Indian Weekender 22 April 2016

22 April, 2016 • Vol. 8 Issue 5 • www.iwk.co.nz

NZ’s first Kiwi-Indian weekly newspaper

The pulse of Kiwi-Indians

IS NZ PREPARING FOR

a PRESIDENTIAL VISIT?

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CONTENTS

22 April 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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New Zealand

Cop Chat encourages candid discussion with police Pg

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India India capable of making world’s best warships

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Techmate

Sports

Hear the Echo

Warner powers Hyderabad to stunning win Pg

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Face of the Week

Bollywood Movie review of Fan

Young Kiwi-Indian journalist awarded

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COVER STORY

www.iwk.co.nz | 22 April 2016

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Presidential visit likely?

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ew Zealand will soon be playing host to the Honourable President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee.

Although no official statement has been issued, we have learnt from reliable sources that this could be a reality in the very near future. This will be the first time that New Zealand will host a Head of the State visit from India.

Visits of Heads of States can be very exciting albeit very meticulously planned affairs. Presidential visits will normally be preceded by an advance party that looks into all the arrangements that often include senior officials looking into security, protocol and other details such as accommodation and local logistics.

The visit itself could include a ceremonial welcome and introduction to the armed forces. There will normally be a State Banquet, and in our case, this is likely to be held at the Government House with full state honours. There may be some community engagements, engagements with the media and some press releases issued. These are, of course, speculations at this stage awaiting official confirmations.

There seems to have been some activity

Born on December 11, 1935, in West Bengal, India, Pranab Kumar Mukherjee is the 13th and the current President of India

that resembles the makings of a state visit and we await official confirmation on this from the High Commission of India.

In the meanwhile, we thought it may be quite timely to get to know the President of India a little more.

Born on December 11, 1935, in West Bengal, India, Pranab Kumar Mukherjee is the 13th and the current president of India. He assumed office on July 25, 2012.

Previously he was the Finance Minister of India and a leader of the ongoing 15th LokSabha. Pranab Mukherjee is also a senior member of the Cabinet Committees on Economic Affairs, Parliamentary Affairs, Infrastructure, Political Affairs, Security, Prices, World Trade Organization, Unique Identification Authority of India and the Congress Working Committee.

Pranab Mukherjee is the son of Kamada Kinkar Mukherjee, a freedom fighter, a member of AICC and West Bengal Legislative Council, from 1952 to 1964. He studied politics, history and law at Calcutta University and worked as a teacher, a journalist and a lawyer before joining politics in 1969. Apart from work, Mr Mukherjee likes to read, listen to music and enjoys gardening. He is married to Suvra Mukherjee (1957–August 18, 2015) and has two sons and a daughter, Abhijit, Indrajit and Sharmistha.

His elder son, Abhijit Mukherjee, is a Congress MP from Jangipur, West Bengal.

He was elected in the by-polls held after his father vacated the seat. Before his election, Abhijit was an MLA from Nalhati in Birbhum.

His daughter Sharmistha is a Kathak dancer and politician of the Indian National Congress.

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COVER STORY

In 1969, Pranab Mukherjee started his parliamentary career as a member of Rajya Sabha from the Congress party. He was re-elected in the following years: 1975, 1981, 1993 and 1999. From a series of cabinet posts, he rose to become the Finance Minister of India from 1982 to 1984. His tenure was well known for India not withdrawing the last billion instalment of an IMF loan. For a brief period he was pushed out of the Congress party, and during this phase, he shaped his political party called Rashtriya Samajwadi Congress. However, later on, he merged it back with Congress party in 1989.

His political career was revived when he was appointed as deputy chairman of the planning commission and subsequently as a union cabinet minister.

For the first time from 1995 to 1996 in Rao’s cabinet, he served as External Affairs Minister and was voted Outstanding Parliamentarian in 1997. Since 1985, he was the President of the West Bengal state unit of Congress, but later in July 2010 he resigned due to work-load.

Pranab Mukherjee won the LokSabha elections for the first time from Jangipur and was made the Leader of the House in the LokSabha. He heads the Congress Parliamentary Party and the Congress Legislative Party which constitutes of all the Congress MPs and MLAs in the country and also has the merit of being a Minister with various high profile Ministries.

He played an important role in directing the Cabinet preLokSabha elections when the Prime Minister underwent bypass surgery by taking further charge as chairman of the Cabinet

22 April 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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Committee of Political Affairs and Union Minister in Finance Ministry despite being the Union Minister of External Affairs.

Within party social circles Mr Mukherjee is a well-respected individual, he has a status of a politician with an extraordinary memory and a distinct survival instinct. When Sonia Gandhi unwillingly agreed to join politics, he was one of her important counsellors, helping her through difficult circumstances.

His loyalty and proficiency helped him achieve the position of Minister of Defense in 2004.

Pranab Mukherjee was nominated as an eligible presidential candidate for the President of India from UPA on June 15, 2012. Around 81 other candidates had filed nominations but the Election Commission rejected them all except P.A. Sangma and Pranab Mukherjee.

The elections took place in July 2012 after the five states scheduled elections and the results were announced on 23rd July 2012.

The veteran Pranab Mukherjee became the President of India after four decades of political life and is the first Bengali to assume the post. He won the presidential poll by a huge margin and was officially sworn in by the Chief Justice of India on July 25, 2012.

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Some of the accolades and honours: • In 1984, rated as world’s best Finance Minister according to a survey by Euromoney magazine.

• Awarded Finance Minister of the Year for Asia by Emerging Markets, the daily newspaper of record for the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund IMF in 2010.

• The Banker recognised him as the Finance Minister of the Year in December 2010.

• Honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award of India, in 2008.

• Honorary Doctor of Letters degree from the University of Wolverhampton in 2011.

• Honorary D.Litt by the Assam University and Visvesvaraya Tech University in March 2012.

• Honorary Doctorate of Law by the President of Bangladesh and DU Chancellor Mohammad ZillurRahman at the University of Dhaka in 2013.

• Awarded Bangladesh’s second highest award Bangladesh Liberation War Honour (Bangladesh MuktijuddhoSanmanona) on March 5, 2013.

• Awarded Doctor of Civil Law (honoris causa) by the University of Mauritius on March 13, 2013.

• Hon Doctorate from the University of Calcutta in 2014.

Some of the offices held: • Union Minister of Industrial Development 1973–1974 • Union Minister of Shipping and Transport 1974 • Minister of State for Finance 1974–1975 • Union Minister of Revenue and Banking 1975–1977 • Treasurer of the Congress Party 1978–79 • Treasurer of the All India Congress Committee 1978–79 • Leader of the House of the RajyaSabha 1980–85 • Union Minister of Commerce and Steel and Mines 1980–1982 • Union Minister of Finance 1982–1984 • Board of Governors of the IMF 1982–1985 • Board of Governors of the World Bank 1982–1985 • Union Minister of Commerce and Supply 1984 • President of the State Unit of Congress Party in West Bengal 1985 and 2000–10

• Chairman of the Economic Advisory Cell of the AICC 1987–1989 • Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission 1991–1996 • Union Minister of Commerce 1993–1995 • Union Minister of External Affairs 1995–1996 • General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee 1998–1999 • Chairman of the Central Election Coordination Committee 1999–2012 • Leader of the House of the LokSabha 2004–2012 • Union Minister of Defence 2004–2006 • Union Minister of External Affairs 2006–2009 • Union Minister of Finance 2009–2012 • President of India since July 25, 2012 Sources and ref: mapsofindia.com and wikipedia.org

New Zealand marks Anzac Day centenary

Monday, April 25, marks the 100th year of the Anzac Day service. To honour the soldiers who fought at Gallipoli, a host of events and exhibitions have been planned in New Zealand.

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nzac Day was first observed in 1916 to mark the anniversary of the landing of New Zealand and Australian soldiers on the Gallipoli Peninsula. In 1915, the New Zealand troop along with other Allied soldiers arrived at Gallipoli, a Turkish territory that formed part of the Ottoman Empire—Germany’s ally.

The forces landed with the plan to open the Dardanelles Strait to the Allied fleets, which they hoped would lead to a Turkish surrender. But they faced strong resistance from the Turks. The Gallipoli campaign was not a military success, but it is an important part of New Zealand history.

Many New Zealand and Australian soldiers lost their lives. Their bravery, loyalty to the King and comrade helped New Zealand define itself as a nation. To honour the World War I centenary, exhibitions around the country bring New Zealand’s Gallipoli story to life.

Gallipoli: the scale of our war, Wellington Weta Workshop joined forces with Te Papa last year to give birth to a groundbreaking exhibition that narrates the story of Gallipoli through giant sculptures that are 2.4 times human size, frozen in moments from the First World War. The exhaustive research conducted by those involved in the project is visible in the many 3D maps and projections, diorama and interactive experiences in the exhibition that was unveiled last year and will continue till April 2018.

ANZAC: Photographs

by Laurence Aberhart, Christchurch The Canterbury Museum in Christchurch is playing host to a unique series of photographs captured by acclaimed photographer Laurence Aberhart.

Shot using an old-fashioned view camera, Aberhart has been capturing World War One memorials that include a single figure for more than three decades. The photographs are on display at the museum until July 24.

Home Front—experiences of the First World War in New Zealand, Auckland Third in the series of World War

One centenary commemorative exhibitions, the Home Front exhibition at Auckland Museum explores how the war affected the lives of people at home. It gives an insight into the world of New Zealanders who were separated from each other. The exhibition displays family portraits, postcards and letters that narrate the stories of war and brings to life a period that was clouded with the uncertainties of the war.

In Auckland, the day will see numerous activities that commemorate the 100 years of Anzac Day and guided tours that give a peek into the life of the soldiers who fought in the world war.

Anzac Day service Join Auckland Museum in two commemorative services on April 25 on the Court of Honour: the Dawn Service at 6 a.m. and the Civic Service at 11 a.m.

The services pay respect to the soldiers who fought at Gallipoli and other conflicts New Zealand has been involved.

Illuminate—No Man’s Land From April 22 to 24, composer John Psathas’ No Man’s

Land project will be screened on the Auckland Museum’s northern facade.

The 70-minute film is a musical collaboration that took musicians to the places where soldiers from different countries fought and died during the war. Watch a special 20-minute version of the film that will play on a loop from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. and features 150 musicians in one global orchestra.

Turkish Voices An initiative that shares the perspective on the relationship between Turkey and New Zealand, Turkish Voices gives an opportunity to listen to a song about Canakkale—the province where Gallipoli lies—and readings from members of the Turkish community.

World War I and II tours Join the 45-minute guided tours through the War Memorial galleries to explore the stories of the ones who travelled far away from home to fight in the wars.

The tours begin from 7:45 a.m. and the last one for the day will start at 3:45 a.m. from the Big Red Arrow outside the Armoury.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 22 April 2016

Kiwis encouraged to serve NZ this Anzac Day

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he launch of a new initiative which encourages New Zealanders to volunteer in their community on days of national significance has been welcomed by Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew.

‘Serve for New Zealand’, founded

by Christchurch’s Student Volunteer Army (SVA), in partnership with the RSA and the University of Canterbury, is to be launched on Anzac Day and will invite New Zealanders to pledge an hour or more of their time to give back to the community.

“This is a modern twist on a tradition, and a great way to honour the Anzac spirit while also giving back to your community through volunteering.

“New Zealanders have a long history of volunteering, and do so in large numbers, with an average of 3.1 million hours volunteered every week by an average of 544,000 volunteers,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“New Zealanders are well known for their generosity, which was highlighted by our recent ranking as the second most charitable country in the world.

“The work of the SVA during the Christchurch earthquake five years ago showed the nation how coming together to do good as a community can have a powerful, positive and long-lasting impact.

“There is enormous personal satisfaction in making a positive difference for others. Whether it’s helping out your neighbour, or offering your skills or time to a charity, every Kiwi can make a meaningful contribution to their community,” Mrs Goodhew says.

“This government is keen to help New Zealanders build stronger communities and to make them more resilient, starting at the grass roots. Serving for New Zealand is a fantastic way of connecting neighbours, communities, and the nation through service,” says Minister Goodhew.

“I recommend it to anyone who wants to contribute their skills and time to help make New Zealand an even better place to live.”

To pledge to Serve for New Zealand on Anzac Day, people can register online at www.servefor.nz.

The website also provides suggestions about how to get involved in the lead up to Anzac Day.

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22 April 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

‘Cop Chat’ encourages candid discussions with police RIZWAN MOHAMMAD

through word of mouth so that people can benefit from the programme. “If we have this space for a couple of hours in a week and if we publicise it enough through the student network, the students can come up, have a chat and ask questions in a very comfortable and friendly environment,” said Sergeant Matthew Srhoj.

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uckland Police recently started a new project called Cop Chat in partnership with the Auckland Central City Library. Often people simply need to ask questions or get advice but feel that it is not sufficient enough for them to visit a police station.

Cop Chat is designed purposely to allow people, especially international students, to have the opportunity to talk to the police if they don’t Sergeant Matthew interacting with attendees wish to go to a police station.

It can be a concern, an issue, suggestion Sergeant Matthew also mentioned that or simply to come and have a chat with the some international students feel reluctant police. The Auckland Central City Library to come forward and question on safety has offered a desk on the ground floor for issues in the city. This hesitation can be the police to interact with the people. A rooted in their experiences with the police police officer along with Jessica Phuang, in their home country, or it can be more of a the South Asian Liaison Officer, who is cultural barrier that makes them unwilling passionate about safety, especially among to report or discuss issues. the international students, will be there “Do not bury your face in the mobile, look to greet you. There is no cost to use this around and be alert. If you feel someone is service. So it is important for everyone following you, then cross the road, walk to to help promote this to ensure that this a place where there are people and call the project continues. police.Every It’s yourThursday right to defend11am yourself and – 1pm Auckland witnessed a spate of attacks your property,” said Officer Matthew. on Asian students last month that made Cop Chat programme was conceived Central City Library this programme the need of the hour. It’s a couple of months back and started in You don’tfive have go to a Police station talkprogramme to a Police officer. heartening to see that already around to tothe first week of April.toThe ten people contact the desk every Thursday is currently in its trial stage and is being Come with and have a chat with them at the Auckland Central City Library. and share their experiences the police. conducted only in the CBD region. If the The interaction allows them to give and programme becomes a success, then it will take advice and also spread the message expand to other locations across Auckland.

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You don’t have to go to a police station to talk to a police officer. Come and have a chat with them at the Auckland Central City Library.

