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<strong>Sept</strong>ember 21, 2019<br />
The English Fortnightly (Since November 1999)<br />
Issue 423 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2019 | Free<br />
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Pragmatism should guide engagement with India<br />
Venkat Raman<br />
It took a visit for National<br />
Party Leader Simon Bridges to<br />
understand the mechanics of<br />
engagement with India- that it is<br />
a step-by-step process which should<br />
involve business-to-business and sector-to-sector<br />
relationship rather than<br />
the so-called ‘Comprehensive Free<br />
Trade Agreement’ and ‘All-inclusive<br />
Economic Cooperation.’<br />
Mr Bridges was in India on his<br />
first visit last week; it is difficult for<br />
Opposition Leaders to gain the official<br />
status; even so, he managed to<br />
meet with External Affairs Minister<br />
Dr S Jaishankar and a few senior<br />
officials of the Union Government<br />
in Delhi but his discussions with<br />
businesses and corporate bodies<br />
such as the Federation of Indian<br />
Chambers of Commerce will have<br />
their usefulness in the years to come.<br />
He was accompanied by Foreign<br />
Affairs Spokesman Gerry Brownlee<br />
and Member of Parliament Kanwaljit<br />
Singh Bakshi.<br />
From the reports and commentaries<br />
read and heard in the media in<br />
India, Mr Bridges and Mr Brownlee<br />
were able to see the ‘Real India,’ and<br />
Mr Bakshi, with his good offices at<br />
various places, was able to make the<br />
visit useful.<br />
One of the highlights of their trip<br />
was avisit to the Golden Temple in<br />
Amritsar, the seat of Sikhism and<br />
one of the Holiest cities in the world.<br />
Enormous potential<br />
“The potential opportunities for<br />
New Zealand are enormous. At the<br />
moment, we do about $3 billion in<br />
Opposition Leader Simon Bridges with India’s External Affairs Minister Dr SJaishankar at his<br />
Office in New Delhi. (Picture Supplied)<br />
Opposition Leader Simon Bridges with Gerry Brownlee and Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi inside the<br />
Golden Temple in Amritsar, India, last week (Picture Supplied)<br />
two-way trade. The obvious comparison<br />
is with China where we have a<br />
colossal $30 billion and growing,” he<br />
said, speaking to us from Wellington<br />
on his return.<br />
But like former Prime Minister<br />
John Key, he said that ahigh quality<br />
Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement<br />
is where our sights should be.<br />
“That could remove the wine<br />
tariff and other tariffs over time.<br />
And when people talk about diversification<br />
of our trading interests,<br />
this is it in spades. More diversity<br />
than anywhere on the planet,” he<br />
said, not forgetting to complain<br />
about the ‘very high price of New<br />
Zealand Wine in India,’ which was<br />
prohibitive. He said that he stayed<br />
away from Oyster Bay Sav.<br />
Mr Bridges however agreed<br />
that there are some caveats and<br />
requirements to be considered.<br />
“Big trade agreements like<br />
this are very difficult. Firstly, the<br />
relationship will require work, a<br />
lot of it. Prime Minister Narendra<br />
Modi and his team who are sky-high<br />
in popularity at the moment don’t<br />
need us and don’t need to focus on<br />
us. There are so many other things<br />
for them to focus on,” he said. That<br />
is regrettably the reality.<br />
New Zealand brands and Air<br />
Services<br />
Mr Bridges also agreed that<br />
despite the high cost of goods made<br />
so by high tariffs, there is demand<br />
for New Zealand-made products.<br />
“Almost everyone I have spoken<br />
to in India was crying out for our<br />
products. I am told that the so-called<br />
upper classes who could and would<br />
buy our lamb and wine are 300<br />
million strong. That is not even<br />
including the middle classes,” he<br />
said.<br />
“We should be encouraging direct<br />
flights. That is the next logical step<br />
of the Air Services Agreement that I<br />
signed as (Transport) Minister,” he<br />
said.<br />
Here is another non-starter. Unfortunately,<br />
governments can only<br />
sign Memoranda of Understanding,<br />
Open Sky Policies and Civil Aviation<br />
Agreements (the two governments<br />
have signed more than one such<br />
agreements as far back as 2002 and<br />
2005) and it is up to airline carriers<br />
to launch services. Back in 2007, this<br />
Reporter accompanied Tim Groser<br />
(then Foreign Affairs Spokesperson<br />
for National Party) to three meetings<br />
with Air New Zealand officials.<br />
What we understood then was that<br />
airlines take commercial decisions<br />
and governments- not even the<br />
Prime Minister interferes.<br />
India was not on Air New Zealand’s<br />
radar; nor it seems to be now.<br />
On the same score, Air India,<br />
which operates regular flights to<br />
Australia, could extend them up to<br />
Auckland and/or Wellington. But<br />
there is no indication to that effect,<br />
not yet.<br />
When there is no corporate will,<br />
there is no way forward; in this case,<br />
skyward.<br />
Problems and Challenges<br />
Mr Bridges spoke about the<br />
unforgivable and avoidable delays<br />
in processing of student and visit<br />
visas, blaming no one in particular.<br />
We agree with him and take this up<br />
in our next issue.<br />
“The Prime Minister and her<br />
Ministers should visit India often. I<br />
would if Iwas Prime Minister,” Mr<br />
Bridges said.<br />
But his final message led to the<br />
caption of this story. “It (engagement<br />
with India) has to be approached in<br />
a modern way with sophistication.<br />
It is not just about selling more stuff,<br />
particularly dairy. We are not and<br />
will never flood this market. We<br />
want to do more with India, not just<br />
sell more.”<br />
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SEPTEMBER 15, 2019<br />
Homelink<br />
Local Government Elections<br />
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socio-economic base and<br />
education in our region.<br />
Diabetes and cardio-vascular<br />
diseases are rampant due to<br />
obesity.<br />
Asian Health Issues<br />
There is a slow recognition<br />
of Asian health issues within<br />
Counties Manukau District<br />
Health Board (CMDHB) area.<br />
Latest demographics suggest<br />
Indian community as one of<br />
the largest Asian grouping,<br />
with concentration in Papatoetoe,<br />
Manukau, Manurewa, and<br />
further South.<br />
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New Zealand Chinese<br />
community is concentrated in<br />
Howick and Botany suburbs.<br />
There is little or no<br />
recognition of the true extent<br />
of some of the health issues<br />
and emerging diseases among<br />
Asian people in New Zealand.<br />
Language, cultural differences<br />
and lack of knowledge<br />
of New Zealand healthcare<br />
system are often quoted as barriers<br />
to receiving appropriate<br />
healthcare.<br />
Cultural differences and<br />
stigma associated with health<br />
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to receiving good health care.<br />
Improved competence needed<br />
There is a need to give high<br />
priority to Asian people’s health<br />
requirements. That requires<br />
improved competence of health<br />
professionals to deal with<br />
these emerging health issues<br />
particularly among our new<br />
residents.<br />
One of the remedies, inter<br />
alia, for such health needs is to<br />
have people of Asian ethnicity at<br />
both the governance level of our<br />
DHBs and at senior executive<br />
positions in our health systems.<br />
This is the reason, Iput my<br />
hand up for election as CMDHB<br />
member at the last elections in<br />
2016. With your overwhelming<br />
support I got elected onto the<br />
board as the first person of<br />
Asian origin. It was a great<br />
privilege to have my input into<br />
the decision-making regarding<br />
health issues of our community.<br />
During these three years,<br />
I have highlighted at the<br />
board level all the key health<br />
issues facing our wider Asian<br />
community. Furthermore,<br />
I arranged many meetings<br />
between board members and<br />
senior health officials with our<br />
community groups to hear the<br />
health-related concerns of our<br />
community.<br />
Major Policy Issues<br />
I have once again put forward<br />
my name for forthcoming<br />
elections starting <strong>Sept</strong>ember 20,<br />
2019. My team has put forward<br />
major policy issues for the<br />
forthcoming term to pursue, if<br />
elected. These include (a) Focus<br />
on patient health well-being,<br />
RNZ Picture by Claire Eastham-Farrelly<br />
enhance preventative measures<br />
and integration of GP and<br />
hospital services (b) Prepare for<br />
future population growth and<br />
increasing health needs of our<br />
diverse communities (c) Meet<br />
health targets for faster access to<br />
cancer treatment, tackle chronic<br />
conditions such as diabetes and<br />
obesity and strengthen mental<br />
health services (d) Support high<br />
quality evidence based research<br />
to improve health outcomes<br />
(e) Enhance staff safety and<br />
security, recognise emerging<br />
Asian health issues, and<br />
tackle transport and car parking<br />
issues.<br />
Competent Candidates<br />
We have chosen high calibre<br />
and competent individuals to<br />
join our Labour candidates team<br />
for the forthcoming election of<br />
Board members of CMDHB.<br />
We have arange of expertise<br />
among our candidates ranging<br />
from medical, legal, research<br />
capabilities, policy making and<br />
community representation.<br />
I encourage voters to support<br />
Labour candidates as a team so<br />
that we can collectively respond<br />
to these emerging health issues.<br />
That can only happen if we have<br />
a majority at the decision-making<br />
of the health board.<br />
Individual ‘Independent<br />
Candidates’ cannot make<br />
any impact on their own at<br />
decision-making by the whole<br />
board of seven elected and four<br />
appointed members.<br />
Voting for the CMDHB is by<br />
Single Transferable Vote (STV)<br />
system.<br />
Please Rank Labour candidates<br />
of your choice by giving<br />
each candidate a different number<br />
between 1and 7, Number 1<br />
being the highest rank.<br />
Traditionally, voting percentage<br />
among Asian voters is low.<br />
Therefore, please ensure<br />
prompt and early voting by<br />
October 8, 2019 to reach in time<br />
for counting.<br />
Every vote counts!<br />
Dr Ashraf Choudhary is<br />
Member, Counties Manukau<br />
District Health Board, Member,<br />
Otara-Papatoetoe Local<br />
Board and Former Member<br />
of Parliament (from 2002 to<br />
2011) on Labour List. He is<br />
credited with a number of<br />
initiatives including ‘Diwali in<br />
Parliament’ and ‘Eid in Parliament,’<br />
which are now popular<br />
events attracting people from<br />
all over New Zealand.<br />
Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi<br />
National List MPbasedd in<br />
Manukau East<br />
Contact<br />
A<br />
P<br />
F<br />
E<br />
1/131 Kolmar Road, Papatoetoe, Auckland<br />
09 278 9302<br />
09 278 2143<br />
bakshi.mp@parliament.govt.nz<br />
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@bakshiks<br />
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SEPTEMBER 15, 2019<br />
Local Government Elections<br />
Low on rates, high on services over the next three years<br />
Phil Goff<br />
In my first term as Mayor of<br />
Auckland, Ihave worked<br />
hard to address the challenges<br />
that our City faces.<br />
Tackling congestion on our<br />
roads has been a priority.<br />
Through the Auckland<br />
Transport Alignment Project, I<br />
was able to secure $18 billion<br />
more in central government<br />
funding to deliver more<br />
busways and double-decker<br />
buses, extended and more<br />
frequent bus services, more<br />
electric trains and upgraded<br />
bus and train stations.<br />
Expanding Transport<br />
Network<br />
In the next two years, the<br />
money from the New Zealand<br />
Transport Agency in central<br />
government being spent<br />
on Auckland transport will<br />
be double what was spent<br />
in the last two years. This<br />
investment will also allow<br />
us to upgrade major arterial<br />
roadways and create roading<br />
infrastructure for new housing<br />
developments.<br />
Major projects already<br />
underway or due to start soon,<br />
such as the Puhinui Station<br />
Interchange, will deliver further<br />
improvements, including<br />
rapid transit to the Airport and<br />
its employment precinct.<br />
When the City Rail Link is<br />
completed, it will double the<br />
Artist impression of Puhinui Station Interchange exterior.<br />
capacity of our rail network, Waitākere and Hunua ranges<br />
allowing people to travel more safe from spreading kauri<br />
easily and quickly into and dieback disease, providing $1.4<br />
through the city centre and million to support the hard<br />
freeing up space on our roads work of 110 community environmental<br />
initiatives, investing<br />
for those who do choose to<br />
drive.<br />
$50 million in capital works to<br />
To encourage even more reduce wastewater contamination<br />
in the Waitematā Harbour,<br />
people to leave their cars at<br />
home and use public transport, and putting an extra $1 million<br />
we’ve made public transport into controlling possums in our<br />
free for under-16s on weekends regional parks.<br />
and public holidays.<br />
Million Trees Programme<br />
Thanks to Aucklanders’<br />
Alongside that, we have<br />
support for my water quality successfully delivered my<br />
and natural environment Million Trees programme—in<br />
targeted rates, we have enabled fact we exceeded the target by<br />
$763 million of investment over planting more than 1.1 million<br />
10 years to restore our natural trees in three years.<br />
environment and clean up our While it’s encouraging to<br />
beaches, harbours and streams. see the progress we’ve made,<br />
Other Achievements<br />
there is still much to do. When<br />
This includes investment I launched my re-election campaign<br />
at the Indian Association<br />
to help reduce wastewater<br />
overflows by up to 90 per cent of New Zealand’s Diversity<br />
and allow us to finish the task Centre in Papatoetoe in August,<br />
of cleaning up our waterways I made it clear that I will<br />
in less than 10 years—20 years continue to focus on transport<br />
faster than had been planned at and the environment.<br />
the time I became Mayor.<br />
Building on the success of<br />
Other recent achievements my Million Trees programme,<br />
for our environment include in my next term we will plant<br />
making 26 kms of tracks in the another 1.5 million native trees<br />
to green our city, absorb carbon emissions<br />
and create habitats for native wildlife. Work<br />
to clean up our waterways and restore our<br />
environment will continue.<br />
Clean transport is a key part to tackling our<br />
climate change and environmental challenges,<br />
as well as making our city a better place to<br />
live.<br />
Under my mayoralty, from next year<br />
council will purchase only electric and hybrid<br />
vehicles for its passenger cars. We will work<br />
with the government to bring forward the<br />
conversion of our bus fleet to electric and<br />
hydrogen, and to increase the number of<br />
electric vehicles on our roads.<br />
Railway Electrification<br />
I will also be pushing for the electrification<br />
of the railway from Papakura to Pukekohe<br />
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03<br />
under the Auckland Transport Alignment<br />
Project to start as early as next year.<br />
To encourage more people to use public<br />
transport, we will reduce fares for all children<br />
to 50% of an adult fare, saving families<br />
hundreds of dollars a year.<br />
These investments in our City, our environment<br />
and our communities will be delivered<br />
while keeping rates rises low and reasonable,<br />
as Aucklanders have told me they want.<br />
With your support, we can continue the<br />
progress we have made towards creating a<br />
world-class City.<br />
Phil Goff is Mayor of Auckland. Local<br />
Government Elections, including that of<br />
Mayorlity will be held throughout New<br />
Zealand from <strong>Sept</strong>ember 20 to October<br />
12, 2019. Postal Votes should be sent in<br />
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04<br />
SEPTEMBER 15, 2019<br />
Homelink<br />
Voice of ethnic communities gets stronger and louder<br />
Dr Ashraf<br />
Choudhary<br />
Have you ever wondered<br />
who makes decisions about<br />
such things as local parks<br />
for sports, reserves, free<br />
events for young and old, libraries,<br />
swimming pools, arts and culture,<br />
transport, water supply and sewerage,<br />
local roads maintenance, refuse<br />
collection, maintaining museums,<br />
mowing berms and so on?<br />
It is your Local Councils or Local<br />
Boards.<br />
Every three years, we elect aCity<br />
Mayor, Councillors and Local Board<br />
Members to make and prioritise these<br />
decisions.<br />
That is why your vote is important<br />
and you elect candidates who make<br />
these decisions.<br />
Prevailing despondency<br />
Many ethnic people speak privately<br />
and say their vote changes nothing.<br />
They are often despondent, and<br />
complain that their efforts to be<br />
counted have dissipated.<br />
I say to them, of course, those<br />
in power will not relinquish that<br />
hegemony in a hurry.<br />
Then, Isay, ‘Yes, it is possible and<br />
we can do it. I did it when I became<br />
the first South Asian MP to enter New<br />
Zealand Parliament. And now there<br />
are half a dozen Asian MPs.<br />
Three years ago, Istood as Labour<br />
Candidate for Otara-Papatoetoe Local<br />
Board and the Counties Manukau<br />
District Health Board and got elected<br />
to both positions for a three-year<br />
term. I thank all our people for this<br />
opportunity.<br />
I hope that I have not disappointed<br />
my people during these years of my<br />
public service, both in Parliament<br />
(nine years) and at local Board level<br />
in Manukau.<br />
Increasing ethnic power<br />
The voting power of ethnic<br />
minority groups has increased significantly<br />
in New Zealand particularly in<br />
Auckland.<br />
I believe that the Census results<br />
(when they come out and if one<br />
can believe them!) will show that a<br />
quarter of Auckland’s population is of<br />
Asian origin.<br />
This massive change in the<br />
electoral demographic could tip the<br />
future elections in many ways. This<br />
is great news for ethnic communities<br />
and democracy.<br />
Many individuals feel powerless,<br />
particularly in the apparent inability<br />
by politicians to acknowledge persistent<br />
lack of representation of ethnic<br />
people under our local government<br />
electoral system.<br />
It could have serious ramifications<br />
particularly for young and restless<br />
ethnic youth.<br />
Diverse team, ideas<br />
Our diverse team has some great<br />
ideas and we are focused on working<br />
together for the benefit of all in the<br />
Otara Papatoetoe community.<br />
The Papatoetoe community is extremely<br />
multicultural, and our team<br />
reflects that, with each of us bringing<br />
Local Government Elections<br />
different abilities and perspectives.<br />
Working towards control of liquor<br />
