newspaper who were involved<br />
with Iraq’s occupation<br />
of Kuwait on August 2, 1990<br />
to the liberation of Kuwait on<br />
February 28, 1991 felt that the<br />
Akshay Kumar starrer had betrayed<br />
reality.<br />
Hanif Mohammed<br />
Ibrahim Modak<br />
Captain Juvale said,<br />
“According to the<br />
International Merchant<br />
Shipping Act, it is obligatory<br />
for any ship at sea to answer<br />
any ship in distress at sea<br />
and rush to her rescue.”<br />
This was not a case where a<br />
distress call (SOS) was sent by<br />
another ship at sea.<br />
On what basis was he comparing<br />
the situation of distress at<br />
sea to the plight of people caught<br />
in a war zone at a seaport? ‘MV<br />
Safeer’ was at Shuwaikh Port in<br />
Kuwait and without the owners<br />
and insurer’s consent, the<br />
Master had no authority to take<br />
any passengers.<br />
Official threats<br />
Captain Juvale said “Hence, I<br />
was shocked to hear the warnings<br />
from the power-that- be<br />
back in India that my vessel was<br />
unsafe to carry any evacuees, because<br />
it was a small cargo ship.”<br />
The ship owners were in detailed<br />
discussions and negotiations<br />
with the Ministry of<br />
External Affairs (MEA) in New<br />
Delhi and Captain Kekobad had<br />
several meetings also with the<br />
Shipping Ministry. These details<br />
have been covered in first part<br />
of <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong> September<br />
1, <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
The owners also had to contact<br />
their insurers to obtain their<br />
permission to carry passengers<br />
as their insurance cover was<br />
only for cargo and carrying passengers<br />
on a general cargo ship<br />
would have been be in breach of<br />
the vessel’s insurance cover.<br />
Casualty risk<br />
Captain Juvale said, “After<br />
two days of sailing through the<br />
mined waters of Kuwait with the<br />
risk of facing the fire from the<br />
Western Naval forces, all of us<br />
arrived safely in Dubai.”<br />
This is an exaggeration. Once<br />
the vessel had cleared Kuwaiti<br />
waters, there was no risk of<br />
mines. It takes less than four<br />
hours to clear Kuwaiti waters.<br />
The owners had instructed<br />
the Master to contact American<br />
Naval forces and British forces<br />
once the vessel was in international<br />
waters, which he has<br />
done.<br />
The owners are in possession<br />
of the radio messages sent by<br />
Then in our February 15,<br />
<strong>2016</strong> issue we began a threepart<br />
series written by Captain<br />
Zain Juvale who was the skipper<br />
of ‘MV Safeer,’ a merchant<br />
ship that had berthed at the<br />
Kuwaiti seaport of Shuwaikh.<br />
In those articles, he had made<br />
a number of comments which<br />
have now been challenged by<br />
Hanif Mohammed Modak, son<br />
the master. Western Naval forces<br />
would never fire on merchant<br />
vessel carrying refugees as they<br />
were already alerted by the radio<br />
messages sent by the master.<br />
False accusation<br />
Captain Juvale said, “It is sad<br />
that the <strong>Indian</strong> authorities never<br />
acknowledged this rescue although<br />
the world media covered<br />
it.”<br />
In order to set the record<br />
straight, a programme called<br />
‘Kuwaiti Evacuation of 1990 and<br />
the Contemporary Narrative’<br />
was held PAGE 12at India<br />
International Centre, New Delhi,<br />
on March 12, <strong>2016</strong>. The participants<br />
included Kamal Bakshi,<br />
India’s Ambassador to Iraq,<br />
Former Ambassadors K P Fabian<br />
and K P Singh, who was then<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> Deputy Chief of Mission<br />
in Kuwait; and a senior representative<br />
from MEA.<br />
Captain Kekobad was invited<br />
by Mr Fabian, who was then the<br />
Joint Secretary (Gulf) at MEA to<br />
enlighten on some details about<br />
the SEALIFT operations successfully<br />
carried out by ‘MV Safeer.’<br />
He and Suresh Mal Mathur<br />
(then Second Secretary at the<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> Embassy in Kuwait) were<br />
the first two participants via a<br />
video link as they were unable to<br />
be present at New Delhi.<br />
In the Bollywood movie<br />
‘Airlift,’ a clip was shown of a<br />
ship’s captain asking for money<br />
to carry passengers out of<br />
Kuwait.<br />
Suhas Borker, moderator of<br />
the programme, asked Captain<br />
Kekobad if the crew had asked<br />
or taken any money from the<br />
passengers.<br />
His answer was a firm ‘No.’ He<br />
voiced his appreciation over the<br />
efforts of the Master and all the<br />
crew in making passengers as<br />
comfortable as possible during<br />
of the late Captain Ibrahim<br />
Hussain Modak, Joint Owner<br />
of the vessel. The following<br />
is the third and final part of<br />
his challenge round. Captain<br />
Juvale has since contacted us<br />
to offer further comments but<br />
we have suggested that he<br />
held on until we complete the<br />
current series.<br />
the voyage to Dubai.<br />
Laudable effort<br />
The owners of ‘MV Safeer’<br />
were once again thanked for<br />
carrying out this humanitarian<br />
effort without charging any fee<br />
to either the <strong>Indian</strong> government<br />
or the passengers.<br />
Mr Borker said, “The Nation<br />
salutes you for this great national<br />
service of saving 722<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> Nationals who were<br />
stranded in Kuwait. It was indeed<br />
a humbling as well as a<br />
proud moment for the owners<br />
to get this acknowledgement.”<br />
The ship owners as well as<br />
the <strong>Indian</strong> government have applauded<br />
the entire crew of ‘MV<br />
Safeer’ for their exemplary conduct<br />
during this period of crisis,<br />
teamwork and exceptional<br />
efforts in making this humanitarian<br />
mission of reuniting<br />
722 <strong>Indian</strong> Nationals with their<br />
families, a resounding success.<br />
We thank the Lord Almighty<br />
for granting MV Safeer a Safe<br />
Passage.<br />
Editor’s Note: Those of us<br />
who lived in Kuwait and/or<br />
covered the occupation of<br />
the Arab Gulf State by Iraq<br />
from August 2, 1990 and the<br />
‘Gulf Storm’, the First Gulf<br />
War that led to the liberation<br />
of Kuwait on February<br />
28, 1991 (after five days of<br />
war), would know that the<br />
recently released Hindi film<br />
‘Airlift’ is nothing more than<br />
a hero-centred imagination<br />
and divorced from truth.<br />
While the evacuation of<br />
<strong>Indian</strong>s from Kuwait through<br />
Amman, Jordan and not<br />
through Saudi Arabia (which<br />
would have been easier and<br />
faster) was undoubtedly the<br />
single largest human exercise<br />
of the modern era, it was<br />
nothing like what the film<br />
portrayed. I was among those<br />
who was in Kuwait in the<br />
days following its liberation<br />
and what I saw and reported<br />
was more heart-rending<br />
and tragic than anyone<br />
could have imagined. The<br />
film has become a topic of<br />
discussion and Captain Zain<br />
Juvale and Hanif Mohammed<br />
Modak have had their say. If<br />
you have been involved in<br />
the Kuwaiti Theatre during<br />
the Iraqi occupation, please<br />
write to<br />
editor@indiannewslink.co.nz
<strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong> (COPY TO BE TRANSLATED INTO HINDI)<br />
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
*NOTE: SEND OPEN FILE TO PRINTERS<br />
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14<br />
BUSINESSLINK<br />
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
Super Power apathy worsens the Syrian crisis<br />
David Shearer<br />
This is a critical time for<br />
Syria.<br />
For many months,<br />
the residents of Aleppo,<br />
Syria’s largest city, have been<br />
subject to bombardment and artillery<br />
killing, wounding thousands<br />
of people.<br />
At a time of year when many<br />
families were together to share<br />
special food and company to celebrate<br />
Eid Al Adha (celebrated<br />
on September 11), supply lines<br />
from Turkey to the families,<br />
hospitals and schools in Aleppo<br />
were either stopped, or reduced<br />
to a mere trickle through the<br />
Syrian government blockades.<br />
Supplied cut<br />
Now, with the destruction of<br />
17 United Nations Aid trucks<br />
and the killing of aid workers<br />
by what was almost certainly<br />
aerial bombing, times for the<br />
people of Syria have become<br />
even more desperate.<br />
They are going without the<br />
most basic items of food and<br />
clothing, with no immediate<br />
prospect of relief.<br />
They also face the horror of<br />
barrel bombs, artillery shells<br />
and poisonous gas being fired<br />
into their mainly civilian areas.<br />
We’ve all seen the horrific pictures<br />
on TV of children wounded<br />
and battered – shocked and<br />
traumatised from what is happening<br />
to them in their homes.<br />
UN solution evades<br />
The meeting of the Security<br />
Council, chaired by New<br />
Zealand, which held the presidency<br />
and chair of the Security<br />
Council for September, failed to<br />
come up with a solution.<br />
The problem was not with<br />
the Security Council itself, but<br />
with the members: notably<br />
Russia and the United States of<br />
America. If they cannot come<br />
to a consensus on the way forward,<br />
it blocks any hope of the<br />
Security Council collectively being<br />
able to arrive at a resolution.<br />
New Zealand’s Prime Minister<br />
John Key chaired the Security<br />
Council during the annual leaders’<br />
week when world leaders<br />
come to New York.<br />
It was New Zealand’s decision<br />
to make Syria the focus of our<br />
month of presidency.<br />
That was the right choice.<br />
We needed to give Syria every<br />
chance to reach a peaceful<br />
settlement.<br />
Civilian pawns<br />
As I witnessed when I worked<br />
as a humanitarian aid worker,<br />
civilians are often used as political<br />
pawns during conflict.<br />
Their plight can be exploited<br />
for military or political gains.<br />
Our UN Security Council role<br />
is a fundamental area where<br />
bipartisan agreement occurs<br />
across the main political parties<br />
in New Zealand.<br />
We all want New Zealand take<br />
a lead role and make a real difference<br />
in the world’s worst humanitarian<br />
disaster.<br />
Unfortunately, given the<br />
events of the last fortnight - the<br />
bombing of the humanitarian<br />
convoy and the mistaken bombing<br />
of Syrian government troops<br />
by the US-headed coalition – the<br />
conflict continues.<br />
Nevertheless, I am proud New<br />
Zealand made its best effort,<br />
throughout September, to cut<br />
through those agendas and hold<br />
those leaders to account who<br />
seek to make political gains at<br />
the expense of children facing<br />
daily bombardment.<br />
New Zealand worked as hard<br />
as it could to bring an end to the<br />
suffering and will continue to<br />
do so.<br />
David Shearer is an elected<br />
Member of Parliament from<br />
Mt Albert in Auckland and<br />
Labour Party’s spokesman for<br />
Foreign Affairs.<br />
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BUSINESSLINK<br />
15<br />
Food Mission brings the best of Taiwan<br />
Venkat Raman<br />
venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office Auckland Director General Dr Chung-Hsing Chou (Fifth from right) with the Taiwanese Food Delegation and Taiwanese government officials<br />
at the Langham Hotel on September 19.<br />
A<br />
number of exporters<br />
of food stuffs and related<br />
items from Taiwan<br />
were in Auckland last<br />
fortnight to explore possibilities<br />
of expanding commercial ties<br />
with importers and distributors<br />
in New Zealand.<br />
The one-day event, held at the<br />
Langham Hotel in Auckland on<br />
September 19, <strong>2016</strong>, included<br />
New Zealand importers of varied<br />
ethnicity engaged in food<br />
business.<br />
The visitors were manufacturers<br />
and exporters of a number<br />
of essential items such<br />
as Rice and Cereals, Noodles,<br />
Prepared Food, Preserved<br />
and Canned Food, Sauces and<br />
Dressings, Frozen Fish Fillet,<br />
Confectioneries, Soft Drinks and<br />
Teas.<br />
Cess reduced<br />
Amy Tsai, Director, Taiwan<br />
Trade Centre based in Sydney<br />
said that following the signing<br />
of the ANZTEC Agreement<br />
on July 10, 2013, customs duties<br />
on most Taiwanese agricultural<br />
products has been eliminated.<br />
“Trade liberalisation not only<br />
opens up dual-market opportunities<br />
but also provides options<br />
for consumers in both<br />
countries.<br />
Taiwan’s food and beverage<br />
sector has been experiencing<br />
healthy growth, posting record sales<br />
of US$ 3.40 billion in the January-¬March<br />
<strong>2016</strong> quarter, up by 3.1% over the previous<br />
year. The sales were mostly from<br />
restaurants, takeaways and Taiwan’s<br />
ubiquitous tea shops.<br />
Some figures<br />
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade<br />
communique said that Taiwan is New<br />
Zealand’s eighth largest export market<br />
and 16th largest source of imports.<br />
“Its dairy, meat, fruit, seafood and forest<br />
products are very popular with the<br />
Taiwanese and we are their largest supplier<br />
of dairy products. Tariffs are being<br />
rapidly eliminated, opening up significant<br />
trading opportunities.<br />
Two-way trade between the two countries<br />
was valued at $1.8 billion in 2014,<br />
of which New Zealand’s exports (mainly<br />
milk powder, frozen beef and ‘confidential<br />
items’ were valued at $1 billion.<br />
Taiwan’s exports, valued at $766 million,<br />
consisted mainly of oils and biodiesel,<br />
stainless steel and bicycles.<br />
The Trade Mission was put together<br />
by the Bureau of Trade, Ministry of<br />
Economic Affairs of the Republic of China<br />
and implemented by the Sydney based<br />
Taiwan External Trade Development<br />
Council and the Taiwan Trade Centre.<br />
Mickey Lin, Amy Tsai, Sophie Chen and Ned Chou at the Taiwan<br />
Food Mission meeting at the Langham Hotel on September 19.
