Indian Weekender 9 September 2016 by Indian Weekender

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www.iwk.co.nz | 9 September 2016

NEW ZEALAND

‘Duped’ students demand fair treatment ¡¡ Swati Sharma

About 50 students and members of migrant associations took part in a protest last weekend against the government’s decision.

ore than 150 Indian students are demanding justice after being told they would be deported later this month. This follows claims that agents who processed the students’ papers to study legally in New Zealand had falsified documents without the knowledge of the students. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has issued deportation liability notices (DLN) to 41 Indian students in relation to a range of issues including incorrect information in their visa applications or for subsequent issues including crimes committed in New Zealand. Responding to our query about how the students were able to obatain the visa in the first place, INZ said, “In the last financial year, INZ has processed 35,171 Indian student applications with 20,000 approved, but it

Sunny Singh (centre), one of the organisers of the protest at Mt Roskill, with the students

should be stressed that the very nature of fraud is to try to avoid detection. Fraudsters are cunning in their tactics and increasingly sophisticated in their techniques. The new procedures put in place by INZ since the fraud was uncovered and the deportation liability notices served, shows just how seriously INZ take such

offences.” About 50 students and members of migrant associations took part in a protest last weekend against the government’s decision. The protesters marched from Stoddard Rd Health Centre to National MP Dr Parmjeet Parmar’s offices in Mt Roskill. Parmar’s office was locked,

and she did not show up at the gathering. The protestors are disappointed that none of the National MPs have come forward to help or support the students. Indian Weekender spoke to eight students and protest organisers Anu Kaloti from Indian Migrant Workers Association and

Sunny Singh, a former student, to know more about their side of the story. Singh said although they approached the community organisations, gurudwaras and temples to come forward and stand with the students, no one had come forward. “The common perception even in our community is that ‘Oh! He Continued on page 4

NEW ZEALAND

9 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Continued from page 3

is an Indian. He must have done something wrong’. But they need to understand that these students are the victims here,” Singh said. The students received the deportation notice in May this year. However, they did not tell anything to anybody because they “didn’t know who to approach and share this with”. Kaloti said that when Indian Migrant Workers Association found out about the issue, they approached these students as nobody else was supporting them. “We can only help those who want to be helped,” she said. Most of the students, who are about to be deported, have spent their parents’ life earnings towards their study in New Zealand.

Anu Kaloti (left) and Sunny Singh (right), the organisers of the protest

The students, who hail from the Hyderabad state in India, claimed that they had been cheated by immigration agents in India. When asked about why they did not do their own research while applying for a visa, the students said that they thought the agents were far more experienced than them in such matters.

students responsible for the fraud documents, INZ told Indian Weekender, “…all students, as part of their application, must personally make a declaration that states that the information provided in their application is both true and correct, regardless of using an Immigration Adviser or student agent. As with all visa applications, the responsibility is on the applicant to ensure they provide genuine and accurate information as part of their visa application to INZ.”

“When you visit their office and see their achievements on the notice board, how many people have had their applications successful through them, you tend to believe that this man surely knows his job,” said Hafiz Sayed, one of the students who might face deportation. Holding

Sunil Chinta, a student at AWI International Education Group, said when he was signing the document, the amount mentioned in the loan disbursal letter was Rs 15 (NZ$30), whereas when he received the document from INZ saying that it was a fake one, he was surprised to see the amount

“I don’t have an account in the bank but I have taken a loan from them! How is that possible?” said Chinta.

students are in a state of trauma as they feel that, if deported, they will be labelled as criminals by the society, back home.

Ram, a student from New Zealand Institute of Studies (NZIoS), and Shujath from NZSE pointed out that it is not possible for the students to produce a fake financial document such as loan disbursement letter even in India.

“We are the victims, not offenders. We have come here to study, not to commit some sort of crime.”

“Where would we get the stamp from? Even if we get it, how can we get the signatures of the bank manager on the paper? It isn’t possible for us to do that!” said Ram.

They (colleges) have backed off completely. As per the law, they must abide by the duty of care, but they just left the students to deal with this situation on their own saying that ‘it’s your problem, we have nothing do with it’. altered to Rs 1,500,000 (approx NZ$31,000). He added that he doesn’t even have an account in the bank mentioned in the document.

Blaming the agents back home and INZ, the students expressed their dissatisfaction over the way New Zealand authorities have handled the situation. “They (immigration officers) never established a direct contact with us, neither did the colleges. Why is it that after almost a year, they realised that the document was fake? We realise now that the agents only cared about their commission and colleges also cared only about the fees,” said Dilnawaz, another student. Pointing out the irresponsible attitude of the colleges, Kaloti said, “They (colleges) have backed off completely. As per the law, they must abide by the duty of care, but they just left the students to deal with this situation on their own saying that ‘it’s your problem, we have nothing do with it’.” The

Many students have already returned to India, as they “did not want to be defamed” and “get into any more trouble”. While some of the students were ready to go back to India if their fees was returned, others were adamant on staying in New Zealand saying that they have “spent a whole year and a lot of money. If we go back, everyone will look at us as some sort of criminals. We won’t be able to make a good future for [ourselves] even in India. “Can they (government) return an entire year of my life? If they can, I will go back,” said a devastated Ram. Sayed says that even if the government agrees to return the fees, it still won’t make things better for him as he has completed his studies. “Now when I want the job search visa, they have pointed out that a document in my application was fake. I came here so that I could study and explore job opportunities. But now I will be sent back with the deportation stamp that would make it very difficult for me if I want to go to any other country in the future.”

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What the Indian leaders have to say

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Indian Weekender contacted the Indian High Commissioner Sanjiv Kohli and Kiwi-Indian MPs Kanwaljit Bakshi, Dr Parmjeet Parmar, and Mahesh Bindra to ask what they were doing to help the students. Kohli said that although the students had not yet approached the high commissions, “we have, on our own, taken up both matters concerning students at IANZ as well as those facing possible deportation with the concerned authorities. Our effort is to safeguard the interests of our students to the extent possible. “I believe the tendency to attribute blame to one party or another is not the solution. “I do believe that there have been certain acts of omission and commission on the part of each stakeholder-students, institutions, agents, immigration, and education agencies. Under such circumstances, it is more of a case of systematic deficiencies where the necessary scrutiny and oversight procedures were not sufficient to manage the numbers involved. “It is now important for both sides to find appropriate solutions through collective application of mind rather than take knee jerk reactions. “It does not sound fair if the consequences of the failure of the system are transferred to just one constituency, which also happens to be the most vulnerable and stands to lose the most.” Kohli said that situations such as these could have a strong impact on the India-New Zealand relationship. “In the long-term interests of this aspect of our engagement, solutions need to be

Indian High Commissioner Sanjiv Kohli

We have, on our own, taken up both matters concerning students at IANZ as well as those facing possible deportation with the concerned authorities. Our effort is to safeguard the interests of our students to the extent possible. found in an atmosphere of goodwill. I am afraid deportations do not create the right atmospherics.” He assured that he was making efforts to ensure that the Indian students’ rights were not exploited and they were treated fairly. Continued on page 6

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9 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Continued from page 5

get the qualifications. And it would be pretty tough if they were to become the victims of the injustice—lose their money, lose their opportunity, go home in shame and have their dreams shattered. I think the government needs to act fairly, and it also has to be seen to act fairly because otherwise the $3 billion international education industry of New Zealand could be damaged; the reputation of that system could be damaged.

“My submission has been to allow these students to complete their education and to let them stay as per terms of visas granted to them. The lessons learnt from the investigations are helpful in setting in place necessary safeguards but seem harsh and unfair if applied with retrospective effect. I am confident that our relationship has the maturity to deal with such challenges.” Although National MPs Bakshi and Parmar did not mention anything about what they were doing to make sure the students get justice, if they were not involved in the fraud, they assured that the government is taking necessary steps to make sure that the cases are being investigated.

Sunny Kaushal, Indian community leader

National MP Dr Parmjeet Parmar

Denise Roche, Green Party MP

of behaviour has taken place then action will need to be taken,” Bakshi said.

“These students have fallen prey to scammers taking advantage of New Zealand’s poor visa oversight systems. It’s not their fault that Immigration New Zealand’s systems did not do due diligence on visa applications by third parties.

Dr Parmar said that while these cases are being worked through, “the government makes no apologies for holding people to account if they have obtained their student visa fraudulently”. “Immigration New Zealand has worked hard to prevent this (fraudulent visa applications)—this year 38% of applications were turned down and more resources have been increased in their Mumbai office to ensure the integrity of applications,” she says. National MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi

“There have been a number of cases where fraudulent documentation have been submitted. It is unfortunate that all of the main English language education countries have experienced some fraud issues in India, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Australia. Although, this government takes a zero tolerance approach to fraud and if that sort

Views of other political and community leaders Denise Roche, Green Party MP, Spokesperson for immigration

“Indian students facing deportation from New Zealand are victims of fraud, and the government should allow them to stay. Punishing students whose families have invested tens of thousands of dollars in their education is completely unfair.

“The government needs to step up and take responsibility for its mistakes by improving oversight of the system and offering better protection for students who are scammed by overseas agents. “Steven Joyce wants to increase international education in this country by another $2 billion dollars, but his government is failing in its duty of care to students who are already here. “If the government is truly interested in students’ learning and not just in their tuition fees, they need to cancel this deportation order and allow these students to complete their education.” Phil Goff, MP for Mt Roskill Labour Spokesperson for Ethnic communities

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“I have written to the minister of immigration on behalf of the 41 students, and have suggested that he should consider more sympathetic response, provided there is no suggestion of fraud or dishonesty on the part of the students.

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“These students are not asking for a residency or asylum in New Zealand. What they are asking is to let them complete their studies in New Zealand. They are contributing to New Zealand economy... They are here to study; they are not criminals. “The Indian community in New Zealand was expecting a better response and resolve from Minister Steven Joyce on this issue to stop the exploitation of international students, but asking them to leave the country in middle of their studies without refunding their fees is not fair. “We New Zealanders are known globally to champion Human Rights and fairness.

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“I understand from their (students’) lawyer that they could not reasonably have known that the documents had been falsified. “On the general issue, I think for the agents that were involved for institutions such as the IANZ and students who deliberately engaged in fraudulent activity, there should be strong sanctions. “The students have paid good money to get qualifications and places, and if the integrity of the education system is undermined, then you damage everybody. So the government’s responsibility is to uphold the integrity of the education system and those that are working within it, including the agents. “And I think that the minster, where warranted, could use his discretion and a more understanding approach to prevent some of those students that have paid out, for them what is a fortune, for the fees to

“We would like to see these students be given [a fair treatment]. If the government can soften rules to allow hundreds of Chinese students in July 2012 facing deportation on similar fraud in China and then [more than] a thousand duped Filipino workers caught in an immigration scam be given amnesty to live in NZ, there is no reason why these students can’t be allowed to complete their studies against the fees they paid in full. “The government must introduce a strong code of conduct for all stakeholders and take action against the nexus of fraudulent immigration agents and involved education providers.”

INZ issued deportation liability notices (DLN) for 41 Indian student nationals for providing fake loan disbursement document in their visa applications and for subsequent issues including crimes committed in New Zealand. Once a DLN has been issued, the holder of the visa has 14 days to ask for a review of the DLN by an independent compliance officer and 28 days to appeal to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal against deportation on humanitarian grounds. Since the set up of the new procedures to identify fraud in July this year, INZ has identified a total of 158 cases that used loan fraud between March 7 and August 31, 2016 and 290 cases with other types of fraud.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 9 September 2016

Call to share your stories about racism T ¡¡ IWK Bureau

hat’s Us, New Zealand’s first nationwide, anti-racism campaign, encourages Kiwis to share their stories about racism, intolerance, and hatred, and their hopes for the future. Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy says that through the campaign started by NZ Human Rights Commission on September 2, they hope that by raising the voices of those who face racial intolerance, other New Zealanders will take the time to listen and address the issue. “Many people don’t think racial intolerance or racism is a problem, often because they do not experience it themselves,” says Devoy. “We suspect many of us don’t realise when something we say is unfair or biased, but we would if someone pointed it out to us.” Devoy adds that New Zealand always had a problem with racial intolerance but what has changed in the past couple of years is that the country has grown to become incredibly diverse in less than a generation. “Racial intolerance is on the rise

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She hopes that the campaign provides a platform for people to share such stories with other New Zealanders. “Our national identity isn’t just about a flag. Our national identity is about who we are as people and how we treat each other on our streets, on our rugby fields, in our communities.”

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9 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

SOUTH LINE

News-in-brief from South Island

Islam Awareness Week ends with Mosque Open Day ¡¡ Gaurav Sharma

s part of the nation-wide Islam Awareness Week, the Masjid Al-Noor of Christchurch organised a Mosque Open Day during the last weekend of August.

The Bhutanese Society of Christchurch (BSC), which organised the Teej festival on September 3, had also organised the first-ever Bhutanese Nite (Bhutani Sanjh) in Christchurch recently. Held at Elmwood School Auditorium, the event was attended by more than 300 Bhutanese living in the Garden City | Picture courtesy: BSC

NEPALESE AND BHUTANESE

COMMUNITY CELEBRATE TEEJ ¡¡ Gaurav Sharma

he Nepalese and the Bhutanese community of Christchurch got together last weekend (September 2–3) to celebrate the Hindu festival of Teej.

