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<strong>2018</strong><br />

The English Fortnightly (Since November 1999)<br />

Issue 390 | <strong>April</strong> 15, <strong>2018</strong> | Free<br />

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Death of Aucklander triggers demand for government probe<br />

Venkat Raman<br />

venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />

While former Health<br />

Minister Dr<br />

Jonathan Coleman<br />

refused to own responsibility<br />

for the pathetic state<br />

of affairs at Middlemore and<br />

other hospitals that are under<br />

public ownership and management,<br />

there is a growing demand<br />

among people, especially<br />

those who have used the facility<br />

for a high-level government<br />

inquiry.<br />

“We know that the Counties<br />

Manukau District Health Board<br />

(CMDHB) runs the hospitals in<br />

the Manukau area and hence<br />

its officials, including those<br />

elected as a part of the local<br />

government, should be held responsible<br />

for the dangerous and<br />

unhealthy state of these hospitals.<br />

But the former Health<br />

Minister cannot be absolved.<br />

There must be a proper inquiry,”<br />

they said.<br />

We present the views of two<br />

Aucklanders in this issue, with<br />

more to come.<br />

Family in trauma<br />

Ravi Nyayapati recounts the<br />

experience of Priya, whose husband<br />

Raj died last year.<br />

“Anxiety, fear, trauma and<br />

eventual sorrow prevented<br />

Priya in not pursuing a complaints<br />

process for what can<br />

only be described as ‘wretched,’<br />

the care provided by<br />

Middlemore Hospital in early<br />

“Care at<br />

Middlemore<br />

Hospital is<br />

Wretched”<br />

2017. Raj had been in and out of<br />

Middlemore since December 2016.<br />

Dealing with the lack of information<br />

provided, coupled with the<br />

rude nature of some of the staff<br />

eventually became a norm for<br />

the couple and their close family<br />

members.<br />

“Dealing with Raj’s deteriorating<br />

health was dreadfully stressful. To<br />

add to this, the constant battle of<br />

wanting to know basic information,<br />

as well as ensuring mandatory<br />

necessities for patient comfort<br />

were met, added unnecessary<br />

anguish. While the patient was<br />

served meals and drinks, what the<br />

family needed was treatment and<br />

information.<br />

Greedy for Oxygen?<br />

“Classic cases of desolate actions<br />

by Middlemore staff included ridiculing<br />

Raj for being too greedy<br />

for oxygen when he was struggling<br />

to breathe and therefore<br />

asking for more oxygen. He was<br />

denied the opportunity to have<br />

oxygen supply provided upon<br />

discharge, much to the family’s<br />

angst. He was ambulanced back<br />

to Middlemore Hospital a few<br />

hours later, unable to breathe<br />

and with reduced saturation<br />

levels. That was his last trip; two<br />

weeks, later he passed away.<br />

Forcing to convert<br />

“As if all this was not enough,<br />

the Hospital Chaplain, on the<br />

pretext of offering prayer<br />

and support, started to practice<br />

Evangelism, criticising<br />

Hindu beliefs of the family and<br />

preaching that converting to<br />

Christianity would make the<br />

problems go away. Lack of proper<br />

care and information provided,<br />

coupled with complicated<br />

red tape, made the traumatic<br />

situation more distressing<br />

than it should have been,” Mr<br />

Nyayapati said.<br />

National accused of neglect<br />

Thakur Ranjit Singh said that<br />

the previous National government,<br />

which was in power for<br />

nine years, should be blamed<br />

for underfunded health budgets.<br />

“With rot, mould and sewage<br />

on the walls of the Middlemore<br />

Hospital, asbestos in the maternity<br />

unit, faulty power supplies<br />

and God knows what else, the<br />

National Party has some serious<br />

questions to answer.<br />

“Writing in the New Zealand<br />

Herald, Lizzie Marvelly rightly<br />

questioned how National could<br />

afford a tax cut when the health<br />

system was in such a dire state.<br />

Offering tax cuts as an election<br />

ploy is a bad look for National<br />

when they allowed health system<br />

to rot away and suffer acute<br />

haemorrhage.<br />

“We need to question the credibility<br />

of Dr Coleman and probe<br />

into his dereliction of duties. If<br />

he was not aware of the issues<br />

in the health system or did not<br />

bother to inquire despite hints of<br />

the problem, then he has let us<br />

down badly. And his suitability in<br />

a lucrative job in the health sector<br />

that he let down, need to be<br />

questioned.<br />

Dysfunctional DHBs<br />

“It appears that some District<br />

Health Boards (DHBs) have<br />

been dysfunctional, ineffective<br />

and inefficient. They appear to<br />

lack ability to speak the truth,<br />

with a fear of not annoying the<br />

Minister-being bearer of good<br />

tidings. Credible Board members<br />

need to be aware of their fiduciary<br />

duties and responsibility.<br />

“Among others, they need to<br />

possess aptitude on scrutiny of<br />

crucial issues, especially property,<br />

which is the life-blood of a<br />

health system. The fact that all<br />

of them failed is a symptom of<br />

acute sickness in our health system<br />

and brings into question<br />

the criteria of selection of DHBs.<br />

Racial mix in DHBs is essential to<br />

reflect the changing demography,<br />

remove cronyism and inject vigilance,”<br />

Mr Singh said.<br />

Editor’s Note: There are many<br />

other who were ‘victims’ of the<br />

rot in Middlemore Hospital.<br />

One of them is this Reporter.<br />

More of these in our next issue.<br />

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APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

02 Homelink<br />

Coleman refuses to take responsibility for hospitals rot<br />

Jane Patterson (RNZ)<br />

Outgoing National MP<br />

Jonathan Coleman is defending<br />

his record as<br />

Health Minister, while debate<br />

rages on about funding for<br />

public services.<br />

Dr Coleman delivered his valedictory<br />

speech to Parliament on<br />

<strong>April</strong> 11, <strong>2018</strong> as he prepared to<br />

take up a job heading the private<br />

health provide Acurity.<br />

The coalition government is<br />

softening up the electorate for<br />

a Budget that may not live up to<br />

everyone’s expectations, by talking<br />

up deficits in health and education<br />

it inherited from National.<br />

Rotting Hospital Buildings<br />

Rotting buildings at Middlemore<br />

Hospital, DHB deficits and government<br />

claims of ahealth fiscal hole<br />

have plagued Dr Coleman after he<br />

handed over the reins to the new<br />

minister Dr David Clark.<br />

Dr Coleman said he leaves believing<br />

he did a good job but cannot<br />

take sole responsibility for<br />

health funding.<br />

“As Minister of Health you receive<br />

money in each Budget, and<br />

that is decided collectively by the<br />

Cabinet; so, you cannot hold one<br />

individual responsible for the<br />

funding of the health system ...<br />

but whatever you put into health,<br />

there will be always people who<br />

say it is not enough.”<br />

‘Ropey Figure’<br />

But Labour is launching a fullcourt<br />

press against the record of<br />

the former National government,<br />

with health a main target.<br />

Dr Jonathan Coleman bidding adieu to Parliament yesterday<br />

(Picture for RNZ by VNP/Daniela Maoate-Cox)<br />

Dr Clark said that he had a<br />

“ropey” figure of about $14 billion<br />

for extra capital spending needed<br />

over the next decade.<br />

“What is clear from the stories<br />

that I have been hearing from all<br />

the DHBs is that many of them<br />

have claims to buildings that need<br />

replacing, these buildings and situations<br />

didn’t occur overnight<br />

... they won’t be solved in one<br />

Budget.”<br />

Dr Coleman questioned from<br />

where that figure came.<br />

“That is setting up an excuse for<br />

not funding the operations, the<br />

‘doing’ things in health, literally<br />

the surgical operations, the wages,<br />

the drugs, the treatments.”<br />

And the government was using<br />

rotting and leaky building at<br />

Middlemore to imply much bigger<br />

problems, he said.<br />

Government not told<br />

“They’re making a huge play<br />

on these leaky buildings ... which<br />

the last government was never<br />

told about, to fix those buildings<br />

is a tiny slither of less than 1<br />

percent of the total health budget.<br />

To extrapolate that to say that is a<br />

symptom of what’s happened right<br />

across the health system actually<br />

portrays a very misleading picture,”<br />

Dr Coleman said.<br />

Labour and the Greens have<br />

Budget Responsibility Rules under<br />

which debt would be paid back<br />

more slowly than under National<br />

and spending limited as a proportion<br />

of GDP.<br />

Finance Minister Grant<br />

Robertson said these would not<br />

change, as they were financial<br />

disciplines the two parties campaigned<br />

on.<br />

“They are about setting the balance<br />

between making sure that<br />

we are prudent with taxpayers’<br />

money but also make the investments<br />

we need to make,” he said.<br />

Dr Coleman’s departure just six<br />

months into the new parliamentary<br />

term has sparked a by-election<br />

in his Northcote seat, to be held on<br />

Saturday, June 9, <strong>2018</strong>.<br />

The National Party will announce<br />

its candidate to replace Dr<br />

Coleman on <strong>April</strong> 15, <strong>2018</strong>.<br />

Jane Patterson is Political<br />

Reporter at Radio New Zealand<br />

based in Wellington. <strong>Indian</strong><br />

<strong>Newslink</strong> has published the above<br />

Report and Picture under a Special<br />

Agreement with www.rnz.co.nz<br />

Please read our main story<br />

on Page One and our Leader,<br />

‘Former Minister’s arrogance astounding’<br />

under Viewlink.<br />

Immigration Profiling<br />

was certainly racist<br />

Alastair<br />

McClymont<br />

Last week <strong>Indian</strong><br />

<strong>Newslink</strong> reported on its<br />

Web <strong>Edition</strong> and Social<br />

Media on allegations that<br />

Immigration New Zealand (INZ)<br />

were using a tool that would<br />

racially profile people for early<br />

deportation.<br />

The Minister of Immigration<br />

has now suspended the Pilot<br />

Programme subject to further<br />

investigation.<br />

I have now been able to read<br />

INZ’s explanation for what was<br />

reported in the media and I have<br />

seen the tool that have been<br />

piloting, which is little more than<br />

an Excel Spreadsheet.<br />

Racial Content<br />

The government denies that<br />

there is racial profiling but the<br />

Spreadsheet that they are using<br />

can very clearly be used for<br />

racial profiling.<br />

By giving different weights to<br />

different factors, it is possible<br />

to identify the racial profile, or<br />

nationality, of the applicant.<br />

Immigration New Zealand also<br />

admit, in their briefing to the<br />

Minister, that those people who<br />

are at risk of being victims of<br />

immigration harm are “targeted<br />

for early intervention”.<br />

Yes, rather than deal with<br />

problems of exploitation, just<br />

target for deportation someone<br />

who might sometime in the<br />

future be a victim who has been<br />

exploited.<br />

‘Harm Score’<br />

Now, this tool then allocates a<br />

harm score to a person where<br />

someone gets points for making<br />

too many applications, to having<br />

a certain visa type, their age and<br />

a number of other factors. If the<br />

tool uses current visa types, then<br />

it can clearly be used to predict<br />

future risk to the immigration<br />

system.<br />

So, any Visa Officer assessing<br />

the application will look at the<br />

applicant’s name and nationality,<br />

then look at the harm score that<br />

the system gives them.<br />

And aVisa Officer is really<br />

going to have an open mind to<br />

that application?<br />

Of course not, they have been<br />

told by the computer that Mr Singh<br />

is a risk to our Immigration<br />

system and “early intervention is<br />

required.”<br />

No mixed signals there, no<br />

doubt what the application<br />

decision should be.<br />

That, is racial profiling.<br />

Alastair McClymont is an<br />

Immigration Law Specialist<br />

based in Auckland.<br />

Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi<br />

National ListMPbased in Manukau East<br />

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APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

Homelink<br />

Fraudulent relationships challenge Immigration New Zealand<br />

Venkat Raman<br />

venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />

of Convenience’<br />

‘Marriages<br />

are a<br />

constant<br />

headache for Immigration<br />

New Zealand (INZ) and<br />

the worst sufferers are<br />

those who are genuinely<br />

married, since the latter<br />

become embroiled in the<br />

overall ‘rejected application<br />

syndrome.’<br />

Many affected persons<br />

(that is those in bona fide<br />

marriages) have told us that<br />

their applications for visas<br />

(often Visitor Visa) were<br />

rejected by INZ, obviously<br />

suspecting them to be fake,<br />

on the face of rising incidents<br />

of fraud.<br />

We sympathise with INZ<br />

officials because they could<br />

err either way.<br />

But it is indisputable that<br />

there has been a sharp rise<br />

in the number of ‘Marriages<br />

of Convenience’ and hence<br />

a cause of worry.<br />

INZ Assistant General<br />

Manager Peter Elms said<br />

that the Department<br />

is boosting its risk and<br />

verification processes in the<br />

ongoing battle against visa<br />

fraud.<br />

The result is that INZ<br />

officials exercise greater<br />

care and scrutinise applications<br />

with greater intent,<br />

to detect and keep out<br />

fraudsters.<br />

“As part of our new<br />

operating model, additional<br />

resources are earmarked<br />

for risk and verification.<br />

As well as verification<br />

officers onshore, we have<br />

a presence in a number of<br />

strategically important locations<br />

offshore, including<br />

Mumbai, Beijing, London,<br />

Bangkok, Pretoria, Manila,<br />

Washington DC and Dubai,”<br />

he said.<br />

He said that INZ is keen to<br />

eliminate partnership fraud<br />

and hence partnership<br />

applications could take<br />

longer for processing.<br />

“Every application is<br />

assessed for its genuineness<br />

and stability. Most<br />

relationships are absolutely<br />

genuine and can be<br />

approved with a minimum<br />

of fuss, but a minority will<br />

fabricate, manipulate or<br />

exaggerate a relationship<br />

in order to obtain a visa to<br />

come to or remain in New<br />

Zealand. In those cases<br />

where we are suspicious<br />

of the relationship we<br />

will undertake additional<br />

verification in order to<br />

maintain the integrity of the<br />

immigration system. This<br />

means we may take longer<br />

to decide some applications,<br />

but it’s important we take<br />

the time needed to make<br />

the right decision,” he said.<br />

Marriage is a sacred<br />

institution in India and it<br />

is not uncommon for the<br />

bride’s family, including her<br />

parents and siblings incurring<br />

huge debts, selling or<br />

mortgaging their movable<br />

and immovable assets in<br />

India to raise the money<br />

required to meet marriage<br />

costs and the demands of<br />

bridegrooms.<br />

While marriage is still<br />

an eternal bond between<br />

a man and a woman<br />

leading to strengthened ties<br />

between families, it has also<br />

unfortunately become the<br />

playground for fraudsters<br />

and those perpetrating<br />

violence.<br />

We have handled complaints<br />

from <strong>Indian</strong> women<br />

(from India and Fiji) of<br />

the sufferings they had to<br />

undergo after arriving in<br />

New Zealand.<br />

The <strong>Indian</strong> Government<br />

is considering ways and<br />

means of bringing the<br />

perpetrators to justice.<br />

But that is not an easy<br />

process, as proved in recent<br />

years. In a majority of cases,<br />

the perpetrators are New<br />

Zealand citizens and hence<br />

remain beyond the reach of the <strong>Indian</strong><br />

Government and its Diplomatic Mission<br />

in Wellington.<br />

New Zealand laws are inadequate to<br />

safeguard the interests of abandoned<br />

brides.<br />

According to Mr Elms, INZ received<br />

1361 allegations about relationship fraud<br />

since July 2010.<br />

As with every other type of immigration<br />

offending each allegation is triaged<br />

to see whether it meets the criteria for<br />

investigation.<br />

He said that 49 cases were investigated,<br />

but on average INZ declines almost a<br />

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03<br />

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APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

04 Homelink<br />

Premise for Temporary Entry Visa fails INZ test<br />

Jayendran Govindan<br />

The law is clear on the basis of<br />

issuing a partnership-based<br />

Temporary Entry Visa.<br />

It states that a marriage,<br />

civil union or de facto relationship<br />

must be of genuine and stable<br />

relationship.<br />

A partnership is genuine if it is<br />

with the intention of being maintained<br />

on a long-term basis and it is<br />

stable because it is likely to endure.<br />

Steve & Krystel Razos<br />

In a recent case of Steve Razos<br />

reported by the New Zealand media,<br />

the Temporary Entry Visa for Steve’s<br />

wife Krystel was declined.<br />

Based on the facts as stated in<br />

the media, it was reported that the<br />

couple had legally married. Krystel<br />

is now in the Philippines and the<br />

husband’s attempt to get a visa for<br />

his wife had not been successful.<br />

Her application for a visitor’s<br />

visa was declined three times and<br />

one partnership work visa was<br />

also declined. The reason was that<br />

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) was<br />

not satisfied that the couple was in a<br />

genuine and stable relationship.<br />

In this case, the couple had a twoyear-old<br />

son and because she could<br />

not get a temporary stay in New<br />

Zealand, she is in the Philippines<br />

with her child.<br />

United Nations Convention<br />

Under Article 9 of the Convention<br />

on the Rights of the Child ratified<br />

and acceded by General Assembly<br />

which came into force on September<br />

2, 1990, says that the State’s Parties<br />

shall ensure that a child shall not be<br />

separated from his or her parents<br />

against their will, except when competent<br />

authorities subject to judicial<br />

review determine, in accordance<br />

with applicable law and procedures,<br />

that such separation is necessary for<br />

the best interests of the child.<br />

Therefore, in Krystel’s case, INZ<br />

could have used their discretionary<br />

powers to look at the child’s welfare<br />

and not separate the family from the<br />

father.<br />

The child would be missing his<br />

father’s love and affection as well.<br />

Determining bona fides<br />

I agree that for purposes of a<br />

partnership-based Temporary<br />

Visa, it is pertinent that the couple’s<br />

relationship is genuine and stable.<br />

However, if there is sufficient<br />

evidence such as aMarriage Certificate,<br />

evidence of joint ownership of<br />

a house, joint bank account, letters<br />

of support from the couple’s parents<br />

and friends and neighbours together<br />

with photographs, then perhaps due<br />

consideration could be given to these<br />

documents.<br />

It is agreed that it is not always<br />

easy to establish whether a relationship<br />

is genuine and stable. However,<br />

some benefit of the doubt must be<br />

Auckland seems to be the first and last choice (Picture Courtesy: Education New Zealand)<br />

given where there is ample evidence to the marriage and she had been in<br />

to establish a genuine and stable New Zealand for one year.<br />

relationship.<br />

They had letters of support from<br />

In Krystel’s case, while it was friends, but her application was<br />

alleged by INZ that there was some declined.<br />

misleading information in her application,<br />

the real reason appears to be though the couple jointly owned<br />

INZ was of the view that even<br />

that the officials were not satisfied a property, there was no evidence<br />

that they were in genuine and stable that the decision to own a property<br />

relationship.<br />

was a joint decision, that their living<br />

David & Amy Smith<br />

together was not a genuine and<br />

In another recent case, also<br />

stable partnership and hence their<br />

reported in the media, a 78-year Kiwi marriage was not likely to endure.<br />

man named David Smith and the She had to return to Hong Kong.<br />

wife Amy Smith from Hong Kong had David says that his marriage to<br />

married in a Church in New Zealand. Amy is only through Skype.<br />

She had spent more than $400,000 Unendurable Marriage<br />

in New Zealand and purchased a car In my view, the only reason the<br />

and a home and married the man she marriage is not likely to endure is<br />

loved.<br />

because of his age (78 years) and<br />

The couple had been in contact for that the couple need to spend time<br />

two years through Facebook prior together.<br />

Whilst we agree that a certain<br />

amount of discretion may be given<br />

to the case officers to ascertain<br />

whether a relationship is stable and<br />

genuine, this discretion should be<br />

judiciously used.<br />

In Smith’s case, how else are the<br />

couple to prove that they are in a<br />

stable and genuine relationship?<br />

It appears that ample evidence<br />

had been given to the Immigration<br />

officials, and yet her application for<br />

a visa was declined.<br />

Entrepreneur Visa<br />

At a recent Immigration Seminar,<br />

it was reported that the success rate<br />

for an Entrepreneur Visa was about<br />

20%.<br />

Reports in media now state that<br />

only one in three Partnership-based<br />

Temporary Visa was approved in<br />

which case there is only about 30%<br />

success rate.<br />

As for the skilled migration category,<br />

the salary requirement has been<br />

raised to $50,523.20 per annum.<br />

However, employers sometimes<br />

cannot afford to pay that amount of<br />

salary.<br />

In short, it is getting tough to get<br />

an Entrepreneur Visa, a Partnership-based<br />

Residence Visa and a<br />

Skilled Migrants Visa.<br />

What next?<br />

Jayendran Govindan is an Advocate<br />

and Solicitor in Malaysia.<br />

He is currently practicing as a<br />

Barrister and Solicitor based<br />

in Takapuna, Auckland. Email:<br />

sjlawyers.jay@gmail.com<br />

‘Fraudulent relationships challenge<br />

Immigration New Zealand’<br />

on Page 3<br />

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APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

