18 September, 2015 • Vol. 7 Issue 26 | www.iwk.co.nz
New Zealand’s first Kiwi-Indian weekly newspaper
The Pulse of Kiwi-Indians
Auckland • Christchurch • Wellington • Hamilton • Palmerston North • Hastings • Invercargill
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18 September 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
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Indian Weekender presents
Kiwi Indian Thought Series
Auckland Diwali Festival 17–18 October 2015
Theme: From India to New Zealand
As the Indian community gears up to celebrate the festival of lights at the heart of Auckland city on October 17 and 18, Indian Weekender is all set to introduce Kiwi Indian Thought Series— a first of its kind to be introduced in our community and in Auckland.
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ith Kiwi Indian Thought Series, we want to give our community an opportunity to voice their thoughts, ideas and experiences. The theme of our inaugural series is ‘From India to New Zealand’. Many of us have left the comfort of our homes to venture into an unknown land. With Kiwi Indian Thought Series, we want the community to share their stories. We want them to tell us about their remarkable journey from their home to the land of the long white cloud. Whether it is an anecdote, a personal experience that changed your life, interesting ideas or innovative thoughts that you would like to introduce to your community, the Kiwi Indian Thought Series will provide you with a platform to showcase what you have brought from India to New Zealand. Indians have excelled in different fields in New Zealand. With our series, we want to showcase this talent pool that has contributed to the growth and success of both India and New Zealand. We would like our readers to participate in this series and stand a chance to win cash prizes. All you need to do is send us your entries by midnight, October 4 by filling an online application form that will be available on our website www. indianweekender.co.nz. The event is open for all and interested applicants can apply through our website. The selected applicants will get the opportunity to speak in front of the audience and three lucky winners will win cash prizes. For more details, log on to the Indian Weekender website, write to us at editor@indianweekender.co.nz or check out our Facebook page www.facebook. com/IndianWeekender.
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18 September 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
Two Indians in Muriwai beach mishap IWK Bureau
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wo Indians have been named among the four victims of a car crash along Auckland’s Muriwai beach. Dilpreet Singh (32), Pulkit Malhotra (27), Imad Dib (31) and Syed Haris Jafri (29) were travelling along the beach in a Mitsubishi Pajero when it rolled over on Sunday, September 13. The men were killed after they were thrown out of the vehicle in the crash, said the police. “The fact that the occupants have all been ejected from the vehicle would suggest that they may not have been wearing seatbelts, but this will be confirmed once the car has been examined,” Inspector Trevor Beggs said. Police are investigating how the crash happened, but have confirmed the 4WD was driving “at speed” along the water’s edge when it either struck an object or hit sand before it flipped and rolled several times. “It’s either struck an object or has hit sand. The vehicle has then flipped and rolled several times,” he said. The NZ Herald quoted a witness who wished not to be named saying that while three bodies were lying in the waves and had no pulse whatsoever, one of them was still breathing, but was stuck in the door
Dilpreet Singh (top) and Pulkit Malhotra
frame. She said that a group of about 12 people gathered and tried to help the survivor, who was in a bad way but still breathing. When the Westpac rescue helicopter landed, the medics picked the man up and moved him to the beach. “They put oxygen in his stomach, trying to breathe for him, and then minutes later they put a sheet over his head and said a time and I kind of knew straight then and there that the fourth person was also gone,” the woman said. Singh, Dib and Jafri had been working at Auckland’s Queens Academic Group for the past one year, while Malhotra had recently arrived as a tourist.
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n a world rife with various perceptions and impressions about Islam, the Islam Open Day Exhibition organised in the heart of Auckland city, sought to bring the message of peace and brotherhood to all. The exhibition being held at Aotea Square drew a crowd in thousands from all faiths and walks of life. The two-day exhibition, part of Islam Awareness Week organised by FIANZ (Federation of Islamic Association of New Zealand), showcased different aspects of the Islam religion and promoted a fun, family-friendly environment. The exhibition opened for public view on 12 and 13 September, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A number of stalls were showcased different books
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and writings on Islam such as The Holy Quran in different languages, poster stories of the history of Islam, the key message of the religion and other Islamic artefacts. Visitors interacted with volunteers to get more information about the religion, and shared views about different faiths and their ideas. The purpose of the fair was to shed light on Muslim beliefs and values, and to create an environment where people of all ages and backgrounds can attend and enjoy the festivities of the day. Henna stalls, Arabian food stalls, face painting, women’s ethnic wear and children’s playing corner were also part of the fair. A mini model of the Holy Kaaba, five large pillars showing the five main principles of Islam along with a life size model of a camel were on display at the venue.
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www.iwk.co.nz | 18 September 2015
Harmonious communities together
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Commissioner Bush said the agreement would increase trust and confidence in police among Kiwi Muslims. The MoU signing coincided with the launch of Islam Awareness Week, and
olice and leaders of New Zealand’s Muslim communities have signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding that will build on their already strong partnership.
From left, Constable Phil Goto; Tahir Nawaz, President of the International Muslim Association of NZ; Chief Human Rights Commissioner David Rutherford; Police Commissioner Mike Bush; Superintendent Walley Haumaha; Raveen Anna Malai, Wellington Multicultural Council; Hazin Arafeh; Mohammed Mohammed, Wellington Multicultural Council and Inspector Rakesh Naidoo
The MoU was signed by Commissioner Mike Bush and Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand President Hazim Arafeh at a ceremony at Wellington’s Kilbirnie Mosque recently. It updates a previous MoU signed in 2009, and covers six key areas including communication, community engagement and measures to encourage Muslim Kiwis to pursue careers in police. It also includes training and education to help Muslim New Zealanders stay safe and broadening cultural understanding of Muslim communities among police staff. Increased participation by Kiwi Muslims in Neighbourhood Support groups, community patrols and similar communitybased crime prevention programmes and the provision of interpreters are just two of the many actions set out in the document to help achieve these goals.
Commissioner Mike Bush, with Chief Human Rights Commissioner David Rutherford to his left and Hazim Arafeh at the MoU signing
the joint ceremony was attended by more than 70 people including Kiwi Muslims and community leaders, members of the diplomatic corps, Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne and members of the interfaith community.
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An evening to remember
18 September 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
Cocktails and nibbles at OP’s third anniversary party Red
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hamoshiyan Gun Gunane Lagi, an event organised by Aarohi Academy of Music, saw a packed theatre at Dorothy Winstone Centre, Auckland on September 12. The audience was treated to an evening of evergreen melodies of the nightingale and melody queen of India, Lata Mangeshkar. Vidya Teke mesmerised the audience with her melodious singing along with eight other singers. Apart from Teke, some of the best performances were from Guncha Singh, Rhea Maheshwari, Aarif, Joseph and Arun Khotkar. The musicians also did an commendable job. Some of the most-loved melodies were Satyam shivam sundram by Vidya Teke, Gumnam hai koi by Guncha Singh, Itna to yaad hai mujhe by Arif and
Clockwise from top: Joseph and Vidya Teke; Arif; Guncha Singh; Shweta and Hemant Shirsat
Guncha, Nisultana re by Rhea and Arif and Jane kaise kab kahan by Vidya and Joseph. While a majority of the audience seemed satisfied with the performances, a few had come in with more expectations. “I was expecting a bit more from the concert. I missed many all-time favourites of Lata Di such as Aaj phir jeene ki Tamanna hai,
O Sajna, barkha bahaar aayi and Tera mera pyaar amar. But the artists were really good and I hope to see them performing these songs next year,” said Sanskruta, from the audience.
tago Polytechnic celebrated its third anniversary on Wednesday, September 2, with industry partners and educational agents. The event marked the completion of three years of the Otago Polytechnic’s international campus in Auckland. The event held at The Rendezvous was an opportunity for institute and industry partners to come together. Otago Polytechnic has unique programmes that offer internships for international students along with their main course of study. Of the many industry partners that attended the event were Barfoot and Thompson, Impression real Estate, Stone Paper, Migrant Action Trust, Travel Link and RBG Business Group. The idea behind the event was to celebrate the occasion and give the industry partners an appreciation for their association with the institution. “The student internship programme has been one of the most integral part of the education plans for the international students here. It gives them an edge over other students in
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the market by getting real-time market experience while they are studying,” says Sidra Siddiqui, Corporate Relations Manager at Otago Polytechnic. The event was also attended by education consultants and agents who get overseas students to enrol for different programmes in the International Campuses in New Zealand. Otago Polytechnic’s international Campus on Queen Street houses students from South East Asian countries such as China, Philippines, Japan and a major chunk of students from India. Aj Elijah Co. Ltd, ChinaNZ Cultural Exchange Centre, Academy EZY group, Chance Education and Immigration were the educational agents amongst others to attend the event. “I believe we have grown from three students to 400+ in three years not by just enrolling students here to merely study but by making those little dreams of the students become a reality, slowly and steadily,” mentioned Nick van der Walt, Executive Director of Otago Polytechnic’s International Campus, Auckland. The events started with cocktails and canapés at 6 p.m. and concluded at 8 p.m. with a lucky draw and a photo session.
State-of-the-art community centre to open soon
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o cater the needs of multi-ethnic community, New Zealand-Indians have taken the lead to deliver a state of the art community. The multimillion dollar community facility located at at 25 Tui Road, Manukau is designed to deliver following features:
to combine them to give even greater capacity will make the facility even more fit for specific purposes. • The building incorporates the latest features to ensure a fully sustainable and eco-friendly future. • Online booking system coupled with customer friendly staff/executive
$40
$19 • A modern new space at the heart of Papatoetoe in South Auckland. It replaces the old community Centre that served the local community of all ethnicities for nearly 40 years. • The new centre gives exciting opportunities to provide high quality, contemporary and cost-effective facility for a wide range of community and family activities. This includes a multicultural digital archiving centre. • The flexibility of use has guided the design so that people of various age groups can avail the facility. Also the different sized rooms with the option
committee intend to give enjoyable experience to the facility users. Facility layout: Ground floor—Car parking, Reception Lobby, Gymnasium First Floor—Community Hall, Meditation room Second Floor—Flexible sized rooms for various service deliveries, Kitchen Third Floor – 7 x Independent units for temporary refuge All are welcome to join at Bhoomi Pooja from 8.30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on October 17 at the site.
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www.iwk.co.nz | 18 September 2015
Peace Day choir attracts 50 ethnicities but no funds
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Some of the multi-ethnic choir members volunteering for this year’s 35th International Day of Peace global broadcast, during a rehearsal on Queen St, Auckland. More rehearsals will be held at the Sunday School Hall in Pitt Street, central Auckland.