Cop Chat is held on every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 44–46 Lorne Street.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 22 April 2016

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Calling all aspiring Medicos

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22 April 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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Hindu New Year 2073 celebrated in Christchurch Gaurav Sharma

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“Along with the cultural significance of Nepalese New Year, we also wanted people to have a taste of Nepal with various Nepalese delicacies served during the event.”

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year is being known as Soumya Samvatsar.

Sapkota added, “Along with the cultural significance of Nepalese New Year, we also

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in the month of Chaitra, which this year began on April 8. Notably, the current

wanted people to have a taste of Nepal with various Nepalese delicacies served during the event.”

CNS also noted the strong cultural ties between Nepal and New Zealand going back to the time Sir Edmund Hillary scaled the Mount Everest, or Sagarmatha as it is known in Nepal.

“And to promote these cultural ties even further, along with promoting Nepalese ethos, identity and culture in and around the Canterbury region, we established CNS last year.

Our focus is organising cultural programmes like the one we just had. Next on agenda is the mid-winter that we will be organising especially for the Nepalese youth,” concluded Sapkota.

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Top: Participants at the cultural programme with their certificates Left: A participant with the Nepal national flag during the programme

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he 300-member Canterbury Nepalese Society (CNS), which was established in 2015, celebrated the Hindu New Year 2073 at the Aurora Centre in Christchurch on April 13.

Bishal Sapkota, Secretary of CNS, informed, “We had an attendance of [more than] 400 people with 17 cultural programmes spread over four hours.

Christchurch City Councillor Jimmy Chen was the chief guest, and renowned mountaineer Mark Joseph Inglis and Bishnu Pokhral, President of CNS, delivered speeches.

“All participants were given certificates at the conclusion of the event to motivate and encourage them to do even better next time.”

The organisers informed that in Nepal, much like in North India, the traditional lunar Hindu calendar is followed, with this year been the Hindu New Year 2073 or Vikram Nav Varsh Samvant 2073.

This is so because it is believed that Vikram Era was started by King Vikramaditya in 57 BC as a commemoration of his victory over the Shaks. That’s how the Hindu calendar came to be known as Vikram Samvant after Vikramaditya.

According to the Hindu calendar, the New Year is the first day after no moon

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NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 22 April 2016

How Cashmere in Christchurch got its name after India’s Kashmir

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Gaurav Sharma

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ave you been to the Lucknow Place in Christchurch? Or to Delhi Place, Darjeeling Lane, Bengal Drive, Chittagong Lane, Indira Lane and Nehru Place?

This is the story of how the suburb of Cashmere (in Port Hills) in Christchurch got its name after the Indian region of Kashmir, and how some of the streets in Port Hills were named after famous cities, regions and personalities from India.

As noted by renowned historian, Gordon Ogilvie in his book, The Port Hills of Christchurch, a Chennai-born Englandeducated ex-Magistrate of Mooradabad (Uttar Pradesh), John Cracroft Wilson, arrived in Christchurch in 1854 with his 17 Indians servants. This, arguably, is the first instance of Indian immigrants arriving in the land of the long white cloud.

When in Canterbury, Wilson, with the wealth he accumulated in India, purchased three up-country runs, the Lansdowne Station, and a 268-acre property on the Port Hills.

This Port Hills property, which stretched from Huntsbury Hill to Worsley Road and across the skyline to Governors Bay, was later named by Wilson as “Cashmere” after his favourite part of India—Kashmir. In its prime, Wilson’s Cashmere estate covered almost 5,000 acres.

Later, Wilson built an 11-bedroom homestead (that came to be known as the Cracroft House and was destroyed in the 2011 earthquakes), gardener’s cottage, blacksmith shop, stables, coach house, storage shed, and a dairy, on his vast property.

Meanwhile, his Indian servants and their families lived in dwellings set into recesses on the eastern side of what is now called Shalamar Drive. Some even went on to own land as well as keep their own hoof stock.

Living in a strange land with cold climate, and toiling day and night made survival difficult for some. “The Indians never seemed to be at ease there. They were frequently ill, believe the place was haunted and often tried to defect,” writes Ogilvie in his book.

“The only recourse was fond memories of India, their villages, its lanes and by-lanes. What came naturally thereafter was naming the streets in Port Hills after the regions they came from in India,” informed Natu Rama, President of the Indian Social and Cultural Club (ISCC), who has been living in Christchurch since the 1970s and is a history buff himself.

Though to give Wilson some credit, who was known to be public-spirited and

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capable of great kindness, he did build an accommodation house for his workers where they lived as an extended family with stone quarried from Marley Hill in 1870.

Just like an old English farmhouse, the accommodation, which came to be known as the Old Stone House, had storage and stables, cooking floor, eating and communal rooms, as well as sleeping quarters.

Then, as time passed, in 1972 and then again in 1995, much of Wilson’s Cashmere estate was subdivided for housing by the City Council. Ogilvie adds, “The construction of numerous interconnecting roads in the new residential area allowed for an extension of the Indian theme first introduced by John Cracroft Wilson. Thus, we now have Shalamar Drive, Bengal Drive, Darjeeling Lane, Chittagong Lane, Indira Lane, Lucknow Place, Sasaram Place, Nehru Place and Delhi Place, in Christchurch’s very own Kashmir.”

FREE* COURSES STARTING IN MAY Improve your English Literacy and Numeracy Skills For migrants/refugees with low literacy levels in their first language and who want to develop their speaking, listening and writing skills.

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Holiday break: 11-22 July 2016 Want to know more and how to apply?

Come to one of our information sessions on: Friday 8, 15, 22 April from 10am to 11am.

Students celebrating Holi

been organising Holi for the last 10 years, this time the gathering was our biggest ever.

“Probably due to the promotions leading up to the event, we had participation from university students as well as the wider Dunedin community.”

*Free to New Zealand citizens and permanent residents and criteria apply. Classes run subject to numbers being met.

Visit manukau.ac.nz for more information.

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ESOL Literacy – 9 weeks

Everyday Life – 15 weeks For people wanting to improve their English language, writing and math skills for everyday life, study or work. Study in our small friendly class with our experienced bilingual tutor (Punjabi/Hindi and English).

ISA celebrates Holi in Dunedin he University of Otago’s Indian Students Association (ISA) organised its annual Holi celebrations on April 10, with more than 300 people attending the event.

The four-hour event had people dancing to Bollywood tunes, play with water guns, enjoy some Indian drinks and food, as well as shower colours on each other.

Anu Kaw, a member of ISA’s executive committee noted, “[Al]though we have

Literacy and Numeracy Skills for

Apply now and GO FORWARD. manukau.ac.nz | 0800 62 62 52

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NEW ZEALAND

22 April 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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New Zealand health $500k to deliver wireless strategy launched technology to more schools

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ssociate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced the funding of $500,000 to enable more than 40 more schools nationwide to receive wireless technology, as part of the Ministry of Education’s Wireless School Network Upgrade Project (WSNUP).

“Earlier this year, I announced the completion of the School Network Upgrade Project (SNUP), which has provided state and stateintegrated schools with upgraded core on-site infrastructure such as cabling and switching, to enable them to access highquality Internet for learning,” says Ms Kaye.

“The advent of wireless technology saw this technology automatically included as part of SNUP, for [more than] 1,200 schools which received their upgrade from June 2013 on.

“The WSNUP project was set up in late 2014 to retrofit wireless technology to a number of schools that had already received a core digital infrastructure upgrade, prior to wireless technology being included in SNUP. “Under WSNUP, work is already well advanced towards retrofitting wireless technology to [more than] 430 schools, and I’m pleased that today’s announcement will see [more than]40 more schools also receive wireless upgrades.

“This means more students and teachers around the country will be able to enjoy the benefits of being more mobile with their devices while at school.”

The Ministry of Education will contact schools to offer them access to the upgrade.

“Evidence suggests that widespread and mobile access to the Internet will lead to new and significant opportunities for students, parents and teachers.

“The rollout of wireless connections is a vital step towards delivering these opportunities, enabling more young New Zealanders to learn anytime and anywhere. Thanks to the SNUP and WSNUP projects, schools are

being provided with state-of-theart infrastructure so they can make full use of ultrafast broadband in the classroom, along with Crownfunded, uncapped data via the N4L Managed Network. “[More than] 95 per cent of schools are now connected to the Managed Network, which also offers services such as web filtering, network security and helpdesk support.

“The government has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in these programmes to ensure young New Zealanders have some of the best infrastructure and connectivity anywhere in the world.”

ealth Minister Jonathan Coleman launched New Zealand’s new health strategy at a Health Symposium in Wellington on April 18.

“The new strategy has been developed to guide change in the health sector and to lead the transformation to a more innovative, integrated and patientcentred approach to healthcare in New Zealand,” says Dr Coleman.

The health strategy has not been updated since 2000. The new strategy sets a clear direction for the health system over the next 10 years. It covers five strategic themes—people-powered, closer to home, value and high performance, one team, and smart system. It includes a roadmap of actions to put the strategy in place over the next five years.

“We need a unified health system with shared values. We need better ways of working together to ensure all New Zealanders have access to the healthcare they need,” says Dr Coleman.

“We want to see more services delivered in the community, a stronger push on prevention and self-management, as well as care closer to home. This new strategy will ensure better integration of health and social services, a health workforce that’s well equipped and supported by strong leaders and networks, more involvement in service design by users, and a system well placed to take advantage of emerging technologies.” The Ministry of Health led the update of the

strategy and engaged extensively with the sector, social service providers and health users over the last year.

“A range of people and organisations have contributed to developing this Strategy. Their feedback added significant value and shows people want to play an active role in creating our future health system,” says Dr Coleman.

To support the strategy’s implementation, the Ministry of Health is currently reorganising the way it operates.

“We need a strengthened and streamlined Ministry, which is empowered to lead the health system.

This reorganisation will ensure clearer roles and accountabilities, and reduce duplication,” says Dr Coleman.

The Ministry of Health is hosting the Powering Up Our Future Health Symposium. Senior health and social sector leaders will discuss how New Zealand can build a modern peoplepowered, technology-enabled healthcare system.

The

new

health

strategy

is

available at www.health.govt.nz.

New climate change ambassador appointed

C NEW ZEALAND FIRST LIST MP

MAHESH BINDRA BASED IN AUCKLAND

Contact Auckland Office

Level 1, 21 East Tamaki Rd, Papatoetoe, Manukau 2025 Ph: 0800 BINDRA (246372) mahesh.bindra@parliament.govt.nz

Authorised by Mahesh Bindra, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

limate Change Minister Paula Bennett announced on April 15 that New Zealand’s next Climate Change Ambassador would be Mark Sinclair.

Currently New Zealand’s Ambassador to Japan, Mr Sinclair is a senior and experienced diplomat with extensive international negotiation experience.

“Mark has a deep understanding of New Zealand’s interests and is an exceptional choice to lead the next steps of our negotiating effort,” Mrs Bennett says.

“The adoption of the Paris Agreement on climate change in December 2015 was a historic achievement, but it is by no means the end of the road.” Negotiators are now focused on the work programme to flesh out the operational details of the Paris Agreement. This will provide clarity on the rules to be applied to countries’ commitments.

“I’m looking forward to working with Mark to keep up New Zealand’s reputation as an important and effective voice in the world’s effort to transition to a low carbon future,” says Mrs Bennett.

“I also want to thank outgoing Climate Change Ambassador Jo Tyndall, who has been an outstanding and expert voice for New Zealand on the world stage.”

Mr Sinclair will take up the new role in the next few months.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 22 April 2016

Further work before online voting proceeds

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Top One Real Estate Limited Licensed (REAA 2008)

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ssociate Local Government Minister Louise Upston has announced that the online voting trial proposed for this year’s local body elections will not proceed as more work is required to ensure a trial meets public and government expectations.

“Public confidence in local elections is fundamentally important. Given real concerns about security and vote integrity, it is too early for a trial,” says Ms Upston.

“Due to timing restrictions, preparations for the proposed trial have not yet met the legislative requirements and cannot guarantee public confidence in the election results.

“Security testing has been planned but has not yet occurred. Without seeing the results of testing we cannot be confident the systems are secure enough, and the trial could not be authorised.

“We acknowledge the work done by councils and service providers on their proposals and we understand their disappointment that the trials cannot go ahead this year as originally hoped.

“There are significant timeframe pressures in preparing for a trial in this year’s local elections and these issues and pressures exacerbate the risks inherent in a trial. Voting is a fundamental right of New Zealand citizens and public trust in

electoral systems and results is paramount.

Maintaining public confidence and understanding of local electoral processes is more important than trialling online voting this year.”

Ms Upston says online voting could be trialled at future elections but there is still much to learn about online voting, and issues with online voting overseas have stressed the importance of getting it right and maintaining public confidence.

“The government is open to looking at proposals for future trials of online voting in local elections but any plans for trials should be developed as part of a programme of gradual steps towards online voting in local elections.”

Eight councils had expressed interest in trialling online voting at the 2016 local elections: Selwyn, Wellington, Porirua, Masterton, Rotorua, Matamata-Piako, Palmerston North and Whanganui.

Pop in and say namaste!

Enrol your child at your local AKA Kindergarten for 2016

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t’s a long way from Chandigarh, India to Auckland, but Manleen Kaur feels right at home thanks to her job as Head Teacher at Otahuhu Central kindergarten, which is a part of the Auckland Kindergarten Association (AKA).

“I have a niece who’s 15 months old and I keep telling my sister that the moment she turns two or three, [she has] to send her to an AKA kindergarten! AKA Kindergartens have so much to offer.

“There’s a lot more resources for the children and there’s a lot more flexibility for the parents. Our parents can stay for the whole day if they like.

It’s more community based and we focus on relationships.”

Praveena Kumar, also a teacher at Otahuhu Central says, “I’ve had three of my older kids go to Aorere Kindergarten and my son Kaveer is number four. I would definitely recommend it. It’s awesome!

“Last year, my son was diagnosed with mild to moderate autism, suffers speech issues and global developmental delay.

Since he’s started kindy, you just wouldn’t believe how much he’s developed. You just wouldn’t recognise him from a year ago. He’s completely come out of his shell!”

At AKA kindergarten’s, children will make friends, improve their language skills, be introduced to various mathematical concepts, science, literacy and sustainable practices, and be prepared for the transition to primary school.

