Indian Weekender 15 July 2016

15 JULY2016

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MOVIE REVIEW: SULTAN

Vol. 8 • Issue 17

NZ’s only Kiwi-Indian weekly

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The Pulse of Kiwi-Indians since 2009

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New Zealand

US Vice President to visit next week

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India

Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Kenya

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Feature

Sports Murray wins second Wimbledon crown

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Safer communities together

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Face of the week

Razzmattaz Ladies! It’s time for denim couture

A revolutionary man

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Breaking down barriers—extending Te Puea manaaki ¡¡Maya Shivam

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ike most Kiwis, I had been reading about the Te Puea Memorial Marae in Mangere becoming an epicentre for care and housing of the city’s homeless and most vulnerable.

Arriving there and being a part of a “hui” was another experience altogether. But first, the backstory.

Last month, the Counties Manukau Police initiated a pilot in extending their support to make a difference by breaking down barriers and closing the gaps that may exist between the South Asian communities and the larger community by offering to support the Marae in its current work.

An initial meeting was held between the Marae administration and representatives of the community led by Sergeant Gurpreet Arora to assess areas where most support was needed.

That done, a meeting was called where all community leaders were invited to participate in a brainstorming session. About

Indian community members at Te Puea Marae

15 enthusiastic representatives attended and a core group was formed.

Subsequent consultations and meetings suggested that the Marae was to undergo a redevelopment that is to start in September and therefore the families currently housed at the Marae would need to be transitioned to alternative supported accommodation by the end of August.

This meant that the proposed pilot was to run from July 10 for the next six to eight weeks. The main area of required support was

As this was put before the community, offers of help to provide cooked meals and volunteers to prepare meals onsite started to emerge. to provide meals for the 70–80 members currently housed at the Marae and about 30 volunteers at any given time. Support was

also required with cooking meals onsite. Even though the Marae has ample supplies, they need the help of chefs and helpers to prepare meals.

As this was put before the community, offers of help to provide cooked meals and volunteers to prepare meals onsite started to emerge.

This has caught more momentum since and we understand that there is now a waitlist of people who have offered help and support. As a result, the core committee was

able to make committed offers of help to the Marae administration.

This brings us to July 11 where a small number of community members, all leaders in their own right, gathered outside the Te Puea Marae awaiting induction and the start to a landmark project that was poised to improve the people-to-people connection within our communities.

Supporting the community on behalf of the Police were Inspector Nga-Watty Chaplow, Sergeant Gurpreet Arora and Constable Satvir Sen. It was impressive to see how well managed the entire operation at the Marae was. We had a volunteer who inducted us and gave us our visitor tags.

We then met the Marae Chair Hurimoana Dennis and Operations Manager Mona, who walked us to the main grounds of the Marae. As we walked along, several volunteers dressed in high viz jackets and beaming with warm smiles welcomed us.

As we were welcomed on to the Wharenui, one had goosebumps Continued on page 4

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15 July 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Continued from page 3

at the warm people-to-people exchange that was about to unfold. Hurimoana welcomed us and gave a brief on how the Marae had opened its doors to the vulnerable families this winter.

He described how it is not by choice that most people find themselves there but the helplessness of seeing their children suffer.

He described how prior to being housed at the Marae, some families had been living in cars and children completing their homework on the street.

One could hear the satisfaction in his voice when he said that till date they had been able to support numerous Maori families, 118 Pacific people and 18 ethnic families.

With a tinge of pride, he added that those who had found homes

In a historic moment, the Maori blessing was followed by ardaas (Sikh blessing), thus truly bringing together cultures that so willingly accept each other and had moved on were now coming back to help as volunteers.

He stated that the Marae does not discriminate and people of all cultures and religions were

Members of Sikh community offered ardaas inside the Marae while the South Asian Advisory board core committee members along with the representatives from Counties Manukau Police delivered the donations and food

welcome. Perhaps that is the reason that the Marae sees so much support coming forth from all around.

In a historic moment, the Maori blessing was followed by ardaas (Sikh blessing), thus truly bringing together cultures that so willingly accept each other.

Warmth and care filled the air and the message was loud and

clear: “We care and we are right beside you.”

It was then time to hand over our offerings of jackets, shoes, nutritional drinks for children, other items and a commitment to providing five meals a week.

These were received with gratitude and appreciation for the entire community. The past few months have seen a growing

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number of burglaries and thefts targeting the South Asian community.

It is felt that at the core of this lies the misconception that South Asians are only interested in themselves. We work hard, save money, but only earn and save for ourselves. This pilot was a big step in dispelling this myth and claiming that we believe in supporting our communities and humanity.

When we arrive here to make New Zealand our home and find better lives for ourselves, we believe in giving back and contributing to the community we live in. Donations of food,

clothing and a commitment of five meals a week for our fellow citizens, families and children who are currently housed at the Marae along with meals for the volunteers was what came out of this first “hui”.

It was a successful initiative by the Counties Manukau Police to enhance collaboration, understanding, trust and respect among different community groups. It was supported by members of Counties Manukau District and South Asian Advisory Board. A special mention goes to Parminder Singh who was recently appointed to the Board, along with the members of the larger Indian community.

We hope that this spirit of supporting the vulnerable gains further momentum. If you wish to be a part of such projects in the future, please send your expression of interest to editor@indianweekender.co.nz.

Thousands of Indian students face rejection from NZ immigration ¡¡IWK Bureau

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recent media report revealed that Immigration New Zealand (INZ) had denied visas to thousands of Indian students who wished to study in the country.

Officials believe that the students enrolled in tertiary institutions were not intending to study or they did not have enough money to support themselves.

The figures, covering the six months from December 2015 to May 2016, showed that 51 institutions, including half of the country’s polytechnics, had visa decline rates of more than 30% for Indian students.

INZ had turned down 3,864 visa applications and approved 3,176 during that period.

The figures were only for institutions with at least 10 visa applications from Indian students.

The vast majority of the declined applications were not cases of fraud but were simply not up to immigration specifications, Radio New Zealand quoted Auckland International Education Group spokesperson Paul Chalmers as saying.

“Immigration was sometimes turning down genuine students,” Chalmers said.

Immigration was being tougher on applications from India, but visa decline rates above 50% were questionable, said Richard Goodall, spokesperson for

INZ has turned down 3,864 visa applications

Independent Tertiary Education. The Chief Executive of Newton College of Business and Technology in Auckland, Ashish Trivedi, told the media that all institutions enrolling from India were having a lot of students turned down.

Newton College of Business and Technology had a decline rate above 60%.

Imperial College of New Zealand had the highest rate of refused applications at 86%.

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www.iwk.co.nz | 15 July 2016

US Vice President to visit New Zealand

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S Vice President Joe Biden will make an official visit to New Zealand next week.

A statement released by the White House confirmed Biden’s arrival on July 20 with his delegation for a series of official engagements including a meeting with Prime Minister John Key on Thursday, July 21.

The visit is being seen as a sign to strengthen the relationship between the US and New Zealand. A statement issued from PM Key’s office has welcomed the announcement.

“New Zealand places great value on its relationship with the United States and the Vice President’s visit is an opportunity to discuss key regional and international issues,” Mr Key says.

“Vice President Biden’s visit will allow us to discuss ways we can work closer together on issues [such as] economic and trade ties, as well as international peace and security matters.”

The second in command’s trip to New Zealand makes him the first US Vice President to visit the country since the early 1970s.

Biden will visit New Zealand after a round of engagements in Australia where he will deliver a major policy speech in Sydney on the future of the US-Australia relationship, and meet Prime

US Vice President Joe Biden

Minister Malcolm Turnbull, the White House has confirmed.

US President Barack Obama has often expressed his desire to visit New Zealand, but with the vice president making his way down under, it seems more likely that Obama will come to New Zealand once he has completed the remaining days in office.

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Happy 100th birthday to the Labour Party Priyanca Radhakrishnan

Elected Policy Council member, 2014 Labour List Candidate

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he oldest political party in New Zealand turned 100 over the weekend. Centenary events were held around the country last week to celebrate Labour’s achievements that have shaped New Zealand’s history.

The Centenary Conference held in Wellington opened with a spectacular speech by Labour Leader, Andrew Little.

He took us through Labour’s achievements that have been instrumental in shaping today’s New Zealand.

We celebrated Labour’s creation of the welfare state based on the philosophy that everyone has the right to a decent standard of living and to live with dignity. It was under the first Labour government that New Zealand’s social security system was established—a first in the Western world.

We celebrated the achievements of a widespread home ownership, a free health system and a free education system. We remembered the image of Michael Joseph Savage, the first Labour Prime Minister, carrying furniture into the first state house.

The first Labour government focused on providing stability to those who were jobless after the Depression. Between 1935 and 1939, the government built 5,000 good quality state houses.

We celebrated KiwiBank, KiwiSaver, Working for Families and the Cullen Fund.

We also celebrated workplace rights, the 40-hour week, public broadcasting, the Waitangi Tribunal, homosexual law reform, civil unions and marriage equality.

The fifth Labour government, which governed from 1999 to 2008, was the first in New Zealand to appoint a

Minister for Ethnic Affairs to ensure that our communities have a voice in the parliament. It is thanks to the last Labour government’s Family Quota System that many of us are able to sponsor relatives to settle in New Zealand.

Prime Minister Helen Clark’s historic apology to Chinese New Zealanders over the Chinese Poll tax is relevant to all migrant groups. If it is legal to discriminate against one community, that makes all migrant communities even more vulnerable.

Finally, it was the fifth Labour government that negotiated and signed the Free Trade Agreement with China.

This led to a doubling of total goods trade between the two countries. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the growth in New Zealand’s total global exports since 2008 is largely due to the growth in our exports to China.

Driven by Finance Minister Michael Cullen’s economic policy agenda the fifth Labour government succeeded in boosting New Zealand’s economic growth against a backdrop of the growing war on terror following the September 11 attacks and a resultant worldwide threat of recession.

The fifth Labour government delivered nine Budget surpluses, saw unemployment fall to a 13-year low, increased productivity and lower income inequality. The government expenditure in hospitals, schools, the police force and housing increased. Which other government has achieved economic growth and ensured that the benefits of that success are felt by all, including those at the bottom rungs of the economic ladder?

In keeping with the party’s tradition of building homes when there’s a need, Labour announced a comprehensive housing policy over the centenary weekend. The next Labour government has a comprehensive plan to tackle the housing

crisis by building affordable houses and cracking down on speculators.

Moving to Auckland over a year back meant that I experienced the housing crisis firsthand, both as a renter and a first-home buyer in this city.

We all know that there are too few houses, the new ones being build are unaffordable, and too many people looking for houses.

Unfortunately, the government has missed the boat on housing. Until recently, the government refused to acknowledge that there was a problem. Homelessness has increased. Every city and region has a waiting list for state houses and yet the government’s solution is to sell more state houses and require a $92 million dividend from Housing New Zealand.

When the State sells state housing, pushes the burden of housing its people to underfunded NGOs and Trusts and requires Housing New Zealand to pay it dividends, the State is abdicating its responsibility to its people. This government only started to care when stories of people living in cars and uninsulated garages, and a toddler’s death largely due to its cold, damp living conditions—according to the Coroner—hit the media. Labour’s announcement over the weekend includes three main elements: fast-tracking new builds, building more houses, and cracking down on speculators.

Labour will establish an Affordable Housing Authority that will work with the private sector to build more homes faster. Labour will build more homes, including state houses and 50% of them will be in

Auckland. We will also crack down on speculators that are largely responsible for the fact that house prices in Auckland went up by $2,500 a week, each week last year.

In May this year we read about a house in Papakura that was sold five times in nine years, leading to a capital gain of $870 per day!

It has been said that economics is ultimately about how choices are made.

Labour chooses to grow the economy and ensure that more New Zealanders share in the benefits.

For more information about Labour’s housing policy, please check out our website: http://www.labour.org.nz/ housing

Labour Leader Andrew Little

Cycling in the most liveable city A protected cycleway opens up at Auckland’s waterfront ¥¥Swati Sharma

Auckland Council and the government through the NZ Transport Agency and the Urban Cycleways Programme on a $200m programme of cycle improvements from 2015 to 2018.

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ith Prime Minister John Key, Auckland Mayor Len Brown and Transport Minister Simon Bridges riding on the bikes, the Quay Street cycleway was officially opened on July 8.

Despite bad weather, attendees seemed quite enthusiastic about the CBD’s newest cycleway, worth $2.18m. The opening ceremony started with a dawn blessing by Iwi representatives. After formal addresses from Mr Key and Mr Bridges, the chief guests along with a large group of people rode their bicycles to become the first to use the cycleway, which is expected to turn into a coastal boulevard over the next 10 years.

Auckland’s waterfront will be an improved urban space and an even busier cycle route.

A new cycle counter on the promenade, a first for Auckland, will highlight the number of people cycling along one of Auckland’s busiest routes.

On the waterfront side of Quay Street, the one-km, two-way cycleway goes from Princes Wharf at Lower Hobson Street to Plumer Street. The cycleway is being delivered by Auckland Transport and has local funding and an investment from the government through NZ Transport Agency and the Urban Cycleways Programme.

Auckland Transport’s Cycling and Walking manager Kathryn Kind says that it

Cycling facts 750 cycle trips per day on pink

PM John Key during the Quay Street cycleway opening. Auckland Mayor Len Brown, ACC Minister Niki Kaye, Transport Minister Simon Bridges and MP for Te Atatu Alfred Ngaro were also present at the ceremony.

will benefit everyone who spends time at the waterfront and will encourage more people to start cycling into the city centre. “Having a dedicated cycleway like this means there is more space on the promenade for people to walk and enjoy the harbour views. The planter boxes, which provide protection from traffic, improve this wonderful space by adding some greenery.