16<br />
BUSINESSLINK<br />
Where there is a Will,<br />
there is no uncertainty<br />
Farah Khan<br />
farah.khan@xtra.co.nz<br />
Everyone needs a Will.<br />
A Will is a legal document<br />
that expresses your<br />
wishes as to how your<br />
property is to be<br />
distributed upon your death.<br />
I have met many people who<br />
believe that the making of a<br />
Will means losing control of<br />
their assets.<br />
This is not correct.<br />
Wills have absolutely no legal<br />
effect until you pass away.<br />
In your life time you can<br />
change your Will as many times<br />
as you like without having to be<br />
accountable to either the beneficiaries<br />
or anybody else.<br />
Inheritance not automatic<br />
Your Will gives you an opportunity<br />
to decide exactly what<br />
happens to all your belongings<br />
after your death.<br />
Most people think that their<br />
partners and children would<br />
automatically inherit all their<br />
assets even if they have not executed<br />
a Will.<br />
If you have assets of a total<br />
value of more than $16,000,<br />
then, your loved ones must apply<br />
for Letters of Administration<br />
from the High Court before<br />
any of your assets can be<br />
distributed.<br />
This is not only a long and<br />
cumbersome but also an expensive<br />
process and often the cause<br />
for many family disputes.<br />
Differences of opinion is the<br />
last thing a grieving family<br />
needs.<br />
In many communities, it is<br />
customary to leave assets to<br />
male offspring/s.<br />
No bias allowed<br />
The law in New Zealand does<br />
not accept such a practice but<br />
states that children are to be<br />
equally provided for and that<br />
there should be no gender bias.<br />
However, there is no reason<br />
why your wishes should not be<br />
honoured.<br />
Therefore, I urge people to<br />
make a Will today.<br />
If you have your wishes<br />
properly documented, at<br />
the least you have some comfort<br />
in knowing that your loved<br />
ones are clear about your final<br />
wishes.<br />
If Wills are so important then<br />
why is it not very popular?<br />
I often hear three reasons for<br />
apathy among people regarding<br />
Wills.<br />
It is too expensive: It does not<br />
cost more than a few hundred<br />
dollars to make a Will which<br />
could be very high in value.<br />
I do not like to talk about death:<br />
No one can avoid death – it is<br />
inevitable and hence there is<br />
nothing wrong in discussing<br />
about death. It would be wise to<br />
organise your affairs while you<br />
can still so, rather than leave<br />
your loved ones in a lurch to<br />
deal with the mess when you<br />
are gone.<br />
They will not be impressed<br />
with what you have put them<br />
through.<br />
I do not have time now. I will<br />
do it later: Death waits for no<br />
one. There is no time like the<br />
present, because no one has<br />
seen tomorrow. Your Will is important<br />
and you need to make<br />
time to execute it.<br />
I hope you are now convinced<br />
of the importance of a Will<br />
and would do the needful for<br />
the safety and security of your<br />
loved ones after you have left<br />
this world.<br />
As Leon Battista Alberti,<br />
a 15th Century Italian<br />
Renaissance Polymath said, “A<br />
man can do all things, if he but<br />
Wills them.”<br />
Farah Khan is Partner & Notary<br />
Public Practice Manager<br />
at Khan & Associates Lawyers<br />
and Notary Public based in<br />
Papatoetoe, Auckland. She<br />
can be contacted on (09)<br />
2789361.<br />
New<br />
legislation<br />
to<br />
improve<br />
land<br />
transport<br />
Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi<br />
The National Party came<br />
in to government (in<br />
November 2008) promising<br />
that we will improve<br />
quality of our regulations by<br />
amending and updating legislation<br />
to strengthen public safety,<br />
facilitate business growth<br />
and increase productivity of our<br />
economy.<br />
Recently, the National party<br />
government introduced the<br />
‘Land Transport Amendment<br />
Bill’ to Parliament.<br />
The Bill aims to fulfil our<br />
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
promises and strengthen the<br />
legislation relating to alcohol<br />
interlocks, the framework for<br />
managing public transport fare<br />
evasion and create more effective<br />
deterrents to reduce the incidence<br />
of fleeing drivers.<br />
Important changes<br />
The Bill will also make changes<br />
to heavy vehicle regulation<br />
and a regulatory process for<br />
small passenger services.<br />
It will make practical, minor<br />
amendments to ensure that<br />
Land Transport Act 1998 operates<br />
as intended by Parliament.<br />
The Bill will enable better<br />
innovative, small passenger<br />
services to deliver benefits<br />
to consumers while managing<br />
safety risks.<br />
It will introduce mandatory<br />
alcohol interlock sentences for<br />
repeat offenders and first time<br />
drink-drive offenders with high<br />
alcohol levels.<br />
It will create more effective<br />
deterrents to reduce the numbers<br />
of fleeing drivers.<br />
It will strengthen the framework<br />
for managing evasion of<br />
public transport fares.<br />
The legislation is part of ongoing<br />
efforts to create better, more<br />
effective regulation that works<br />
for New Zealand.<br />
Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi has<br />
been a Member of Parliament<br />
on National List from November<br />
2008. He is also Chairman<br />
of Parliament’s Select Committee<br />
on Law & Order.<br />
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BUSINESSLINK<br />
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
“Call me before you call the doctor”<br />
Susan Edmunds<br />
Insurance clients should<br />
not be afraid to talk to<br />
Anand Srinivasan, of Brisk<br />
Insurance, about any risky<br />
pastimes in which they are<br />
involved.<br />
The Auckland man might be<br />
an insurance adviser for his day<br />
job, but much of his spare time<br />
is spent paragliding.<br />
He flies his paraglider out<br />
over the North of Auckland, out<br />
across the Matakana coast.<br />
Srinivasan says he relishes the<br />
freedom it gives him.<br />
“The joy of free flying, able to<br />
reach the clouds without any<br />
motor or mechanical aid, just<br />
using the rising air currents to<br />
reach the cloud base is what I<br />
like the most in paragliding. The<br />
preparation, planning and the<br />
execution has to be accurate,<br />
100% for a successful flight.<br />
There is no 99% in this sport,”<br />
he said.<br />
While many in the industry<br />
may not yet be familiar with<br />
Brisk Insurance, Srinivasan<br />
will be a familiar face to a lot<br />
of insurance advisers. Until last<br />
year, he was one of their key<br />
contact points with insurer AIA.<br />
Srinivasan says a ‘never-saydie’<br />
attitude has served him<br />
well as he carved out a place for<br />
himself in the financial services<br />
industry in this country.<br />
Expanding client base<br />
He arrived in New Zealand in<br />
2006 determined to find work.<br />
He talked himself into a<br />
voluntary role with a bank and<br />
from there met a representative<br />
from AIA. He came up with an<br />
idea to expand their client base<br />
in to New Zealand’s Southeast<br />
Asian community.<br />
That led to his job as a<br />
Regional Sales Manager, then<br />
Distribution Development<br />
Manager and National Manager<br />
of key relationships.<br />
“After 10 years in the industry,<br />
Anand Srinivasan decided<br />
it was time to become an<br />
Adviser.”<br />
But he left in 2015 to start his<br />
own business.<br />
Srinivasan said 10 years of<br />
dealing with advisers had given<br />
him a good understanding<br />
of how processes such as<br />
underwriting worked – and<br />
what could be done better for<br />
clients.<br />
Advisers he had dealt with<br />
through AIA had offered<br />
their help to his new venture<br />
– and some had sought his<br />
consultancy services on<br />
products such as Key Person<br />
Risk, which Srinivasan said too<br />
few understood.<br />
He also specialises in helping<br />
businesses understand how to<br />
manage their ACC obligations.<br />
Key Person Risk<br />
Many businesspeople wanted<br />
to cut their levies to as little<br />
as possible, not realising they<br />
were potentially short-changing<br />
themselves, he said. He said<br />
“After<br />
10 years<br />
in the<br />
industry,<br />
Anand<br />
Srinivasan<br />
decided<br />
it was time to<br />
become an<br />
Adviser”<br />
that could be a false economy in<br />
the event of a pay-out.<br />
“The levies charged are<br />
reasonable but clients don’t<br />
always understand why they<br />
are paying them.”<br />
Pre-existing conditions,<br />
particularly for clients who<br />
were being encouraged to move<br />
to a new insurer, is one of the<br />
issues with which he is most<br />
concerned.<br />
Anand Srinivasan<br />
Sudima brings fine<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> cuisine to<br />
mark Diwali<br />
Venkat Raman<br />
venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />
Variety and quality<br />
will be the<br />
twin theme<br />
of the <strong>Indian</strong><br />
Food Festival this year<br />
at Sudima Auckland<br />
Airport Hotel.<br />
The six-day event,<br />
scheduled to be held<br />
from <strong>October</strong> 16 to<br />
<strong>October</strong> 21, <strong>2016</strong> will<br />
be fitting prelude to the<br />
Diwali, the Festival of<br />
Lights, which Hindus<br />
will mark throughout<br />
the world on <strong>October</strong><br />
30.<br />
Executive Chef and<br />
Food & Beverage<br />
Manager Rakesh<br />
Chandra said that this<br />
year’s Diwali prelude at<br />
Sudima would feature<br />
‘Bollywood Soiree and<br />
Food Festival,’ to cater<br />
to the different tastes of<br />
discerning clients.<br />
Regional Fares<br />
“The Festival will<br />
bring together the cuisine<br />
from various<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> States – from<br />
North to South and<br />
from East to West. We<br />
have to keep a fine balance<br />
between high quality<br />
of food and service<br />
and affordable price.<br />
After all, when families<br />
go out to eat, both factors<br />
matter,” he said.<br />
It will feature delicacies<br />
of Kashmir<br />
and Lucknow (Uttar<br />
Pradesh) on <strong>October</strong><br />
16; Hyderabad (Andhra<br />
Pradesh & Telangana)<br />
and Gujarat on <strong>October</strong><br />
17; Himachal Pradesh<br />
and Lucknow again<br />
(Awadhi); Maharashtra<br />
and South India on<br />
<strong>October</strong> 19; West Bengal<br />
and Goa on <strong>October</strong><br />
20 and Punjab and<br />
Rajasthan on <strong>October</strong><br />
21.<br />
Bollywood Soiree<br />
Mr Chandra said<br />
that the opening event<br />
on <strong>October</strong> 15, <strong>2016</strong><br />
is being promoted as<br />
‘Bollywood Soiree’ with<br />
entry tickets costing $75<br />
per person.<br />
“The Opening Night<br />
will include an authentic<br />
buffet, Bollywood<br />
Music, cultural performances<br />
and door prizes.<br />
The programme will<br />
commence at 630 pm<br />
and conclude at midnight,”<br />
he said.<br />
Sudima Hotels<br />
Director Laxmi<br />
Jhunjhnuwala said that<br />
the following four days,<br />
simply called, ‘Food<br />
Festival,’ will include a<br />
welcome drink and culinary<br />
delights of at least<br />
two regions of India.<br />
The nightly event will<br />
be held from 530 pm to<br />
10 pm.<br />
The cost per person<br />
would be $49, she said.<br />
“The Festival provides<br />
the wider New<br />
Zealand community an<br />
opportunity to experience<br />
the diverse culinary<br />
delights from<br />
various regions of India.<br />
In this way, people enjoy<br />
some of India’s finest<br />
food that are hard<br />
to-cook and hard to find<br />
in New Zealand. Guests<br />
enjoy quality food that<br />
they have not experienced<br />
earlier,” Ms<br />
Jhunjhnuwala said.