Bishnu Pokhrel, President of Canterbury Nepalese society informed, “Teej is the most awaited festival for our ladies during which we dance all night long on typical Teej songs and have delicious daar—a Nepalese delicacy. It signifies the advent of monsoon when ladies pray to goddess Parvati for the long life of their husbands. Almost 200 people attended the Hartalika Teej celebrations 2073 this year.” Akash Drupka, President

Imam Gamal of the Masjid, who is from Egypt but has been in New Zealand for more than a decade now, noted, “Our goal is to present a unique and intimate look at Islam and the Muslim community in New Zealand during this week to the wider community. “It is an opportunity for Muslims to dispel common misconceptions in society as well as a way to celebrate their own uniqueness and contributions to the country.” During the Open Day, the attendees were given a guided tour of the mosque, followed by an informative speech by the Imam, which ended with a question and answer session.

The Canterbury Nepalese Society (CNS) organised its annual Hindu festival of Teej Sanjha 2073 on September 2, which was attended by more than 200 Nepalese families living in Christchurch | Picture courtesy: CNS

of Bhutanese society of Chch, added, “Teej is also big in Bhutan and around 150 people from our community were present during the weekend event. Apart from married women, it is also a festival for unmarried ones

where they pray to get nice and supportive husbands.” Moreover, adding another example of how ethnic communities are preserving their heritage in New Zealand, is the initiation of free Nepalese language classes in

Christchurch soon. “Committed to the preservation of Nepalese culture and language, the CNS has decided to provide Nepalese language classes to our children from September 4,” informed Pokhrel.

Notably, according to the 2013 census, the Muslim community in Canterbury is concentrated in Christchurch with more than 40 nationalities represented in the more than 3,000 people living here who practice the Islamic faith.

ISA’s My Big Fat Indian Community celebrates Ganesh Wedding coming soon Chaturthi with gusto The Otago university’s Indian students’ flagship cultural event will feature 135 performers ¡¡ Gaurav Sharma

ancing to Bollywood songs from the past and present and acting out melodramatic scenes, the musical, My Big Fat Indian Wedding, a student-led and directed musical will rock the South of New Zealand in mid-September. An initiative of the Indian Students Association (ISA) of the University of Otago, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the event will feature more than 135 performers—the largest ever. “We have the founders of ISA returning from around the country to attend the event this year. “We will also have the 2006, 2008, 2009, 2014 presidents and committee members

from each year between 2006 and 2015 present during the weekend. “It is our biggest event of the year, and preparations are well underway with tickets sales bigger than usual,” informed Neeraj Khatri, President of ISA. After the final show, ISA will be hosting an after-party featuring Bollywood music with ASHWYNZ (from Wellington) and DJ Ajay (from Christchurch) performing that night, Khatri added. Encouraged by the near-houseful ticket sales, the ISA members also informed that the musical will run for two days, between September 16 and 17, which has been supported by the Dunedin City Council as well as OUSA—the Otago University Students’ Association.

¡¡ Gaurav Sharma

rganised by Mumbai M e m o r i e s — a Christchurch-based company bringing Mumbai street food to the city residents—the second public celebration of the annual Ganesh Chaturthi festival saw more than 500 devotees bowing their heads to one of the most adored gods in the Hindu religion. Hitesh Sharma and Sandeep Khanna, owners of Mumbai Memories, whose efforts led to the first-ever celebrations of Lord Ganesha’s birthday in Christchurch last year, were overwhelmed by the response this year. “Especially the team of volunteers, who made this possible. It’s a public event in the true sense of the word,” said Khanna, who hails from Mumbai and has been in Christchurch for more than a decade now. “The festival is huge back home, and

The team of Mumbai Memories, Sandeep Khanna (left) and Hitesh Sharma with their wives

I used to miss it when we moved here. That prompted us to start organising the festival at this scale since 2015.”

Apart from the murti stapana, and morning and evening prayers, the festival was rendered even more colourful when Esha and Akshita Shevde, who are both from Maharashtra, performed

a traditional Marathi dance on Ganesh stuti. “Pramila Nand, who spent hours and hours making the make-shift Ganesh temple, and Raju Sampat of Yogiji stores who arranged for prasad to be distributed during the festival, have been a great help in making it a success,” Sharma concluded.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 9 September 2016

Taxi drivers protest against Uber again

¡¡ Gaurav Sharma

group of more than 50 taxi drivers belonging to all major taxi companies in the city, including Blue Star and Gold Band, organised a two-hour protest in Christchurch on September 5 against what they called government’s “inadequate action” on dealing with Uber. It was the part of the nationwide action taken by taxi drivers against the billiondollar multinational with similar protests taking place in Auckland (read our report on page 18) and just outside the parliament in Wellington. Jaspinder Pal Singh, who has been driving a taxi in Christchurch since 2009 and was the main organiser of the protest informed, “What Uber drivers have been doing in our city is completely illegal. “Their tariff is not fixed, they drive without proper endorsements on their driving licenses, they don’t maintain any log books, have less rigorous background checks, and they don’t have any camera installed in their cars. Since the government is not listening, our only resort is to keep protesting. While

Their tariff is not fixed, they drive without proper endorsements on their driving licenses, they don’t maintain any log-books, have less rigorous background checks, and they don’t have any camera installed in their cars

we welcome competition, it has to be within the confines of the law. There has to be a level playing field for all concerned parties.” A similar such protest was organised by the taxi companies in July when assurances were given but nothing has been done so far, Singh complained.

Notably, a majority of taxi drivers in Christchurch are migrants with almost 70 to 80% from the subcontinent, who are feeling the heat as Uber started operating in the city in April. The New Zealand Transport Authority so far has maintained that what Uber is doing in Christchurch, and rest of the

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Taxi drivers protesting in Christchurch on September 5

country, is “illegal”, and that it has made “this clear to Uber, to the public and to potential Uber drivers in Christchurch”. Minister Nicky Wagner, who met the taxi companies representatives at the earlier protest, had also noted then their concerns relating to the requirements of P-endorsements, work-time limits, vehicle Certificate of Fitness, and in-vehicle cameras. She had also informed them that the cabinet has already agreed on the policy changes for the new system and these are being included in the Land Transport

“We have been getting such assurances for months now but nothing has been happening on the ground. “When we approach the authorities, we are always told that changes are coming soon. When, nobody knows. “So while Uber keeps operating in New Zealand, we are losing our precious income,” concluded Singh.

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On top of that, the recent crackdown on students who used false means to gain entry in New Zealand has been a talking point among all and has caused a panic among the Indian student fraternity. Jyoti Arora, a licensed immigration adviser for Studywel Immigration Solutions Limited has served as a campus principal in one of the category one colleges in Auckland and knows the stress and situation of students going through the dilemma. Recently, Studywel Immigration organised ‘Options after Study in New Zealand’ in which many students met her and had a

DEVELOPMENT AWAITS

1 4 MegaPixels 2272x1704

good discussion on their future road map. Continuing the efforts to guide students properly and ethically and to dispel myths and to spread more awareness about Immigration New Zealand’s policies and recent updates, Studywel Immigration in association with Regent International Education group, is organising a seminar on Tuesday, September 13, in Regent International Education Group at 1 p.m. This will be a free seminar for all. Students of any college are welcome and can bring along their friends to get genuine and updated information from reliable sources rather than relying on rumours and widespread misinformation.

Those interested in attending the seminar may contact Studywel on +64 223878591 or drop an e-mail to info@studywel.co.nz for registration.

26 Rangiriri Road, Rangiriri Located just off State Highway 1 is this substantial site ready for development. Comprising of three titles and a total land area of 4,093m², this property lends itself well to land bankers, developers and add value investors alike.

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

View By appointment www.bayleys.co.nz/811940

Josh Smith M 027 229 8865 Josh.smith@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

From 16 September voting documents arrive in the post. Keep an eye out. Find out more at

A TASTE OF HISTORY

1 4 MegaPixels 2272x1704

46 Canada Street, Morrinsville This character building originally built in 1934 as Council Chambers has been converted for use as a popular café and bar. Council Café and Bar offers both a lunch and dinner service, with a bar and live music. Walking into the building one can only appreciate the woodwork and appeal of which was once the council chambers.

Auction 11am, Thurs 6 Oct 2016, (unless sold prior) 96 Ulster St, Hamilton www.bayleys.co.nz/811901

Josh Smith M 027 229 8865 SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

INDIAN WEEEKENDER

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For a noble cause Badminton

NEW ZEALAND

championship calling for teams

Members of the Gujarati Samaj who prepared the dinner for cancer patients at the Domain Lodge

¡¡ IWK Bureau

s part of their services to the community, Gujarati Samaj New Zealand organised an evening of dinner and entertainment for Cancer Society, Auckland at Domain Lodge.

On August 10, under the leadership of Vijay Mody, Jt Secretary and executive member of Gujarati Samaj, and with the support of Gina Ferguson, Coordinator Relay for Life at Cancer Society, a Gujarati cuisine buffet was prepared for cancer patients. Narhari Patel, Rashmika Patel and Anjana Tailor along with other kitchen

committee members of the samaj prepared the dinner at the Domain Lodge. President Chunilal Mehta and Vice President Dharmendra Mehta of Gujarati Samaj were present at the event. Kiwi guests at the dinner, who tasted the cuisine for the first time, appreciated the efforts of the team. Ferguson also extended her thanks to Gujarati Samaj for taking the initiative to coordinate a social event. The evening also saw entertainment organised by Purshottam Merai and his team.

Above: AMBC team at Smash 2016 organised by Auckland Malayali Samaj on July 2 Right: A game in session at AMBC

¡¡ Swati Sharma

uckland Malayali Badminton Club (AMBC) is holding its first ever badminton championship—NZ Open Malayali Badminton Championship—on October 1, for which they inviting interested teams. The tournament will be held at AMBC’s home ground at College Rifles Badminton Club, 33 Haast St, Remuera. More than 30 teams are expected. Many badminton clubs in Auckland and teams from Hamilton, Whangere, and Wellington have already submitted their expression of interest to participate.

Members of the Gujarati Samaj at the blood donation camp

Gujarati Samaj endeavours to save lives On August 3, members of Gujarati Samaj participated in a blood donation camp organised by NZ Blood, Auckland. Twenty members of the committee signed up for the cause. They were led to NZ Area Waitakere in Henderson for the camp under the leadership of Dilip Thakkar, executive member of the samaj.

The tournament is restricted for men’s doubles teams and requires at least one of the team members to be from Malayali community. Teams can be register at www. ambc.org.nz. The registration closes on September 27. AMBC players emerged winners at the Smash 2016, a badminton championship organised by Auckland Malayali Samajam in July this year, winning men’s doubles, men’s single and mixed doubles titles. AMBC is a group of enthusiasts with a mix

of experience and amateur players that provides an opportunity and platform to people who enjoy badminton. AMBC also organises training sessions on Saturdays with the aim to guide and advise new players. The club also holds social badminton sessions every Saturday at 7 a.m. and occasionally on public holidays. Booking for the training must be made at least a week in advance to ensure the courts are available for the practice and training sessions. Interested players can visit www. ambc.org.nz/register-2/ to register for the training sessions.

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NEW ZEALAND

9 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Guru Granth Sahibâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prakash parb celebrated

urudwara Sri Guru Harkishan Sahib New Lynn celebrated the first prakash parab (birth anniversary) of Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhs.

BAPS NZ pays tribute to HH

Pramukh Swami Maharaj

During katha vichar at the gurudwara, Bhai Ratan Singh, one of the devotees present, explained gurbani (compositions of Sikh gurus). Bhai Kapoor Singh Khanne Wale, Bhai Rajinder Singh and Bhai Pardeep Singh performed kirtan. The event saw a large number of devotees gather for the celebration that concluded with langar.

birthday specials Sept

5th ~ 29th Chole Bhature masala/ plain dosa

$7 each

Khoya Barfi all pedas

(kesar, sada, mathura, laal)

coconut barfi

$25 kg

Pani Puri Papdi Chaat Dahi Bhalla samosa chaat Idli Sambar

$5 each

is Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj (Shastri Narayanswarupdas), the fifth spiritual guru of socialspiritual organisation BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, passed away on August 13. His Holiness Mahant Swami (Swami Keshavjivandas) succeeds him as the sixth spiritual successor. Around 2.1 million devotees from around the world and thousands of dignitaries arrived at Sarangpur, Gujarat in India to pay homage to swamishri. To commemorate Swami Maharajâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s departure, a seven-day discourse on his life, work, and saintliness was held from August 18 to 24 in Sarangpur. BAPS NZ organised a solemn tribute sabha to honour the life and legacy of His Holiness on September 4 at BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, Avondale.

GET INVOLVED GET NOTICED Send us information and photographs about your community events and get featured in Indian Weekender. Email at swati@indianweekender.co.nz or

Call Swati at 020-40081234

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www.iwk.co.nz | 9 September 2016

Meet the city’s potential future leaders Continuing from last week, we introduce our readers to four more Auckland mayoral candidates who are standing for the elections this year

¡¡ Esha Chanda

his week, Indian Weekender spoke to Phil Goff, Tricia Cheel, Penny Bright and Mark Thomas and asked them about their vision for Auckland, how they plan to address the two important issues faced by Aucklanders— public transport and housing— and their view on the Auckland Unitary plan.

Phil Goff

designed to make Auckland more pleasant to live and to absorb carbon emission.

AUCKLAND

LOCAL ELECTIONS

Your views on the Auckland Unitary plan

2016

born and bred Aucklander, Phil Goff has represented Mt Roskill for 10 terms of parliament. He became New Zealand’s youngest cabinet minister in 1984, and in the following 15 years, he covered a number of portfolios including housing, environment, trade and defence. He was also the first Minister of Trade of a developed country to negotiate a free trade agreement with China.

