INL March 1 2017 Digital Edition

The English Fortnightly (Since November 1999) 

Issue 364 | March 1, 2017 | Free 

CALLING FOR ENTRIES AND 

NOMINATIONS TO THE 10th ANNUAL 

INDIAN NEWSLINK 

INDIAN BUSINESS AWARDS 2017 

Nomination Process: 

Direct by Entrants; Nominations for Individual Categories (10 to 14) by companies and 

individuals; Nominations by commercial banks and chartered accountants for companies 

and individuals with information prescribed in the entry forms available on the Awards 

website (www.inliba.com). 

Professional assistance, independent of Indian Newslink and the Panel of Judges is 

available to entrants, who should negotiate terms and fees directly. 

Contact Details: 

1. Georgia Saxon, The Awards Shop 

Mobile: 021-715479; Email: georgia@awardshop.co.nz; Website: www.awardshop.co.nz 

2. Manish Tanna, Vmindurbiz Services 

Mobile: 021-822772; Email: manish@vmindurbiz.com; Website: vmindurbiz.com 

phone 

09 533 6377 

editor@ 

indiannewslink.co.nz 

website 

www.indiannewslink.co.nz 

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/indiannewslink 

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International students need better protection 

Export Education must be overhauled 

The War has begun: Labour and its leader Andrew Little (left) and National and its leader Bill English (right) have a huge task ahead 

(Indian Newslink Picture ©) 

Electionlink launch opens the battle gates 

Venkat Raman 

venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz 

Prime Minister Bill English is 

a serious man, committed to 

his job, and as the Finance 

Minister since November 

2008, he has had the envious 

task of managing the fiscal policy of the 

country which had to face a series of 

challenges including the global financial 

crisis, earthquakes, aftershocks and 

other natural disasters. 

Amidst all the wrinkles that his role 

causes, he is also a man of humour, a 

simple farmer who believes in reaching 

out to people, and a man with high 

social, moral and religious values. 

Labour Party Leader Andrew Little, 

who also leads the Opposition, is a man 

with passion, seeking social justice for 

all, and aspiring to be the next Prime 

Minister to provide good governance 

with strong principles that dictate the 

tenets of his Party. 

Fortunately for us in New Zealand, 

our politicians are above graft, and 

are down-to-earth people, aware that 

the people of this country would not 

tolerate any breach of moral or financial 

borders. 

Except that their views are reported 

differently without the advantage of a 

proper analysis and discussion. 

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*Conditions Apply 

HEAD OFFICE AND BRANCH: 

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MANUREWA: 

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A Regular Feature 

The launch of ‘Electionlink’ of this 

newspaper by Prime Minister Bill 

English on behalf of the National Party 

on Monday, February 27, 2017 and by 

Andrew Little on behalf of the Labour 

Party of New Zealand on Tuesday, February 

28, 2017 marked the beginning of 

what promises to be an honest carrier 

of news and views in a major battle for 

the ballot. 

Following this launch, ‘Electionlink’ 

will be a regular feature in all our issues 

commencing with this edition and 

carry views, opinions, features written 

by politicians, supporters of political 

parties and most important of all, our 

people. As in the past, this would be 

a no-holds-barred, free-for-all pages. 

Those with strong political views would 

be able to use this veritable platform 

openly and frankly, keeping of course to 

the confines of decency and legitimate 

limits of propriety. 

Elections are fought in the free world 

with ferocity, with politicians and their 

supporters accusing their opponents 

of almost anything that they believe, 

without the obligation of having to 

provide any proof. 

Until recently, general elections in 

New Zealand were marked by humour, 

goodwill for each other, with hardly any 

personal references. But over the past 

AUCKLAND CBD: 

32, Queen Street 

PAPATOETOE: 

302, Great South Road 

few years, the gloves have come off 

and politicians have not only begun to 

punch but also resort to a war of words, 

which, according to many, is ‘Dirty 

Politics.’ 

We are balanced 

Ministers, Parliamentarians of all 

groupings often tell us the New Zealand 

Media is biased but many of them are 

totally tilted towards the National Party. 

MPs and selected candidates of opposition 

parties say that their statements 

and speeches are always taken out of 

context by some in the print media and 

on the radio and hence the people do not 

get the benefit of balanced views. 

Indian Newslink has always been a 

newspaper that has been neutral in its 

approach towards politics. Our platform 

is open with leaders of political parties 

and others to promote their policies and 

programmes. 

The launch of ‘Electionlink’ will 

provide additional room in our print 

edition, our Bi-weekly Newsletters 

(issued on Wednesdays and Saturdays), 

our three web editions and in the Social 

Media (Facebook and Twitter) to enable 

people to participate more seriously in 

the democratic process. 

Electionlink launch reports appear on 

Pages 2, 6 and 7 of this issue. 

AVONDALE : 

195, New Windsor Road 

WELLINGTON: 

233-237 Lambton Quay 

Alastair McClymont 

The plight of the latest group of 

Indian student deportees is yet 

further proof that we need a 

thorough overhaul of our system of 

export education to create better protection 

for our international students. 

We also need better oversight of our local 

private training institutions, so they become 

more vigilant about the agents they select to 

work on their behalf. 

The students’ protest has helped to 

highlight what they’re up against and has 

opened up a necessary public debate. 

Dodgy agency thrive 

Indian education agents already identified 

as ‘dodgy’ continue to run their agencies 

in India, their business uninterrupted. 

The teenage students being deported are 

collateral damage. A fresh lot of victims is 

about to arrive. At my law practice, we see 

them every day. 

Following my eight-month battle for justice 

for the affected Indian students, there’s 

been increased public awareness about the 

inconsistencies and injustices relating to the 

student visa process. 

This has contributed to the national debate 

about our export education industry. It 

has also exposed government indifference to 

the plight of the Indian students threatened 

with deportation in its focus to protect this 

$2.85 billion industry. 

The government is obviously unwilling 

to regulate the agents because it may well 

create a competitive disadvantage for New 

Zealand with other countries. We are not the 

only country that doesn’t require education 

agents to be regulated. 

Deportation cost 

But what about the human cost of deporting 

these young, vulnerable Indian students? 

Hard-won family savings invested in their 

education will be lost and not recoverable. 

If they return home disgraced, it will bring 

public shame on their families. They carry 

huge guilt, feeling a strong obligation to 

repay their families by becoming successful 

and gaining a residency visa. 

The status of the group of nine Indian 

Qualityadviceisassured through 

ateam of Licensed Immigration Adviser /Ex-Immigration Officer. 

We provide tailor-made solutions to individual 

migrant and their families seeking to study,work, 

invest,dobusiness and livein 

NewZealand permanently 

students sheltering with the Ponsonby 

Unitarian Church in Auckland has now been 

resolved. 

Immigration New Zealand has discussed 

the process under which this group of 

students I represent may apply for visas to 

return to New Zealand. 

Agreement with INZ 

We have now reached an understanding 

as to what the appropriate process should 

be. 

Eight of the students who had sought 

sanctuary in early February at the Ponsonby 

Church have now agreed to depart New 

Zealand on or before either Sunday, 

February 26 or Monday, February 27. In 

return, INZ has undertaken not to detain 

the students for deportation, providing they 

depart voluntarily prior to midnight by the 

last agreed date. 

The students and INZ have discussed 

the process under which they may apply 

for visas to return to New Zealand, and we 

have reached an understanding as to what 

the appropriate process should be. This is 

a successful outcome for these students 

given the circumstances, particularly if the 

Ombudsman agrees to intervene on their 

behalf. 

They are happy to have their applications 

for student or work visas reconsidered when 

they return to India, but they want the ability 

to do this without having the status of being 

a deported person hanging over their heads 

and without a five-year ban on re-applying. 

They also want to be able to make the case 

again that they had no knowledge of the 

fraud committed by their education agents. 

Pathway to Residency 

The New Zealand government promised 

these students the opportunity to apply for 

graduate work visas once they completed 

their qualifications. They promised that 

study here is a ‘pathway to residency.’ 

Instead, students have been conned 

by India-based agents representing New 

Zealand schools. 

And the Government’s only interest 

appears to be protecting their income. 

Alastair McClymont is an Auckland-based 

Immigration Law Specialist 

Related Topics: ‘Lessons that international 

students taught us’ on Page 4 and 

Our Leader, ‘No Mercy for unscrupulous 

employers’ under Viewlink on Page 12 

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02 

Homelink 

MARCH 1, 2017 

Electionlink launch February 27, 2017 Electionlink launch February 28, 2017 

Bill English Judith Collin Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi Robert Khan 

Gurjinder Singh Aulakh Rahul Sirigiri Jacob Mannothra Ratna Venkat 

Two Parties, Two Events, One Election 

National and Labour come to Indian Newslink Party 

Venkat Raman 


One of the most endearing 

aspects of New Zealand politics 

is its simple and honest 

politicians, irrespective of 

the Party they represent. From Prime 

Minister, Leader of the Opposition, 

Ministers and Members of Parliament, 

they are all accessible, easy-to-converse 

and understand. They are also downto-earth 

people who are aware that 

someday when would be ordinary New 

Zealanders again. 

Such was the environment at the 

launch of the Electionlink pages of 

Bill English with Rahul Sirigiri at the Electionlink Launch 

on February 27 

Indian Newslink held at Raviz Restaurant 

in Botany Junction, Auckland 

for the National and Labour Parties 

respectively on Monday, February 27, 

2017 and Tuesday, February 28, 2017. 

Both days brought together supporters, 

volunteers, businesspersons and other 

special guests. 

National Day 

Prime Minister Bill English led 

the team on February 27 with Ethnic 

Communities Minister Judith Collins, 

Pacific People’s Minister Alfred 

Ngaro and Land Information Minister 

Mark Mitchell. Among the National 

Members of Parliament present were 

Tim Macindoe (also a Director on 

the Party’s Board) , Kanwaljit Singh 

Bakshi, Melissa Lee, Jami-Lee Ross, 

Chris Bishop, Jono Nayler and Dr Parmjeet 

Parmar. National Party Directors 

Alastair Bell and Andrew Hunt were 

also present. 

It was an evening of humour and 

serious talks, with Mr English recounting 

his recent experiences as Prime 

Minister (since December 12, 2016). 

He was confident that he would lead 

National into the fourth term, sighting 

the achievements of the National 

government since November 2008. 

“The economy is stronger than ever, 

we have more people on jobs, less on 

benefit, we have invested substantially 

in health, education, law and order and 

other core sectors. People do not want a 

change,” he told the gathering. 

Labour Day 

Fresh from victory at Mt Albert 

(where a by-election was held on February 

25) and Mt Roskill (on December 

3, 2016), Labour Leader Andrew Little 

had reason to be jubilant, with renewed 

confidence. He appeared positive of 

victory in the ensuing general election. 

That enthusiasm was shared by a 

number of his Parliamentary colleagues 

present at the Electionlink launch. They 

included Grant Robertson, Phil Twyford, 

Jacinda Arden, Carmel Sepuloni, 

David Parker, Su’a William Sio, Sure 

Moroney, Stuart Nash, Louisa Wall 

and Michael Wood. David Cunliffe, 

who has announced that he would 

not seek re-election and Priyanca 

Radhakrishnan, Labour’s Candidate 

at Maungakiekie proved to be good 

conversationalists. 

“National Party will win again in 

general election 2017.” 

“People have had enough. Labour 

will form the next government.” 

The two divergent views, made wider 

and louder by other political players 

in the fortnights to come, would make 

up our Electionlink pages from here 

to the general election on September 

23, 2017, when the verdict at the polls 

would determine who occupies the 

Beehive and the Treasury benches in 

Parliament. 

Until then, we would do our job of 

reporting, analysing and commenting 

on the evolution of policies and 

programmes from both sides of the 

political spectrum. 

More detailed reports with additional 

pictures will appear in our next issue 

dated March 15, 2017. 

Andrew Little Grant Robertson Jacinda Arden Michael Wood 

, Priyanca Radhakrishnan David Cunliffe Wenceslaus Anthony Ratna Venkat 

Authorised by Mahesh Bindra, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 

Help guide Auckland’s 

direction for 2017/2018 

PRO_0747_IN_013 

Each year we set our budget to meet future growth 

and deliver the services that council provides. 

As part of our Annual Budget consultation we want 

your feedback on a range of topics including your rates, 

targeted rates, how we pay for investment and local 

activities and priorities for 2017/2018. 

Visit shapeauckland.co.nz for more information and 

to have your say. 

NEW ZEALAND FIRST LIST MP BASED IN AUCKLAND 

BINDRA 

MAHESH BINDRA 

Spokesperson for: Corrections, Ethnic Affairs, Customs, LINZ 

Auckland Office 

Level 1, 21 East Tamaki Road, Papatoetoe 

Auckland 2025 

P: 0800 BINDRA (246 372) 

E: mahesh.bindra@parliament.govt.nz nzfirst.org.nz 

Haveyoursay by 4pm on Monday 27 March, 2017. 

Formoreinformationand to provide feedback 

visit shapeauckland.co.nz or your local library, 

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Business Awards foster the 

competitive spirit 

We call for entries with facility for professional advice 

Homelink 

03 

Venkat Raman 


An expanded nomination process, 

increased chance of success for entrants 

to win in individual categories and 

professional support in completing the 

entry procedures are among the new initiatives 

of the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards 

(INLIBA) 2017. 

We are happy to announce the call for entries for 

this year’s Awards; entries will be open from March 

1, 2017 to August 31, 2017 during which three free 

workshops will be held at BNZ Partners centres 

in North Shore (May 2, 2017), Auckland Central 

(June 6) and Highbrook (July 4). Details of these 

workshops appear in our advertisement published 

in this issue. The advertisement will also appear in 

our three web editions- www.indiannewslink.co.nz, 

www.inliba.com and www.inlisa.com 

We are also concerting efforts to conduct workshops 

in Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch, 

depending on the response of the business community 

and those eligible to enter the Awards. 

A Landmark in Awards 

Indian Newslink is a sober and serious publication 

and it is our wont not to indulge in self-praise 

(such as ‘We are the best’ and ‘Our Awards are 

the foremost and most prestigious’) because we 

believe that our record and public opinion are better 

testimonials than inflicted acclaims. 

Even so, INLIBA 2017 presents an exciting 

phase, for it marks ten years of our Awards Scheme, 

bringing to the fore the success of our businesses, 

entrepreneurs and professionals who have contributed 

substantially to the progress of the New Zealand 

economy. 

Every year has also seen the voice of the business 

community heard through sponsors, companies and 

individuals translated into changes to the Awards 

Programme, with new categories added and old 

ones deleted or modified. This in itself is an expression 

of democratic ideals- which we always wanted 

INLIBA to be – responsive and responsible. 

