April 1 2019 Indian Newslink Digital Edition

APRIL 1, 2019
New Zealand will continue to be safe
and secure- Winston Peters
Businesslink
15
Supplied Content
Foreign Minister Winton
Peters has told the world
Islamic community that
New Zealand will continue
to be a caring and comforting
nation and look after its Muslim
population and that the country’s
strength and solidarity are derived
from New Zealanders and
their unity.
Greeting to the delegates in
the Islamic tradition, Mr Peters
said that the teachings of Prophet
Mohammed (Peace Be Upon
Him) about feeding the hungry
and greeting with peace those
you know and those you do not
know, are so seriously true.
Stating that the meeting was
being held under the ‘most appalling
of circumstances,’ he said
that it was important t discuss
how to respond to the sickening
terrorist attack that took place in
Christchurch, New Zealand one
on March 15, 2019.
The following is the edited
version of his Speech at
the Organisation of Islamic
Cooperation Emergency
Meeting on the Christchurch
terror attack held in Turkey
yesterday (March 22, 2019).
That was a day that changed
our country – a day when a coward,
not from New Zealand, attempted
to terrorise us and tear
us apart. During their worship on
their holy day within the sanctuary
of the Mosque, our Muslims
were attacked in an utterly callous
and cowardly act of terrorism,”
he said.
Fifty people were murdered.
Fifty more were wounded. Many
are still hospitalised.
Instantaneous Police response
The Police response was instantaneous.
The first police officers
arrived at the scene of the
attack within just five minutes,
Foreign Minister Winston Peters speaking at the Emergency Meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on the Christchurch terror attack
in Istanbul, Turkey, yesterday, March 22, 2019. (Screen Shot from TVNZ News)
and within 21 minutes, the terrorist
was arrested. From here,
this person will face the full
force of New Zealand law.
He will spend the rest of his
life in isolation in a New Zealand
prison.
To ensure no stone is left unturned
in his prosecution, our
Police have started mounting the
largest investigation in our history
in New Zealand. No punishment
could match the depravity
of his crime, but the families of
the fallen will have justice.
Attack on New Zealand
This was an attack that affected
Muslims most directly.
Innocent people who were killed
as they practised their religion.
In a country that practices religious
tolerance, an attack on one
of us, observing their beliefs, is
an attack on all of us.
New Zealanders across the
length and breadth of our nation
feel a profound sense of
grief and loss. Millions have
embraced their Muslim neighbours.
They have laid flowers
at mosques up and down the
country. They have stood watch
in all of our main cities. And
they have given money in aid of
the victims – well over ten million
dollars in a few short days
have been donated by New
Zealanders to their families.
Mourning with families
As a nation, we have and
will pay respect to the dead,
the maimed and the bereaved.
Together with our Prime
Minister and leaders of our other
political parties, we have
been in Christchurch mourning
with the families.
It was there that we were
grateful to receive the visit of
the Turkish Vice-President Fuat
Oktay and our Chairman today
(Turkey’s Foreign Minister
Mevlüt) Çavuşoğlu to pay their
respects to the victims’ families.
We also acknowledge the
many planned visits from others
represented here.
Islamic Prayer in Parliament
Our Parliament convened earlier
this week to mourn. This
is the most ethnically diverse
Parliament in New Zealand’s
A little homework will help you into a good home
Supplied Content
If you have been to an Open
Home recently, or been
browsing the ‘For Sale’
advertisements, you might
have noticed that some sellers put
together information packs for
potential buyers.
These sellers will know that
researching a property takes time
and money, and they don’t want
this to be a barrier to a successful
sale.
They believe that providing
information like a LIM (a Land
Information Memorandum from
the Local Council) and a Building
Inspection Report can help busy
people get an offer on the table.
This is great in theory, but you
need to tread carefully all the
same.
About LIM Reports
If, for example, a Real Estate
Agent or seller gives you a LIM for
the property, check carefully when
it was prepared.
A LIM is a summary of all the
current property information held
by the different departments at a
Council at the time.
It contains details of Council
consents for any work done, how
much the rates are and information
on any geographic hazards
that might have an impact on the
property, such as subsidence.
Bear in mind that this
information can be reasonably
general – the LIM for most houses
in Wellington will say, for example,
that they are located in a high
wind area, for example.
