The Indian Weekender, 12 March 2021

12 MARCH2021 • VOL 12 ISSUE 50
www.iwk.co.nz /indianweekender /indianweekender
Life cut too short:
Indian temporary
migrant worker found
dead in burning car
in Auckland
Story on Page 2
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2 NEW ZEALAND
Friday, March 12, 2021
The Indian Weekender
Man found dead in burning
car in Flat Bush identified
as an Indian national
People gathered at Kunal Khera's funeral service in Auckland
RIZWAN MOHAMMAD
An Indian man has died after his body
was found in a burning car in Flat Bush
on Saturday, March 6.
The man was identified as a 26-year-old
Indian national Kunal Khera living in Manukau,
South Auckland.
Emergency services were called to Barry
Curtis Park in Flat Bush at around 8:10 p.m. on
Saturday when members of the public noticed
smoke billowing of a vehicle in the car park.
Police on Sunday reported that the body
was found inside a silver Mazda, and a scene
examination was conducted after.
The site of the incident was blessed and
released back to the public on Sunday, Police
confirmed.
The post-mortem of the body was conducted
on Monday, March 8. However, the Police
are still treating the death as unexplained
and is continuing to make enquiries into the
circumstances surrounding Kunal’s death.
“Police have been in contact with Mr Khera’s
family in India and are supporting them as best
we can.
“Our deepest thoughts and sympathies are
with them at this difficult time,” Detective
Senior Sergeant Natalie Nelson from Counties
Manukau Police said.
Kunal is survived by his parents and a
younger sister in India.
Kunal Khera had planned to
move to Canada later this year
The Indian man Kunal Khera found dead in
a burnt-out car in the parking of Barry Curtis
Park of Flat Bush, was working hard to save
money to finance his intended move to Canada
for a better life.
Kunal’s close friend Utkarsh, who had
spent considerable time with him during their
student and working life in Auckland and
Christchurch, told the Indian Weekender that
he was regularly in touch with Kunal, with the
last communication with him happening on
February 28 when the latter sent him a photo of
their favourite restaurant in Christchurch where
they used to dine often.
“I had received a call from one of our
common friends who would also visit him
often, enquiring if I had seen or heard from
Kunal following a similar such enquiry call
from another friend checking about him.”
Apparently, Police’s initial enquiry on the
burnt car found in Flat Bush has precipitated
a chain of phone calls between Kunal’s friends
who frantically were checking about his
whereabouts and secretly wishing to find him
somewhere “alive.”
“It is always sad to learn of such unfortunate
and tragic deaths in a foreign country, far away
from near and dear ones. I can understand the
deep pain which his parents in Punjab would
be going through. My deepest sympathies are
with them.
“From the Indian High Commission, we
would like to offer whatever help we could
extend in facilitating funeral and other
formalities. The High Commission is after all
home away from home for all Indian nationals
living in New Zealand,” Muktesh Pardeshi,
High Commissioner of India in New Zealand
told The Indian Weekender.
“I told him I had last spoken to him on
February 28 when Kunal messaged me from
a restaurant in Christchurch where we would
often go dining,” Utkarsh said.
Kunal worked multiple jobs in Auckland and
Christchurch after completing his studies at
Edenz Colleges in Auckland in 2016.
“He worked very hard all these years, paid
his student loan and saved enough to move to
Canada by the end of 2021 and settle there.
“Kunal was on a work visa, and his visa was
due to expire in May this year, and he wanted
to extend his visa for a few more months before
moving to Canada,” Utkarsh said.
Kunal hailed from Patiala district in Punjab
in India and came to New Zealand on a student
visa in 2016. He studied Graduate Diploma
Kunal Khera (behind) with his friend Utkarsh.
(Photo: Supplied)
in Business Studies from Edenz Colleges in
Auckland. He worked at a car wash company
in Epsom before securing a job at the airport in
Christchurch.
“Kunal worked at Enterprise Car Rental at
Christchurch airport and was good at his job,”
Utkarsh said.
Utkarsh added that Kunal’s parents visited
him recently in late 2019 and returned to India
in early 2020 before the Covid pandemic had
closed the borders.
“I met his parents in Christchurch when we
were working at the car rental company and
also often spoke to them when Kunal would be
on a video call with his parents back in India,”
Utkarsh added.
Both Utkarsh and Kunal lost their jobs at
the rental company during Covid last year and
started doing Uber Eats to make their ends
meet.
“We lost our jobs back in 2020, and as a
result, we started doing Uber Eats to make our
living until something more concrete came our
way,” Utkarsh said.
Utkarsh moved to Auckland in July 2020,
and soon Kunal followed him.
Kunal initially boarded with a college mate
in South Auckland before moving to a single
apartment house a month and a half ago.
He recalled the phone call from a friend
checking Kunal’s whereabouts following the
Police’s lead as precipitating gut-wrenching
fear about his friend’s well-being.
Utkarsh’s worst fears came true when he
was informed by the common friend later that
his cousin has identified the body found as his
friend Kunal Khera.
Utkarsh said hearing about Kunal’s death
that too in such a manner has shocked him, and
he is still coming to terms with losing one of his
closest friends in New Zealand.
“I have known Kunal for four years now, and
we became really close friends in the last two
years when we worked together when he would
often drop by home for meals and drinks, and
we spent hours talking to each other.
“Kunal was a cheerful and honest person;
people loved being in his company,” he added.
Another friend of Kunal, living overseas now,
said she had known Kunal in work capacity
from Epsom in Auckland. She said he was a
decent human being and very hard working.
Kunal Khera cremated in
Auckland
The family of Kunal Khera, upon advice from
NZ Police and other authorities, gave consent
to conduct Kunal’s last rites in Auckland in the
presence of his cousin, friends, and community
leaders.
Kunal’s cremation was done at Anns Funeral
Home in Wiri on Wednesday, March 10, after
an hour-long religious ceremony virtually
joined by his family and friends via video link
from India.
Around 50 people have attended Kunal’s
funeral ceremony who laid flowers next to his
closed casket and paid respects to the departed.
The Indian Weekender has reliably learnt
from a source that Kunal’s body suffered
over 70 per cent of burns that made the body
repatriation option for the family nearly
impossible.
Kunal’s last remains will be sent to his family
in India.

The Indian Weekender Friday, March 12, 2021
NEW ZEALAND 3
2 million doses of Covid vaccine
IWK BUREAU
The Government is targeting those
most at risk of getting and spreading
COVID-19 and those most at risk of
getting seriously sick from it in the next phase
of the vaccine roll-out, COVID-19 Response
Minister Chris Hipkins announced today.
“A top priority this year is to make sure New
Zealanders get free, fair and equitable access to
COVID-19 vaccines,” Chris Hipkins said.
“We are setting out the plan today after
securing enough Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine
for everyone in New Zealand to get the
two doses they need to be fully vaccinated
against the virus.
“The Ministry of Health is working with
Pfizer on a delivery schedule to ensure
a smooth rollout and a scaling up of our
vaccination programme.
“Over 2 million New Zealanders are in
line to start receiving the vaccine over the
next four months with a focus on protecting
those most at risk of getting the virus or being
harmed by it, while also reducing the chance
of ongoing spread and future outbreaks,” Chris
Hipkins said.
“Our plan is clear – first protect those most at
risk of picking up the virus in their workplace,
reducing the risk of future outbreaks and
lockdowns and then protecting those most at
risk of getting seriously ill if they get the virus,”
Chris Hipkins said.
“Our sequencing plan provides certainty to
the over 2 million Kiwis who can expect to start
being vaccinated during the initial stages of our
roll-out over the next 3-4 months.
“This is a balanced plan that prioritises
reducing the chance of future outbreaks while
protecting our elders, those with underlying
health conditions and those who live in locations
where we know outbreaks have occurred.
“We are asking all New Zealanders to get
vaccinated. Getting vaccinated is the best way
to protect your whanau, their lives and their
livelihoods.
“Every New Zealander will be able to get a
vaccine and the vaccine will be free. The rest
of the population will be able to be vaccinated
from July onwards and our plan is to have as
many people as possible vaccinated by the end
of the year.
“As with the rest of our COVID-19 response
to roll via four groups in four months
we will make continuous improvements and
adjustments to the vaccination roll-out. Our
goal is to get as many people vaccinated as
quickly as possible and that will require some
flexibility within the sequencing.
“Further planning is underway on our
ongoing response to COVID-19 including our
management of the border. However the biggest
factor in lifting COVID-19 restrictions will be
a timely and high uptake of the vaccine,” Chris
Hipkins said.
Targeted roll-out over next 3-4 months will
start to reach 2 million Kiwis in most at risk
groups. Plan prioritises people most at risk of
harm if they get the virus and those who live
and work in places where they are most likely
to pick up COVID-19
Those in South Auckland who’re over 65
or who have underlying health issues to start
being vaccinated from the end of March
Minimising risk of future
outbreaks central to Government
plan and prioritisation
There are four main groups (timings will
overlap, and dates might shift slightly as the
Ministry continues to undertake modelling):
Group 1
50,000 border and MIQ workers, their
household contacts and the people they live
with. This started last month and the vast bulk
will be completed this month, with at least one
dose administered.
Group 2
Approximately 480,000 frontline workers
and people living in high-risk settings.
Starting with the 57,000 healthcare workers
on community frontlines, and then moving
through to healthcare workers protecting our
most vulnerable and some priority populations.
This started in February and will continue
through to May.
Group 3
Priority populations. Approximately 1.7
million people who are at higher risk if
they catch COVID-19. This is planned to
start in May.
Group 4
The remainder of the general population
– approximately 2 million people. Starting
from July.
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4 NEW ZEALAND
Push for all adults in
South Auckland to get
Covid-19 vaccine first
Friday, March 12, 2021
The Indian Weekender
RADIO NEW ZEALAND
The government has turned down calls to
vaccinate all adults in South Auckland
before the rest of the country.
However, South Aucklanders over 65 and
those with underlying health conditions will
be given access to the vaccine earlier, but those
who are younger and healthier will have to wait
in line.
Given that the August and February outbreaks
happened in Manukau, some doctors and health
specialists say a bump up the line for everyone
living in the area is the smart thing to do.
The government knows South Auckland -
broadly the Counties Manukau District Health
Board area - holds a greater risk than average of
a Covid-19 outbreak.
Otago University public health professor Dr
Nick Wilson said the government’s vaccine
schedule generally made a lot of sense, but he
believed early access could be expanded.
“Not just the over-65s and those with
underlying health conditions, but in fact all
of the adults in South Auckland. That’s such
a critical population in terms of protecting the
whole nation, because of their proximity to
Auckland International Airport and because
there’s a large number of MIQ facilities [there].
“The real-world experience [of outbreaks]
would support that particular population being
a priority area.”
Pasifika Medical Association chief executive
Debbie Sorensen agrees with Wilson.
Counties Manukau has a Pasifika population
three times the rate of the rest of the country.
Sorensen doesn’t buy Covid-19 Response
Minister Chris Hipkins’ reasoning not
Man charged with threatening to kill after
arrest over threat to Christchurch mosques
RADIO NEW ZEALAND
Police arrested two people in
Christchurch and charged one
of them after an online threat
to Linwood Islamic Centre and Al
Noor Mosque.
The arrests come less than
two weeks out from the second
anniversary of the terror attacks at
the mosques in which 51 people
were killed.
In a briefing after 8.30pm on
Thursday, March 4, Canterbury
District Commander Superintendent
John Price said the threats were made
on 4Chan. The post was tipped off to
police through their Crimestoppers
line a couple of days ago.
He said he understood the threat
had been taken down now.
Price said one of those arrested
had already been released and a
27-year-old man has been charged
with threatening to kill.
“[The threat] was credible enough
that we took action straight away.”
As a result of the threat made
and the context, both mosques were
searched “pretty shortly afterwards”.
What was found during the search
cannot be released at this stage,
to blanket immunise South Auckland.
“Even though there is an assumption that
South Auckland residents are included in
border workers and health workers and other
categories, it is still an assumption that we’ll
get to everyone who needs to be vaccinated.”
Auckland Council Manukau ward councillor
Efeso Collins broadly agreed with the vaccine
sequencing but wanted all of Auckland
prioritised due to the risk of outbreaks.
“If we take a very practical, rational approach
we’ll all know the logic is clear: the outbreaks
have happened here in South Auckland. It’s
important South Aucklanders are prioritised,
and further to that I think Auckland should be
prioritised because the last three have been in
the Auckland region.”
However, Auckland University public health
professor Dr Colin Tukuitonga is not convinced
of a strategy to vaccinate all adults in Counties
Manukau before older or sick people in
neighbouring areas.
He said the government had got the
balance right and was actually needing to
remain selective.
“They’ve limited that to those groups largely
because I think we still have a limited supply
of the vaccine, so it’s a sensible, pragmatic
approach,” Tukuitonga said.
But another concern is vaccine hesitancy or
outright refusal.
Sorensen said the Ministry of Health was
being slow to tackle the looming problem.
“I think there’s an assumption that because
the vaccine is available suddenly everyone’s
going to step forward and get vaccinated. And
I do not believe yet that we are responding to
the growing anti-vaccination and conspiracy
"
There can be no
tolerance for direct
threats to people or
buildings, whether
these are made online
or offline. We ask the
public to be vigilant
in reporting any such
threats to authorities.
police said.
The 27-year-old man is due to
appear in Christchurch District Court
on 5 March.
Police said they were not in a
position to details on the nature of the
threat as it was before the courts now.
Any threat made on people and
the community was not tolerated,
Price said.
“We take all threats of this nature
seriously and we are working closely
with our Muslim community.
“Any messages of hate or people
wanting to cause harm in our
community will not be tolerated - it’s
not the Kiwi way.”
This behaviour needed to be called
out, he said.
“I think we should all have eyes
open and looking out for each other.”
I
think there’s an assumption
that because the vaccine
is available suddenly
everyone’s going to step
forward and get vaccinated.
And I do not believe yet that
we are responding to the
growing anti-vaccination and
conspiracy theorists in the
country
theorists in the country,” Sorensen said.
The government hopes to have half the adult
population vaccinated by July 2021 when the
remaining two million - broadly young and
healthy people - are likely to start.
Family doctors back government
vaccine roll-out
College of General Practitioners medical
director Bryan Betty told Morning Report he
thought the government had got the roll-out
right. When it came to South Auckland, he
said there was always going to be two sides to
the argument.
“Obviously it’s a place where we’ve seen
a lot of the outbreaks start to occur or those
breaches of border, however if you look at your
death rates internationally, it’s your over 65s
that tend to die from Covid.
“So I think targeting those in South Auckland
The Muslim community was
spoken to “pretty soon” after police
were made aware of the threat,
he said.
The Armed Offenders Squad had
also assisted as a precautionary
measure. Intensive investigation
and inquiries were undertaken by a
team fulltime following the threat
and further charges were being
considered.
“It is a criminal investigation,
a threat has been made, and we
have acted and responded with the
appropriate charge,” Price said.
All New Zealand police will be on
alert during the Christchurch mosque
attack memorial, with heightened
visibility of police at the mosques
already planned, he said.
“It’s very concerning for me but
also for New Zealanders as a whole,”
Price said.
He said New Zealand was at a
medium threat level.
He hopes the Muslim community
have trust and confidence in police to
respond to threats like this.
In a statement after the arrests,
Muslim Association of Canterbury
spokesperson Abdigani Ali said they
appreciated police acting promptly
and those over 65 and those with co-morbidities
is absolutely the right way to go because that’s
where you see severe disease and that’s actually
see death.”
Vaccine hesitancy would be an area that
the government had to work very hard on,
Betty said.
“The vaccine is safe. That message, I think,
is going to have to be very clear and very
consistent to counter this hesitancy issue that is
out there...
“One of the things I would say about
vaccination in this particular situation - it is a
choice for you as an individual but it is a wider
societal benefit from having the vaccine and
this is this herd immunity issue...
“So there’s the issue that the vaccine is
not just for myself, it’s for the whole - the
greater good.”
With the difficulties around delivering and
administering the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, GPs
were keen to see that strategic planning and
support was in place for the roll-out, Betty said.
GPs around the country already had patients
asking when they would be getting the vaccine,
he said.
“That is why it is so important the government
is crystal clear about when the vaccine will
arrive at certain destinations around New
Zealand and how it will be delivered, because
those conversations are now going on.”
He was not aware of any ability for GPs to
put people forward as a priority for the vaccine.
on the threat and in consultation with
the association and Muslim leaders
in the community.
“There is no place for hate rhetoric
and hate crimes in our country and
every community no matter their
race or beliefs should feel a sense of
safety and belonging.”
In another statement, Islamic
Women’s Council of New Zealand
(IWCNZ) said the threats were
“especially cruel” as we approach the
second anniversary of the 15 March
attacks.
“It shows the need for a strong
national security system, with clear
leadership and direction working
with communities.”
The IWCNZ thanked police for
taking quick action and the member
of the public who alerted police to
the threat.
“There can be no tolerance for
direct threats to people or buildings,
whether these are made online or
offline. We ask the public to be
vigilant in reporting any such threats
to authorities.
“We pray that the Muslim
community in New Zealand stays
safe. We know this will be a difficult
time for them.”