Your plan for the first 60 days in office if elected The first task is to put together a budget, which will be due within the first four weeks after the swearing-in of the new council. Secondly, I want to meet the

I support the Unitary Plan. If we are going to grow by a million people in the next 30 years, we have to go up and out where we need to intensify firstly in long transport routes and transport hubs, and town and city centres so that way we can address both the housing and transport problems. ministers of housing and finance to discuss the government’s infrastructure fund and to bring it to a realistic level so that we can meet the needs of a growing city. I would also meet with Auckland Transport and Auckland central government transport agencies to prepare a blueprint of how we can prevent worsening congestion. Lastly, I would meet with the minister of police to discuss why in the last five years we have increased our police force in Auckland by only five additional officers, which is one a year, when the population went up by 45,000 alone in the last year. I would also start work on my one million trees programme

Your approach housing and transport issues

to the public

One, we need to implement the Unitary Plan. Two, we need to review and improve the building and resource consent process so that it is quicker, more efficient, and cheaper. Three, we need measures to stop people from land banking for speculation. Four, we have to get the government to increase the size of its infrastructure fund from one billion dollars covering five growth areas to a much more realistic level. Fifthly, we need the government to embark on a programme to provide affordable and social housing. I would be lobbying the government to

divert foreign investment from existing houses into new houses. If the government is not ready to help meet the infrastructure needs, then they have to curb the right of that growth. For transport, we need to look at alternate funding sources to build new transport infrastructure, which may be the government giving more help or we can look at the private-public partnership. We need more busways and cycleways. We need to bring forward discussion around light rail and need to look at providing rapid transport to the airport.

Three initiatives you plan on undertaking as the mayor The first would be addressing the housing affordability and availability crisis and the initiatives would focus on balancing the demand and supply of the houses. Second is addressing the growing transport congestion, third would be to capture the efficiencies that the supercity was designed to create so that we avoid duplication and waste, and address the length of coordination between the council and councilpatrolled organisations such as Auckland Transport.

KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI MP BASED IN MANUKAU EAST Auckland Office Unit 1, 131 Kolmar Road, Papatoetoe, Auckland Ph 09 278 9302 Email bakshi.mp@parliament.govt.nz Postal Address PO Box 23136, Hunters Corner, Auckland 2025 www.kanwaljitsinghbakshi.national.org.nz

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

www.national.org.nz

NEW ZEALAND

Your vision of Auckland

for

the

9 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz corporate mindset for far too long. It would be tackled from both the strategic ecologically sound overview of integrated organic management systems and local community-based solutions.

future

Auckland needs to be a place where talent and enterprise can thrive so that it becomes a centre of learning, innovation, and technological development. Auckland will be the place where we attract and retain the best and the brightest people from New Zealand and beyond.

Three initiatives you plan undertaking as the mayor

First, a pilot programme of innovative integration of funding streams to be more economic and effective and deliver better outcomes for all. Second, local community-based actions to tackle transport, waste, weed management and other issues. Third, a blueprint to becoming New Zealand’s first organic city by 2020.

The second part is that Auckland is an inclusive place where people of all ethnicities and religions are welcome. Also, inclusive in the sense, where young people can get the best start in life. I want to protect and sustain Auckland’s environment and heritage so that we have a city that has character, and it looks after the things that make it a special place to live in. Also, the city needs to be governed and managed according to the international best practices so that we deliver the best possible quality of services to its people.

Mark Thomas

Your vision of Auckland Your approach to the housing and public transport issues

Your plan for the first 60 days in office if elected

I will use the development business the council owns, Panuku Development Auckland, to make quicker progress, letting developers build more affordable housing in the key “metro centres” including Henderson, Onehunga, and Manukau. I will use my experience on the government’s Rules Reduction Taskforce to cut more council red-tape and change the council culture to be more customer-focused. My rewrite of the budget will restore the $110million cut from the transport budget so we can invest more in the backlog of traffic congestion issues that has Aucklanders currently wasting 20 days a year stuck in traffic.

Turn the fluoride tap off, as per the last referendum in Onehunga where 66% voted against fluoridation. An immediate moratorium on glyphosate, 1080 poison, and other unnecessary toxic substances and practices for all urban environments and put the rest of the region on notice that permits will eventually be required to use any of these as seen in Hudson, Quebec, Canada. Implement the police recommendations around gambling, violence, alcohol and other drugs.

Three initiatives you plan undertaking as the mayor

ark Thomas is an experienced business executive with an extensive community leadership background. He ran an Auckland-based strategy and marketing consulting business for 10 years dealing with major international and New Zealand companies, industry organisations and not-for-profit groups. He has been a Deputy Chair of the Orakei Local Board since 2010. He was re-elected in 2013.

Your plan for the first 60 days in office if elected I will set the platform for my vision of an Auckland that works much better for Aucklanders. By day 60, I will have developed my draft budget for consultation, identified savings of $35 million and started redirecting funding into our delayed top transport and housing projects. I will also have started work to rebuild trust and confidence in the council and begin the process of transferring decision-making and funding to the local boards.

Your views Unitary Plan

the

Auckland

It is not a silver bullet. It will make it easier to develop more housing in suburban Auckland, but by itself, it provides no guarantee of quicker, more affordable housing or of better roading/busways and rail we need to support this growth. It also may not be strong enough to protect the character we value. It creates new rules that make housing development easier in many areas, but in areas such as Takapuna, Henderson and Manukau, development has been possible under the old rules. I will use my detailed knowledge of the Unitary Plan to support it, making good, sensible development but will use my council understanding of the traditional problems to ensure we change the council culture and funding issues that have been holding us back.

One, make the council more affordable by rewriting the critical Auckland Plan to focus it on more of our top priorities. Two, fast-track the key busway and rail planning projects in the North, West, East, and South of Auckland. Three, restore trust in the council by boosting local board powers and resourcing, and by introducing citizen veto rights so we re-establish the “local” in local government.

Your vision of Auckland

for

the

future

I want an Auckland that works better for all Aucklanders. That means making Auckland Council more affordable—reducing waste and spending more of people’s hard-earned money on our key transport and housing priorities. It also means delivering better transport sooner. Using the funding, I will reprioritise from my budget rewrite into more busways, roading, and rail planning. And it means sorting out our growth and housing problems by using my combined business and council experience to change the council culture to make quicker progress, building more affordable housing, particularly in the areas of Auckland where the council owns a lot of land. I also want the council stepping up to help make our communities and businesses safer. There is more council can do here too.

Tricia Cheel

orn in Onehunga, Tricia Cheel grew up on a dairy farm in Dargaville. She feels that fellow Aucklanders are being poisoned due to fluoridation. She studied in Auckland from 1967—the year she says fluoridation began—to 1971, and often wondered why she felt perfectly fine back home during the holidays while for the rest of the year, she felt like she was “walking through treacle”. She says that as soon as she stopped drinking artificially fluoridated tap water, she felt better in a day. Her main aim—get rid of fluoridation in Auckland.

for

the

future

My vision for Auckland is to become the healthiest, kindest, and the happiest city in the world, with the lowest carbon footprint possible because there is a rich, thriving, diverse culture where people are engaged in contributing to the solutions once they feel appreciated, valued, empowered and included, even if they have ‘dissenting’ views.

Penny Bright

Engage DHBs and Medical School to study the results of lifting this toxic burden off the community and environment with a view to the government contributing from the savings made to health, welfare, and police budgets. Engage government in making immigration manageable, and extracting rightful taxes from big business so corporate sponsorships, involving naming rights and signage, are removed incrementally from all the public venues without the users suffering while protecting our young people from the conflicting messages about their health and safety concerning junk food, alcohol, and other harmful influences. Remove undue corporate influence in decision making, signifying the culture change from ego-centric corporate profiteering that has produced poverty and homelessness, pollution and extinction; and to ecologically sound governance where everybody can enjoy a good life full of opportunity.

Your views Unitary Plan

the

Auckland

My initial overview is that it is an appalling document that could result in cheap and nasty housing and insufficient green space left for an expanding population, but have to work with it creatively.

Your approach to the housing and public transport issues Two of Auckland’s major problems, housing and transport, are inevitable results of the crux of the problem, which is the council operating with an extravagant

ith a 20-year experience in local government, defending the public and their interest, as a self-funded anti-privatisation and anti-corruption “public watchdog”, Penny Bright says that as mayor, she would bring council services and regulatory functions back “in-house” under the public service model, and stop corrupt cronyism and corporate welfare.

Your plan for the first 60 days in office if elected I intend to have the framework for ensuring that the “rule of law” regarding ratepayers and citizens’ lawful rights to “open, transparent and democratically-accountable” local government in Auckland is in place, particularly the Public Records Act 2005. The Public Records Act 2005 is currently not being implemented and enforced, although it has been a law for the past 11 years. My plan is to employ—attached to and paid for from the Auckland Mayoral Office budget—a small team of forensic accountants/ auditors who will go through the books with a fine-tooth comb and find out where every dollar of rates (and all monies) collected by Auckland Council (and Auckland Council Controlled Organisations—CCOs) is being spent, invested, and borrowed. I have been focused on Auckland Council and CCO spending, on private sector consultants and contractors, particularly on having the following information available for public scrutiny: ¡¡ The unique contract number ¡¡ The name of the consultant/contractor ¡¡ A brief description of the scope of the contract

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 9 September 2016

¡¡ The contract start/finish dates ¡¡ The exact dollar value of each and every contract, including those sub-contracted

¡¡ How the contract was awarded, by direct appointment or public tender

I will then make that information available to the public, via Auckland Council and Auckland CCO websites. That is the first step in establishing cost-effectiveness—finding out exactly where the costs fall. Having attended five international anti-corruption conferences, it is my opinion that the root cause of most grand corruption is the privatisation, contracting out of central and local government public services. How is it decided who gets the contracts? What are the links between those who give and those who get these contracts?

Your views Unitary Plan

the

Auckland

The Auckland Unitary Plan is a democracy for (commercial property) developers. The underpinning Auckland Spatial Plan was not based upon the “rule of law” because the population growth projection used was ‘high’ (an extra million people coming to Auckland by 2040) when the Department of Statistics recommended ‘medium’ (an extra 700,000 people). The Auckland Spatial Plan was supposed to be “evidentially based” and “coherent”. It was neither. Auckland Council was working towards the ‘high’ population growth projection, while two major infrastructure providers, Auckland Transport and Watercare Services, were working to the ‘medium’ population growth projection—the difference being another 300,000 people.

Your approach to the housing and public transport issues The question is why does all this “growth” have to come to Auckland? Where is the national population growth, migration and regional employment strategy? The central government and Auckland Council need to work together on this, and there needs to be sensible, co-ordinated planning, not market madness. There is actually no such thing as public transport in Auckland. There are 10 private bus companies, four private ferries, and a French multi-national is running Auckland trains. The only thing that is public, is the million dollars of public subsidies for private passenger transport services, which Auckland Transport will not reveal on the grounds of “contractual confidentiality”. If the private sector is so efficient, why do they need public subsidies? Why should the public subsidise that which we no longer own, operate, or manage? I believe that public transport should again be made public and operated as an essential public service. Same with housing. I am absolutely opposed to the privatisation of public (State and Council) housing, by NGOs, Iwi or corporate charities.

Three initiatives you plan on undertaking as the mayor Covered in preceding answers

Your vision of Auckland

for

the

future

For the Auckland region to be governed in the interests of locals and local communities, and for the public majority to benefit from the spending of public monies, not a corporate minority. For the people of Auckland to take back control of our region from the corporate one per cent.

Our bravest six-year-old ¡¡ Esha Chanda

six-year-old’s bravery was caught on CCTV footage as she attempted to stop an axe-wielding intruder attacking her family’s store in Auckland. Sarah Patel was briefly caught up in the middle of a violent robbery at her parent’s electronics shop in North Shore where she held on to the leg of one of the alleged robbers in an attempt to stop him from attacking an employee. On September 5, five men barged into the Expert Infotech store in Glenfield. “They started breaking the cabinets, and one of them even ran behind my staff and tried to hit him,” Patel says. Patel’s daughter usually finishes school at 3 p.m. and then heads home. But on Monday, after her grandfather picked her up from school, they made their way to the store. “She was here only for five to 10 minutes, and she was right next to me when the attackers came,” says Patel. “I asked her to come outside with me.” Patel says that in the chaos, he didn’t realise that his daughter fell on the floor and was left behind. He went outside the store and called the police. “I realised she wasn’t with me when I was out of the store. But to my relief, she came out with her grandfather in a matter of minutes.” But in those few minutes, Patel didn’t realise that his daughter attempted to stop

Young Sarah Patel

a robber from attacking an employee. Patel says that he is proud of Sarah’s ability to remain calm through the entire episode. “At night, when I asked her what she meant to do earlier that day, she replied that she thought the attacker was a monster,” says Patel. “She was merely trying to save my employee. But when she saw an axe in the attacker’s hand, she got scared and she ran out of the room.” The police pursued the group of attackers and finally caught five out of the six teenagers in West Auckland. The sixth offender is still absconding. However, Patel’s wife later received a call from Auckland District Court informing that one of the five captured had escaped custody. “Now, they have captured four; one is still absconding, and one escaped,” says Patel.