Mayor Len Brown says it is another important chapter in his vision for Auckland as the world’s most liveable city, as it transforms the city centre into a pedestrian and cycle friendly destination. “This project is another example of Auckland Council,

Auckland Transport and the Transport Agency working well together to achieve a great outcome.�

The three-metre-wide cycleway connects with the Beach Rd Cycleway at Britomart Pl and by the end of 2018 will link with the Nelson Street Cycleway and Westhaven to City Cycleway at Princes Wharf and the Tamaki Dr Cycleway. When phase two of Nelson Street Cycleway is constructed next year, the city centre cycle loop will be complete. This loop includes Lightpath, Nelson Street, Grafton Gully, Beach Rd and Quay Street cycleways. Auckland Transport is working with project partners

Lightpath since it has opened in December A doubling of the number of people cycling into the city over three years 50% increase in people cycling in Symonds Street/Grafton Gully corridor following the opening of Grafton Gully Cycleway in 2014 20% increase in people cycling on Northwestern Cycleway in May 2016 compared to May 2015

Upcoming cycle projects Auckland

in

Mangere Future Streets opening late September

Mt Roskill Safe Routes opening late October

Ian McKinnon Dr Cycleway public consultation starts July

Karangahape Rd Streetscape

Enhancement and Cycleway public consultation by August Great North Rd Cycleway public consultation by the end of 2016

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www.iwk.co.nz | 15 July 2016

ICCR extending their reach your customers genius to New Zealand when they are looking for you Buying or Selling ¡¡IWK Bureau

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have the pleasure of Let iwis us will help you find your new home, it could be by selling your existing home or simply hosting the first-ever visit of Pt Call 022-3251630/021-1507950 Sanjeev Abhyankar to the Pacific helping you into your first home. region, supported by ICCR and managed by Sahyadri Pacific Hospitality and MigHT-i.Call us today to discuss any of your Real Estate Needs!

Pt Sanjeevji, who is a child prodigy, is blessed with an exceptionally sweet voice.

His vocation in life was clear right from the age of three when he first sang in front of his seniors.

Taking this further, Sanjeev started learning Hindustani Classical Music from the tender age of eight and has been groomed by his mother Dr Shobha Abhyankar, Pandit Pimpalkhareji and Padma Bhushan Pandit Jasrajji.

A Commerce Bachelor by profession,027 he has made music his career. Having rendered his first stage performance at 11, Sanjeev has since travelled extensively across the country, performing in prestigious conferences and art circles.

He has spread the fragrance of Indian Classical music in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

He has a distinction of performing in more than 200 different cities till date.

Sanjeev’s award-winning performance in Godmother as also his impassioned rendition of Marathi abhangs, Bhavgeets and Hindi-Sanskrit bhajans reflect his easy grace and versatility.

By adding his own classical compositions, he has contributed to the already existing vast repertoire of Mewati gharana compositions (bandishes).

Besides performing in all the prestigious art circles throughout the country, he has performed in well-known conferences such as Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Samaroh, Swar Jhankar Festival, Swar Bhaskar Mahotsav, Vasantotsav, Surel Sabha and Pune Festival in Pune, Baba Harvallabh Samaroh in Jalandhar, Pracheen Kala 027 Kendra, Chandigarh, ITC Sammelan, Doverlane Music Conference, Uttarpara

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15 July 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Eid celebrations in Christchurch T ¡¡Gaurav Sharma

he Canterbury Muslim Community Trust, which represents more than 3,250 Muslims from 40 different nationalities, who have made Christchurch their new home, organised Eid celebrations in the North New Brighton Community Centre on July 10.

Rob Dewhirst, chairman of the Trust informed, “With celebrations [such as] these, our aim is to build bridges between members of the Muslim community in Canterbury and between Muslims and non-Muslims.

“Overall, we are progressing the work of the Canterbury Building Bridges Muslim Advisory, which was established to support the local Muslim community through fact finding, community engagement and liaison with government.”

Earlier on the day of actual Eid, July 6, the Trust had organised the Eid-ul-Fitr prayer at the Woolston prayer hall, which marked the end of Ramadhan.

Explaining the significance of Ramadhan was Nadiah Nasreen, Project Manager at the Nawawi Center—a non-profit aimed at building positive relationships among Muslims and New Zealand’s other diverse communities, “Fasting during the month of Ramadhan is one of the five pillars of Islam.

“This means that it is obligatory for Muslims to observe it if they are capable. During this time, Muslims observing Ramadhan refrain from eating, drinking and sexual intimacy from dawn to dusk. Ramadan is like a Warrant

typically spent the day with visits to relatives and friends’ homes, enjoying each other’s company, food, and strengthening our sense of belonging with one another.

“A beautiful part of this tradition is how we will ask forgiveness from one another for hurting each other in any way, especially to our parents. For the children, it is their favourite time of the year. They eagerly receive money packets, sweets and presents, and it is especially rewarding for those who tried their hand at some fasting,” explained Nasreen.

Eid prayers by the Canterbury Muslim Community Trust

of Fitness for us. You are forced to check yourself and refrain from offending or hurting anyone or their feelings in any way. It teaches

A beautiful part of this tradition is how we will ask forgiveness from one another for hurting each other in any way, especially to our parents

discipline, self-control, sacrifice, compassion, and makes me reflect on my priorities and relationship with the Creator and the universe around me.”

Meanwhile, at the Eid celebrations, food representing different nationalities was served to the gathering after Imam Gamal lead both maghrib and isha prayers.

“Muslims start the day of Eid with a special prayer together with the community. Thereafter, we

Above and right: Eid celebrations by the Indian Cultural Group

Indian Cultural Group

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he city-based social organisation, Indian Cultural Group (ICG), had gathered at the Canterbury Horticultural Society on July 8, to celebrate Eid. Almost 50 people attended the festivities with some from Afghanistan as well.

Sandeep Sachdeva, President of ICG said, “India is known for its diversity and multiculturalism. So we decided to celebrate the festival for the first time among the Indian community here. Next year the celebrations will be bigger and better.”

Christchurch to host its first-ever Indian women expo ¡¡Gaurav Sharma

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nvisaged Tandon, Secretary

by of

Archana National Women

Council of Multicultural New Zealand (New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Councils), who is also the founder of Canterbury Indian Women Group, the Garden

City is set to host its first-ever Indian Women Expo on August 27. The expo is aimed at providing a platform for Indian women to promote and showcase their skills, talents, and successes in different areas including business, art, culture, education, health and well-being, to the wider community.

Tandon, who formed the group on International Women’s Day (March 8), said, “Our vision is to promote and help maintain family and cultural values, promote health and well-being of Indian women and their families, and network to share knowledge and information for mutual support, capacity building and empowerment.”

The expo’s area will be divided

Archana Tandon

into eight different zones, one each for fashion, beauty, house,

culture, business, taste, health, and education.

“There will be ethnic costumes and jewellery on display.

People will share their interior decoration ideas; health checks, fitness and well-being tips will be given; and arts, music and dance performances will be showcased; and there will also be language schools and vocational institutes sharing their know-how,” she added.

“The expo will be an extension of our efforts to empower Indian women, for which the upcoming event is our self-defence course scheduled for July 23.

“It will not only include tips on how to make awareness decisions but also how to remain safe from cyber-crimes,” Tandon concluded.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 15 July 2016

Hunters Plaza shopper wins a car

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Job prospects growing in horticulture ¡¡Rizwan Mohammad

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Sacheel Chandra with his wife, dad and mother Subhak Chandra

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acheel Chandra was presented with the keys to a brand new six-speed SsangYong Tivoli worth $28,999 recently in a well-attended handover ceremony at Hunters Plaza.

The customers were eager to see who the winner was and enjoyed an evening of entertainment.

Sacheel revealed that he made a decision on the final day to enter the competition with the purchases he had made over the promotional period.

He became the winner of Hunters Plaza’s biggest-ever giveaway in their 25-year history. Both Sacheel and his brother were saving up to buy a car for

their mother Subhak Chandra, but now that he’s won the car, he has decided to gift the car to her.

Sacheel was excited to discover that he was the winner.

He and his partner are also expecting a baby, which they believe has brought them the luck to become the winner.

The competition was the latest event in a calendar of exciting events.

Hunters Plaza is now looking forward to the July school holidays when they will instal the first indoor Ice Skating rink to a South Auckland Shopping Centre.

For more information visit www. huntersplaza.com.

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rospects in horticulture are growing with the rise in demand for high-quality food and vegetables.

The population of the country is growing and so is the demand for high quantity of vegetable and fruit supplies without compromising on its quality.

New Zealand has a rich flora and fauna and students of horticulture are digging more to get better food from the soils of this land.

Horticulture is not only limited to growing richer crops but also has a vast field within itself. Students can opt for many sectors within horticulture such as landscaping, gardening, food production, soil science, plant biology, horticulture management and plant protection.

“Each field has its importance and application without which better agriculture is impossible. New Zealand is technologically advanced and has better soil as compared to many other countries. Plants can be grown in both soil and soilless environment such as within glasshouses and with the concept of hydroponics too,” said a National Certificate in Horticulture Level 4 student from Regent International Education Group on Queen Street, Auckland.

Horticulture has become one of the popular fields of study and more number of international students are now opting to study the programme in New Zealand.

“We get to go to different growers and learn more about the plantation, how to grow high nutrient content crops and what types of soil to use for mass production.

Learning in the classroom and then trying the same back in the field is very exciting; it gives us better perspective about crops and plantation,” mentions Mahesh, who is studying the horticulture programme from Regent International Education Group.

Landscaping is also an interesting part of horticulture. Designing a landscape includes determining which plant/tree to grow within a designated area, keeping in mind the direction of the wind, rains, direct sun rays and shadows so it does not have an adverse affect on the plant.

This concept of farm architecture has both micro and macro applications.

Landscape science can be used to design something as small as the backyard of a house, for gardening, or as big as acres of land for mass production of crops.

Regent International Education Group offers National Certificate in Horticulture Level 4 and Diploma in Horticulture (Landscaping) Level 5, which cover topics such as botany, pest control, horticulture management, machinery and landscaping. Off late, horticulture has seen an increase in the number of students as the job prospects appear to travel up proportionately.

NEW ZEALAND

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15 July 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

$1.5m package for 1,500 youth mentoring opportunities

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he government will invest around $430,000 over three years in a partnership that will support around 1,500 mentoring opportunities for young people in Auckland and Waikato, Youth Minister Nikki Kaye announced last week.

Lead partner, The Vodafone Foundation, will contribute $520,000 over three years, along with $354,000 in-kind funding from the University of Auckland, $230,000 from Charitable Trusts and $35,000 from secondary school partners.

“Under the new direction for youth development in New Zealand, which I announced last November, the government will invest in a partnership fund and will co-invest with philanthropic and business partners in youth development opportunities,” says Ms Kaye.

“Today’s announcement represents the first partnership formed under this new approach, to support two innovative programmes that help young people become mentors and enable others to receive mentoring.

“Campus Connections, based at the University of Auckland, will receive

government funding of around $215,000 over three years and $220,000 over three years from the Vodafone Foundation, along with $354,000 in-kind funding from the University of Auckland.

“This will support an intensive, four-month programme of one-on-one and group-based mentoring for at-risk youth.

“Campus Connections aims to provide young people with a sense of self-purpose, leadership and self-management skills and enhanced citizenship, with the mentoring provided by trained university students.

“This partnership will support at least 200 young people to receive mentoring opportunities, and help springboard the Campus Connections initiative from a pilot to a fully-fledged programme.

“The MATES (Great Potentials Foundation) programme will receive around $216,000 of government funding over three years and $300,000 from the Vodafone Foundation over three years, along with $230,000 from Charitable Trusts and $35,000 from secondary school partners.

“MATES is about supporting young people aged between 21 and 24 years to

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opportunities in Auckland and also expanding into the Waikato region. Both MATES and Campus Connections are doing exceptional work to support young people.

It’s great to enter into this partnership with lead partner Vodafone Foundation to support these organisations.

“I expect the new approach to increase the number of youth development opportunities from 50,000 to 70,000 annually, with the overall funds targeting disadvantaged youth increasing from 18 to 30%”

NATIONAL LIST MP BASED IN MOUNT ROSKILL

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become mentors, and also supporting young people aged between 12 and 19 years from low decile schools to receive mentoring.

“The programme aims to help the school students develop positive connections, self-confidence and awareness of their potential, so they increase their engagement at school and active participation in their communities.

“The funding provided to MATES will enable up to 1,300 young people to be involved in mentoring opportunities.

This includes providing more mentoring

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NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 15 July 2016

McClay receives Brexit assurances at G20

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rade Minister Todd McClay has received strong assurances that New Zealand’s trade interests will not be adversely affected as a result of the Brexit vote. Mr McClay met the European Union (EU) Trade Commissioner Cecelia Malmström, United Kingdom (UK) Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Lord Price, and trade and economic ministers from Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands at the G20 trade ministers meeting in Shanghai last weekend.

“I have sought, and received, assurances that the trade relationship we share with the EU and the UK will continue and that New Zealand will be involved in any discussions between the EU and UK in relation to anything that involves our trade,” says Mr McClay.

“All parties spoke of the need for calm reflection and an orderly process of discussion on trade.”

Mr McClay says Commissioner Malmström has also confirmed that New Zealand remains on track to negotiate an FTA with the EU. “Considerable effort has been put in by both sides over the past few years as a high quality trade agreement is in all parties’ interests.

“We have a lot in common with the EU, including working toward further trade rules around agriculture, SMEs, and services in the World Trade Organisation.

This cooperation will continue, as will our access to the EU market, valued at $8.6 billion per year,” says Mr McClay.

In his discussions with Lord Price, Mr McClay expressed interest in negotiating a bilateral trade agreement with the UK once

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they were in a position to do so. “Timing of a bilateral agreement would be dependent on discussions the UK must first have with the EU, but we agreed that it is in the interests of both the UK and New Zealand to negotiate a high-quality agreement.

