Final Draft - 3 December 2021

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03DECEMBER2021 • VOL 13 ISSUE 39 

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The Indian Weekender Friday, December 03, 2021 

NEW ZEALAND 3 

Who is the new National Party 

leader Christopher Luxon? 

RUSSELL PALMER, RNZ 

Christopher Luxon is considered both an 

unknown quantity and something of a 

messiah for the National Party. 

A first-term MP who won the National 

stronghold Botany electorate in the 2020 

election after the departure in disgrace of Jami- 

Lee Ross, Luxon has kept a relatively low 

political profile since. 

He is an evangelical Christian - though he 

does not like the label - and is perhaps best 

known for leading Air New Zealand as its chief 

executive for six years. 

Politics and business 

At 51 years old, Luxon had long been 

hailed as a potential future leader, including 

by the likes of National’s former prime 

minister John Key. 

“We both share very similar economic views, 

we’re economically conservative but we’re 

internationalists - we want to see New Zealand 

engage with the world and trade with the world 

and have a harmonious, multi-cultural society 

operating in New Zealand,” Key said in April 

last year after Luxon announced his candidacy 

for the Botany seat. 

The two have been often compared (including 

by Key himself) including for their casual but 

businesslike manner. While Luxon said he 

was not “John Key 2.0” when he went for the 

Botany seat, he admitted Key had encouraged 

him to stand. 

However, while Key had four years to get to 

grips with politics and Parliament before taking 

the leadership, Luxon has succeeded to the role 

in just over a year, after a tumultuous period for 

the National Party. 

Luxon is the party’s fifth leader in four years, 

with infighting and low ratings prompting 

several leadership spills. 

Having spent months of his year so far of 

politics in lockdown, he could be forgiven for 

a limited impact on three of his four portfolios 

- Land Information; Research, Science and 

Manufacturing; and Associate Transport. 

He has been more successful with his local 

government portfolio. 

With just 17 media releases in his name on 

the National Party website, almost all of them 

dedicated to his biggest hot-button issue - three 

waters reforms - and he has proved effective at 

criticising the government on that. 

He has also largely evaded controversy 

except when Air New Zealand was revealed 

to have been contracted for repair work by the 

Saudi Arabian military. 

Luxon was in charge at the time, though it 

was not revealed until he had left. 

He said he had no idea about the contract at 

the time, but admitted it was a mistake not to 

establish a process in which the chief executive 

would be told about all military contracts. 

“I’ve no recollection of that, no, none 

whatsoever. I wasn’t aware of the issue,” he 

said. He was backed on this by his successor 

Greg Foran, who said it was a small $3 million 

contract that - had he been in charge - would not 

have reached his desk. 

His leadership of the company has otherwise 

received plaudits, delivering record profits and 

customer satisfaction scores. 

He has said New Zealand needs to have 

many more companies that operate on a 

global scale, and expressed concerns about 

productivity in New Zealand, and the potential 

to boost it through investment in research and 

development and infrastructure. 

Economics was a theme he returned to today 

in his opening statements as National’s leader - 

targeting supermarket and petrol prices - along 

with Covid-19 and the rural-urban divide. 

His political philosophy is also very much in 

the mould of the National Party - as espoused 

in his very first speech to Parliament, in March. 

“I believe in tackling inequality and working 

hard to find that balance between encouraging 

hard work and innovation while always 

ensuring there is social mobility and a safety 

net.” 

Personal life and faith 

Luxon also spoke about his personal 

life in that speech, including his faith 

- perhaps partly in an attempt to 

ameliorate the potential damage of 

being labelled “evangelical”. 

“It has anchored me, given 

my life purpose, and shaped 

my values, and it puts me in 

the context of something bigger 

than myself,” he said, but 

he also tempered that 

with an affirmation 

of his belief in 

the separation of 

church and state. 

• Continued on 

Page 7

4 NEW ZEALAND 

INZ website 

crash frustrates 

visa applicants 

Friday, December 03, 2021 

The Indian Weekender 

IWK Exclusive 

NAVDEEP KAUR MARWAH 

December 1 was the date that migrants 

who were eligible for phase 1 of 

the One-off resident visa had been 

waiting for since it was announced in 

September this year. 

The application process was to start at 6 am 

on Wednesday, with everyone wanting to be 

ahead in the queue and get their application 

lodged. Immigration New Zealand expected 

about 15,000 applications in Phase 1. 

It may be noted that Phase 1 opened only 

for those applicants who have already applied 

for residence under the Skilled Migrant or 

Residence from Work categories on or before 

September 29, 2021, or have submitted a Skilled 

Migrant Category Expression of Interest, and 

have included their dependent child in the 

Expression of Interest aged 17 years or older on 

September 29’ 2021. In Phase 2, which opens 

on March 1, 2022, all other eligible applicants 

can apply. 

However, the website faced technical 

issues due to the expected surge in traffic and 

didn’t let the applications go through. This 

created a lot of anxiety and stress among those 

waiting to lodge their applications and the 

immigration advisors. 

Indian Weekender spoke to migrants 

and immigration experts to know their 

experience or at least to say ‘worst nightmare’ 

since this morning. 

One of the immigrants, Gaurav, is 

frustrated that he has not been able to lodge 

his application even after hours of waiting. 

“It’s absolutely frustrating sitting online 

since 5:45 AM and refreshing every minute 

and not even able to get into the system. 

Maybe Immigration didn’t forecast the 

traffic accurately. I thought the lesson from 

the Ministry of Health website last week for 

vaccine pass would have been learned, but 

nothing. I can’t tell you the stress that I am 

undergoing now. INZ needs to have a better 

system to handle the volumes.” 

Sailing in the same boat is another immigrant, 

Manreet Kaur, who spent hours refreshing 

the page this morning but in vain. She says: 

“Like many migrants, I had been waiting for 

December 1 to get my application lodged. I 

took the day off to apply, but the system is not 

working. 

" 

It’s a good example of how 

the trust in INZ has been 

eroded to zero. SMC applicants 

who applied two years ago 

were told processing times 

would be seven months. Two 

years later, they were still 

waiting, and the Minister of 

Immigration lied to the NZ 

public repeatedly by blaming 

delays on Covid. 

I’ve tried logging in since 6 AM. I spent the 

next few hours refreshing the login page to 

even get into my account with no luck. Imagine 

there is just 15000 application in this phase, and 

Immigration New Zealand’s website crashed on December 1 due to overload leading to stress and 

anxiety of applicants as the application process for phase 1 of the One-off resident visa commenced. 

still, the INZ website can’t handle it; now just 

imagine how phase two is going to go in March 

when the numbers are far higher!” 

Even immigration experts have been feeling 

the brunt of the crash as they have been under 

pressure to get their clients’ applications 

through as soon as possible. 

Immigration lawyer Alastair McClymont 

of McClymont & Associates says, “It’s a good 

example of how the trust in INZ has been eroded 

to zero. SMC applicants who applied two years 

ago were told processing times would be seven 

months. Two years later, they were still waiting, 

and the Minister of Immigration lied to the NZ 

public repeatedly by blaming delays on Covid. 

“So, knowing that trust levels were at 

zero, it was self-evident that at 6 AM, there 

would be a mad rush to apply. How did INZ 

seek to mitigate this? Managers told advisors 

and lawyers, ‘please don’t all apply at once.’ 

This shows the total disconnect between INZ/ 

Minister and the migrant community. A refusal 

to accept responsibility for their own failures.” 

Himang Bhardwaj from Counsel One 

Immigration Services NZ and former 

warranted Immigration Officer and People 

Leader at MBIE maintains that he wasn’t 

surprised by the technical glitch and somehow 

expected it to happen. 

He says, “The system issues with the INZ 

website do not surprise me at all. There is only 

so much traffic and user logins the system can 

handle at any given point in time. Immigration 

New Zealand is using the Immigration Global 

Management System (IGMS) platform for 

these applications. 

“Since its introduction in 2015, the system 

has never been used and/or tested to deal with 

thousands of applicants applying for a particular 

visa at the same time. We expect these issues 

to continue, and I expect we will face even 

more issues in March next year given that more 

than 80% of the applications under the new 

resident visa category will be lodged in March 

(Phase 2).” 

He further advises that applicants should 

focus on providing the appropriate information 

on the forms rather than rushing through the 

application. 

“It is better for you to lodge your application 

a little late rather than provide incorrect answers 

on your application form to avoid further 

delays in the processing of the application. 

The benefits of lodging the application before 

others are likely going to be limited and does 

not guarantee a quicker outcome and, in my 

opinion, is not worth the stress.” 

Sarfraz Shaikh of Immigration Advice 

NZ also predicted the INZ system crashing 

and made most of his clients aware of this 

possibility. 

“Most of my team members were ready and 

set to go at 5:55 AM Wednesday morning to 

submit applications for the 2021 Resident Visa 

category. At 6:01 AM, one staff member could 

get into the system and fill out the first two 

Tips to get you going 

pages of the 2021 Resident Visa application, 

and when clicking “Next” there was an error 

on INZ’s website. Since then, most of us have 

tried multiple times to log in to INZ’s online 

portal and realise the INZ system has crashed. 

Based on our experience, we had predicted the 

INZ system crashing, and most of our clients 

had been made aware of this possibility,” 

Shaikh said. 

He believes that it would have been better if 

INZ had invited applicants in batches between 

December 1 and March 1 rather than opening 

the system out to thousands of applicants on the 

same day and at the same time. 

“It was a well-known fact when Silver 

Fern visas or working holidays visas opened 

which had merely 200-300 applicants trying 

to submit applications simultaneously, INZ’s 

systems had crashed. 

I dread to think what will happen when the 

Phase 2 applications open on March 1, 2022.” 

When Indian Weekender contacted 

Immigration New Zealand, they gave a standard 

reply of telling the applicants to “be patient.” 

Confirming the technical glitch Geoff Scott, 

General Manager, Immigration New Zealand, 

said, “Immigration New Zealand can confirm 

there have been some issues with our website 

overloading this morning due to high demand 

with people applying for the new 2021 Resident 

Visa. This has resulted in the system operating 

slower than usual; however, the application 

form is still working, and people are still able 

to submit applications. 

“We ask that people be patient while we are 

experiencing this high demand. Applicants 

have plenty of time to apply for their 2021 

Resident Visa, with applications open until 

July 31, 2022. We encourage people to submit 

their applications and make sure they have all 

the required documents and evidence to submit 

their applications. This will reduce the time it 

takes to process their application, as we will not 

need to request further information from them 

during the assessment process.” 

Some lucky ones like Jignesh Patel, who managed to lodge his application online with his 

partner, shared some tips to get lucky on the Migrants NZ group on Facebook. 

1. Please be patient 

2. Do not panic if your page says wait for the form to process 

3. Wait for additional tabs to be open after clicking the Bullets; otherwise, you need to repeat the 

section. 

4. This is still a question where it asks for confirmation that you have been living with your 

partner for more than 12 months 

5. Please submit the evidence for living to gather for more than a year, even if it’s not required, 

like timeline and lease agreements. There is no harm in doing it. 

6. Fill out INZ1242 before or while making an application. Just signature required of you and 

your partner if applying by yourself in Section A 

7. Pages will take time to load; please wait for the whole page to be visible, and the buffer goes 

away. 

8. Do not refresh.


NEW ZEALAND 5 

IWK Exclusive 

Fix the website now, Minister 

NAVDEEP KAUR MARWAH 

The technical issues and crash of the 

Immigration website have been 

frustrating and stressful for many 

migrants who hoped to have their application 

for Phase 1 under the historic One-Off resident 

program lodged on Wednesday. 

It may be noted the application process for 

Phase 1 opened on December 1 at 6 AM only 

for those applicants who have already applied 

for residence under the Skilled Migrant or 

Residence from Work categories on or before 

September 29, 2021, or have submitted a Skilled 

Migrant Category Expression of Interest, and 

have included their dependent child in the 

Expression of Interest aged 17 years or older on 

September 29’ 2021. 

However, the INZ website faced technical 

issues, and hence many migrants were unable 

to get their applications through. In Phase 

2, which opens on March 1, 2022, all other 

eligible applicants can apply. 

The crash once again highlighted the 

unpreparedness of Immigration New Zealand 

as Immigration New Zealand expected about 

15,000 applicants to apply under Phase 1 and 

mostly today on the very first day. 

Indian Weekender spoke to politicians 

who took expressed their frustration over the 

website fiasco: 

Erica Stanford, National Party MP and 

spokesperson for Immigration 

“The Government and the Immigration 

Minister seem to be making a habit of 

damaging the reputation of New Zealand’s 

immigration system. Under their watch, we’ve 

had unprecedented backlogs of residency 

Erica Stanford 

applications, entirely avoidable labour 

shortages in some of our most crucial sectors, 

and valuable migrants leaving because they had 

no path to residency or they couldn’t reunite 

with their families." 

" 

December 1 embarrassment 

only adds more fuel to the 

fire. The Government and the 

Immigration Minister should 

have had a plan in place that 

would stagger applications 

overtime to ensure this didn’t 

happen." 

"December 1 embarrassment only adds 

more fuel to the fire. The Government and the 

Immigration Minister should have had a plan in 

place that would stagger applications overtime 

to ensure this didn’t happen.” 

“This is another embarrassment for the 

Ricardo Menéndez March 

Government and the Immigration Minister. Our 

immigration system has already been tarnished 

enough under the watch of this Government. 

