Indian Weekender 16 September 2016

RANVEER to perform alongside Coldplay

16SEP2016 Vol. 8 • Issue 26

NZ’s only Kiwi-Indian weekly

Auckland | Christchurch | Wellington | Hamilton | Palmerston North | Hastings | Invercargill

Gunpoint robbery nightmare

auckland celebrates eid-ul-adha

The Pulse of Kiwi-Indians since 2009

fiji pm hits back at ‘double standards’

www.iwk.co.nz

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NEW ZEALAND

16 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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New Zealand

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New Zealand

Pg Company denies unfair treatment claims

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Local Board elections: Kiwi-Indians take the lead

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New Zealand

Education

‘Duped’ students gain moral support

Online tool engages youth vote for council elections

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Face of the week

Entertainment

Meet Swaroopa Unni- an Indian classical dancer

Movie Review: Baar Baar Dekho

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www.iwk.co.nz | 16 September 2016

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NEW ZEALAND

Bainimarama blasts ‘double standards’ ¡¡ IWK Bureau

rights to question those who have allegedly contravened these provisions. “Those who attended this gathering were lawfully detained for questioning and there have been no allegations of any of their human rights being breached while in detention,” he said.

F

iji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has come out with a scathing attack against “elements of the international community” who have aired their concerns over the detention of MPs and union leaders.

Bainimarama on Wednesday said some elements of the international community issued such statements without objectivity, and had adopted “double standards”.

Earlier this week, Foreign Minister Murray McCully said New Zealand was keeping a “close interest” in recent reports of arrests in Fiji.

The leaders of two opposition parties and a trade union official were detained by Fiji authorities after taking part in a forum on Fiji’s Constitution.

Those in custody included the leader of Sodelpa Sitiveni Rabuka, leader of the National Federation Party Biman Prasad, Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry and trade unionist Attar Singh.

A spokeswoman for Fiji police said several people were being questioned for comments at the

• • • • • • • • • •

Foreign Minister Murray McCully

Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama

forum, which “could affect the safety and security of all Fijians”.

freedom of speech. He said New Zealand was trying to support Fiji democracy and was pleased with its 2014 elections but some of its laws were “from a past era”.

McCully said he had asked Fiji’s representative at the Pacific Islands Forum, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, to convey New Zealand’s “close interest” in the developments.

“Obviously anything that constrains free speech and space for legitimate political debate would be a concern to the New Zealand government. I’ve simply conveyed that to Ratu Inoke and asked him to convey to his government our close interest in how this plays out.”

McCully said he understood several people were taken into custody because there was no permit to hold that forum. Fiji’s law requires permits for public gatherings—a requirement criticised as an attempt to stifle

“How they are dealt with by the authorities is of close interest to us. We don’t live in a perfect world and we want to try and keep on encouraging those who are moving things in a good direction. But we don’t shirk our responsibility to take interest where matters suggested we should.”

Bainimarama said: “The Public Order Act, among other provisions, requires any group wanting to hold a public meeting to apply for a permit from the police before the proposed event.”

In this case, Bainimarama said, no application was made so the police were entirely within their

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“These included the right to legal counsel. They were released within the 48 hours that the law prescribes as the limit at which they can be detained without appearing in court.”

He said a notable double standard was being adopted by certain countries in relation to this matter.

“They either suspend certain rights themselves when incarcerating their citizens or other nationals and in some instances, even on the mere suspicion of a remote threat to their national security.

“They have adopted practices and laws that are abhorrent to internationally accepted human rights values and principles.

“Other nations turn a blind eye to or are mute on similar behaviour on the part of their friends and allies.”

He said Fiji had a sovereign right to make its own laws and in

the case of the Public Order Act, it existed because of its colonial past and an unfortunate history of civil unrest in post-independent Fiji which could not be repeated.

“The statute in question is to ensure law and order, protect our people and maintain the health of our economy on which the welfare of every Fijian depends.

“Apart from having a plethora of human rights provisions, the Fijian Constitution goes further to state that the interpretation of these human rights shall be referred to international human rights law and standards.”

Bainimarama said the police was carrying out its independent duty and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions would similarly carry out its own independent assessment as to whether these individuals should be prosecuted or not.

“Any objective assessment of what is happening on the ground in Fiji in respect of this matter requires an understanding and appreciation of the separation of powers between the independent institutions of the State,” the prime minister said.

“The Fijian government respects the independence of all these institutions.”

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NEW ZEALAND

16 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Company denies unfair treatment claims ¡¡ Esha Chanda

the past about ways to alleviate the plight of these workers, that advice has been ignored. We are prepared to pursue the matter.

Whatever happens, the union members at Sistema will continue to fight for respect and fairness at work.”

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n Auckland company that employs many migrant workers has denied claims that it is treating its workers unfairly.

Earlier this week, E tū union claimed that Sistema was exploiting its workers by making them work for more than 60 hours every week. But Sistema said that all reports of the company exploiting its workers were false.

Sistema’s chief operating manager Drew Muirhead says that E tū union is using “bully tactics”.

“We are extremely disappointed and frustrated at the false and outlandish statements made by the union,” the statement reads.

“Only 26 out of our [more than] 700 employees are members of the union. Two hundred and sixty-six are on the legal minimum wage and 175 of those have been here less than two years.”

The statement said the company maintains a “great relationship” with its employees.

“Many...have been with us for [more than] 10 years, and in fact, we have a waiting list of people who want to work here.”

However, E tū union stands by its claim.

“This is simply not the case, given the pay and conditions and

Workers at the Sistema factory

also the attitude of management, which former workers have described as ‘dictatorial’. They speak of a climate of fear, which prevents people speaking out about the poor pay and conditions,” says Sunny Sehgal, E tū union organiser.

The union came to know about the exploitation claims in 2014 and since then has been trying to improve the working conditions of the employees. “Sistema will not budge on better wages and shorter hours. This has been a consistent pattern,” says Sehgal.

He said workers were required to be on their feet for 12 hours a day, five days a week and often more and so fatigue was a major concern. “Many use painkillers to get through the day.” Sehgal said the union might resort to legal action if the company did not agree to improve working conditions.

There are robust laws related to workplace safety, and while the company has been advised in the past about ways to alleviate the plight of these workers, that advice has been ignored. We are prepared to pursue the matter.

“We have legal avenues to explore, especially with regards to the health and safety issues.

“There are robust laws related to workplace safety, and while the company has been advised in

Harry Singh, a former full-time employee at Sistema said: “Sistema works in contrast to the employee rights set by the New Zealand government. They can fire anyone without warning.”

He added the company gave employer-convenient contracts to the workers.

Harry Singh, who worked at Sistema for more than three-and-a-half years, said he recently quit his job because he was tired of the company’s working conditions.

As part of his job, Harry Singh was required to lift 25kg bags on top of machines that were three-and-a-half to four feet high.

“Sometimes we didn’t have lifts and had to carry bags manually,” says Harry Singh. “We had to do everything we could to ensure that the machines did not stop working, because if it did, the manager would yell at us.”

Mandheer Singh, another former employee, said: “The work was hard. I used to get a body ache every day; the worst was the back pain from exhaustion. My body used to be sore at the end

of a shift, and it was difficult to get a good sleep. No one from the management ever considered any of these issues.”

Mandheer Singh, who worked night shifts, asked for a pay rise but didn’t receive any.

He worked at Sistema for a couple of months before he started applying for other jobs with better work conditions and wages, but says, there was not much choice. “The day I got my residency, I applied for my current job at NZ Bus and was lucky to get it straight away.”

The problems of the employees do not stop at working extra hours. Harry Singh says that during company shut downs for stock-taking, employees were asked to sign a form saying that they agreed to their holiday pay to be deducted. “It was completely unfair,” says Harry Singh.

“The company should pay for such shut downs and not deduct it from an employee’s annual leave.

But employees had no choice.

They couldn’t say no.”

A recent development in union negotiations with the company came when Sistema made a direct offer to workers of a 40-hour week.

Sehgal says that although a few members agreed, “most workers haven’t because they can’t afford to; the pay is too low”.

www.iwk.co.nz | 16 September 2016

Dairy owner breaks down sharing his robbery nightmare

NEW ZEALAND

¡¡ Rizwan Mohammad

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est Auckland dairy owner Ayub Sacha has been in this country for four decades now, and he still cannot come to terms with the fact that he was robbed at gunpoint last weekend.

Sacha, turning 60 later this year, was watching the All Blacks game on Saturday, September 10, in the dairy when what appeared to be a well-built man pointed a rifle at his head and demanded cash and cigarettes.

That action left Sacha shocked and unresponsive for a few seconds until the masked man yelled and pressed the gun into his head demanding cash from the drawer.

Sacha handed over a few notes but it wasn’t enough for the robber who demanded for more from the Lotto till. He also demanded for cigarettes to be put into his bag and then fled from the scene.

Sacha broke down as he shared his nightmare with Indian Weekender. “I felt it was my last day. I was and still am terrified beyond what I can explain,” said Sacha.

“I handed the robber $4000 in cash and around $2000 worth cigarettes,” he added.

On Anzac Day earlier this year, an armed teenager tried to mug him, which resulted in a fist fight. Sacha was unhurt as he chased the miscreant out of the store.

“I used to have a young bodyguard earlier, and also a store guard who would come late in the afternoon and patrol all evening, but I think I need to employ one again,” he said.

Kaushik Kumar from South Auckland Superette & Dairy in Papakura has employed two young neighbours who check

Ayub Sacha at his dairy

into his store occasionally to make sure everything is in place.

“The police come late and these two young neighbours are my only immediate aid.

“Earlier this year my brother went into a fist fight with the robber in order to defend himself and the store, and as ridiculous it may sound, the police threatened to charge him for blocking the way out of the robbers,” Kumar told Indian Weekender last week.

Most of these dairy stores are located at road corners and the suburbs are often deserted especially after sunset. Thus, these locals become a soft target for the criminals for easy money and a few cigarettes and/ or alcohol.

With the rise in burglaries and armed robberies, the only concern for these dairy owners is that they are not satisfied with the sentencing by the court.

“These criminals cannot be just let away by just doing community hours and a few weeks in prison, harsher punishment will at least mitigate such crimes and set an example,” said Sacha.

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NEW ZEALAND

16 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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.

Prevention tips

¡¡ Sergeant Gurpreet Arora District Ethnic Services Coordinator, Counties Manukau

Police in action

¡¡ At about 3:30 p.m. on Saturday,

September 10, two men were in the garage of an address in Papatoetoe. Three unknown men entered the garage, one of whom was armed with a weapon. The men threatened the two victims and demanded car keys. The victim complied with their demands and the offenders picked up a laptop, phones and cash and left the address. The police were called

immediately and located the vehicle a short time later. Two men were arrested and have been charged with burglary with a weapon and will be appearing in court. ¡¡ At about 3:46 a.m. on Friday, September 9, five men arrived at a service station in Mangere in a vehicle and smashed their way through the front door. At this time, the attendant was in the back office. The attendant activated the smoke bomb within the store to deter the offenders. Despite the smoke, the men came in and stole the till and then left the scene in a vehicle. Police located the vehicle a short time later

and engaged in a pursuit. The vehicle was abandoned and police enquiries are ongoing to locate the offenders.

Police in community In an endeavour to improve community engagement and also make it easy and open to members of the community to approach and speak to the police, officers regularly engage in attending community events. Police officers recently attended two events and interacted with the community.

¡¡ Attended janamashtami and

ganesh chaturthi celebrations at Swaminarayan temple in Papatoetoe ¡¡ Operation LOG: As part of engaging with the wider South Asian community in Counties Manukau, the police went to the Swaminarayan temple in Papatoetoe, spoke to devotees and raised awareness about personal and public safety, police recruitment, and distributed crime prevention flyers.

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. ¡¡ Lock your car when you are not in it—even for just a second ¡¡ Keep your car parked in well lit and populated areas if possible ¡¡ Lock your car even when you are parked in the driveway of your home ¡¡ Keep car keys in a secure place and not in obvious places such as the kitchen table or next to the back door ¡¡ Invest in a wheel lock or immobiliser for additional security ¡¡ Do not leave valuable items such as laptops, handbags, cell phones and GPS visible in your car. Devices should be hidden from view or taken with you when you leave the car.