Robust judging process 

It is a matter of gratification that our Awards 

Scheme has adhered to rigid standards of discipline, 

independent and robust judging process. Our 

Panel of Judges are not only experts in their sphere 

of commercial activity but are also visible and 

accountable to their decisions. There is a built-in 

regime of fierce independence, which remains clear 

of the management staff, and sponsors. This process 

has inspired confidence and satisfaction among 

entrants, assuring them of a level-playing field. 

INLIBA has been evincing widespread interest 

among the members of the business community, 

with many saying that the scheme enhances the 

competitive spirit. We have also heard many 

entrants saying that the Awards Programme has 

encouraged them to have a business plan in place 

and fostered the team spirit with customer response 

added to their entries. 

Fourteen Categories 

Our Awards Programme has grown to account 

for 14 categories carefully chosen to ensure that all 

businesses activities are given a chance to compete 

for the awards. Among them are five individual 

categories to recognise people who have made 

significant contributions to the success of the 

companies with they are associated- as directors or 

employees. 

Entry forms can be downloaded from www. 

inliba.com 

Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards brings together people of different dispositions. Pictured here are (from left) 

Indian Newslink Managing Director Jacob Mannothra, the then Prime Minister John Key and Labour Party Leader and 

Opposition Leader Andrew Little at our Ninth Annual Awards held on November 28, 2016. 

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04 

Homelink 


Tougher punishment for 

exploitation of migrant workers 

Michael Woodhouse 

Employers who exploit migrant 

workers and breach provisions 

of the Employment Law will 

come to grief under a new set 

of rules that will come into effect on 

April 1, 2017, Immigration Minister 

Michael Woodhouse has said. 

“It is unacceptable that employers 

who exploit migrant workers are still 

able to recruit from the international 

labour market and disadvantage those 

employers who do the right thing,” he 

said announcing the new measures on 

February 23. 

The new rules account for ‘standdown 

periods,’ during which employers 

who flout the law will be banned from 

recruiting further migrant workers. 

Employers who have incurred an 

employment standards-related penalty 

will be banned from recruiting migrant 

labour for defined stand-down periods 

ranging from six months to two years, 

depending on the severity of the case. 

Guidelines published 

Published guidelines and criteria 

will ensure that stand-down periods 

are applied fairly, consistently and 

transparently. 

Mr Woodhouse said that access to 

the international labour market is a 

privilege, not a right and that employers 

abusing that privilege would face 

consequences. 

The new measures will apply to all 

employers intending to recruit labour 

market-tested migrant workers, including 

employers who are (a) supporting 

work visa applications and approvals 

in principle (b) seeking accredited 

employer status or supporting residence 

class visa applications based on 

employment and (c) employers who 

are part of the Recognised Seasonal 

Employer scheme. 

Employment standards 

“Employment standards-related 

penalties extend from formal 

infringement notices issued by the 

Labour Inspectorate (following a 

Labour Inspectorate investigation) 

through to penalties issued by the 

Employment Relations Authority or the 

Employment Court, a declaration of 

breach or banning order issued by the 

Employment Court. Employers issued 

with penalties because of private actions 

taken by employees either through the 

Employment Relations Authority or 

the Employment Court will also be 

included,” Mr Woodhouse said. 

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse with (from left) Indian Newslink Managing Director 

Jacob Mannothra, National MP (Botany) Jami-Lee Ross, Indian Newslink Assistant Editor Ratna 

Venkat and Link2 Services Limited Managing Director Indra Sirigiri at our office on Friday, 

February 17, 2017. 

“While non-compliant employers 

would not be eligible to recruit further 

migrant workers for the duration 

of their stand-down period, some 

employers who meet the threshold 

for non-compliance with employment 

standards will already have migrant 

workers in their employment. These 

employees will be able to work out the 

duration of their work visa, but will not 

be granted further work visas to work 

for the non-compliant employer,” Mr 

Woodhouse said. 

Mr Woodhouse visited our office on 

Friday, February 17, 2017 and shared 

with us his vision for a clean and transparent 

immigration regime that ensured 

absence of exploitation and rogue agents 

overseas. 

“We will do everything possible to 

protect the impeccable image of New 

Zealand as the finest destination for 

education and migrants,” he said. 

Indian Newslink will publish issues 

related to immigration, exploitation 

of migrant workers and the plight of 

international students from South Asia 

in its ensuing issues and seek the views 

of experts. 

EEO concurs 

Welcoming the move, Equal Employment 

Opportunities Commissioner (of 

Human Rights Commission) Dr Jackie 

Blue said that the stand-down periods 

for employers who breach immigration 

and employment law said that she 

hoped this would be only the start of 

actions taken to address migrant labour 

exploitation in New Zealand. 

“Last year, New Zealand saw its 

first human trafficking conviction and 

the release of a report that highlighted 

an urgent need for systems that better 

monitor and address worker exploitation 

and protect our migrant workers. We are 

not immune to human rights abuses,” 

she said. 

Penalising employers who show 

disregard for our employment and 

immigration laws is a positive first step 

towards addressing migrant labour 

exploitation in New Zealand. It sends a 

strong message that their actions are not 

acceptable, she said. 

Complex Issue 

Dr Blue said that migrant exploitation 

is a multifaceted and complex issue that 

requires a multifaceted and coordinated 

response. 

“We are keen to see that these new 

measures are just the start of actions 

aimed at addressing what is a significant 

problem – particularly in our dairy, horticultural, 

hospitality and international 

education industries. Last year, the 

Human Rights Commission identified 

migrant exploitation as one of the five 

most serious human rights issues for 

businesses operating in New Zealand,” 

she said. 

Additional Reading: Our Leader, ‘No 

mercy for unscrupulous employers’ 

under Viewlink in this issue. 

The last batch of international students housed at the Unitarian Church in Ponsonby, Auckland, 

before their departure to India (Picture Courtesy: Radio New Zealand) 

The lesson that international 

students taught us 

Venkat Raman 


The sad saga of international 

students from India caught 

in a cobweb of lies and fake 

documents allegedly spun 

by their unscrupulous agents in India 

ended two days ago with the last batch 

slated to leave New Zealand. 

As per an agreement with Immigration 

New Zealand (INZ), they will 

be eligible to apply for a visa from 

India and their applications would be 

considered without prejudice. 

Many of them may apply using 

the privilege; some of them may be 

successful. 

But none of them will be heard 

again. 

Varied reactions 

We have thus far not taken a stand 

on this issue but we made our pages 

available to anyone to express their 

opinions. These included government 

officials, politicians, students, the 

Migrant Workers Association and other 

New Zealanders. 

Their opinions ranged from ‘Send 

them back,’ and ‘Give them a chance’ 

to ‘Do not destroy their future, let them 

complete their education and go back,’ 

to ‘It is not their fault. Allow to stay 

here, work and then become permanent 

residents.’ 

We have often said that the export 

education industry is not properly 

regulated and many rogues are capitalising 

the New Zealand government’s 

expansion programme which accrues 

more than $3 billion. 

Until 2010, the inflow of international 

students was manageable and 

the foul-play of agents was not limited. 

But the penchant to make New Zealand 

a preferred international students’ 

destination opened the floodgates of 

immigration, making the all-important 

work visa, which was once a privilege, 

now a demandable right. 

Growing demand 

There are 4.5 million international 

students globally, up from 2 million in 

2000, and that is expected to swell to 8 

million by 2025, driven by population 

and income growth in developing 

countries where local provision is poor. 

Some places that have not traditionally 

hosted many foreign students are 

trying to grab market share. Japan has 

a goal of 300,000 foreign students by 

2020, 60% more than now; Malaysia, 

of almost doubling numbers to 250,000 

by 2025. 

Foreign study took off in the 1980s, 

when several rich countries started to 

offer large numbers of scholarships as 

part of their aid programmes. Rising 

incomes in poorer countries added a 

financial motive. Universities in rich 

countries are often constrained by their 

governments in how many locals they 

can recruit and how much they can 

charge them. Foreigners, who can be 

charged more, help pad out budgets 

and subsidise local students. But not 

every country is lucky enough to have 

lots of foreign students in doing what is 

needed to keep them coming. 

The beneficiaries 

Today, Anglophone countries take 

the biggest share, since English is quite 

a useful language to acquire. France is 

popular with bits of its former empire 

and pupils from the French-language 

schools around the world. Germany, 

which has started to offer postgraduate 

courses in English and has abolished 

all tuition fees, even for foreigners, also 

takes large numbers. 

English-speaking countries have 

benefited hugely from international students. 

Those students have subsidised 

locals, kept courses in the hard sciences 

viable, acted as informal ambassadors 

on their return—and eased skills 

shortages when they have stayed. Some 

countries have seized the opportunity; 

others have taken it for granted. 

It is time that New Zealand revisited 

its export education classroom, learn 

from the mistakes and take corrective 

action. 

Asking 191 students to return 

because the officials failed in their 

due diligence does not bode well for a 

country that is known for its efficiency. 

Related Topics: ‘International 

students need better protection on 

Page 1


Poor turnout in Mt Albert but 

Labour gratified 

Homelink 

05 

Venkat Raman 


There was never a doubt 

that Jacinda Arden 

would win the Mt Albert 

seat at the by-election 

held in that constituency tonight. 

It was a Labour seat- has been 

so for the past 71 years since the 

Constituency was formed in 1946. 

Therefore, it was little surprise 

that Labour retained its seat. 

But what mattered was the 

candidate. 

Ms Arden won 10,000 votes out 

of 12,971 votes counted tonight. 

There are still 744 votes 

including 84 overseas votes that 

are yet to be counted. 

Even so, Ms Arden is a clear 

winner, with her nearest rival, 

Julie Anne Genter getting only 

1489 votes. Geoff Simmons of 

The Opportunities Party polled 

600 votes while Vin Tomar of 

the New Zealand People’s Party 

received only 191 votes. 

Rising Star 

Ms Arden has often been 

labelled as ‘The Rising Star’ in the 

Labour Party. 

She campaigned well and 

connected well with the people 

in the electorate. She was new 

to her constituents but people in 

Mt Albert appeared comfortable 

voting for her. 

As Labour Party Leader 

Jacinda Arden 

Andrew Little said following 

her victory, “Jacinda put their 

concerns at the forefront of her 

work at a time when it has never 

been more important for a government 

to deal with problems 

like the housing crisis, health care 

underfunding and the multiple 

challenges facing schools to 

deliver better education results 

for our children,” he said. 

Voter Apathy 

However, it was surprising that 

the voter turnout was just 29.9%, 

accounting for 13,715 votes in a 

constituency with 45,865 voters 

registered until yesterday. 

The Official Results process 

will start tomorrow (Sunday, February 

26, 2017) and is expected 

to be completed by Wednesday 

March 8, 2017. “All votes counted 

on election night will be recounted. 

Special declaration votes will be 

processed and counted. The target 

to release the Official Results for 

the Mt Albert by-election is 4 pm 

on Wednesday March 8, 2017,” an 

Electoral Commission statement 

issued tonight said. 

Writing in the New Zealand 

Herald before the results were announced, 

Bryce Edwards, Lectures 

in Politics at Otago University said 

that a good win for Jacinda Arden 

could propel her further up Labour’s 

ranking. 

“It is not a question of if Arden 

will win the seat when voters go to 

the polls but by how much. Both the 

margin of her win and the number 

of voters she was able to turnout, 

would decide her seniority in the 

Party ahead of the general election. 

The win comes at a crucial time 

when Labour needs to decide who 

to take into the election campaign as 

its Deputy Leader.” 

Mr Little said that Ms Arden’s 

move to Mt Albert Constituency 

will create a vacancy in her Auckland 

Central Constituency which is 

likely to be filled by former Labour 

MP and lawyer Raymond Huo. 

Former MPs Moana Mackey 

and Marian Street are next on the 

list but both said that they were not 

interested, paving the way for Mr 

Huo.

06 

Electionlink 


Incumbency challenges confront National 

But good fiscal management and robust growth could help 

Venkat Raman 


If you were to think that General 

Election 2017 would be the 

second for Bill English as the 

Leader of the National Party, 

you could be forgiven. For, that 

was the year when National was at its 

lowest ebb and won just 27 seats, with 

Labour taking 52 seats, but still unable 

to form a government of its own. 

Much has changed since then and 

National has jetted ahead, increasing its 

popularity and enhancing its political 

fortunes. The Party won 60 seats in 

the General Election held in 2014 with 

Labour languishing with 32 seats. 

Polling Strength 

Opinion Polls over the past few 

years have consistently shown National 

in the lead with its main opponent 

struggling to reach out to the people 

with a proper, well-founded policies 

and programmes. 

General Election 2017 may prove to 

be different. 

It could challenge National in 

incumbency factor and other issues, 

the foremost of which is to deepen 

the futuristic vision of the Party and 

inject young blood to ensure that the 

aspirations of the people are met by 

revisiting some thorny issues. 

Although Mr English was stated to 

lack the same charisma and friendliness 

of his predecessor John Key, the new 

Prime Minister is growing in his 

job, understanding the multifaceted 

directions in which it takes and how he 

Members of Parliament and the National Party Board of Directors watch as their Leader and Prime Minister Bill English launches the ‘Electionlink’ of Indian Newslink at a special dinner hosted by Indian Newslink at 

Raviz Restaurant in Botany Junction, Auckland on Monday, February 27, 2017. 

would be a constant source of debate 

and discussion. Most importantly, New 

Zealand is a major player in international 

politics and hence Mr English is 

the face of the Nation. 

Political Mates 

National may not have the luxury of 

a popularity wave that swept the Party 

to power in November 2008. Nine 

years in government always bring with 

them weariness, both for the incumbent 

Party and for the public. Ideas often run 

out of steam and long-standing MPs 

announce their intention to quit. Mr 

English was the choice of Mr Key as 

his successor, but even so, there were 

factions within the Party, the first seen 

since November 2006, when Mr Key 

became the Leader. 

Mr English has announced that he 

and his team would fight hard to win 

every party vote to form a strong and 

stable government. However, as he 

conceded, the MMP system would 

force him to work with others through 

‘Confidence and Supply Agreements’ 

that have worked in the past. 

His preference is to continue 

working with current partners - ACT, 

United Future and the Māori Party 

and has ruled out working with the 

Labour-Greens grouping. 

“New Zealand First is an unlikely 

partner, however I am prepared to have 

discussions with them post-election depending 

on the makeup of Parliament,” 

Mr English said. 

Campaign Issues 

In his State of the National Address 

that he delivered on February 2, 2017, a 

day after he announced that the general 

election would take place on September 

23 this year, Mr English signalled that 

the economy will be at the heart of 

his National Party-led government’s 

election campaign, and used his speech 

to unveil a law-and-order package. 

Political pundits expect the 

government to remain in office for a 

fourth term, although the election will 

be tightly contested. 