“In the meantime, I have confirmed that the New Zealand government will work closely with the UK on trade matters and will look for opportunities to cooperate as soon as possible. I expect this will include ministerial engagement and meetings between trade officials. We remain available to provide assistance to the UK over the coming months and will do everything possible to promote our joint trade interests and trading relationship with both the EU and UK,” says Mr McClay.

Mr McClay has received invitations to visit Brussels and London in the coming months to further these discussions.

Housing affordability improvements welcomed ndependent data published this week

by Massey University showing a six per cent national improvement in housing affordability during the past year is welcome, Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith says.

“This independent index on housing affordability shows the average Kiwi home is six per cent more affordable today and 40% more affordable than when National came to office. It highlights that in the debate over house prices and income-to-house ratios, the lowest interest rates in 40 years are being overlooked.

“The Massey University Housing Affordability Index has been published nationally and regionally since 2000. The index for May 2016 is 23.2 as compared to 24.7 in May 2015 and 32.9 in May 2008.

“The index improved in 10 of the 12 regions during the past year. It shows affordability improved during the past year in Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury but declined in the Waikato/Bay of Plenty and Central Otago Lakes regions.

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“Interest rates are absolutely relevant to the debate on housing affordability, particularly for first home buyers. People very rarely buy a home with upfront cash, instead paying for it over many years out of weekly earnings through a mortgage.

“The monthly repayments on a median home of $346,458 in 2008 would have cost $603 per week at the floating rate of 10.88%, while a median home today, worth $506,000, would cost $538 a week at today’s floating rate of 5.64% “The improvements in housing affordability shown by the Massey University Index are reinforced by the similar index provided by interest.co.nz, which measures the portion of a person’s income spent on servicing their mortgage.

“New Zealand does have housing challenges because we are doing well and our population is growing strongly.

However, as this independent data confirms, the lowest interest rates in 40 years have to be included to understand what is occurring in our housing markets.”

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NEW ZEALAND

15 July 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

National comprehensive plan to tackle housing John Key Prime Minister

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mproving housing supply and affordability is important for New Zealand families and communities, and the National-led government has a comprehensive plan to tackle the issue.

Many New Zealanders are concerned about housing and quite rightly so. It’s a challenge we are facing head on and our plan is delivering results.

We’re now in the middle of the biggest building boom New Zealand has ever seen. We’re on track to build 85,000 new houses

in this term of Parliament— that’s nearly twice the number of existing houses in all of Dunedin.

But we need to press on.

Last week, I announced a new $1 billion housing infrastructure fund, the latest step in the government’s comprehensive plan to address housing affordability and supply.

This fund will accelerate new housing in the high-growth centres where it’s needed most, like Christchurch, Queenstown, Tauranga, Hamilton and Auckland.

This new one-off contestable fund will focus squarely on financing the roading, water and other important infrastructure needed to support new housing.

We’re also considering setting up

Urban Development Authorities for specific areas of high housing need. They proved successful in many other countries in speeding up the housing development.

We’ll have more to say on this later this year.

These announcements complement the other work we have underway in our comprehensive housing plan to address supply and affordability.

We’ve created more than 200 special housing areas to speed up the development of land for an estimated 70,000 new homes across New Zealand, including 63,000 in Auckland.

We’re reforming the Resource Management Act to make it easier to get houses consented and built.

We’ve also freed up Crown land

in Auckland and Christchurch for more than 2,000 homes, with more in the pipeline.

And we’re redeveloping Housing New Zealand properties to build around 2,000 new dwellings over the next two years.

We’ve tightened rules to ensure people buying and selling a property for profit pay their fair share of tax.

Our HomeStart scheme will help around 90,000 New Zealanders into their first-home over five years, with government grants for couples of up to $20,000 to put towards a deposit for their first home.

There are around 40,000 more people working in the construction sector than two years ago and 42,000 apprentices

are currently being trained across the country. On the social housing front, we’re the first government in New Zealand to directly fund emergency housing places with a $41 million investment in Budget 2016.

That will help to provide around 3,000 emergency housing places over a year. We’re also providing a new non-recoverable grant so vulnerable people don’t end up in debt when they’re most in need.

There are no quick fixes to the issue of housing affordability and supply, but National’s comprehensive housing plan is delivering results and we are committed to building on this momentum.

National committed to giving children the best possible start in life Kanwaljit Bakshi National List MP

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ational believes New Zealanders deserve high-quality health services and delivering better services remains our top priority.

At the same time, we’re focused on delivering better results for New Zealanders and their families.

That’s why this government has introduced a number of initiatives to give children the best possible start in life.

Around 780,000 children are benefitting from our policy of free GP visits and prescriptions, as

well as free after-hours services for all children aged under 13.

To date, almost 1.23 million influenza vaccines have been distributed across the country, protecting over a quarter of our population.

There has been a significant reduction in national rheumatic fever rates, dropping 45% since 2012. This shows the $65 million investment the government has made to prevent rheumatic fever is making a real difference to the young people, families and communities most at risk.

Good progress is also being made in encouraging primary schools to adopt the Health Promoting Schools programme.

One in three New Zealand school children are either obese

or overweight, and more than a third are inactive. In 2014–15, 11% of all children aged 2–14 years were obese. The figures for Maori and Pacific children showed 15% and 30% respectively.

That’s why the government launched the Childhood Obesity Plan in October 2015. Under the new target by December

2017 we expect that more than 4,000 children a year—95% of children identified as obese— being supported to achieve a healthy weight.

The new Raising Healthy Kids health target will ensure four year olds identified as obese while getting their B4 School Check will be offered a referral to the

services they and their family need to support healthy eating and activity. More than 58,600 children have benefitted from this free check in the last year. Of that, more than 1,400 were referred on for support with healthy eating and activity.

Since the plan was launched in October last, year 94 new schools have signed up to the Health Promoting Schools programme.

We’re now one of the first countries in the OECD to have a target and a comprehensive evidenced based plan to tackle Childhood Obesity. Focusing on results, we are working towards specific, measurable targets to improve the lives of families, particularly the most vulnerable.

Labour’s comprehensive housing plan

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David Shearer Labour MP

ousing has become the major source of contact at my electorate office over the past two to three years, and it’s becoming more critical and urgent.

My staff and I have met with people living in cars, in garages, in boarding houses, and in cold damp houses, all of them desperate to be living somewhere

safe, healthy and suitable, for the sake of their own health, and the health of their children and elderly parents. The National Government has meanwhile sold 2,500 state houses and plans to sell more. The longer they remain

in power, the less there is to offer these desperate people.

Meanwhile, couples and families who have saved hard for a deposit on a home have been dismayed to find the average house price in Auckland lift to

$940,000—a whopping nine times the average household income. In May, the International Monetary Fund credited New Zealand with having the fastest growing gap between house prices and wages.

Because of this, we have an increasing numbers of families stuck in rentals or mortgaged up to their eyeballs, young couples struggling and failing to save a deposit, Generation Rent, and parents worrying about their kids never being able to own their own home.

That’s why Labour last week announced a major new comprehensive housing plan.

It’s bold. Our KiwiBuild programme will build 100,000 affordable homes across New Zealand within 10 years, with 50% of them in Auckland.

They’ll be warm, dry, modern, quality homes, and they’ll be affordable, with standalone houses in Auckland costing $500-$600: well below current market value.

At the same time, we’ll crack down on speculators, banning

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 15 July 2016 non-resident foreign buyers from buying existing New Zealand homes. This will remove people from the market, who have no intention of living here from pushing prices out of reach for first home buyers.

We’ll tax property speculators who on-sell houses within five

years of buying them. This will target those who buy houses with the sole aim of making a quick capital gain. And for those who will never be able to afford a house—many of whom are currently homeless—we’ll end state house sales, remove the imperative for Housing New

Zealand to deliver a dividend, and we’ll increase the number of state houses available for those who need them. New Zealand is not a place where people should have to live out on the streets or in their cars. There are enough resources here for everyone to have a safe place to stay. Finally, we’ll require

all rental homes to be warm, dry and healthy, meeting proper standards in insulation, heating, ventilation, draught-stopping and drainage. This will ensure people who live in them don’t get sick. All our children deserve to be warm and dry in their homes. Placed together, these policies—and

more—comprise Labour’s plan for solving the housing crisis.

When middle New Zealand finds itself kissing goodbye to the Kiwi dream of home ownership, something is dreadfully wrong.

We have a strong plan to address it. The government can’t ignore it any longer.

National’s unwavering commitment to older New Zealanders Parmjeet Parmar

National List MP

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upporting older New Zealanders through better access to public services is one of this government’s main priorities.

Recent claims that the SuperGold card is being killed off are just wrong. In fact, Budget 2016 provides an additional $41 million of operating funding for the scheme over the next four years. This is on top of the baseline funding of $18 million a year, bringing our total annual investment to around $28 million.

We’re committed to ensuring SuperGold card holders continue

to enjoy free off-peak public transport. Recent changes to how the scheme is funded will not change these entitlements.

Over the past few years, costs of maintaining the scheme have increased rapidly due to a growth in the number of people who qualify for the scheme, increased use of the card, and increases in public transport fares.

That’s why, last year, we undertook a review of the public transport concession. We needed to take a look at how best to ensure the long-term viability of the programme while being fair on taxpayers.

The government took the opportunity to wrap funding of the SuperGold scheme into recent changes to bulk fund public transport services, to get better value for money for public

transport services as well as the SuperGold card scheme.

There’s no change whatsoever to the entitlements seniors have.

The new funding model means better value for money, not a reduction in services. Card holders can continue to catch the bus,

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train or ferries at no cost during off-peak hours. There has also been some concern around the switch to smart cards in Auckland.

Again, there is no reduction in the services card holders are entitled to. It is about improving services for those using multiple forms of

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transport in one trip, as well as making collecting data easier.

We will work closely with other councils wanting to adopt similar technology to make the transition for SuperGold users as easy as possible.

Rest assured all SuperGold card holders will be fully informed when any changes are going to occur in their region.

The SuperGold card is just part the government’s package to support older New Zealanders.

We have increased funding for health to a record $16.1 billion.

Superannuation has gone up 34% since 2008 and more businesses than ever are part of the SuperGold scheme.

The broad range of initiatives underway shows that this government remains committed to older New Zealanders.

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15 July 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz

Salary increase to empower teachers

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he Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts, Mahendra Reddy, firmly believes that pay rise of Early Childhood Education teachers who are predominantly females will empower them in their professional and personal lives.

“Early Childhood Education is the first mode of schooling that a child experiences in his/her life.

“It is, therefore, mandatory that this institution prepares a child with the aim of promoting a smooth transition to primary education,” Mr Reddy said.

“Early Childhood Education includes ‘care’ (health, nutrition, protection and childcare in a nurturing environment) and ‘education’ (play, socialisation, guidance and developmental activities).

“All of these are aligned [with] the common goal of forming the core educational patterns that the child will foster in the future.

“ECE teachers, therefore, play a pivotal part in the development of education in our nation as they form that link, which connects the children from their home to school. At the moment, we have 1,130 ECE teachers who are looking after 12,894 students

US journalism student visits Fiji Sun

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ournalism student, Jordan Murray, 24, from the Brigham Young University in Utah, paid a visit to the Fiji Sun office at Walu Bay, Suva on Saturday, July 9, alongside her friend Lexus Toomer.

The visit was part of their summer break trip to Fiji with an organisation called International Help. She said the group consisted of 21 interns from different universities across the United States, who are volunteering in a village in Savusavu.

“I’m grateful to Fiji Sun for allowing us to visit the newsroom and learning how online content plays a critical role is the dissemination of information in Fiji,” she said.

“It is really interesting to see how Fiji Sun media cover the national news every day

Jordan Murry (left) and Lexus Toomer (right) from the US vistied the Fiji Sun office | Photo: Shahani Mala

whereas in the US we have more of the local newspapers covering local content.”

She said their university newspaper, The Daily Universe, is published weekly with online content uploaded daily. “We have different content for our

print and what is uploaded online depending on our targeted audience to stay ahead of competitors,” she said.

Murray is the web supervisor for the newspaper and is hoping to join a media company after graduating in December.

across the country,” he said. Mr Reddy said that they have females who take up ECE teacher roles and they have been the driving force behind the success of children.

“These women have been loyal to their roles even though their pay was not substantial.

“Our government is effectively making progress in making our education sector second to no other in the world and

this development includes ECE Education. The increase in salary will surely empower these ECE teachers and motivate them in the tasks they carry out.

“This will be a win-win situation for all, as higher qualification will lead to higher pay for the teachers and at the same time develop their professional competency and marketability which will support our quality education drive.”

Thirty more new places for scholarships

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he increase in the allocation for the Toppers Scheme by $600,000 for the 2016–2017 National Budget has been welcomed by Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts, Mahendra Reddy.

“An allocation of $10.6m for the Toppers Scheme in the 2016–2017 budget is good news for students in the country,” Mr Reddy said.

“This is an increase of $0.6m from the last budget.

“This addition comes with the initiative to offer 30 more new places under the Toppers scheme, bringing the total now to 630 scholarships to be taken.”

Mr Reddy said the Tertiary Education Loan Scheme and the National Toppers Scheme had grown leaps and bounds since it was initiated in 2014.

“The Tertiary Education Loan Scheme and National Toppers Scheme, which was initiated by our government in 2014, has unlocked numerous doors of opportunities for many aspiring Fijians,” said Mr Reddy.

“This programme was brought in to cancel out the plight of all Fijians who faced lots of difficulties in their quest for higher education.

“We have shifted the load from those parents who were making ends meet just to send their children for tertiary education.

“Some had been taking huge loans and were under so much stress and pressure.

“We promised this support and we have delivered it and be rest assured that this scheme will attain higher benchmarks of service in the future.”

Students learn more about India from visit to centre

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omawai Secondary School is the first school in the country to visit the Indian Cultural Centre in Suva.

The students travelled all the way from Sigatoka as part of their studies about India.