BIG INVESTMENT WITH DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL 17 KAHIKA ROAD, BIRKDALE, AUCKLAND

DR PARMJEET PARMAR NATIONAL LIST MP BASED IN MOUNT ROSKILL

1 Boundary lines are indicative only

2 • • • •

Large industrial investment currently returning $735,000 pa Brand new six year lease in place with multinational tenant Site area of 1.6664 hectares with subdivision and development potential Fixed rental increases of 3% per annum

A huge opportunity to secure a substantial industrial investment on the North Shore, with good access to the CBD and port, has presented itself. Leased for six years, this site offers plenty of avenues to the astute investor. It benefits from two entry points which allows complete drive around access. The current owner also built an A grade warehouse of 2,114m² (approximately) in 2012 which is 13 metres high and has the capacity to hold up to 3,000 pallets. With surplus land, the lease has been structured to offer the existing tenant an expansion option, and also gives the new owner development opportunities in the future. Property Details Site Area 1.6664 hectares (more or less) ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Total Floor Area 6,021m² (approximately) ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Ashphalt Yard 1,000m² (approximately) ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Expansion Land 3,250m² (approximately) ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Tenancy Details Currently tenanted on a six (6) year lease term, with a commencement date of the 1st of July 2016, and producing a net rental $735,000pa + GST and outgoings. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

BAYLEYS.CO.NZ/1500348

3 Deadline Private Treaty (unless sold prior) 4pm, Thursday 29th September 2016 29 Northcroft Street, Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand Matt Mimmack +64 21 229 5878 matt.mimmack@bayleys.co.nz Devereux Howe-Smith Realty Ltd, Bayleys, Licensed under the REA Act 2008

Laurie Burt +64 27 413 6174 laurie.burt@bayleys.co.nz Devereux Howe-Smith Realty Ltd, Bayleys, Licensed under the REA Act 2008

Ranjan Unka +64 21 711 755 ranjan.unka@bayleys.co.nz

MOUNT ROSKILL OFFICE: A: 1/165 Stoddard Road, Mount Roskill P: 09 620 6707 E: Parmjeet.Parmar@Parliament.govt.nz www.parmjeetparmar.co.nz facebook.com/DrParmjeetParmarMP

Devereux Howe-Smith Realty Ltd, Bayleys, Licensed under the REA Act 2008

Funded by the Parliamentary Service and authorised by Dr Parmjeet Parmar MP, Parliament Buildings Wellington

www.national.org.nz

WHAT DO YOU THINK Do you support the newly-formed NZ People’s Party and why?

Editorial

Changing attitudes for the better

Suresh Kumar Sukumarbabu, New Lynn

If the new party is centered on ethnicity, then I wouldn’t support it. Any party that does not have inclusiveness will not have my support. Forming a new party is not a problem; it’s their core agenda that matters.

he start of an anti-racism campaign by the Race Relations Commissioner, Dame Susan Devoy, must be lauded.

It is a bold initiative that is sure to touch a chord with many victims of racial abuse and taunts, who in the past have not been able to have their stories heard, and, in the process, initiate a change in attitudes. The That’s Us campaign is about the kind of people we want to be as well as the kind of country we want our kids growing up in. That’s Us is the first nationwide, anti-racism campaign that asks Kiwis to start sharing their own stories about racism, intolerance, and hatred. It is a bold initiative simply because Dame Susan’s office has acknowledged racism exists in our multiracial society, and that it will not be tolerated and shouldn’t be. Every year around 400 people make formal complaints about racism they’ve faced, from all over the country and from a wide range of circumstances. There are thousands of more incidents of racial abuse that have not been reported, and never will be. This campaign provides an opportunity for all to share stories so that a clearer picture of existing racism comes to light. The overwhelming majority of people never complain or go public when a car drives past and the people in it scream a racist obscenity; when the woman registering students at university smiles at every other student but the brown ones. Many people don’t think racial intolerance or racism is a problem, often because they do not experience it themselves. Dame Susan points out that by raising the voices of those New Zealanders who face racial intolerance in their everyday life, we’re hoping other New Zealanders will take the time to listen. Many of us don’t realise when something we say is unfair or biased, but we would if someone pointed it out to us. New Zealand has always had a problem with racial intolerance—Maori New Zealanders know it is not new. What’s changed is we’ve also become incredibly diverse, one of the most ethnically diverse nations on earth in less than a generation. Racial intolerance is on the rise overseas and closer to home, we’ve become very diverse in a short period of time, while overt racism is not widespread yet. The campaign aims to gauge whether New Zealanders are ready to take part in meaningful conversations that will talk about the realities of racism. As Dame Susan points out, our national identity isn’t just about a flag. Our national identity is about who we are as people and how we treat each other on our streets, on our rugby fields, in our communities.

Hayat Kabir,

Royal Oak

I think there is a need for an ethnic-based party especially in these times of crisis where Indian store owners are suffering the most with silent racism and robberies. A party that strictly focuses on different minority ethnic groups represented by their own people will draw more attention in the parliament.

Sreedhar Reddy, Auckland CBD

I don’t think there should be another party in the scenario, there are already many. An ethnic-based party has the potential to create a divide in the community and the issues that are faced by the community is already being addressed in the parliament.

Syed Mohiuddin, Mt Roskill

It’s always good to have a representation from within the community but it depends on what things are there on the agenda and what is on their priority list. The party has to tell what their aims are, long- and short-term goals then it will make more sense on whether to support it or not.

Elakiya Prabhakaran

New Lynn

I will support an ethnic community for sure provided they have visions that are different and better than other political parties. All parties have different priorities and an addition won’t matter because they will have their own agendas.

See full article on page 7.

Indian Weekender : Volume 8 Issue 25 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 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 Indian Weekender is published by Kiwi Media Publishing Limited, 711 Mt Albert Road, Auckland Printed at Horton Media, Auckland Copyright 2016. Kiwi Media Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Hari Kandel,

Papatoetoe

I think it is okay to start a new political party based on ethnic values as long as it does not create a divide. Many of our issues are not well addressed in the parliament, and we barely have a few representatives for such a huge population, diversified in different parts of the country.

Thought of the week

Men are mortal. So are ideas. An idea needs propogation as much as a plant needs watering. Other wise, both will wither and die.

— B. R. Ambedkar

OPINION/EDITORIAL

www.iwk.co.nz | 9 September 2016

Politics in action, diplomacy at risk

¡¡ Sandeep Singh

wo things have happened in the last few days in New Zealand politics around

the high-profile Indian student deportation

issue

that

has

slightly gone unnoticed by many

political pundits. First, Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce has demonstrated an unusually uncompassionate response towards the plight of 150 Indian students facing immediate deportation, on the pretext of invoking a prophecy of “responsibility of educational institutions and students themselves,” in allegedly failing to verify the validity of visa documents provided to New Zealand immigration. A position not many would agree is attuned with the National’s traditional stance towards immigration in New Zealand. Second, NZ First leader Winston Peters makes a sympathetic call to the government to let the students stay in New Zealand claiming a need “to rescue this country’s reputation of dealing with people, regardless of where they come from, fairly”. Again, a departure from the traditional pitch of NZ First’s leader that we are more habituated to expect. Either something is unusual about the current New Zealand politics or we are just seeing a “strategic reorientation” of key political players, prior to entering the much-awaited election year ahead. Otherwise what explains such hardened, and to some extent, a morally unsustainable stand, by a senior minister in the National government, when many insiders believe that a high-level foreign visit to India is in the order soon. Politics and diplomacy have always a difficult relationship, and most of the times, when politics is in action, diplomacy is either at risk or have to wait, whatever is “less costly” for those involved. The Indian student deportation crisis is definitely a case where

Indian students protesting at Mt Roskill, Auckland, against the government’s decision to deport them

politics is in action and has a potential to put diplomacy at risk. The issue of the presence of a large number of unscrupulous education and visa agents back in India who put NZ immigration system under tremendous strain, is widely, and possibly mutually, acknowledged by New Zealand and Indian authorities. Therefore, the timing of this issue when there are reports that Prime Minister John Key might be travelling to India soon on a personal invite by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, supposedly to streamline some mutual foreign policy goals, raises some eyebrows. The fact that until Saturday last week, Indian High Commissioner Sanjeev Kohli was not even approached by the NZ authorities to be briefed about the impending situation and the government’s possible course of action, does imply that the government is inclined to see the political value of this issue rather than any diplomatic cost, if any. Following the trajectory of these events, two important implications can be drawn. First and foremost, politically, this visible “strategic reorientation” among the two key political players, where the Nationals and the New Zealand First party are seen as warming up to each other’s respective political constituencies, could possibly lead to a “strategic realignment” between them in future. Secondly, the Indian High Commissioner has already

Action, if any, has to be against the concerned institutions, their agents and responsibility fixed on those who failed to supervise the process and cleared the visas on the basis of documents presented. possible deportation of Indian

students, in the United States expressed his dismay on the issue stating that it was “grossly unfair” to target students who had already started and invested heavily in their studies. “Action, if any, has to be against the concerned institutions, their agents and responsibility fixed on those who failed to supervise the process and cleared the visas on the basis of documents presented.” Furthermore, as of now, we are also not yet aware of any proactive action initiated by the Indian High Commissioner in raising flag about the issue with the NZ authorities, which suggests that this news has yet not travelled back to India, where its highly vocal media can quickly escalate the issue and up the ante against the central government in India. Similar previous instances of

fraud and impending crisis of

and Australia, have witnessed a proactive diplomatic action by the then Indian government, fearing a public outcry at home.

Apparently, that urgency in

India’s diplomatic response is missing in this instance.

Either way, there is a clear

strain on the diplomacy between the two nations, which cannot be

continued for long. The current

situation of diplomatic inaction on both sides could further result

in a negative impact on our mutual bilateral relations if this

issue is picked up by the Indian media and escalated at a level

that can bring discomfort to the government in New Delhi.

It is important to note that the

Indian state of Punjab, a key destination

education

export and naturally expected

to be sensitive to the news of deportation of Indian students,

going

elections

soon,

and can therefore bring further

political pressure on the Modi government, thus raising the stakes on the issue.

Understandably, sometimes, political goals could lead to an oversight of diplomatic objectives, yet there is no room for complacency in the diplomacy. There is an urgent need for the NZ government to not unduly ignore the diplomatic costs of the issue, by conveniently choosing inaction against educational institutions and visa agents who bring enough revenue to the New Zealand’s $3.3 billion education export industry, over the plight of 150 Indian students who have been ripped of a fortune and are facing a threat of deportation. Sandeep Singh is a former editor of Diplomatist magazine of international affairs and is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Waikato

NEW ZEALAND

Sikh Children’s Day to be held next month

9 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Kiwi-Indian star to judge Jhalak Dikhla Jaa ¡¡ Rizwan Mohammad

ishi Deepak of Urban Turban and Feeling Lucky fame is all set to don the judge’s cap on India’s popular dance show Jhalak Dikhla Jaa in Sydney this weekend. Colors Channel’s show Jhalak Dikhla Jaa, Australia Spotlight will host its auditions on September 11; the winners will get a chance to visit Jhalak House in India and perform with celebrities. “I have been asked by Colors to be the judge for Jhalak Dikhla Jaa in Australia. It’s a big feat for me, and I feel proud and honoured to represent the Bollywood fraternity of New Zealand in this show,” Rishi Deepak told Indian Weekender.

Children at teh 2015 Sikh Children’s Day celebrations

¡¡ IWK Bureau

n a one-of-a-kind event to celebrate Sikh culture and heritage among children from the community, the Supreme Sikh Society of New Zealand will be organising Sikh Children’s Day in October.

The two-day programme (October 1 and 2) at Gurudwara Sri Kalgidhar Sahib in Takanini will see several religion-themed competitions that will give young Sikhs the chance to participate in events such as gurbani (prayer) recitation, Sikh art, dastar bandhi (turban-tying) and kavishri (poetry). The highlight of the event would be the national gatka (Sikh martial art) competition, which will have participating

teams from Tauranga, Hastings, Auckland, Te Puke and Hamilton. The second day would see a range of entertainment activities for the children such as slides and bouncy castles, bungee runs, and volcano adventure and safari train. The event, which was started six years ago, saw more than 600 children participate in the celebration last year that was also attended by parliamentarians Mahesh Bindra from NZ First and Parmjeet Parmar from National party. Parents interested in celebrating the day with their kids can drop an e-mail to supremesikhsocietynz@gmail.com or call Gurnoor Kaur, the event manager, on 02102233147.

Rishi has been in the entertainment industry of New Zealand for more than a decade and is currently shooting for a Bollywood flick in Australia.

He has appeared in many commercials in New Zealand, hosted more than 1,200 episodes of different TV shows, and is an actor and executive producer as well. His acting and films are widely acclaimed in New Zealand, Fiji, and the United States. The names of the co-judges have not been disclosed to keep the excitement until the last moment. The show in the last nine seasons has associated with big names in the industry such as Karan Johar, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Remo D’Souza, Shahid Kapoor and Farah Khan.

Check out www.indianweekender.co.nz and subscribe to our weekly newsletter with latest news and updates

Taxi drivers protest Uber’s operation ¡¡ Esha Chanda

round 100 taxi drivers gathered on Queens Wharf in Auckland on September 5, asking the government to take an action against unregulated Uber drivers in the city.

