Indian Weekender 19 February 2016

19 February, 2016 • Vol. 7 Issue 46 • www.iwk.co.nz

NZ’s first Kiwi-Indian weekly newspaper

PROMOTING THE INITIATIVE

JASHAN SINGH SEReNaDING AUCKLAND K IW

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ANNOUNCING

KIWI INDIAN HALL OF FAME 2016 NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN

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CONTENTS

19 February 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

INSIDE Pg7

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NEW ZEALAND

BEEHIVE

Shirdi Sai Summit to focus on services to the community

Finance Minister to deliver budget on May 26

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SOUTH LINE

INDIA

Planning advice in the wake of valentine’s day quake in Christchurch

One soldier dies every month in Siachen

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Pg28

FEATURE

BOLLYWOOD

Maya’s Kitchen Adventures

“You might see me soon on TV,” says Juhi

IMMIGRATION LAW

COMMERCIAL LAW

Skilled Employment

Sale & Purchase of Residential Property

All kinds of Work Visas

Sale & Purchase of Business

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Appeals, Deportation

Wills & Family Trusts

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CRIMINAL LAW

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Parenting/ Protection orders Adoption/ guardianship

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www.iwk.co.nz | 19 February 2016

Who will it be for 2016?

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Maya Shivam

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t is that time of the year when the question is looming—who will it be?

Who will receive the highest honour for the Kiwi-Indian community? Yes, it is the time for the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame again. We are proud and excited to announce that entries are now open for nominations to the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame.

Every year, the Indian Weekender acknowledges the achievements of one Kiwi-Indian who has become a face in the crowd. The Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame is an endeavour to recognise individuals in the Kiwi Indian community and honour those who have enriched and enhanced, not only our own community but also the community at large, through their work and achievements. Apart from being the highest and the most prestigious honour of the Kiwi-Indian community, this award is a testimony to an undeniable recognition of an individual’s contribution to their field, be it politics, business, sports, art, culture or any other.

The Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame turns four this year and we are gearing up for the search of the new recipient of this award and honour. Needless to say, like every year this year too, the search will culminate at a grand awards ceremony. So, if you know of someone that you think fits this honour, you need to fill out a nomination form and send it to us. It is important to note that the more the number of nominations supporting a nominee, the stronger their chances of winning the award. It’s also not a bad idea to send us some supporting documents along with the nominations.

The form can be found on page 17, so turn those pages, fill out that form and sent it to us, now.

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To nominate someone, fill out the form on page 17 and send it to us right away.

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19 February 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Kiwi companies encouraged to take advantage of the ‘Make in India’ campaign

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eiterating its commitment to provide a greater momentum to the ‘Make in India’ initiative, India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) and The Indian High Commission, Wellington co-hosted a precursor event in Auckland on 11th February.

The event was well attended by dignitaries from Indian High Commission, noted kiwi businessmen, New Zealand government representatives along with many others.

The seminar emphasised the potential for better Indo-Kiwi trade and business ties. Noted speakers gave an overview of the ‘Make in India’ initiative launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with several other initiatives taken by the new government of India to create a business friendly environment.

“With new found optimism and energy under the leadership of the new Prime Minister of India, New Zealand is uniquely placed to have become the priority country for India,” said, Sandeep Sood, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., High Commission of India, Wellington.

He further added that Indian government have been encouraging Kiwi companies to partner with Indian companies and get benefited greatly in terms of ease of doing business.

With liberalised FDI regime, policy corrections and many other radical reforms India today has become one of the most open economies in the world promoting investments in 25 high-growth sectors.

With 24x7 online service to investors across the world, India has opened doors for companies to set up its large-scale manufacturing plants.

Speaking about the changed mindset of the new Indian government, Clayton Kimpton, NZTE’s Regional Director for India, expressed his gratitude for the immense support the government has extended towards the foreign investors.

“The economic growth and improvement to the ease of doing business to be driven by the Make in India campaign are good news for New Zealand business.

With the right market research,

(From L-R) Bhav Dhillon, Clayton Kimpton, Sandeep Sood, Wenceslaus Anthony, Sameer Handa and MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi

Sandeep Sood, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., High Commission of India

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With new found optimism and energy under the leadership of the new Prime Minister of India, New Zealand is uniquely placed to have become the priority country for India operating capital, brand awareness and an eye for scaling up, New Zealand companies will succeed in this dynamic market”, said Kimpton.

According to a recent survey, 65% of India’s 1.2 billion population is under the

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Clayton Kimpton, NZTE’s Regional Director for India

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age of 35.

The average age of an Indian in 2020 will be 29, compared with 37 in China and the United States.

Acknowledging that in the next decade, India is expected to have the largest available workforce in the world, Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, National List MP reiterated that Kiwi’s should harness the immense talent that lies within the youth of India today.

New Zealand is focusing on growing good exports and service trade while attracting skilled migrants from India who could contribute to our economy. New Zealand and India have always enjoyed a very strong relationship and both the countries have a lot in common.