IWK Bureau
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multi-ethnic choir with 100 strong ethnicities will perform in Auckland to celebrate International Day of Peace. The event, to be held on Monday, September 21, aims to highlight the plight of Syrian refugees due to arrive in New Zealand in January 2016. The government has recently approved a target of an extra 750 refugees following an international outcry about the body of the boy washed ashore in Bodrum, Turkey. The choir will open the global broadcast for the United Nations 35th International Day of Peace. About 50 ethnicities from in and around Auckland are volunteering to take part in the choir. There is one part-Indian member, but organisers are hoping for more participation from the Indian community. Run by Peace Day TV in the United States, the global broadcasters last year claimed more than 350 million #peaceday social media mentions while averaging 800,000 per hour viewers. This year for NZ, Face TV on Sky Channel 83 will also be relaying the broadcast starting at
midday on Monday, September 21. For the second year, PDTV executives have asked New Zealand to kick off the global broadcast with a powhiri or ceremonial opening. The choir’s rendition of John Lennon’s Imagine will be the waiata (song). New Zealand’s segment will be for two hours, followed by the Philippines and China, ending in Los Angeles. After months of seeking support from Auckland’s mayor for Peace, James Liddell, portfolio manager from the Mayor’s office declared in an email that he had “searched high and low from council but no funds”. Tom Jones shares the organisers’ disappointment. “With the amount of monies paid into their coffers by ratepayers and us people, the $5,000 for this project is nothing. “The Mayor has a declaration of peace and is one of over 1,000 mayors for peace yet he can’t even give us koha (money)?” The organisers hope to use any support towards the costs of the choir and recording a Christmas compilation to raise funds to help welcome the Syrian refugees into their new home country.
Ayurveda Training and Retreat for Health Professionals Learn and experience the essence of the traditional Indian health system on-site in a retreat in the foothills of the Western Ghats in southern India. The programme is focussed on the interests of health professionals. It has been organised by Giles Brooker Group— an education development organisation with offices in India and New Zealand, in conjunction with AVP— a well-known Ayurveda Research Centre, Clinic and Pharmacy in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. AVP was established in 1943 and in 2010 was awarded a Govt. of India Center of Excellence grant.
Basic Ayurveda Training Programme
To register your interest and for further details, please contact: Prabha Govindasamy at 021 0402346 or email office@gilesbrooker.com
is for 3 weeks and will include: • • • •
The foundational principles of Ayurveda, Spiritual, holistic and evidence-based healthcare Aspects of preventive care through diet and lifestyle Simple therapies including oil massage.
Expect a remarkable experience and new insights into an ancient but contemporary mode of health practice. Reside in a well-designed accommodation block set in beautiful, natural surroundings, abundant with medicinal trees and plants all around and a serene unpolluted, picturesque environment.
The programme will be offered in March, July and September 2016. P: 09 634 1966 www.gilesbrooker.com
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18 September 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
Ganapati bappa morya Kumar Suresh
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ne of the most elaborate and grandest of Indian festivals, Ganesh Chaturthi is here and so are the modakas and laddus—trademark delicacies of our elephant God., The festival marks the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the Vignaharta (obstacle remover) for good work, the Lord of knowledge, wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. The festival is also known as Vinayak Chaturthi or Vinayak Chavithi. It is celebrated on the fourth day of the month Bhaadrapada according to Hindu calendar. It is interesting to note that this festival is one of the few Hindu festivals that is celebrated socially. Although there is no written records in Vedas or Puranas of the festival being celebrated as a social event, the first recorded celebration of this festival socially dates back to the times of Maratha King Chhatrapati
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Shivaji in Maharashtra. The concept was re-introduced in British colonial times by two freedom fighters, Bhausaheb Laxman Javale and Lokamanya Tilak, to bring people together for the cause of Independence. This tradition has been observed throughout India since then and more so in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Goa. One gets to see lord Ganesha’s idol in every corner of the streets in these states. If one feels that he/she is missing all the fun in India, the good news is that there are quite a few places to go to in Auckland as well. The festive atmosphere in Auckland Sri Ganesha temple in Papakura is palpable with the celebrations in full swing from September 17, the actual day of Ganesha Chaturthi to September 26. The chief priest of this South Indian temple, Shiva Sri Chandru Kurukkal says, “Usually the
temple is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. but on this special occasion, the temple is open from 4:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. till 26th of this month. Special pujas are being conducted and we are leaving no stone unturned to make this festival a big one for devotees.” Auckland’s Marathi Association Inc (AMAI), is doing its bit to take the Ganesh Chaturti celebrations to new heights in true Maharashtrian style. The association is celebrating Ganeshotsav on September 20 from 3 p.m. and after the traditional Ganapatisthapana, puja and aarati, numerous cultural programmes are being lined up. Non-Marathis and nonmembers too are welcome to be a part of the celebrations for a nominal charge. New Zealand Kannada Koota (NZKK) and New Zealand Telugu Association (NZTA) are also celebrating Ganesha Chaturthi in
Devika: First thing I do every day after getting up in the morning is bow to lord Ganesha and I do the same just before I go to bed. By doing that, I feel I get the power to face the challenges in every day life. For me Ganesh Chaturthi is one day when I can take some time out and thank the lord for being the source of energy, every single day. Ravi: I remember my granny saying that one big thing that a person can learn from lord Ganesha is the ability to control mind, which is as fickle as the mouse he rides on. For me Lord Ganesh is a symbol of concentration and obstacle remover. I wish everyone happy Ganesh Chaturthi and hope that Lord removes all hurdles in life and reward everyone with fruits for their hard work. Pratik : Happy Ganesh Chaturthi to all. In India, me and my friends would pool in money in the apartment we stayed in and get a big Ganesha idol and do Ganapathi sthapana. Every one in the apartment would gather early in the morning and do puja together. This year my friends sent me the photos taken during the celebrations. I can’t express in words how much I am missing my family and friends on Ganesh Chaturthi. Jagadeeshwar Reddy Patlolla (President New Zealand Telugu Association): May Lord Ganesha keep everyone protected from obstacles at all times and bless everyone with good health and wealth, giving a rainbow for every storm, a smile for every tear, a promise for every care, and an answer to every prayer. Happy Ganesh Chaturthi! Kanksha: Lord Ganesh is my favorite deity and Ganesh Chaturthi reminds me of all the sweets and modakas that are prepared on this day. I still remember going from one pendal to another with friends looking for Prasad. Immersing Ganesh’s idol is another thing I miss a lot. The atmosphere of this festival is wonderful. May Lord Ganesha bless everyone good health and help people overcome their hurdles in life. Happy Ganesha Chaturthi. Shiva Sri Chandru Kurukkal: Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most beautiful and colorful festivals. It is also a time for people to get together in society and celebrate not just the lord but also the life. May god bless everyone and may all their obstacles on the way to success be removed. Happy Ganesha Chaturthi.
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grand fashion. The actual day of celebration is not a weekend and it is hardly any disappointment. NZKK is organizing a puja and celebrations on September 26 and NZTA is celebrating on September 17. Although the magnitude and scale of the celebrations in India during Ganesh Chaturti cannot be matched, the spirit and enthusiasm is not lacking in our city as well. These social gathering in the pretext of festival goes a long way in bonding the community together and help in re-living our culture. We at Indian Weekender wish all our readers a happy Ganesha Chaturthi and hope the lord clears your path of all obstacles. Ganapathi bappa moriya!
Events to look forward to:
Bharatiya Mandir 252 Balmoral Road, Sandringham, Auckland • Anant Chaturdashi and Samudra Yatra Ganesh Visarjan Sunday, September 27th (Book by September 24th) • Satyanarayan Mahapuja Sunday, September 27th From 09:30 am to 12:30 pm • Saamuhik Aarti, Bhajan & Satsang From September 17 to 26, 7:45 am onwards • Free Abhishek for all devotees From September 17 to 26, 7:30 pm onwards Auckland Sri Ganesha temple Address: #4 Dent Place, Papakura, Auckland Website: http://www.aucklandsriganeshtemple.com Celebrations from September 17 to 26. Open all days from 4:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Auckland Marathi Association Inc. Address: Freeman’s bay community hall, 52 Hepburn Street, Freeman’s Bay, Auckland. Website: www.amai.org.nz Celebrations start from 3 p.m., September 20 Auckland Kannada Koota Association Address: Kannada Koota, Fickling Center, 546 Mount Albert Road, Three Kings, Auckland 1042. Website: www.kannadakoota.co.nz Celebrations start from 5:45 p.m., September 26
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www.iwk.co.nz | 18 September 2015
Let’s talk diversity
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We live in one of the most ethnically diverse nations on the planet—it’s also one of the most peaceful,” said Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy at the 11th annual Diversity Forum. “Whether we pass this legacy on to our children and their children is up to us. If we take the time to walk in someone else’s shoes, to see the world through someone else’s eyes we will be a stronger, more resilient nation and we will be better people.” As many as 100–150 people from different ethnicities, races and communities attended the Diversity Forum, organised by the Human Rights Commission held at AUT University, Auckland on September 11. The forum’s aim was for individuals and organisations to share ideas and good practice on how to foster positive race relations. The keynote speaker at this year’s forum was Dr Gill Hicks, a double amputee as a result of the London bombings in July 2005. In 2007, Gill founded the not-forprofit organisation M.A.D. for Peace—a platform that connects people globally and encourages us to think of ‘peace’ as a verb, something that we have an individual responsibility to do every day. Her work confronting violent extremism through counter narrative and communication is at the forefront of current international thinking. Her presentation was so inspiring that she promptly got invitations to more speaking engagements. The theme for this year’s forum was ‘Empathy in the Face of Diversity’ and the speakers through their researches showed that New Zealand has a high rate of discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, skin colour and race. In her research, Gail Pacheco, AUT’s Associate Professor in Economics, found that there have been reports of discrimination even in the health sector.
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Above: Asian Liaison Officer Jessica Phuang (second from left) and Onehunga community constable Donald Allan (third from left) from NZ Police with the members of Shanti Niwas Charitable Trusts. Below: Professor Edwina Pio (extreme left) and Rakesh Naidoo from NZ Police (extreme right) with community members.
As noted by Professor Edwina Pio, AUT Professor of Diversity, New Zealand, has identified more ethnicities (217) than the total number of countries in the world (196) and hence is one of the most diverse countries in the world. Other speakers included Kimberly D’Mello, winner of the Race Unity Speech, and David Mayeda of Auckland University. In her speech, D’Mello encouraged people to be flexible to be a part of the various cultures available to us in such a diverse country. Mayeda, on the other hand, talked about the issue of racism and their videos series I too am Auckland, where he urged people to accept different minorities and ethnicities equally. Speaking at the forum, Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy and Police Commissioner Mike Bush and AUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Rob Allen also welcomed the forum participants. Towards the end of the forum, community organisations such as Shanti Niwas and Gandhi Nivas, Auckland Reigonal Migrant Services, UMMA Trust demonstrated/cited the work they have been doing for the well-being and support of minorities and communities. The message of the day was clear—with New Zealand becoming a melting pot of diverse cultures and ethnicities, rather than differentiate, let us blend in and live happily together celebrating our diversity.