It was part of the nationwide protests undertaken by taxi drivers against the US multinational company that runs a popular ride-sharing business and is a sought-after substitute for conventional taxi service. Protest organiser Harpreet Bhullar told Indian Weekender that taxis in New Zealand operated under strict passenger service licence laws, which included in-car cameras for safety of passenger and driver, criminal and medical check-ups through police, and mandatory requirement of carrying a P (passenger) endorsement ID. “Uber is not following these laws by excusing themselves as a share ride instead of taxi service,” Bhullar said.

Last month, Transport Minister Simon Bridges said that Uber’s change in policy was illegal and that it could potentially face a ban

Similar protests were held in Christchurch (read our report on page 9) and Wellington.

However, taxi fares are inclusive of GST, which the drivers collect and pay at the end of the year.

Bhullar added that Uber drivers must fulfil their GST and tax obligations.

There is no such provision in Uber, and if there is one, it’s not transparent enough for the government to know. Also, on a regular day, a ride from point A to B could cost $10 and on a busy day, the same could cost up to

Currently, the company retains 25 per cent of the total fare and the remaining is transferred to the driver’s account, which may or may not be taxable.

New Zealand taxi drivers protesting on Queens Whatrf in Auckalnd against regulated Uber drivers

$50. The same does not apply for taxi drivers. Safety of the passengers is also a matter of concern, as for most Uber drivers, it is a second job. Under NZTA laws, drivers cannot work continuously beyond a certain number of hours without taking a break. As there is no system in place where the number of hours of Uber drivers can be monitored, it puts customer safety into jeopardy. In March this year, when Uber extended its operations in New Zealand to include Christchurch, they informed their drivers that they could do away with P endorsement and start working by merely passing the company’s security screening process. The

following month, the policy was rolled out in Auckland and Wellington.

of the government’s regular reassurances, nothing has been done yet.

Last month, Transport Minister Simon Bridges said that Uber’s change in policy was illegal and that it could potentially face a ban. Bhullar says that in spite

He said that taxi drivers were not seeking a ban on Uber. “We welcome new technology. All we want is an equal playing field.”

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 9 September 2016

POWER COLUMN

Supporting small businesses and our thriving tourism sector

John Key Prime Minister

mall businesses are the backbone of the New Zealand economy. That’s why we’re focused on helping small businesses get ahead and saving them more time and money. Earlier this year, I delivered a pre-budget speech in Wellington where I announced some important tax changes that will be positive for businesses, particularly smaller ones. The aim is to reduce compliance costs and make tax simpler. One of the key changes is reforming provisional tax so that up to 110,000 small businesses will be able to use a new pay-as-you-go option. It’s important small businesses succeed because that boosts our economy and helps to create more jobs and higher wages for New Zealanders. This is just the latest initiative we’ve introduced to help small businesses. Others include cutting ACC levies by around $2 billion a year since 2011. This is putting more money back into workers, businesses, and motor vehicle owners’ pockets and is about the equivalent of a sizeable tax cut. We’re making easier to connect business to the rest of New Zealand and the world by rolling out faster broadband across the country, with more than 1,000,000 households, businesses, schools, and hospitals across the country now able to access or connect toUltra-Fast Broadband. Building a more productive and competitive economy is one of the

National-led government’s priorities for this term. These initiatives show how we’re supporting that. Our work programme is helping to ensure New Zealand remains one of the better performing developed economies in the world—with a growth of around 3.4% predicted for the next few years—which is giving businesses the confidence to invest and grow. One area of the economy that is continuing to perform is our thriving tourism industry. With more visitors coming, staying longer, and spending more, tourism is becoming an increasingly significant part of our economy. It’s now our second biggest export earner and a major employer of New Zealanders. That’s why the Nationalled government is committed to supporting this industry and ensuring all our regions benefit from it. The latest Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates released last week showing domestic and international visitors spent more than $1.7 billion last month, and every region had an increase in tourist expenditure for the year to July 2016. As Tourism Minister, it’s fantastic to see these results as they reinforce what I see when I travel around the country—smart, innovative people providing outstanding local experiences for visitors from other parts of New Zealand and abroad. The National-led government will continue to focus on helping small businesses and the tourism sector continue to grow and perform in order to help the economy deliver more jobs and higher wages for Kiwis and their families.

Show your support for Gandhi Nivas ¡¡ IWK BUREAU

tahuhu’s early domestic violence intervention programme, Gandhi Nivas, ELEASE is inviting the community for a ber 2016fundraising event on September 16.

violence. It is a join-venture between Auckland-based medical provider network Nirvana Health Group, The evening will include dinner, Counties Manukau Police and UR SUPPORT FOR GANDHI entertainment, spot NIVAS prizes and an Sahaayta Counselling and Social auction at Waipuna’s new conference Support. The aim of the programme early domestic intervention programme, is holding centre,violence 60 Highbrook Drive, East Gandhi is to Nivas, provide earlya fundraising intervention 6 September and you’re and prevention services to people Tamaki. Prizesinvited! and auction items identified at risk of committing have been donated by Trelise Cooper, to new help them Annah Stretton, Jaguar, spot Pita prizes Pit, anddomestic g will include dinner, entertainment, an auctionviolence at Waipuna’s change their behaviour, reduce The Reddy Group, Auckland centre, Vector, 60 Highbrook Drive, East Tamaki. the likelihood of further domestic Cricket, Bird on a Wire, Kilimanjaro violence and increase safety for Dental Centre and many others. auction items have been kindly donated by Trelise Cooper, Stretton, Jaguar, Pita families.Annah Entertainment will include Gandhi Nivas is a programme The Reddy Group, Auckland Cricket, Bird on a Wire,Ratna Kilimanjaro Dental Centre and more. Raman, Delicious—a Samoan that provides emergency housing, group of dancers, and a bhangra counselling and referrals to social performance. Get Bangra. in touch with ent includes Ratna Raman, Delicious – a Samoan group of dancers, and services for men who have either Ranjna Patel at ranjna@ethc.co.nz to been issued with a Police Safety book your ticket or a table. ur ticket or table, get in touch with Ranjna Patel: ranjna@ethc.co.nz Order, or are otherwise involved For more information, visit: www. in police matters related to family gandhinivas.org.nz dhi Nivas

NZ should help break Nauru impasse David Shearer Labour MP

or several years, Australia has held asylum seeker families on the remote Pacific island of Nauru. It’s been clear that the detention conditions aren’t good, but last month, more than 2,000 incident reports were leaked to the media, detailing allegations of cruelty there, including sexual abuse and violent assaults on children. How did those children come to be on Nauru? They had to flee danger in their home countries. They and their families took a risky journey on a boat, seeking safety in Australia. But Australian policy— supported by both major parties—is clear that no refugee or asylum-seeker who arrives, or attempts to arrive, by boat will ever settle in Australia. Sending them to Nauru is intended to act as a deterrent to other potential boat people. There are currently 843 men held on Manus Island and 466 people, including 50 children at the Nauru detention centre.

They are trapped with no endpoint: seemingly incarcerated indefinitely, without representation or any sense of progress: a recipe for suicide and despair. Australia has changed laws to keep conditions on Nauru secret. If a doctor or social worker speaks out about things they have seen on Nauru they risk a two-year prison sentence. As Australia’s close friend, I believe we have a responsibility to question this policy. In August, I met with the Australian High Commissioner, Peter Woolcott, in an effort to understand where he believes Australia’s policy is heading. But nobody seems to know. Australia wants to resettle the asylum seekers—most of who have been deemed to be legitimate refugees—in thirdworld developing countries. But it’s not working. Less than a handful have left Nauru. Another of my questions to the Australian High Commissioner was to ask what New Zealand can do to help break this deadlock. In 2000, we took 150 asylum seekers from the Tampa, effectively getting Australia out of a similar situation. Those young people are now proud,

educated Kiwis who have given our country so much more than they ever needed to take. If asked, I believe New Zealand should consider taking asylum-seekers from Nauru but only to help the policy come to an end. We should take them on the condition they are not replaced on Nauru. We must never become complicit in Australia’s policy. Last year, we saw a young Iranian man, just 23 years old, burning himself to death on Nauru, unable to bear his seemingly endless incarceration on the Island. “This is how tired we are,” were Omid Masoumali’s final words before setting himself alight. “This action will prove how exhausted we are. I cannot take it anymore.” This young man had been assessed as a genuine refugee facing persecution in his homeland. At the moment, despite the pressure, Australia is continuing with its policy. Ultimately that’s their call as a sovereign nation. But it should not continue with our acceptance, and we should be willing to break the deadlock.

ADVERTORIAL

Caring for our community

ommunity First is a team of dedicated locals working for the community and not a major political party. The party has set up six key policies with an aim to serve the community: 1. Caring for our community by pushing for more and improved community facilities, including community swimming pool and youth facilities, retaining our libraries, promoting and preserving our heritage sites, buildings and homes, through fully-funded quick graffiti removal, by provisioning for full-time community constables and promoting the installation of surveillance cameras at appropriate street corners. 2. Caring for our environment by promoting water saving schemes. 3. Caring for affordability by keeping the rates rebate scheme, pushing for a rates postponement scheme for the

elderly and restricting rate increases to inflation rate. 4. Caring for community governance. The party wants the control of Local Boards returned to the community. Community First will push for more decision-making and resources to be given to the Local Boards to further the interests of the neighbourhoods. The party also supports the governance principles of ‘no taxation without representation’ and that ‘taxes must be used for the purpose for which they are raised.’ 5. Caring for transport needs. Community First believes that securing additional funding for transport improvements in Auckland is a priority. A package of funding sources (rather than a single source) should be used to raise the additional $400 million per year required to meet the transport-funding gap. Community First believes

that a further funding mix should be developed that better spreads the load across users and ratepayers. 6. Caring for our sport and recreation. All Community First candidates running for the Whau Board fully endorse a sporting policy that allows the youth of the community to have every opportunity to participate in local sporting organisations. The party acknowledges the need for better facilities for all sporting codes that include fields and clubs amenities. The Community First candidates will endeavour to work with Auckland Council Sport & Recreation personnel on securing funding that will benefit the Whau Community. Sport is an essential part of creating pride within the community. Community First will do all it can to generate that pride. Material supplied by Community First

FIJI

9 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

FIJI

PACER plus legal text finalised

Fijian Prime Minister likely to visit New Zealand in October

rime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama plans to accept an invite to visit New Zealand to watch the All Blacks, reports an NZ news website. It will be part of the warming of relations between two countries.

he legal text of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus agreement has been concluded by the Pacific Islands Forum Ministers responsible for trade.

between the All Blacks and Australia. The match is set for October 22. Bainimarama’s trip will be a reciprocal visit to New Zealand Prime Minister John Key’s visit to Fiji in June. When the two leaders met in Suva in June, they exchanged sporting memorabilia.

The Fairfax newspaper group’s widely ready Stuff website says it is understood Bainimarama’s love for rugby means he will accept an invitation to go to Auckland’s Eden Park in October to watch the final Bledisloe Cup test

Bainimarama is the president of the Fiji Rugby Union. Rugby has been a keen topic of discussion between Bainimarama and Key.

Need to build stronger Fiji–India business relations

ijian businesses need to exploit all avenues to do trade with their Indian counterparts from India.

Nadi Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Dr Ram Raju made those remarks during the High Commission of India sponsored Fiji-India Business Council Mini-Forum at the GDR Hall in Malolo, Nadi on September 3 . Dr Raju said it was a fantastic interaction where businesses in Nadi were enlightened with the goods and services that are available for the trade. “The relation mentioned by the India’s High Commissioners, the scope of industry and the scope of growth showed there is a huge potential between Fiji and India. We need to tap on that more,” he said. Dr Raju added there is a lot of opportunities that India has to offer. “There’s excellent opportunity that has

various companies present. “Bilateral trades are not up to the potential at the moment so we want to see what avenues are available potential,” he said.

Stakeholders with Indian High Commissioner Vishvas Sapkal during the mini-forum at the GDR Hall in Nadi

Fiji-India Business Council president Swani Maharaj said, “We need to have a bigger council and we are looking into developing on that through the Indian The scope of High Commission.” industry and the

scope of growth showed He said they are got excellent products that will give there is a huge potential planning to hold a excellent services, all across the between Fiji and India. meeting in Suva soon sectors not only medical tourism, We need to tap on to work on enlarging that is still growing, cultural tourism, that more the Council. “We industries and pharmaceuticals and don’t want volumes,” he many more.” stressed. “We want other He added there is a need for help in people to be involved and look at issues agro-industry and that is what Fiji should such as medical yourism, cultural issues, look into with the Indian expertise. the body of innovation and the new item. Sapkal was impressed with the forum We need to encourage that.” as there were a lot of representatives from

The agreement is said to be aimed at creating jobs, raising standards of living and encouraging sustainable development in the Pacific. The question that arises now is that have the Pacific Island countries, in particular Fiji, got what they wanted or have they been strong-armed by the two regional powerhouses? Fiji had been lobbying for a legally binding commitment to labour mobility. While labour mobility has been included, it is outside the legal framework of PACER Plus. Sounds good, right? Not entirely because being placed outside the legal framework means it can be withdrawn at any point in time. Fiji used to be a part of the Australia and NZ labour mobility scheme established earlier but got kicked out after the events of 2006 that saw rapidly deteriorating political relationship between the countries. What is the guarantee if the relationship between the countries is not good in the future, Fiji isn’t kicked out again? The general feeling is that Fiji has lost out in a number of ways especially with two crucial issues. Australia and New Zealand are believed to have included the Most Favoured Nation provision in the legal text. The provision will ensure if Forum Island Countries have future trade agreements with third parties, then they are to extend the same benefits and privileges to Australia and New Zealand. Fiji, together with other Pacific islands, is understood to have opposed this. Another provision believed to have had a disappointing outcome was the infant industry clause. The PACER Plus agreement is expected to be signed by end of this year.