With 107 AKA kindergartens located

throughout Auckland and day sessions available that mirror school hours (six or 6.5 hours), AKA offers a flexibility that works for busy families—so pop in and say namaste! Praveena has one last message for Indian families looking to enrol their children at an AKA kindergarten, “just do it!”

To find your local AKA kindergarten, check out their website www.aka.org.nz or follow them on Facebook— facebook.com/mykindy

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12 Osterley Way, Manukau 261 2555

|

1 Arranmore Dr, Botany 265 0318

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NEW ZEALAND

22 April 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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SME-friendly tax package Kanwaljit Bakshi National List MP

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malland medium-sized businesses are the backbone of our communities.

With 97 per cent of all New Zealand enterprises employing 50 or fewer people, it is vital to continuously search out ways to

reduce the financial and time burdens that small businesses face.

That’s why the government, for example, has cut ACC levies. It’s why we introduced 90-day trials and a starting-out wage.

It is why we fund the roll-out of faster broadband. These and other measures help explain why small business confidence is in solid, positive territory in New Zealand.

But there is always more to do.

The prime minister announced that Budget 2016 would include a positive tax package aimed at making business

easier for small- and medium-sized business operators.

The package will make paying tax easier and more certain, will reduce the burden of interest and penalties and will assist smaller businesses to better tailor payments to their own circumstances.

Highlights include: • Provisional tax is being reformed with a new pay-as-you-go option to provide smaller businesses a way to pay tax as they earn income from April 1, 2018 • Use-of-money interest will be eliminated or reduced for the vast majority

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• Contractors will be able to choose a withholding tax rate that suits their needs • The ongoing one per cent monthly penalty will be scrapped from April 1, 2017, for new debt Building a more productive and competitive economy is a priority of the National-led government. We want businesses to focus their energies on building their businesses, not navigating the red tape.

To find out more, and to provide comment on the proposals before they take effect, visit: www.makingtaxsimpler.ird.govt.nz Submissions are requested by May 30.

Encouraging young entrepreneurs David Shearer Labour MP

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recently visited young Kiwi entrepreneur Peter Beck at Rocket Lab. If you haven’t heard about it yet, it’s inevitable that you soon will.

Rocket Lab is about to send its first rocket into space from the East Coast of New Zealand. It’s a commercial venture.

They’ve found the means to put a satellite into orbit for a fraction of the price charged by big space companies.

It means that companies wanting to put a telephone network into operation, for example, have a lower cost option. Such is the international confidence in Rocket Lab. It has two years of advance orders even before it has conducted its first test flight.

Should it be successful, New Zealand will become one of the few countries in the world that has a space programme. Already, because of Rocket Lab, New Zealand has

Rocket Lab founder Peter Beck at the unveiling of the Electron, the world’s first carbon composite launch vehicle

more rocket engineers per capita than almost any other country in the world.

But one of the amazing things about Peter Beck is that he started off not at university but as a fitter and turner doing his apprenticeship at Fisher & Paykel in Dunedin.

It just goes to prove that not everyone gets their start through formal education,

and some of our best entrepreneurs learned everything they know on the job. We need more Peter Becks; entrepreneurs who have great ideas and are willing to follow their passions and take risks.

And it is for exactly those people that the next Labour government will encourage young entrepreneurs to create viable businesses by providing training, business

English blames young Kiwis for government’s shortcomings Winston Peters NZ First leader

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inance Minister Bill English’s comments to a recent Federated Farmers meeting show the government has more or less given up on some of our young male Kiwis.

Mr English described them as unreliable and pretty hopeless when it came to being available for farm work and some were not able to read or write.

In light of this, he said the National government was “permissive” with immigration to plug employment gaps

Finance Minister Bill English

on farms. So, instead of seriously tackling this and trying to make New Zealand citizens more ‘work-ready’, the government is prepared to go for the quick solution—bring in more migrants and dump down on young New Zealanders. It is a shallow approach that does nothing to eliminate the problem

and sidelines a segment of our young generation. In London our young are sought after for their work ethic and adaptability. In Western Australia, thousands of Maori earn high wages because they have the skills that state needs. In fact, the highest immigrant earning population in Australia are New Zealanders.

The malaise that Mr English complains about is one of long successive governments making. He should address that and not resort to stop gap measures.

Too many young people are becoming disillusioned and disengaged and ending up on the scrapheap.

Statistics show more than 70,000 young people aged between 15 and 24 are not in education or training; they are just drifting.

New Zealand First believes the government should provide community work schemes to help these young men

mentoring and up to $20,000 capital to get their great ideas off the ground.

It’s called our Young Entrepreneurs Plan, and it will give a new generation of smart, innovative young Kiwis aged between 18 and 23 a one-off start-up grant with the safety net of funded business training, an ongoing business mentor and a business plan approved by an independent panel of experts. The faster we can give our young entrepreneurs the support they need, the faster they’ll be generating wealth and the jobs Kiwis need. Today’s young people are growing up in an environment that promotes entrepreneurial thinking in ways older generations did not. Their working careers are more likely to involve generating more of their own income and less stable work. Encouraging their business skills will be crucial. New Zealand needs more successful entrepreneurs. The relatively small investment will help create the next generation of them. A couple of dozen Peter Becks could transform New Zealand’s outlook. We can lift our focus from milk powder and primary produce to an equal emphasis on modern, high tech, creative and imaginative aspects of the economy.

into employment and to provide them with some general farming skills. Not all of them would be suitable for farm work. But some of them would be.

Our Youth Employment, Training and Education Bill would place many of these young people in the army. They would be schooled in literacy, numeracy, the discipline of turning up with the intention of being fully engaged and perhaps learn a trade.

The purpose is to give them paid employment, education and training to prevent them from being lost into a lifetime of welfare dependency.

These are the sorts of policies New Zealand needs. Not comments from a minister about Kiwis being “hopeless” and “unreliable,” or a government actively pursuing a “permissive” immigration policy.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 22 April 2016

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Pop-up globe season extended

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ue to overwhelming demand, the Anthony Harper Auckland Season at Pop-up Globe has been extended for a second and final time.

Two additional weeks of Romeo & Juliet and Twelfth Night went on sale on Monday, April 18. New dates will extend from April 27 to May 8. This is the last chance to experience the theatre that has captured the hearts of a nation. Fans who have been trying to secure tickets for the past month were urged to act quickly as these shows will sell out.

Dr Miles Gregory, Artistic Director and Founder of Pop-up Globe, says, “The response to Pop-up Globe has been astonishing. We’ve been overwhelmed by both demand for tickets and the most amazing feedback from many people who, like me, have loved their experience at Pop-up Globe.”

Since its opening on February 19, • Pop-up Globe shows have enjoyed critical and popular acclaim • Nine companies have presented 10 shows • More than 80,000 tickets have been sold • Twenty thousand school students have attended performances of Shakespeare’s masterworks performed in the space for which they were written • The majority of performances have been to packed houses • The season has already been extended once to meet demand

ucklanders will have more travel choice and a reliable, frequent and connected service free from congestion thanks to Auckland Transport’s plan for an expanded rapid transit network.

The proposed rapid transit network includes rail, light rail and busways which are completely or mostly separate to traffic. It is high frequency, at least every 10 minutes, and offers very reliable journey times.

Auckland currently has 82km of rapid transit lines (rail lines and the Northern Busway). The long-term plan is to add another 166km—an extra 41km in the first decade, a further 84km in the second decade and another 41km in the third decade of the plan.

New rapid transit services are targeted at areas where a lot of residential and employment growth is planned. This includes both existing urban Auckland and areas identified as future housing and business areas. For example, around

Beware of scam phone calls

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The pop-up globe in Auckland

For weeks, ticket buyers have been scrambling to secure the last few ‘groundling’ tickets, which were the only remaining available tickets.

“Our cast delights its audiences every time they perform these shows,” says Gregory. We’re very grateful to Auckland, our neighbours, supporters, sponsors and partners, all of whom have been instrumental in allowing Pop-up Globe to pop-up, and now stay up, so Aucklanders can enjoy more of these very

Rapid transit network means better travel for Aucklanders

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Kumeu and Whenuapai, Silverdale, Drury and Pukekohe.

The aim is to connect large numbers of people with areas that will have large numbers of jobs.

The rapid transit network will be connected to a network of frequent buses (at least every 15 minutes, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day) by stations that make it easy to transfer. These have already been built at Panmure and New Lynn, with new stations being built or well advanced in planning at Manukau, Otahuhu and Rosedale.

Simplified fares, being introduced later this year, will make it easier and cheaper to connect between different services with an AT HOP card.

The City Rail Link is key to expanding the rapid transit network—joining up the rail network and allowing more trains to operate, more frequently with faster travel times for all of Auckland.

The timing of rolling out the rapid transit network is dependent on funding.

special performances. Most of all I’d like to thank Auckland for welcoming and embracing Pop-up Globe, the world’s first temporary working replica of the second Globe theatre. I don’t think Pop-up Globe could have popped up anywhere else in the world. This is a very special project in a very special place.”

Pop-Up Globe is sponsored by Auckland Council-controlled organisation Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED).

uckland Council is warning the public not to fall for a scam involving phone calls from people claiming to work for the council.

The scam claims that it is now a requirement for homes to have insulation and heat pumps, and asks people if their properties have these installed.

It appears to be targeting the elderly, with the caller asking how long occupants have been in their homes.

The caller then attempts to organise an appointment to inspect the property.

General Manager Building Control, Ian McCormick, says, “Auckland Council does not require existing properties to have insulation and heat pumps installed in the ordinary course of events. Anyone contacting you about this is not associated with the council.

“If you are concerned or suspicious of anyone claiming to be from Auckland Council, ask for identification, or contact the council on 09 301 0101 to check.”

Auckland Council has informed police of the scam, and advises anyone who receives similar calls to do the same.

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FIJI

22 April 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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Thank you, New Zealand, says Fiji

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he Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, Inia Seruiratu, has thanked the New Zealand government for their support in recovery and rebuilding period after Tropical Cyclone Winston.

More than 200 military personnel of the New Zealand Defence Force were in the country for the past two months to help

the Fijian Government rebuild the nation.

Mr Seruiratu said, “We will always be thankful to the New Zealand government and the New Zealand Defence Force for helping rebuild Fiji after Tropical Cyclone Winston.

“Fiji will always remember the work undertaken by New Zealand to help Fiji during these difficult times. We have learned a lot from New Zealand Defence Force,”

he said. Mr Seruiratu said the Fijian Government would always look forward to work with New Zealand in future.

New Zealand High Commissioner to Fiji Mark Ramsden also thanked the New Zealand Defence Force military personnel for their help and support.

“This is really good opportunity for us to bring the two countries together,” he said.

Gokals wins Indian Award

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eading appliances distributor, D Gokal and Company Limited was awarded the Outstanding Performance Award for the 2014/15 financial year for marketing Whirlpool home appliances brand in Fiji.

Director Rakesh Gokal received the award from Whirlpool of India Limited regional manager–Pacific Island, Balajee Prasad during the launch of Whirlpool Mother’s Day Promotion in Suva.

Mr Gokal said, “We are very proud that Gokals is associated with the very strong brand Whirlpool.

Left to right: Vinod Gokal, D Gokals and Company Limited Director Rakesh Gokal and Gokal’s Sales and Marketing Manager Ugesh Lal with award during launch of Whirlpool Mother’s Day Promotion

“I am happy that we are able to achieve growth in the market.”

Mr Gokal said this growth would not have been possible without the support of their business

partners and customers. Gokals was established in 1929 and since then has been providing a wide yet quality range of appliances to consumers in Fiji.

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he future looks very optimistic for media in Fiji, prominent author, journalist and academic Professor David Robie said. He spoke during a three-day journalism forum at the Tanoa Skylodge in Nadi.

“The media overall is giving a lot more balanced reporting, than had been the case earlier on, so I think the future is very optimistic for the media in Fiji,” Professor Robie said.

“It had been difficult in Fiji for quite a number of years now, but I believe there has been a definite improvement immediately prior to the elections and since the election there has been vigorous debate.”

Professor Robie is a former head of the University of the

Professor David Robie

South Pacific Journalism programme. He is now the Director of the Pacific Media Centre at the Auckland University of Technology and is one of the facilitators of the Enhancing a Human Rights-based Approach to News Reporting Forum. “The key

issue is storytelling and providing balance in the region, there are a lot of human rights issues that are not given sufficient coverage and there are actually other issues that need to be explored fully,” he said.

He commended the Secretariat of the Pacific Community for organising the forum and said that it was very critical and important for journalists and representatives to get a good sense of the human rights issues for the future.

The event is supported by the Australian Government and the European Union and it aims to strengthen media capacity in ‘rights-based reporting’ to reflect the realities and aspirations of Pacific islands communities for equality, development and social justice.

Mr Ramsden said the New Zealand Defence Force had cooperated and worked together with Fijian Government, Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), Australian Defence Force and the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO).

New Zealand Defence Force Colonel Glenn King said working alongside Fijians for the past two months was a great experience and full of wonderful memories.

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Source: Fiji Sun

Vaisakhi is a harvest festival that originated in Punjab, India. It also marks the Punjabi New Year and is especially important for the Sikh community as it marks the establishment of the Khalsa, which is also known as the Khalsa Sirjana Divas (foundation day).

The festival bears a great significance for Sikhs because on Vaisakhi Day in the year 1699,

Sikhs celebrating Vaisakhi at the Samabula Sikh Temple

the 10th Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh laid down the foundation of the Panth Khalsa.

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Colonel King said, “We have been working in Fiji as a team under three principles. They are: Kotahitanga (unity of purpose), Whanaungatang (meaning family) and Manaakitanga (hospitality).

“People of Fiji have supported us throughout this mission and I thank the NDMO and Fijian Government for their guidance.

“We had wonderful hospitality in Fiji,” he said.

Paris agreement

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rime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama will join more than 100 heads of state and other high-level government officials in New York to officially sign the Paris Agreement adopted at the COP21 last year.

Fiji was the first country in the world to ratify the Paris Agreement last month when it was passed by Parliament.

Under this ratification, Fiji has pledged to generate 100 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. It also promised to cut overall emissions from its energy sector by 30 per cent by 2030.

The nation is joined by Switzerland, Marshall Islands and Palau. In order to formally take effect, the Paris Agreement needs at least 55 countries, representing at least 55 per cent of the world’s climate emissions, to ratify the treaty.

“It is vital that every nation also join us in taking this step to demonstrate their commitment to this agreement so we can diminish the serious threat climate change continues to pose to small island and developing states around the globe,” Mr Bainimarama said.