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
says Insurance Adviser<br />
BUSINESSLINK<br />
19<br />
Working for clients<br />
He said that he would usually<br />
ask for a copy of the application<br />
forms submitted for any policies<br />
the client already had in place,<br />
to ensure no details were<br />
missed, that could put a claim in<br />
jeopardy down the track.<br />
“The levies charged are<br />
reasonable but clients don’t<br />
always understand why they<br />
are paying them.”<br />
“I assume that clients do not<br />
remember what they did and it<br />
is my job to find out,” he said.<br />
In one case, he discovered<br />
that a client had not disclosed<br />
a number of health conditions<br />
that would have stopped a claim<br />
being paid.<br />
He was able to negotiate with<br />
an insurer to replace the policy,<br />
with a 50% loading and a mental<br />
health exclusion.<br />
“It was a fantastic outcome<br />
for me and the client because<br />
it avoided a dispute, the client<br />
knows a claim will be paid,<br />
and it avoids a bad outcome<br />
for the insurer. “I don’t assume<br />
anything, I do what I think is<br />
right with the experience I<br />
have,” Srinivasan said.<br />
Full Financial Plan<br />
He offers as little limited<br />
advice as possible and tries to<br />
deliver as full a financial plan as<br />
he can for all clients.<br />
But he said his main job was<br />
to advocate for his clients.<br />
“Underwriters want to pay<br />
claims, but they don’t know<br />
who you are. It’s the job of<br />
the adviser to represent you<br />
properly.”<br />
He said that the hardest thing<br />
about being an independent<br />
adviser was the amount of<br />
administration work to deal<br />
with at any given time.<br />
“When it is a one-man<br />
situation, even if you are good at<br />
what you do, you have to do so<br />
much else. You might be on an<br />
important call and the internet<br />
connection goes.”<br />
But he said that there were<br />
some surprises now he was<br />
client-facing, too.<br />
“People have insurance but<br />
they don’t have a clue what they<br />
have,” he said.<br />
Simplifying policies<br />
“One client was paying $1100<br />
for 13 years to an insurance<br />
company and had no clue what<br />
they were paying for. That had<br />
surprised me every day. When<br />
the industry offers an insurance<br />
product, why don’t they make<br />
it simple to know that you are<br />
buying something you need to<br />
use? You don’t buy a car and<br />
keep it in the garage. Why buy<br />
an insurance product you are<br />
never going to use?”<br />
One client who suffered an<br />
injury had been fighting with<br />
ACC, not realising that he would<br />
qualify for a much higher<br />
insurance pay-out than ACC was<br />
potentially offering.<br />
Srinivasan said that showed<br />
the value of reviewing policies<br />
and keeping in touch with<br />
clients.<br />
“If you are dealing with me,<br />
we will have meetings as often<br />
as possible.”<br />
Clients would be told to<br />
contact Srinivasan after trigger<br />
such events as marriage, a baby<br />
arrival or a house purchase, but<br />
he said that they would also be<br />
encouraged to call him before<br />
going overseas and to meet at<br />
least annually.<br />
If health concerns were major,<br />
he would expect to be informed<br />
early.<br />
“Call me before you call your<br />
doctor,” he said.<br />
He has joined networking<br />
such groups as BNI to help grow<br />
his new business.<br />
Passion for service<br />
Srinivasan said his passion<br />
for the industry and his work<br />
came through when he spoke to<br />
people, which helped boost his<br />
client base.<br />
He uses such technology as<br />
Suitebox to help him deal with<br />
clients anywhere in the country.<br />
Srinivasan spends much of<br />
his time working from home<br />
in Manurewa, although he has<br />
recently started to share an<br />
office with another, too.<br />
But he said he liked the<br />
“The levies<br />
charged are<br />
reasonable but<br />
clients don’t<br />
always<br />
understand<br />
why they are<br />
paying them.”<br />
freedom of working from<br />
his house, particularly as his<br />
mother has been diagnosed<br />
with Alzheimer’s.<br />
“Before she forgets me, I want<br />
to spend time with her.”<br />
Excellence Award<br />
Srinivasan was given this<br />
year’s Judge’s Excellence Award<br />
for Insurance at the National<br />
Advisers Conference.<br />
The judges said: “Anand has<br />
designed a unique approach<br />
to insurance advice. He<br />
starts by educating clients on<br />
their current situation and<br />
identifying any gaps. Then he<br />
looks to see if what they have in<br />
place can be repaired or altered<br />
to meet their needs, and then<br />
if there are still gaps, he would<br />
look to the market for a new<br />
solution.”<br />
Srinivasan said he had been<br />
surprised to get the Award.<br />
“This Award is not the New<br />
Adviser of the year; it could<br />
have gone to anyone with 25,<br />
30 years’ experience in the<br />
industry. I feel like I don’t<br />
deserve it, to be honest. But I<br />
am thankful to the industry for<br />
their support.”<br />
He has also been able to<br />
arrange his paragliding friends’<br />
insurance that they never<br />
thought they would be able to<br />
get.<br />
“If you put a case together and<br />
explain why it is less accidentprone<br />
(than some other<br />
pastimes), insurance companies<br />
come to the party. That skill set<br />
of being able to present a case<br />
properly really helps clients a<br />
lot.”<br />
Susan Edmunds is Editor,<br />
Tarawera Publishing, which<br />
produces ‘Asset,’ a Magazine<br />
for Financial Advisors. The<br />
above article, which appeared<br />
in the August issue has been<br />
reproduced here with her<br />
permission.
20<br />
BUSINESSLINK<br />
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
The Internet of Things gets smarter<br />
Anand Mokashi<br />
Imagine, your driverless car<br />
reaches your driveway and<br />
the gate unlocks followed<br />
by the garage door. The<br />
alarm gets turned off and the<br />
lights come on, if it is dark. The<br />
air conditioner, set to a comfortable<br />
temperature, has started.<br />
Your favourite TV channel<br />
comes alive and hot water is<br />
ready in the kettle for your tea.<br />
All these things automatically.<br />
IoT is an application of the<br />
Internet that facilitates objects<br />
to have network connectivity,<br />
allowing them to send and receive<br />
data to each other, software<br />
programmes or their<br />
human users.<br />
Smart Systems<br />
These are called ‘Smart<br />
Objects’ and systems that incorporate<br />
these smart objects become<br />
Smart Systems. Devices<br />
within the smart system are<br />
connected with data-collecting<br />
sensors so that they can communicate<br />
with one-another.<br />
The term ‘Internet of Things’<br />
is not new; the concept was envisaged<br />
almost 90 years ago, in<br />
1926.<br />
Serbian American Scientist<br />
Supplied Content<br />
The Serious Fraud Office<br />
(SFO) prosecution of Sir<br />
Ralph Heberley Ngatata<br />
Love received a verdict<br />
in the Wellington High Court on<br />
September 1, <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
In a three-week trial which<br />
concluded on August 25, Sir<br />
Ngatata faced one Crimes Act<br />
charge of ‘Obtaining by deception’<br />
and one alternative charge<br />
under Section 4 of the Secret<br />
Commissions Act.<br />
Sir Ngatata was found guilty<br />
of the charge of ‘Obtaining by<br />
deception’.<br />
Significant Project<br />
The prosecution related to a<br />
significant commercial property<br />
development project which was<br />
undertaken in Wellington.<br />
The project involved land<br />
owned by the Wellington Tenths<br />
Trust of which Sir Ngatata Love<br />
was the Chair.<br />
The SFO alleged that Sir<br />
Ngatata arranged for himself<br />
and his partner, Lorraine<br />
Skiffington to obtain control, for<br />
their own benefit, of a premium<br />
the prospective developers were<br />
prepared to pay to secure a leasehold<br />
interest in the property.<br />
This was done, the SFO alleged,<br />
without disclosure to, and in secret<br />
from, the remaining Trustees<br />
of the Wellington Tenths Trust.<br />
Concealed payment<br />
As a result of an agreement<br />
reached with the prospective<br />
developers, payments totaling<br />
$1,687,500 were made<br />
Nikola Tesla said in an interview,<br />
“When wireless is perfectly<br />
applied, the whole world will<br />
be converted into a huge brain<br />
and will be controlled using an<br />
instrument small enough to fit<br />
in the pocket.”<br />
Chronology of events<br />
1989: The first Internetconnected<br />
toaster is unveiled.<br />
1999: The Phrase ‘Internet<br />
of Things’ is coined by Kevin<br />
Ashton, a British Technologist.<br />
2000: LG launches its smart<br />
refrigerator (Price $20,000),<br />
with an LCD screen that displays<br />
inside temperature, freshness<br />
of stored food, nutritional<br />
information, relevant recopies<br />
and other information.<br />
<strong>2016</strong>: Significant progress is<br />
made with driverless cars on<br />
the roads. Gartner Inc predicts<br />
that 4.9 billion devices will be<br />
connected this year alone and<br />
that the demand will reach 20<br />
billion by 2020 (including 250<br />
million vehicles).<br />
The Challenges<br />
Chief among the barriers to<br />
the progress of the IoT is its unusually<br />
high dependence on cooperation<br />
between competitors<br />
as well as others in industries.<br />
If devices have to successfully<br />
‘talk’ to each other, they have to<br />
‘speak the same language.’<br />
The reality of the current<br />
commercial world however is<br />
that manufacturers create their<br />
Former Wellington<br />
Trust Chairman awaits<br />
sentence<br />
to a company associated with<br />
Ms Skiffington. These payments<br />
were concealed from the<br />
Wellington Tenths Trust.<br />
SFO Chief Executive Julie Read<br />
said, “There is a risk this sort of<br />
activity can occur when property<br />
development, competition for<br />
business and significant sums of<br />
money are involved. As the decision<br />
of the Court in this matter<br />
found, the abuse of trust for<br />
personal gain is a very serious<br />
matter.”<br />
Other defendants<br />
Three defendants were<br />
charged in July 2013 in relation<br />
to the development and all had<br />
name suppression orders which<br />
were lifted at the beginning of Sir<br />
Ngatata’s trial.<br />
Matene Love, Sir Ngatata’s<br />
son, pleaded guilty to one charge<br />
under Section 4 of the Secret<br />
Commissions Act. He was sentenced<br />
on <strong>October</strong> 29, 2015 to<br />
six months’ home detention.<br />
Lorraine Skiffington had her<br />
charges permanently stayed in<br />
August 2015 due to her ill-health.<br />
The SFO said that the<br />
Wellington Tenths Trust cooperated<br />
fully during the process.<br />
Sir Ngatata’s Counsel requested<br />
that conviction of the charge be<br />
deferred.<br />
He has been released on bail<br />
and will be sentenced on <strong>October</strong><br />
6, in the Wellington High Court.<br />
Serious Press Office Press<br />
Release<br />
closed systems of software,<br />
hardware and protocols. For example,<br />
each phone has its own<br />
unique charger, battery, connector<br />
or an Android device and<br />
hence will not easily interact<br />
with an IOS device and so on.<br />
Gartner analyst Fernando<br />
Elizalde said, “A number of alliances<br />
have now sprung up to<br />