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18 September 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
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Community providers boost social housing
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Mandatory for universities and colleges to publish employment outcomes
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ight new properties have been opened in Miramar this week and saw at least 16 people housed in new twobedroom units. This shows the important role community organisations play in housing vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says. The Accessible Properties have eight brand new two-bedroom units, out of which four have been designed specifically for those with particular accessibility needs. “It’s great to open these new homes because they’re a good example of what modern, tenant-focused social housing looks like in New Zealand,” Mrs Bennett says. The Miramar units are eight of 26 being built by Accessible Properties in the Wellington region with assistance from the Government’s Social Housing Fund. Nationwide, it has 147 completed units with 45 under development.
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The government currently subsidises just more than 270 tenancies with Community Housing Providers, with this figure expected to grow substantially over the next few years. Just last week, three households were matched with a Community Housing Provider. “Through the government’s Social Housing Reform Programme, we are supporting community ownership and encouraging a more diverse supply of social housing that will house more people while they need it in properties that suit their needs,” says Mrs Bennett.
ertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce has announced that from 2017 all Universities, Wānanga and Polytechnics will be required to publish information about the employment status and earnings of their graduates broken down by specific degrees and diplomas. “This government is committed to providing better information to assist students’ decisions. This is important so students can make the most of their time in tertiary education, and because of the significant investment students and taxpayers make,” says Mr Joyce. “…we know that students expect their tertiary study will get them a job and improve their career prospects. As New Zealand continues to rapidly develop a more highly-skilled economy, it is more important than ever for students to consider carefully their tertiary study options and future career options.”
Students have been able to compare earnings by qualification and field of study at national-level since 2013. From 2017, they will be able to compare earnings by provider as well. “The national-level data shows study at higher levels improves your career prospects, and that there is an earnings premium for in-demand areas such as in engineering and ICT,” Mr Joyce says. “The provider-level data on graduates’ employment status and earnings will build on this to let students see if employers prefer graduates from particular providers. Students will also be able to see what and where to study to improve their employment prospects. “Information on graduates’ employment status and earnings will help providers identify when they might not be meeting employers’ needs as well as they could,” Mr Joyce says. This latest announcement builds on the steps this government has already taken to
provide students with more and better information to help with their study decisions. Students would be able to compare earnings by qualification and field of study on Careers New Zealand’s website. They can also download the Occupational Outlook app, which gives an easyto-use overview of job demand, likely income levels, and training requirements for 50 different career options. Additionally, ‘Rate My Qualification’ will be introduced next year, which will let employers provide direct feedback to tertiary providers, and students about the qualifications they (employers) value. The employment status and earnings data is from Statistics New Zealand, and is gathered by matching information on a confidential basis from Inland Revenue with tertiary qualifications data. Providers will work with education agencies during 2016 on the details of how the information will be published.
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18 September 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
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More help for young families 525 525
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iving Kiwi children a good start in life is a priority for this Nationalled government. That’s why the well-being of young children and their families has been at the focus of the government’s spending. From 1 July all children under-13 became eligible for free GP visits, delivering
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on National’s 2014 election promise. two weeks to 16 weeks, and we will extend We have almost doubled investment in this by another two weeks next year. early childhood education, delivering In a world where workplace and better results for our children—a recent family arrangements often change, the survey showed 85 per cent of parents are Government continues to support parents satisfied with their child’s early childhood to be there for their child at the critical education overall. early stages of life. That’s why from 1 April National is also supporting children 2016 we’re extending the eligibility of paidto achieve great results at school through parental leave to non-standard workers the KickStart Breakfast in schools such as seasonal employees, and to other programme—more than five million primary carers such as formal adoptive breakfasts have been served in schools since parents, grandparents and whāngai parents. we expanded the programme in 2013. Kids Earlier this year we also agreed to work in Auckland region are benefitting from with Act leader David Seymour to review the this, in term 3, 6,463 children participated support provided in situations of multiple in the scheme. In April we extended New birth, disability and pre-term births. While Zealand’s paid-parental leave scheme by assistance is already available to parents of
multiple-birth children and to parents of children with disabilities, we found there was an opportunity for the paid-parental leave scheme to provide more assistance for parents of pre-term babies. So this week we announced an extension to paid-parental leave to eligible parents of babies born earlier than expected. Under the change, eligible parents of pre-term babies will be entitled to paidparental leave payments longer than the standard 18 weeks (as of 1 April, 2016) if the baby is born before 37 weeks of gestation. National is committed to supporting parents and children so our kids get the best start to life. Our results so far show our plan is working.
These are crazy prices. Only property investors can afford them. The percentage of sales to property investors and speculators keeps going up. Some properties change hands several times a year as people speculate in property and make a fortune. We are building up a property price bubble. When it bursts it will cause wider economic problems including the real possibility of a further recession. The government’s response has been too little and too late. Until recently, it was perfectly happy to allow speculation. It did not even want to know how much foreign investment into housing was coming in from people never intending to live in New Zealand. That has pushed house prices up still further. The Government’s attitude is that high house prices make people feel rich and so what’s the problem. For home owners, in contrast to speculators, high house prices
don’t make you better off. When you sell your home at a higher price, you have to buy a new one, which is also at a much higher price. Only speculators benefit, and many of them aren’t even paying tax on the hundreds of thousands of dollars they are making without any effort. It’s the ordinary person who pays the cost—the couple who are paying tax on both incomes coming into the household and who can’t earn enough to meet the rising house prices, and the single person for whom home ownership is even more difficult. If and when the bubble bursts, as it did in the US in 2008, then the whole country will pay through the economic downturn that results. For seven years, the government has watched the housing crisis unfold and has taken no effective action to counter it.
Auckland housing in dangerous territory Phil Goff Labour MP
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eserve Bank Governor, Graeme Wheeler’s warning to MPs last week could not have been blunter. The faster house prices rose in Auckland, the greater the likelihood there would be a steep price reversal, he told the Finance and Expenditure Committee in Parliament. Auckland house prices, he said, were neither affordable nor sustainable. “The house price to income ratio for Auckland is at nine (house prices are nine
times the average household income). It’s twice that for the rest of the country”. Auckland is now in the top 10 most expensive cities of the world to buy a home. “This is just dangerous territory,” the Governor said. It’s time that the government stopped denying that there is a housing crisis in Auckland. It’s obvious to everyone. The Kiwi dream of owning your own home has become impossible for many first home buyers and new migrants in our city. We now have the lowest level of home ownership in New Zealand for 64 years and the level of home ownership in Auckland is lower still. In my electorate of Mt Roskill, where house prices used to be modest, a house last week in Betts Ave, a state housing area, sold for $1.8 million. A former state house in Bremner Ave sold for $1.47 million.
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www.iwk.co.nz | 18 September 2015
Auckland Mayor supports changes to investor migrant rules
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uckland Mayor Len Brown has endorsed the government’s review of investor migrant rules and hopes it will see more funds directed into startups and growth companies. The Mayor’s comments follow the release of a paper from Auckland business incubator Icehouse, which proposes changing New Zealand’s Investor Migrant Policy to channel a portion of wealthy migrant investment into New Zealand’s strategic capital needs, which include providing capital for emerging growth companies. “Auckland is creating an innovation city,” says Len Brown. “We have seen the emergence of companies such as Orion Health, PowerbyProxi, Adherium and Wherescape. We are also the location for a number of venture capital and private
equity funds, and some of New Zealand’s most active angel investors. About half of all angel investment in New Zealand goes into Auckland-based startups. “The key constraint for many technology companies, however, remains investment capital. An initiative, which deepens the pool of capital available to be invested into growth companies will help shift our economy to one based on technology and innovation. And if that means these companies can grow while maintaining their New Zealand base that will be positive for the economy. “The Icehouse idea has merit. If we can attract migrants who want to invest into growth companies and opportunities in Auckland and New Zealand, it can only be good. I hope the government gives it careful thought as it undertakes the review.”
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A new focus on Auckland’s housing and development growth
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uckland Council has proposed to combine the Housing Project Office (HPO) and the City Transformation unit to ensure a continued and effective response to Auckland’s future growth. Auckland Council Chief Operating Officer, Dean Kimpton, explains that the proposed Development Programme Office (DPO) brings together essential council functions to reduce complexity of services, enhance future planning and improve programme management of significant developments. “The proposed Development Programme Office will be responsible for
co-ordinating a joined-up council response to major development and infrastructure programmes, including major housing developments. It will also maintain a land and infrastructure programme model that links infrastructure investment with population change and growth, better informing investors, developers and council alike.” The HPO was established as a project office to coordinate council’s response to housing challenges in Auckland, and is scheduled to conclude activities in September 2016. Staff consultation began on September 11 and will continue through the month.
Nursing with a difference IWK Bureau
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ursing With a Difference trust is organising a capacity building and stress reduction programme for nurses and midwives. This special day brings nurses from all echelons of health services and from all cultures and faiths together, to address the issues related to stress and depression. The programme aims to bring encouragement and strength to manage one’s real needs as well as have something of substance other than medication to offer to the patients and their families. Therefore, Nursing With a Difference offers this day to unite and come in order to receive, and be blessed, to go with true compassion, greater wisdom, insight and understanding to encourage all who are in need.
Details of the event Receive the blessings to go forth to be a greater blessing. Nursing With a Difference extends a warm invitation to all nurses and midwives to join this special day of sharing and caring in prayer. Date: Saturday, September 26 Venue: The ‘Upper Room’, 302, Department of Nursing and Health Studies, Manukau Institute of Technology, Gate 5 and 6, Otara Road, Manukau. Time: 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The icebreaker, after the early morning hustle and bustle and the long drive, includes a hot cuppa with nourishing snacks to ensure nurses are comfortable and ready for the official start at 9:00 a.m.