Sergeant Gurpreet Arora can be contacted on 021-191-0461

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Local Board Elections: Kiwi-Indians take the lead ¡¡ Swati Sharma

NZ Fiji Football Inc. as their coach and later became Vice President/Secretary of NZ Fiji Association Football Club, Secretary of NZ Fiji Veterans Soccer Association, Secretary of Mangere United Football Club and Vice President/Veterans Chairman of NZ Fiji Football Inc.

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ontinuing our election special feature, this week we introduce you to Local Board candidates Gyanendra Kumar, Dr Ashraf Choudhary, Dev Bhardwaj, Keith Coelho, Javed Chaudhary and Bhupinder Singh and get to know more about their plans for the community.

As the Health Protection/Technical Officer and the long-serving PSA workplace delegate from Auckland Regional Public Health Services, Kumar contributed to the development of football among the ethnic youth groups in Auckland.

Gyanendra Kumar

Message to the community

be developed by creating connectivity between the people in the suburbs, for example, extra vehicles can be avoided on the road at peak hours through car-pooling.

Kumar says that, if elected, he will ensure that people get the best value for their money and hard work and live a healthy life in a diverse group and still feel safe.

“A vote for Labour is the safest vehicle for all Kiwis to ride to an environment of success, good health, and well-being,” concludes Kumar.

Dr Ashraf Choudhary, QSO JP

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well-known sports personality, Gyanendra Kumar is an experienced club, district, national and now a veteran football player, a qualified football coach and administrator, and the recipient of many sports awards.

He is vying for the positions of Howick Ward Councillor and the Howick Local Board member in the forthcoming elections.

The Howick ward is the fifth largest urban area in New Zealand, which includes Pakuranga, Howick, Botany, Flat Bush,

and the industrial state of East Tamaki (Highbrook Business Park) and has a population of almost 130,000. Kumar hails from Fiji where he provided his services as a police officer and health inspector.

His community engagement in NZ started from Kapiti Coast where he was employed as an Environmental Health Officer at Kapiti Coast District Council. He was also a member of Kapiti Red Cross, Kapiti Lions Club, Waikanae Toastmasters and the Kapiti Coast United Football Club.

In 2007, after moving to Auckland, Kumar joined the Team Nadi Football affiliated to

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umar says that his focus will be on: ¡¡ Resolving communities’ issues through effective engagement and dialogues with those affected/involved. The community issues of all ethnicities should be treated with utmost sensitivities and addressed in an acceptable manner with cultural input as well. ¡¡ Competitive and social participation in sports to enhance good health thus minimising the use of health services. ¡¡ More facilities and creation of more activities for elderly/retired people and improving their levels of connectivity within the diverse group is another area that Kumar says will be his priority ¡¡ Immediate remedial plans to resolve the issues of the community. Resolving the transports and emissions, as the train project will take huge amount of dollars by the time it is up in running. In the meantime, alternate measures may

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r Ashraf Choudhary was New Zealand’s first MP from the Indian subcontinent and is an agricultural engineering scientist. In the local elections, he is the Labour’s candidate for council in Papatoetoe subdivision of Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board, and Counties Manukau District Health Board. Dr Choudhary hails Continued on Page 8

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NEW ZEALAND

Continued from Page 7

from Pakistan and moved to New Zealand for higher studies. Before entering the parliament, he taught at the Massey University as an environmental scientist. He was also associated with community organisations such as FIANZ (as president) and New Zealand Federation of Ethnic Council.

For his community work, he was awarded Queen Service Order (QSO) in 2001.

16 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz despondent and complain that their efforts to be counted have dissipated. I say to them, of course, those in power will not relinquish that hegemony in a hurry. Then, I say, yes it’s possible and we can do it. Just like I did it and became the first South Asian to become an MP,” says Dr Choudhary.

Keith Coelho

Dr Choudhary retired from politics in 2011 and has since been active in Indian and Pakistani community groups in Auckland.

“Many ethnic people speak privately and say their vote changes nothing. They are often

Some of the key areas he will be focussing on are: not slippery and dangerous and are safe for walking, cycling and for mobility scooters ¡¡ Introduction of an efficient traffic management system where traffic lights phasing contributes to the smooth flow of traffic

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He says that there is a need to give high priority to Asian people’s health requirements.

That requires improved competence of health professionals to deal with these emerging health issues, particularly among our new residents. He also encourages ethnic people to vote in order to be heard.

Coelho says that through his good relations with Auckland council governing body candidates and the central government, he will ensure that people of Whau ward get what they want and need for the ward.

¡¡ The footpaths are restored and

Message for the community

r Choudhary believes that there is little recognition of some of the health issues and emerging diseases among Asian people in New Zealand, and language, cultural differences and lack of knowledge of the healthcare system act as barriers to receiving appropriate health care.

involved with the running of one of the largest and busiest women’s refuge and youth groups in NZ, based in Avondale.

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eith Coelho is Community First’s candidate for Whau Local Board. Originally from Mumbai, India, Coelho has lived in Auckland with his family for the past 26 years. On the professional front, he works in supply chain management, which involves large local and overseas projects.

Coelho is a member of the local Rotary Club, a group consul for InterNations Auckland, an active leader with Neighbourly, a member of the Green Bay Residents and Ratepayers Association, and is actively

¡¡ Coelho will encourage and

promote local businesses and ensure that our town centres get an upgrade ¡¡ The libraries need to be better equipped and stay open for longer hours with a community café to make it a more vibrant hub ¡¡ The community grants and funding given out by the Whau local board should be distributed fairly to deserving organisations and causes, and that those receiving such funding are held accountable ¡¡ Coelho will lobby with both central and local governments to construct the bridge across the Whau River from Glendene to Rosebank Road to reduce traffic congestion on Great North Road

Dev Bhardwaj

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businessman and an MBA graduate, Dev Bhardwaj is standing for Puketapapa Local Board, which includes the suburbs of Hillsborough, Lynfield, Mount

Coelho says that through his good relations with Auckland council governing body candidates and the central government, he will ensure that people of Whau ward get what they want and need for the ward

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www.iwk.co.nz | 16 September 2016 Roskill, Three Kings, Wesley, and Waikowhai. Bhardwaj has lived in Lynfield for eight years and is an elected school trustee at Halsey Drive Primary School. He is also an executive member of a charity organisation.

Bhupinder Singh

Bhardwaj is committed to the local community. He wishes to make sure the local board works for people. He is committed to finding sustainable solutions to the local problems through collective participation.

Born and brought up in Chandigarh, India, Bhardwaj, being a migrant himself, understands the changing face of Auckland, i.e. embracing and respecting the diversity.

Message to the community

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hrough his extensive local community connections, Bhardwaj says that he would work on engaging, collaborating and encouraging the residents to have their say in the local decisions affecting our communities and contribute towards the common goal of making Auckland a safe and enjoyable place for everyone to work, live, and play in.

Bhardwaj supports the lowest rates possible and will be careful and respectful of how your rates are spent. He supports better connectivity of Lynfield via arterial roads and is focused on enhancing safety for all communities. He is also enthusiastic about showcasing the talent and creativity of the communities.

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hupinder Singh migrated to New Zealand when he was 12 years old. He completed his education in Papatoetoe and excelled as a cricketer. He represented New Zealand (A) cricket team and was a key member of Auckland Aces for six years. Currently, he is the coach of Papatoetoe senior cricket team.

Singh is an independent candidate for Papatoetoe subdivision of Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board.

He intends to focus on issues that impact the communities in the area, such as increasing support and assistance to local crime patrols to ensure the safety of the community. He will also: ¡¡ Encourage and support quality early childhood education programmes

¡¡ Support

locally driven initiatives to fight obesity ¡¡ Fight against street prostitution ¡¡ Put a hold on any more liquor stores or off licenses in the area ¡¡ Ensure greater support and recognition for the local senior residents ¡¡ Promote sports and get the kids active by involving them more in sports ¡¡ Make Council Contractors accountable to the community that pays them ¡¡ Encourage safe and thriving town centre ¡¡ Improve community facilities to better serve the needs of local people

Message to the community

“

My passion is sports and getting people active and engaged in healthy activities. As a coach of the Papatoetoe Senior Cricket team, I get a huge thrill out of assisting others to reach their potential.

The youth programmes and events I run, reinforces to me the need in our community for positive role models for or young people,” says Singh.

“I feel privileged to represent my community with local issues.

I am committed to ensuring the voices of Papatoetoe residents reach the Local Board.

“We are one community – let’s work together!”

KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI MP BASED IN MANUKAU EAST

Javed Chaudhary

groups and organisations. He is currently volunteering with Waikato branch of Diabetes NZ. “Hamilton is a quickly growing city with a diverse vibrant community and we need to look after its economic, social, and environmental health to ensure it stays a great place to live,” Chaudhary says.

Message to the community

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J

aved Chaudhary is running for Hamilton City Council in the Hamilton local body election to be held on October 8. This is the second time he is standing for the council.

Chaudhary had been a part of Hamilton multicultural Services Trust as a trustee and also the Depressive Disorders Group as the Chair and Vice-Chair. He has been actively involved with the leisure unit and the community development at the council.

A Master of Science honours degree holder, an accomplished entrepreneur and a project leader with more than 25 years of executive experience, Chaudhary owns a private enterprise in Hamilton.

Chaudhary has more than a decade of experience in governance and managerial roles within various Hamiltonian community and humanitarian

haudhary is passionate about the well-being and needs of the community and stands firmly on a number of key issues regarding the future of the city.

He supports: ¡¡ Responsible financial decision-making and, economic and social development of Hamilton ¡¡ The provision of affordable housing options, the Hamilton City River Plan and no call for water meters ¡¡ Building of the modern multi-use theatre featuring car parking as well as attracting people and businesses into the city centre

“With my proven track record of results built on the foundation of pragmatism, hard work, and an ability to transcend anywhere from the grassroots up, I will be a dynamic new voice on the council, and I extend a hand to all for the purpose of working together to achieve a more prosperous Hamilton,” says Chaudhary.

FOR SALE

An ideal family cash business Fully serviced Laundromat (Not coin operated)

Auckland Office Unit 1, 131 Kolmar Road, Papatoetoe, Auckland

Location: South Auckland (only 2 smaller competitors in the immediate area) Population: Fast growing area with approximately 7,000 households close by Annual revenue including GST: $411,030 | Gross Profit: 46% Monthly Rent including outgoings: $3,230

Ph 09 278 9302

All the equipment is state-of- the art European machines and maintained in mint condition. We have also have invested in automated detergent and fabric softener dispensing technology.

Email bakshi.mp@parliament.govt.nz

For the customers’ convenience, there is a pick up/drop off loading zone and more than adequate general car parking available close by.

Postal Address PO Box 23136, Hunters Corner, Auckland 2025

The business is located centrally and amongst other retail shops with foot traffic from early to late, keeping you and your employee’s safe after hours.

Currently there are 3-4 people on shift work during weekdays and up to 7 people working during winter weekends.

We will provide two weeks full industry training to the new owner in the hand over period.

www.kanwaljitsinghbakshi.national.org.nz

Reason for selling the business: Retirement

Price: $480,000 or nearest offer Contact: Viewing by private arrangement only.

Funded by the Parliamentary Service and authorised by Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi MP, 1/131 Kolmar Road, Papatoetoe

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Please call Jim on (09) 419 5419 or mobile 021 688 566

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NEW ZEALAND

16 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

SPECIAL FEATURE

Understanding the Auckland housing scenario In our housing special this week, we address the most commonly asked questions by first-home buyers. Indian Weekender spoke to experts from the field to get their take on the issues that seem to be the cause of worry for most homebuyers ¡¡ IWK Bureau

Auckland’s housing crisis

E

arlier this week, Auckland hit another price high with recent figures showing that the median price for a home in the city is now $842,500—a rise of 14% for the year. With rising prices seen not only in Auckland but around the country, mortgage brokers share their view on the city’s housing bubble.

Rakesh Bansal, Kiwi Mortgage

“

Any price movement is caused by price mechanism in a free economy and cannot be wished away. The RBNZ/Banks have taken some measures to some limited success but more stringent and more direct measures will be required to:

Prateek Malhotra, Everest Home Loans

“

The current house prices have seen the median Auckland house price touch the magical $1mn mark. This is mainly attributed to the high net migration and a stable economy compared to the rest of the world. New Zealand, in particular, Auckland, is seen as

• Incentivise first-home buyers, e.g. five per cent deposit, etc.