The signing ceremony will take place on April 22 coinciding with Earth Day.

USP launches NZ partnership agreement

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he University of the South Pacific (USP) launched a new Partnership Agreement with the New Zealand Government last week.

This new partnership agreement will assist USP in building the skills and capability of Pacific people in line with identified national and regional priorities to advance sustainable development in the region.

USP vice-chancellor and president, Professor Rajesh Chandra said the celebration was not only to launch the Partnership Agreement, but also to acknowledge the strong relationship that the university had with one of its major development partners.

“The new agreement will provide a total of NZ$15million for the current triennium, 2016—

Sikh community in Fiji celebrates Vaisakhi

bout 300 members of the Sikh community in the Western Division gathered at Lautoka’s Sikh Temple last weekend to mark Vaisakhi.

Also known as the Baisakhi festival, the event was a lively one as people celebrated through songs, prayers and religious offerings by the Punjabi community.

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New Year festivals celebrated on the first day of Vaisakhi, such as such as Pohela Boishakh or the Bengali New Year or Puthandu, the Tamil New Year.

According to Lautoka Gurudwara president Bayant Singh, the festival was an extremely important event for believers.

“We took this time to celebrate the historical aspect of Vaisakhi

USP vice-chancellor and president Professor Rajesh Chandra (left), with the New Zealand High Commissioner, Mark Ramsden, during the Partnership Agreement launch

2018. In addition to this, NZ has also committed support for a major ICT project,” Professor Chandra said. Present to officially launch the partnership, was the New Zealand High Commissioner, Mark Ramsden. He said USP remained one of the best examples of effective regional cooperation and as such it will have a key role in implementing the recently-agreed Framework for Pacific Regionalism.

and to reflect on our current lives,” he said.

“It was a very joyful occasion for everyone and it is great to see people coming together to celebrate.”

Free meals were provided to those who attended and this was sponsored by a former Fiji citizen Aklesh Singh, who now resides in Sacramento, California.

FIJI

www.iwk.co.nz | 22 April 2016

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India to assist Fiji with power restoration following Winston

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team from India arrived in Fiji to assist with the restoration of power to areas affected by Cyclone Winston and assess Fiji’s long-term energy needs.

The team was deployed following a meeting between the Attorney-General and Minister for Finance, Aiyaz SayedKhaiyum and India’s Minister of State

Children still traumatised

by Winston

with Independent Charge for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy Shri Piyus H Goyal, in New Delhi.

The team from India will work closely with the Fiji Electricity Authority and the National Disaster Management Office to identify a mix of cost effective renewable energy sources most suited to Fiji’s environment and climate.

The team will then report back to the Indian government on where to target future assistance to Fiji’s energy sector.

Meanwhile, the United States Department of State has been briefed on the rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts by the Fijian government in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Winston.

Fallen power poles a common sight in all of Fiji post-Cyclone Winston

Accredited Agent

(Head Office)

toll free 0508 15 16 17

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t’s almost two months since Cyclone Winston struck Fiji, and children in affected areas are still traumatised from what they endured.

Save the Children Fiji chief executive— Iris Low-McKenzie says their teams on the ground have reported that more psychological assistance is needed.

“What we have been hearing on the grounds in terms of these children and from teachers that are assessing these children is that they are still traumatised from the cyclone.

“Little sounds, strong winds even the helicopters still doing aerial surveys scares them because it brings back the experience they went through that night.”

The organisation has set up 28 Child Friendly Services in various affected areas that will enable children to play and also receive psychological assistance.

res to a F l a i c Spe ntinent o c b u S Indian

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$1145* (Incl. Taxes) Pakistan

$1260*

Kathmandu

Delhi

$840*

$820*

Colombo

$790*

Kolkata

Dhaka

$760*

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Starting from

Mumbai

$827* (Incl. Taxes)

$939*

Ex Wellington

pecials to December s tin n e

Prasad wins gold for outstanding achievement

he Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) celebrated with its trade relations officer, Ashika Prasad, being awarded a gold medal for outstanding achievements in her studies on Bachelor of Agriculture at the University of the South Pacific (USP). Ms Prasad, who started with BAF as a biosecurity officer in 2011, was surprised when she was notified about receiving the gold medal.

“I joined BAF in 2011 and have had the opportunity to work in various sections of BAF including operations/permits and trade facilitation and compliance divisions.

BAF is an organisation that is growing and provides great career development opportunities and support to its staff,” Ms Prasad said.

“BAF also provides equal opportunities to all its staff to gain work related experience through trainings and workshops as well as pursue part-time or full-time studies in the areas of study desired by the staff.”

Ms Prasad said professionally, the degree in agriculture had broadened her knowledge on agricultural issues, pest and diseases and its impact on the Fijian economy.

BAF executive chairman Xavier Riyaz Khan, while congratulating her, said Ms Prasad was very hard working and the gold medal was well deserved.

Mr Khan said BAF recognised that the training and development of its employees was crucial to not only enhancing the capacity of BAF staff but would also strengthen border protection.

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Thought of the week

Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.

— Roald Dahl

Editorial

From the desk of the Managing Editor

“

Before the war who had ever heard of ANZAC? Hereafter who will ever forget it?” By saying this, British Commander at Gallipoli, General Sir Ian Hamilton best summed up the spirit of Anzac.

Anzac Day is here again, and I would like to share excerpts of a letter we had received from one of our readers last year—Mr Carl Gomes.

“Preparations are in full swing in New Zealand and Australia to commemorate the centenary of the landings on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey on ANZAC Day next Saturday, 25th April. This solemn event is both a celebration and a commemoration.

The following lines from Lawrence Binyon’s poem, “For the Fallen” will resonate at parades and memorial services: “They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them.”

New Zealand sent (and lost) more personnel to fight in WW1, per head of population than any other nation. In some parts of the country, a whole generation of men was wiped out. The grieving was made harder because virtually all those who lost their lives were buried overseas, thousands of miles away. Families, therefore, had nowhere to focus their grief and bid farewell to their loved ones. For this reason, a large number of war memorials were built all around New Zealand (and Australia) which acted as symbolic graveyards for the grieving families. The two World Wars had a tremendous impact on this tiny nation and this can be seen in the numerous memorials scattered all over the country, from small hamlets in the rural countryside to townships in larger communities to the magnificent War Memorial Museum in Auckland, where one entire floor is dedicated to the memory of the fallen soldiers.

These memorials serve a dual purpose—glorifying the heroism and sacrifice of servicemen, whilst bemoaning the tragic loss of human life.”

In his letter, he also spoke about the shared camaraderie of Australia and New Zealand and the soldiers from the Asian subcontinent (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka). He shared a paper that detailed history as it had unfolded at Gallipoli.

We would like to share that again on our website for anyone who is keen to learn more on this.

The theme last year as it should be each year, of course, is “Lest we forget”. As we enjoy the long Anzac day weekend, let us take a moment to remember the sacrifices made by the fallen soldiers. Remember to see our videos on Anzac on our Facebook page.

In other exciting news, there are murmurs of a possible Presidential visit from India. As soon as we have an official announcement of this, we will bring the details to our readers. We have however carried a little introduction to our President in this issue for those who need to catch up.

I sign off this week with a wish that everyone has a safe long weekend with your friends and families. Drive to the conditions and pay heed to any weather or traffic warnings.

Until next time.

Giri Gupta

Indian Weekender : Volume 8 Issue 5 Publisher: Kiwi Media Group Limited Managing Editor: Giri Gupta | girigupta@xtra.co.nz Editor: Annu Sharma | editor@indianweekender.co.nz Chief Reporter: Swati Sharma | reporter@indianweekender.co.nz Reporter: Rizwan Mohammad | iwk.rizwan@gmail.com Reporter: Esha Chanda | iwk.eshac@gmail.com Chief Technical Officer: Rohan Desouza | rohan@indianweekender.co.nz Sr Graphics and Layout Designer: Mahesh Kumar | mahesh@indianweekender.co.nz Graphic Designer: Yashmin Chand | designer@indianweekender.co.nz Accounts and Admin.: Farah Khan | accounts@indianweekender.co.nz Sales, Marketing & Distribution: 022 3251630 / mahesh.iwk@gmail.com 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 Published by Kiwi Media Group, 98 Great South Road, Auckland • T. +64 09 213 7335 Printed at Horton Media, Auckland Copyright 2016. Kiwi Media Group. All Rights Reserved.

Pick of the week

Asperatus clouds over New Zealand : The image, taken above Hanmer Springs in Canterbury, New Zealand, in 2005 shows great detail partly because sunlight illuminates the undulating clouds from the side. Image Credit and Copyright: Witta Priester

Phrase: Scull

Meaning: To drink, usually an alcoholic drink, in one go without stopping Usage: Jack sculled four jugs of beer last night at the party.

Tip from the trenches SKINCARE FOR WINTERS

• Moisturise your skin with an oil-based lotion rather than a water-based one. Your skin requires different kinds of moisturiser for different seasons.

• Apply sunscreen. Unlike popular belief, a sunblock is not only for summertime but also for winter sun that can damage your skin.

• Avoid super hot showers. Soaking in burning hot baths might feel good but a hot shower breaks down the lipid barriers in skin that may lead to a loss of moisture.

• Drink sufficient quantity of water every day to keep your skin hydrated

HALL OF FAME

www.iwk.co.nz | 22 April 2016

Inviting nominations for Kiwi Indian Honours 2016

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The guidelines, which need to be adhered to, for nominations, are as follows:

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Established 2013

The Indian Weekender calls upon nominations for those who have built a road to glory for themselves and left a path for the coming generations to tread on; who have touched the lives of thousands and enriched the society with their being; who’ve brought fame and respect to New Zealand and the KiwiIndian community. The Indian Weekender invites nominations for such personalities from the community for getting inducted into the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame 2016. We also invite nominations for Kiwi Indian Young Achiever of the Year and Kiwi Indian Unsung Hero of the Year 2016.

Nominate Online : http://bit.ly/1QZJcTO

Entry Form: Form for nominating candidates for Kiwi Indian Honours 2016

Nominator Details

Nominee Details

Name of the Nominator

Name of the Nominee

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|

1. He/she needs to have an undisputable recognition in his or her field of work.

2. Nominated by a nominator of repute. Further, the nominator has to be in confirmation with the nominee.

3. The nominator has to provide their full contact details. No anonymous applications will be accepted.

4. All fields of work are welcome. For the purposes of this award, ‘field of work’ can be politics, business, sports, art, culture, or any profession.

5. The definition of Kiwi Indian, for the purposes of this award, hereby, is defined as follows: any person of Indian origin, from any part of the world, who has settled here in New Zealand. To be of Indian origin, at least one of the parents of the nominee have to be Indian, by blood. Thereby making the nominee of Indian lineage.

6. The nominee must have either a Permanent Residency (PR), or Citizenship of New Zealand to be eligible for consideration.

7. The nominee should have no prior convictions.

8. Age is no bar; for minors, under the age of 18, parental consent will be required.

9. The successful candidate will be required to attend the ceremony in person. In case a person is not able to attend, due to any unforeseen circumstances, the jury will use its discretion.

10. The jury’s decision will be final and binding; and cannot be challenged.

Please fill and post it to the address below

About the Nominee For how long have you known the Nominee?

Professional details of the Nominator

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Why do you think the nominee qualifies for the honour?

Please state your reasons for nominating the above person. You may mention the achievements of the Nominee in his/her profession.

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Address & Contact number of Nominee *

How according to you has the Nominee brought fame and respect to the Kiwi-Indian community?

Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame Kiwi Indian Young Achiever of the year (16 to 35 years only) Kiwi Indian Unsung Hero of the year

Declaration by Nominator I have received confirmation from the Nominee for this application.

Nominee has accepted to appear in person for the ceremony, if he/she gets accepted for the induction to Hall of Fame 2016.

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I hereby declare that the above information is true to the best of my knowledge. I also allow Indian Weekender and the Jury to use the information provided for background checks and to contact either me or the Nominee for the purpose of getting any more information.

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Please take a print out of this form, sign and send to us at: Jury Panel, Kiwi Indian Honours 2015 98, Great South Road, Epsom, Auckland

(Add extra pages to this form if required.)

For details contact Indian Weekender on 09-2137335 or go to: www.indianweekender.co.nz

INDIA

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22 April 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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India to ramp up oil, gas investment in Iran

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n Sunday, April 17, India and Iran committed to boost bilateral economic ties in the gulf nation that has just emerged from the crippling US-led Western sanctions after a landmark nuclear deal.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met in the Iranian capital to give fresh momentum to the bilateral ties between the two countries, particularly towards increasing Indian investments in the lucrative oil and gas sectors of Iran.

Sushma Swaraj arrived in Tehran on Saturday, April 16, at the start of her twoday visit to boost overall ties between the two countries, particularly bidding to raise India’s fuel imports after the trade embargoes against the oil-rich gulf nation were lifted.

Vikas Swarup, the Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson, said the delegation level talks between the two leaders were “constructive and cordial”.

The two sides discussed progress made on the strategic Chabahar port project that will give India sea-land access route to Afghanistan and Central Asia bypassing Pakistan.

“Both sides agreed that the commercial contract on Chabahar as well as the modalities for extending $150 million credit for Chabahar port should be signed in the very near future,” Swarup said.

The talks also focused on Indian investment in areas of energy and connectivity in Iran. This comes after the Indian government has already approved a proposal to extend a $150 million credit for the development of the port located off Iran’s southeastern coast.

“Both sides discussed the energy partnership. Iran said it would be happy to participate in the refinery sector in India,” Swarup said.

The two sides also hailed the “constructive discussions” held during a visit to Iran by India’s Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Prasad over Farzad-B gas field that is

estimated to contain 12.8 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas reserves. In 2008, India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Videsh Ltd (OVL) discovered the gas field in the Persian Gulf. There were apprehensions that the oil field was slipping out of hands of the Indian company amid speculations that Iran may put it up for fresh bidding.

But the concern seemed to have been addressed as Iran has decided to keep the field “outside the auction basket”, Swarup said.

“The concerned companies (from the two countries) have been directed to complete their contractual negotiations in a time

bound manner.” He said that the Iranian side had earlier communicated their gas pricing formula to India.

In terms of connectivity, Swarup said Iran has also committed it full support for India’s desire to join the Ashgabat Agreement—an international transport and transit corridor to facilitate transportation of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf.