Have your say about Royal<br />

Commission of Inquiry<br />

Sir Anand Satyanand<br />

The Royal<br />

Commission<br />

of Inquiry into<br />

Historical Abuse in<br />

State Care is welcoming<br />

submissions from the public<br />

on the draft Terms of<br />

Reference.<br />

Neglect and abuse<br />

The legacy of people taken<br />

into state care who suffered<br />

neglect and abuse<br />

is a stain on our country’s<br />

history.<br />

A majority of people who<br />

have been in state care are<br />

Maori and Pasifika.<br />

While some people benefited,<br />

many did not and suffered<br />

abuse and neglect.<br />

The Human Rights<br />

Commission and the United<br />

Nations Committee on<br />

the Elimination of Racial<br />

Discrimination called for<br />

this matter to be the subject<br />

of an independent inquiry.<br />

The Government has accepted<br />

the task.<br />

Modes of submission<br />

The Royal Commission<br />

is now receiving submissions<br />

on the draft Terms of<br />

Reference. Submissions can<br />

be made by:<br />

Email: abuseinstatecare@<br />

royalcommission.govt.nz<br />

Post: PO Box 10071, The<br />

Terrace, Wellington 6143<br />

Free phone 0800-222727<br />

(Available from 830 am on<br />

Tuesday <strong>April</strong> 3, <strong>2018</strong>)<br />

Submitters should state<br />

if they want their submissions<br />

to be confidential.<br />

I have already spoken<br />

with a number of individuals<br />

and organisations<br />

with a history of involvement<br />

in state care.<br />

Now I would like to<br />

hear the views of the New<br />

Zealand community on the<br />

draft Terms of Reference.<br />

I will then present the<br />

Minister of Internal Affairs<br />

with a report on the results<br />

of the consultation<br />

along with any advice that<br />

I may have on the matters<br />

discussed.<br />

It will be for the Cabinet<br />

to agree the terms of reference,<br />

which will be formally<br />

notified by the Minister.<br />

The next steps<br />

Once the Terms of<br />

Reference are gazetted, the<br />

Royal Commission can begin<br />

the process of hearing<br />

evidence, addressing<br />

the needs and concerns of<br />

survivors and investigating<br />

ways to prevent further<br />

abuse.<br />

We have an obligation to<br />

make a better future for all<br />

New Zealanders.<br />

We need to work together<br />

to make sure we don’t<br />

repeat the mistakes of the<br />

past.<br />

You may wish to approach<br />

a friend or family<br />

member to help you make a<br />

submission.<br />

Please tell us if you want<br />

your submission to remain<br />

confidential.<br />

Submissions close on<br />

Monday, <strong>April</strong> 30, <strong>2018</strong>.<br />

Sir Anand Satyanand<br />

is Chair of the ‘Royal<br />

Commission of Inquiry<br />

into Historical Abuse in<br />

State Care,’ constituted by<br />

the government towards<br />

the end of January <strong>2018</strong>.<br />

He was Governor General<br />

of New Zealand from<br />

August 23, 2006 to August<br />

23, 2011.<br />

Homelink<br />

05


APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

06 Educationlink<br />

Maori, Pacifica education achievement imperative<br />

Tim Fowler<br />

By 2030, about<br />

30% of New<br />

Zealanders will<br />

be Maori or<br />

Pasifika, and right now<br />

many of them are under-served<br />

by the education<br />

system.<br />

Only half of the Maori<br />

students who gain NCEA<br />

3 also gain University<br />

Entrance, compared<br />

to 81% for non-Maori/<br />

non-Pasifika learners.<br />

Learn English with us<br />

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Visit www.englishlanguage.org.nz<br />

nz<br />

to contact your local centre<br />

The trend continues<br />

with qualification completion<br />

rates.<br />

In 2016, Maori completions<br />

at bachelor level<br />

were 48%, compared<br />

to 61% for non-Maori/<br />

non-Pasifika learners.<br />

In the labour market,<br />

we are seeing Maori<br />

workers converging into<br />

a narrow group of industries<br />

and occupations.<br />

This is due, at least in<br />

part, to narrow study options<br />

occurring earlier<br />

on in their learner experience<br />

− presenting major<br />

risks to them and the<br />

New Zealand economy.<br />

The need for change<br />

There have been many<br />

equity interventions to<br />

support Maori learners<br />

in the past, with mixed<br />

results. Pilot projects<br />

come and go, but we<br />

have yet to effect the necessary<br />

system change to<br />

achieve parity of participation<br />

and achievement<br />

for Maori and Pasifika<br />

learners with other<br />

learners.<br />

To do this we must prioritise<br />

the work, which<br />

will require leadership<br />

and change.<br />

Five-Year Goal<br />

With that, the Tertiary<br />

Education Commission<br />

(TEC) has set a five-year<br />

goal to achieve patterns<br />

of participation and<br />

achievement for Maori<br />

and Pasifika in tertiary<br />

education that are the<br />

same as for other learners,<br />

and that will deliver<br />

comparable post-study<br />

outcomes for graduates<br />

over time.<br />

In its newly announced<br />

three-year Education<br />

Work Programme, the<br />

Government also reaffirmed<br />

its commitment<br />

to ensuring the education<br />

system is responsive<br />

and lifts achievement<br />

for Maori and Pasifika<br />

learners. With the<br />

Government’s focus on<br />

transitioning these learners<br />

to further education,<br />

training or work, along<br />

with the TEC’s five-year<br />

goal, change is on the<br />

horizon.<br />

Dedicated Team<br />

At the TEC, we are<br />

beginning by establishing<br />

a large dedicated<br />

team of people who<br />

have the skill sets, sector<br />

knowledge and a renewed<br />

focus on lifting<br />

learner success. This is<br />

to ensure all learners,<br />

and our growing Maori<br />

and Pasifika populations,<br />

have the strongest<br />

chance of achieving<br />

success in education and<br />

as well-skilled members<br />

of New Zealand’s future<br />

workforce.<br />

The major focus of the<br />

Learner Success Team<br />

- Oritetanga, will be on<br />

system change and working<br />

to support leadership<br />

for raising learner<br />

outcomes.<br />

We can make a difference,<br />

and it’s already<br />

happening in some<br />

places<br />

Some Tertiary<br />

Education Organisations<br />

(TEOs) in New Zealand<br />

are already delivering<br />

great results for Maori<br />

and Pasifika learners.<br />

Where successful initiatives<br />

can be scaled<br />

and replicated, the TEC<br />

wants to support this to<br />

happen.<br />

Eliminating gaps<br />

We can learn from local<br />

successes and from<br />

overseas institutions<br />

that have made significant<br />

progress in reducing<br />

and even eliminating<br />

achievement gaps for<br />

learner groups.<br />

Progress has often<br />

been achieved through<br />

concerted organisational<br />

focus and change, backed<br />

up by smart systems, responsive<br />

and effective<br />

student management systems,<br />

and targeted information<br />

and advice for<br />

learners.<br />

Late last year, I visited<br />

Georgia State University<br />

to learn more about<br />

their student-centred approach<br />

– check out the<br />

video clips from our<br />

website (www.govt.nz). I<br />

recommend listening to<br />

their story before having<br />

a think about what interventions<br />

would make a<br />

difference in your own<br />

organisation.<br />

Parity Opportunity<br />

Achieving learner success<br />

is central to the<br />

TEC’s new focus and New<br />

Zealand’s social, cultural<br />

and economic success.<br />

If our education system<br />

collectively fosters learner<br />

success, including high<br />

Maori and Pasifika aspirations,<br />

and identifies<br />

best practice and makes<br />

it mainstream, high<br />

achievement will become<br />

the expected norm.<br />

Tim Fowler is Chief<br />

Executive of Tertiary<br />

Education Commission<br />

based in Wellington.<br />

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APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

<strong>Indian</strong> education provider faces criminal charges<br />

Such cases put New Zealand’s image at risk<br />

Venkat Raman<br />

venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />

Chirag Solanki, who<br />

ran the International<br />

College of New<br />

Zealand (ICNZ) from<br />

Mahatma Gandhi Centre located<br />

at 145 New North Road<br />

at Eden Terrace in Auckland,<br />

should have known what was<br />

coming when he was warned<br />

some time ago about the way<br />

in which he was conducting<br />

the assessments of students’<br />

performance.<br />

It is now too late for the<br />

It is an important<br />

moment for New<br />

Zealand’s gay community<br />

men.<br />

They can now apply to<br />

have historical homosexual<br />

convictions wiped.<br />

The application scheme<br />

can now be accessed via<br />

the Justice website.<br />

This means men and<br />

the families of those<br />

who have since passed<br />

away who were convicted<br />

of specific offences<br />

<strong>Indian</strong> education provider; he<br />

faces criminal charges.<br />

Prosecution in District<br />

Court<br />

The New Zealand<br />

Qualifications Authority<br />

(NZQA) announced on<br />

Wednesday, March 28, <strong>2018</strong><br />

that it has commenced criminal<br />

prosecution proceedings<br />

in the Auckland District Court<br />

against ICNZ, and its Director<br />

Chirag Solanki.<br />

NZQA had deregistered the<br />

institution last year.<br />

The Charges<br />

ICNZ and Mr Solanki face<br />

that were decriminalised<br />

by the Homosexual<br />

Reform Act 1986, can<br />

now apply to be treated<br />

as if they had never been<br />

convicted.<br />

Important aspect<br />

The key element of<br />

the application process<br />

is showing that conduct<br />

that led to the conviction<br />

is no longer illegal.<br />

The applicant should<br />

supply as much detail<br />

and supporting information<br />

including, old documentation<br />

or newspaper<br />

clippings.<br />

However, all applications<br />

will be considered.<br />

The Process<br />

The Ministry of Justice<br />

serious charges of falsifying<br />

student achievements, namely<br />

passing students without<br />

proper assessment.<br />

“The charges relate to<br />

Section 292 C of the Education<br />

Act 1989, and in particular,<br />

the entry of false “achieved”<br />

results on to ICNZ students’<br />

Records of Achievement,” an<br />

NZQA notification said.<br />

It is understood this is the<br />

first such prosecution involving<br />

an education provider in<br />

the history of NZQA.<br />

Accreditation withdrawn<br />

NZQA had notified on July<br />

Gay men can have historic convictions removed<br />

Andrew Little<br />

will work with the courts,<br />

the Police and Archives<br />

New Zealand to gather information<br />

on the official<br />

record of the convictions.<br />

The Secretary for<br />

Justice must then be satisfied<br />

on the balance of<br />

probabilities that the conduct<br />

would not be an offence<br />

under today’s law<br />

when making the decision<br />

on whether to wipe<br />

the conviction or not.<br />

For application forms<br />

and further information,<br />

please visit www.justice.<br />

govt.nz<br />

Andrew Little is<br />

Justice Minister of New<br />

Zealand.<br />

Chirag Solanki (Source: LinkedIn)<br />

24, 2017 that it had withdrawn<br />

accreditation for ICNZ<br />

to provide the following programmes:<br />

National Diploma<br />

in Business (Level 5), National<br />

Diploma in Business (Level<br />

6), and Diploma in Business<br />

Management (Level 7).<br />

NZQA said that it had monitored<br />

the institution and had<br />

identified significant concerns<br />

about assessment capability<br />

and practice at ICNZ.<br />

“NZQA has taken this action<br />

to ensure the integrity of the<br />

New Zealand Qualifications<br />

Framework (NZQF). NZQA<br />

considers that the awarding<br />

of undeserved results undermines<br />

that integrity,” the notification<br />

said.<br />

Fraudulent assessment<br />

Deputy Chief Executive<br />

(Quality Assurance) Dr Grant<br />

Klinkum said, “NZQA has<br />

monitored these business<br />

programmes and found that<br />

most of the assessments (95%<br />

of the Level 5 and 6 and 70%<br />

Educationlink<br />

of the Level 7) were marked<br />

by ICNZ as a ‘pass’ when they<br />

should have failed. ICNZ has<br />

significantly failed to deliver<br />

the quality of education in<br />

these programmes for which<br />

New Zealand’s tertiary education<br />

sector is well known.<br />

NZQA has also withdrawn<br />

credits that ICNZ has awarded<br />

to its students, meaning<br />

that these cannot be used by<br />

them as aqualification,” he<br />

said.<br />

Affected students<br />

NZQA said that the action<br />

against the institute would<br />

impact 100 international<br />

students.<br />

The Authority is working<br />

on options to ensure that<br />

these students are given a<br />

refund of their course fees,<br />

along with the opportunity to<br />

sit an English language proficiency<br />

test if they wish to<br />

seek enrolment at an alternative<br />

provider.<br />

“In most cases, students<br />

will need to start their programme<br />

again with a new<br />

provider. The removal of accreditation<br />

at ICNZ is necessary<br />

in order to ensure<br />

quality education outcomes.<br />

When NZQA has concerns<br />

about the validity of assessment<br />

practices, we act to ensure<br />

the integrity of our<br />

qualifications system is maintained,”<br />

Mr Klinkum said.<br />

Ensuring quality education<br />

NZQA’s role is to ensure<br />

quality education is delivered<br />

to students and that New<br />

07<br />

Zealand qualifications are robust,<br />

credible, and internationally<br />

recognised. NZQA<br />

must take action in situations<br />

like this to protect the integrity<br />

of New Zealand’s qualifications<br />

so that students are<br />

gaining and using qualifications<br />

in which they can have<br />

faith, he said.<br />

Zero tolerance<br />

Dr Klinkum said, “New<br />

Zealand’s reputation for high<br />

quality tertiary education<br />

relies on providers having<br />

robust quality assurance processes<br />

to ensure that qualifications<br />

are genuine, and<br />

employers and students can<br />

be confident in the qualifications.<br />

NZQA’s role is to ensure<br />

quality education is delivered<br />

to students and that New<br />

Zealand qualifications are robust,<br />

credible and internationally<br />

recognised. We will<br />

not tolerate poor quality education<br />

provision. Where providers<br />

are not meeting the<br />

standards we expect of them,<br />

we take action to ensure the<br />

integrity of New Zealand’s<br />

tertiary education system.”<br />

About Chirag Solanki<br />

Mr Solanki did not respond<br />

to our phone call.<br />

His LinkedIn entries<br />

feature his other interests<br />

as General Secretary,<br />

Rangmanch of New Zealand,<br />

Executive Member of<br />

Auckland <strong>Indian</strong> Association<br />

and as a former Director<br />

of International College of<br />

Homeopathy.<br />

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graduate (level 7 and above)<br />