A fourth term for the centre-right 

National Party would be a near-unprecedented 

feat; only two governments 

have won four consecutive elections 

since the second world war. It will be 

even more of a challenge following 

the surprise resignation in late 2016 of 

Mr Key, who continued to enjoy high 

popularity ratings. 

Economic management 

Mr English is promoting his ‘social 

investment’ approach to reducing longterm 

welfare dependency in vulnerable 

communities. He has announced a new 

NZ$ 503 million law-and-order package, 

to be spent in part on increasing 

the size of the police force by 10% 

over the next four years. Recorded 

crime fell between 2009 and 2014, 

but has since begun to creep up again, 

and the package, which includes more 

personnel for rural and regional police 

stations and more special investigators, 

could help to neutralise opposition 

claims that budget cutbacks are partly 

responsible. 

The government expects to post a 

third consecutive budget surplus in 

fiscal year 2016-2017 (July–June), and 

with the operating balance running 

slightly ahead of target, Mr English 

has some room to accommodate 

additional spending in the pre-election 

budget, which will be handed down 

in May. Such spending is likely to be 

targeted at areas where National is most 

vulnerable, such as health, education 

and housing. 

The performance of Mr English is 

now under test. 

KANWALJIT SINGHBAKSHI 

NATIONAL LIST MP BASED 

IN MANUKAUEAST 

KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI 

A 

P 

F 

W 

E 

1/131Kolmar Road, Papatoetoe, Auckland 

09 278 9302 

09 278 2143 

www.bakshi.co.nz 

Bakshi.mp@parliament.govt.nz 

facebook.com/Bakshiks 

@bakshiks 

AuthorisedbyKanwaljit Singh Bakshi MP, 1/131 Kolmar Road, Papatoetoe


Electionlink 

07 

Raring to go, Labour banks on new approach 

Venkat Raman 


The Labour Party has two resounding 

victories in the past 

three months in by-elections 

held in Mt Roskill (December 

3, 2016) and Mt Albert (February 25, 

2017) but this should not be treated as a 

turnaround in New Zealand politics. 

These two electorates are Labour 

strongholds - the National Party fielded 

the wrong candidate in Mt Roskill and 

restrained from contesting in Mt Albert. 

But the Party has consistently 

under-performed in the past three 

general elections, winning 43 seats in 

2008, 34 seats in 2011 and 32 seats 

(later reduced to 31) in 2014. Its 

debacle at the polls – both electoral and 

opinion – have been orchestrated by 

internal squabble, a lack of direction 

and policies that would appeal to 

common people. 

The National Party on the other 

hand has outperformed itself in these 

elections- 58 seats in 2008, 59 seats and 

60 seats. The morale at National is high 

and its political allies have agreed to 

work together again. 

Alliance with Greens 

Labour, on its fourth leader since former 

Party Leader and Prime Minister 

Helen Clark was beaten by Mr Key in 

2008, has won a measure of stability 

since 2014 under Andrew Little, a 

steady former trade unionist who calls 

for greater fairness, focusing on the rise 

of homelessness. 

He and his colleagues have agreed to 

cooperate with the Green Party, a tactic 

Members of Parliament of the Labour Party watch as their Leader Andrew Little launches the ‘Electionlink’ of Indian Newslink at a special dinner hosted by Indian Newslink at Raviz Restaurant in Botany Junction, Auckland on 

Tuesday, February 28, 2017. Picture by Creative Eye Photography 

that may help in the forthcoming general 

election on September 23, 2017. 

Meanwhile Winston Peters, who 

leads the populist New Zealand First 

party, is calling for curbs on immigration 

and the free market. Although his 

party only polls around 10%, it could 

end up holding the balance of power in 

a close election. 

Hostile Media 

New Zealand’s Labour Party has 

since long suffered the hostility and 

prejudice of the mainstream media, 

leaving the left-leaning politicians to 

work out a strategy to reach the public 

directly. Such a strategy worked in the 

Mt Roskill by-election held on December 

3, 2016, with its candidate Michael 

Wood meeting thousands of people in 

their homes, offices, shopping malls, 

restaurants and even buses. Jacinda 

Arden did the same in Mt Albert last 

weekend (February 25, 2017) taking 

away almost 80% of the total votes 

counted. 

Although Indian Newslink and 

Radio Tarana are the only Indian 

media that provide Labour Party equal 

opportunity to conduct their campaign, 

these have limited reach and hence 

would not cover the entire catchment 

area. It is therefore imperative that the 

candidates contesting under the Labour 

banner engage with the communities 

in a manner that would help them to 

assess the public mood and align their 

strategies appropriately. 

Confronting Issues 

Labour can be expected to pitch 

its battle on a number of grounds, 

capitalising on many of the problems 

that New Zealanders encounter, not 

necessarily the making of National, 

but as a natural-cause and effect with 

demand-exceeding-supply syndrome. 

This is true of the Housing sector in 

which rising prices have distancing 

first homebuyers from becoming 

house-owners. There are however some 

areas in which National would be called 

to account – areas which could work to 

the Labour-Greens advantage. 

Mr Little has reiterated his Party’s 

commitment to increasing spending on 

health and education, although he made 

no new policy announcements. 

In his State of the Nation 

Address held jointly with the Green 

Party on January 29, 2017, he spoke 

of programmes and policies to support 

hard-working New Zealanders. 

Mr Key’s departure has boosted 

Labour’s election prospects, and Mr 

Little will seek to maintain the pressure 

on Mr English by questioning his 

leadership ability. 

Low expectations and a relatively 

low voter turnout also hurt Labour in 

its urban strongholds, where many 

plumped for the Greens instead. To 

hold onto any chance of victory in 

next election, the Party’s working 

relationship with the Greens must be 

closer and stronger. Though pleased 

with their own performance, the Greens 

are not likely to find much common 

ground with National when they come 

to such cherished issues as agricultural 

emissions and rural watercourse pollution. 

National Party draws much of its 

support from farmers. 

The need of the hour is not only 

discipline but also unity. Labour and 

its Leader can hope to move forward 

with greater thrust, provided the Party’s 

hierarchy and rank and file demonstrate 

their solidarity and ability to weather 

the storm. 

Working with our communities to 

Back the Kiwi Dream 

Priyanca Radhakrishnan 

Policy &Community Engagement 

Andrew Little MP 

Labour Leader 

TracyWang 

Policy &Community Engagement 

Contact Labour’s Ethnic Communities Outreach Team 

Ethnic.Communities@labour.org.nz 

Phone 09 373 3332 Address 85 Grafton Rd, Auckland NZ 1010 

20170224_Indian Newslink Ad.indd 1 24/02/17 10:18 pm

08 

Educationlink 

Unaffordability pushes NZ 

down in Student Ranking 

Supplied Content 

Montreal has ended Paris’s 

five-year run as the 

world’s best student city, 

according to global higher 

education analysts QS Quacquarelli 

Symonds. 

The fifth edition of its ‘QS Best 

Student Cities ranking’ enumerates 

the world’s top 100 urban student 

destinations. 

This year’s ranking features a 

‘Student View’ indicator for the first 

time based on a survey of 18,000 

international students. 

Auckland drops ten places to 28th 

while Christchurch falls to the 74th 

position, having lost twenty-seven 

places. 

Loss and Gain 

The sharp downward shift is 

principally attributable to two of the six 

indicators which inform this ranking: 

‘Affordability,’ with Auckland losing 

26 places and Christchurch 35, and 

‘Employer Activity’ with a drop of 10 

and 11 places respectively. 

On a positive note, Auckland rises 

four places in the ‘Desirability’ indicator 

(16th globally) and gains one place 

in the ‘Student Mix’ indicators, where it 

ranks fourth globally. 

Findings for the United Kingdom 

provide reassurance to those concerned 

about the potential effects of the UK’s 

impending exit from the EU on its 

higher education sector. 

Canadian success 

Montreal’s success is the latest of a 

series of propitious signs for a city be- 

ginning to escape a period of economic 

stagnation, following positive growth 

forecasts for 2017, and the recent 

announcement of its selection as the 

‘World’s Most Intelligent City.’ 

Its first-place ranking is also the 

highlight of a series of positive performances 

from Canadian cities: four of 

the country’s five ranked cities improve 

their position. 

Montreal replaces Paris as 

World’s best student city 

Other key findings include: 

Paris drops to second place, receiving 

reduced rank for Affordability and 

Desirability 

London rises from fifth place to third 

place. The results suggest that UK cities 

remain excellent study destinations 

in the face of Brexit, with rises in 

QS’s Affordability indicator a major 

contributor to all eight of its ranked 

cities improving their rank; 

Affordability issues adversely affect 

American cities: though Boston places 

eighth, ten of its twelve ranked cities 

drop; 

Australia’s high cost-of-living and 

tuition fees are proving disadvantageous: 

all its seven ranked cities drop, 

with Sydney plummeting from fourth 

to thirteenth, and Melbourne falling 

from second to fifth; 

Seoul is Asia’s best student city, 

rising to fourth 

Berlin rises to 6th 

Tokyo (7th), Munich (9th), and 

Vancouver (10th) complete the top 10. 


‘Cultural Connections’ looks at 

better migrant engagement 

Eric Chuah 

A 

new social enterprise 

specialising in researching 

on issues relating to migrants 

is inviting migrants to enlist 

on its research panels and enable them 

to progress in their professions and 

entrepreneurial efforts. 

Called, ‘Cultural Connections,’ the 

initiative is New Zealand’s first social 

enterprise. 

About 25% of the population of New 

Zealand were born overseas. 

There are numerous community 

groups (some well-known, some, 

not so) supporting migrants, and an 

increasing number of companies are 

treating migrants as a discreet customer 

segment. 

Strong consumer market 

Companies have tapped into the fact 

that the migrant customer segment can 

be up to 10 times more profitable than 

mainstream customer segments. 

However, there is very little data 

available to understand how migrants 

are settling into Kiwi life, let alone how 

they make purchase decisions. 

At the same time, I come across 

new community groups all the time 

doing amazing things, supporting new 

migrants arriving in New Zealand. 

These groups need more financial 

support as they gear up to support 

the anticipated record high migration 

levels. 

I believe that there is an opportunity 

to fulfil the needs of migrants and the 

community groups that support them; 

and there are many companies that are 

keen to do business with the migrant 

customer segment. 

Cultural Connections was established 

to fulfill such a need. 

Donation to migrant group 

We are a market research company 

for New Zealand-based businesses 

but we have a social purpose to help 

migrant community groups with their 

awareness and funding. For every 

migrant who joins our research panel, 

Cultural Connections will donate $2 to 

a migrant community group. 

Initially, Cultural Connections will 

be supporting six groups: Multicultural 

New Zealand, NZ Newcomers 

Network, Auckland Regional Migrant 

Services, Chinese New Settlers Services 

Trust, New Zealand Indian Central 

Association, and Korean Society of 

Auckland. 

I invite all those born outside New 

Zealand, or have a parent who is born 

overseas, to join Cultural Connection 

Research Panel. 

Easy admission 

It only takes 10 minutes to join; 

that is easy, through any device with 

internet connection. After that, we 

will send you monthly survey which 

will only take less than three minutes 

to complete. Not only will you be 

contributing to a good cause, you will 

also go into a monthly prize draw. 

I aim to contribute $50,000 in 2017 

to multicultural community groups and 

double that amount in 2018. 

I also offer pro bono services such 

as free translation for migrant business 

shop signage and monthly coaching for 

new migrants under the age of 30. 

Further information can be obtained 

from Eric Chuah on 029737181. 

Email: eric@culturalconnections. 

co.nz; www.culturalconnections.co.nz


Educationlink 

09 

Human Sciences underscore 

intellectual life 


Humanities teachers, 

researchers, students 

and graduates make a 

significant contribution 

to the development of cultural and 

intellectual life of New Zealand. 

Humanities and associated 

disciplines account for almost half 

of all students enrolled in university, 

according to an Education Ministry 

Report released in 2016. 

A Bachelor of Arts that is well 

taught and well delivered/learned 

provides graduates who have skills 

in information analysis, writing and 

thinking that are vital to business in 

the modern age. 

Universities New Zealand - Te 

Pōkai Tara data 2016 says that 

approximately 97% of arts graduates 

were employed three years after graduation, 

but 90% of graduates from our 

disciplines are in degree relevant roles 

such as teachers, managers, policy and 

planning roles. 

Good earners 

The average arts graduate is earning 

above the national median for salary 

and wage earners. 

In a 2014 survey of Wellington 

employers by Massey University, 45% 

of employers surveyed said that a BA 

degree is relevant for the needs of 

business. 

They said, “It is important that 

potential employees have a broad 

knowledge base, and open and positive 

dispositions to learning and using 

Standing up for humanities (photo/TEU) 

knowledge in innovative ways” and that 

knowledge is changing so quickly we 

need people who are critical thinkers and 

multi-taskers. These attributes I see more 

readily in an Arts graduate as opposed to 

a more specialist degree.” 

Employers disconnected 

This viewpoint was endorsed by 

John Milford, Wellington Chamber of 

Commerce, at a Massey University event 

in 2016, where he said that too many 

employers are out of touch with the 

reality that humanities and social sciences 

graduates are ideally equipped with a 

potent mix of skills and aptitudes to 

help modern businesses and workplaces 

thrive. 

Recent research from Oxford University 

estimates that 46% of current jobs are 

at-risk due to computerisation. However, 

‘for workers to win the race [against 

computerisation], however, they must 

acquire creative and social skills.’ 

The relevance for a degree and 

research in the humanities, arts and social 

sciences has never been more apparent. 

There is a real need for humanities, 

a need for an understanding of social 

sciences in our world. 

Students are people, not commodities, please 

Priyanca Radhakrishnan 

New Zealand has an international 

reputation for fairness. 

The adage of giving 

everyone a fair go is one that 

resonates strongly with us. 

Given our claim to fair-mindedness, 

it was extremely disappointing that the 

government deported a group of Indian 

international students who are themselves 

victims of fraud. 

These students paid large sums of 

money to study here. 

They were granted valid student visas. 

Those who had to work did so lawfully. 

Many aspired of travelling around 

New Zealand and experience the stunning 

natural beauty for which New Zealand is 

world famous. 

Fear of punishment 

Instead, for over nine months, they 

lived in fear of punishment for something 

that they did not deserve. 

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) found 

out that some education agents in India 

had committed fraud and it is the students 

who paid the price. 

Some people have said that they do not 

believe that the students are innocent. 

Frankly, that should not matter. 

INZ should be able to prove that the 

students acted unlawfully themselves or 

knew that their agents were committing 

fraud. 

When we serve deportation notices, 

we should not base such decisions on 

feelings, but on hard evidence - and there 

did not appear to be any. 