The Immigration Minister must take immediate 

action to ensure this doesn’t happen again in 

March 2022 when 90 thousand applicants all 

try to lodge their resident applications.” 

Ricardo Menéndez March, Green Party 

MP and spokesperson for Immigration 

“It’s frustrating that the Government’s 

systems are not coping with the expected 

demand for the R21 visa. 

"Migrants have been facing uncertainty 

and today is a day where many will hope to 

finally start a process to put down roots in their 

community. We are urging the Government to 

improve its systems to cope with the expected 

demand for the R21 visa, particularly as we 

head into the second batch of applications.” 

“We continue committed to fighting to 

expand the eligibility criteria of the R21 visa 

James McDowall 

to support all migrants who have had roots in 

the community, including those stuck offshore. 

"The Minister still has time before the second 

batch of applications begins to expand the 

eligibility criteria, so we hope that he is actively 

reviewing the systems and settings to ensure 

they reflect the needs of migrant communities.” 

James McDowall, ACT Party MP and 

spokesperson for Immigration 

“As expected, the online application form 

for phase one of the 2021 Resident Visa, which 

opened at 6 AM on December 1 crashed. Now 

just imagine how phase two is going to go in 

March when the numbers are far higher! Hon 

Kris Faafoi MP, your website sucks.” 

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6 NEW ZEALAND 



Explainer story: What do temporary 

migrants need to know about New 

Zealand’s border opening? 

IWK Exclusive 

SANDEEP SINGH 

The New Zealand government’s 

decision of eventual resumption of 

international travel in a staged manner 

from early next year has expectedly created 

more anxiety than certainty for temporary 

migrants (visa holders). 

Here is an explainer of what this latest 

announcement by Minister of Covid-19 

Response Chris Hipkins on Wednesday, 

November 24, means to different categories of 

temporary visa holders. 

Let’s understand who are temporary migrants 

in the context of this story 

Generally, the term temp migrants has been 

used as a sweeping term to cover all foreign 

nationals with a valid New Zealand visa living, 

working, studying, visiting, or planning to do 

any of these activities in the country. 

However, after the NZ government’s historic 

decision of border-closure on March 28, 2020, 

then new words have emerged to describe the 

situation of people. 

According to very early estimates last year, 

around tens of thousands of temporary migrants 

(with valid NZ visas) were caught on the wrong 

side of border closure and have been since then 

locked out of NZ borders. They have been 

loosely defined as “temporary migrants stuck 

overseas,” or “temporary migrants ordinarily 

resident of NZ and stuck overseas.” 

The other category is of the remaining 

temporary visa holders who were living onshore 

when the Covid pandemic began and have 

since then continued to live, work and hope to 

work towards their residency under different 

available options, despite all roadblocks and 

delays in Immigration NZ visa processing. 

They are continued to be categorized as 

“temporary migrants.” 

Clearly, the situation of the former is more 

desperate than the latter, in terms of pursuing 

their dream of living in NZ permanently yet 

both categories of temporary migrants are 

equally desperate with the closed borders and 

international travel restrictions. 

Thousands of temporary migrants living 

onshore also have to bear the pain of not having 

the ability to return back to NZ, if they have 

to choose to travel overseas for any family 

emergency or important life events. 

Therefore, it is completely natural that 

this category of temporary migrants, along 

with those stuck overseas for the last 

eighteen months, can also find solace and 

excitement from Wednesday’s decision by 

Minister Chris Hipkins. 

Was the latest announcement primarily 

directed toward ‘temporary migrants’? 

Despite the notable excitement evident on 

social media groups of temporary migrants 

of all strips (stuck overseas and currently 

onshore), it is pertinent to understand that this 

latest announcement of reconnecting NZ to 

the rest of the world was NOT directed toward 

temporary migrants. 

The announcement was primarily 

directed toward NZ citizens, residents, and 

permanent residents. 

The case in point that there was only one 

reference to visa holders in Step – 3, which 

talks about opening to fully vaccinated 

foreign nationals (possibly staged by visa 

category), from April 30 onwards – and 

the word “possibly” clearly reveals the 

government’s state of thinking on temporary 

migrants of any stripe. 

It means there is no firm commitment from 

the government for visa holders (previously or 

currently held and any future visa holders). 

It remains up in the air. 

Moreover, Minister Chris Hipkins was quoted 

somewhere else, in a different context though, 

that nothing about Wednesday’s decision was 

written on stone yet, and the government will 

continue to keep thinking and evolving their 

decisions based on broader Covid management. 

So, the point is that the announcement was 

primarily meant for citizens and residents only, 

and it will be advisable for all categories of 

temporary migrants to take the information 

with a bit of caution. 

The decision was more focused on the MIQ 

system than on ‘border control’ 

A lot of excitement has been noted on several 

social media groups of temporary migrants who 

seem to be misunderstanding the decision as a 

decision on the removal of “border control.” 

What is Community Supported Isolation and Quarantine (CIQ) system? 

SANDEEP SINGH 

In the light of a new report released by Northern 

Region Health Coordination Centre (NRHCC) 

affirming that the two deaths of self-isolating 

people in Auckland could have potentially been 

prevented, it is important that everyone has a better 

understanding about the new Community Supported 

Isolation and Quarantine (CIQ) system. 

Is it one and the same thing as a general home 

isolation or is it a something different? 

The Indian Weekender reached out to the office of 

the Ministry of Health to get a better understanding 

of the term. 

Responding to the Indian Weekender’s query, an 

official spokesperson of the Ministry of Health said, 

“Home isolation is playing an increasingly important 

role in supporting the health system to better manage 

COVID-19 cases in the community. 

“A Medical Officer of Health undertakes a health 

risk assessment to assess the person’s suitability for 

home isolation. This assessment considers whether a 

referral is required for additional services to assist with 

disability supports, social and welfare needs, safety 

and compliance. 

" 

A health professional makes an 

initial medical assessment to 

make sure they are well enough to 

isolate at home. A Welfare Team 

receives referrals and co-ordinates 

any essentials, such as food, 

medication and personal cares, the 

person may need. 

“A health professional makes an initial medical 

assessment to make sure they are well enough to 

isolate at home. A Welfare Team receives referrals and 

co-ordinates any essentials, such as food, medication 

and personal cares, the person may need. 

“People isolating at home can also contact a health 

professional on a dedicated 0800 number any time 

for advice about their COVID-19 illness. If a person 

I 

t is to be reminded to all 

temporary migrants that 

this decision was about 

getting rid of the MIQ system 

progressively and allowing 

Kiwi citizens (including 

Kiwis living overseas) the 

opportunity to unrestricted 

travel. 

isolating at home with COVID-19 has concerning 

symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of 

breath we ask they dial 111 to get immediate 

help. People with COVID-19 who need to call an 

ambulance will not be charged. 

“In some instances, it may be determined that 

it is not appropriate or possible for someone to 

isolate at home. 

"The Community Supported Isolation and 

Quarantine Service (Community-SIQ) was 

originally designed to provide a communitybased 

option for those community cases/close 

contacts where transferring them to a MIQ facility 

for isolation/quarantine is not the safest or most 

feasible option. 

“The intent of the service is to provide 

wrap-around support and small numbers of 

alternative accommodation to enable cases/ 

close contacts with higher needs to safely isolate 

in the community. 

It is to be reminded to all temporary migrants 

that this decision was about getting rid of the 

MIQ system progressively and allowing Kiwi 

citizens (including Kiwis living overseas) the 

opportunity to unrestricted travel. 

To put it the other way, the main issue for 

temporary migrants is of “border closure,” 

which prohibits them from entering NZ. The 

issue of MIQ is more of inconvenience, stress, 

and cost-escalation. 

You all will note that hundreds of temporary 

migrants (particularly newly granted 

partnership visas with exceptions to enter NZ) 

have been able to enter NZ when they have 

been lucky to find a place in MIQs. 

However, those temporary migrants who had 

a valid visa but do not have a critical purpose 

to enter NZ under the currently closed border 

regime are not allowed to enter NZ – even if 

they can find a place and pay for MIQ. 

It is therefore advisable for all temporary 

migrants making plans of traveling overseas 

for long-pending family reunions or attending 

postponed life events such as marriage, etc after 

April 30, based on this latest announcement, to 

be extra careful and not leave shores in haste. 

I am a temp visa holder can I fly out and 

return back after April 30 without MIQ? 

The answer to this question is that no one 

knows with absolute certainty. 

MIQ might not be a problem for you, 

but borders will certainly remain closed 

for you unless there comes a new and clear 

announcement from the government about 

border closure. 

All other subsidiary questions related to this, 

such as I have applied for a Skilled Migrant 

Category Visa (Resident Visa) and will I lose 

my place in the queue, are meaningless – 

because since you will not be allowed to return 

back onshore, the Immigration New Zealand 

will stop processing your visa application as 

per current visa processing regime. 

Covid-19 traffic light system comes into effect today 

• Continued on Page 7

RIZWAN MOHAMMAD 

Krishna Temple said. 

to dance and have fun. 

RIZWAN MOHAMMAD 

February 13, for the community. 

intervals. 

Chandra a ded. 

enjoy the even to its fu lest. 

event,” Mr Chandra a ded. 

b en made a the venue. 

a ded. 


NEW ZEALAND 7 

• Continued from Page 6 

“This might be required if for example the 

person lives too far from an existing Managed 

Quarantine facility. DHBs have secured small 

numbers of various accommodation options 

including on-site hospital accommodation, 

motels and private rentals. 

However, the government is envisaging that 

as we move to the traffic light system, reduce 

restrictions and remove the Auckland boundary, 

people will be travelling around the country in 

the months to come and we will potentially see 

more cases across the country. 

Care in the Community model 

This system is already in place (set up by the 

Ministry of Health and having recently received 

government’s additional $300 million funding) 

and supporting self-isolating people. 

The Covid Care in the Community model 

provides the framework for how the end-to-end 

community support will be provided as cases 

increase throughout the country, and sets out the 

expectations of health and welfare providers. 

For someone with Covid-19 who can isolate 

at home, Care in the Community will include 

the following: 

An initial contact from a healthcare provider 

within 24 hours of a positive result notification, 

to discuss any health, accommodation and 

wellbeing requirements. 

Household contacts will also need to isolate, 

they’ll be supported with health advice and 

getting tested as well. 

A designated point of contact, most likely 

from a local healthcare provider, who will be 

responsible for looking out for the person’s 

health and wellbeing needs, including making a 

plan for checking in regularly while the person 

is infected. 

A health pack tailored to the individual’s 

health needs delivered within 48 hours to help 

the person manage recovery. 

Ongoing clinical monitoring over the 

duration of the isolation period to make sure 

the person is coping with symptoms and is safe 

to continue being cared for in the community. 

A health assessment on Day 10 to 

determine whether the person can safely end 

time in isolation. 

At this point, household contacts will 

need to stay at home for at least 10 days, to 

make sure they remain free from the virus. 

The household’s dedicated health contact will 

continue to check in on them during this time. 

• Continued from Page 3 

"My faith is personal to me. It is not in itself 

a political agenda. I believe no religion should 

dictate to the State, and no politician should 

use the political platform they have to force 

their beliefs on others. As MPs, we serve the 

common cause of all New Zealanders-not one 

religion, not one group, not one interest.” 

It was a sentiment he repeated in his first 

statements as National’s leader. 

He told Newstalk ZB in May he reacted badly 

to the evangelical label “because I kind of to be 

honest just think of myself as a Christian rather 

than being a certain type - this or that type - of 

Christian”. 

“It’s never been an issue for me in my past... 

I wasn’t a Christian CEO, I was a CEO who 

just happened to be a Christian and the same 

thing here.” 

He seemed to lament the association of 

evangelical Christianity with the supporters of 

Donald Trump. 

“Evangelical supporters, I guess, have not 

been speaking up enough around the cruel and 

dehumanising language which he’s using or the 

bullying manner in which he’s going about it,” 

he said. 

Outside of his faith, Luxon today described 

himself as a man who loves country music and 

water skiing, and as an extrovert who knows 

how to lead people. 

He was born in Christchurch and raised in 

Howick, Auckland before attending schools 

in Botany including Cockle Bay Primary 

and Howick College. He met his future wife 

Amanda when he was just 15 years old, and 

they have two children. 

“She is my best friend ... quite simply, the 

most extraordinary person I know: strong, wise, 

smart, and funny.” 

He told Parliament his father Graham had 

worked his way up from sales rep to general 

manager. His mother Kathleen meanwhile 

became a psychotherapist later in life, studying 

for a diploma in the same year Luxon himself 

began at University of Canterbury. 

There, he studied a bachelors and masters 

in commerce (business administration), before 

beginning an 18-year career at multinational 

consumer goods company Unilever, where 

he rose to become President of its Canadian 

branch before his stint heading up Air NZ. 

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NEW ZEALAND 

The Indian Weekender Friday, February 12, 2021 11 

Over a ton of colour to be used at 

Krishna Holi 2021 event in Kumeu 

T 

he bi gest Holi event in the country 

on Sunday, February 14 at ISKCON 

Temple in Kumeu wi l put over one 

ton of colours for 10, 0 visitors to play with 

celebrating the a nual Hindu festival. 

Holi is one of the most popular and widely 

celebrated festivals for the Indian community 

after Diwali that is celebrated by the diaspora 

and the adjoining communities acro s the globe. 

The a nual festival of colour fa ls on March 

28-29 this year, and the religious element of the 

festival signifies the triumph of g od over evil. 

