18 December, 2015 • Vol. 7 Issue 39 • www.iwk.co.nz
NZ’s first Kiwi-Indian weekly newspaper
The pulse of Kiwi-Indians
WRAPPING UP 2015
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CONTENTS
18 December 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
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SPECIAL FEATURE The Kiwi round-up
NEW ZEALAND
First flag referendum results released
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FEATURE
Bloggers Park
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’Tis the silly season
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Lights, camera, action...
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CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
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face of the week Meet the young art genius
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SPECIAL FEATURE
www.iwk.co.nz | 18 December 2015
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s the year 2015 draws to a close, we at Indian Weekender, have decided, yet again to wrap it all up with roundups of all that happened this year. We have exclusive stories on the highlights from around the world, New Zealand and Fiji, on all that glittered in Bollywood, all that took you to the heights of excitement in the world of sports and all that awed you in the nifty world of gadgets and technology. And just when you
think we had missed some other exciting things, we have them all in our special centre spread. For a team dedicated to bringing you the best of all there is, it has been a fast-paced year. In the year gone by, we have brought you a bouquet of 50 specially designed issues, carefully put together for your reading pleasure. So as we all get into the holiday spirit and take some time off to prepare and rejuvenate to do it
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all over a g a i n next year, we want to say a big Thank You for all your support; our advertisers, our readers, our friends, our guides and supporters and our critics. It is each one of you that makes us want to come back week after week and put in our best. It is your constant support that makes us want to better ourselves. We promise to lift our game even further in the coming year, so you
can count on us for being your first choice. With best wishes for an exceptional festive season, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a bright and brilliant New Year. We will be back on the stands on January 8, 2016. Until then, may you have a season full of love, togetherness, laughter and cheer. Stay safe and stay blessed. -Team Indian Weekender
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SPECIAL FEATURE
18 December 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
THE KIWI ROUND-UP The year 2015 has been eventful. As we approach the end of the year, looking back, lots of memories, stories, news and facts come to mind. Let us start with some stories that made us, the Indian community, stand taller.
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Ireland, France, India and Newfoundland battled adverse conditions and Ottoman forces to protect their homeland. Indian Weekender carried a story aimed to acknowledge the forgotten Indian soldiers who fought during the same war. While it is sad that the Indian contribution in the campaign is often forgotten, we will always be proud of this shared piece of history. Flag referendum
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he 22-year-old Sikh made headlines all over the world with his selfless and heart-warming gesture when he broke religious protocol by removing his turban to help a six-year-old boy hit by a car outside his Takanini house in May. Indian Weekender carried an interview with Harman in the “Heroes Amongst Us” section, where he shared his feelings during the incident. He was presented with a police award and praised for his “outstanding compassion and empathy”. People such as Harman make our community proud and this world a better place.
Another story that should be an inspiration to many, is that of India’s famous ‘Everest twins’ Nungshi and Tashi Malik, who were in Invercargill to study at the Southern Institute of Technology after they got awarded a NZ India Sports Scholarship. The 24-year-old sisters from Haryana have the distinction of being the first Indians to climb the tallest mountains on every continent. They have also been featured in Guinness Book of World Records in its 60th Anniversary edition. They have been lauded for being the world’s first siblings and first twins to scale the famed Seven Summits. The brave twins hoisted the Indian tricolour on the North Pole in April this year. Indian Weekender was privileged to host the sisters during its prestigious Hall of Fame event in May this year. Lest we forget
Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi Although there are many such stories of members from this vibrant community, I would like to share the story of our very own Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi. Delhi-born Bakshi who is New Zealand’s first Indian and first Sikh member of New Zealand Parliament, was honoured with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award in India this January. The award, which recognises outstanding contributions by recipients in their chosen field, was presented to Mr Bakshi by Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari. Mr Bakshi who is known to be a humble and active member of Kiwi-Indian community was also the first inductee to the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame.
The year was also abuzz with debates about whether the Kiwi national flag should be changed. There have been various arguments advocating the change of flag some of these include New Zealand flag being too similar to the Australian flag, it not representing the independent, sovereign status of New Zealand and not representing New Zealand’s Māori heritage. The arguments against the change have been primarily the emotional attachment that Kiwis have with the current flag and the financial cost of the whole exercise of changing the flag. Whichever side of the fence you might sit, New Zealand government has scheduled a two-staged binding referendum with the first referendum already taken place. The process which has a strong backing from Prime Minister John Key started with a Flag Consideration Panel that engaged with public asking their suggestions, feedback and flag designs. Pathway student visa The Pathway Student Visa that will allow international students to undertake a pathway of up to three consecutive study programmes saw mixed reactions. The visa will be valid for a maximum of five years. While announcing the visa, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce said, “…Pathway Student Visas will help retain more international students and make New Zealand more competitive with countries such as Australia which already offer pathway programmes.” The Story of Rama
This year also saw the commemoration of the centenary of the ANZAC military campaign on the Gallipoli Peninsula. New Zealanders paid tributes to thousands of young men who stormed the beaches on the Gallipoli Peninsula on April 25, 1915. For eight long and arduous months, New Zealand troops alongside those from Australia, Great Britain and
ATEED Diwali festival
On a cultural note, Auckland art lovers got a treat from the Auckland Art Gallery when it announced the opening of its exhibition The Story of Rama: Indian Miniatures from the National Museum, New Delhi. A 101 paintings have travelled from Delhi to Auckland which tell the story of the Indian epic. These exquisite paintings based on Ram Katha come from north, central and east India. If you have not been to the exhibition yet, you still have time. It is on till January 17, 2016.
Taking the cultural round-up further, I have to mention ATEED Diwali celebration. Although the event is an annual Auckland feature, the grandeur and excitement seems to be growing every year. This year too, despite some initial opposition from self-proclaimed community leaders, the festival saw unprecedented participation from not only the Kiwi-Indian community but also from other communities. Like last year, Indian Weekender was proud to be a major partner for the event this year too. India Trade Alliance Another news that made Kiwi-Indian business community happy was the formation of India Trade Alliance (ITA). The alliance was launched this year with a mission to promote closer economic ties between New Zealand and India. ITA executive committee consists of heavyweights with proven experience and vision. Community has a firm belief that ITA will bridge the gap in the Indo-Kiwi trade relations and provide a win-win platform to members in both the countries.
Christchurch in 2015 Gaurav Sharma January Annus horribilis for farmers he year started with farms in wider Canterbury region on the brink of a serious drought, and is ending with the most severe El Nino weather pattern in almost 50 years. Prospects of an even hotter and drier summer are looming over the farming community in and around Christchurch. Record drop in Fonterra’s milk price forecast—which having touched
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$3.60/kgMS is hovering at $4.60/ kgMS now—added to the distress throughout the year. March Hosts Te Matatini—the national Kapa Haka festival Started in 1972, the five-day festival, themed “He ngakau aroha” this year, was held between March 4 and 8 at North Hagley Park in Christchurch. The theme was selected by Ngai Tahu—the principal iwi [tribe] of the country’s South Island—in recognition of the support the city has received from
other Maori tribes around the country. Of the 45 performing teams, Te Kapa Haka o Te Whānau an Apanui was the overall winner and won the coveted title of Toa Whakaihuwaka. May Christchurch Town Hall restoration The decision to restore and repair Christchurch’s earthquakedamaged Town Hall seemed possible when Deloittes declared the estimated costs to be within the City Council’s budget. Later the Council voted to spend $127
million restoring the heritagelisted building by June 2018. The restored building will comply with the new building standards, and will have upgraded audio and lighting systems.
government entity Regenerate Christchurch announcing no plans for the Square as yet, people are hoping for 2016 to bring some good news.
Cathedral Square rebuild stalls Meanwhile, development plans around city’s iconic but severely earthquake-damaged Cathedral Square kept on collapsing with no consensus in sight. With the $500 million convention centre also been pushed to 2018, and the newly-launched joint council-
CTV building engineer cleared In a case that had caught the entire nation’s attention since the 2011 Earthquake, Alan Reay of Christchurch design firm Alan Reay Consultants, responsible for the six-storey Canterbury Television building, which
June
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SPECIAL FEATURE
www.iwk.co.nz | 18 December 2015 Continued from page 4
collapsed in the earthquake claiming 115 lives, was cleared of all charges of Red Orange misleading New Black Zealand’s professional engineering body—The Institution of Professional Engineers (Ipenz). With this, the ongoing criminal investigation on the building collapse is yet to conclude whether anyone will be charge. August Earthquake Commission (EQC) debacle Contrary to its mandate, EQC faced a class action suit, and allegations of oversight on shabby repair works, nepotism and favouritism this year. A report into the Building Code compliance of earthquake repairs to Christchurch homes by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) revealed more than a third of the surveyed homes failed to meet the building code. Then, more than 100 Christchurch home-owners approached the High Court in a class action suit against the EQC. The Commission also faced negative media coverage all year long, especially as regards to a young claims assessor Nikki Kettle—daughter of Gail Kettle who is the general manager of customers and claims at EQC. Questions were raised on how Nikki, in-spite ofyfacing scrutiny and internal investigations for her general conduct, technical decisions and conflict of interest, had continued in her role for so long.
2021, RC, headed by Andre Lovatt, will develop plans and strategies to assist with regeneration, monitor regeneration outcomes and interventions, as well as facilitate seamless investor experience. The government later introduced the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Bill in the Parliament, which will replace the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act 2011 expiring on April 26 next year. December A Great Place to Be Every society needs hope; actually every society survives on hope. Especially a city still traumatised by the devastating February 2011 earthquake. Realising this, The Press, Christchurch’s main newspaper, launched a campaign—A Great Place to Be—to carry forward “the optimistic spirit conjured up by Share an Idea, launched in May 2011 as a colourful, engaging way to get Christchurch residents to say what kind of future they wanted for their city, and which had seen more than 105,000 suggestions being shared within six weeks”.