• Discourage e.g. more taxes etc.

speculation, direct targeted

• Free up land • Encourage construction for owner occupation and investment”

a world class western economy with a stable political, social, and economic system and this attracts people from all over the

world. This has put pressure on the current housing stock and as a result, prices are where they are. Although the government is trying to release more land and get builders to build more, we are still far off from getting close to the number of houses required every year to meet the current demand. The recent RBNZ restrictions put on investors has had an impact on the number of sales, not so much on prices so far.

There is another round of possible restrictions being talked about—the debt to income ratios.

Although the government is trying to release more land and get builders to build more, we are still far off from getting close to the number of houses required every year to meet the current demand.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 16 September 2016 RBNZ is looking into it, although it might not happen on this side of Christmas.

Having said that, if they were to be introduced, it could have a major impact on people’s ability to borrow given that our median incomes haven’t risen as fast as the house prices.

Until the supply side of things are taken care of where we have more affordable homes built for first-home buyers segment, the demand for housing will not go down based on the number of people that are current looking to buy in Auckland. With around 45,000 more people coming in Auckland, the demand is only going to increase and this will always put pressure on the housing market.”

Tips for first-home buyers

S

tart with the basics—the common advice that mortgage advisers and property dealers have for first-home buyers.

Nathan Saminathan, Mortgage Masters

“

11

Promoting positive and economic growth for our community If you are thinking of selling, buying or need the services of an agent to help you lease your commercial property, I am available to provide you with professional advice to ensure your investment is promoted in the best possible light.

• Once you know the amount of money that you can borrow plus your deposits, you’ll figure out the maximum purchase price that you are entitled to buy • Then you search the property with your real estate agents and on the Internet • You must consider the location where you are comfortable to live.”

Sunjay Vazirani Commercial Sales & Leasing M: 022 460 6600 DDI: 09 363 1244 E: s.vazirani@barfoot.co.nz Branch: 09 263 8412 / Fax: 09 263 8419

www.barfoot.co.nz

Venu Gopal, Squirrel Mortgage

If you are a first-home buyer, you must consider:

• Your income level and if you married then your partner’s income can be included • You need to have saved a deposit.

We work on 10% deposit for the first-home buyers. The deposit can be your personal savings, KiwiSaver, and a cash contribution from family and government grants. There are conditions that apply as well.

• You need to meet mortgage brokers or lenders to assess your eligibility to borrow

“

First-home buyers should

• Try to avoid outside debts • Keep one credit card with a minimum/ lower limit • Don’t take any hire purchases Continued on Page 12

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NEW ZEALAND

16 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Continued from Page 11

• Create savings history

• Don’t change the jobs often. Consistent and long-term employment is good for the lenders.

• Don’t operate too many accounts. Simply keep two accounts, one for day-to-day transactions and income and expenses and a second one for savings.

• Opt for KiwiSaver”

Rakesh Bansal, Kiwi Mortgage

“

• • • • •

Some tips for new homebuyers are:

• Talk to a good and experienced mortgage adviser. It will not cost you anything but you will benefit from their expertise and knowledge as they will provide options whilst guiding you through the whole process • Maintain clean credit history that does

• •

not have defaults/too many enquiries in a short span of time. You may request your own credit history file free or at nominal charge.

Maintain good account conduct with no dishonours/unauthorised overdrafts Resist avoidable purchases and continue saving towards deposit, including Kiwi Saver Keep your debt to minimum possible Use your credit card sensibly and pay off in full at the due date. Do not use a credit card for cash advances.

Have proper due diligence while purchasing.

Ask questions—it is your right Seek advice from experts: real estate agents, mortgage advisers, solicitors, and accountants Get a bank approval in place before you make an offer

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1

Auction 11am, Thurs 6 Oct 2016, (unless sold prior) 96 Ulster St, Hamilton

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• Get the bank to approve the property before you make an unconditional offer or bid in auction

Is it the right time to buy or invest?

W

hile most Aucklanders feel that with the rising house prices, the dream of owning a house seems to go further away, experts say otherwise.

Venu Gopal, Squirrel Mortgage

“

For first-time buyers, there is no good time or bad time. I would say that for first-time buyers, anytime is a good time because the focus is not for short-term capital gain but basically to save rent and get on the property ladder for future capital gains.

“For investors, it is still looking positive because of low-interest rates, high rental demand and a shortage of housing supply.”

Nathan Saminathan, Mortgage Masters

“

If you are first homebuyer with a long-term view, any time is good. I have purchased for more than market value but kept it for a long time. Now, it is three times the purchase price.

“A good property that you like to live in does not come often. This is the difficult choice when choosing a property. Always remember that you are not the only buyer in the market. If you like a property and it is within your range, then you make an offer. By doing so you have first right of refusal. Investors need to have 40% deposit and if you have the ability to buy, do some homework before you embark on the project.

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NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 16 September 2016

“The property is at the peak now. It can go both ways. Recently, an article on Australian Property Market said that they think that a property crash is imminent, and if anything happens in Australia, it will have an impact on the New Zealand market.”

Rakesh Bansal, Kiwi Mortgage

“

Any time is a good time to buy the house you are going to live in. Quite simply, pay your own mortgage, not someone else’s. The house prices may fluctuate, but in the long run and every reasonable aspect put together, owning is a better option than renting.

“As for investors, it depends on how much equity you have to leverage it off against. Be selective in what you buy. In any market correction, the not so good properties in the not so good areas may potentially suffer the first and the most, buy if have the capacity to hold.”

Prateek Malhotra, Everest Home Loans

13

We specialise in new and refinanced loans of ALL types and personal risk insurances.

The house prices may fluctuate, but in the long run and every reasonable aspect put together, owning is a better option than renting.

Get in touch with us if you are in the market to: • • • •

Purchase your dream home Find a better deal on an existing loan Purchase a rental property or a business Review your insurance- Life, Health, Trauma, Disability, Cover, Income Protection

budget, buying your own home is a good idea. It gives you the opportunity to provide some stability to yourself and your family.

You don’t have to move houses just because the landlord decides to sell the house and has given you the notice to move out.

“For an investor, numbers need to stack up and some seasoned investors are still out there buying properties and adding values to them to be able to get more rent out of them. It would be ideal if you could buy in a down market and sell in an upmarket but it doesn’t happen to a lot of people.”

“

This would depend on individual circumstances. If you are a first-home buyer and would like to get on to the property ladder, as long as it is within your

Indian Weekender would like to thank the experts for their help in putting together this article

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NEW ZEALAND

16 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

SOUTH LINE Local Board hopefuls in Christchurch News-in-brief from South Island

¡¡ Gaurav Sharma

Melwyn Rodricks

Clive Antony

Shirish Paranjape

Manjit Singh

Candidate: Innes Ward am 55 years, Indian by birth, Kiwi by nationality. I’m married and have kids in high school. I’m was born and bred in Mumbai, and at the age of 29, I moved to Dubai. I worked for SONY for nine years and travelled throughout the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the C.I.S. (formerly the U.S.S.R.) and the Far East. I migrated to Christchurch in 2003. I’ve worked with the Salvation Army for six years, worked with autistic spectrum adults for four years and somewhere along the line, I qualified as a Counsellor and Neuro—Linguistic Programming (NLP) practitioner. I’ve counselled thousands of Christchurch residents, suffering after February 2011.

Candidate: Riccarton Ward of the Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board y parents immigrated from Kerala 25 years ago, and I was fortunate enough to be brought up with a great balance of Indian and Western culture.

I’m a local business owner, entrepreneur, a postgraduate student and the president of MUSOC.

Candidate: Waimairi Ward of the Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board immigrated to Christchurch in 2002 with my family.

I am a Justice of the Peace, Rotarian, vice-president of the Christchurch Multi-Cultural Council, a “Neighbourly” lead, an electrical engineer, and the international sales manager of Christchurch-based electronics company AuCom. I value community engagement, diversity, and prudent money management.

Candidate: Hornby Ward, Hornby Ward of the Halswell-HornbyRiccarton Community Board riginally from Chandigarh, I came to Christchurch in 2003 after spending three years in Japan. I love our city and am passionate about its future. I am a committed and passionate kindergarten teacher.

I believe in transparency and enjoy working alongside families and the community. Valuing community and engaging it in the decision-making process are my priorities. My vision for my Ward and Christchurch is:

Jagat Singh

Candidate: Linwood Ward of the Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board

I

live in the Linwood area of Christchurch. Originally from Fiji, I came to Christchurch in 2000. I am a New Zealand citizen, the current President of Christchurch Fiji Association, Justice of Peace NZ and voluntary social worker serving the Woolston and Bromley Community centre as a committee member. I also have a bachelor of arts degree, and a major in public administration, education and social Science.

I have served as a President of the Fiji Head-Teachers Association and Training Coordinator of American Peace Corps in the South Pacific and was the founder member, secretary, and treasurer of Fiji Teachers Co-Operative Society, whose budget now runs in million dollars.

As a senior citizen, I feel confident in my experience and ability to serve the health board with honesty and dedication in improving, promoting, and protecting the health of all people with special attention to Maori, poor people and disability sector.

I

I’m sick of the roads (literally) that we Christchurch survivors are travelling on, and the homes we come back to. I’ve decided, enough is enough. I am following my philosophy/policy of Acceptance, Understanding and Action. I have decided to act.

I want to be Councillor’s Counsellor.

M

My vision for the Riccarton Ward and as well as for Christchurch is: • Encouraging engagement— make opportunities of the board widely known

I

My vision Waimairi Ward:

for

the

• Encouraging creativity— creating a platform for ethnic communities to showcase their culture

• Safe communities by everyone’s participation

• Encouraging safety—work out a plan to prevent anti-social behaviour

• Get the right balance between a modern city with world-class facilities while retaining our special character and charm.

• Preserve our green spaces and the quality of our air and water

O

• Culturally diverse and inclusive community where everyone should feel valued • Prioritising the needs of the local community • Engaging younger generation and giving them the opportunity to have their say in the future of our local community

the

Telugu Association celebrates Vinayaka Chavithi ¡¡ Gaurav Sharma

T

he Telugu Association of South Island New Zealand (TasiNZ), an informal group in existence since 2006, with more than 300 members, celebrated Vinayaka Chavithi in Christchurch on September 10.

The event started with Lord Ganesha prayers followed by Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dance performances by Sneha and Pranavi respectively. Later, the gathering was treated to devotional songs, notable among those was the one sung

by Parameshwar Rao, which reminded everyone of the famous Telugu singer Sri Ghantasala.

Local Telugu poet Satish Gollapudi also released his poetry book on the occasion while reciting few from the collection. To generate interest and encourage children to learn about India's freedom struggle,

Vinayaka Chavithi celebrations held by Telugu Association

a quiz was organised with prizes given to the eventual winners. The highlight of the evening was Lavanya Kasibhatla reciting a poem written for Rex Russell Smith, a New Zealander who has a passion for Telugu and is well-versed in the language. Diwakar Kandula, a researcher at the Lincoln University, and

one of the founding members of TasiNZ, noted, “The event was also the part of our mid-winter gathering. As such Lord Ganesha's birthday celebrations are very popular in Andhra Pradesh. We organise these events periodically so that our younger generation remains connected to our culture.”

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 16 September 2016

Spring Dhamaka by the Fiji Association in Chch ¡¡ Gaurav Sharma

T

he Christchurch Fiji Association—an organisation formed in 2002 to initiate, promote, support and maintain cultural, religious and educational needs of the Fiji and Pacific migrants and their children—organised its annual Spring Dhamaka on September 10. Attended by more than 100 members, the event saw karaoke and dance performances

as well as the traditional Fijian drink and food including kava and chaser being served.

Jagat Singh, President of the Association, who is also the first member of the city's Fijian community standing in the local community board elections noted, “It was a good gathering, and a precursor to our main event next month, which will be the Diwali celebrations on October 15.”

Two Meningococcal cases detected in South Auckland ¡¡ IWK Bureau

T

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wo patients have been detected with meningococcal disease in South Auckland, the Auckland District Health Board has confirmed. Both victims had attended services at the Auckland Fijian Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Otahuhu.

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The disease is not contagious but the bacteria can spread through close contact such as kissing, coughing, and sharing personal space.

Auckland District Health Board says the risk of meningococcal disease is low even when someone is exposed to another case. There are several different types of meningococcal disease (serogroups) including A, B, C, Y, W135. There are vaccines available in NZ for Group A/C/ W135/Y. People are advised not to get too close to someone who is coughing and sneezing, to wash their hands thoroughly, and to keep their homes smoke-free. For public enquiries, including after hours, readers can contact Auckland Regional Public Health Service on 09 623 4600.