Year 13 student Aselemo Gavidi said, “I am happy to visit Indian Cultural Centre. I am a history and geography student and only have learned about India in my notes.

“But, at the Indian Cultural Centre I have learned more about India,” he said.

Aselemo said he had learned more about the country’s history, especially about their relationship with Fiji.

“I so happy to know that Indian Cultural Centre is offering scholarships to Fijian students to study in India,” he said.

Another Year 12 student, Nepote Dauadawa said that he

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would want to visit India one day. “I am so inspired by the presentation,” he said. “I have learned some new things about India, which I was not aware of,” he said.

Nepote said after completing his Year 13, he would apply for a scholarship and study in India.

Year 10 student Akansha Lata said, “Fiji and India have a historic relationship from the time when the first indentured labours from

India came to Fiji. I have studied about this in my social science subject. I am so happy that our school teachers had organised a field trip,” she said.

Lomawai Secondary School computer teacher Parneel Kumar said the field trip was organised for art students.

“The aim [of] this field trip was for students to know and understand about India.” He said their trip was a successful one for

the students, especially for them to know about the scholarships.

The Indian High Commissioner to Fiji, Vishvas Sapkal, has started this initiative, which will allow schools around the country to visit the Cultural Centre.

Mr Sapkal thanked the Lomawai Secondary School teachers and students for their visit and encouraged other schools to visit the Cultural Centre as well.

Rewa villagers raise $165,000

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he 54 villages in the province of Rewa have surpassed the targeted amount and collected $165,000 during the Rewa Day celebrations at Syria Park, Nausori.

The organising committee had initially targeted $160,000. Chairman and former school principal Pita Tagicakiverata said the amount included a $5,000 contribution from the descendants of the first Girmitiyas who are now officially members of the province of Rewa.

“Our new family members have requested that their $5,000 donation go directly to the education scholarship fund,” he said.

Mr Tagicakiverata also received assurance from them that they would contribute to the fund Source: Fiji Sun

annually. From the total amount collected the provincial levies of the 54 villages will be deducted and given to the Rewa Provincial Council, while the rest will go towards the Rewa Education Scholarship Fund which has been running for 10 years.

The scholarship was primarily for law, medicine, and pilot school studies. Based on a research, Mr Tagicakiverata said these were three professional areas that the province was lagging in. There have been only two lawyers from the province but now they have more than 20 lawyers.

“We are also going to give a share to the Rewa Church circuit. In the district we prioritise the church and education,” he said.

FIJI

www.iwk.co.nz | 15 July 2016

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Our women can, says coach Ryan

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odafone Fijian 7s coach Ben Ryan is optimistic the Telecom Fijiana women’s team will win the first medal for Fiji at the Rio Olympics next month.

Ryan said one of his aims since taking up the coaching role three years ago was to raise the awareness, standard and profile of women’s sports in the country. And he hopes the Fijiana win a first ever medal for Fiji in Rio. “It’s all about the men on what they have done and what they have achieved,” said Ryan. “Everyone talks about the first medal that’s going to be won by a Fijian or Fijian team in the Olympic Games.

“But the girls will finish playing by the time the boys walk onto the field. Our big hope is that the spotlight is whipped away

From left: Fijiana player Brittany Coates, Ben Ryan, Pramesh Sharma diretor of William Gosling, Dave Aidney Managing diretor, Osea Kolinisau, Ropate Kauvesi and Litia Naiqatp with the cheque presentation | Photo: Paulini Ratulailai

from the men’s team as our women win our first medal,” he said.

As for the men, Ryan said having a few days left until the big announcement on Saturday, it will be difficult but has guaranteed the team named will be the best.

“On Friday or Saturday they are going to find out whether they are in the final team,” Ryan said.

“They have dedicated a huge amount of their last few months or last few years trying to get into the team and try to be the first team to represent Fiji in the Olympics to get a medal. I’m very lucky to have these guys part of our training session for another week. It’s going to be a very awkward conversation in the next few days where we will unfortunately break some hearts and make some hearts,” he said.

At a glance: 2016–2017 budget debate Govt to buy stress grading machine

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round $50,000 has been allocated to buy a stress grading machine, Minister for Fisheries and Forests, Osea Naiqamu, said in Parliament on Tuesday, July 12.

The equipment will enable the testing of structural properties of timbers sold in Fiji to comply with new requirements of the National Building Code.

Mr Naiqamu said the Silviculture Research Division at Colo-i-Suva had been allocated with a budget of $0.1million for the renovation of its Entomology Laboratory

and Purchase of Microscope. “Fiji continues to be free of the world’s major forest pests such as mahogany shoot borer and pine syrex,” he said.

People with special needs up: Pillay

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he number of people with special needs continues to increase in Fiji because of accidents and diabetic amputation, says Viam Pillay.

While delivering his response on the 2016–2017 national budget, the MP said there were more than a billion people living with some form of disability around the world. He said hospitals in Fiji had

a high record of amputees particularly those who suffered from complications of non-communicable diseases. He said the government had carefully considered the needs of people with special needs and had ensured to look after them. “This is reflected clearly in the 2016–2017 Budget including government policies and proposed laws,” Mr Pillay said.

$200K for Colombo consultative meet

A

round $200,000 has been allocated for the 45th Colombo Plan Consultative Meeting, which will be held here later this year.

This was revealed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, in Parliament on Tuesday. “We will be hosting the meeting for the first time since we became a member of the Colombo Plan Secretariat in 1972,” he said.

“Spearheaded by our mission in New Delhi, this conference augurs well for multilateral co-operation in the Asia-Pacific region.”

Ratu Inoke said the Colombo Plan was a 27-member regional organisation supporting intergovernmental efforts to strengthen the economic and social development of member countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

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Thought of the week

Two types of people laugh at the law: those that break it and those that make it.

— Terry Pratchett

Editorial

From the desk of the Managing Editor

“

When we think of resources being limited, we often think of our own abilities.

Here, too, our notion of limits may inhibit us. We may push ourselves to what we believe are our limits, in swimming, public speaking, or mathematics.

However, whether they are true limits is not determinable.

It may be in our best interest to proceed as though these and other abilities might be improved upon, so that at least we will not be deterred by false limits. It was once assumed that humans could not run the mile in fewer than five minutes. In 1922 it was said to be ‘humanly impossible’ to run the mile in less than four minutes. In 1952 that limit was broken by Roger Bannister. Each time a record is broken, the supposed limit is extended. Yet the notion of limits persists.”

—Ellen Langer from Mindfulness

I find myself talking a lot about limiting beliefs and breaking through them. The main reason is that I find so many people around me (including me, sometimes), who tend to place these limits upon themselves and seldom try to break through them. I liked the usage of the words “humanly possible” in the above paragraph. Just because it hasn’t been done before, we assume that a limit as been set and that it is impossible to break through it. Yet someone who is willing to stretch themselves often comes along and breaks those barriers. Sometimes I feel we limit ourselves also out of the lack of faith in our abilities. So I can only encourage (and promise to practice) that we do not bind ourselves to restrictions and constantly endeavour to stretch ourselves beyond our limits, for only when we have done that, we have truly lived.

In the same vein, it is heartening to see our very own Helen Clark, who is running for the UN Secretary General, pushing her limits as she confidently goes through the debates and questions put to her. Anyone could have easily chosen to bask in the glory of having led a country for a number of years as prime minister, but she is one such example of people who continue to challenge themselves.

Lately, we have been talking a lot about NZ police. We applaud their recent initiative to support the vulnerable at the Te Puea Marae and bring you a detailed story on it.

Also, starting this week, we bring stories of the police in action in our communities and also share tips for safety so we can build a safer community together.

We are still getting a grasp on how Brexit is going to affect our world and the first example of this comes with Britain getting a new prime minister. Read more on this too.

In Auckland, the new cycleway was inaugurated recently. So as you read more about it, we hope it will encourage a few people to cycle to work. This will not just improve the traffic situation but your health as well. Stay healthy.

Until next time.

Giri Gupta

Pick of the week

In the wake of the ongoing protest in the US against the killing of black men by police, this photo by New Orleans-based photographer Jonathan Bachman’s (Reuters) image from Baton Rouge has stood out and been widely-shared on social media.

Indian Weekender : Volume 8 Issue 17 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 Reporter - South Island: Gaurav Sharma 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.: 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 Indian Weekender is published by Kiwi Media Group, 98 Great South Road, Auckland Printed at Horton Media, Auckland Copyright 2015. Kiwi Media Group. All Rights Reserved.

Māori Phrase: Ira!

English translation: Look at that!

Tip from the trenches

Home remedies to battle the common cold 1. A few slices of raw ginger root in boiling water will help soothe a sore throat 2. Drink tea with honey and lemon 3. Gargle with salt water to prevent upper respirator infections 4. Add pepper on your food 5. Stay hydrated by consuming fluids regularly every day

OPINION/EDITORIAL

www.iwk.co.nz | 15 July 2016

17

Education could be a game changer for India-Australia ties ¡¡Amit Dasgupta

opened up. One of the biggest challenges India faces is the mismatch between the demand for education and its abysmally low supply. Archaic pedagogical techniques, coupled with dodgy fly-by-night education providers, have delinked education from employability. It is no surprise that a large number of the unemployed are, in fact, educated.

It is estimated that by 2020, India

T

he platform for a transformational change in bilateral relations was laid when PM Narendra Modi visited Australia in November 2014. Deviating from the script, he spoke of India-Australia relations as “a natural partnership arising from our shared values and aspirations”. He was not talking about cricket, the Commonwealth or curry.

His visit marked a historic shift from the neglect that had held the bilateral relations hostage for nearly 30 years. When he said that he saw Australia as a major partner in every area of India’s national priority, he was, in fact, changing the vocabulary from the 3Cs to the 3Es: economy, energy and education.

This disruptive transition necessarily requires a shift in mindset from a lukewarm, limited and uninformed engagement to one that is robust, dynamic and aspirational. It needs to be recognised that when Chief Minister Modi became the Prime Minister of India, his government faced developmental challenges.

Among the multiple opportunities that India offers, education has all the ingredients to emerge as a game-changer in bilateral relations

This was further aggravated by the unrealistic expectations in terms of the speed and intensity with which his electoral promise of aache din (better times) would be translated. He was aware of India’s structural and other limitations in being able to achieve this within an abbreviated time-frame.

Consequently, he reached out to the global community. In his view, partnerships require that countries stand together at a moment of enormous opportunity and great responsibility. Among the opportunities that India offers, education has all the ingredients to emerge as a game-

changer in bilateral relations.

India’s demographic trend will soon overtake China as the most populous country. Currently, more than 50% of India’s population is under 25 years of age.

With GDP growth rates set to cross eight per cent through sustained high economic performance, the demand for higher education will consistently grow. Coupled with programmes such as Make in India, Digital India, and Start-up India, possibilities for tie-ups with international institutions that embed education, entrepreneurship and innovation in their teaching pedagogy have

When he said that he saw Australia as a major partner in every area of India’s national priority, he was, in fact, changing the vocabulary from the 3Cs to the 3Es: economy, energy and education. would need 40 million university places, which is an increase of 14 million. While online education might address part of the problem, it is not likely to be the solution.

The sheer magnitude of this opportunity makes it an attractive

business proposition. Statistics suggest that even if India succeeds in achieving its target of 30% gross enrolment rate by 2020 in the tertiary sector, 100 million eligible students would not be admitted to university because of the shortage of seats. This lack of supply and the increasing ability of the middle class to pay for higher education allows for Australian and other world-class education providers to emerge as an alternative.

Innovative ways of collaborating with Indian educational institutions and vocational training centres would need to emerge as the new strategy.

It is no exaggeration to say that the scale of demand in the education sector would be unprecedented. In Modi’s vision, it is this historic challenge that represents the moment of enormous opportunity and a great responsibility for India-Australia relations.

Never before in the history of India-Australia relations has there been such expectation and hope among so many that a new chapter in bilateral relations is about to be written. To lose this opportunity would be a major strategic setback and a platter on offer squandered.

Brexit: Britons deserve better political leadership ¡¡Hardeep S. Puri

T

here are many deeply worrisome aspects of the Brexit, one particularly so. There are fault-lines in the functioning of democracies not only in the United Kingdom but elsewhere as well.

Democracies are anchored in the will of the people. This presumes, at the very least, that the people know what their will is or have been made aware of the consequences of their actions.

Because democracy plays on a dumbed-down, lowest common denominator, this is often not the case.

A discussion on the eve of the Brexit merits recalls the question: what would have a more negative implication for the world, a Brexit in Europe or a Trump victory in the US? The answer, overwhelmingly, was the Brexit. Many believed, prior to the referendum, in a close call in favour of ‘remain’, as the outcome would mean ‘business as usual’. Some of us were less sanguine, not because we predicted Brexit but because a ‘referendum’ is dangerous.

Delusional politicians frame the proposition to be voted, most often, in rather simplistic terms.

Gullible voters, or at least some of them, participate without a full understanding of the matter.

From left to right: Nigel Farage, David Cameron and Boris Johnson

Thus, 52 per cent decided to ‘leave’. Clearly, there had to be fundamental issues responsible for their alienation.

This became evident when the better educated, economically well-off and young people, voted to ‘remain’.

Sensible and mature politics should try to address grievances rather than inflict damage through self-mutilation. Both Brexit and Trump feed on the same anxiety.

Voters in favour of the Brexit were not aware that putting a brake on the number of Poles who can work in the UK cannot co-exist with the economic benefits of a large single market.

The verdict appears irreversible and could be followed by Scotland and Northern Ireland. In an

The advocates of Brexit, Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage, may have won the referendum, but they do not have the administrative acumen to deal with its fallout. opinion piece for the New York Times, Senator Bernie Sanders argued that the Brexit is a wakeup call against the present policies of globalisation. The British, he argued, are not the only ones suffering. The globalised economy, established and maintained by the world’s economic elite, is failing

people everywhere. The world’s top one per cent owns more wealth than the whole of the bottom. One could argue that this is somewhat simplistic. It probably is. The Brexit, nonetheless, is a wakeup call, a reflection of the social exclusion that is an inevitable result of policies that produce inequality.