September Regenerate Christchurch In a first for New Zealand, the Crown and Christchurch City Council outlined plans to establish Regenerate Christchurch (RC)—“a jointly owned and funded entity tasked with overseeing the long-term $40 billion development and enhancement of the Central City, residential red zone, New Brighton and other potential regeneration zones”. With a working mandate till
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& Happy New Year
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SPECIAL FEATURE
18 December 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
Top global stories of the year
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2015—the year Marty McFly and Doc Brown travelled to in the sequel of Back to the Future in 1989. Our year was probably no match to Robert Zemeckis’ version—no flying cars or hoverboards. Well almost; our tech section may tell you otherwise—but here is what made the headlines this year. Esha Chanda
began at the office in Paris on January 7 and ended with a police operation and two sieges. In November, terror shook the capital of France again when gunmen and suicide bombers hit a stadium, multiple restaurants and bars and a concert hall. The ISIS-co-ordinated attacks claimed the lives of 130 people and left more than a 100 wounded or in a critical condition.
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n a historic court ruling, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favour of same-sex marriages on June 26. Five out of nine court justices determined the right to equality in the Obergefell v Hodges case. With the court’s ruling—a triumph for gay rights movement in the country—the US became the latest country to join the circle that legalised gay marriages. Other nations include Finland, Brazil, New Zealand, England and Wales and the Netherlands.
Nepal earthquake
Hello, Pluto NASA’s spacecraft New Horizons made its historic flypast of Pluto on July 14 after blasting off in January 2006. The fastest launch recorded, reaching speeds of more than 36,000 miles per hour, the spacecraft took pictures of Pluto and its largest moon Charon. In the first 24 hours after its flypast, NASA received images that revealed that Pluto is slightly larger than thought. The sensors on the spacecraft also detected a nitrogen atmosphere. The spacecraft, which carries the ashes of the late Clyde Tombaugh, who discovered the lonely dwarf planet in 1930, is now headed further into the Kuiper Belt. The fuel is designed to last until the late 2020s or even beyond.
hydrated salt minerals on slopes where darkish streaks are seen. The brine found on the steep slopes is the strongest evidence yet of water flowing on the planet. Although the scientists are unsure where the water comes from, the discovery raises the chances of finding some form of Martian life. The historic COP 21
Water on the red planet NASA announced that they found evidence of liquid water on the surface of Mars in October. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft detected
The 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) received a lot of media attention around the globe. For the first time, in more than 20 years of UN negotiations, the conference held in Paris aimed to achieve a legally binding agreement from all the nations of the world. After two weeks of tense negotiations, the conference
International Yoga Day: more unrest than peace? The UN General Assembly adopted International Yoga Day and gave the 5,000-yearold practice a global status on June 21. An initiative by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the event was successfully observed by many countries. But as people rolled out their mats, controversy brewed around the UN and the Indian g o ve r n m e nt ’s s u p p o r t for yoga. Accusations of pushing a Hindu agenda led to a fierce debate between political and r e l i g i o u s leaders.
reached an agreement that was dubbed as “historic, durable and ambitious”. The participating 195 countries had agreed to the final global pact—to reduce their carbon output and to keep global warming to below two degree Celsius. Terror strikes Paris Early in the year, two brothers, Said and Cherif Kouachi— identified as gunmen belonging to the Islamist terrorist group Al-Qaeda’s branch in Yemen— attacked the office of Charlie Hebdo, a weekly French satirical newspaper. The open fire in the office killed 11 people and injured 11 others. As the police continued the search the following day, one of the gunmen shot dead a policewoman before fleeing the scene. The three-day massacre
In the worst natural disaster to strike the country, a massive earthquake shook Nepal in April killing more than 9,000 people. Two weeks later, dozens died when a new tremor near Mount Everest triggered a landslide. Before the country could recover from the shock, another catastrophic quake—tremors of which were felt in Bangladesh, China and many states in India—caused mass panic and more landslides. Months later, thousands are still struggling to return to normal lives from the widespread destruction.
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IWK SETS new benchmarks
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Indian Weekender continued to scale new heights and set standards this year as well. Besides continuing to excel with the weekly publication, Indian Weekender’s events were well-received by the Kiwi-Indian community.
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his year’s Hall of Fame marked its third anniversary. It grew even bigger with the announcement of two new awards this year along with the coveted Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame. The new awards Kiwi-Indian Young Achiever and Kiwi-Indian Unsung Hero were well received. This year Dr Kantilal Naranji Patel was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his contribution towards the KiwiIndian community. Prerna Sinha aka Dj Charlie and Parveen Patel won the awards for Kiwi-Indian Young Achiever and Kiwi-Indian Unsung Hero respectively. The event graced by Prime Minister John Key and other MPs,
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model and actor Colin Mathura-Jeffree and who’s who of the Kiwi-Indian community, was highly praised for its grandeur, content and the “wow factor”. Continued on Page 8
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Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
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NEW ZEALAND
18 December 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
Celebrate Christmas in style
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Kiwi-Indian Thought Series
Gaurav Sharma
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nother feather added to the hat of Indian Weekender this year was the Kiwi-Indian Thought series. The inaugural series was held at the Aotea centre during the Auckland Diwali Festival on October 17 and 18 and received encouraging response from the audience. We hope to bring you more of the informative talk-sessions in the upcoming year.
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stablished in 2005, Christchurch Kerala Association (CKA)—a non-profit catering to the needs of the Malayalee community living in and around the Christchurch—is organising a Christmas and New Year’s party the coming Saturday. Ajesh Jose, Secretary at CKA, informed, “Celebrations will start at 6pm with cake cutting and
Red we have dinner. This time, organised few competitions including the best Christmas tree and crib, as well as the best Christmas cake. Announcement of winners and prize distribution will also happen that day. Later, a small segment of Malayalee dance and music will be presented. But the evening’s highlight will be a children’s nativity play performance depicting popular Christmas stories, for which the kids have been practising very hard.”
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About 200 Malayalees, people from other Indian communities, as well as nonIndian Kiwis are expected to attend the festivities, he added.
Christchurch to dance to Bollywood Summer Fest Gaurav Sharma
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rganised by the city-based 400-member Indian Cultural Group (ICG), the second edition of Bollywood Summer Fest will be held on December 19 at the Aurora Centre in Burnside, Christchurch. Sandeep Sachdeva, President of ICG, informed, “While we expect about 500 people from across all communities—Indian and nonIndian—to attend the festival, Indian High Commissioner from Wellington has also confirmed his attendance. There will be about 20 plus music and dance performances, ably supported by filler comedy sketches performed by our hosts and emcees throughout the duration of
Spreading joy: Humm FM’s Christmas for Kids Radiothon
Wishing you and your families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
IWK Bureau
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Jenny SALESA MP for Manukau East
jenny.salesa@parliament.govt.nz Electorate Office 7 Fulton Cres, Otara 09 274 9231 Authorised by Jenny Salesa Parliament Buildings, Wellington
1043 - Salesa Xmas ad 125x170.indd 1
the show. Importantly, as the theme of this year’s Fest is ‘Streets of India’, all our stage and venue decorations, as well as the food stalls, would be denoting that.” The idea is when people enter the Aurora Centre, they get the feel similar to what one witnesses while walking in the streets of Indian cities, he added.
07/12/15 16:42
undreds of listeners walked through the doors of Humm FM with just one motive, to bring smiles on little faces this Christmas. Humm 106.2 FM, Auckland’s only Hindi FM Radio Station, launched a 48-Hour Radiothon broadcast to bring joy to less fortunate kids. The campaign started on Thursday, December 10 midday and was scheduled to end on Saturday, December 12 midday, but the non-stop response of listeners motivated the RJ’s to carry it forward till 6 p.m. Saturday, making it a 54hour Radiothon. Breakfast show host, Vijay Varma, Drive show host Dev Sachindra and Evening show host Roopam Chowdhury anchored the Radiothon for 54 hours while breakfast show co-host Pooja Kumar joined the campaign later, giving 35 hours, and Drive show co-host Sandy Sekhon joined the trio for the remaining 30 hours of campaign. While most of the gifts were from Aucklanders, some gifts came from as far away as Wellington and Melbourne. The gifts range from little toys to bicycles and large stuffed toys. Three listeners contributed with 48, 50 and 100 gifts respectfully.
One of the most touching moments of the Radiothon was when two brothers aged eight and nine, broke their piggy banks, went with their parents to buy gifts and brought them to the station. Nine-yearold Nyra decided to forgo her Christmas presents and added them to the growing collection at the Humm FM studios. Two emotional grandparents brought the true joy of Christmas while celebrating the announcement that their one-yearold granddaughter was in remission from cancer. They truly understood how lucky they were to have the little ones smiling face with them. Humm FM Director, Satyan Prasad says, “Since Humm FM started four years ago, this campaign is the biggest achievement to date.” Mr Prasad congratulated all listeners who came with their family to donate gifts and making this campaign a success. During the Radiothon, Humm FM received 1,861 gifts, which will now be handed over to Auckland City Mission for distribution.
NEW ZEALAND
www.iwk.co.nz | 18 December 2015
Youth and Women Leadership by Zerbanoo Gifford Red
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Orange From princesses to prime ministers, street children to spiritualists, academics to archbishops Zerbanoo has been a cosmic networker connecting people across boundaries. Her story is about the triumph of human endeavour, a pioneering spirit who breaks rules and believes in the `power of now'.