“The two ministers reviewed the progress made in the International North South Transport Corridor. IRCON from India would be visiting Iran for discussions on the Chabahar-Zahedan Railway link,” he said.

They agreed that pending agreements such as Preferential Trade Agreement, Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty should be concluded on a priority basis, he said.

Earlier, Sushma Swaraj met members of the Indian community in Iran and visited a Sikh gurudwara.

She visited an Indian school in the Iranian capital. Children in the school performed a show to depict the cultural blend of the two nations.

Sushma Swaraj’s visit comes two weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Saudi Arabia—a regional rival to largely Shia-populated Iran. India and Saudi Arabia have committed to scale up their strategic ties.

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INDIA

www.iwk.co.nz | 22 April 2016

India capable of making world’s best warships: Navy chief

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ndian Navy chief, Admiral R.K. Dhawan, on Monday, April 18, called for increased private investment in defence manufacturing which, he said, is capable of producing the world’s best warships and submarines.

“The navy has outlined its science and technology roadmap for next 15 years and has shared it with the industry, underlining nearly 100 sets of technologies which are to be absorbed in our warships and submarines,” he said at an interaction between private investors and naval officers.

Dhowan said the navy would provide all the support to MSMEs (micro, small, medium enterprises) in research, design and development of weaponry.

“The blueprint of the future of Indian Navy is firmly anchored in self reliance and indigenisation and I think this partnership with the Indian industry, both public and private, will ensure that our future warships, submarines and the aviation sector will be 100 per cent made in India,” he said.

NITI Ayog Chief Executive Officer Amitabh Kant said defence manufacturing had to be the centre point of India’s growth story.

“If manufacturing has to grow, defence manufacturing has to be the driver. Without defence manufacturing, India can never grow in double digit and sustain growth trajectory for long,” Kant said in his brief address at the event.

“In the last 15 months, we have cleared licences for 125 defence manufacturers.

The key principle was that the private manufacturers would be treated at par

The Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral R.K. Dhowan addresses a press conference in Visakhapatnam on February 6, 2016

with the public sector units,” Kant said.

He said the Narendra Modi government has adopted a balanced approach so that “private manufacturers get a level playing field to compete and win contracts in India”.

The navy chief highlighted the opportunities where the private sector can collaborate with the public sector in warship building.

“In the float components of a warship which comprises the structures of it, India has achieved nearly 90 per cent indigenisation. That’s because warship seals are being designed and developed by the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and is being

Instead of odd-even, go for last-digit rationing: CII

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he Delhi government must opt for the concept of “last-digit rationing” for automobiles rather than the odd-even policy currently on for a more robust and lasting impact on pollution, the Confederation of Indian Industry has said.

The “last digit automobile rationing” of vehicles means the registration plates of vehicles ending with number one will not be allowed to ply on the roads on the 1st, 11th, 21st and 31st of a month.

Those with number two can’t ply on the 2nd, 12th and 22nd, the chamber said.

“We suggest ‘last digit rationing’ should be done for every digit covering all vehicles—cars, two-wheelers, taxis which include large numbers of diesel SUVs and commercial vehicles, other than vehicles on CNG, buses, ambulances, fire brigade and police vehicles.”

CII said a study by it showed that if a vehicle runs for 10 km daily for 365 days, then it will emit 9.4 lakh grams of carbon-dioxide. If all registered vehicles in Delhi run for 10 km for 365 days, then they will emit 1.28 million tonnes into the capital’s environment.

Then, if the odd-even scheme—only applicable to non-CNG private cars—is implemented for 15 days every quarter, or a total of 60 days in a year, then the total reduction in emission would be 4,823 tonnes, which is 0.37 per cent of the total emission in the year.

“On the other hand, if ‘last digit automobile rationing’ scheme is implemented throughout the year, the total reduction in emission would be 10,549 tonnes in a year—which means a reduction of 0.82 per cent of the total emission in the year,” the chamber said.

“Given this analysis, the ‘last digit automobile rationing’ scheme van be made permanent as it does not add much pressure on public transport system as well and we suggest the state government to consider implementing it for at least one month,” the chamber said.

Delhi had more than 26 lakh registered cars as of March 31, 2015. The odd-even scheme, now in its second edition from April 15 to 30, allows only those cars with odd-numbered registration plates to run on odd dates and even-numbered ones on even dates.

It exempts two-wheelers, CNG vehicles, vehicles driven by women drivers and vehicles used by VIPs.

manufactured in the country,” Dhowan said. He added that the aircraft carrier Vikrant, which was being built in Kochi, has an Indian seal.

Dhowan said India had achieved 60 per cent indigenisation in the move components, where it was building the propulsion and auxiliary machinery.

“But there is huge opportunity of indigenisation and partnering with the public and private sector in making main gas banks, which are the primary requirement for the main propulsion and auxiliary propulsion,” he said.

The navy was expecting foreign assistance in manufacturing pipe components of the warships, which comprises weaponry and sensors, said Dhowan.

“While we have made the medium range guns, the explosives, anti-aircraft guns, rocket launchers, communication systems, electronic warfare systems, combat management systems... there is still huge opportunity for developing technology. So we would like the best in world to partner with India so that the best sensors and sea warfare weapons are available within the country,” he said.

Dhowan said warship building in India can be traced back to 5,000 years ago to the Indus Valley civilisation.

“Even today we have a dry dock at Lothal in Gujarat which traces back to 2,200 BC. From these small ports the sailors sailed out to distant lands in Mesopotamia and Africa.

On eastern coast of India, the Kalingas, the Cholas, the Cheras, the Pandyas also sailed out to distant lands in South East Asia.

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Tech panel recommends integration of renewable energy with power grid

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technical committee has suggested integration of renewable energy with the electricity grid and suggested a 15-point action plan for this purpose, an official statement said on Monday, April 18.

The committee’s report, released by Power Minister Piyush Goyal suggested several actions, including bringing flexibility in the conventional generation, renewable energy management centres (REMCs), transmission system augmentation and strengthening as well as certain compliance actions at renewable generation front.

“Our team will take up one nation, one grid, one price 24X7 on mission mode.

India will provide free of cost technical support for strengthening of grid systems of the neighbouring SAARC countries and under developed countries in other part of the world,” Goyal said in the statement.

The committee has put forth a 15 point action plan for facilitating large scale integration of renewable in the country.

“Some of the actions have been completed with active support of Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), State Energy Regulatory Commission (SERC), National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) and other stakeholders,” the statement said.

India has set an ambitious target of achieving 175 GW of renewable generation capacity, and the high-level technical committee was set up to integrate such high penetration of renewable energy and address the concerns of the stakeholders in renewable energy.

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INDIA ABROAD

22 April 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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Indian engineer develops Indian-origin researcher helps create technology to double novel flexible camera Wi-Fi speed A

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n Indian-origin engineer has developed a novel technology that doubles Wi-Fi speeds with a single antenna—an achievement with potential to transform the telecommunications field in future.

Columbia University’s Harish Krishnaswamy, an electrical engineering graduate from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, has for the first time integrated a non-reciprocal circulator and a full-duplex radio on a nanoscale silicon chip to create the breakthrough system.

“This technology could revolutionise the field of telecommunications,” said Krishnaswamy, director of the Columbia High-Speed and Mmwave IC (CoSMIC) Lab. “Our circulator is the first to be put on a silicon chip, and we get literally orders of magnitude better performance than prior work,” he noted. Last year,

Columbia researchers invented afull-duplex radio integrated circuits, a technology that can be implemented in nanoscale CMOS to enable simultaneous transmission and reception at the same frequency in a wireless radio. That system required two antennas.

“Full-duplex communications, where the transmitter and the receiver operate at the same time and at the same frequency, has become a critical research area and now we’ve shown that WiFi capacity can be doubled on a nanoscale silicon chip with a single antenna. This has enormous implications for devices [such as] smartphones and tablets,” Krishnaswamy explained.

“Being able to put the circulator on the same chip as the rest of the radio has the potential to significantly reduce the size of the system, enhance its performance, and introduce new functionalities critical to full duplex,” added co-researcher

Harish Krishnaswamy

Jin Zhou.

Krishnaswamy’s team had to “break” Lorentz Reciprocity—a fundamental physical characteristic of most electronic structures that requires electromagnetic waves travel in the same manner in forward and reverse directions—to develop the technology. The research was published in the journal Nature Communications and the paper was presented at the 2016 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference in San Francisco, California, recently.

team led by an Indianorigin professor at Columbia University has created a novel sheet camera that can be wrapped around everyday objects to capture images that cannot be taken with one or more conventional cameras.

“Cameras today capture the world from essentially a single point in space. While the camera industry has made remarkable progress in shrinking the camera to a tiny device with ever increasing imaging quality, we are exploring a radically different approach to imaging,” said Shree K Nayar, computer science professor at Columbia University.

“We believe there are numerous applications for cameras that are large in format but very thin and highly flexible,” added Nayar who graduated from the Birla Institute of Technology, Ranchi, in 1984.

Nayar’s team designed and fabricated a flexible lens array that adapts its optical properties when the sheet camera is bent.

This optical adaptation enables the device to produce high quality

images over a wide range of sheet deformations. If such an imaging system could be manufactured cheaply—like a roll of plastic or fabric—it could be wrapped around all kinds of things, from street poles to furniture, cars, and even people’s clothing, to capture wide, seamless images with unusual fields of view.

“The adaptive lens array we have developed is an important step towards making the concept of flexible sheet cameras viable,” Nayar noted.

“The next step will be to develop large-format detector arrays to go with the deformable lens array. The amalgamation of the two technologies will lay the foundation for a new class of cameras that expand the range of applications that benefit from imaging,” he said.

The novel technology is set to be presented at the international conference on computational photography (ICCP) at Northwestern University, in Illinois from May 13 to 15.

SPORTS

www.iwk.co.nz | 22 April 2016

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claims ninth Monte Dipa first Indian woman Nadal Carlo Masters title gymnast to seal Olympic R berth

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n Monday, April 18, Dipa Karmakar entered into history books as she became India’s first woman gymnast to qualify for Olympics after putting up a strong show at the final qualifying and Rio Games test event.

Dipa, who is an Asian bronze medallist, qualified in the artistic gymnastics event at Rio after collecting 52.698 points in the test event, according to the world gymnastics governing body, FIG’s website.

The 22-year-old from Agartala in Tripura has been listed as the 79th gymnast among individual qualifiers in the list of women’s artistic gymnast who have qualified for the quadrennial games.

Besides being the first Indian woman, she will also be an

Gymnast Dipa Karmakar at Agartala airport after returning from International Commonwealth Championships in Perth, Scotland where she won a gold and a silver medal

Indian gymnast qualifying for the quadrennial extravaganza after 52 long years. The last participation

by India in gymnastics at Olympics was in 1964. Six men competed in Tokyo in 1964 in the artistic individual all-around category.

Till date, 11 Indian men gymnasts have competed in the Olympics—

two in 1952, three in 1956 and six in 1964.

Dipa will also get a chance in the vault, the event in which she picked up two bronze medals in the 2015 Asian Championships and 2014 Commonwealth Games.

She also had finished creditable fifth in the World Championships.

Warner powers Hyderabad to stunning win over Mumbai in IPL

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eading from the front, skipper David Warner smashed an unbeaten 90 to single-handedly steer Sunrisers Hyderabad to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians in an Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Monday, April 18.

Batting first, Mumbai lost wickets at regular intervals and could manage only 142/6 in 20 overs. Ambati Rayudu (54) was the top scorer for the visitors. In reply, Warner struck seven boundaries and four sixes, as the home side comfortably chased down the total, posting 145/3 in 17.3 overs. Chasing 143, the home side got off to a disappointing start losing opener Shikhar Dhawan (2) in the first over. But his opening partner and skipper David Warner used his experience to good effect to hold on and score runs at a good pace to keep his team well in course towards a win.

He was well supported at the other end by Moises Henriques (20) as the duo struck an important 62-run partnership for the second wicket before Henriques was dismissed in the 11th over to hand Mumbai some hope of getting back into the game.

Hyderabad were then on 66/2.

But Warner held on to take his team over the line in style. Southee (3–24) was the pick of the bowlers for Mumbai. Earlier put in to bat, the defending champions got off to disastrous start, losing debutant hard-hitting batsman Martin Guptill (2) in the first over itself to have the team on the backfoot.

His opening partner Parthiv Patel (10) also departed in the fourth over after striking two boundaries to leave the team struggling at 23/2.

From there on, Ambati Rayudu (54) and skipper Rohit Sharma (5) held on for a couple of overs to help the team reach 40/2 in the powerplay.

But a big confusion between the two saw the skipper being run out in the eighth over to leave

the team in a spot of bother at 43/3. Despite the wicket, Rayudu played positively along with Jos Buttler (11) to take the team to a stable position. But as the

Englishman was looking set and ready for a good partnership with Rayudu, Sran removed Buttler to pile on more trouble for the visitors.

Next up, all-rounder Krunal Pandya (49 not out), who was promoted up the batting order, played positively with a couple of boundaries and sixes to help the team cross the 100-run mark.

But the much needed 63run partnership for the fifth wicket came to an end as Rayudu was dismissed in the 18th over to put a halt to Mumbai’s scoring rate.

David Warner of Sunrisers Hyderabad in action during an IPL match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians

afael Nadal claimed his ninth Monte Carlo Masters title, his first ATP crown since July 2014, as the Spaniard defeated Frenchman Gael Monfils in the final that took place on Sunday, April 17 by Ace tennis player Rafal Nadal competing well two weeks in a row three sets.

It has taken Nadal four years is something positive,” he added.

The 29-year-old exchanged to wait for crowning in the Principality and almost two years consecutive break points in the for an ATP 1000 Masters title, first set, which Nadal won 7–5, before Monfils broke Nadal to take Xinhua news agency reported.

Nadal, who won in Monaco an early 2–1 lead in the second and for the eight straight time from took it 7–5, though the Spaniard 2005 to 2012, beat the 13th seed broke back to level at 4–4.

Nadal then broke three times Monfils 7–5, 5–7, 6–0 in his 100th career final. The victory marked to dominate the final set 6–0 the No.5 seed’s return to form and wrapped up his 48th final after struggling for fitness since victory on clay.

Monfils, the first Frenchman losing the 2013 final to Novak Djokovic, and he equalled the having reached the Monte Carlo Serb’s record of 28 Masters titles final since Cedric Pioline crowned at the tournament in 2000, had with the trophy.