attempt to address the interoperability<br />
issue.’<br />
One such is ‘AllSeen,’ which is<br />
backed by Qualcomm, Microsoft<br />
and LG.<br />
Security and Privacy<br />
This is an area of tremendous<br />
Former solicitor Edward<br />
Errol Johnston, who is<br />
facing charges brought<br />
by the Serious Fraud<br />
Office (SFO) has appeared in<br />
the Auckland District Court to<br />
enter a guilty plea.<br />
Mr Johnston appeared to<br />
answer three Crimes Act<br />
charges of ‘Dishonestly taking<br />
or using document.’<br />
He pleaded guilty to all three<br />
charges.<br />
Between December 2011<br />
and January 2012, Mr<br />
Johnston owned properties<br />
in the Auckland area and had<br />
fallen into arrears on his loan<br />
repayments to his bank.<br />
When faced with a<br />
Barrie Kenneth James<br />
George was sentenced<br />
in the Auckland High<br />
Court on September<br />
1, <strong>2016</strong> on charges of bribery<br />
and corruption laid by the<br />
Serious Fraud Office (SFO).<br />
The former employee of<br />
Auckland Transport and<br />
Rodney District Council<br />
pleaded guilty in August to<br />
his part in a case of alleged<br />
bribery and corruption by<br />
former employees of Auckland<br />
Transport and Rodney District<br />
concern or huge opportunity.<br />
You can understand the ramifications<br />
of the hacking of a network<br />
of home security cameras,<br />
door locks and home alarms.<br />
As the application becomes<br />
commercial or more personal,<br />
the concerns will grow.<br />
Researchers are already on the<br />
job, addressing such issues.<br />
Environmental Impact is another<br />
major issue.<br />
Faster technological obsolescence,<br />
need to constantly upgrade<br />
devices to keep up with<br />
the present will produce huge<br />
recycling challenges, for which<br />
Solicitor pleads guilty to<br />
cheating charges<br />
Supplied Content<br />
Supplied Content<br />
requirement to reduce his<br />
existing debt, Mr Johnston<br />
manipulated the system.<br />
He submitted false Sale and<br />
Purchase Agreements to his<br />
bank, which accepted the<br />
fictitious transactions.<br />
Reality different<br />
In reality, the properties<br />
were either sold for a higher<br />
price than he had stated, or<br />
transferred to another Trust<br />
and refinanced with a loan<br />
from another bank. In January<br />
2012 Mr Johnston submitted a<br />
false Statement of Assets and<br />
Liabilities to the bank when<br />
obtaining the refinanced loan.<br />
SFO Chief Executive Julie<br />
Read said, “These offences<br />
occurred as a result of an<br />
attempt to avoid a troubled<br />
Council.<br />
Mr George received a<br />
sentence of 10 months’ home<br />
detention for offences totalling<br />
totalling $103,580.54.<br />
Mr George had been<br />
employed as an engineer<br />
at Rodney District Council<br />
since 1974 and then as a<br />
senior manager at Rodney<br />
District Council and Auckland<br />
Transport where he was<br />
responsible for leading the<br />
delivery of maintenance and<br />
renewal works until 2013.<br />
From December 2005 to<br />
we have neither answers nor<br />
systems in place at present.<br />
No matter what, the IoT is<br />
here to stay.<br />
No one is able to say how it<br />
will present itself in the future.<br />
Anand Mokashi is an IT<br />
Lecturer, Consultant and<br />
<strong>Digital</strong> Media Specialist with<br />
a passion for all things online.<br />
He runs the Facebook group<br />
of Amateur astronomy lovers<br />
(https://www.facebook.com/<br />
groups/ilavip/) and the website<br />
www.astronomyhuble.<br />
com. Email: anand_mokashi@<br />
consultant.com<br />
financial situation. The reality<br />
is that in deceiving the bank,<br />
Mr Johnston has placed<br />
himself in a much more<br />
serious position which will<br />
result in a criminal conviction.<br />
Such a course should never be<br />
considered as a viable option<br />
and the SFO will prosecute<br />
all serious fraud matters<br />
brought to our attention to<br />
protect other investors and<br />
New Zealand’s reputation as a<br />
corruption free market.”<br />
Mr Johnston will appear for<br />
sentencing in the Auckland<br />
District Court on November<br />
10, <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
Serious Fraud Office Press<br />
Release<br />
District Council man faces justice<br />
June 2013, Mr George admitted<br />
to receiving undisclosed<br />
gratuities while in various<br />
engineering and management<br />
roles. The gratuities often<br />
came in the form of cash,<br />
travel, accommodation and<br />
entertainment.<br />
The two remaining<br />
defendants, Stephen James<br />
Borlase, and Murray John<br />
Noone are to stand trial later<br />
this year.<br />
Serious Fraud Office Press<br />
Release
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
BUSINESSLINK<br />
21<br />
THE GLOBAL EXPERTS<br />
THINK WE’RE THE<br />
LOCAL EXPERTS.<br />
BNZ Private Bank is proud to have been named Best Private Bank in New Zealand at the PWM/<br />
The Banker Global Private Banking Awards 2015. Judged by a panel of global industry experts,<br />
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Creating wealth is one thing; sustaining it is another.<br />
This win marks our third international accolade in as many years and demonstrates our<br />
continued commitment to helping our clients to grow, manage and protect their wealth.<br />
To find out about our award-winning service, call us or visit us online.<br />
Find out more 0800 477 077 bnzprivatebank.co.nz<br />
BNZS 6726<br />
6726 Private Bank Ad <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong> 1.0.indd 1 25/02/16 3:05 PM
22<br />
COMMUNITYLINK<br />
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
Ganapathi Bappa fills hearts and homes<br />
Never a dull moment as millions celebrate the Lord’s Birthday<br />
The favourite God at the Auckland Marathi<br />
Association event<br />
Prashant Belwalkar<br />
Lord Ganesh arrived with<br />
his usual vigour and<br />
pomp on September 11,<br />
<strong>2016</strong> at Mt Eden War<br />
Memorial Hall in Auckland.<br />
The Auckland Marathi<br />
Association was keen to<br />
showcase the event the<br />
Maharashtrian Diaspora, many<br />
members of which were missing<br />
the usual celebratory events<br />
of their native Maharashtra.<br />
The 11-day festival of<br />
Ganapati began as a humble exercise<br />
by the renowned freedom<br />
fighter Lokmanya Bal<br />
Phil Goff prays to the Remover of All Obstacles at the festival<br />
Gangadhar Tilak in the early<br />
part of the last century to mobilise<br />
the community against the<br />
British Raj.<br />
It has now grown to become<br />
the biggest festival of the year.<br />
India is a free, sovereign democratic<br />
Republic and the festive<br />
occasion is just right for nurturing<br />
new talent within the<br />
community.<br />
New Committee<br />
A new Committee has recently<br />
taken the reins of the<br />
Auckland Marathi Association<br />
and was quickly tasked with<br />
Ganeshotsav <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
The members heeded to the<br />
call to mark Ganapati Festival<br />
with piety and spirit of unity<br />
and as many as 20 events were<br />
organised by various groups<br />
ranging from the youngest<br />
(around 4 years) to the Oldest<br />
(around 35).<br />
The Association prides itself<br />
of producing exceedingly talented<br />
artists including vocalists, instrumentalists<br />
and performers.<br />
Grand Spectacle<br />
The event on September 11<br />
was a kaleidoscope of presentations<br />
which included Ganesh<br />
Vandana, dance recitals and<br />
Classical vocals.<br />
It was encouraging to see the<br />
next generation getting ready to<br />
take up the responsibility and<br />
interest in the traditional arts.<br />
About 25% of the programme<br />
had a classic touch, while a<br />
number of folk items such as<br />
‘Koligeet’ presented by four-sixyear<br />
old children, ‘Medley of<br />
Lavani’ and a theme presentation<br />
of ‘Bajirao Mastani,’ a Hindi<br />
Phil Goff and Priyanca Radhakrishnan with the member of the new Committee at Auckland<br />
Marathi Association<br />
blockbuster released last year.<br />
Phil Goff inspires<br />
Auckland Mayoral candidate<br />
Phil Goff has the inimitable ability<br />
to connect with any community<br />
group and it was amusing<br />
to hear him mention the names<br />
of prominent members of the<br />
Marathi community and speak<br />
about the significance of Ganesh<br />
Chaturthi.<br />
Earlier, the Festival commenced<br />
with ‘Ganesh Sthapana,’<br />
was followed by Pooja, Arti, cultural<br />
programme and dinner.<br />
The Menu highlighted the quintessential<br />
Maharashtrian favourites<br />
of Shrikhand, Masala<br />
Bhat, Tomato Saar and Batata<br />
Bhaji.<br />
The Association is now looking<br />
forward to organising<br />
Diwali celebrations.<br />
Lord Ganesha at the home of Rennu Patil (sister of<br />
Shailesh Bagwe, Accountant in Auckland) in her<br />
Wadala home, Mumbai<br />
Prashant Belwalkar is President of<br />
the Auckland Marathi Association.<br />
Pictures of the Festival were<br />
taken by Sai Bedekar of Creative<br />
Photography. www.amai.org.nz<br />
01.10.16<br />
08.10.16<br />
15.10.16<br />
Om SaravanaBhava<br />
Thiru Subramaniyar Aalayam<br />
Saturday<br />
69Tidal Road, MangereAuckland,New Zealand<br />
Festival and Events for <strong>October</strong>201<br />
Date Day Festival Time Events<br />
Puratasi Sani- Sudharsana<br />
Maha Vishnu Homam<br />
6.30pmto<br />
8pm<br />
Lord Vishnu Abisegam and<br />
Arathanai<br />
02.10.16to10.10.16Navarathiri festival6.30 to 8pm, Ambal TamilarasiNayagi, Alangaramand Arathanai<br />
10.10.16 SriSaraswathi Poojai,MoolaMantra Homamand Navakalashabisegamfrom6.30pm<br />
45 days’ Mandala poojaifor Sri Saraswathi Devi till 22nd <strong>October</strong><strong>2016</strong>. Sponsors &performance arewelcome<br />
04.10.16 Tuesday Chathurthi Lord Vinayakar Abisegam and<br />
Arathanai<br />
06.10.16 Thursday Shasti&SkandhaHomam 6.30pmto<br />
8pm<br />
11.10.16<br />
Tuesday<br />
-<br />
Ekadashi-Eshnapana<br />
Homam<br />
13.10.16 Thursday Pradhosam &Sri Panjakchara<br />
Homam<br />
16.10.16 Sunday Pournami Poojai (Villakku<br />
Poojai)<br />
17.10.16 Monday 1 st of Tamil MonthPoojai<br />
(Ippasi month)<br />
18.10.16 Tuesday Maha Sangadahara Chaturthi &<br />
SriMahaGanapathi Homam<br />
6.30pmto<br />
8pm<br />
6.30pmto<br />
8pm<br />
Lord Siva Abisegam andArathanai<br />
Lord Ayyappan & Abisegam and<br />
Arathanai<br />
Lord Vinayakar Abisegam and<br />
Arathanai<br />
. Lord Muneeshwar,Lord Kala<br />
22 10.16 Saturday Ashtami &kalabhiravar 6.30pmto<br />
Bhairavar andLord Madurai<br />
8.30pm<br />
Homam<br />
Veeran Abisegamand Arathanai<br />
25 . 10.16 Tuesday Ekadasi -Eshnapana Homam<br />
6.30pmto<br />
8pm<br />
6.30pmto<br />
8pm<br />
6.30pmto<br />
8pm<br />
6.30pmto<br />
8pm<br />
Lord Subramaniyar Abisegam and<br />
Arathanai<br />
Lord Vishnu &Lord Hanuman<br />
Abisegam andArathanai<br />
Ambal Tamilarasi Nayagi<br />
Arathanai<br />
Lord Vishnu &LordHanuman<br />
Abisegam andArathanai<br />
If youhaveany queries, feel free to contact Rajkumar Velu –022 187 3807<br />
We have pleasureininviting all<br />
devotees and friendstotakepart<br />
in allAbishegam andreceivethe<br />
blessings of LordGanesha,<br />
Murugan ValliDeivayanai, Siva<br />
Meenakshi, Venkatachalapathy,<br />
Hanuman,Kalabhairavar,<br />
Ayyappan, Navagrahas.<br />
Please bring fresh flowers,milk,<br />
honey, yoghurt, chandan,<br />
Viboothi forthe Abishegam and<br />
agreat opportunity to participate<br />
in allevents. Please bring aplate<br />
to sharewithothers forprasadam<br />
after abishegam and pooja.
