The Indian Weekender, 10 March 2023

4
NEW ZEALAND
Friday, 10 March, 2023
Read online www.iwk.co.nz
Waitakere Indian Association
brings Holi colours to community
NAVDEEP KAUR MARWAH
The Holi celebration by
the Waitakere Indian
Association (WIA) on
Sunday (March 5) was a great way
to showcase Indian culture and
bring the community together in
a fun and inclusive way.
The event, held at Corbans
Estate Art Centre, Henderson,
brought together members of
the Indian community and other
cultural groups to partake in the
festivities.
The attendees threw brightly
coloured powder and water at
each other, creating a vibrant
and joyful atmosphere. The
event was open to people of all
ages and backgrounds, and the
atmosphere was one of joy, unity
and inclusivity.
Families came together to
enjoy the festivities, and children
ran around with big smiles on
their faces, enjoying the fun and
freedom of the day. The event
attracted people from all faiths
and ethnicities.
Sunil Kaushal, President of
WIA, told Indian Weekender,
“Over 7,500 people
attended the event.
This is based on the number
of cars that came through the
parking barriers and the sale
of colour packets. We shipped
5,000 packets of colour, which
were sold out by 1.30 pm. It
was great to see people who had
bought the colours sharing them
with those who couldn’t buy
them.
"We have been blown away by
the overwhelming and positive
NAVDEEP KAUR MARWAH
The family of Janak Patel
say they are relieved
after two more men were
charged with murder on March
8, 2023, in connection with the
death of the dairy worker Janak
Patel more than three months
ago. Soon after the verdict,
Patel’s younger sister Neelam
Patel told Indian Weekender, “We
are relieved as a family. We have
full faith in New Zealand’s judicial
system. We just want to see the
culprits behind bars. My brother
deserves justice.”
Indian national Patel was killed
outside the Rose Cottage Dairy
in Sandringham last November,
sparking widespread protests.
The killing sparked
emotions across the country.
Dairy workers took to the
streets, begging the government
for more security.
Shane Henry Tane and Henry
Fred were initially charged with
robbery, while Frederick Hobson,
who can now be named, was
charged with aggravated robbery
and murder. At the High Court in
Auckland on Wednesday morning,
Justice Sally Fitzgerald confirmed
name suppression had lapsed for
response from the community.
It was the largest crowd in the
history of our Holi event, with
many returning due to parking
and off-street parking being
completely utilised.”
It may be noted that it was
after a gap of three years due
to the Covid-19 pandemic that
WIA held its Holi celebration.
“It is overwhelming to hold a
successful event after three
years and see everyone
have a great time.
We helped to bring joy
and a little happiness to the
community. Everything else
‘We are relieved as a
family’: Janak Patel’s sister
Janak Patel
Hobson. All three have now been
charged with murder.
Tane is expected to enter
a plea next week. The other
two defendants have pleaded
not guilty. Migrant Workers
Association president Anu Kaloti
said the community would be
relieved at the charges.
The real comfort for family
and community members would
come when there was a verdict,
Kaloti said.
“They will be tried and held to
account, so I guess people can
breathe a sigh of relief - but I
suppose what kind of justice...
remains to be seen.”
Crowd enjoying the Holi festival at Waitakere Indian Association event in Henderson.
is secondary. The event was
overwhelmingly supported
by over 20 Indian and local
community organisations. Such
events showcase our diversity
within the Indian diaspora
and educate those unaware
of our culture and traditions
while keeping them alive for
future generations.”
The event had politicians and
ministers, including Michael
Wood, Priyanca Radhakrishnan
and Deborah Russell, involved
in the festivities. Radhakrishnan
and ACT party Deputy Leader
Brooke van Velden danced to the
music by DJ Gabroo.
• Continued from Page 3
But Speaker Adrian Rerawhe
overruled the ACT leader, which led
to some tense exchanges between
the two before Seymour backed
down after the Speaker asked if he
was challenging his ruling.
At its sitting the previous day,
Parliament had heard Minister of
Police Stuart Nash applaud “the
men and women in blue” who
upheld law and order.
In what appeared to be an
answer to the demand by ram-raid
victims for harsher punishments
for offenders, the minister told
the House: “We need less prisons
because the police operating
model doesn’t mean they’re soft
on crime. It doesn’t mean they let
people go; they still go really, really
hard when it’s necessary.”
In a direct reference to the
government’s rehabilitation and
community support measures for
underaged offenders, Nash said
the preferred approach was “to
work with that person, with the
community to come up with better
outcomes”.
“When you put someone in
prison, not only do you take away
their freedom, you often take away
their future,” the police minister
told the House.”
Other dignitaries in attendance
included Phil Twyford, Kanwaljit
Singh Bakshi, Chris Penk,
Mahesh Bindra, Simon Court,
Damien Smith, Melissa Lee,
and local board members from
Henderson-Massey, Whau and
Waitakere Ranges.
Minister for Diversity, Inclusion
and Ethnic Communities Priyanca
Radhakrishnan took to social
media and wrote: “Fabulous
afternoon at the west Auckland
Holi festival organised by Sunil
Kaushal & the team at Waitakere
Indian Association.
After a hiatus of a few years
because of Covid and last
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month’s floods that affected
so many out west, it was lovely
to come together to celebrate
the festival of colour and love.
These events are a good way for
different communities to come
together, celebrate and learn
about different traditions.”
Minister for Auckland Michael
Wood said, “A wonderful, sunny,
happy day in West Auckland for
the Waitakere Indian Association’s
annual Holi celebration.
"This is the Auckland I love -
positively celebrating our status
as one of the world’s most diverse
cities, bringing people together,
and having a good time.”
Brooke van Velden also loved
being part of the event and told
IWK, “Over the past few weeks
we’ve seen the worst from nature
with the floods but the best in
Kiwi spirit with the community
coming together to help each
other out.
"That spirit was on show again
at Holi with the Waitakere Indian
Association hosting this event
for everyone from all cultures
to enjoy. It was awesome to see
people dancing, laughing and
enjoying the sun. I loved being
part of the celebrations.”
The organisers arranged for
traditional Indian music, dance
performances, and various food
and refreshments, making it an
unforgettable experience for all
those who attended.
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