outlets, better services for families,<br />
the elderly, disabled, and young people,<br />
strengthening community safety,<br />
and the retention and sound financial<br />
management of our community<br />
assets, are just afew of the policies<br />
we are promoting.<br />
Ethnic minority voters have either<br />
been ignored in New Zealand or<br />
taken for granted to a certain extent.<br />
Ethnic minority voters should decide<br />
for themselves.<br />
Many youth are moving away from<br />
the voting patterns of their parents<br />
and that vote is important to our communities<br />
and in our decision-making<br />
process.<br />
I believe that the ethnic minority<br />
vote is as important as the ‘grey’ vote<br />
and that our local government in<br />
Auckland ignores it at its peril.<br />
The voting patterns of ethnic<br />
minorities are changing dramatically<br />
and that decision-makers need to take<br />
this on board.<br />
What we now need is putting<br />
policies in place that appeal to ethnic<br />
minority communities.<br />
We need to be inclusive, eliminate<br />
discrimination, advance equality<br />
of opportunity, and foster good<br />
relations.<br />
Our Future Leaders<br />
Young people are our future.<br />
Everyone 18 years of age or over<br />
is entitled to vote in our elections<br />
including for local bodies such as<br />
Auckland Council.<br />
You have many years of life ahead<br />
of you, so by voting you can play<br />
your part in brightening the future<br />
of our community. One day some<br />
of you may even decide to put your<br />
names forward to stand for a council<br />
position. So take part now by voting.<br />
If you have been a Permanent Resident<br />
for one year or a Citizen of New<br />
Zealand, you have the democratic<br />
right to say who will represent you.<br />
Just as you can vote for Members<br />
of Parliament in Wellington, you can<br />
also choose who represents you on<br />
Auckland Council, Otara-Papatoetoe<br />
Local Board, and Counties Manukau<br />
District Health Board.<br />
No matter what your ethnicity,<br />
religion, gender, or political views,<br />
you have the right to vote for any<br />
candidates of your choice.<br />
Please make the right choice and<br />
vote for our Labour candidates.<br />
The Voting Process<br />
If you do not vote, you give up a<br />
precious right that many elsewhere<br />
in the world do not have. So find<br />
out as much as you can about those<br />
Organised SUPPORTED BY by<br />
<strong>Sept</strong>ember 21, 2019<br />
offering themselves for election to<br />
Auckland Council, Local Boards and<br />
also the District Health Boards, then<br />
complete the postal ballot you would<br />
be receiving from <strong>Sept</strong>ember 20 to<br />
24, 2019 in the mail addressed to you,<br />
and post it back immediately in the<br />
self-stamped envelope provided by no<br />
later than October 8, 2019, as the Poll<br />
closes on Saturday, October 12, 2019.<br />
If you believe that you are qualified<br />
to vote but have not received a ballot<br />
paper by now, please contact the<br />
Returning Officer at the New Zealand<br />
Election Commission on 0800-367656.<br />
Email: enquiries@elections.govt.nz.<br />
Dr Ashraf Choudhary is Member,<br />
Counties Manukau District Health<br />
Board, Member, Otara-Papatoetoe<br />
Local Board and Former Member<br />
of Parliament (from 2002 to 2011)<br />
on Labour List. He is credited with<br />
a number of initiatives including<br />
‘Diwali in Parliament’ and ‘Eid<br />
in Parliament,’ which are now<br />
popular events attracting people<br />
from all over New Zealand.<br />
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Mortgage services<br />
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Call us today<br />
0800 21 22 23<br />
Level 1, 3/53 Cavendish Drive<br />
Manukau
SEPTEMBER 15, 2019<br />
Local GovernmentElections<br />
Homelink<br />
05<br />
Improving the lot<br />
forManurewa<br />
Ataxi-driver,<br />
it is often<br />
said,knows<br />
everyone<br />
and everything going<br />
on inthe city.True<br />
to this belief, Jagan<br />
ReddyVodnala, who is<br />
contesting as aLabour<br />
Party candidate in<br />
the Manurewa Local<br />
Board, South Auckland is agreat friend of<br />
communities.<br />
AResident of Clendon Park in South Auckland<br />
for the past 17 years, Jagan says that he understands<br />
the needs andaspirations of his people.<br />
Attracting tourists<br />
“I love Manurewabecause this beautiful<br />
town has been home for manyethnicities. We<br />
have our Botanical Gardens to attract more<br />
International tourists. As well as promoting<br />
this tourist attraction, Iwill work for additional<br />
free parking,reintroduce inorganicrubbish collection<br />
free of cost, return access to swimming<br />
pools and restore manyother facilitiesthat are<br />
currently either not available or charged,” he<br />
said.<br />
Jagan said that he will staunchly oppose<br />
installation ofgambling (Pokie) machinesand<br />
liquor outlets and support moves to increase the<br />
presence of Police and makecommunities and<br />
places of public movement safer.<br />
Supporting businesses<br />
“Asapartofmyeffortstosupportbusinesses,<br />
Iwillworkwith theconcerned authorities<br />
and stakeholders to ease commercial lending<br />
and mortgage loans to people. There is also a<br />
growing need for free bus services in some parts<br />
of the Manurewa Ward,” he said.<br />
It is important thatpeoplevote in the ensuing<br />
local elections, he said.<br />
“I request all eligiblevoters to exercise their<br />
franchise by returning the ballotpapers by post<br />
on or beforeOctober8,2019,” he said.<br />
Removing disparities<br />
in healthcare delivery<br />
With a<br />
record of<br />
serving<br />
on various<br />
health promotion<br />
advisory groups, Anita<br />
Keestrabelieves that<br />
it is timetotakeup<br />
large responsibilities<br />
and hence is aLabour<br />
Party candidate for<br />
apost at theCounties Manukau District Health<br />
Board.<br />
“Weface several challenges in our area and<br />
need strong advocates at the District Health<br />
Board to address theconcernsofour communities.<br />
Astronger link shouldbeestablished between<br />
the people and those who takedecisions<br />
on healthmatters,” she said.<br />
Impressivecredentials<br />
Her career as Business Development Manager<br />
at the Manukau Institute of Technology,her role<br />
as aJustice of Peace, acommunity worker for<br />
well over 25 years and penchant to enddisparities<br />
in thedelivery of healthcare services were<br />
amongthe factors that motivatedher to become<br />
acontestantfor the District Health Board.<br />
“I am committed to theempowerment of<br />
women whoare victims of family violence, for<br />
they are at greater risk of suffering from mental<br />
health problems. Ialso believe in the power of<br />
people to transform theirlives andtakecharge<br />
of theirhealth and wellbeing,” shesaid.<br />
Closer to communities<br />
Her professional and social assignments have<br />
brought her closer to multi-ethnic communities,<br />
including Maori, Pacifica and South East Asians<br />
and hence she understands theirproblems,<br />
challenges and aspiration.<br />
As aMember of theAucklandCouncil Ethnic<br />
Peoples Advisory Panel on hersecond term (she<br />
was the Deputy Chair earlier) andasaTrustee<br />
on theBoard of Trustees of the PapatoetoeHigh<br />
School for the past six years havegiven her<br />
additional insightinto our communities.<br />
Papatoetoe Local Board Otara Local Board Manukau Councillor<br />
Dr.Ashraf<br />
CHOUDHARYHARY<br />
Dr.Ofa<br />
DEWES<br />
Ross<br />
ROBERTSONR<br />
Dawn<br />
TRENBERTHTH<br />
Apulu Reece<br />
AUTAGAVAIAAGAVA<br />
Lotu<br />
FULI<br />
Swanie<br />
NELSON<br />
Fa’anana Efeso<br />
COLLINS<br />
Alf<br />
FILIPAINA<br />
Authorised by RRobertson, 7Fulton Cres. Otara, (09) 274 8263 Authorised by LFuli, 7Fulton Cres. Otara, (09) 274 8263 Authorised by AFilipaina, 7Fulton Cres. Otara, (09) 274 8263
06<br />
SEPTEMBER 15, 2019<br />
Homelink<br />
Carrying voices of<br />
communities to serve<br />
Our Christchurch<br />
Correspondent<br />
Shirish<br />
Paranjape is a<br />
strong advocate of ethnic<br />
representation at various<br />
governance roles so that<br />
voices are heard and<br />
concerns are addressed<br />
appropriately.<br />
He currently<br />
represents the Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood<br />
Community Board at the Riccarton House and<br />
Bush Trust and seeking re-election.<br />
Eventful three years<br />
Shirish said that the three-year term as an elected<br />
member was very eventful and enabled him to<br />
understand the feelings, needs and aspirations of<br />
people.<br />
“As a resident of my ward for over 17 years and<br />
with multiple touch points with the local community,<br />
I believe that I have been making a difference<br />
in the decision-making process, I am well<br />
immersed and involved in my community through<br />
many avenues including as a Justice of the Peace,<br />
a Rotarian, an active member of Christchurch<br />
Multicultural Council and as an active participant<br />
on web-based forum Neighbourly,” he said.<br />
Shirish believes that the Council Rates should be<br />
kept a level that can be at a manageable level and<br />
transparency and accountability are maintained<br />
in spending ratepayers’ money.<br />
A pledge to the people<br />
“If re-elected, I promise working with the same<br />
passion, integrity, transparency and enthusiasm<br />
that I have demonstrated in the past years, and to<br />
continue to make a positive difference in the lives<br />
of people around me,” Shirish said.<br />
Shirish said that Local Elections provide the<br />
perfect opportunity for members of ethnic community<br />
to try and become representatives of the<br />
neighbourhoods in which they live. New Zealand<br />
not only allows but also encourages participation.<br />
“So why not make best use of it?” he asked.<br />
Local Government Elections<br />
Finding meaningful pathways for children<br />
Addressing<br />
social<br />
inequalities,<br />
finding pathways<br />
for children,<br />
strong ethnic<br />
representation<br />
at elected offices<br />
and community<br />
improvements<br />
are among the ideals that Mitlesh Prasad<br />
of South Auckland is pursuing in his life.<br />
This young man is contesting for a seat<br />
on the Manurewa Local Board and Wiri<br />
Licensing Trust.<br />
Born and raised in Fiji, Mitlesh<br />
migrated to New Zealand in 1987 and<br />
grew up in Auckland’s North Shore and<br />
resided there for 15 years before moving<br />
to South Auckland.<br />
Migrant challenges<br />
A Chartered Accountant by qualification<br />
and profession, he has been a<br />
Trustee at the Manurewa High School, a<br />
post that brought him close to the challenges<br />
faced by the younger generation<br />
in general and migrants in particular.<br />
“I am inspired by the life and work of<br />
my late paternal and maternal grandfathers-<br />
Shiu Prasad and Bisun Sahay<br />
who are widely respected in Fiji for<br />
their contributions to public service and<br />
businesses. My real motivation comes<br />
from my children,” he said.<br />
“I strongly believe that local boards<br />
should have diverse local representation<br />
and currently in Manurewa it is dominated<br />
by largely baby-boomers and a single<br />
political party.”<br />
Respect for Maori<br />
Mitlesh has immense respect for<br />
Tikanga Maori, incorporating Maori<br />
principles such as Manaakitanga and<br />
Kaitiakitanga in his campaign to help<br />
resonate with his constituents.<br />
His key priorities are improving local<br />
roads and infrastructure, protecting our<br />
waterways and natural environment while<br />
ensuring sustainable growth.<br />
Viewing by appointment.<br />
C&R Team for sweeping<br />
changes to Eastern Suburbs<br />
Supplied Content<br />
The Communities and Residents (C&R)<br />
Orakei local board team are full steam<br />
ahead as they approach the local body<br />
elections date on October 12, 2019.<br />
The new team of Scott Milne, Troy Elliot, Sarah<br />
Powrie and Margaret Voyce join incumbent<br />
local board members Troy Churton, Colin Davis<br />
and David Wong.<br />
Each member brings a community vision<br />
and pragmatism to support the constituents<br />
they represent.<br />
People’s ire raised<br />
The key issues facing the board area of 10<br />
Eastern suburbs including Ellerslie, Meadowbank<br />
and Remuera are several fold.<br />
Over the past three years, the profile of Auckland<br />
Transport has raised the ire of many local<br />
residents and recently the unilateral decision to<br />
remove carparks in the busy Mission Bay and<br />
St Heliers town centres caused consternation<br />
amongst business owners. The C&R team will<br />
ensure a voice for local residents and ensure<br />
AT consults on suburban proposals and is held<br />
accountable.<br />
The provisions of the Unitary Plan will be<br />
closely monitored by the C&R team. This will<br />
ensure developments complement the designs<br />
of current established suburban homes and<br />
landscapes. The consent and planning local<br />
board team led by member Churton has been<br />
vigilant in challenging high rise apartments<br />
and other designs such as the recent proposed<br />
Mission Bay shopping development.<br />
Community Development Plans<br />
The C&R team are committed to seeing the<br />
proposed Meadowbank Community Centre<br />
designed, funded and built – to provide a much<br />
needed facility for all ages and capable of<br />
holding community activities and programmes.<br />
The team see this centre as future proofing a<br />
suburban hub for generations to come.<br />
The Glen Innes – Tamaki Drive cycle and<br />
walkway is progressing but not fast enough.<br />
The C&R team will demand more collaboration<br />
and effort from Auckland Council, AT and NZ<br />
Transport to finish all the stages so residents<br />
can enjoy the benefits of alternative access<br />
from the eastern suburbs to the shoreline of<br />
Tamaki Drive. Another key link is the Gowing<br />
“Safer and more inclusive communities,<br />
Investing more on the Town Centre and<br />
surrounding precincts, ensuring that parks<br />
and facilities are fit for purpose and increasing<br />
engagement with the community and participative<br />
decision making are also my issues,”<br />
Mitlesh said.<br />
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David Wong<br />
Drive initiative which will provide access<br />
from the Meadowbank valley side up towards<br />
Eastridge. The C&R team can see the benefits of<br />
residents and students in particular being able<br />
to travel seamlessly to schools such as St Thomas<br />
and Selwyn College and to the shopping mall.<br />
Extensive expertise<br />
Each team member brings a background of<br />
corporate, business, legal and city planning<br />
expertise. Current local board member David<br />
Wong said, “I am impressed with the talents<br />
and skills that the C&R team brings and their<br />
commitment to being representatives of their<br />
community and ensuring the right projects and<br />
the right amount of spend is apportioned fairly<br />
and equitably.”<br />
The team is proud to be supporting the<br />
current local ward councillor Desley Simpson<br />
who is also a C&R wider team candidate. Desley<br />
has been a hard working advocate across all of<br />
Orakei and been a loyal and dedicated voice at<br />
the Governing Body Council table.<br />
Please vote for all C&R team members.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2019<br />
Experts urge support services for International students<br />
‘Risk of suicide, mental health<br />
and other problems high’<br />
Foreign students’ lives are at risk because of a lack<br />
of culturally-appropriate counselling and mental<br />
health support, according to health services.<br />
Staff from Auckland District Health Board<br />
and Asian Family Services told the ISANA International<br />
Education Association Conference in Wellington that they<br />
were seeing more international students who were suicidal<br />
or suffered problems including anxiety and drug, alcohol or<br />
gambling addiction.<br />
The Team Leader for Asian Mental Health at Auckland<br />
District Health Board, Patrick Au, said that the increase<br />
was driven by increasing numbers of foreign students in<br />
Auckland in recent years.<br />
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to contact your local centre<br />
Patrick Au (Picture Courtesy: tepou.co.nz)<br />
Increasing numbers, tension<br />
He said that some of the students referred<br />
to the DHB’s mental health team had<br />
threatened suicide and he feared tragedy<br />
unless more support was offered earlier.<br />
“It’s only a matter of time before someone<br />
may kill themselves or some schools<br />
may have difficulty recruiting students<br />
because of the bad image we have in<br />
dealing with mental health needs,” he said.<br />
Mr Au said education providers should<br />
provide support services that were<br />
specifically tailored to their international<br />
students.<br />
“Linguistically they will have to be<br />
appropriate, culturally they need to be<br />
appropriate and they need to be able to engage<br />
the students because mental health is<br />
still a stigma for the international students<br />
and also to the parents,” he said.<br />
Addiction issues<br />
Asian Family Services Counsellor<br />
Shirleen Prasad said the organisation saw<br />
200-300 foreign students last year for a<br />
variety of problems including gambling,<br />
drug and alcohol addiction and depression.<br />
“I personally think as a Clinician there’s a<br />
much bigger problem,” she said.<br />
Ms Prasad said students needed support<br />
not only in the first couple of weeks after<br />
they arrived in the country, but also several<br />
months later when they had got over the<br />
initial “high” of life in adifferent culture.<br />
Shirleen Prasad<br />
(Picture Courtesy: Asian Family Services)<br />
Asian Family Services National Director<br />
Kelly Feng said it was getting more referrals<br />
from tertiary institutions and more<br />
direct contacts from foreign students.<br />
“From our helpline there will be more<br />
mental health and relationship and<br />
stress-related [problems] but also for our<br />
gambling client perspective there are more<br />
referrals for international students with<br />
gambling problems, particularly Chinese<br />
and Indian students,” she said.<br />
Better Orientation needed<br />
Ms Feng said education organisations<br />
should provide better orientation, including<br />
sex education, and also more early<br />
intervention for students who showed<br />
signs of stress or depression.<br />
She said that international students often<br />
did not know where to go for help.<br />
“A lot of international students, where<br />
they come from mental health is never<br />
talked about and emotional wellbeing is<br />
pretty ignored and neglected probably, and<br />
people are expected to be tough and get on<br />
with their life,” she said.<br />
“But international students, when<br />
they come here, it is quite avulnerable<br />
stage and they need a lot of support and<br />
strengthening and skills in order to survive<br />
and do better.”<br />
International Education Association Chief<br />
Executive Chris Beard said its members<br />
were aware of the need for support services<br />
Educationlink<br />
07<br />
tailored to students’ languages and cultures.<br />
“There are issues being raised around<br />
providing services that are tailored, that<br />