Zerbanoo was at the heart of the women's movement, relentlessly fighting for social and economic empowerment of women. Challenging the status quo, she has seen the power equation change dramatically in her lifetime. Readers of her biography will be able to plug into the mains and be charged up by Zerbanoo's electric energy, inner grace and her passion for life without a pause.
We wish you and your family
`An Uncensored Life' is a motivational memoir/biography that is spirited, thought provoking and fun to read. An awe inspiring story that simply needs to be told, penned by senior NZ journalist and biographer Farida Master. Program, Topic and Venue: rd
Sunday 3 Jan 10am - 12noon - Swaminarayan Temple, 12 Wentworth Ave, Papatoetoe Topic - Youth - Modern day aspirations & leadership
3pm - 4.30pm
- Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki,
cnr. Kitchener + Wellesley St
Reading the Biography “Zerbanoo Gifford - An Uncensored Life” Q& A with Zerbanoo
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Monday 4 Jan 11am - 12.30pm - Botany Library,
1 Botany Town Centre Sunset Terrace, Manukau
Reading - Book signing
Tuesday 5th Jan 5pm - 7.30pm - Central City Library,
Level 2, 44 - 46 Lorne St
Reading the Biography “Zerbanoo Gifford-An Uncensored Life” Q& A with Zerbanoo
Contact details: Ranjna Patel - Mob: 027 2788111 E.mail: ranjna@ethc.co.nz Thanks to:
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Christmas wishes from the team at Royal Oak United Travel. Peace and goodwill to you all We look forward to helping with your travel plans, visit our experienced team in the Mall (Mt Albert Road entrance).
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18 December 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
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Supporting local businesses at Christmas David Shearer
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Labour MP
ach year, as Christmas draws near, I make it a priority to get around and support local businesses because when our businesses flourish, so do our communities. This year, in my visits to local workplaces, I’ve been asking business owners how we can make New Zealand an easier place for them to trade. The most common response I hear from business owners is that dealing with the
Inland Revenue Department (IRD) is an enormous headache. When a company’s cash-flow doesn’t match up perfectly with the IRD tax calendar, these hassles can really dominate a business. In my electorate—where there are several shopping and eating areas from Sandringham to Kingsland, Mt Albert to Pt Chev, Grey Lynn and more—there are many businesses where owners, their families and staff are working long hours to make their businesses successful. The last thing we should be doing is saddling these entrepreneurs with a tax system that is old-fashioned and frustrating. Some businesses get the majority of their revenue at this time of the year—the lead-up to Christmas. But the IRD demands provisional tax from them in the dead of winter too, when there is not much revenue
coming in to cover it. It doesn’t make sense. Labour’s policies will make it easier for small businesses to pay tax. We want to replace the IRD’s rigid timetable with a new flexibility for business owners. We want to let Kiwi businesses pay their tax when they earn their income. That way, a business owner can choose to pay more in the busy season and less when things are quiet, while a business that earns the same amount every month can choose to pay more consistently through the year. Businesses in different situations can choose to pay tax at different times, decided by them. A simple idea, really. And long overdue. It’s a little bit like the pay-as-you-earn arrangement most of us have through our jobs. I’m really pleased we can offer that same advantage to business owners as well
as to people earning wages and salaries. The key thing is that the person who gets to decide when to pay the tax isn’t the IRD, but the business owner. They can use their new flexibility to help them get ahead, while still paying their tax. And if a business owner is happy with the current provisional tax model, they can stay with that. It’s their choice. Why not give that power to the businessperson, rather than the government? Because it gives business owners freedom—after all they know their industry and cash-flow better than the IRD does. If we want everyone in our community to do well, they need good jobs. When we make life easier for businesses, we help create more of those jobs. And that’s good for everyone.
Unhealthy conditions of state homes Jenny Salesa MP for Manukau East
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ecember is a hectic time of year for most of us. Parliament is now in recess and it’s the busiest time for events and celebrations in my electorate. Businesses are run off their feet, working to capacity, while the school year winds up and many people are looking forward to holidays when they can spend time with family and friends. It’s also a time to think of others. While I appreciate the blessings I and my family enjoy, I am also mindful of those whose daily struggles don’t stop just because it’s the holiday season. Indeed,for many this
highly commercialised time of year can be quite stressful. The lack of affordable, safe housing is the number-one issue in my electorate and a major problem across Auckland. Average rents in places like Manukau East are now unmanageable for many families with two working parents, let alone those who have no jobs. Buying a first home in Auckland, where the average price is now $931,807 is a fading dream. A recent CAB report about the scandalous numbers of homeless people in New Zealand underscores the problem for my staff and I because we see homeless families living in cars on a weekly basis. Many others who come to us for help are living in garages, caravans or in overcrowded,unhealthy, mouldy, leaky, damp homes. Since the tragic death of Otara toddler Emma Lita Bourne highlighted the unhealthy conditions of many state houses,
a number of homes are being repaired and refurbished. However, the issues of damp, cold leaky homes causing major illness continue. In an exciting development, students from Otara’s Rongomai Primary took up the challenge of discovering exactly how healthy local houses are. Their South Sciscience project measured moulds in their homes. Scientists analysing the results were astounded to find 14 different kinds of mould in 18 of the 22 houses studied, as well as three different yeasts that were emerging human pathogens and three bacteria that had antibacterial resistance. Clearly, more must be done urgently to ensure that everyone lives in a warm, dry and healthy house. I recently marched on the Hikoi for Homes to draw attention to the housing crisis in Auckland. I have also drafted a Private Members Billwhich, if passed by Parliament, would mean that families with school-aged children, the disabled
and the elderly in state houses would not have tenancy reviews. Assured tenancy status would lessen the stress that can cause poor health in vulnerable people and also help to address the high rates of transience in schools, especially in lowerincome communities. It would support stable neighbourhoods where children grow up, attending the same school for a long period and getting a better start in life. As a country, we must ensure our most vulnerable have their basic needs met including a job, a living wage, opportunities for learning and development and, most of all, access to shelter. Many temples, churches and service organisations will be offering food and support for the vulnerable during this season. Please remember them in your actions and your prayers. My family and I wish you and yours a joyous, safe holiday period.
Auckland takes initiative in climate change post-Paris IWK BUREAU
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ayor Len Brown says that the global climate agreement in Paris puts the onus firmly on transport and energy and that’s where Auckland as a city can—and will—take action. “When it comes to climate change, cities are where it’s at. We have the tools and the opportunities to make a practical difference to our shared climate future,” says the Mayor. “Of the nearly 11 million tonnes of CO2 emissions in Auckland in 2013, 3.8 million came from road transport. That’s 35 per cent and the single largest emissions source, so anything we can do to give people options to their car is going to help. “As a united Auckland, we have an unprecedented opportunity to respond
rapidly and strategically to affect the kinds of changes we need to ensure this city’s future. That’s why we have set a target of reducing our emissions by 40 per cent by the year 2040 (relative to a 1990 baseline). The introduction of our new electric trains alone reduced emissions by one per cent.” The Mayor is now fine tuning the action Auckland will take in the wake of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to well below two degrees Celsius, with the intent to pursue a 1.5-degree target. The agreement recognises cities as essential in fast tracking transformative action in the urban world. The actions of cities could make up a third of the shortfall between the Paris agreement’s ambitions and country commitments. That’s 3.7 gigatons of urban greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The Mayor was part of the official New Zealand government delegation to the
21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) and travelled at the invitation of the United Nations SecretaryGeneral’s Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change, Michael Bloomberg and the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo. Among the initiatives the Mayor says Auckland is already implementing but which require more effort in the wake of the Paris Agreement are the continued transformation of Auckland’s transport system with the focus on public transport and cycle and pedestrian walkways and leading by example with Council procurement, building and infrastructure design. The retrofit of Council’s headquarters building has reduced energy consumption by 40 per cent and saved $535,000 per year. “We are also moving to a Zero Waste City by rolling out separate organic waste
collection and community-led resource recovery network so we are walking the talk.” The Mayor says his invitation to attend and speak at the Paris conference, as well as his inclusion in the official delegation, was recognition of Auckland’s position as one of the world’s most liveable cities. “And while the Auckland story is a good one, it was not just about telling it,” he says, “It was about learning from best practice examples from around the world in areas such as urban regeneration, sustainable transport, energy efficiency and conservation and hot transport trends. We learnt from other cities facing similar challenges, enhancing Auckland’s ability to benefit from their expertise, tools and programmes in the future.”
www.iwk.co.nz | 18 December 2015
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City Rail Link to be built under Commercial Bay
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he first stage of the City Rail Link (CRL) project will be built on the site of the Downtown Mall, between lower Queen Street and Albert Street. The construction will take place as part of the ‘Commercial Bay’ development by property company Precinct.
First visible steps of the CRL With the re-situating of stormwater pipes on lower Albert Street this month and the demolition of the Downtown Mall in May 2016, Aucklanders will see the first steps in the construction of the CRL. Mayor Len Brown said discussions with the prime minister, minister of finance and minister of transport were going well, with the government committed to the CRL project. “The only remaining issue is the timing of government funding.”
“The private sector is demonstrating its confidence in Auckland’s future by investing billions in our city centre”
The ‘new Auckland’ The 39-storey, $681 million Commercial Bay development will make an outstanding contribution to what people are calling the ‘new Auckland’. It is one of several major new developments that will arrive in Auckland’s city centre in the next few years. “The private sector is demonstrating its confidence in Auckland’s future by investing billions in our city centre,” says the mayor. “Central Auckland is New Zealand’s most
productive, largest and fastest growing commercial and employment centre. It has long been said Auckland is the powerhouse of the New Zealand economy. That is now a reality.” “Growth is the reason we are backing private sector investment with better public transport. We simply cannot meet that growth by moving more people into the CBD by car.