It is observed a the end of winter and advent of 

spring month (in the Indian subcontinent), and 

spiritual part of the festival starts with Holika 

Dahan (burning demon Holika) also known as 

C hoti Holi and the fo lowing day as Holi. 

In its 9th year, Krishna Holi event at the 

iconic Hare Krishna Temple in Kumeu, West 

Auckland a tracts thousands of people from a l 

walks of life, di ferent ethnicities and faiths to 

be a part of a colourful and joyous event. 

Speaking with the Indian W ekender, 

Krishna Chandra from the temple said they are 

excited to s e the festive season of Holi back 

after a gl omy year of Covid-19 in the country. 

“Holi at the Krishna Temple is one of the 

most vibrant events in our calendar- we s e 

families dre sed white clothing visi the temple 

and then dance and drench in dry and wet 

colours from n on ti l early evening,” Krishna 

Chandra, secretary and spokesperson of Hare 

The temple spread over 1 0 acres start the 

fr event at 1 a.m. and wi l have sta ls that 

distribute at least ten to 12 colours, and there 

wi l also be watercolours for the visitors. 

A giant LED scr en is also insta led on the 

stage with a DJ and live music for the a tend es 

“It’s a family-friendly- toba co and alcoholfr 

event. People of a l ages can have fun as 

there wi l be colour sta ls, water stations, f od 

sta ls, changing r oms, showering stations for 

people drenched in colour,” Mr Chandra said. 

He a ded tha the temple stocks colours to be 

used at the festival at least 2-3 years at a time. 

The temple wi l be used over a ton of colour at 

the event both in its dry form and with water. 

“We have given 2 0 kgs of colour to fire 

brigade who wi l mix it in their water tank 

and then splash it on the visitors at di ferent 

“Since this year’s event coincides with 

Valentine’s Day, we have kept valentine theme 

gifts and gift station t o at the venue for the 

public to celebrate the o casion there,” Mr 

Mr Chandra says a l a rangements in 

terms of Covid QR Code sca ning and hand 

sanitisers are in place for people, a rangements 

for children activities, so that everyone gets to 

“We have volunt ers, security to usher 

vehicles to park in the a propriate places, 

manage the oncoming and returning traffic, 

and make sure visitors f el comfortable at the 

The event organisers have a pealed the 

visitors to come in white dre s as colours tend 

to exhibit its vibrancy on white clothing, get 

spare clothing to change after playing with 

colour and f od and water a rangements have 

“Hol is always a fun event and Krishna Holi 

event like previous years wi l be high octane, 

fu l of energy and g od vibes,” Mr Chandra 

ISKCON Temple is located on 1 29 

Coatesvi le-Riverhead Highway, Kumeu, West 

Auckland, and the event starts at n on to 5 p.m. 

Hare Krishna temple to host ‘Saatvik food festival’ 

T 

he Hare Krishna Temple in Kumeu, West Auckland 

is hosting its a nual f od festival event on Saturday, 

More than 3 0 people are expected to a tend the event 

where they wi l be served s atvik vegetarian f od, tour the 

temple premises and have a relaxing family-fun day. 

“Our Hare Krishna F od Festival is very popular amongs the 

wider Kiwi community in Auckland, people from a l faiths and 

ethnicities come to the temple, take a tour of the place knowing 

abou the deities, the ISKCON establishment, its works for the 

community and have snacks and f od during the day,” Krishna 

Chandra, secretary and spokesperson for Hare Krishna temple 

told the Indian W ekender. 

The event is said to be quiet, and exhibit a relaxing 

environment where people get to m et new people, make 

friends, experience the calmne s being with nature, have 

S atvik (pure) vegetarian f od and have g od family day. 

“This event is ha pening just one day before our most 

popular Krishna Holi event which is wi l be loud, fu l of energy, 

playfulne s, music and dance,” Mr Chandra a ded. 

The events wi l start at 2 p.m. and end at seven in the evening. 

Besides the f od festival, Krishna Temple organises lunch 

event every Sunday at its premises where 3 0-4 0 people 

come, chant mantras, meditate, spend some time with nature 

and dine with the community members. 

“It is a s othing atmosphere a the temple, chanting mantras 

with the community, knowing more about the religion, what 

can they do a the temple and how can they make a di ference in 

the community by serving others and the le s privileged. 

“There are also children’s activities 

organised so that they engage themselves 

and also have a g od time at the temple,” Mr 

Chandra said. 

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IWK Exclusive 



IWK’s advocacy results in businesses acquired 

in lockdown to get Resurgence Payments 

SANDEEP SINGH 

Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson’s recent 

announcement of new one-off financial support for 

businesses to move to the traffic light system has a 

welcome relief of including the previously left out category of 

pre-existing businesses sold during lockdown after the Indian 

Weekender’s persistent reporting and advocacy. 

On Monday, November 29, Finance Minister Robertson 

announced a transition payment of up to $24,000 to help 

businesses move into the traffic light system. 

“The new one-off transition payment will be activated through 

the Resurgence Support Payment (RSP) system criteria and be 

available on December 10,” Grant Robertson said. 

This payment is at a higher base rate than the current RSP and 

will be $4,000 per business plus $400 per FTE up to a cap of 50 

FTEs – a maximum payment of $24,000. 

A small new category of businesses now eligible for 

one-off transition payment 

In this announcement, the Minister included a small new 

category of pre-existing businesses purchased during lockdown 

– a category previously not supported by the government despite 

experiencing significant financial woes because of restrictions 

imposed by the government. 

“Cabinet has also agreed to change the rules so recently 

acquired businesses can access the Resurgence Support 

Payment,” Grant Robertson said. 

“This issue arose because the RSP rules required the applicant 

to have been operating as a business for at least one month before 

August 17 so businesses acquired after July 17 have not been 

eligible for any payment. I estimate very few businesses have 

will been in this situation, but for those that are, it will have been 

a difficult time. The test will now be that the business itself must 

have been in operation for at least one month prior to August 17 

and the business must be carrying on the same or similar activity 

as before the change in ownership. 

“The revenue decline test also needs to be amended to allow 

the applicant to use the revenue received by the previous owner 

over the comparator period 

in order to demonstrate the 

necessary revenue decline 

during the affected period,” 

Grant Robertson said. 

Govt assured review 

after IWK first raised 

this issue 

In an exclusive story, 

earlier this month, the 

T 

he revenue decline 

test also needs to 

be amended to allow 

the applicant to use 

the revenue received 

by the previous owner 

over the comparator 

period in order to 

demonstrate the 

necessary revenue 

decline during the 

affected period 

Indian Weekender had raised the important issue of a large 

number of pre-existing businesses that have been operational 

for many years and were going through a sales process when 

the Delta outbreak and lockdown descended suddenly causing 

significant disruption and confusion and putting the new business 

owners under considerable financial stress. The IRD had then 

been declining all applications of the government’s Resurgent 

Support Payment on the grounds that the new business owner did 

not meet the eligibility criteria of owning the business one month 

before August 17, despite the obvious fact that the businesses 

have been operational for a much longer period (only under a 

different owner). 

One such new business owner, Nirmal Gupta (name changed) 

with whom the Indian Weekender had then spoken, told how 

exasperated they were as a struggling business owner when IRD 

declined their Resurgence Support Payment application on the 

grounds that it did not meet the eligibility criteria despite the 

restaurant business being in operation for more than a decade. 

“We have ventured out (as a new business owner) despite the 

lockdown only to find ourselves in the deep end of the lockdown 

and were denied government’s Resurgent Support Payment that 

was otherwise available to other eligible businesses. 

“Resurgence Support Payment is technically government’s 

only cash support scheme for businesses (other than wage 

subsidy which is meant to support employees) and ideally should 

be meant to help businesses and not person or individuals.” 

“RSP contributions are used to pay overhead costs of businesses 

such as rent, bills, insurance etc when no or insignificant 

commercial activity is happening and therefore any support 

should be targeted to businesses and not person or individuals.” 

“This is unfair and not right,” Gupta had then said. 

When the Indian Weekender raised that issue with different 

government authorities, the office of the Finance Minister Grant 

Robertson has assured a “review.” 

“We are aware of this issue, and it is currently under review. 

I recognise there are concerns about the difficulties faced by 

some recently acquired businesses in meeting the criteria of the 

Resurgence Support Payment. This needs to be balanced against 

ensuring that the integrity of the scheme is maintained,” Minister 

Robertson said. 

New announcement a welcome step 

Expressing a sigh of relief Gupta thanked the Indian Weekender 

for identifying and raising this important issue of the plight for 

a category of small business owners who were otherwise falling 

through the cracks and raising with the government, said, “I am 

thankful to the Indian Weekender for raising our issue and to the 

government for not turning their back on us during such a tough 

business environment.” 

Notably, the change will come into effect on December 10, 

and recently acquired businesses would then be eligible for RSPs 

made on and after October 29. 

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NEW ZEALAND 9 

Tough lending restrictions leave 

first home buyers out of pocket 

Banks have already put a pause on low-deposit loan applications for aspiring homebuyers 

PRITI GARUDE-KASTURE 

“Average property in the Auckland market is very close to 

$900,000 to a $1million. A first home buyer doesn’t have a 

20 percent deposit to put forward for that,” says Ishan Sikka, 

Licensed Sales Consultant at realty firm Century-21, bringing 

into context the stark reality faced by many first homebuyers as 

they grapple with the tough lending criteria put in by the Reserve 

Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ). 

Since November 1, banks are only able to lend 10 percent of 

their new lending to homebuyers wanting to borrow more than 

80 percent of a house’s value. These restrictions were brought in 

by RBNZ to curb house price inflation, with Governor Adrian 

Orr calling prices unsustainable in a speech in November. 

With these restrictions, banks have already put a pause on lowdeposit 

loan applications for aspiring homebuyers. 

Prateek Malhotra, Loan Market Mortgage Adviser says, “Most 

banks have stopped lending to new clients, although they are 

doing it for their own customers but even that is restricted to less 

than 20 percent.” 

In November, Kiwibank warned some customers that they 

will not honour pre-approvals for low deposit home loans, while 

ANZ, ASB and Westpac have stopped accepting applications 

from customers from other banks. BNZ announced that it will 

not lend money to owner-occupiers who do not have at least a 

20 percent deposit. 

This has meant that many first home buyers have been 

left out of pocket. 

Rupinder Kaur, Director and Licensed Sales Consultant with 

Century-21 said, “Every time the government introduces any 

changes, could be interest rates or OCR hike, the market does 

slow down. It’s because people are not sure what’s happening, 

and they want to take the time to observe everything and then 

find solution. That’s what’s happening in the market right now. 

But there are definitely buyers out there in the market.” 

Her sentiments were shared by Malhotra who said that there 

are plenty of home buyers looking to buy but they are being 

regulated by the restriction placed by banks. He said, “The 

restrictions have hindered the first home buyers’ ability to borrow 

money. Banks are lending at less than 20 percent, and not every 

first-time home buyer can buy with that. 

“We have already seen a couple of cases where loans have 

not been approved or have not been renewed and people don’t 

know when they’ll be able to come back in the market, and I 

assume that will have a flow on effect on a lot of other buyers in 

the market.” 

Real Estate agents that Indian Weekender spoke to concurred 

that first-home buyers do not have the money for a 20 per cent 

deposit and are choosing to let go off their preferred properties, 

sometimes in lieu of new builds. 

Sikka said, “We had an apartment block where the buyers were 

super keen to buy, but nobody wanted to put an offer because 

they were asked for a 20 percent minimum deposit or even more, 

in some cases. So, if you’re looking at a $700,000 apartment, 

first home buyers are being asked to put in a $140,000 –first 

home buyers don’t have that kind of money.” 

Brijesh Patel, Associate Salesperson Otahuhu Branch with 

Barfoot and Thompson said, people still prefer to have their own 

house but in Auckland, it’s difficult to find a balance between 

budget and location or area, car parks or even school zones. 

“If a buyer’s income is $120,000 and he’s been given a 

maximum loan approval of $700,000 with a condition that he 

needs to buy a three-bedroom house, where will he find a house 

like that in that price,” he asked. 

Over the past few months, investors have also been busy 

in the housing market, selling off old builds in favour of 

new ones as they look to manage their investments against 

changes to tax rules. 

“Homebuyers are being forced to go for new builds, which 

means they are in competition with the investor category. 

Investors are favouring new builds because of the lower period 

for bright line tests and the interest deductibility that’s allowed,” 

said Malhotra. 

“So, these first home buyer with less than 20 percent deposit, 

who are being forced to look at new builds, are suddenly in 

competition with investors who can afford to throw in an extra 

$20,000 – $30,000 more than the asking price, which throws the 

first home buyer entirely out of the market,” he added. 

Patel said that investors prefer to not buy old properties, 

like cross-lease or smaller properties, with no sub-division 

potential, but rather are bargaining for big sections and brandnew 

properties. So, how long should the buyers expect this 

uncertainty to last? Malhotra reassures not for too long. 

“It’s a matter of banks readjusting their books. By end of Jan, 

the restrictions will slightly ease up, and we should see banks 

relaxing for less than 20 percent deals for existing properties and 

then it’ll be interesting to see how many enquiries we get from 

existing buyer and first home buyers.” 

Kaur agrees, “I believe in a few weeks or maybe the New 

Year’s, things should stablise.” 