The Indian Weekender Friday, March 12, 2021
NEW ZEALAND 5
New Ethnic Communities Graduate
Programme established as per Royal
Commission’s recommendation
SANDEEP SINGH
Three months after the Royal
Commission recommended creating
a new Ethnic Communities Graduate
Program to enhance ethnic leadership in the
public sector, the program has been established
just in time before the second anniversary of the
Christchurch terror attack.
On March 15, the country will observe the
second anniversary of the dreadful Christchurch
attack which not only jolted the nation out of
its supreme slumber but forced to introspect in
many ways on important issues around social
cohesion and growing ethnic diversity in New
Zealand society.
Royal Commission had led a comprehensive
government enquiry on all factors
related to the government
response and presented 44
recommendations in early
December last year, which
had agreed in principle
to implement all the
recommendations.
One such recommendation
of the Royal Commission
was to create a new Ethnic
Communities Graduate Programme
to enhance the ethnic representation at the
higher echelons of public services.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had then
"People
from ethnic
communities remain
underrepresented in
leadership roles in the public
sector, and recommendation
35 of the Royal Commission
report recommends greater
diversity in the public
service at all levels"
said, “We will provide
meaningful work experience
and pathways into the public
service for graduates from
ethnic communities through
a newly established graduate
programme,”
“People from ethnic communities
remain underrepresented in leadership roles
in the public sector, and recommendation 35
of the Royal Commission report recommends
greater diversity in the public service at all
levels,” the PM had then said.
It is expected that the programme will
address the low representation of ethnically
diverse employees and remove the barriers they
face to access employment in the public sector.
The program will achieve this objective
by offering a targeted pathway to the
eligible members of ethnic communities into
public services.
An update from the Office of the Ethnic
Communities (it is still not a full-fledged
Ministry as per Royal Commission’s another
recommendation and is set to become so on
July 1) informs that the recruitment process had
already begun for the Program and March 25
being the deadline for applications.
The program will give the opportunity
to any young member of the wider ethnic
community (Middle Eastern, Latin American,
African, Asian, or Continental European),
who has recently obtained a qualification at
the bachelor’s level in NZ or overseas within
the last 2 years; and have right to live and
work in NZ.
Graduates will enter Public Service agencies
in two 18-month intakes, the first of which is
scheduled to start in July 2021.
Available roles will be focused on either
public policy, policy-related functions, or
the delivery of high-quality and efficient
public services.
It is anticipated that the positions will be
mainly Wellington-based, with some positions
located in Auckland and Christchurch.
It is expected that the graduates who come
through this Programme will be set up to
influence and drive change that directly affects
ethnic communities and the whole of New
Zealand society.
For more information, including how to
apply, please visit here.
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6 NEW ZEALAND
Friday, March 12, 2021
The Indian Weekender
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY:
Air India’s all-women crew pilot flight Trichy to Dubai and back
RIZWAN MOHAMMAD
On International Women’s Day, an Air
India plane flew with the all-female
crew from Trichy in India to Dubai
(UAE) and back.
Air Indian Express flight AI 1611 departed
from Trichy Airport in Kerala on Monday,
March 8, landing in Dubai later in the
evening and flew back (AI 1612) just before
midnight, landing in Trichy early hours of
Tuesday, March 9. The all-women crew was led
by pilots Sahiba Kanwal Dev and Kanak Sunit
Chaturvedi and cabin crew Saranga, Shilpa
Katare, Priti Singh and Sushmita Brahma.
Air India also operated another all-women
crew on its inaugural domestic route between
New Delhi and Bareilly on March 8.
Flight AI 9I701 flew from New Delhi
to Trishul Military Base, Bareilly Airport,
Uttar Pradesh, with two pilots and four cabin
Indian High Commissioner meets
newly promoted Senior Sergeant
Mandeep Kaur of NZ Police
RIZWAN MOHAMMAD
High Commissioner of India in New
Zealand Muktesh Pardeshi met
the recently promoted Kiwi Indian
policewoman, Senior Sergeant Mandeep Kaur
Sidhu, at the former’s office in Wellington.
Present at the occasion was also National
Engagement Manager and Ethnic Inspector
Rakesh Naidoo.
Mr Pardeshi discussed matters related to
policing and community engagement with
the duo at the meeting and presented Senior
Sergeant Mandeep Kaur with a coffee table
book on Shri Guru Nanak Dev on occasion.
Mandeep Kaur Sidhu earlier last week was
promoted to the rank of Senior Sergeant by
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster at a
ceremony in Wellington.
Mandeep Kaur has come a long way from
dreaming about the job in her childhood and
then achieving it at 35 in 2004.
New Zealand Police noted Mandeep Kaur’s
achievement on the occasion of International
Women’s Day and spoke to her on its ‘Choose
crew members. Last year, on the occasion of
International Women’s Day, Air India flew
52 domestic and international flights with
its all-women crew. The first all-women
to Challenge’ theme about the challenges,
overcoming cultural barriers and reaching
where she is today.
Mandeep’s previous role was as an Ethnic
Peoples Community Relations Officer working
from Henderson Police Station in Waitemata,
attending community meetings, hosting media
programmes, visiting family violence victims
and attending matters where there is a need for
ethnic or cultural advice.
With her new role as Senior Sergeant, she has
moved to the police headquarters in Wellington.
She founded the famed Police bhangra group
in Auckland to encourage cultural connectivity
(and police fitness!),
In March 2019, she featured in Women Kind, a
Penguin Random House book profiling 52 New
Zealand women who have made a difference in
the world and their local communities.
Mandeep has represented Police nationally
and internationally in radio, television and
written media - but most notably within the
communities, she has served over the past
17 years.
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crew was commissioned in
1985 on flight F27, commanded by Captain
Saudami Deshmukh, which was the first
such flight in the world on any aircraft
RIZWAN MOHAMMAD
In a move to adjust to the new normal
(different levels of lockdowns), Bharatiya
Samaj Charitable Trust has started a
new initiative that gets prescribed
medicines for the community,
especially senior citizens,
dropped at their doorsteps.
Bhartiya Samaj has
collaborated with PillDrop
(NZ), which will bring
community members a new
and modern way to manage their
daily medications.
“We constantly strive to explore
ways of easy and comfortable living for
the community, and by collaborating with
PillDrop, we endeavour
to provide a complete
pharmacy experience to
the community with a
secure and easy way to
get prescribed/funded
medicines delivered at
doorstep free of cost,”
a spokesperson from
Bhartiya Samaj told The
Indian Weekender.
All the medicines are
packed into personalised
sachets, and these sachets
are rolled up and packed
in a dispenser to ensure
that the patient does not
have to handle multiple
medicine bottles.
“All one needs is
a smartphone and
prescription to order
medicines at any time of
the day. Once PillDrop
receives the order, details
of the person including
contact and address, it
will readily arrange for
delivery at the doorstep,”
the spokesperson said.
This service is entirely
among IATA Airlines. India tops in the number
of women pilots globally, with Indian carriers
employing close to 12.4% women pilots, much
higher than the world average of 5.4%.
BHARTIYA SAMAJ’S
new initiative for the
community, medicines
delivered at doorstep
"With
this new
initiative, we add
another feather on
Bhartiya Samaj’s cap,
and we add another
service that will benefit
the community
immensely"
free for all senior citizens and individuals
taking at least four routine medicines.
“PillDrop approached us recently to
collaborate, and upon much deliberation and
discussion within the team, we decided that
this venture will be very beneficial for
our community members, especially
senior citizens, and we finally
signed up with them.
“With this new initiative,
we add another feather on
Bhartiya Samaj’s cap, and we add
another service that will benefit
the community immensely,” Jeet
Suchdev, Chairperson of Bhartiya Samaj,
told The Indian Weekender.
To know more, one can contact Bhartiya
Samaj and get more details from the team.