Labour Party Leader Andrew Little met 

the students concerned many times. 

At their behest, he looked through their 

documentation. 

I have also met with and spoken to 

them many times. 

The students told me that they had 

filled in their name and personal details. 

Then they gave their passport and 

supporting documentation to the agent 

who dealt with the application from 

them on. The agent then swapped the 

students’ bank documentation for falsified 

documents. 

The students only found out about this 

after INZ did so. 

Personal experience 

On February 18, 2017, I spoke at 

a farewell event that was held at the 

Unitarian Church where the students were 

seeking symbolic sanctuary. 

It was an event for them to thank 

people for their support and bid them 

farewell. 

Su’a William Sio, Labour’s Member 

of Parliament elected from Mangere and I 

spoke on behalf of the Labour Party. 

I said that I understood how their story 

could be true because one of my family 

members did something quite similar. 

Some years back, I got a call from INZ 

in India regarding a Visitor Visa application 

by a family member (let’s call her 

Maya), who was visiting New Zealand. 

The Immigration official wanted my bank 

details to show that I could support Maya 

during her visit. 

That was not the understanding as 

Maya had more funds than I did! 

When I dug deeper, I discovered that 

Maya had signed the visa application 

form and filled her personal details. 

She then handed the supporting 

documentation, fee and passport to the 

travel agent who was trusted (and paid) 

to complete the remaining paperwork on 

Maya’s behalf. 

Sounds familiar? Maya had no need to 

do this – she speaks fluent English, has a 

Master’s degree and had lived abroad for 

30 years. 

Differing norms 

However, that was the norm in India – 

that was what everyone did - and she was 

lulled into complacency and paying for a 

service she trusted. 

We must understand that contexts can 

be very different. 

What is not the norm in New Zealand 

may well be the norm elsewhere. 

That is why we do not judge others by 

our own experiences and contexts – we 

need to understand theirs. 

That is also why we should make 

deportation decisions based on facts and 

not preconceived notions. 

Deporting these students was a cruel, 

arbitrary decision made by a government 

that views international students as 

commodities. 

Everyone who comes to New Zealand 

deserves to be treated with respect. 

Priyanca Radhakrishnan is a voracious 

reader, champions social and community 

causes and is a strong advocate of ethnic 

and gender diversity in corporate governance 

and in public life. She is a Member 

of the Labour Party Policy Council 

and lives in Auckland. She is Labour 

Party’s candidate at the Maungakiekie 

constituency in the general elections to be 

held on September 23, 2017. 

Email: priyanca@labour.org.nz 

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10 

Fijilink 


Poll places Bainimarama on top as preferred PM 

Venkat Raman 


Josiah Voreqe Bainimarama continues 

to be the most-preferred 

Prime Minister of Fiji according 

to the latest Tebbutt-Times Poll. 

The Poll, conducted by Tebbutt Research 

for Fiji Times included a sample 

survey of 982 adults who were above 

18 years of age between February 4 

and February 7, 2017. It accounted for 

people of all ages, ethnicity, gender and 

geographic divisions in Fiji. 

The Sample Survey asked, “If an 

election is held in Fiji tomorrow, who 

would you prefer to see succeed as the 

Prime Minister?” 

Still a majority 

About 44% of the respondents 

preferred Mr Bainimarama to continue 

in the office of Prime Minister. 

A Survey Report said that he leads 

by a significant margin over Social 

Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) 

Leader Sitiveni Rabuka and National 

Federation Party (NFP) Leader Dr 

Biman Prasad. 

The latest Poll shows a drop in 

the rating for Mr Bainimarama since 

September 6, 2014 (eight days before 

the general election), when he had 49% 

approval. 

Josiah Voreqe Bainimarama 

In August 2014, the Tebbutt-Times 

Poll, involving 1004 adults aged 18 

years and above had recorded 82% 

support for the post of Prime Minister. 

The Survey said that Mr Rabuka was 

the second choice with 11% preference. 

Professor Prasad trailed with just 1% 

support. 

Optimistic Opposition 

Writing in Fiji Times issue dated 

February 19, 2017, Reporter Nasik 

Swami said that SODELPA and NFP 

leaders were optimistic about Fijians 

wanting a change of government in the 

Professor Biman Prasad with Sitiveni Rabuka (Picture Courtesy: newswire.com.fj) 

next general election due in 2018. 

“Despite the Tebbutt-Times Poll 

revealing that Mr Bainimarama 

remained the top choice for Prime 

Minister ‘if a general election is held 

tomorrow,’ Mr Rabuka believes that 

Fijians were still looking for a change 

in the country’s leadership. He said that 

he was humbled by the 11% preference 

that the Fijian people gave him through 

the Opinion Poll,” Mr Swami said. 

Mr Rabuka said that 11% preference 

was humbling since people thought 

that he was worthy of consideration, 19 

years after he left his political career. 

Change of Opinion 

Mr Rabuka said that 36% of Fijians 

were undecided about the next Prime 

Minister. “This gives hope to other 

political leaders that Mr Bainimarama 

was not the only leader in the race. 

People are still looking for and 

actually want a change in leadership, 

giving SODELPA and other opposition 

political parties the hope that after a 

very high profile leadership run of 11 

years, Bainimarama has not been able 

to convince them that he is the Prime 

Minister they need,” he said. 

Fiji Times quoted Mr Prasad as 

saying that Polls were important but in 

the current context it was a minor issue 

compared to what he had set out for 

NFP to do, culminating in the general 

election next year. 

“Despite the fact that the results are 

not similar to the approval ratings each 

leader received, it is interesting to know 

that a significant percentage of voters 

are undecided, at least 15 months away 

from when the next elections could be 

held,” he said. 

Professor Prasad said that he would 

continue to articulate the views, concerns 

and grievances of all people of 

Fiji, on issues such as rising unemployment 

and cost of living, deteriorating 

public health system and infrastructure, 

the plight of victims of Severe Tropical 

Cyclone Winston and flash floods, and 

lack of good governance, transparency 

and accountability. 

“I will highlight fundamental flaws 

in our laws, particularly the Electoral 

Act, Political Parties Act, the Media 

Industry Development Act and the 

2013 Constitution in the hope that 

they are changed because they do not 

provide a platform to have a genuinely 

credible, free and fair elections,” 

Professor Prasad said. 

Fiji clarifies Iranian refugee saga 

Sourced Content 

The Fijian government deported 

Loghman Sawari an Iranian 

refugee on February 3, 2017, 

saying that his bona fides were 

questionable. 

The background 

ABC News reported that Sawari 

had fled Australia’s offshore detention 

regime in Papua New Guinea (PNG) 

and was being treated in a hospital. 

“He was deported from Fiji on 

February 3, after spending 10 days in 

that country. His lawyer had said he 

intended to seek asylum in Fiji, but 

Sawari was arrested while on his way 

to a meeting with immigration officials, 

taken to the airport and sent back to 

PNG, where the local Police charged 

him with giving false information in his 

application for a PNG passport. 

“The 20-year-old was brought to the 

Court in Port Moresby to apply for bail, 

but there was a problem with his bail 

application and the matter was deferred. 

Sawari was visibly upset and shaking 

while he waited to apply for bail. 

“I am not a criminal, I am a refugee, 

do you understand what that is?” he 

said. 

“He showed journalists apparent 

self-harm injuries on his arm and 

said he had developed serious mental 

health problems from his detention and 

deportation.” 

Attorney General Speaks 

Fijian Attorney General Aiyaz 

Sayed-Khaiyum said in a statement that 

Sawari had breached Fiji’s immigration 

law. 

The following is his Statement issued 

on February 2, 2017: 

Loghman Safari outside the Court 

(Courtesy: ABC Picture by Eric Tiozek 

Loghman Sawari was deported from 

Fiji to Papua New Guinea today after 

entering Fiji on a Papua New Guinean 

passport. 

He is claiming to be a refugee but did 

not present himself as a refugee seeking 

asylum to immigration officials on arrival 

in Fiji. Nor, after ten days, did he lodge 

an application for asylum, personally or 

through his lawyer. 

UNHCR rejects 

The United Nations High Commissioner 

for Refugees (UNHCR) has 

advised Fiji that Sawari is not recognised 

as a refugee under the UNHCR 

mandate. It has further advised that he 

is a refugee recognised by Papua New 

Guinea under its national procedures. 

So, Fiji has merely returned Sawari to 

his rightful place of residence. 

Sawari eluded the authorities during 

his ten days in Fiji while posting 

photographs of himself on social media 

at various locations. 

Under international law, anyone who 

is seeking political asylum is required 

to lodge an application without delay. 

In the case of Sawari, this did not 

happen. 

His lawyer, who has been publicly 

advocating his position through the 

media, failed to facilitate a prompt 

application required under international 

conventions pertaining to applications 

for refugee status. 

Officials in Fiji have been informed 

by their Papua New Guinean counterparts 

that Sawari’s Papua New Guinea 

passport was obtained by fraudulent 

means. 

Breach of Fijian law 

On this basis, Sawari was also in 

breach of Fijian law which states that 

“A person who knowingly misleads or 

attempts to mislead any immigration 

officer in relation to any matter material 

to the performance or exercise by 

any immigration officer of any duty, 

function, power or discretion...commits 

an offence.” 

The government notes that Sawari 

is claiming that he feared for his life. 

This begs the question as to why for 

ten days he failed to file an application 

for asylum. Despite several attempts by 

the Immigration Department to engage 

with Sawari, these attempts were 

ignored. 

Fiji remains fully committed to the 

Convention and Protocol Relating to 

the Status of Refugees, but we cannot 

tolerate a situation in which a person 

who is not an asylum seeker and who 

has already been granted refugee status 

in another country flagrantly violates 

the law. 

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Police to probe teenager’s 

death in custody 

Radio New Zealand 

The mother of a Fiji 

teenager who died in 

police custody on 

February 16, says that her son 

was beaten up. 

Ashwini Nand told Fiji 

Times that her son Vikarant 

was arrested on Wednesday 

morning for breaching a 

domestic violence restraining 

order against him. 

She said that when her son 

was supposed to appear in 

court he did not show up, and 

she went to the police station 

to find that he was still there. 

Ms Nand said, “My son 

told me that he had been 

beaten up by officers in the 

cells, and that he could not 

swallow food properly as a 

result of his injuries.” 

Suicide claim rejected 

She told the newspaper 

that when she inquired with 

officers as to why he had 

not been taken to court, she 

was told that they had other 

investigations and a directive 

had come from police 

headquarters. 

Ms Nand said that she 

returned to the station on 

Thursday evening and, after 

waiting two hours, was told 

her son had died in the police 

cell. 

In a separate interview 

with Fiji Village, she said 

that she was told her son had 

committed suicide, but that 

different officers at the Nakasi 

Police Station had given her 

different stories. 

Police Commissioner Brigadier 

General Sitiveni Qiliho 

said that he was aware of the 

incident and had ordered an 

investigation.


Businesslink 

11 

Skills shortage worries our corporate chiefs 

Mark Averill 

New Zealand Chief Executive 

Officers (CEOs) are 

optimistic about growth and 

plan to hire more people, 

but are worried about the skills needed 

and the rise of new technological risks. 

Our Survey shows that our CEOs are 

concerned about cyber threats (91%), 

availability of key skills (84%) and the 

speed of technological change (84%). 

The PricewaterhouseCoopers 

Twentieth annual CEO Survey showed 

that almost all respondents (97%) are 

confident about their revenue growth 

prospects for the next three years, while 

91% believe they will hit their growth 

targets for the next 12 months. 

Organic growth plans 

The Survey also portrays a clear 

picture of where CEOs see growth 

coming from within their organisations: 

People, Technology and Businesses 

working together. 

Organic growth plans are still on the 

agenda, with 75% still counting on it to 

drive profitability (Global: 79%). 

About 72% said that they see new 

opportunities in partnering with other 

firms, an area where local CEOs are 

well ahead of their overseas counterparts 

(48%). 

They are also more willing to work 

with entrepreneurs and start-ups than 

their global counterparts (NZ: 41%, 

Global: 28%). 

We have seen a lot of big changes 

in the business world over the past 

20 years since we have run the CEO 

survey, but more so over the last few 

years and New Zealand companies face 

more challenges. 

In New Zealand, a lot of our 

concerns stem from uncertain economic 

and political times, coupled with the 

rapid changes that come from advances 

in technology. 

Technology has had a massive 

impact on the speed at which we 

operate, especially when it comes to the 

global market. 

From our perspective at PwC, our 

clients expect us to always be available 

and to have the ability to access both 

people and information globally. 

It is transforming the way we work. 

Diverse workforce 

The challenge of finding, training 

and keeping the right people for the 

business has been on the top of the 

mind for local CEOs for the past few 

years. 

This year is no different, with CEOs 

still finding it difficult to recruit people 

with the skills they need. 

More than half (53%) of CEOs plan 

on increasing headcount this year with 

81% wanting to change their people 

strategy to reflect emerging skills and 

employment structures they will need 

in the future. 

With the speed of technological 

change a concern for 84% of CEOs, it 

is no surprise that skills in leadership 

and emotional intelligence, creativity 

and innovation and digital are identified 

as the most valuable yet difficult to 

recruit. 

Attracting and developing great 

people who are relevant to the future of 

our business is an important focus for 

companies across the board. 

We have started to work more 

closely with universities to ensure 

that graduates have the skills needed 

to make a difference in this changing 

business environment. 

Diversity of thought is also critical; 

we have recruit people who think 

differently if our companies are to be 

ready for the future. 

It is about embracing all aspects 

of diversity as an everyday business 

matter, which is our focus at PwC New 

Zealand. 

Sustained growth 

With the uncertainty surrounding 

Brexit and predictions of a ‘Trump 

Slump,’ it is encouraging to note 

that CEOs still consider Australia 

(72%) to be a top contender to help 

us grow. However, the USA shares 

the number-one spot, having grown in 

popularity from last year (2016: 47%). 

China (63%) rounds out the top-three 

destinations. 

This ‘Pacific-First’ mindset certainly 

is good for our future growth. Since our 

first CEO Survey, China has gone from 

our eighth-largest trading partner to 

our second-largest, with exports nearly 

quadrupling. 

In New Zealand, globalisation has 

also changed the demographics of our 

country. 

A recent World Migration report 

found that Auckland is more ethnically 

diverse than New York, Sydney and 

London. 

It is a huge opportunity for our 

companies, not just as a way to develop 

that diversity of thought, but also to 

create new growth opportunities and 

business connections across the Pacific 

region. 

Cyber Security 

Trust is now more important than 

ever, with 72% of CEOs reporting that 

it is harder to gain and keep trust in an 

increasingly digitised world. 