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NEW ZEALAND

16 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Meet the Auckland mayoral candidates

The third in our mayoral special series, we introduce four more candidates. This week, we spoke to John Palino, Mario Alupis, and Aileen Austin and asked them about their vision for Auckland, their take on the Auckland Unitary Plan and what they hope to achieve in the first 60 days in office if elected.

¡¡ Esha Chanda

John Palino

Housing, Auckland’s finance, and transport. Of course, we can make Auckland run more efficiently, which is the job of the CEO. Our mayor needs be across all fields but needs to first have a vision, the drive and the ability to see it through.

AUCKLAND

LOCAL ELECTIONS

2016

J

ohn Palino has been a businessman for more than 35 years. Having moved here 21 years ago, he brought with him a life of knowledge and international experience. As someone who thinks Auckland was the best place in the world to live, Palino wants the city to thrive.

Your plan for the first 60 days in office if elected The first thing I will hit the ground running on is the budget. With that in mind, there are pressing issues such as homelessness. I will address homelessness, safety, and security immediately.

At the same time, I will continue with my existing growth plan and get the developers, the central government, transport and water around the table and make our plan come to life.

Your views on the Auckland Unitary plan The Unitary Plan is only a zoning map. It doesn’t include people. My plan for growth includes people, and I will make it come alive with all the amenities a growing population needs, including schools, jobs, transport, police and security.

My plan does this and you can read all about it in my book A Vision for Auckland that you can find at www.palinoformayor. co.nz

Your approach housing and transport issues

to the public

In my plan, I show how we must build up the existing city centres such as Albany, Henderson, and Manukau and create another satellite city where we can build affordable housing and where we can build everything we need with the growth.

If we build in this way we can create a Live, Work and Play community.

This is how we can reduce congestion, create jobs and build homes.

Three initiatives you plan on undertaking as the mayor

Allow me to cover finance.

Auckland land bankers are becoming extremely rich, as they benefit from the council building, the infrastructure, and rezoning the land. We need to take a new look at how we grow Auckland and fund that infrastructure.

We need to work smart. I have a plan to open up the Metropolitan Urban Boundary, but before we do that council needs to acquire the land, create a model of the new city, rezone it and then add the infrastructure needed.

At that point, we sell the parcels off to the multiple developers to begin building our new city and bring the plan to life. We now recoup all our costs and keep land for schools, parks, playgrounds, sports fields and affordable housing.

This is how a smart mayor with a vision can build a city with a growth in population and property price increases such as Auckland.

Your vision for the future of Auckland My vision is for an Auckland of choice. I want the Auckland of the future to be a place where you can choose where you live, where you work, what you do and how you get around. A city where we protect the beauty, our communities, the culture, our children and all those things we love today. A city that grows without the pains we are feeling today because we are smarter than that. A city with a leader that has the people at heart and where they come first in all decisions.

Auckland has the opportunity to be a great city and you have the opportunity to choose which direction you would like it to go in. I just hope you all look back 10 years from now and know that it was your choice and you made that right choice.

Mario Alupis

M

ario Alupis is a 40-year-old professional wrestler. He says that he was “nearly homeless at one point” and therefore never takes anything for granted. He adds that he is in touch with what matters to people: a roof over their family’s head and transport.

Electorate Office: 7 Fulton Cres, Otara 09 274 9231 or 09 278 9972 jenny.salesa@parliament.govt.nz Papatoetoe: YouthLine Building, 145 St George Street, Friday mornings 9.30am to 12pm Otahuhu: Otahuhu Town Hall, 10 -12 High Street Monday mornings 9am to 12pm Authorised by Jenny Salesa, Parliamentary Buildings, Wellington

20151006 - Salesa ad 125x170.indd 1

06/10/15 11:24

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 16 September 2016

BC5816_IW_169

Your plan for the first 60 days in office if elected Sort the priorities. Thank those who have supported me with their votes, meet all the successful candidates, council staff, and begin the hard work following through on council business to serve their ratepayers effectively, and on which they campaigned.

Your plan for the first 60 days in office if elected The foundation for Auckland is the council and that needs a major shakeup.

For starters, no overseas trips unless absolutely necessary. I’d like to draft a plan where investors can only build a new home in selected areas and pay a lot more, as it is an investment.

Your views on Unitary Plan

the

Auckland

It still requires work. The people of Auckland come first and they should also have a strong say and options to choose from. We live in a democracy, not under a dictatorship.

Your approach to the housing and public transport issues Transport: Use what we have already, have proper parking facilities where cars won’t get vandalised or broken into, etc. and by reducing the costs to a point where it will be mad not to use public transport.

Housing: Everyone deserves a roof over their head. I’ll make it a lot harder for investors to purchase and make it a lot easier for citizens.

Three initiatives you plan on undertaking as the mayor Sort the council out, housing issue, and transport—in that order. You must have a strong foundation to build upon

Your vision of Auckland

for

the

future

My vision is simple. I want all Aucklanders to have a say. Everyone is equal. I’d love to showcase every nationality in Auckland, to put on display their heritage and their history for all to see.

Aileen Austin

A

ileen Austin is armed with a degree in architecture, has business experience, is a conservation educator, volunteer, and a fundraiser.

Austin says that Auckland has become “degraded, congested, and ugly”. Her vision—fair rates, governance, and reducing debt. She says that she would lead with “integrity, honesty, accountability, care and a social conscience”.

Your views on Unitary Plan

the

Auckland

There are some very obvious omissions.

It principally addresses housing development without thought to other necessary social, community, infrastructure, or future open space, schools, emergency services, airport, congestion, etc. It adds unnecessary costs and future slums.

Your approach to the housing and public transport issues Housing: Lobby the government for housing in other towns. We need housing for Kiwis first. I would also conduct rent reviews for pensioners in council flats.

Transport: Toll roads at the metropolitan urban limits. Cross-city buses and fewer cycle lanes.

T

he newly rebranded Language Connect service is growing its work with a nationwide focus on connecting with new migrants who need information and support in their own language.

“Migrants often have many questions when they come to New Zealand and Language Connect is here to provide them with information and help in their own language (22 different languages), no matter what their question or issue is,” says Kerry Dalton, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Bureau.

Language Connect can be accessed for free from anywhere in New Zealand. It

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Fair rates, governance and reducing debt. It’s all about the rates, leading council staff, and controlling contracts with a friendly, effective, service.

Follow a simple and sensible policy—if the (native) tree/forest, reserve was there first, it stays.

Building local public toilets with baby changing rooms and sealing metal roads.

Keeping assets, open spaces, Christmas, Easter, and weekends for families. I want an Auckland with tighter alcohol and gambling controls, without weapons and violence.

for

the

future

Our home for future generations. Lend a hand to clean our land.

Paimarie=peace and achieving amazing things working together.

CAB Language Service gets a makeover ¡¡ IWK Bureau

? ? e e v i v i l l

Three initiatives you plan on undertaking as the mayor

Your vision of Auckland

helps people who are new to the country and find it difficult to speak and understand English. “This service is unique in New Zealand,” says Dalton.

“We hope that with the new name and branding, it will be clearer that this is a service that can provide new migrants and refugees with information and support in their own language and that other people and services throughout New Zealand will spread the word.”

The Language Connect service is available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday to Friday. Readers can call them on a free number 0800 7888 77 or drop them an e-mail on language@cab.org.nz.

17

Check your letterbox for your voting document.

Find out more at

NEW ZEALAND

18

16 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

SBW jazzes up Eid-ul-Adha festivities ÂĄÂĄ Rizwan Mohammad

R

ugby star Sonny Bill Williams brightened the Eid-ul-Adha celebrations for many this week when he showed up with his family at the celebrations.

The star was swamped by young rugby fans as he obliged by signing autographs and sharing selfies at the photo booth before taking part in other activities.

The celebrations attracted thousands of participants from the Muslim community living in New Zealand.

And the message that came out of the celebrations: The true meaning of Eid-ul-Adha does not lie in the sacrifice of the animal but sacrificing something that is close to him or her.

Hazrat Ibrahim decided to sacrifice his son Ismail to fulfil the command of God and instead ran his knife on a goat.

To commemorate and celebrate this unwavering faith of Ibrahim, Eid-ul-Adha is observed across the globe by praying and sacrificing an animal.

Kiwi Muslims observed the second most celebrated festival of the community on Tuesday 13 September as prayers were held in different mosques around the country. Auckland Eid Day, a not-for-profit organisation hosted the prayer session and a small fete for families at Eden Park in Mt Eden.

The Eidgah witnessed a footfall of around 3,000 men, women and children for the prayer and another 4,000 during the day for the carnival. The venue

offered cuisines from Arab, India, Turkey, Malaysia, Syria and a few other Muslim countries alongside henna stall, face painting for children, scarves and imitation jewellery for women.

Eid-ul-Adha is the occasion when one of the largest pilgrimages Hajj is held in the holy city of Mecca. Approximately 1.2 million people from across the globe attend the annual pilgrimage that extends to five days including Eid day.

Hajj and its rituals: Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and a Muslim who is financially and physically capable has to perform Hajj at least once in his/ her lifetime. There are different phases of the Hajj and as a part of the ritual, the pilgrims wear Ihram (white piece of cloth), climb the mountains Safa and Marwah, throw pebbles on three stone blocks called Jamarat believed to be places where the devil tried to manipulate prophet Abraham, do tawaf or circle anti-clockwise around the Kaaba seven times situated within Masjid-al-Haram, shave their head (men only) and slaughter an animal.

The pilgrims returning from Hajj carry dates and Zamzam water back to their country to distribute among family and friends. Slaughtering animals for this occasion at the backyard of the house (a practice in India and other Asian countries) is not allowed in New Zealand as per law. Patrons who wish to sacrifice, pay a specified amount to a group, Masjid, etc., and they arrange for sacrificing the animal at farms or at slaughter houses.

Top: People greeting each other at the Eid-ul-Adha celebration Above: Atendees listening to khutbah (sermon) Right: Rugby star Sonny Bill Williams poses with fans at the Eid celebrations in Mt Eden

As per Islamic law, meat from the sacrificed animal must be divided into three equal parts, one for the extended family and friends, one for self-consumption and one for the less fortunate and poor.

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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

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NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 16 September 2016

‘Duped’ students gain moral support ¡¡ Swati Sharma

A

“It was an open session, where students spoke about their issues. An attendee suggested that all of this should be highlighted in a big way in Indian media, so that the students who are planning to go abroad for studies are aware of such scams and do not fall into a trap,” said Kaloti.

She said that people also suggested that the leaders from different communities and religious groups in New Zealand should come forward and back up a more sympathetic solution for this situation, considering that in the past other students and migrant workers who faced similar situations, were allowed to stay in the country.

Kaloti and Sehgal, along with the students, also met Labour leader Andrew Little and Green co-leader Metiria Turei last weekend to discuss the possible solutions for the situation.

“Both leaders assured that they would raise this issue in the Parliament, for these students to be treated fairly,” Kaloti added. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) issued deportation liability

address, said that the present age marked by a “globalisation of indifference” can learn a lot from this humble and petite nun. He added that the most important element of Mother Teresa was her love for god.

She began and fulfilled her mission as a direct response to god asking her to “bring Him” to the dark and empty

T

Anu Kaloti from Indian Migrant Workers Association told Indian Weekender they had approached the Indian High Commission in Wellington on behalf of the students and is also encouraging students to individually put forward their concerns.

Kaloti and Sunny Sehgal, who were instrumental in organising a protest on September 3 demanding justice and fair treatment for the Indian students facing deportation, organised a public meeting on Thursday, September 8, where other students and members of the public were also present.

Auckland celebrates the canonisation of Mother Teresa ¡¡ IWK Bureau

fter the media highlighted the issues the duped Indian students are facing in New Zealand, the community has come forward in support of the students.

Students protesting outside National MP Parmjeet Parmar’s office in Mt Roskil

notices to 41 Indian student nationals for providing fake loan disbursement document in their student visa applications and for subsequent issues including crimes committed in New Zealand. INZ has identified 158 cases with the fraud related to the fake financial document in their visa applications While the government says that the cases are being investigated, the students have claimed that they were unaware of the fraud and found out only after INZ notified them about it.

Some students are calling for their fees to be refunded if they have to go back to India, whereas others want to stay back in the country saying that they have spent a year of their life studying here and want to explore the job opportunities here.

The Indian High Commission said that they have taken up the matter with concerned authorities and would safeguard the interest of students to the extent possible.