The Indian Weekender Friday, March 12, 2021
NEW ZEALAND 7
‘When Haka Meet Bhangra’: A documentary in the
making on Indian sport Kabaddi and Maori connection
RIZWAN MOHAMMAD
NZ on Air has approved
funding a documentary
project exhibiting the
involvement of Maori culture in the
traditional Indian sport of Kabaddi.
On Tuesday, March 9, a media
release confirmed that New Zealand
on Air would fund the projects that
speak to the diversity of experiences
of Pan-Asian peoples in Aotearoa.
The project named ‘When Haka
Meets Bhangra’ will be made by
Nomadz Unlimited for Maori
Television and will get funding
up to $370,000.
The documentary on the making
tracks the alliance between a group
of Māori and Pasifika wāhine
and their Sikh coach/mentor who
take up the sport, which has been
described as a cross between bullrush
and wrestling.
Speaking to the Indian Weekender,
president of New Zealand Kabaddi
Council, Tara Singh Bains, said he
was confirmed to be spoken to about
the documentary on the links and
popularity of Kabaddi in the Maori
community in New Zealand.
Mr Bains has been associated with
Kabaddi sports promoting it within
the local community since 1990 and
got the national team created in 2013.
New Zealand Kabaddi team played
their maiden match against India in
their home country at the Kabaddi
World Cup and were smashed by the
home team.
It was a steep learning curve for the
guests who worked hard mastering
the tricks of the game and gave a
tough competition to the Indian team
at the finals in 2013.
Although the team lost the finals to
India, it was a stepping stone to their
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they ranked second again in the 2014
World Cup and third in 2016.
“Besides representing New
Zealand in the world cup, our
team has also competed at two
international indoor tournaments
in Malaysia in 2018 and 2019, at
WAWO Women’s Kabaddi League
in 2018 in India,” Mr Bains said.
Mr Bains adds that on a national
level, NZ Kabaddi has two teams,
Hamilton and Auckland, who often
play against each other and other
domestic clubs and teams from all
around New Zealand.
“In the first NZ Sikh Games in
2019, the NZ Kabaddi team also
played against the Indian Kabaddi
team who flew from India for the
Sikh Games,” Mr Bains said.
Mr Bains added that the
women’s team had come a
long way from not knowing
the sports to becoming one
of the most formidable
teams in the world
in Kabaddi.
“We have a strong bond
with the Maori community
and share nuances of the
sport, Kabaddi, with their form
of martial arts and wrestling.
“This is what the makers will
showcase in detail and amplify
the deep-rooted connection of the
Indian sports with Maori culture
in the documentary that will soon
start filming in New Zealand,”
Mr Bains added.
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FAQ’S Marketing Brochure for more information. Every Precaution has been taken to establish the accuracy of the material herein at the time of printing, however, no responsibility will be taken for any errors/omissions. Prospective purchasers should not confine themselves solely to
the content of this material and acknowledge that they have received recommendation and had reasonable opportunity to seek independent legal, financial, accounting, immigration, technical and other advice. The material herein was prepared solely for marketing purposes prior to the
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or building according to market demand and therefore sizes and layouts of residences may vary throughout the development. Changes may be made during development and all dimensions, finishes, fittings and specifications are subject to change without notice. All residences sale
areas include ducts, gardens, patios, balconies, decks or fences as applicable and where shown. Sizes stated are measured in accordance with the clauses contained within the Sale and Purchase Agreement. All illustrations are artist’s impressions only. Loose furniture, feature and
pendant lighting, window dressings and wall coverings are shown for illustration purposes only and are excluded from the Purchase Price. All illustrations and artist’s impressions of the landscaping to private courtyards, gardens and patios are indicative only and excluded Purchase Price.

8 NEW ZEALAND
Kiwi Indian women post
photos with right-hand up on
International Women’s Day
RIZWAN MOHAMMAD
On the occasion of International
Women’s Day, Kiwi Indian
women took onto social media
posting a photo wearing a headgear,
raising their right hand and sharing the
name of a woman, helping achieve a
more gender-equal world.
On Monday, March 8, as the world
observed the IWD2021, Kiwi Indian
women shared their photos and thoughts
on how they choose to challenge gender
bias in our society.
"
We can all choose to
challenge and call
out gender bias and
inequality, o seek out
and celebrate women’s
achievements and we
can all help create
an inclusive world,”
the campaign poster
floating on social media
read
#ChooseToChallenge, a campaign
theme initiated by the United Nations on
the occasion of International Women’s
Day, asking millions of women globally
to join the virtual campaign for raising
their hand for gender equality.
“In line with the UN theme, let’s
acknowledge the tremendous efforts
made by women and girls around the
world in shaping a more equal future and
recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We can all choose to challenge and
call out gender bias and inequality, o seek
out and celebrate women’s achievements
and we can all help create an inclusive
world,” the campaign poster floating on
social media read.
Among Kiwi Indian, prominent faces
posting photos and videos promoting the
#ChooseToChallenge campaign were
Hansa Naran, Nanette Nathoo, Pratima
Soma, Nivedita Sharma Vij, Vanisa
Dhiru, Rupal Solanki and more.
Friday, March 12, 2021
The Indian Weekender
Vodafone, Spark, 2degrees
agree to Commerce
Commission changes
RNZ
Three big telecommunication companies have agreed to
make it simpler for people to compare and choose between
providers.
Vodafone, Spark and 2degrees have agreed to implement changes
drawn up by the Commerce Commission to improve choice.
The operators will now have to:
Provide 12-months usage and spend information to customers
Provide an annual usage and spending summary to customers,
including a prompt to consider whether they are on the right plan
Promote the development of a comparison tool which will allow
consumers to choose between providers and plans
“Consumers want easy access to their information so they can
choose the best provider and plan, and they want tools to help them
do that,” Telecommunications Commissioner Tristan Gilbertson
said.
“This is a big step in the right direction for competition and
consumer choice.”
The Telecommunications Forum said the industry was committed
to continual improvement.
“We agree with the Commerce Commission that as an industry
we can make further improvements,” chief executive Geoff Thorn
said.
“We’re pleased the Commerce Commission has agreed to leave
the specific design to individual providers about how usage and
spend information is provided to their customers.
“This information is part of the overall customer service package -
an area in which providers are vigorously competing and innovating
to provide the best for their customers, and it’s important that this
continues.”
He said the industry was committed to invest, innovating and
improving.
Gilbertson said this would not be the last change.
“This is the first initiative in the Commission’s new drive to
improve retail service quality in telecommunications. We’ve worked
with the industry to identify improvements that will make a real
difference for consumers.
“There is more work to do in this space but I’m really delighted
that we are off to such a positive start.”
Take a wild ride to paradise with
Indian Ink’s dazzling new one-man show
IWK BUREAU
Indian Ink has announced an
11 centre national tour of their
new work Paradise or the
Impermanence of Ice Cream.
With the company’s immediate
international travel plans on hold,
Kiwis all over the Aotearoa can
enjoy their latest production, in
this, their most ambitious national
tour ever playing in Wellington,
Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton,
New Plymouth, Upper Hutt,
Kapiti, Nelson, Ōamaru, Dunedin
and Christchurch from May 20 to
September 2.
This large-scale NZ tour precedes
a confirmed North American tour in
2022.
“Our lives are but melting ice
cream and the transition between
this world and the next is never
easy, but it’s made profoundly
more difficult when your guide is
a vulture,” a press release about the
new production read.
A man trying desperately to avoid
death is flung between limbo and
his past where a rebellious young
woman from Mumbai’s enigmatic
Parsi community – a people whose
faith is entwined with the vulture -
holds the key that may deliver him
to paradise.
Selling out its 2-week preview
season in 2020, Paradise showcases
the incredible talents of one of New
Zealand’s most treasured actors
– Jacob Rajan (MNZM) as he
delivers a dazzling solo performance
channelling seven characters, while
weaving the afterlife and a dash
of Bollywood disco into the reallife
mystery of India’s vanishing
vultures.
True to the beloved Indian Ink
style, Paradise is rife with mischief,
intelligence, exquisite puppetry,
inspired sound design and comic
originality.
“Thoroughly engaging, beyond
anything I’ve ever seen” -
Theatrescenes
Inspired by Ernest Becker’s
Pulitzer prize-winning Denial of
Death, and the vibrant, life–filled
chaos of India’s most cosmopolitan
city, Indian Ink had the idea for this
script after a trip to Mumbai in 2019.
“Justin and I and got inspired by
the city, its people and its secrets.
In particular, the mystery of India’s
"We’re
lucky to be in
one of the few places
in the world where live
performance is still possible
and we can’t wait to share
this premiere season with
you before we take it
to the world"
vanishing
vultures.
"The fastest
mass extinction
of all time and
we’d never heard
about it. It pricked
our curiosity and the
more we delved into it, the
more wonderfully strange it got.
“We originally started writing
about Mumbai, vultures, and
immortality but discovered we
were actually writing about
impermanence.
"It’s a word that resonates with
the strange times we’re living in”,
says Indian Ink co-founder, Jacob
Rajan said.
“Some of the best theatre in the
World” - NZ Herald
Indian Ink has been lighting up
the boards at home and abroad for
over two decades and the company
is one of our most successful
theatrical exports.
This new work has been created
by the team behind many of
their past hit shows – including
Krishnan’s Dairy and Guru of Chai.
It was in fact Krishnan’s Dairy
that first put them on the map
and this return to the oneman
show format with
Rajan at the helm, will be
incredibly satisfying for
Indian Ink audiences –
both new and old.
“We’re lucky to be
in one of the few places
in the world where live
performance is still possible and
we can’t wait to share this premiere
season with you before we take it to
the world” – Indian Ink co-founder,
Justin Lewis said.
For more information
visit: indianink.co.nz