ApplyforWork Connect now<br />

Visit careers.govt.nz/workconnect<br />

or phone 0800 222 733 and ask<br />

about Work Connect.<br />

Eligibility criteria apply.<br />

Boundarylines are indicative only


APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

08 Fijilink<br />

Timely intervention saves scores of heart patients in Fiji<br />

Venkat Raman<br />

venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />

MK Misabout 45 years<br />

old. Two months ago,<br />

he suffered a minor<br />

heart attack.<br />

At Heart International in Nadi<br />

(located at 12 Commercial Street),<br />

he underwent Echocardiogram<br />

and stress test which suggested at<br />

least two blockages in his heart.<br />

M K M wanted “angiogram with<br />

one stent” or “slightly cheaper<br />

stents if available.”<br />

In his best interest, Dr Seif E-Jack<br />

and his team at the Clinic politely<br />

advised against inferior treatment.<br />

He was treated with tablets.<br />

Two months later, he returned,<br />

having secured funding for the<br />

procedure.<br />

He received three stents at a<br />

fraction of the cost of the same<br />

treatment in New Zealand.<br />

No compromises<br />

R K P had multiple narrowing<br />

of heart and has been diabetic for<br />

some time.<br />

The best treatment in his case<br />

was open-heart surgery which is<br />

not available in Fiji.<br />

He was insistent on having “one<br />

or two stents instead” since he<br />

could not afford overseas travel.<br />

Heart International specialists<br />

advised him against ‘short-cut operation’<br />

and are currently treating<br />

him with medication until he is<br />

able to secure funds for open-heart<br />

surgery overseas.<br />

There are thousands of people-<br />

Dr Seif El-Jack (Picture Supplied)<br />

State-of-the-art equipment at Heart International Fiji<br />

(Pictures from www.heartinternational.co.nz)<br />

men and women, boys and girls<br />

– in Fiji with a heart condition. But<br />

their financial condition is so poor<br />

that they cannot even dream of<br />

traveling to New Zealand where<br />

an angiogram and angioplasty<br />

procedure with a single stent can<br />

cost up to NZ$35,000.<br />

Yet they cannot and should not<br />

be allowed to die.<br />

Hearty doctors<br />

There are kind-hearted cardiologists,<br />

surgeons and specialists<br />

in New Zealand who travel once<br />

or twice a year to perform pro<br />

bono medical work but there is<br />

a need for well-trained medical<br />

practitioners and well-equipped<br />

hospitals and clinics in Fiji.<br />

Heart International fulfils that<br />

need to an extent with Auckland-based<br />

Dr El-Jack, an experienced<br />

Interventional Cardiologist<br />

and his team at Heart International<br />

in Auckland’s Greenlane. A few<br />

months ago, they established a<br />

similar but smaller facility in Nadi.<br />

Dr El-Jack travels to Fiji every<br />

Friday evening, conducts angiogram<br />

and angioplasty procedures<br />

on weekends and returns to<br />

Auckland on Sunday.<br />

“A normal angioplasty requiring<br />

one stent would cost F$ 12,000<br />

(about NZ$ 8100). We have capped<br />

the cost of multiple stents to a total<br />

of F$ 15,000 (about NZ$ 10,100),”<br />

he said.<br />

Quality Care<br />

Dr El-Jack said that the focus at<br />

his Clinic is delivery of single-tier<br />

quality care, equivalent to what patients<br />

receive at a private hospital<br />

in New Zealand. “There cannot be<br />

Budget packages in Healthcare. At<br />

Heart International, we offer full<br />

medical alternatives, not cheaper<br />

procedures using inferior products.<br />

Every patient is on priority at<br />

our Clinic and care and service<br />

delivery are paramount,” he said.<br />

Lucky young man<br />

Dr El-Jack cited the example of L<br />

M T, a young (about 35 years old)<br />

man who suffered heart attack<br />

at a local hospital. Visiting Heart<br />

International, he told the staff that<br />

he would sort out the finances in a<br />

couple of weeks.<br />

He was treated in less than 24<br />

hours – a blocked vessel from the<br />

previous heart attack, and two<br />

other vessels critically narrowed.<br />

“L M T received three stents.<br />

This is one of the few times when<br />

stents not only improve symptoms<br />

but literally save lives. Another<br />

heart attack which was eminent<br />

in his case would have been fatal.<br />

This patient settled his financials<br />

within four weeks of his treatment<br />

and was very appreciative. We<br />

were very pleased with his clinical<br />

outcome. Money is not everything,”<br />

Dr El-Jack said.<br />

Finance Ok but flight risk<br />

Financial affordability is not the<br />

only factor that determines the<br />

ability to go overseas.<br />

There are patients whose medical<br />

condition would make them a<br />

‘flight risk.’<br />

Heart International in<br />

Nadi recently treated a 50-year-old<br />

woman, who was in pain, having<br />

suffered heart attack.<br />

She was fully insured and hence<br />

finance was not an issue.<br />

She could not travel overseas.<br />

Her complex medical condition<br />

was worrying.<br />

She received stents for very<br />

critical narrowing and went home<br />

the same day.<br />

“The service that Heart International<br />

provides in Fiji is aimed at<br />

enhancing healthcare for people<br />

with not many choices. Some of<br />

them do not have the financial<br />

means, some are not insured or<br />

perhaps not insurable and cannot<br />

travel abroad. All these factors,<br />

rather risks, are addressed at our<br />

Clinic in Nadi. International expertise<br />

is now available in Fiji. We<br />

will continue to serve the people of<br />

Fiji, simultaneously training local<br />

practitioners so that someday Fiji<br />

has its own medical expertise for<br />

patients with a heart condition,”<br />

Dr El-Jack said.<br />

Dr Parmjeet Parmar<br />

National List MP based inMtRoskill<br />

My office hasmoved to<br />

68 Stoddard Road<br />

If you require any<br />

assistance Iand my<br />

staff arealways happy<br />

and ready to provide<br />

advice and support.<br />

Bringing NewZealand HeartSpecialists to Fiji<br />

● Specialist Consultations ● Exercise Treadmill Test<br />

● Echocardiography (Echo) ● Angiography<br />

● Electrocardiogram (ECG) ● Angioplasty (Stenting)<br />

Please get in touch at<br />

parmjeet.parmar@<br />

parliament.govt. .nz<br />

or on 09 62067077<br />

to make an<br />

appointment<br />

Funded by Parliamentary<br />

Service. Authorised by<br />

ParmjeetParmar, Parliament<br />

Buildings, Wellington.<br />

12 Commercial Street, Namaka, Nadi


APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

Fijilink<br />

09<br />

MELBOURNE<br />

WORLD’S MOST<br />

LIVEABLE CITY


APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

10 Fijiink<br />

New initiatives for cyclone-affected victims in Fiji<br />

Venkat Raman<br />

venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />

Fiji’s Prime Minister Josaia<br />

Voreqe Bainimarama has<br />

announced a new set of<br />

measures to provide relief<br />

to the victims of Tropical Cyclones<br />

Josie and Keni that devastated the<br />

country, killing at least eight people<br />

and destroying properties.<br />

Called, ‘Cyclone Assistance Relief<br />

Effort (CARE) for Fiji’ the new<br />

initiative has been designed to<br />

offer relief and assistance to flood<br />

victims efficiently.<br />

Far-Reaching Programme<br />

“CARE for Fiji is an unprecedented<br />

and wide-reaching programme<br />

of Government assistance that cuts<br />

across Government ministries and<br />

departments to aid those Fijians<br />

impacted by the back-to-back<br />

onslaughts of TC Josie and TC Keni.<br />

Under this Programme, a host of<br />

new Government initiatives will<br />

operate- including ‘Homes Care,’<br />

‘Farms Care,’ ‘Sugarcane Care,’<br />

‘Leaseholders Care’ Welfare Care’<br />

and ‘E-Transport Care.’ Each of<br />

these initiatives will cover victims<br />

of cyclones,” he said.<br />

In a Statement issued on <strong>April</strong><br />

13, <strong>2018</strong>, Mr Bainimarama said<br />

that according to estimates, about<br />

150,000 Fijians are likely to have<br />

been affected by the two recent<br />

Tropical Cyclones.<br />

He said that as of <strong>April</strong> 13, <strong>2018</strong>,<br />

eight people were reported to have<br />

died.<br />

Home Care Initiative<br />

“The first round of assistance<br />

under these initiatives will go<br />

directly towards affected Fijians<br />

Bainimarama announcing the ‘CARE for Fiji’<br />

Programme on <strong>April</strong> 13, <strong>2018</strong><br />

living in Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.<br />

Under ‘Homes Care,’ households with<br />

annual income of under F$50,000 who<br />

have lost items in their homes or whose<br />

homes were damaged or destroyed in<br />

the cyclones can apply to receive prepaid<br />

electronic cards to purchase materials to<br />

repair their homes and replace possessions<br />

that were lost or badly damaged,”<br />

he said.<br />

People whose homes were totally<br />

destroyed or suffered severe structural<br />

damage can qualify for F$7000 as relief<br />

assistance to pay for reconstruction of<br />

their homes and to cover replacement<br />

costs of lost possessions or household<br />

items. These include television sets, furniture,<br />

housewares and other valuable<br />

items damaged by rains and flooding.<br />

Depending on the extent of damage,<br />

the ‘CARE for Fiji’ and its associate<br />

Programmes will offer financial relief to<br />

victims of the two cyclones.<br />

Those qualified can apply for relief,<br />

the procedures for which will be announced<br />

in Fiji Sun, on Fiji Broadcasting<br />

Corporation Radio Stations and on the<br />

Fiji Government Facebook Page.<br />

Relief for Leaseholders<br />

Mr Bainimarama also announced a<br />

new Programme for assistance to leaseholders<br />

on iTaukei and State land with<br />

A flood-affected area in the Western Division<br />

(Picture for FBC News of Fiji Broadcasting Corporation by<br />

Kreetika Kumar- under a Special Agreement)<br />

an annual income of under F$50,000.<br />

Called, ‘Leaseholders Care,’ the<br />

Programme is for victims of the two<br />

cyclones in the affected areas of Viti<br />

Levu and Vanua Levu.<br />

“For Fijians who are leasing iTaukei or<br />

State land for residential or agricultural<br />

purposes, the government will pay 12<br />

months of their due lease payment.<br />

Details of this scheme will be announced<br />

in the local media,” Mr Bainimarama<br />

said.<br />

Warning to fraudsters<br />

While Mr Bainimarama promised<br />

prompt relief measures to victims, he<br />

also warned against any fraud including<br />

falsified documents.<br />

“If any Fijian is found to be lying about<br />

the state of their property, farm, produce,<br />

home or their belongings, there will be<br />

very serious consequences. We will have<br />

teams deployed throughout the country<br />

carrying out regular spot checks of areas<br />

benefiting from these Programmes, and<br />

we will also establish a hotline where<br />

concerned Fijians can report those who<br />

they suspect have abused these very important<br />

relief programmes. The Hotline<br />

will also allow members of the public<br />

to lodge complaints against those civil<br />

servants who do not fully implement<br />

‘CARE for Fiji Programme,’” he said.<br />

Bainimarama to<br />

attend CHGM<br />

in London<br />

Venkat Raman<br />

venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />

Fiji’s Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama<br />

will attend the Annual Meeting of the Commonwealth<br />

Heads of Government Meeting<br />

scheduled to be held in London this week.<br />

Heads of governments of 53 member-countries of<br />

the Commonwealth will be present at the meeting<br />

due to be held from <strong>April</strong> 19 to 21, <strong>2018</strong> under the<br />

Chairmanship of Queen Elizabeth.<br />

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern<br />

will represent her country and also have an ‘On<br />

Appointment Private Audience,’ with the Queen. Such<br />

meetings are held for Prime Ministers of countries<br />

which are under the British Monarchy.<br />

The Fijian Story<br />

Mr Bainimarama said that he would take with him<br />

‘the stories of the many Fijians who are suffering in<br />

the aftermath of these storms, including the many he<br />

has had the chance to meet and speak with personally<br />

in their communities. I take with me our struggle,<br />

the struggle of the Fijian people in the face of Climate<br />

Change,” he said.<br />

COP23 Negotiations<br />

Mr Bainimarama said that billions of vulnerable<br />

people all over the world face similar struggle and that<br />

Fiji would be relentless in its commitment to ‘COP23’<br />

negotiations.<br />

“We will continue to inspire women, men and<br />

young people around the world to join our mission<br />

to spare our planet from the worst effects of climate<br />

change,” he said.<br />

“We need to keep up the pressure and seek full<br />

implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate<br />

Change, so that we can limit the harmful emissions<br />

that are causing our climate to change,” he added.


APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

Vehicles with airbag safety<br />

issues recalled<br />

Kris Faafoi<br />

About 50,000<br />

vehicles with<br />

Alpha-type Takata<br />

airbags are subject<br />

to a compulsory recall as<br />

the government protects<br />

New Zealand drivers and<br />

passengers from the unsafe<br />

airbags.<br />

The new measures put<br />

in place include intensive<br />

monitoring of a further<br />

257,000 vehicles also<br />

requiring repairs to replace<br />

non-Alpha Takata airbags.<br />

The New Zealand<br />

Transport Agency is also<br />

introducing new measures<br />

to stop vehicles with affected<br />

airbags that have not<br />

been remedied from being<br />

imported to New Zealand.<br />

Government commitment<br />

New Zealanders can<br />

be assured that this<br />

Government is committed<br />

to ensuring that these<br />

unsafe airbags are removed<br />

and replaced as quickly as<br />

possible.<br />

These airbags have been<br />

known to be a risk since<br />

2013 yet the previous<br />

Government clearly did not<br />

place any importance on<br />

keeping New Zealanders<br />

safe.<br />

From today, we have<br />

an agreed timeframe for<br />

replacements of Alpha-type<br />

airbags, and, after a<br />

40-working day grace<br />

period for vehicles already<br />

in transit, no affected new<br />

or used vehicles will be able<br />

to enter into New Zealand.<br />

Monitoring Group<br />

Further, because I am<br />

not satisfied that enough<br />

progress has been made<br />

on other non-Alpha Takata<br />

airbag recalls, I have set up<br />

a monitoring group that will<br />

report monthly on this.<br />

If enough progress is not<br />

made, I will enact a compulsory<br />

recall across the board<br />

because I am not willing to<br />

compromise on the safety of<br />

New Zealanders.<br />

A voluntary recall of<br />

vehicles with affected<br />

Takata airbags started<br />

in New Zealand in 2013,<br />

and around 29,000 of the<br />

Alpha-type airbags have<br />

been replaced. Alpha airbag<br />

inflators pose asignificantly<br />

higher risk of mis-deploying<br />

in an accident and sending<br />

fragments towards vehicle<br />

occupants.<br />

Recall of more vehicles<br />

A further 257,000 vehicles<br />

are subject to a recall for<br />

non-Alpha Takata airbags,<br />

with a further 116,000<br />

non-Alpha airbags replaced<br />

already. More than 450,000<br />

vehicles are known to<br />

be affected by Alpha and<br />

non-Alpha recalls in New<br />

Zealand, and 100 million<br />

globally.<br />

The new compulsory recall<br />

is focused on Alpha-type<br />

Takata airbags because<br />

they present the highest<br />

safety risk to drivers and<br />

passengers.<br />

The motor vehicle industry<br />

has recalled vehicles<br />

with the Takata airbags<br />

with varying degrees of<br />

success, but more must<br />

be done to ensure that the<br />

highest risk Alpha-type<br />

airbags are removed from<br />

our vehicle fleet.<br />

Representative bodies<br />

I am pleased that the<br />

Motor Industry Association<br />

(MIA), which represents<br />

new vehicle importers,<br />

and the Vehicle Industry<br />

Association (VIA), which<br />

represents multiple players<br />

in the used vehicle importing<br />

business, are supporting<br />

the new measures.<br />

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APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

12 Viewlink<br />

The English Fortnightly (Since November 1999)<br />

ISSUE 390 | APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

Former Minister’s<br />

arrogance astounding<br />

Former Health Minister Dr<br />

Jonathan Coleman will<br />

soon be forgotten, for<br />

the four-term Member<br />

of Parliament has quit politics,<br />

opting for a private sector job.<br />

There is nothing wrong in a<br />

politician’s move to call it day<br />

(although Dr Coleman’s exit<br />

just over six months after the<br />

general election would cost<br />

taxpayers another $1 million to<br />

elect a new MP at Northcote in<br />

Auckland), but the refusal of the<br />

man to accept responsibility for<br />

the dangerously unhealthy state<br />

of the buildings of Middlemore<br />

and other hospitals in South<br />

Auckland was unfathomable.<br />

More, it demonstrated the arrogance<br />

of the former politician.<br />

No excuse<br />

That he was not aware<br />

of the pathetic condition of<br />

Middlemore Hospital is no<br />

excuse. Even though he denied<br />

that he was not informed of<br />

the rot, it is untenable that a<br />

Health Minister did not think<br />

it important to know of the<br />

conditions of a major hospital<br />

under his watch. Despite the<br />

deplorable conditions of the<br />

hospitals, Counties Manukau<br />

District Health Board deficits<br />

and government claims of a<br />

health fiscal hole, Dr Coleman<br />

believes that he did a good job.<br />

“As Minister of Health you<br />

receive money in each Budget,<br />

and that is decided collectively<br />

by the Cabinet; so, you cannot<br />

hold one individual responsible<br />

for the funding of the health<br />

system; but whatever you<br />

put into health, there will be<br />

always people who say it is not<br />

enough,” he said.<br />

Ropey Figure<br />

But Labour is launching a<br />

full-court press against the<br />

record of the former National<br />

government, with health a main<br />

target. Health Minister Dr David<br />

Clark said that he had a ropey<br />

figure of about $14 billion for<br />

extra capital spending needed<br />

over the next decade.<br />

“What is clear from the stories<br />

that I have been hearing from<br />

all the DHBs is that many of<br />

them have claims to buildings<br />

that need replacing, these<br />

buildings and situations didn’t<br />

occur overnight ... they won’t be<br />

solved in one Budget,” Dr Clark<br />

said.<br />

There is no dispute that the<br />

problems confronting Middlemore<br />

and other South Auckland<br />

hospitals should be fixed. Some<br />

people, as can be read on the<br />

front page of this issue, want to<br />

go a little further. They want an<br />

inquiry.<br />

We will wait, see and report.<br />

Fake marriages victimise<br />

genuine couples<br />

The ‘business’ of entering<br />

into matrimony to<br />

gain permanent resident<br />

status is a thriving<br />

industry in New Zealand but<br />

many are coming to grief and<br />

left in the lurch.<br />

Recruiting brides and grooms<br />

There is an equal mix of<br />

<strong>Indian</strong>s from Fiji and India in<br />

the industry with members of<br />

both sexes acting as de facto<br />

spouses demanding and receiving<br />

monetary compensation.<br />

According to some sources,<br />

a few women are reportedly<br />

working as ‘agents’ to recruit<br />

‘brides and grooms’ for supply<br />

to the local market for a<br />

consideration.<br />

In other cases, the deal is<br />

for the intended purpose of<br />

regularising stay. Sex plays a<br />

small but decisive part in the<br />

process.<br />

<strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong> regularly<br />

investigates cases which<br />

come our notice. INZ conducts<br />

its own probe following which<br />

many fraudsters are declared<br />

illegal and served with eviction<br />

notice.<br />

While some have left the<br />

country to return later, others<br />

have reportedly gone into hiding<br />

or appealed through courts<br />

and voluntary organisations to<br />

be treated as refugees.<br />

A handful of such cases have<br />

been successful but a large<br />

number of them remain as illegal<br />

residents but at large.<br />

Immigration through<br />

Marriage<br />

An immigration lawyer said<br />

that it was not uncommon for<br />

overstayers and visitors to<br />

‘marry’ a New Zealand Citizen<br />

or a Permanent Resident (PR),<br />

hoping to regularise their stay<br />

in the country. For time to time<br />

we hear of cases of young men<br />

and women entering marriages<br />

of convenience to obtain residency.<br />

Women often endure<br />

violence and abuse.<br />

It is now time to not only<br />

stop fake marriages but also<br />

the illegal activities that are associated<br />

with them. It is important<br />

because increasingly<br />

all applications from people of<br />

<strong>Indian</strong> origin are viewed with<br />

suspicion and young couples<br />

who are legally married with<br />

the knowledge and consent of<br />

their parents suffer separation.<br />

<strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong> is published by <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong> Limited from its offices located at Level<br />

1, Number 166, Harris Road, East Tamaki, Auckland 2013 and printed at Horton Media<br />

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

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Beehive ‘newsroom’ should move the story<br />