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10 NEW ZEALAND 

(From left to right) : Khushy Watson, Karnail Singh, Nirmal Bhatti, Jagjeet Singh Sidhu and Rana Judge posing with the cars 

donated to Indian Wardens 

The community drive 

IWK BUREAU 

South Auckland, particularly Papatoetoe and 

Manukau, has been kept safe by voluntary 

community patrol called the Indian Wardens for 

a few years now. 

The group, which is founded by Rana Judge, manager 

of Ōtara Business Association and Papatoetoe Mainstreet, 

is part of an NGO named NZ Council of Sikh Affairs. It 

is currently made up of 15 individuals who patrol during 

business hours, assisting business owners and shoppers 

in the area and reporting suspicious behaviour to the 

Police and aims to give back to the community. 

The group has been recently received a car donated 

by Jagjeet Singh Sidhu of Papatoetoe-based immigration 

consultancy, Immigration Matters, and Khushy Watson 

of car dealer NZ Cars to help them work better. 

Talking about the same, Rana says, “The main aim of 

our organisation and Indian Wardens is to help and serve 

the community as much as we can. We work in many 

areas such as crime watch, providing JP services, helping 

the victims of domestic violence, and taking needy 

people to the hospital. 

“Usually, our wardens would take up public transport 

or their own personal car for the same, but now with this 

car being donated, we will be able to serve the community 

even better. I can’t thank Jagjeet and Khushy enough for 

the same.” 

Sharing the same sentiment, Karnail Singh, mentor of 

Indian Wardens as well as a JP himself, says, “With this 

car coming in the organisation, we will be able to help the 

wider community. I think it is great and helps us achieve 

our mission of helping the community even better.” 

Moving on, Jageet feels that he thought there was a 

need for a car to help Indian Wardens motivated him to 

give the car. 

He says, “As I see our elders contributing to the 

community as Indian Wardens by patrolling our streets, 

helping other elders taking to doctors and WINZ and 

other appointments. I thought it was better to provide a 

vehicle to them to have better movability. They are our 

heroes and are doing great for the community.” 

Khushy says, “Donations are part of life, and I feel 

proud to be able to donate a vehicle for our community 

and be able to do my bit for the community wardens who 

work so hard for us.” 



India puts NZ in new 

'At risk' category in 

response to Omicron 

SANDEEP SINGH 

The government of India has put New Zealand along with 

eight other countries in a new “At risk” category along 

with European countries and the UK, South Africa, 

Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, Singapore, 

Hong Kong and Israel. 

The Union Health Ministry on Sunday revised the guidelines for the 

international arrivals in the wake of new Covid variant, Omicron – designated 

as a Variant of Concern (VOC) by the World Health Organization (WHO). 

The new guidelines will be effective from December 1. The Health Ministry, 

in a statement, said: “The existing guidelines have been revised in view of 

reporting of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 (B.1.1.529; named Omicron) 

which has been now classified as VOC by the WHO.” 

The government said that international arrivals will now have to upload their 

14-day travel history and valid negative RT-PCR test reports on Air Suvidha 

portal before embarking on their journey to India. The RT-PCR test report 

should not be more than 72 hours old, added the statement. 

According to the new guidelines, the passengers travelling from countries 

that are categorised as ‘at-risk’ will have to undergo testing on arrival. If the 

passengers test positive, their samples will be sent for genomic sequencing, 

and they will be sent to institutional quarantine. 

If they test negative, they will be asked to remain in home quarantine for 

seven days following which they will take a test on the 8th day and continue 

monitoring their health for the next 7 days. The tests for passengers from ‘atrisk’ 

nations will be self-paid while the cost of the random tests will be borne 

by the Civil Aviation Ministry. 

“Travellers from countries excluding the ‘at risk’ countries will be allowed 

to leave the airport and shall self-monitor their health for 14 days post-arrival,” 

said the statement. 

On November 24, South Africa reported the B.1.1.529 variant to WHO. 

Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged Prime Minister Narendra 

Modi to stop flights from countries that are affected by the new Covid-19 

variant. 

“I urge Hon’ble PM to stop flights from those countries which are affected by 

the new variant. With great difficulty, our country has recovered from Corona. We 

should do everything possible to prevent this new variant from entering India,” 

CM Kejriwal tweeted. 

Interestingly, New Zealand is included in the At-Risk list despite 

there being no Omicron variant detected here as yet. Though 

it has been found in Australia, the transtasman neighbour has 

escaped on the list. 

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NEW ZEALAND 11 

After Google, Microsoft, IBM and 

Adobe, an Indian now helms Twitter 

AVINASH SEN 

firm’s bio fund across therapeutics, 

diagnostics, and digital health, 

Twitter has officially joined 

with a focus on companies that 

the tech company bandwagon 

are leveraging unique datasets to 

of those being led by 

improve drug development and 

Indian CEOs. 

Jack Dorsey, co-founder of the 

patient care delivery.” 

The two are also raising a threeyear-old 

popular social media platform 

boy. 

Twitter, has stepped down from his 

During his time as CTO, 

role as CEO and has passed the torch 

on to his Chief Technology Officer 

Parag Agrawal. The tech giant made 

their announcement on Monday, 

taking many by surprise. 

Parag Agrawal has joined the 

ranks of other notable Indian CEOs 

who are in charge of big tech 

companies such as Sundar Pichai, 

CEO of Google since 2015; Satya 

Nadella, CEO of Microsoft since 

2014; Arvind Krishna, CEO of IBM 

(International Business Machines) 

since 2020; Nikesh Arora, CEO of 

Palo Alto Networks since 2018 and 

Shantanu Narayen, CEO of Adobe 

since 2007. 

Sundar Pichai 

Agrawal took on some high-profile 

problems, such as a large-scale 

password security issue, as well as 

bolder company initiatives such as 

Project Bluesky, a research project 

launched by Twitter with the goal of 

establishing open and decentralized 

standards for social media platforms. 

Agrawal was tasked with finding a 

leader for Bluesky, and while it had 

been radio silent for some months, 

in August, cryptocurrency developer 

Jay Graber was finally put in charge 

of the project. 

As CEO, it is presumed Bluesky 

will continue to be a major project 

for Agrawal. That, as well as the 

Besides these well-known 

I 

newly founded Twitter Crypto 

companies, there are a host of other 

’ve decided to leave 

team, which was announced in 

Indian origin CEOs helming global 

Twitter because I 

November, and is being led by Tess 

tech and fintech companies across Parag Agrawal 

believe the company 

Rinearson, will also report directly to 

the world. It is clear that the world Likewise, Elon Musk Tweeted, is ready to move on 

the new CEO. 

is recognising the potential of “USA benefits greatly from from its founders. 

It is not far-fetched to think that the 

Indians as major business leaders in 

Satya Nadella 

Indian talent!” 

My trust in Parag as 

trend of Indian-led tech companies 

the tech industry. 

Speaking about Agrawal Dorsey 

He worked his way up the ladder, 

Twitter’s CEO is deep. 

will continue to grow in the future. 

Patrick Collison, CEO of stripe said, “I’ve decided to leave Twitter 

starting out as an engineer and 

His work over the past 

While Agrawal has not spent that 

tweeted, “Google, Microsoft, because I believe the company is 

eventually securing a position as one 

10 years has been 

much time in the public eye until 

Adobe, IBM, Palo Alto Networks, ready to move on from its founders. 

of the company’s top executives. 

transformational. 

now, we can be sure to see more of 

and now Twitter run by CEOs My trust in Parag as Twitter’s 

He began serving as the company’s him in the future. 

who grew up in India. Wonderful CEO is deep. 

CTO in 2017. 

Hearty congratulations to you 

to watch the amazing success of "His work over the past 10 years same age as Meta’s (formerly Agrawal’s wife, Vineeta, is a Parag Agrawal! We look forward to 

Indians in the technology world and has been transformational. I’m Facebook) CEO Mark Zuckerberg. venture capitalist and a physician. where you will lead Twitter in the 

a good reminder of the opportunity deeply grateful for his skill, heart and He joined Twitter back in October According to her bio, she is a “General coming future and we wish you the 

America offers to immigrants. soul. It’s his time to lead.” 

2011, meaning he has been with Partner at Andreessen Horowitz best of luck and success for what is 

(Congrats, @paraga!)” 

Agrawal is 37 years old, the the company for just over a decade. where she leads investments for the to come. 

‘NZ can benefit from India-Israel style cyber security cooperation’ 

IWK BUREAU 

Amidst the Covid pandemic, India 

and Israel have been increasing their 

cooperation on Cyber Security over 

the past year, having signed a Memorandum of 

Understanding to cooperate and learn lessons 

from each other. 

Remote working, because of the Covid 

pandemic, has produced a whole new set of 

cyber dangers. There are vulnerabilities and 

gaps when home users log onto their corporate 

networks. For criminals who know what they 

are doing these potentially are rich pickings. 

They infiltrate vulnerable networks, access 

sensitive information and use ransomware to 

extort it or on-sell. 

As well as criminal activity, there are statesponsored 

attacks. Some governments are 

known to be using these methods to undermine 

other countries, and to harvest state secrets. 

Recently, the increase in volume and complexity 

of these attacks has been significant. 

India and Israel learn 

from each other 

In 2010 the Israeli Government commissioned 

a report to see how it could be amongst the top 

five Cyber Security nations. The next year, that 

report became a government resolution. And for 

the past decade they have been implementing it. 

The aim has been to create human capital 

– to equip and train a vast pool of people 

with expertise in digital security – a highly 

specialised and technical skill set. Cyber 

research units were established in seven Israeli 

universities. And these units have partnered 

with Israeli private companies in research and 

development. 

And international investors have followed 

these developments. From 18 percent in 2018, 

Israel has received 45 percent of the worldwide 

investment in cyber security in the first 

six months of this year alone. 

Microsoft, IBM and Cisco, have also 

recognised where the expertise lies and have 

set up research centres in Israel. 

Similarly, India has made big progress – 

through its own initiatives, and in partnership 

with Israel. At the signing of the MOU last 

year India said that the understanding consists 

of a “multilayer cooperation of sharing 

" 

The emerging India-Israel- 

NZ Friendship grouping 

here in NZ recognises the 

leadership provided by India 

and Israel in cyber security. 

And that they have partnered 

to enhance their expertise, 

methodologies, best practices, and capacity 

building know-how.” 

In India the Data Security Council is a 

not-for-profit, industry body. Its purpose is 

to ensure data protection. It “engages with 

governments and their agencies, regulators, 

industry sectors, industry associates and think 

tanks” to create a culture of cyber space safety. 

It promotes standards, best practices, policies, 

capacity building, industry development and 

transborder data flow. 

Before 2013 India had no laws against 

cyberattacks. Following the Edward Snowden 

leaks of NSA surveillance, the National Cyber 

Security Policy was put in place. 

Today, India’s cybersecurity regime is 

continually being strengthened. ‘Cert-In’ 

(the Indian Computer Emergency Response 

Team) advises that it constantly issues “alerts 

and advisories regarding cyber threats and 

vulnerabilities and countermeasures to protect 

computers and networks”. 

India – Israel – New Zealand 

The emerging India-Israel-New Zealand 

Friendship grouping here in NZ asks if there are 

things NZ can learn from their approach. 

Ian Dunwoodie representing this grouping, 

wants key New Zealanders – government 

policy and decision makers, industry leaders 

and education institutions – to consider this 

ecosystem model. 

“The emerging India-Israel-NZ Friendship 

grouping here in NZ recognises the leadership 

provided by India and Israel in cyber security. 

And that they have partnered to enhance their 

expertise,” he says. 

“At a time when New Zealand has to look 

overseas to recruit cyber security specialists, it 

would seem strategic to explore putting in place 

this kind of ecosystem model. This creative 

culture might also spin off into other High Tech 

research and development,” he adds.

Editorial 

Don't let pandemic, 

flight bans disrupt 

cordial ties 

There is a sense of unease within the Kiwi-Indian community at the 

apparent diplomatic ping-pong playing out in the New Zealand-India 

bilateral relationship around flight bans and travel restrictions imposed by 

both countries on each other. 

Earlier this year, the New Zealand government has, in a historic first, imposed a 

flight ban from India, thereby stopping even New Zealand citizens from entering 

the country after India was ravaged by a spike in Covid-19 infections. 

Subsequently, that decision was amended and replaced with a new ruling that 

allowed citizens and their immediate families to enter New Zealand while imposing 

a new, cost-prohibitive requirement on resident visa holders to quarantine for 

fourteen days in a third Covid-free country. 

The decision has resulted in significant pain, inconvenience, financial burden, 

and the herculean stress of planning their travel through a Covid free third country, 

on the members of the Kiwi-Indian community only to return to a country that 

they long thought was their new home. 

Just when the New Zealand government finally responded to long advocacy 

by the community, including this newspaper, and removed India from the “Very 

High-Risk Category,” bringing some smiles back on the travel-deprived Kiwi- 

Indian community, the Indian government has put New Zealand in “At high risk” 

category in response to the new Omicron variant of Covid-19 - causing much 

anxiety within the community. 

Indeed, the requirements imposed on travel by the Indian government’s “atrisk” 

category cause far-less inconvenience, less cost-escalation as compared 

to what travellers from India to New Zealand had experienced in the last eight 

months. 

According to the new guidelines issued by India’s Civil Aviation Ministry, the 

passengers traveling from countries that are categorized as ‘at-risk’ will have to 

undergo testing on arrival. 

If the passengers test positive, their samples will be sent for genomic sequencing, 

and they will be sent to institutional quarantine. 