The Indian Weekender Friday, March 12, 2021
NEW ZEALAND 9
Community organisation puts up ‘Thank you,
New Zealand’ billboards around the country
leading to March 15 second anniversary
RIZWAN MOHAMMAD
Since February last month, a community
organisation is running a billboard
campaign, thanking New Zealanders
for their love and support after two mosques
attacks in Christchurch in 2019.
The billboards that carry different messages
and values propagated by Islam religion and
thanks New Zealand for their support since the
attacks two years ago.
The large outdoor billboards with the
messages have been put up in four locations
in three cities by the charitable community
organisation, Voice of Islam, as a campaign
leading to the Christchurch attacks’
second anniversary.
These billboards put up on Christchurch,
Wellington, and Auckland’s busy roads
caught the eyes of the public and were also
widely circulated via photos and messages on
social media.
The campaign has received positive
feedback from the New Zealanders and has
conveyed Islam’s true beauty, says Mohammad
Thompson, chairman of Voice of Islam.
Speaking more about the campaign, Mr
Thompson said the organisation has been in
existence in New Zealand since 2004 and
works towards spreading the message of the
religion via short programmes, organising
talks, discussions, school visits, interviews and
various other activities.
“When we established in 2004, we would
broadcast programmes about Islam via TV as
there were no social media, but now with the
advent of
smartphones
and especially
during Covid-19,
our work has mostly become through online
platforms and social media,” Mr Thompson
told The Indian Weekender.
Mr Thompson adds that the Christchurch
attacks that killed 51 innocent lives and
injured many were devastating for the Muslim
community and every New Zealander. It
became more pertinent to clear misconceptions
about Islam that stemmed from the terrorist’s
hatred of Muslims in the first place.
“It is clear that the terrorist’s hatred of
Muslims was based on a lack of understanding
of Islam and a false idea that Muslims are
the ‘enemy’, the ‘others’ and not a part
of this society.
“VOI decided to counter this by providing
more education on Islam. For that reason, in
2020, we held a tour (Togetherness/Kotahitanga
Tour) around New Zealand, including small
exhibitions on Islam and lectures by guest
speakers.
“The objective was to allow people to know
what Islam really is about and to meet Muslims.
We wanted to build bridges and stop hate,” Mr
Thompson added.
In the tour, Voice of Islam met many Kiwis
from different cities and conducted deep and
meaningful conversations and realised that
the horrific attacks had a massive impact on
the New Zealanders as a whole and not just
Muslims.
“Thorugh our conversations, we realised
how badly New Zealanders as a whole were
impacted and hence in 2021; we decided to give
Police announce next steps in
efforts towards safe and responsible
use of emergent technologies
IWK BUREAU
Police on Thursday, March 11 has announced its next step
in ensuring that any potential significant new technology
is well considered first – through a new, independent,
expert panel.
“In September 2020, we announced the development of a
Police policy to ensure appropriate consideration ahead of the
trial or use of new technology capabilities.
“We also committed to establishing an independent expert
panel to advise on technology matters.
“A six-member panel has now been established,” says Mark
Evans, Deputy Chief Executive Insights and Deployment.
The panel will be chaired by Professor Colin Gavaghan from
Otago University, who is the Director of the Centre for Law and
Policy in Emerging Technologies.
The research centre is based at the University of Otago
and examines legal, ethical, and policy issues around new
technologies.
Professor Colin Gavaghan says leading the panel is a
responsibility he takes very seriously.
“Emergent technologies offer great benefits in terms of
accuracy and efficiency”, says Professor Gavaghan.
“But particularly in high stakes areas like policing, it’s so
important that we watch out for potential pitfalls.
Before any new technology is deployed in those sorts of
contexts, we need to make sure that we’ve thought through
what it might mean for privacy, fairness and human rights,” says
Professor Gavaghan.
The panel’s primary role is to provide advice and oversight
from an ethical and policy perspective of emergent technologies.
While advice will be received and considered in confidence,
Police is committed to making the expert panel’s advice public
wherever possible - acknowledging this may not be possible
in every case, for example where disclosure would breach
commercial obligations.
The first meeting of the panel is expected to take place in
April.
“Our Police staff increasingly use new technology in their
day-to-day work, such as CCTV or Automatic Number Plate
Recognition.
Technology is essential to our business as it enables us to
police more effectively, and supports innovation in our work,”
says Mr Evans.
“While innovation is critical to delivering an effective police
service, it is our duty to ensure that privacy, ethical, and human
rights implications have been taken into account before deciding
to pilot or introduce new technology capabilities.
“The creation of this panel is the next step, following
the introduction of our test and trial policy, in ensuring we
understand and assess potential technology and its implications
before testing or adopting it,” Mr Evans added.
Mortgages:
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Nimish Parikh
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M. 021 236 7070
nimish@saffronfinance.co.nz
New Zealanders a chance to express how these
attacks had affected them.
“We had volunteers asking a series of
questions related to the attacks on people in
different cities throughout New Zealand. We
started releasing these interviews in a series
of short videos every day for the first 15
days in March.
We should also be mindful that Islamophobia
and the ‘othering’ of Muslims are still present.
This is evident from the incident that occurred
with the relatives of a victim of the Christchurch
shootings at a shopping store and the recent anti-
Islamic posters left at the Queenstown mosque.
This shows the need to further create awareness
of Islam and Muslims,” Mr Thompson added.
Earlier this year, VOI also launched a website
to make information on Islam accessible to all
and hopefully help remove misconceptions
that still exist. The website can be accessed at
https://islamic-awareness.com/, and visitors
can download small booklets & leaflets
about Islam.
“Visitors can also request a FREE copy
of the Quran from the site as well,” Mr
Thompson added.
Mr Thompson, via Voice of Islam, said they
want to take the opportunity to thank everyone
for their incredible and overwhelming support
of the Muslim community.
“People here and even overseas have often
commented on how amazing the response
of New Zealanders were to these attacks. We
wanted to say ‘Thank you! New Zealand’,” Mr
Thompson said.
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10 NEW ZEALAND
Friday, March 12, 2021
The Indian Weekender
National says opening of one-way
travel bubble with Australia can
reunite migrant workers’ families
SANDEEP SINGH
National Party is saying that opening of
one-way travel bubble with Australia
can help two critically affected sectors
in New Zealand economy – Tourism & getting
highly skilled migrant workers into the country.
The party’s spokesperson for Covid-19
response Chris Bishop said, “it’s clear the trans-
Tasman bubble negotiations are going nowhere
under Labour, and it’s time for New Zealand to
take action to save our tourism sector.
“Australia has moved and now we
need to move as well. We decide when
we open our border – the decision is not
subcontracted to Australia.
“We could start accepting travellers from
Australia, provided they have a negative predeparture
test, from tomorrow – and that’s
exactly what we should do,” Bishop said.
This was after Covid-19 Response
Minister Chris Hipkins told the parliament on
Wednesday, March 10, that after 12 rounds
of talks over many months on a common
framework, both parties [NZ & Australia] have
effectively left the negotiating table.
The National is asking that the government
should consider opening one-way travel
bubble to get more tourists and travellers into
the country and help the tourism sector that is
desperately looking for more visitors into the
country or some substantial support from the
government.
The Party’s Immigration Spokesperson Erica
Stanford is saying that such unilateral opening
National Says- Left- Chris Bishop National Party’s spokesperson for Covid-19 response, (Right)- National
Party's Immigration Spokesperson Erica Stanford
of the travel bubble can potentially solve
another major issue of attracting and
retaining the highly skilled migrant
workforce in the country.
“New Zealand risks eroding our
critical migrant workforce – our
medical specialists, mathematics
teachers, engineers and tech
experts – because those workers
have no hope on the horizon of
reunification with their families.
“Despite countless heart-breaking stories of
workers who have been separated from their
partners and children, in many cases for more
than a year, Minister Faafoi has ignored this
problem for eight months.”
“A travel bubble with Australia would
"New
Zealand risks
eroding our critical
migrant workforce –
our medical specialists,
mathematics teachers, engineers
and tech experts – because those
workers have no hope on the
horizon of reunification
with their families"
see MIQ spots freed up so
these critical workers can
be reunited with their
families,” Stanford said.
Notably, tens of
thousands of temporary
migrant workers who
were ordinarily resident
in New Zealand remains
locked out of NZ borders
ever since bordered were closed
almost a year ago on March 19, 2020.
The temporary migrants, including those on
student visas, post-study work visa, essential
skill visa, open work visa, and partners
and families have not only invested tens of
thousands of dollars for a dream of Kiwi-life
in NZ and have spent several years living and
working in the country towards that now elusive
dream. The government had only allowed back
a minuscule category of essential skilled work
visa holders in a staggered manner that will
only allow potentially around 850 temporary
migrants back into the country, while others
still remain locked out with no respite in sight.
The government had always shrugged off
the urgent need of allowing those temporary
migrants back into the country, hiding behind
the pretext of “limited capacity of MIQ
facilities”, which continues to serve the citizens
and residents only largely.
The government had also explicitly denied
any intention of expanding MIQ facilities that
can potentially be targeted to serve temporary
migrants – both stuck offshore and onshore.
Temporary migrant workers
trapped inside NZ’s closed
borders
It is also important to note that the current
closed border regime had also entrapped more
than 200,000 temporary migrant workers
who are currently onshore and cannot travel
overseas without risking losing the right to reenter
the country.
Those temporary migrant workers are
currently living as an underclass in New
Zealand, seeing citizens and residents travelling
overseas at the time of family emergencies such
as grieving with death or terminal sickness in
overseas family, while they are continued to be
denied of any such compassion.
Record number of property
sales in month of February
SANDEEP SINGH
The number of residential properties
sold in February across New Zealand
increased by 14.6% when compared to
the same time last year (from 6,951 to 7,964)
– the highest for the month of February in 14
years, according to the latest data from the Real
Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ).
For New Zealand excluding Auckland, the
number of properties sold increased by 6.1%
when compared to the same time last year
(from 4,890 to 5,189).
“Even with LVRs coming back
into effect in March, we would
expect to see sales volumes
continue at a solid pace over
the next couple of months; but
this will in part rely on a steady
stream of new listings coming
onto the market,
In Auckland, the number of properties sold
in February increased by 34.6% year-on-year
(from 2,061 to 2,775) – the highest for the
month of February in 14 years.
Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive at REINZ
says: “The unrelenting pace of property sales
continued in February, with a 14.6% uplift on
sales volumes compared to the same time last
year; the highest number of properties sold for
the month of February in 14 years.
“It’s highly likely that some of this uplift
can be attributed to both investors and owneroccupiers
looking to purchase ahead of the LVR
restrictions coming back into effect in March
and the slight uplift in listings we’ve seen over
the last couple of months,” she continues.
“The Auckland market has seen one of the
largest percentage increases in sales volumes
across the country when compared to the
same time last year, with a 34.6% uplift in the
number of residential properties sold. This is
remarkable when you consider Auckland had
four days of Level 3 lockdown in February and
shows how adaptable both agents and members
of the public are at moving to technology
solutions to buy and sell houses when physical
viewings are extremely limited.
“Even with LVRs coming back into effect in
March, we would expect to see sales volumes
continue at a solid pace over the next couple
of months; but this will in part rely on a steady
stream of new listings coming onto the market,”
continues Norwell.
Median prices for residential property
across New Zealand increased by 22.8%
from $635,000 in February 2020 to $780,000
in February 2021 a new record high for the
country.
Median house prices for New Zealand
excluding Auckland increased by 19.1% from
$550,000 in February last year to $655,000.
Auckland’s median house price increased by
24.3% from $885,000 at the same time last year
to $1,100,000 – a new record for Auckland.
Additionally, Auckland City, Franklin District,
Manukau City, North Shore City, Papakura
District and Waitakere City all reached new
record median highs.
Nearly a third of NZ homes sold by auction
in February – highest level of auctions ever
February saw nearly a third of all properties
sold by auction (29.2%), with 2,322 properties
selling under the hammer – up from 16.4% at
the same time last year, when 1,139 properties
were sold via auction. This was the highest
percentage of auctions we’ve ever seen in New
Zealand.
Auckland was the third region nationwide
with 47.0% (1,303 properties) sold under the
hammer up from 31.3% in February 2020 (645
properties).
This was the highest percentage of auctions
in a February month since records on sales
methods began.

The Indian Weekender Friday, March 12, 2021
NEW ZEALAND 11
Holi
Auckland Summer Festival 2021
Free Entry
21 March, Sunday, 12-6 pm
Vodafone Event Centre
Featuring DJ Rob
Co-hosted by-
Certified organic colours will be sold onsite.
Supported by-
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Editorial
The story that needs
to be told to world:
India’s Covid vaccine
rollout rescued world
from the pandemic
India has not only been living up to its longstanding reputation of being the “pharmacy of the
world,” but has also further reinforced it during the current Covid-19 global pandemic.
There is increasing number of voices, including from several leading global scientists, who
are acknowledging India’s role in the production of Covid-19 vaccines for both domestic and global
consumptions.
The country is one of the world’s biggest drug-makers and an increasing number of countries
have already approached it for procuring vaccines.
Dr Peter Hotez, Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine
(BCM) in Houston, during a recent webinar, said India’s vaccines, made in collaboration with
universities across the world such as the BCM and Oxford University, have “rescued the world”
and its contributions must not be underestimated.
Quad summit likely to give big push to India-made vaccines in war on Covid-19
Meanwhile, the first ever Indo-Pacific Quad summit on Friday, Mach 12 is likely to give a major
thrust to scaling up India’s efforts to provide affordable vaccines to a larger number of countries for
stepping up the war against the deadly Covid-19 pandemic.
The move comes at a time when there is an acute shortage of vaccines worldwide and the poorer
countries are unable to secure supplies. India has emerged as the ‘pharmacy of the world’ with the
production of two affordable vaccines.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be participating, along with Prime Minister of
Australia Scott Morrison and Prime Minister of Japan Yoshihide Suga and US President Joseph R.
Biden, in the first leaders’ summit of the quadrilateral framework, being held virtually on March 12.
The leaders are expected to discuss ongoing efforts to combat Covid-19 pandemic and explore
opportunities for collaboration in ensuring safe, equitable and affordable vaccines in the Indo-
Pacific region.
It is noteworthy that India has put up a valiant effort in gifting vaccines to its neighbouring
countries to inoculate their frontline workers and also exported stocks worldwide in the ASEAN
region, Africa and Latin America to stem the surging Covid-19 tide.
India has also been successful in neutralising China’s coercive vaccine diplomacy by providing
smaller as well as developing countries with an alternative that has no strings attached. As many as
25 countries have already received India-made vaccines and another 49 nations are in the queue.
The Quad meeting is expected to announce financing agreements to support an increase in
manufacturing capacity for coronavirus vaccines in India, Reuters news agency cited a senior US
administration official as saying.
The financing agreements will be between the United States, Japan and others and focus
particularly on companies and institutions in India manufacturing vaccines for American drug
makers Novavax Inc and Johnson & Johnson, the official in Washington said.
India contributes to more than 60 per cent of the global vaccine supply and is seen to be well
positioned to play a key role in supporting large-scale vaccine production to combat the global
pandemic.
The Serum Institute of India, the largest vaccine maker in the world, is manufacturing the
AstraZeneca-Oxford Covid-19 vaccine and also has a licence for producing the Novavax vaccine
as well.
Novavax will supply the doses to high-income countries while SII will supply to the majority
of the low-middle-income and upper-middle income countries utilising tiered pricing schedule.’
Majority of the 1.1 billion doses commitment to the WHO-led Covax programme would come from
SII’s Pune facility.
Another India pharma company, Biological E Ltd, is looking to contract-manufacture roughly
600 million doses of Johnson and Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine annually. Biological E managing
director Mahima Datla said this would be “in addition to our own product for which we are targeting
approximately 1 billion doses.”
India’s inoculation drive is currently using the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine made at
Serum Institute and the indigenously developed Covaxin by Bharat Biotech with the Indian Council
of Medical Research. The wholly indigenous Bharat Biotech vaccine has cleared the phase 3 human
trials with 81 per cent efficacy and its production on a bigger scale will come as a major boon to
India as well as the rest of the developing world.
Several other vaccines, including Russia’s Sputnik V, Cadila Healthcare’s ZyCov-D are also
expected to be approved for use soon.
Apart from being affordable, Indian vaccines can be stored at ordinary refrigeration temperatures
of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius making them more practical and easier to handle for developing countries.
The western-made Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, on the other hand, are very expensive and have to
be stored at -80 degrees Celsius which require costly cold-chain infrastructure that does not exist
in most countries.
Thought of the week
“Never underestimate the power of dreams and the
influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in
this notion: The potential for greatness lives within
each of us.” —Wilma Rudolph
12 March – 18 March 2021
Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thu
On-and-off
rain and
drizzle
22°
14°
Partly
sunny
24°
13°
25°
14°
Indian Weekender : Volume 12 Issue 50
Publisher: Kiwi Media Publishing Limited
Content Editor: Sandeep Singh | sandeep@indianweekender.co.nz
Chief Reporter: Rizwan Mohammad | rizwan@indianweekender.co.nz
Chief Technical Officer: Rohan deSouza | rohan@indianweekender.co.nz
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Editor at Large: Dev Nadkarni | dev@indianweekender.co.nz
Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher
is not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearing in the publication
Views expressed in the articles are solely of the authors and do not in any way represent
the views of the team at the Indian Weekender
Kiwi Media Publishing Limited - 133A, Level 1, Onehunga Mall, Onehunga, Auckland.
Printed at Horton Media, Auckland
Parlty
sunny
Clouds and
sun
24°
15°
A touch o
dafr
This week in New Zealand’s history
12 March 1864
Arthur's Pass 'discovered'
25°
25°
Copyright 2020. Kiwi Media Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Sunshine
and pactcy
clouds
26°
15°
A few
morning
showers
26°
17°
The summit of Arthur’s Pass over the Southern Alps between the headwaters of the Ōtira and
Bealey rivers marks the boundary between Canterbury and the West Coast.
12 March 1975
NZ Red Cross worker killed in Vietnam
Returning from leave in Laos, 30-year-old Malcolm ‘Mac’ Riding was on board an Air
Vietnam DC4 when it crashed 25 km from his Red Cross team’s compound near Pleiku,
South Vietnam.
13 March 1956
New Zealand's first test cricket victory
New Zealand was already 3–0 down in the series going into the fourth and final test at Eden
Park in Auckland. Their West Indies opponents included household names such as Gary
Sobers and Everton Weekes, who broke batting records for a New Zealand season.
13 March 1956
New Zealand's first test cricket victory
New Zealand was already 3–0 down in the series going into the fourth and final test at Eden
Park in Auckland. Their West Indies opponents included household names such as Gary
Sobers and Everton Weekes, who broke batting records for a New Zealand season.
15 March 2019
51 killed in mosque shootings
New Zealand’s Muslim community suffered an horrific attack when a self-proclaimed ‘white
nationalist’ opened fire on worshippers at mosques on Deans Avenue and in Linwood in
Christchurch. Fifty were killed and another 50 wounded, one of whom died six weeks later.
15 March 1944
New Zealand forces capture Castle Hill at Cassino
On 15 March 1944, 6 New Zealand Brigade attacked the Italian town of Cassino as part of
the Allies’ advance on Rome.
18 March 1983
Waitangi Tribunal rules on Motunui claim
In a landmark ruling, the Waitangi Tribunal (see 10 October) found that the Crown’s
obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi included a duty to protect Māori fishing grounds.

