The Indian Weekender, 13 November 2020

The Indian Weekender Friday, November 13, 2020
NEW ZEALAND 3
Auckland Tamil Association goes high-tech,
launches app on 5th anniversary celebrations
SANDEEP SINGH &
RIZWAN MOHAMMAD
Auckland Tamil Association
made a strong statement
on Saturday, November 8,
in its 5th-anniversary celebration
event, by launching an app to remain
connected with its members and
other patrons going forward.
The Black-Tie event was brimming
with an added sense of euphoria for
having the unique recognition of
being the first major Kiwi-Indian
community-event after the formation
of the new government and was
adorned by two newly sworn cabinet
Ministers, range of newly minted
MPs from regions far and wide
as Hamilton, and the Hon Consul
of India.
A major part of the event was
dedicated to speeches by new
MPs, new Ministers and the
acknowledgements to all those who
managed to get Ministerial roles or
got maiden entry into the parliament,
those who safely returned back to
parliament and those who could not
make it to this term but were thanked
for their longstanding support to
the community.
However, the limelight of the
event was a seemingly quiet
announcement towards the wee
end of the event, which was also
interspersed by several wonderful
cultural performances, about the
launch of the new app.
Vai Ravindran, President ATA told
the Indian Weekender that the goal
behind launching this app was first
to remain attuned with the changing
times and secondly to ensure that
their members remain connected
and get regular updates about the
Association’s activities.
Launching the app Ravindran
said, “The benefit of the app is that
community members can sign up for
language classes and other activities
via the app itself, see what events
are coming up, the new people to
the community get to know each
other, take ATA membership and can
also sign up for personalised popup
notifications for any events and
activities.”
Earlier welcoming all dignitaries
and guests, Ravindran said, “This
is the first black-tie event we held
at Auckland Tamil Association, and
it was special as we completed five
years humbly serving the community.
“I acknowledge the efforts and
support of every person who rendered
their helping hand in various forms
and capacities that further supported
our cause to be connected with the
Tamil speaking community here in
New Zealand.
“Through this organisation, we
have tried our best to
keep the Tamil
culture and
language alive,
promote it
amongst our
community
members,
especially
the younger
generation, we
were able to help
students through
counselling, water
safety, preparing for a job, and
sports events and activities and much
more,” Ravindran said.
Michael Wood – the new Minister
of the crown – who shares a unique
relation with the Association ever
since being honoured with the title
“Tamil Selvan” meaning “son of
Tamil” delighted the crowd by
greeting everyone in traditional
Tamil language – which was
later matched by the Kiwi-Indian
Minister Priyanca Radhakrishnan
and National MP Melisa Lee.
• Continued on Page 4