If they test negative, they will be asked to remain in home quarantine for seven 

days, following which they will take a test on the 8th day and continue monitoring 

their health for the next seven days. 

The tests for passengers from ‘at-risk’ nations will be self-paid, while the cost 

of the random tests will be borne by the Civil Aviation Ministry. 

The government authorities on both sides, when probed about the humanmiseries 

such travel restrictions cause, maintain the usual diplomatic stance, 

putting their respective national interests ahead of any other interests. 

However, the Kiwi-Indian community – a migrant community that usually 

has its heart and soul stretched across the two nations with strong roots and 

connections in both, does not find any solace in such diplomatic responses. 

They rather want a proactive, pre-emptive, behind-the-scenes diplomacy and 

the political camaraderie between the two governments to prevent such seemingly 

punitive or knee-jerk travel restrictions. 

There is a sense of intrigue within the Kiwi-Indian community about the fact that 

Australia could escape India’s “At-risk” category, despite four known Omicron 

cases at the time of the announcement, while New Zealand was included in the 

list despite no known Omicron cases. 

Indeed, there seems to be more in play than what meets the eye that suggests 

the bilateral relationship is missing out on the special political nurturing that is 

required – from both sides, especially at times like these. 

Currently, there seems to be disillusionment within the Kiwi-Indian community 

– and the community expects more and better - from both governments. 

It is important not to let Covid play disruptor to an otherwise well - functioning 

bilateral relationship between India and New Zealand. 

Thought of the week 

"A positive atmosphere nurtures a 

positive attitude, which is required 

to take positive action." 

- Richard M. DeVos 

3 December - 9 December 2021 

Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thu 

On-and-off 

rain and 

drizzle 

22° 

15° 

On-and-off 

rain and 

drizzle 

19° 

13° 

This week in New Zealand’s history 

Indian Weekender : Volume 13 Issue 39 

Publisher: Kiwi Media Publishing Limited 

Editor: Dev Nadkarni | dev@indianweekender.co.nz 

Chief Technical Officer: Rohan deSouza | rohan@indianweekender.co.nz 

Graphic Designer: Yashmin Chand | design@indianweekender.co.nz 

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Media Sales Manager.: Leena Pal: 021 952 216 | leena@indianweekender.co.nz 

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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 

Clouds 

and 

sun 

19° 

14° 

Clouds 

and 

sun 

20° 

14° 

3 December 1910 

First female ascent of Aoraki/Mt Cook 

Clouds 

and 

showers 

20° 

14° 

Copyright 2020. Kiwi Media Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved. 

A few 

morning 

showers 

21° 

15° 

A few 

morning 

showers 

26° 

17° 

In the cold, dark hours before dawn on 3 December 1910, Freda du Faur and her guides Peter 

and Alexander (Alec) Graham left their tent and started towards the summit of Aoraki/Mt 

Cook. Later that day, du Faur stood on the peak after becoming the first woman to complete the 

ascent – in record time. 


Bluff Island Harbour opened 

The 40-ha man-made Island Harbour, which took eight years to construct, is the centrepiece 

of the modern port facilities at Bluff, New Zealand’s southernmost commercial 

deepwater port. 


Luna Park opens in Auckland 

Inspired by its famous New York namesake, the amusement park opened to the public 

on Auckland’s waterfront (opposite the site of Spark Arena) at 2 pm. Its construction 

had employed 250 men for six months, utilising attractions and equipment from Dunedin’s 

recent New Zealand and South Seas International Exhibition. 


Radio Hauraki rules the waves 

Pirate station Radio Hauraki broadcast its first scheduled transmission from beyond New 

Zealand’s 3-mile territorial limit. The MVTiri was anchored in the Colville Channel 

between Great Barrier Island and Coromandel Peninsula. 


First 'one man one vote' election 

New Zealand’s electoral law had been changed so that no one could vote in more than one 

general electoral district. This ended the long-standing practice of ‘plural voting’ by those 

who owned property in more than one electorate. 


Special votes cast in general election 

For the first time in NZ’s electoral history, registered voters who were away from their 

electorate on polling day were able to cast a ‘special’ absentee vote at any polling booth in 

the country; this was posted to their local returning officer to be counted. Prior to election day 

in 1905, 3586 electors applied for the necessary absent voter’s permit; 2781 votes were cast in 

this way.

The Indian Weekender Friday, December 03, 2021 FIJI 13 

Fiji entry conditions in 

response to Omicron 

IWK BUREAU 

The Fijian Government 

has strengthened its strict 

conditions for entry 

for incoming travelers from 

red list countries in response 

to the newly-reported Omicron 

variant of COVID-19. 

“We’re monitoring the Omicron 

variant closely as it has been shown to 

carry significant mutations that could 

spell higher rates of transmissibility 

and virulence. 

"We commend South Africa on 

identifying and publishing the first 

information on this new variant. 

So far, field evidence does suggest 

higher transmissibility. 

"However, more study is needed 

to determine if transmissibility is 

truly increased, if the variant is less 

responsive to natural and vaccineinduced 

immunity, and if the disease 

caused by the variant is more 

severe,” said Permanent Secretary 

for Health and Medical Services Dr 

James Fong. 

“The process of risk assessment 

for our red list and Travel Partner 

Countries (TPC) was developed with 

the knowledge that new variants of 

the virus were highly likely to be 

detected. It analyses factors such as 

country vaccine coverage and rates 

of community transmission. We will 

continue to rely on that assessment 

process moving forward.” 

NZ Covid-19 economic 

support for Fiji announced 

IWK BUREAU 

New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia 

Mahuta has announced a further package 

of support for Fiji and the Cook Islands for 

Covid-19 economic support and recovery. 

“Aotearoa New Zealand remains committed to 

supporting our Pacific fanau and vuvale to respond to 

the impacts of Covid-19 on their economies, and move 

towards long-term economic resilience,” Nanaia Mahuta 

said. “As the duration of the pandemic lengthens, so 

do the economic challenges affecting many countries in 

the Pacific, particularly those that have tourism-focused 

economies such as the Cook Islands and Fiji. 

“While vaccination uptake has been excellent in these 

countries, rebuilding tourism will take time. This funding 

will help their Governments to continue supporting the 

needs of their most vulnerable communities. 

“It will also contribute to sustaining livelihoods 

through measures such as social support payments, 

infrastructure stimulus, and tourism business support,” 

Nanaia Mahuta said. 

This economic package of $100 million (US$68 

million) brings Covid-19 budget support provided to the 

Cook Islands and Fiji during the global pandemic to a 

Fiji’s international borders 

reopen after almost two 

years. This has brought in 

much excitement for the people of 

Fiji as the first tourist flight landed 

at the Nadi international airport on 

Wednesday, December 1 2021. 

This first flight is a strong 

indication of our resilience to get 

through the pandemic and a ray of 

hope for many employees of the 

" 

We’re monitoring 

the Omicron 

variant closely as 

it has been shown 

to carry significant 

mutations that could 

spell higher rates of 

transmissibility and 

virulence. 

For Fijians located in red list 

countries, which have always 

included the Southern African States, 

the measures for incoming travelers 

are as follows: 

1. Travellers must be fully 

vaccinated with one of Fiji’s 

approved vaccines; 

2. Travellers must undergo escalated 

pre-departure protocols, which 

include self-isolation for the 

five days prior to travel under 

the oversight of the employer or 

sponsor and test negative on day 

5 and within 72 hours prior to 

departure; and 

tourism sector to be reemployed. 

Fiji Airways is working closely 

with the Ministry of Health to 

monitor and minimize the risk of the 

3. On arrival to Fiji, the quarantine 

period for travelers from red list 

countries will increase to 14 days 

with a PCR test done on arrival on 

day 5 and on day 12. 

The Fijian Government will 

maintain the entry conditions 

for all arrivals from Travel 

Partner Countries, which include 

requirements such as full vaccination 

with an approved Covid-19 vaccine, 

a negative Covid-19 PCR test result 

taken 72 hours prior to departure, a 

3-night stay in a Care-Fiji Certified 

hotel, and an additional Covid-19 test 

on Day 2 after arrival. 

The preference of the Ministry of 

Health and Medical Services is that 

travellers from red list countries 

go to a listed TPC for ten days 

prior to travelling to Fiji. However, 

given some international border 

restrictions, particularly in Southern 

Africa, we understand some Fijian 

New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta 

combined total of $215 million (US$146 million). 

In addition to health and vaccine support, New Zealand 

is also supporting other initiatives that contribute to 

economic resilience. These include improved access to 

advice and finance for small-medium businesses in the 

Cook Islands and supporting Fiji to implement reforms to 

improve the business and investment climate. 

“We know that we all need to play our part in the global 

effort to respond and recover from COVID-19, especially 

with our close Pacific neighbours. By working together 

we are ensuring a stronger, more resilient region that 

sees benefits for everyone,” Nanaia Mahuta said. New 

Zealand is providing $60 million (US$40 million) to the 

Cook Islands, and $40 million (US$27 million) to Fiji. 

new Omicron variant of COVID-19 

from entering the country. 

As an added measure, the airline 

says it will introduce an additional 

citizens and residents may need to 

book travel directly to Fiji. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

will provide advice on a process for 

the public to help us by providing 

information on citizens in Southern 

Africa so those citizens can be 

registered and assisted to adhere with 

the strict conditions for entry. 

“This new variant is a reminder 

that for as long as there is a 

pandemic, Fiji will continue to face a 

threat from the virus and its variants. 

The most important step every Fijian 

can take in response to this variant 

is to become fully vaccinated and 

encourage others around us to do the 

same. We have one of the highest 

rates of vaccine coverage in the 

world –– but Fiji is safest when we 

achieve as close to 100% coverage 

as possible. And we must continue 

to adhere closely to the other health 

protection measures we know can 

limit the spread, including good 

handwashing, mask wearing, and 

physical distancing.” 

The Ministry of Health and 

Medical Services is currently 

establishing genomic sequencing 

capacity within the Fiji Centre for 

Disease Control to process any 

positive samples of concern. 

The Ministry is currently 

administering booster doses to front 

line health officials and will soon 

deploy booster doses of COVID-19 

vaccines to vulnerable members of 

the public.... 

Critical 

months lie 

ahead: Fiji PM 

FBC NEWS 

Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe 

Bainimarama says Fiji now 

has the opportunity to mount a 

recovery. He said since the pandemic 

struck, we have been sailing against 

the strongest economic headwinds 

ever faced, and battling them without 

our tourism sector. 

Bainimarama said to succeed, the 

government has set sights higher than 

simply restoring the Fiji of 2019. 

He highlights the reopening of 

our international border will create 

momentum that will propel us to 

greater growth in 2023 and beyond. 

“There is a saying: that which does 

not kill you will make you stronger. 

Well, we refused to roll over and 

give in to economic death, and in 

some ways, this adversity has made 

us stronger. People have gained new 

skills. Industries have become more 

competitive. And we’ve done our 

part as government by easing the 

burden on businesses.” 

The Prime Minister is urging 

businesses in the tourism industry 

to heed President, Ratu Wiliame 

Katonivere’s advice to remain a costcompetitive 

destination. 

“In the critical months that lie 

ahead, we will be competing fiercely 

for regional and global market share, 

and we can take nothing for granted. 

We must fight for every tourist 

dollar.” Bainimarama said Fiji has 

reached this point through a careful 

science-based strategy and by taking 

decisive steps. 

Fiji ready should new variant strike 

Most major countries 

have now imposed 

restrictions on travel, to 

try to contain the new COVID-19 

variant called Omicron.Minister for 

Health, Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete 

says Fiji’s internal and external 

measures in place are to be able to 

mitigate whatever variant Fiji could 

be faced with. 

Doctor Waqainabete says 

public health safety measures and 

vaccination is vital in the continuous 

fight against the deadly virus. 

With international travel set 

to resume from Wednesday, the 

Minister for Health says Fiji has 

carried out a detailed assessment on 

travel partners’ countries. 

“In these countries, adequate 

assessment has been done by our 

experts working with WHO and 

also international bodies. We know 

that these countries are relatively 

safe”.Dr Waqainabete says 

mechanisms have been put in place 

check at the airport today, for all 

travellers to declare where they have 

been in the last 14 days. 

According to the national carrier 

the safety protection protocols from 

COVID-19 and its potential variants 

are included in the border-reopening 

framework which was designed to 

deal with situations like this. 

Fiji Airways has an independently 

verified Travel Ready programme 

that has several safeguards to 

locally and externally to ensure 

Fijians are safe. 

“There are countries that are 

not part of this group. Those are 

the countries for which we have 

mechanisms in place. We are 

ensuring that if they finally do come 

in or if we repatriate our people from 

there then their time of quarantine 

is actually longer than others so we 

have those measures in place”. 

The World Health Organization 

has declared that the new 

variant has a large 

number of mutations, 

some of which are 

concerning. 

Its preliminary 

evidence suggests 

an increased risk of 

reinfection with this 

variant, as compared to 

other variants. 

Omicron was first reported to 

the WHO from South Africa on 24 of 

this month. 

Fiji’s international borders reopen after almost two years 

minimize risk, and the carrier has 

medically qualified Customer 

Wellness Champions onboard to 

enforce these measures. 

These protections are now further 

enhanced with the implementation 

of Fiji Airways’ “No Jab, No Fly” 

Vaccination Policy, which requires 

all adults (over 18 years of age) to be 

fully vaccinated with a Fiji-approved 

vaccine prior to travel.