The Indian Weekender Friday, March 12, 2021 FIJI 13
COVID-19 vaccination
rollout starts in Fiji
The COVID-19 vaccination
rollout starts this morning
with all the necessary
preparations done by the
Health Ministry.
Health Minister, Doctor Ifereimi
Waqainabete confirms that the 6,000
frontline workers who are most at
risk, will get the jabs first.
Each person has to get two jabs of
the Oxford Astra Zeneca.
Doctor Waqainabete also says that
they have the freezer trucks all ready
to safely take the vaccines to the
different areas.
Prime Minister, Voreqe
Bainimarama says under the
digitalFiji umbrella, they have built
an online registration portal that will
give them the data needed to ensure a
smooth nationwide rollout.
The European Union confirms
Fiji will receive 108,000 doses
of COVID-19 vaccines under the
COVAX Facility which is a global
initiative aimed at making sure low
and middle-income countries get
access to the vaccines.
The EU and its member states
as well as the European Union
Investment Bank are some of the lead
contributors to the COVAX Facility.
Fiji is the first Pacific island
country to receive the vaccines
through the facility and the 12,000
doses received over the weekend
will allow the start of the vaccination
campaign in Fiji with those
most at risk.
Fiji Association in Auckland donates 106,000 text books to the students of Fiji
More students who have been severely
affected by the recent cyclone
are expected to be assisted with
textbooks after the Ministry of Education
today received 106,000 textbooks donated by
the Fiji Association in Auckland to the New
Zealand Embassy.
Education Minister Rosy Akbar says when
they visited schools and met with teachers, one
of the requests were library and textbooks as it
was damaged during the cyclones.
Akbar says this assistance has come on time
and students who will receive these books will
undoubtedly be thankful.
While handing over the donation, Acting New
Zealand High Commissioner Michelle Podmore
says they are thankful to the Association
for donating the educational materials that
will complement classroom teaching and
support a student with access to high-quality
educational materials.
Association Spokesman Dr Satendra Singh
3 new border quarantine cases of
COVID-19 have been confirmed
3
new
border quarantine cases
of COVID-19 have been
confirmed.
The first two cases are two women
aged 69 and 39 who travelled to
Fiji from California, arriving on
flight FJ1813 from Los Angeles on
March 1st.
Both currently have no symptoms.
One of the individuals had
returned a weak positive result and
is considered a historical case. Both
have been transferred to the isolation
ward at Lautoka hospital.
The third border quarantine case is
a 44-year-old man who arrived in Fiji
on a yacht on March 6th from Port
Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
According to the Ministry of
Health, he returned a weak positive
test result upon routine testing,
while undergoing the standard
14-day quarantine onboard the
vessel, in accordance with the Blue
Lanes initiative.
This has been considered a
historical case of COVID-19
however he has been transferred
to the isolation ward at Lautoka
hospital.
The Ministry of Health says the
Fiji Navy tracked the yacht this
individual arrived on as soon as it
entered Fijian waters and the yacht
did not stop at any other island in
Fiji before arriving at the quarantine
mooring at Denarau.
All on board this yacht will
complete 14 days quarantine, and
return at least 2 negative test results
before they will be released to
enter Fiji.
This is the first positive case on
a yacht arriving through the Blue
Lane initiative.
107 yachts have arrived in Fiji via
the Blue Lane since the initiative
started last year.
Fiji has now had 66 cases of
COVID-19, with 7 active cases
currently admitted at the Lautoka
hospital isolation ward.
says they hope teachers and students will
utilize the books and benefit from the practical
resource materials.
Singh says the educational materials are
in a range of subjects including English,
Accounting, Mathematics, Biology, Science
and Physics.
The Association made a similar contribution
in 2017 following Tropical Cyclone Winston.
The total cost of the educational materials is
NZ $80,000.
Hamilton Kirikiriroa
को मिलकर नया आकार दें
आप हमारे दीर्घकालिक योजना के प्ारूप पर
अपनी प्तिक्रिया 7 April िक दें
अपनी आवाज़ सांझा करें
futurehamilton.co.nz पर

14
INDIA
Friday, March 12, 2021 The Indian Weekender
NEWS in BRIEF
India's disease screening programme grabs S-A
nations' attention
India's Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) screening programme,
facilitated by Tata Trusts and Dell, has now grabbed the attention of
several South Asian countries, officials said here on Tuesday.
While Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar are interested in replicating the
NCD screening, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has presented it to
the 11 member-countries of its South-East Asian Region for populationbased
screening and its large-scale utility by field-level health workers.
Launched in 2017, the programme has so far enrolled around 7 crore
people (80 million) across 29 states and UTs and has screened around
30 million (3 crore) for diseases like diabetes, hypertension and certain
types of cancers. Of these, around 60 lakh have been referred for further
medical consultations out of whom around 15 lakh have been treated till
date, said the official. The programme, one of the modules in Ayushman
Bharat's Comprehensive Primary Healthcare (CPHC) Initiative, is currently
deployed in 503 districts across the country and will be able to track health
trends across the country.
India’s largest floating solar power plant to be
commissioned by NTPC in May
India’s largest floating solar power plant of 100 MW capacity, belonging to
the National Thermal Power Corporation, is expected to be commissioned
at Ramagundam in May this year, NTPC southern region executive director
CV Anand said.
Addressing a virtual press conference in Hyderabad, Anand said the
floating solar photo-voltaic project would be spread over 450 acres on the
water surface of Sri Ram Sagar Project reservoir. This will be the largest
floating solar plant in the country in a single location as of now. The total
cost of the project would be 423 crore, including GST, he said.
“NTPC is utilising the water bodies and huge reservoirs to set up these
floating solar units, because it requires huge expenditure for groundmounted
plant. For setting up one MW solar photo-voltaic plant on ground,
we require five acres,” he said.
The NTPC has successfully completed pilot projects at Kayamkulam
(100 KWH) capacity and Kawas (1 MW). “Now, we are implementing large
floating solar plants,” the executive director said.
The NTPC southern region has taken up setting up of solar power plants
of the total capacity of 450 MW. Of this, 217 MW plants would be floating
on water bodies. Apart from the 100 MW plant at Ramagundam, the
corporation is setting up 92 MW floating unit at Kayamkulam gas plant in
Kerala and a 25 MW unit at Simhadri power plant in Visakhapatnam.
US defence secretary Lloyd Austin to visit India
soon, Indo-Pacific on agenda
Military-to-military cooperation, defence
trade, the Indo-Pacific region and the
situation in Afghanistan are expected to be on
the agenda during US defence secretary Lloyd
Austin’s three-day visit to India next week.
This will be the first visit to India by a senior
member of the Biden administration, which is
looking to ramp up the relationship with India,
both bilaterally and within the framework of the Quadrilateral Security
Dialogue or Quad, against the backdrop of China’s assertive actions in the
region. On his India visit during March 19-21, Austin will meet defence
minister Rajnath Singh and other senior government officials, the defence
ministry said in a statement.
“Both sides are expected to discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral
defence cooperation and exchange views on regional security challenges
and common interests in maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific
region,” the statement said. “Discussions regarding defence cooperation
would also focus on how both countries could consolidate military-tomilitary
cooperation and defence trade and industry cooperation,” the
statement added.
Idea of climate action should not be to move climate
ambition goal post to 2050
India has said that the idea of
climate action should not be to
move the goal post to 2050 and
countries must fulfil their pre-2020
commitments, calling on the global
community to view climate change
as a “wake-up call” to strengthen
multilateralism and seek equitable
solutions for a sustainable world.
Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar
on Tuesday said the delivery on the commitment by developed countries
to jointly mobilise USD 100 billion per year by 2020 in support of climate
action in developing countries has been elusive.
He was speaking at the UN Security Council’s open debate on
‘Maintenance of international peace and security: Addressing climaterelated
risks to international peace and security'.
COVID-19: India’s
hunt for 'worrying'
coronavirus variants
Like all viruses, the coronavirus
that has caused the deadly
pandemic keeps changing
in small ways as it passes from one
person to another.
The vast majority of these
mutations are inconsequential, and
don't alter the way the virus behaves.
But some mutations trigger
changes in the spike protein that
the virus uses to latch on to and
enter human cells - these variants
could potentially be more infectious,
cause more severe disease or evade
vaccines. Such variants have been
its instruction manual - and begin reason for the spike.
already identified in UK, South tracking the mutations.
India says it has found 242 cases
Africa and Brazil, and have now India was the fifth country in of the three foreign variants - mostly
spread to dozens of countries. the world to sequence the genome the UK one - in the population so
Last week, a top US health official of the novel coronavirus, isolated far. Scientists say they are unlikely
warned that the spread of highly from its first recorded cases in the to be linked to the recent spike in
contagious variants was threatening southern state of Kerala in January infection, which is being largely
to fuel a "potential fourth surge of last year. Since then the country has attributed to people dropping
cases" in the country.
The Brazil variant appears more
contagious and may evade immunity
provided by past infection, scientists
say. The British variant is responsible
for a chunk of new infections in US
and Europe.
Genome detectives around the
world are hunting down these
worrying mutations. Scientists are
able to detect changes by sequencing
the genome of the virus after taking a
swab from an infected patient.
They crack the genetic code of
the virus - essentially prising open
recorded more than 11 million cases
- just behind the US - and more than
150,000 deaths from the disease.
But only now India is beginning
to beef up what was a limited
surveillance system to track the
genetic histories of local samples
of the Sars-CoV-2 virus, that causes
Covid-19.
The timing is crucial: a clutch
of states have reported an uptick
in infections even as caseloads
have fallen sharply in the country.
Naturally, there have been fears that
new variants of the virus might be the
their guard following the steep
decline in cases.
But genome scientists are also
"investigating" two variants found
in samples in states like Maharashtra
and Telangana which have seen a
surge in infection rates.
"We are collecting more samples
from the field to investigate whether
the two variants have any link with
the surge.
"We cannot be complacent," Dr
Sujeet Kumar Singh, director of
India's National Centre for Disease
Control, said.
Nepal bans pics, videos &
filming 'of others' on Mt Everest
Nepals Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil
Aviation has put a ban on taking and circulating
pictures, videos and filming of other climbers or
members of expedition teams on Mt Everest other than of
oneself starting this season.
Issuing a notice, the Department of Tourism put the
ban, saying that each climber can take, share and make
images and videos of their group or of oneself but they
will face action if they take, make and share photos of
other climbers without the department's consent.
In the wake of a picture that went viral on May 20i9
about the "traffic jam" on Mt Everest taken by one record
holder climber, Nirmal Purja, Nepali officials have been
facing other similar kinds of criticism by the international
media over threat to the Himalayan eco-system.
The mountaineering community and some international
media have criticized the hollow management of the
Nepal government in managing the expedition on Mt
Everest after the photo, "traffic jam in Everest" went viral.
Later, several other climbers took pictures of other
climbers, filming at the top of Mt Everest and circulated
them on the Internet.
Officials said some other attempts were made to
defame Mt Everest's tourism management by circulating
the pictures like piling of garbage at Everest base camp,
an avalanche in Everest during the earthquake in 2015.
"Such activities have given negative publicity
about the Everest so we decided to put a ban
on taking pictures, movie and filming in
the Everest by others," Mira Acharya, an
official at Nepal's Tourism Department
told the Nepali media, "to stop these kinds
of negative publicity, we have come up
with the new guideline that includes other
mountains in the country as well".
Nepal has eight mountains whose heights are higher
than 8,000 metres and Nepal witnesses a huge rush of
mountaineers during the climbing season that generally
falls in mid-May. Similarly, the new guideline also stated
that any climber should have appropriate medical and
health conditions for climbing the mountains. In the past,
due to some climbers, who did not have the appropriate
health and medical conditions to climb the mountains,
emergency rescue operations had to be mounted.
"We honour the personal freedom of climbers but that
does not mean they can post images and videos of others
without their consent. Either through commercial cameras
or mobile sets, all such activities have been banned,"
Acharya told the Nepali media.
"We
honour the
personal freedom of
climbers but that does not
mean they can post images
and videos of others without
their consent.
If anyone intends to disseminate still
photographs and videos of people,
avalanches and even dead bodies on the
mountain among other things, they must
secure consent from the Department of
Tourism, the government agency that
issues Everest climbing permits, the
Kathmandu Post quoted the official.