is, services that make it easy for students<br />
to access because they’re in anew culture,<br />
a new environment, they might be here<br />
in their first six to 12 months, there are<br />
a range of issues they are grappling with<br />
so we really need people in that space<br />
who are experienced with international<br />
students,” he said.<br />
Critical next steps<br />
Mr Beard said that specific qualifications<br />
for international education staff were<br />
a “critical” next step for New Zealand’s<br />
education industry.<br />
“The development of courses, of<br />
international education specialists, is going<br />
to be, we think, the next important step in<br />
shoring up sustainability and providing the<br />
kind of specialised international students<br />
need,” he said.<br />
Where to get help:<br />
Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any<br />
time to speak to atrained counsellor, for<br />
any reason.<br />
Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to<br />
4357; Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828<br />
865 /0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is aservice<br />
for people who may be thinking about<br />
suicide, or those who are concerned about<br />
family or friends; Depression Helpline:<br />
0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202; Samaritans:<br />
0800 726 666 (24/7); Youthline: 0800<br />
376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 (8 am-12 am),<br />
or email talk@youthline.co.nz; What’s Up:<br />
online chat (3 pm-10 pm) or 0800 WHAT-<br />
SUP / 0800 9428 787 helpline (12 pm-10<br />
pm weekdays, 3pm-11 pm weekends);<br />
Kidsline (ages 5-18): 0800 543 754 (24/7);<br />
Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787<br />
254; Healthline: 0800 611 116; Rainbow<br />
Youth: (09) 376 4155; If it is an emergency<br />
and you feel like you or someone else is at<br />
risk, call 111.<br />
-Published under a Special Agreement<br />
with www.rnz.co.nz<br />
Priyanca<br />
Radhakrishnan<br />
Labour List MP based in Maungakiekie<br />
Maungakiekie Office<br />
09 622 2660<br />
priyanca@parliament.govt.nz<br />
Level 1 Crighton House,<br />
100 Neilson St, Onehunga<br />
(entrance via Galway St)<br />
| | priyancanzlp<br />
Authorised by Priyanca Radhakrishnan<br />
Labour List MP, 100 Neilson St, Onehunga
08<br />
SEPTEMBER 15, 2019<br />
Fijilink<br />
Bainimarama apologises to Pio Tikoduadua<br />
Supplied Content<br />
Fiji’sPrimeMinister Josaia<br />
Voreqe Bainimarama has<br />
apologised to fellow Member<br />
of Parliament andLeader<br />
of National FederationParty (NFP)<br />
Pio Tikoduadua over an incident<br />
that occurredinthe Parliament<br />
ComplexonAugust9,2019.<br />
Mr Tikoduadua has lodged a<br />
complaint withthe Police that Mr<br />
Bainimarama had threatened and<br />
assaultedhim outside Parliament.<br />
He had filed the report at Totogo<br />
PoliceStationand had been told to<br />
get amedical report.<br />
Privileges Committee recommendation<br />
Following aseriesofdevelopments,<br />
theParliamentary Privileges<br />
Committee recommendedthat Mr<br />
Bainimarama and Tikoduadua<br />
should apologise to each other<br />
in Parliament or facesix months<br />
suspension from the House.<br />
According Fiji Broadcasting<br />
Corporation (FBC), theCommittee<br />
had issued thenotificationaftera<br />
week-long inquest into the alleged<br />
altercation between the two<br />
Members of Parliament.<br />
“The Committee after hearing<br />
all evidence and considering all<br />
relevant matterssaysitissatisfied<br />
that there is abreachofprivilege on<br />
the part of the PrimeMinister and<br />
Tikoduadua,” FBC News said.<br />
Prime Minister’s Statement<br />
Earlier this evening, Mr<br />
Bainimarama issuedthe following<br />
Statement:<br />
Iwould like to -onceagain -<br />
apologisefor my role in the incident<br />
involving Honourable Tikoduadua<br />
which wasrecently takenupbythe<br />
Privileges Committee.<br />
Fiji’s Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama (left and National Federation Party<br />
MP Pio Tikoduadua (FBC Photograph)<br />
Hon Tikoduadua is aman I<br />
have known fordecades -aman<br />
who once servedasmyPersonal<br />
Staff Officer(PSO) before, during<br />
and afterthe events of 2000and<br />
subsequently as my Permanent<br />
Secretary.<br />
He of course then became aSenior<br />
Mof my Cabinet in the FijiFirst<br />
Governmentafterthe historical<br />
elections in 2014.<br />
As my PSO,hespentmanyhours<br />
in my home, withmyfamily.<br />
He is aman Ionce felt was apart<br />
of my family.<br />
He was acomrade in many<br />
changes we brought about in Fiji.<br />
Historic friendship<br />
We have ahistory.<br />
Today, we find ourselveson<br />
different sides of the politicalaisle.<br />
But our historyasfriends and<br />
colleagues, takenwith astatement<br />
he madeabout my family, are why<br />
IreactedasIdid themorning of<br />
Friday, August 9, 2019.<br />
Ifully admit that Imomentarily<br />
and spontaneously let my emotions,<br />
and my loveoffamily,get the<br />
better of me. My actions were not<br />
appropriate and should not have<br />
happened.<br />
Indeed Mr Speaker sir, soon after<br />
the incident happened, Irealised<br />
my mistakeand came to you<br />
immediatelytoapologise to you,<br />
Parliament and to Hon Tikoduadua.<br />
It is unfortunate that Hon<br />
Tikoduadua was not available to<br />
receivemyapology in-person, nor<br />
has he made himself available in<br />
subsequent attempts.<br />
Unreserved apology<br />
Regardless, Mr Speaker Ioffer<br />
my unreserved apologies to him,<br />
to my colleagues, to the Parliament<br />
and to you, Mr Speaker, formy<br />
actions.<br />
Iregretthat this event has caused<br />
adistraction from the vital work<br />
of the Parliament in advancingthe<br />
wellbeing of all Fijians.<br />
Ilook forwardtogetting backto<br />
the national businessofthis August<br />
Parliament and to upholding the<br />
high standards of conduct the Fijian<br />
peopledeserve and expect from<br />
those elected to serve their interests.<br />
Ministeroutlines ways to boostNew Zealand-Fiji trade<br />
Venkat Raman<br />
The growing cordiality between the<br />
Fijian and New Zealand governments<br />
should lead to higher levels<br />
of bilateral trade between the two<br />
countries, aMinister has said.<br />
“There is immensepotential for<br />
cooperation in anumber of fields and the<br />
incentives being offered my government<br />
should be attractive to New Zealandbusinesses<br />
and investors, including former<br />
citizens who aresettled in New Zealand,”<br />
Fiji’s Industry,Trade, Tourism, Local Governments<br />
and Community Development<br />
Premila Kumarsaid.<br />
She was speakingtoIndianNewslink<br />
in Auckland on <strong>Sept</strong>ember 28, 2019,<br />
duringher official visit to the country.<br />
“All of us in Fiji are keen to takeour<br />
growth to the next higher level. Our<br />
government is determined to improve<br />
services to allcitizensand residents and<br />
increase employment opportunities to the<br />
people of Fiji,” shesaid.<br />
Incentives to foreign investors<br />
Ms Kumar said that as well as providing<br />
incentives for foreign investors including<br />
Export Promotion Zones, taxconcessions<br />
and other measures, theFijian government<br />
is also encouragingthose holding<br />
Dual Citizenship and former citizens of Fiji<br />
to invest in theirhomeland and become<br />
partners in progress.<br />
“Wehave ayoung population that is<br />
highly skilled anddedicated enhancing<br />
thevalueofour workforce. International<br />
companies find several advantages in<br />
establishing their IT support services,<br />
call centres and other enterprises. We<br />
welcome New Zealandcompanies,” she<br />
said.<br />
The following day, addressing aCon-<br />
Minister Premila Kumar (second from right) with (from left)<br />
Principle Trade Economist Virisila NTuimanu, Fiji Trade<br />
&Investment Manager Peter James Rudd, Link2 Group<br />
Chairman &Managing Director Indra Sirigiri and Forever<br />
Shine Beauty Therapy Director Ronita Sharma in Auckland on<br />
August 28, 2019 (<strong>INL</strong> Photo)<br />
ference of the New Zealand-Fiji Business<br />
Council held at Eden Park,she spokeabout<br />
the existing and emergingopportunities<br />
for closer commercial and bilateral engagementbetween<br />
New Zealandand Fiji.<br />
Strong Partnership<br />
“Our partnership is strongerthan<br />
ever before, as theFijian Governmentis<br />
committed to re-engaging and re-defining<br />
our bilateral relationship,” she said.<br />
Stating that Fiji is the largest trading<br />
partner for New Zealand in the South<br />
Pacific, Ms Kumar said that thetwo-way<br />
trade was $690 million (F$ 940 million).<br />
“Thetotal exports from Fiji to New<br />
Zealand for the year 2018was $100<br />
million (F$ 135 million), whilst import<br />
was approximately $590 million (F$ 800<br />
million].New Zealandhas been one of<br />
Fiji’stop five import markets over the<br />
years,” she said.<br />
Ms Kumar said that Fiji is apopular<br />
destination for weddings, honeymoon<br />
couples and tourists in general.<br />
“More Kiwis continue to visit Fiji every<br />
year. In 2018, we received 198,718Kiwis,<br />
an increase of 7.7%, the highest number<br />
recorded in ayear. In the first seven<br />
monthsofthis year, about5%increase in<br />
visitor arrival fromNew Zealand has been<br />
recorded,” shesaid.<br />
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SEPTEMBER 15, 2019<br />
National facesprecipitous challenges in 2020<br />
PeterDunne<br />
About 80%ofthe legislation that<br />
Parliament passes is non-controversial,<br />
andcouldjust as easilybe<br />
introduced by anygovernment.<br />
Another 10%iscontroversial and<br />
more likelytoarise from oneparticular<br />
government than the other, but is not so<br />
out of line that it willnot be retained by the<br />
next government when it comes to office.<br />
Onlythe remaining 10%issohard-line<br />
thatitwill not survive achange of<br />
government.Industrialrelations, taxes,<br />
and some aspectsofeducation and welfare<br />
policy are most likely to come into this<br />
lattercategory.<br />
Essentially thismeans there is alarge<br />
degree of continuity in NewZealand<br />
politics, which contributes mightilyto<br />
our political stability.Weare notprone to<br />
swings from oneend of thespectrum to<br />
the other as differentgovernments come<br />
to office.<br />
All of which makeslife difficultfor the<br />
Opposition of the day, as it tries to define<br />
itself separately from the government, but<br />
without painting itself as too extreme to<br />
frighten offthe potentialvoters it will need<br />
at the nextelection to gain office.<br />
Communism by stealth<br />
However, sometimes thereare issues<br />
where the Oppositionknows it is on the<br />
wrong side of public opinionorpractice<br />
and thatithas to changeits positionto<br />
haveachanceofelectoral success. So it<br />
was that the National PartyadoptedLabour’s<br />
Working for Families programme,<br />
and enhanceditinoffice, despite John Key<br />
oncehaving derideditas“communismby<br />
stealth.”<br />
And whyJohn Key, likeJim Bolger<br />
before him, alsomovedquickly moved to<br />
Jim Bolger and John Key (TVNZ/RNZ Picture)<br />
shore up the nuclear-free NewZealand<br />
legislation, whichanunsuccessful<br />
predecessorhad pledged wouldbe“gone<br />
by lunchtime”.<br />
But thereare limitstoall this consensus<br />
buildinginOpposition.<br />
After all, it is pretty hard to argue that<br />
thingswould be different if the Opposition<br />
came to power, if theyhave spent too<br />
much time agreeingwith the government<br />
on too manyofthe major issues.<br />
What would be the pointofvoting for<br />
them to get even more of the same than<br />
usual if they were to come to power? As<br />
always, the trick will be to know where the<br />
line should be drawn.<br />
National on Zero-Carbon<br />
Legislation<br />
The National Party will be weighing<br />
up all these considerationsasitfinalisesa<br />
position on the government’szero-carbon<br />
legislation, currently before theHouse.<br />
Certainty,continuity of policy,and<br />
doing the right thing by the planetare<br />
strong and noble reasons to support the<br />
legislation, but National maycalculatethat<br />
such an essentially “metoo”stance will<br />
not differentiate it sufficiently in voters’<br />
minds (especially its farming core which<br />
stillharboursstrong doubts about the<br />
impactoftoo rapidly reducing methane<br />
emissions) to attract or retain their<br />
support, particularly if New Zealand First<br />
sniffs thesame breeze and abandonsthe<br />
government on this issue.<br />
National will also be looking closely<br />
across the Tasman at the strong sceptical<br />
stance theMorrisonGovernmenttook<br />
on emissionsand reducing<br />
fossil fuel reliance, and the<br />
electoraldividends that<br />
apparently paid in their<br />
recent election. Now that<br />
Judith Collins has puther<br />
stake in the groundopposing<br />
the zero-carbon legislation<br />
it is virtuallycertain that<br />
the consensus in its favour<br />
that was building up in<br />
Parliament during the last<br />
two to threeyearsisabout to<br />
be broken.<br />
Drug Law Reform<br />
Asimilar situation seems<br />
to be occurringwith regard<br />
to drug law reform.<br />
While there was never<br />
anything approaching a<br />
consensus between the two<br />
main partiesonthis issue,<br />
therehad been signs earlier<br />
in the year that National<br />
might have beenwillingto<br />
lookatthe government’sideas,<br />
vague andwafflyasthey<br />
have been, but National’s<br />
spokesperson’sincreasingly<br />
critical comments suggest<br />
those signs have gone.<br />
Rather,National now<br />
looks likely to oppose<br />
cannabis law reform, and<br />
perhaps become partofthe<br />
“no” campaign, whichwill<br />
makefor interesting times if<br />
the referendum votes “yes”,<br />
but Nationalcomes to power<br />
afterthe election.<br />
Associated Risks<br />
However, there are particular<br />
risks associated with<br />
National’semerging position.<br />
It will havehad to calculate<br />
very carefully itsassessment<br />
of the potential political<br />
gains and losses, anditmust<br />
therefore be assumed that in<br />
terms of its specificpolitical<br />
advantage, it has concluded<br />
thereismoretobegained<br />
than lostinadopting such an<br />
approach.<br />
Then,having rejected<br />
the currentgovernment’s<br />
plans,itwillhave to factor<br />
in what it will have to do<br />
about climatechange and<br />
drug lawreform, should it<br />
find itself leading the next<br />
government. It need only<br />
look across the political aisle<br />
at the rapidlyincreasing<br />
shambles that is the current<br />
governmenttosee what<br />
happenswhen you come<br />
to power on the basis of a<br />
few slogans and no clearly<br />
thought out policy.<br />
Time will tell the wisdom<br />
of National’seschewing of<br />
consensus on issues that cut<br />
across traditionalpolitical<br />
boundaries,likeclimate<br />
change and drug law reform’<br />
but it is certainly different<br />
from the approach mostlikely<br />
to have been seenfrom<br />
former Prime[ Ministers Jim<br />
Bolgerand JohnKey.And<br />
they both went on to win<br />
three elections.<br />
Peter Dunnewas aMinister<br />
of the Crown under the<br />
Labour and National-led<br />
governmentsfrom November<br />
1999 to <strong>Sept</strong>ember<br />
2017. He founded the<br />
UnitedFuture Party but<br />
wounditupwhen retired<br />
fromParliament. Mr<br />
Dunne lives in Wellington.<br />
Businesslink<br />
Entrust customers toreceive<br />
Dividends this month<br />
More than 336,000<br />
Auckland<br />
businesses would<br />
get $360+$15<br />
Supplied Content<br />
Entrust, amajority owner of<br />
Vector hasannounced that its<br />
annual Dividend will be $360,<br />
stemming from its shareholding<br />
in the listed energy company.<br />
This year, in addition to the<br />
$360 Entrust Dividend payment,<br />
afurtherpayment of $15 from<br />
Vector, which is customers’<br />
share of the creditreceived<br />
from Transpower, knownas<br />
loss rental rebate will be paid to<br />
beneficiaries.<br />
The payment will be made to<br />
more than 336,000 Aucklanders<br />
and businesses in the Entrust<br />
district that are connected to<br />
Vector’s electricity network in late<br />
<strong>Sept</strong>ember.<br />
Contribution to Auckland<br />
Economy<br />
Entrust Chairman, William<br />
Cairns says Entrust is pleased to<br />
paythe Dividend,which will contribute<br />
more than$120million to<br />
Auckland’seconomy.<br />
“Entrust is determined to<br />
deliver for our beneficiaries. We<br />
know that someinour community<br />
really rely on the Dividend,<br />
and that it makes adifference. A<br />
good portion of it willbespent<br />
in local neighbourhoods, with<br />
09<br />
More than 336,000 Auckland businesses would get $360+$15<br />
local businesses, which further<br />
benefits local communities,” he<br />
said.<br />
StrongSupport<br />
“There is strong support for<br />
Entrust across theAuckland region,<br />
with 78% of allAucklanders<br />
believing theEntrust structure<br />
should remain in place, using<br />
profits from Vector to provide<br />
Dividends to local households<br />
in the Trust area, and 63%<br />
saying that their family needs the<br />
Dividendtomeet the rising cost<br />
of living in Auckland.Entrust<br />
is pleased that its work is so<br />
strongly supported by thepeople<br />
of Auckland,” Mr Cairns added.<br />
Entrust DividendKey Facts:<br />
2019 Dividend is $360 per<br />
individual/business<br />
Total 2019 Dividend just over<br />
$120 million<br />
Paid in late <strong>Sept</strong>ember via<br />
direct credit, cheque or credit to<br />
electricity accounts<br />
Goes to 336,000 hardworking<br />
people and businesses in the<br />
Entrust district<br />
Added to the Entrust Dividend<br />
is $15 from Vector, bringing the<br />
combined payment to power<br />
customers to $375 in total<br />
Entrust Dividends havecontributed<br />
morethan $1.7 billion to<br />
Auckland’s economy over thelast<br />
26 years-New Zealand’slargest<br />
Dividenddistribution
10<br />
SEPTEMBER 15, 2019<br />
Businesslink<br />
Tickets for our Business<br />
Awards Night Open<br />
Venkat Raman<br />
The Twelfth Annual Indian<br />
Newslink Indian Business<br />
Awards Presentation<br />
Ceremony will be held on<br />
Monday, November 25, 2019 at<br />
SkyCity Convention Centre, located<br />
at Federal Street, Auckland City. The<br />
event will be attended by political,<br />
business and community leaders,<br />
diplomats, entrants to the 17 Categories<br />
of Awards, entrepreneurs,<br />
professionals and many others.<br />
Jackie Clarke, Celebrity Speaker and<br />
Entertainer will be the Master of<br />
Ceremonies.<br />
The event will include an Exhibition<br />
of Sponsors, Cocktails and Networking,<br />
Speeches, Entertainment,<br />
Dinner and Awards Presentation<br />
Ceremony.<br />
Tickets, priced at $172.50 and<br />
tables seating ten person each at<br />
$1725 per table (including GST) are<br />
now available.<br />
For tickets, please call (09)<br />
5336377 or 021-836528. Email<br />
venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />
Please look up for updates on our<br />
Websites: www.indiannewslink.<br />
co.nz<br />
www.inliba.com; www.inlscaca.<br />
com (or www.inlisa.com); www.<br />
festivalsofsouthindia.co.nz<br />
And on Facebook, Twitter and<br />
LinkedIn.<br />
Judging process begins<br />
Entries to the Twelfth Annual<br />