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FIJI
18 December 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
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Highlights of the year Yashmin Chand
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015 has been quite a year for Fiji for several reasons. As the year draws close, take a look at the key news and events that have created headlines. UN hails Fijian Government
President’s farewell
In major news this year was the grand farewell of the outgoing President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau. He was appointed in 2009, replacing the late Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu. Fijian to receive award from Her Majesty The Queen
Talk on climate change
Business
Fiji welcomed the climate change agreement adopted in Paris during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21). Fiji played an important role in making the voices of Pacific nations heard. Fiji, Germany celebrated years of relations Fiji-German co-operation in the forestry sector celebrated their 30-year anniversary this year. Fiji established diplomatic relations with Germany in 1973. They embarked on a bilateral partnership in the forestry sector in 1985. Entertainment and arts
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) commended the Fijian Government for its continued commitment to child welfare and development, which was highlighted through the strengthened partnership between UNICEF and the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation to raise awareness on the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Campaign (PCAN).
A young Fijian Luisa Tuilau is one of 60 people from across the Commonwealth who are being recognised as exceptional leaders in their community. She will receive a prestigious Queen’s Young Leaders Award in 2016. Luisa works to raise awareness of the needs of young people. She studies psychology and law at the University of the South Pacific and is the President of its Law Association.
Fiji
hosted one of the magnificent first ever bike and car shows Miss Fiji Zaira Begg was the third runner-up at the 2015 Miss Pacific Islands Pageant, held at Rarotonga, Cook Islands Famous Bollywood music director, singer, actor and producer Himesh Reshammiya toured Fiji with successful music concert.
Fiji Airways has had a good
year with strong profits, the appointment of a new CEO and good growth across the network. Adding to its achievements was the announcement of a new Airbus A330-300 aircraft. The 300 version will bring a number of benefits to the airline in operational efficiencies and to the customers in terms of comfort, in-flight experience and service. The airways has also announced that it will be making adjustments to its Auckland-Suva direct service including adding a third flight to be scheduled next year. Bank of Baroda announced that parents sending money to their children in India do not have to pay any extra fees. Students studying under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) scholarship scheme will benefit from this arrangement.
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Fiji and South Africa currently lead the WRSS ranking table. Fiji is pooled with Argentina, Japan and Wales in Wellington on January 30. Vijay Singh to represent Fiji in Rio World Champion Fijian golfer Vijay Singh will represent Fiji at 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Golf will be played at the Olympics in Rio for the first time since 1904. Wedding of the year A hearing and speech impaired couple—Vinay Chand and Sanjana Mudaliar tied knot recently. It was a joyous and historic moment for the couple, relatives and those who were at the function.
Sports Fiji began defending its World Rugby Sevens Series (WRSS) title by winning the opening leg in Dubai by defeating England.
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NEW ZEALAND
18 December 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
Christmas celebrations with Bhartiya Samaj IWK Bureau
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ontinuing the yearly-trend, Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust celebrated Christmas with much joy and fervour.
for hours, which included singing and dancing with all senior members taking active participation. The dignitaries also joined the seniors on the dance floor. The success of the event can be undoubtedly credited to the BSCT
First flag referendum results released Red
he official result for the first referendum on the New Zealand Flag was released this week. The
most preferred alternative flag design chosen through the first referendum is
More than 200 senior citizens became part of the year end celebrations held at Sangeet Restaurant, Manukau on December 13. The fun day was packed with entertainment, live music, lunch and more. Kiwi-Indian parliamentary dignitaries Dr Parmjeet Parmar and Mahesh Bindra graced the occasion with their presence along with other community leaders. The merry making exercise was carried out
volunteers whose devotion towards the community service resulted in the immense happiness and pleasure of those present. BSCT president and QSM Jeet Suchdev concluded the event wishing everyone a merry Christmas and healthy happy New Year. He acknowledged the entire BSCT family for their efforts towards community service.
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IWK Bureau
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Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue). The referendum asked the question:“If the New Zealand flag changes, which flag would you prefer?” The next most preferred flag design is Option E: Silver Fern (Red, White and Blue), followed in order of preference by Option B: Red Peak, Option D: Silver Fern (Black and White) and Option C: Koru. The first referendum received a total of 1,546,734 votes, which includes 149,747
informal votes (9.68%) and 3,372 invalid votes (0.22%).Voter turnout was 48.78%. The second binding referendum on the New Zealand flag will be held from March 3 to 24, 2016.In the second referendum, voters will be asked to choose between Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue), being the most preferred flag design selected in this referendum, and the current flag. The flag that receives the most votes will be the official flag of New Zealand. Voters should ensure that they are enrolled and their enrolment details are up to date well before voting begins in the second referendum.
INDIANEW ZEALAND FIJI
Thought of the week
Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more...
Editorial
— Dr Seuss
From the desk of the Managing Editor
“
David Kohl, professor emeritus at Virginia Tech University, has found that individuals who write down their goals will have nine times the success of those who don’t put their goals on paper. Yet Dr Kohl’s research suggests that only 20
per cent of our population has goals and less than 10 per cent take the time to write their goals down. So why is it that so few of us take the time to develop and make note of clear and concise goals? After researching this question for 10 years, I have come to the conclusion that the reason is, quite simply, we are lazy.” —Jason Selk It’s the perfect time of the year to be talking about this. It is that time when we make New Year resolutions, and then come up with excuses for breaking them within the first week. As Selk says, often it is because of our laziness. I have witnessed the power of writing down goals in not just my own life but also of others around me. Every time I am approached by someone junior to me in age, who is looking for guidance, the first thing I often say to them is to write down their goals and aspirations. It is true that most people do not even take time to write these down. Often people who do are more committed and focused on their goals and are highly likely to achieve them.
Pick of the week
As Steve Maraboli says, “If you have a goal, you write it down. If you do not write it down, you do not have a goal—you have a wish.” Enough said. We bring you the final issue for the year this week. Even though, by this time of the year, the entire team has reached its capacity, having worked non-stop through the year to continue to be you first choice for news, views, facts and entertainment, we bring this issue packed with all the goodness of the entire year. It is truly a roundup of the year, and you will notice that each member of the team has put something together for this issue. As New Zealand goes into the holiday spirit and virtually comes to a standstill, Indian Weekender will also break for the year end and take a much-needed break. We will return rejuvenated in all senses of the word but we will return bearing gifts. So watch out for our exciting new developments and offerings in the New Year. We have recently heard great examples of the spirit of giving, and I hope we continue this. Amidst our celebrations let us also take time to be grateful for what 2015 brought for us and spare a thought for those less fortunate than us. From the entire team at Indian Weekender, I take this opportunity to wish all our readers and their families, a Merry and Safe Christmas. Here’s also wishing everyone a fabulous New Year. Hope the New Year brings for everyone all that they have in mind. We look forward to meeting you again in 2016. Giri Gupta
This controversial cartoon was published in the Rupert Murdoch-owned The Australian in response to the Paris climate conference.It depiction of Indians starving and eating solar panels was condemned as “racist”.
Indian Weekender : Volume 7 Issue 39 Publisher: Kiwi Media Group Limited Managing Editor: Giri Gupta | girigupta@xtra.co.nz Editor: Annu Sharma | editor@indianweekender.co.nz Chief Reporter: Swati Sharma | reporter@indianweekender.co.nz Reporter: Rizwan Mohammad | iwk.rizwan@gmail.com Reporter: Esha Chanda | iwk.eshac@gmail.com Reporter: Kumar Suresh | iwk.kumar@gmail.com Chief Technical Officer: Rohan Desouza | rohan@indianweekender.co.nz Sr Graphics and Layout Designer: Mahesh Kumar | mahesh@indianweekender.co.nz Graphic Designer: Yashmin Chand | designer@indianweekender.co.nz Accounts and Admin.: Farah Khan | accounts@indianweekender.co.nz Sales and Marketing: 022 3251630 / 021 1507950 | 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 Group, 98 Great South Road, Auckland Printed at Horton Media, Auckland Copyright 2015. Kiwi Media Group. All Rights Reserved.
Waiwai Express Meaning: Walking Usage: We are taking the Waiwai express across the hill
Tip from the trenches
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SPECIAL FEATURE
18 December 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
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WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN Mahesh K
It’s a princess
A new royal family member was born on May 2, 2015. Princess Charlotte of Cambridge is the younger child of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. She is fourth in line to succeed her great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, after her paternal grandfather, father, and elder brother. Phil Goff to contest for Mayor Labour MP from Mt Roskill, Phil Goff, officially announced that he will contest for the Auckland mayoralty. He vision—to create a better Auckland. He will continue as MP. Canada has spoken Indian community in Canada cheered the fact that there were a record number of 19 MPs elected for the new Parliament. The number was more than double from their representation in the last parliament.
World’s first city carbon neutral ase of ted on the first ph Work was compleed outside of Abu Dhabi. Masdar City locatto be the world’s first carbon d The city is designewaste and fully sustainable neutral, zero city. and self-contained
Saudi women vote In another first, Saudi women were allowed to vote for the first time in the municipal elections. Elections in December 2015 also saw 978 women contesting as candidates.
AKL Writers Festival The festival in its 15th year saw more than 150 novelists, playwrights, song writers, critics, illustrators and poets from New Zealand and around the world including prominent author Haruki Murakami. Over five days, people attended various sessions, talks and other performances.