Equally concerning was cyber 

security, with 94% feeling that cyber 

breaches will negatively impact trust in 

their industry and half of these saying it 

will be ‘to a large extent.’ 

Cyber security has been an increasingly 

worrying issue over the last three 

years, with concern growing from 66% 

in 2015 to 77% in 2016 and now sitting 

at 91%. 

Cyber-attacks are happening around 

the world and that fear is valid, but 

unfortunately there isn’t a quick fix to 

the issue. 

The good news is that organisations 

are responding to these new threats and 

investing more in risk management 

tools. 

In the case of cyber security, 97% of 

respondents said they are addressing 

these risks within their businesses. For 

social media, 81% of our surveyed 

CEOs stated they are managing these 

risks to some extent. 

Building a business that is driven by 

great ideas has to start with having the 

right people. You must then support 

them with the right technology. 

Trust is equally important, without it 

you cannot solve the really important 

problems. Those businesses that are 

successful at building trust and creating 

transparency – not just with their clients 

and within society, but amongst their 

people as well – will have a competitive 

advantage. 

Mark Averill is Chief Executive and 

Senior Partner of Pricewaterhouse- 

Coopers New Zealand, based in 

Auckland. 

Boundaries are indicative only 

Boundaries are indicative only 

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12 Viewlink 


The English Fortnightly (Since November 1999) 

Issue 364 | March 1, 2017 

No mercy for unscrupulous employers 

Immigration Minister Michael 

Woodhouse has done well in 

introducing a tougher regime 

that provides for stringent punitive 

measures on employers who exploit 

migrant workers. 

As reported in our Homelink section, 

a new set of measures that would 

come into effect on April 1, 2017, will 

show zero tolerance on people who 

breach labour laws and show scant 

respect to human laws of justice and 

fairness. 

Mr Woodhouse said that access to 

the international labour market is a 

privilege, not a right and that employers 

abusing that privilege would face 

consequences. 

As the Minister rightly emphasised, 

the new measures will apply to all 

employers intending to recruit labour 

market-tested migrant workers, including 

employers who are (a) supporting 

work visa applications and approvals 

in principle (b) seeking accredited 

employer status or supporting residence 

class visa applications based on 

employment and (c) employers who 

are part of the Recognised Seasonal 

Employer scheme. 

Unacceptable behaviour 

From any point of view, there is 

justification for public outrage over 

owners of small enterprises and 

entrepreneurs who have been allegedly 

underpaying and overworking migrant 

workers at place of work. 

It is sad to note that some owners of 

Indian companies have been exploiting 

students and migrant workers from 

India. We have reported in our past 

issues that some employers have been 

extracting about 70 hours of work 

from these disparate overseas workers, 

paying them just $265 per week. In 

public view and of course the law, 

both are wrong. Every worker in New 

Zealand is entitled to the prescribed 

minimum wage (currently $15.25 per 

hour) and work no more than 40 to 48 

hours a week. 

Angry Indians 

Potential immigrants who arrive 

here on visit visas or those entering 

the country on other types of status 

(refugees for instance) apparently look 

up the yellow pages of the phone book 

and choose a consultant at random 

and entrust the job of processing their 

applications. In other cases, those with 

permanent residence status are keen to 

bring their family members and seek 

the advice of such consultants. 

The real pinch 

That is when the trouble starts. 

Well-established and reputed 

consultants not only offer professional 

and genuine advice but also account for 

a high success rate in terms of enabling 

applicants to achieve their objective of 

migrating to New Zealand. 

Exploitation of migrant workers 

and international students is nothing 

new in countries, which depend on 

migration for its economic progress. 

Britain, America, Canada, Australia and 

New Zealand have laws that prescribe 

minimum wages, working and living 

conditions and rights of migrants on 

work permits. 

We not only need good laws but also 

their effective enforcement. 

A veritable Chance that should not be lost 

In the history of New Zealand polity, never has there been an election in which so 

many candidates of Indian origin would be seeking to run for the public office as 

it is likely to be in the general election due to be held on September 23, 2017. 

More than 16 year ago, we created Electionlink pages to allow candidates, their 

supporters and political parties to have their say without reservation (within the 

legitimate limits of propriety and decency of course); more important for ordinary 

New Zealanders to voice their concerns so that they could be heard in the right 

places, leading to the right action. 

In that sense, the launch of Electionlink pages on February 27 and February 28, 

2017 respectively by Prime Minister Bill English (for National Party) and Opposition 

Leader Andrew Little (Labour Party), would commence the race towards the 52nd 

Parliament and witness a war of words and battles between the two main political 

parties and a number of other smaller parties. 

The democratic process 

The knowledge and expertise of the Diaspora in public affairs and administration 

will be of immense help in the democratic process, which is the essence of our 

general elections held every three years. 

Does New Zealand face challenges to its Democracy? 

“Of course, it does,” Sir Don McKinnon, former Secretary General of The 

Commonwealth and former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of New 

Zealand, said, “Democracy needs oxygen.” 

Sir Don was the Guest Speaker at the Fourth Annual Indian Newslink Sir Anand 

Satyanand Lecture, held on July 28, 2014 in Auckland. 

He examined the problems and challenges that we as New Zealanders face 

because of people’s disillusionment with democracy and those who are looking 

seriously at other forms of government. 

Double Devolution 

We believe that the solution to better administration rests on ‘double devolution,’ 

pushing more resources and responsibility for running things from Central to Local 

Government and from town halls to an amorphous web of charities and voluntary 

associations. 

This is a veritable chance that should not be lost. 

New Zealanders must make a clear and decisive choice and hold those elected to 

account. They must be forced to perform. 

This is time for action. We must exercise our franchise and ensure that only those 

who deserve to be in public office are elected. 

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

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

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

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

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

made in advertisements. 

Managing Director & Publisher: Jacob Mannothra; Editor & General Manager: Venkat 

Raman; 

Production Manager: Mahes Perera; Assistant Editor: Ratna Venkat; 

Financial Controller: Uma Venkatram CA; Phone: (09) 5336377 Email: info@indiannewslink.co.nz 

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

Resilience overcomes 

trauma of sex 

workers in Kolkata 

Massey University 


Empowering sex workers to 

quit India’s largest red-light 

district has consumed Kiwi 

humanitarian worker Pip Rea 

for the past seven years. 

She aims to share her insights on 

what is an ultimately heartening story 

– of how prostitutes from the poorest of 

backgrounds are making a fresh start. 

She is halfway through researching a 

Development Studies master’s project 

by distance at Massey University. 

She said that her findings on the role 

of resilience among prostitutes will 

surprise many people. 

The former nurse lives in the heart 

of Sonagachi, the red-light district of 

Kolkata, where an estimated 10,000 sex 

workers are employed. Many have been 

illegally trafficked as young as age 13, 

from surrounding West Bengal villages, 

Nepal and Bangladesh. 

Holistic Care 

Rea is the director of Tamar, a 

charitable non-governmental trust that 

works with a private company, Freeset. 

For the past 17 years, Freeset has 

provided jobs, vocational training and 

literacy education for women who want 

to leave the sex trade. Tamar focuses on 

holistic healthcare and housing, helping 

sex workers with the HIV prevention 

and treatment, pregnancy, botched 

illegal abortions, as well as overcoming 

alcohol and drug addiction. 

Rea left New Zealand seven years 

ago at the invitation of a family 

friend on the board of Freeset who 

wanted someone to set up a healthcare 

programme for former sex workers 

employed in its Fair-Trade textile 

operation making bags and T Shirts. 

She was not ‘super excited’ about 

living in a crowded city of 15 million 

people. 

“I like my open spaces, beaches and 

those things.” 

But after a week, she fell in love with 

what the people at Freeset were doing. 

“It made sense. It was working.” 

Tricked women 

Women were tricked and trafficked 

into sex trade. 

She agreed to set up a health 

programme encompassing emotional 

care and counselling, and building 

partnerships with businesses to provide 

alternative employment for former sex 

workers. 

She has expanded Tamar’s activities 

beyond its Kolkata base and is now 

working with villages in West Bengal 

and Nepal through businesses to help 

repatriate women back home and 

provide them with work. 

Traffickers prey on villages of 

immense poverty, she said. 

In the most common scenario, young 

teen girls aged between 13 and 15 

are offered employment as domestic 

workers then brought into the city and 

sold into the sex trade, which is illegal 

but not properly policed. 

“Sadly, a lot of the police are complicit 

and some even directly involved.” 

Sex trafficking impacts 

It is easy to assume from afar that 

the impact of sex trafficking and the 

poverty and powerlessness that led to 

Pip Rea 

it, might render many women damaged 

beyond repair. But this is far from the 

truth, Rea said. 

“What constantly amazes me is 

how these women have gone through 

immense trauma, being trafficked and 

just their life circumstances. Yet they 

have maintained such resilience and 

such a desire to leave and create a 

better life,” she said. 

‘Women’s resilience outweighs 

trauma’ is the base of her research. 

“I wanted to understand how that 

happens, how women, who have gone 

through so much trauma can exit and 

what role resilience has and how they 

can move from a place of no control 

over their circumstances to the place 

of making a decision for their own 

welfare amongst the exploitation,” Rea 

said. 

Research Fellow 

“I realised that I was in a unique 

situation where I had a platform in 

academia for their voices to be heard in 

a way that maybe hadn’t been heard in 

the past.” 

Rea works on her thesis part-time 

and runs Tamar. 

Her research has involved interviewing 

women about their lives prior to 

entering the sex trade as well as their 

experiences during and after it. 

Concepts of community and solidarity 

are emerging to help explain the high 

levels of resilience she is witnessing. 

She suspected that the effect of 

strong, positive family relationships 

early in life despite the extreme poverty 

of their circumstances is a factor. 

She hopes that her research will 

show that women who have exited the 

sex trade can still lead successful lives 

– holding down a good job, providing 

for their families and changing their 

children’s lives. A part of her job 

involves visiting brothels and talking to 

women who are still in the trade, and 

informing them of the alternatives. 

However, the youngest girls are 

locked away. 

“We do not get access to them – we 

usually deal with girls aged 18 

upwards.” 

Local Culture 

Rea’s academic exploration of a 

complex problem reflects her deep 

personal connection to the place and 

people. She made a point of immersing 

herself into the culture at the outset 

and can communicate with locals in 

Bengali, which she speaks fluently. 

She completed a full-time language 

study and then full immersion, living 

for three years in a 2 x2 metre room 

of a house shared with other Bengali 

women who spoke no English, in a 

red-light district building. 

“It was hard because we did not have 

any mod cons – no fridge, shower or 

hot water. It was good for my language 

learning and for understanding of 

Bengali culture but it was hard work!” 

“I recognised that as a foreigner 

coming into this context there are 

numerous barriers to relationships 

and understanding the dynamics of 

a culture. I was the stranger. I was 

A woman of the Red Light District in Kolkata (Photo Credit: Calvina Nguyen) 

the different one. And I was wanting 

to know and understand and build 

relationships.” 

Living among locals, she came to 

appreciate the more collective style of 

life. 

“The whole point was to know and 

understand and be as much a part of the 

community as I could, even though I 

am an outsider.” 

Rea grew up in multi-cultural South 

Auckland and spent 18 months running 

a health clinic in a small rural village 

in Ethiopia when she first graduated as 

a nurse. 

She said that the greatest reward 

of her work is seeing the changes in 

women’s lives. However, entering the 

sex trade can lead to a swathe of health 

problems, such as alcohol abuse and 

addiction. 

Many young girls are given booze 

when first trafficked “to make them 

compliant. Often they find it continues 

to be their coping strategy and they 

become addicted.” 

Tamar partners with rehabilitation 

centres and helps women develop new 

coping strategies.


Businesslink 

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14 

Businesslink 


Firm offers flexible tax payment scheme 

Staff Reporter 

info@indiannewslink.co.nz 

A 

New Zealand firm has 

launched a new facility that 

allows businesses to pay 

their income tax according to 

their convenience. 

Tax Management New Zealand 

(TMNZ) has launched ‘Flexi Account,’ 

which it says allows business taxpayers 

to choose how and when they make 

their provisional or terminal tax 

payments. 

The Company is an IRD-registered 

payment intermediary and operates 

under legislation set out in the Income 

Tax Act 2007 and Tax Administration 

Act 1994. 

New Legislation 

Chief Executive Chris Cunniffe said 

that the facility comes in the wake of a 

new legislation that was introduced by 

the government on February 14, 2017. 

“It changes the way Inland Revenue 

Department (IRD) charges interest to 

those using the standard method to 

calculate their provisional tax payments 

from April 1, 2018,” he said. 

But he clarified that taxpayers will 

still be required under the new system 

to make payments on dates that may 

not match business cashflow. 

TMNZ has piloted its account with 

several taxpayers and is looking to roll 

it out across New Zealand, Mr Cunniffe 

said. 

“Taxpayers with a Flexi Account will 

be able to choose a payment date in the 

future that suits them and pay the income 

tax they owe in one sum or over 

a longer period through instalments, 

delaying payment up to more than a 

year in some cases,” he said. 

There are no set amounts and 

payment dates if paying by instalment. 

Taxpayers will be able to chip away 

Chris Cunniffe 

at their liability by paying what they 

can, when they can do so, he added. 

Mr Cunniffe claimed that ‘Flexi 

Account’ will complement the new 

provisional tax system by providing 

greater flexibility. 

“While the new provisional tax 

rules provide greater certainty around 

provisional tax payments, the dates on 

which those payments fall due remain 

set in stone. Those dates, as many 

business owners will attest to, do not 

always match their cashflow. 

“That means if they are paying late, 

they will still incur IRD interest of 

8.27% and late payment penalties. On 

the other hand, they may need to use 

their overdraft or restrict their cash 

outgoings unduly just to meet their IRD 

obligations,” he said. 

Paying through a Flexi Account will 

eliminate IRD late payment penalties 

and reduce interest cost by up to 30%. 

Mr Cunniffe hoped that the facility 

will limit the number of taxpayers 

getting into serious debt with IRD. 

The taxman’s debt for 2015-2016 

was $4.68 billion, of which $2.56 

billion was income tax, he said. 

“Interest and late payment penalties 

add up very quickly and can actually 

encourage non-compliance. TMNZ 

is providing a way to reduce this 

compliance cost while giving taxpayers 

the flexibility to pay IRD what they 

owe at a time and in a way that suits 

their cashflow,” Mr Cunniffe said. 

It is understood that a ‘Flexi 

Account’ will allow businesses to keep 

headroom in their existing lines of 

credit if paying on time would cause 

problems. 

TMNZ also claimed that its interest 

is cheaper compared to other forms of 

lending such as a business overdraft. 

“Approval is guaranteed, and no 

security is required. There are no 

fees to apply. Taxpayers of all sizes 

will be able pay underpaid, missed or 

upcoming income tax payments for the 

current tax year or the one just completed 

through their ‘Flexi Account.’ 