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18 September 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
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Fiji to celebrate Constitution Day, F hold election in 2018
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resident Ratu Epeli Nailatikau said the elections and the formation of the Constitution were among highlights of Presidential career. Addressing the parliament today Ratu Epeli said the next elections would be held in three years time. “That decision by the Fijian voters was decisive, unambiguous and must be respected. The government will serve its term
and then subject itself to the will of the people—as our Constitution provides—some time in 2018. “That is what will happen under our supreme law and no other course of action is lawful or acceptable. Neither will it, nor should it, be tolerated,” Ratu Epeli said. “Our new democracy was built on the most solid of foundations—a Constitution that for the first time, guarantees equality for every Fijian. And
also provides for a range of social and economic rights that are unprecedented in our history. “I was extremely proud and privileged—as your President—to have been instrumental in bringing this Constitution into being, to give it my assent as Head of State and formally establish it as our supreme law. “Because by any international standard, it meets the test of providing a framework
Making Fiji a clever nation
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he government aims to make our nation a clever and smart country by giving all our people the opportunity to get an education, says Voreqe Bainimarama. The Prime Minister made these comments at the Fiji National University Inaugural Alumni Gala Dinner and Awards night at the Grand Pacific Hotel last Saturday. “It is not a pipe dream as some might think because we are convinced that when you give people an opportunity to learn by breaking down the barriers to education, especially poverty, they will seize it.” “There is now no reason for any Fijian—no matter what their background or family circumstances—to miss out on getting the best education they can. Our free schooling and the scholarships and tertiary loans we are providing have transformed the prospects of even the poorest Fijian children,” Mr Bainimarama said. He further said
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama congratulates Rajendra Singh during the Fiji National University Inaugural Alumni Gala Dinner and Awards night celebration last Saturday. Photo: Paulini Ratulailai
the government had given them the key to a life of opportunity through learning. “It is up to them to take that key and unlock the door to a world of opportunities. “To work as hard as they can—and to the best of their ability—to acquire the skills they need and our nation needs to
fulfill our collective dreams,” he said. “Team Fiji isn’t only about succeeding at the Rugby World Cup or in Football. It is about every Fijian treating the process of learning in the same way as mastering the skills of a game. “The more skills each person masters—whether it is in a trade or profession—the stronger the
Nair turns his dream for race cars into reality
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avi Nair, a Suva-based businessman, has turned his dream for race cars into reality. The director of Lightsounds and Royal Weddings Fiji took the overall winner trophy in the last Fiji Car Club Drag Race two weeks ago with a time of 10.69 seconds. An electronics engineer by profession specialising in media, communications and audio visual engineering, Mr Nair has turned his Series 4 Mazda RX7 into one of the fastest cars in the country. Of course the heavy upgrades do not make his car road legal News source: Fiji Sun
but are permitted for racing purposes only by the Land Transport Authority. So the only time you get to see this beauty (or shall we say the beast) is on the tracks at the Nanuku Aerodrome in Pacific Harbour. But converting his car into what it is today was
not an easy task. Mr Nair said, “The actual time to convert my normal street car into a race car took three years. “But before that, there was a two year additional period of research and planning.” Mr Nair has been racing for just more than three-and-a-half years making his debut in the last race of 2011 season. “I have passion for this vehicle because I have put in a lot hours of work in it, working on every detail to make the car fast and to perform on the ¼ mile race track on race days,” he said.
for genuine democracy and genuine opportunity for all. Indeed our Constitution has been internationally lauded and critically acclaimed.” Ratu Epeli said the Constitution Day should be celebrated by educating the people on what it holds. “I therefore fully endorse my Government’s decision to celebrate Constitution Day as a national holiday every year to enable us all to reflect on the benefits it offers every Fijian.”
intellectual capital of the national team and just as our sporting teams punch above their weight in international competition, our workforce needs to do the same,” the PM said. He also said for a small country such as ours to make a mark in the world, we need to be as disciplined and skilful as the best of our sportspeople. “We need to play hard intellectually—use our brains and acquire as much knowledge as we can and what we are doing in the education system is to train our players and provide them with the best education we can afford. “But if everyone embraces the value of learning and we work together intellectually as a team, I am certain we will be a clever country. “It is only those among us with no imagination or the lazy, who think it can’t be done because yes we can and when we do it; there will be nothing to stop us achieving our dreams for ourselves and for each other,” he said.
rom humble beginnings in Labasa, former Fiji National University alumnus, Professor Ankim Veera Swamy, 86, rose to be one of Fiji’s top academic scholars. He was among award recipients at the Fiji National University Alumni Awards night at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva. “I thank FNU for recognising and appreciating my work through this award,” he said. “My contribution to the nation doesn’t end here and as a scholar I am going to keep contributing to the Fiji’s development. It was a great privilege to have been part of upgrading the academic system in our nation and upgrading it to another level and I hope my contribution will help in nation— building,” Professor Swamy said. He was the first local director of Derrick Technical Institute, which later became the Fiji Institute of Technology and has now been absorbed into the FNU. After attaining a teacher’s certificate from Nasinu Teachers College in 1950, he has attained a long list of certificates and diplomas in science and mechanical engineering from various institutions around the world throughout the years. His hard work and perseverance culminated in obtaining a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a PhD on Specialising in Effect of Noise and Vibration on Aircraft Structures from the University of Aston, UK, in 1970 and 1973. He was elected a member of the Instution of Mechanical Engineers (UK) with professional status, C.Eng.MI.Mech.E ,UK in 1974. He also helped establish the Air Terminal Services (Fiji) Limited.
Fijian detector dogs complete NZ training
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ix Fijian detector dog teams have completed their New Zealand training and graduated last week in a ceremony at the NZ Police Dog Training centre in Trentham, Upper Hutt. The Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority (FRCA) and its New Zealand counterpart have been working closely to establish a detector dog programme in Fiji, which is the transport and travel hub of the Pacific. “An effective detector dog capability will enable the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority and Police to strengthen border security and help counter organised criminal groups using Fiji as a transit point for illicit activities,” FRCA chief executive officer Jitoko Tikolevu said. “The
teams that graduated last week are ‘world class’ and will play an important role in mitigating the risk of organised crime networks operating in the Pacific region. “This is a good example of the collaboration between agencies in NZ and Fiji working together with the common goal to stem the flow of illicit drugs,” he said. This will be the first time FRCA has had a dedicated detector dog capability—until now Police detector dogs have been used at the border. The new teams are expected to be operational in Fiji by the end of the year. Fiji’s new detector dogs have been sourced within New Zealand as well as supplied by the Australia Border Force.
FIJI
www.iwk.co.nz | 18 September 2015
New plan to boost digital literacy
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ur government wants a new generation of young Fijians to be tech-savvy and responsible digital citizens and a new programme plans to achieve this. The new national framework for digital literacy programme, launched at the Holiday Inn Suva by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, ensures that digital literacy is taught in schools from Year one to Year 12. Mr Bainimarama explained that the programme would be rolled out in several stages. He said it would eventually be implemented by 900 schools in Fiji. The project will help Fijian students attain industry-recognised skills and certification
NEWS in BRIEF President Nailatikau to complete term in November
Students of various schools during the launch of the National Framework of Digital Literacy at Holiday Inn.
for the latest Microsoft software by the time they leave secondary school. “This is an initiative that will give students greater access to the knowledge and skills they must learn to realise a future that requires the mastery of new
disciplines and new ways of thinking,” Mr Bainimarama said. “My government has partnered with the non-profit group, Reach 4 Your Future Foundation—an organisation dedicated to the delivery of digital literacy education to the children of Fiji,” he said.
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he Fiji Police Force is urging members of the public not to shoot laser lights at pilots near the Nausori Airport. Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirms three cases of this nature were reported to the Nausori Airport Control Tower alone. “This is a serious safety concern people might think this is a funny activity but you are actually limiting the visibility of the pilots and you know we have people on board and we are talking about safety here and this is something we are requesting members of the public to exercise some caution.” She adds people must realise the immediate danger such practices pose. The likely places the laser lights could have been shot from are in the Nadali and Waila areas.
He said the Ministry of Education was co-ordinating the programme with strategic partners, Microsoft, Intel and Hewlett-Packard. “Our students will be learning with the best, most up-to-date technologies and software, thanks to our partnership with these companies. We have decided to partner with Microsoft, Intel and HewlettPackard because they are consistently on the cutting edge of digital literacy the world over,” Mr Bainimarama said. “Today, every profession demands technological acumen and our students will now receive the basic training they require to succeed and continue Fiji’s economic progress. News source: Fiji Sun
AFTER HOURS
Accredited Agent
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resident Ratu Epeli Nailatikau will complete his final term as the Head of State in November. Ratu Epeli says he has served the people of Fiji in different positions and acknowledged the Prime Minister and the government’s confidence in appointing him as President. As he addressed the parliament for the final time as President, he called on people to work together to continue to build our country. Ratu Epeli served as Army Commander, Permanent Secretary, Ambassador, Minister and Speaker before he was appointed as President. The election of the new President will take place in parliament next month.
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Thought of the week There are only t wo ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.
— Albert Einstein
Editorial
From the desk of the Managing Editor
Anything but funny
“Long hours spent checking off a to-do list and ending the day with a full trash can and a clean desk are not virtuous and have nothing to do with success. Instead of a to-do list, you need a success list—a list that is purposefully created around extraordinary results. To-do lists tend to be long; success lists are short. One pulls you in all directions; the other aims you in a specific direction. One is a disorganised directory and the other is an organised directive. If a list isn’t built around success, then that’s not where it takes you. If your to-do list contains everything, then it’s probably taking you everywhere but where you really want to go.” ~ Gary Keller from The One Thing I thought about this for a long time after reading it. Does this mean we stop making our to-do lists? No, I think what Keller is trying to say here is that sometimes we get so focused on the small stuff that we lose sight of the bigger picture. So even while we chase our everyday targets and things we need to get through, it is important that we always remain focused on what we want to achieve. Somewhat like what we do at the Indian Weekender. Even though we remain focused on our everyday job of putting a quality publication that our readers enjoy week after week, we never lose sight of our bigger goal— to constantly add value to our community. One such step towards this is the introduction of the Kiwi Indian Thought Series. A series dedicated to the great minds out there who would like to share their thoughts, experiences, anecdotes or stories with the community. We are happy to announce some prizes to go with it (read more about this on page 3), so it makes the whole experience worthwhile. From the competition, we will pick the top three winners who will share their speeches/thoughts at the Auckland Diwali Festival. This is a great opportunity and platform for people, especially the youth, to participate and put forward their thoughts. The theme for the current series is ‘From India to New Zealand’. Amidst everything that is happening around the world with the refugee crisis, it is great to hear that New Zealand will be taking and supporting 750 more refugees. Yet the crisis gets more serious every day. We carry the story of the upcoming Peace Day event that can use some participation from our community. Just as I write this, there is the news of a strong earthquake in Chile and a possible tsunami warning for us in New Zealand. Please heed to the civil defense warnings and stay safe. It is the time of the year when the environment is ringing out with the celebrations of Ganapati from all quarters. Send us reports and photographs of your celebrations and we will feature them in our next issue. On behalf of the entire Indian Weekender family, I hope our readers have a very happy and a prosperous Ganesh Chaturthi.
Pick of the week
A photo that has gone viral over the Internet, shows US women soldiers breastfeeding their babies while dressed in uniform. The photo features 10 women from the Fort Bliss Army Base in El Paso, Texas and was taken by Tara Ruby to celebrate the opening of a nursing room at the army base.
Until next time.