LA gets closer to Auckland American Airlines announced that it will be launching a daily non-stop service between Auckland and Los Angeles from June 2016 alongwith joint venture partner Qantas.
Supermoon sighted
The rare total lunar eclipse of a Super full moon occurred in September 2015. According to NASA, they have only occurred five times in 1900s. The full moon of September was a Supermoon—the moon was closest to Earth. Also referred to as a blood moon, next occurrence will happen again only after 18 years.
SPECIAL FEATURE
www.iwk.co.nz | 18 December 2015
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Royal Visit Duchess Camilla harles and the C es al W of ce Prin in November to d New Zealand is of Cornwall visite ond Jubilee. Th izabeth II’s Diam ed ht lig de ho mark Queen El w ay ry’s visit in M ar H ce in Pr ed follow easy charm. people with his
law cyberbullying NZ passes antied that ss pa s ullying law wa The new cyberb inal offence of intentionally makes it a crim by posting a digital causing harm communication
First woman bishop
of England First woman bishop of the Church Lane became by” “Lib en Hold Jane beth Eliza Rev. the Church by d ointe the first woman bishop app e on plac took ation secr of England. Her con . 2015 January 26,
Oprah in NZ
Queen of the television, Oprah enthralled New Zealand. Her show in Auckland included performances and snippets about various issues including New Zealand’s new flag concepts.
Google announced a corporate restructure with a new parent company called Alphabet bringing Google and other divisions under its umbrella. Google also unveiled a redesigned logo.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and wife Priscilla Chan announced the birth of their daughter Max, and his decision to donate 99% of their Facebook shares for good causes over the years.
Social Princess Long live the Queen On September 10, 2015, t Elizabeth II became longes history ish Brit in ch nar reigning mo rs when she completed 63 yea ne. thro the on s day 217 and
Aussie gets new PM Australia elected a new Prime Minister when former PM Tony Abbott was defeated by Malcolm Turnbull. Amid the rumors of leadership spill, Turnbull challenged Abbott for the Liberal leadership and defeated him by 54 votes to 44.
ED K L A T E W T WHA IN ABOUT
Earth-like alien world found A new planet, Kepler 438b spotted and declared to be the “most Earth-like” due to various similarities to Earth. It is 12 per cent bigger than Earth and receives 40 per cent more heat from its sun.
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SPECIAL FEATURE
18 December 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
The year that was: India Swati Sharma
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ike every other year, this year, too, India saw its share of highs and lows. While on one hand there have been many positive developments in India’s international relationship that have made the world stop and take another look at India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the other a few events have left bitter memories in the minds of people. As the year 2015 comes to a close, let us take a look at the top stories from India that made headlines this year. Obama’s visit
Establishment of NITI Aayog
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Agni-V missile and Beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile, Astra. Awards/Recognitions
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his year India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, was awarded to freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malaviya (posthumously) and India’s former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Among the Padma awardees this year were actors Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar, nuclear scientist M.R. Srinivasan, mathematician Manjul Bhargava, computer scientist Vijay P. Bhatkar, Hindu spiritual guru Swami Satyamitranand and Aga Khan IV.
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he 65-year-old Planning Commission was scraped and replaced by NITI Aayog. PM Modi’s think tank follows a bottom-up approach in contrast to the traditional top-down decision making process.
big setback for the BJP since the 2014 general election. Bihar Elections
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ossibly amongst the most important events this year was the US President Barack Obama’s visit to India on January 26, as he is the first US head of state to attend the Indian Republic Day parade. It was also for the first time that a US President visited the country twice during his tenure at the White House.
Modi unveils Digital India Another biggest political upheaval was seen after the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections. The NitishLalu- Congress alliance recorded a landslide win against the BJPled National Democratic Alliance. With 56.8%, the elections also saw the highest ever voter turnout in the state.
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errorists attacked a police station in Gurdaspur district of Punjab on July 27. The attack killed nine people including three terrorists. Chennai floods
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major tragedy this year, the floods devastated the state of Tamil Nadu. More than 400 people died, more than 1.8 million people were displaced and damages cost up to Rs. 10,0000 crore (US$15 billion) as of December 10.
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he launch of Digital India programme by PM Modi on July 1 was one of the major initiatives. It aims to improve online infrastructure, Internet connectivity and provide government services on an electronic platform. AAP’s victory in Delhi
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n a stunning win, Arvind Kejriwal’s anti-corruption Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) secured 67 out of 70 seats in the Delhi state elections. It was the first
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Demises ndia’s former President and aerospace scientist Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, known as
Science and technology
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SRO again made its mark. The highlight of the year was the launch of ASTROSAT—India’s first multi-wavelength space observatory on September 28, which will enable researchers to observe and analyse any celestial body they want. In other important launches, ISRO launched five UK satellites and GSAT-6. It also placed Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) 1-D satellite in orbit. Among the test firings were the the missile man, left for his heavenly abode on July 27. The legendry cartoonist R K Laxman passed away on January 26 at the age of 93. Famous writer and academic M. M. Kalburgi was killed this year, which sparked the intolerance and ‘Award Wapsi’ debates. BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya, composer and singer Aadesh Shrivastava and actor Saeed Jaffrey also passed away this year.
INDIA
www.iwk.co.nz | 18 December 2015
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Google plans campus at Hyderabad, more net access: Pichai
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Google CEO Sundar Pichai during a press conference in Delhi on December 16
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oogle will build a new campus at Hyderabad in Telengana state and hire more people, company chief executive Sundar Pichai said during his visit to India. He said the American multinational technology company was working towards including as many people as possible in the use of internet in India, and added the company will develop products in India that have global usage. “In our attempt to provide internet access to people, we have decided to provide Wi-Fi at 400 railway stations in association with RailTel. The first 100 stations will come online by 2016-end. Mumbai Central station will be online by early January,” Pichai said at ‘Google for India’ event in New Delhi on December 16. Pichai also met union Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who said Google has reached in-principle agreement with the Indian government for its research and development project, Loon. The project is aimed at providing internet
connectivity in rural India. He did not disclose the investment proposed by the company, which now has 1,500 employees in India. “This country has given me and Google so much. I just hope we can give much more to the country,” Pichai said, adding, “a lot of what today is about is how we build products for the next billion Indian users, yet to come online.” This is Chennai-born Pichai’s first visit to India after he became the CEO of the restructured Google in August. Pichai on Wednesday laid out Google’s three-step approach to promoting the Internet in India. First, Google aims to give people in India and other developing countries better access to full internet through better connectivity and highquality software. Second, Google is making Google products work better for Indians. And Google wants to make it easier for Indians to build on top of Google’s global platforms like Android and Chrome to build solutions to local problems. “By 2018, more than 500 million users will be online in India, from all 29 states, speaking over 23 languages. But in 2020, over 30 percent of mobile Internet will still be from 2G connections.
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SPECIAL FEATURE
18 December 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
Sports action reloaded
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Rizwan Mohammad
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Here’s a glimpse of the major sporting events:
Controversies
Rugby World Cup
Oscar Pistorius Trial: Six time Paralympics Gold
The RWC 2015 held in England saw the All Blacks becoming the champions for the second consecutive time defeating Australia by 34–17. Captain Richie McCaw raised the cup at the Twickenham Stadium on October 31 in London and Dan Carter was named the Man of the Match. Cricket World Cup Australia defeated New Zealand by seven wickets in the World Cup final in Melbourne. It was a good world cup for the Black Caps, as for the first time, Championship started on March 15 in Australia with 19 Grand Prix across the globe ending in Abu Dhabi on November 29. Lewis Hamilton won the Drivers’ Champion. Mercedes won the Constructors’ Champion at the Russian Grand Prix. The FIA Pole trophy was also secured by Lewis Hamilton.
The eight season of Indian Premier League saw Mumbai Indians coming out victorious for the second time. The money building machine IPL has been engulfed in controversy from the very beginning. This year the Supreme Court of India suspended Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals on charges of illegal betting and matchfixing. The teams have been replaced by Pune and Rajkot teams in the ninth season of IPL, which is set to start on April 9. Sports stars who retired Richie McCaw
Sachin’s Blasters Vs Warne’s Warriors
Day/Night cricket test History was created on November 27 when the firstever Day/Night Test match was played at Adelaide Oval between the Kiwis and Kangaroos. The match was also a remembrance of Philip Hughes, who passed away on November 25 last year after being hit by a bouncer on the same pitch.
Wimbledon 2015 Men’s Singles: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic defeated former world champion Roger Federer. Women’s Singles: USA’s Serena Williams defeated Czech
medallist, Oscar Pistorius was convicted of murdering his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013. FIFA controversy The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been investigating the FIFA body for more than three years now doubting many anomalies within the biggest sports body of the world. FBI indicted 14 current and former FIFA officials and associates in the case of bribery, wire fraud, money laundering, and racketeering. On June 2, FIFA president, Sepp Blatter resigned from the post amid corruption charges. RIP Jonah Lomu
Republic’s Petra Kvitova Women’s Doubles: Martina Hingis and India’s Sania Mirza emerged winners by defeating Russians Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina. Professional Boxing The match of the century was between Floyd Mayweather Jr
U-20 FIFA World Cup New Zealand hosted the first U-20 FIFA World Cup with Serbia emerging as champions defeating Brazil. Twenty-four teams competed in 22 days at seven host cities across New Zealand raising the football fever in the country.