“It was a very important week been looking to win his first for me. I feel much better than Masters title after runner-up I did last year. The victory here finishes in Paris in 2009 and 2010.

“I knew Nadal was confident. confirms that I’ve been better,” He’s a great champion and puts said Nadal.

“Monte Carlo is one of the most more into it at the right moments. important places in my career You’re just submissive to his and it’s so special to win here power. Suddenly in the third set, after three years. Winning nine he increased his power and I just times here is unbelievable, and couldn’t cope,” he said.

KKR grab convincing sixwicket victory over Kings XI

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o b i n Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir’s 82-run opening stand paved the way for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to grab a six-wicket victory against Kings XI Punjab in an Indian Premier League Gautam Gambhir of Kolkata Knight Riders in action during an IPL (IPL) encounter on match between Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders fifth over but David Miller failed Tuesday, April 19.

Uthappa scored a quick fire to hit the stumps with Gambhir 28-ball 53, while Gambhir got to a stranded in the middle of the strip.

After six overs, KKR had raced run-a-ball 34. For Kings XI, Axar Patel and Pardeep Sahu bagged to 65/0, with Uthappa going two wickets each. Earlier, the strong. The batsman managed Knights led by mystery spinner to get to his fifty but then was Sunil Narine’s 2–22 once again adjudged leg-before-wicket off a put up a brilliant performance Sahu leg-spinner.

But the dismissal could not with the ball to restrict Kings XI curtail the scoring rate. A few Punjab to 138/8.

Besides Narine, South African overs later against the run of play, speedster Morne Morkel returned Gambhir skied one in the air and 2–27. For Kings XI, Shaun Marsh was brilliantly caught by Glen top-scored with an unbeaten Maxwell in the deep.

With only 29 runs left, Manish 41-ball 56. In pursuit of 139, KKR started off on a canter with Pandey (12) who was looking Uthappa being the aggressor. He good, missed a straighter one smacked Sandeep Sharma first from Axar Patel which crashed and then took on South African onto his citadel. He was followed

by Shakib Al Hasan (11) who holed pacer Kyle Abbott.

Skipper Gambhir, meanwhile, out at third man.Yusuf Pathan concentrated on running hard (12) and Suryakumar Yadav (11) between the wickets. Kings XI then took their side across the line could have got him run out in the with 17 balls to spare.

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KIDS ZONE

P

22 April 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

The milkmaid and her pail

atty the Milkmaid was going to market carrying her milk in a pail on her head. As she went along, she began calculating what she would do with the money she would get for the milk. I'll buy some fowls from Farmer Brown," said she, "and they will lay eggs each morning, which I will sell to the parson's wife..

With the money that I get from the sale of these eggs, I'll buy myself a new dimity frock and a chip hat; and when I go to market, won't all the young men come up and speak to me! Short Stories Polly Shaw will be so jealous; but I don't care. I shall just look at her and toss my head like this." As she spoke that, she tossed her head back and the pail fell off it, and all the milk was spilt!

MORAL: DO NOT COUNT YOUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY ARE HATCHED.

Fun with knowledge Red

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Are hearts and stars similar?

When your heart breaks you wish And when a star breaks then make wish too But as you grow up you understand It’s best to just move on

Autumn – Decorated

Autumn colour

"All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them."

– Walt Disney Wor odrdSeSarearch AutAuutmumnnW ch

w h o m r d c s e i r a a l c x s l

a r v e s t i e u t l a n p f s t l o s s u m r u e t n e m o e m g r o w p h l n r e e u k a l e a v e s i x a h k r a e n y f p e c i f i a n

dgames.co.uk www.kids Birdpuzz wolesan rd mat

Can you match up the pairs of syllables, taking one from

ch up

each owl in no particular order, to find the names of well-known birds from all over the world?

autumn fall leaves pumpkin scarecrow rake harvest

Send us stories, drawings, poems and other contributions by your little ones along with their photographs for this page.

E-mail us at editor@indianweekender.co.nz www.kidspuzzlesand

games.co.uk

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

www.iwk.co.nz | 22 April 2016

Hear the Echo

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Mahesh K.

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n umpteen sci-fi movies, we have seen people talking to a voice (remember J.A.R.V.I.S. in Iron Man?) Just a booming voice with a slight robotic slur.

It is the computer network system with Artificial Intelligence; a system that controls the spaceship, command centre or whatever. To add humour, the voice also advises on personal matters. In 2014, Amazon launched a new product called Echo that took us closer to that world of AI with a voice. Initially, it was just a beta-gadget toy that was available on an invite-only basis.

Today, after a slew of upgrades and almost a continuous addition of functionalities, it has become a formidable product that has proved to be a stupendous success for Amazon.

Physically, it looks like a portable Bluetooth-enabled speaker-cylindrical with no screen, standing nine inches tall.

And no, there are no touch buttons. You interact with Echo by talking to it. I’m sure everyone is pretty familiar with digital voice assistants on your phones—either Siri or ‘OK Google’. Now think that voice-enabled system built into a WiFi-enabled speaker. It is always waiting for its wake word—Alexa (or ‘Echo’ or ‘Amazon’).

What can you do with it?

Since it is built like a speaker and it is a speaker, it can play music. Just say, “Alexa, play some Rihanna” or “Alexa, play dance music” or “Alex, play playlist Bollywood”.

Echo also integrates with Audible and you can listen to audiobooks with simple commands such as “Alexa, play audiobook Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s

Stone” or “Alexa, stop reading the book in 30 minutes”.

Another pretty basic thing that Alexa can tell you is about the weather. Also, if you set your home and work address, you can ask “Alexa, what’s my commute?” or “Alexa, how is traffic?”

Echo can be a great help in the kitchen as well. Not only can you ask about recipes and questions such as “Alexa, how many cups are in a quart?” but can also ask it to set a timer for 10 minutes.

Echo has been gaining new functionality (learning new skills, if you please) with various other companies integrating their services with Alexa. These include Philips

Hue’s connected lights so you can ask Alexa to dim the lights or turn off the lights. You can use it to add items to your grocery list.

A host of home automation companies are getting their products to integrate with Echo. Even companies such as Samsung (which wants to integrate smart TVs and smart fridge with Echo), Ford car company, Domino’s Pizza and Uber have either already built Echo functionality or will soon get it.

Amazon Echo has a US-centric information and costs US$180.

So next time, you want to hear a joke, just say, “Alexa, tell me a joke”.

NASA’s Saturn probe Forget fingerprint, your detects interstellar dust for ‘brainprint’ can never first time be stolen

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n a first, NASA’s Cassini spacecraft orbiting Saturn has detected and analysed the faint but distinct signature of interstellar dust coming from beyond our solar system. The tiny dust grains were speeding through the Saturn system at more than 72,000 km per hour.

Cassini analysed the composition of the dust for the first time, showing it to be made of a very specific mixture Artist’s concept of Cassini and Saturn calcium in average cosmic proportions. of minerals.

“We’re thrilled Cassini could make this “Indeed, on average, we have captured a detection, given that our instrument was few of these dust grains per year, travelling designed primarily to measure dust from at high speed and on a specific path quite within the Saturn system, as well as all the different from that of the usual icy grains other demands on the spacecraft,” noted we collect around Saturn,” he explained.

Stardust grains are found in some types Marcia Burton, Cassini fields and particles of meteorites which have preserved them scientist at NASA. Cassini has been in orbit around Saturn since the birth of our solar system.

They are generally old, pristine and since 2004, studying the giant planet, its rings and its moons. The spacecraft has also diverse in their composition.

“The long duration of the Cassini sampled millions of ice-rich dust grains with its cosmic dust analyser instrument. mission has enabled us to use it like a Among the myriad microscopic grains micrometeorite observatory, providing us collected by Cassini, a special few, just 36 privileged access to the contribution of dust from outside our solar system that could not grains, stand out from the crowd.

Scientists conclude these specks of have been obtained in any other way,” said material came from interstellar space, i.e. Altobelli in a paper published in the journal Science. Alien dust in the solar system is the space between the stars.

“From that discovery, we always hoped not unanticipated.

In the 1990s, the ESA/NASA Ulysses we would be able to detect these interstellar interlopers at Saturn with Cassini. We knew mission made the first observations of this that if we looked in the right direction, we material, which were later confirmed by should find them,” said Nicolas Altobelli, NASA’s Galileo spacecraft.

Cassini project scientist at European The dust was traced back to the local Space Agency (ESA). The grains all had interstellar cloud—a nearly empty bubble a surprisingly similar chemical make-up, of gas and dust that our solar system containing major rock-forming elements is travelling through with a distinct such as magnesium, silicon, iron and direction and speed.

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our responses to certain stimuli such as foods, celebrities or words may seem trivial but they say a lot about you. In fact, these brain responses can gain you safe access into heavily-restricted areas, reveal researchers.

According to them, brain biometrics is appealing because they cannot be stolen by malicious means the way a finger or retina can. The results suggest that brainwaves could soon be used by security systems to verify a person’s identity with 100 per cent accuracy. The team from Binghamton University recorded the brain activity of 50 people wearing an electroencephalogram headset as they looked at a series of 500 images such as a slice of pizza, a boat, US actor Anne Hathaway and the word “conundrum.”

They found that participants’ brains reacted differently to each image, enough that a computer system was able to identify each volunteer’s “brainprint” with 100 per cent accuracy.

“When you take hundreds of these images where every person is going to feel differently about each individual one, then you can be really accurate in identifying which person it was who looked at them just by their brain activity,” explained assistant psychology professor Sarah Laszlo.

In their original study titled Brainprint published last year in the journal Neurocomputing, the team was able to identify one person out of a group of 32 by that person’s responses, with only 97 per cent accuracy and that study only incorporated words not images.

“It’s a big deal going from 97 to 100 per cent because we imagine the applications for this technology being for high-security situations, like ensuring the person going

into the Pentagon or the nuclear launch bay is the right person,” Laszlo added.

If someone’s fingerprint is stolen, that person can’t just grow a new finger to replace the compromised fingerprint.

The fingerprint for that person is compromised forever.

“Fingerprints are ‘non-cancellable.’

Brainprints, on the other hand, are potentially cancellable. So, in the unlikely event that attackers were actually able to steal a brainprint from an authorized user, the authorised user could then ‘reset’ their brainprint,” Laszlo pointed out.

According to Zhanpeng Jin, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, the new system can have important security applications.

“We tend to see the applications of this system as being more along the lines of high-security physical locations such as the Pentagon or Air Force Labs where there aren’t that many users that are authorised to enter,” Jin said in a paper published in the journal IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security.

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ASTROLOGY

22 April 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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Weekly forecast: April 22 to April 28 ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

At work, you are likely to win appreciation and awards for past efforts. Decent manners and intellectual talk would catch others’ attention.

You are likely to earn monetary profits through most unexpected sources. A sudden romantic encounter will lift your spirits. Those involved in purchase and selling of the assets should first resolve the legal issues then mortgage your property. Health poses absolutely no problems this week.

Lucky Number: 5 / Lucky Colour: Magenta

Success in completing difficult assignments brings a lot of laurels at work. It’s time to get involved in activities that would help in bringing contact with close relatives. Selling a plot might be profitable, as property rates tend to rise sooner. Sharing candyfloss and toffees with lover/beloved would bring unlimited joy.

Meditation and yoga prove beneficial for spiritual as well as physical gains.

Lucky Number: 7 / Lucky Colour: Golden

Buying overseas property will be beneficiary for some. You are likely to spellbind others by wit and repartee. Success is certain provided you work as a team. This is a healthy week as your cheerfulness gives the desired tonic and confidence to you. Love companion’s company fails to bring desired results as you are high demanding. Parental guidance in your decision would immensely help.

Lucky Number: 1 / Lucky Colour: Mustard

Timely and swift action would be required at the professional front, as you are entrusted with additional responsibilities. Your search for a house is towards its final destination. Mid of the week is a good time when misunderstandings at the family front are sorted out with ease. A new source of income will generate through influential contacts. Creative hobbies are likely to keep you relaxed.

Lucky Number: 6 / Lucky Colour: Black

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

It is time for you to focus attention to achieve higher goals. If possible, share the company of close relatives who understand your feelings and needs. Your personal loan plans for the property could be in progress. Control your expenses and avoid being too lavish in your spending.

Avoid eating too much junk food or it may upset your system.

Lucky Number: 8 / Lucky Colour: Brown

Stars advise you to keep yourself busy because this week an empty brain will work like a devil’s workshop. Don’t forget to take the assistance of subordinates to enable yourself to complete pending work. Romantic imagination would keep you in a jovial and cheerful mood. Long pending legal battle is likely to settle to your satisfaction.

Avoid overspending and investments in dubious financial schemes.

Lucky Number: 7 / Lucky Colour: Yellow

Developing friendly relations with all, deserting ill will against others would benefit you. Important people will be ready to finance anything that has a special class to it. Love companion will be eager to meet you throughout the week. Property dealings would materialise helping in bringing fabulous gains. Some of you may find their dream jobs but materialising the same may take some more time.

Lucky Number: 9 / Lucky Colour: Orange

Your efforts to put yourself in a strong position at workplace are likely to materialise this week.

Control your negative emotions to enjoy a sound health. If you’re planning a vacation, be sure to consider your work does not effect. Spend some relaxed moments with family members later this week. Love birds are likely to find the mid of the week especially exciting.

Lucky Number: 2 / Lucky Colour: Purple

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Taking independent decisions would immensely benefit. You should take some time to enjoy it with children, even if you have to go out of your way to make that happen. A continuous handcuffed to the past could come in the way of drawing yourself close to the lover. An unexpected visit from a workplace senior may require you to alter your desired plans for the weekend. Health wise, things look completely fine.

Lucky Number: 6 / Lucky Colour: Peach

It is an auspicious week to start a new venture.

You are likely to find comfort in the arms of a romantic partner. Buying property can lead to gains as property prices continue to increase. Do not behave stubbornly otherwise it will only offend your colleagues and as a result, you may not receive their help in return. The health of the self or a near one may cause some concern during this week.

Lucky Number: 4 / Lucky Colour: Maroon

The best ideas for investment are to invest in real estate business. It would be in your interest to allow people to feel the fragrance of your personality. Support and appreciation from seniors would raise your morale and confidence.

You are likely to hear good news from close relatives regarding the marriage of an eligible member in the extended family. Try detoxing your body this week with the help of some fresh juices and salads.