This, however, requires corrective action, not the overthrow of an entire system.

At the heart of the Brexit fiasco is delusional politics and at the centre of it is the delusional politician. A referendum on the matter was not at all necessary.

It was a short-sighted response against Euro-scepticism for electoral gains. It was similar delusional politics that advocated the “use of force” and the “arming of rebels” in Libya, which led to the country’s eventual unravelling, and the same accounts for the current mess in Syria.

The actions of these advocates resulted in the desperate westward migration that followed. The fear of this inward migration, even when legitimate, has now culminated in the Brexit and the self-mutilation of the United Kingdom.

This is what may be termed Post-Imperial Stress Disorder.

Markets do not like uncertainty even when they can recover. wThe advocates of the Brexit, Boris

Johnson and Nigel Farage, may have won the referendum, but they do not have the administrative acumen to deal with its fallout.

The barely concealed glee, or the “delicious irony”, as some of my friends have chosen to term it, regarding the Brexit among some sections of educated Indians may also turn out to be short-lived.

Many of them have their historical consciousness solely shaped by colonial actions and pontification A ‘referendum’, no matter how many people vote in it, is not one of democracy’s better products.

Neither is a “plebiscite”. Thirdparty mediation, suggested by Britain’s Labour Party in 1995 to resolve the India-Pakistan divide, is also a lousy idea. A bad electoral verdict, on the other hand, can always be corrected.

The UK today has the world’s fifth largest economy and is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. It was never “a third-rate power” as Indian Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral described it in 1997.

Even a truncated United Kingdom will be a force in global politics.

The cost of the adjustment could, however, be painful.

The people of Britain deserve better political leadership. Yet, this may not be forthcoming in the short run.

18

15 July 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

India, Kenya to strengthen defence, healthcare cooperation

O

n Monday, July 11, India and Kenya agreed to boost cooperation in the defence and healthcare sectors even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, without naming Pakistan, said that all those who shelter terrorists should be condemned.

“While we are conscious of our development challenges, (Kenyan) President (Uhuru Kenyatta) and I also share concerns [about] security and stability,” Modi said in a joint press statement with Kenyatta following delegation-level talks.

Following the talks, India and Kenya signed seven agreements, including a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation.

The Prime Minister said that as India and Kenya are connected by the Indian Ocean, both have strong maritime traditions.

“As such, our closer cooperation in the field of maritime security occupies an important place in our overall defence and security

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta witness the signing of agreements, in Nairobi on July 11

engagement,” he said. “The MoU on defence cooperation signed just now would strengthen our institutional cooperation between our defence establishments.”

Modi said that he and Kenyatta recognised that terrorism and the rapid spread of radical ideologies posed a common challenge to the people of both countries, to the region and to the whole world.

Modi also flagged health care as another key area of cooperation between the two countries.

“India’s strength, especially in pharmaceuticals, can join hands

with your priorities to shape an affordable and efficient health care system in Kenya,” he said.

Modi also said that India would soon hand over a Bhabhatron, a state-of-the-art cancer therapy machine made in India, to the Kenyatta National Hospital.

India handed more than 30 field ambulances to the Kenyan Defence Forces. Modi said the historical people-to-people ties between India and Kenya have provided a strong basis for a wide-ranging partnership, which extended “from agriculture

and health to developmental assistance, from trade and commerce to investment, from closer contact between our people to capacity building, from regular political consultations to defence and security cooperation”.

He said India was ready to share its development experiences and expertise, and concessional credit and capacities to assist in Kenya’s development objectives.

Among the agreements signed on Monday, two pertained to lines of credit from India to Kenya—one on the development of various small and medium enterprises and the other on upgrading a textile factory.

Later, addressing students at the University of Nairobi, Modi said that all those who shelter terrorists should be condemned.

“We live in a world where preachers of hate and violence are threatening the fabric of our society,” Modi said. “As young dynamic citizens of Kenya and as members of the African society,

you would need to be watchful of those who spread radical ideologies,” he said.

“And be equally condemning of those who give shelter to terrorists and use them as political instruments.”

The PM said that India wanted a lasting partnership with Africa.

“Let us also not forget that together, India and Africa represent a third of humanity,” he said.

“We want to forge a lasting partnership that does not rely on old models and rules of engagement, one which focuses on and empowers people, one where we share the fruits of each other’s prosperity, one which seizes the opportunities of the 21st century and also responds to its challenges to bring safety and security to our societies.”

Modi said that among the rising African economies, Kenya has been one of the strongest performers.

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www.iwk.co.nz | 15 July 2016

India, Russia resolve to deepen trade ties

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n Monday, July 11, Indian and Russia resolved to strengthen bilateral trade ties and enhance cooperation so that the two countries can play a major role in reviving global growth.

Indian Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met Russian Minister of Trade and Industry Denis Manturov at the venue of Russia’s biggest manufacturing trade fair Innoprom where India is the partner country this year.

“There is a strong potential for growth in India-Russia bilateral trade. Be it high-end engineering or manufacturing, India is moving towards being synonymous [with] quality, reliability and durability,” Sitharaman said according to a statement by India’s commerce ministry.

Sitharaman and Manturov discussed various specifics to further strengthen industrial and trading ties, the statement said.

Later, addressing the India-Russia business forum, Sitharaman invited Russian companies to partner with India so that the two nations “can play a major role in reviving global growth”.

“We will discover the full potential of inter-regional

WhatsApp co-founder invests in Indian firm to push ‘connected cars’

I Indian Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

cooperation. Over the last years, cooperation between Russia and India has grown significantly.

We are ready to intensify our cooperation with all the interested business, investors and financial organisations,” Manturov said addressing the forum.

“India is doing Make in India programme, and its course to open the economy and attract foreign capital makes it interesting for Russian business to invest in your country,” he added.

As many as 110 Indian companies are taking part in Innoprom 2016, including the Department of Heavy Industries, Department of Electronics and IT, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Bharat Forge, Sun Group, NTPC, NHPC and the

Engineering Exports Promotion Council (EEPC).

“We are proud to be the partner country at Innoprom 2016. The Indian companies participating will highlight the strengths in the area of engineering and innovation,” Sitharaman said at the Innoprom inauguration.

Noting that India’s Tata and Sun Groups are exploring investment options in Russia in the natural resources, construction, smart cities and engineering services, Sitharaman said, “Russia is the first country to welcome the ‘Make in India’ programme.”

Manturov said Russia is realising its programme to build industrial and technoparks in 50 regions of the country, like the Skolkovo City near Moscow.

n a move to speed up the availability of internet-connected cars in India, WhatsApp Co-Founder Brian Acton with other global business leaders, on Monday, July 11, announced they will invest an undisclosed amount in Trak N Tell—a Gurgaon-based car tracking telematics solutions start-up. Founded in 2007, Trak N Tell is owned and operated by automotive telematics technology company Bits N Bytes Soft Pvt. Ltd. “We are happy to see rising interest in the ‘connected cars’ space in India. This funding is indicative of the same and a global appreciation of our attempt to endorse the Make In India initiative,” said Pranshu Gupta, CEO of Trak N Tell.

“We will launch a superior safety solution for individual car and bike owners in the country.

Our aim is to offer an Indian version of connected cars that are available in Europe and North America,” he added.

Trak N Tell will deploy the raised funds towards product development and business expansion.

The company currently provides a GPS product that enables car owners and fleet

WhatsApp Co-Founder Brian Acton

owners to track their vehicles. It also allows for predictive engine failure, preventive maintenance notification, fuel monitoring system and more.

“Pranshu has extremely interesting plans for the Indian automotive market and I’m very excited to help him scale his business further as an investor. It is great to be part of Trak N Tell,” added Acton.

According to the global research firm IHS Automotive, 60% of all cars sold in the US (about 10 million) will be connected to the internet by 2017. Globally, it is estimated that there are 23 million connected cars on the road today with projections for 152 million by 2020.

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15 July 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Modi government improving India’s quality of growth: Crisil

Google to train two million mobile developers in India

T

T

he Indian government’s policy focus hasn’t been based on populism or on boosting cyclical growth through fiscal and monetary stimuli, but rather on repairing the system and initiating structural reforms wherever possible, a rating agency said.

“The (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi government’s fiscal policy, encouraged by low crude oil prices, has been quite prudent, and has aimed to improve the quality of spending through better targeting, and scaling up of infrastructure investment while keeping a tab on [the] overall deficit,” Crisil said in a report.

“The monetary policy, too, has focused on ushering in a low and stable inflation regime,” it added.

India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is likely to grow at 7.9% in 2016–17 compared with 7.6% in fiscal 2015–16, provided the monsoon is normal and the global situation does not deteriorate from here, Crisil said.

“The swing factor this fiscal will be monsoon. There were three consecutive weather shocks—two bad monsoons and a spell of unseasonal downpour in March 2015, which affected growth,” it said.

The report ‘Choosing trend over cycle’ that evaluates the quality of growth generated by the Modi-led government, focuses on improving the quality of economic growth, and the potentially disruptive impact

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

of digitalisation. “Structurally positive steps have been taken such as to mend the electricity and banking sectors, but these remain work in progress,” the rating agency said.

“The government has also managed to pass two key Bills—the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Bill, 2016, which strives to create an enabling environment for expeditious resolution of bankruptcies with least pain to stakeholders, and the Aadhaar Bill to distribute subsidies, rural wages and pensions through an electronic platform,” the report noted.

The government has also been quick to

board the technology bandwagon with its Digital India programme, which aims to speed up financial inclusion and deliver government services electronically by increasing internet connectivity and improving online infrastructure, the report stated.

“And unlike China, current growth in India is not supported by rampant credit creation.

“Domestic credit growth has averaged 9.8% in the last two years, almost in lockstep with 10.2% nominal GDP growth, underscoring sustainability,” the report added.

IBM, NCSTC launch online STEM resource training for teachers

O

n Monday, July 11, US tech giant IBM and the National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) launched online STEM (science, technology engineering, and mathematics) resource training for teachers at an event.

The three-day STEM summit was designed to enable effective partnerships with government and non-government organisations, empowering teachers with project-based STEM lessons and engaging teaching strategies that help inspire students to pursue careers in STEM. IBM has developed a free

online resource for teachers that includes high-quality STEM lesson plans.

“IBM, through the ‘Teachers TryScience,’ is directly involved in the education arena to inspire and enable tomorrow’s innovators. ‘Teachers TryScience’ is a great way to introduce teachers to classroom innovations that increase student interest and achievement in STEM disciplines,” said Mamtha Sharma, Head-Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs, IBM India.

Teachers TryScience has been introduced to thousands of teachers in various state schools, along with Kendriya Vidyalaya

Sangathan, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti schools and prestigious universities such as Savitribai Phule Pune University.

Teachers are one of the important partners in the endeavour of taking the message of science among varied target groups, including students.

“The council through its initiatives [such as] the National Children Science Congress, National Teachers’ Science Congress, training and field programmes for science communication aims to achieve its objectives,” said Dr B.P. Singh, Scientist and Head, NCSTC, Department of Science and Technology.

echnology giant Google, on Monday, July 11, launched its Android Skilling and Certification programme to help make the country a global hub for high-quality mobile developers.

The programme aims to train two million mobile developers by unveiling a slew of initiatives to skill up, educate and certify millions of talented students and developers in Android development.

“With nearly four million developers, India is expected to have largest developer population globally by 2018. But today, only 25% of them are building for mobile,” Caesar Sengupta, Vice President (Product Management) at Google, said.

India is uniquely placed to innovate and shape the internet experience of billions of users “who are and will come online on the mobile platform,” he added.

Google also launched an instructor-led training programme on Android fundamentals to provide an in-person training to students in universities. In addition to all public and private universities and training institutes of the National Skill Development Corporation of India, the course will be available free of charge on NTPEL (an initiative of IITs and IISc) as part of its online Mobile Computing course, starting from July 18.

Google has tied up with training partners such as Edureka, Koenig and UpGrad, who will operate as authorised Android training partners in India to help Google train the trainers and update Android courseware to prepare students for Android certification.

Google also announced the launch of its globally recognised job-oriented Associate Android Developer Certification exam that will help candidates get an entry-level Android developer job.

“We introduced the Android Nanodegree programme in India last year with Udacity and today, we have [more than] 11,500 students in India enrolling every month in our courses,” said Peter Lubbers, Head of Google Developer Training.

Google will also open-source all Android Developer Fundamentals practicals and courseware and make these available to everyone for free.

Mukherjee confers 51st Jnanpith Award on Raghuveer Chaudhari

O

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MAHESH BINDRA BASED IN AUCKLAND

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

Authorised by Mahesh Bindra, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

n Monday, July 11, President Pranab Mukherjee conferred the 51st Jnanpith Award on renowned writer from Gujarat, Raghuveer Chaudhari, saying he represents the fluid brilliance that characterises India’s pluralistic literary genius.

“It is indeed an example of his brilliant fluidity that an author, who strove to master Hindi academically, expressed himself in Gujarati in his literary pursuit.

“His literary work has explored varied genre of poetry, prose, novels, and fictions as also commentary on contemporary issues,” Mukherjee said at the award function. He said that mortal beings do not remain but their creations remain for a long time and therein lies the success of a master creator.

“There is need to propagate the literature in India and take the creative genius of Indian languages to the world audience,” he said. On the occasion, Mukherjee also recalled the contributions of Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain and Rama Jain, whose efforts in promoting Indian languages and literature and establishing the Bhartiya Jnanpith remain a shining example.

Chaudhari’s most significant contributions have been in Gujarati language but he has also written Hindi articles. He had also received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1977, for his novel trilogy Uparvas.