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Others who retired were: Skipper • Australian Michael Clarke • Australian batsman and wicket-keeper Brad Haddin • Australian all-rounder Shane Watson • Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi • Pakistani skipper Misbahul-Haq • Sri Lankan Cricketer Kumar Sangakkara • Sri Lankan cricketer Mahela Jayawardene • Indian pacer Zaheer Khan • Kiwi all-rounder Daniel Vettori
ction-packed and tremendously exciting is how the year can be described for sports fans—and especially for us, the Rugby frenzied! Undoubtedly, the biggest happening of the year was New Zealand winning the Rugby World Cup yet again. The other highs included the three major sports world cups, of which two were hosted by Aotearoa—The Cricket World Cup and the U-20 FIFA World Cup.
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and Manny Pacquiao held on May 2. Mayweather became the champion and the match is said to have created revenue of $300$400 million. Formula One season— World Championship The
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The Cricket All Star series 2015 saw legendary retired cricketers exhibiting T20 series in the USA. The three match series between Warne’s Warriors and Sachin’s Blasters started November 7 and ended on November 14 with Warne’s Warriors leading the series by 3–0. The three-match series was hosted by New York, Houston and Los Angeles. Hockey World League Australia won this year’s FIH Men’s Hockey World League by defeating Belgium in the finals whereas India secured the third position by defeating Netherlands. Indian Premier League
The New Zealand Rugby team captain, under whom the team won two world cups back to back (2011 and 2015), announced his retirement soon after the RWC in October 2015. India’s opening batsman Virendra Sehwag bid farewell from cricket. He had a remarkable career with a total of 17,253 with the highest score of 319 runs in test and 219 runs in ODIs.
New Zealand Rugby legend passed away on November 18. He finished his career with 63 caps and 37 international tries. Thousands gathered to bid adieu to their star at a public service held at the Vodafone Event Centre and at Eden Park on November 30.
SPECIAL FEATURE
www.iwk.co.nz | 18 December 2015
TECH ROUND-UP
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ith our fascination for technology, gadgets and gizmos, no round-up is complete unless we bring you the best of tech news. If you missed out— here is your chance to catch up with the sate of the art. MacBook This year, Apple unveiled the new and beautifuuly-designed MacBook, with lots of bells and whistles, to carry forward the MacBook legacy. To begin with, you will be amazed b y
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the market offering its watch in two sizes with various options in bands, colours and finishes. It has its own watch OS and a nifty digital crown to interact with the watch. Apple Watch is undoubtedly expensive but when did the Apple fans care about price? Question is do you really need it? LG Watch R
This is LG’s next generation of smartwatch. Based on Google’s Android Wear, it has garnered
4GB of storage, 512 MB of RAM with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 400 processor. The standout feature is its Sapphire crystal glass and 1.4” AMOLED 400 x 400 pixel display. It has all the standard watch sensors—heart rate sensor, gyro and accelerometer and even a barometer. The watch offers various choices including leather strap or steel bracelet. The watch has a button at the 2o’ clock position to interact with the watch. It is a good looking executive style watch that ticks all the boxes for an Android
last year for US$2 billion. Oculus Rift is a stereoscopic 3D headset that makes you feel as if you are a part of the game that you are playing or VR movie that you are watching. Oculus Touch is a pair of controllers that let you interacts with your VR games. These devices will change the gaming forever. Check them out. Microsoft Holo Lens Tech giant Microsoft has jumped in the VR arena with its still in development HoloLens. It is the first fully untethered holographic
h o w thin and light it feels in your hands. It offers a great battery life, has the new USB-C port and comes in three colours. The MacBook range also includes 13inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro with faster processors, more computing power and optional Retina display. The 11-inch MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Air complete the range.
Surface Book Microsoft’s ‘Ultimate Laptop’ is quite good actually. It offers an irresistible solution to the ‘tablet or laptop’ problem. It has a brilliant design, which is almost futuristic, a stunning display and fantastic tablet separation. It is made from two solid blocks of magnesium offering solid built with minimalistic classic style. The amazing Clipboard gives you great functionality. If you have not checked this device already, you need to Google it right now. Pixel C This is Google’s version of a tablet doubling up as a laptop. The Pixel C is a showcase product from Google pointing to where the tablets are going. It has a sturdy aluminium build with a stunning screen and long-lasting battery. It comes with an optional magnetic keyboard, which connects via Bluetooth. It runs on Android Marshmallow and is priced at $500 and an additional $150 for the keyboard. Apple Watch Although the Apple Watch has sold in impressive numbers, the product failed to make a mark. While there are plenty of other Android Wear watches out there, Apple merely added to
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largely positive reviews. It is an expensive smartwatch but boy it is beautiful! It has a circular conventional looking 1.3” P-OLED 320 x 320 pixel display, 512 MB of RAM and 4 GB of storage. It also has tiny microphone, a gyroscope, compass, optical heart rate monitor (on the back) and an accelerometer. Huawei Watch The Android Wear based Huawei Watch is an excellent offering. It has same specs as LG Watch R with
current generation smartwatch. Pebble Steel The first smartwatch that got the market excited was Pebble. This year in a market that was swarmed with the Apple Watch and various Android Watches, Pebble launched Steel. The best feature is that it works with Android and iOS both. The other feature that leaves the competitors far behind is its promise of 10-day battery. It is water resistant to 30 meters and features an always on colour display. You can record voice notes through a built-in microphone and of course has its own Pebble appstore. Oculus Rift Oculus Rift has not been launched yet. It is slated to come out in Q1 2016 but this virtual reality headset is already making news. Facebook acquired Oculus
augmented reality headset that enables high-definition holograms to integrate with real world. You can create and shape holograms with gestures, and communicate with apps using your voice. Yes, just like in Iron Man. Hoverboard Hover boards, Airwheels, swegways, mini-seaways or selfbalancing boards—whatever you call them—they really exploded (pun not intended) this year. Hover boards don’t actually hover but they are controlled using gyroscopic censored paddles where the rider stands. While there is still debate about the safety and even legality of hover boards, they have become quite popular, thanks to celebrities’ appearances with the
rideables. Basically, there are AirWheel and Overboard. While Overboard has two wheels and pressure-sensitive foot pads, AirWheels has one large (or two) wheel in the middle with pressure-sensitive paddles on either side that the user stands on to control the speed and direction. In both cases, they use internal batteries which can last from 5 to 25 miles depending on models. Prices start from $300 onwards. Drones Drones really took off (again, pun intended) in 2015. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or Drones have long moved out of the war zones. Now they are used for recreational purposes and are becoming quite ubiquitous. I recently read somewhere that wedding photographers in India have started using drones to shoot photos and videos. While the governments want to control the proliferation of drones, it is not going to be easy. These remote controlled drones with a camera can be lifesavers. Recently, after a helicopter crash on Fox Glacier, a drone was used to map the glacier and help recover the body and the wreckage. The easiest way to jump on the drone bandwagon is to buy a ReadyTo-Fly(RTF) quadcopter. There are various brands with different models- prominent ones being DJI’s Phantom & Inspire, 3D Robotics’s Solo, Parrot Bebop, Yuneec. The prices of a good quality drone with a high-end camera start from US$499 and can go up to US$3,000. If the Drones have not been on your radar till now, check out the gorgeous footage shot from these drones on the Internet.
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Light L10 This new alien-ish looking camera promises to pack DSLR quality into a slim and streamlined camera body. L16 camera is like having 16 individual cameras, 10 of them fire simultaneously when you shoot, capturing the detail of your subject at different fixed focal lengths. These images are then processed and fused together giving you high-quality final image with resolution of up to 52 megapixels. The camera features a 5” touch screen on the rear, has onboard editing and built-in WiFi to share those images. Light has a team with many Indians including co-founder, Dr Rajiv Laroia.
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SPECIAL FEATURE Top movies of
2015
18 December 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
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2015 saw blockbusters that burst through the box office. And then there were movies that failed to make their mark on the silver screen. Swati Sharma TOP Undoubtedly the movie of the year was Tamil and Telgu historic epic Baahubali that received great reviews from both the critics and audience. Made with a budget of Rs. 120 crore, the film collected Rs. 600 crore on worldwide box office and became the first nonHindi film to gross more than Rs. 100 crore. Rajshri Productions and Salman Khan worked together after 16 years for Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. The Salman Khan and Sonam Kapoor starrer romantic drama directed by Sooraj Barjatya has already crossed a Rs. 300 crore mark and is still doing rounds at the box office. Comedy king Kapil Sharma’s debut Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon was a rib tickling rom-com that earned both praises and money. Akshay Kumar, while keeping up with the trend of many movies a year, was seen in Brothers, Gabbar is Back and Baby, which were highly praised. Possibly this year’s biggest release and definitely the biggest grosser was Salman Khan starrer Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Unlike other Salman Khan movies, this one was highly praised for its story and Khan’s work.
Other films that entertained the audience and received good response included Dil Dhadakne Do, Tanu Weds Manu Returns, Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2, Jazbaa, Drishyam, Badlapur, Dum Laga Ke Haisha, NH10, ABCD 2 and the recently-released Tamasha. FLOP Some big banners and stars failed this year to impress the audience. Shahid Kapoor and Alia
Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon starrer Dilwale and Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Priyanka Chopra starrer Bajirao Mastani are slated to release today (December 18) are expected to be good year-end entertainers. attract many to the cinema halls. Other flop movies included Katti Batti, Welcome Back, Phantom, Hamari Adhuri Kahani, Bombay Velvet, Shamitabh and Roy. Critically-acclaimed films
Bhatt starrer Shaandaar created a hype before its release. While the film’s music was a complete hit, the movie wasn’t able to
Some movies that received praises from the critics included the recently-released Angry Indian Goddesses, Manjhi— The Mountain Man, Masaan, Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! and Court—India’s entry for the Oscars next year.