Lucky Number: 5 / Lucky Colour: Green

Excess workload could trouble at workplace this week. A Property discussion should be best left to have in the evening than to start early in the morning. Before deciding anything keep your future interests in mind. It is supposedly a very good week for those who are willing to apply for an overseas job. An old friend makes a pleasant visit later in the week. A pleasure trip with your beloved gives the much-needed tonic to health.

Lucky Number: 3 / Lucky Colour: Pink

(March 21-April 20)

(July 23-August 23)

(Nov 23-December 11)

(April 21-May 20)

(August 24-Sep 23)

(Dec 22-January 21)

(May 21-June 21)

(Sep 24-October 23)

(Jan 22-February 19)

(June 22-July 20)

(Oct 24-November 22)

(Feb 20-March 20)

By Manisha Koushik Manisha Koushik is the talented daughter and associate of world renowned celebrity astrologer Dr Prem Kumar Sharma. She is gifted with strong intuitions and clairvoyance right from the childhood. A practicing astrologer, tarot card reader, numerologist, vastu and fengshui consultant is based in India but maintains a global presence through the online channels. She is available for consultations online as well. Reach out to her to explore what the future holds for you. Let her tarot cards do the magic and numbers make you understand which choices in life will be best for you! E-mail: support@askmanisha.com / Website: www.askmanisha.com Contact: +91-11-26449898, 26489899 / Mobile/Whatsapp: +919716145644

The path to happiness

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he goal of every reader, listener, thinker, doer, procrastinator, achiever and sufferer is to find happiness. Simply put, we all want to be happy. Songs and poetry are composed on it; businesses thrive on projecting it; the most desirous countries to live in are measured by it. In short, we are all looking for a better state of happiness.

Some find this happiness in strange places too, like some sombre tunes and others may find it in melancholy theatre performances. We can find happiness in absolutely any situation. Just give it time.

Notice, some people even hold on to their sorrows so that they get attention and that attention gives them happiness as well. So no matter who we are, rich or poor, old or young, we all wish to be happy. Some find happiness in other’s happiness while others find it in their acquisitions/possessions.

Happiness, peace and love have no propriety. It is a universal right and desire of every living creature. In fact, it is as natural as hunger and thirst are for the body. We are so desperate for this desire to be fulfilled that some are not willing to wait for long periods and often we settle for short-term happiness over the permanent state of happiness. We also see people are sometimes willing to take up any means to

gain some happiness for themselves and here is where we create sorrow and pain for ourselves and others.

Today, we live in such a complex setup where everyone is fulfilling their happiness by means both fair and foul with varying degrees in between. The experience of happiness has become linked with possession or achievement. Gone are the days where contentment and peace were its measures, or so it seems. We find only a few who are successful and even that success is temporary till the next failure brings us back to grief. No matter how successful we

become, there is always something that weakens the heart.

It is only in the spiritual life that we start to recognise people with a sense of true happiness. Such examples are seen in all paths of spiritual efforts through time. Therefore, we see the corporates turning to spirituality and yoga to maintain a sense of proportion and balance in its workforce. There are meditation rooms or prayer rooms in office buildings to help employees connect with the deeper within.

Often we are so pre-occupied with dealing with sorrows that we seldom enjoy the free experience of happiness.

The sankat mochan also known as Sri Hanuman ashtakam, which follows the devotional classic Shri Hanuman Chalisa, is one of the most popular compositions

by Goswami Tulsidasji. It is a moving prayer from a lamenting heart pleading with the ever-compassionate Hanumanji, who is well known for alleviating the distresses of even the most exalted spiritual personalities. It also reveals secretly the causes of our inner bondage and sorrows, and how these can be removed effectively.

Swami Swaroopananda not only brings out the beautiful sentiments of these verses along with their subjective symbolisms in his discourses, but also inspires his

listeners to actively invoke sankat mochan (remover of difficulties) Shri Hanumanji to extinguish the causes of sorrow in their lives, and to find peace at the feet of Lord Rama’s most extraordinary devotee.

Only through the inner integration with the help of the Higher within can we find the happiness and peace despite the various roles and desires that pull us everywhere.

Just like the conductor of the orchestra brings together all the various musicians and their skills into a timeless masterpiece that is remembered through the ages, in the same way, the Higher (conductor) will bring together the defragmented skills and desires to compose a masterpiece, which is like no other.

You are welcome to come to these talks and experience one such conductor who will reveal the Higher means of integration that we can then use in our lives to make a unique symphony of our own.

Chinmaya Mission warmly extends an invitation to you and your friends to attend this beautiful series of talks in English by Swami Swaroopanandaji from April 26 to 30 at the Dorothy Winstone Centre, Auckland Girls’ Grammar School Howe Street, Newton, Auckland from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. sharp.

We would love to see you all there.

FEATURES

www.iwk.co.nz | 22 April 2016

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Diversity • Empowerment • Celebrating womanhood

In association with

P R E S E N T S

Women inspiring Women

HIGH TEA

LIVE LIFE IN

Colour

EVENT SERIES HOW MANY OF US ARE NOT IN WITH THE LIFE WE LIVE? Annah is about to change the way you tackle your day to day.

Enjoy an elegant high tea with your friends. Support a great cause, receive an Annah Stretton goodie bag and be inspired to step-up to a new you!

Where: Saturday 30th April 11am to 1pm | Where: The Langham Auckland Early bird (first 75 tickets): $55 | Regular Tickets: $75 Tickets available via

Proceeds go to RAW www.eventfinda.co.nz/2016/live-life-in-colour-with-annah-stretton/auckland

Event supported by:

New Zealand Chapter

info@iamwoman.nz iamwoman@xtra.co.nz www.iamwoman.nz

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SPECIAL FEATURE

22 April 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Gond mural finds home in the heart of Auckland Red

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An indigenous Gond artist, Venkat Raman Shyam Singh, was first recognised globally when his work was included in the historical exhibition Magiciens de la Terre in 1989. His work has been showcased in different parts of the world, and last month, the contemporary artist was in Auckland for a live mural art show where he painted a wall at the Old Fort restaurant in the city.

Swati Sharma

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or the uninitiated, the Gonds are one of the largest tribes in Central India with a population of about four million and centred mainly in Madhya Pradesh. They paint their walls with colourful illustrations of local flora, fauna and their gods. Their paintings depict various celebrations, rituals and man’s relationship with nature and are traditionally done on festive occasions. The art form is created by putting dots and lines together, using natural colours made from leaves, plant sap, charcoal, coloured soil and cow dung, etc. The paintings are said to be a form of worship or offering to nature and to seek protection from evil.

In 2002, Venkat was awarded the Rajya Hasta Shilpa Puraskar by the Government of Madhya Pradesh. He was also the coordinator for Tara Douglas’ animated film on a Gond folktale that was awarded the Tallest Story Competition Trophy at the Inverness Film Festival, Scotland, in 2007.

We got a chance to speak to Venkat during his recent New Zealand visit and found out more about his struggles, the art and his passion towards it.

Early years and inspiration Since a young age, Venkat has been drawing using charcoal and pencil. He found his first break in 1998 after working as a signboard painter for a long lime.

“Our tribe Gond hails from the village Gondwana in Madhya Pradesh. My uncle Jangarh Singh was a renowned Gond artist who painted the dome of Bharat Bhavan— the most prestigious museum of tribal art and he inspired me to learn this art form,” reveals Venkat.

Venkat’s uncle, Jangarh Singh—the famous Gond artist, took him to Bhopal in 1986 and trained him in his studio. While being his apprentice for three years, he started working as a signboard painter and developed his figurative style.

“I could never finish my studies not even higher secondary but I researched and learnt about the people from different regions and countries and their viewpoints about the art. Initially, people weren’t ready to pay for my paintings as they used to say that even a child can do this. My family and I had to go through many financial troubles but we never gave up or lost hope.”

Venkat’s work While Venkat’s painting style is heavily influenced by that of Jangarh Singh—also known as Jangarh Kalam—his response to contemporary world adds uniqueness to his murals.

For the 2000 millennial celebration of Khajuraho—one of UNESCO’s world heritage sites in India—Venkat produced greeting cards while working with the Development Commissioner for Handicrafts in Delhi.

His work has been exhibited at the American embassy in Delhi, National Gallery of Modern Art in Mumbai, Indira Gandhi National Museum of Mankind in

Top: The painting at Old Fort restaurnat Above: Venkat Shyam (second from left) with Indian High Commissioner HE Sanjv Kohli (third from left) at the Old Fort restaurant Left: Venkat Shyam addressing the crowd at the restaurant

Bhopal and National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa among many more. He also helped in producing imagery for an amination film for children by a Scottish Company—West Highland Animation.

Live mural art in Auckland

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When people praise my work it only motivates me to do better and better next time. My work was appreciated by both Indian and non-Indians.

They said that they had never seen such an art.

Hearing them say such great thing about the art and the work was truly a motivation.”

The Old Fort Bar and Eatery, Auckland, since its inception, has brought artists from India and New Zealand to give them a platform to showcase their talent.

Venkat was flown to Auckland by the restaurant to paint the blank wall at the restaurant.

Talking about his Auckland experience, he says, “It took me 15 days to paint the mural. It was a live mural, meaning the restaurant customers could see me painting while enjoying the lovely music and delicious food.

“These people invited me six months back to paint the blank wall of their restaurant. I was in Australia at that time.

But I couldn’t come due to unavailability of visa at that time. They then told me their concept of five senses: hearing, sight, touch, smell, and taste. They didn’t quite like the idea I gave them initially.

“Then I told them that I would be able to visualise it better when I am there. So after visiting the restaurant, I realised that

the ambience and environment was a lot different than what I had thought. I had thought of it to be more western but it was a perfect fusion of Indian and western with more focus towards Indian-ness. I wanted to involve the Indian culture with the theme in the mural. Then I came up with the story of Karma.

“Working on a theme is a bit different and difficult. I have tried to paint using all my knowledge about the art.”

Venkat, who is now working towards strengthening the legacy of his tribe and its art and culture, feels satisfied by his work in Auckland and says that response his got from the audience further enhanced his satisfaction.

“When people praise my work it only motivates me to do better next time. My work was appreciated by both Indian and non-Indians. They said that they had never seen such an art. Hearing them say such great things about the art and the work was truly a motivation.”

What lies ahead Venkat wishes to promote and preserve the tribal art forms for the future generations and seeks support from the Indian communities.

“I want to promote this lost form of art. I have been trying to open a school for the last ten years where I can teach not only Gond painting but also other art forms of the Gond community. My idea was approved by officials but the Ministry has not been very helpful.

“It’s a dying art and is getting lost with time. I am fortunate enough to have this art and I want it to flourish for many more generations to come. I want to build such an organisation, be it in India or any part of the world, which would carry forward this legacy of our ancestors. It would not only be about painting but also wood carving, metal carving, drawing and other artworks. I want to build a platform for coming generations where they can learn and teach different art forms. Building such an organisation is not a small project and I would appreciate if the Indian communities from different parts of the world can come together to help make this dream a reality.”

FEATURES

www.iwk.co.nz | 22 April 2016

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Having a party? We would like to hear from you.

Reach us at editor@indianweekender.co.nz and get featured on this page.

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Bollywood Affair: Always a treat

Bombay Talkies: Rocking Old Fort

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ENTERTAINMENT

Udta Punjab trailer highlights drug menace in Punjab

22 April 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

time in director Nitya Mehra’s upcoming film Baar Baar Dekho, have wrapped up shooting for the film. Sidharth took to Instagram to share the news with his fans.

“It’s a film wrap! Thank you Nitya Mehra and team for all the hard work and fun, special film. Fond memories, great experience! Crew. Love. Baar Baar Dekho,” he wrote. The Student of the Year fame actor also shared a photograph in which he and Katrina can be seen alongside the crew members.

Black Orange responsibility as well because it is based announcement will be made soon.” There Red have been reports that Varun will reunite on real-life incidences. Hope people go and with his Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania watch it and like it,” she said.

Asked if she anticipates any problem co-star Alia Bhatt, for a film that takes for the film from the Board of Control the franchise forward titled Badrinath Ki for Cricket in India (BCCI), the national Dulhania, directed by the same director, governing body for cricket in India, Lara Shashank Khaitan. Varun and Alia were replied, “The film-makers have done a good spotted leaving the Dharma Productions research on it. Azhar releases on May 13. office a few days back, where they reportedly had discussed the film.

Anurag’s Raman Raghav 2.0 to be screened at Cannes

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Salman ‘looking forward’ to Traffic

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he trailer of Abhishek Chaubey’s Udta Punjab highlights the rampant issue of drug abuse among youth in Punjab.

In the trailer launched on Saturday, April 16, actor Shahid Kapoor is seen essaying the character of a high-on-drugs, long-haired rock star Tommy Singh, who sings with glee and abuses with impunity.

Actress Alia Bhatt is seen in a de-glam role, portraying a migrant Bihari labourer while Kareena Kapoor Khan essays the role of a doctor who is determined to fight the illegal transportation of drugs, including medicinal ones that are sold without prescription in Punjab. Punjabi actorsinger Diljit Dosanjh is seen as a police official in the trailer. Produced by Shobha Kapoor and Ekta Kapoor under their banner Balaji Motion Pictures in association with Phantom Films, the music for Udta Punjab has been composed by Amit Trivedi while the lyrics have been penned by Shellee and Varun Grover. The movie is set to release on June 17.

SRK’s Fan mints Rs.19.20 crore on opening day

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hah Rukh Khan’s highly anticipated film Fan, which features King Khan in a double role of a superstar and his obsessed fan, has impressed the audiences in India. The Maneesh Sharma directorial has minted more than Rs.19.20 crore on its opening day.

Made on a budget of Rs.105 crore, including publicity and advertisements, Fan released in more than 3,500 screen in India and more than 4,600 screens around the world. The film, which also stars Waluscha De Sousa and Shriya Pilgaonkar, has collected Rs.19.20 crore on its opening day, said. Released under the Yash Raj Films banner, the movie tells the story of Gaurav, who wishes to meet his favourite star Aryan and later turns obsessed by him and tries to destroy his stardom. Interestingly, both the characters have been played by Shah Rukh.

Not only the critics and the audience, the film has also been given thumbs up by a lot of celebrities who have applauded the film over social media.

Sidharth, Katrina wrap up Baar Baar Dekho

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ctors Sidharth Malhotra and Katrina Kaif, who will be seen sharing screen space for the first

uperstar Salman Khan, who is currently prepping for his upcoming film Sultan, says he is “looking forward” to watching the thriller Traffic, which stars Manoj Bajpayee.