Giri Gupta
Indian Weekender : Volume 7 Issue 26 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 Senior Graphic & Layout Designer: Mahesh Kumar | mahesh@indianweekender.co.nz Graphic Designer: Yashmin Chand | designer@indianweekender.co.nz Accounts and Admin.: Farah Khan | accounts@indianweekender.co.nz Sales & Marketing: 022 3251630 / 021 1507950 / 09-2137335 | 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.
Squizz
Pronounced: squizzed | Meaning: To take a look Usage: Here, let me have a squizz
Tip from the trenches How to stop yourself from choking if no one is around:
OPINION / EDITORIAL
www.iwk.co.nz | 18 September 2015
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Are events in Syria following a US, Russia plan?
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Saeed Naqvi
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ne day quite soon Syrians fleeing their country will find their feet in the European countries who have opened their doors to them. When they have settled in their ghettoes or new tenements, they will, over time, seek out other Arabic speaking people in the host cities, visit them, share the Shisha, the Arab hubble-bubble. Stories of their plight at home will trickle down to local newspapers. Those with interesting stories will have visitors. They will be invited to the mosque for Friday prayers. One in a leather jacket will hesitate. “I have been baptized.” Who knows, he may then break down. There will emerge two contradictory narratives. Arab residents in the host country will have swallowed the western media version, which places all the guilt at Bashar al Assad’s door. How stoutly will this version be challenged by the family who saw extreme Salafi group cut open a stomach and eat the liver? Surely, cannibalism is not yet a charge against Bashar al Assad. Meanwhile, confusion on what is happening in West Asia is absolute. The western press, its most powerful component being the US media, was once a reliable clue to thinking in the White House and the State Department. Today it is much more in the thrall of think tanks with links in Jerusalem. This haze will continue until the nuclear deal with Iran is sealed, and put away in the strong room. Only then will Washington’s halting progress on West Asia accelerate. At that stage, focus could well shift once again on the US-Russia understanding of May 12 after which Secretary of State John Kerry announced a WashingtonMoscow convergence on the Syrian crisis. The refugees, terrorism of the ISIS and its
Thousands of people have been arriving to Europe every day, mostly from Syria and other war-torn countries
other variants impacts all countries and therefore the Syrian war cannot be allowed to continue indefinitely. Four years of the Syrian war with support from the US, Europe, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey has killed 250,000 Syrians and destroyed one of the world’s oldest civilizations. A blowback—terrorism and refugees—is now affecting all countries who originally sponsored cross border terrorism in Syria. After the May 12 understanding, the US and Russia were expected to persuade states under their influence to take steps towards a solution within the framework of this understanding. Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote an article in Beirut newspaper hinting at a readiness to reach out to Saudi Arabia. The delay in Riyadh’s response was to obtain guarantees from Washington. Saudi record has been stuck in one groove for a long time—Assad must go. When Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir arrived in Moscow to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, expectations were that there would be an advance in the Saudi position. Sometimes the world’s shrewdest diplomats are too clever by half. Eyebrows were raised when news leaked that the
Saudis sustained the chant: Assad must go. If this was to be the only outcome from the visit, why did Jubeir undertake the journey to Moscow? The fine print came out later in bold relief: Riyadh would support the institutions Assad supervises and the Syrian army too but not before Assad’s departure. Saudi position had shifted vastly. They were now not insisting that the entire government edifice be dismantled. Why was Riyadh insistent on keeping the Assad card in its hand before settling down to an agreement on Syria? If Riyadh were to accept Assad as part of a solution in Syria, the various Salafist groups it has nurtured in Syria and elsewhere would declare autonomy. The hold of money and material which keeps these groups in Riyadh’s sway, would wither away. The volatile internal situation—major oil well in the Eastern province was under attack recently—would spiral out of control. Saudi Arabia is also riding a tiger in Yemen. For six months the country has been buying weapons from the West and saturating the poorest Arab country with mindless bombardment. The war in Yemen is looking all the
more tragic because the West is no longer buying the allegation that Houthi rebels have Iranian military support. The destruction of Libya and Syria has recoiled on Europe. The destruction of Yemen will eventually recoil on Suadi Arabia. There was a silver lining in Saudi King Salman’s visit to the White house: President Barack Obama was able to persuade the King that it was in his interest to see the Iran nuclear deal in a positive light. This may lead to an Iranian accommodation with Riyadh in Yemen, Lebanon, and Syria. Assad has already indicated he was willing to talk to the moderate Syrian opposition even before the next elections. After the Iranian deal, Washington will have to revisit the task of putting together a reasonable Syrian opposition—easier said than done. There has been some speculation on the presence of Russian soldiers and armaments in Syria. Is this presence in the war zone despite the US? Or is it part of the broad understanding reached on May 12? This military presence may serve as a deterrent against countries such as Turkey which have had their fingers so badly burnt in the Syrian misadventure that they may be tempted to recover some prestige by striking inside Syria. Interesting statements have come out from Moscow. We are in the same trench as Cairo, fighting terror. This support for Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, is bad news to the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, and Turkey. This, surely, is to Israel’s satisfaction. With luck, less volatile West Asia may not be unthinkable. Should peace return to Syria, Europe inducting new refugees, may then feel the need to turn to Syrian intelligence to help Europe to sift good refugees from the bad.
Saeed Naqvi is a senior commentator on political and diplomatic issues. The views expressed are personal.
Sonia, Rahul plough lonely furrow in darkening political landscape Amulya Ganguli
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he extension of Sonia Gandhi’s term as president by another year in her 17th year in the position is an admission of the party’s failure to be a living, evolving, dynamic entity rather than an acknowledgement of her staying power and acceptability within the organisation. Any political party in a democracy that adopts the norms of authoritarian regimes where leaders generally have life-long tenures merely exposes the pathetic paucity of talent within the outfit. In the Congress’ case, the resemblance with, say, a dictatorship such as North Korea is strengthened by the fact that both the present leader and the already designated successor belong to the same family. The obsequious kowtowing to the two by Congressmen is also not dissimilar to the meek submissiveness to the powers-that-be, which characterises totalitarian establishments. However, in addition to these unflattering similarities, there is another aspect of the Congress Working Committee decision on Sonia Gandhi, which reflects poorly on the prospects of her son, the heir-apparent, Rahul Gandhi. It is that he has obviously been found wanting in the internal assessments, which preceded the move to enable his mother to continue as party chief. From this aspect, the fact that the crown
prince remains where he was can be regarded as a blow to his prestige. Evidently, the 57day sabbatical in a Buddhist monastery in Myanmar, which was apparently expected to prepare him for greater responsibilities has not yielded the desired results. That even a party which apparently looks upon the Nehru-Gandhis as demi-gods found someone with feet of clay in the family pantheon suggests that the formerly Grand Old Party hasn’t yet lost all sense of judgment, even if it cannot get rid of its feudal mindset. For Sonia Gandhi, however, the latest crown of thorns can prove to be more prickly than ever. For one, she is evidently not in the pink of health. If she has, nevertheless, accepted the onerous responsibility at a time when the Congress itself is not very healthy in political terms, it is probably because of the “after me, the deluge” syndrome, which makes her unsure about the party’s future in her absence. Her anxieties are apparently shared by a wide cross-section within the party. For another, she cannot but harbour a sense of disappointment because her cherished hope of grooming her son as the successor hasn’t yet borne fruit. Nor is there any surety that it will at the end of her extended run as the party chief next year. Therefore, the question that bothered the observers of the political scene in the 1960s—after Nehru, who?—has
returned to haunt the Congress today. It is also undeniable that Rahul Gandhi himself cannot but secretly share some of his mother’s disappointment. For all the praise that she showered on him for having forced the government to backtrack on the land acquisition law, the dauphin knows that he hasn’t been able to live up to expectations. Given this failure, it cannot be easy for him from now on to make his presence felt at party meetings. As long as it was believed that it was only a question of time before he donned the party president’s mantle with his mother continuing as the eminence grise (grey eminence), Rahul would have commanded attention at party conclaves and even public meetings. But, now, it appears that he will not be the chief any time soon. There is little doubt that the delay in his coronation will once again raise the question within the party of persuading an otherwise reluctant Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra to play a greater role, for a not inconsiderable section in the Congress believes that she is the answer to the party’s leadership problems. But Rahul Gandhi apparently resents these insinuations, which is why she has chosen to remain in the background. Besides, her husband’s controversial business deals are a liability. What these developments, personal and organisational, suggest is that the Congress
is approaching a fork in the road. The dynasty, which has been its mainstay, appears to be nearing the end of its run. It may remain formally in charge for some time, but its aura is fading. Its diminishing influence will suffer a further erosion if the party doesn’t fare well in the Bihar elections and later on in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. In any event, it is clear that the days of the Congress’ nationwide dominance are over. The party will have to brace itself, therefore, for a new leadership. In the 1960s, Lal Bahadur Shastri was the answer to the question: After Nehru, who? There is no one on the horizon at present who can play such a role. Arguably, the fault for this absence of an alternate line of leaders has to be laid at Sonia Gandhi’s door. During her 17 years as president—the longest in the history of the 130-year-old Congress—she was too focussed on her son’s elevation to prepare others for the job. What is more, others with some stature in the organisation—Manmohan Singh, Pranab Mukherjee (before he became the president), P. Chidambaram, Digvijay Singh—lacked the gumption to tell the party president about selecting others. Now, mother and son will have to plough a lonely furrow in a darkening political landscape for the Congress.
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OPINION / EDITORIAL
18 September 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
New property tax measures aim to curb rising house prices Red
their main home, other than people deemed to be “offshore persons”, should be exempt from the requirement unless selling a third home within a two-year period. “Offshore persons” would be required to open a New Zealand bank account to obtain an IRD number.