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he city of sails saw many Bollywood celebrities. However there were fewer shows this year. The last biggest Bollywood event was Temptations Reloaded with SRK, Madhuri Dixit and Rani Mukherjee in 2013. New Zealand hasn’t seen a big Bollywood show since then. The most-talked about celebrity visit this year was that of Sidharth Malhotra who was also named as the New Zealand tourism ambassador to India by Prime Minister John Key during his visit. His trip made headlines not the Kiwi-Indian and Indian media but also in mainstream New Zealand
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he most talked about wedding was that of Shahid Kapoor and Meera Rajput. The heartthrob of Bollywood finally got hitched breaking the heart of millions of girls. The low-key wedding was followed by a grand reception in Mumbai. Bollywood actress and the Nawabi princess Soha Ali Khan tied knot with her long-time beau Kunal Kemmu. Another most talked about wedding of the year was cricketer Harbhajan Singh and actress and model Geeta Basra’s grand Punjabi wedding followed by a big fat reception. Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik and squash player, Dipika Pallikal’s wedding was a huge affair. The couple had both Hindu and
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only in media. Other celebrities that made noise in the air were rapper and RnB artist Badshah, hip hop artist and Punjabi rapper Bohemia, and singer and actor Himesh Reshammiya. Their full house shows entertained the Kiwi Indian audience. Other celebrities who visited New Zealand included Jackie Shroff, Govinda, Sunil Shetty, Raju Srivastava, Johny Liver, Asrani (Govardhan Asrani) and Padmini Kohlapure.
Controversy of the year
T Christian wedding ceremonies. Ace batsman Suresh Raina tied the knot with his childhood sweetheart Priyanka Chaudhary. Rohit Sharma who married longtime girlfriend Ritika Sajdeh was the fourth cricketer to have a wedding this year.
he latest controversy of Bollywood was Aamir Khan’s remark on intolerance in India where he said that “Kiran and I have lived all our lives in India. For the first time, she said, should we move out of India? That’s a disastrous and big statement for Kiran to make to me. She fears for her child. She fears about what the atmosphere around us will be.” Although we think his statement was misinterpreted, Khan faced backlashes from various sectors of people in the country, be it government, common people or Bollywood itself. Here’s how a few from the film fraternity reacted on twitter: AnupamKher (@AnupamPkher): Dear @aamir_khan. Did you ask Kiran which country would she like to move out to? Did you tell her that this country has made you AAMIR KHAN. RaveenaTandon(@TandonRaveena):Guess all those who did not want pm Modi to become PM,want 2 bring this govtdown..sadlybecoz of politics,they are shaming country .. Paresh Rawal (@SirPareshRawal): A true patriot will not run away n leave his motherland behind in turmoil or in troubled times (if any )...don’t escape - build it ..
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Congratulations to all our International students from India that graduated in 2015! Well done on your achievements!!
Nungshi and Tashi Malik Graduate Diploma in Sports and Exercise NZISS recipients and 2015 graduates
New in 2016! Bachelor of Screen Arts Gain the skills needed to join the glitz and glamour of BOLLYWOOD, and bring your creative ideas to life with digital filmmaking, screenwriting, sound design and animation! The Bachelor of Screen Arts is a three year full time programme intended for students interested in the exciting arena where creative arts meet digital technology. This course covers: • Video Production and Editing • Screenwriting • 2D and 3D animation • Stop Motion • Motion Graphics • Business and Legal Skills and more...
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FEATURES
18 December 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
NZIFT Student Blogs #3 Lani
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his 5 week trip to India has definitely been an eye-opening cultural experience that I won’t forget. Since being here I have got to see a part of the world I didn’t really think I ever would. I’ve experienced things that make me feel more creative and have learnt things that will make me a better person. The first boundary I had to conquer was their food. I personally don’t deal well with spice but after some perseverance I am really enjoying it. From the first day everyone here at BIT has been very friendly and welcoming. The trip to Ooty was a cold one but definitely worth it with the scenery. A view from the top of a mountain was amazing. Our trip to Mysore was cool too. On our way we stopped and got shown how the silk is taken from the cocoon of a silk moth. Whilst in Mysore we also saw two temples, visited a zoo and went to a palace. I rode an elephant for the first time. The industry experiences have also been very helpful in physically showing me how the silk and cotton is manufactured into fabric.
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I definitely learnt a lot while I was here and it will be something I will be grateful for the rest of my life. A trip back in the future is definitely a must!
Sumner Hey there! The past few days have been amazing here in India, still don’t truly believe I’m actually here. We took a two day trip to Mysore (about a 4 hour bus ride). We stopped in at a silk factory and were able to see how the silk is extracted from the silk worms’ cocoon. Apparently the boiled worms are made into dog biscuits so there actually isn’t a lot of waste. The owner gave each of us a strand of pure silk to take home. We also visited a temple and got to see an Indian elephant for the first time on the whole trip! The owner only used it as a money making thing which was quite depressing & he also held two battens with very sharp hooks on the end. We stayed in a nice hotel and then got up in the morning to visit Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens (the zoo). I’ve never seen leopards so close before! A metre away from me, such beautiful cats. We also saw black bears, African & Indian elephants, hyenas, snakes,
lions, white peacocks, toucans, cheetahs, giraffes, monkeys and the list goes on. We felt like one of the attractions too, with all the school kids staring at us instead of the animals. Next we went to The Mysore Palace, the most beautiful manmade place I have ever seen. The building was Indi-colonial with huge golden pillars, stained-glass windows and tigers carved out of stone. We were given headsets which taught us about the palace as we walked through. Next Austin and I rode a camel, something I’ve ever done before. It was so, so tall! Having so much fun here and
learning many new things. With only one week left, time is diminishing quickly. Cya
Angela Our stay here in India has been filled with wondrous experiences and kind hospitality. Our trips have been inspirational and eye opening. The stay at the yoga retreat showed us a new take on utilizing our inner strengths and calming our minds. The trip to Ooty was beautiful and magical. What a breathtaking place hidden in the mountains. And seeing the natives with their
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intricately-handcrafted fabrics was a once in a lifetime experience. Then we were welcomed with open arms of the chairman at his estate. Absolutely beautiful and it was so kind of him. That was a trip in a lifetime. Then we went on a trip to Mysore which was equally amazing. The palace of Mysore was one of the most spectacular Palaces I’ve ever seen. Absolutely mind-blowing. And the zoo was huge and impressive. I would say that the trips we have been fortunate enough to have taken were the highlights of our stay here in India. I also appreciate all the things we have leaned on our trips to weaving and spinning mills and garment construction factories etc. This trip was a mental and personal growth experience priceless in its nature. I feel very fortunate and lucky to have been a part of this truly once in s lifetime experience. Thank you sincerely New Zealand Fashion Tech and Bannari Amman Institute of Technology!
Merry Christmas Me
& Happy New Year
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KIDS ZONE
18 December 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
5 Inter facts aesting Christmbout as
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Jingle Bells was written for Thanksgiving , not Christmas
According to the Guinness world records, the tallest Christmas tree ever cut was a 221-foot Douglas fir that was displayed in 1950 at the Northgate Shopping Center in Seattle, Washington
The first person to decorate a Christmas tree was reportedly Protestant reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546). According to legend, he was so moved by the beauty of the stars shining between the branches of a fir tree, he brought home an evergreen tree and decorated it with candles to share the image with his children.
Jingle Bells was the first song sung in space
Send us stories, drawings, poems and other contributions by your little ones along with their photographs for this page. E-mail us at editor@
indianweekender. co.nz
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It's hard to go more than five minutes without hearing the familiar tune of 'Jingle Bells' running through your head during December. The truth is that you should have been hearing it in November. According to Mental_Floss magazine, composer James Lord Pierpont wrote the song in the 1850s to play for his Boston Sunday school class during Thanksgiving as a way to commemorate the famed Medford sleigh races. Kids and adults loved the song and eventually changed the lyrics to fit Christmas. No word on whether the original lyrics contained the line, 'Dashing through the snow, in a oneturkey open sleigh.'
The first person to decorate a Christmas tree was Protestant reformer Martin Luther
Jingle Bells was the first song broadcast from space when Gemini 6 astronauts Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra sang it on December 16, 1965. Astronomers believe the Star Of Bethlehem, which guided the wisemen to Jesus, may have been a comet or the planet Uranus.
The beautiful pohutukawa is regarded as New Zealand's iconic Christmas tree. The pohutukawa also holds a prominent place in Maori culture: an 800-year-old tree clinging to the cliffs of Cape Reinga is reputed to guard the entrance to a sacred cave through which spirits pass on their way to the next world. This iconic Kiwi Christmas tree, which often features on greeting cards and in poems and songs, has become an important symbol for New Zealanders at home and abroad. Santa is the world's richest man
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New Zealand's Christmas tree: Pohutukawa trees
He may not be in the gift giving business for the big bucks, but Santa still needs money to keep his operation rolling (and to pay for the elves' dental plan. Those elf unions are ruthless.) Thankfully, Santa's wealth surpasses even Scrooge McDuck's money bin. Forbes compiled a list of the world's richest fictional people and St. Nick topped it with a net worth of infinity. This beats the world's current net worth record holder, Mexican investor Carlos Slim Helu, who only topped out at a measly $74 billion. No wonder Santa's so jolly.