If the LIM is dated a couple of
weeks ago, it is safe to assume that
it is reasonably up to date. If it is
dated a year ago, it is a good idea
to make further enquiries.
history and it opened for the
first time with an Islamic prayer
in the presence of several Imams
and representatives of many
other faiths.
Today in New Zealand our
country stopped for a call to
prayer followed by two minutes
silence. This time next week,
we will have a national memorial
service. We hope many at
this forum will be represented.
None of this, of course, could
ever be an adequate expression
of our national grief.
Our Government is providing
every support to the living victims
of this despicable attack.
We will look after them.
Ensuring Muslim communities
in New Zealand feel safe and secure
is a particular focus. Police
stand guard outside all mosques
to ensure people can pray in
peace. And there is an elevated
police presence throughout the
country.
Strict Gun Control
New strict gun control
measures have already been
announced.
Getting a LIM costs money in
most areas (prices vary from
Council to Council).
You can also ask to see the
property file held by the Council,
which holds other information
about a property, like a site map
and original house plans.
About Building Reports
Building Reports are a bit
trickier.
Using a Building Report
provided by the seller (or the Real
Estate Agent working for them)
may seem like an easy option in
the short term.
However, if you buy the property
and then find problems with it
that cost a significant amount to fix,
you are not protected by the building
report because the inspector’s
contract is with the seller, not you.
The Real Estate Authority (REA)
recommends using an Accredited
Property Inspector who complies
with the New Zealand Building
Inspection Standard 4306:2005.
Their written report will identify
any current defects as well as
highlight any urgent and long-term
maintenance required. Look for
someone who has a good level of
indemnity insurance, as this will
protect you if you buy the property
and then find you need to fix something
that wasn’t in the report.
Worthwhile Cost
Building inspections come at a
cost, but we think it is worth it to
be sure that you are fully aware of
what you are signing up for.
Depending on the age of the
house you are looking at, do not
necessarily expect a thin report
saying there are no issues.
Many wooden houses in New
Zealand are over 50 years old and
there will be things that the Inspector
needs to point out. Make sure
you that understand what normal
age-related matters are (that may
We will confront the way social
media is used to spread vile
hatred. For extremism has no
race, religion or colour. It must
be condemned, whatever form it
takes.
A full inquiry will be conducted
to help to do everything we can
to stop such a senseless attack in
the future.
Whenever and wherever a terrorist
strikes, the aim is to provoke
fear and panic. In New
Zealand, it has failed. It failed because
our thoughts are not the
terrorist’s thoughts, and his extremist
ways are not our ways.
And to be clear, in New Zealand
hate speech is not tolerated.
While everything else may
have changed in our country on
March 15, New Zealand’s essential
character has not and will
not.
New Zealand is and will remain
a safe and open society. A
place where our international
visitors feel comfortable and secure.
We are a compassionate,
tolerant people.
Strong social values
This horrific attack cannot
shake those core values, because
this is who New Zealanders are.
We have been overwhelmed
by messages of sympathy, of support
and of solidarity that have
come from our friends all across
the world.
We have been humbled to
have the global Muslim community
stand with us in our bleakest
hour.
Today, tomorrow and into the
future, let us continue to stand
together in stamping out the
hate-filled ideologies that led
to last Friday’s terrible tragedy.
Out of despair, let us work
with a renewed vigour to spread
tolerance, compassion and
understanding.
Shukran - Al Salaam Alaikum
not be major issues), compared to
significant repairs needed in the
short term to fix a problem.
The Report you receive should
separate these things out - if it
doesn’t, then ask the inspector
about the difference.
Opportunity to know
If you end up with a Report
with a lot of information about the
property, it does not mean that you
should walk away. Instead, see it as
giving you the opportunity to know
what you are buying.
Doing this before you make an
offer means that you are fully
aware of what the property may
need to have done to it and your
offer figure can reflect that.
However, if you do not feel
comfortable paying for a Building
Report before you make an offer,
you can make a property inspection
a condition of your offer.
Like most things in life, buying a
property will go more smoothly if
you put in the work. If a short cut
seems too good to be true, it usually
is.
For independent guidance and
information on buying or selling,
check out www.settled.govt.nz
Source: The Real Estate
Authority, Wellington.