INDIA ABROAD

www.iwk.co.nz | 15 July 2016

Website to preserve history of WWI Sikh soldiers

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s the world marks the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, one of the bloodiest battles in human history, hitherto unknown tales of Sikhs during The Great War (1914–18) are being captured for the first time using the latest in mapping technology and a crowd-sourcing initiative to preserve family stories that were at risk of being lost forever.

Thanks to the launch of a website titled ‘Empire, Faith & War: The Sikhs and World War One’ (empirefaithwar.com ), funded in the main by a grant of 448,500 pounds ($583,000/Rs 4 crore) from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), the remarkable contribution of Sikhs to the First World War will be placed within the wider narrative of how the first global conflict in history pulled in men, money and materials from around the world—most notably for the British Empire, from India, and in particular the northern state of Punjab.

“The endeavour by the UK Punjab Heritage Association (UKPHA) represents a major shift of emphasis from institutional or historian-led research and interpretation to a community-focused drive to tell a story that would otherwise remain a footnote in history,” said Amandeep Madra, the UKPHA chair.

Despite accounting for less than one per cent of the population of India at that time, Sikhs made up nearly 20% of British

A screen shot of the website empirefaithwar.com

Indian armed forces at the outbreak of hostilities. Indian troops overall comprised one in every six of Britain’s wartime forces.

It’s not surprising, therefore, that many Sikh families in Britain have a wartime connection but their stories—including those of turbaned Sikh cavalrymen at the Somme—have mostly remained hidden and undocumented until now.

At the heart of the website is a new database that will be used to collect and share previously untold accounts of Sikh soldiers. Significantly, in order to create as

complete a picture as possible of the Sikh experience of the war, the database will also include details of those alongside whom the Sikhs fought, the families that they left behind and those in the community who opposed the conflict.

The results will be displayed on an interactive ‘Soldier Map’, created using Google Maps technology. Records are pinpointed to a soldier’s place of birth— inevitably somewhere in or near the undivided Punjab—rather than to where they may have fought or died.

So far, nearly 8,000 records of Sikhs killed in action—taken from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) casualty database—have been pinned on the map.

The striking geographical picture that emerges reveals patterns of recruitment into the British Indian Army a century ago, reflecting the fact that recruits from the state of Punjab represented around half of its wartime strength.

The map and database represent the culmination of UKPHA’s three-year-long ‘Empire, Faith & War’ (EFW) project, which has already inspired more than 200 families to tell the story of their ancestors.

Such accounts were at risk of being lost forever as older generations passed away.

The association is calling out to Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike to step forward as Citizen Historians and help create a virtual memorial and legacy. “By combining family memories and memorabilia with archival records, this collectively curated community endeavour will create a unique, definitive, database of the Sikh experience of WW1 for families, researchers and historians to freely access, add to and make use of,” Madra said.

Also presented for the first time on the website are the voices of two veterans in the form of revelatory audio interviews recorded over 30 years ago by historian and author Charles Allen.

Indo-Canadian Sikh student selected for Arctic expedition

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14-year-old Indo-Canadian Sikh student has been selected to take part in the prestigious Students on Ice Arctic Expedition, media reported.

Beginning July 21, Abhayjeet Singh Sachal will travel along with a team of more than 100 high-school and university students from around the world to the eastern Canadian Arctic and western Greenland, in an expedition that will continue up to August 5. Sachal was conferred $11,900 scholarship from the US Embassy for the expedition.

“This expedition will allow me to explore my passion for learning about the dynamics about climate change, delve into my passion for scientific research, and will give me an adventure of a lifetime,” Sachal, who is a Grade 10 student at Seaquam Secondary School in British Columbia, was quoted as saying.

“Upon my return, I will share my knowledge with the community in order to implement the changes that we need,” Sachal added. The participants, who will

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be guided by a team of scientists, artists and educators, will also visit remote Arctic communities, observe wildlife, hike through Auyuittuq National Park. Students on Ice (SOI), which began nearly 16 years ago, is a foundation that educates the world’s youth about the importance of the Polar Regions.

Since then more than 2,500 students and educators from 52 countries have participated in SOI’s such expeditions.

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15 July 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Theresa May, daughter of Vicar, set to govern Britain

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n Monday, July 11, British Home Secretary Theresa May was confirmed as the new leader of the Conservative Party with “immediate effect” and set to succeed David Cameron as Prime Minister of Britain.

Cameron announced his resignation on June 24. Graham Brady, the chairman of the Conservative 1922 committee that oversaw the leadership campaign confirmed that May, the only remaining candidate in the Tory leadership battle, is now the new leader of the party “with immediate effect”.

The announcement came after outgoing Prime Minister David Cameron confirmed that May will be his successor as leader of the Conservative Party, and decided to step down to pave the way for her to become the next British Prime Minister. Cameron offered his resignation to Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday, July 13.

He said a “prolonged period of transition” was not necessary.

“So tomorrow (Tuesday), I will chair my last cabinet meeting.

On Wednesday I will attend the House of Commons for Prime Minister’s Questions.

After that I expect to go to the Palace and offer my resignation,” BBC quoted him as saying. Earlier in the day, Leadsom withdrew

Theresa May set to succeed David Cameron as Britain Prime Minister

David Cameron

from the race to become Britain’s next Prime Minister, saying that May is “ideally placed to implement Brexit on the best possible terms for the British people”.

“I wish Theresa May the very greatest of success, I assure her of my full support,” Efe news quoted her as saying. In a brief statement outside 10 Downing Street, Cameron said Leadsom had made “absolutely the right decision” to stand aside and that he was “delighted” May, the Home Secretary, was to succeed him.

and an MP for Maidenhead from 1997, May became famous in early years in politics for her exuberant choice of footwear.

Her vicar father died following a car crash when she was only 25.

May’s middle-class background is said to be more in keeping with the last female occupant of Downing Street, Margaret Thatcher (1979–90).

May went to Oxford University for studies. There, she met her husband Philip, a president of the Oxford Union, in 1976.

Media reports say they were introduced at a Conservative disco by Benazir Bhutto, another student who would later go on to become the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

May will be the oldest leader

The new Britain PM Theresa May, who supported the “remain” vote during the UK

referendum on its membership of the European Union will be the second female British Prime Minister.

Theresa May is the daughter of a Church of England vicar and has been often compared with Margaret Thatcher, who was the was Prime Minister of Britain from 1979 to 1990.

Even before entering Downing Street, May, now 59, made history by becoming the longest serving Home Secretary in more than 100 years.

No wonder, she won substantial support from her Conservative party in the leadership race, polling 199 votes to her rival and Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom’s 84. Holding the post of Home Secretary since 2010

US attorney general defends decision on Clinton e-mail probe

U

S Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Tuesday, July 12, steadfastly defended her decision not to charge Hillary Clinton in her e-mail investigation, but also refused to discuss details of the case despite Congressional Republicans’ grilling.

“I accepted that (FBI) recommendation.

“I saw no reason not to accept it,” said Lynch at a House Judiciary Committee hearing.

“The matter was handled like any other matter,” she added.

After a year-long federal investigation into whether Clinton had mishandled classified information during her stint in the US State Department, FBI Director James Comey announced on July 5 his agency would not recommend any criminal charges against Clinton while blasting Clinton and her senior aides as being “extremely careless” in handling sensitive information, Xinhua reported.

One day later, Lynch announced the Justice Department’s decision to end the investigation with no criminal charges after

Attorney General Loretta Lynch speaks at the U.S. Justice Department in Washington, D.C

her meeting with Comey. The announcement immediately drew criticism from Republicans and raised concerns that Clinton was treated on a double standard.

However, Lynch on Tuesday refused to discuss details on the federal investigation into Clinton’s e-mail practices despite Congressional Republicans’ request for more details of her decision.

“While I understand that this investigation has generated significant public interest, as attorney general, it would be inappropriate for me to comment

further on the underlying facts of the investigation or the legal basis for the team’s recommendation,” said Lynch.

Lynch’s hearing came five days after Comey underwent a marathon congressional hearing, in which the FBI director in a rare move offered detailed information on the case.

It was during that hearing Comey confirmed to US lawmakers that while the FBI found no basis to conclude that Clinton had lied to the FBI, some of the former US secretary of state’s e-mail defences were false.

to enter Downing Street since James Callaghan in 1976 and will be the first Prime Minister since Ted Heath who does not have children.

May, who has become a role model for aspiring female MPs, told prospective candidates before the 2015 election: “There is always a seat out there with your name on it.”

In politics, her stand on social issues gained her more prominence.

She backed same-sex marriage, said in 2012 that the legal limit for abortion should be lowered from 24 to 20 weeks and, along with most Conservative MPs, voted against an outright ban on fox hunting.

And with a strong personality, she firmly ruled out bringing forward the day of the next election, set for May 2020.

May has pledged to forge a new role for Britain outside the European Union.

One of the biggest problems she faces is the new trade arrangements her government will have to strike up with the European Union and with other countries.

One of her first major decisions is to invoke Article 50 of the 2007 Lisbon Treaty to set in motion the process of the country’s exit from the EU.

Australia to use underwater robot to explore Antarctic

A

ustralia’s Tasmania state will soon take delivery of a new, world-class underwater robot, which will help scientists explore new parts of the Antarctic environment.

The autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), known as the Explorer, is capable of diving to depths of 5,000 metres and travelling more than 100 km under metres of thick ice, Xinhua news agency reported.

The AUV, built by Canadian firm International Submarine Engineering (ISE), will arrive in Tasmania in early 2017.

The robot will be programmed to collect physical data from floating sheets of ice along the coast of Antarctica. This will help scientists reveal some of the mysteries of the Antarctic environment, including its impact on the global climate.

The AUV is funded by the Antarctic Gateway Partnership, an $18 million initiative that aims to provide new insights into the role of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean in the global climate system, and by the Australian Maritime College (AMC), a specialist institute of the University of Tasmania. AMC Principal Professor Neil Bose said the ISE contract would put

The autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), known as the Explorer, is capable of diving to depths of 5,000 metres and travelling more than 100 km under metres of thick ice

Tasmania in a great position to become a global leader in underwater robotics.

“We are very pleased to have awarded the contract for our new flagship AUV to ISE. Their Explorer AUV is the most capable in the world for use under sea ice and will allow us to capitalise on the robotic age of Antarctic exploration,” Bose said in a media release on Monday, July 11.

“The Explorer will join a fleet of similar underwater robots in a $750,000 state-of-the-art facility due to open at AMC in spring 2016. This world-class AUV hub will put AMC and Tasmania at the cutting-edge of research in this field and enable us to undertake a range of academic, defence and industry partnered projects.”

23

www.iwk.co.nz | 15 July 2016

Portugal beats host France 1–0 to win Euro 2016

T

he Portugal team, without Cristiano Ronaldo, upset hosts France 1–0 in extra time of a breathtaking Euro 2016 final to clinch their first major football title at the Stade de France.

It was substitute forward Eder who fired the winning shot from outside the box in the 109th minute, ending a match in which a dominant France failed to capitalise on the absence of Ronaldo who had to leave the pitch weeping in the 25th minute due to an injury.

Ronaldo, the leader of the Portuguese team, got an injury only seven minutes into the game when French midfielder Dimitri Payet put in a challenge on him and caught him with the follow-through.

Although the Real Madrid star goal-poacher continued playing for some time, he had to be replaced by Ricardo Quaresma in the 25th minute.

The injury cast a shadow over the match.

France were back in possession, and they tried to apply the same plan they had used to knock out Germany and Iceland— high precision and speed. Right from the start they had Portugal on the defensive, but the first half ended scoreless.

Above: It was party time in the Portuguese capital on Sunday, July 10, as tens of thousands of fans celebrated their country’s first-ever Euro victory Right: Cristiano Ronaldo kisses the Henri Delaunay trophy

Midfielder Moussa Sissoko made several flash runs as he injected a sudden burst of pace to send himself through. Besides Sissoko, Antoine Griezmann, who had scored six times to take the Golden Boot of the tournament, was a huge threat to Portugal.

Once, he was set up just in front of the goal but he misdirected a header.

Not much changed in the second half either, with the French depending on Matuidi and Sissoko while Portugal’s Pepe provided leadership as the team defended tenaciously, slowed the

game down and tried to survive until they could put together some kind of scoring combination.

André-Pierre Gignac for France hit the side bar minutes before the 90 minutes of play and in the extra time, Raphaël Guerreiro, Portugal’s left-back, struck the cross-bar with a free-kick.

It was then that 28-year-old Eder fired his blast that salvaged the match for Portugal.

The Lille forward took a pass from Joao Moutinho in the 109th minute, cut onto his right, and unleashed the perfect strike from 25 yards towards the near-corner,

Murray wins second Wimbledon crown ¡¡S. Rajesh

A

ndy Murray won his second Wimbledon title beating Canadian Milos Raonic 6–4, 7–6(3), 7–6(2) in two hours and 48 minutes on Sunday, July 10, at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London.

Murray has been for long the less accomplished member of the so-called ‘Big Four’ who have all won the Career Grand Slam and at least a dozen slams.

But this was the first time he was under the pressure of being the favourite in a Grand Slam final and not facing a player other than Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer.

Murray started well and broke in the seventh game of the first set. In the second set, he had a few chances to break the Raonic serve but he staved them off with some aggressive tennis including big serves and volleys.

The World No. 2 showcased excellent defensive skills, strong

Andy Murray kisses the trophy after his Wimbledon win

return and also served big when he had to.

The third set too went to a tie-break after Raonic missed a couple of breakpoints.

Murray dominated the tiebreak hitting some wonderful winners to complete a straight forward win.

“It is different. I feel happier this time. You know, I feel like

this was sort of more for myself than anything, and my team as well,” Murray said.

“We’ve all worked really hard to help get me in this position.

You know, last time it was just pure relief, and I didn’t really enjoy the moment as much, whereas I’m going to make sure I enjoy this one more than the others,” he added.

beating a stretched France keeper and captain Hugo Lloris.