It will give them an additional 75 days 

past their terminal tax date to pay what 

they owe IRD,” Mr Cunniffe said. 

Please read ‘Tighter Foreign Trust 

Rules coming’ in this Section. 

Tighter foreign trust rules coming 

Simpler tax regime follows 

The New Zealand Parliament 

passed a Bill that seeks to 

tighten foreign trust disclosure 

rules on February 14, 2017. 

Revenue Minister Judith Collins 

said that the Bill was in response to the 

recommendations of the ‘Shawn Inquiry 

Report’ submitted by Adjunct Professor 

(Accountancy) at Victoria University in 

Wellington and former Pricewaterhouse- 

Coopers Chairman John Shewan in the 

wake of the ‘Panama Papers.’ 

Shewan Report 

In his report, Mr Shewan had said that 

the existing foreign trust disclosure rules 

JennySALESA 

MP forManukau East 

were inadequate and that they were unfit 

to preserve New Zealand’s reputation 

as a country that cooperates with other 

jurisdictions to counter money laundering 

and aggressive tax practices. 

“A significant increase in information 

disclosed when a foreign trust sets up, 

annual reporting and increased enforcement 

will satisfactorily address the issues 

identified. Banning foreign trusts or 

removing the current tax exemption is not 

considered to be necessary or justified. 

In theory, New Zealand’s existing tax 

disclosure and exchange of information 

arrangements should be sufficient to 

Electorate Office 

7FultonCres, Otara 

09 274 9231 or 278 9972 

jenny. .salesa@parliament.govt.nz 

Papatoetoe 

YouthLine Building, 

145 St 

George Street,Papatoetoe 

Friday 

mornings 9.30am to 12pm 

Otahuhu 

Otahuhu Town Hall, 

10-12 high street,Otahuhu 

Monday morning 9am to 12pm 

Authorised by JennySalesa 

Parliament Buildings,Wellington 

space 

deter tax abuse, and its anti-money 

laundering rules should ensure that funds 

held by foreign trusts are from legitimate 

sources,” Mr Shewan had said. 

Light-handed measures 

He said that under the current law 

and enforcement practices, the risk of 

detection was low and that hence his 

Report had suggested that disclosure 

requirements can be justifiably described 

as ‘light-handed.’ 

“Strengthened disclosure requirements 

should act as a deterrent to offshore 

parties looking to use New Zealand 

foreign trusts for illicit purposes,” Mr 

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Judith Collins 

Shewan said. 

Ms Collins said that the new 

Bill includes measures to implement 

the G20/OECD standard 

for the Automatic Exchange of 

Information, to help detect and 

prevent tax evasion globally. 

“The new legislation also 

contains a number of measures 

to simplify tax processes. Many 

businesses report that the most difficult 

aspect of their tax affairs is 

calculating and paying provisional 

tax,” she said. 

Helping small businesses 

The government will bring 

into effect on April 1, 2018. the 

‘Accounting Income Method,’ as a 

part of the legislation, giving smaller 

businesses a new Pay-As-You Go 

option for provisional tax. 

It would allow small taxpayers 

to use their accounting software to 

calculate and pay their provisional 

tax taking the guess work out of 

calculating provisional tax. 

“Other business-friendly 

measures, commencing on April 1, 

2017, include reducing or removing 

use-of-money interest for a majority 

of business taxpayers and removing 

the 1% incremental late payment 

penalty for new GST, Income Tax, 

and Overpaid Working for Families 

tax credits. Use-of-money interest is 

often seen by businesses as unfair,” 

she said. 

Currently, even if a business pays 

the correct amount of provisional tax 

during the year they can still incur 

the interest. The combination of the 

accounting income method and the 

other provisional tax changes will 

reduce the impact of interest. 

This package gives businesses 

more certainty about their tax 

payments and more time to focus on 

growing their business. 

Please read ‘Firm offers flexible 

tax payment scheme’ in this 

Section. 

For all classified lineage and display advertisements 

please contact 021 836 528 or 

Email: editor@indiannewslink.co.nz


Businesslink 

15 

Start-Up company startles erring real estate agents 

Venkat Raman 


Although Real Estate agents 

must be registered and are 

responsible not only to 

the company which they 

represent but also to the Real Estate 

Agents Authority (REAA) and the 

Real Estate Institute of New Zealand, 

there have been increasing number 

of incidents of dissatisfaction and 

disappointment among vendors and 

purchasers of properties. 

Transparency lacking 

First-time homebuyers and those 

with little or no experience are 

especially vulnerable and many of 

them suffer in silence, for fear of being 

‘chastised’ by some real estate agents. 

Despite significant developments 

and well-established systems and procedures, 

many believe that the industry 

lacks transparency and accountability. 

With the property market still 

maintaining its heat and with house 

prices continuing to remain solid, 

there is a growing need to make real 

estate agents accountable. While most 

operators such as property developers, 

real estate agents and other players in 

the market are known for their honesty, 

integrity and self-discipline, a few 

need to be regulated. 

An online service that promises 

anonymity and total safety, launched 

about two months ago, could be a boon 

to people. 

New Voice 

Called, ‘How’s My Agent?’ this 

service comes free and takes no more 

Hans Vellara 

than a few minutes to rate any real 

estate agent operating anywhere in New 

Zealand. Its simplicity and confidentiality 

are reassuring – all that the company 

needs is to raise awareness among New 

Zealanders. 

Established by five people of varied 

ethnicity - Hans Vellara, Robert Ng, 

Akilesh Gokul (Optometry colleagues 

and academics), Prabhat Gokul and 

Bruce Nicholson (Computer Science 

graduates), the start-up company has 

the potential to grow as the Watchdog 

of the real estate industry in New 

Zealand. 

Like other rating websites such as 

‘Yelp’ for restaurants and ‘TripAdvisor’ 

for the travel trade, www.howsmyagent. 

co.nz allows people to review a service 

or a product of a real estate agent. 

Negative aspects 

Mr Vellara said that he and his 

colleagues observed several negative 

reports against real estate agents which 

media attention. 

“This service comes with guarantee 

of safety, security and confidentiality. 

People accessing our website can also 

exercise their choice of being anonymous. 

We will not provide information 

to anyone, in the case of people who 

choose to enter their names and contact 

details,” he said. 

The objective is to promote good 

practice standards within the real estate 

industry and to give consumers a voice 

about their experiences, he added. 

No room for bias 

Mr Vellara said that there could be 

instances of someone giving vent to 

their personal bias or dislike, the rating 

process works well in general in most 

industries. 

“The Law of Averages works well 

in every review and rating process. If 

there are several negative reviews that 

have a common theme, then perhaps 

those reviewers have a legitimate 

concern against a real estate agent. 

So, the public can then make their 

own informed decision, based on their 

fellow consumers’ experiences. New 

Zealanders work in a collaborative and 

mutual trust environment,” he said. 

Mr Vellara said ‘How’s My Agent?’ 

has built-in measures to prevent 

abusive, foul language, hate and 

illegitimate reviews. 

“All reviews can be flagged by the 

public and further investigated by our 

staff and possibly removed,” he said. 

Real Estate Agents can exercise the 

option of having a ‘Basic Real Estate 

Agent’ for a ‘Platinum Real Estate 

Agent Account,’ with several additional 

facilities such as the ability to direct 

potential clients to their other listings. 

No legal mandate 

Companies such as ‘How’s My 

Agent?’ have no legal mandate to take 

action against erring real estate agents. 

“That is the job of the REAA. This 

platform fills a niche where it may not 

be appropriate to approach the regulatory 

authority. This need is bridged by 

howsmyagent.co.nz. There are people 

frustrated by the practicing standards of 

some real estate agents,” Mr Vellar said. 

He said that the REAA ensures 

minimum standards of practice but does 

not necessarily recognise or reward 

exceptional practice. They mainly deal 

with complaints where there has been 

serious misconduct. 

“Our Company aims to promote 

good practicing standards in the real 

estate industry,” Mr Vellara said. 

Are you receving our 

New By-Weekly Newsletter? Write to 

editor@indiannewslink.co.nz 

Let’s bin the bag! 

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Renters: please note thatlandlords will have to apply for alarger 

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16 

Businesslink 


Mt Albert victory brings home hearts and minds 

Jacinda Arden 

February 25, 2017 will forever 

be a special day for me, for 

it was on that day that I was 

elected to be Member of 

Parliament from Mt Albert. 

I express my sincere thanks to those 

who took the time to vote, placing their 

confidence in me. 

I wanted to share some of the words 

from election night – they sum up how 

I feel about the by-election, and where 

we go from here. 

At the end of last year, I doubt that 

any of us thought we would be here. 

When my predecessor in Mt Albert, 

David Shearer decided to leave Parliament, 

I think that even he must have 

been surprised by his decision. 

Shearer’s legacy 

But his decision to take on a selfless 

but huge job (as the Head of the UN 

Peacekeeping Force in South Sudan) 

left a huge vacuum. 

I know that because countless people 

during this campaign told me about the 

work he did in this community. 

Countless people also told me of the 

work that had been done earlier. I went 

to places opened by former Mt Albert 

MP and Prime Minister Helen Clark 

and to places of which she was either 

the patron or the person who helped in 

building those facilities. 

Community Standards 

This community has a memory, and 

very high standards, and I will strive to 

preserve both. Of course, the tight time 

frames meant learning a lot about Mt 

Albert in a short time frame. 

I learnt that I have almost as many 

electorate neighbours as it is possible 

to have. And what great neighbours 

they are too in Mt Roskill, New Lynn, 

Auckland Central and Kelston. 

I learnt that it is helpful to have a 

by-election immediately after someone 

else’s by-election. It means that you can 

request that candidate into working for 

you – thanks Michael Wood. 

I discovered that Dominion Road is 

an excellent boundary line, especially 

if you have already announced that you 

will be running light rail down it. 

Constituency needs 

But I also learnt possibly the most 

important thing of all - that this is a 

community with a huge heart. One that 

was never short of things they wanted 

to improve, but not just for them, for 

their children, their neighbours, and 

New Zealand. 

It did not matter in which suburb we 

live, whether people owned a home or 

felt comfortable, or if they did not own 

a home at all. 

People are worried and are hopeful 

about the same things – decent homes, 

good jobs, strong communities. 

One of the things that taught me that 

the most, were our street corner meetings. 

We had 55 in total, and people 

came to every single one of them. 

I will always remember one such 

meeting. 

Refugee helps 

We did our usual convoy with the 

caravan in tow. A gentleman came 

outside and asked what we were up to. 

We explained and then I noticed that 

he disappeared. He returned soon after 

with a table, water, cups and finally 

muffins to share with his neighbours. 

He was a refugee and took great 

pride in introducing me to his Kiwi-born 

daughter, and told me about the 

courageous and helpful labour MPs had 

that had served him and this seat. But 

he was also interested in what next. 

And that is as it should be. Any seat 

with heart knows that we have work to 

do here. 

One of our last meetings reminded 

me of that too. 

A young man came to meet us as we 

moved around Owairaka. 

He was a recent graduate with a 

student loan, trying to get ahead. He 

wanted to look after his ailing mother, 

and had recently changed jobs to try 

and boost his income, even though it 

meant travelling further every day. 

But what was getting in the way was 

housing. In four years, his rent had 

gone from $300 to $410. 

As he left, we talked about the 

by-election and he said to me, “Do not 

worry, you will be fine.” I replied that it 

wasn’t me that I was worried about. 

That for me sums it up. I could sit 

here and go over the election results 

with you. We could talk about margins 

and what it means. But for people out 

there what matters is what we can do 

with it, and the change we can bring. 

Here, in Mt Albert, there is so much 

to celebrate. 

But we need to get back to some 

of the basics. They are (1) Affordable 

housing (2) The ability to get around 

our city (3) Green spaces for children to 

run and play (4) Water in which we can 

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Professional assistance, independent of Indian Newslink 

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negotiate terms and fees directly. 

Contact Details: 

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all swim without a 1 in 20 chance of 

being ill (5) Creating the best schools 

and the safest neighbourhoods. 

I can advocate all these things, and I 

vow that I will, but real change comes 

when we change the government. 

Jacinda Arden is Member of 

Parliament elected from Mt Albert 

Constituency at the by-election held 

on February 25, 2017. She is the Party’s 

Spokesperson for Justice; Arts, 

Culture and Heritage; Children; and 

Small Business. She is also Associate 

Spokesperson for Auckland Issues. 

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18 

Model of the Fortnight 

Communitylink 

Pageant brings life-changing opportunities 


Pam Cummings 

Attending the Waitangi Day 

Celebrations and attending 

a job interview were 

among the most significant 

events that have occurred thus for this 

year in the life of Johannah Prasad, 

our Model of the Fortnight. 

Known as the Title Holder of ‘Miss 

Five Crowns New Zealand 2016,’ the 

New Year has started off faster than 

she could have imagined. 

Participating in the First Induction 

Day of the new 2017 Class of 

Contestants was another major event 

for Johannah. 

After having spent some time 

with her family in the South Island, 

she finally arrived back to the North 

Island to prepare for official duties. 

Being a teacher, Johannah fully 

understands how nervous some of the 

new 2017 contestants may feel as she 

too, felt like that in the beginning of her 

pageant journey. 

Honoured to be amongst such a special 

occasion she said, “I gained a deeper 

heart for our country and the people of 

New Zealand which is something I will 

always treasure.” 

Arriving at Te Tii Marae near the 

Waitangi grounds on the morning of 

February 3, she was welcomed by the 

people and Kaumatua. 

Meeting Kingi Taurua and Wairemu 

with the Pacific Pearls during the Powhiri, 

she went on to share a meal after 

all the formalities and got the chance to 

connect with the people. 

The following day, Johannah was 

honoured to be asked to sit on the 

welcoming side of the Whare to welcome 

some significant leaders of our nation, 

including Governor General, The Rt 

Hon Dame Patsy Reddy and Chief of the 

Royal New Zealand Navy John Martin. 

After the first Powhiri had 

commenced, Johannah was honoured 

to sing a Karakia in front of the judges 

which included Chief Justice Dame 

Sian Elias, and the Honourable Justice 

Joe Williams during the next gathering. 

On February 5, Johannah was asked 

to speak on the marae to share her 

journey of winning the ‘Miss Five 

Crowns New Zealand’ national title. 

She said, “It was a very special 

experience bringing life-changing 

opportunities.” 

It is very busy times for Johannah 

and it is likely the new job prospect 

may have to go on hold as an 

international pageant opportunity is in 

the pipeline and may be sooner than 

expected. 

She’ll keep us informed with the 

progression. 

Pam Cummings is Director of Miss 

Five Crowns New Zealand and a 

member of the Panel of Judges of 

the Indian Newslink Indian Sports 

Awards. 