Visit www.iwk.co.nz and our Facebook page www.facebook.com/indianweekender for updates.

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o celebrate the canonisation of Mother Teresa by Pope Francis, more than 900 devotees gathered at St Mary’s Avondale in the presence of the priests and Missionary of Sisters nuns for a Thanksgiving Mass.

Sr Agnes J o s e p h , Superior of the Mother Teresa Sisters in Auckland carried the relic of Saint of Teresa of Calcutta in a solemn procession recalling the holiness of the saint Bishops, priests and Mother Teresa nuns at the Mass and her services for the poor. This places in our own lives and those who was preceded by a liturgical dance do not know him. Sr. Agnes Joseph accompanied by a song in Bengali on said that it was a day of celebration Mother Teresa. in the history of the Missionaries of Charity in Auckland and they were Rev. Bishop Patrick Dunn of thankful to god for this blessing Auckland, who was the main of canonising their foundress celebrant, spoke about the St. Teresa. spirituality of Saint Mother Teresa in his homily.

This was followed by a festivity in the hall where devotees shared Fr. Mathew Vadakkevettuvazhiyil, supper. The celebrations concluded Parish Priest of St. Mary’s, welcomed with a play by St Mary’s Youth on the the Bishop and the gathering and life of Mother Teresa and a cultural said that they were blessed to be a dance by the Burmese Community part of the mass. performed a lively cultural dance.

Wenceslaus Anthony, Chairperson of Mother Teresa Committee, in his

Celebrations introductory

Photo courtesy: Joe James

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WHAT DO YOU THINK What do you like about living in New Zealand

Editorial Freedom of speech part and parcel of democracy

F

Mandeep Singh Gujral, New Lynn

The economy is strong and that is what makes it different from other nations. People can live here, start a new life and prosper within a short period.

iji last week arrested Opposition MPs and union leaders in a move that shocked the international community.

Was the Pacific Island nation still under military rule? That’s what was foremost in the minds of many who thought that after democratic elections in 2014, Fiji was now governed by a righteous civilian government.

The leaders of two opposition parties, SODELPA’S Sitiveni Rabuka and NFP’s Biman Prasad, and a trade union official, Attar Singh, were detained by Fiji authorities after taking part in a forum on Fiji’s Constitution.

The reason for arrest: the utterances of those at the forum, which “could affect the safety and security of all Fijians”.

So where is the so-called freedom of speech, which is the norm in a democratically elected government?

In response, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Murray McCully labelled some of Fiji’s laws as that “from a past era”.

Sunaina Khokra,

New Lynn

I like the diverse culture; different ethnicities live here under one roof. Also, I love the beaches and the green and white mountains.

It feels like heaven.

Lubna Syed, Epsom

The beautiful landscape and the diversity of the country. You see people from so many different ethnicities living here in harmony.

At a time Fiji is trying to convince the world it is a normal democracy, we now have what looks on the face of it like a clampdown on those either criticising or challenging the Constitution. That ought to be allowed in a democracy.

The arrests coincided with a cabinet reshuffle by Bainimarama in which Bainimarama appointed himself Foreign Affairs Minister and moved Ratu Inoke Kubuabola to Minister of Defence.

That took place while Ratu Inoke was at the Pacific Islands Forum in the Federated States of Micronesia with McCully and Prime Minister John Key as well as other Pacific leaders.

?

Deepak Garhwal,

New Lynn

I like the country’s beauty. The natural diversity is simply mindblowing. You can experience the sea, the mountains, and the equally beautiful towns at the same place.

The change is concerning. Ratu Inoke was instrumental in maintaining a constructive relationship with New Zealand during the years of the coup when most high-level contacts were suspended.

Lakshya Dogra,

Bainimarama has boycotted the Pacific Islands Forum in protest at the involvement of New Zealand and Australia, despite Fiji being reinstated as a full member after holding elections in 2014.

I travel a lot and that gives me an opportunity to experience the beauty of this place. I love its greenery. It is so refreshing to see the rich flora and fauna of this place.

His recent actions will further be seen as flexing of muscles he developed during his time as head of the Fiji Navy and Army, and later as head of a military regime.

Epsom

Bainimarama might argue that he does not need his long-time neighbours now that he has other allies in the Asia region, but war and tense relationships with neighbours is not the recipe for a peaceful existence in this part of the world.

Sandeep Sarpanch,

Bainimarama needs to let go of the military mentality and rule with a statesmanlike and dignified manner befitting a leader of a civilised country, and not be a Donald Trump of the Pacific.

It is the most corruption-free country. Everything is in black and white here. There are no grey areas in between.

Indian Weekender : Volume 8 Issue 26 Publisher: Kiwi Media Publishing Limited Managing Editor: Bhav Dhillon | bhav@indianweekender.co.nz Chief Reporter: Swati Sharma | swati@indianweekender.co.nz Reporter: Rizwan Mohammad | rizwan@indianweekender.co.nz

Manurewa

Jagtar Singh, Manurewa

I like the weather of New Zealand. Compared to India and even Australia, the weather is quite pleasant.

Reporter: Esha Chanda | esha@indianweekender.co.nz 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 | design@indianweekender.co.nz Accounts and Admin.: accounts@indianweekender.co.nz Sales, Marketing & Distribution: 022 3251630 | sales@indianweekender.co.nz Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher is not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearing in the publication Views expressed in the articles are solely of the authors and do not in any way represent the views of the team at the Indian Weekender Kiwi Media Publishing Limited - 711 Mt Albert Road, Royal Oak, Auckland.

Printed at Horton Media, Auckland Copyright 2016. Kiwi Media Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved.

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16 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

POWER COLUMN

What a mess! We need to fix our housing crisis

T

Barry Coates Green Party

he New Zealand dream is beyond the reach of too many of our people.

The rate of home ownership has plummeted.

Buying your own home used to be the aspiration of every young person, but now soaring house prices put owning a home beyond their reach.

Auckland is one of the least affordable cities to own a home in the world. People need to

live in cities to be near their families and communities, and for jobs, education, and career opportunities. Affordable homes are needed for the full range of residents, not just the rich.

But property developers want to make profits from higher priced houses, so government intervention is needed to ensure there is enough affordable housing, especially at a time of increasing immigration.

With the shortage of housing, a million people are now in rental accommodation. They often face crippling prices, unfair practices by landlords and cold

A growing economy delivering for NZ households Parmjeet Parmar

A

National List MP

growing economy supports more jobs and higher wages. It provides opportunities for families. And it pays for the public services New Zealanders rely on. The economy remains front and centre of the government’s busy work programme, and it is delivering results with our country in good shape. Businesses are confident and investing, exports are up, tourism and construction are booming, and interest rates are down. The outlook for economic growth remains solid with predicted growth of three per cent on average through to 2020.

Growth matters because it creates more jobs and higher incomes for New Zealanders.

That is exactly what our economic programme is doing.

An extra 100,000 jobs have been created in the last year. =The unemployment rate is down to 5.1% and falling across the country. Our employment rate— the proportion of all people 16 or older in work—is now the second highest in the OECD group of developed countries. This is a

significant achievement. Kiwi families have more spending power. The average annual wage has increased 25% to $58,000 since 2008—more than twice the rate of inflation. It is expected to reach almost $63,000 by 2020.

A combination of rising wages, reduced taxes on income and savings, and low inflation has seen take-home pay increasing 2.2% a year, four times faster than under the previous government.

The latest income and inequality data published by the Ministry of Social Development confirms this trend of incomes growing solidly in recent years, with slightly higher gains for low-income households. It also finds there is no evidence of increasing poverty or children in material hardship.

And that is what a growing economy is delivering for New Zealanders. At the same time, as we’ve increased spending on core public services—health and education spending are today at record levels—we’ve increased support for the most-vulnerable New Zealanders. We’ve also balanced the government’s books, and we’re on track to pay down debt.

National will continue to focus on building a stronger, more prosperous New Zealand, with more jobs and higher incomes, and on helping families get ahead.

and damp homes that make their children sick.

In the poorest fifth of households, housing costs make up half of after-tax income, a ratio that indicates severe financial stress. And homelessness has become a reality of life for thousands of New Zealanders.

In the face of the government’s neglect of the problem, opposition political parties convened a Homelessness Inquiry. Evidence to the inquiry showed the human costs of living in severely crowded houses, the high costs of temporary accommodation and the misery of living in the streets

in cars or in abandoned dwellings.

This government has failed to take action and has turned a problem into a crisis. But there are solutions if the government was willing to stop protecting property developers and speculators and invest in our future.

The Green Party has proposed using the dividend and tax paid by Housing New Zealand to re-invest in building affordable homes, and a plan to build 10,000 additional affordable houses. We would ensure that emergency housing is available to those who need it. We would toughen the rules that would require speculators to

Barry Coates will soon become the newest Green MP, replacing Kevin Hague who is leaving parliament.

Time to crack down on crime Phil Goff

Labour MP

A

uckland is growing at a high pace—more than 800 residents a week, and more than 45,000 residents in the last year alone.

However, while our population has been growing, our police force numbers have been frozen.

By asking the Minister of Police in Parliament, I found out that the net increase in police officers in Auckland, across its three districts over the past five years, was just five. That’s one a year.

It’s time to remind our prime minister what he promised eight years ago just before the 2008 election.

John Key said, “We will boost overall New Zealand police numbers so there is one officer for every 500 people and we will keep this ratio as the population grows.” (National press release, October 20, 2008).

This simply has not happened.

If that promise had been kept, Auckland right now would have 630 additional police officers, not five.

The police are underresourced and can’t do the job the public expects them to. We have been told that police will now investigate every burglary.

Where are the resources coming from to do this?

When I asked the minister for police in which of the last four years the money allocated to Vote Police in the budget had exceeded the real level of costs facing them, the minister answered in only one year.

The public knows that too often when reasonable requests are made to the police, including following up on crimes such as burglary and even robbery where the offender has been identified, police action is not forthcoming.

Victims have, for example, tracked cell phones robbed from them, advised police and been told that police can do nothing to help.

For every 100 burglaries carried out each year in Auckland, only six are resolved.

A criminal who knows that he has a 94% chance of getting away with a crime, will keep on offending. The excuse that crime is coming down no longer has credibility if it ever did. Crime is on the rise in Auckland and across New Zealand.

TRANSFORMING THE WEST WHAT I STAND FOR! I am delighted to be standing for Waitakere this election. For too long, our community has played poor cousin to other areas of Auckland and we are in desperate need of catch-up.

My solutions- to halt all work on the rail-loop until its financial viability has been proven; Ban tolls on any Auckland Road; Introduce international construction practices to complete all transport projects over the next 3 years; Open up land areas for genuinely affordable housing, and to guarantee a maximum allowance for any consent approval process.

WHERE TO FROM HERE?

pay tax. And we have proposed a Warrant of Fitness for all rented houses, to ensure all children are growing up in warm, healthy homes, and stronger rights for tenants. There are solutions to fix this housing crisis and the Green Party is committed to working with others to make the New Zealand dream a reality, and to make our cities affordable, with better transport, access to green spaces and with vibrant and diverse communities. For details see www.greens.org.nz

In the past year, the number of robberies and burglaries rose by 9,000, up 14%. There are more than 200 burglaries and robberies every day on average.

That added up to 75,000 last year. As an MP, I have been pushing the police minister to commit to more police for Auckland, to stop closing police stations and to properly resource our Police to keep the community safe. Year after year, there has been denials that there is a problem. In fact, in this year’s police four-year plan, no provision was made for extra police right through to 2020.

The Mayor of Auckland does not have direct power over police numbers and resources.

It is a central government responsibility.

However, I can promise this.

As mayor, I will be a strong voice for Auckland lobbying central government for a fair deal for our city. And I will not rest until I have a commitment from them that the promise made in 2008 will be kept.

We need police to have the resources to allow them to do their job in keeping us safe in our businesses, our homes and in the community.

Your source for the latest news updates.

Stay informed with Indian Weekender Check us out @ www.iwk.co.nz

INDIA

www.iwk.co.nz | 16 September 2016

23

INDIA

India mulls replicating Singapore’s petrochemical complex

P

etroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, on September 10, said that there was a possibility of replicating Singapore’s petrochemical complex at two places in India—in Odisha’s Paradip port and Haryana’s Panipat district.

new model will replace the controversial production sharing contracts—by which oil and gas blocks are awarded to firms which show they will do maximum work on a block—that has governed the bidding under the earlier nine New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) rounds.