Tim Murphy<br />

One of the country’s most<br />

high-powered newsrooms<br />

needs to start getting its<br />

employer’s story into the<br />

news cycle and out to the public, and<br />

fast.<br />

The Government newsroom is a<br />

team of around 35 press secretaries<br />

assembled in the Beehive from<br />

the ranks of some of the country’s<br />

leading journalists and communicators<br />

- people experienced in politics,<br />

business, the press gallery and social<br />

advocacy.<br />

Think back to the end of January<br />

when the Jacinda Ardern team<br />

marked 100 days in power.<br />

Its achievements were legion, its<br />

working groups numerous and its<br />

boxes well and truly ticked in public.<br />

Reactive, not strategic<br />

In between times, the government<br />

communications effort seemed too<br />

reactive and not strategic enough.<br />

By March, the Labour-led coalition<br />

saw its overarching narrative of<br />

new, progressive social priorities<br />

knocked from the home pages,<br />

front pages and tops of bulletins<br />

as political bushfire after political<br />

omnishambles over-ran the new<br />

administration’s message of reform.<br />

Political life comes at you quickly.<br />

Feather dusters Emmanuel Macron<br />

and Justin Trudeau probably can’t<br />

remember when they were once<br />

strutting roosters.<br />

Here, while things were going<br />

south in March, ministerial kitchen<br />

cabinets, chiefs of staffs, political<br />

strategists and others would have<br />

been searching for ways to change<br />

the debate, get on the front foot, sell<br />

the government’s story and dominate<br />

the news cycle.<br />

Government newsroom<br />

It is here the Government’s newsroom<br />

should come into its own.<br />

It is a different team from<br />

that which served the Key and<br />

English governments, which also had<br />

considerable journalistic and public<br />

relations firepower to sell messages.<br />

When governments change, the<br />

messengers are routinely shot, and<br />

a new group considered neutral or<br />

favourable to the incoming administration<br />

is installed.<br />

Knowledge is power and choosing<br />

when and how to make information<br />

public gives any Beehive team a holy<br />

advantage over the media and the<br />

government’s political opponents.<br />

In this context, the move after<br />

just five months of Ardern’s Chief<br />

Press Secretary Mike Jaspers to a<br />

back-room role as a ‘Chief Strategic<br />

Advisor’ speaks volumes.<br />

Someone has to step off the<br />

political travellator and think hard<br />

about where the government’s story<br />

is heading. Jaspers move mirrors that<br />

of Key’s Chief Press Secretary Kevin<br />

Taylor, albeit at a far earlier point in<br />

the government’s life.<br />

The PM’s chief of staff, Mike<br />

Munro, was late joining the administration<br />

while recovering from<br />

illness but is also a former Clark<br />

government Chief Press Secretary<br />

and Press Gallery Political Editor.<br />

Seeking the initiative<br />

After the mensis horribilis of<br />

March, it will be no coincidence that<br />

Ardern is trying to rediscover her<br />

populist touch.<br />

The past 10 days have seen images<br />

of Ardern and Housing Minister Phil<br />

Twyford launching the big Kiwibuild<br />

project at Mt Albert, a smiling Prime<br />

Minister hosting children at Premier<br />

House for Easter eggs, a positively<br />

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern<br />

glowing feature story on the Stuff.<br />

co.nz website of a journalist’s two<br />

days spent with Ardern, a set-piece<br />

prime ministerial interview with the<br />

Guardian website -and finally the<br />

big policy announcement on Tuesday<br />

(<strong>April</strong> 3) of the changes to transport<br />

priorities and funding.<br />

It will have irritated the communications<br />

strategists to have seen<br />

a random International Transport<br />

Forum report floating cuts to the<br />

speed limit to 70km/h on rural roads<br />

getting publicity on the day of the<br />

serious and heavyweight Draft<br />

Government Policy Statement on<br />

transport. That speed limit issue is<br />

allied to the Government’s road safety<br />

goal but when coupled with talk of<br />

an increase in petrol tax of between<br />

9 cents and 12 cents a litre over three<br />

years on top of Aucklanders’ 10 cents<br />

a litre regional fuel tax, it did muddy<br />

the waters.<br />

The Prime Minister seemed<br />

annoyed by this conflation on one of<br />

her morning television interviews<br />

and Associate Transport Minister<br />

Julie Anne-Genter had to distance<br />

the forum’s report from the government’s<br />

proposals.<br />

But a big policy announcement<br />

does garner big media coverage,<br />

particularly on an issue which<br />

touches so many in both cities and<br />

the regions.<br />

Refining messages<br />

Refining the messages so the public<br />

take from these announcements is<br />

what the government wants them to<br />

focus on and remember is the art of<br />

the Beehive newsroom.<br />

Yet the Transport Policy announcement<br />

has been overwhelmed by talk<br />

of the combined petrol tax increase<br />

- partly because the Prime Minister<br />

and Transport Minister specified<br />

the 9 to 12 cent excise increase over<br />

three years instead of treating it as<br />

simply a continuation of the regular<br />

increments National imposed during<br />

its nine years in power.<br />

Completing the Team<br />

The Labour-led government<br />

has almost finished assembling its<br />

newsroom team.<br />

Jaspers’ job has been advertised so<br />

another big name could yet sign-up.<br />

Finance Minister Grant Robertson<br />

has just welcomed former Stuff<br />

Business Editor Ellen Read as the<br />

senior of his two press secretaries,<br />

with Alex Tarrant who was in the<br />

press gallery for Interest.co.nz.<br />

Also, on the Ardern team since the<br />

government was formed in October<br />

is former magazine and newspaper<br />

journalist Julie Jacobson and two<br />

other press secretaries.<br />

Vernon Small, the erudite former<br />

National Affairs Editor and political<br />

commentator for the Dominion-Post<br />

and Stuff, now works for the<br />

Minister of Economic Development,<br />

David Parker.<br />

Old hands on second or third tours<br />

of duty include Kathryn Street, (a<br />

former private radio gallery reporter<br />

who worked for Clark, now Police<br />

Minister Stuart Nash’s Press Secretary),<br />

Stephen Parker (a former TV3<br />

Political Editor who once worked<br />

for Labour’s Bob Tizard has drawn<br />

the short straw in going across from<br />

MFAT to be Winston Peters’ Press<br />

Aide), Chris Harrington (a former<br />

Television Current Affairs man<br />

now working for Customs Minister<br />

Meka Whaitiri), Richard Ninness (a<br />

former political journalist who also<br />

worked for National’s Bill Birch and<br />

now with NZ First’s Tracey Martin),<br />

and Julian Robins (a former RNZ<br />

Political Reporter who worked for<br />

David Shearer now one of two press<br />

secretaries for Health Minister David<br />

Clark).<br />

There are ‘holdovers’ as they say<br />

in Washington between the two<br />

Beehive newsrooms - Georgina<br />

Stylianou, a former Press and Stuff<br />

Reporter who worked for Foreign<br />

Minister Gerry Brownlee and is now<br />

Press Secretary for NZ First Minister<br />

for Regional Economic Development<br />

Shane Jones, Parker, and former RNZ<br />

journalist Gay Cavill who is working<br />

for Broadcasting Minister Clare<br />

Curran.<br />

The list goes on. Former Dominion<br />

Post and Herald on Sunday journalist<br />

and Green Party Chief Press Secretary<br />

Leah Haines is on Ardern’s press<br />

staff and Britton Broun, a former<br />

Stuff Reporter is working for the<br />

Minister of Crown Maori Relations,<br />

Kelvin Davis after a stint at MBIE.<br />

It is a substantial list, both in total<br />

number (35) and experience and<br />

capability.<br />

Shifting perceptions<br />

Once it is coordinated and<br />

deployed to be coming up with and<br />

placing stories about the government’s<br />

policies and achievements<br />

it could start to shift perceptions of<br />

Labour and its allies.<br />

The transition, summer holidays,<br />

temporary Chief of Staff at the PM’s<br />

office, and Jacindamania’s glow<br />

through January with the announcement<br />

of her pregnancy and the public<br />

relations successes at Waitangi in<br />

early February, might have meant<br />

the Beehive newsroom was not fully<br />

engaged and the communications<br />

strategy not yet firing by March.<br />

Any new government has a raft of<br />

policies to develop and implement.<br />

Ministers worth their salaries know<br />

they are political salespeople as well<br />

as guests in the public’s limousines.<br />

The working groups have been<br />

announced but the direct reforms<br />

and initiatives go on.<br />

It will never be a straight line,<br />

steady-as-she-goes kind of task for<br />

the media team.<br />

Journalists still in the press gallery<br />

and beyond will look to get behind<br />

the set-pieces and the spin, to reveal<br />

uncomfortable truths and disclose<br />

information before the planning<br />

whiteboards have it scheduled for<br />

release.<br />

Events - and personal and political<br />

flaws among members of the Cabinet<br />

and governing parties - will also<br />

conspire to disrupt the best laid plans<br />

of the Beehive team.<br />

Identifying positive not negative<br />

key messages and finding ways to<br />

hammer them home - absent from<br />

this week’s transport policy launch<br />

- and having a detailed plan using<br />

media opportunities relating to as<br />

many parts of the country as possible<br />

will be required.<br />

Step up, Mike Munro and Mike<br />

Jaspers.<br />

Tim Murphy is the Co-Founder<br />

of Newsroom and is the former<br />

Editor-in-Chief of the New Zealand<br />

Herald. Newsroom is an independent,<br />

New Zealand-based news and<br />

current affairs site, powered by the<br />

generosity of people who support<br />

its mission to produce fearless,<br />

independent and provocative<br />

journalism. <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong> has<br />

published the above Report and<br />

Picture under a Special Agreement<br />

with www.newsroom.co.nz


APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

Women in Real Estate<br />

13<br />

Priya Shankar<br />

Priya Shankar is a Fiji-born<br />

<strong>Indian</strong> who joined Barfoot<br />

& Thompson, New Zealand’s<br />

largest privately-owned<br />

Real Estate company in August<br />

2006.<br />

She started her career at<br />

their city-based Head Office as<br />

their Accountant.<br />

After giving birth to her son,<br />

Sheba Soundhar<br />

With 14 years of<br />

experience in Real<br />

Estate in Auckland,<br />

Sheba and<br />

her husband Soundhar have<br />

collectively built a trustworthy<br />

reputation in the Real Estate<br />

industry by striving to never<br />

compromise the value of their<br />

work consistently protecting<br />

she completed her Business<br />

Degree whilst working full<br />

time and was promoted to<br />

the position of Company<br />

Accountant.<br />

Earlier this year, Priya was<br />

promoted to the position of<br />

Financial Controller heading<br />

the Finance and Accounting<br />

team within Head Office.<br />

She successfully leads a<br />

team of nine people.<br />

Market Leader<br />

The Company has over<br />

70 branches throughout<br />

Auckland and Northland<br />

including Commercial and<br />

Body Corporate and sells one<br />

in three houses in Auckland.<br />

Barfoot and Thompson also<br />

manages over 16,000 rental<br />

properties.<br />

In her 20-year working<br />

career, 11 of which have<br />

been in real estate, Priya has<br />

and supporting their clients’<br />

interests.<br />

Sheba has been working for<br />

Barfoot and Thompson Grey<br />

Lynn branch for the past 14<br />

years.<br />

Fine Attributes<br />

Clients choose to work with<br />

them due to their honest and<br />

trustworthy service, ethics,<br />

experience and expertise.<br />

They have consistently<br />

shown their ability to satisfy<br />

their clients in buying and<br />

selling of their homes.<br />

Their strong base of<br />

repeat customers is the<br />

reason for their success in this<br />

incredibly competitive sales<br />

environment, proving that the<br />

duo value every relationship<br />

with their clients. They make<br />

the emotional and financial<br />

process of buying and selling<br />

homes the most comfortable,<br />

gained extensive insight into<br />

the industry and is an astute<br />

property investor herself.<br />

She is grateful to have<br />

worked alongside some very<br />

successful industry leaders<br />

and is also a member of the<br />

Institute of Strategic Leadership<br />

Alumni Group, which has<br />

helped her immensely in her<br />

personal growth.<br />

Barfoot & Thompson<br />

strongly encourages growth<br />

and provides leadership<br />

opportunities for individuals<br />

within the organisation and<br />

Priya feels privileged to be<br />

part of such a prestigious<br />

company.<br />

Priya is also a keen supporter<br />

of the Starship Foundation<br />

and has organised ‘Bollywood<br />

for Starship’ for the past four<br />

years and raised over $40,000<br />

for the Charity.<br />

wonderful and meaningful<br />

experience that one can<br />

possibly have.<br />

Extensive Knowledge<br />

Their extensive knowledge<br />

of Auckland’s residential real<br />

estate market is unparalleled.<br />

Sheba and Soundhar have<br />

been one of the top sales<br />

agents in their branch for over<br />

a decade and were honoured<br />

with the ‘Top Salespersons’ for<br />

2015.<br />

Their clients have consistently<br />

sought their advice and<br />

trusted their judgements on<br />

many property deals, whether<br />

buying or selling.<br />

Let them know what you<br />

want, and you can be confident<br />

that they will work with<br />

you and for you, to ensure<br />

good things happen for you in<br />

real estate.<br />

Whydomore<br />

homeowners<br />

choose to use<br />

Barfoot &Thompson?<br />

Satisfaction<br />

Ourextensiveknowledge of the market and professional experiencewill<br />

guide youtoexcellentresults.<br />

Your Property… OurPrivilege Foryour real estate needs please call…<br />

Soundhar<br />

m 021 686 788 ah. (09) 6301108<br />

t.soundhar@barfoot.co.nz<br />

Sheba<br />

m 021 678 778 ah. (09) 6301108<br />

s.sheba@barfoot.co.nz<br />

www.barfoot.co.nz<br />

Anjini Lata<br />

Local Real Estate Group<br />

believes in the first<br />

instance that business<br />

moves forward and<br />

grows based on a simple formula:<br />

Honesty and Integrity.<br />

Local Real Estate was<br />

established precisely for that<br />

reason.<br />

We love to provide our cus-<br />

tomers Local Specialists with<br />

Local Knowledge but most<br />

importantly we are honest and<br />

upfront with them.<br />

Vital Q&A<br />

In every business Customers<br />

rightly so always ask the<br />

question, “Why?”<br />

“Why should I choose your<br />

business over other real estate<br />

company?”<br />

Our Answer Always been<br />

same.<br />

Our Salespeople are local<br />

specialists. They know their<br />

market really well. They know<br />

where the local dairy shop is,<br />

local school, Local stadium,<br />

local bus stop and local<br />

demographics.<br />

We want to serve local<br />

people with their local need.<br />

We go one extra mile to help<br />

our vendors, our investors<br />

and most importantly our first<br />

home buyers.<br />

Customers First<br />

I personally believe in customers’<br />

journey and in “End to<br />

End Customer Experience.”<br />

Even though I am a South<br />

Auckland Manager, I tend to<br />

sell properties all over Auckland<br />

and I promote long-term<br />

professional relationship with<br />

my customers who return<br />

anytime they need any advice<br />

regarding property or in<br />

relation to buying and selling<br />

their property.<br />

My business is usually based<br />

through referral and I believe<br />

that word-of-mouth is the<br />

biggest tool of advertisement<br />

in today’s market.<br />

As for an individual, sharing<br />

a good experience is worth<br />

more than showing awards!<br />

Anjini Lata<br />

South Auckland Sales Manager &<br />

Sales Consultant<br />

M: 021-215 0046<br />

D: (09) 2137364<br />

E: anjini@localrealty.co.nz<br />

W: www.localreality.co.nz<br />

Ground Knowledge<br />

makes us Local<br />

Every house has its value, but<br />

location enhances it.<br />

Our salespeople understand your<br />

needs and match them with the<br />

house best suited to your budget<br />

and preference.<br />

They know that every home<br />

constitutes life’s choice.<br />

2 White Swan Road, Mt Roskill, Auckland 1041<br />

Raksha Lakhan<br />

As soon as you meet<br />

Raksha, you will<br />

realise that she is a<br />

woman who loves<br />

life and is passionate about<br />

people and real estate.<br />

You will notice that she is<br />

‘quietly buzzing’ with life,<br />

knows what she is talking<br />

about, is experienced, pro-<br />

fessional and gets results.<br />

With a degree in Economics<br />

and Land Management,<br />

together with a passion<br />

for people and property,<br />

real estate was the obvious<br />

career choice for her in<br />

2003.<br />

Sound Knowledge<br />

With many years and<br />

hundreds of property sales<br />

to her credit, she has a<br />

sound real estate business<br />

built specifically with her<br />

clients’ needs in mind.<br />

If you were to read her<br />

many testimonials from<br />

previous clients, the following<br />

words and phrases<br />

appear quite often: “Clearly<br />

defined Plan,” “Perfect<br />

Plan,” “Professional,” “Price<br />

above our Target,” “Excellent<br />

Service,” “Wonderful<br />

Job,” “Absolutely Delighted,”<br />

and “Far exceeded our<br />

wildest dreams.”<br />

If you were to ask Raksha<br />

what, apart from her<br />

marriage and her business,<br />

lights her up, she would<br />

tell you that family is very<br />

important to her. In her<br />

spare time, she loves to curl<br />

up with a good book or surf<br />

the net for ideas for her<br />

next family holiday.<br />

Margaret Marion Clark,<br />

one her clients, said, “On<br />

November 15, Raksha sold<br />

my home at an auction on<br />

the premises. I found it to<br />

be a fun day and the climax<br />

to a positive working relationship<br />

between Raksha.”<br />

Customer Satisfaction<br />

comes home all the time.<br />

Andwith honestyand<br />

Service, it gets better with<br />

everydeal.<br />

From the first meeting with Raksha, youwill be<br />

in comfortzone.<br />

Give her acall.That’sall it takes<br />

Raksha Lakhan<br />

Licensee Salesperson<br />

Mobile: 021 442 097<br />

Phone: (09) 281 5445<br />

Noble RealtyLimited Licensed (REAA 2008)<br />

Email: raksha.lakhan@raywhite.com


APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

14 Businesslink<br />

Carol Hirschfeld keeps her head down<br />

Mark Jennings<br />

Some commentators have<br />

rebuked the media over its<br />

lack of vigour in questioning<br />

Carol Hirschfeld on why she<br />

lied to RNZ CEO Paul Thompson<br />

about her meeting with Broadcasting,<br />

Communications and <strong>Digital</strong><br />

Media Minister Clare Curran.<br />

The presumption being that the<br />

media is looking after one of its<br />

own.<br />

They are wrong.<br />

Hirschfeld’s phone will be full of<br />

voice messages and texts asking for<br />

interviews.<br />

Stories about high profile media<br />

types like (Mike) Hosking, (Paul)<br />

Henry, (Alison) Mau, (Duncan)<br />

Garner or Hirschfeld hitting<br />

turbulence are major generators of<br />

audience interest in all forms of the<br />

media.<br />

Competition desperate<br />

The idea of going easy on a<br />

colleague doesn’t even enter<br />

calculations when competition for<br />

audience attention is as desperate<br />

as it is now.<br />

Newsroom, like all other media<br />

organisations has asked Hirschfeld<br />

for an interview and been turned<br />

down. It is highly unlikely that she<br />

will ever discuss the reasons for<br />

misleading her boss.<br />

Being an experienced journalist,<br />

Hirschfeld knows that no matter<br />

what explanation she produces,<br />

Picture of Mark Jennings from Twitter<br />

Carol Hirschfield (Courtesy: E-Tangata)<br />

it won’t change the fact that she<br />

told an outright lie.<br />

While there may be some sort<br />

of plausible explanation for not<br />

telling the truth when first asked<br />

about the meeting, there is no<br />

way out of the pickle that she has<br />

created by not owning up when<br />

challenged subsequently.<br />

Catastrophic chain of events<br />

Close colleagues of Hirschfeld<br />

say she is devastated by what has<br />

happened.<br />

What was probably a catch-up<br />

by two people excited to discuss<br />

the impact of an impending funding<br />

boost for Radio New Zealand<br />

(RNZ) set off a catastrophic chain<br />

of events that neither would have<br />

imagined.<br />

The excitement was understandable<br />

when you look at it in context.<br />

The development of a high-quality<br />

video component to complement<br />

RNZ’s existing strong public radio<br />

broadcasting would be close to, if<br />

not the high point of their careers.<br />

If they had been plotting to<br />

circumvent or undermine RNZ’s<br />

CEO and Board they would not have<br />

done it over coffee in a crowded,<br />

noisy Wellington café frequented by<br />

journalists and lobbyists.<br />

Hiding in Plain Sight<br />

The so called “hiding in plain<br />

sight” theory is too conspiratorial<br />

by far.<br />

The man who let Hirschfeld go<br />

will also be upset.<br />

In addition to any personal<br />

feelings that he experienced over<br />

the resignation of a close colleague,<br />

Paul Thompson will be unhappy<br />

with being thrust into public gaze in<br />

this way.<br />

It has given ammunition to those<br />

who think the money earmarked<br />

for RNZ+ should be spent on other<br />

things.<br />

RNZ+ is the name Curran has<br />

given the television service she<br />

wants RNZ to provide. A service for<br />

which the Government could cough<br />

up around $30 million.<br />

RNZ+ Plans secret<br />

The plans for RNZ+ have not<br />

been revealed in any detail but RNZ<br />

Chairman Richard Griffin told aSelect<br />

Committee last Thursday (<strong>April</strong><br />

5, <strong>2018</strong>) that there had been nine<br />

different versions before he (and<br />

presumably the Board) Thompson,<br />

Hirschfeld and Curran all agreed.<br />

The final plan seems to be<br />

pared-back version of a linear<br />

(conventional) TV channel - more<br />

of a bulking-up of the existing video<br />

that RNZ is currently providing.<br />

Sources with knowledge of<br />

the plans say that there was no<br />

fundamental disagreement between<br />

Thompson and Hirschfeld over the<br />

direction.<br />

RNZ+ will need to carry plenty<br />

of strong content to satisfy its<br />

current audience but it also needs<br />

to be innovative enough to recruit<br />

the younger demographic that its<br />

radio product has been successfully<br />

doing.<br />

The Successor Issue<br />

So, who will end up with the<br />

tricky task of making it happen now<br />

Hirschfeld is gone?<br />

Thompson will be tempted to<br />

turn one of his trusted lieutenants<br />

and current Head of <strong>Digital</strong>, Glen<br />

Scanlon.<br />

Scanlan is now Acting Head of<br />

News and regarded (inside and<br />

outside RNZ) as highly competent.<br />

Former TV3 and TVNZ Producer<br />

Tim Watkin will also be pressing his<br />

claims.<br />

Watkin is RNZ’s Executive Producer<br />

of Podcasts and Series.<br />

Having had a spell as Deputy<br />

Editor of the Listener, his journalistic<br />

credentials are good and he<br />

will know more about producing<br />

TV programmes than most RNZ<br />

executives.<br />

Thompson also has Stephen<br />

Smith to turn to. Smith worked<br />

for TVNZ, Vodafone and Maori TV<br />

before taking charge of branding<br />

and marketing at RNZ. He has a<br />

strong understanding of TV and<br />

new media.<br />

About the Minister<br />

And what of Clare Curran now?<br />

Supporters of better public<br />

service media will be hoping that<br />

she recovers from her self-inflicted<br />

wounds and sees through her<br />

plan to boost a part of the media<br />

that has been neglected and in the<br />

case of television (Maori TV aside)<br />

abandoned.<br />

When Curran picked up the portfolio,<br />

there was an expectation that<br />

public broadcasting would get some<br />

overdue attention, particularly<br />

given the opposition spokesperson,<br />

Melissa Lee, also has a strong<br />

interest and knowledge in the area.<br />

Lee was a TV Producer before she<br />

entered Parliament.<br />

The Hirschfeld saga has damaged<br />

Curran but whether it will mean<br />

less money for RNZ+ won’t be<br />

known until May 17 when Finance<br />

Minister Grant Robertson delivers<br />

his first budget.<br />

It could be $30 million, it could be<br />

less, or it could be zero.<br />

Mark Jennings, former Head of<br />

News and Current Affairs at Mediaworks<br />

(TV3) is the Co-Founder<br />

of Newsroom along with Tim<br />

Murphy, former Editor-in-Chief of<br />

the New Zealand Herald. <strong>Indian</strong><br />

<strong>Newslink</strong> has published the above<br />

article, an updated version of<br />

which appeared on the Newsroom<br />

website under a Special Agreement<br />

with www.newsroom.co.nz<br />

<strong>2018</strong><br />

CALLING FOR<br />

ENTRIES &<br />

NOMINATIONS<br />

CATEGORIES:<br />

1. Business Excellence in Retail Trade<br />

2. Business Excellence in Innovation<br />

3. Business Excellence in Marketing<br />

4. Business Excellence in Customer Service<br />

5. Best Employer of Choice<br />

6. Best Small Business<br />

7. Best Medium Sized Business<br />

8. Best Large Business<br />

9. Business Excellence in Health &Safety (NEW)<br />

10. Business Excellence in International Trade with India*<br />

11. Best Accountant of the Year<br />

12. Best Young Entrepreneur of the Year<br />

13. Best Businesswoman of the Year<br />

14. Best Financial Advisor (Mortgage) of the Year<br />

15. Best Financial Advisor (Insurance) of the Year<br />

Supreme Business of the Year Award<br />

(All entries will be entered for this category)<br />

For details contact<br />

P OBox 82338 Highland Park, Manukau 2143<br />

Phone (09) 5336377<br />

Email: venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />

editor@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />

info@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />

www.indiannewslink.co.nz • www.inliba.com<br />

Conditions of Entry:<br />

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 <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong> and the<br />

supporting and sponsoring organisations are not eligible to enter the Awards.<br />

* this category is open to all businesses registered in New Zealand, importing or exporting a<br />