Indian Newslink Indian Business<br />
Awards closed on August 31, 2019<br />
after asixth-month period, during<br />
which three Free Workshops were<br />
conducted on ‘How to file agood<br />
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Opposition<br />
Leader Simon Bridges at our Awards Night<br />
last year.<br />
Master of Ceremonies Jackie Clarke makes<br />
Andrew Little (then Leader of the Opposition)<br />
dance at our Awards Ceremony 2016 with<br />
then Prime Minister John Key and others<br />
seated (<strong>INL</strong> Picture by Narendra Bedekar)<br />
entry,’ by Ray Knight the Chair<br />
of our Independence Judging<br />
Panel comprising professionals and<br />
experts from various fields.<br />
The Panel (their names are published<br />
on our dedicated website:<br />
www.inliba.com) will evaluate the<br />
entries and discuss them at their<br />
close-door meetings ensuring confidentiality<br />
and integrity and that<br />
there are no conflicts of interest.<br />
The names of Finalists and Winners<br />
will b announced at our Annual<br />
Awards Night.<br />
We thank all entrants for the time<br />
they have invested in participating<br />
in our Awards Programme.<br />
Credibility retires from Superannuation arguments<br />
Peter Dunne<br />
Crank up the pipe organ! The<br />
Superannuation merry-goround<br />
is starting up again.<br />
In 2014, Labour proposed<br />
lifting the age of entitlement to 67<br />
years, but National was opposed<br />
to it. But in 2017, it was National<br />
wanting to lift the age to 67 years,<br />
with Labour opposed.<br />
Now, National has revived that<br />
promise, and the merry-go-round<br />
is whirring into life all over again,<br />
promising everyone under the age<br />
of 48, at least atwo-year longer wait<br />
until they can collect their New<br />
Zealand Superannuation.<br />
Adverse effects<br />
Generations of New Zealanders<br />
have been adversely affected by<br />
Superannuation changes since the<br />
infamous 25% surcharge imposed<br />
by Labour in 1984, and its even<br />
tougher replacement regime introduced<br />
by National after 1990.<br />
There was a brief period of truce<br />
following the uncomfortable Accord<br />
negotiated by the two big parties in<br />
1993, more to get Superannuation<br />
and their pitiable records off the<br />
election agenda than to provide<br />
stability and certainty for retiring<br />
New Zealanders.<br />
Finally, universal non-means<br />
tested Superannuation from the age<br />
of 65 years was restored in the late<br />
1990s, but almost immediately there<br />
began to be whispers about long<br />
term-affordability and sustainability,<br />
culminating in the two big parties<br />
returning to their old tricks in the<br />
last few years.<br />
Neither seems to realise they have<br />
no credibility anymore when it<br />
comes to Superannuation. So, every<br />
time one or other of them raises<br />
the prospect of changes to Superannuation<br />
they raise also the spectre<br />
of their mutual historic duplicity,<br />
with the consequence that no-one<br />
believes what they have to say.<br />
Address real issues<br />
It is time to draw aclear line, and<br />
rule out once and for all any further<br />
tinkering with the age of eligibility.<br />
At the same time, to address affordability<br />
and sustainability issues, two<br />
other steps should be considered.<br />
First, now that most New Zealanders<br />
of working age are in KiwiSaver,<br />
it is time to make that a compulsory<br />
national savings scheme, with<br />
minimal exemptions.<br />
Boosting people’s KiwiSaver<br />
accounts would reduce the longterm<br />
pressure on New Zealand<br />
Superannuation as the major source<br />
of retirement income.<br />
In turn, that would enable<br />
governments to consider whether,<br />
from about 2040 or 2045 onwards,<br />
the value of New Zealand Superannuation<br />
could be reduced for new<br />
retirees, while retaining universality<br />
from the age of 65. If, as aresult of<br />
changing work patterns, the age 65<br />
cut-off for KiwiSaver was moved<br />
upwards, moving the age of New<br />
Zealand Superannuation upwards<br />
in line with that could also be<br />
considered, but only at that point.<br />
Revisiting Flexi-Super<br />
At the same time, fresh consideration<br />
needs to be given to a scheme<br />
known as Flexi-Super to meet the<br />
particular needs of those who<br />
often do not enjoy long retirements<br />
– manual workers, Maori and<br />
Pasifika, for example.<br />
Flexi-Super is a voluntary scheme<br />
that allows people to take a reduced<br />
rate of New Zealand Superannuation<br />
from the age of 60, or an<br />
enhanced rate if they defer taking<br />
up their Superannuation until the<br />
age of 70.<br />
In reality, that would mean those<br />
taking Superannuation from the<br />
age of 60, would be paid about 66%<br />
of the full rate of Superannuation<br />
for the remainder of their lives, and<br />
those waiting until 70 would receive<br />
about 130%.<br />
The Scheme would not be<br />
compulsory, although once achoice<br />
had been made, there would be no<br />
option to review it.<br />
The key point of Flexi-Super is<br />
individual choice. If one was unwell<br />
or utterly fatigued, the option of a<br />
lower rate of Superannuation for<br />
what might only be a few years (and<br />
might not even be as far off as 65)<br />
would be very appealing, especially<br />
as there is virtually nothing for<br />
them at present.<br />
Various polls have indicated<br />
Flexi-Super resonates with many<br />
New Zealanders, but three main<br />
arguments have been raised against<br />
it, although none have agreat deal<br />
of merit.<br />
The first is that it will have little<br />
impact on overall costs.<br />
By itself, that may be true to some<br />
extent, but if it was accompanied by<br />
compulsory KiwiSaver as proposed<br />
above, it would most likely see<br />
a steady voluntary increase in<br />
the uptake age of New Zealand<br />
Superannuation until around 67,<br />
thus reducing the long-term cost of<br />
New Zealand Superannuation.<br />
Continued on Page 11
SEPTEMBER 15, 2019<br />
Continued from Page 10<br />
Politically<br />
unsustainable<br />
Others say, that it<br />
would be politically<br />
unsustainable to tell<br />
someone who has opted<br />
for the lower rate of Superannuation<br />
at age 60,<br />
they will remain fixed on<br />
that lower rate once they<br />
reach 65. That ignores<br />
the fact that they will<br />
have had an effective<br />
five-year advantage over<br />
those who wait till 65.<br />
Also, it has to be<br />
assumed that in reaching<br />
their original decision<br />
people would have been<br />
made fully aware of the<br />
long-term implications.<br />
People are used to having<br />
to make hard calls<br />
in life, and Flexi-Super<br />
would be no different.<br />
But it is only an option<br />
for people to choose, if it<br />
suits them, not a compulsory<br />
requirement.<br />
The third counter-argument<br />
is the most novel<br />
and comes from the<br />
Treasury.<br />
It opposes Flexi-Super<br />
because it sees it as an<br />
incentive for everyone<br />
to opt in on the lower<br />
rate at age 60, bank the<br />
money as essentially<br />
free money and then<br />
derive the benefit at 65<br />
or whenever, of what<br />
they see as a tax-free<br />
government retirement<br />
subsidy.<br />
Points overlooked<br />
They overlook two<br />
obvious points; first, in<br />
the most unlikely event<br />
their scenario were so,<br />
there would be no additional<br />
Superannuation<br />
payable to those people<br />
from 65, so there would<br />
be no additional cost to<br />
the government, beyond<br />
what was paid out from<br />
age 60. And second,<br />
because people would<br />
be taking the discounted,<br />
not the full rate, of Superannuation,<br />
the long-term<br />
costs to the government<br />
would actually reduce by<br />
about one third.<br />
Compulsory KiwiSaver<br />
and Flexi-Super are the<br />
real Superannuation<br />
issues we ought to be<br />
discussing and debating<br />
now, rather than scrambling<br />
back on the faded<br />
old inter-generational<br />
betrayal merry-go-round<br />
of ensuring today’s<br />
income earners continue<br />
to pay for their parents’<br />
New Zealand Superannuation,<br />
with no lasting<br />
guarantee there will be<br />
anything there for them<br />
when they retire. That<br />
is the most short-sighted<br />
and unsustainable of all<br />
positions.<br />
Peter Dunne was a<br />
Minister of the Crown<br />
under the Labour and<br />
National-led governments<br />
from November<br />
1999 to <strong>Sept</strong>ember<br />
2017. He founded the<br />
UnitedFuture Party<br />
but wound it up when<br />
retired from Parliament.<br />
Mr Dunne lives<br />
in Wellington.<br />
Most of the time,<br />
Consumer Credit<br />
Contracts work well<br />
in New Zealand.<br />
For example, a person who<br />
wants to buy a new TV for a big<br />
sporting event like the Cricket or<br />
the Netball World Cup might go<br />
into a retailer and ask to buy a<br />
TV on credit.<br />
After asking a few questions<br />
and checking the person can actually<br />
afford the loan, the retailer<br />
makes a sale, the customer gets<br />
the goods and all going well, the<br />
loan gets paid back on time and<br />
everyone is happy.<br />
However sometimes these contracts<br />
go wrong, especially when<br />
borrowers are in a tight position<br />
and turn to lenders of last resort,<br />
such as ‘Payday Lenders.’<br />
For someone who just needs<br />
some short term credit, these<br />
facilities can work well.<br />
Multiplicity of problems<br />
However, if the lender provides<br />
finance to a person who is<br />
already in financial difficulty, the<br />
costs of the loan can skyrocket,<br />
and the borrower can end up in<br />
a debt trap, paying interest rates<br />
of several hundred percent and<br />
often penalty fees as well.<br />
Behind these harmful loans<br />
are heart-rending stories of<br />
Businesslink<br />
New Legislation for ‘responsible lending’ on the way<br />
Dr Deborah<br />
Russell<br />
hardship and despair.<br />
Some irresponsible<br />
lenders target our poorest<br />
and most marginalised<br />
citizens, with some<br />
families borrowing to pay<br />
for the essentials. While<br />
this type of credit can be<br />
a quick fix to financial<br />
problems, we know that<br />
many consumers are<br />
trapped in a cycle of debt,<br />
causing extreme hardship<br />
– and often, intergenerational<br />
poverty – for them<br />
and their families.<br />
It can also create<br />
ongoing mental health<br />
problems for people as<br />
they try to deal with the<br />
stress of repaying huge<br />
interest and penalties on<br />
loans.<br />
Limiting interest<br />
accruals<br />
The Credit Contracts<br />
Legislation Bill strengthens<br />
the requirements to<br />
lend responsibly, especially<br />
in relation to assessing<br />
a borrower’s capacity to<br />
repay a loan.<br />
It will limit the accumulation<br />
of interest and<br />
fees on high-cost loans<br />
by restricting the amount<br />
that can be paid in interest<br />
and fees to no more<br />
than 100% of the amount<br />
that was borrowed in the<br />
first place.<br />
Additional measures<br />
announced on <strong>Sept</strong>ember<br />
3, 2019, cap the maximum<br />
interest rate that can be<br />
charged is 0.8% per day.<br />
Mobile traders such as<br />
‘truck shops’ who often<br />
sell goods on credit at<br />
inflated prices (especially<br />
in low-income areas)<br />
will be required to check<br />
that borrowers can<br />
afford repayments and<br />
are making an informed<br />
decision when they enter<br />
into a credit contract.<br />
This means they will be<br />
required to operate under<br />
the same conditions as<br />
other lenders.<br />
Predatory lenders<br />
While most lenders are<br />
responsible, some are<br />
predatory.<br />
During the Select Committee<br />
hearings, one<br />
person told a story<br />
about how she had<br />
unwisely taken out a<br />
short term loan. She<br />
managed the first two<br />
repayments, but was<br />
a few dollars short for<br />
the third payment.<br />
She immediately<br />
incurred penalties,<br />
which made her situation<br />
worse. She tried<br />
to negotiate with the<br />
company, but failed,<br />
and even begged them<br />
to give the loan to a<br />
debt collection agency<br />
because at least<br />
then she would stop<br />
incurring penalties.<br />
The company refused.<br />
After working<br />
with a budget advisor<br />
she was able to get the<br />
loan repaid.<br />
Just a few weeks<br />
later, on her birthday,<br />
the company contacted<br />
her by text.<br />
“Happy Birthday.<br />
Why not treat yourself<br />
to a loan?”<br />
Striking a balance<br />
As always, the<br />
government needs<br />
to strike a balance<br />
between enabling<br />
businesses to operate<br />
successfully, and<br />
protecting consumers.<br />
The Credit Contracts<br />
11<br />
Legislation aims to<br />
set this balance a little<br />
more in favour of<br />
consumers, while still<br />
allowing responsible<br />
lenders to operate.<br />
In order to ensure<br />
that the balance<br />
is right, there is<br />
a requirement to<br />
review how they are<br />
operating three years<br />
after they come into<br />
effect.<br />
Dr Deborah Russell<br />
is elected member<br />
of Parliament<br />
representing the<br />
Labour Party from<br />
New Lynn in West<br />
Auckland. The Credit<br />
Contracts Legislation<br />
Amendment Bill<br />
was introduced<br />
to Parliament by<br />
Commerce and<br />
Consumer Affairs<br />
Minister Kris Faafoi<br />
on April 9, 2019<br />
and passed its First<br />
Reading on April 30,<br />
2019. It is currently<br />
being scrutinised by<br />
the Parliamentary<br />
Select Committee<br />
on Finance and<br />
Expenditure of<br />
which Dr Russell is<br />
the Chairman.<br />
You stay on but retire your mortgage loan early<br />
And Global Finance tells you how<br />
Venkat Raman<br />
The general belief that<br />
commercial banks have<br />
ceased to be the financial<br />
heart of the communities<br />
which they serve appears to be<br />
correct with regulatory authorities<br />
questioning some of their<br />
practices in recent years.<br />
Mortgage loans constitute the<br />
single largest liability of most<br />
income-earners, owner-operated<br />
and small business enterprises<br />
and while banks may be happy<br />
to extend credit, they do not<br />
serve the best interests of their<br />
customers.<br />
That responsibility distinguishes<br />
Auckland based Global Finance,<br />
which has, for the past 20<br />
years, worked with its customers<br />
to enable them to liquidate their<br />
mortgage loans early.<br />
Customers are Supreme<br />
Managing Director Ajay Kumar<br />
places the interests of his customers<br />
as the most important<br />
part of his Company and helps<br />
them to become debt-free and<br />
build on their capital.<br />
“No one wants to liberate<br />
people from their mortgage<br />
obligations, which is why Global<br />
Finance discusses with every<br />
customer the ways and means<br />
of enabling them to pay off their<br />
loans and lead a worry-free and<br />
higher standard of living. Since<br />
the company was established in<br />
March 1999, we have been insisting<br />
that our customers should<br />
Global Finance Managing Director<br />
Ajay Kumar<br />
look at their propensity to repay<br />
faster,” he said.<br />
Early Mortgage Retirement<br />
With more than 45 years of<br />
experience in the finance industry<br />
25 of which were at Bank of<br />
Baroda in India, Mr Kumar understands<br />
the aspirations of individuals<br />
and businesses to pursue<br />
their careers and businesses with<br />
least disruption and be able to<br />
enjoy peace of mind. Even as he<br />
established Global Finance, his<br />
mission was to encourage and<br />
enable customers to achieve<br />
their objectives and become<br />
free of their debts as quickly as<br />
possible.<br />
He developed a ‘Unique Formula,’<br />
which in essence is an ‘Early<br />
Mortgage Retirement Plan,’ that<br />
has helped more than 5000<br />
customers who have collectively<br />
been able to save at least $2.7<br />
million in interest paid to lending<br />
institutions.<br />
Global Finance Head Offices<br />
(Airport Oaks)<br />
“Our unique formula of making<br />
our customers mortgage-free<br />
sooner than what they think<br />
would be possible, has seen<br />
many of them look for investment<br />
properties. In addition, we<br />
have seen the next generation<br />
growing and seeking our services.<br />
Growth and expansion are<br />
therefore constant, and I now<br />
believe that with three office<br />
locations in Auckland, we can<br />
serve the interests of our customers<br />
better,” Mr Kumar said.<br />
Challenge and Certification<br />
Commercial banks were oblivious<br />
but other mortgage brokers<br />
and financial advisors were<br />
aware that they did not have this<br />
‘Early Mortgage Retirement Plan’<br />
and hence challenged Global<br />
Finance and took it to the regulatory<br />
authorities.<br />
The latter, after a thorough<br />
investigation, found not fault<br />
with the Plan.<br />
“Our Early Mortgage Retirement<br />
Plan is based on the capacity<br />
of the customer to repay<br />
the loan without increasing the<br />
instalment amount,” Mr Kumar<br />
said.<br />
He said that Global Finance will<br />
Global Finance Henderson<br />
(West Auckland)<br />
provide written undertakings to<br />
customers, if they so desire, assuring<br />
them that if they followed<br />
the Company’s advise, they<br />
would be able to liquidate their<br />
loans faster.<br />
“Our Interest Saver Plan is all<br />
about restructuring your home<br />
loan in the correct combination<br />
of fixed and floating interest<br />
rates, selecting the right term<br />
for the fixed portion of the loan<br />
and setting the appropriate loan<br />
repayment amounts with the objective<br />
to help you save money<br />
in interest repayments, allowing<br />
you to pay off the mortgage<br />
quicker than the standard 30-<br />
year term offered by the banks,”<br />
he said.<br />
Practical Advice<br />
His advice to customers is<br />
simple: “Pay off your home loan<br />
faster than you would have<br />
ever thought possible without<br />
increasing your monthly payments;<br />
Improve your chances of<br />
getting the financing you need<br />
to achieve your goals; Get the<br />
Global Finance Manukau<br />
(South Auckland)<br />
best interest rates and cashback<br />
offers. We will approach multiple<br />
banks for you.”<br />
Recognition and Awards<br />
Hundreds of customers write to<br />
Mr Kumar and to Global Finance<br />
expressing their gratitude for<br />
the sound advise and guidance<br />
that they get and how they have<br />
been able to improve their financial<br />
health. Many of these can be<br />
found on the Company’s website.<br />
The focus of quality customer<br />
service and constant attention to<br />
details has helped the Company<br />
grow over the year and since<br />
March 1999, Global Finance has<br />
arranged a whopping $9 billion<br />
in mortgage loans and insurance<br />
premium to almost 6000<br />
customers.<br />
The Company has won more<br />
than 40 Awards and Citations<br />
from all the major banks in the<br />
country and has been the winner<br />
of the Supreme Business Award<br />
and other Category Awards at<br />
the Indian Newslink Indian Business<br />
Awards over the years.