“Looking forward to this film Traffic,” the Dabangg star tweeted.

Traffic is based on a road trip from Mumbai to Pune. The story revolves around transportation of a harvested heart for a heart transplant case, chasing a strict deadline. During the mission, the characters face numerous difficulties and

There hasn’t been much progress after Karan confirmed last May that Varun and Alia were chosen to be part of the film, directed by Karan Malhotra.

Kareena Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, and Salman Khan have been the names that were said to star in the film, over different intervals, before Varun and Alia.

Varun was last seen in the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Dilwale.

Mohammad Azharuddin is quite phenomenal: Lara obstacles, traffic being one of them. The film is presented by Foxstar Studios, who had also produced Neerja, based on the true story of air hostess Neerja Bhanot who sacrificed her life while saving passengers on board a hijacked Pan Am Flight 73 at Karachi. Directed by late Rajesh Pillai, produced by Deepak Dhar of Endemol India and presented by Foxstar Studios, the movie also stars Jimmy Shergill, Divya Dutta and Sachin Khedekar.

On the work front, Salman will be seen playing a wrestler in Sultan and even put on weight for his role in the film.

The film, which also stars Anushka Sharma in a pivotal role, centres around Sultan Ali Khan (Salman), a wrestler who is faced with problems in his professional and personal life. Sultan is directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner.

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ctress Lara Dutta says that former cricket player Mohammad Azharuddin, on whose life the film Azhar is based, is a phenomenal person.

“He (Azharuddin) has tremendously lent his support to the film and has obviously remained very involved. He’s an incredible person. Having worked with him over this year, I got to know him. He’s quite a phenomenal person,” said Lara.

Like the trailer suggests, Azharuddin was one of the most successful and most controversial cricket captains of the country because of his accomplishments on the cricket field, match-fixing allegations and relationships.

Lara plays a lawyer in Azhar, who is hell bent on proving the match-fixing allegations levelled against Azharuddin (played by Emraan Hashmi) in the film.

Varun confirms Dharma film

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ctor Varun Dhawan remained silent on his Student Of The Year director Karan Johar’s film Shuddhi, but confirmed that he is doing another film with Karan’s production house, Dharma Productions.

At the last day shoot of his film Dishoom, Varun, when asked about Shuddhi, said, “Honestly, for me, every film is important, even if I have only a day’s work for the film. Every film is very close to me. As far as Shuddhi is concerned, I think Karan Joharji has given the answers to you. I’m doing another film with Dharma, and the

“The film is releasing and it feels good.

People’s reactions to the trailer have been very good. I’m excited after having worked very hard in the film. It’s a slightly big

ilm-maker Anurag Kashyap’s Raman Raghav 2.0, a film based on notorious serial killer Raman Raghav, who went on murder spree in Mumbai in the 1960s, will premiere at the upcoming 69th Cannes International Film Festival. Kashyap took to Twitter on Tuesday, April 19 to announce the news.

“Raman Raghav 2.0 to premiere at Cannes Directors Fortnight.

Congratulations team,” he tweeted.

The film stars actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the title role alongside Masaan fame actor Vicky Kaushal.

However this is not the first time that a film directed Kashyap is going to be aired at Cannes. Previously films such as Gangs of Wasseypur, Peddlers, and Bombay Talkies have been premiered at the awards gala.

The 2016 Cannes International Film Festival is scheduled to take place from May 11 till May 22. Raman Raghav 2.0 is slated to release in India on May 27.

Would love to work with Shahrukh, Salman: Balki

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riter-director R. Balki, who has worked with megastar Amitabh Bachchan in all his four films, says he would love to work with Shahrukh and Salman Khan provided he gets the correct idea for them.

“I want to work with all of them, but the idea should be there. I’d love to work with Shah Rukh (Khan), love to work with Salman (Khan), but the thing is you have to get the correct idea for them,” Balki said.

“Who does not want to work with them (Khans)? But there’s no point in me working with them unless I really get an idea, then I chase them and ask them if they want to do it,” he added. Balki’s wife Gauri Shinde, after her debut venture English Vinglish, is presently busy working on her next film, which stars Shahrukh Khan and Alia Bhatt.

Balki said that his wife wishes him to become “at least 10 percent” of the characters he presents in his films, like Kabir from his latest film Ki & Ka. “Gauri always says, ‘I wish that you could at least become 10 per cent of the characters that you write. Why can’t you be like Kabir?

Or like others?’ I always tell her that if I would become my characters, then why would I write them? I’ll always write what I am not. I never write what’s there in life, but what I want to become in life.”

Balki is always known for his unusual stories such as a househusband in Ki & Ka, a father playing a son to his real-life son in Paa, a love story between man and a woman, half his age in Cheeni Kum and a mute man talking with the help of innovative technology in Shamitabh.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan featured in all of his films, with a cameo in Ki & Ka.

ENTERTAINMENT

www.iwk.co.nz | 22 April 2016

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Movie review: Fan

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U. Prashanth Nayak

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he reasons to be a crosseyed fan of Shah Rukh Khan remain more compelling than the need to lament the pusillanimity in his recent movie choices. He fought his way up without a godfather in Mumbai’s nepotism-ridden film industry, hit dizzying fame that alas his parents could not live to see. He was and is a darling of audiences from Malaysia to the USA, with wealth surpassing even that of Tom Cruise. At the height of his career, he retained the artistic sense to star in landmark films such as Dil Se. Post-2007 is another story. And then we come to Fan, the fanfarefestooned entry vehicle of SRK in 2016, helmed by Maneesh Sharma and unspooling as a progressively darkening thriller about a young man whose obsession for his movie idol spirals violently out of control.

Films, where a celeb is hounded by a crazed fan, are not a new concept, so what new spin does Fan’s script bring to the narrative table? 3D scanning, no less with seamless special effects to create a “mini-me” version of Shah Rukh Khan as his obsessed admirer (Khan plays both the superstar and the fan).

Gaurav Chandna is a multiple champion of a local contest where competitors imitate their celebrity idols. His lifelong herosanctifying mania for Aryan Khanna (the superstar Shah Rukh portrays in the film) is reflected in a thousand avatars of the Aryan collage papered over every inch of the walls in his room. His parents relent to the idea of their only child finally journeying from Delhi’s middle-class mohallas to meet Aryan Khanna in his Mumbai citadel. But the realities of a cold hard world come crashing down on Gaurav’s roseate dreams and soon he swears relentless revenge on the icon who seems to have coolly betrayed his most loyal fan.

The film’s best moments arrive early. We amusedly witness Gaurav’s goofy palpitating schoolgirl thrill as he gets his moment in the spotlight, after winning the local celeb-imitation contest. The journey to the massive playing fields of the big town then almost drowns him in a jammed sea of hysterical people as his waving hero looms far away, and then suddenly Gaurav’s gaze settles on Aryan and he lets out a momentous scream as his mouth and eyes bulge ecstatically. It is an epic moment where the fan’s hysteria equals the star’s aura.

Where the film fails is in electing to power the story as an action-peppered thriller. The human element and dramatic wallop are just not in full-throttle supply. In postcard-pretty Dubrovnik, the action reaches its exciting peak, admittedly, with an imaginative

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rooftop chase and flying tackles at dangerous heights, but another action sequence set over the crumbling but formidable ruins of Hotel Delite is neither choreographed nor captured with the vertiginous thrill it deserved to sport. Wit and songs both are absent. I missed the former.

At one point we are shown that Gaurav so nefariously impersonates Aryan in certain wrong-doings that the disgraced latter’s shows are deserted by fans. What a joke! Indian fans are extraordinarily forgiving, exemplified by the real-life fact that a superstar involved in a prolonged and damaging court case of alleged manslaughter, still goes on to have millions of fans thronging his film releases.

Both Gaurav and Aryan remain twodimensional personas. When Shah Rukh portrays superstar Aryan, there is barely any halo of personality that comes through.

But in his form-shifting turn as Gaurav, we witness more depth as fanboy madness bleeds into crushing disillusionment and the sparkle in his eyes darken into a glazed glint.

It’s good but not great.

Fan, with all its budget and exertions, does not reach the impact of, say, Anurag Kashyap’s Murabba. Director Maneesh Sharma puts in a lot of hard work but as we know, working hard is not the same as working smart. Shah Rukh built his name with emotionally charged performances in films that were driven by dramatic conflict above all else, but Fan for all its stray emotional moments and even an audacious ending eventually comes across as a violent and bloody Tom and Jerry. SRK may remain a superstar, but this picture of his ultimately ends up being only an energetic contender.

Rating: 2.5/ 5

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FEATURES

22 April 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Young Kiwi-Indian journalist awarded Red

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nuja Nadkarni, Indian Weekender’s frequent contributor, has won the ‘National Business Review Outstanding Journalism Graduate of the Year’ Award at the Auckland University of Technology.

Anuja graduated with a Bachelor of Communications degree majoring in Journalism from AUT in 2015.

Nevil Gibson, the National Business Review’s (NBR) Editorin-Chief presented the award to Anuja at a ceremony at the AUT’s city campus on Tuesday, April 12. The award comprises a silver salver and a cash prize.

In her acceptance speech, Anuja thanked her teachers and tutors as well as her family and friends for the support and encouragement she received throughout her years at university.

Speaking to Indian Weekender after receiving the award Anuja said, “I feel excited and proud to have chosen this profession. And that’s not only because now I’ll get to share an experience that my grandfather and my father did as journalists, but with all the changes journalism is undergoing at so many levels, I’m sure it’ll be one very different from theirs.

“I think it’s always been exciting to be a journalist, but today the great work of amazing reporters around the world like those that broke the Panama papers stories, or are fighting for justice in Timor-Leste or Syria or just giving people a voice in the community, motivates me and

published Anuja’s writings. Kiwi Media Group publisher Giri Gupta said, “Indian Weekender heartily congratulates Anuja on her achievement and looks forward to her continued association with us as a valued contributor to our paper and website while wishing her success in her media career.”

Born in Mumbai, India, Anuja moved to Fiji in 2002 and a year later, migrated to Auckland. She says it has been wonderful for her to experience diverse cultures at such a young age; something that also sparked an interest in travelling and hearing people’s stories. We spoke to Anuja to find out more about this budding journalist. Here are excerpts from the interview.

Anuja Nadkarni

IWK: When did you develop an interest in journalism?

inspires me. I hope to always

this award.” A number of leading

do justice to the faith rested in

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my abilities by my respected

New Zealand and other countries

teachers with the conferment of

besides Indian Weekender have

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Anuja: Although journalism seems like it was an obvious option, considering my family history, it wasn’t really what I wanted to do in the beginning.

I was interested in everything, from biology to law, business, psychology to television.

I applied for it when I was applying for university in my last year of high school. But after some deliberation, I decided on the Communications Studies degree at AUT simply because it gives students the opportunity to try a little bit of everything in mass media—from radio to digital media and, of course, journalism. So I kind of stumbled into it and when I realised that journalism encompasses so many other careers, I thought it was a

Indian Classical Music: Rithvik Raja in Auckland

Date: Saturday, 23 April 2016 Time: 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Venue: Raye Freedman Arts Centre, Silver Rd, Auckland Rasikas NZ and Sangeetha Bharathi are pleased to present a team of young Carnatic music professionals from India. Emerging Masters is a special series featuring the young and highly talented musicians from mainly India and around the world. The Emerging Masters series is the first tour for 2016. A grand vocal concert by a team of highly proficient young musicians: Vocal – Rithvik Raja, Violin – Parur MS Ananthakrishnan and Mridangam – Sumesh Narayanan. Tickets are available for door sale only: reserved: $30.00, general: $15.00 and child (under 16 years)/ senior citizen: $10.00. Contact: Priya Srinivasan - 021613155 - rasikas.nz@gmail.com for more information.

I Am Woman presents High Tea Rendezvous

Date: April 30, 2016 Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Venue: The Langham, Auckland I Am Woman presents High Tea Rendezvous, designed to engage women (and men) to be inspired to discover their inner potential, featuring Annah Stretton, live life in colour event series. How many of us are not in love with the life we live?

Annah is about to change the way you tackle your day to day. Enjoy an elegant high tea with your friends. Support a great cause, receive an Annah Stretton goodie bag and be inspired to step-up to

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perfect fit for someone who likes a dynamic work life.

IWK: Your thoughts on winning the National Business Review Outstanding Journalism Graduate of the Year.

Anuja: It is a huge honour to receive recognition from my teachers for this award. It feels a little surreal but I’m so grateful to have been chosen as the recipient of this award out of my year considering the great talent and calibre of my fellow peers.

IWK: How do you plan to kick off your journalistic career?

Anuja: I think the best piece of advice my dad gave me was to just go with the flow, so we’ll have to wait and see. I’m excited to further explore the different aspects of journalism. I haven’t yet decided on what I want to do in my career, but what is certain is that it will be in the media and I’ll be telling stories.

IWK: With news and information now available on fingertips, how do you think journalism has changed from what it used to be?

Anuja: It is an incredibly interesting time we’re living in.

Anyone at the right place at the right time can become a ‘reporter’ with the increased proliferation of smartphones and social media.

But this still raises questions of credibility and accuracy and you still need to know legalities that can be quite complex, which is why basic training in journalism is still important.

a new you! Tickets: $75, early bird for the first 75 tickets: $55. Tickets available via eventfinda. All proceeds to RAW. For more information contact infor@iamwoman.nz or iamwoman@xtra.co.nz

Auckland Anzac Day Parades and Services 2016

Date: Monday 25 April 2016 Time: 4.45am to 5.00pm Venue: Region wide Anzac Day is a time to reflect on the servicemen and servicewomen, past and present, who have displayed courage and self-sacrifice serving our country. There are more than 70 Anzac Day parades and services being held across the Auckland region on Monday 25 April 2016. (Details of the venues can be found at http://ourauckland. aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/events).

Free Public Lecture Osteoporosis and Bone Disease: Big Steps Forward

Date: Wednesday, 25 May 2016 Time: 7 p.m. onwards Venue: Auckland Medical School AMRF is holding a free public lecture on Wednesday 27 May at the Auckland Medical School. Distinguished Professor Ian Reid will discuss the impact and treatment of bone diseases, including osteoporosis and Paget’s disease. To register phone 923 1701 or email us at amrf@medicalresearch.org.nzNOTE: Citizen Advice Bureau has now opened a branch at Botany Town Centre.

FEATURES

www.iwk.co.nz | 22 April 2016

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