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


APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

The labyrinth of Algorithms<br />

can be creepy<br />

Danielle<br />

Van Dalen<br />

The cracks are starting<br />

to show on the fancy<br />

computer algorithms<br />

that we rely so heavily<br />

upon these days.<br />

The recent news that Facebook<br />

was involved in sharing<br />

the personal information of<br />

quiz participants and their<br />

friends with Cambridge Analytica<br />

has illustrated the creeping<br />

influence algorithms have had<br />

on our lives.<br />

After the story broke, the<br />

New York Times reported that<br />

“the hashtag #DeleteFacebook<br />

appeared more than 10,000<br />

times within a two-hour<br />

period,” showing that people<br />

are starting to recognise that<br />

our increasing reliance on<br />

algorithms is not all positive.<br />

We need to remember<br />

that technology cannot be a<br />

substitute for relationships.<br />

Powerful tools<br />

Algorithms are powerful<br />

tools for creating efficient and<br />

targeted processes used in our<br />

day-to-day lives. They do a lot of<br />

awesome things.<br />

Companies like Netflix and<br />

Uber harness them to ensure<br />

that the right information gets<br />

to the right people, like which<br />

movies to advertise for whom,<br />

or which driver to connect with<br />

which passenger.<br />

Unfortunately, as the Cambridge<br />

Analytica example suggests,<br />

there are also risks to the<br />

widespread use of algorithms<br />

and the personal data they so<br />

often rely upon; and privacy<br />

breaches are just one example.<br />

In many less-obvious areas of<br />

our lives, the algorithms are<br />

showing their fair share of bugs<br />

too.<br />

Healthcare options<br />

In 2016, the Arkansas Department<br />

of Human Services began<br />

to use algorithms to determine<br />

heaAlthcare options and<br />

supports for different people.<br />

The algorithm led, however, to<br />

significant changes and reductions<br />

in many people’s medical<br />

care – one person even claimed,<br />

“they were hospitalised because<br />

their care was cut.”<br />

A court eventually discovered<br />

that the software vendor had<br />

“mistakenly used a version of<br />

the software that didn’t account<br />

for diabetes issues.”<br />

Bad predictions<br />

While not quite as life-ordeath,<br />

companies like Shell<br />

have also been using algorithms<br />

to fill job roles but are now finding<br />

that these algorithms are<br />

“bad at predicting rare events,<br />

such as when employees would<br />

excel at a task they haven’t<br />

encountered before.”<br />

So, while we have seen that<br />

the potential of technologies<br />

like this and get understandably<br />

excited about the future possibilities<br />

and efficient systems we<br />

might create, these examples<br />

show that completely relying<br />

on these processes is not always<br />

the answer.<br />

Sometimes they get it wrong.<br />

It is easy to quickly trust the<br />

outputs of a computer, but<br />

as these examples show, we<br />

simply cannot afford to be so<br />

naïve.<br />

The response<br />

So how do we respond?<br />

While quitting Facebook<br />

seems like a good start for many<br />

– even futurist and technological<br />

entrepreneur Elon Musk<br />

deleted his company’s accounts<br />

– becoming a technological<br />

hermit does not seem helpful,<br />

or even possible, anymore.<br />

Besides, the efficiency-related<br />

benefits of algorithms are hard<br />

to give up.<br />

Instead, we need to be aware<br />

of their limitations and wary<br />

of their potential unintended<br />

consequences.<br />

We need to remember that<br />

algorithms often fail to see<br />

the nuance that only human<br />

interaction can detect.<br />

From social media to medical<br />

care or potential employment,<br />

let us introduce some more<br />

healthy suspicion when it<br />

comes algorithms.<br />

Danielle van Dalen is a<br />

Researcher at the Maxim<br />

Institute based in Auckland.<br />

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APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

16 Businesslink<br />

Ombudsman’s Official Information Act war continues<br />

Shane Cowlishaw<br />

With a new<br />

Government pledging<br />

to be the most<br />

open and transparent<br />

ever, the watchdog tasked<br />

with ensuring it complies with<br />

freedom of information laws<br />

won’t be easing up the pressure.<br />

The Chief Ombudsman’s offensive<br />

against gaming of the<br />

Official Information Act (OIA)<br />

has continued with the announcement<br />

of investigations<br />

into four government<br />

departments.<br />

Judge Peter Boshier’s office<br />

will look at environmental and<br />

cultural agencies: The Ministry<br />

for Culture and Heritage, the<br />

Ministry for the Environment,<br />

the Department of Conservation<br />

and Land Information New<br />

Zealand.<br />

Whether the agencies have the<br />

policies, culture and leadership<br />

in place to comply with the OIA<br />

will be explored and the findings<br />

made public.<br />

The agencies have been chosen<br />

because of the Government’s<br />

interest in the area and will be<br />

the first of many, with Boshier<br />

planning to eventually investigate<br />

every agency covered by<br />

the Act.<br />

Public feedback<br />

Staff will be asked for their<br />

opinion and members of the<br />

The Ombudsman, Judge Peter Boshier, has launched new investigations into compliance with the Official Information<br />

Act. Photo: Shane Cowlishaw<br />

public who have made information<br />

requests are being encouraged<br />

to provide their feedback.<br />

Introduced in 1982, the OIA requires<br />

public information to be<br />

released unless there is a good<br />

reason not to do so.<br />

But it has been eroded over the<br />

years, with many voicing their<br />

concern about its treatment.<br />

Since taking over the role from<br />

Dame Beverley Wakem in late<br />

2015, the former Chief Family<br />

Court Judge has shaken up the<br />

office.<br />

“I just want to say to<br />

(Newsroom) and to investigative<br />

journalists and reporters that<br />

you should expect the very best<br />

from Government agencies and<br />

local government and then from<br />

me in terms of compliance with<br />

this Act and nothing short of that<br />

is going to be acceptable.”<br />

Agencies on notice<br />

Arriving at an organisation underfunded<br />

and struggling with a<br />

reputational issue, Boshier has<br />

cracked down and eliminated a<br />

backlog of 648 complaints that<br />

were clogging the system.<br />

He said agencies were on notice<br />

that they were expected<br />

to comply with the OIA, something<br />

that had not always been<br />

happening.<br />

“I think it’s better but I’m disappointed<br />

in some aspects of<br />

compliance, particularly in local<br />

government. When I look at<br />

... what seems to me to be some<br />

gaming that I’ve perceived that<br />

is almost a deliberate attempt to<br />

not release as soon as possible<br />

because it’s suitable to delay, I’m<br />

dejected,” he said.<br />

After starting in the role,<br />

Boshier said he realised it suited<br />

agencies to delay releasing information<br />

because any complaints<br />

would disappear into his office’s<br />

backlog.<br />

But now that had changed he<br />

expected behaviour to improve.<br />

Increasing compliance<br />

While in opposition, Labour<br />

called for the Ombudsman to be<br />

given stronger powers including<br />

the ability to fine agencies for<br />

breaches.<br />

Boshier, however, said he was<br />

not pushing for changes to the<br />

Act and wanted to focus on increasing<br />

compliance.<br />

To that end, he recently met<br />

with the Department of Prime<br />

Minister and Cabinet to explain<br />

what information could be withheld<br />

to protect officials’ ability<br />

to have “free and frank” discussions,<br />

and what couldn’t.<br />

“I just want to say to<br />

(Newsroom) and to investigative<br />

journalists and reporters that<br />

you should expect the very best<br />

<strong>2018</strong><br />

CALLING FOR<br />

ENTRIES &NOMINATIONS<br />

Forms can be downloaded from<br />

www.inliba.com<br />

from Government agencies and<br />

local government and then from<br />

me in terms of compliance with<br />

this Act and nothing short of that<br />

is going to be acceptable.”<br />

Shane Cowlishaw is<br />

Wellington-based National<br />

Affairs Editor of Newsroom,<br />

an independent, New Zealandbased<br />

news and current affairs<br />

site, founded by Mark<br />

Jennings, former Head of<br />

News and Current Affairs at<br />

Mediaworks (TV3) and Tim<br />

Murphy, former Editor-in-<br />

Chief of the New Zealand<br />

Herald. Newsroom is powered<br />

by the generosity of people<br />

who support its mission to produce<br />

fearless, independent and<br />

provocative journalism. <strong>Indian</strong><br />

<strong>Newslink</strong> has published the<br />

above Report and Picture under<br />

a Special Agreement with<br />

www.newsroom.co.nz


APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

Right to participate reinforces Right to Health<br />

Taiwan wants to attend World Health Assembly <strong>2018</strong><br />

Dr Chung-Hsing Chou<br />

Although Taiwan has participated<br />

in the technical<br />

meetings, mechanisms<br />

and activities of the<br />

World Health Organisation and<br />

the World Health Assembly<br />

(WHA), it has not been invited to<br />

attend the 70th WHA as an observer<br />

in 2017.<br />

World Health Assembly<br />

<strong>2018</strong> will be held in Geneva,<br />

Switzerland from May 21 to 26,<br />

<strong>2018</strong>.<br />

For many years, Taiwan has<br />

contributed to enhancing regional<br />

and global disease prevention<br />

networks; and is dedicated to assisting<br />

other countries in overcoming<br />

healthcare challenges to<br />

help achieve WHO’s vision that<br />

health is a fundamental human<br />

right.<br />

Therefore, there is widespread<br />

support that Taiwan should be<br />

invited to attend the WHA.<br />

Vulnerable geographic location<br />

Located at a key position in<br />

East Asia, Taiwan shares environmental<br />

similarities for communicable<br />

disease outbreaks with<br />

neighboring countries and is frequently<br />

visited by international<br />

travelers. This makes Taiwan<br />

vulnerable to cross-border transmission<br />

and cross-transmission<br />

of communicable disease pathogens,<br />

which could lead to their<br />

genetic recombination or mutation,<br />

and give rise to new infectious<br />

agents.<br />

Since Taiwan is unable to attend<br />

the WHA and is excluded<br />

from full participation in related<br />

meetings, it does not have the<br />

benefit of obtaining complete disease<br />

and medical information.<br />

This creates serious gaps in the<br />

global health security system and<br />

threatens people’s right to health.<br />

Furthermore, countries use<br />

food products made of various<br />

materials coming from all parts<br />

of the world. According to WHO<br />

2015 Report, more than two million<br />

deaths occur each year due<br />

to contaminated food or drinking<br />

water.<br />

Given that Taiwan is the<br />

world’s 18th largest exporter and<br />

importer, its exclusion from the<br />

international health system poses<br />

a threat to global food safety.<br />

Sound System needed<br />

The WHO needs Taiwan’s participation<br />

to establish a sound<br />

global health system.<br />

Its core objective of uplifting<br />

the standard of human health<br />

can be achieved through universal<br />

health coverage.<br />

Taiwan was the first country<br />

in Asia to implement a National<br />

Health Insurance Programme,<br />

which boasts a coverage rate of<br />

99.9%. Medical expenditures in<br />

Taiwan account for mere 6.3%<br />

of GDP. In this regard, Taiwan<br />

is willing and is in a position to<br />

share its experience with the<br />

WHO and other nations.<br />

In recent years, Taiwan has<br />

successfully transformed its<br />

role on the international stage<br />

from aid recipient to assistance<br />

provider.<br />

It has established a comprehensive<br />

disease prevention system<br />

and organised numerous<br />

training workshops aimed at<br />

building capacity to prevent<br />

Ebola, MERS, Dengue Fever<br />

and Zika in the Asia-Pacific and<br />

Southeast Asia, thereby facilitating<br />

collective efforts to strengthen<br />

global health security.<br />

Taiwanese Health Promotion<br />

Taiwan needs the WHO to protect<br />

the health of its own people<br />

as well as those in the region and<br />

the entire world. Through its participation<br />

in the WHA and the<br />

WHO, it could share its experience<br />

with other countries, make<br />

timely reporting and acquire information<br />

on diseases, and play a<br />

constructive role in global health<br />

protection.<br />

This would create a win-win<br />

scenario for Taiwan, the WHO,<br />

and the world community.<br />

SARS <strong>15th</strong> Anniversary<br />

This year marks the <strong>15th</strong> anniversary<br />

of outbreak of Sever<br />

Acute Respiratory System.<br />

Fifteen years after losing many<br />

lives to SARS, Taiwan is back on<br />

its feet and has developed an<br />

even stronger disease prevention<br />

system.<br />

Virus infection knows no borders.<br />

Only when every member<br />

of the international community<br />

is included in this collective fight<br />

against diseases can the negative<br />

effects of the next potential pan-<br />

Businesslink<br />

demic outbreak be minimised.<br />

With an interest in making professional<br />

health contributions and protecting<br />

the right to health, Taiwan<br />

seeks participation in the 71st WHA<br />

this year.<br />

It seeks a professional and pragmatic<br />

participation to become a part<br />

of global efforts aimed at realising<br />

WHO’s vision for a seamless global disease<br />

prevention network, as well as<br />

UN Sustainable Development Goal 3<br />

by 2030.<br />

Administrator Job Vacancy<br />

Nature and Scope of Job<br />

The position of the Administrator is very critical to the successful operation of the<br />

Temple and the Community Centre facility. The Administrator will be responsible for<br />

the day to day operations of both facilities. He or She will also be responsible for<br />

ensuring that the objectives of the trust are adequately met by organising events<br />

and activities as deemed suitable under the guidance and direction of the board of<br />

trustees.<br />

Qualifications<br />

The successful candidate will have suitable management qualification<br />

Job Functions and Responsibilities:<br />

The functions and responsibilities of the administrator shall include but not limited to<br />

(a) Daily operations (b) Facilities Management (c) Restaurant/Kitchen Operations (d)<br />

Priest and Staff Management (e) Events and activities (f) Financial Management and<br />

Record-Keeping (g) Donor and Devotee Relationship Management (h) Health and<br />

Safety (j) Safeguarding and Management of the Assets of the Trust (j) Complaints<br />

and compliance.<br />

Please email applications to pravin@lotusfx.com<br />

Or post to Shri Ram Mandir Charitable Trust<br />

Suite 3, Level 7, 300 Queen Street, Auckland 1010<br />

Application will close on 30 <strong>April</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />

17<br />

Dr Chung-Hsing Chou (File Photo) is<br />

Director General of Taipei Economic<br />

and Cultural Office in Auckland.<br />

Read two more related articles in<br />

this issue. The above is an edited<br />

version.<br />

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We are committed to expanding the brand and store numbers in NZ and revitalizing the brand. We invite prospective<br />

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APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

18 Businesslink<br />

Taiwan makes its Health InsuranceProgramme aworld model<br />

Chen Shih-Chung<br />

Taiwan canhelpthe World<br />

HealthOrganisation<br />

(WHO) achieve global universal<br />

health coverageby<br />

sharing its success in developing<br />

the world.<br />

Taiwan’sNational Health<br />

InsuranceProgramme (NHIP)is<br />

aglobal benchmark in universal<br />

coverage and offers valuable<br />

lessons in deliveringhigh-quality,<br />

cost-effective medicalcare<br />

forall. Taiwan’swealth of experience<br />

can helpthe WHO realise<br />

its top priority of achieving universal<br />

health care around the<br />

world specified by WHO Director-<br />

GeneralTedrosAdhanom.<br />

Taiwan wouldwelcome the<br />

opportunitytoshareits expertise<br />

by participating in the 71st<br />

World HealthAssembly,the decision-making<br />

body of the WHO,<br />

scheduledtobeheldinGeneva,<br />

Switzerland fromMay 21 to May<br />

26,<strong>2018</strong>.<br />

Insurance forall<br />

TheNHIP is based on the principleofleavingnoone<br />

behind.All<br />

citizens and foreign residentsare<br />

enrolled.<br />

Taiwan has consistentlyexpanded<br />

insurancecoverage over<br />

the years.<br />

In 2013, all60,000 prison<br />

inmates were addedtothe<br />

Programme.<br />

Afurther measure broadening<br />

coverage wasimplemented<br />

in December 2017whenbabies<br />

born in Taiwan to foreignresidents,<br />

previously only eligible to<br />

join at sixmonths old,were included<br />

atbirth.<br />

ThisdemonstratesTaiwan’srespectfor<br />

health care as afundamental<br />

humanright.<br />

NHIP userscan access awide<br />

range of services spanning<br />

Western medicine, dental care<br />

and traditionalChinese treatments<br />

at affordable prices.<br />

To ensure fairness,premiums<br />

are setasaproportion of an individual’sincome.<br />

This figureiscurrently4.69%<br />

foremployees,who pay30% of<br />

this amount,withtheir employers<br />

contributing 60% andthe governmentthe<br />

remainder.<br />

HighSatisfaction Rate<br />

In aSurvey conducted by the<br />

MinistryofHealth and Welfare<br />

lastyear, 85%ofrespondents expressed<br />

satisfaction with the<br />

NHIP.<br />

“TheNHIP Administration,<br />

under the Health and Welfare<br />

Ministry, is the singlepayer for all<br />

medical services. This arrangement<br />

ensureshighlevels of efficiency<br />

by significantly reducing<br />

administrative spending.<br />

In 2017, these expensesaccounted<br />

for 0.9%oftotal outlays.<br />

This was thelowest in the<br />

world.<br />

In addition to controlling costs,<br />

the NHIP hasled to continuous<br />

improvements in public health<br />

through the regular introduction<br />

of cutting-edge medicationsand<br />

treatments.<br />

Additional Incentives<br />

Recent initiatives include the<br />

addition(in January2017)ofnewly<br />

developed antiviral hepatitis C<br />

drugs forpatientswith advanced<br />

forms of thedisease.<br />

Thismoveisexpected to bolster<br />

public wellbeing, as the illness,a<br />

major cause of liver cancer, is estimated<br />

to affect up to 600,000people,according<br />

to Taiwannonprofit<br />

Liver DiseasePrevention and<br />

TreatmentResearchFoundation.<br />

In 2017, the National Health<br />

InsuranceAdministration (NHIA)<br />

allocated NT$2.4billion(US$82<br />

million) forthe expensive, highly<br />

effective oral hepatitisCmedications,<br />

providing the drugs to about<br />

9300people.<br />

This year, atotal of NT$4.25billion<br />

(aboutUS$145 million) has<br />

beenearmarkedtohelp additional<br />

17,000 patients.<br />

Thisismoney wellspent.<br />

Dealing withthe diseasenow<br />

willsave alot inthe long term by<br />

preventing moreserious health<br />

conditions.<br />

Benefits of NationalInsurance<br />

Since thelaunch of the NHIP, averagelifeexpectancy<br />

in Taiwan<br />

has risen from 74.5 to 80.2years.<br />

This increasehas drawn global<br />

recognition, withmorethan<br />

50 foreign delegationsvisitingto<br />

learnabout theProgramme last<br />

yearalone.<br />

In the light of Taiwan’srapidly<br />

aging population and the pressure<br />

this will place on medicalcare<br />

spending, the governmentismovingtoensurethe<br />

long-term financial<br />

viability of the system.<br />

Amajor step inthisregard<br />

came in2013with the launch<br />

of the second-generation NHIP.<br />

Amongother changes, the governmentboostedrevenue<br />

by levyinga2%charge,lowered<br />

to 1.91%<br />

in 2016, on supplementary incomesuch<br />

as bonuses and stock<br />

earnings.<br />

This measure expanded the<br />

Programme’spremium base<br />

while making contributionsmore<br />

reflective of an individual’sfull<br />

income.<br />

NewReformscoming<br />

Anotherround of reformswill<br />

be launchedinthe nextthree to<br />

four yearswith the aim of further<br />

boostingoverall efficiencyand<br />

ensuring fairnessinpremium<br />

contributions.<br />

While no national health insurance<br />

programme in the world<br />

is perfect,Taiwan’s model has<br />

beenaresounding success and<br />

can serveasareference forother<br />

nations.<br />

Through technical meetings at<br />

the WHA, Taiwan canlearnfrom<br />

other countries andgive back by<br />

sharing its healthcareexpertise.<br />

Chen Shih-ChungisHealth<br />

andWelfareMinister of the<br />

Republic of China (Taiwan).<br />

Please read related story in this<br />

Section. (Staff Photo by Huang<br />

Chung-Hsin)


APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

Baisakhi & New Year Special<br />

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APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