The minister, who was on a six-day visit to Singapore, tweeted: “Jurong model is interesting; similar petrochemical complex can be developed in Panipath and Paradip with good planning.”

Under the Discovered Small Field Policy, the government is offering bids for 67 discovered small fields in 46 contract areas spread over nine sedimentary basins on land and in shallow and deep water areas. Eventually, operators will be issued a single licence for exploration of conventional and non-conventional hydrocarbons and will have the freedom to sell oil and gas at “arm’s length” market prices. There would be no cess on crude oil.

Jurong, a reclaimed island in Singapore, hosts ports, three refineries, and several petrochemical plants manufacturing the entire value chain of products. Pradhan visited the centralised utilities operations of Sembcorp Industries at Jurong Island.

“Visited Jurong Island at Sembcorp that provides all common utilities to the industries in the 35 sq km island,”

Singapore’s petrochemical complex on Jurong Island

Pradhan tweeted. Earlier in the day, the Petroleum Minister also visited the Keppel Shipyard, to review the technologies that can be useful for India.

and gas fields. Road shows were earlier held in July in the US and Canada for the auction of India’s 67 hydrocarbon discovered small fields (DSF).

Many rigs working in Indian oil sector are developed here, he said, adding that the innovative technological work and rig manufacturing at the Keppels can be useful in India. Pradhan was on a visit to Singapore to lead India’s road shows to attract foreign investors for its small oil

Bidding opened on July 15 and will be open untill October 31.

The auction will be under the new Hydrocarbon Exploration Licensing Policy (HELP) round approved in March, based on a revenue-sharing model, as opposed to cost-and-outputbased norms earlier.

The

The change in model is designed to help keep the government share in cases of a windfall from both a steep rise in prices as well as a quantum jump in production.

Rafale deal likely to be concluded soon

T

he deal for buying 36 Rafale jets from France is in its final stage, with some “fine tuning” going on, Defence Ministry sources said on September 12.

The deal for purchasing three dozen Rafale combat jets in fly-away condition was inked during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France in April 2015.

Sources said the deal is in the final stage and some points are being worked upon.

A team from France was present in Delhi and both sides are keen on concluding the deal soon.

According to sources, Prime Minister’s Office pushed for concluding

the has the

deal soon, after more than a year-long negotiations, in which price had been a major sticking point.

While the final price after the negotiations has not been announced, India has bargained for bringing the price close to $8 billion. In April this year, BJP claimed in a post on social media that the deal has been finalised at $8.8 billion. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had, however, later clarified that it was not an official figure. In 2012, India decided to ink a deal for 126 Rafale jets.

As the deal could not be worked out, the deal for the 36 Rafale combat jets came last year.

India, US to hold joint anti-terror military exercise

I

ndia and the US will be conducting the 12th edition of joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas, focussing on anti-insurgency and antiterrorist operations, in the hills of Uttarakhand from September 14 to 27, an official statement said on September 12.

The exercise, to be held in Chaubattia, is a series of one of the longest-running joint military training exercises and a major ongoing bilateral defence cooperation endeavour between India and US.

This will be the 12th edition of the joint military exercise, which started in 2004 under the US Army Pacific partnership programme and is hosted alternately by both countries.

This year’s edition is, however, the first after the Logistic Exchange Memorandum of Agreement between India and the US was signed.

Yudh Abhyas 2016 will simulate a scenario where both nations are working together in a counter insurgency and counter terrorism environment in mountainous terrain under a UN charter.

The two-week exercise will witness participation of about 225 personnel of the US Army and similar strength of the Indian Army.

The much-awaited Indo-France deal on Rafale jets is in its final stage

Both the sides also agreed to conclude an Inter-Governmental Agreement for the supply of the aircraft after which a Negotiating Team was constituted.

In an interview in May, Parrikar had said the deal is in the final stage and the deal would be concluded in “a couple of months”.

“The exercise curriculum is progressively planned where the participants are initially made to get familiar with each other’s organisational structure, weapons, equipment and tactical drills.

“Subsequently, the training advances to joint tactical exercises wherein the battle drills of both the armies are coherently unleashed,” the statement said.

Fish bio-waste recycled into green energy

A

team of researchers at Jadavpur University has developed a biodegradable energy harvester from raw fish scales, which could be tapped as a sustainable green energy source.

It also has the potential for personal portable electronics with reduced e-waste elements, the researchers said.

Fish scales—a by-product that is usually thrown away— contain collagen fibres that possess a piezoelectric property, which means that an electric

charge is generated in them in response to mechanical stress.

The researchers have synthesised flexible bio-piezoelectric nanogenerator (BPNG) from this bio-waste.

In

Mandal, from the Department of Physics, at Jadavpur University. The recycling of the fish by-products into the BPNG via one-step process is a promising solution for the development “We were able the future, of value-added to make a bioour goal is to implant products and also piezoelectric a bio-piezoelectric to reduce the nanogenerator nanogenerator into a heart e-waste. The (or energy for pacemaker devices, where team’s work is harvester) with electrodes on it will continuously generate the first known power from heartbeats for demonstration both sides, and of the direct the device’s operation then laminated piezoelectric them,” said

effect of fish scales from electricity generated by a bio-piezoelectric nanogenerator under mechanical stimuli without the need for any post-electrical poling treatments.

The group’s work could potentially be used in transparent electronics, biocompatible and biodegradable electronics, edible electronics.

It can also be used in selfpowered implantable medical devices, surgeries, e-healthcare monitoring, as well as in vitro and in vivo diagnostics,

apart from its myriad uses for portable electronics.

“In the future, our goal is to implant a bio-piezoelectric nanogenerator into a heart for pacemaker devices, where it will continuously generate power from heartbeats for the device’s operation,” Mandal said.

“It will then degrade when no longer needed. Since heart tissue is also composed of collagen, our bio-piezoelectric nanogenerator is expected to be very compatible with the heart.”

24

INDIA ABROAD

16 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

INDIA ABROAD

6Degree to take Indian talent to Fashion Forward Dubai

6

Degree, a fashion talent and tech platform, has partnered with Fashion Forward Dubai (FFWD), a definitive fashion platform for Dubai and the Middle East that provides a progressive direction and exposure for the regional fashion industry.

The top three couturiers will work with 18 international models and showcase 11 looks on the runway. The collaboration entails vast exposure to global media and placement of design images on

W

ith the aim to improve Madhvi Mishra, a member academic research of the organising committee, and policy work on in a statement released on India in Australia, a day-long September 12. summit is being organised at According to the statement, the University of Sydney, aiming the objective of the South Asia to bring together distinguished Study Group is to create an academic and policy makers to in-depth understanding of discuss India’s foreign policy South Asia in Australia The and domestic strengths. through encouraging

size of The summit to be discussion, research, [the] Indian held on October 7 is events and being organised by diaspora in Australia publications.

Indian students at is growing and we “Aligning with the University of hope that this event the objective of Sydney under the the South Asia will bring the aegis of the South Study Group, the community Asia Study Group. goal of the India

Under this alliance, 6Degree will open the doors for Indian designers to showcase their signature collections at the fashion event, which will be held in Dubai on October 20 and 23, a statement said.

Only three designers selected by the jury will showcase their creations at FFWD. After the designers submit their applications along with their lookbook and designer profile, the 6Degree team will conduct a primary screening and shortlist 10 designers.

Summit to improve academic research on India in Australia

together

Dubai Fashion Forward April 2015 at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai

WGSN.com and NOWFASHION. The selected designers will be provided with showroom facilities and networking opportunities with buyers and industry experts.

Nikhil Hegde, CEO and cofounder, 6Degree, said, “We are highly pleased to enter into an exclusive partnership with FFWD. Apart from consolidating our position in India as the largest fashion talent platform, we are sure that through this collaboration, 6Degree will carve

a niche for itself in international markets as well.” Ramzi Nakad, Chief Operating Officer and cofounder of FFWD said, “We are delighted to partner with 6Degree for the eighth edition of Fashion Forward and look forward to welcoming the three selected designers to our runways.”

“The size of [the] Indian diaspora in Australia is growing and we hope that this event will bring the community together. Hopefully, the summit will encourage Indian students to organise themselves better and pursue their interests in a proactive manner,” said

Summit is to unpack the potential that India and Indians possess to become world leaders in the 21st century,” Mishra said.

The organising committee has also invited General Secretary of CPI(M) Sitaram Yechury as the keynote speaker.

FFWD is held twice a year, in April and October, at the Hai d3, in partnership with Dubai Design and Fashion Council (DDFC) and Dubai Design District (d3).

SPORTS

India creates history at Rio Paralympics

I

ndia’s Mariyappan Thangavelu won a gold medal in the men’s high jump T-42 event at the Rio Paralympics.

His compatriot Varun Singh Bhati clinched the bronze medal in the same event on the night of September 9.

While Thangavelu made a leap of 1.89 metres, Bhati jumped his personal best of 1.86 metres to finish third. Sharad Kumar, the other Indian in the fray, finished at the sixth position. This was the third gold medal for India in the history of the Paralympic Games.

Swimmer Murlikant Petkar had won India’s first gold at the 1972 edition while Devendra Jhajharia had clinched the second gold by winning the javelin event at the 2004 Games.

The event witnessed a fierce contest with six of the 12 athletes clearing the 1.74m mark in their first eight attempts.

But Thangavelu became a part of the leading group after his 10th attempt when he cleared the 1.77m mark along with Lukasz

Mariyappan Thangavelu (left) and Varun Bhati (right) after winning their medals

Mamczarz of Poland, China’s Zhiqiang Zhing and Kumar.

He then went into the lead along with Bhati as both managed to clear the 1.83m mark. Kumar however, could not improve his performance and eventually crashed out of medal contention.

Grewe pushed Thangavelu and Bhati to the joint second position by clearing 1.86m to grab the top spot. But both Indians made a strong comeback by equalling the height to share the pole position.

Thangavelu eventually made sure of the gold with an effort of 1.89m in his final attempt while Grewe and Bhati finished with best efforts of 1.86m.

Both Thangavelu and Bhati are in line for rich financial rewards as the Sports Ministry had earlier announced that the Indian gold medallists from the Paralympic Games will be awarded Rs.75 lakh each, the silver medallists will get Rs.50 lakh while Rs.30 lakh will be given to the bronze medallists.

Indian men and women win in Chess Olympiad ¡¡ Venkatachari Jagannathan

I

ndia on September 10 came back to their winning ways defeating England 2.5–1.5 in the open section and Uzbekistan in the women’s category in the eighth round of the World Chess Olympiad currently underway at Baku in Azerbaijan. In both the sections, India won scoring 2.5–1.5 points.

In the open section, it was Chennai lad Grandmaster S.P. Sethuraman who defeated GM Nigel D. Short and gave the team the much-needed victory to win the match as the other three games ended in a draw.

Playing white, Sethuraman went in for the Scotch opening (e4, e5; Nf3, Nc6; d4) and by the sixth move, both players brought their queens into play.

Sethuraman’s board position improved, and on move 19, he castled on his queen’s side and opened his attack from the king’s side while Short brought his attack on white’s king on the queen’s side. However, the Indian maintained his superior board position to force Short to resign in 41 moves.

On the top board, Indian GM P.Harikrishna pitted against GM

Michael Adams drew in 58 moves.

The other lad from Chennai GM B. Adhiban signed a peace treaty with his English rival GM David W.L. Howell in 35 moves.

Similarly, the third board also saw a draw between India’s Vidit Santosh Gujrathi and GM Gawain C.B. Jones. The Indian women had better luck winning against much lower-rated Uzbekistan.

GM Harika Dronavalli posted a victory without much sweat in 37 moves. Playing black, India’s International Master (IM) Padmini Rout drew her game on the second board.

WGM Soumya Swaminathan drew her game in 35 moves with both the players having just six pawns and their king on the board. The fourth board saw WIM Pratyusha Bodda replacing the off-form IM Tania Sachdev.

FEATURES

www.iwk.co.nz | 16 September 2016

25

EDUCATION

Online tool engages youth vote for council elections

Students go silent against LGBTI bullying

O

n September 8, students across New Zealand taped their mouths shut to draw attention to the silence surrounding homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic bullying in schools. Day of Silence is the largest student-driven action for safe schools in the world and was introduced to New Zealand as a national campaign three years ago by InsideOUT.

V

oteLocal (www.votelocal.nz) is an online interactive tool that Massey University’s Design+Democracy Project believe will encourage young New Zealanders to engage with and vote in next month’s local body elections.