12<br />
SEPTEMBER 15, 2019<br />
Viewlink<br />
The English Fortnightly (Since November 1999)<br />
ISSUE 423 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2019<br />
Enrol and vote you must<br />
Loan sharks must<br />
be muzzled<br />
Commerce and Consumer<br />
Affairs Minister<br />
Kris Faafoi has done<br />
well in introducing to<br />
Parliament ‘The Credit Contracts<br />
Legislation Amendment<br />
Bill.’ The proposed Legislation<br />
passed its First Reading on<br />
April 30, 2019 and is currently<br />
being scrutinised by the Parliamentary<br />
Select Committee<br />
on Finance and Expenditure<br />
of which Dr Russell is the<br />
Chairman.<br />
As Dr Russell writes in this<br />
issue (Businesslink), some<br />
irresponsible lenders target<br />
our poorest and most marginalised<br />
citizens, with some<br />
families borrowing to pay for<br />
the essentials.<br />
Many are trapped in a<br />
cycle of debt, causing extreme<br />
hardship.<br />
Intergenerational Poverty<br />
Stories of victims of<br />
predatory lenders, typically<br />
low-income minority families,<br />
single mothers and the old, are<br />
awful to read and hear.<br />
People are persuaded to<br />
take loans priced way beyond<br />
Elections in a democracy<br />
have a way with<br />
people. They excite,<br />
motivate and make<br />
them realise that the ultimate<br />
power to make or break a political<br />
party rests in their mind<br />
and hand. And the ensuing<br />
local elections in New Zealand<br />
would be no exception.<br />
There would be adifference,<br />
though.<br />
For the first time perhaps,<br />
almost all political parties,<br />
major and minor, realise<br />
the importance of minority<br />
communities and the need to<br />
address their concerns. Which<br />
is why, despite remaining<br />
somewhat distant, all political<br />
parties at least woo the voting<br />
public.<br />
This is also time to make<br />
your voice heard and in<br />
exercising your franchise, you<br />
would be helping to shape the<br />
policies and programmes in<br />
your own area.<br />
Voter turnout is even more<br />
critical in the ensuing elections<br />
than ever before and the votes<br />
of<br />
the Indian community can<br />
significantly alter the fortunes<br />
of candidates.<br />
Mobilising Election<br />
It is often argued that Indians<br />
will not vote if they feel<br />
that an election does not offer<br />
a chance of real change, what<br />
is termed a ‘mobilising election.’<br />
Such change can come<br />
either from the candidates or<br />
from community leaders who<br />
can influence change.<br />
Experience here and<br />
elsewhere has proved that<br />
when an election can make a<br />
difference, turnout rises. On<br />
that score, Local Elections 2019<br />
could create history. It would<br />
determine the future direction<br />
of the local governments and<br />
local bodies.<br />
Please make sure that you<br />
are enrolled in the electoral<br />
list (if not, do so forthwith),<br />
make sure you post your ballot<br />
papers or on October 12, 2019,<br />
drive to the polling station<br />
nearest to you and make sure<br />
you vote.<br />
Most important of all, make<br />
sure you exercise the right<br />
choice.<br />
It is only then you can raise<br />
your voice against those in<br />
charge.<br />
For voting is not just aright,<br />
it is a responsibility.<br />
You cannot claim the former<br />
until you have exercised the<br />
latter.<br />
their means, usually secured<br />
on their homes; eviction is<br />
often the price of default.<br />
We have heard reports of<br />
even elderly people thrown<br />
out of their homes and of<br />
people caught in a debt trap<br />
of $10,000 on an initial loan of<br />
$1000.<br />
As with pornography, consumer<br />
activists and legislators<br />
say they know predatory lending<br />
when they see it. In fact it<br />
is tricky, some say impossible,<br />
to define particular types of<br />
lending as predatory.<br />
Most of it is sub-prime,<br />
meaning to people with bad<br />
or non-existent credit records.<br />
The loans carry a higher rate<br />
of interest than do prime<br />
loans, to compensate for the<br />
higher credit risk.<br />
Experts believe that the new<br />
Legislation could be a deterrent<br />
against loan sharking<br />
practices, enabling consumers<br />
to lodge complaints against<br />
lending companies, even if<br />
they are not signatories to the<br />
guidelines.<br />
Indian Newslink is published by Indian Newslink 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 and social media<br />
are the copyright of Indian Newslink and reproduction in full or part in any medium is<br />
prohibited. Indian Newslink and its management and staff do not accept any responsibility<br />
for the claims made in advertisements.<br />
Managing Director &Publisher: Jacob Mannothra; Editor &General Manager: Venkat<br />
Raman; Production Manager: Mahes Perera; Financial Controller: Uma Venkatram CA;<br />
Phone: (09) 5336377 Email: info@indiannewslink.co.nz; Websites: www.indiannewslink.<br />
co.nz; www.inliba.com; www.inlisa.com<br />
Our complacency puts<br />
Democracy under threat<br />
Elizabeth Longworth<br />
Standfirst: Survival of New<br />
Zealand’s democracy faces<br />
unprecedented threats<br />
over the next thirty years:<br />
(a) Risks from systemic global<br />
economic instability (b) Major<br />
upheaval from adaptation (or not)<br />
to climate change (c) Dislocation<br />
arising from automated and<br />
intelligent machines.<br />
A Kiwi characteristic that could<br />
severely impede our capacity to<br />
respond, is the complacency of<br />
“she’ll be right.”<br />
Actually, it won’t be! Democracies<br />
need to be nurtured and supported<br />
– or risk having them turn into<br />
something else.<br />
Four Critical Steps<br />
There are four critical steps to<br />
shore up our democracy and sustain<br />
it.<br />
Use the Public Service Bill to<br />
encourage open government:<br />
Firstly, treat the proposed changes to<br />
the State Sector as afuture-proofing<br />
process.<br />
The commitment of Government<br />
to improving transparency is also a<br />
core tenet of Open Government. The<br />
intention is to modernise the Public<br />
Service to tackle interdependent<br />
challenges in an integrated manner.<br />
But there is a missed opportunity<br />
if the Bill fails to give impetus to a<br />
much more dynamic relationship<br />
between Government and the public<br />
– one which requires far more<br />
commitment to citizen consultation<br />
and engagement than is currently<br />
Parliament Buildings in Wellington (Photo<br />
Courtesy: New Zealand Parliament)<br />
accepted in the Bill’s background<br />
documents.<br />
Overhaul the Official Information<br />
Act 1982: Secondly, overhaul the<br />
OIA, which predates the digital<br />
transformation in online communication<br />
and data storage. There<br />
are many issues to consider while<br />
evolving a freedom-of-information<br />
regime to a digital environment.<br />
The current mentality of interpreting<br />
Open Government as alargely<br />
passive concept should change. It<br />
will be necessary for agencies to redirect,<br />
and even shepherd, requests<br />
through the OIA process.<br />
Educate to discern the truth: The<br />
confluence of our reliance on social<br />
media, the value of accessing big<br />
data, and, the potential for manipulation<br />
of our biases, all conspire<br />
to exert undue influence over our<br />
individual view of the world.<br />
Overseas experience with<br />
manipulation of voters’ social media,<br />
questions the extent to which an<br />
election can now be considered “free<br />
and fair.”<br />
So, it is critical to make a<br />
conscious effort to educate New<br />
Zealanders about how to discern<br />
what is “truth’ –what is fact versus<br />
perception –and how to verify or<br />
assess trusted online sources. It is<br />
essential to raise awareness of the<br />
implications of how algorithms work<br />
and their potential to influence our<br />
technology content and use.<br />
Kiwi youth as Kaitiaki: The fourth<br />
imperative rests with Kiwi youth<br />
as Kaitiaki (trustees, custodians),<br />
to guard against complacency. We<br />
need a national awareness to re-invigorate<br />
and modernise the notions<br />
of civic engagement and citizenship.<br />
Dynamic and rights-based education<br />
programmes could be designed<br />
for communities, schools and social<br />
media use, so as to “reinterpret” the<br />
application of Open Government.<br />
The focus would be on how to<br />
engage in policy debate and acquire<br />
the tools and expertise to participate<br />
in decision-making processes.<br />
A key objective is to emphasise<br />
the accountability of leaders to be<br />
transparent about their policies and<br />
political agendas. This could be a<br />
youth-led movement if it turned on<br />
those issues of profound significance<br />
affecting the future of the next<br />
generation.<br />
Time to prepare our democracy<br />
for the future: While submissions<br />
to the ‘State Sector Act Reform<br />
2018’ closed last year, the drafting<br />
of the emergent Public Service Bill<br />
can be responsive to this unique<br />
opportunity.<br />
With objectives based on<br />
principles of full and enhanced<br />
participation, the new Public Service<br />
Act can be empowering of greater<br />
levels of civic involvement.<br />
The Public Service Bill presents a<br />
unique opportunity to ensure that<br />
our democracy: (a) Has a strong and<br />
vibrant base, capable of carrying<br />
the people with it (b) Is built on the<br />
principles of full and enhanced<br />
participation, transparency and a<br />
revamped concept of civic engagement,<br />
namely civic activism.<br />
Elizabeth Longworth is a Guest<br />
Author and the above article was<br />
written in her private capacity.<br />
She was a Campaigner for New<br />
Zealand’s OIA legislation in 1980s.<br />
Opposition stand on PBO could be costly<br />
Kieran Madden<br />
In April this year, astrophysicists<br />
did the seemingly impossible<br />
and took a photo of a Black<br />
Hole. The Black Hole is more<br />
than 50-million light years away,<br />
which, incidentally, was how<br />
far away I wanted to get during<br />
2017 election scrapping over the<br />
existence or otherwise of an $11.7<br />
billion fiscal hole.<br />
Much like the destructive power<br />
of aBlack Hole’s gravitational pull,<br />
(former Finance Minister) Steven<br />
Joyce’s claim that Labour’s slate of<br />
election promises had ahuge fiscal<br />
hole devoured all the precious space<br />
for more productive discussion.<br />
Already aprecious commodity,<br />
the rare debates about actual policy<br />
differences shifted to a cynical backand-forth<br />
about numbers and trust.<br />
Our collective focus was fixed on<br />
a negative “he said –he said” void,<br />
rather than exploring the complex<br />
constellations of policy promises<br />
and political visions.<br />
One way to stop this kind of thing<br />
happening again is to establish an<br />
independent fiscal body capable of<br />
costing election promises; offering<br />
voters more certainty and politicians<br />
less wiggle room for these kind<br />
of shenanigans<br />
This is precisely what the Gov-<br />
Simon Bridges and Steven Joyce-same side<br />
of the coin (RNZ Picture)<br />
ernment is proposing in response<br />
to their Confidence and Supply<br />
Agreement with the Greens: a<br />
Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO).<br />
Global trend<br />
The idea is well-established<br />
internationally, with 29 of the 36<br />
OECD countries already touting Independent<br />
fiscal institutions of their<br />
own. Most have mandates to analyse<br />
long-term fiscal sustainability (which<br />
our Public Finance Act is renowned<br />
for) and macroeconomic forecasting<br />
(which Treasury is respected for).<br />
While the election platform<br />
costing function is less common,<br />
only present in the Australian,<br />
Canadian and Dutch bodies, there is<br />
good evidence that this has proven<br />
effective in these jurisdictions.<br />
The proposed Office will only be<br />
as successful as it is independent.<br />
As such, it is agood thing the<br />
Government’s proposal suggests the<br />
Office should be outside Parliament,<br />
holding arank of “Officers of<br />
Parliament” like the Auditor General<br />
or the Ombudsman, rather than<br />
sitting under Treasury as the Greens<br />
proposed.<br />
Bridges’ charge<br />
But this isn’t enough for Opposition<br />
Leader Simon Bridges, who<br />
reckoned out loud that this proposal<br />
is the Government’s attempt to “illegitimately,<br />
undemocratically screw<br />
the scrum on the Opposition.”<br />
The thing is though, if done well,<br />
this Office would do the exact opposite.<br />
It would empower opposition<br />
parties that lack the incumbent<br />
policy-making heft of Treasury a<br />
way to get their election platforms<br />
independently costed, bridging the<br />
legitimacy gap that currently exists.<br />
Commentators opine that National<br />
is denouncing this because they<br />
currently possess an reputation<br />
as the most economically reliable<br />
Party, and anything that allows a<br />
non-partisan method of challenging<br />
this perception in an election is bad<br />
news for National.<br />
This might be a good political reason<br />
to oppose the idea, but not good<br />
enough for the long-term democratic<br />
health of our country.<br />
This isn’t astrophysics, but there is<br />
significant gravity to this situation.<br />
This Opposition, for the sake of all<br />
oppositions (and the sanity of voters)<br />
to come, should get behind the<br />
Parliamentary Budget Office.<br />
Opposing solid policy like this<br />
while in Opposition shows you<br />
probably want to remain there.<br />
Kieran Madden is a Researcher<br />
at Maxim Institute based in<br />
Auckland.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2019<br />
Businesslink<br />
Unfair funding undermines diversity of electoral candidates<br />
Suzanne Snively<br />
Lack of fair funding for candidates<br />
in general elections has<br />
attracted a lot of angst over<br />
the years.<br />
The consequence of unequal<br />
access to campaign funding is that<br />
people who end up in public office<br />
tend to be those who have access to<br />
that funding or personal savings.<br />
This undermines diversity and<br />
provides barriers for younger<br />
candidates to run.<br />
An immediate challenge is finding<br />
a solution to address the lack of<br />
transparency about campaign<br />
financing.<br />
The Shelly Bay debacle<br />
Local government campaign<br />
funding has tended to be under the<br />
radar, or at least it has been until<br />
now.<br />
The ongoing Shelly Bay debacle in<br />
Wellington shows local government<br />
candidate funding faces issues<br />
very similar to those for national<br />
elections.<br />
Property developers donated<br />
nearly three-quarters of the<br />
$211,362 in declared donations<br />
given to Wellington Mayoral Candidates<br />
in 2016.<br />
There is evidence that these<br />
declared donations are just a small<br />
amount of the total.<br />
Over a period of a year during the<br />
2016 election cycle, for example, Ian<br />
Cassels donated at least $50,000 with<br />
various amounts going to several of<br />
the mayoral candidates.<br />
Ian and his partner Patricia Caitlin<br />
Taylor own property development<br />
firm The Wellington Company. To<br />
enhance what it sees as the benefits<br />
for the Shelly Bay location, The<br />
Wellington Company has been<br />
negotiating with the Wellington City<br />
Council for many years.<br />
Then just last week –two weeks<br />
into the six-week local body election<br />
campaigning period –The Wellington<br />
Company bought the final piece<br />
of land in Shelly Bay owned by<br />
Taranaki Whanui for $10 million.<br />
Opponents of the transaction<br />
complain that the price is way under<br />
market.<br />
Fair Representation<br />
The concern for national general<br />
elections is to ensure that different<br />
political ideologies and perspectives<br />
have a fair chance of being represented.<br />
For Wellington, the motivation<br />
of property-developer donors is<br />
to build support for their projects.<br />
Even though it isn’t promoting an<br />
ideology or partisan political party,<br />
the impact on diversity in elections<br />
is the same.<br />
More importantly, the approach<br />
has the potential to undermine<br />
democratic process for property<br />
development decisions.<br />
Offshore Donations<br />
Another growing concern is<br />
donations coming from offshore<br />
interests into New Zealand.<br />
During arecent briefing to<br />
the Justice Select Committee, the<br />
Director General of the New Zealand<br />
Security Intelligence Service,<br />
Rebecca Kitteridge and the head of<br />
the Government Communications<br />
Security Bureau, Andrew Hampton,<br />
told the MPs on the committee that<br />
they had seen “relationship building<br />
and donation activity by state<br />
actors and their proxies that had<br />
concerned them.”<br />
With new central government<br />
funding for regional development<br />
projects, the potential for these<br />
donations to impact on local body<br />
elections in increased.<br />
These projects are designed to<br />
result in improved investment returns,<br />
which is attractive to offshore<br />
investors who may target local<br />
government candidates throughout<br />
New Zealand.<br />
Importance of Transparency<br />
Transparency can shed more light<br />
on donations<br />
Banning foreign donations, while<br />
important, is unlikely to be effective<br />
on its own. Transparency with more<br />
stringent disclosure requirements<br />
has a proven impact on preventing<br />
conduct with corrupt intent.<br />
Greater transparency and<br />
accountability will improve the<br />
ability of the agencies to trace and<br />
investigate donations. Effective<br />
transparency and accountability<br />
also inform the wider public and<br />
the media, enabling awider scope<br />
in scrutiny that detects and prevents<br />
corruption and other misconduct.<br />
A starting point is to lower the bar<br />
for reporting of donations from the<br />
current threshold of $1500. Further,<br />
it is important for donations to be<br />
published in real time during the<br />
election campaign instead of delayed<br />
reporting after the campaign<br />
is finished.<br />
Greater transparency can assist<br />
in creating an equal playing field, so<br />
electors are able to fairly compare<br />
political candidates, even when<br />
there are diverse advertising<br />
campaigns. Electors will be better<br />
placed to make informed choices<br />
about candidates’ wisdom for<br />
making future infrastructure and<br />
other decisions.<br />
The practice Accountability<br />
Transparency and accountability<br />
are objectives that almost all candidates<br />