The statistics showed that France had the upper hand with 56% ball possession and seven on-target shots. But Portugal keeper Rui Patricio performed brilliantly to deny the hosts a

victory. The tough duel witnessed six yellow cards for Portugal and four for France.

This was the fourth meeting between Portugal and France in a major tournament. France have won the previous three, all in semi-finals—Euro 1984, Euro 2000 and the 2006 World Cup. Portugal coach Fernando Santos said, “I’ve always told the players that we’ve got great talent but we need to fight more than our opponents, run more than them and concentrate more than them. We have an amazing group.”

The 61-year-old spoke highly of Ronaldo, “Our captain made a fantastic effort during this competition. He was criticised many times but he showed a fantastic team spirit.

“Twice, he tried everything that was humanly possible to get back into the game but it wasn’t possible,” Santos added.

On the other hand, France coach Didier Deschamps was disappointed. “This is a big knock on the head,” he rued.

Reflecting on what went wrong, Deschamps said: “We threw away a great chance to be European champions.

Clearly, we had our opportunities and we weren’t clinical enough.

Kohli has created a positive environment in the side: Mishra

H

ailing Test skipper Virat Kohli’s positive mindset, leg-spinner Amit Mishra on said the Delhi batsman has infused a new and positive environment into the Indian cricket team. “(Virat) Kohli is a positive person and he has created a similar positive environment within the team. He always supports me. There are no boundaries. Whenever I want to share something with him, I am free to express my opinion,” Mishra, who is presently away in West Indies for the Test series, said.

“He tells me, ‘You’re a wicket taking bowler and that is what you must do. You stay positive and stick to your strengths. Do not think about anything else’.”

Mishra believes the past experience of having played here and the guidance of new head coach and legendary leggie Anil Kumble will help him in the upcoming matches.

“Yes, the experience is going to help. I have played only one Test, but played more one-day cricket in the Caribbean. Anil bhai is

Virat Kohli

with us (as head coach) and his experience is going to matter a lot.

He has played here and he keeps telling us about the conditions.

We will utilise his experience and form a strategy together,” Mishra stated.

Asked what suggestions he takes from Kumble, the 33-yearold said, “There are many things that he tells me like my bowling technique, landing and finishing.

Looking at the wicket, he tells me what are the areas where I can bowl and the kind of fields that I can set on a slow wicket.”

24

15 July 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Colouring

Mr. monkey is hungry!

Help him get to his banana

The fox in the cart

The wolf ran ahead of the cart and lay fox, observing a fish cart coming, lay down down in its path, and pretended to be dead. pretending to The cart man, tempted by the idea of be dead. The making some money by selling the fox’s fur, cart man was picked up the animal by its tail and flung it into delighted to find the back of the cart among the fish. another animal to Then he resumed his journey. The fox ate his sell, but he found the animal too heavy to lift. fill of the fish and jumped out of the cart.

So he pushed it into a sack, tied the sack to his A wolf saw him jumping out and asked him cart and dragged it away. what he had been doing in it. The fox told him Moral: What works for one may notwork for and also how he had got into it in the another first place.

A

Connect the dots. Number 1-30

Did you know A bolt of lightning is about six times hotter than the sun

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

Australia is the only country that occupies an entire continent

Bloodhounds can follow a scent that is four days old

25

www.iwk.co.nz | 15 July 2016

Safer Communities Together New Zealand Police works with the community to make New Zealand safe and secure for its citizens. We seek to prevent crime, improve public security and detect offenders. The unwavering commitment of NZ police officers to provide service to the New Zealand public helps in maintaining the law and order in the country. As a part of the NZ Police force, we are actively involved with the community to ensure that we address the grievances of the citizens. Below are two incidents that took place last week in Auckland where NZ police officers successfully nabbed the offenders. ¡¡ Sergeant Gurpreet Arora

District Ethnic Services Coordinator, Counties Manukau

enquiries resulted in the police locating two suspects who have been charged with aggravated robbery.

Police in community

Police in action

O

n July 9, at about 4:11 p.m., three men and a woman entered a discount store in Pukekohe.

One of the men, who was carrying a knife, walked around the counter to the server’s side and approached both victims who were standing behind the counter.

He threatened one of the servers and instructed them to open the cash till. The victim complied and the man stole cash and tobacco packets from the cigarette cabinet. He ran from the store along with the other offenders.

Police were called and subsequent enquiries led to the police locating and apprehending the people involved in the incident. They have since been charged with the aggravated robbery at the store. In another incident, on July 6, at about 9:30 a.m., the victim was working at a dairy in Paerata.

There was another attendant present in the store. At this time, three people entered the store, one of whom was carrying a weapon. The offenders went behind the counter and demanded that the victim open the cash register. One shop attendant was threatened with the weapon and the other was assaulted.

The offenders fled from the store in a car that was located shortly afterwards by police and towed for further investigation.

Subsequent

In an endeavour to improve community engagement and also make it easy and open to members of the community to approach and speak to Police, officers are regularly engaged in attending community events.

Police officers recently attended two events and interacted with the community.

• Eid celebrations: Counties Manukau Police attended and celebrated Eid with Muslim brothers and sisters at a Mosque in Otahuhu and would like to wish Muslim community, Eid Mubarak.

• Recruitment: Counties Manukau Police engaged with aspirants from South Asian community who wished to join NZ Police at the recruitment seminar on Saturday, July 9.

Prevention tips It is all about safety in the community and therefore we wish to share some prevention tips regularly with our readers to ensure they are more aware and informed, which directly relates to their safety.

• Retail Safety: Retailers are encouraged to know their neighbours so that they can assist each other in case of an emergency. Call 111 if you see any suspicious individuals or vehicles hanging around your shops.

• Valuables: Record the serial numbers of jewellery and expensive electronic items and photograph these and other valuables. You can store these details online at www.snap.org.nz • Audible alarms: Retailers are encouraged to install loud audible alarms. Testing of these alarms during installation is a good idea to let the local criminals know that there is a loud audible alarm installed. This alarm together with the interaction with surrounding neighbours will work well as a deterrent and contingency plan if there is an attempt.

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15 July 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

By Manisha Koushik

Manisha Koushik is the talented daughter and associate of world renowned celebrity astrologer Dr Prem Kumar Sharma. 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. 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 Mobile/Whatsapp: +919015607139

Weekly forecast: JUly 15 to July 21 ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

A joyous occasion will soon be here, so expect much fun. You are likely to feel nice about doing a good turn to someone. Some of you may get a chance to let your hair down and relax.

Professional backlog is likely to be cleared at work.

You may call lover over to someplace exclusive to enjoy togetherness. Old dues will be settled as you manage your finances well. Property issues will be settled in your favour.

Lucky No.: 8 / Lucky Colour: White

You may have to hurry if you don’t want to miss the deadline on the academic front. A change of scene will help you unwind. Those on a journey will make a good time. House hunters will find something that will suit their needs. Your efficiency will help clear the backlog, but don’t expect the workload to decrease on the professional front.

You will have to be cautious in your spending as your financial front is still a bit unstable.

There is something happening on the work front that may not entirely be to your liking, but little you can do about it. You will be able to keep your monetary front stable by controlling spending. A pending payment is likely to be received. You may go in for a lifestyle change for the sake of health and benefit. Increased daily chores may bug some homemakers. Something can go wrong on the academic front if you are not careful.

Lucky No.: 17 / Lucky Colour: Lavender

Lucky No.: 4 / Lucky Colour: Violet

There is an excellent opportunity coming your way, so expect to make a kill! Your reputation is set to enhance on the professional front. The previous performance promises to bring you recognition on the academic front. You may find some lucrative investment schemes and reap rich dividends. You will be able to keep yourself slim and trim by regular exercises. Those seeking love are likely to get encouraged by positive signals. An exciting trip by road is possible.

Lucky No.: 9 / Lucky Colour: Maroon

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

Don’t take someone for granted, as he or she may put your plans in jeopardy. You are likely to put a stop to your depleting financial resources by taking some stringent measures. Aches and pains suffered by some are likely to disappear soon. Those awaiting orders may feel a bit frustrated by the tardy pace. Keep seniors informed before taking any action at work as you can be made a scapegoat.

Expect a good time on the romantic front.

Lucky No.: 1 / Lucky Colour: Pink

You will get all the support you require in completing a task. This is an excellent time for those trying to make a long-term relationship permanent. A sightseeing tour may be organised by your institute or organisation. Someone new may join your setup and prove an asset.

Government officials will get the opportunity to put their best foot forward. Construction or renovation of house is foreseen for some. You will definitely do something about your fitness.

Lucky No.: 11 / Lucky Colour: Light Pink

This is the best time to learn new skills, as they will help you to move up the corporate ladder. An ailment is likely to show signs of abating. Something that you have put your money in may prove a financial boon. A job accomplished on the academic front is likely to be appreciated. Love blossoms and will make your love life cruise along smoothly.

You may derive much satisfaction in helping out someone on the social front.

Lucky No.: 8 / Lucky Colour: White

Something you want may not materialise and frustrate you. Your initiative at work is likely to bear mixed results. Attending seminars or visiting establishments may make office work pile up. You may try to recover money from someone, but your efforts may be in vain. Some of you may resolve to undertake stringent measures to remain slim and trim. It will be in your interest to resolve family issues within the family. A short trip is possible.

Lucky No.: 9 / Lucky Colour: Rosy Brown

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

This is the time when you are likely to take an initiative on the social front. A present set-up on the work front will not be to your liking, but you will not be able to do much about it. Someone’s help will prove a boon on the academic front. A fight or argument may ensue on the home front and threatens to spoil the domestic atmosphere. Tensions on the romantic front may give some sleepless nights.

Lucky No.: 17 / Lucky Colour: Dark Green

Your expertise in your field is likely to be praised on the professional front. Financial front grows strong as good returns from past investments are received. A respite from bodily ailments is foreseen as the phase of perfect health commences.

Steering a social event to success at may put a feather in your cap. An outing will be quite rejuvenating. Those trying their luck on the love front are likely to find success at last!

No.: 5 / Lucky Colour: Bottle Green

Someone trying to impose upon you may unsettle you, but not for long. Offending someone on the professional front cannot be ruled out. You may not be able to deliver what you had promised on the business front. Someone may default in repaying you a loaned amount. This is not the best time to invest in a scheme that seems lucrative.

Be prepared to face some complications on the family front. An outing will be a nice change.

Lucky No.: 4 / Lucky Colour: Navy Blue

This is the time when you may become the centre of attraction by gaining sympathy. Professionally, you remain much in demand. Smooth operations are foreseen at work. Investing in something new is likely to prove profitable. Those worried about their health can relax, as they remain hale and hearty.

Your efforts to appease lover will meet with instant success! Efforts put on the academic front will bring most promising results. Listen to others before acting.

Lucky No.: 2 / Lucky Colour: Lavender

(March 21-April 20)

(April 21-May 20)

(May 21-June 21)

(August 24-Sep 23)

(July 23-August 23)

(Sep 24-October 23)

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(Dec 22-January 21)

(Nov 23-December 11)

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www.iwk.co.nz | 15 July 2016

Ladies! Forget your jeans; it is time for denim couture

¡¡Swati Sharma

Denim is certainly the most fuss-free dressing option for casual events, but what if you can try out the same clothing trend for your cocktail events? Denim dresses are the most gung-ho dressing option, as they come in flattering shapes, play nice with every body type, and are wearable throughout the year. Whether you are in the mood for a new twist on silhouettes or want to stand out, denim dresses will surely be your new favourite. They are manageable and très-comfortable. If you are still not convinced about choosing a denim gown or dress for your next special occasion, our compilation this week of the best denim dresses will inspire you on how to do denim with style.

Jaime King looks stunning in this Alexa Chung x AG Julie denim dress with those long, black Chanel boots.

This vintage-inspired, buttonfront closure dress with front slant pockets is for all those on-the-go ladies. This classic denim with a defined waist and a front slit gives a super-flattering shape. And finally, complete the look with the sadey heels.

Caroline Trentini in this Olivier Theyskens denim gown with embroidered lace top will give you serious dressing goals.

Veronika Heilbrunner in this shirtdress looks stunningly striking. This denim dress, when worn with a metal choker and soft-coloured leather jacket, will definitely make for a style symbol. The heavy boots won’t hurt either.

This cotton denim dress with twin side patch pockets, round neck and short sleeves is a perfect outfit for those casual get-togethers.

So, ladies, it is time to pack those denim jeans for a while and look smokin’ hot in the latest denim couture.

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15 July 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

SULTAN: towers over you emotionally ¡¡Troy Ribeiro

S

ultan is a fictional and inspirational tale of a wrestler. In fact, it is his love story.

Designed in the template of a sports drama, the film is packed with emotional tropes. The plot is predictably staid, yet engaging.

It highlights issues such as the girl child, love, arrogance and confidence.

Set in Rewari in Haryana, Sultan (Salman Khan) is an unfocussed simpleton who woos Aarfa Husain (Anushka Sharma), a promising wrestler. When she makes him realise that he has no goal in life and hence no identity, he takes it upon himself to prove his mettle.

He works toward becoming, “Sultan—The World Wrestling Champion; King of the ring”. But the narrative goes beyond this.

It pushes Salman Khan’s Being Human agenda as well.

While Sultan’s tale is engrossing, director Ali Abbas Zafar’s screenplay definitely seems old-fashioned and one-dimensional, where most scenes are constructed to show

Sultan suffering. Narrated in a non-linear format and the dialogue: Doctor ki biwi doctor, aur pehelwan ki biwi pehelwan, which surfaces in the initial scenes, is confusing as the screenplay depicts Sultan already as an established wrestler.

Relief comes in the form of comic moments generated from dialogues and typical Salman Khan-ish humour.

Sultan belongs to Salman Khan.

He has tried hard to physically and mentally transform himself as Sultan. With his posture, gait, speech, bruised face and flexing muscles, he portrays the character’s emotional anguish in every scene—be it in the wrestling arena or when he is pining for his wife Aarfa. But then he is an extension of himself, the charismatic Salman Khan.