The Indian Weekender Friday, March 12, 2021
WORLD 15
FUKUSHIMA DISASTER:
What happened at the nuclear plant?
Ten years ago, on a Friday afternoon
in March, the most powerful
earthquake ever recorded in Japan
struck off the country's eastern coast.
The 9.0-magnitude quake was so
forceful it shifted the Earth off its axis. It
triggered a tsunami which swept over the
main island of Honshu, killing more than
18,000 people and wiping entire towns off
the map.
At the Fukushima nuclear power plant,
the gigantic wave surged over defences
and flooded the reactors, sparking a major
disaster. Authorities set up an exclusion
zone which grew larger and larger as
radiation leaked from the plant, forcing
more than 150,000 people to evacuate
from the area. A decade later, that zone
remains in place and many residents
have not returned. Authorities believe
it will take up to 40 years to finish the
work, which has already cost Japan
trillions off yen.
Where is the plant?
The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear
Power Plant is in the town of Okuma,
in Fukushima Prefecture. It sits on the
country's east coast, about 220km (137
miles) north-east of the capital Tokyo.
On 11 March 2011 at 14:46 local time
(05:46 GMT) the earthquake - known as
the Great East Japan Earthquake, or the
2011 Tohoku earthquake - struck east
of the city of Sendai, 97km north of the
plant. Residents had just 10 minutes
warning before the tsunami hit the coast.
Overall almost half-a-million people
were forced to leave their homes as a
result of the earthquake, tsunami and
nuclear accident.
What happened at
Fukushima?
Systems at the nuclear plant detected
the earthquake and automatically shut
down the nuclear reactors. Emergency
diesel generators turned on to keep
coolant pumping around the cores, which
remain incredibly hot even after reactions
stop. But soon after a wave over 14 metres
(46ft) high hit Fukushima. The water
overwhelmed the defensive sea wall,
flooding the plant and knocking out the
emergency generators.
Workers rushed to restore power, but in
the days that followed the nuclear fuel in
three of the reactors overheated and partly
melted the cores - something known as a
nuclear meltdown.
The plant also suffered a number of
chemical explosions which badly damaged
the buildings. Radioactive material began
leaking into the atmosphere and the
Pacific Ocean, prompting the evacuations
and an ever-widening exclusion zone.
How many people were hurt?
There were no deaths immediately
during the nuclear disaster. At least
16 workers were injured in the explosions,
while dozens more were exposed to
radiation as they worked to cool the
reactors and stabilise the plant.
Three people were reportedly taken to
hospital after high-level exposure.
Long-term effects of the radiation are
a matter of debate. The World Health
Organization (WHO) released a report in
2013 that said the disaster will not cause
any observable increase in cancer rates in
the region. Scientists both inside and
outside Japan believe that aside from the
region immediately around the plant, the
risks of radiation remain relatively low.
• Fukushima exclusion worse than
radiation?
• Fukushima's long road to recovery
• Growing crops in the shadow of
Fukushima
But many believe the dangers are
far greater, and residents remain wary.
Though officials have lifted restrictions in
many areas most people have not returned
to their homes. In 2018, the Japanese
government announced that one worker
had died after exposure to radiation and
agreed his family should be compensated.
A number of people are however
confirmed to have died in the evacuation,
including dozens of hospital patients who
had to be moved due to fears of radiation.
 The Fukushima Disaster is classified
as a level seven event by the International
Atomic Energy Agency, the highest such
event and only the second disaster to meet
this classification after Chernobyl.
• Chernobyl: What happened thirty
years ago?
• Chernobyl: The end of a three-decade
experiment
Who was at fault?
Critics blamed the lack of
preparedness for the event, as well as
a muddled response from both the plant
operator Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco)
and the government. An independent
investigation set up by Japan's parliament
concluded that Fukushima was "a
profoundly man-made disaster", blaming
the energy company for failing to meet
safety requirements or to plan for such an
event. However, in 2019 a Japanese court
cleared three former Tepco executives of
negligence in what was the only criminal
case to come out of the disaster.
In 2012, Japan's then prime minister
Yoshihiko Noda said the state shared
the blame for the disaster. A court
ruled in 2019 that the government bore
partial responsibility and should pay
compensation to evacuees.
How is the clean up going?
Ten years later, several towns in northeastern
Japan remain off limits.
Authorities are working to clean up the
area so residents can return.
• Fukushima: Is fear of radiation the
real killer?
• Japan nuclear disaster residents return
• A school frozen in time after tsunami
Major challenges remain. Tens of
thousands of workers will be needed over
the next 30 to 40 years to safely remove
nuclear waste, fuel rods and more than
one million tons of radioactive water still
kept at the site. But some residents have
decided never to return because they fear
radiation, have built new lives elsewhere
or don't want to go back to where the
disaster hit.
Media reports in 2020 said the
government could start to release the
water - filtered to reduce radioactivity
- into the Pacific Ocean as early as next
year. Some scientists believe the huge
ocean would dilute the water and that
it would pose a low risk to human and
animal health. Environmental group
Greenpeace however said that the water
contains materials that could potentially
damage human DNA.
Officials have said no final decision
has been taken about what to do with the
liquid.
NEWS in BRIEF
Michelle Obama to be inducted into
Women's Hall of Fame
Former US First Lady Michelle
Obama will be inducted into
the National Womens Hall of
Fame in October, according to the
organisation.
In a statement, the National
Women's Hall of Fame said that it
named Obama as one of the members of its 'Class of 2021',
reports The Hill news website.
"Both in and out of the White House, Michelle Obama has
accomplished her initiatives and so much more becoming
an advocate for healthy families, service members and their
families, higher education, international adolescent girls'
education, and serving as a role model for women and young
girls everywhere," it said in the statement.
National Women's Hall of Fame described the former First
Lady as "one of the most influential and iconic women of
the 21st century". The other 'Class of 2021' include Indian-
American Indra Nooyi, who was the former CEO of PepsiCo,
and retired professional football player Mia Hamm.
Moderna, Pfizer less effective against S.
Africa Covid variant, claims study
Covid-19
vaccines
developed by
Moderna and Pfizer-
BioNTech significantly
appear less effective
against the Covid variant
that first emerged in
South Africa, finds a new
study. The study, published in the journal Nature, indicated
that the percentage of protective antibodies that neutralised
the variant -- B.1.351 -- was 12.4 times lower for Moderna's
Covid-19 shot, while Pfizer's vaccine was found to be 10.3
times lower. According to the researchers, including Manoj
S Nair from Columbia University Irving Medical Center in
the US, multiple vaccine constructs have shown promise,
including two with 95 per cent protective efficacy against
Covid-19.
However, these interventions were directed toward the
initial SARS-CoV-2 that emerged in 2019.
Congress OKs $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief
bill in win for Biden, Democrats
A
Congress riven along party lines approved a landmark
$1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, as President Joe
Biden and Democrats claimed a triumph on a bill that
marshals the government’s spending might against twin
pandemic and economic crises that have upended a nation.
The House gave final congressional approval to the
sweeping package by a near party line 220-211 vote
precisely seven weeks after Biden entered the White House
and four days after the Senate passed the bill without a single
Republican vote. GOP lawmakers opposed the package as
bloated, crammed with liberal policies and heedless of signs
the crises are easing.
Most noticeable to many Americans are provisions to
provide up to $1,400 direct payments this year to most
adults and extend $300 per week emergency unemployment
benefits into early September. But the legislation goes far
beyond that.
Deeper ties, Indo-Pacific on the agenda of
US defence secy visit
Washington The United States will seek to deepen
the “Major Defense Partnership” with India during
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s visit and advance
cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and the western Indian Ocean
region, which is an emerging area of interest for coordinated
action by the two countries
Washington The United States will seek to deepen the
“Major Defense Partnership” with India during Secretary of
Defense Lloyd Austin’s visit and advance cooperation in the
Indo-Pacific and the western Indian Ocean region, which is
an emerging area of interest for coordinated action by the
two countries.
Austin will reach India next week after visiting Japan and
South Korea.
This will be his first trip overseas after taking office and,
notably, it is to the Indo-Pacific, reflecting the importance
the Biden administration is according to the region. He will
begin the tour on March 13 with a visit to the US Indo-Pacific
command headquarters in Hawaii.