claim to aspire to. These<br />
two words are thrown around<br />
like confetti during their election<br />
campaigns.<br />
To promote greater understanding<br />
of what these terms mean in<br />
practice, Transparency International<br />
New Zealand has included five sets<br />
of questions in this newsletter to be<br />
used when talking with local body<br />
candidates, and for candidates to reflect<br />
on themselves. These questions<br />
are being circulated around New<br />
Zealand to many local body election<br />
candidates.<br />
13<br />
Applicable to all positions –Council<br />
and Regional Council, District<br />
Health Boards and community<br />
boards and trusts –the questions<br />
focus on integrity, transparency and<br />
accountability.<br />
Wellington Mayoral Candidate<br />
Forum<br />
These questions have already<br />
been sent to the Mayoral candidates<br />
for Wellington who will be presenting<br />
their responses at a public<br />
lunchtime event hosted by TINZ<br />
between 1230 pm and 130 pm) on<br />
Thursday, <strong>Sept</strong>ember 26, 2019 at the<br />
Old Government Buildings (Home of<br />
the Victoria University Wellington<br />
Law School).<br />
The venue is Theatre 3, on the<br />
ground floor at the back.<br />
There are nine Mayoral candidates<br />
in Wellington. The two leading<br />
candidates are incumbent Mayor,<br />
Justin Lester who has received donations<br />
from The Wellington Property<br />
Company, and, Andy Foster, whose<br />
supporters include Peter Jackson<br />
and Fran Walsh.<br />
The commentator at this<br />
<strong>Sept</strong>ember 26 event will be Max<br />
Rashbrooke, and the Chair will be<br />
Lambton Ward Candidate Tamatha<br />
Paul.<br />
Suzanne Snively is Chair of<br />
Transparency International New<br />
Zealand Inc based in Wellington.<br />
The above article appeared in the<br />
<strong>Sept</strong>ember 2019 issue of Transparency<br />
International.<br />
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14<br />
SEPTEMBER 15, 2019<br />
Businesslink<br />
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SEPTEMBER 15, 2019<br />
Communitylink<br />
Variety and quality of South Indian food in Glen Eden<br />
Dine-In, Takeaway, Outdoor Catering and Corporate Events<br />
Venkat Raman<br />
An increasing number of<br />
diners in New Zealand<br />
are beginning to enjoy the<br />
culinary delights of South<br />
India, with the establishment of<br />
Restaurants with Takeaway and<br />
Catering facilities such as Papadums<br />
South Indian Cuisine in Auckland.<br />
Located at Unit 2, 4038, Great<br />
North Road in Glen Eden, the<br />
Restaurant, owned by Devendra<br />
Kumar Lakshmanan and his wife<br />
Sangeetha, serves more than 120<br />
food and beverage items, amajority<br />
of them authentic and distinctly<br />
South Indian.<br />
Snacks, Lunch and Dinner<br />
Migrating to New Zealand in<br />
2003, Kumar started his career in<br />
Wellington and later moved to New<br />
Plymouth and Auckland, acquiring<br />
experience in restaurant business.<br />
He purchased Papadums in late<br />
2017 and since then, offering variety<br />
and quality snacks and food for<br />
lunch (Tuesday to Sunday from 1130<br />
am to 3pm) and dinner (Monday to<br />
Sunday from 5pm to 10 pm).<br />
“The response from customers<br />
has been encouraging and many of<br />
them are amazed at the extensive<br />
range of our South Indian Menu.<br />
For instance, alarge number of<br />
customers are pleasantly surprised<br />
that we offer as many as 12 different<br />
types of Dosa, ranging from the<br />
Bangalore Dosa, Tamil Nadu Masala<br />
Dosa and Andhra Karapodi Dosa to<br />
Hyderabad Kheema Dosa and Kerala<br />
Prawn Dosa, covering the five States<br />
of South India,” he said.<br />
As well as the famous Upma, Idly,<br />
Medhu Vada and Poori, Papadums<br />
Devendra Kumar Lakshmanan and Sangeetha Kumar<br />
Fish, Lamb, Chicken and more cooked South Indian style<br />
South Indian Cuisine offers 20<br />
Non-Vegetarian and Vegetarian<br />
Starters, leading to Mains covering<br />
Chicken, Lamb, Seafood and Vegetable<br />
curries and other items.<br />
“We are happy to cook and serve<br />
dishes that are popular in other<br />
Indian States. These have been well<br />
received by our customers. Apart<br />
from dine-in, there are also regular<br />
takeaway orders,” Kumar said.<br />
These include Marathi Mixed<br />
Vegetable Curry and Dahi Puri (from<br />
the State of Maharashtra), Goan<br />
Fish Curry (from the State of Goa),<br />
Punjabi Chole Masala (from the<br />
The Restaurant serves 12 different Dosas<br />
Medhu Vada with Sambar and Chutney<br />
State of Punjab) and Pani Puri (from<br />
the State of Bihar) and Spinach<br />
Chaat and Samosa Chaat (from the<br />
States of Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and<br />
Madhya Pradesh).<br />
Idli or idly is a type of savoury rice<br />
cake, originating in Tamil Nadu.<br />
Made by steaming a batter<br />
consisting of fermented black lentils<br />
(de-husked) and rice, it is readily<br />
metabolised by the human body<br />
since the fermentation process<br />
breaks down the starches.<br />
Idli and Condiments<br />
Idli has several variations, including<br />
Rava idli, made from Semolina<br />
Papadums is waiting for you! (Pictures Supplied)<br />
and Sanna of Konkan.<br />
Since plain Idlis are mild in taste,<br />
a condiment is considered essential<br />
and hence Sambar and a variety<br />
of chutney are usually served<br />
alongside. ‘Idli Podi,’ adry and spicy<br />
powder (which can be made at<br />
home) are also recommended and<br />
is convenient while travelling.<br />
Most people consider Idli on its<br />
own as a ‘harmless’ breakfast or<br />
lunch item or even as a snack any<br />
time of the day.<br />
Papadums serves ‘Podi Idli,’<br />
with spicy powder (Karampodi),<br />
curry leaves, chopped onions and<br />
traditional spices.<br />
About Dosas and Medhu Vada<br />
Dosas are indigenous to South<br />
India but their exact birthplace is a<br />
matter of conjecture.<br />
While Historian PThankappan<br />
Nair said that Dosa originated in<br />
Udupi, aCity in the Southwest<br />
Indian State of Karnataka, Food<br />
Historian K T Acharya believes that<br />
Dosa, (of Dosai) was in use in the<br />
ancient Tamil country more than<br />
2000 years ago.<br />
Get the best of South Indian Cuisine and more!<br />
Dine-In, Takeaway or have a Party<br />
Papadums Restaurant offers authentic dishes for healthy living<br />
More than 120 dishes to choose from different States in India<br />
15<br />
Dosai is mentioned in the Sangam<br />
Literature, which dates back to 3rd<br />
Century BC.<br />
The association of Dosa to Udupi<br />
came about because of its ‘fixture’<br />
at all Udupi Restaurants located<br />
throughout the world. Thinner and<br />
crispier than the Dosai, this dish was<br />
relatively unknown to New Zealand<br />
restaurants 20 years ago.<br />
A recipe for Dosa can be found<br />
in the ‘Manasollasa,’ a12th Century<br />
Sanskrit Encyclopaedia compiled by<br />
Someshvara III, who ruled in aregion<br />
that is present-day Karnataka.<br />
Medhu Vada is literally ‘Soft Vada,<br />
a South Indian fritter made from<br />
Vigna Mungo (Black Gram or Urad<br />
Dal). It is usually made in dough<br />
shape with a crispy exterior and soft<br />
interior. Eaten as a snack or as a<br />
breakfast item, Medhu Vada is also<br />
served at Papadums during lunch<br />
and dinner sessions.<br />
South Indian cuisine is aromatic<br />
as it uses varieties of spices in<br />
making fresh ground masala for<br />
its dishes. Papadums is a good<br />
example.<br />
12 types of Dosa; Popular snacks; Full Course lunch and dinner<br />
Opening Hours:<br />
Monday: Dinner Only from 5 pm to 10 pm<br />
Tuesday to Sunday:<br />
Lunch: 1130 am to 3 pm<br />
Dinner: 5 pm to 10 pm<br />
Party Orders, Corporate Catering,<br />
Home Delivery Available<br />
(Conditions Apply)<br />
Papadums South Indian Cuisine<br />
4038 Great North Road, Glen Eden, Auckland 0602<br />
Phone: (09) 8187255; Mobile: 021-1637646 | Email: papadumsnz01@gmail.com
16<br />
SEPTEMBER 15, 2019<br />
Communitylink<br />
World’s first Ganesh Chaturthi at Papakura Temple<br />
32 Special Wooden Statues installed<br />
Venkat Raman<br />
Sri Ganesha Temple, incorporating<br />
‘Karpaga Vinayagar,’ in<br />
the South Auckland suburb of<br />
Papakura became the first in<br />
the world to commence ‘Vinayaka<br />
Chaturthi’ Festival with special<br />
prayers offered to the Lord and<br />
other Deities on <strong>Sept</strong>ember 1, 2019.<br />
The event was exclusive to<br />
donor families and hence was not<br />
publicised. Thousands of people<br />
visited the Temple every day until<br />
<strong>Sept</strong>ember 12, 2019 to participate in<br />
the Festival.<br />
Among the highlights of the<br />
Pre-Chaturthi Festival was the<br />
installation of 32 Wooden Statues,<br />
donated by as many individuals<br />
and families, along the walls in the<br />
Main Temple Hall, each carrying 32<br />
Six of the 32 Statues-Erampa, Lucumy, Maha, Uchysda, Vikna and Shipra Ganapathi<br />
different names of Lord Ganesha.<br />
Each of the names depicts the Lord<br />
in various ‘Moods,’ ‘Stances’ and stages<br />
of life of Lord Ganesha, known to the<br />
Tamil-speaking people as ‘Pillayarappa,’<br />
‘Vinayakar’, among other names<br />
including those of places.<br />
Special Prayers<br />
Vinayaka Chaturthi Festival began<br />
with Vigneswara Pooja, Puniyaha<br />
Vahachanam, Procession of 32<br />
Wooden Ganesha Idols around the<br />
Temple by the respective donors,<br />
Installation of the Murthis on the<br />
Chief Priest Parameswaran Chandru<br />
Temple Wall, Nithya Pooja and Anna<br />
Dhanam.<br />
Chief Priest Parameswaran Chandru,<br />
who is endeared by a cross-section<br />
of New Zealanders including by<br />
people of other religions and faiths,<br />
conducted the proceedings with the<br />
Vinayaka Deity continues to grow in Kanipakam<br />
An Amazing tale of a Temple in Andhra Pradesh<br />
Venkat Raman<br />
While thousands of Ganesha<br />
Temples all over the<br />
world marked Ganesh<br />
Chaturthi on <strong>Sept</strong>ember 2, 2019, the<br />
Festival would have been of greater<br />
significance to a handful of them<br />
because of their legend and religious<br />
heritage.<br />
Among them was the Sri Varasiddhi<br />
Vinayaka Temple in Kanipakam<br />
Village near Chittoor in Andhra<br />
Pradesh.<br />
Beyond Time and Riches<br />
An amazing fact about this Temple<br />
is that the self-manifested Deity<br />
of Vinayaka is ‘growing,’ not just in<br />
popularity but also in size.<br />
Visiting the Temple just three<br />
weeks before the Birthday of Lord<br />
Ganesha, who is endeared with 107<br />
other Names, including Pillayarappa,<br />
Sumukha and Vigneswara, was<br />
an exhilarating experience, after a<br />
The Deity of Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka in<br />
Kanipakam Temple, near Chittoor in Andhra<br />
Pradesh (Courtesy: Pinterest)<br />
Dharshan of Lord Venkateswara<br />
(a form of Lord Vishnu), the God of<br />
Seven Hills in the not-too-far away<br />
Tirumala Devasthanam.<br />
Entering the Sanctum Sanctorum<br />
to behold Lord Vinayaka, one<br />
loses sense of time and earthly<br />
Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka Temple in Kanipakam<br />
Village, near Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh (Picture<br />
by AP Tourism)<br />
longings and concentrate on the<br />
Deity that appears to say, “You come<br />
to Me; abide by Me, and you will<br />
never despair again.”<br />
Although the Deity was found by<br />
three handicapped brothers more<br />
than 1000 years ago, the Temple was<br />
established in 11th Century AD by<br />
Chola King Kulothunga Chola and<br />
enhanced in 1336 by the Emperors of<br />
the Vijayanagara Dynasty.<br />
About Kanipakam<br />
Kanipakam is a small village on the<br />
bank of Bahuda River.<br />
‘Kani’ means wetland and ‘Pakam’<br />
means flow of water into wetland.<br />
According to the legend of the<br />
Temple, there were three brothers,<br />
each with a handicap, one was<br />
dumb, the other deaf and the third<br />
blind. They earned their livelihood<br />
by cultivating a small piece of land.<br />
Those days, water was drawn<br />
from wells by way of ‘Piccota<br />
System.’<br />
As one of brothers irrigated the<br />
field through the channels, the other<br />
two plied on the Piccota. One day,<br />
the well dried up and one of them<br />
got into the well and started digging.<br />
He was startled to find a stone with<br />
blood oozing from it. Within in<br />
seconds, the entire water in the well<br />
turned blood red.<br />
Startled by this Divine Sight, the<br />
three brothers were rid of their<br />
handicaps.<br />
As soon as the villagers came to<br />
know about this miracle, they and<br />
Sanskrit Scholar, Ordained Monk honoured<br />
Ragavan<br />
Rengachariar<br />
One of the most revered<br />
Scholars and Spiritual<br />
Leaders of the contemporary<br />
world was honoured<br />
in both sides of the Tasman in recent<br />
weeks.<br />
Bhadreshdas Swami was<br />
facilitated in Melbourne by Victorian<br />
Parliament Speaker Colin Brooks<br />
on August 31, 2019 and by his<br />
devotees in Auckland at press time<br />
on <strong>Sept</strong>ember 13.<br />
Felicitations in Melbourne<br />
Mr Brooks presented him a<br />
Certificate of Honour on behalf of<br />
the Victorian Parliament for his<br />
contributions to Hinduism.<br />
Mr Brooks was accompanied by<br />
former Legislative Council President<br />
Bruce Atkinson and Legislative<br />
Council (Northern Metropolitan)<br />
Member Craig Ondarchie at a brief<br />
ceremony held in the Parliamentary<br />
Building in Melbourne.<br />
Bhadreshdas gifted a set of ‘Swaminarayan<br />
Bhashyam’ to Mr Brooks.<br />
Among others present at the event<br />
were Indian Consul General Raj<br />
Kumar, Hindu Council of Australia<br />
President Abhijti Bhide, Hindu<br />
Organisations, Temples and Associations<br />
Forum President Rajiv Baheti.<br />
Lecture in Auckland<br />
Bhadreshdas Swami speaking in Victorian<br />
Parliament, Melbourne on August 31, 2019<br />
(Picture from Facebook Pramukhraj BAPS)<br />
Bhadreshdas is scheduled to be<br />
accorded a Special Reception at<br />
the Mahatma Gandhi Centre on<br />
Friday, <strong>Sept</strong>ember 13. Organised by<br />
Swaminarayan Mandir, Avondale,<br />
the event would include an address<br />
by him on ‘Towards Better Living,<br />
through the Bhagavad Gita.<br />
The event is open to all.<br />
Trilogy of Scriptures<br />
The Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads<br />
and Brahma Sutras are collectively<br />
known as ‘Prasthantrayi.’<br />
These scriptures impart ‘Gnana’<br />
or ‘eternal truth’ to the soul for<br />
practice in everyday life.<br />
The Brahma Sutras, in Sanskrit,<br />
systematise and summarise the<br />
philosophical and spiritual ideas in<br />
the Upanishads.<br />
Prasthantrayi mean three sources<br />
or axioms that refer to the three<br />
canonical texts of Divine Philosophy,<br />
especially of the Vedanta Schools.<br />
They envelope the Brahma Sutras,<br />
Bhadreshdas Swami presenting his ‘Bhashya,’ to Victorian Parliament Speaker Colin Brooks in<br />
Melbourne on August 31, 2019 (Picture from Facebook Pramukhraj BAPS)<br />
Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita.<br />
These were written or came into<br />
existence thousands of years ago.<br />
Interpretative Texts<br />
Many Sages, Saints and Acharyas<br />
including Ramanujacharya, Shankaracharya<br />
and Ekanathar have<br />
written commentaries known as<br />
‘Bhashya’ for the benefit of devotees<br />
and common people for easy assimilation<br />
and practice.<br />
The Bhashya itself evolves as<br />
successive saints and scholars revisit<br />
the Scriptures.<br />
One such is Bhadreshdas Swami,<br />
who is currently on a visit to New<br />
Zealand.<br />
Known as ‘Swaminarayan<br />
Bhashyam’ the works of Bhareshdas<br />
is considered as a significant part of<br />
Vedantic Philosophy.<br />
A disciple of Pramukh Swami<br />
Maharaj, the previous Head of Swaminarayan<br />
Sampradaya or Tradition,<br />
he is revered by political, religious<br />
and community leaders worldwide.<br />
First in 1200 years<br />
This is the first time in last 1200<br />
years that a new Hindu Bhashya has<br />
been written since Shankaracharya’s<br />
Advaita Darshan of such proportions.<br />
It is said that for the first time,<br />
a Bhashya, founded on all three<br />
Prasthantrayi as well as a Vad Granth<br />
(critical reflection on the Bhashya)<br />
has been authored within one’s<br />
lifetime.<br />
In doing so, Bhadreshdas has<br />
achieved a very special and rare feat<br />
as an Acharya to the amazement and<br />
appreciation of renowned Sanskrit<br />
scholars.<br />
Bhadreshdas had to abandon the<br />
project since a part of the completed<br />
support of his other Priests.<br />
He said, “This Temple has not<br />
only the blessings of Vinayakar,<br />
the Main Deity but also that of the<br />
Trustee, Devotees and people of New<br />
Zealand. We are extremely proud<br />
and privileged to have 32 Wooden<br />
Statues donated by our devotees.<br />
Vinayaka Chaturthi is the most important<br />
Festival for this Temple and<br />
activities this year were extensive,”<br />
he said.<br />
Chandru said that special prayers<br />
were held every day.<br />
Among them were Asta Draviya<br />
Sahitha Moola Mantra Homam,<br />
Vishesha Ganapathi Homam,<br />
Vigneswara Pooja, Puniyaha<br />
Vachanam; Sthapana Kumba<br />
Pooja; Draviya Homam; Draviya<br />
Abhishekam; Morning Special Arathi<br />
for Chaturthi; Vigneswara Pooja,<br />
Swasthi Punniyaham; Kalasha Pooja<br />
and other Sevas.<br />
Pictures for Indian Newslink by<br />
Nagesh Nemani<br />
tried to deepen it further. But their<br />
attempt proved futile because the<br />
‘Swayambhu’ (Self-Manifested) Idol<br />
of Lord Vinayaka emerged from the<br />
swirling waters.<br />
They offered hundreds of<br />
coconuts with prayers. The coconut<br />
water flowed into the channel<br />
covering more than an acre. The<br />
indication of this led to the modification<br />
in the usage of the Tamil word<br />
‘Kanipakkam.’<br />
About Chittoor<br />
Andhra Pradesh is rich in historical<br />
monuments. The State houses<br />
many Temples with architectural<br />
beauty, attracting a large number of<br />
pilgrims and tourists from India and<br />
other parts of the world.<br />
As well as Tirupati and Tirumala<br />
Hills, Srikalahasti is a famous<br />
pilgrim centre and the Temple here<br />
is dedicated to Lord Siva known<br />
as Vayulingam and considered as<br />
Dakshina Kasi (South Varanasi).<br />
work was lost.<br />
He was inspired by Pramukh<br />
Swami to continue his efforts.<br />
Bhadreshdas admits that though<br />
he had lost hope, he could rewrite<br />
the lost parts as if in a state of<br />
trance, with the Grace of his Master.<br />
Bhadreshdas earned worldwide<br />
recognition for his studies, works<br />