On screen, he lacks energy and looks fatigued. Anushka Sharma as Aarfa is effortlessly charming and her on screen chemistry with Salman has its awkward moments, which is camouflaged skillfully within the narrative. Randeep Hooda in a minuscule and poorly etched

role as Fateh—Sultan’s freestyle wrestling coach—is perfunctory and wasted. Anant Sharma as Sultan’s buddy Govind, Kumud Misra as Aarfa’s father Barkat Ali and Amit Sadh as Akash Oberoi the sports promoter, have their moments of on screen glory.

On the technical front, the film has good production values.

Production designer Rajnish Hedao’s sets are brilliant and they are realistically captured

by Artur Zurawski’s dramatic

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cinematography. He also captures Sultan in dramatic frames that boost his star image, like; him racing the train, doing pushups above the gushing waters of a canal and pulling the tractor.

Unfortunately, these training images seem generic and have been done to death.

The well executed wrestling scenes are pumped up with passionate and brilliantly calibrated background score.

Especially the lyrics, Khoon

mein hai mitti aur mitti mein tera khoon, Yeh Sultan, with its adrenaline rushing tenor, effectively boost the viewing experience.

Overall, Sultan captures your heart with Salman’s aura and persona and the emotional quotient, but one wished it was a little more crisp and taut.

Director: Ali Abbas Zafar Cast: Salman Khan, Anushka Sharma, Randeep Hooda Rating: 3/5

29

www.iwk.co.nz | 15 July 2016

Don’t want to repeat myself as actor: Jimmy

Stage gives me great sense of belonging: Anupam

V

eteran Bollywood actor Anupam Kher, also a theatre artiste, says the stage gives him a “great sense of belonging”. Anupam, who performed his famous play

such as Bobby, Hum Kisise Kum Naheen, Amar Akbar Anthony, Chandni, Damini and Do Dooni Chaar has also been invited at the festival as the chief guest.

emotional joy ride.

I live just to be able to experience such moments! What outstanding compositions Sanjay Bhansali sir has made for#Padmavati. Sang with all heart,” the singer said in a statement.

The singer won all the major music awards for Deewani Mastani from Bhansali’s last release Bajirao Mastani.

Wish to work with Karisma, says Kareena

A

A

ctor Jimmy Sheirgill, who has been experimenting with different roles, says he doesn’t want to do the same roles again and again.

“As an actor, I don’t want to be repetitive. Why would you do something, which you have done before? Sometimes the story is such that you want to be part of it, but you feel ‘I have done this role, but the challenge is how can I make it different’,” Jimmy told reporters.

“That’s the only time when it’s slightly different. Otherwise with me, the idea is experimenting and portraying different kinds of characters and try to do something that I have not done before. I don’t want to repeat myself as an actor,” he added.

The actor also shared that he doesn’t do films for awards.

He said, “It’s not that I do films for awards. I have got awards for A Wednesday, Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster...you feel great when you get awards. It’s an icing on the cake.” The actor is currently busy promoting his film Madaari, directed by Nishikant Kamat.

Miraj Entertainment and Bharat Shah in association with EaseMyTrip.com are presenting Madaari, a Paramhans Creations production. The film is set to release on July 22 and also feature Irrfan Khan.

Mera Woh Matlab Nahi Tha in Mumbai on Saturday, July 9, took to Twitter to express his love for the art form.

“Stage gives me a great sense of belonging. Thank you Mumbai once again for your magnanimous response and never-ending standing ovation for Mera Woh Matlab Nahi Tha,” Anupam tweeted.

The play, written and directed

by Rakesh Bedi, also features Neena Gupta.

Rishi Kapoor to be honoured at IFFM

In its sixth edition now, IFFM’s theme this year is women empowerment and the festival has been constantly endorsed by Vidya Balan since its inception.

The festival returned with its opening night on August 11 and will conclude on August 20.

Shreya Ghoshal records the first song for Padmavati

S

inger Shreya Ghoshal is on cloud nine after recording a song for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming magnum opus Padmavati. She calls it a “landmark” composition.

Shreya took to a micro-blogging site to praise Bhansali and a song

V

eteran actor Rishi Kapoor will receive the Excellence in Cinema Award at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) in August.

Rishi will receive the honour for his contribution to Indian cinema. “Rishi has been an iconic face of Bollywood and who better than him could we confer with the title of Excellence in Cinema.

His films have been incredibly popular and successful and even today he continues to entertain his audience,” Mitu Bhomwick Lange, Director of IFFM, said.

Rishi, who is popular for films

he has composed, which she considers her career’s landmark.

“Recorded a landmark song of my life today. Soul satisfying

ctress Kareena Kapoor Khan, who is expecting her first child with actor Saif Ali Khan in December, wishes to work with her elder sister and star Karishma Kapoor.

Karishma, who has starred in popular films such as Hero No 1, Dil Toh Pagal Hai and Raja Hindustani, was last seen

on-screen in the 2013 film Dangerous Isshq.

Asked if she wishes or plans to star along with Karisma in a film, Kareena replied, “I always wish... there are no plans, but I wish to work with her (Karishma).”

Kareena says there aren’t any plans as she doesn’t know if the Biwi No.1 star wants to come back on the silver screen.

“Right now there are no plans because I don’t know if she (Karisma) is even thinking of working on the big screen as her kids are really small...Her mindset is very different,” she said. But the Udta Punjab actress stresses that if a good script comes their way, they might star together.

“But of course if there is a good script... You never know.

But right now nothing,” she added. Kareena is gearing up to start shooting for Rhea Kapoor and Ekta Kapoor’s upcoming

venture Veere Di Wedding, which also stars Sonam Kapoor and Swara Bhaskar.

Sultan crosses Rs 300 crore mark in opening weekend

B

ollywood superstar Salman Khan’s Eid release Sultan has crossed the Rs 300 crore mark worldwide in just five days since its release. The sports-drama film is now touted to be the highest grossing Bollywood film in terms of opening weekend collection worldwide.

The Yash Raj Films production has done a gross box office collection of Rs 252.5 crore ($ 37.7 million) in India and Rs 92 crore ($ 13.7 million) abroad.

The total gross box office collection of the Ali Abbas Zafar directorial is said to be the highest for any Bollywood film in its opening weekend.

The film has performed fantastically in territories such as UAE-GCC, Pakistan, Britain, Australia and New Zealand where it has shattered the highest opening weekend collection record by any Hindi film.

Want to do a modern thriller film: Arjun

A

ctor Arjun Kapoor

says he is keen to work in a modern thriller film.

“I really want to do a modern thriller. I haven’t done a modern action (film) either. But a modern thriller really excites me,” Arjun said. Arjun, who started his career in Hindi filmdom in 2012 with the romantic thriller Ishaqzaade, has since worked in films such as Aurangzeb, Gunday, Finding Fanny, 2 States and Ki & Ka. The 31-year-old star says he is also keen to do a heist film. “Even a heist film...I haven’t done a con film, so those are a couple of genres I’d like to explore” he added. Arjun says “there is a long way to go before I can say I have done all kinds”.He will next be seen in Mohit Suri’s Half Girlfriend.

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30

15 July 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

A revolutionary man Born in England, raised in India, and now living in New Zealand, Dr Sharad Paul has a reputation that precedes him. He is a doctor, a social entrepreneur, a lecturer at three universities in New Zealand and Australia, and perhaps the only writer who has written books across fiction, non-fiction and medicine. Most Kiwis will fondly remember his business venture Baci Lounge in Newmarket, Auckland—an award-winning bookstore that funded literacy programmes in schools—before its untimely shutdown. A sought-after speaker, Dr Paul has given talks at THINK, Auckland Writers Festival and at TEDx Auckland. Indian Weekender spoke to him to find out more about the man who packs in more in a week than most of us can. ¡¡Esha Chanda

unique sunscreen and several biotech skin serums we have developed, which hopefully we will bring to market over the next year.

IWK: A surgeon, a senior lecturer, and a novelist; how do you manage to juggle everything?

Dr Sharad Paul

Sharad: I think the secret is to do the things that you are passionate about and want to do and not worry about the money. If you work hard enough, the latter takes care of itself. I also possibly sleep less than others.

later specialised in skin cancer and have become a skin cancer academic and now run a busy skin cancer surgical practice.

I think the secret is to do the things that you are passionate about and want to do and not worry about the money. If you work hard enough, the latter takes care of itself. I also possibly sleep less than others.

IWK: What inspired you to write your first book?

Sharad: I was always a writer, I guess. From childhood, I always liked writing stories and poems. Those were pre-internet days so none of them survived.

I had written a novel and when I finally got around to sending it to a literary agent (more for validation, to see if my writing was any good) it ended up being bought by Picador UK and that was the story of my first novel, Cool Cut in 2006.

IWK: And now, seven books later and one due to be published in April next year, do you plan to continue writing more books?

Sharad: Yes, now I’ve had three novels, three non-fiction books, one poetry volume and one medical textbook published internationally. I have a book that will come out via Simon and Schuster New York in April 2017. Like I said earlier, I write for myself because I enjoy it, and if a publisher thinks it is good enough to publish, so be it. So while I enjoy writing, I will continue to do so.

Matariki Festival 2016 Date: June 18 to July 17 Time: 6 a.m.to 10:00 p.m.

Venue: Region wide

The rising of the Matariki star cluster heralds in Māori New Year and a monthlong celebration with more than 100 events across the Auckland region, including concerts, theatre, exhibitions, kapa haka, kite flying and much more.

Visit matarikifestival.org.nz for details.

Matariki Festival 2016 has more than 100 events across the Auckland region.

Eid-al-Fitr dinner and reception

Date: Saturday, July 16 Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Venue: Western Springs Garden Community Hall, 956 Great North Rd, Auckland 1022

IWK: When Baci Lounge was closed, was there any particular reason you did not start the business again in Auckland?

IWK: How early on did you decide on a career as a surgeon?

Sharad: My family is a family of doctors; almost everyone is a doctor. My father is a retired surgeon, so I originally trained in general/plastic surgery in India. When I came to New Zealand, (a long time ago—25 years to be exact when few people came to New Zealand), I had to re-train as a GP and

The New Zealand Muslim Association (NZMA) is hosting an Eid al-Fitr reception and dinner, celebrating unity of Muslims throughout the world at the end of Ramadan. NZMA is an affiliate of FIANZ, founded in 1950 to represent the Muslims of the west and central Auckland and the north from Auckland through to Cape Reinga

Settlement information seminar in Balclutha

Date: Tuesday, July 19 Time: 1:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Venue: St Andrews Presbyterian Church Hall, Clyde Street, Balclutha Learn more about how to get help from CAB by Dianne Lowry, immigration law by Werner Van Harselaar, and free English courses and Kiwi workplace by Paul Naidu of English language partners.

Refreshments will be provided. Confirm your place by calling 034716166 or send an e-mail to wharetoa@farmside.co.nz.

Royal NZ Ballet

Date: Saturday, July 23 and Sunday, July 24 Time: Performances at 10:30 a.m. and

IWK: What led Baci Cosmetologie?

you

to

start

Sharad: My research interest is in developing bespoke skincare. I designed a skincare range for my/our skin especially suited for Asian/Indian skin, but given I am based here in New Zealand, it has been a difficult process to find nationwide distribution partners in India. My research lab is based in Los Angeles and we have a

workshops at 11:30 a.m.

Venue: ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre on July 23 and Bruce Mason Centre on July 24 Royal New Zealand Ballet will have a free performance where dancers will perform excerpts from Francesco Ventrigilia’s The Wizard of Oz, the duet from Alexander Ekman’s Cacti and Geiger—a new work by RNZB dancer Loughlan Prior.

There will also be a free workshop by RNZB Dance Educator Pagan Dorgan to teach ballet essentials to children and to encourage participants to try out some of the steps that the dancers have performed.

Health and safety for newcomers

Date: Saturday, July 16 Time: 9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Venue: CAB Eden Albert, Library Building, 82 St Lukes Road, Mt Albert CAB Eden Albert will hold a free information session for newcomers on Health and Safety for Newcomers to New Zealand

Sharad: When Baci Lounge closed, it broke my heart. It was a venture designed to fund my literacy programmes in schools.

Rents were getting too high and people were buying fewer books, and the landlords didn’t seem to make any effort to make it sustainable. In Australia or New Zealand, it is difficult to run a bookstore/cafe and have a viable business unless you are personally working in the store yourself. This model, however, will work in places such as India/ Asia, so maybe one day, as we have all the training manuals and know-how. At the peak, we had Baci Lounge stores in both Australia and New Zealand.

IWK: You were born in England, raised in India and then you moved to New Zealand. How do you think the different cultures have helped/ influenced your work, both as a surgeon and as a writer?

Sharad: I guess it has made me a global citizen—comfortable in east and west. I’d say I’m more spiritual than religious, so I draw from both cultures. After medicine, I also studied Law and have a Master of Philosophy majoring in ethics, so I am full of useless information! However, been educated in India and also in the UK helped me become a better researcher, teacher, and student.

where participants can understand the NZ public health service. Refreshments will be provided. Contact Pauline Proud at 09 573 2611 or drop an e-mail at training. cabac@cab.org.nz for more information.

Networking for jobs and socialising

Date: Saturday, July 16 Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Venue: Level1, 3091 Great North Road, New Lynn CAB New Lynn will hold a free information session for newcomers on Networking for Jobs and Socializing in New Zealand where participants can learn about networking with professionals and the types of work experience projects.

They will also learn tips for gaining New Zealand work experience and learn the language of networking and socialising.

The session will be facilitated by Adon Kumar. Refreshments will be provided. To register, you can drop in, call or e-mail at Citizens Advice Bureau New Lynn, Library Building, 3 Memorial Drive, New Lynn.

Phone 827 7830 or 827 4731; e-mail newlynn@cab.org.nz.

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