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20 

Artlink-Ratna Venkat 


An Indo-Fijian Short Story - First of Three Parts 

Dry among Spraying Fountains 

Prashil Kumar 

An hour ago, Pal had lain 

in the middle of his 

sugarcane farm. 

The stems of the sugarcane 

plants are a rough light brown. 

Some rise straight up around three 

meters tall. Some shoot up to four. 

The stems lose their height for a 

month or two when chopped but remain 

standing tall most year around. 

A handful of light green, narrow, 

almost spear like leaves, pop out 

at various parts on the stem. Their 

lengthiness of around one and a half 

metres makes them eventually droop 

toward the earth. 

A single stem and its leaves create 

the image of a playing water fountain 

where the stems represent the 

ornamental structure, while the leaves 

boast to be jets of cool water which 

sprays endlessly into the air. 

The spray of green leaves 

inevitably clash and tangle with other 

leaves from nearby stems. It becomes 

almost impossible to determine which 

leaf belongs to which stem due to the 

plants being in proximity. 

Such a scenario of sugar cane 

plants stretching for nearly three acres 

and numbering in thousands creates 

the image of an everlasting sea of 

fountains belonging to Pal. 

******************************* 

An hour ago, Pal had lain in the 

middle of his sugarcane farm. 

His head placed on a four metre 

square wooden platform, raised five 

Prashil Kumar 

metres by agile dried bamboo sticks and 

a little higher than the surrounding sea 

of fountains. 

A rope ladder dangled slowly from 

one of the corners. 

Pal’s arms were stretched wide open 

to either side of his shoulders while 

the back of his palm and fingers lightly 

touch the rough wooden planks. 

The tropical Fijian sunshine had 

blared right into Pal’s eyes causing him 

to squint continuously. The dark contour 

lining under the lashes and above the 

cheekbones blend in quite fairly with 

the skin complexion of Pal. He had shut 

his eyes tightly and a couple of tears 

had rolled down his cheeks with much 

ease. 

******************************** 

An hour ago, Pal had lain in the 

middle of his sugarcane farm on the 

wooden planks. 

Pal had lain on the wooden planks 

for the first time when his father had 

succumbed to chronic rise of blood 

sugar. Ultimately his mother was left 

in sole charge of her five children and 

a sea of everlasting fountains to tend to 

for a living. 

Pal being the eldest of his siblings at 

14 years of age had no choice. 

His school uniform and his stationery 

were carefully divided on to his other 

brothers and sisters. Pal with a torn 

heart wore his father’s oversized khaki 

and immersed himself completely into 

the sea of fountains. 

As Pal would usually be required to 

bow down to gather the chopped stems 

up, his sweat would usually drip to the 

ground. From time to time his tears 

would fall with his sweat. Either way, 

the roots of the fountain would absorb 

them all in no time. 

An expletive would occasionally slip 

from Pal’s cracked lips whilst working 

his cane knife separating the drooping 

leaves from the slender stems under the 

ruthless heat. The standing fountains 

did not mind Pal’s words. They were 

enabling Pal and his family to see the 

sun rise day after day despite the dusk 

which had set in Pal’s life preventing 

him to live his youth like the teenagers 

around him. The sea of fountains stood 

tall and proud. 

******************************** 

An hour ago Pal had lain in the 

middle of his sugarcane farm on the 

wooden planks. Pal had lain on the 

wooden planks the entire night after 

he had performed the final rites of his 

wife. It appeared as though the sea of 

fountains had surrounded Pal into its 

cosy lap like a mother offers her lap and 

hands to console a distressed weeping 

toddler. Pal’s legs were coiled as he lay 

sideways with his face on his right arm. 

Beneath the star lit sky, Pal sobbed. 

Pal’s wife had spent entire nights 

tapping her head against the wall by her 

bed hoping to find some relief so she 

could rest for a moment or two. 

But the pain was blatantly dark 

especially during the hours of dawn. 

The public hospital had offered painkillers 

free of charge. But they failed to 

make a difference. Eventually, Pal and 

his wife decided that the painkillers 

were literally too tiny for such an 

enormous long-lasting pain. 

Therefore, the unified decision was 

to consume pill after pill every half an 

hour until the pain departed. In the end, 

the high dose of painkillers did take 

the pain away. But they also took her 

breath away. 

Pal’s sobbing mouth only uttered 

the to the sea of fountains from time 

to time. 

But the fountains did not mind at all. 

They unconditionally stood by him all 

night listening to his vulgar. It did not 

matter to them if Pal was financially 

crippled to seek the recommended 

medical procedure for a proper diagnosis 

only because he had spent his life 

tending them in the scorching heat. The 

sea of fountains knew well that Pal was 

able to have two of his children by his 

side because they existed. Therefore, 

they stood tall and proud. 

If we notice, the line- “lain in 

the middle”- is written in every 

paragraph before that paragraph 

describes the one other similar time 

Pal had lain at the same spot, in pain 

and sorrow. That particular line 

‘an hour ago’ (present time), is connected 

with the ‘Pal had lain’ (past 

times). Instead of merely stating the 

occasions Pal had lain on the planks 

in the middle of his farm, the story 

reminds the reader that an hour ago, 

Pal had been where he used to be at 

painful times of his life such as the 

day when his father passed away and 

the day his daughter returned home.


Artlink-Ratna Venkat 

21 

Meditational music and dance enthrals 

Ratna Venkat 

ratna@indiannewslink.co.nz 

The ‘14th Auckland Mehfil,’ held 

on Saturday, February 18 at 

the Blockhouse Bay Boat Club 

(Blockhouse Bay, Auckland) 

promised its readers that it would be 

an exquisite evening of Jugalbandi and 

Fusion for the audience and the artistes. 

It kept up its word. 

Tabla Beat Science 

The annual event, organised regularly 

by Chinmaya Dunster and his team 

began with ‘Tabla Beat Science,’ a group 

headed by Basant Madhur, Principal of 

the Auckland-based ‘Sargam School of 

Indian Music’ and his students, Aman 

Reddy, Akhilesh Madhur, Prashant 

Kumar and Shamal Lal. 

They were supported by Deepak 

Madhur on the Harmonium. 

The group demonstrated traditional 

Tabla compositions such as ‘Kaydas,’ 

‘Tukdas’ and ‘Relas.’ ‘Sawal-Jawab’ 

(Call and Response sessions between 

the players) captivated the audience and 

drew wide applause. 

Shastro and Chinmaya 

The next performance by Shastro 

Rodella on Bansuri Flute and Chinmaya 

Dunster on Sarod and Western Guitar 

was described as ‘meditational music,’ in 

which the audience was told to relax and 

experience Nature’s tranquillity emitting 

from the sounds of Flute and Sarod. 

They played ‘Alaap’ and ‘Jor’ in ‘Kafi 

Thaat,’ typical to the Hindustani classical 

Ratna Venkat dancing to the music of Sargam Fusion and the voice of Ashish Ramakrishnan 

music tradition. The duo presented two 

original compositions on the Flute and 

Guitar, using Western chord structures 

under Hindustani musical notes; first in 

‘Raag Bilaval’ and the second in ‘Raag 

Bhairavi.’ 

Mr Madhur joined them on the Tabla 

towards a soothing melodic finish. 

Sargam Fusion 

The last section of the programme 

presented the ‘Sargam Fusion’ band, 

with each performance well-balanced 

among classical, semi-classical and 

modern genres. 

The ensemble comprised Ashish 

Ramakrishnan on Male Vocal, Ahi 

Karunaharan on Keyboards, Basant 

Madhur on Tabla, Joy Kavya Ravela 

on Female Vocal, Rajiv Gounder on 

Octopad, Ratna Venkat on Dance and 

Rob Mita on Bass Guitar. 

Among the highlights of the band’s 

Tabla performance by Aman Reddy, Basant Madhur, Shamal Lal and Akhilesh Madhur 

Shastro and Chinmaya on Bansuri Flute and Sarod 

performance was the opening ‘Krishna 

nee begane,’ ‘Albela Sajan,’ (both sung 

by Ashish Ramakrishnan) and ‘See 

me bloom,’ an original composition 

rendered by Ms Ravela as a tribute to her 

late grandmother. This writer performed 

Kathak for ‘Albela Sajan’ and a fusion 

dance for ‘See me bloom.’ 

‘Tu jaane na’ followed by ‘Time to 

say goodbye,’ a soulful blend of Sufi and 

Opera, was superbly performed by Mr 

Ramakrishnan which indicated the finale 

of the Mehfil. 

The audience though, not yet ready to 

return home, asked for an encore which 

led them to dance to the band’s medley 

of popular songs. 

“Meditation to Celebration,” was 

one viewer’s response that incidentally 

summed up what most people experienced 

at the ‘14th Auckland Mehfil.’ 

(Pictures by Indian Newslink) 

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Home delivery promotes customer convenience 

Fun and games at Syro Malabar Catholic Mission 

Food Festival for new Community Centre 

The irresistible cuisine of 

India will combine with 

that of New Zealand and 

Samoa at a Food Festival 

being organised by the Syro 

Malabar Catholic Mission. 

The event, in aid of a 

Children & Youth Development 

Community Centre, will be held at 

the Malaeola Samoan Convention 

Centre in the South Auckland 

suburb of Mangere on Saturday, 

April 22, 2017 from 11 am to 7 

pm. 

Syro Malabar Catholic Mission 

Public Relations Officer Raji 

Chacko Anithottathil said that 

second in an annual series, the 

forthcoming Festival draws upon 

the success of the Food Fest held 

last year (Indian Newslink, March 

15, 2016), which attracted more 

than 4000 people from various 

communities. 

Fostering friendship 

“The passion for food and 

fun is universal and hence this is 

an opportunity for families and 

friends to get together and enjoy a 

weekend in the midst of friendly 

communities. As well as food, 

there would be an entertainment 

programme comprising music, 

dance, and other items performed 

by different ethnic groups 

highlighting our multicultural 

outlook,” he said. 

Children would have their own 

amusement including Bouncing 

Castle, Joy Ride and competitions. 

“We expect more than 5000 

people to attend the Food Festival 

from Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua 

and Whangarei. We are serious 

about establishing our Community 

Centre and such events will help 

in raising the requisite funds. We 

look forward to the support of all 

communities,” Mr Chacko said. 

Further information can be 

obtained from Raji Chacko 

Anithottathil on (09) 6240829; 

(09) 6204690; Mobile: 021- 

02405015. 

New Dating App creates fresh connections 



Dating websites may 

be dime-a-dozen in 

today’s increasingly 

open and multicultural 

society but the need to ensure 

dignity, safety and security 

has always been underscored by 

our communities. 

Parents and caregivers in the 

Indian community are often 

worried if their children are 

exercising care and caution 

while accessing dating sites 

online. 

Meri Jaan 

An Indian entrepreneur has 

launched ‘Meri Jaan’ (meaning 

‘My Love’) a mobile dating 

App that aims to helps anyone 

to connect with the people they 

want to meet. 

Darren Haroon, who 

developed the App said since its 

launch, thousands of people in 

New Zealand, Australia and Fiji 

have been active and that the 

target is 100,000 users by the 

Darren Haroon 

(Images supplied) 

end of this year. 

Potential Matches Only 

“Our proprietary algorithm 

provides connections only when 

a person is a potential match for 

the user, based on personality 

and lifestyle compatibility. Since 

the connections are established 

through membership to 

‘Meri Jaan,’ the App offers 

confidentiality and one-to-one 

connection,” he said. 

Mr Haroon said that his Company 

takes privacy seriously and 

profiles, taken from members’ 

Facebook and LinkedIn are 

hidden from public view. 

“Your Facebook friends will 

not see your profile or know 

that you are using our Dating 

App. Our privacy settings and 

your personal information are 

safe with us. We do not even 

get access to your log-ins and 

passwords, just your social 

media profiles. While using 

your LinkedIn is not the norm 

for many Dating Apps and may 

weird you out a little, but trust 

us, because it is for your own 

good!” he said. 

Mr Haroon said that the 

‘dating life’ of people would be 

separate from their workplaces 

and that his Apps assures such 

a facility. 

The following links would 

be useful. 

https://itunes.apple.com/au/ 

app/meri-jaan-dating-app-forsouth/id1064031029?mt=8 

http://www.facebook.com/ 

merijaanapp 

The story of tragic murders in London 

Amarjit and Nancy Chohan with Charanjit Kaur and their son Devinder. 

Picture by Chris Smith for Unicorn Pictures. Courtesy: Daily Mail. 

Special Report containing sourced 

contents in our Web Edition (www. 

indiannewslink.co.nz) 

Read about the gruesome murders of 

Amarjit Chohan, his wife Nancy and his 

mother Charanjit Kaur in Britain in February 

2003. The bodies of his two children Ravinder 

and Devinder, who were at that time were 

respectively eight weeks and 18 months old 

were never found. 

A book, ‘The Corpse that Spoke,’ by Sidin 

Vadukut was released recently. Our Special 

Report carries a review of the Book by Jonaki 

Roy in thewire.in. 

John Chacko with Tejas Dalvi near their delivery van 



A 

new Indian initiative 

that aims to foster 

‘responsible drinking’ 

has recently been 

launched in Auckland. 

People in Greater Auckland 

can order a wide range of Wines, 

Spirits, Beers and other beverages 

along with popular fast-food 

items, with a promise of delivery 

within one hour from the time of 

the placement of order online. 

There are however conditions 

such as unexpected delays due to 

traffic conditions, road works and 

other unpredictable issues. 

This online service can be 

accessed on ‘ontherocksnow. 

com.’ 

All transactions are through 

credit cards and prepaid. 

Online platform 

Based in St Johns in Auckland, 

the company provides an online 

platform with Android and 

iPhone apps. 

Chief Executive 

Joseph Chacko said that the 

service, which commenced 

on February 6, 2017, aims to 

offer Aucklanders a reliable and 

cost-effective service. 

He said that people who are 

physically challenged, those 

without transport and other 

circumstances have found this 

service useful. 

“We are committed to provide 

the best and most reliable standard 

of service with the motto, 

‘Drink Smart, Don’t Start.’ We 

constantly monitor customer 

preferences to improve quality of 

delivery,” he said. 

Safety factors 

Mr Chacko claimed that while 

there may be others offering 

similar facilities, ontherocksnow. 

com is a company with a 

difference. 

“The service is safe and liquor 

will not be delivered to people 

below 18 years of age. Identity 

cards are checked at delivery 

point and those who do not 

qualify will not be served. Our 

staff are fully trained to ensure 

compliance,” he said. 

Mr Chacko said that another 

point of difference was that his 

company operates from 9 am to 

9 pm every day of the week. 