“This year, the theme of our campaign is acknowledging that 2016 marks 30 years since the homosexual law reform in New Zealand,” says Tabby Besley, National Coordinator of InsideOUT.

The web tool is a game-like questionnaire that guides people towards finding the best match for them among their local mayoral candidates. It went live on September 5 and builds on the success of the On the Fence interactive tool that made a tangible difference to youth voter turnout at the 2014 general election.

VoteLocal is an online interactive tool aimed at engaging youth in the voting process and the importance of local government ahead of the local body elections.

For this year’s local body elections in Auckland, Wellington, and Palmerston North, the project team, which is part of the College of Creative Arts, has created a tool that asks users a series of questions, with responses used to calculate which candidates are most compatible with the user.

the information needed to inform the algorithm underpinning VoteLocal. All eight Wellington candidates responded along with 12 Auckland candidates, and both mayoral candidates in Palmerston North are on board. As a user plays VoteLocal, they generate a custom city in the recognisable guise of their own city.

Director of the Design+Democracy Project, Karl Kane, says VoteLocal will provide information about the candidates and what they stand for, inform users about what Councils do and debunk the assumption that they aren’t relevant to young New Zealanders.

Tim Parkin, the senior research designer for the project says the appeal of VoteLocal is that it has an approachable and game-like look and feel, which makes it fun to share. Each question requires the user to think of the issue as a balancing act.

The mayoral candidates who responded to the approach from the Design+Democracy Project have provided

After responding to questions, the results show the user their top three candidate matches, with specific results for each question also shown. As the project team

points out, voter participation in local body elections has been in general decline over the past 25 years with national eligible voter turnout dropping to 41% in 2013.

Kane says the statistics for young voters are even more alarming with only 37% of the eligible 18–24-year-olds voting.

“With many not enrolled at all, the actual numbers are likely even more dire. VoteLocal is designed to empower young voters and help them become active civic participants by matching their personal values with mayoral candidates and engaging them with issues in their particular communities in a non-threatening, independent, bi-partisan and decidedly user-friendly environment,” he says.

As a reflection upon this history, InsideOUT repurposed audio from the debates in 1986 into a video campaign for Day of Silence—a day where people remain silent in the representation of the silence and oppression the rainbow community faces.

The contrast between historical audio with contemporary video shows how far things have come and how much work there is yet to do. “Unfortunately, we’re 30 years on and homophobia, biphobia and transphobia are present as ever in the lives of our young people,” says Besley.

“We want LGBTI people to know they are not alone and that their voices deserve to be heard; their identities are valid,” she adds.

“InsideOUT’s Day of Silence campaign was aimed to spread awareness, bring visibility to the issue, and most importantly, break the silence.”

school holidays these

WEEK 1 Monday 26th SEPT LEGO Workshop

(Gold Coin Donation) 10am, 11am, 12pm & 1pm

Tuesday 27th SEPT Paint & Create (Gold Coin Donation) 10am - 2pm

Wednesday 28th SEPT Clay Creations (Gold Coin Donation) 10am - 2pm

Thursday 29th SEPT The Cupcake Fairy

Friday 30th SEPT LEGO Workshop

(Gold Coin Donation) 10am - 2pm

(Gold Coin Donation) 10am, 11am, 12pm & 1pm

Thursday 6th OCT Paint & Create

Friday 7th OCT The Cupcake Fairy

WEEK 2 Monday 3rd OCT Grass Heads

(Gold Coin Donation) 10am - 2pm

Tuesday 4th OCT Sand Art

(Gold Coin Donation) 10am - 2pm

Wednesday 5th OCT Clay Creations (Gold Coin Donation) 10am - 2pm

(Gold Coin Donation) 10am - 2pm

(Gold Coin Donation) 10am - 2pm

www.royaloakmall.co.nz

26

FEATURES

16 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Video games increase cognitive abilities in children: Study

P

laying video games for a limited amount of time each week may increase cognitive abilities in children, a finding has suggested.

In their study, published in the journal Annals of Neurology, 2,442 children aged between 7 and 11 years were studied and found that playing video games for one hour per week was associated with better motor skills and higher school achievement scores.

The team also found that weekly time spent gaming was steadily linked with conduct problems, peer conflicts, and reduced social abilities, with such negative effects being especially prominent in children who played nine or more hours of video games each week.

When the investigators looked at magnetic resonance imaging scans of the brains of a subgroup of children, they noted that gaming was linked with changes in basal ganglia white matter and functional connectivity in the brain.

Pt Chevalier Family Dentist opens its door ¡¡ IWK Bureau

A

new family dental clinic has opened in Pt Chevalier that promises to provide best dental care in Auckland city. The clinic, one of the hi-tech dental clinic located at the corner of Great North Road and Carrington Road, is newly built and started operating from Tuesday, September 13.

“Video gaming is neither good nor bad, but its level of use makes it so,” said Jesus Pujol, a doctor at the Hospital del Mar in Spain.

He and his colleagues investigated the relationship between weekly video game use and certain cognitive abilities and conduct-related problems.

Advertorial

Researchers noted that gaming was linked with functional connectivity in the brain

Gaming use was associated with a better function in brain circuits critical for learning based on the acquisition of new skills through practice” “Gaming use was associated with a better function in brain circuits critical for learning based on the acquisition of new skills through practice,” Pujol explained.

Children traditionally acquire motor skills through action, for instance in relation to sports and outdoor games.

Neuroimaging research suggested that training with desktop virtual environments is also capable of modulating brain systems that support motor skill learning.

“We have a team of experienced dentists dedicated to give the most affordable and best dental treatments,” said Dr Nikita Verma.

The clinic is an addition to the existing chain—Stoddard Dental Square in Mt Roskill and Guardian Dental Care in Manukau.

“We were fully booked in advance from the day we opened our doors and the phone keeps ringing all day,” added Shivam Verma, owner of the clinic.

The clinic offers pretty much all dental services such as filling, root canal treatment, tooth extraction, denture, gum treatment, teeth whitening, polishing, crowns and bridges, mouthguards and FastBraces. The clinic also offers free ACC treatment and free consultation.

The clinic has the most technologically advanced surgical tools installed and has an in-house panographic OPG X-ray so that the patients do not have to wander to other avenues.

By Manisha Koushik

WEEKLY FORECAST: SEPTEMBER 16 TO SEPTEMBER 22 ¡¡Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20) You are likely to take up a venture with renewed interest and resolve to make it work. Help will be at hand in cutting the red tape and circumventing official apathy. Take steps to blunt the impact of a lifestyle disease. Your excuse for leaving early from work may not cut ice with the seniors. Don’t be judgmental about the ways of a family youngster. Expect a good time with lover. Curb wasteful expenditure and focus on saving.

Lucky no.: 4 Lucky colour: Purple

¡¡Taurus (Apr 21-May 20) Your desire to keep in touch with people may prompt you to take up socialising in a big way. It may become difficult for your senior to overlook any mistake committed by you at work, so try not to commit it.

Partner will approve of your idea on the domestic front without much convincing. A good bargain is likely to get what you want at a bargain price.

Those in love will manage to make the most of it this week.

Lucky no.: Lucky colour: Magenta

¡¡Gemini (May 21-Jun 21) Someone you scorned initially will be able to command your respect.

On the academic front, acting on the suggestions of an experienced colleague will help you in more ways than one. A task that interests you on the professional front is likely to come your way. Unnecessarily worrying

about your health may actually make you unwell! Someone you trusted for investing your money may let you down. You are likely to oblige your well wishers by looking them up.

Lucky no.: 5 Lucky colour: Lemon

¡¡Cancer (Jun 22-Jul 20) Something that you need will be at hand and save you much running about. You will succeed in getting love and affection of your near and dear ones back into your life through your own efforts. Mutual respect and understanding promise to take your romance to a new height. A trip with family is indicated and is likely to prove most enjoyable. Landing a good and well-paying job may become a reality for job seekers.

Lucky no.: 7 Lucky colour: Cyan

¡¡Leo (Jul 23-Aug 11) You may need to rehearse whatever you have taken on to make it error-free.

Those with ample time on their hands may get a chance to do their own thing. At work, you will need to handle the subordinates with more love and understanding, if you want them to maintain their peak performance and give their best. Health conscious will discover some new route to fitness.

Drive away all the negativity from your mind to enjoy the week.

Lucky no.: 15 Lucky colour: Chocolate

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

¡¡Virgo (Aug 24-Sep 23) Domestic tussles and professional workload may go hand in hand, but you will handle both admirably. A minor ailment may aggravate if you continue to neglect it. You may take up an academic pursuit that interests you. The financial front remains most satisfactory. Chances of a friendship blossoming into romance cannot be ruled out. Spiritual endeavours will help bring peace of mind and contentment. Remaining health conscious is not enough, get out and move your muscles too!

Lucky no.: 3 Lucky colour: Light red

¡¡Libra (Sep 24-Oct 23) Certain factors threaten to gang up against you at work, so remain proactive. This appears to be a productive week for professionals, as they are able to address a lot of issues.

Those planning an event must take the weather into account. Something that you are eagerly awaiting may turn out to be disappointing. Shun negative thoughts and keep your focus on the positive side of things. Health issues troubling you must be discussed with medical practitioners.

Lucky no.: 15 Lucky colour: Chocolate

¡¡Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22) You manage to salvage an unfavourable situation simply by being persistent. A recently concluded

family function is likely to bring you back into the mainstream.

Postponement of a meeting threatens to upset your schedule for this week. On the academic front, a good beginning will be a precursor for better things to come. You will manage to park your money safely in a good financial scheme. Your initiative on the romantic front will be appreciated.

Lucky no.: 11 Lucky colour: Deep sky blue

¡¡Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 11) Make your goodness encompassing and you will gain a lot. A cheque eluding you for long can still show no sign of materialising. Your work is likely to come under the scanner, but there is nothing to worry about.

Those in the medical or engineering professions will find the week a bit tough. Some of you may have to put in a bit more for becoming eligible for a position. An ambitious project may take time for completion.

Lucky no.: 22 Lucky colour: Orange

¡¡Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 21) Get things organised in a way you want to and you will not go wrong.

But, do take the suggestions of all.

Weight watchers will need to keep a tight control on what they consume. A hectic schedule may make it difficult to find time for family, so make up for it later. A suitable accommodation that fits your pocket is possible, but

requires a bit of footwork. You may annoy lover by your irritating habits!

Lucky no.: 2 Lucky colour: Cream

¡¡Aquarius (Jan 22-Feb 19) You are likely to get the VIP treatment in a social gathering. Decisions taken previously in money matters will keep you financially secure. Your academic aspirations are likely to be realised soon. Something accomplished at work will enhance your reputation and prestige. Love life for the married may take a turn for the better through mutual efforts. Spiritual pursuits will prove most rewarding and bestow mental peace and tranquillity. Set routine and regular exercise will keep you fit.

Lucky no.: 3 Lucky colour: Rosy brown

¡¡Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20) Someone who is modest and keeps a low profile may win your appreciation.

Your negotiating skills are likely to come to the fore this week. A great time is assured for those in love.

Those in important positions on the professional front will hold sway over all the important decisions. Parties and get-togethers are indicated and keep you in a spin. It is still not the time to reap the dividends of previous investments. Health remains satisfactory.

Lucky no.: 8 Lucky colour: Purple

15-16 OCTOBER 2016 | AOTEA SQUARE

TE A R B E L E C INDIAN E, C N A D , C MUSI OD O F & N O FA S H I

ali • w i D l k A # • i /diwal m o c . z n d n a l auck

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ENTERTAINMENT

16 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Baar Baar Dekho:

A unique concept with robust performances ¡¡ Troy Ribeiro

D

irector Nitya Mehra’s Baar Baar Dekho is a romantic film that is uniquely conceptualised.

It is technically well-packaged to give a holographic view of life, but the meandering narrative adds no meaning to the composition. Themed ‘Live life for the moment’, the film gives an insight into the life of Jai Varma (Sidharth Malhotra) a professor in Vedic Mathematics.

A day before his wedding to his childhood friend Diya Kapoor, an artist, realisation dawns on him that his views on life and his dreams differ from his fiancee’s. And, by sheer deus ex machina, a plot device, he gets transported in time, presenting his life forward. He realises this when his mother

tells him, “Woh hi din baar, baar jeena ka mauka kisko milta hai?” The crux of the plot is how he tries to rectify his mistakes by reliving the moments.