14 INDIA 

Friday, December 03, 2021 The Indian Weekender 

Will double down on India growth 

in next 6 months: WhatsApp Pay 

WhatsApp India has said that over 

significant investments in payments on WhatsApp 

the next six months, it will make 

across India -- including many more “India-first” 

significant investments regarding 

features -- that we are sure will accelerate our 

digital payments on its platform across the country, 

to accelerate its growth in a market where adoption 

growth,” he informed. 

There is an opportunity, he said, for UPI to have 

of unified payments interface (UPI)-based 

an even greater impact for the country -- especially 

payments has exploded. 

According to Manesh Mahatme, Director- 

Payments, WhatsApp India, as the adoption of 

‘payments on WhatsApp’ increases with users 

across the country, the company looks forward to 

working with the National Payments Corporation 

of India (NPCI) to further expand it to all users. 

“We thank the NPCI for the increase in our cap 

in rural regions where digital and financial 

inclusion can significantly improve peoples’ lives. 

“We believe that WhatsApp Pay can be a key 

partner to the NPCI and RBI as we all aim to scale 

adoption of UPI and financial inclusion to those 

most in need,” the top company executive noted. 

India saw a whopping Rs 7.7 lakh crore (over 

$100 billion by value) digital transactions via UPI 

to 40 million (from an initial cap of 20 million). 

W 

in October for the first time, according to latest 

Since our initial approval from NPCI, we have e believe that WhatsApp data released by the NPCI. 

been working to deliver a simple, reliable, and Pay can be a key partner In the month of October that saw record festive 

secure experience for WhatsApp users that we 

hope will accelerate adoption of UPI for the “next 

five hundred million” Indians,” Mahatme said. 

Last week, the NPCI approved increasing the 

user cap for WhatsApp’s payment service from the 

current 20 million to 40 million users. 

to the NPCI and RBI as we all 

aim to scale adoption of UPI and 

financial inclusion to those most 

in need 

features in payments on WhatsApp over the last 

shopping across e-commerce platforms, digital 

payments witnessed 4.2 billion UPI transactions 

in total. In September, the NPCI recorded digital 

payments worth Rs 6.54 lakh crore via 3.65 billion 

UPI transactions. 

Currently, PhonePe is the leader in the digital 

According to Mahatme, the Meta-owned few weeks and have seen exciting results. 

payments space in the country. PhonePe registered 

company has introduced several India-specific “Over the next six months, we have planned digital transactions worth Rs 3.06 lakh crore. 

India Global Competency 

Centre to become second 

largest for Volvo Global: 

Kamal Bali 

With more and more highend 

work assigned to its 

research and development 

(R&D) centre/Global Competency 

Centre (GCC) in Bengaluru, Swedish 

automotive major Volvo will be 

increasing its headcount, said a top 

official of Volvo Group India. 

"Next year we will be adding about 

500 people and the majority of them 

will be in GCC. The centre is getting 

more complex work from Volvo 

global. Several patents have been 

filed from this centre," Kamal Bali, 

President and Managing Director, 

Volvo Group India, told the media. 

The proposed recruits will be 

engineers having qualifications 

in embedded electronics, electric 

mobility and others, he added. 

Bali said the Volvo Group India 

is now working with start-ups 

suppliers, government authorities 

for innovation in the areas of future 

energy. With a headcount of about 

2,500, the centre offers accounting, 

information technology (IT), 

truck design, and robotic process 

automation-related services and 

others to Volvo group companies 

around the world. 

According to Bali, the Indian 

GCC will soon be the second largest 

centre for Volvo outside of the home 

country Sweden. 

As per India Ratings & Research 

credit rating report, Volvo Group 

India had closed a revenue of Rs 

35.6 billion in FY20. The company 

incurred capex of around Rs 309 

million in FY20. 

In India Volvo is in the business of 

construction equipment, heavy duty 

trucks, marine and industrial engines, 

GCC, financial services and cars. 

Volvo also has a mass market 

truck and bus joint venture with 

Eicher Motors India - the VECV 

Commercial Vehicles. The group's 

products are sold under the brands of 

Volvo, Eicher and SDLG. 

Ahmadabad :Members of AIDS Control Society and Lok Sevak Mandal make a red ribbon symbol with candles on the eve of 

World AIDS Day in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, October 13,2021. 

Officials of the Indian space sector, both 

serving and retired, are of the view 

that the space sector's organisational 

structure is expected to mirror that of India's 

atomic energy sector. 

They also said that senior officials of the Indian 

space agency should address the employees on 

what is happening in the sector and how it will pan 

out so that uncertainty and confusion are addressed. 

In the Indian atomic energy sector, the 

Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is at the top, 

the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) is 

the sectoral regulator while the Nuclear Power 

Corporation of India (NPCIL), the Bharatiya 

Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd (both power 

companies), the Uranium Corporation of India Ltd, 

the Electronics Corporation of India Ltd, and IREL 

(India) Ltd are public sector units (PSU). 

The Bhabha Atomic Energy Centre (BARC), 

Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research 

(IGCAR) are the premier research and development 

(R&D) organisations and there are several DAEaided 

organisations. 

While the DAE is headed by a Secretary 

(normally from the R&D units) who is also 

the head of the Atomic Energy Commission 

(AEC), the R&D centres and PSUs are headed 

by different persons. 

Similarly, the government that has started the 

space sector reforms seems to be replicating 

the atomic energy model, several officials 

told the media. 

"The Central government's moves in the space 

IT spending 

in India to 

cross $100 

bn in 2022: 

Gartner 

Driven by a surge in digital 

transformation owing to the 

pandemic, the IT spending in 

India is forecast to total $101.8 billion 

in 2022, an increase of 7 per cent 

from 2021, global market research 

firm Gartner said on Wednesday. 

In 2022, all segments of IT 

spending in India are expected to 

grow, with software emerging as the 

highest growing segment. 

Spending on software is forecast to 

total $10.5 billion in 2022, up 14.4 

per cent from 2021. 

While experiencing a slower 

growth rate than 2021, spending on 

software in 2022 is forecast to be 

nearly double of what it was prepandemic. 

"India has experienced one of the 

fastest recoveries despite being one 

of the worst hit regions in the second 

wave of the pandemic in early 

2021," said Arup Roy, research vice 

president at Gartner. 

As hybrid work adoption increases 

in the country, there will be an uptick 

in spending on devices in 2022, 

reaching $44 billion, an increase of 

7.5 per cent from 2021. 

"The growth in devices is a 

combination of two components – 

hybrid work and pent-up demand 

from 2020 for device upgrades," said 

Roy. "Spending on devices will make 

up 43 per cent of total IT spending 

next year." 

Next year, Indian CIOs are 

prioritising a move away from 

rigid and monolithic ways of doing 

business to a more composable 

business and IT architecture where 

they will be able to better respond to 

disruptions. 

"In 2022, CIOs in India will build 

on renewed interest in technology 

from the business to gain funding for 

new IT projects," said Roy. 

Indian space sector's organisational 

structure likely to mirror of atomic energy 

sector seems to replicate the atomic energy model," 

an official said. Currently, the Department of 

Space (DOS) is at the top and below that, comes 

the private sector space regulator Indian National 

Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN- 

SPACe), the Indian Space Research Organisation 

(ISRO) with various R&D-cum-production 

(rockets, satellites and others) units. 

The sector has two PSUs - Antrix Corporation 

Ltd and NewSpace India Ltd. Unlike the atomic 

energy sector, the Secretary of the DOS and 

Chairman of the Space Commission is also the 

Chairman of the ISRO. 

As part of the space sector reform measures, the 

government has set up IN-SPACe as a regulator for 

the private sector players. 

"Ultimately there will be only one sectoral 

regulator. There cannot be two regulators - one for 

the private sector and other for the public sector. 

Who will be the regulator if there is a company 

that is floated in public-private partnership," 

an official aske


WORLD 15 

Blanket travel bans will 

not prevent int'l spread 

of Omicron variant: WHO 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has 

warned that blanket travel bans will not prevent 

the international spread of the Covid-19 Omicron 

variant, even as dozens of countries have already 

introduced such restrictions. 

Although Omicron has been labeled a "variant of 

concern" by the WHO, it said on Tuesday that blanket 

travel bans will only place a heavy burden on lives and 

livelihoods, while also "disincentivizing countries to 

report and share epidemiological and sequencing data." 

The Omicron variant was first reported to the WHO 

by South Africa last week. So far, several countries and 

regions have confirmed cases of infection with Omicron. 

Dozens of countries have already tightened travel 

measures, and even suspended flights, Xinhua news 

agency reported. 

At a member states session on the Omicron variant 

WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus 

on Tuesday, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom 

Ghebreyesus thanked Botswana and South Africa for 

" 

Persons who are unwell or at risk 

detecting and reporting this variant so rapidly. It is deeply 

of developing severe Covid-19 

worrying that these countries were being penalised by 

disease and dying, including people 

others for doing the right thing, he said. 

60 years of age or older or those with 

He called the "blunt, blanket measures" introduced 

comorbidities such as heart disease, 

by some member states "not evidence-based or effective 

cancer and diabetes." 

on their own." He urged countries to take "rational, 

proportional risk-reduction measures, in keeping with the 

international health regulations." 

and dying, including people 60 years of age or older or 

Meanwhile, the WHO advises that "persons who are those with comorbidities such as heart disease, cancer and 

unwell or at risk of developing severe Covid-19 disease diabetes," should postpone travel plans. 

Australia 

commits 

to Covid 

suppression 

amid Omicron 

concerns 

Australia's leaders have 

committed to the country's 

coronavirus "suppression" 

strategy amid concerns over the 

Omicron variant. Prime Minister 

Scott Morrison and state and 

territory leaders agreed to continue 

to pursue a strategy of suppression at 

a meeting of national cabinet. 

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Paul 

Kelly told the meeting that there was 

"insufficient evidence" that vaccines 

are less effective against Omicron 

and advised no immediate change 

to Australia's border restrictions or 

quarantine requirements, Xinhua 

news agency reported. 

"The variant, over the next few 

weeks, we'll learn a lot more about 

it, and I think that will give us the 

confidence to keep moving forward 

because that's what we want to do," 

Morrison said in a press conference 

" 

The variant, over 

the next few weeks, 

we'll learn a lot more 

about it, and I think 

that will give us the 

confidence to keep 

moving forward 

because that's what we 

want to do." 

on Wednesday. 

Australia reported more than 

1,300 new locally-acquired Covid 

cases, one of which has been 

confirmed to be infected with the 

Omicron Covid-19 variant, and six 

deaths, as the country continues to 

battle the third wave of infections. 

The majority of new cases were in 

Victoria, the country's second-most 

populous state with Melbourne as 

the capital city, where 1,179 cases 

were reported. 

The Northern Territory (NT) 

reported three new cases including 

two flight crew members who were 

in isolation and an infant from the 

Binjari community, which remains in 

a hard lockdown until next Tuesday. 

Also in NT, three teenagers who 

scaled a fence to escape from the 

Howard Springs Covid quarantine 

facility near Darwin in the early 

hours of Wednesday morning have 

been arrested. 

The teenagers aged 15, 16 and 

17 were in quarantine after being 

deemed close contacts of positive 

cases. NT Chief Minister Michael 

Gunner said that while the teenagers 

posed a low public health threat they 

would face consequences for their 

escape including restarting their 

quarantine time. 

As of Tuesday 92.5 per cent of 

Australians aged 16 and over have 

received one vaccine dose and 87.2 

per cent have had their second dose, 

according to the Health Department. 

Nepal suspends issuing 

visas to African visitors 

Nepal on Monday suspended 

issuing visas to visitors 

from African nations after 

emergence of new Covid variant 

Omicron, believed to be lethal than 

existing ones. 

Nepal' Ministry of Home Affairs 

has directed the Department of 

Immigration, Tribhuvan International 

Airport office in Kathmandu and 

administration offices of districts 

bordering India not to issue visas 

on arrival to people coming from 

African countries. 

"To mitigate the risk of spread 

of the new virus variant, we have 

directed agencies concerned not to 

issue visas on arrival to the people 

from African countries," Home 

Ministry spokesman Phanindra Mani 

Pokhrel said. "Nepalis returning 

from those countries can stay in 

home quarantine," he added. 

Similarly, the Health Ministry has 

intensified caution in view that new 

variant Omicron (B.1.1.529) first 

reported in South Africa could spread 

to Nepal, said Dr Samir Kumar 

Adhikari, joint spokesperson for the 

Ministry of Health and Population. 

Although the variant has not yet 

been reported in Nepal, risks still 

prevail, Adhikari said. 

"There is a high probability of the 

variant transporting to Nepal. But 

we are all prepared to prevent its 

spread here." 

NASA is aiming to fly its 

massive next-generation 

rocket, the Space Launch 

System (SLS), for the first time in 

February 2022, a critical test flight 

on the US space agency's journey to 

send people back to the Moon. 

However, plenty of tests still need 

to go well before the much-delayed 

vehicle can finally take flight, The 

Verge reported on Friday. 

Confirmation of the new target 

date, which was rumoured in August, 

comes a day after engineers fully 

stacked the SLS inside NASA's 

massive hangar at Kennedy Space 

Center in Florida. 

Standing at 322 feet high, the SLS 

rises taller than the Statue of Liberty. 

On top of the stack is NASA's Orion 

crew capsule, a new spacecraft that's 

been developed to carry people into 

deep space. 