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
European guests seek Lord’s blessings<br />
COMMUNITYLINK<br />
Cantabrians celebrate Eid Al Adha<br />
23<br />
Guests on Ganesh Chaturthi Day- Shirish Paranjape is on the back row third from right; Aino Antikainen<br />
and Coline Dumont are standing extreme right and extreme left<br />
A Correspondent<br />
More than 75 people attended<br />
Ganesh Chaturthi at the family<br />
home of Shirish Paranjape<br />
on September 5, <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
Among them were members of the<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> community and two special<br />
guests – Coline Dumont of Belgium and<br />
Aino Antikainen of Finland, both international<br />
exchange students at Burnside<br />
High School.<br />
The Paranjape family has been celebrating<br />
the Birthday of Lord Ganesha<br />
since 2002.<br />
“The number of devotees and guests<br />
has been steadily growing. My wife<br />
Manik was preparing food at home but<br />
with the rise in the number of guests, we<br />
arranged outside catering for the first<br />
time this year. An increasing number of<br />
families are now celebrating Ganapati<br />
Bappa’ s Birthday every year in their<br />
homes,” Mr Paranjape said.<br />
Unique experience<br />
Coline said: “It was a unique experi-<br />
Lord Ganesha at the Paranjape home<br />
ence – about 75 people in a house, singing<br />
and clapping to honour their God. It<br />
was quite impressive and noisy! These<br />
lovely <strong>Indian</strong> people were in their traditional<br />
dresses, and prayed for the welfare<br />
of all. The Paranjape family hosted<br />
the two of us, who do not even belong to<br />
their religion or culture. They made us<br />
welcome; we thought we were with our<br />
own family. We learnt a lot about Hindu<br />
religion and values.”<br />
Mayor Lianne Dalziel with members of ethnic communities at the Festival. Raj and Nimmi Bedi (extreme<br />
right) and Shirish Paranjape (Bottom row centre) are in the picture<br />
Shirish Paranjape<br />
The Nawawi Centre in<br />
Christchurch organised a public<br />
event on Sunday September 18,<br />
<strong>2016</strong> to celebrate Eid Al Adha.<br />
The event, at which Mayor Lianne<br />
Dalziel was the Chief Guest, was popular<br />
with people of different cultures, ethnicities<br />
and religions.<br />
She witnessed lunchtime prayer and<br />
addressed the gathering.<br />
There was a range of activities including<br />
Henna, Face-Painting and inflatables.<br />
The highlight of the event was<br />
‘DeenQuest,’ a specially designed Islaminspired<br />
treasure hunt.<br />
Henna was a highlight at the Eid Al Adha Festival<br />
American cousin prepares for classical debut<br />
Suzette Perry will present a Margam of<br />
Bharata Natyam numbers<br />
Venkat Raman<br />
venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />
The fact that art transcends manmade<br />
boundaries of religion, language<br />
and even culture will once<br />
again manifest itself at a Bharata<br />
Natyam Arangetram later this month in<br />
Auckland.<br />
Suzett Perry, a North American by<br />
birth (with Greek, German and Native<br />
American lineage) can be expected to<br />
bring pride and joy to lovers of this ancient<br />
traditional dance at Selwyn Theatre<br />
of Selwyn College in Kohimarama on<br />
Saturday, <strong>October</strong> 22, <strong>2016</strong>. Entry to the<br />
event is by invitation only and those interested<br />
may please contact Suzett. Email: suzett.arangetram@gmail.com<br />
Her debut would be another significant<br />
milestone for Kalaichelvi (Selvi)<br />
Uthayakumaran, Principal and Director<br />
of the Howick based Narthana Aalayam<br />
School of <strong>Indian</strong> Dance. According to our<br />
records Suzett would be her 36th student<br />
to graduate in this form of <strong>Indian</strong> Fine<br />
Arts.<br />
Selvi is known for her uncompromising<br />
stand on discipline and values of ‘Gurukul’<br />
(Resident teaching and learning), and expects<br />
her students to be committed to<br />
the art. She approves students to organise<br />
their Arangetram recitals only when<br />
she is completely satisfied that they have<br />
achieved the requisite proficiency.<br />
What: Arangetram of Suzett Perry<br />
Who: Narthana Aalayam School of <strong>Indian</strong> Dance<br />
When: Saturday, <strong>October</strong> 22, <strong>2016</strong> at 5 pm<br />
Where: Selwyn Theatre, Selwyn College<br />
203 Kohimarama Road,<br />
Kohimarama, Auckland<br />
Entry: By invitation only<br />
Contact: suzett.arangetram@gmail.com<br />
In many ways, Suzett is one of a kind.<br />
Impressive credentials<br />
A graduate in Biochemistry (BSc) from<br />
<strong>Indian</strong>a University in Bloomington, <strong>Indian</strong>a,<br />
she studied Mathematics and Statistics for<br />
four years as a Master’s degree student at<br />
Columbia University, an Ivy League school, in<br />
New York City before moving to New Zealand<br />
in 2005.<br />
She has worked in the pharmaceutical<br />
industry for over 20 years, initially as<br />
a Research Scientist and currently as a<br />
Regulatory Affairs Team Leader.<br />
Since arriving in New Zealand, Suzett has<br />
undergone extensive training in various ancient<br />
Hindu techniques for spiritual growth<br />
and developing mind power technique<br />
through Tapa Energy Intensive courses.<br />
She is a capable healer under the discipline<br />
of Tap Shakti Vikas and received initiation in<br />
2009. She is also a Reiki healer and has received<br />
Reiki Grandmaster attunement.<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong> had carried her article entitled,<br />
‘The Lamp clears the mind of dark<br />
thoughts’ in its Diwali Special 2011 (<strong>October</strong><br />
15, 2011) issue.<br />
Classical Journey<br />
Her interest in <strong>Indian</strong> Classical Dance was<br />
kindled after she watched the performance<br />
of a visiting professional dance group from<br />
Mumbai.<br />
She was so inspired by this single performance<br />
that she started seeking a teacher the<br />
next day.<br />
Her <strong>Indian</strong> Classical Dance journey began<br />
as a student of Kathak. She was very passionate<br />
about it and travelled to India in 2009 to<br />
learn from a renowned Kathak dancer. She<br />
had the opportunity to participate in a documentary<br />
about Kathak that aired all over<br />
India on Sahara TV.<br />
She began learning Bharata Natyam under<br />
Anuradha Ramkumar, Principal and Director<br />
of ‘Nrithyabhinaya’ and a year later (in 2010)<br />
started training under Selvi.<br />
“I am grateful to both Gurus who encouraged<br />
me to keep learning Bharata Natyam<br />
and believed that I had the potential to<br />
achieve proficiency,” she said.<br />
Suzett completed a Certification in Bharata<br />
Natyam from Annamalai University in India,<br />
which required written theory and practical<br />
dance exams.<br />
She has also completed the Level 1 Carnatic<br />
singing exam.<br />
Over the years, Suzett has had the opportunity<br />
to participate in performances in<br />
Auckland and regularly helps in teaching<br />
younger students.<br />
Other interests<br />
She has always been passionate about<br />
dance and sport, as she also has years of combined<br />
training in tap, jazz, ballet, Middle<br />
Eastern dance, gymnastics, Shaolin Kung Fu,<br />
and others.<br />
Suzett supports organisations, such as<br />
SAFE and SPCA, that help neglected and<br />
abused animals, has been involved in social<br />
activism and consciousness-raising activities<br />
over the past few decades and is an avid writer<br />
and reader of works by the intelligentsia.<br />
There were food stalls offering authentic<br />
ethnic food covering several cuisines.<br />
A special feature was a cultural lounge<br />
including a café that served delicacies of<br />
the Middle East and Turkish coffee and<br />
tea.<br />
An art exhibition showcased different<br />
aspects of Islamic art and culture.<br />
The stage shows had regular entertainment,<br />
cultural performances, traditional<br />
music, and martial arts.<br />
Members of Christchurch’s Interfaith<br />
Society also visited the event.<br />
Shirish Paranjape is Vice-President,<br />
Christchurch Multicultural Council.<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> Art and Culture<br />
inspires Suzette Perry
24<br />
COMMUNITYLINK<br />
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
Domestic Violence Counselling Centre opens<br />
Staff Reporter<br />
info@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />
A<br />
Non-Governmental Organisation<br />
that has been providing assistance<br />
and support to victims of<br />
family violence (women and<br />
men) has recently opened an office with<br />
additional facilities and services.<br />
Roopa Aur Aap Charitable Trust (RAA)<br />
shifted to its new premises last fortnight.<br />
The facility, located at 1193B, Dominion<br />
Road in Mount Roskill will function as the<br />
main office of the Trust.<br />
“Our staff number is small but each of<br />
them is qualified, and committed to serving<br />
the community. RAA is focused on catering<br />
to the needs of people of <strong>Indian</strong>,<br />
Fijian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi<br />
and Nepalese origin. Members of our staff<br />
speak a number of languages including<br />
English, Hindi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Urdu and<br />
Bengali,” Roopa Suchdev, Chairperson of<br />
the Trust said.<br />
Victims of Violence<br />
The Mission of the Trust is to help any<br />
woman or man in Auckland affected by<br />
domestic violence and abuse to overcome<br />
the mental and emotional harm and rebuild<br />
their life.<br />
The Trust runs a Family Support Group<br />
called, ‘Jaagriti’ (Awakening) to offer<br />
support to children affected by family<br />
violence.<br />
“The Trust has been providing family<br />
support services since 2008 and is fast<br />
expanding its activities. As we continue<br />
to expand our services to cover all sections<br />
of the South Asian communities, we<br />
are encouraged by the increasing recognition<br />
that RAA has been receiving all over<br />
New Zealand. We have successfully bonded<br />
many families and resolved several domestic<br />
violence cases in Auckland,” Ms<br />
Suchdev said.<br />
Strategic Partnership<br />
The Trust works in partnership with other<br />
organisations and provides specialist<br />
services to minority groups.<br />
Roopa Suchdev (right) with Nivedita Vij and an official of Auckland District Board at a Health Workshop held recently<br />
Roopa Suchdev with participants at a ‘Settling Professionally in New Zealand’ Workshop conducted by Rishi Bhatnagar<br />
“This focus enables us to provide a<br />
high quality, committed, dedicated service<br />
that does help women turn their<br />
lives around,” Ms Suchdev said.<br />
Although the primary activity of the<br />
organisation is associated with domestic<br />
violence victim assistance and support,<br />
it also actively provides help and advice<br />
to people suffering difficulties and hurdles<br />
in life. These include families suffering<br />
unexpected tragedies, migrants<br />
and international students who face<br />
problems and challenges.<br />
Specialist Services<br />
“Our counsellors specialise in controlling<br />
anger, depression, decision-making,<br />
grief and loss, stress, anxiety,<br />
trauma, relationships, conflict resolution,<br />
parenting, and self-esteem. RAA<br />
provides free professional and culturally<br />
appropriate supportive services,” Ms<br />
Suchdev said.<br />
While worksops enable people to understand<br />
their rights and servics avaiable<br />
through RAA, cultural programmes<br />
bring together people for amusement,<br />
entertainment and fellowship.<br />
The Trust also conducts fundraising<br />
programmes to support victims of natual<br />
disasters in various parts of the world.<br />
Ahmadiyyas push for lasting peace<br />
Dr Nadeem Ahmad<br />
Faith leaders from several<br />
mainstream religions<br />
joined hands on<br />
September 17, <strong>2016</strong> to<br />
find ways to achieve lasting<br />
peace.<br />
The meeting held in Three<br />
Kings, Mr Roskill, Auckland<br />
under the theme, “Justice:<br />
The Foundation for Lasting<br />
Peace,’ was arranged by<br />
the Ahmadiyya Muslim<br />
Community New Zealand.<br />
Race Relations Commissioner<br />
Dame Susan Devoy, who was<br />
the Chief Guest, said that a recent<br />
survey had ranked New<br />
Zealand as the fourth most<br />
peaceful country in the world.<br />
Peaceful country<br />
“What sets us apart though<br />
is that we have one of the most<br />
ethnically diverse societies<br />
in the western world. It is encouraging<br />
to see that leaders of<br />
so many different faiths have<br />
come together for one purpose<br />
of achieving peace through<br />
their beliefs. The challenge for<br />
us as a society going forward<br />
though is to take the message<br />
originating in this room to the<br />
New Zealand population at<br />
large,” She said.<br />
Leaders representing<br />
the Hindu, Sikh, Christian,<br />
Dame Susan Devoy with members of various faiths at the Conference.<br />
Buddhist, Jewish, and Islamic<br />
faiths all highlighted how religion<br />
can play a positive role<br />
in promoting peaceful co-existence,<br />
and increasing cohesion<br />
in the society. The speakers<br />
and guests at the event acknowledged<br />
and thanked the<br />
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat for<br />
arranging the meeting, and for<br />
providing a platform for a positive<br />
discussion to take place.<br />
Interfaith engagement<br />
Jamaat Acting President<br />
Yunus Hanif said that the<br />
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community<br />
worldwide continues to engage<br />
all faith groups to find means to<br />
achieve global peace.<br />
“This Conference was a small<br />
step on our long journey towards<br />
that goal. The commitment<br />
shown by our fellow faith<br />
leaders today was heart-warming,”<br />
he said.<br />
The Ahmadiyya Muslim<br />
Community is a dynamic,<br />
fast-growing international revival<br />
movement within Islam.<br />
Founded in 1889 by Hadhrat<br />
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-<br />
1908) in Punjab, India, the<br />
Community spans over 206<br />
countries with membership exceeding<br />
tens of millions.<br />
Its motto of ‘Love for all and<br />
hatred for none’ is evidenced<br />
through the peaceful actions of<br />
its millions of followers.<br />
The New Zealand branch was<br />
established in 1987 and has<br />
more than 400 members.