Sanjay Kumar
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he first of the government’s planned tax measures aimed at cooling the Auckland property market is due to come into effect next month. The new rules, announced earlier this year, include a range of property tax compliance moves to ensure New Zealand property buyers and overseas investors alike “pay their fair share of tax”. The changes include: }} Introducing transparency measures particularly aimed at non-resident investors }} Establishing a “bright-line” test to tax any capital gains made from the sale of an investment property owned for less than two years }} Introducing a withholding tax for non-residents selling residential property }} Committing to an extra $29 million of funding for Inland
Bright-line test
Revenue to increase its property tax compliance activities Transparency measures The new land information measures on property transactions are likely to apply to all residential property transactions from 1 October, 2015. They aim to obtain tax information from people buying and selling land, and improve the enforcement of nonresidents’ tax obligations. Those
planning to buy or sell property in New Zealand must work through their disclosure obligations carefully and may be required to make a tax statement to Inland Revenue, providing their IRD number. This means checking whether they are an “offshore person”, based on immigration and citizenship rules, rather than solely relying on their New Zealand tax residence status. Individuals buying or selling
The new bright-line test, expected to apply to sales of properties purchased on or after 1 October, 2015, will require income tax to be paid on gains from residential property purchased and sold within two years. This supports the existing tax rules such as the current intention test, which taxes gains from the sale of land purchased with a purpose of resale. Of course, not all property transactions lead to gains. Losses from sales taxed under the new bright-line test will be “ringfenced” i.e., offset only against future gains on other land sales. The government does not want to capture too many properties purchased without a purpose of resale. So there are a number of exceptions
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where the two-year rule does not apply, including a person’s main home, inherited property, and transfers of property in a relationship settlement. Withholding tax The government is looking to introduce resident land withholding tax on residential property sales from 1 July 2016 by “offshore persons”. Revenue Minister Todd McClay is calling for feedback on this measure by 2 October, 2015. At this stage, the Issues Paper on the subject indicates that “offshore persons”, a defined group of people and companies, would be required to pay resident land withholding tax if the property sold is “residential land”, was acquired on or after 1 October, 2015, and was owned for less than two years. The resident land withholding tax would apply as an interim tax, which is to be calculated at the lower of 33% of any gain or 10% of gross proceeds. Sanjay Kumar is a Tax Executive Director and Vidya Garimella is a Tax Consultant at EY
INDIA
www.iwk.co.nz | 18 September 2015
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murder: British mission Air India signs one-year Sheena team meets Indrani in jail deal with BCCI A
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ational carrier Air India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) effective from September 1. “The deal has been signed for a period of one year. As per the MoU, Air India will be the preferred airline for travel of the Indian cricket team,” the statement said. Air India shall also fly Indian cricketers of both the National and other state cricket teams on domestic and international network across the globe, the statement said. Under the agreement, Air India shall offer “Special fares” and “Free Baggage Allowance” to the Indian cricket team. The MoU also encapsulates the travel of umpires, match referee and national selectors on official duty, TV crew, BCCI officials for various committee meetings, Annual General Meetings and any other official travel.
Air India signs one-year deal with BCCI
Air India’s membership with “Star Alliance”, the global airline network with highest number of member airlines operating to 1330 destinations in 192 countries and its code share with major carriers across the globe, makes it best suited to cater to the requirement of the Indian cricket team.
It equally caters to the needs of BCCI, which requires seamless connectivity to major cities across the globe, quick transfers, convenient check-in procedures, wide-body comforts and global best practices in terms of processes, systems and procedures, according to the statement.
team from the British Deputy High Commission in Mumbai met Indrani Mukerjea, the prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, while she is in judicial custody, official sources said in Mumbai. The team called on Indrani– who is a British national since the past few years–to enquire whether she required any help and the facilities she has been given in prison, as part of the mission’s normal procedures for British citizens living or working abroad. Earlier, the deputy high commission team was denied access and asked to get clearance from the union home ministry Officials from the British Deputy High Commission in Mumbai and the British High Commission in New Delhi were not available for comment. Indrani, the wife of former media tycoon Peter Mukerjea, her exhusband Sanjeev Khanna and her former driver Shyamvar Rai have been charged with the murder of her daughter Sheena Bora in April 2012. The trio—accused of killing Sheena and then dumping her partially burnt body in the forests near Gagode in Raigad district
Indrani Mukerjea
Sheena Bora
of Maharashtra—is currently in judicial custody till September 21. While police were yet to ascertain the motive behind the murder, investigators are probing the wealth and property angle as one of the possible causes.
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INDIA
18 September 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
Bihar polls: NDA finalises seat sharing, BJP to fight 160 seats
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he National Democratic Alliance has finalised the seat-sharing arrangement for the Bihar assembly elections, with the BJP keeping the lion’s share of 160 seats, leaving 83 for its allies LJP, RLSP and HAM. It was also decided to contest the Bihar polls under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and let the chief minister be decided by winning legislators after the poll results are declared. The maximum of 40 seats were given to Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), followed by 23 seats to Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) and 20 seats to former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM). Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah announced the seat-sharing agreement at a press conference in New Delhi after reaching a consensus with Manjhi when the latter met him again at his residence. Shah said that as per the agreement, some HAM candidates will fight on BJP tickets. Paswan, Manjhi and Kushwaha were also present at the press meet. Shah refuted any differences among the NDA partners over seat-sharing, expressing confidence of winning two-thirds majority in the state. Soon after the announcement was
BJP President Amit Shah
made, Paswan and Manjhi expressed their happiness over the seat-sharing arrangement and vowed to win the elections as a united face of the NDA. Shah also slammed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for allying with the Congress and Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal. The Congress hit back at the BJP president, reminding him about the scams that have surfaced in the past 15 months in BJP-led states. Earlier, Shah appealed to the voters to give the NDA a chance to rule the state. “The people of Bihar have given power to the Congress, the RJD and the JD-U. I appeal to them to give a chance to the NDA,” he told reporters. “It’s time Bihar votes for development, for which voting for NDA is essential.”
Jaitley urges US firms to invest in India towards $500bn trade Red
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head of the first India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue (SACD) in Washington later this month, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has invited American business to invest in India towards realising the target of quintupling bilateral trade. “Today, our ambitions are very high, to increase bilateral trade five-fold over the current levels,” he said at the 11th economic summit in New Delhi organised by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce. “Both India and the US are natural allies, both democracies. While the US has the financial capital and advanced technology, India has a large body of trained manpower, natural resources and a large market,” he added. India is the second largest source of foreign direct investment in the US, and the largest in Britain, the minister added. India-US trade currently has an annual turnover of $100 billion. US Ambassador to India Richard Verma said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s forthcoming visit to the US, especially to San Francisco and the Silicon Valley, has generated a lot of excitement as he will be the only second Indian prime minister to visit California after Jawaharlal Nehru. Modi will also visit Facebook headquarters in California, the social networking site’s co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced last week. Noting that a decade ago, the US and India
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
did very little defence trade, the envoy said his country has signed around $10 billion worth defence sales contracts with India. Verma also noted that according to a recent survey of 100 Indian companies in the US, “91,000 jobs were created and $15 billion has been invested in the US”. During his June visit to the US, Jaitley had sought to allay concerns of American investors on retrospective tax demands.
Gujarat tops in ease of doing business in India
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orld Bank has ranked Gujarat as the top state in ease of doing business in India with a 71.14 per cent score, followed by Andhra Pradesh (70.12 per cent), Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh among the top five states. Sponsored by the Department of Industry Policy and Promotion (DIPP), the Assessment of State Implementation of Business Reforms report was prepared by World Bank in association with KPMG, CII and FICCI. Among the major states, West Bengal occupied the 11th slot, Tamil Nadu (12th), Haryana (14th), Delhi (15th), Punjab (16th), Himachal Pradesh (17th), Kerala (18th), Goa (19th), Bihar (21st) and Assam (22nd). Arunachal Pradesh is ranked the last with 1.23 per cent. The ranking of the states was based on eight specified parameters, which include setting up of business, allotment of land, labour reforms and procedure for environmental clearance. Other parameters included infrastructure, procedure for registration for tax purposes and inspections for compliance of various norms. India is a difficult place to do business and concerted action and reforms are needed on several fronts to improve its ranking in the global ‘Doing Business Index’, World Bank country director Onno Ruhl said. “... the need of the day is reform, and the
reforms must be led by the government at both central and state levels,” he said in a foreword to the report. India is ranked 142nd among 189 nations in the World Bank’s Doing Business 2015 study. India, he said, does not feature in the top 100 countries on eight of the 10 indicators of the World Bank study. Among other things, Ruhl said the Indian government should focus on implementing reforms relating to starting a business, resolving insolvency, enforcing contracts, and trading across borders. Appreciating the government’s efforts to improve ease of doing business, he said, “A pleasing aspect of the effort of the last one year has been the lead taken by government of India in pushing through an agreed set of reforms in the states.” Ruhl added, “Much more is required to be done at state governments level to achieve the Prime Minister’s vision of making India an easy place to do business.”
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INDIA ABROAD
www.iwk.co.nz | 18 September 2015
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Meet the Patels: in search of a desi bride Arun Kumar
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t all began when Ravi Patel, a 30-yearold Indian-American investment banker turned Hollywood actor, pestered by his parents on a long flight to India to get married, agreed to search for his bride the “desi” way. And Ravi’s sister Geeta, just out of making a war zone documentary about Kashmir, now learning to handle the camera, started filming “half seriously” the “family affair” to find a desi partner for Ravi, who had just broken with his white girlfriend of two years. What began as a family vacation video eventually turned into a hilarious romantic documentary about arranged marriages, and it is an equally heartbreaking story as the sibling codirectors of Meet the Patels relate it. “When we got to India, Ravi realised that what he was going through is what so many people have gone through,” the duo told reporters on phone ahead of its Friday (September 11) release in New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. It opens in additional US markets including Washington DC, Boston, New Jersey, Philadelphia, North Carolina, Detroit, and Tampa on September 18. “He felt so many people were living that story and yet no one had told it
Meet the Patels poster
properly,” said Geeta who was equally under parental pressure to get married. Many a film and media shows “depict arranged marriages and semi-arranged marriages in Indian culture more like a joke—like parents are weird, that kind of thing”. The conversion of the home video into a documentary “just happened by accident,” said Ravi.
But despite some shaky camera work, they never thought of reshooting the film. “The documentary is so authentic and real, what happened at the moment,” according to them. “The only stuff that we put a lot of effort was in producing animated moments,” said Ravi. “The animation came essentially from the fact that we were making this film about our family,” added Geeta. “In reality TV, when somebody is emotional, they just film it. But for us it’s just disrespectful to film our family going through a very difficult moment.” But how come their parents did not appear camera conscious at all? “I know that’s crazy, right. It was so natural,” said Ravi. The brother and sister team spent six years in making the film and at the end of it “nobody wanted it.” What kept them going was “pride” said Ravi. “Geeta and I have all our crazy fits. But when you are working with your sister you can’t fire her. So you have to find a way to keep it going and make it work.” So what comes next? Are they planning another joint venture on one more desi issue? “Geeta and I are working on some projects together—some pretty exciting stuff,” said Ravi though he would not say what it was.
Indian-American students begin business incubator to help startups
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wo Indian-American students have created an incubator for startup businesses to help budding entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground for free. Westview High students Aman Sharma and Bhavin Gupta have already helped three startups through their Oregon Business Incubator, which helps connect companies with industry experts and arrange interns with knowledge the startups may need, The Oregonian reported. “We operate at completely no cost because charging startups is counter-productive to our mission statement,” Gupta was quoted as saying. “Furthermore, we hope to be an inspiration to younger students who want to pursue a career in business and entrepreneurship.” They may not have a vast knowledge of how to run a business, but they are intelligent and motivated and have done extensive research on the subject, the daily said. The duo anticipate skepticism because of their young age. “We totally expect that,” Sharma said. They have kept their goal simple. They hope within a year to have startups calling them instead of the other way around. The Indian-origin students are on their school’s debate team and Gupta plans to join Sharma on the school business club soon.