KIDS ZONE
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Earlybird Fares Return fare starting from
Delhi ...................... $1446* Amritsar ............... $1484* Hyderabad ........... $1370*
Mumbai ................... $1372* Kolkata .................... $1372* Ahmedabad ............ $1474*
*Offer ends on 31st December 2015 unless sold out prior.Advertised fares are all inclusive for travel on the route Auckland-India-Auckland(via Sydney/Melbourne/Delhi), priced as on 30th November 2015 for outbound travel on 21st March 2016 and inbound travel on 20th April 2016, with 8 kg carry-on luggage and 30 kg check-in baggage.Travel between Auckland and Melbourne/Sydney permitted on our interline partner Air New Zealand (NZ) Virgin Australia (VA), Qantas (QF) only.Outbound travel is permitted from 16th Feb 16 to 15th June 16 or 06th July 16 to 30th September 16.Travel must be completed within 3 months from the date of departure. Prices are correct as on 30th November 2015 and small variations in prices may occur as a result of changes in airport taxes or currency fluctuations. Offer is subject to availability and fares are valid on Air India operated flights only. Basic fare and fuel surcharge are non refundable and change/no-show fees apply. For full termsand conditions, please visitwww.airindia.com or contact your local travel agent or call Air India on (03) 90218720 / (02) 92833370. Note:-Passengers travelling to Amritsar will be provided with STPC at Delhi airport if the same day connecting flight is not operated.
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CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
18 December 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
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’Tis the silly season
Our holiday special round-up—from different Christmas traditions and lesser-known facts to must-watch movies and exciting events happening in Auckland this Christmas. Esha Chanda
Christmas around the world From the old traditions to the ones that are downright strange, here is how the world celebrates Christmas The fear of Krampus M e e t Krampus—a half-goat, halfdemon beast, who is St Nicholas’ other half in Austria. This mythical Christmas devil is said to beat children with birch sticks for not being nice during the year.
A January Christmas In Russia and Greece, Christmas is celebrated on January 7. This is because much of the former Soviet Union and the Middle East still use the Julian calendar instead of the Gregorian one used in the West. Longest Christmas celebration The Philippines start their celebrations as early as September and continue till January 6—the Feast of Epiphany or Three Kings. And it is not just the longest but also the most lavish celebration seen in the world with elaborate light displays and masses held throughout the country.
A movie marathon Our all-time favourite holiday movies The Nightmare before Christmas (1993) Santa Claus has been kidnapped, and Halloweentown’s Jack Skellington is behind it. Tired of his monotonous routine of organising the annual Halloween holiday, Jack stumbles upon the secret passageway to Christmas Town. When he finds himself in the middle of a merry town where goblins have been swapped with Santa’s little helpers, he feels the need be in charge of a holiday that brings joy. His plan to abduct and replace Santa goes wrong when he embarks on a coffin-like sleigh to deliver gifts that terrify the kids. The world of The Nightmare before Christmas came to life 11 years after Tim Burton came across the idea while working as an animator at Disney. This stop-motion animation has a distinct Burton style that is far away from the traditional Disney fairy tale. The Holiday (2006) A column editor in London finds herself in Los Angeles and a workaholic who owns a company goes to Surrey in a house-swap during the holidays. Both women, recovering from broken relationships, are looking for a change. While Iris enjoys the luxury of Amanda’s home, Amanda finds it difficult to keep herself engaged in the slow-paced English county. But everything changes when Iris meets Arthur Abbott, a screenwriter, and back in Surrey, Graham shows up at Amanda’s door to discover she is living in his sister’s house. This romantic comedy follows different storylines and explores the relationships of two distinct women.
Christmas in and around the city Christmas Lights, MOTAT Nights Beautifully lit up heritage buildings, streetscapes and trams, the annual Christmas Lights, MOTAT Nights celebrates the spirit of giving by buying children gifts for charity from the proceeds collected. Celebrate the festive season with live entertainment, tram rides, outdoor movies and traditional Christmas treats such as mulled wine and cake pops on sale. Entry cost is $2 per person.
When: December 11 to 24, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Where: Museum of Transport & Technology, 805 Great North Rd, Auckland Dominion Road Christmas carols A free annual family event, join Max Maxwell’s Sing for Joy choir this year as they entertain the audience with the favourite seasonal songs. Markets will run from 5 p.m. The event is open to all. When: December 19, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Where: Ballantyne Square, Corner Dominion Rd and Ewington Ave, Auckland
Pies and Guinness Milk and cookies dominate in the US, but as part of the Irish tradition, the popular snack for Santa is swapped with mince pies and a bottle or pint of Guinness. La Befana In Italy, children don’t wait for Santa. Rather they look forward to La Befana’s arrival, a friendly witch who flies on her broomstick and brings gifts and candy on January 5.
Foretelling marriage Unmarried women in Czech Republic have an unusual tradition of standing by a door and throwing a shoe over their shoulder. If the toe points towards the door when it lands, it is said that the girl will get married in the next year. A KFC Christmas dinner Although not a national holiday in Japan, families head to the nearest KFC outlet for a Christmas dinner—complete with chicken, wine, cake and champagne. The tradition dates back to 1974 when KFC began its Christmas Chicken marketing campaign, a complete hit, and one that continues till date.
Home Alone (1990) Bratty eight-year-old Kevin is sent to sleep in the attic of the house after an argument breaks out between him and his older brother Buzz on the night before the McCallister family’s departure to Paris. Strong winds in the night cause the alarm clocks to reset resulting in the family oversleeping. In a rush to leave, the youngest one is left behind. Kevin wakes up in a world devoid of parental control, where he can live off junk food and has unlimited television time. But the plot takes a turn when two burglars target this suburban Chicago home. Left to his own devices, Kevin needs to safeguard him and his house from Harry and Marv, who repeatedly try—and fail—to enter the house. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) George Bailey’s dream of a life beyond Bedford Falls, New York is repeatedly put off because of family responsibilities. He marries his childhood sweetheart, raises children and takes over the family business—the Bailey Brothers’ Building and Loan. When the richest man in the town proposes to dissolve the company, Bailey talks his way out. Problems arise when Bailey’s uncle misplaces some bank funds of Building and Loan. When a desperate George gets drunk and walks off to a nearby bridge to commit suicide, his guardian angel stops him and shows a world where George was never born. Based on The Greatest Gift, a short story by Philip Van Doren Stern, Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life is a timeless classic. It improves with age. Christmas drive-thru Greenlane Christian Centre’s drive-thru provides a fun and thoughtful reflection on the Christmas season. Bring your own car or hop on the back of one of the trucks provided for the 30-minute drive-thru. Stay back for face painting, Christmas-themed photo booth, handmade gifts and delicious food and drink. When: December 15 to 20, from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Where: Greenlane Christian Centre, 17 Marewa Road, Greenlane
Christmas buffet dinner Treat yourself to a sumptuous and extensive Christmas dinner buffet that offers a spread of fresh seafood, salad, honeyglazed champagne ham with traditional condiments and desserts that include candy cane and red velvet trifle, Christmas mince tarts and Yule log. The buffet will also have freshly baked artisan breads with olive oil, homemade pesto and hummus. When: December 25, from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Where: Aria Restaurant and Bar, 128 Albert Street, Auckland
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11 AM - 4 PM
Saturday 26 December
Tulja Centre 190 Stoddard Road Mt Roskill • Ph: 09 629 3333 172 Great South Rd, Papatoetoe Ph: 09 278 6000 Like us on www.facebook.com/SonaSansaar • www.sonasansaar.co.nz
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18 December 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
Art genius
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A child prodigy, most comfortable with her colour palette and canvas, Eksimar Sahni started painting at the tender age of three. Her first solo exhibition Aura of Colours showcases a collection where each brush stroke narrates a story. Indian Weekender spoke to the young artist to find out more about her love and passion for art. Esha Chanda
you superior or inferior to anyone else. No matter how different people may look on the outside, what your soul holds has barely any difference at all.
IWK: When did you develop an interest in painting? Eksimar: I was always attracted to colours and art since a very young age. I would always draw and colour whenever I got the chance throughout my preschool years, and I still have a few drawings from then. I fell in love with painting when I was around six to seven years old. I first painted on a canvas when I was 10, and I haven’t been able to stop myself from creating art since then.
Eksimar Sahni
Eksimar: I most definitely look up to the famous artist Pablo Picasso. This is for multiple reasons. His art style was such that had never been seen before and was rejected so many times, yet he strived and now is well known for his originality. Although I have not yet had a chance to develop a specific style in my paintings, I hope to do so in the near future. Secondly, each of Picasso’s paintings tells such a deep and meaningful story, and I also try to do the same in my work. Lastly, his ideology has inspired me to scale such heights. Like he once said, “I’m always doing things I can’t do. That’s how I get to do them.”
Eksimar: The theme of this exhibition is Belle Femme, which means Beautiful Woman in French. My reason for choosing this theme is that women have immensely inspired me throughout my life, and I am amazed by the magic they hold. IWK: Many of your paintings feature figures. Who do these figures represent?
IWK: What’s the most indispensable item in your studio?
Eksimar: The painting that is closest to my heart, without a doubt is the first one I made. This is because it was what kick started my passion and my love for painting. IWK: Artists that you look up to.
IWK: Tell us something about the work being featured in your exhibition.
Eksimar: These figures don’t represent a specific person, but the reason to make human figures a key part of my collection was to give life and soul to my art through them. Every curve, every muscle, every scar tells a story, and that is what I have been trying to do with my paintings—to narrate the beautiful stories a woman’s body holds for us.
IWK: Your priced possession from your collection.
Eksimar: I can never finish a painting without good music. Music creates a relaxing aura, which I find most necessary while painting. IWK: What was the first artwork that you worked on? Eksimar: I don’t recall the first artwork I worked on, but I do remember the
first canvas I painted. It was a beautiful woman’s face, leaning slightly to the side, which was painted half brown and half white with a maroon background. What I had been thinking of while making this piece was that no matter what colour you are, race can’t make
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