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
COMMUNITYLINK<br />
25<br />
Model of the Fortnight<br />
Cleanest thoughts bring<br />
happiness and warmth<br />
Life is meant to be experienced<br />
King (perhaps<br />
Queen) Size and<br />
every moment should<br />
be enjoyed. Waiting for happiness<br />
will push it farther, says<br />
Karuna Ashok Thawani, our<br />
Model of the Fortnight.<br />
Born in India on Christmas<br />
Day in 1996, she belongs to a<br />
family in which love and trust<br />
are the guiding principles. She<br />
regards her parents (Sonia and<br />
Ashok) as the pillar of strength<br />
and elder sister Jharna as the<br />
source of inspiration.<br />
Law & Psychology<br />
Arriving in New Zealand<br />
in 2003, Karuna is currently<br />
a student at the University<br />
of Auckland studying Law and<br />
Psychology, hoping to become a<br />
lawyer and neuropsychologist.<br />
“I hope to work as a lawyer<br />
fighting for the Crown. My<br />
grandfather was a lawyer and<br />
I hope to follow his footsteps.<br />
My psychology degree is a way<br />
of giving back what I gained to<br />
the community. I wish to work<br />
in medical camps for the needy<br />
in developing countries,” she<br />
said.<br />
Karuna is a part-time employee<br />
at Westpac, she recently<br />
joined Radio Tarana as a programme<br />
presenter.<br />
“I love what I do and I find<br />
it very fulfilling. I get to learn<br />
new things at work, which I<br />
find very exciting. I also get a<br />
lot of pleasure in dancing and<br />
skydiving,” she said.<br />
Karuna said that her mission<br />
in life is to be happy, learning<br />
every step of the way to find<br />
happiness in what she does.<br />
Warming experience<br />
She described Miss<br />
<strong>Indian</strong>z as a ‘really warming<br />
experience.’<br />
“That platform was a<br />
beautiful way to learn<br />
about myself. Radio<br />
Tarana, though a recent<br />
venture, has already given<br />
me a lot. It brings me<br />
joy knowing that many people<br />
appreciate what I do. I enjoy<br />
performing in cultural<br />
and community events. I also<br />
teach and choreograph dance<br />
performances,” she said.<br />
It is often said that ambition<br />
motivates a person to do<br />
his or her best in every endeavour<br />
and chase excellence.<br />
Teenagers like Karuna<br />
could well personify that<br />
statement.<br />
Photography:<br />
Andrew Bignall<br />
If you wish to be featured<br />
as a Model of the<br />
Fortnight, please write to<br />
editor@indiannewslink.<br />
co.nz<br />
ASB prepares for Diwali <strong>2016</strong><br />
Supplied Content<br />
ASB is pleased to sponsor<br />
the Auckland Diwali<br />
Festival for the second<br />
year running.<br />
For <strong>2016</strong>, ASB is taking its support<br />
one step further as ASB staff<br />
from across the city prepare for<br />
a Saturday night performance<br />
on the festival’s main stage<br />
(<strong>October</strong> 15).<br />
ASB’s Carmelina D’Souza and<br />
Ruzbeh Palsetia have driven the<br />
ASB staff, family and friends’<br />
performance, and recruited external<br />
choreographer Kesha<br />
Surti from Khottey Sikkey. More<br />
than 40 of them have been rehearsing<br />
up to three times a<br />
week for the past month.<br />
ASB Head of Community,<br />
Sponsorship and Events Mark<br />
Graham said that the Bank is<br />
pleased to support the Auckland<br />
Diwali Festival for the second<br />
successive year.<br />
“ASB is proud to be involved<br />
with the Auckland Diwali<br />
Festival. Bringing the bright<br />
lights, vibrant colours and exquisite<br />
cuisines of India to the diverse<br />
Auckland community, the<br />
festival is becoming a special<br />
date in the Auckland cultural<br />
calendar and an important celebration<br />
of the city’s diverse community,”<br />
he said.<br />
Embracing diversity<br />
ASB is proud to embrace<br />
diversity, acknowledging that<br />
its people and customers come<br />
from diverse backgrounds and<br />
bring a wide range of skills and<br />
experiences to their jobs. Diwali<br />
is a significant day for many ASB<br />
people and its customers.<br />
ASB’s support of the Auckland<br />
Diwali Festival sits alongside<br />
existing sponsorships of the<br />
Auckland Lantern Festival, the<br />
ASB Auckland Marathon and the<br />
ASB Classic.<br />
As a leading provider of integrated<br />
financial services in New<br />
Zealand, ASB has a genuine<br />
commitment to its community<br />
Rehersal in progress<br />
partnerships and fostering the<br />
arts across the country.<br />
The Festival<br />
ASB staff performance on the<br />
festival’s main stage on Saturday<br />
night (<strong>October</strong> 15)<br />
Free ASB balloons with glow<br />
sticks<br />
A social video sharing stand:<br />
Festival-goers can record their<br />
best Diwali dance moves on a<br />
green screen video background<br />
and then share it via social media<br />
Every ASB video that is recorded<br />
and shared on social media<br />
will go into the draw to win one<br />
of two, one night stays in the Sky<br />
City Grand Hotel, with breakfast<br />
for two at Gusto and a $200 Food<br />
and Beverage voucher.
26<br />
COMMUNITYLINK<br />
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
Take your healthy meal without a pound of flesh<br />
The World marks ‘Vegetarian Day’ today (<strong>October</strong> 1)<br />
Acharya Ajay Tiwari<br />
All of us are aware that<br />
non-vegetarian foods<br />
are the products of<br />
animals killed.<br />
Hinduism, which is a ‘way<br />
of life’ rather than a religion,<br />
accords greater importance to<br />
‘Dharma’, a concept which highlights<br />
‘Ahimsa’ or non-violence as<br />
the supreme mode of living.<br />
India holds the roots of Hinduism<br />
and is noted for its large<br />
number of vegetarians and wide<br />
availability of vegetarian foods.<br />
Vegetarianism was once<br />
adopted on religious grounds.<br />
But today, the reason for ‘going<br />
veg’ is more ethical, social and<br />
spiritual, and has less to do with<br />
religion.<br />
This awareness needs to be<br />
promoted on the special occasion<br />
of ‘World Vegetarian Day’ on<br />
<strong>October</strong> 1.<br />
Ethical Reasons<br />
All animals are sentient beings<br />
and they go through exactly the<br />
same pain, emotions and feelings<br />
like humans. Just as how we<br />
would love our pets sincerely,<br />
we should know that there is not<br />
much difference between pets<br />
such as cats, dogs and other living<br />
beings such as sheep, cattle,<br />
pigs, chicken, geese, turkey, duck<br />
and fish.<br />
Exhibiting kindness to animals<br />
is moral rectitude, not a sign of<br />
weakness.<br />
The golden rule, “Do unto<br />
others as you would have them<br />
do unto you,” emphasises the<br />
fact that compassion should be<br />
extended to all living beings, and<br />
not limited to human beings.<br />
“All animals are sentient<br />
beings and they go through<br />
exactly the same pain, emotions<br />
and feelings like human<br />
beings.”<br />
Social Reasons<br />
“We are what we eat” is<br />
another well-known quote and<br />
according to this, our minds,<br />
thoughts, processes, likes and<br />
dislikes are all determined by the<br />
type of food we consume.<br />
It is strongly believed that the<br />
pain, anguish, fear, anxiety and<br />
helplessness which the animals<br />
endure whilst being slaughtered,<br />
strangled or slit are imbibed into<br />
the flesh of the animals and in<br />
turn is passed on to the people<br />
when they subsequently partake<br />
the flesh.<br />
Mughal Emperor Abdul Fath<br />
Jalaluddin Mohammed Akbar<br />
(better known as ‘Akbar the<br />
Great’), who ruled Hindustan<br />
during the 16th century,<br />
patronised vegetarianism after<br />
reportedly coming under the<br />
influence of the Jain monk<br />
Hiravijyaya who famously said,<br />
“How could a man’s stomach be<br />
a tomb of animals?”<br />
Spiritual Reasons<br />
The notion of ‘Karma’ can be<br />
defined in simple terms as ‘when<br />
a predator eats a prey, there<br />
will be a time when the prey<br />
becomes the predator and the<br />
action will be reversed.’<br />
One might argue that, even a<br />
vegetarian is harming plants,<br />
fruits, leaves, roots, trees, seeds<br />
and stems. In justice terms - for<br />
survival purposes, if eating<br />
‘living beings like animals’ leads<br />
to the punishment for ‘murder’<br />
and eating ‘living things like<br />
vegetables’ leads to the punishment<br />
for ‘manslaughter’ – then<br />
surely ‘manslaughter’ would be a<br />
desirable option in one’s lifetime!<br />
Health Reasons<br />
In Hinduism, all foods are<br />
classified into three categories:<br />
Tamasic (Darkness), Rajasic<br />
(Passion) and Sattvic (Purity).<br />
Vegetarian foods, which come<br />
under the ‘Sattvic’ category,<br />
provide innumerable health<br />
benefits.<br />
Besides supplying vital<br />
nutrients essential for health<br />
and maintenance of body, they<br />
are mostly cholesterol-free and<br />
contain complex carbohydrates.<br />
Vegetable protein can be found<br />
in lentils, soybeans, black beans,<br />
kidney beans, chickpeas, pinto<br />
beans, lima beans, black-eyed<br />
peas, quinoa, peas, corn, rice,<br />
spinach, broccoli, bulgur, brown<br />
rice, tempeh, firm and regular<br />
tofu, soymilk, soy yoghurt, whole<br />
wheat bread, whole wheat toast,<br />
seitan (wheat gluten), bagel,<br />
veggie baked beans, oatmeal,<br />
almonds, cashews, peanut butter,<br />
sunflower seeds, baked potato,<br />
veggie burger and crackers.<br />
A practising vegetarian will<br />
find that the mind is calm and<br />
focused, which accelerates progression<br />
to a fast healthy, happy<br />
and peaceful life.<br />
Food Combinations<br />
Non-vegetarians usually<br />
believe that meat is their only<br />
sole source of protein and that a<br />
vegetarian diet provides little-tono<br />
protein.<br />
This is not true.<br />
There are eight types of<br />
proteins vital for life. While<br />
meat contains all the eight types,<br />
they lack in vitamins and the<br />
‘Sattvic nature’ that lentils and<br />
vegetables contain.<br />
Traditional <strong>Indian</strong> vegetarian<br />
foods such as ‘Dhal and Chawal’,<br />
‘Sabzi and Roti’ and ‘Vada and<br />
Pao,’ not only tickle the palate<br />
but also contain four proteins<br />
each that make up the eight<br />
proteins that all human beings<br />
need to survive.<br />
Nowadays, a rich variety of<br />
vegetarian dishes and meat<br />
alternatives are on offer that<br />
consuming animal flesh would<br />
just be a mere excuse.<br />
With nutritious vegetarian<br />
ingredients available (as listed<br />
herein), one can cook endless<br />
breakfast, lunch, dinner and<br />
snack combinations.<br />
I wish all <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong><br />
readers a ‘Happy World Vegetarian<br />
Day!’<br />
Acharya Ajay Tiwari is a<br />
Priest and Preacher. He is<br />
associated with Sanskrit Yoga<br />
& Jyotish Trust and can be<br />
contacted on (09) 2679980 or<br />
021-0347956. Email: acharyatiwari@gmail.com<br />
IN HOMAGE<br />
TO THE<br />
MOTHER<br />
WHO ENTERED<br />
SAINTHOOD<br />
CANONISED BY<br />
POPE FRANCIS<br />
MOTHER<br />
TERESA<br />
Bishop Patrick Dunn DD<br />
The Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland and Members of the Mother Teresa<br />
Interfaith Committee invite you to attend an Interfaith Meeting<br />
On SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27 <strong>2016</strong> at 2.30 pm<br />
At St Paul’s College, 183 Richmond Road, Ponsonby, Auckland<br />
Guest Speaker<br />
Gautam Lewis<br />
Founder and Chief Executive Officer,<br />
Freedom in the Air,<br />
Community Interest Company Ltd - London<br />
Elstree Aerodrome | Cranfield Airport<br />
Henstridge Airfield | Copenhagen<br />
It is impossible for me to forget Saint Teresa of Kolkata. At three years old<br />
I was abandoned after contracting polio and spent two years at Mother<br />
Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity. Mother gave me a chance to escape<br />
poverty and to a different destiny in London, England.<br />
Love and Faith Conquer Hardships<br />
For further details, contact Arthy at motherteresaif@gmail.com<br />
An opportunity not to be missed. Free Entry for all!