Adroitly crafted and formulaic in nature, the script unravels the plot in a non-linear manner. The characterisation and emotional manipulation, especially Jai’s, is the highlight of the film. The messages strewn across the narrative have a mixed flavour that has been often seen. But the dialogue, “Without balance, like in mathematics, no equation in life is perfect,” is a perfect analogy that highlights the argument of the film’s premise. The treatment is akin to an abridged version of a well-written literary novel. For the first 30 minutes, the narrative rambles on a generic path with elaborate, high pitch, wedding

Pink a social thriller: Big B

M

egastar Amitabh Bachchan says his forthcoming film Pink is neither about women empowerment nor on rape but a social thriller and one that touches upon many aspects of what morals and society norms and practices women in India experience.

“There is a sense of wanting why ever this was spoken, especially through my mouth for they have never heard ... When words are spoken, they must have a reason. There must be circumstance. They are in defence or prosecution, and have the researched clearance not just from the CBFC, but also from the records of past real-life cases, from [the] study of the legal procedures from different courts of law and through the discussions on court protocol with the legal luminaries of the country.”

He added that the film is not on women’s empowerment and “no, it is not on rape.

It is a social thriller and one that touches upon many aspects of what morals and

Taaha Shah as Jai’s younger brother Tarun, Sayani Gupta as Jai’s friend Raj’s wife, Rajit Kapoor as the family priest, Ram Kapoor as Diya’s father have their moments of screen presence. The songs merge seamlessly into the story. But the quick edits in the number Nachde ne saare mars the viewing experience.

The film is worth a watch for the novelty of its treatment, performances of the lead actors, and the messages.

Director: Nitya Mehra Cast: Sidharth Malhotra, Katrina Kaif, Rajit Kapoor, Ram Kapoor, Sayani Gupta, Taaha Shah and Sarika

Rating: 3/5

Ranveer to perform alongside Coldplay at Global Citizen fest in India

B

ollywood actor Ranveer Singh will be sharing the stage alongside British rock band Coldplay at the debut edition of the Global Citizen Festival on November 19 in Mumbai.

Talking about his interactions with the media regarding the film that features him in the role of a lawyer, he posted on his blog on Sunday: “The question of the context and the premise of the film shall always be of prime interest, and many dwell their queries on that ... much is not spelt out because of the nature of the story and, of course, the nature of its genre—a social thriller!” So why a social thriller?

“Well, because the story is in the thriller genre and while we are busy narrating the story, there shall be [an] occasion to swiftly brush past the issue of society and morals and conduct.”He also said that there was a “sense of surprise” when the trailer recently released and the “harsh verbology was heard”.

preparations, et al. Then suddenly, the tone of the narrative changes giving you snippets of Jai’s life, on his honeymoon, and when he is 36, 46 and 60 years old.

Visually, the film is glossy and magnificent.

The futuristic production designs along with the prosthetic make-up are sleek and painstakingly elaborate, giving a realistic feel to the time and characters.

Sidharth Malhotra excels as Jai. He emotes effortlessly and convincingly portrays his dilemmas, making us believe in his character. Katrina Kaif as Diya Kapoor is a pleasant surprise. She compliments Sidharth by delivering an equally robust performance especially expressing how she pines for his attention. Together, their on-screen chemistry is palpable. The rest of the cast is supplementary. Nevertheless,

Ranveer will be toplining the list of Indian performers at the Global Citizen 2016 festival, which also marks Coldplay’s maiden gig in the country, read a statement.

society norms and practices women in our city and in our country go through”.

“Equality ... presence of respect in our daily lives and living and, above all, the strength of any society to be governed by half of what the polity believes to be the female, the women the lady,” he wrote on the blog, where he also shared a few images of himself “wrapped about in the elements of the Ef (extended family), I conduct myself with the pride that it so richly deserves ... the shawl stitched with such dexterity and finesse”.

Directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhary, the thriller is set in Delhi. Co-produced

by Shoojit Sircar, Pink will released on September 16.

This is a part of Global Citizen’s launch of a 15-year campaign to mobilise social change in India. The event will also have a line-up of other international and Indian headliners.

The Bajirao Mastani star will perform to a medley of his hits. “With this performance, Ranveer follows up on his recent stage performance alongside Major Lazer.

He was one of the most obvious choices to open for Coldplay,” said a source. This six-hour concert will also feature live musical performances, stars, dancing, and short films by eminent film-makers.

In its first year, Global Citizen India will offer a wide cross-section of content and actions focused on creating meaningful impact in the areas of education, equality and clean water and sanitation.

Auckland to New Delhi from $1170 return*

*Selling Period: 04 September 2016 onwards

30

FEATURES

16 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Mastering the art of Indian classical dance ¡¡ Esha Chanda

F

or New Zealanders in Dunedin—like for most New Zealanders across the country—the mention of an Indian dance style spurs up the image of flashy Bollywood songs. Most remain unaware about the varied dance forms originating from the different states of a country that has a rich cultural diversity. So when Swaroopa Unni introduced herself as an Indian dancer in Dunedin, it was assumed that she danced to Bollywood numbers.

But Unni’s story lies on the other end of the dance spectrum.

A small community in Dunedin now knows what Indian classical dancing is, and Unni takes a part of that credit. She moved to New Zealand in 2010, and her desire to launch herself as an artist made her volunteer for performances in the city. After her solo performance at the Dunedin Fringe Festival, enquiries poured in and soon after, Unni began conducting classes. “I started Natyaloka School of Indian Classical Dance in 2011 in a spare room at my apartment with about three students,” she says. And soon enough, the three-student class would grow, and Natyaloka would move from Unni’s residence to a dance studio.

Dancers at her school are introduced to the different aspects of the dance form. “Natyaloka encourages discussion about the topic on dance history, mythology, feminism, our identity as dancers, music, rhythm, and how important it is to look around us with compassion and the importance of learning an art form,” Unni says.

But Unni’s journey as a performing artist has been slow, albeit interesting. Talking about her initial days in the

Swaroopa Unni

An Indian classical dancer from South Island, Swaroopa Unni will be exploring the dance form of Bharatanatyam in Sringaram—Dance of Love at Auckland’s Tempo Dance Festival on October 6 and 8.

Indian Weekender spoke to Unni to find out more about her work, her dance school in Dunedin and her journey as a performing artist. city, she says, “I initially danced Mohiniattam and Kuchipudi to introduce some of the dance styles that we have, but I realised that

I need to take one at a time. So I started conducting workshops and performances to promote Bharatanatyam. It has been a slow process, and there are a lot of people who don’t know what Bharatanatyam is even now. It is difficult for people to pronounce the name right, but a large part of the Dunedin community now knows that there is another Indian dance form. People have been supportive and encouraged us. They are keen to know more about it.”

Natyaloka has now integrated itself into the artist community in the city and plays an integral part in all council and community celebrations. The school moves into its fifth year in Dunedin this year and will be celebrating by organising a fundraiser called Yaathra—The Journey on September 18, the proceeds of which would go to KidsCan and SPCA Otago. “Yaathra will give a glimpse of how immigrants came into this country and created a home away from home,” says Unni. “For this event, we are collaborating with Taonga Puoro artists from Dunedin and with

Sandeep Pillai, a musician from India, who will compose a Sufi song for us.”

A family tradition of introducing children to dance and music became four-year-old Unni’s first foray into Bharatanatyam.

At the age of nine, she had her arangettram—her first debut performance.

“I continued learning Bharatanatyam and started training in Mohiniattam and Kuchipudi, too,” she says.

Unni has been dancing all her life. She represented her school, university, and her dance school in different competitions and programmes. When she moved to Bangalore for work, she started learning Kathak from her gurus Nirupama and Rajendra in Abhinava Dance Company.

Unni has performed on several stages in India as part of her dance school Nrithyalaya School of Indian Classical Dance in Calicut under the guidance of her gurus Kalamandalam Saraswathy and Kalamandalam Vinodini. She has also performed at events such as the Hampi Dance Festival, State Tourism Festivals and Nishagandhi Festival.

Unni continued pursuing her passion in Dunedin. Her performances included the Body Festival Christchurch, Moving Communities Conference at the University of Otago, and Undisciplining Dance Symposium at the University of Auckland.

From Sadir to Bharatanatyam—the revival of the dance form

H

er upcoming performance Sringaram—Dance of Love will take place at the Tempo Dance Festival on October 6 and 8 at Q Theatre in Auckland along with a workshop on October 8 where Unni will be teaching an excerpt from Sringaram. Unni says that the basis of her dance

performance goes back to the history of Bharatanatyam. “It evolved from Sadir and was reformed to Bharatanatyam as we see now,” explains Unni. “Sadir was practised by a community of dancing women called devadasis.

They were well-versed in poetry, literature, music, and dance.

Dedicated and married to the local deity, these women had patrons—kings and wealthy men.

Apart from their ritual dances at the temples, devadasis also danced at the king’s court, salons, and soirees.”

But this soon changed when India came under the Colonial rule. The practice was denounced; it was termed deplorable. “India was going through a turbulent time,” says Unni. “The country needed a cultural beacon and thus Sadir was reformed to Bharatanatyam.”

Sringaram is Unni’s journey of exploring some of the masterpieces in Bharatanatyam called Javalis and Padams danced by the devadasis. “These short compositions explored the different layers of basic human emotion—love,” says Unni. “As part of the cleansing of the dance form, these compositions were either reinterpreted with fervor of bhakti or omitted from the repertoire. These compositions are resurfacing now. They reflect the society that the devadasis lived in.

“Sringaram is my way to open up the discussion on the possibilities of Bharatanatyam and its different layers like its history—the role of devadasis, its narrative quality, its theatrical possibilities, its adaptability, and its reforms. It is more contemporary than we think it is. It is about acknowledging the history and these women.”

CAB workshop on ‘Know your Digital Device Better’ Free garba coaching session

Free movie night & talent show

Pakuranga Toastmasters

CAB employment and job search workshop in Wellington

Date: Sunday, September 25 Time: 3 p.m. onwards Venue: To be confimed Eager to swing those beautiful garba moves this Navratri? Are you a fresher and want to learn Garba from the very basics? Then come along to learn and join this free session by Sonal Bhavsar. Register your interest by sending an e-mail at sonal.bhavsar@hotmail. com or contact Sonal Bhavsar-Joshi on 022 136 2906.

Date: Monday, September 19 Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Venue: TeTuhi Centre for the Arts, 13 Reeves Rd, Pakuranga Founded in 1975, Pakuranga Toastmaster provides a safe, friendly, welcoming and fun environment for people of all walks of life to build confidence, leadership skills, and improve their communication and public speaking skills. Themes, props, and sense of humour are ingredients that allow participants to learn and grow in a fun environment. Admission is free.

Date: Saturday, October 1 Time: 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Venue: GCC auditorium, 17 Marewa Rd, Greenlane Watch the free screening of Disney’s Zootopia and participate in a talent show at this free event in Greenlane. The evening will have other activities as well such as face painting and colouring competitions. To book your free movie pass, drop an e-mail at harcourts. movienight@gmail.com or call/text on 02885088844.

Date: Tuesday, September 20 Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Venue: Mezzanine meeting room, Central Library, 65 Victoria Street, Wellington CAB Wellington Central will hold a free information session for newcomers where they will cover topics such as employment trends and support, employment coaching services, how to access employment services and general networking. For more information, you can call CAB Wellington Central office on 04 4609398 or drop an e-mail at wellingtoncentral@cab.org.nz.

Date: Tuesday, September 20 Time: 10 a.m. to noon Venue: Howick Local Board Meeting Room, Pakuranga Library Complex, 7 Aylesbury Street, Pakuranga CAB Pakuranga-Eastern Manuka is holding a workshop where participants can learn to use their digital devices such as mobile phones, iPads and tablets. A volunteer from Spark New Zealand will be present at the workshop. Call Louise Boswell on 576 9170 or drop an e-mail at manager.pakuranga@cab.org.nz. When your RSVP, send the following details: what technology/ device you have? and What questions you might have about your technologies/devices?

CAB parenting workshop

Date: Friday, September 16 and 23 Time: 10 a.m. to noon Venue: Manaia Room, Pakuranga Library Building, 7 Aylesbury St Pakuranga Citizens Advice Bureau CAB will be holding a free parenting workshop for all families with children up to 12 years old, living in Counties Manukau. Participants can learn to deal with difficult parenting issues by observing, discussing, and practicing positive parenting strategies.

Workbooks and tip sheets will be provided. Register by calling 021459520 or drop an e-mail at settlement. pakuranga@cab.org.nz.