However, when the SLS flies for 

the first time in 2022, there won't be 

any people on board, the report said. 

The test mission will send an empty 

As part of the drive to prevent 

the variant as classed by the World 

Health Organisation as "of concern", 

help desks at the border areas with 

neighbouring India and Tribhuvan 

International Airport, the country's 

sole international airport, have 

increased vigil, he said. 

Restricting direct flights from the 

disease-hit countries, banning entry 

to foreigners, and testing all people 

at the international border points are 

among the measures governments 

around the world have taken to 

prevent possible transmission of the 

highly mutant coronavirus variantdubbed 

Omicron. 

The key arsenal for fighting 

against the Covid pandemic is to 

speed-up the vaccination drive but 

several countries have still do not 

have required numbers of doses. As 

of Monday, Nepal's total vaccination 

is around 27 per cent and rest of the 

population including children are 

desperately waiting even as single 

dose of Covid vaccine. 

Orion capsule on a four to six-week 

long trip around the Moon. SLS' 

debut flight is known as 'Artemis 

I', the first major flight in NASA's 

Artemis program. If the flight is 

successful, the SLS and Orion's next 

mission will be Artemis II, which 

will carry NASA astronauts on a 

similar trajectory around the Moon. 

The programme will culminate 

with landing the first woman and 

the first person of colour on the 

surface of the Moon. 

During the administration of 

former President Donald Trump, Vice 

President Mike Pence had challenged 

NASA to make this landing happen 

as early as 2024. 

That timeline has since been called 

into question, given the complexity 

of the mission and numerous delays. 

Originally, NASA envisioned the 

SLS flying for the first time back 

in 2017, but its debut has been 

consistently pushed back again and 

again due to improper management 

and cost overruns. 

'Vax' is Oxford English Dictionary's 2021 word of the year 

'Vax' has been chosen as the word of the year 

by the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), 

the media reported. Due to the ongoing 

Covid-19 pandemic, words related to vaccines 

spiked in frequency in 2021, with doublevaxxed, 

unvaxxed and anti-vaxxer all seeing 

a surge in use, the BBC reported. Vax was an 

obvious choice as it has made "the most striking 

impact", OED senior editor Fiona McPherson 

was quoted as saying. 

"It goes back at least to the 1980s, but 

according to our corpus it was rarely used until 

this year," she said. "When you add to that its 

versatility in forming other words - vaxxie, 

vax-a-thon, vaxinista - it became clear that vax 

was the standout in the crowd", he said. 

Vax and vaxx are both accepted spellings but 

the form with one x is more common. 

In September usage of the word "vax" was 

up more than 72 times from its level last year, 

OCED said. The word, and others related to 

NASA aims to launch next-gen 

rocket on debut flight in early 2022 

vaccination, had also been broadened into 

a wider range of contexts including "fully 

vaxxed" and "vax cards", the Guardian reported. 

Use of the word 'pandemic' has also increased 

by more than 57,000 per cent this year, the 

report said. 

Vax derived from the Latin word vacca, 

which means cow, was first recorded in 

English in 1799. Its derivatives vaccinate and 

vaccination both first appeared in 1800. 

According to the OED, this is due to English 

physician and scientist Edward Jenner's 

pioneering work on vaccination against 

smallpox in the late 1790s and early 1800s. 

Oxford Languages and Collins each decide 

their own word of the year, and in 2020 Collins 

chose "lockdown". 

But Oxford decided it was an unprecedented 

year with too many contenders, so expanded 

its award to encompass a handful of newly 

key words including lockdown, bushfires 

and Covid-19, as well as Black Lives Matter, 

WFH (working from home), keyworkers and 

furlough, the report said. 

Oxford Languages says its corpus, or 

language resource, gathers news content, which 

is updated daily and contains over 14.5 billion 

words for lexicographers to search and analyse.

16 

FEATURES 


When we don’t eat breakfast and have 

no time for lunch then brunch is the best 

option. It is also longer and more relaxed, 

a good opportunity to sit and have a good 

conversation with your friends and family. 

CHICKEN FRY 

INGREDIENTS 

• 500gm - boneless chicken, thigh 

• 3tbsp - oil 

• 1/2tsp - cumin seeds 

• 1tsp - ginger, chopped 

• 1tsp - garlic, chopped 

• 1tsp red chilli powder 

• 1tsp - coriander powder 

• 1/2tsp - cumin powder 

• 1/2tsp - turmeric powder 

• 3/4tsp - garam masala powder 

• 1tsp - salt 

• 2 - tomatoes 

• 2tsp - ginger, julienned 

• 2 - green chillies 

• 1tsp - dry fenugreek leaves 

(Kasuri methi) 

• 1/2cup - fresh coriander leaves 

METHOD: 

• Heat oil in a heavy base saucepan 

over medium flame. 

• Add cumin seeds, when they 

start to splatter then add chopped 

garlic, stir, add chopped ginger 

and sauté for few seconds. 

• Wash and clean chicken, then cut 

into small 

pieces; 

fry for 3-4 

minutes 

or until it 

changes its 

colour. 

• Add red chilli powder, 

coriander powder, cumin 

powder, turmeric powder, garam 

masala powder and salt, mix well 

with a splash of water. 

• Cook chicken with its masala 

for 2-3 minutes while stirring 

continuously. 

• Wash and slice the tomatoes 

then add them to the chicken, 

mix well, cover and cook for 2-4 

minutes stirring in between (Add 

1 tablespoon of water if chicken 

starts to stick to the bottom of 

the pan). 

• Meanwhile wash and julienne 

ginger and chop green chillies. 

• Add julienned ginger, chopped 

green chillies and fenugreek 

leaves to the chicken, mix well. 

PANEER BHURGI 

INGREDIENTS 

• 400gm - cottage cheese ( Paneer) 

• 3tbsp - oil 

• 1/2tsp - cumin seeds 

• 2 - onions, large 

• 2-3 - green chillies 

• 1/4tsp - turmeric powder 

• 1tsp - red chilli powder 

• 1/2tsp - coriander powder 

• 1/4tsp - garam masala powder 

• 2 - tomatoes, medium 

• 1tsp - salt or according to taste 

• 1/2cup - fresh coriander leaves for 

garnishing 

METHOD 

• Add cottage cheese to the medium size 

bowl and then crumble it with your 

hand, cover and keep aside for later use. 

• Heat oil in a heavy base fry pan over 

medium flame. 

• Add peeled, washed and 

chopped onions, fry until 

translucent. 

• Add washed and 

chopped green chillies, 

sauté for few seconds. 

• Lower the flame then 

add turmeric powder, 

red chilli powder, 

coriander powder and 

garam masala powder, stir 

well with a splash of water. 

• Add washed and chopped 

tomatoes and sauté until the tomatoes 

are soft over medium flame. 

• Add salt, mix, add cottage cheese to the 

onion masala, mix everything together 

until well combined. 

• Cover and cook cottage cheese on low 

flame for 1-2 minute ( do not cook 

• Cover 

and cook for 

another few minutes or 

until the chicken is done. 

• Garnish with chopped coriander. 

• Serve with plain paratha or sliders 

TIP; sliders or pav buns also go very 

well with this chicken. 

• Make a pocket in sliders with a 

knife, spread butter on both the 

inside of the slider, then with 

butter side down place them onto 

the hot skillet. 

• Grill sliders until they are crisp 

and brown in colour. 

• Serve with chicken fry or paneer 

bhurgi. 

• Serves - 4 

cottage 

cheese for a 

long 

time as they harden 

and loose their softness ). 

• Garnish with fresh chopped coriander. 

• Serve with plain paratha or sliders. 

• Serves - 2-3 

PLAIN PARATHA 

INGREDIENTS: 

with your fingers. Fold the right 

• 2cups - wheat flour ( Atta ) 

side towards the centre. Lastly 

• 1/2cup - warm water or as 

fold the left side on top of the 

required 

right side to make a small square. 

• Oil for basting 

• Roll out with the rolling pin to 

make approximately a 16cm 

METHOD 

square paratha ( Dust the work 

• In a large bowl add sieved flour surface or rolling board with flour, 

and then gradually add water, while rolling so that the paratha 

while kneading to form a smooth, does not stretch or stick ). 

soft dough. 

• Place the paratha on the hot tawa 

• Cover with a damp tea towel or cast iron skillet; when the top 

and leave it to rest for at least 15 surface of the dough starts to dry 

minutes. 

out, flip it over, spread some oil 

• Heat a tawa or cast iron skillet on over the surface of the paratha. 

medium flame. 

When the second side is about 

• Pinch a medium size portion ( A half - cooked, flip again. Spread 

bit bigger then a golf ball ) from some oil on the upper surface of 

the dough and roll it into a ball the paratha and flip it over a third 

then flatten it between your palms. time. 

• Using a rolling pin, flatten the ball • Cook until brown specks appear 

into a 14cm round circle. 

on both the sides and paratha is 

• Spread some oil on it with your cooked evenly. 

fingers, then bring the top of the • Make all parathas following the 

circle to the centre and press same technique. 

lightly. Fold the bottom of the • Serve hot with chicken fry, paneer 

circle to the top of the folded part bhurgi or preferably any curry. 

to make three layers. Press lightly • Serves - 4 

Mint Raita 

INGREDIENTS: 

• 11/2cup - mint 

leaves, fresh 

• 2 - green chillies 

• 1cup - yoghurt 

• tsp - dry mango 

powder 

• Salt to taste 

METHOD 

• Wash mint 

leaves and green 

chillies. Grind 

them into a paste 

and keep aside. 

• Tip yoghurt into a medium size serving bowl, whisk a little 

then add the mint paste, mix well. 

• Add mango powder and salt and mix well again with the 

fork. 

• Serve. 

BRUNCH; serve chicken fry, paneer bhurgi, plain paratha, 

mint raita and sliders with a cup of tea in the end.


WORLD 17 

FreeDailyCrosswords.com 

CROSSWORD NO: 94 

ACROSS------------, 

1) Life of_ (carefree 

existence) 

6) Flat-bottomed open boat 

11) "Shogun" sash 

14) Apparently amazed 

15) Country of over 1 billion 

16) Car tracking digits (abbr.) 

17) Gain experience 

20) Doubter's outbursts 

21) Like most NBA players 

22) Calorie-rich pastry 

23) 67.5 degrees, on a compass 

24) Retail center 

25) Fence repairer 

26) Bronco catcher 

28) Deafening noise 

29) Find in a mine 

30) Hole in your head 

34) Bums of documentaries 

35) Provider of wide-angle 

shots 

KEEP WATCH 

37) One way to get the gravy 

38) Former or previous 

39) Affectionate utterance 

40) Cape_ (cottage style) 

41) Olympic prize 

45) Greyhound alternative 

4 7) Crossing the Atlantic 

50) Day before a holiday 

51) Dutch shoe 

52) "_ go bragh" 

53) Hai ry jungle creatures 

54) Maryland state flowers 

57) Be in pain 

58) Model of perfection 

59) "Beetle Bailey" character 

60) "2001" mainframe 

61) From Oslo, e.g. 

62) More likely 

28th February 

DOWN 

1) "Friends" female 

2) Big lizard 

3) Woodworker's machines 

4) Classic poetry 

5) Japanese currency 

6) Twine fiber 

7) Bell sound 

8) Short poem (var.) 

9) "Fee_ foe furn" 

10) Enrich 

11) Goes too far 

12) Marsh heron 

13) "Psst!" follower 

18) Airport stat. 

19) Billion years 

24) Cow sounds 

25) Prefix meaning "one thousandth" 

27) Quick cut 

28) Attempt to lose weight 

31) Prepared Bond's martini 

32) Work the bar 

33) "The Catcher in the _" 

34) Santa's seat? 

35) Gridiron game 

36) Mme. Bovary 

37) Hom of Africa nation 

39) "Rock the_" (The Clash hit) 

40) Birch tree spike 

42) Make an exit 

43) Exact retribution 

44) Not as great 

46) Legendary elephant eater 

4 7) Vicinities 

48) Move like a crab 

49) Coast Guard officer (abbr.) 

52) You right now, theme-wise 

53) " ... and make it fast!" 

55) Tokyo, long ago 

56) Place with a president 

ANSWERS CROSSWORD NO: 94 

FreeDailyCrosswords.com 

ACROSS------------, 

1) Life of_ (carefree 

existence) 

6) Flat-bottomed open boat 

11) "Shogun" sash 

14) Apparently amazed 

15) Country of over 1 billion 

16) Car tracking digits (abbr.) 

17) Gain experience 

20) Doubter's outbursts 

21) Like most NBA players 

22) Calorie-rich pastry 

23) 67.5 degrees, on a compass 

24) Retail center 

25) Fence repairer 

26) Bronco catcher 

28) Deafening noise 

29) Find in a mine 

30) Hole in your head 

34) Bums of documentaries 

35) Provider of wide-angle 

shots 

KEEP WATCH 

1R 21 3L 4E S y 

1A G A 

1i: u T 

,.. A 

N 

AB 

LA 

I L 

,.. A L 

58 

1 

37) One way to get the gravy 

38) Former or previous 

39) Affectionate utterance 

40) Cape_ (cottage style) 

41) Olympic prize 

45) Greyhound alternative 

47) Crossing the Atlantic 

50) Day before a holiday 

51) Dutch shoe 

52) "_ go bragh" 

53) Hai ry jungle creatures 

54) Maryland state flowers 

57) Be in pain 

58) Model of perfection 

59) "Beetle Bailey" character 

60) "2001" mainframe 

61) From Oslo, e.g. 