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
COMMUNITYLINK<br />
27<br />
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28<br />
THINKLINK<br />
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
WHAT’S DIFFERENT<br />
Use the photos to find the answer: aradical transformation<br />
ATTEMPTATION<br />
No. 011<br />
“Upon mysoul, is there no Latin word for tea?”,<br />
mused the French-born, British poet and master<br />
of English prose, Hilaire Belloc (1870-1953), who<br />
was referring to the familiar beverage produced<br />
from the plant camellia sinensis. The word Tea,<br />
however,certainly exists in other languages, where<br />
it is known as Tee in German, The in French, Te in<br />
both Spanish and Italian, Cha in Portuguese, and<br />
Thee in Dutch; allrepeatedinthe addition sum.<br />
And, sorry Mr Belloc, there is no Latin word for tea.<br />
JUMBLE No. 1734 SUDOKU No. 1055 HI<br />
TODAY’S TARGET<br />
26 Words Good<br />
31 Words Very Good<br />
36 Words Excellent<br />
42 Words Genius<br />
SOLUTION TO 1733<br />
elver ever evil give<br />
giver glee grieve<br />
gripe leer leper lever<br />
liege liger live liver<br />
peel peer peri peril<br />
pier pile plie plier<br />
PRIVILEGE reel relive<br />
repel revel revile riel<br />
rile ripe rive veer<br />
veil veliger verge vile<br />
viper virile<br />
THE RULES<br />
How many words of 4letters ormore can you make from these 9letters?<br />
In making aword each letter may beused only once, and the centre letter<br />
must be included. There must be at least one 9-letter word. No slang,<br />
foreign words, plurals, hyphens or apostrophes.<br />
Spot the 10 Differences<br />
“Stop right there Tarzan...I can hardly move around up here as it is”<br />
SNAP DECISION No. 001<br />
No. 001<br />
TEA<br />
TEE<br />
THE<br />
TE<br />
+ CHA<br />
= THEE<br />
In the addition sum different letters<br />
represent different digits. Rewrite<br />
the sum using the following digits:<br />
E<br />
1 2 3 7 8<br />
Solution tomorrow<br />
albert.haddad@attemptation.com<br />
CROSSWORD No. 11903<br />
ACROSS<br />
2 Sharp slaps<br />
7 Hackneyed<br />
8 Present for<br />
acceptance<br />
10 Country<br />
12 Backbone<br />
13 Mysterious<br />
16 Young hares<br />
18 Fools<br />
20 The sheltered side<br />
21 Label<br />
23 Depend on<br />
24 Knight’s title<br />
25 Have life<br />
26 Poem<br />
27 Took aseat<br />
28 Established customs<br />
29 Secret<br />
31 It turns red litmus<br />
blue<br />
33 Of the country<br />
34 Male geese<br />
36 Shrub<br />
37 Additional<br />
38 Goes in<br />
DOWN<br />
1 Made asuggestion<br />
2 Man’s name<br />
3 Confused scuffles<br />
4 Snooker rod<br />
5 Evening party<br />
6 Thin<br />
9 Something known to<br />
be true<br />
11 More uncommon<br />
14 In motion<br />
15 Rims<br />
17 Select group<br />
18 Fragrance<br />
19 Smooth and glossy<br />
CRYPTIC CROSSWORD<br />
ACROSS<br />
7 Russian man taking<br />
girl and boy back (6)<br />
8 A sign of twins? (6)<br />
10 Possibly reunite the<br />
entourage (7)<br />
11 Do for the politicians?<br />
(5)<br />
12 Wood Kate ordered (4)<br />
13 Loud stringed<br />
instrument or wind<br />
instrument (5)<br />
17 Push acanal boat (5)<br />
18 The man holds the<br />
Queen in this place (4)<br />
22 Allegation about mail<br />
dispute (5)<br />
23 Becomes aware of a<br />
new section (7)<br />
24 Commotion<br />
concerning steak<br />
given to us (6)<br />
25 Painter and latheoperator<br />
(6)<br />
DOWN<br />
1 Wines found by agirl<br />
on abackstreet (7)<br />
2 Depict aharbourman<br />
(7)<br />
3 Evil person right to<br />
leave afriend (5)<br />
7<br />
12<br />
18<br />
23<br />
26<br />
31<br />
36<br />
1<br />
32<br />
19<br />
29<br />
No. 17554<br />
4 IsPeter about to have<br />
an interval of rest (7)<br />
5 A sign of balance? (5)<br />
6 Girl with New York<br />
student’s material (5)<br />
9 Careless with the<br />
dressing-gown book<br />
(9)<br />
14 Ahalf rum can be<br />
injurious (7)<br />
15 It might be aboundary<br />
in sport (7)<br />
22 Arithmetical means<br />
24 Fabric<br />
25 Swarming<br />
grasshoppers<br />
27 Comfort insorrow<br />
28 Reflecting surface<br />
30 Norse literary genre<br />
32 Wild animal’s den<br />
35 Decimal point<br />
1 2 3 4 5 6<br />
7 8<br />
10 11<br />
12 13<br />
TEXT CODE No. 001<br />
1<br />
4<br />
GHI<br />
7<br />
PQRS<br />
2<br />
ABC<br />
5<br />
JKL<br />
8<br />
TUV<br />
2<br />
10<br />
16<br />
30<br />
34<br />
9<br />
14 15 16<br />
17 18<br />
19 20 21<br />
22 23<br />
24 25<br />
3<br />
DEF<br />
6<br />
MNO<br />
9<br />
WXYZ<br />
* 0 #<br />
3<br />
27<br />
38<br />
1. 9276<br />
24<br />
2. 6887433<br />
3. 79467848<br />
4. 776787<br />
SOLUTIONS IN OUR NEXT ISSUE<br />
4<br />
17<br />
20<br />
35<br />
5. 786727336<br />
6. 2628464<br />
11<br />
13<br />
5<br />
8<br />
28<br />
33<br />
37<br />
9<br />
25<br />
14<br />
21<br />
16 Sweet abandon, say<br />
(7)<br />
19 Contempt for asmall<br />
cereal plant (5)<br />
20 Friend taking mother<br />
to aresort inMajorca<br />
(5)<br />
21 Holy man not at home<br />
with drink (5)<br />
7. 532837<br />
8. 27696<br />
9. 2665<br />
6<br />
22<br />
10. 4278378<br />
11. 672643<br />
12. 2767<br />
Using the phone keypad, unscramble these words. The theme is:<br />
Summer and Autumn.<br />
15
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
West Auckland <strong>Indian</strong>s plan Grand Diwali Fare<br />
‘Ram Leela’ Group from Ayodhya due<br />
Mahendra Sharma<br />
Waitakere <strong>Indian</strong><br />
Association (WIA)<br />
will celebrate its<br />
annual Diwali<br />
Mela at a new, convenient and<br />
friendly venue this year.<br />
This year’s Diwali will be held<br />
on Sunday, <strong>October</strong> 23, <strong>2016</strong> at<br />
Te Pai Netball Courts, located at<br />
31-35 Te Pai Place, Henderson,<br />
which is close to the Trusts<br />
Stadium.<br />
The WIA Diwali Mela will commence<br />
at 11 am and conclude<br />
with fireworks at 10 pm.<br />
The origin of Diwali Mela in<br />
West Auckland goes back to 2000<br />
when Waitakere <strong>Indian</strong> Association<br />
(WIA) held its first public<br />
event at Corban Arts Centre in<br />
Henderson.<br />
Since then, the event has<br />
been growing from strength to<br />
strength to attract more than<br />
10,000 visitors every year.<br />
Bridge of Friendship<br />
WIA Diwali Mela is a highly<br />
popular event, focusing on<br />
bringing together not only<br />
people of <strong>Indian</strong> origin but also<br />
other ethnicities resident in and<br />
around Auckland.<br />
Over the years, we have also<br />
had the pleasure of welcoming<br />
Ram Leela Group from Ayodhya India to perform at WIA Diwali <strong>2016</strong><br />
people from other cities in New<br />
Zealand. This event is seen as a<br />
friendly and meaningful bridge<br />
between the <strong>Indian</strong> Diaspora<br />
and rest of Auckland.<br />
One of the highlights of our<br />
Diwali festivities is the staging<br />
of ‘Ram Leela,’ a tribute to<br />
Lord Rama (Incarnation of<br />
Lord Vishnu, the Protector of<br />
the Universe), whose return<br />
to Ayodhya after vanquishing<br />
the demon king Ravana of Sri<br />
Lanka and rescuing his wife Sita<br />
(who was held captive by Ravana)<br />
is celebrated as Diwali. A<br />
number of our children would<br />
participate in this dance drama,<br />
recapitulating the great Epic.<br />
The UP Troupe<br />
This year, we are privileged to<br />
bring the Ram Leela group from<br />
Ayodhya, located in the North<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> State of Uttar Pradesh<br />
to entertain the audience at the<br />
Diwali Mela.<br />
This group has performed<br />
all over the world and will be<br />
appearing at events in Australia<br />
before coming to New Zealand.<br />
Thereafter, the group will<br />
travel to Fiji for performances.<br />
Apart from ‘Ram Leela,’ WIA<br />
Diwali Mela will feature a number<br />
of Classical and Hindi film<br />
music and dances, food stalls as<br />
well as trade stalls.<br />
WIA appreciates the continued<br />
support of Henderson-Massey<br />
& Whau Local Boards, Radio<br />
Tarana, Portage Licensing Trust,<br />
Travel Point, Tulip Financial<br />
Services and Fresh Choice Glen<br />
Eden.<br />
Follow us on Facebook for up<br />
to date<br />
information https://www.<br />
facebook.com/Waitakere<strong>Indian</strong>Association/<br />
The following is an extract<br />
from an article by former<br />
WIA President and currently<br />
Executive Committee Member<br />
in <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong>, September<br />
15, 2014 issue.<br />
Family Event<br />
This event provides fun for<br />
the whole family, with special<br />
activities such as Sari Dressing,<br />
Bollywood dance classes, Rangoli<br />
and children’s amusement<br />
area.<br />
The overwhelming support<br />
from <strong>Indian</strong> and wider<br />
communities has inspired and<br />
motivated WIA to consider ways<br />
and means of enhancing the<br />
scope and content of the event<br />
year after year.<br />
Varied significance<br />
Diwali has great cultural, moral<br />
and religious significance to<br />
Hindus all over the world. The<br />
Festival of Lights is celebrated in<br />
a cordial atmosphere embracing<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> culture and heritage. It<br />
COMMUNITYLINK<br />
29<br />
is the time for happiness, renewing<br />
friendship and working<br />
towards collective wellness and<br />
joy.<br />
This festival is also intended<br />
to attract the wider Kiwi communities<br />
to participate in the<br />
event. While New Zealanders<br />
of varied cultural background<br />
and ethnicity have always lived<br />
and worked together, until a<br />
few years ago, there was little<br />
opportunity for them to witness<br />
and understand each other’s<br />
culture and heritage.<br />
Events such as Diwali play<br />
an important part in bringing<br />
people of different cultures,<br />
religions and faiths together,<br />
a process that is imperative in<br />
today’s world.<br />
Editor’s Note: In South India,<br />
Diwali denotes ‘Narakachathurdasi,’<br />
a celebration of<br />
lighting lamps at homes and<br />
public places, marking the<br />
victory of Narakasura, a demon<br />
killed by Lord Krishna (a<br />
later Avatar of Lord Vishnu).<br />
However, in many places in<br />
India, the ‘Return of Rama’<br />
theory is popular.<br />
What: Diwali Festival<br />
Who: Waitakere <strong>Indian</strong> Association<br />
Where: Te Pai Netball Courts, 31-35 Te Pai Place,<br />
Henderson, West Auckland<br />
When: Sunday, <strong>October</strong> 23 from 11 am to 10 pm<br />
Entry: Free for all<br />
Contact: Mahendra Sharma on 027 661 3242
30<br />
ENTERTAINMENTLINK<br />
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
Another flight attendant gets into Cloud Nine<br />
Miss <strong>Indian</strong>z <strong>2016</strong> Sunaina Chand with First Runner-Up (left) Jasdeep Kaur Basra and Second Runner-Up Sharanita Sharma<br />
Venkat Raman<br />
venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />
Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy<br />
Tata the late Founder-Chairman<br />
of Air India used to say<br />
that flight attendants (Air<br />
Hostesses as they were called then)<br />
should not only be beautiful but<br />
also be caring, alert, committed,<br />
culturally conscious and handle<br />
tricky questions and requests.<br />
Those were indeed the qualities<br />
that the judges at Miss <strong>Indian</strong>z<br />
<strong>2016</strong> were looking for in 26 contestants<br />
who participated in the<br />
annual event held at Aotea Square<br />
on Saturday, September 17, <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
More than 500 people were present<br />
at the event that has become a<br />
cultural extravaganza, attracting a<br />
cross-section of communities.<br />
Title Winner<br />
Sunaina Chand, a 23-year-old<br />
woman from the picturesque<br />
Kashmir in India won the Miss<br />
<strong>Indian</strong>z <strong>2016</strong> title; she was the<br />
second flight attendant to be<br />
honoured with the title and third<br />
Hamiltonian to reach the top since<br />
the annual series began in 2002.<br />
Writing to us soon after filing<br />
her entry a few months ago, she<br />
said that she was always focused<br />
on achieving her goals.<br />
“I am an outgoing and motivated<br />
woman who thrives to get the<br />
Miss <strong>Indian</strong>z <strong>2016</strong> Ashika Raj ties the Sash to her successor Sunaina Chand<br />
most out of life and one of the<br />
main goals is being a successful<br />
Kiwi <strong>Indian</strong> woman, who gets to<br />
represent our culture to the world.<br />
I cannot say that there are certain<br />
things I love doing more than<br />
others because I believe I like to do<br />
a bit of everything; but I can say<br />
that I am very passionate about<br />
modelling and acting. I believe<br />