20 Baisakhi & New Year Special<br />

A Festival of Joy with reverence and endearment<br />

Sourced Content<br />

Sikhs all over the world celebrate<br />

‘Baisakhi’ or ‘Vaisakhi’ as<br />

a Festival to commemorate the<br />

establishment of the Khalsa<br />

Panth.<br />

According to the Sikh history, the<br />

roots of Baisakhi go back to 1699<br />

and Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth<br />

Guru of the Sikhs, who formed the<br />

‘Kalsa,’ or the Brotherhood of Saint<br />

Soldiers to fight against tyranny and<br />

oppression.<br />

The story of Baisakhi also related<br />

to the martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur,<br />

the ninth Sikh Guru who was<br />

publicly beheaded by Aurungzeb,<br />

the Mughal ruler.<br />

Aurungzeb wanted to spread Islam<br />

in India, but Guru Teg Bahadur<br />

stood up for the rights of Hindus and<br />

Sikhs and the Mughals therefore saw<br />

him as a threat.<br />

After the death of Guru Teg, his<br />

son, Guru Gobind Singh became the<br />

next Guru of the Sikhs.<br />

He was keen to instil courage,<br />

strength and spirit of sacrifice<br />

among his fellow men. He chose<br />

Baisakhi Day at Keshgarh Sahib near<br />

Anandpur on March 30, 1699 to fulfil<br />

his dream.<br />

When thousands of people assembled<br />

on the occasion, Guru Gobind<br />

Singh came out of the tent carrying<br />

an unsheathed sword. He gave a<br />

powerful speech to infuse courage<br />

amongst fellowmen.<br />

At the end of the speech, he said<br />

that every great sacrifice accompanied<br />

every great deed and asked<br />

those prepared to sacrifice their lives<br />

Guru Gobind Singh Ji Guru Granth Sahib, the Eternal Guide Five volunteers of Sri Kalgidhar Sahib Gurudwara symbolise the ‘Panj Piare’<br />

to step forward.<br />

A young man offered himself<br />

for sacrifice at this third call. The<br />

Guru took him inside the tent and<br />

reappeared alone with a bloodied<br />

sword. Guru Gobind Singh asked for<br />

another volunteer. This was repeated<br />

until five Sikhs had gone into the<br />

tent with the Guru. Everyone present<br />

was worried and thought that he had<br />

killed the five young men.<br />

At this point, the Guru presented<br />

all the five men before the people.<br />

Everyone was surprised to see<br />

them alive, wearing turbans and<br />

saffron-coloured garments.<br />

The Blessed Five<br />

The Guru called the five men ‘Panj<br />

Piare’ or the ‘Beloved Five.’<br />

The Guru blessed them at a Pahul<br />

ceremony.<br />

In an iron vessel, he stirred with<br />

a sword called ‘Khanda Sahib,’ the<br />

batasha that his wife Mata Sundari Ji<br />

had put into water. The congregation<br />

recited verses from scriptures as<br />

the Guru performed the sacred<br />

ceremony.<br />

The water was now considered<br />

the sacred nectar of immortality or<br />

‘Amrit.’<br />

It was first given to the five<br />

volunteers, followed by the Guru<br />

and the other people present. With<br />

this ceremony, all those present, irrespective<br />

of caste or creed, became<br />

members of the Khalsa Pantha (the<br />

Order of the Pure Ones).<br />

The Guru regarded the Panj Piare<br />

as the first members of the Khalsa.<br />

With the constitution of the Panj<br />

Piare, the so-called high and low<br />

castes were amalgamated into one,<br />

known as ‘Khatri’(shopkeeper), ‘Jat’<br />

(farmer), ‘Chhimba’ (calico printer)<br />

‘Ghumar’ (water-carrier) and ‘Nai,’<br />

(Barber).<br />

The Transformation<br />

The Guru gave the surname of<br />

Singh (Lion) to every Sikh and took<br />

the name for himself. From Guru<br />

Gobind Rai, he became Guru Gobind<br />

Singh.<br />

This was seen as a great step in<br />

national integration because society<br />

at that time was divided based on<br />

religion, caste and social status.<br />

Guru Gobind Singh also bestowed<br />

on Khalsa, a unique Sikh identity.<br />

He directed Sikhs to wear five<br />

Ks, namely Kesh (long hair), Kanga<br />

(comb), Kirpan (dagger), Kachera<br />

Greetings from us<br />

(shorts) and Kara (bracelet).<br />

Guru Gobind Singh discontinued<br />

the tradition of Gurus and asked all<br />

Sikhs to accept Guru Granth Sahib as<br />

their Eternal Guide.<br />

He urged them to come to him<br />

with their hair and beard unshorn to<br />

get baptised by the sword.<br />

Source: Baisakhi Festival of Sikhs<br />

One of the greatest attributes<br />

of the Sikh community<br />

is the enthusiasm<br />

and religious fervour<br />

displayed by its members to<br />

mark events and festivals of<br />

significance.<br />

They are also known for their<br />

spirit of enterprise and goodwill<br />

and the ability to bring together<br />

other ethnic groups.<br />

These will be evident at<br />

Baisakhi Festival that would<br />

be observed by the community<br />

throughout New Zealand during<br />

<strong>April</strong>.<br />

Thousands of people will visit<br />

various Gurdwaras located<br />

throughout the country to participate<br />

in the religious programmes,<br />

speeches and sports<br />

events. They would, in the process,<br />

foster the spirit of goodwill<br />

and understanding.<br />

The management and staff of<br />

<strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong> extend their<br />

best wishes to readers, advertisers,<br />

contributors, well-wishers<br />

and others on the occasion of<br />

Baisakhi and sincerely hope that<br />

the advent of the harvest season<br />

would enable them to reap the<br />

rewards of their hard work and<br />

enterprise.<br />

They also extend their best<br />

wishes to all people of <strong>Indian</strong> origin<br />

celebrating New Year and<br />

other festivals this month. May<br />

the New Year bring with it peace,<br />

harmony, success and prosperity.<br />

Wishing all<br />

our Punjabi<br />

friends a happy<br />

& prosperous<br />

Baisakhi <strong>2018</strong>.<br />

From the Labour Ethnic<br />

Communities Team<br />

Please contact Michael Wood, Member of Parliament,<br />

Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Ethnic<br />

Communities on michael.wood@parliament.govt.nz<br />

or 09 624 2278 and contact the Ethnic Communities Team.<br />

/multiculturallabour<br />

labour.org.nz<br />

Authorised by Michael Wood, Parliament Buildings, Wellington


APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

Baisakhi & New Year Special<br />

21<br />

A unique month and a unique bond<br />

Venkat Raman<br />

venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />

<strong>April</strong> is considered a special<br />

month by most<br />

countries around the<br />

world and contrary to<br />

popular belief it must be etched<br />

as a ‘period of wisdom.’<br />

Many Governments and public<br />

and private sector organisations<br />

begin their financial year<br />

on the first day of this month<br />

and for those who dote over the<br />

US, its first president George<br />

Washington was inaugurated<br />

this month (although on the last<br />

day) and most important of all,<br />

William Harvey discovered the<br />

circulation of blood on what is<br />

erroneously described, ‘All Fools<br />

Day’ on <strong>April</strong> 1 in 1578.<br />

Varied connotations<br />

To Christians it is during this<br />

month that Easter occurs usually,<br />

depicting the resurrection<br />

of Jesus Christ-the dawn of new<br />

hope with the transgressions of<br />

mankind obliterated.<br />

To the Tamilian population,<br />

<strong>April</strong> corresponds to the Hindu<br />

month of ‘Chaitra’ marking the<br />

beginning of a New Year, with<br />

renewed hope. Keralites-the<br />

Malayalam speaking population-mark<br />

their New Year with<br />

‘medam,’ the day the Sun crosses<br />

the Equator as an auspicious<br />

day to launch any new project.<br />

For Hindus, New Year celebrations<br />

involve bathing, feasting<br />

and worshipping at home and in<br />

temples. Devotees pay special<br />

respect to Goddess Ganga, who<br />

is believed to have descended<br />

to Earth several thousand years<br />

ago. Hundreds of thousands of<br />

people gather along the sacred<br />

Ganges River for ritual baths.<br />

Plenty goes on in the holy cities<br />

along the Ganges (such as<br />

Varanasi), in Srinagar’s Mughal<br />

Gardens, Jammu’s Nagbani<br />

Temple or indeed anywhere in<br />

India.<br />

Significant for Keralites<br />

Malayalees make elaborate<br />

preparations for this day to ensure<br />

that the year ahead will be<br />

fruitful. This festival celebrates<br />

the spirit that can be observed<br />

in all spring events-the spirit<br />

of hope and expectation that a<br />

new dawn brings with it.<br />

Flags of gold-embroidered silk<br />

WHITE ROSE BUILDERS<br />

The Golden Temple in Amritsar is the Holiest Shrine of Sikhs worldwide (Picture Sourced) Vishu Kani (Picture from Wikipedia)<br />

can be seen in front of Hindu<br />

homes, with pots of brass, copper<br />

or silver dangling from<br />

poles. Vishu includes pyrotechnics<br />

and displays called Vishu<br />

Kani-arrangements of flowers,<br />

grains, fruits, cloth, gold and<br />

money (which help to ensure a<br />

year of prosperity).<br />

The Sikh Concept<br />

Sikhs bring about a different<br />

concept. If you are lucky to see<br />

men performing the Bhangra<br />

dance, you will understand a bit<br />

of it. It tells the story of the agricultural<br />

process, from tilling the<br />

soil through to harvesting.<br />

Vaisakhi also marks reunion<br />

of family members. Homes are<br />

thoroughly spruced up and useless<br />

household effects thrown<br />

out. The granary is cleaned to<br />

welcome the new harvest arrivals.<br />

It is an occasion to wear<br />

new clothes, wish relatives,<br />

gather blessings and of course<br />

sing and dance.<br />

The highlight is the elaborate<br />

feasting in every home, especially<br />

where new family ties<br />

are being forged by marriage<br />

or new born babies. Vaisakhi is<br />

an occasion when the poor and<br />

needy are taken care of and given<br />

alms and gifts.<br />

The Golden Temple<br />

The Golden Temple in<br />

Amritsar, the religious home<br />

of the Sikhs, is richly decorated<br />

and glows with the luminescence<br />

of thousands of lights and<br />

showers its blessings on the millions<br />

of devotees who congregate<br />

there on this day.<br />

Vaisakhi is also unforgettable<br />

in India’s freedom movement,<br />

for it was on this day in 1919,<br />

when General Dyer ordered<br />

the Jallianwala Bagh massacre<br />

in Amritsar. Among the innocent<br />

men, women, and children<br />

gathered there to celebrate the<br />

festival, thousands lost their<br />

lives in the senseless firing<br />

Significance for others<br />

Assam’s version is called<br />

Bohag Bihu and the community<br />

organises feasts, music and<br />

dancing.<br />

Vaisakhi (or Baisakhi) is<br />

among the most significant<br />

festivals for Punjabis who<br />

pride themselves of belonging<br />

to a land which energised<br />

India’s green revolution. As an<br />

event marking the harvest season,<br />

it brings with it joy and<br />

prosperity.<br />

The highlight is the elaborate<br />

feasting in every home, especially<br />

where new family ties<br />

are being forged by marriage<br />

or new born babies. Vaisakhi is<br />

an occasion when the poor and<br />

needy are taken care of and given<br />

alms and gifts.<br />

More about the Punjabis<br />

later.<br />

Bengalis celebrate Baisakhi<br />

too but more in private. On this<br />

occasion, businessmen close<br />

their accounts and start afresh<br />

and houses wear a new coat<br />

of paint. Those who can afford<br />

present new clothes to their<br />

friends, relatives and family<br />

members.


APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

22 Baisakhi & New Year Special<br />

Spiritual Leader to demonstrate practice of Kriya Yoga<br />

Venkat Raman<br />

venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />

Arenowned Spiritual<br />

Leader and a Master<br />

in the practice of Kriya<br />

Yoga will demonstrate this<br />

important posture in Auckland<br />

later this month.<br />

Paramahamsa Prajnanananda,<br />

Head of Kriya Yoga International<br />

will address enthusiasts at<br />

Blockhouse Bay Boat Club located<br />

at Endeavour Street, Blockhouse<br />

Bay in Auckland on Friday, <strong>April</strong><br />

27, <strong>2018</strong> from 7 pm to 830 pm.<br />

He will conduct Initiation and<br />

Technique Training on Saturday,<br />

<strong>April</strong> 28 and Sunday, <strong>April</strong> 29, <strong>2018</strong><br />

at Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan located<br />

at 12 Princes Street in Onehunga.<br />

Those keen to attend the training<br />

programme should register their<br />

names through phone 021-335 137;<br />

Email: hello@kriya.org.nz; Website:<br />

www.kriya.org.nz; Facebook:<br />

KriyaYogaNZ<br />

He will also conduct a Non-Residential<br />

Retreat from Sunday, <strong>April</strong><br />

29 to Wednesday, May 2, <strong>2018</strong> at<br />

Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan located at<br />

12 Princes Street in Onehunga.<br />

The daily Retreat will be held<br />

from 8 am to 5 pm.<br />

Organisers said that Initiation<br />

is essential to participate in the<br />

Non-Residential Retreat.<br />

They described Prajnanananda<br />

as “A God-realised Yogi in the<br />

unbroken lineage of Kriya Masters<br />

in India and in his pre-monastic<br />

life.<br />

“He was previously an academic,<br />

employed as Professor of Economics.<br />

His teachings are non-sectarian<br />

Paramahamsa Prajnanananda (From Facebook)<br />

and harmoniously blend the great<br />

teachings of the Orient and the<br />

Occident,” they said.<br />

About Kriya Yoga<br />

Yoga symbolises the union of the<br />

Individual Self with the Universal<br />

Self.<br />

Brought to the West by Paramahamsa<br />

Yogananda’s spiritual<br />

classic, “Autobiography of a Yogi,”<br />

Kriya Yoga is an ancient and<br />

scientific system of meditation<br />

to achieve this union. Regular<br />

practice of Kriya Yoga leads to<br />

improved health, peace and<br />

overall wellbeing. It also deepens<br />

one’s spiritual awareness and<br />

connection with all beings in the<br />

universe.<br />

Kriya Yoga has been described<br />

by its practitioners as the<br />

ancient Yoga system revived in<br />

modern times by Mahavatar<br />

Babaji through his disciple Lahiri<br />

Mahasaya (1861).<br />

According to Paramahamsa<br />

Yogananda, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali,<br />

contain a description of Kriya<br />

Yoga – “Liberation can be attained<br />

by that pranayama which is accomplished<br />

by disjoining the course of<br />

inspiration and expiration.”<br />

The Yoga System<br />

The Kriya yoga system consists of<br />

a number of levels of Pranayama,<br />

Mantra and Mudra, based on the<br />

techniques intended to rapidly<br />

accelerate spiritual development<br />

and engender a profound state of<br />

tranquility and God-Communion.<br />

Yogananda attributes his description<br />

of Kriya Yoga to his lineage<br />

of gurus, Yukteswar Giri, Lahiri<br />

Mahasaya, and Mahavatar Babaji.<br />

The latter is reported to have<br />

introduced the concept as essentially<br />

identical to the Raja Yoga of Patanjali<br />

and the concept of Yoga as described<br />

in the Bhagavad Gita.<br />

Traditionally exclusive<br />

Kriya Yoga, as taught by Lahiri<br />

Mahasaya, is traditionally exclusively<br />

learned via the Guru-disciple<br />

relationship and the initiation<br />

consists of a secret ceremony.<br />

As Yogananda describes Kriya Yoga,<br />

“The Kriya Yogi mentally directs<br />

his life energy to revolve, upward<br />

and downward, around the six<br />

spinal centers (medullary, cervical,<br />

dorsal, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal<br />

plexuses) which correspond to the<br />

twelve astral signs of the zodiac,<br />

the symbolic Cosmic Man. One<br />

half-minute of revolution of energy<br />

around the sensitive spinal cord of<br />

man effects subtle progress in his<br />

evolution; that half-minute of Kriya<br />

equals one year of natural spiritual<br />

unfoldment.”<br />

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APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