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SPORTS
18 September 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
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Sania-Martina win US Open women’s doubles title
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omen’s doubles top seeds Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis defeated fourth seeded Casey Dellacqua and Yaroslava Shvedova 6-3, 6-3 in New York last week to claim the US Open title. The Indo-Swiss pair took only 69 minutes to conquer the Australian-Kazakh pair at the Arthur Ashe stadium on September 13. It was Sania and Martina’s second women’s doubles Grand Slam title together after winning the Wimbledon earlier this year and they played with supreme confidence to win the tournament without dropping a set. It was Sania’s fifth success at the Majors (two women’s doubles and three mixed doubles crowns). Sania’s partnership with Martina has helped her become the first Indian women’s player to be ranked World No. 1 in the doubles rankings. Sunday’s final was Sania’s first in the category at US Open. She won the mixed doubles title last year with Brazilian Bruno Soares. For Martina, the tournament turned out to be a memorable won as she lifted her second trophy at the Flushing Meadows
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Indian hockey team to tour New Zealand in October
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this year on September 13, after bagging the mixed doubles crown on September 11 with another Indian, Leander Paes. It was also her fifth Grand Slam title this year, and 20th of her career across all three disciplines (five singles, 11 doubles and four mixed doubles). The Swiss now just the third active player to have 20 major trophies (after Serena
Willams’ 36 and Venus Williams’ 22). “It has been a great year for us,” Sania said after the win. “To win Wimbledon was a great year. Then to come back and back it up to win the US Open, we feel like we’re a really solid team. And we came through again today.” “From the start, we hit it off,” Martina said “Our games work well together.”
he Indian hockey team will tour New Zealand to play a bilateral Test series from October 2 to 11. They will play two practice matches against New Zealand A at Auckland on October 2 and 3 before taking on the senior Black Sticks side in four Test matches, two each to be played at Nelson (October 6 and 7) and Christchurch (October 9 and 11). They will then host reigning World Champions Australia in a short series from November 20 to 23 at Raipur, the venue for the elite eight-team Hockey World League (HWL) Final to be played in the Chhattisgarh capital from November 27 to December 6. “India will tour New Zealand in October and then host Australia in November before the HWL Final in Raipur,” Hockey India (HI) president Narinder Batra said. The team will then also take part in the 12th South Asian Games to be held in Guwahati and Shillong from December 10 to 20.
Shastri to stay team director till 2016 World T20: BCCI
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avi Shastri will continue as the director of the Indian team till the 2016 World T20, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed last week. “Ravi Shastri to continue as Team Director of Indian Cricket Team till ICC World T20 2016,” BCCI tweeted. Apart from extending Shastri’s contract, the tenures of the three current associate coaches—Sanjay Bangar (batting), Bharat Arun (bowling) and R. Sridhar (fielding)— were also increased for a similar period. “The tenure of assistant coaches - @ ImSanjayBangar, B Arun & @coach_ rsridhar extended till ICC WT20 2016,” BCCI said in another tweet. These extensions were decided on the recommendations of the advisory committee that included Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, V.V.S. Laxman, BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya and secretary Anurag Thakur. “BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya and honorary secretary Anurag Thakur appreciated the work done by the coaching staff and accepted the decision unanimously,” a BCCI statement added. The extensions come in the wake of India’s first away Test series victory against Sri Lanka since 1993. Shastri took over the task of overseeing the team’s performance as director in August last year, just before the One-Day International (ODI) series in England, and insisted on having the services of Bangar,
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Arun and Sridhar, with under-pressure Zimbabwean Duncan Fletcher remaining the coach. India host World T20 tournament for the first time from March 11 to April 3 next year.
KIDS ZONE
www.iwk.co.nz | 18 September 2015
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The Blind Men and the Elephant
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nce upon a time, there lived six blind men in a village. One day the villagers told them, “Hey, there is an elephant in the village today.” They had no idea what an elephant is. They decided, “Even though we would not be able to see it, let us go and feel it anyway.” All of them went where the elephant was. Every one of them touched the elephant. Hey, the elephant is a pillar,” said the first man who touched his leg. “Oh, no! It is like a rope,” said the second man who touched the tail. “Oh, no! It is like a thick branch of a tree,” said the third man who touched the trunk of the elephant. “It is like a big hand fan” said the fourth man who touched the ear of the elephant. “It is like a huge wall,” said the fifth man who touched the belly of the elephant. “It is like a solid pipe,” Said the sixth man who touched the tusk of the elephant. They began to argue about the elephant and every one of them insisted that he was right. It looked like they were getting agitated. A wise man was passing by and he saw this. He stopped and asked them, “What is the matter?” They said, “We
cannot agree to what the elephant is like.” Each one of them told what he thought the elephant was like. The wise man calmly explained to them, “All of you are right. The reason every one of you is telling it differently because each one of you touched the different part of the elephant. So, actually the elephant has all those features what you all said.” “Oh!” everyone said. There was no more fight. They felt happy that they were all right. The moral of the story is that there may be some truth to what someone says. Sometimes we can see that truth and sometimes not because they may have different perspective which we may not agree too. So, rather than arguing like the blind men, we should say, “Maybe you have your reasons.” This way we don’t get in arguments.
Riddle Me A Riddle Q1: There are two sisters: one gives birth to the other and she,in turn, gives birth to the first. Who are the two sisters? Q2: Skinny I am fast, fat I am slow, but I'll still delight you from your eyes to your nose. What am I? Q3: What building has the most stories? Q4: What two things can you never eat for breakfast? Q5: Without fingers, I point, without arms, I strike, without feet, I run. What am I? Q6: How many apples grow on a tree? Answers A1: Day and night. A2: A candle. A3: A library. A4: Lunch and dinner! A5: A clock. A6: All apples grow on trees.
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Classes start fromOak 4pmMall onwards, on Rd.) Upstairs in the Royal (Entrydependent from Manukau
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Vishal Bharadwaj big support for my film: Meghna Gulzar
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irector Meghna Gulzar said that acclaimed filmmaker Vishal Bharadwaj, the producer for her upcoming film Talvar, is a great support. At a promotional event of the movie last week, she said, “Vishal ji was like a great support on this because this subject and the genre are completely unknown to me. He is an accomplished writer. When he watched Dus Kahaniyaan, he was so impressed that he expressed his wish to produce my film and that did happen after eight years.” Meghna, the daughter
of renowned lyricist Gulzar and yesteryear actress Rakhee, has for the first time attempted a crime flick that is based on the
I’m not anyone to comment on Ranbir’s ups, downs: Deepika Red
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Aarushi Talwar murder case. ctress Deepika Meghna, who is known for her films Padukone says she’s “not such as Filhaal and Just Married, anyone” to comment said that it was a complete detour for her to attempt a movie on the low phase in Ranbir like Talvar. Kapoor’s career, but she believes Actually, Vishal ji and I have her Tamasha co-star is “a huge been very closely associated. When star who brings a lot in the film”. I was beginning to wonder what to Deepika was present at the launch do next, I had a conversation with Vishalji, who is like family. Several of Axis Bank’s new prepaid wallet ideas came up and this was one of app ‘Lime’ in Mumbai last week. them,” she said. She was asked if she It is slated to release on October thinks her stardom would 2 and stars Irrfan Khan, Konkona help Ranbir to overcome his Sen Sharma and others. low phase with Tamasha. She smiled and said, “I believe that everyone who comes on board contributes equally to the success or failure of the film. Ranbir is a huge star. Everyone has their ups and downs through their career. I don’t think I am anyone to comment on what he has been through.” R a n b i r ’ s Besharam, then Roy and his last venture B o m b a y Velvet, failed to be a success. While refusing to comment on Ranbir’s work, Deepika
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spoke fondly of Tamasha in directed by Imtiaz Ali. “Tamasha is a very special film for all of us. We have all worked individually in a different capacity. I have done Love Aaj Kal with Imtiaz; they both (Ranbir and Imtiaz) worked together in Rockstar; Ranbir and I worked in Bachna Ae Haseeno and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. “Inspite of that, we all are very good friends and it was always a dream for me to work with this team,” she added. Talking about the expectation from the film, Deepika stated, “If it does well, we all will be equally responsible and if not, then also we all be equally responsible.” The trailer of Tamasha will release on September 22, and the film itself will release on November 27. Meanwhile, Deepika’s energy has channelled into Bajirao Mastani. “Bajirao Mastani has been extremely demanding physically, emotionally and mentally so much so that I have been completely cut off from every aspect of my life,” she said.
www.iwk.co.nz | 18 September 2015
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Vidya Balan feels ‘honoured’ to play Geeta Bali
18 September 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
have gone. In the meantime, Shahid is geared up for the release of Shaandaar, in which he stars with Alia Bhatt.
Sunny Deol is such a gentleman: Tisca Chopra
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fter being seen as sex siren Silk Smitha in The Dirty Picture, National Award winning actress Vidya Balan has now taken on a cameo as golden era actress Geeta Bali in a Marathi biopic. She considers it an honour. The biopic on Bhagwan Dada traces the late actor-director’s life and the difficulties he faced while making his 1951 released musical Albela, which featured Geeta Bali, who was considered a popular star then. “It’s an honour to be playing the effervescent Geeta Bali even if it is just a special appearance, and to be recreating Albela for a Marathi biopic on Bhagwan Dada,” Vidya said in a statement. Interestingly, senior make-up artist Vidyadhar Bhatte, who had worked with Vidya in the past, suggested her name to director Shekhar Sartandel, who was on the lookout for someone with a truly Indian face for Geeta Bali’s role. And after he narrated the script to Vidya, she immediately agreed. For the role, Vidya will sport Geeta Bali’s look from the original film, but she wouldn’t be required to speak Marathi, said a source close to the actress.
Mira not doing AK vs SK: Shahid’s spokesperson
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ctor Shahid Kapoor’s spokesperson has refuted reports that his wife Mira Rajput is going to do a cameo in Bollywood film AK vs SK. Rumour mills have been abuzz with news that the young and beautiful bride of the Haider actor will make a foray into showbiz, and it emerged that Vikramaditya Motwane’s AK vs SK will be her launchpad. The film reportedly stars Shahid in a lead role. Shahid and Mira, who got married in July, have made news whenever they have stepped out together. Whether it is outside a gym or a fashion gala, the ‘good looking’ couple has managed to make heads turn wherever they
ctress Tisca Chopra says she is enjoying shooting for upcoming action drama Ghayal Once Again, a sequel to 1990 hit film Ghayal, with actor and director Sunny Deol. The actress also feels that Sunny is a perfect “gentleman”. Tisca talked about the sequel during a chat with her fans and followers on micro-blogging site
Twitter. When a user quizzed the actress about how was it working with Sunny, the actress replied that Sunny is a gentleman and it was fun working with him. She responded: “Really fun! @ IAMSUNNYDEOL is such a gentleman...#GhayalOnceAgain #AskTisca”. Directed by Sunny, Ghayal Once Again will take off from where the first version left. Reportedly, the film is based on a real-life event in the life of a Mumbai Police encounter specialist. The film also feature actors Om Puri and Soha Ali Khan.