62) More likely 

N 

E 

------- 

D E A 

6 

N OR s 

HITORI NO: 94 

I N 

T H 

T E 

E R 

N E 

s lJ SAN s 

5 

SARGE 

6 

hP TE R 

28th February 

DOWN 

1) "Friends" female 

2) Big lizard 

3) Woodworker's machines 

4) Classic poetry 

5) Japanese currency 

6) Twine fiber 

7) Bell sound 

8) Short poem (var.) 

9) "Fee_ foe furn" 

10) Enrich 

11) Goes too far 

12) Marsh heron 

13) "Psst!" follower 

18) Airport stat. 

19) Billion years 

24) Cow sounds 

25) Prefix meaning "one thousandth" 

27) Quick cut 

28) Attempt to lose weight 

31) Prepared Bond's martini 

32) Work the bar 

33) "The Catcher in the _" 

34) Santa's seat? 

35) Gridiron game 

36) Mme. Bovary 

37) Hom of Africa nation 

39) "Rock the_" (The Clash hit) 

40) Birch tree spike 

42) Make an exit 

43) Exact retribution 

44) Not as great 

46) Legendary elephant eater 

47) Vicinities 

48) Move like a crab 

49) Coast Guard officer (abbr.) 

52) You right now, theme-wise 

53) "... and make it fast!" 

55) Tokyo, long ago 

56) Place with a president 

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: 94 

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 

1. Which planet has the most moons? 

Saturn 

2. What part of a plant conducts 

photosynthesis? Leaf 

3. How many elements are in the periodic 

table? 118 

4. Where is the smallest bone in the 

human body located? Ear 

5. How many hearts does an octopus 

have?3 

6. Who discovered penicillin? Alexander 

Fleming 

7. Queen Elizabeth II is the longest 

reigning monarch of the UK, followed 

by Queen Victoria – but who is third? 

George III 

8. Which two houses were involved in the 

War of the Roses? York, Lancaster 

9. Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, 

beheaded, survived – who was Henry 

VIII’s last wife? Catherine Parr 

10. Which year did the European Union 

first introduce the Euro as currency? 

1999 

11. What is the capital of Bulgaria? Sofia 

12. What is the capital of New Zealand? 

Wellington 

13. Beirut is the capital of which country? 

Lebanon 

14. What is the capital of Canada? Ottawa 

15. Hanoi is the capital of which country? 

Vietnam 

16. What is the capital of Argentina? 

Buenos Aries 

17. The capital of Iceland is? Reykjavik 

18. Slovakia’s capital is? Bratislava 

19. What’s the capital of Belgium? 

Brussels 

20. What is the capital of Brazil? Brasilia 

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18 ENTERTAINMENT 


Most popular movies on Netflix right now 

T 

THE WITCHER: NIGHTMARE OF THE extraordinary adventures. Starring: Sean Hayes, he Chair is too short to achieve all of its 

WOLF (2021) 

Gary Cole, David Harbour, Patti Harrison 

ambitions, but spot-on observations about 

BRAND NEW CHERRY FLAVOR (2021) 

academia and a sturdy ensemble led by an 

empathetic -- and hilarious -- performance from 

Sandra Oh ensure it's never less than watchable. 

Starring: Sandra Oh, Jay Duplass, Holland 

Taylor, Nana Mensah. Directed By: Sandra 

Oh, David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Bernadette 

Caulfield 

Focusing on the adventures of a strapping 

young Vesemir, Nightmare of the Wolf is a 

fluidly animated addendum to the Witcher story 

that will delight fans with its swashbuckling 

action. Starring: Theo James, Lara 

Pulver, Graham McTavish, Mary McDonnell 

MANIFEST 

Though definitely not for all tastes, Brand 

New Cherry Flavor is a delightfully 

deranged trip anchored by another incredible 

performance from Rosa Salazar. Starring: Rosa 

Salazar, Eric Lange, Catherine Keener, Manny 

Jacinto 

SWEET GIRL (2021) 

WORTH (2020) 

MONEY HEIST (2021) 

Manifest's attempts to balance supernatural 

mystery and melodrama largely work 

thanks to its well-chosen cast -- though it could 

use a few more distinguishing characteristics. 

Starring: Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas, 

Athena Karkanis, J.R. Ramirez 

Q-FORCE (2021) 

handsome secret agent and his team 

A of LGBTQ superspies embark on 

Burdened with action clichÃ©s and tripped 

up by a late plot twist, Sweet Girl wastes a 

potentially resonant story and some solid work 

from its well-matched leads. Starring: Jason 

Momoa, Isabela Moner, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, 

Raza Jaffrey 

THE CHAIR (2021) 

It isn't as hard-hitting as one might expect, 

but Worth remains a powerfully performed 

and rewardingly complex dramatization of reallife 

events. Starring: Michael Keaton, Stanley 

Tucci, Amy Ryan, Laura Benanti 

HE'S ALL THAT (2021) 

Hobbled by a lack of chemistry between 

its stars, He's All That comes up short 

on numerous opportunities to improve upon its 

gender-swapped source material. 

Must-watch movies on Disney Plus 

An unusual group of robbers attempt to 

carry out the most perfect robbery in 

Spanish history - stealing 2.4 billion euros from 

the Royal Mint of Spain. 

CLICKBAIT (2021) 

With an array of flashy, half-formed ideas 

and thin characterizations, Clickbait is 

more akin to its namesake than the deeper show 

it aspires to be. Starring: Adrian Grenier, Zoe 

Kazan, Betty Gabriel, Pheonix Raei 

Soul 

Soul is about aspiring jazz pianist Joe (voiced 

by Jamie Foxx) who is accidentally sent to 

the "Great Before" after an accident on Earth. 

In a bit of a hiccup, Joe, mistaken as a mentor 

for baby souls, is assigned to help 22, a young 

soul who has lost their spark for life. 

Mulan 

Black Is King 

In this film, Beyoncé pays a tribute to African 

art and culture by exploring the meaning 

of blackness through connecting to one's 

ancestral roots. This visual album tells the story 

of a young king and his transcendent journey 

through betrayal, love, and his own identity. 

The film is based on the music of The Lion 

King: The Gift. 

Coco 

Lady & The Tramp 

A remake of this 1955 classic that will melt 

your heart, this tale follows the dog Lady who 

has a warm home with owners Love and Jim. 

However, when they have a baby, she feels left 

out. On the street she meets the Tramp, with 

whom she experiences a great adventure. 

10 Things I Hate About You 

On the very first day at his new school, 

Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) becomes 

smitten with Bianca (Larisa Oleynik ), the girl 

of his dreams. The only problem is that Bianca 

is not allowed to date until her moody and 

utterly disinterested older sister Kat (Julia 

Stiles) does. 

Folklore: the Long Pond Studio Sessions 

The Greatest Showman 

P 

.T. Barnum (played by Hugh Jackman) 

is a visionary who works his way up 

from nothing to becoming the brains behind 

one of the world's most successful circuses, 

an enchanting spectacle and a triumph of his 

living fantasy. His performance appealed to a 

worldwide audience and enraptured everyone. 

Secret Society of Second Born Royals 

The story follows Sam, a second-born child 

in a royal family. She is not a typical highborn 

child and she doesn'tt really fit into the 

world she lives in. 

The Princess Diaries 

In this live-action remake, Mulan is a young 

woman who lives in China with her father. 

She wants nothing more than to replace him in 

the army as he is not physically strong enough 

to fight. To secure a place in this army and help 

save her family, she pretends to be a man. 

Miguel dreams of becoming a successful 

musician. He would love to become 

as famous as his idol Ernesto de la Cruz, but 

anything related to music has been banned by 

his family. 

Together with her co-producers Aaron 

Dessner and Jack Antonoff, Taylor 

Swift plays her album Folklore live. This 

intimate performance was recorded in the 

renowned Long Pond Studios, a setting that 

enhances the nostalgic, melancholic atmosphere 

of this album. 

A 

cademy Award winner Julie 

Andrews, Anne Hathaway and Hector 

Elizondo form a "courteous" team in The 

Princess Diaries, a heartwarming and modern 

take on Cinderella.


FEATURES 19 

COVID-19… Naam toh suna hoga? 

(Questions about the Vaccine & more) 

UCHIT GANGOLI (MBCHB IV, 

MIGRANT HEALTH GROUP) 

As world-famous as SRK and his iconic 

lines are, there is one thing that I am 

sure is even more well-known by 

now… COVID-19. 

The word itself brings about a lot of mixed 

emotions for people and has indeed shaken up 

the way we live. 

May it be back in India, elsewhere overseas 

or here in our beautiful New Zealand – everyone 

has had their struggles. 

Asamanjas. Uncertainty. Probably the most 

frustrating aspect of this pandemic for many of 

us. Although no-one has all the answers to our 

many questions, there is one thing that we do 

know we can do to get back to somewhat of a 

normal life. Get Vaccinated. 

As of 8 Nov 2021, 78% of NZ’s eligible 

population are fully vaccinated; most of 

Auckland is over 80% fully vaccinated and 

nearing the 90% mark! 

Our Asian communities have been doing 

especially well with over 90% fully vaccinated, 

which is something to be proud of. 

Nonetheless, I understand there are still 

many concerns around the COVID Vaccine. 

Kyun le? Kya hai? 

Kaun le sakta hai? Kaise le? Konse side 

effects ho sakte hai? 

(Why should we get it? What is it? Who can 

get it? How do we get it? What side effects can 

we get?) I will try my best to answer these very 

valid questions and alleviate any concerns. 

Kyun Le? (Why should we get it?) 

To protect your family, friends, yourself, and 

the broader NZ community. 

The Delta variant of COVID-19 should 

especially not be taken lightly – it spreads 

more easily, and it causes more severe illness in 

unvaccinated people. But the vaccine continues 

to hugely help prevent hospitalisation, death & 

spread from this variant too. 

Studies show that 95% of people with both 

doses of the vaccine are protected against 

COVID-19 symptoms. 

To get back to doing what we love. It means 

we can get the Traffic Light system in place 

sooner, which means fewer restrictions and 

more quality time with those we love. 

For many, it means to regain their livelihoods. 

Business owners have faced a lot of hardships 

through the pandemic, but with high enough 

vaccination rates – businesses can re-open, and 

our communities can flourish again. 

Although we are awaiting more information 

regarding borders, like for the rest of the world 

– it is likely that more overseas travel will be 

permitted after high enough vaccination rates 

are achieved. 

Kya Hai? (What is it?) 

The COVID-19 Vaccine available to us in 

NZ is the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. 

Simply put: It is a harmless piece of protein, 

mixed with a small amount of salt, fat & sugar – 

that teaches our body how to fight off the virus 

that causes COVID-19. ALL of the ingredients 

are safe and nearly all of the ingredients are 

found in many of the foods we eat normally too. 

The vaccine is vegetarian friendly and does 

NOT contain egg, preservatives, antibiotics nor 

metals. 

How is it given: By a well-trained health 

professional, with a very small (painless) 

needle – an injection in the muscle by your 

shoulder/upper arm. 

When: You are given 2 shots, 3 weeks apart. 

(More information regarding booster shots will 

be provided by the Government at a later date. 

As of now – 2 shots are enough.) 

Kaise organise karu? (How will I sort 

out my vaccination?) 

Book your FREE vaccine via “Book My 

Vaccine” on Google OR calling 0800 28 29 26 

(Translators available) OR calling your Doctor/ 

Pharmacy OR if you CANNOT book – using a 

Walk-in and Drive-through vaccination centre. 

Kaun Le Sakta hai? (Who can get it?) 

EVERYONE in NZ aged 12 and over. 

Your Visa/Citizenship status does NOT 

matter – as long as you are in the country, you 

can get the free vaccines. 

You CAN have it even if you are pregnant or 

breastfeeding. 

You CAN & SHOULD have it if you have a 

health condition (please talk to your doctor if 

any concerns).[3] 

If you have had a severe allergic reaction to 

the vaccine – consult with your doctor. 

You can book on behalf of someone too. 

Konse side effects ho sakte hai? (What are 

the side effects?) 

Mild side effects are not to be worried about; 

in fact, they show the body is learning how to 

defend against the virus. 

Common side effects were reported only in 

1-10% of people. 

Minor pain, swelling or redness at the site of 

injection. 

• Feeling tired. 

• Headache 

• Muscle aches. 

• Chills 

• Nausea 

• Fever 

Whilst you may have heard of more severe 

side effects like facial drooping or heart 

problems, they are very uncommon (0.01- 

0.1%). 

In fact, you are more likely to get that heart 

problem (myocarditis) due to COVID-19, than 

the Pfizer vaccine. 

Although extremely rare; if you have a severe 

allergic reaction to the vaccine or have had one 

in the past, please let your vaccinator know. 

Summary 

Overall, I have faith that if we all keep 

working together to follow the rules, spread 

correct information and get vaccinated – we can 

come closer to a safer, happier, and healthier 

NZ. I send my prayers, blessings, and love to 

all of the readers and your families. 

Disclaimer: This article was written by 

a student doctor from the University of 

Auckland Migrant Health Group. The 

information and opinions expressed in 

the article are not a reflection of the views 

held by Indian Weekender, University, our 

employers or any DHB. We hope that you 

find them useful. Always chat to your GP or 

specialist if you have any concerns. 

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Final Draft - 3 December 2021

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