Baisakhi & New Year Special<br />

Tamilians await prosperity in the New ‘Vilambi’ Year<br />

Venkat Raman<br />

venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />

As you read this,<br />

Tamilians all over the<br />

world would have<br />

marked their New Year<br />

Day on <strong>April</strong> 14, although festivities<br />

in New Zealand and other<br />

countries will be held throughout<br />

the month to suit the convenience<br />

of the community.<br />

Special Prayers were held<br />

at all Temples and Gurdwaras<br />

around the country, since <strong>April</strong><br />

14 also marked Baisakhi (or<br />

‘Vaisakhi’), the Harvest Festival<br />

of the Punjabi and Sikh communities<br />

and ‘Vishu,’ a traditional<br />

observance of Keralites.<br />

We have reports on Baisakhi<br />

elsewhere in this Special Report.<br />

Singhalese of Sri Lanka also<br />

observed their New Year on<br />

<strong>April</strong> 14.<br />

The same day is also celebrated<br />

by people of Assam,<br />

West Bengal, Manipur, Tripura,<br />

Bihar, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh,<br />

Uttarakhand, Himachal<br />

Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan,<br />

Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar,<br />

Cambodia, Laos and Thailand.<br />

People from Andhra Pradesh,<br />

Telangana and Karnataka observed<br />

their New Year Day as<br />

‘Ugadi’ on March 18 this year.<br />

Importance for Tamils<br />

Tamil New Year is of immense<br />

significance for Tamilspeaking<br />

people of Tamil Nadu,<br />

Puducherry (formerly known<br />

as ‘Pondicherry’), Sri Lanka,<br />

Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia,<br />

South Africa, East Africa, <strong>Indian</strong><br />

countries – in fact, throughout<br />

the world.<br />

According to Vedic Astrology<br />

and Classic literature, there are<br />

60 years which rotate, each corresponding<br />

to ‘Samvatsara,’ or<br />

Jovian Year (which related to<br />

Planet Jupiter). The Tamil New<br />

Year <strong>2018</strong>-2019 is ‘Vilambi,’ the<br />

32nd Samvatsara.<br />

Those subscribing to Astrology<br />

believe that those born in Year<br />

Vilambi will be prosperous and<br />

extend that prosperity to those<br />

around them.<br />

Known as ‘Puthandu’ or<br />

‘Pudthuvarusham,’ the observance<br />

of Tamil New Year Day is<br />

set with the Solar Cycle of the<br />

Lunisolar Hindu Calendar as the<br />

first day of the Tamil Month of<br />

‘Chithirai,’ known as ‘Chaitra’ in<br />

other languages.<br />

It therefore almost always<br />

falls on or about 14 <strong>April</strong> every<br />

year on the Gregorian calendar.<br />

Auspicious Day<br />

In traditional homes, children<br />

are woken up to see<br />

‘Kanni,’ (which Malayalis call,<br />

‘Vishu Kanni,’) that such sightings<br />

(of gold, jewellery, leaves,<br />

nuts, fruits, vegetables, flowers,<br />

raw rice and coconut) will bring<br />

prosperity throughout the year.<br />

Floors near entrances to<br />

homes are decorated with<br />

‘Kolam’ (Rangoli) while the main<br />

doors will feature strings of<br />

Mango leaves. The real meaning<br />

behind these was to keep away,<br />

insects and toxic materials, now<br />

accepted by modern science.<br />

Early References<br />

There are several references<br />

in early Tamil literature to the<br />

<strong>April</strong> New Year.<br />

Nakkirar, Sangam period author<br />

of ‘Netunalvatai,’ wrote in<br />

the Third Century CE that the<br />

Sun travels from Mesha through<br />

11 successive signs of the Zodiac.<br />

Kudalur Kizhaar of the same<br />

period also refers to Mesha Rasi<br />

as the commencement of the<br />

year in the Purananuru.<br />

‘Tolkaapiyam,’ the oldest surviving<br />

Tamil grammar that<br />

divides the year into six seasons<br />

where Chittirai marks the<br />

start of the Ilavenil season or<br />

summer.<br />

‘Silappatikaram’ (An Eighth<br />

Century literary masterpiece)<br />

mentions the 12 Rasis or Zodiac<br />

signs starting with Mesha.<br />

Chithirai Vizha<br />

New Zealander Tamilians will<br />

mark the New Year on various<br />

days at various locations, especially<br />

in Auckland, Hamilton,<br />

Wellington and Christchurch.<br />

In Auckland, culture and tradition<br />

will combine with modern-day<br />

youth to promote an<br />

evening of entertainment on<br />

Saturday, <strong>April</strong> 21, <strong>2018</strong>.<br />

Organised by Muthtamil<br />

Sangam, the event, called,<br />

‘Chithirai Vizha,’ will be held at<br />

Freeman’s Bay Community Hall,<br />

52 Hepburn Street, Freeman’s<br />

Bay from 530 pm.<br />

Sangam President Soundar<br />

Tirupathi said that the ‘Vizha’<br />

(Festival) will<br />

bring together a<br />

cross-section of<br />

our communities.<br />

“As well as performances<br />

by our<br />

people, the forthcoming<br />

event<br />

will be glorified<br />

by multicultural<br />

performances<br />

by various ethnic<br />

groups. Entry<br />

tickets, priced at<br />

$10 for adults, $5<br />

for children between<br />

five and<br />

twelve years<br />

(children below<br />

five will be admitted<br />

free) are<br />

now available,”<br />

he said.<br />

“The dawn of<br />

a New Year always<br />

brings with<br />

it new hopes for<br />

a new era, with<br />

people wishing<br />

for peace and<br />

23<br />

harmony, higher levels of growth<br />

and prosperity and greater community<br />

amity and social cohesion.<br />

Such hopes are more pronounced<br />

in a multicultural country like<br />

New Zealand where people join in<br />

the festivities of various cultural<br />

groups, expressing their joy and<br />

solidarity,” Mr Soundhar added.<br />

Mother’s Day Sale now on at<br />

Selected Embroidery and Designer Sarees were upto<br />

$395 now only $99 only<br />

Catalogue Sarees were upto<br />

$275 now only $69 each<br />

Churidars were upto<br />

$395 now only $99 each<br />

Ladies Kurti (tops) were upto<br />

$98 now only $29 each<br />

New arrival of<br />

22ct gold jewellery now<br />

60% off<br />

on normal retail prices<br />

Opening hours<br />

Tuesday: 10 am to 6pm|Wednesday: 10 am to 6pm|Thursday: 10 am to 7pm<br />

Friday: 10 am to 6pm|Saturday: 10 am to 6pm|Sunday: 11 am to 6pm<br />

Monday: Closed<br />

Kaysons Limited<br />

2/3115 Great North Road, New Lynn, Auckland<br />

Phone (09) 8279006<br />

Email: kaysonsnz@gmail.com |Facebook: KaysonsNz<br />

All other clothing items<br />

instore now<br />

50%off<br />

normal retail prices


APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

24 Communitylink<br />

Devotees pay homage to a Great Saint<br />

Ragavan Rengachariar<br />

Ranga Ramanuja<br />

Mahadesikan, popularly<br />

known as ‘Srimushnam<br />

Srimad Andavan’ (the<br />

first name denoting his place of<br />

birth), passed away on March 19,<br />

<strong>2018</strong>.<br />

As well as renowned as ‘Master<br />

of All Crafts,’ he was revered for<br />

his benevolence, sportive spirit,<br />

soulful singing, medicinal knowledge,<br />

artistry in sculpture and<br />

intense knowledge of astrology.<br />

He was also an authority on<br />

Vaishnavism.<br />

Pious Evening<br />

Devotees of Ranga Ramanuja<br />

Mahadesikan, paid homage to<br />

the departed Religious Leader<br />

at a special ‘Iyal Goshti’ recital<br />

on March 21, <strong>2018</strong>, led by<br />

Pandurangan Swamy of Hamilton<br />

Balaji Temple at Mt. Roskill,<br />

Auckland – This Iyal Goshti recital<br />

comprised recital of verses<br />

from famous Tamil classics<br />

and religious hymns including<br />

‘Thirupallandu,’ ‘Thiruppaavai,’<br />

‘Kovil Thiruvaaimozhi,’ ‘Pillai<br />

Andhadhi’ and ‘Prabandha<br />

Saram.’ After the recitals,<br />

Pandurangan Swamy talked on<br />

Mahadesikan, revered as ‘Srimad<br />

Andavan,’ and his association<br />

with the late religious head.<br />

The devotees also recited verses<br />

from famous Tamil classics<br />

and religious hymns including<br />

‘Thirupallandu,’ ‘Thiruppaavai,’<br />

Devotees at the Auckland meeting on March 21, <strong>2018</strong><br />

‘Kovil Thiruvaaimozhi,’ ‘Pillai<br />

Andhadhi’ and ‘Prabandha<br />

Saram.’<br />

About Srimad Andavan<br />

Prakrutham Srimad Andavan<br />

was born on June 3, 1935 in<br />

Srimushnam, a village situated in<br />

South Arcot District in Tamilnadu<br />

to U Ve Srinivasachariar and<br />

Kumudavalli, who belonged to<br />

the illustrious lineage of ‘Swayam<br />

Acharya Purushas.’<br />

He was named ‘Varaahan,’ and<br />

was qualified in Veda and Divya<br />

‘Prabhandha Adhyayanams’<br />

at a young age. His uncle U<br />

Ve Srimushnam Puranam<br />

Narayanachariar taught him<br />

Kaavy and ‘Nataka Alankara<br />

Granthas.’<br />

‘Andavan’ went to Kakumaani<br />

Charity Patasala in Chennai for<br />

his initial education in Sastras<br />

and then to Sriperumbudur<br />

Sanskrit College where he learnt<br />

the Nyaya and Tharka Sastras.<br />

Observing his remarkable<br />

knowledge and brilliance, many<br />

learned men predicted that he<br />

would become a Maha Vidwan<br />

and a Sampradaya Pravarthaka.<br />

He exhausted reading all Tamil<br />

literature and extensively quoted<br />

famous Tamil men of lore such<br />

as Thiruvalluvar, Kamban, Ilango<br />

and Bharathi in his discourses.<br />

He underwent Grantha<br />

Chathushtya Kalakshepams under<br />

Srimad Thirukkudanthai<br />

Andavan at whose holy command,<br />

he accepted Sanyasa<br />

and took ascetic order on June<br />

1, 1989 as Sri Ranga Ramanuja<br />

Mahadesikan.<br />

Apart from Sanskrit and Tamil,<br />

he was well-versed in Telugu and<br />

The Late Ranga Ramanuja Mahadesikan (Pictures Supplied)<br />

Kannada.<br />

Remarkable Accomplishments<br />

Among the highlights of<br />

his achievements are (a)<br />

Establishment of Srimad<br />

Andavan Arts and Science<br />

College in 1996 and managed<br />

by Sri Ranganatha<br />

Paduka Vidyalaya trust (b)<br />

Establishment of Corpus Fund<br />

for Ashram maintenance including<br />

salary and life insurance for<br />

the sevakas of the Ashram and<br />

their family (c) Construction<br />

of Sakshath Swami Mani<br />

Mandapam at Vaduvur and a<br />

Veda Patasala, a 3600 sq ft building<br />

in Thiruvaheendrapuram<br />

(near Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu)<br />

for conducting classes on<br />

Prabhandhams and Vedas (d)<br />

Sri Balaji Mandir in Dombivili,<br />

Mumbai (e) Construction of<br />

a Sannidhi for Gopalacharya<br />

Mahadesikan on his 301st<br />

Birthday at Royampettai,<br />

his birthplace and (f) A<br />

Wedding Hall and Ashram in<br />

Kanchipuram.<br />

Lord Krishna says (Geetha<br />

7-17) “I am extremely dear to<br />

the wise man and he is extremely<br />

dear to Me.”<br />

Srimad Andavan was dear to<br />

the Lord. Praising the Acharya’s<br />

glory, retaining his teachings in<br />

mind and spreading his greatness<br />

are very small compared<br />

to what an Acharya has done to<br />

his disciples and devotees.<br />

Veliyanallur Narayanachariar<br />

is new Andavan Swamy for<br />

Srirangam Mutt, the great<br />

grandson of well known<br />

‘Chinnandavan’, a previous<br />

Head of the Mutt.


APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

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APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

26 Communtylink<br />

An opportunity to learn the meaning of Gayatri Mantra<br />

Hear Swami Swaroopananda from <strong>April</strong> 22 to 26 in Auckland<br />

Venkat Raman<br />

venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />

One of the most respected scholars<br />

and effective communicators will<br />

be in Auckland later this month<br />

to present a series of Lectures<br />

on ‘Gayatri Mantra,’ about which little is<br />

known to many people.<br />

Chances are that, like most other Hindu<br />

prayers and customs, ‘Gayatri Mantra’<br />

would be repackaged as mental or physical<br />

therapy and ‘sold’ to us as research<br />

findings and new product development of<br />

the West.<br />

Swami Swaroopananda, Head of<br />

Chinmaya Mission Worldwide, will be in<br />

Auckland to deliver a series of Lectures<br />

on ‘Gayatri Mantra,’ which we are certain<br />

would be as enlightening as it would<br />

indeed be entertaining.<br />

Known for his inimitable style of<br />

narration with humour, his forthcoming<br />

Lectures would help attendees to gain<br />

meaningful insights into the all-pervading<br />

‘Gayatri Mantra.’<br />

About Gayatri Mantra<br />

Sage Vishwamitra, who was ordained<br />

as a ‘Brahmarishi,’ is believed to be the<br />

author of the ‘Gayatri Mantra,’ which is<br />

mentioned in the Rig Veda, which is at<br />

least 5000 years old.<br />

It is also mentioned in the Upanishads<br />

as an important ritual and in the Bhagavad<br />

Gita as a ‘Poem of the Divine.’<br />

Mantras or Vedic hymns are generally of<br />

Tamil and Sanskrit origin, the two ancient<br />

languages of India that are considered<br />

pure, original and timeless.<br />

Found in ancient Hindu scriptures,<br />

these Mantras enable devotees to achieve<br />

concentration of mind, body and soul and<br />

invoke spirituality in their inner self.<br />

Unique forms<br />

Chinmaya Mission Auckland President<br />

Ram Lingam said that Mantras are unique<br />

forms of sound vibration and when<br />

pronounced correctly and with full knowledge,<br />

they can have profound effects on<br />

the human mind.<br />

“The Gayatri Mantra is highly revered,<br />

and its meaning is both subtle and<br />

complex. It is well known that chanting<br />

and understanding it makes one’s rational<br />

intellect more brilliant. Invoking and<br />

contemplating on this great Mantra, the<br />

seeker experiences Oneness whereupon<br />

its deeper secrets are revealed,” he said.<br />

About Swami Swaroopananda<br />

A direct disciple of Chinmaya Mission<br />

Founder, the late Swami Chinmayananda,<br />

Swaroopananda oversees and guides<br />

the activities and projects of the Mission<br />

worldwide. For more than 30 years, he has<br />

brought the timeless wisdom of Vedanta<br />

and given it a meaningful place in human<br />

lives.<br />

His profound insights in personal,<br />

spiritual and corporate life, coupled with<br />

his humane, down-to earth approach,<br />

makes him an irresistible force to all<br />

listeners.<br />

Swami Swaroopananda is well-known<br />

for his lucid explanations of this subtle<br />

knowledge and carries with him the<br />

fragrance of its authenticity.<br />

Such Masters of Vedanta who are<br />

willing and able to unveil this subtle<br />

understanding to all ages are rare indeed.<br />

The Youth Connection<br />

It is heartening to note that an increasing<br />

number of young men and women<br />

are evincing interest in the activities<br />

of Chinmaya Mission New Zealand. As<br />

well as participating in the programmes<br />

of the Mission, they also undertake<br />

voluntary work, they are keen to learn<br />

the teaching of Swami Chinmayananda<br />

and help spread them to other members<br />

of the community. They also connect<br />

well with spiritual leaders like Swami<br />

Swaroopananda.<br />

The Lecture Series<br />

Mr Lingam said that the ‘Gayatri<br />

Mantra’ is very potent and philosophically<br />

it is extremely profound, practical and<br />

incredibly powerful.<br />

“However, this Mantra and its true<br />

import is often left unknown to most<br />

who recite it. To unlock the hidden gems<br />

of wisdom and experience, Auckland is<br />

fortunate to have a sublime teacher like<br />

Swami Swaroopananda in our midst,” he<br />

said.<br />

This Reporter has had occasions to listen<br />

to and discuss with Swami Swaroopananda<br />

issues that challenge people today.<br />

His profound insights into modern,<br />

personal and corporate life, coupled with<br />

his humane and down-to-earth approach<br />

makes him a unique Spiritual Leader and<br />

mentor.<br />

He constantly guides and inspires leaders<br />

across India and around the world.<br />

He has lectured at Harvard University,<br />

London Business School and at companies<br />

such as Ford, Credit Suisse, Apollo Tyres<br />

and MAX New York Life, to name a few.<br />

What: The Secrets of Gayatri Mantra (English)<br />

Who: Swami Swaroopananda<br />

Organiser: Chinmaya Mission New Zealand<br />

When: <strong>April</strong> 22 to 26 from 730 pm to 9 pm<br />

Where: Green Bay High School Performing Arts Centre<br />

161 Godley Road, Greenbay, Auckland<br />

Entry: Free for all<br />

Contact: www.chinmaya.org.nz/secrets-of-gayatri-mantra


APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

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APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

28 Communitylink<br />

Help at hand even before St John Ambulance arrives<br />

The miraculous birth of Baby Bella<br />

Jennifer Porter<br />

Rachael Torkington was<br />

only 25 weeks into her<br />

pregnancy when she<br />

went into early labour<br />

on July 22, 2017.<br />

“I was barely six months<br />

pregnant. I remember thinking<br />

that it is too early. This cannot<br />

be happening – this is not good,”<br />

Rachael recalled.<br />

One moment, Rachael and<br />

partner Kyle were relaxing<br />

at home, the next, they found<br />

themselves delivering a vulnerable<br />

baby while on the line with<br />

111.<br />

Guidance from Ambulance<br />

Rachael was lying on the bathroom<br />

floor, in pain and distress,<br />

when she felt a strong urge to<br />

push. Suddenly, she gave birth<br />

to a very small baby: “She was<br />

just teeny, teeny, tiny. She was<br />

not much bigger than my hand,”<br />

Rachael said.<br />

At the other end of the 111<br />

line was St John Call Handler<br />

Rebecca Robinson and, with her,<br />

Intensive Care Paramedic Anthony.<br />

Together, they used all their<br />

training and calmly instructed<br />

Kyle on how to do CPR on their<br />

tiny baby, who needed urgent<br />

medical care to survive.<br />

While Kyle was keeping his<br />

little girl alive, St John Ambulance<br />

Officers Olivia, Karen and<br />

Steve Pudney were rushing to the<br />

house as quickly as they could.<br />

When they arrived, they knew<br />

that they had to get Bella to<br />

hospital.<br />

But she had to be stabilised<br />

first.<br />

Remarkable feat<br />

Thanks to their training and innovative<br />

thinking, they achieved<br />

an incredible feat and got her to<br />

hospital to receive the care she<br />

needed.<br />

Baby Bella was so fragile, she<br />

had to stay in hospital for 136<br />

days. After some long and uncertain<br />

weeks, Bella was finally well<br />

enough to go home, where she is<br />

now happy, healthy and thriving.<br />

The story of Bella Olivia, whose<br />

second name honours one of the<br />

ambulance officers who kept<br />

her alive, shows just how much<br />

of adifference St John makes 24<br />

hours a day, 365 days a year.<br />

St John Northern Region Fundraising<br />

& Marketing Manager<br />

Kristin Cross said, “Baby Bella’s<br />

special story, one of thousands<br />

out there, is why everyone here<br />

does what they do. St John is<br />

full of people who enable little<br />

miracles to happen every day.”<br />

Every day is different<br />

Rebecca, who took the 111 call<br />

from Kyle that night, has been<br />

a Call Handler with St John for<br />

over five years and says no two<br />

days are the same.<br />

“It is a great feeling to know<br />

that I make a difference to<br />

someone’s life in some small way,<br />

by helping those in scary and<br />

unforeseen situations.<br />

“There have been many<br />

moments in my time here that<br />

have been memorable – some<br />

happy, some sad and others<br />

traumatic. The opportunity to go<br />

to Christchurch and meet Bella<br />

and her parents, who I helped<br />

and gave instructions over the<br />

phone, was special. It was a very<br />

stressful and scary situation for<br />

the parents.<br />

Rare Meeting<br />

“It’s not often, as call handlers<br />

or dispatchers, that we get to<br />

meet the family of the people<br />

we help. Seeing Bella’s progress<br />

so far was a great experience<br />

and something I will always<br />

remember.”<br />

Rebecca added, “The assistance<br />

that St John provides is vital for<br />

local communities and people in<br />

need of education, and medical,<br />

traumatic and social support.<br />

The staff at St John – from call<br />

handlers, dispatchers and team<br />

managers to the amazing road<br />

crews and support staff work<br />

tirelessly to help people in need<br />

all over New Zealand.”<br />

Heart of Gold Appeal<br />

Throughout <strong>April</strong>, St John is<br />

running its ‘Heart of Gold’ annual<br />

appeal.<br />

The Charity hopes to raise $2.2<br />

million, needed to pay for ambulances,<br />

and more of the specialist<br />

equipment and intensive training<br />

that helped to save Bella’s life.<br />

Kristin said, “A single ambulance<br />

costs $225,000 and can attend<br />

to as many as 600 incidents<br />

a year. The lifesaving equipment<br />

for which funds are also needed<br />

will help our ambulance officers<br />

to treat people more effectively<br />

in the high-stress scenarios that<br />

they encounter, helping around<br />

470,000 patients each year.”<br />

Donations, please<br />

Donations to the ‘Heart of Gold’<br />

appeal can be made in any ASB<br />

branch across New Zealand,<br />

online at www.heartofgold.org.<br />

nz, or by calling 0800-785646.<br />

St John is delighted that <strong>Indian</strong><br />

<strong>Newslink</strong> is extending the<br />

chance for its readers to contribute<br />

towards a new ambulance<br />

via the Newspaper’s innovative<br />

crowdfunding initiative. Readers<br />

can help St John buy an ambulance<br />

for the community and<br />

save lives, simply by donating<br />

at www.stjohn.org.nz/newslink<br />

or sending a cheque to St John,<br />

Private Bag 14902, Panmure,<br />

Auckland (include your name,<br />

address and code <strong>Newslink</strong>).<br />

Watch Baby Bella’s touching<br />

story here: https://vimeo.<br />

com/262130569/2419f0131f<br />

A new wave of Carnatic Music comes to our shores<br />

Amrutha Murali in Auckland and Wellington this month<br />

Venkat Raman<br />

venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />

A2011 review in The<br />

Hindu described her<br />

as “one of the brighter<br />

talents of the young<br />

brigade that gives much hope<br />

and optimism for the future of<br />

Carnatic music.”<br />

About seven years on, Amritha<br />

Murali has grown to become a<br />

leading vocalist of her generation,<br />

with an increasing repertorie<br />

of Carnatic Music with<br />

proficiency in executing Ragas<br />

and complex compositions, motivated<br />

by her passion for the art.<br />

Music buffs, budding Carnatic<br />

Music singers and enthusiasts<br />

will have an opportunity to listen<br />

to Amritha for the first time<br />

in New Zealand later this month.<br />

The Auckland Concert<br />

Organised by Rasikas NZ and<br />

Sangeetha Bharathi School of<br />

Music, the Concert will be held<br />

at Centennial Theatre, Auckland<br />

Grammar School, located at 55<br />

Mountain Road, Epsom from 530<br />

pm on Saturday, <strong>April</strong> 28, <strong>2018</strong>.<br />

Tickets, priced at $30<br />

(Reserved), $20 (General) and<br />

$15 (Seniors and Children)<br />

are now available with Priya<br />

Srinivasan (021-613155) and<br />

Dr Padma Govardhan ((09)<br />

6245922). Email: Rasikas.nz@<br />

gmail.com<br />

The Wellington Concert<br />

New Zealand Fine Arts Society<br />

is organising the Concert in<br />

Wellington.<br />

It will be held on Sunday,<br />

Rachael Sibley and Kyle Torkington with Bella (seated) with Karen Connolly, Olivia Burns, Mike<br />

Martin, Steve Pudney and Rebecca Robinson (Picture Supplied)<br />

<strong>April</strong> 29, <strong>2018</strong> from 6 pm at<br />

the Newlands Community<br />

Centre Hall, 9 Batchelor Street,<br />

Newlands, Wellington.<br />

Tickets priced at $25 (General<br />

seating) are now on sale. For further<br />

information, please contact<br />

TN Balajee 021-0599405.<br />

Amrutha will be accompanied<br />

by R K Shriramkumar on<br />

Violin and Melakaveri K Balaji<br />

on Mridangam.<br />

Impressive beginnings<br />

Born and raised in a family<br />

that appreciates classical music,<br />

Amritha learnt the art initially<br />

from her grandmother, who<br />

was a Senior Artiste at All India<br />

Radio. Like many other eightyear-olds,<br />

her proclivities were<br />

in a number of other areas including<br />

sports.<br />

“Although I did not understand<br />

the seriousness of what<br />

was being taught, I learnt a few<br />

Varnams and Kirtanas from my<br />

grandmother,” Amrutha said.<br />

Her parents recognised the inherent<br />

talent in their daughter<br />

and provided her opportunities<br />

to learn the art from many<br />

well-known maestros including<br />

the late K R Kedaranathan,<br />

Meera Kedaranathan, Rama<br />

Ravi and her current Master P S<br />

Narayanaswamy.<br />

Discipline and Devotion<br />

The Kedaranathan couple<br />

deserve credit for Amrutha’s<br />

progress.<br />

“They inculcated a sense of discipline<br />

and aesthetics in whatever<br />

I sang and shaped my taste<br />

in music. I learnt a number of<br />

Kirtanas and was exposed to different<br />

facets of manodharma.<br />

My passion grew quickly and<br />

from then on there was no looking<br />

back,” she said.<br />

Of all the stalwarts of Carnatic<br />

Music, Amrutha’s esteem for<br />

the late Bharata Ratna M S<br />

Subbulakshmi was not only a<br />

source of endearment but also<br />

inspiration.<br />

A proficient Violinist, she<br />

learnt the art of playing the instrument<br />

from T Rukmini.<br />

“Music has always been top<br />

priority and no peer pressure or<br />

study pressure was a hurdle in<br />

my career. All the values that my<br />

Gurus have imparted have today<br />

helped me focus and have given<br />

a sense of direction to my music,”<br />

Amrutha said.<br />

About Support Artistes<br />

R K Shriramkumar is a<br />

Violinist from the Rudrapatna<br />

family of musicians from<br />

Karnataka.<br />

He is the grandson of<br />

the legendary violinist R K<br />

Venkatarama Shastri and grandnephew<br />

of R K Srikanthan, a<br />

renowned Kanjira player. In<br />

a career spanning more than<br />

three decades, he has performed<br />

for many prestigious organisations<br />

and festivals in India and<br />

overseas.<br />

Melakaveri K Balaji hails<br />

from a family of musicians. His<br />

Father K Krishnamurthy was a<br />

professional Mridangist. while<br />

his grandfather Melakaveri A<br />

Kalyanaraman was a renowned<br />

Kanjira player.


APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

Model of the Fortnight<br />

Inner<br />

beauty<br />

shines with<br />

eternal<br />

grace<br />

Beauty alone is not the attribute<br />

to be an <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong><br />

Model of the Fortnight, there<br />

should be the ‘inner beauty,’<br />

that permeates the personality, says<br />

Anjini Lata, the reigning titleholder of<br />

Ms Fiji People’s Choice Award 2017 (as<br />

Ms Earth).<br />

Her smile is captivating but Anjini<br />

maintains a small, inner circle, for,<br />

“being careful is better than being<br />

sorry.”<br />

“I make friends easily but loathe dishonest<br />

and selfish people,” she said.<br />

Ability to provide quality care and<br />

service has made Anjini a successful<br />

real estate agent but that is another<br />

story- under ‘Women in Real Estate’<br />

feature in this issue.<br />

Awards and Honours<br />

She will be visiting Las Vegas in<br />

July to participate as Director and<br />

Ambassador of ‘Elite Global Earth<br />

<strong>2018</strong>’ to be held there– that is yet another<br />

story to appear in a later issue.<br />

Among her other accomplishments<br />

in show business are Ms Fiji Earth<br />

and Marketing Manager for Mrs New<br />

Zealand 2017, Mrs New Zealand 2016<br />

and Mrs India New Zealand 2015.<br />

“Nothing is impossible if you aim<br />

high. This happens when you leave a<br />

legacy behind that is honoured, respected,<br />

valued and imbibed by people. Your<br />

social life can become a model for others<br />

and help them lead a better life. Women<br />

have made this world a beautiful place to<br />

live. The presence of women makes life<br />

blossom like a flower,” she said.<br />

Cultural and Social Values<br />

Anjini is a single mother and even now<br />

dotes over her only teenager son. She has<br />

justified pride in seeing her child grow as<br />

a fine young man, keen to become a professional<br />

with cultural and social values<br />

that are important in life.<br />

She has given and received love and<br />

respect in every country that she has<br />

visited- Fiji, where she was born and<br />

raised, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand,<br />

and USA, where she has impressed peers<br />

and admirers with her sincerity and<br />

self-respect.<br />

-Venkat Raman<br />

If you wish to be featured as a ‘Model<br />

of the Fortnight, please write to editor@<br />

indiannewslink.co.nz<br />

Communitylink<br />

29<br />

New Starship boss pursues lofty ideals<br />

Venkat Raman<br />

venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />

An Award-Winning Marketing<br />

Specialist and Planning Strategist<br />

has been appointed to head the<br />

Starship Foundation in Auckland.<br />

Aisha Daji Punga took charge as Chief<br />

Executive of the Organisation on <strong>April</strong> 3,<br />

<strong>2018</strong>.<br />

A graduate in Commerce (BCom) with<br />

Marketing as the major subject from the<br />

University of Auckland, she has more<br />

than 20 years of experience in senior executive<br />

positions in the fast-moving consumer<br />

goods and telecommunications<br />

businesses.<br />

Ms Punga is a passionate advocate of<br />

children’s health and wellbeing and has<br />

been a volunteer at the Life Education<br />

Trust for the past 12 years and has been<br />

a mentor at the Akina Foundation, apart<br />

from being involved in Ko Awatea and the<br />

South Auckland Health Equities campaign.<br />

Lofty Target<br />

Ms Punga hopes to raise at least $20 million<br />

every year for Starship.<br />

“We are more ambitious than ever in<br />

our drive to unlock and enable all New<br />

Zealanders to demonstrate their goodwill<br />

and support for Starship. Despite the extraordinary<br />

support and work of many,<br />

New Zealand’s health outcomes are still<br />

far from where they should be – we are<br />

ranked in the bottom-third of developed<br />

countries in terms of overall child health<br />

and wellbeing. I look forward to the<br />

Starship Foundation playing a pivotal role<br />

in accelerating better health outcomes for<br />

all New Zealand children,” she said.<br />

Three Priorities<br />

Ms Punga said that the Starship<br />

Foundation will continue to invest in several<br />

priority areas.<br />

These include (a) Research and innovation<br />

that will accelerate the pace of<br />

Aisha Daji Punga with Starship Clinical Directors Dr Mike Shepherd (left) and<br />

Dr John Beca (right). (Picture by Olivia Hemus)<br />

change, bringing new treatments, smarter<br />

ways of delivering them and helping<br />

to retain Starship’s brightest minds (b)<br />

the latest advances in medical technology<br />

and better facilities, so that the team at<br />

Starship has the resources to go above and<br />

beyond for their patients; and (c) the best<br />

training and professional development to<br />

enable staff to meet the most challenging<br />

and complex cases.<br />

Good Choice<br />

Starship Foundation Board Chair Martin<br />

Wiseman said that he and his colleagues<br />

are delighted at the appointment of Ms<br />

Punga.<br />

“She will ably work together with the<br />

Starship Foundation team, Starship Child<br />

Health and our wonderful donors as we<br />

embark on an exciting time ahead of enabling<br />

our national children’s hospital to<br />

achieve even greater heights providing<br />

world-class care to children and their families,”<br />

he said.<br />

For donations, please call 0800-78277447<br />

or visit www.starship.org.nz


APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

30 Classifiedlink/Entertainmentlink<br />

Drivers Wanted<br />

Class 4, 5 Driver<br />

Tip truck driver position based in Manukau, immediate start available,<br />

full-time/permanent positions currently open. Experience will<br />

be an advantage.<br />

For further information contact Mike on 021-859688<br />

Job Vacancy<br />

Sachi Dev Burman Sandhya Badakere Ravi Shetty<br />

Strawberry Planting & Trimming<br />

Both inside and outside work available.<br />

Hourly plus bonus for those who meet targets.<br />

Transport from collection points may be available.<br />

Apply in person 9 am to 12 noon bring tax numbers.<br />

Photo ID and proof of eligibility to work in New Zealand.<br />

Perrys Berrys Ltd<br />

5 Campana Road, Papatoetoe. Auckland; Phone (09) 6222350<br />

Email: employment@perrysberrys.co.nz<br />

Students of Swar Sadhana at Suneheri Yaadein <strong>2018</strong><br />

Immigration<br />

Translation<br />

Centre<br />

Ph : 09 357 0922<br />

021 488 525<br />

Email : dsoh@ymail.com<br />

518 Dominion Road Mount Eden<br />

Translation Service<br />

Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Urdu, Sinhalese,<br />

Arabic, etc.<br />

Accurate, professional, prompt service<br />

by accredited translators.<br />

Approved by LTSA/AA/Immigration<br />

New Zealand.<br />

Birth / Marriage / Police Clearance<br />

Certificates, Diplomas, Letters,<br />

Driving license ,etc.<br />

Tribute to Music Maestro<br />

from music aficionados<br />

Venkat Raman<br />

venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />

Apoint of discerning<br />

difference between<br />

organisers of entertaining<br />

programmes and a<br />

handful of others is that they are<br />

performing artistes themselves<br />

and therefore understand<br />

the cultural impact of<br />

events.<br />

Among them are Swar<br />

Sadhana Academy of<br />

<strong>Indian</strong> Music Principal<br />

and Director Sandhya<br />

Badakere and Ravi Shetty<br />

of Ravi Shetty of ‘Ravi<br />

Shetty Concepts.’<br />

While Ms Badakere<br />

is a teacher, singer and<br />

stage artiste, Mr Shetty<br />

is a Radio Programme<br />

Presenter, Singer and<br />

stage artiste. Both<br />

therefore understand the<br />

vicissitudes of audiences<br />

and accordingly organise<br />

programmes. One such<br />

forthcoming event is<br />

a tribute to the great<br />

maestro of Bengali and<br />

Hindi music, Sachin Dev<br />

Burman.<br />

Suneheri Yaadein for<br />

Hohepa<br />

Called ‘Suneheri<br />

Yaadein,’ the event will<br />

be held on Saturday, May<br />

26, <strong>2018</strong> from 630 pm at<br />

Dorothy Winston Centre,<br />

Auckland Girls Grammar<br />

School located at Howe<br />

Street in Auckland<br />

Central. Tickets, priced at<br />

$20 per person are now<br />

on sale.<br />

Third in the annual<br />

‘Suneheri Yaadein’ annual<br />

series, the Programme<br />

this year is being held in<br />

aid of ‘Hohepa Auckland,’<br />

a charitable organisation<br />

that provides people with<br />

intellectual disabilities to<br />

live, learn and work with<br />

others of all abilities.<br />

About Swar Sadhana<br />

Established in 2008<br />

and based in Mt Roskill with<br />

three branches (two in New Lynn<br />

and one in Papatoetoe), Swar<br />

Sadhana Music Academy of India<br />

Music has an impressive record<br />

of students, some of who have<br />

become performers and teachers<br />

over the years.<br />

Affiliated to arenowned Musical<br />

institute in Mumbai, Swar<br />

Sadhana enables qualifications<br />

up to Diploma Level recognised<br />

by the Maharashtra Government.<br />

Ms Badakere said that the<br />

Academy’s focus has been to promote<br />

<strong>Indian</strong> music in Auckland,<br />

develop local talents and provide<br />

special grooming programme for<br />

exceptional talents.<br />

“Our Academy endeavours to<br />

offer a wide range of training<br />

support, appropriate to the needs<br />

of students. As well conducting<br />

courses on Vocal Music including<br />

Hindustani Vocal (Classical),<br />

Thumris, Ghazals, Bhajan and<br />

Hindi film songs, we teach<br />

Harmonium, Keyboard, Voice<br />

Culture and Voice production<br />

techniques,” she said.<br />

For further information, please<br />

contact Sandhya Badakere on (09)<br />

627009 or 022-1060913.<br />

Email: sandhya_badakere@<br />

yahoo.com<br />

About the Annual Series<br />

Ms Badakere said that Swar<br />

Sadhana has been organising<br />

musical events for the past eight<br />

years, the first of which was a<br />

tribute the late Raj Kapoor, celebrated<br />

as ‘The Greatest Showman<br />

of the Millennium.’<br />

“This was followed by tributes<br />

to various music directors of<br />

Bollywood. The brand name<br />

‘Suneheri Yaadein’ started a few<br />

years ago in partnership with<br />

‘Ravi Shetty Concepts.’ We have<br />

conducted shows in homage to<br />

Shankar Jaikishan (2015), OP<br />

Nayyar and Madan Mohan (2016)<br />

and Laxmikant Pyarelal (2017).<br />

We are now rehearsing for our<br />

tribute to S D Burman. All these<br />

events have been fundraisers for<br />

various charities,” she said.<br />

About Ravi Shetty Concepts<br />

Ravi Shetty is a well-known<br />

radio broadcaster with an<br />

increasing number of listeners<br />

from India, Fiji, Pakistan,<br />

Bangladesh, Nepal and the <strong>Indian</strong><br />

Sub-Continent Diaspora.<br />

His Company has been<br />

instrumental in conducting many<br />

musical shows and other events<br />

in New Zealand and India.<br />

“The primary purpose of ‘Ravi<br />

Shetty Concepts’ is to contribute<br />

and showcase good music. The<br />

recent association of RSC with<br />

Swar Sadhana Academy of <strong>Indian</strong><br />

Music has brought forward<br />

Suneheri Yaadein musicals in a<br />

new light,” he said.<br />

About S D Burman<br />

India has produced many<br />

celebrated music directors, but<br />

Sachin Dev Burman was rare.<br />

He composed music for more<br />

than 100 movies in Hindi and<br />

Bengali and each of them was a<br />

tribute to the ears and soul.<br />

He was the only music composer<br />

who worked with both Kishore<br />

Kumar and Mohammed Rafi, two<br />

of the greatest singers of India,<br />

in almost an equal number of<br />

songs. Some of his classics include<br />

‘Kora Kagaz Tha Yeh Man Mera’,<br />

‘Chanda Hain Tu Mera Suraj Hain<br />

Tu’ and ‘Badi Sooni Sooni.’<br />

Royal Family<br />

Burman has a Royal ancestry.<br />

His father, Nabadwipchandra<br />

Dev Burman was from the Royal<br />

family of Tripura while his mother<br />

was from the Royal family of<br />

Manipur.<br />

Bengal’s revolutionary poet<br />

Kazi Nazrul Islam was a close<br />

acquaintance of his family. He<br />

would stay with the Burmans<br />

in their Comilla residence.<br />

Burman has also sung four songs<br />

composed by Nazrul.<br />

In the late 1920s, Burman<br />

worked as a radio singer at<br />

Calcutta Radio Station.<br />

His first record (that was the<br />

pre-album era) came out for<br />

Hindustan Records in 1932.<br />

Prior to becoming a composer,<br />

‘Karta’ (his nickname in the music<br />

industry) had sung 14 Hindi and<br />

13 Bengali film songs.


APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

Sportslink<br />

31<br />

187 Great South Rd, Papatoetoe<br />

Phone: 09 279 2352<br />

Open 7days.<br />

Follow us on facebook.com/akarshannz<br />

Model<br />

Sonia Singh<br />

Make up<br />

Anamika Balwalkar


APRIL 15, <strong>2018</strong><br />

32 Sportslink<br />

Cheating and Corruption mar the world of sports<br />

But New Zealand can remain as good as it is perceived<br />

Suzanne Snively<br />

The movie, ‘The Armstrong Lie,’<br />

should have better prepared<br />

me for the Australia Cricket<br />

Scandal. Lance Armstrong’s<br />

cheating behaviour was so disturbing<br />

that I kept shaking myself during the<br />

film, hoping to wake up and find that it<br />

was a nightmare.<br />

Here was a man so determined to<br />

win that he followed the innovative,<br />

interventionist and illegal prescription<br />

of his Italian specialist doctor for<br />

years.<br />

Cheating rationalised<br />

Armstrong’s performance as a cyclist<br />

kept improving while the prescription<br />

allowed him to routinely pass the drug<br />

tests required at the time.<br />

He became an international leader<br />

and role model.<br />

While Armstrong was not the only<br />

one cheating, he was in a league of his<br />

own when it came to rationalising his<br />

reasons, lying, and coming out as the<br />

leader of the pack – winning race after<br />

race.<br />

Movies on Corruption and Fraud<br />

Last month’s Fraud Film Festival<br />

held at Auckland’s ASB Theatre featured<br />

a number of the growing genre<br />

of movies focused on bribery and<br />

corruption, including ‘The Armstrong<br />

Lie.’ After the screening, former New<br />

Zealand ‎cyclist and Armstrong’s<br />

teammate, Stephen Swart led an excellent<br />

discussion.<br />

Swart had bravely called out<br />

Armstrong in the early 1990s but it<br />

was not until over 20 years later that<br />

the latter finally confessed to the allegations.<br />

Armstrong had won year after<br />

year over that period – even staging a<br />

comeback as a cancer survivor.<br />

In Swart’s view, it’s too late to fully<br />

restore integrity in sports. He believes<br />

that winning at all costs drives sports<br />

people to seek out clinical experts and<br />

pharmaceutical solutions that defy<br />

testing. There is a of fallacy of being a<br />

victim if they do not win.<br />

Clinical Sophistication<br />

Clinical sophistication was not required<br />

for Australian Bowler Cameron<br />

Bancroft to cheat at cricket by tampering<br />

the ball with a small strip of<br />

sandpaper.<br />

When captured on camera attempting<br />

to hide the evidence down his trousers,<br />

he first claimed it was sticky tape.<br />

This cheating went straight to the<br />

top with the Australian Cricket Captain<br />

and his Deputy admitting to being involved<br />

in this premeditated act.<br />

The damage to Australia’s reputation<br />

was immediate and immense.<br />

Commentators called Australia “the<br />

country whose early settlers were<br />

convicts from England, a country of<br />

cheats.”<br />

Australian PM acts<br />

Although it took some days for the<br />

Australian Cricket establishment to<br />

recognise the wider implications of<br />

the ball tampering, to his credit, the<br />

Australian Prime Minister quickly<br />

acknowledged the gravity of the<br />

situation.<br />

Only time will tell the extent of the<br />

reputational damage.<br />

The damage that sports cheats cause<br />

is powerful motivation to support<br />

those agencies, such as World Anti-<br />

Doping Agency (WADA) and Drug Free<br />

Sport NZ, that are dedicated for sport<br />

to be corruption free.<br />

Sporting integrity expert Declan Hill<br />

said, that the proceeds from sports illegal<br />

match-fixing is conservatively estimated<br />

to be US$1.5 trillion.<br />

Sports match-fixing relies on dishonest<br />

athletes like Armstrong and naive<br />

players like Bancroft to forget that<br />

leadership is about doing the right<br />

thing always.<br />

New Zealand’s status<br />

The strengthening of the Police<br />

Financial Intelligence Unit and the<br />

work of Sport NZ, provides the framework<br />

so that New Zealand can remain<br />

as good as it is perceived.<br />

Both organisations become enabled<br />

to call out what is unacceptable activity<br />

and then ensure that there are sanctions<br />

exercised once such behaviour is<br />

detected.<br />

In the end, though, it is up to all of<br />

us to recognise that it is individual behaviour<br />

that makes up the whole, and<br />

the courage of New Zealanders like<br />

Stephen Swart that sets us apart.<br />

Suzanne Snively is Chair of<br />

Transparency International New<br />

Zealand Inc based in Wellington.<br />

It wasn’t exactly Boult<br />

from the blue for England<br />

The Black Caps were par excellence this Season<br />

Apurv Shukla<br />

As the New Zealand<br />

and England<br />

Cricket teams<br />

played out a<br />

thrilling draw in the final<br />

home test of the summer<br />

at Christchurch, it gave the<br />

Black Caps their first series<br />

win over England in 19<br />

years.<br />

It was also the first series<br />

win for New Zealand over<br />

England at home after 34<br />

years.<br />

Man of the Series<br />

Trent Boult was declared<br />

‘Man of the Match’ and<br />

series for his 20 wickets<br />

over the two tests. His outstanding<br />

summer of Cricket<br />

also won him the biggest<br />

prize at New Zealand<br />

Cricket Awards- Sir Richard<br />

Hadlee Medal for the Player<br />

of the Year alongside the<br />

Test International Player of<br />

the Year.<br />

The Northern Districts<br />

left-arm bowler took 77<br />

wickets across all formats<br />

in this season.<br />

Ross Taylor notched up<br />

his 19th ODI century in this<br />

home summer, and in the<br />

process also won the Men’s<br />

ODI Player of the Year at<br />

these awards.<br />

Taylor’s form is intrinsic<br />

to New Zealand’s chances<br />

at next year’s Cricket World<br />

Cup in England.<br />

Other Achievers<br />

Auckland’s Colin Munro<br />

won the best T20 international<br />

player, after a season<br />

where he averaged more<br />

than 50 in the shortest<br />

version of the game.<br />

The left hander has given<br />

up red ball cricket, and now<br />

heads to India for the IPL.<br />

Wellington’s Sophie<br />

Devine won the Women’s<br />

ODI Player of the Year at<br />

the Awards.<br />

She is a gifted athlete<br />

who has also represented<br />

New Zealand in hockey.<br />

Mumbai born left-arm<br />

spinner Ajaz Patel won the<br />

Domestic Player of the Year.<br />

The Central Districts<br />

player has been the top<br />

Wicket-taker in domestic<br />

Cfor the past three seasons.<br />

Black Caps will restart<br />

their international<br />

season in October with<br />

an Away-Series against<br />

Pakistan.<br />

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