and contributions to Hindu<br />
philosophy and scholarly Sanskrit<br />
literature.<br />
Promoting traditions<br />
His Bhashya and numerous<br />
articles preserve and promote the<br />
traditions and values of Hinduism.<br />
They inspire people towards a more<br />
spiritually-centred life and spark<br />
new meaning and perspective<br />
to the shlokas and words in the<br />
Prasthantrayi.<br />
Bhadreshdas holds doctorates<br />
(PhD and D Litt) and teaches and<br />
guides PhD students.<br />
He travels widely in India and<br />
abroad to spread the message of the<br />
Akshar Purushottam Siddhant of<br />
BAPS Swaminarayan Sampradaya.<br />
Ragavan Rengachariar is<br />
our Religious and Spiritual<br />
Correspondent. A qualified<br />
Accountant and Banker, he is a<br />
Fellow of the New Zealand Credit<br />
& Finance Institute Incorporated<br />
and Associate of the New Zealand<br />
Institute of Management. Mr<br />
Rengachariar is Founder-Trustee<br />
of the RAMS Foundation, a Trust<br />
registered under the New Zealand<br />
Charities Commission. He lives in<br />
Auckland.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2019<br />
Communitylink<br />
Traditional music and dance resound South Indian culture<br />
Venkat Raman<br />
Producing the First Indian<br />
Newslink Festivals of South<br />
India has been an exciting<br />
experience. That excitement is<br />
shared by five Associations that have<br />
organised the event on Saturday,<br />
<strong>Sept</strong>ember 21, 2019 at Sacred Heart<br />
College Auditorium located at 250<br />
West Tamaki Road, Glendowie,<br />
Auckland.<br />
The highlight of the evening would<br />
be traditional music and dance; we<br />
have determinedly retained the traditional<br />
aspect of music and dance, for<br />
they are the true forms of performing<br />
arts that have sustained for centuries,<br />
inspiring many of our young people<br />
to practice them.<br />
We salute parents, teachers and<br />
elders in our communities for<br />
conscientiously encouraging children<br />
to learn these forms of arts, practice<br />
and present them on stage.<br />
Festivals of South India would be a<br />
tribute to their patronage.<br />
Venerated Expression<br />
In ancient India, Dance in its classical<br />
form was the most venerated<br />
expression of devotion, dedication<br />
and diligence, cultivated to express,<br />
elevate and extol dignity and divinity.<br />
Dancers were treated with respect<br />
and honour, with emperors, scholars<br />
and even warriors finding time to<br />
promote its values and ideals.<br />
Dancers of yore found a special<br />
place in kings’ courts, temples, public<br />
places and home, and were respected<br />
as true manifestations of God, epitomising<br />
the grace, style and strength<br />
of the Supreme Being.<br />
Dance in any form has found a<br />
place of distinction and support in<br />
most parts of the world, transcending<br />
manmade barriers of religion, class<br />
and income.<br />
Young men and women dancers<br />
today show commitment and dedication<br />
that was not experienced a few<br />
decades ago, save for a few who kept<br />
the fire burning.<br />
Talented teachers have established<br />
dance schools in most parts of the<br />
Dancer takes Sub-Continent Culture to Whangarei<br />
‘Beyond Bollywood’ Show by Monisha Kumar<br />
Venkat Raman<br />
Northlanders would have<br />
a unique opportunity of<br />
witnessing the cultural mix<br />
of the Indian Subcontinent<br />
as a talented young woman presents<br />
an evening of performing arts.<br />
Monisha Kumar, an acclaimed<br />
choreographer, producer, director,<br />
teacher and a Master of fine arts<br />
will present ‘Beyond Bollywood,’ a<br />
kaleidoscope of colour, costumes<br />
and dances of India, bringing out<br />
the rich heritage that are several<br />
centuries old.<br />
Organised by the Northland<br />
Indian Association, the Programme<br />
will be a part of Diwali celebrations<br />
on Saturday, October 12, 2019 at<br />
Forum North in Whangarei.<br />
Variety in Arts<br />
As well as classical dance forms<br />
such as Bharata Natyam, Odissi,<br />
Kathak and Manipuri, the two-hour<br />
programme, commencing at 1<br />
pm, will include folk items such as<br />
Lavani (Maharashtra), Rajasthani<br />
Kathputli, Garba (Gujarat) and<br />
contemporary dances featuring<br />
Acro, Jazz and Hindi films.<br />
Among the participants will be<br />
students and guest performers of<br />
Monisha Kumar Dance Company<br />
based in Auckland.<br />
Monisha said this year’s Programme<br />
will also include Hip Hop,<br />
Jazz Funk, saucy Cabaret and Belly<br />
Dancing, with a special dance as<br />
tribute to Christchurch put together<br />
with dialogues and narration by<br />
Hamilton based Youtuber Reneel<br />
world to explore and expose talents.<br />
New Zealand is one of them.<br />
Indian Tradition<br />
Theatre and dance in South<br />
Asia stem principally from Indian<br />
tradition.<br />
As Encyclopaedia Britannica mentions,<br />
the principles of aesthetics<br />
and gesture language in the Natyashastra,<br />
a 2000-year-old Sanskrit<br />
treatise on dramaturgy, have been<br />
the mainstay of all the traditional<br />
dancers and actors in India.<br />
“Even folk performers follow<br />
some of its conventions. Despite the<br />
influence of the different religious<br />
waves that swept the Subcontinent<br />
through the centuries, the forms of<br />
dance and theatre were always able<br />
to preserve their ancient core.”<br />
Dance is a part of all Hindu<br />
rituals. Farmers dance for a<br />
plentiful harvest, hunters for a rich<br />
bag, fishermen for a good catch.<br />
Seasonal festivals, religious fairs,<br />
marriages, and births are celebrated<br />
by community dancing.<br />
“A warrior dances before the image<br />
of his Goddess and receives Her<br />
blessings before he leaves for battle.<br />
A Temple girl dances to please her<br />
God. The Gods dance in joy, in anger,<br />
in triumph. The world itself was<br />
created by the Cosmic Dance of Lord<br />
Shiva, who is called Nataraja, the<br />
King of dancers, and worshipped by<br />
actors and dancers as their patron.<br />
Performances and Performers<br />
The Festivals of South India will<br />
set the platform for celebration of<br />
cultures of the five States, namely<br />
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil<br />
Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. Each<br />
of these States is rich in culture, colours,<br />
costumes and cuisine, which<br />
will form the core of the event. From<br />
Bharata Natyam, which is said to be<br />
the oldest form of Indian Classical<br />
Dance, Kuchipudi and Kathakali<br />
to various forms of folk dances,<br />
there is abundant tests of talent,<br />
endurance, discipline and grace of<br />
performers. These would come to<br />
the fore at our event on <strong>Sept</strong>ember<br />
21, 2019 in Auckland.<br />
Monisha Kumar as Goddess Durga<br />
Many Talents, one person-Monisha Kumar<br />
Singh of ‘Ren and Raj’ fame.<br />
“Their popular comedy series<br />
consists of two intelligent idiots (Ren<br />
and Raj) taking on the satirical challenges<br />
of everyday drama. The duo<br />
recently won the Best Script, Best<br />
Director and Best Film Awards at ‘48<br />
Hour Film Festival New Zealand’ in<br />
Hamilton,’ Monisha said.<br />
Ratna Venkat<br />
The Festivals of South India will begin with<br />
a performance by Ratna Venkat, a professional<br />
dancer who has achieved proficiency in Bharata<br />
Natyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak, Fusion, Folk and<br />
many other forms of dance.<br />
Born and raised in the Kingdom of Bahrain,<br />
Ratna commenced her training in Bharata<br />
Natyam when she was less than five years of<br />
age and continued learning the art along with<br />
Kuchipudi and presented her Arangetram and<br />
Rangapravesham on March 10, 2007 in the<br />
Ratna Venkat as Three Goddeesses<br />
presence of the then Governor General, Prime<br />
Minister, political and community leaders. Since<br />
then, she has hundreds of performances to her<br />
credit in New Zealand, Australia, Taiwan and India.<br />
Renowned for her innovative choreography<br />
and fusion of dance formats, she is a recipient of<br />
several awards including ‘The RAMS Foundation<br />
Princess of Kuchipudi Award’ from the then<br />
Prime Minister John Key in November 2016.<br />
Ratna will present a dance number praying<br />
tribute to three Goddesses- Parvathi (Representing<br />
Shakthi or Power), Lakshmi (Wealth and<br />
Prosperity) and Saraswathi (Knowledge and<br />
Learning).<br />
Chennai City Gangzta<br />
Oyilattam<br />
Tamil Nadu has been the seat of music and<br />
dance since Tamil is stated to the oldest language<br />
in the world and many Emperors and Dynasties<br />
promoted art in its varied forms. Along with<br />
traditional styles, folk dances also thrive, one<br />
of the most significant of which is ‘Oyilattam,’<br />
known for its elegance and beauty.<br />
It is said to have originated in Madurai and<br />
prevalently practiced in Kongu Nadu. The Southern<br />
part of the State was once a regal territory<br />
and many kings have ruled Madurai and other<br />
Slinky Aya performing the Acro<br />
(Pictures Supplied)<br />
Best Choice in Auckland<br />
The Dance Company was the best<br />
choice last year at Auckland Live’s<br />
‘Pick and Mix Programme’ held at<br />
the Auckland Town Hall and Bruce<br />
Mason Theatre and two house-full<br />
shows held at the Auckland Museum<br />
Diwali.<br />
“In 2015, with a special mention in<br />
regions where devotional dances hailed.<br />
The dance gradually received popularity in Tiruchirappalli,<br />
Tirunelveli and other parts of Tamil Nadu. Ramayana, Mahab-<br />
the ‘Encyclopaedia of New Zealand,’<br />
Monisha Kumar Dance Company<br />
(formerly known as Monisha<br />
School of Dance), caught the eye of<br />
Pure New Zealand with a unique<br />
Maori Fusion Dance at Auckland<br />
City Diwali. It received a special<br />
visit from Hindi film actor Sidharth<br />
Malhotra in 2017 to see this dance,”<br />
a Press Release said.<br />
Awards and Citations<br />
The Dance Company has six<br />
nominations and two Awards with<br />
‘Viva La Bollywood’ and ‘Kids Dance<br />
Showcase’ at Tempo New Zealand<br />
Dance Festival.<br />
Its other credits include TAPAC<br />
(2009 and 2010), Colours of India at<br />
Tempo, New Zealand Dance Festival<br />
at Q Theatre (2012), Guest Performer<br />
at Tempo 10th Anniversary Gala<br />
and ‘Namaste Aotearoa’ for Tales of<br />
Tamaki at the Auckland Museum.<br />
About Monisha Kumar<br />
Established in 2006, the Monisha<br />
Kumar Dance Company aims to<br />
preserve Indian dance and heritage<br />
in New Zealand.<br />
Popular with New Zealanders<br />
from all walks of life, the Company<br />
17<br />
haratam and mythological stories of Lord Murugan act as the<br />
main source of this beautiful folk dance form.<br />
Students and enthusiasts of ‘Chennai City Gangzta Dance<br />
Academy’ will present Oyilattam.<br />
Among them are Lakshmi Priya Angusamy, Puma Sasha,<br />
Raisa Infreda Arokiaraj, Sandhya Sridhar, Asha Amarasingam,<br />
Janani Hari and Kaviya Kathiravan<br />
Director and Teacher Raisa said that there is substantial<br />
interest among the resident Tamil and other communities to<br />
learn a number of dance formats that are popular in South<br />
India in general and Tamil Nadu in particular.<br />
An IT professional with a postgraduate (Masters) degree in<br />
Engineering from the AUT University in Auckland, Raisa also<br />
conducts regular classes in modern forms of dances.<br />
Andhra Pradesh<br />
Dance, Drama and Music were a part of life in Andhra<br />
Pradesh from the Satavahana times (1st Century). Ancient<br />
Temple sculptures provide extensive examples of the dance<br />
prevalent in those times and earlier.<br />
Kuchipudi is a dance style of Andhra origin, deriving its<br />
name from Kuchipudi Village in Krishan District. The village<br />
was gifted by Abul Hasan Tanashah to the Brahmin community<br />
who were practicing the art as their family profession for<br />
generations.<br />
Siddhender Yogi was the father of this dance style.<br />
His Bhamakalapam used to be a show of music and dance<br />
Continued on Page 18<br />
proves that creative people can<br />
successfully enhance and unite<br />
communities through cultural<br />
performances.<br />
Monisha is Head of the<br />
Department of Dance at One Tree<br />
Hill College and has been teaching<br />
Dance as an academic University<br />
Entrance subject full time for the<br />
past 13 years.<br />
With a forte for showbiz, she is<br />
also Co-Producer for Rhythm House<br />
Events, managing renowned shows<br />
and events such as Style Me and<br />
Miss Indianz.<br />
Beyond Bollywood comprises<br />
original tracks composed by<br />
Dharmesh Parikh, Producer of<br />
Rhythm House Events.<br />
NV Singh of TV2 Bollywood<br />
Dance Masala Fame and Instagram<br />
famous Acro and Circus trained<br />
Slinky Aya will join Monisha in presenting<br />
‘Diwali 2019’ in Whangarei.<br />
Tickets price at $15 including<br />
lunch are available Shiraz Indian<br />
Restaurant in Whangarei.<br />
Please email monishaschoolofdance@gmail.com<br />
What: Beyond Bollywood by Monisha Kumar Dance Company<br />
Who: Northland Indian Association<br />
Where: Forum North, Whangarei<br />
When: Saturday, October 12 from 1 pm<br />
Tickets: $15
18<br />
SEPTEMBER 15, 2019<br />
Entertainmentlink<br />
Continued from Page 17<br />
filled with occasional humour, attracting<br />
thousands of people.<br />
New Zealand Telugu Association is presenting<br />
the following items.<br />
Abhishek Ravi<br />
New Zealand, These will incorporate Ugadi marking the<br />
Telugu New Year, Bonalu (A Festival paying obeisance to<br />
Goddess Mahankali Bonalu), Telangana Formation Day,<br />
Bathukamma (a Floral Festival predominantly celebrated<br />
by Telangana women), Makara Shankaranthi (Dedicated<br />
to Sun God) and Holi, the Festival of Colours, Unity and<br />
Happiness.<br />
Among the performers are Akshita Gangishetti, Avanthi<br />
Nannegari, Greeshma Kasuganti, Harshita Bheema, Hiral<br />
Pusarla, Keerthana Sannidhanam, Keeru Rangu, Mayuri<br />
Medapati, Mithila Panuganti, Neha Kalaru, Sathvika Alle,<br />
Sejal Enaganti and Srija Middidodi.<br />
Tamil Nadu<br />
The community in Tamil Nadu is smaller compared<br />
to their Telugu compatriots but Muthtamil Sangam will<br />
mark its 20th Anniversary next year, also celebrating its<br />
involvement in Tamil Culture and Literature.<br />
Yakshagana<br />
Yakshagana from Uttara Kannada combines dance, music, dialogue, costume,<br />
makeup and stage techniques with a unique style and form.<br />
Yakshagana will be presented by Shruti Joshi.<br />
Kuchipudi dance item will be presented<br />
by Abhishek Ravi, Sushma Kunche, Bhargavi<br />
Vindamuri, Bharani Vindamuri, Swetha Gopi<br />
and Ashwini Rohan.<br />
Born in New Zealand, 15-year-old Abhishek<br />
began dancing career at the of seven under<br />
Anuradha Ramkumar. He is equally adept in<br />
Jazz, Contemporary and Hip-hop and choreography.<br />
He also plays Veena, Drums and Guitar<br />
and been in school band.<br />
Abhishek is now at the highest academic<br />
level at Mt. Roskill Grammar School.<br />
Earlier this year, Abhishek won the First<br />
place in Choreography Category at Cleveland<br />
Aradhana Bharatanatyam Competition, USA.<br />
He is also a recipient of Scholarships for<br />
Jazz and Contemporary from Kairos Dance<br />
Convention and was selected to perform at<br />
Tempo Dance Festival.<br />
Ambika Krishnamoorthy as Kannagi<br />
The highlight of the Association’s involvement in the<br />
Festivals of South India would be ‘Kannagi,’ a righteous<br />
woman and heroine of ‘Silappatikaram,’ an Epic in Tamil<br />
Literature. Known for her virtues, she questions the<br />
decision of Pandiyan King Nendunchezhian in executing<br />
her husband Kovalan on unproven charge of theft. Later,<br />
she her fury burns the City of Madurai.<br />
The episode, incorporated by author Ilango Adigal, was<br />
to prove that ‘hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,’<br />
some 1200 years before the actual phrase was written by<br />
William Congreve.<br />
Janapanda Kunitha<br />
Janapanda Kunitha is performed in Karnataka villages by men and women in<br />
traditional gear.<br />
Janapanda Kunitha will be presented by Priya Manju, Kruthi Sriram, Vatsala<br />
Gujjanudu, Lalitha Vijaynarasimhan, Shalini Manjunath, Achala Murthy, Sowmya<br />
Rao, Mamatha Praveenkumar and Malkappa Yatnur.<br />
Kamsale Nritya<br />
The Association will also present a Folk<br />
Dance performed by Bhargavi Matta, Chandrisha<br />
Sarepalli, Kavya Itla, Manasa Goud,<br />
Pooja Chakilam, Shradha Karankot, Shravya<br />
Srihari, Sukeerthi Reddy Banda, Sunitha Itla<br />
and Tarunya Srihari.<br />
Telangana<br />
Telangana has a cultural history of more<br />
than 5000 years.<br />
The region emerged as the foremost centre<br />
of culture in Indian subcontinent during<br />
the rule of Hindu Kakatiya dynasty and the<br />
Muslim Qutab Shahi and Asaf Jahi dynasties,<br />
also known as the Nizams of Hyderabad.<br />
Their patronage and interest for arts<br />
and culture transformed Telangana into<br />
a unique multicultural region where two<br />
different cultures coexist, making the State<br />
the representative of the Deccan Plateau and<br />
its heritage with Warangal and Hyderabad<br />
being its epi-center.<br />
Among the major cultural events<br />
celebrated are Kakatiya Festival, Deccan<br />
Festival, Bonalu, Bathukamma, Dasara, Ugadi,<br />
Shankaranthi, Milad Al Nabi, Eid Al Fitr<br />
(following the Holy Month of Ramadan) and<br />
Eid Al Adha.<br />
Telangana has long been a meeting place<br />
for diverse languages and cultures. It is<br />
known as ‘South of North and North of<br />
South.’ It is also known for its Ganga-Jamuna<br />
Tehzeeb and the Capital City of Hyderabad is<br />
known as a ‘Miniature India.’<br />
Events Integrated<br />
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaking<br />
at the Bathukamma Festival of Telangana<br />
Association of New Zealand on October 13,<br />
2018 (<strong>INL</strong> Picture)<br />
Major events of the State of Telangana, combining<br />
Political, Social and Religious segments<br />
will be presented in one format as a part our<br />
Show. Presented by Telangana Association of<br />
Dancers Nikhila Sethu, Anjali Biju, Laksika Sivanesan<br />
and Vithusika Sivanesan will perform three different<br />
folk dance styles.<br />
Karnataka<br />
Karnataka is famous for its traditional and cultural<br />
forms of performing arts including dance, music, folklore,<br />
Broadway and other forms of expression.<br />
It is also the only State in which Carnatic and Hindustani<br />
Music flourish.<br />
Kunitha Performance<br />
New Zealand Kannada Koota will present five dance<br />
forms known as Kunitha. This will include Kodava Kunitha<br />
from the Coorg region performed by Kodava women<br />