Pacific students to benefit from EU programme

he European Union is looking to send more Pacific students to participate in their Erasmus+ programme, says EU Ambassador to Fiji and the Pacific Andrew Jacobs. Jacobs revealed this at his residence while hosting Fijian and international students including university staff who had participated or were currently benefiting from the programme.

NEW ZEALAND FIRST LIST MP

MAHESH BINDRA

The EU-funded programme with a total budget of $37.63 billion (EUR16.4 billion) for the period from 2014 to 2020, allows students and university staff from around the world to study and train in European universities and for Europeans to study at local universities in partner countries such as Fiji. Jacobs said this year, five Fijian masters’ students from the Fiji National University and the University of the South Pacific and one university staff member were selected for the Erasmus+ scholarships.

BASED IN AUCKLAND

‘’Like every year we will reach out to all universities in Fiji once the 2017 Erasmus+ call for proposals is launched, so that Pacific students can benefit from it to the greatest extent,” he said.

Contact Auckland Office

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

Authorised by Mahesh Bindra, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

Jacobs said studying and training in Europe would be beneficial for Pacific Island students as well as students from Europe and the Caribbean would benefit coming here. He added that the programme brought people together and broadened the minds of the students involved.

INDIA

www.iwk.co.nz | 9 September 2016

INDIA

India, Africa to focus on medical research, pharmaceutical trade

ndia and Africa will jointly focus on medical research, education and pharmaceutical trade. The two regions will also have more exchanges of scholarship programmes and collaborative research projects, according to the outcome of the first India–Africa Health Summit.

Kashmir problem can only be addressed politically: Omar Abdullah

The three-day summit, which ended on September 3 in Delhi, also saw India and Africa ensuring that their collaboration in various areas of the medical arena will help in offering accessible and affordable health services to people of both regions. “The principles [of] this partnership are clear. “It will be reciprocal and built on complementary strengths for developing excellence in clinical and biomedical research in both regions,” said Soumya Swaminathan, Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), during the closing of the summit. The summit, which saw the participation of health ministers and senior health officials from more than 20 African countries, also discussed the efforts being made to harmonise regulatory frameworks to advance the development of pharmaceutical markets in Africa nations. Speaking of India’s commitment towards Africa, Development of North Eastern Region For North East India Minister Jitendra Singh said, “Our political leadership led by the honourable Prime Minister is extremely forward looking in promoting both science and technology as well as strengthening relationships

It is imperative to bring world class training coupled with executional brilliance in both medical education and research, to boost health ecosystems.

between India and Africa. There could not be a more opportune time to have this meeting. “The recommendations broadly focused on how capacities can be jointly built and strengthened in health and research, to improve the delivery of care, address diseases of common concern and achieve shared health goals,” said M. K.

In light of similar health challenges faced by both India and Africa, the delegates discussed steps in the areas of joint biomedical research medical education and pharmaceutical manufacturing and trade

Bhan, former Secretary of Department of Biotechnology, who was present on the occasion. “It is imperative to bring world class training coupled with executional brilliance in both medical education and research, to boost health ecosystems,” Bhan added. The summit was jointly organised by IMCR, Health Ministry and the Ministry of External Affairs. Among the other dignitaries who attended the summit were Minister of State for External Affairs V. K. Singh, Science and Technology Minister Harshvardhan and Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

A single nation spreading terror: Modi at G20 Summit

rime Minister Narendra Modi, on September 5, accused a single nation of spreading terror and using terrorism as an instrument of state policy. Addressing leaders gathered at the two-day G20 summit, the Indian leader urged them to “isolate and sanction supporters of terrorism”. Modi told Chinese President XI Jinping how the scourge of terrorism was affecting the region. “There are some nations that use it as an instrument of state policy. One single nation in South Asia is spreading agents of terror in our region,” he said, without naming Pakistan. India’s ties with Pakistan have soured after Islamabad declared Kashmiri terrorist Burhan Wani, shot dead by security forces, as a “martyr”. “India has a policy of zero tolerance to terrorism. Because anything less than that is not enough,” he said. On the sidelines of the summit, Modi met new British Prime Theresa May, Argentine President Mauricio Macri and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Modi said India viewed the UK as an important partner despite its decision to quit the EU. This was Modi’s first bilateral with May, who succeeded David Cameron after the Brexit vote in June. May said she

Former Chief Minister and working president of the regional National Conference Omar Abdullah

ormer Chief Minister and working president of the regional National Conference (NC) Omar Abdullah, on September 4, said the government can neither tire out nor buy the ongoing agitation in the Kashmir Valley and the only way out was to address it politically. Speaking to media after he led an NC delegation to a meeting with the all-party delegation in Srinagar, Omar Abdullah said, “We told the delegation that the government can neither tire nor buy the present agitation. “The only way out is to address it politically.” Abdullah criticised Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti saying, “She wants to be the government and the opposition at the same time. “On the one hand, she says the sacrifices of those killed in the present agitation will not go waste and, on the other hand, she says only five per cent people are involved in the agitation.” Abdullah wondered that if only five per cent people are involved in the present agitation then why is every paramilitary force in the country represented in controlling this agitation.

Indian PM Narendra Modi shakes hands with China’s President Xi Jinping (right) at the 11th G20 leaders summit in Hangzhou, China

was keen to support Modi’s vision for India and take forward the broader strategic partnership. She underlined the great importance the UK attached to the Indian diaspora. She sought Modi’s suggestions on further strengthening their partnership, particularly in trade and investment ties. May said she backed Modi’s reform agenda and that the UK was keen to participate in Make in India, Smart Cities and the Skill India Programme among others. The two leaders discussed their defence partnership. Modi also met Argentina’s newly elected President Macri

and invited him to visit India, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. Modi thanked Macri for Argentina’s strong support for India’s membership in the Nuclear Supplier s Group (NSG). “The two leaders agreed to expand cooperation in areas such as agriculture, mining and hydrocarbons,” Swarup said. Speaking with the Turkish President, Modi raised the issue of India’s membership to the NSG. In June, Turkey had teamed up with a group of countries to oppose India’s membership to the 48-member cartel.

He added, “The Chief Minister writes to separatist leaders to give time and place for meeting the all-party delegation while these separatist leaders are under arrest.” He recalled his father Dr Farooq Abdullah having told the then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao to give internal autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir. “My father had then said give internal autonomy now, for I fear if you delay it today, there may be no hands to take it tomorrow. I fear that time has come in Kashmir,” he said.

INDIA ABROAD

9 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

INDIA ABROAD

Indian-origin researchers develop multi-modal wearable device I ndian-origin researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology have developed a multi-modal sensing device that can track the fine-grained activities and behaviour of people with dementia and it could help in army combat training, too. The researchers, Debraj De and Sajal K. Das, along with their teammates created a wearable device for the wrist that can track a person’s movements, ambient environment, bio-signals and much more. “The smart chair and the wearable device are new, non-invasive strategies for earlier diagnosis and represent a partnership among scientists and physicians,” said Mignon Makos, Neurologist who collaborated with the researchers for the project. The sensing device has four basic functions. Like a fitness tracker, it records fine-grained movement, measures the wearer’s direct physical

The smart chair and the wearable device are new, noninvasive strategies for earlier diagnosis and represent a partnership among scientists and physicians.

environment for humidity and air pressure.

temperature, barometric

It also will track health status through heart rate, respiration rate and galvanic skin response (a person’s skin reacts to stimuli through the sympathetic nervous system, producing a weak electrical current that indicates the wearer’s emotional state, such as being startled or agitated). Finally, the sensing device has functions such as GPS and communication with Bluetooth beacons in proximity for various

location contexts. The multi-modal sensor data can reveal fine-grained user activity and behaviour contexts, powered by machine learning-based analytics. The wearable device has real-time data communication and analysis capability. The entire system is designed to support body multi-positional sensing applications as well, where the device can be worn on other body parts. For those rehabilitating and those with dementia, the ability to track their fine-grained activities

Image of Intex Fitrist (for representational purpose only)

and behaviour, measure their heart rate and locate them indoor or outdoor helps healthcare providers keep tabs on their patients. “The GPS function is especially helpful [for] dementia patients, who can wander away from home and not know how to return. For the army, the device has different functions,” said Debraj De, a researcher at Missouri University

of Science and Technology, in a statement. With the heart rate monitor, respiration tracker and GSR functions, it can see if a recruit is gun shy—afraid and hesitant to squeeze the trigger during rifle training—because of the recoil or noise when it fires. It also could study soldiers’ physiological responses for traumatic brain injuries or if they’re exposed to pathogens and how they respond, such as twitching eyes or ragged respiration.

SPORTS

SANIA, BOPANNA WIN, PAES OUT OF US OPEN

India thrashes Puerto Rico 4–1 in international football friendly

ndia’s tennis stars Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna won but veteran Leander Peas’ US Open campaign came to an end as he was beaten in a second-round mixed doubles match at Flushing Meadows.

Paes-Hingis were beaten 6–7 (1), 6–3, 11–13 by American seventh seeds Rajeev Ram and Coco Vandeweghe at Court 5 on Saturday, September 3. The match was closely fought. Paes-Hingis led 8–4 in the match-deciding tiebreaker but then fell apart. The defeat ended of Paes’ US Open campaign as he lost in the The Indian ace tennis players Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza men’s doubles defeat tournament comfortable in the 6–2, pair of Rohan Bopanna and ended of Paes’ with Andre 7–6 (5) win over the Gabriela Dabrowski won against US Open campaign Begemann as he lost in the men’s Swiss–American pair Polish-Czech pair of Lukasz Kubot on Friday. of Viktorija Golubic and Andrea Hlavackova 5–7, 6–3, doubles tournament But Sania and Nicole Melichar 10–7 in the second round. with Andre Mirza had at Court 5. They completed the victory Begemann on no such They needed one hour in an hour and six minutes at Friday problems in and 19 minutes to secure the Court 6. They will next meet their women’s win to book a date with unseeded unseeded Colombian–German doubles second round Nicole Gibbs and Nao Hibino in the pair of Robert Farah and match. She and her Czech next round. The Indo–Canadian Anna-Lena Groenefeld. partner Barbora Strycova were

Indian football players celebrate a goal against Puerto Rico in an international friendly in Mumbai, India

he Indian national football team came up with a dominating performance to defeat Puerto Rico 4–1 in an international friendly match on September 3.

Narayan Das (18th minute), Sunil Chhetri (26), Jeje Lalpekhlua (34) and Jackichand Singh (58) helped the hosts earn a much deserving win. Emmanuel Sanchez scored the only goal for the visitors. India played with a 4–2–3–1 formation with striker Jeje Lalpekhlua leading the attack with Jackichand Singh, and Chhetri helping him. The Puerto Ricans started the match on a positive note scoring the opening goal in the eighth minute to give the visitors the advantage right at the start. But the home side did not sit back but

struck right after a few minutes via Narayan to level the scoring. The first goal gave the Stephen Constantine-coached side muchneeded confidence as they stormed ahead with the second goal via former skipper Chettri. Soon after his strike, the home fans erupted with joy as Jeje netted home the third goal of the night for India to put the home side right in control. The first half thriller stayed at 3–1 as India held the advantage. Coming into the second half, India played much positively and went on to earn the fourth goal via star player Jackichand. After that, there was no looking back for India as they surged ahead with quality defence and went on to win the match comfortably.

FEATURES

www.iwk.co.nz | 9 September 2016

Apple launches iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus A O ¡¡ @maheshk

colour called jet black. This is in addition to regular black colour. To compensate for the loss of 3.5mm jack, Apple introduced new headphones that can be connected through the lightening port. Apple also unveiled wireless headphone set called AirPods that can be bought separately. Oh, and there is also an adaptor in the box, so you can still use your old but expensive 3.5mm headphones.

pple launched its ‘best ever’ iPhone on September 7 in California, US. As is the case before every big ticket launch of a new device, the industry was abuzz with rumours and leaks about what new features will the new iPhone come out with. Surprisingly, this time, most of the rumours were true and almost all features that were leaked found their place in iPhone 7. So yes, there is no 3.5mm headphone jack in the new phone anymore. With that out of the way, now let’s talk about some other big changes that iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will come out with.

Camera

his time, the two new models come with different camera set-ups. While both phones come with optical image stabilisation, 12MP sensor and six element lens with f/1.8 aperture, iPhone 7 Plus has not one but two lenses. We have already seen dual lens camera set-ups on some recent Android phones (such as LG G5 Huawei P9). Just like those set-ups, here the two lenses are wide angle and telephoto. Dual lens cameras have more capabilities with SLR-

Design

he two phones—iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus—keep the original design and screen size of 4.7” and 5.5” respectively from last year’s line-up. The screen resolution also remains unchanged. The display is apparently upgraded to be 25% brighter with better colour reproduction. The change in the design is that the new phones are now water- and dust-resistant and come with IP67 ratings. So don’t panic if you get few splashes on your iPhone 7 during your next beach outing. Technically, you can keep them under 1-meter deep water for 30 minutes. The new line-up also has a shiny new

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like performances and depth of field.

Features

ther features of the phone include a stereo speaker set-up and a redesigned pressure sensitive home button.