16 ENTERTAINMENT
Friday, March 12, 2021 The Indian Weekender
Ramayan and Mahabharat
inspire mega film projects
The epics Ramayan and Mahabharat
seem to be the latest favourites of our
filmmakers. A host of new films have
been launched, with plots that seem influenced
by the epics. Not only Bollywood, South Indian
film artistes also seem intrigued by the epics
lately. The fetish for Ramayan, particularly, has
been seen in Bollywood in the past, too. Sooraj
Barjatya's 1999 hit Hum Saath-Saath Hain and
Karan Johar's Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham
(2001) are automatic recalls when you think of
epic inspiration by way of theme in Bollywood.
These earlier films, though, primarily drew
drama quotients from the epics. The upcoming
roster promises to explore the stories with
bigger production values, to say the least.
Here's a look at what's in store:
RAM SETU
Actor-producer Akshay Kumar has carved
his space with patriotism and socially
relevant commentary through mainstream films
lately. With Abhishek Sharma's Ram Setu, he is
falling back on mythology.
Announcing the film on Twitter last year,
Akshay had said the endeavour was "to keep
alive the ideals of Ram in the consciousness
of all Bharatiyas by building a bridge (setu)
that will connect generations to come". The
actor has reportedly sought permission from
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath
to shoot the film in Ayodhya. Akshay will be
backing the film too, besides starring. Details
about the remaining cast and crew is yet to be
officially confirmed.
BRAHMASTRA
Ayan Mukerji's ambitious action fantasy
draws its name from Mahabharat, where
Brahmastra was a lethal supernatural weapon
In a new transformation video on the
occasion of Women's Day, Sunny Leone
is seen celebrating winning over the
challenges in the form of judgmental and
sexist comments, uncalled criticism for her
dance steps, non-cooperation from the industry
and also, the industry boycotting her at
awards functions.
"Women play multiple roles in their life �
of a daughter, wife, mother, sister and so on.
capable of destroying the entire universe.
The film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Ranbir
Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Nagarjuna Akkineni and
Mouni Roy in key roles, and is said to be first
part of a trilogy. The film is planned to be
released in 3D, IMAX and standard formats.
The fact is not known what element the plot
of the film draws from the epic, since all details
are kept under wraps.
THE IMMORTAL ASHWATTHAMA
According to the story of Mahabharat,
Ashwathama is the son of guru
Dronacharya, who was the weapon instructor
of the Pandavas and the Kauravas.
During the battle of Kurukshetra,
Ashvatthama sided with the Kauravas and
fought against the Pandavas. As per the epic,
he is immortal. The Immortal Ashwatthama is
a superhero film starring Vicky Kaushal in the
lead.
The film is being marketed as a "high-concept
visual spectacle". It will be helmed by Aditya
Dhar who has earlier directed Vicky Kaushal in
the 2019 film Uri: The Surgical Strike.
To make everyone around them happy, they
sometimes compromise their real-self. I would
like to encourage all women to come and join
me today and celebrate their real-selves without
worrying about others. This day belongs to us...
the female power," Sunny said.
"I feel there is such a huge need in the women
of today to accept themselves as they are and
ADIPURUSH
The film is an adaptation of Ramayan,
where Telugu star Prabhas features as Lord
Ram while Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan will
be seen essaying Ravan. Adipurush courted
controversy in December last year after Saif Ali
Khan mentioned in an interview that the film
was going to show the "humane" side of Ravan.
Following immense criticism, the actor
issued an apology, and said: "Lord Ram has
always been the symbol of righteousness and
heroism for me. Adipurush is about celebrating
the victory of good over evil and the entire
team is working to present the epic without any
distortion." The film is currently on the floors
and is being directed by Om Raut, known for
helming the Ajay Devgn blockbuster Tanhaji:
The Unsung Warrior.
SURYAPUTRA MAHAVIR KARNA
The film narrates the story of Karna, son of
Suryadev or Sun God and princess Kunti,
born before her marriage. Karna is one of the
most important characters of Mahabharat.
Written and directed by Malayalam
filmmaker RS Vimal, the film is produced by
Vashu Bhagnani, Deepshikha Deshmukh and
Jackky Bhagnani.
SUNNY LEONE: Need in women of
today to accept themselves as they are
"
Women play multiple
roles in their life � of
a daughter, wife, mother,
sister and so on. To make
everyone around them
happy, they sometimes
compromise their real-self
most importantly to love themselves in their
own skin," she added.
Sunny's video came as a participation gesture
in a campaign launched by the short video
platform Moj titled #Unfiltered campaign.
Launched on International Women's Day, the
campaign encourages women to break away
from social taboos and prompting them to
be their genuine selves without any filter in
their lives.
The #Unfiltered campaign also features
top women creators going through a reverse
transformation as they break-away from their
existing mould and go back to their original,
unfiltered versions, showing the world that their
self-worth is not defined by how society wants
them to look and act.
The campaign aims to encourage women
to celebrate their innate beauty and express
themselves freely and confidently.
Sajid: As long as
I'm alive, will work
hard so people
remember Wajid
Sajid Khan, of the popular composer duo
Sajid-Wajid, says his life has changed
drastically ever since brother Wajid's
demise in June last year.
"Please feel free to call me Sajid Wajid
because I have changed my surname to Wajid.
As long as I'm alive, I'll keep working hard so
that everyone remembers his name," a tearyeyed
Sajid uttered with pauses, struggling for
words, as he opened up to the media.
"Life has changed a lot. I don't know what
to say. Somewhere I have a feeling that he
is always with me and that's what keeps me
going. But everything has changed -- our home,
people's perspectives, everything. He was just
47, and in these 47 years he has never been
separate from me. We have grown up together
eating from the same plate, and suddenly he
passed away in front of my eyes. I still can't
believe this," he said.
"I don't talk on this topic much. I have sealed
Wajid in my heart. He is very much intact in my
heart and will always be there," he said.
Talks veers to the emerging fad of online
performances in the time of Covid. Is he
interested in doing something like that? "I did
a few online performances last year -- that too
so that I could entertain Wajid, because he was
hospitalised at that time. After that, I haven't
done any online performance. I think I want
to stick to film music right now, it is a huge
responsibility," Sajid replied.
Talking about Bollywood music, netizens
often complain about remixes dominating
the scene and original compositions taking a
backseat. What is his take?
"I am not doing that (remix), so I am not
affected by what people say. This is a phase
which will eventually pass. Bollywood is like a
sea, and music patterns are the waves. So many
waves come and go, this is one of them. Some
work, some don't," the composer explained.
"Talking about entire India, not just
Bollywood, our music will continue to live
as long as we retain the melody. We are very
melodious people who feel like singing and
dancing on every small occasion. Different
phases will come and go but good melody
and lyrics will never die in Indian music," he
further suggested. Sajid is currently associated
with the Zee TV music reality show "Indian
Pro Music League". Talking about the same,
he shared: "This is a very next generation show
which accommodates so many people and
provides us a good scope for interaction with
the contestants of our teams. Maybe today's
newcomers joining the show will turn out to be
the captains 10 years later! They are getting a
good opportunity for music as well as grooming
through this show." Since the show promises
to give an opportunity to new singers, what
quality does Sajid look for in a budding talent?
"The first quality which I see in a new singer
is whether he or she is a good human being and
well mannered. If you are a moderate singer,
I can bring out your talent by using certain
techniques. But for me it is important that you
are a good human being more than a good
singer," concluded the musician.

The Indian Weekender Friday, March 12, 2021
FEATURES 17
CROSSWORD FreeDailyCrosswords.com
NO: 63
ACROSS------------,
I) Confront
5) Happy or content
9) Dinner prayer
14) It may let off a little steam
15) Be footloose
16) Plane device, back and
forth
17) High school bookworm
18) Biblical victim
19) Squirrel's snack
20) Modern test subject
21) Limerick's land
23) Muslim greeting
25) Certain pronouns
26) Canny
29) Sales-kit item
33) Mortise mate
35) Spacious window
37) Use a knife and fork
38) Home's opposite
39) Codgers
GEM DANDY
2 3 4
14
17
20
23
33 34
38
6 7
40) Juan's abode
41) Albanian coin
42) Like a rock
43) Buenos_, Argentina
44) Like noisy floorboards
46) Shark's back fin
48) Tucks' partners
50) Floodgate-opening sound
53) Rolling Stones classic
58) "Aye" canceler
59) Allocate
60) Like some bar signage
61) Four times around a
common track
62) Making no sense
63) Uttered
64) Unexpected windfall
65) Some other time
66) Still-active volcano
67) Tolstoy's Karenina
James Q. Ellis
8 11 12 13
2nd February
DOWN
I) Locates
2) Pro hoops locale
3) Brightly banded slitherer
4) Finish
5) Unit of weight (var.)
6) Ear projection
7) Attest
8) Ai rp ort headache
9) Occurring in small stages
l 0) Certain bias
11) Big deals
12) Baseball legend Yastrzemski
13) It soars over shores
21) Make at work
22) Mislays
24) Ship shout
27) Sweater material, sometimes
28) R2-D2 or C-3PO
30) Gibson garnish
31) Utilize a light ray
32) TAD postings
33) After-bath powder
34) Big-mouthed pitcher
36) "What good would __ ?"
39) Web-footed rodent
40) "So long!"
42) Move along jumpily
43) Pallid
45) "I don't care who"
4 7) Landlocked African nation
49) Sight or hearing
51) Where to make waves?
52) Laughing canine
53) Bannister
54) Bone connected to the triceps
55) Utter like a sheep
56) Good thing to have on a train
57) Kill
61) CEO's degree, often
ANSWERS CROSSWORD NO: 63
FreeDailyCrosswords.com
ACROSS------------,
I) Confront
5) Happy or content
9) Dinner prayer
14) It may let off a little steam
15) Be footloose
16) Plane device, back and
forth
17) High school bookworm
18) Biblical victim
19) Squirrel's snack
20) Modern test subject
21) Limerick's land
23) Muslim greeting
25) Certain pronouns
26) Canny
29) Sales-kit item
33) Mortise mate
35) Spacious window
37) Use a knife and fork
38) Home's opposite
39) Codgers
GEM DANDY
1F 2A 3C 4E
14
1 R 0
LAT
HITORI NO: 63
40) Juan's abode
41) Albanian coin
42) Like a rock
43) Buenos_, Argentina
44) Like noisy floorboards
46) Shark's back fin
48) Tucks' partners
50) Floodgate-opening sound
53) Rolling Stones classic
58) "Aye" canceler
59) Allocate
60) Like some bar signage
61) Four times around a
common track
62) Making no sense
63) Uttered
64) Unexpected windfall
65) Some other time
66) Still-active volcano
67) Tolstoy's Karenina
Al
TN
B James Q. Ellis
96 1k 1A 1c 11:
1
R A D A R
CORN
AV
I L E
OON
N NA
2nd February
DOWN
I) Locates
2) Pro hoops locale
3) Brightly banded slitherer
4) Finish
5) Unit of weight (var.)
6) Ear projection
7) Attest
8) Ai rport headache
9) Occurring in small stages
l 0) Certain bias
11) Big deals
12) Baseball legend Yastrzemski
13) It soars over shores
21) Make at work
22) Mislays
24) Ship shout
27) Sweater material, sometimes
28) R2-D2 or C-3PO
30) Gibson garnish
31) Utilize a light ray
32) TAD postings
33) After-bath powder
34) Big-mouthed pitcher
36) "What good would __?"
39) Web-footed rodent
40) "So long!"
42) Move along jumpily
43) Pallid
45) "I don't care who"
47) Landlocked African nation
49) Sight or hearing
51) Where to make waves?
52) Laughing canine
53) Bannister
54) Bone connected to the triceps
55) Utter like a sheep
56) Good thing to have on a train
57) Kill
61) CEO's degree, often
Eliminate numbers until there are no duplicates in any row or
column. Eliminate numbers by marking them in Black. You are
not allowed to have two Black squares touching horizontally or
vertically (diagonally is ok). Any White square can be reached
from any other (i.e. they are connected).
SUDOKU SOLUSIONS AND ANSWERS NO: 63
51 52
59
62
65
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. In which part of your body would you find the cruciate
ligament? Knee
2. What is the name of the main antagonist in the Shakespear
play Othello? Lago
3. What element is denoted by the chemical symbol Sn in the
periodic table? Tin
4. What is the name of the 1976 film about the Watergate
scandal, starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman? All
the President's Men
5. How many of Henry VIII’s wives were called Catherine? 3
6. What was the most popular girls name in the UK in 2019?
Olivia
7. Which comedian was the second permanent host of Never
Mind the Buzzcocks after Mark Lamarr? Simon Amstell
8. Which popular video game franchise has released games with
the subtitles World At War and Black Ops? Call of Duty
9. In what US State is the city Nashville? Tennessee
10. Which rock band was founded by Trent Reznor in 1988?
Nine Inch Nails
11. What is the currency of Denmark? Krone
12. Which Tennis Grand Slam is played on a clay surface? The
French Open (Roland Garros)
13. In which European country would you find the Rijksmuseum?
Netherlands
14. How many films have Al Pacino and Robert De Niro appeared
in together? Four (The Godfather Part 2, Heat, Righteous
Kill, The Irishman)
15. What was the old name for a Snickers bar before it changed
in 1990? Marathon
16. Who was the head of state in Japan during the second world
war? Emperor Hirohito
17. What is the smallest planet in our solar system? Mercury
18. Who wrote the novels Gone Girl and Sharp Objects? Gillian
Flynn
19. Which legendary surrealist artist is famous for painting
melting clocks? Salvador Dali
20. Which football club plays its home games at Loftus Road?
Queen’s Park Rangers
12 March to 18 March 2021 | By Manisha Koushik
ARIES (MAR 21-APR 20)
Time may get wasted in waiting, but nothing
Someone may get in your way to prevent you
from achieving what you desire, so wise up to it.
Stepping out to meet people you know is on the
cards. Your love life is certain to look up, as you
begin to feel closer to the one you love. Saving
may be on your mind and you will not hesitate
to cut corners and becoming ultra economical. Doing up the house
can be on the minds of some homemakers. Lucky No.:8 / Lucky
Colour: White
TAURUS (APR 21-MAY 20)
There is much that is happening on the social
front. Something unforeseen may delay your
current efforts on the professional front. Think
through any responsibility entrusted to you at the
beginning itself to avoid any hitches afterwards.
You will need to prioritise things on the home
front, so as not to miss out anything important.
Changes that you desire at home may not be
agreed to by others. Longing for a loved one may give you sleepless
nights. Lucky No.: 4 / Lucky Colour: Dark Slate Grey
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUN 21)
If you are waiting for a favourable outcome of
something important, it is time to rejoice! Your
financial situation is set to improve. Efforts put
on the professional front are likely to get you
noticed by those who matter. An alternative
medicine may give relief from an ailment.
Academic pursuits will prove fruitful and get you
nearer your goal. A short vacation cannot be ruled out for some.
Chance of setting up a new house may soon come. Lucky No.:11 /
Lucky Colour: Orange
CANCER (JUN 22-JUL 20)
Think before speaking, lest you offend someone
by your frank ways. You can expect total
recovery from an ailment that has been troubling
you for long. Close supervision may be required
of something initiated by you on the professional
front. Don’t follow others blindly, especially
in matters involving finance. You may find
yourself lagging behind on the academic front, so tighten your belt.
Maintain a helping attitude on the social front, as someone close
may genuinely need it. Lucky No.:15 / Lucky Colour: Red
Manisha Koushik is a practicing astrologer, tarot card reader, numerologist, vastu and
fengshui consultant based in India with a global presence through the online channels. She is
available for consultations online as well. E-mail her at support@askmanisha.com or contact
at +91-11-26449898 Mobile/Whatsapp: +91-9716145644 • www.askmanisha.com
LEO (JUL21-AUG 20)
You may need to speak up for someone, so don’t
run away from it! Something that you had been
hoping for on the professional front will happen.
Academic front looks bright, as you are able to
give a good account of yourself. Be judicious in
putting money in betting or speculation, as luck
may not support you indefinitely. You will need
to prevent someone you dislike from latching on to you in an outing.
Health remains satisfactory. Lucky No.:1 / Lucky Colour: Lemon
VIRGO (AUG 23-SEP 23)
Something said in jest by you may not go
down well with your near and dear ones, so be
careful. You are likely to remain in a confused
state of mind this week, due to indecisiveness
of a senior. Increasing workload threatens to
take up a major portion of your time. Setting
the pace on the academic front will be a step in
the right direction. Blowing hot and cold in a
relationship cannot be ruled out for some. Lucky No.: 22 / Lucky
Colour: Indigo
LIBRA (SEP 24-OCT 23)
Your nature is likely to impress those around
you. Chances of getting into thick soup over
an issue on the professional front cannot be
ruled out. Your performance on the academic
front may leave much to be desired. Enjoying
the company of loved ones is on the cards.
Someone will be there to help you out
financially. It is in your interest to improve
your eating habits, if you want to remain healthy. Love life remains
satisfactory. Lucky No. 8 / Lucky Colour: Parrot Green
SCORPIO (OCT 24-NOV 22)
You will need to be in the forefront of things
to ensure success. Attempts at coming back in
shape will be richly rewarded. Money spent
for a good cause will give excellent returns in
kind. Some of you may get tempted to steal a
short vacation in the midst of work. Facelift of
house is on the cards and will provide a much
needed change. Differences with spouse may
crop up, so it is best to give space. Lucky No.18 / Lucky Colour:
Rose.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV 23-DEC 21)
You will need time to sort a personal problem, so
don’t be hasty. Home remedy may come in handy
in getting rid of a nagging health problem. Keep
your wits about in a competitive situation on the
academic front. Don’t volunteer for anything at
work, if you are not confident of completing it in
time. A stagnating romantic life may need urgent resurrection, so be
up to it! Weather may play spoilsport in a leisure trip. Lucky No.: 7
/ Lucky Colour: Light Red
CAPRICORN (DEC 22-JAN 21)
A small beginning may be made that will
ultimately lead to profits. Someone who has
caught your fancy on the romantic front may
send positive signals. A chance for an overseas
journey is likely to materialise and make you
see new places. Someone in the family may
make you feel proud by his or her achievement.
You will manage to keep your professional front in order by being
proactive. You may opt for an exercise regimen. Lucky No.: 17 /
Lucky Colour: Dark Grey
AQUARIUS (JAN 22-FEB 19)
Someone’s caring attitude will keep you in a
happy mood. You will be able to compel someone
to change the date of a social event to be able to
attend the same. Lover may need space, so respect
it by giving a backseat to romance. Health tips
given by someone are likely to come to your aid
now. Your stubborn nature can get you into trouble
on the professional front, if you are not careful. Lucky No.: 6 /
Lucky Colour: Parrot Green
PISCES (FEB 20-MAR 20)
A great outing is in store for you this week, so
get set to enjoy your heart out! A family event
will bring you into the limelight. The week
turns out well, as you are able to achieve your
aims both on personal and professional fronts.
Excelling in academics is a foregone conclusion
and will add to your prestige. Meeting targets and
going beyond may make you a strong contender for winning extra
incentives at work. Lucky No.: 17 / Lucky Colour: Violet