wearing traditional Kodava dress with jewellery with their<br />
foreheads adorned by Kumkum.<br />
They will dance in a circle and dance in a circle to a<br />
swinging rhythm.<br />
Among the performers are Pushpa Shankar, Smitha<br />
Gowri, Sunitha Katte and Sunitha Rajshekar<br />
Here come the Tigers<br />
Pili Yesa in Tulu or Hulivesa is a folk dance unique in<br />
coastal Karnataka. It is performed during Navratri to<br />
honour the Goddess Durga whose favoured animal is the<br />
tiger.<br />
Hulivesha dance participants Adithya Shankar, Raghav Rao, Saikrishna Bangalore, Sanjana Katte and<br />
Tanvi P Kidiyappa<br />
Kamsale Nritya is connected to a tradition of worship of Male Mahadeshwara<br />
(Shiva) by a group of men in Mysore region.<br />
Kamsale Nritya will be performed by Satya Kumar Katte, Manu Mohan, Suprith<br />
Jain and Sriram Sugumaran<br />
Kerala<br />
For over a thousand years, Performing<br />
Arts have been developed in<br />
Kerala, with its own brand of traditional<br />
music instruments, some of which are<br />
becoming rare.<br />
Kathakali is one of the most<br />
significant contributions of Keralites<br />
to worldwide stage, for the dancer/s,<br />
with extensive and unique makeup that<br />
takes several hours, narrate stories from<br />
epics. We hope to present Kathakali<br />
sometime in the future in Auckland.<br />
Among the other popular forms of art<br />
are Koodiyattam’ which has earned the<br />
status of UNESCO Heritage.<br />
Kummattikali, Kannyarkali, Thullal,<br />
Thirayattam, Padayani and Theyyam<br />
are also popular, although they are not<br />
performed in many places.<br />
Auckland Malayali Samajam has<br />
brought together many artistes to<br />
perform at the Festivals of South India.<br />
Dr Dhanya Jayaraj: Mohiniattam<br />
The items will include Mohiniattam by<br />
Dr Dhanya Jayaraj and Margamkali by<br />
Athulya Sreejith, Blessy Adarsh, Dhanya<br />
Sujith, Priyadarshini Balachandran,<br />
Shalini Menon and Shilpa Prem.<br />
Margamkali artistes<br />
Ticket Details<br />
Tickets for the Programme, priced at<br />
$34.50 per person and tables seating ten<br />
persons each at $345 (including GST) are<br />
now available with the officials of the<br />
Associations.<br />
For further information, please call<br />
021-836528 or<br />
Email: venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />
Please look for updates on the websites<br />
of the five associations and at<br />
www.festivalsofsouthindia.co.nz
SEPTEMBER 15, 2019<br />
A unique Programme brings the best of South Indian Cuisine<br />
Venkat Raman<br />
While the Indian Sub-Continent<br />
is world-renowned<br />
for its culinary art, with<br />
Indian Restaurants found<br />
in almost every major city in the<br />
world, the Cuisines of South India are<br />
just beginning to make their mark.<br />
Rise of Brands<br />
The success of many brands in Asia<br />
and the Middle East, Europe, Middle<br />
East, Africa, Canada and North and<br />
South America has made many dishes<br />
household item, they are still just a<br />
sample of the endless list of South<br />
Indian food and beverages.<br />
The First Indian Newslink Festivals<br />
of South India, being organised by<br />
the New Zealand Telugu Association,<br />
Telangana Association of New<br />
Zealand, Muthamil Sangam, New<br />
Zealand Kannada Koota and Auckland<br />
Malayali Samajam will feature a<br />
small, but nonetheless some of the<br />
most popular dishes of the five States<br />
of South India.<br />
The event, representing Andhra<br />
Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu,<br />
Karnataka and Kerala will be held<br />
on Saturday, <strong>Sept</strong>ember 21, 2019 at<br />
Sacred Heart College Auditorium<br />
located at 250 West Tamaki Road in<br />
Glendowie Auckland.<br />
South Indian States also<br />
include Lakshadweep, Pondicherry<br />
(Puducherry) and the Andaman and<br />
Nicobar Islands but they are not adequately<br />
represented in New Zealand.<br />
The Programme & Tickets<br />
The Programme, comprising<br />
speeches, cultural performances and<br />
vegetarian dinner is for people above<br />
12 years of age. It will commence at<br />
6 pm with networking and would<br />
include cultural highlights of the<br />
Andhra Brinjal Curry (toi.com)<br />
Vegetable Biryani from Hyderabad, Telangana<br />
(vegecravings.com)<br />
Aviyal from Kerala (Kothiyavaunu.com)<br />
five Southern States with colourful<br />
costumes.<br />
An Organising Committee comprising<br />
Presidents and Secretaries of the<br />
five associations and other community<br />
workers have been engaged for the<br />
past six months in putting together<br />
the event, which will be attended by<br />
more than 750 men and women.<br />
Among them will be political,<br />
business and community leaders.<br />
Tickets for the Programme, priced<br />
Badusha, a Sweet for every occasion<br />
(orderyourchoice.com)<br />
Bisibele Bath from Karnataka (Wikipedia)<br />
at $34.50 per person and tables<br />
seating ten persons each at $345<br />
(including GST) are now available<br />
with the officials of the Associations.<br />
For further information, please<br />
call 021-836528 or Email: venkat@<br />
indiannewslink.co.nz<br />
Please look for updates on the<br />
websites of the five associations and<br />
at www.festivalsofsouthindia.co.nz<br />
Similarity of Cuisines<br />
The linguistic and cultural diversity<br />
of India is reflected in the cuisine and<br />
South India is no exception. Each of<br />
the States is known for its own special<br />
dishes and yet there are several<br />
similarities that can found in form<br />
and ingredients.<br />
Rice is astaple food, although<br />
Chapati and Puri are also popular.<br />
Ven Pongal from Tamil Nadu (kannammacooks.com)<br />
Pal Payasam (Sweet Dish) popular in South<br />
India (newwomanindia.com)<br />
Lentils, dried red chillies, fresh green<br />
chillies, coconut (fresh or dessicated),<br />
tamarind and various spices are<br />
commonly used in preparing food<br />
items. Onion and garlic are also<br />
commonly found in many dishes and<br />
the extent of spice varies between<br />
regions with each State.<br />
Apart from rice, people in the five<br />
South Indian States also consume finger<br />
millet (Ragi), Pearl Millet (Bajra),<br />
Sorghum, Jowar and Pearl Millet.<br />
Influence of other States<br />
Economic reforms introduced<br />
in the late 1980s and early 1990s<br />
opened up the Indian economy for<br />
foreign companies and investors,<br />
with the five Southern States becoming<br />
popular destinations for software<br />
and hardware research, manufacture<br />
and development, manufacture<br />
of automobiles, electronic and other<br />
equipment, finance companies and<br />
Welcome to the first ever<br />
Entertainmentlink<br />
19<br />
many other commercial and industrial<br />
entities. Bangalore (now Bengaluru)<br />
became the ‘Silicon Valley of India,’<br />
while Hyderabad is the ‘Cyber City’<br />
of the country. Tamil Nadu became<br />
a favourite State for automobile<br />
manufacturers (as indeed a few other<br />
regions) and the major five Accounting<br />
and Audit firms of the world have<br />
established their presence throughout<br />
South India. These developments led<br />
to the migration of millions of people<br />
from the North, East and West of<br />
India and hence it is common to hear<br />
almost all languages spoken in Andhra<br />
Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu,<br />
Karnataka and Kerala.<br />
Along with migration came their<br />
culinary art and today, there are<br />
thousands of restaurants that cater to<br />
the specialities of every State.<br />
However, the growth of population<br />
of Indians from other States has also<br />
led to increase in popularity of South<br />
Indian cuisine.<br />
Distinct Features<br />
Cultural India, aspeciality website,<br />
states that South India is known for<br />
its varied range of spices, many of<br />
which are being exported to different<br />
nations for centuries. Among them are<br />
cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves<br />
and pepper.<br />
“The region is famous for a wide<br />
range of spicy foods with each state differing<br />
others predominantly from the<br />
spiciness of food, its different varieties<br />
and method of cooking. The staple food<br />
of locals of the region including some<br />
Brahmin communities is rice which is<br />
best savoured with Sambhar or Curry.<br />
Tampering of different South Indian<br />
dishes remains almost the same with<br />
primary ingredients being mustard<br />
seeds, red chillies, curry leaves and oil<br />
among others. Availability of different<br />
root tubers, coconut and huge variety<br />
of fish has witnessed use of such items<br />
in various regional dishes.<br />
Organised by<br />
On Saturday, <strong>Sept</strong>ember 21, 2019 from 6 pm<br />
At Sacred Heart College Auditorium<br />
250 West Tamaki Road, Glendowie, Auckland<br />
(Limited Free Car Park)<br />
M<br />
U<br />
T H TA M IL SA N G A<br />
M<br />
Tickets $34.50 (inclusive of GST) per person; Tables seating ten persons at $345 are also available.<br />
Contact details below.<br />
Five Associations from the Five States of South India-<br />
Telangana Association of New Zealand, New Zealand Telugu Association, Muthtamil Sangam Auckland,<br />
New Zealand Kannada Koota and Auckland Malayali Samajam join Indian Newslink to present<br />
An Evening of Regional Costumes, Cultural Shows and Pure Vegetarian Cuisine<br />
Traditional Performances that distinguish the five Southern States<br />
No-Alcohol, No-Smoking Event for everyone above 12 years of age.<br />
Hurry! Tickets are now on Sale!<br />
For tickets and further information, please contact<br />
Telangana Association of New Zealand: Narender Reddy Patlola, President: 021-2345886;<br />
president@tanz.co.nz; Vinod Kumar Erabelly, Secretary; 021-2613357; generalsecretary@tanz.co.nz;<br />
New Zealand Telugu Association: Srilatha Magatala, President: 021-02750346 president@nzta.org;<br />
General Secretary: Bhavani Shankar Yeluri: 022-3156805; generalsecretary@nzta.co.nz<br />
Telugu Community Leaders: Bala Venu Beeram: 027-8284063; balabeeram7@gmail.com; Kalyan Rao<br />
Kasuganti: 021-1881446; kasugantis@yahoo.com; Vijay Kosna: 021-739943; vijaykosna@gmail.com;<br />
Jagadishwar Reddy Magatala: 021-0669114; mjreddy10@gmail.com<br />
Muthtamil Sangam Auckland: Sadasivam Kutty, President; 021-710180; sadakutty@gmail.com;<br />
Kathir Sam, Secretary: 021-1665166; muthtamilsangam@gmail.com<br />
New Zealand Kannada Koota: Kumuda Setty, President: 021-500192; president@kannadakoota.co.nz;<br />
Roopa Nagvekar, Secretary: 021-2014550; secretary@kannadakoota.co.nz<br />
Auckland Malayali Samajam: Yeldos Varghese, President: 021-0417162; yeldosvarghese@gmail.com;<br />
Sunny Kuzhikombil, Secretary: 021-1660428; secretary@aucklandmalayalisamajam.org.nz<br />
Indian Newslink: Sheba Soundhar: 021-678778; shebasoundhar@yahoo.com;<br />
Ravi Nyayapati: 021-950975; ravinz@gmail.com; Hemant Parikh: 021-629359; hemantparikh@gmail.com;<br />
Venkat Raman; 021-836528; venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />
Sponsors
20<br />
SEPTEMBER 15, 2019<br />
Sportslink<br />
Countdown begins for Sangam<br />
Convention in Sydney<br />
Mr India Finalist keen on Hindi film industry<br />
Arveen Sharma<br />
The countdown has begun for<br />
Sangam International Convention<br />
in Sydney.<br />
Hosted by the New South<br />
Wales Sangam, former Vice-President<br />
Vishwa Goundar was elected to lead<br />
the new team to revive the tradition<br />
of Conventions, following the Annual<br />
General Meeting of the Association<br />
held in November 2018.<br />
Major Worldwide Event<br />
Sangam International Convention<br />
is a major event on the Committee’s<br />
calendar, for which a Sports<br />
Committee was established to lead the<br />
preparations.<br />
Vice-Presidents Sachin Kamal and<br />
Ravin Naidu took over the posts of<br />
Convention Organising Committee<br />
and Sports Committee Chairmen<br />
respectively.<br />
Both leaders successfully liaised<br />
with various Soccer teams locally,<br />
nationally and internationally and are<br />
satisfied with the response from the<br />
teams.<br />
NSW Mathar Sangam President<br />
Latika Devi and her Netball Liaison<br />
Officer Vishal Sagar have ensured that<br />
females will figure prominently at the<br />
2019 Convention.<br />
Both Netball officials have commented<br />
that they are pleased with the number<br />
of teams in this year’s Convention<br />
and are confident the interest in netball<br />
will grow.<br />
Soccer and Netball coordinators welcome<br />
queries from individual players<br />
who may wish to be placed in a team.<br />
The Convention Programme<br />
The Convention Programme includes<br />
Golf Tournament on Sunday,<br />
October 6, 2019 at Camden Lakeside<br />
Golf Club. The organisers have also<br />
included Billiard Championship<br />
a week before the Convention<br />
(<strong>Sept</strong>ember 26 to 28, 2019) at Fiji<br />
Cultural Centre in Liverpool.<br />
The Programme will commence<br />
on the evening of Friday, October<br />
4, 2019, with Round One of Pool<br />
matches for local Soccer teams.<br />
Soccer and Netball Competition<br />
will be the highlight for the following<br />
two days at Bringelly Park.<br />
Official Opening Ceremony will<br />
be held from 10 am to 1045 am on<br />
Saturday October 5, 2019. All sports<br />
teams (Soccer and Netball) are<br />
expected to take part in the Parade<br />
at the official Opening Ceremony.<br />
TISI Sangam National President<br />
Sada Naicker will be among the<br />
Chief Guests.<br />
The Convention will conclude<br />
with a Cultural Night on Sunday,<br />
October 6, 2019 at Villawood<br />
Senior Citizens Centre located at 29,<br />
Villawood Road, Villawood.<br />
Steve Gopal has been entrusted<br />
with the responsibilities for the<br />
evening’s Programme, which will<br />
include presentation of trophies<br />
and awards.<br />
Follywood (Fiji’s South Indian<br />
Raja) and locally trained Bollywood<br />
dancers will be among the performers<br />
at this Programme.<br />
Arveen Sharma is an occasional<br />
writer in Indian Newslink. He<br />
lives in Sydney, Australia.<br />
Sabby Jey<br />
Thirty-year-old Engineer<br />
Pratik Patel is ready to take<br />
over Bollywood.<br />
He is a finalist at the ‘Mr<br />
India 2019 Contest,’ the finals<br />
of which will be held in Delhi in<br />
November.<br />
Producer, Director and Actor<br />
Arbaaz Khan (brother of Salman<br />
Khan) will be a judge and the<br />
winner will receive opportunities to<br />
act in Indian films and commercials<br />
and be a model.<br />
The event is produced by Delhi<br />
based Manish Sahdev, Managing<br />
Director, Skywalk Productions.<br />
Pratik passed the auditions held in<br />
Delhi in June with his performances<br />
in acting and dance routine. He also<br />
wrote his two monologues based on<br />
his life and dreams inspired by the<br />
2007 Hindi film ‘Om Shanti Om.’<br />
Rigorous Training<br />
Employed as IT Field Engineer,<br />
Pratik is currently training in two<br />
acting studios and plans to transition<br />
as an actor in New Zealand and<br />
India. In his spare time, he is a<br />
body-building enthusiast and practices<br />
Martial Arts such as Muay Thai,<br />
Krav Maga and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.<br />
Pratik has been rehearsing for Mr<br />
India for the past four months.<br />
He has a personal branding<br />
manager, acting tutor, presenting<br />
coach, voice coach, and Hindi dialect<br />
coach.<br />
Aspire to Inspire<br />
Pratik is an advocate for mental<br />
Pratik Patel, multi-talented; helping people is<br />
his passion<br />
health and wellbeing. Despite his<br />
busy schedule, he finds time to<br />
coach ten clients on a fortnightly<br />
basis and helps them lead healthy<br />
lifestyle. He coaches them on effective<br />
tools of managing stress, anxiety<br />
and depression.<br />
He draws from his own experiences<br />
of struggling with depression,<br />
anxiety, self destruction and low self<br />
esteem.<br />
Pratik found his way out of this<br />
and attributes his healthy lifestyle<br />
saying, “I picked up hobbies that<br />
helped me discipline my mind and<br />
body. I practiced gratitude on a daily<br />
basis and started helping others<br />
on a small scale - people who were<br />
struggling like I did.”<br />
Mental Health Talks<br />
He is breaking out from on-on-one<br />
coaching to more public mental<br />
health talks. If you would like Pratik<br />
to speak at your next event of any<br />
size or podcast get in touch with<br />
Pratik Patel, fitness enthusiast and Martial Arts<br />
practitioner (Pictures supplied)<br />
Indian Newslink now. You can hear<br />
him on Radio Tarana on Friday,<br />
<strong>Sept</strong>ember 13, 2019 at 8 pm.<br />
“I reckon that as long as you are<br />
breathing, there is a change for a<br />
better tomorrow; so, do not lose<br />
hope and don’t get caught up by<br />
limitations like age, peer pressure<br />
and insecurities. You are never too<br />
old and it is never too late to live<br />
your dreams.”<br />
Sabby Jey is a writer and actor.<br />
She is also Director, Sabby Jey<br />
Social Limited based in Auckland.<br />
She was featured as our Model of<br />
the Fortnight in our July 1, 2018<br />
issue.<br />
Let us<br />
Celebrate<br />
your success<br />
Supported by<br />
YEAR<br />
Gala Black Tie Awards Night with Cocktails and Dinner on<br />
Monday, November 25, 2019<br />
at Sky City Convention Centre,<br />
Corner Victoria &Federal Streets, Auckland City.<br />
Master of Ceremonies: Jackie Clarke<br />
Celebrity Speaker and Entertainer<br />
1. Business Excellence in Retail Trade<br />
9. Best Small Business<br />
2. Business Excellence in Innovation<br />
10. Best Medium Sized Business<br />
3. Business Excellence in Marketing<br />
11. Best Large Business<br />
4. Business Excellence in Customer Service 12. Business Excellence in International Trade with India<br />
5. Best Employer of Choice<br />
(this category is open to all businesses registered in<br />
New Zealand doing business with India)<br />
6. Business Excellence in Health & Safety<br />
13. Best Accountant of the Year<br />
7. Business Excellence in Ethics (New)<br />
14. Best Young Entrepreneur of the Year<br />
8. Business Excellence with Social Responsibility (New)<br />
15. Best Businesswoman of the Year<br />
16. Best Financial Advisor (Mortgage) of the Year<br />
17. Best Financial Advisor (Insurance) of the Year<br />
Supreme Business of the Year Award<br />
(All entries will be entered for this category)<br />
Cocktails and Networking from 5pmto 615 pm<br />
Dinner, Entertainment &Awards Ceremony from 615 pm to 915 pm<br />
For tickets, priced at $150 plus GST per person and tables seating 10 persons<br />
each at $1500 plus GST per table (including cocktails and dinner)<br />
contact us on Phone (09) 5336377 or 021-836528<br />
Email: venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />
www.indiannewslink.co.nz; www.inliba.com; www.inlisa.com;