Performance

he new phone comes with A10 Fusion chip that features a 64-bit four core CPU

Apple Watch 2

pple also launched its next iteration of watch series. The new watch comes with built-in GPS enabling you to go for your runs without carrying your phone. It is also now waterproof up to 50 meters, so you can also take it for swimming. Apple Watch series 2 is twice as fast as series 1 and comes with new bands and a new ceramic body.

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Mother Teresa declared a saint

She was beatified in 2003, a key step to sainthood. Two miraculous cures of the sick after Mother Teresa’s death have been attributed to her intercession.

ope Francis, on September 4, declared Nobel Peace Prize winner Mother Teresa, revered for her work among the poor in India, a Saint of the Catholic Church.

The youngest of three children, she attended a youth group run by a Jesuit priest called Sodality, which eventually led her to become a nun.

“We declare and define Blessed Teresa of Calcutta to be a Saint,” the Pope said to a roar from the thousands gathered at St Peter’s Square, including many Indians who held or waved the Indian flag. “We enrol her among the Saints, decreeing that she is to be venerated as such by the whole Church. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” he said, making the long-awaited announcement. Around 120,000 people attended the Mass, according to the Vatican Press Office. This included Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Chief Ministers Mamata Banerjee of West Bengal and Arvind Kejriwal of Delhi. Kejriwal had briefly worked with Mother Teresa. Crowds flooded the Vatican to celebrate the highly anticipated canonisation of Mother Teresa, an event which Catholics and non-Catholics alike had looked forward to since the nun’s death in 1997. Many arrived before dawn to get a good spot for the ceremony, the Catholic News Agency reported. Cardinal Angelo Amato read a brief biography of Mother Teresa’s work and then asked the Pope to canonise her in the name of the Church. Mother Teresa’s life was given to service and she was committed to defending life, especially the “unborn and those abandoned and discarded”. The Pop said that “she was committed to defending life,

She joined the Sisters of Loreto in Ireland at age 17 and was sent to Calcutta, where she taught at a high school. After contracting tuberculosis, she was sent to rest in Darjeeling. It was on the way that she felt what she called “an order” from God to leave the convent and live among the poor.

Above: St Peter’s Square was packed with thousands of Catholics and curious tourists as Pope Francis made Mother Teresa a saint Inset: Pope Francis waves to the faithful as he leaves after a Holy Mass and the canonisation of Mother Teresa of Calcutta (Kolkata)

The Vatican granted her permission to leave the Sisters of Loreto and to live her new call under the guidance of the Archbishop of Calcutta.

She was committed to defending life, ceaselessly proclaiming that the unborn are the weakest, the smallest, the most vulnerable ceaselessly proclaiming that the unborn are the weakest, the smallest, the most vulnerable”. Speaking of Teresa, the Pope noted how she “bowed down before those who were spent … seeing in them their God-given dignity. “Today, I pass on this emblematic figure of womanhood and of consecrated life to the whole world of volunteers: may she be your model of holiness!” Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on August 26, 1910, in Skopje, now in

Mother Teresa, the nun who cared for the world’s most unwanted and became the icon of the Catholic Church, was canonised at a ceremony in St Peter’s Square

Macedonia, Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950. Her iconic work in the slums of Calcutta (now Kolkata) won universal acclaim.

She began her work with lepers in 1957 for which her Order became well known around the world. She founded several missionaries in India, including Missionaries of Charity, Brothers in 1963; Missionaries of Charity, Contemplative Sisters in 1976; and Missionaries of Charity Fathers in 1984. In 1971, she was granted permission for setting up missions outside India; the first one opened that year in Venezuela. The Indian government awarded her citizenship in 1951 and in 1980 she was conferred the country’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna. After stepping down as head of her order in 1997, Mother Teresa passed away in Kolkata, India on September 5 due to a heart failure. She was 87.

By Manisha Koushik

Manisha Koushik is the talented daughter and associate of world renowned celebrity astrologer Dr Prem Kumar Sharma. A practicing astrologer, tarot card reader, numerologist, vastu and fengshui consultant is based in India but maintains a global presence through the online channels. She is available for consultations online as well. Let her tarot cards do the magic and numbers make you understand which choices in life will be best for you! E-mail: support@askmanisha.com | Website: www.askmanisha.com Contact: +91-11-26449898 Mobile/Whatsapp: +919015607139

WEEKLY FORECAST: SEPTEMBER 9 TO SEPTEMBER 15 ¡¡Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20) Your popularity on the social front is set to rise. Don’t get involved in someone’s personal matter. You will need to out shine your colleagues to advance up the corporate ladder. A prized posting can be yours if you play your cards well. Your judiciousness on the financial front will help in saving for the rainy day. Fathom the mood of partner if you want to remain on the right side! Lucky No.: 7 Lucky Colour: Pink

¡¡Taurus (Apr 21-May 20) Someone eligible in the family may start giving broad hints regarding matrimony. You will be able to strike a good rapport with an influential person and benefit. It is best to delay starting anything new towards the mid of week, as stars are not favourable for it. Your performance on the academic front will put you ahead of your rivals. Those playing the stocks may get it right the first time. The home front seems most inviting for rest and relaxation. Lucky No.: 7 Lucky Colour: Orange

¡¡Gemini (May 21-Jun 21) You will manage to make the right moves to bag a lucrative deal. Wealth comes your way from unexpected sources. Good performance at work will be acknowledged by those who matter. Your ego may come in the way of reaching out to someone. You will get the opportunity to express your love for the one you

admire. Those unwell will find distinct improvement in their condition. You may be required to balance too many tasks on the academic front. Lucky No.: 9 Lucky Colour: Peach

¡¡Cancer (Jun 22-Jul 20) You are not likely to take things that you don’t approve lying down. A word of praise is in store for something that you have achieved on the academic front. Your performance is likely to impress those who matter at work. Chances of getting romantically linked to the one you secretly admire are possible. Depleting liquid assets may find you on a saving spree. You may get spiritually inclined and take up meditation and yoga in a big way. Lucky No.: 8 Lucky Colour: Lavender

¡¡Leo (Jul 23-Aug 11) Outwardly you may appear calm, but inside you may be boiling to get even with a rival at work. Someone close may find it difficult to join you in celebrating a special occasion. Don’t get impulsive in matters of the heart, as you may spoil your chances on the romantic front. Job prospects for those freshly out of college seem bright, but efforts will be required. Fluctuating income may prove mentally stressful. Avoid junk food. Lucky No.: 15 Lucky Colour: Grey

¡¡Virgo (Aug 24-Sep 23) Someone’s suggestion may compel you to change your plans but it will be the right decision. A comfortable journey is foreseen for those travelling long distance. You are likely to floor those around with your communication skills. An encounter with someone you admire will leave you with fond memories. Falling in love is a distinct possibility for the lonely hearts. Those apprehensive about their medical reports will heave a sigh of relief, as they turn out perfect. Lucky No.: 3 Lucky Colour: Lemon

¡¡Libra (Sep 24-Oct 23) Making the most of an opportunity is indicated this week. Your influence is likely to make things easy for you in your personal sphere. Curbing wasteful expenditure at home seems difficult, so be strict. Those pursuing a professional goal may find the going tough. Not planning investments well may make your money sit idle. Assuage partner’s feelings, if you want the relationship to endure. Asking for guidance on the fitness front will be a step in the right direction. Lucky No.: 22 Lucky Colour: Bottle Green

¡¡Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22) Try as you may, you are most likely to get involved in something that you are trying to avoid! Good budgeting will

help in keeping the expenditure under control. A new idea looks promising and needs to be given shape, so find time for it. Those waiting to get posted out of town must prepare well for the move. You manage to maintain your physical routine through sheer will power to get back in shape.

or bonus is in the offing for some. Romantic possibilities appear on the horizon for the lonely hearts. Health remains satisfactory.

Lucky No.: 2 Lucky Colour: White

You may now be able to see a situation in a new light that had hurt you in the past. Academics will need to take priority over other things at this juncture. You maintain consistency on the professional front and contribute towards career progression. Those into real estate or gems and jewellery may strike it rich. Refresh your resolve to get back in shape and not take to your old lethargic ways. A venture proves profitable.

¡¡Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 11) Your long-held belief may get shattered in the wake of new developments. Counter extra expenditure by exploring more avenues for earning. Those planning an outing with a lover are certain to have a good time. A good financial move can prove healthy for your bank balance. A family member is likely to do his or her bit to help you out. Those involved in outdoor activities are likely to get thoroughly refreshed. Spouse needs some loving care! Lucky No.: 5 Lucky Colour: Maroon

¡¡Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 21) Stubborn instilled in you keeps pitting you into problems. You will do well to listen to others opinion and act on it. A past contentious issue will be amicably resolved with no hard feelings. Professionals are likely to come across some profit making opportunities that can pave the way for a bright future. An increment

Lucky No.: 3 Lucky Colour: Lemon

¡¡Aquarius (Jan 22-Feb 19)

Lucky No.: 17 Lucky Colour: Light Blue

¡¡Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20) You will need to keep your interest alive in a cause or mission if you don’t want it to fizzle out. Those seeking leave will need to be at their convincing best. Catching the eye of or getting hitched to an out of town person cannot be ruled out. You may suffer on the health front through sheer negligence. It is best not to take liberties with a colleague. Don’t be hasty in disposing of your property. Lucky No.: 11 Lucky Colour: Baby Pink

KIDS ZONE

www.iwk.co.nz | 9 September 2016

Crossword Puzzle

September

DAY & DATE

Answer the following questions using the calendar below.

How many Sundays are in September?

SEPTEMBER 2016

What day is September 29th?

Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday of September. Write the date.

Cody begins a new school year on September 6th. Write the day.

Autumn Sudoku

Choose any date in the last week of September. Write it 2 ways.

Every row, column and mini-grid must contain the letters A C O R N S. Don’t guess - use logic

O O S A O R N

N O R S N C

N www.ActivityVillage.co.uk - Keeping Kids Busy

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Still don’t think I completely fit in Bollywood: Sunny Leone ¡¡ Durga Chakravarty

he ventured into Bollywood in 2012 with the erotic Jism 2 thriller and has been on a roll since then. Indo-Canadian actress Sunny Leone says she felt like an outsider when she initially ventured into the Hindi film industry and still feels she doesn’t fit in. Asked if she ever felt like an outsider, Sunny said in an e-mail interview from Los Angeles, “Yes, of course, but that would be anyone who is new to the job. I still don’t think I completely fit in (Bollywood).” At the same time, the Mastizaade star feels she has met some nice people in Bollywood who she has “grown fond of”.

Sunny has tasted success with films like Jism 2 and Ek Paheli Leela and has faced failure with movies like Kuch Kuch Locha Hai and One Night Stand in her four-year-long journey. Do bad times ever affect her? “Yes, it does, I don’t think I would be human if it didn’t. But I have a great support system and try and find the good out of the bad always,” she said. The Ragini MMS 2 actress has also been roped in for a song for superstar Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Raees, which is directed by Rahul Dholakia. The song, which is picturised on

Sunny and Shah Rukh, is reportedly a new take on the 1980 chartbuster Laila O laila from Qurbaani. The original track featured Feroz Khan and Zeenat Amaan. Sunny, whose real name is Karenjit Kaur Vohra, said, “I just did a song (with Shah Rukh), it’s a small part in a very big film. I am very grateful for the opportunity. Hope I get a chance to act opposite Shah Rukh one day,” she said. Would she like to star with the other two Khan’s of Bollywood—Salman and Aamir? “Ah yes...Who she asserted.

wouldn’t?”

The 35-year-old star was seen walking at the New York Fashion Week (NYFW) becoming the first Bollywood star to be on the ramp at the fashion event. The actress opened the show for popular designer Archana Kochhar on Thursday, September 8.

Bollywood is going through a tough time: Farah Khan

ilm-maker Farah Khan, who is known for making several big budget films, says Bollywood is going through a tough time.

Diwali 2018 date set for Amitabh, Aamir starrer

hugs of Hindostan, for which Yash Raj Films (YRF) has managed a casting coup with megastar Amitabh Bachchan and superstar Aamir Khan, is set for a Diwali 2018 release. Fireworks are likely at the box office. YRF is bringing the two stars together on the big screen for the first time.

Vijay Krishna Acharya (Victor), the writer-director of Dhoom: 3, is teaming up once again with Aamir for the film, a statement said.

“Finally, the moment I’ve been waiting for has come... to work with my icon, Mr Bachchan! Thanks Adi (Aditya Chopra), Victor, for Thugs of Hindostan. I’m too thrilled to be working with the actor I have admired all of my life. “Shoot starts early next year, and the release has been locked for Diwali 2018. Can’t wait to get started! Fingers crossed,” Aamir posted on Facebook this week. The leading lady of the film is yet to be announced.

“Bollywood is going through a really tough time. The kind of taxes that are put on a Bollywood movie is crazy. Hollywood movies come here but their taxation is half of ours. They are not taxed as we are,” Farah told reporters. “It has become very expensive to make a movie and now everyone wants to watch on phone. That’s going to be the future. Also, half of the money the government takes, so it is becoming difficult,” she added. However, this phase in Bollywood doesn’t scare her as a film-maker. “It doesn’t scare me but they (government) have to figure out a way to control it. It’s the budget that’s wrong, especially the small budget movie that you have to worry about,” she said.