18
FEATURES
Friday, March 12, 2021 The Indian Weekender
This vegetable is known with all different
names; brinjal, eggplant and aubergine.
BAINGAN BHARTA –
ROASTED EGGPLANT MASH
INGREDIENTS:
• 2 - eggplants, large
• 3 - onions, large
• 4 - tomatoes, medium
• 2-4 - green chillies
• 1tsp - red chilli powder
• 1/2tsp - turmeric powder
• 1tsp - coriander powder
• 1tsp - salt or according to
taste
• 2tbsp - oil
• Fresh coriander chopped
onions and fry until translucent.
• Add chopped green chillies, sauté
for few seconds.
• Lower the flame then add red
chilli powder, coriander powder,
turmeric powder and salt, sauté
for few seconds.
• Add chopped tomatoes and sauté
over medium fame until oil
separates.
• Add eggplant to the masala, mix
well.
• Add half cup of water, mix well,
cover and cook over medium
flame.
METHOD:
FOR ASSEMBLE;
• Wash and rub some oil over the
• Slowly peel the skin of the fried • After 2 minutes of its cooking
• Arrange fried eggplant
eggplants. Set aside.
eggplants and transfer them onto remove the lid and mash the
in a serving dish.
• Place the eggplant directly over
a plate.
eggplants with the hand masher.
Gently pour beaten yoghurt over
medium flame to roast.
• Cut the eggplant into small pieces • Cover and cook for another 2-3
the sliced eggplant.
• Keep turning and rotating the
and set aside for later use.
minutes until oil comes on top.
• Pour the tempering over the
eggplant so that all the sides get
• Heat oil in a heavy base sauce pan • Garnish with fresh chopped
yoghurt.
cooked evenly and properly and
over medium flame.
coriander.
• Serve with your favourite dish.
the skin of it is charred.
• Add peeled, washed and chopped • Serve with roti. Serves - 3-4
Serves - 4
Aloo baigan ki sabzi (Potato and eggplant)
INGREDIENTS:
• 4 - long, thin eggplants
• 2 - potatoes, medium
• 1 - onion, large
• 1/2tsp - cumin seeds
• 1tbsp - garlic paste
• 1tbsp - ginger paste
• 2 - green chillies
• 1/4tsp - turmeric powder
• 1/2tsp - red chilli powder
• 1tsp - coriander powder
• 1/4tsp - garam masala powder
• 1tsp - salt or according to taste
• water as needed
• Fresh chopped coriander to garnish
• 2tbsp - oil
METHOD:
• Wash and slice eggplants into 1 inch pieces,
slit them from the centre.
• Peel, wash and dice potatoes into desired
size. Set aside.
• Heat oil in a heavy base sauce pan over
medium flame.
• Add cumin seeds, when they start to splatter,
add peeled, washed and chopped onions and
sauté for 2-3 minutes until brown in colour.
• Add garlic paste, sauté, add ginger paste and
sauté for 1-2 minutes.
Eggplant raita
INGREDIENTS:
• 1 - eggplant, large
• 1tsp - red chilli powder
• 11/2tsp - salt or according to taste
• 11/2cup - yoghurt
• 1tsp - garlic powder
• 2tbsp - oil
FOR TEMPERING
• 1/2tsp - cumin seeds
• 1/2tsp - garlic paste
• 2 - whole red chillies
• 3-4 - curry patta
• 1tbsp - oil
METHOD:
• Wash and slice the eggplant into
slim rounds, about ½ cm in size.
• Heat oil in a heavy base fry pan
over medium flame.
• Sprinkle red chilli powder and
salt over the sliced eggplant, rub
it with your hand over both the
sides.
• Fry eggplant slices over medium
flame until one side turns golden
(about 2 minutes), then flip and
cook the other side (closer to 1
minute). Cook in batches until
done.
• Transfer them onto
a plate and set aside.
Now whip the yogurt and add
left over salt, red chilli powder
and garlic powder together with
2 tablespoons water ( add more
water if needed as per your choice
• Add washed and chopped green chillies and
sauté for a minute.
• Lower the flame then add red chilli powder,
turmeric powder, coriander powder and salt,
mix well with a splash of water.
• Add sliced eggplants, mix well and let cook
for a minute over medium flame.
• Add diced potatoes, mix well and then add
half cup water, mix well, cover and cook
for 4-5 minutes until the potatoes are done
( stirring in between to check if the potatoes
are not sticking to the bottom of the pan if
they do then add more water in tablespoons).
• Add garam masala powder, mix well.
of thickness of the yoghurt ).
Keep aside.
FOR TEMPERING:
• Heat oil in the same fry pan over
medium flame.
• Add cumin seeds when they start
to splatter, lower the flame.
• Add garlic paste and sauté for few
seconds.
• Wash and chop red chillies then
add them to the garlic along with
curry patta and sauté for another
few seconds.
• Remove the pan from the flame
and set aside.
Garnish with fresh, chopped coriander.
• Serve with roti and raita. Serves - 3-4
6 Foods for a low carb and high protein diet for weight loss
High protein, low carb diets have been
increasingly favoured as a means
of motivating weight loss whilst
preserving and improving muscle mass. Here
are 6 foods on the go that you can consume to
follow this particular diet plan.
making it a great alternative to meat for
vegetarians. This high protein content helps
you fill up and keep your appetite controlled.
It can be added to smoothies for increasing the
protein content or simply be used to make a
quick scramble in place of eggs.
Additionally, it is also a valuable plant
source of calcium and iron.
meats, it is low in saturated fat, which helps to
maintain a healthy weight.
Eggs: Eggs are one of the uncomplicated
and most cost effective sources for anyone
wanting to build muscle.
Avocados: Avocados are incredibly
nutritious including 20 different vitamins and
minerals. They also contain the most number
of calories among all fruits. They have an
excellent amount of fibre and heart-healthy
monounsaturated fats. They can be used to
make a smoothie, baked into an egg or simply
be used as a mayo.
Tofu: With a long shelf life in comparison
to paneer, tofu is an amazing source of protein
Peanut butter: Peanuts have the highest
protein content among all the nuts. Depending
on how people use it in their diet, it can help
lose weight, or even put on pounds during
weight training or bodybuilding. It is best to
opt for the one that doesn't contain any added
sugar.
Chicken: Skinless chicken breast is a good
source of lean protein. In comparison to other
Greek yoghurt: Greek yoghurts contain
more protein and less sugar than regular
yoghurts and have a much thicker consistency.
They are packed with probiotics and thus
improve gut health, digestion and heart health.
Preferably look for varieties containing 9
grams of sugar or less. You can also add nuts
or berries to improve the protein and fibre
content.

USE IT RIGHT AND
she’ll be right!
USE A TRIGGER
NOZZLE
This autumn, you can use a hand-held
hose with a trigger nozzle.
watercare.co.nz

Final
Week
3 2 3 2 118A Rockfield Road, Penrose
Prestigious Family Home in Outstanding Location
If you are looking for quality, than come and consider this two level house, which will meet your all
requirements. Modern and Comfortable living in a great location, situated in a sought after street of
Penrose.
House is perfect for a growing family. See your kids and pets playing in the fully fenced garden.
Enjoy summer BBQ's and sunset parties. The house offers 3 spacious bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 3
toilets. A spacious lounge and a modern kitchen will win your hearts. Easy care section, no shared
driveway and double garage are other features. Conveniently located close to motorways, school,
shops, train station and public transport. Easy commute to city. Excellent value for central location
property. Motivated vendor - MUST SELL.
In Room AUCTION on Thursday, 18th March
6:00pm at Crystal Realty, 2 White Swan Road (USP)
Open Home: Sat & Sun 11:30am to 12:00pm or
By Appointment
Nick - 021 186 6969
VK - 027 577 3747
In Room AUCTIONS on Thursday, 18th March 6:00pm at Crystal Realty
2 White Swan Road, Mt Roskill
Contact Team Nick & VK for more details
Nick 021 186 6969 VK 027 577 3747
2 2 3/13 Oxton Road, Sandringham
1 12 Tony Segedin Drive, Avondale
1
Contact Asheek Farook for more details
021 048 1929
3 2
Contact Team Nick & VK for more details
Nick 021 186 6969 VK 027 577 3747
118A Rockfield Road, Penrose
Contact Sunil John for more details
022 086 1164
3 2 3 3 1 1 16 Marlowe Road, Blockhouse Bay