that being a Kiwi <strong>Indian</strong> gives me<br />
the advantage of living with two<br />
amazing cultures,” she had said.<br />
First Runner-Up<br />
Jasdeep Kaur, who was declared<br />
First Runner-Up also believes in<br />
getting to her roots, culture and<br />
traditions.<br />
Born and raised in New Zealand,<br />
she has had the advantage of being<br />
‘twin-cultured’ and long cherished<br />
the hope that Miss <strong>Indian</strong>z would<br />
accord her an opportunity to<br />
explore new avenues.<br />
Her prayers were answered on<br />
September 17, <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
Jasdeep teaches the Punjabi<br />
dance to children at the Punjabi<br />
Virsa Arts and Dance Academy<br />
of New Zealand for the past four<br />
years.<br />
“I enjoy it as I feel I get to<br />
reconnect with my Punjabi roots<br />
and love the fact that I have<br />
an opportunity to share my<br />
knowledge to my students. I was<br />
looking forward to Miss <strong>Indian</strong>z<br />
as it provided another platform<br />
Lata Mangeshkar would have loved it here!<br />
Miss <strong>Indian</strong>z <strong>2016</strong> At a Glance<br />
Miss <strong>Indian</strong>z <strong>2016</strong>: Sunaina Chand<br />
First Runner-Up: Jasdeep Kaur Basra<br />
Second Runner-Up: Sharanita Sharma<br />
Miss Photogenic: Sunaina Chand<br />
Judged by David Watson)<br />
Miss Public Choice: Jasdeep Basra<br />
Miss Friendship: Lipsa Patel<br />
(Voted by Contestants)<br />
Miss Potential Model: Vandhana Vikash<br />
Miss Talent: Kavita Patel and Simran Madan<br />
(Judged by Brigitte Knight and Monisha Kumar)<br />
Best Speech Award: Risha Kumar<br />
Pictures by Peter Jennings<br />
to experience <strong>Indian</strong> culture and<br />
grow as a person,” she said.<br />
Second Runner-Up<br />
Sharanita Sharma, who was<br />
named Second Runner-Up at<br />
Miss <strong>Indian</strong>z <strong>2016</strong> is a student at<br />
Marist College, Catholic School<br />
for Girls, Mount Albert, Auckland,<br />
where she is the reigning Athletics<br />
Champion for <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
She has won several prizes,<br />
trophies, medals and certificates<br />
for outstanding performance<br />
in Athletics, Dance, Gymnastics,<br />
Netball, Rowing, Soccer and<br />
Swimming<br />
Sharanita is currently training<br />
to run a sub 13 second 100 meter<br />
run at the New Zealand Secondary<br />
Schools Athletics National Competition<br />
to be held from December 2<br />
to December 4, <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
Prior to her achievement, she<br />
had said, “Miss <strong>Indian</strong>z <strong>2016</strong><br />
will give me a strong platform to<br />
become a positive and successful<br />
advocate for young women and<br />
men who have experienced<br />
trauma.” As the third winner at<br />
the event, she would now have<br />
ample opportunities to realise her<br />
ambitions in life.<br />
Stars of <strong>2016</strong><br />
Dharmesh Parikh, Director,<br />
Rhythm House Limited which<br />
organises the event said that Miss<br />
<strong>Indian</strong>z <strong>2016</strong> was satisfying and<br />
demonstrated the team spirit of<br />
participants and others involved.<br />
“Hemant Parikh, Melanie Ramsden<br />
and Jacinta Lal were superb<br />
in their role as Masters of Ceremonies,<br />
while our panel of judges had<br />
the unenviable task of choosing<br />
the winners in various categories.<br />
They have been a major source of<br />
strength and encouragement to<br />
us,” he said.<br />
Mr Parikh also paid tribute to<br />
Sunaina and Raima Roy, Kiranjit<br />
Singh, X-Lake and Monisha School<br />
of Dance for their performances in<br />
the guest performers’ segment.<br />
“We are already gearing up to<br />
stage the 15th Annual Miss <strong>Indian</strong>z<br />
on September 16, 2017. Details will<br />
be published in <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong>,<br />
our website and announced on<br />
Radio Tarana. There is substantial<br />
evidence of interest already for<br />
next year’s event,” he said.<br />
Mr Parikh said that excluding<br />
‘Pageant Factors’ such as fundraising<br />
and elimination rounds<br />
make Miss <strong>Indian</strong>z the best show<br />
of its type,” he said.<br />
Ratna Venkat<br />
ratna@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />
In the world of music,<br />
especially those of the film<br />
variety, Lata Mangeshkar<br />
occupies a position of<br />
great respect and prominence.<br />
With more than 30,000 songs<br />
rendered in more than 35 languages<br />
to her credit, organising<br />
an event to pay homage to her<br />
inimitable talent is a challenge<br />
in itself.<br />
She is the only singer after<br />
the late M S Subbulakshmi to be<br />
conferred ‘Bharat Ratna,’ India’s<br />
highest civilian honour.<br />
Vidya Teke, Principal & Director<br />
of Auckland based Aarohi<br />
Academy of Music created a hat<br />
trick on Saturday, September 24,<br />
<strong>2016</strong> at Dorothy Winstone Centre,<br />
Auckland Girls’ Grammar<br />
School not only doing justice<br />
to the famous singer but also<br />
providing an opportunity for<br />
local talents to grow.<br />
The music concert, titled,<br />
‘Khamoshiyaan Gun Gunane<br />
Lagi,’ was third in an annual<br />
series, bringing together a<br />
cross-section of the society.<br />
Singers of Merit<br />
Following an invocatory<br />
number by Meena Basrur, Neha<br />
Meher and Rekha Maheshwari,<br />
Vidya set the pace for a<br />
melodious evening with ‘Jago<br />
Mohan Pyare,’ a lilting number<br />
from ‘Jagte Raho’ (a 1956 film<br />
starring Raj Kapoor and Nargis)<br />
and ‘Pawan Diwani Na Maane’<br />
(Dr Vaidya, 1962 with Vyjayanthimala<br />
and Manoj Kumar).<br />
Both songs were known for<br />
their classical notes, dealt with<br />
superb talent.<br />
Guncha Singh proved to be<br />
another singer of merit when<br />
she performed ‘Jaane Kya Baat<br />
Hai’ (Sunny, 1984, featuring<br />
Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh).<br />
This song later became a highlight<br />
of an Album titled, ‘Unforgettable<br />
Lata Mangeshkar.’<br />
Guncha appeared a while<br />
later with Joseph Jose to present<br />
‘Kora Kagaz Tha Yeh Man Mera,’<br />
one of the most popular songs<br />
tuned by the late Sachin Dev<br />
Burman. Picturised on Rajesh<br />
Khanna and Sharmila Tagore<br />
for ‘Aradhana’ (1969), this song<br />
was an all-time favourite of producer-director<br />
Shakti Samanta.<br />
Joseph Jose is fast gaining the<br />
reputation of possessing the<br />
voice of Kishore Kumar and<br />
his effortless rendition of the<br />
great singer’s songs is receiving<br />
favourable reviews.<br />
Rhea Maheshwari drew wide<br />
applause as she sang, ‘Bhai<br />
Battur,’ a memorable Lata<br />
Mangeshkar song from the 1968<br />
Hindi hit film ‘Padosan.’ It is not<br />
Vidya Teke renders ‘Jago Mohan Pyare’<br />
generally acknowledged that<br />
‘Padosan’ was a shot-by-shot<br />
remake of the 1960 Tamil film<br />
‘Adutha Veetu Penn,’ which<br />
itself was a remake of ‘Pakkinti<br />
Ammaye,’ a Telugu film released<br />
in 1953.<br />
Other Performers<br />
Composition of music is such a<br />
creative thing that songs tend to<br />
be known for its singer’s quality,<br />
or orchestration. On such a note,<br />
‘Ab Toh Hai Tumse Har Khushi<br />
Apni,’ sung by Simran Shah (the<br />
original was performed by Lata<br />
picturised on Jaya Bhaduri),<br />
threw the limelight on Joseph<br />
Alexander who created magic<br />
on his Octopad.<br />
Among the other notable<br />
songs in the first half were<br />
‘Maine Kahan Phoolon Se’ by<br />
Aaishani Kotak (from 1975 film<br />
Mili), ‘Dikhayi Diye Yun Ke<br />
Bekhud Kiya’ sung by Rekha<br />
Maheshwari (from Bazaar, 1982)<br />
and ‘Tum Aa Gaye Ho Noor Aa<br />
Gaya Hai’ by Shweta Divekar-<br />
Shirsat and Joseph Jose (Aandhi,<br />
1975), the last of which showed<br />
Joseph in his elements.<br />
Jai Puranik and Shriya Bhagwat-Chitale<br />
were the Masters of<br />
Ceremonies.<br />
Another milestone<br />
‘Khamoshiyaan Gun Gunane<br />
Lagi III’ added another milestone<br />
in the musical journey of<br />
Vidya and her husband Shekhar<br />
Babanrao Teke.<br />
Their Live-in-Concert Series<br />
propagates awareness of Lata’s<br />
dedication to music amongst<br />
the <strong>Indian</strong> community in New<br />
Zealand. The annual event also<br />
celebrates the birthday of Lata<br />
Joseph Jose and Shweta Divekar-Shirsat singing ‘Tum Aa Gaye<br />
Ho Noor Aa Gaya Hai’<br />
(September 28).<br />
The Concert had its initial<br />
moments of anxiety with sound<br />
issues which were later corrected.<br />
Light effects were ‘touching,’<br />
especially when Vidya rendered<br />
‘Nindiya Si Jaagi Bahar’ (Hero,<br />
1983) and Bengali fusion of ‘O<br />
Sajana Barkha Bahaar’ (Parakh,<br />
1960)<br />
The live orchestra comprised<br />
Hemant Thaker (Keyboard), Jay<br />
Sharma (Harmonium), Joscel<br />
Alexander (Acoustic Drums),<br />
Joseph Alexander (Octopad),<br />
Navneel Prasad (Tabla), Rezwan<br />
Ashraf (Guitar), Shivan Padayachi<br />
(Bass Guitar) and Swarali<br />
Pande (Percussion).<br />
With Reporting by Venkat<br />
Raman; Pictures by Meghna<br />
Muralimohan
OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
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OCTOBER 1, <strong>2016</strong><br />
India begins spirited attack in Test Number 500<br />
Apurv Shukla<br />
India beat New Zealand<br />
by 197 runs in the first<br />
cricket test of the three<br />
match series at the Green<br />
Park Stadium in Kanpur on<br />
September 26, <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
It was India’s 500th Test<br />
Match, and started one of the<br />
longest home summers for the<br />
second-ranked test side, where<br />
they are scheduled to play 13<br />
test matches.<br />
New Zealand was aiming to<br />
win only their third Test Match<br />
in India, first since 1988, when<br />
Kane Williamson’s side started<br />
the Kanpur Test.<br />
In spite of losing the toss,<br />
Kiwis put up a good performance<br />
in the first innings restricting<br />
India to 318.<br />
The New Zealand spin trio Ish<br />
Sodhi, Mark Craig and Michael<br />
Santner, playing their first test<br />
in India, made good use of the<br />
conditions.<br />
Left arm bowler Trent Boult<br />
chipped in with three wickets.<br />
Good start<br />
New Zealand started well in<br />
response, reaching 159/1 when<br />
rain interrupted play on Day 2<br />
of the match.<br />
Things turned around<br />
for India though on<br />
Day 3 with spin twins<br />
Ravichandran Ashwin<br />
and Ravi Jadeja getting<br />
all the wickets.<br />
Ross Taylor was out<br />
without scoring.<br />
Williamson, returning<br />
to the country where<br />
he scored a century on<br />
debut in 2010, was the<br />
standout performer top<br />
scoring with 75 runs.<br />
India in their second<br />
innings looked like<br />
a team batting on a different<br />
pitch to the Kiwis.<br />
Opener Murali Vijay and<br />
Cheteshwar Pujara (who<br />
was looking to make<br />
the one-down position)<br />
scored well.<br />
Chasing history<br />
India set the Kiwis a<br />
target of 434 runs to win<br />
the test match.<br />
New Zealand was chasing<br />
history in their quest<br />
to win the game.<br />
The previous highest<br />
fourth innings total in<br />
India by a touring team<br />
was 276 by the West<br />
Indies in 1987.<br />
When Ashwin, opening<br />
the bowling, trapped<br />
Williamson on the back<br />
foot in the final session<br />
of the fourth day at<br />
Green Park, he became<br />
the fastest <strong>Indian</strong> bowler<br />
to 200 Test wickets,<br />
reaching the milestone in<br />
his 37th Test.<br />
He beat the record<br />
previously held by<br />
Harbhajan Singh who<br />
achieved the feat in 46<br />
tests.<br />
Guptill disappoints<br />
Auckland opener<br />
Martin Guptill again disappointed<br />
against the<br />
red ball; scoring a total of<br />
21 runs in the match.<br />
His place for the second<br />
test looks in jeopardy<br />
with a fit again<br />
Jimmy Neesham slotted<br />
to come back.<br />
For Man of the Match<br />
Jadeja, it was a brilliant<br />
start to the home series.<br />
Not only did he pick six<br />
wickets, but also scored<br />
valuable runs down the<br />
order in both innings.<br />
As the series heads east<br />
to Kolkata, New Zealand<br />
has a tough job on hand.<br />
The team must to put<br />
up a more spirited defence<br />
and attack mechanisms<br />
against the <strong>Indian</strong><br />
spinners - in all likelihood-<br />
three of them at<br />
Eden Gardens.<br />
Ravichandran Ashwin finished with match figures of 10-225 as India cantered to a 197-run win<br />
Picture by BCCI<br />
India played some bad shots to throw away wickets to New Zealand on the first day<br />
Picture by Reuters<br />
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