Bollywood judges you on your looks, says Swara Bhaskar

ctress Swara Bhaskar, who was last seen on-screen in the film Nil Battey Sannata, says that actors are judged on the basis of their looks in Bollywood. Swara recently treated her fans and followers to a question and answer session on Twitter, where a fan asked her one lesson that the Hindi film industry has taught her. And she answered: “That you are judged on your looks. There’s no avoiding it... Taught me the meaning of and how to follow the adage ‘when in Rome, do as the Romans do’ #AskSwaraAnything.” Another user asked the Tanu Weds Manu actor if Bollywood’s glamour has over powered the elements of different theatre forms? Swara shared that the two mediums should be viewed sin competition. “But the fact is theatre is really the actor’s medium. And will always remain. Cinema is director’s medium,” she added.

Pleasure to back good scripts: Anurag Kashyap

ilmmaker Anurag Kashyap, whose production company Phantom Films has collaborated with Cineman Productions for the Gujarati movie Wrong side Raju, says it’s a pleasure to back a good script.

“It’s always a pleasure to back a good script, and we are happy with the way Wrong Side Raju has shaped up and also that we have found partners all over, to be able to release it worldwide simultaneously. I feel that will help the audience to watch the film at one go, and probably reduce the chances of piracy,” Kashyap said in a statement. The film is slated to hit the screens this weekend. Wrong side Raju is a thriller drama based on a hit-andrun case.

presents

Mr and Ms Diwali 2016 Indian Weekender is on the lookout

for Mr and Ms Diwali 2016 – Is

that you?

Entries open now* How to enter: • Entrants must be 18 years and above • Answer the following questions in a one-minute video, upload it on YouTube and share the link with us by sending an e-mail to swati@indianweekender.co.nz. • Why is Diwali Festival important to you? • Tell us about how you would infuse traditional Indian culture with 21st century New Zealand life. • What makes you the ideal contestant for the pegeant? • Entries close Monday, September 26 at noon

Exciting prizes for the winners More details to follow soon. For more information, call Swati: 020 400 81234 or email: swati@indianweekender.co.nz *Terms and conditions apply

Auckland Diwali Festival Aotea Square October 15 and 16

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9 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Rock on!!2 equally challenging, exciting: Farhan Akhtar

Parineeti enjoys acting, performing live

ctor-film-maker Farhan Akhtar, who on Friday, September 2, released the teaser of his film Rock on!! 2 says making the sequel was exciting but also living up to the expectations of the first part is a big challenge. “It was equally exciting and challenging to make a sequel. We wanted the best in every segment of the film be it in music, casting, or the location. “Most importantly, we have a certain responsibility to the sequel and the people who have really kept the memories of the film alive so that while watching, the audience would feel that we have made the film with same sincerity and love,” he told reporters. “The biggest challenge is to live up to the audience’s expectation,” he added. Rock On!!, a 2008 rock musical, launched the acting careers of Prachi Desai and Farhan. Farhan even produced the film, which also stars Arjun Rampal, Luke Kenny and Purab Kohli and Rock On 2 is a sequel to the film. The film was about the fate of a Mumbai-based rock band Magik, members of which reunite after a decade-long split. The sequel has been shot in Shillong and also includes a folk song in Khassi. Talking about the music, Farhan said: “I think we became more matured in these 8 years. We have included instruments like Keyboard, Sarod. It will be interesting as the writing is little more matured from the first one,” he said. Directed by Shujaat Saudagar and produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, the film stars Arjun Rampal, Prachi Desai, Purab Kohli reprising their roles. New entrant Shraddha Kapoor will be sharing screen space with Farhan Akhtar.The film is slated to release on November 11.

Sonakshi’s Akira mints more than Rs 10 crore in two days

No place for horror in archive of path-breaking cinema: Emraan

mraan Hashmi has been associated with horror genre for long, and will soon be exploring the spooky realm with Raaz Reboot. The actor says most of the stars shrug off the genre thinking that it “doesn’t get a place in the archive of path-breaking cinema”.

ctress Sonakshi Sinha’s action-packed avatar in Akira is having a steady run at the box-office. The film has amassed Rs 10.45 crore in two days of its release. Directed by film-maker A.R. Murugadoss, Akira released on September 2. According to a statement released by film’s publicist, Akira managed to put up a good day two with a slight jump. “The film has collected Rs 5.30 crore on day two. On the first day, the film collected Rs 5.15 crore. The total collection of the film so far is Rs 10.45 crore.” Presented by Fox Star Studios, Akira brought Sonakshi and Murugadoss together once again. He had previously directed Sonakshi in the film Holiday, which was a success at the box office. Akira sees Sonakshi’s character coming to Mumbai from Jodhpur, where she gets into a tiff with the goons of the college she enrols in. The story is about her fight to come out of a case, where the college goons, a corrupt policeman played by Anurag Kashyap and another played by Konkona Sen Sharma, play crucial components.

“I would say the general perception is horror doesn’t get a place in the archive of path-breaking cinema even in Hollywood. That’s the truth ... I am doing it purely because of the genre,” Emraan said. He added, “It is one of the genres that has a very different kind of reaction from the audience and I find it fascinating.” Emraan has been associated with horror genre through Raaz franchise and Ek Thi Daayan. “It has a definite audience so that’s the reason I am doing it. You don’t expect [the] best actor award for horror films for sure but it’s just the experience that matters,” he said. Directed by Vikram Bhatt, the fourth instalment of the Raaz franchise features Emraan with south Indian actress Kriti Kharbanda. The film has been shot in Romania. Emraan says shooting for the fourth part was nerve-wracking for him. “It was a nerve-wracking experience doing this film. Since it is a successful franchise, we want to take it ahead to another level. The look of the film is unique which is being appreciated. The audiences are expecting a lot from this film so I am excited to see their response.” Produced by Vishesh Films, the film will release on September 16.

ctress Parineeti Chopra, who is back from her Dream Team tour to the US, says she likes to perform in front of the camera as well as the audience. Asked what is tougher—performing live or on screen, Parineeti said, “Both have their own things. What you perform in front of the camera will last forever. There are many challenges to that...But live, you have only one shot and you can’t make mistakes. There are challenges in both and I enjoy both equally.” The Ishaqzaade star says there is a “high in performing live and also there is an excitement in performing in front of the camera”. Talking about the tour, where Parineeti performed with other Bollywood celebrities such as film-maker Karan Johar, rapper Badshah, actors Varun Dhawan, Sidharth Malhotra, Aditya Roy Kapur, Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif, Parineeti says it was a “wholesome experience”. On the acting front, Parineeti is currently busy working with actor Ayushmann Khurrana for the film Meri Pyaari Bindu.

Can’t see Freaky Ali working without Nawazuddin: Sohail

ctor-filmmaker Sohail Khan says it is his good fortune that Nawazuddin Siddiqui joined the cast of Freaky Ali, and that he can’t see the film working without him. Sohail says he wanted to make a film on the game of golf. “People think it’s an elitist game meant for the rich and the privileged. My basic premise for the film was what if someone from the lower strata of the society, in this case an undergarment seller from small town, gets thrown into the vast elitist green acres of golf? “What if this simpleton doesn’t know of the existence of the expert golfer within him? That’s how this film started.” This is where writer Raaj Shaandilya came to help Sohail co-write the script. Sohail also needed Nawazuddin to play Freaky Ali. “It’s my good fortune that Nawaz came on board. I can’t see this film working without him.” Nawazuddin, admits Sohail, has become a part of Sohail’s family. “It’s really very simple in our family. If you love us, we love you back. If you are hostile towards us, then that’s what you get from the family.” Apart from movies, Sohail, who has directed Freaky Ali, says he has always been interested in sports.

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Thriving on a passion

For young Aravindan Ramakrishnan, a good short film is all about taking a simple concept and adding beauty to it through a unique script—a formula he follows in his short film Vigatpam that won awards at the recently held TYONZ short film competition in Auckland. Indian Weekender spoke to this soon-to-graduate business student to know more about his passion and commitment to the world of the cinema. ¡¡ Esha Chanda

passion fostered in childhood for drama and arts paved the way into the world of cinema for Sri Lankan-born Aravindan Ramakrishnan. He is not a film student. He has no formal training or background in film-making. But his inquisitive mind and a thirst for knowledge unfolded the celluloid chapter in his life. Ramakrishnan, a student at Concordia Institute of Business, came to Auckland last year in November. He will be graduating soon, but he already has reasons to celebrate. In August this year, a short film directed by Ramakrishnan was awarded at the second annual short film competition conducted by the Tamil Youth Organisation of New Zealand (TYONZ)— a non-profit organisation that unites young Tamilians across New Zealand to help promote and understand their unique language, history, culture, and identity. His film, Vigatpam, was nominated in six categories—the highest nominations received by any short film this year. And on the evening of August 20, in an event held at Raye Freedman Arts Centre in Epsom, Auckland, the short film took away two awards: Best Music Director and Best Crew. And it did not stop there. The film was also recommended for several other short films festivals that would take place later this year in the UK and Norway. “My passion towards film-making made me enrol in the short film competition,” Ramakrishnan says. “We were nominated in several categories that including best actress, best

Aravindan Ramakrishnan

supporting actor, best music director, best cinematography, best editor and best director. The event was grand, and the support we received was overwhelming.”

Learning on the job

amakrishnan’s interest in film-making goes back to his childhood days. He grew up watching Tamil movies and his greatest inspiration comes from actors such as Rajinikanth, Vikram and Vijay and directors Mani Ratnam, K. Balachander, Karthik Subbaraj and Kamal Hassan. During his schooldays at S Thomas’ College in Sri Lanka, one of the oldest and prestigious schools in the country, Ramakrishnan often took part in cultural programmes. “The school gave importance to

Free garba coaching session 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 the basics of garba? Then come along and join this free session by Sonal Bhavsar. Register your interest at sonal.bhavsar@hotmail.com or contact Sonal BhavsarJoshi on 022 136 2906.

CAB driving workshop Date: Thursday, September 15 Time: 1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Venue: Lecture Theatre at Whitireia Polytechnic (entrance 1)

CAB Porirua will hold a free information session for newcomers on driving in New Zealand. Find out about converting an overseas driver’s licence to a New Zealand licence, process to get a New Zealand licence for the first time and traffic law. The presenters are from Automobile Association, New Zealand Police and CAB. To RSVP, call 04 237 8846 or e-mail manager.porirua@ cab.org.nz

I started learning the technical aspects of making a film when I was in India. All the knowledge that I have now in film-making is through experience, online reading, and observations. extracurricular activities, and as a young school boy, whenever there was an opportunity to showcase my talent, I always grabbed it. Slowly, I developed an interest in different fields such as dramatist,

poet, actor and an orator.” He won several school- and national-level competitions but it wasn’t until Ramakrishnan enrolled in SRM University in Chennai, India that he first forayed into film-making. “At SRM University I learnt about film-making through my fellow mates who were studying film-making and visual communication,” he says. “I always allocated time from my studies to help them out with their assignments on short films.” The time Ramakrishnan spent behind the camera helped him acquire technical knowledge, and he gathered enough experience to work on his own short film. He believes that through experience and practical knowledge, nothing is impossible. “I started learning the technical aspects of making a film when I was in India. All the knowledge that I have now in filmmaking is through experience, online reading, and observations. As soon as I completed my course in India, I went back to Sri Lanka, started working in a multinational company and during weekends, I would work as a director on several short films to keep me attuned with what I had learnt in the university.” Ramakrishnan’s Vigatpam (meaning difference) is based on current events seen in the society. “The basic message conveyed through the story is that when we leave our own problems behind to courageously stand up against others, we will make a huge difference,” he says. “In the film, we have tried a different way to shoot a scene that is rarely seen in short film scripts, and it has created a huge impact on the audience.” But Ramakrishnan says

CAB parenting workshop

Date: Monday, September 12, 19 and on Friday, September 16, 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.

CAB workshop on wills and power of attorney

Date: Saturday, September 17 Time: 9:30 a.m. to noon Venue: English Language Partners, Level 1, 3091 Great North Road, New Lynn

CAB New Lynn will hold a free information session for newcomers on buying a house, wills and power

that he owes it all to the team. “I worked with a young and talented crew who coordinated everything so well. This wouldn’t have been possible without teamwork.” Quick and easy—the two ingredients, Ramakrishnan says, you need to make a good short film. “The game plan is to take a simple concept and add beauty to it with a unique script.” But he stresses that the way a story is conveyed to the audience is more important. “A script can make a simple story line more complicated and a more complicated story line, very simple.”

The road ahead

amakrishnan would be graduating by the end of the year and would soon step into the corporate world, but he says his love for films will continue to thrive. “I am never going to give up on cinema,” he says. “My passion and commitment towards film-making will always remain the same, and I am confident that I will come up with something new and exciting. I will definitely concentrate on making better films in the future. I believe that passion and career is not always the same for all winners. It differs; it actually depends on how well you manage both.” Ramakrishnan’s aim is to start a production company through which he can not only entertain people but also provide a platform to support fresh talent. So is he looking at developing feature film? “If there is an opportunity, then why not grab it?” he says. “I would love to do a full-length feature film. All you need is a correct platform to showcase your talent. I am just waiting for the right opportunity.”

of attorney. Learn about buying a house, presented by Judy Ting-Edwards, Boyle Mathieson Lawyers, and wills and power of attorney, presented by Jade Mathews, Public Trust. Light refreshments will be provided. To register, call 827 7830 or 827 4731 or e-mail at newlynn@cab.org.nz. Intersted participants can also drop in at Citizens Advice Bureau New Lynn, Library Building, 3 Memorial Drive, New Lynn.

Pakuranga Toastmasters Date: Monday, September 19 Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Venue: Te Tuhi 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. Send us information and details about your community, social and cultural events and we can publish them in the What’s On column

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