“We promise to deliver the 

orders within one hour of their 

placement, subject of course 

to traffic and other conditions 

which cannot be foreseen. We 

charge a flat fee of $5 per order 

of minimum value of $20,” Mr 

Chacko said. 

Fast-Food Items 

Although the food option is a 

part of value-added service, the 

company accepts only limited 

items that are mentioned on its 

website. 

“These include burger meals, 

pizzas and wraps of reputed 

brands. They are delivered in 

proper food hot bags and handled 

with care,” Mr Chacko said. 

The Company caters to 

individual, corporate, party and 

bulk orders. 

Mr Chacko said that his enterprise 

has the requisite license 

to carry out the business and 

employs Liquor Management 

trained delivery personnel. 

Secure website 

“We have also kept our website 

very secured with the SSL 

certificate and a secure payment 

gateway to nullify any possible 

fraud. We are a close-knit team 

and believe that delivering the 

best customer service is what we 

do best,” he said. 

The Company employs six 

people, including Mr Chacko’ 

wife Mary Matthew, Business 

Development Manager Tejas 

Dali and three others. Further 

information can be obtained on 

0800-243377. 

Musical Journey moves towards fifth landmark 

Manisha, Divya and Geerthana Nanthakumar at Musical Journey 2016. 

Venkat Raman 


An evening of melody 

awaits music buffs 

as the talented Nanthakumar 

family and 

other artistes present their annual 

concert on March 11, 2017 at 

Auckland Normal Intermediate 

School Hall. 

Organised by Nadesan 

Nanthakumar in aid of the New 

Zealand Thirumurugan Temple 

Trust which owns and operates 

the Thirumurugan Temple at 

145 Church Street, in Otahuhu, 

Auckland, the Concert, known 

as ‘Musical Journey- The Strings 

2017,’ will begin at 6 pm. 

The event is open to all and 

entry is free. 

The three past ‘journeys’ have 

enabled Mr Nanthakumar to 

donate $22,000 through sale of 

tickets and food and the relentless 

man is eager to do more. 

The Artistes 

Among the singers are 

Akshaya Pushparajah, 

Alexshana Sivarajah, Anusha 

Suresh Ramachandra, Chirag 

Mani, Dheeraj Venkatachalam, 

Gaarunyaa Uthayakumar, 

Karthik Purushothman, Kaviya 

Balaraman, Puja Nory, Rama 

Yogakumar, Roma Nory, Thulasi 

Kanadakumar, Vethahi Arunthayaparan, 

Vishalini Gunadas 

and Vishnupriya Mallela. 

They will be supported by Antony 

Yempee (Acoustic Guitar), 

Avinash Jeyashankar (Octopod), 

Diya Antony (Rhythm Guitar), 

Divya Nanthakumar, Geerthana 

Nanthakumar, Manisha Nanthakumar 

(Keyboard and Violin), 

Joseph Alexander (Electronic 

Drums), Vishnu Sreekumar 

(Bass Guitar) Nadesan Nanthakumar 

(Coordinator). 

The performance will also 

feature Rishi Navaneethan 

(Acoustic Drums) and Niroj 

Sivarajah (Tabla). 

Following are the members 

of the String Group: Aanchal 

Aravinthan, Aarabi Jeyashankar, 

Akshaya Pushparajah, 

Akshayaa Sribaskaran, Annjala 

Ragulakumar, 

Anushri Parasuraman, 

Ashwini Mahadeva, 

Ashwini Rohan, Avinash 

Jeyashankar (Percussion), 

Bhanu Raveenthiran, Divya 

Nanthakumar (Conductor), 

Geerthana Nanthakumar 

(Conductor), Karthiga Raveenthiran, 

Lanishka Varatharajan, 

Manisha Nanthakumar, Mithun 

Ramassh, Mrydhinyi Krishnan 

and Theibana Vignakumar 

“Most of the songs will be 

based on unplanned strings. 

‘Auckland Strings,’ a formal 

string group formed recently, 

will present three pieces and the 

Concert


Thinklink 

23 

WHAT’S DIFFERENT 

Use the photos to find the answer: Source of home remedies 

ATTEMPTATION 

No. 020 

If you can jump over the roof of your house, and 

the one next door, and the one after that, and 

so on to atotal of 15 houses —inone leap — 

then you are literally as fit as aflea, because 

by relative comparison this is the phenomenal 

capability of the blood-sucking parasite, the flea, 

atiny, wingless insect that virtually flies with its 

legs to attain horizontal or vertical distances 

200 times its body length, and so strong, it can 

pull miniature carts in so-called ‘flea circuses’. 

Spot the 10 Differences 

“Honey...come watch little Robbie about to become adog person” 

SNAP DECISION No. 010 

No. 010 

AS 

FIT 

AS 

+ A 

= FLEA 

In the addition sum different letters and 

the smiley face represent different digits. 

Rewrite the sum using the following digits: 

A 

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 

Solution to Attemptation No. 009 

P A S I R N Y 

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 9 

albert.haddad@attemptation.com 

JUMBLE No. 1743 SUDOKU No. 1064 HI 

THE RULES 

How many words of 4letters ormore can you make from 

these 9letters? In making aword each letter may be 

used only once, and the centre letter must be included. 

There must be at least one 9-letter word. No slang,foreign 

words, plurals, hyphens or apostrophes. 

TODAY’S TARGET 

31 Words Good 

37 Words Very Good 

43 Words Excellent 

50 Words Genius 

SOLUTION TO 1742 

esprit ester peer 

peri perse persist 

pert pest pester 

peter pier pise piste 

preset press priest 

PRIESTESS prise 

reset resist resit 

respite rest rete 

ripe rise rite seep 

seer seise sepsis 

sept sere series sire 

sister site speiss 

spire spite spree 

sprite steep steer 

step stere stipe 

stress stripe terse 

tier tire tree tress 

tripe 

CROSSWORD No. 11912 

ACROSS 

3 Punctuation mark 

9 Loud piercing cry 

10 Animal lacking 

pigmentation 

11 Gem 

12 Decayed 

15 Throat 

17 Clean by rubbing 

18 Ungentlemanly fellow 

19 Consumed 

20 Menace 

22 Plant 

24 Garden tool 

25 Saucy 

26 Bee-keeper 

28 Adhesive 

29 Before (poet) 

30 Money (coll) 

33 Wit 

34 Bovine mammals 

35 Class 

36 Sovereign’s chair 

37 Making no sound 

38 Breaks suddenly 

DOWN 

1 Russian emperors 

2 Muse of poetry 

3 Run about playfully 

4 Prophetic sign 

PREVIOUS ANSWERS 

Crossword No. 11911 

5 Girl’s name 

6 Hint at 

7 Fail to comply with 

8 Adequately happy 

13 Sea animal with eight 

arms 

14 US city 

16 Existing through all 

time 

18 Selected 

20 Number 

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD 

ACROSS 

1 Thirteen confused 

bankers about to sleep 

(6,5) 

9 A mineral from Korea 

(3) 

10 Worker with hair drives 

him round the junction 

(9) 

11 Swift ships (5) 

13 Concerning mum 

going out on the road 

and returning as a 

percussionist (7) 

14 Elicits away to seduce 

(6) 

16 Bow set off present (6) 

18 Get asize of paper on 

account of the college 

(7) 

19 ACaledonian 

racecourse (5) 

20 Hanging around to 

lie about an item of 

jewellery (9) 

21 Drunk 2here (3) 

22 Bringing about the 

removal of agreat day 

from the enquiry (11) 

DOWN 

2 Beer that’s light and 

headless (3) 

3 Brilliant success of a 

tale about the capital 

of Chile (5) 

S A D O U B T D C 

C O B W E B E U G E N E 

R J S E V E N S L 

A C U I T Y S E P A L 

P A R T I S A N C O D 

S E E N W E A L T H Y 

C R E G A T T A E 

M A T A D O R T I E R 

D O T D E S E R V E S 

D E T E R I N S I S T 

U T A R M E D C U 

P L E D G E V E T T E D 

E R S P E E D S Y 

master key 

1 

9 

12 

17 

22 

26 

28 

33 

36 

13 

2 

23 

No. 17563 

4 Withdraw membership 

as Dee’s upset about 

the church (6) 

5 Sob brokenly, the 

treatment being 

unclear (7) 

6 Mysterious mixture of 

meat and icing (9) 

7 Feeble act of moving a 

piece of furniture (6,5) 

8 Now, herewith, Albert 

encloses the means 

(11) 

21 Separate 

22 Colour 

23 Smiles coyly 

27 Holds royal office 

30 Fundamental 

principle 

31 Anaesthetic 

32 Surface hollows 

34 Pointed end 

12 Cautioned through 

learning (9) 

15 Always set out for a 

mountain (7) 

17 Some safety pin gets 

lost in office work (6) 

19 Girl loses her head 

over slang (5) 

21 The French love him (3) 

Sudoku No. 1063 Cryptic No. 17562 

Across: 1Pick; 3Unlawful; 

9Spanner; 10Opera; 

11 Personal gain; 

13 Recede; 15 Airgun; 

17 Never the same; 

20 Usual; 21 Bugbear; 

22 Mischief; 23 Rail. 

Down: 1Passport; 2Chair; 

4Normal; 5Along time 

ago; 6Feeling; 7Lead; 

8Ingood health; 

12 Integral; 14 Cherubs; 16 

Stable; 18 Arena; 

19 Guam. 

Snap Decision No. 009 What’s Different No. 019 Attemptation No. 009 

14 

1. Earth moved 

2. ‘You are here’ moved 

3. Boot different colour 

4. Sign post missing 

5. Extra planet 

6. Panel on spacecraft different colour 

7. Crater hole missing 

8. Helmet different colour 

9. Astronaut shadow bigger 

10. Astronaut pack smaller 

3 

11 

27 

29 

35 

38 

4 

20 

24 

18 

5 

10 

15 

34 

37 

6 

30 

21 

25 

P A S I R N Y 

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 9 

7 

19 

31 

16 

8 

32

24 

Sportslink 


Ellerslie Car Show drives passion and awe 

Matthew D’Souza 

The forty-fourth edition of the 

Ellerslie Intermarques Classic 

Car Show held on February 

12, 2017 was an amazing 

event. 

There were families with small children 

- perhaps young car lovers who 

were being educated by their parents; 

there were elderly people who got a 

chance to reminisce about the cars that 

they dreamed as children. 

From rookie car fans to the fanatics, 

everyone got the chance to learn new 

facts about their favourite cars and 

respect the time, effort and love that 

had gone into the maintenance of the 

cars that were on display. 

Awesome display 

When I arrived at the parking lot 

of the Ellerslie Race Course last year, 

I was in awe of the cars that were 

present; cars like Ferrari F355, Ford 

Mustang Mach 1 and Aston Martin 

DB7. 

I thought to myself that next year’s 

parking lot display could not possibly 

top this but low and behold it did! 

Among the cars displayed were 

McLaren 675LT, 650S, 570GT, 570S, 

MP4-12C, Ferrari 308 GTB, Maserati 

Granturismo S, Cadillac Sedan de 

Ville, two Corvette C7s and a Ferrari 

Testarossa. 

The prestigious Porsche Club of 

The Ferrari 599 F1 

Alfa Romeo 6C 

Lamborghini Huracan Avio 

New Zealand hosted the event, with a 

display of exquisite Porsches ranging 

from the 1960 356A, 1973 Carrera 

RS, 2016 911 GT3 RS and a rare 2016 

Porsche 911 R! 

The Triumph and MG Car Clubs 

impressed me with not only an array 

of cars but also the sheer love and 

affection of the owners. 

Lancia car-owners should be 

commended for their passion but as a 

Lamborghini fan, I missed their striking 

display. The show last year had featured 

Lamborghini Miura, Countach, Diablo, 

Espada and Murcielago. 

The only Lamborghinis at this 

year’s show was a Huracan Spyder 

and a limited edition Huracan Avio by 

Giltrap. There was also a new Aston 

Mclaren MP4-12C, 650S and a 570S 

Martin DB11 displayed. 

The highlights 

There were a few special cars that 

enhanced the experience. 

These included Limited Edition 

Lamborghini Huracan Avio, my 

favourite Ferrari of all time and the 599 

F1/GTB Fiorano which had its bonnet 

open so that visitors could drool over 

that amazing 5.9 litre V12 that powers 

this mighty prancing horse. 

The showstopper was a Jaguar 

XJ220, of which only 271 were ever 

made. 

Another car that drew large crowds 

was the 1937 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 

Superleggera. It was a special car. 

I look forward to an even more 

exciting show next year! 

CALLING FOR ENTRIES &NOMINATIONS 

CATEGORIES: 

1. Business Excellence in Retail Trade 

2. Business Excellence in Innovation 

3. Business Excellence in Marketing 

4. Business Excellence in Customer Service 

5. Best EmployerofChoice 

6. Best Small Business 

7. Best Medium Sized Business 

8. Best Large Business 

9. Business Excellence in International trade with India* 

10. Best Accountant of the Year 

11. Best Young Entrepreneur of the Year 

12. Best Businesswoman of the Year 

13. Best Financial Advisor (Mortgage) of the Year 

14. Best Financial Advisor (Insurance) of the Year 

Supreme Business of the Year Award 

(All entries will be entered forthis category) 

*this categoryisopen toall businesses registered in New Zealand, importing or exportinga 

product or service from and to India or engaged in enrolling international students from India 

To theTenth Annual Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards 2017 

Enter up to any three of the above first nine categories.Winners in 

the past two years cannot enter the same category orcategories 

but may attempt other categories. 

Entries to all the categories can also be by nomination (see website 

for details). Download Entry forms from www.inliba.com or write 

to editor@indiannewslink.co.nz 

Completed entries must be sent on or before 

Thursday, August 31, 2017 to IBA2017@chadwilkie.com 

Winners will be presented with their Awards at aGala BlackTie 

Dinner on Monday, November 27, 2017 at Sky City Convention 

Centre,Auckland City,details of which will be announced later. 

Read our separate advertisement elsewhere regarding 

(1) Nomination by banks and chartered accountants and 

(2) Professional services offered by two external companies 

in this issue. 

Conditions of Entry: 

Entries and Nominations must be in electronic format sent by email. Those sent by post, fax or other means will not be accepted. The decision of the judges would be final and no correspondence will be entertained in this connection. The management and staff of Indian Newslink and the 

supporting and sponsoring organisations are not eligible to enter the Awards. 

Free Workshops 

Please attend our Free Workshops on ‘How tofile agood 

entry’ as follows: 

1. Tuesday, May 2, 2017, North Shore 

2. Tuesday, June 6, 2017, Auckland City 

3. Tuesday, July 4, 2017, East Tamaki 

To Register and for more details please email 

editor@indiannewslink.co.nz

INL March 1 2017 Digital Edition

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