Anushka shoots down Sultan rumours
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ctress Anushka Sharma, who is currently in London to shoot Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, has shot down
“strange” rumours about her presence in Salman Khan starrer Sultan. “Here I’m busy shooting and I read that my next film is Sultan! News to me guys... sorry to disappoint... I am always supposedly doing more films than the ones I am actually committed to doing! Strange,” Anushka tweeted. Sultan, produced by Aditya Chopra under his Yash Raj Films banner, is reportedly based on the life of a wrestler. While the Dabangg star will be seen in the lead role, his leading lady in the film is yet to be announced. Anushka’s name is said to have come up after Parineeti Chopra reportedly walked out of the movie. The film’s shooting is scheduled to commence in November, and its release date has been fixed for the auspicious occasion of Eid in 2016. Meanwhile, Sultan director Ali Abbas Zafar is in Los Angeles to work “set the action” for the movie with Larnell Stovall, an international fight choreographer.
men of the film crew were about her upcoming sex comedy Red well. Mastizaade, Blackwhich is Orange touched by the subject as cleared “Women understand what they go for release. through, but men definitely need to know what we go through. Even my male friends and cast ... when we saw the film before the copies were sent, were touched and when men give such reaction, it says a lot ... it was rather overwhelming,” she said. Parched also features actors Tannishtha Chatterjee, Radhika Apte and Lehar Khan in key roles. The film has been jointly produced by Ajay Devgn, Aseem Bajaj, Gulab Singh and Rohan Jagdale.
Chalk N Duster will make you clap for your teachers: Juhi
Priyanka, Hrithik have the best bodies: Sunny Leone
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Men should watch Parched to know about woman’s struggle: Surveen Chawla
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fter moving from porn industry to Bollywood, sensual star Sunny Leone, who now has stepped in healthy lifestyle with the launch of her workout DVD, says Priyanka Chopra and Hrithik Roshan have the best bodies in the Indian film industry. “Priyanka has a very well-shaped body. I wish I had body like her,” Sunny said at the launch ctress Surveen Chawla, of Super-Hot Sunny Mornings whose film Parched will last weekend. Among males, Hrithik Roshan be premiering at the 40th Toronto International Film has the perfect sculpted body, Festival (TIFF), says every man she said. “We live in a world where should watch the film to understand the inner struggle of women. most actors and actresses want The Leena Yadav-directorial to be fit, want to look good on was screened in the Special the camera, and that requires Presentation Section of the working out,” said Sunny. about controversies film festival last weekend. Asked “Every man should watch the including Rakhi Sawant’s call for film. It is very important, so her to be banned from India to that they understand the kind a politician’s statement that her of inner struggle that women go condom advertisement will give through. Women in urban India rise to more rapes, the Jism 2 also go through the same journey actress says she prefers to see the of emotions, just the reasons brighter side of life. “I am happy right now as you are different,” Surveen said. Set in rural India, the film can see. When people say mean follows the lives of three ordinary things about you, punch you, and women who begin to break free push you and if you fall down, from centuries-old traditions. you have to get up and come The Hate Story 2 actress shared back with a smile on your face.” that her male friends and the She looked happier while talking
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ctress Juhi Chawla says that her upcoming film Chalk N Duster will deeply touch viewers and make them want to clap for their teachers and hug them. “Chalk N Duster is something that touches you, which makes you both cry and laugh. This is a story that’ll touch you deeply, make you stand up and clap for your teachers or go and give them a hug,” Juhi told media about the film. The shooting of the film had begun in April and Juhi said that now they are at its end and expect to release in a couple of months. The film has been termed an educational film about teachers but Juhi says, “It is about teachers and it involves children, but it’s not just about teachers. It’s about people, it’s about ethics and the effect teachers have on their students. It’s a Wlovely script.” Juhi considers the film to be on similar lines of other films based on children’s education and difficulties such as Taare Zameen Par and Stanley Ka Dabba. “It’s from a similar genre. Taare Zameen Par brought you something really new but at the same time, something that you would perhaps be aware of it and heard of, but it brought to the fore the experience of what it is to be dyslexic or to have a dyslexic child.” The film is directed by Jayant Gilatar and has been produced by Amin Surani. It also stars Shabana Azmi, Jackie Shroff, Divya Dutta, Samir Soni, and Girish Karnad among others.
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• Shahi Modak • Khoya Modak • Khoya Kaju Kishmish Modak • Kaju Modak • Special Motichoor Laddu
• Dal Modak • Shahi Laddu • Aata Laddu • Gaund Laddu • Besan Laddu
NOW OPEN AT 905 DOMINION ROAD, AUCKLAND
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Striking a musical note
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This talented singer has carved a niche for herself in Kiwi-Indian music landscape. After humble beginnings, she aspires for greater heights with strong determination and constant efforts Swati Sharma
Banega Superstar in 2010 and 2011. I also participated in Radio Tarana Idol where I was the 1st Runner Up. I took part in AA Promotions Humko Bhi Banna Hai Idol that was held in Logan Campbell Centre where I won the second prize. I have been a part of a charity show called Ek Shaam Aap Ke Naam. I was part of Old is Gold concert in 2013 and 2015. I also performed at Khamoshiyaan Gun Guna Ne Lagi – A Tribute to Lata Mangheshkar Part 1 in 2014 and recently on 12 September. I also performed at Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana – Tribute to Shankar Jai Kishan held in May 2015. I was also a part of a band called Krazzy Tunes as the lead female singer. I had an opportunity to perform for Apna Television Awards Night in 2015 with rest of the band members. We also did a couple of shows in Auckland and Christchurch. I am looking forward to performing at a few more shows in 2016.
IWK: Tell us about yourself. Guncha: I was born in Lucknow and raised in New Zealand. We moved here when I was about 13 or 14 years old, with my parents and sister. We initially lived in Wellington where I completed my secondary education at the Wellington East Girls’ College. I have studied Bachelor of Science majoring in Food Science at University of Auckland. Currently I am working as a Quality Assurance Technician at Nestle NZ Ltd based in Manukau. I love singing, travelling, dancing, playing pool and badminton. I also love dining out. Every weekend you will find me at a restaurant mostly having Lamb Shanks or Thai. I also enjoy watching movies especially the horror ones.
Guncha Singh
IWK: How and when did your musical journey start? Guncha: Music has always been a part of our family. My dad is a great singer and has had few years of Hindustani Classical training back in the 1970s. He has also won a few prizes in the past at singing competitions. My mum and sister sing too but dad had the most impact on me. I guess I have inherited the musical gene from him. My singing journey began in 2010 in Auckland when I saw the advertisement on Triangle TV about a singing competition– Kaun Banega Superstar. I was very excited and nervous but wanted to give it a go. My family also supported and encouraged me to go ahead. IWK: Have you had any professional training in music? Guncha: Since my singing journey began, my dad has always been one of my critics. He is always there in the background providing me support and honest criticism. In regards to my professional training, I am learning Hindustani Classical from Sandhya Rao Ji
IWK: What do you love the most about performing live?
from Swar Sadhana Academy since 2012. Learning classical is giving my voice much more than what I was capable of when I started my musical journey. IWK: What is your favourite genre of music? And who is your favourite singer? Guncha: Anything that sounds good to my ears in terms of voice quality, music, lyrics is what I like. However, since I have started learning classical I am falling in love with the beautiful Bollywood melodies from the past such as songs of Mohd Rafi, Lata Mangheshkar, Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle and Mukesh Ji. I also enjoy the new songs by Arijit Singh, Shreya Ghoshal, Sunidhi Chauhan, Sonu Nigam, Palak Mucchal and
ARMS Workshop for refugee women
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2015 Time: 12.45 p.m. to 4 p.m. Venue: The Peace Place, 22 Emily Place, Auckland CBD Auckland Regional Migrant Services Charitable Services is holding a one day workshop for former refugee and migrant women on finding and fully expressing their voice and identity in New Zealand. The workshop is open to all migrant and refugee women and costs just a gold coin koha to attend. Refreshments and art supplies will be provided and women are welcome to bring their children along as separate activities will be provided for them. To register, please contact ARMS on 096252440 or email chinwea@armsmrc.org.nz
International Day of Older persons
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2015 Time: 10.30 a.m. – 2.00 p.m. Venue: Fickling Centre, Three Kings, Auckland Shanti Niwas Charitable is celebrating “International Day of Older Persons (IDOP)”. The official program is from
many more. It is very hard to say who my favourite singer is. I have more than one. I really like Shreya Ghoshal for her soothing and melodious voice, Sunidhi Chauhan for her powerful throw, Arijit Singh for his soulful singing and Lata Mangheshkar for all of the above plus much more. I believe we learn a style of singing from every Singer. Because I am learning classical, I have been focussing on Lata Mangheshkar songs. Listening and attempting Lata Ji’s songs is a training for your voice itself. IWK: Tell us about your performances till date. Guncha: I have performed at various shows. I participated in NCBT Kaun
10.30am – 11.00am. The celebration is free and open event for the public around Auckland. There will be a free Indian Musical Concert.
CAB Workshops
Date: Thursday September 24, 2015 Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Venue: Norman King Building, 65 Pearn Crescent, Northcote CAB Browns Bay will hold a free workshop on “Tenancy and Home Ownership”. The topics to be covered are: Tenancy – Your Rights in New Zealand, Contracts, Buying your First Home and Where to look for Accommodation. Speaker: Shane Henderson (Waitemata Community Law Centre). For more information, call Esther at 489 3873, email: settlement. northshore@cab.org.nz, or just come along!
Guncha: I love the atmosphere, energy and excitement while performing. It is such a great feeling to listen to your voice echoing in the auditorium with the orchestra playing in the background and all the eyes are on the performers. It makes me want to perform better and better each time. IWK: How do you want to go further with your passion? What are your future plans? Guncha: I want to keep learning classical and do more practice (riyaaz) to maintain my voice quality. I also want to carry on performing on stage with live band. Maybe one day, I will be performing in front of a bigger audience. My future plans for now are to keep singing and do a lot of riyaaz. If I get to do professional recordings and playback singing for Bollywood, it would be a dream come true.
Free Yoga Classes
Date & Time: Every Tuesday, 7-8 p.m. Venue: Mt Albert War Memorial Hall, Mt Albert, Auckland. Free Yoga/Relaxation/Meditation classes, a great way to bring a balance between the body, mind and soul. For more information call Radha: 302 2332 or email classes@nzsm. org.nz
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