With the growing middle-class population, New Zealand businesses can take advantage of India’s vast market for consumer products and services. Further advancements can also be made in the field of pharmaceuticals, thus making the health care more affordable in NZ.” INZBC’s Head of Govt. Relations, Wenceslaus Anthony said that this is an opportunity for kiwi businesses to grow immensely with the help of Indian companies as local partners. Collaboration is the name of the game.

“New Zealand and India are already enjoying longstanding, friendly and growing relationship with each other, I firmly believe that collaboration of Kiwi and Indian businesses through ‘Make in India’ initiative will ensure an impressive growth for economies of both the countries”, said Mr. Anthony.

Bhav Dhillon, Treasurer of INZBC said, “India is turning out to be the manufacturing powerhouse; be it demographic advantages, infrastructural incentives or policy reforms its strengths neither can be denied nor overlooked. I believe Kiwi companies could take the advantage of all these strengths and tap the potential to reap more profits and growth.”

All the panellists acknowledged the immense opportunity that lies in collaboration with a growing economy like India.

www.iwk.co.nz | 19 February 2016

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NZ businesses need to be on their toes this year

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ew Zealand businesses are going to have to be on their toes this year, RiskNZ says.

Given the volatility and uncertainty created by a raft of unusual and challenging factors that are manifesting as risk and so is making planning for 2016 a significant challenge, RiskNZ chairman Geraint Bermingham says.

“We are living in interesting times. The immediate future creates a complex risk environment in which to do business.

“The financial indicators have not been good so far this year. As deflationary pressures continue to rise, most major developed markets overseas are feeling the pressure. Various efforts to abate deflationary pressures have been ongoing for some time but the measures seem to have done little to mitigate this fundamental.

“Governments are struggling to understand how to respond to this economic landscape, but will this abnormal situation become the new normal? Executives and those tasked with managing risk need to figure what this means to their strategic risk profile.

“With regard to deflation, businesses may have to accept that the abnormal has become the normal. Given the lack of experience of such an environment, businesses need to be taking time out to look into the future—even to run simulation exercises to understand the risks and opportunities. “Add to the underlying structural weaknesses, we have the ongoing concerns of the unexpected war of cultures as represented

by ISIS and other groups. Motivated

RiskNZ chairman Geraint Bermingham

by the new forces of the global internet that is seemingly creating ‘in-your-face’ cultural tensions.

“The power of social media is helping develop an army of super-enabled selfdirected and in some cases apparently invisible ground troops. There are some obvious questions to be asked. Will this war reach our shores?

Will young New Zealanders start to think twice about heading off on an OE? Will immigration pressures increase as people seek out safe countries?

Conversely, could a major incident cause people to think twice about travelling and hence tourism take a hit?

“There is no doubt these are interesting times, times where to prosper, businesses and other organisations need to apply best practice risk management processes, keep thinking ahead and remain agile,” Bermingham says.

RiskNZ is the sector body in New Zealand bringing people, businesses and organisations together to manage risk and ensure New Zealand prospers.

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19 February 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Chennai-relief fundraising concert attracts 300 Red

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he Kiwi-Indian community came together last weekend to help those affected by severe floods in Chennai last year.

Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust organised a fundraising concert Jazbaa—saathi haath badhana in association with Shri Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan and Roopa Aur Aap on Saturday, February 13 at Shri Shirdi Sai Sansthan.

More than 300 people from different regions and religions attended the event to show their The support and solidarity to the disaster people of Chennai. caused enormous Chennai and its damage where 250 surrounding areas in the state of Tamil Nadu, India lives were lost, 2 have been devastated by million people were the torrential rains and displaced, and $15 massive flooding. billion damage to the The disaster caused enormous damage where infrastructure and 250 lives were lost, 2 million $3 billion impact on people were displaced, the economy were and $15 billion damage to observed. the infrastructure and $3 billion impact on the economy were caused.

The programme started at talented local singers were highly 6:30 in the evening and went on praised by the audience, while till late evening. the dance performances lifted The initiative brought different the energy. communities together under one The occasion was graced by roof for a noble cause. The hit the presence of the dignitaries Bollywood tracks sung by the that included MP Kanwaljit

Bakshi, MP Dr Parmjeet Parmar and Judge Dr Ajit Swaran Singh.

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Basharat Khan from Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Hemant

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Prashar and Roshan Nauria from Bhartiya Mandir, Smita Biswas from Auckland Libraries were also present.

The organisers were pleased with the outcome of the event and credited its success to the volunteers, organisations, performers, sponsors and donors.

The fundraiser raised around NZ$6000. All funds collected will be handed over to the Red Cross.

BSCT president Jeet Suchdev has appealed to the people to come forward and contribute to the relief operations by donating directly for the cause.

BSCT thanked the community organisations that contributed to make the event a success: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Swar Sadhana, Sai Sansthan, Creation Group, Indian Weekender, South Trust, Humm FM, Roopa Aur Aap, Radha Kanya for Decorations of the event, Future Print, Lotus Foreign Exchange, Kuldip Singh from Harcourt, Sandeep Aggarwal, Roop Darshan, Mayank Diwan from City Forex and Bharat Chandani.

For those who want to contribute to the relief fund can send their contributions to the following bank account: Bhartiya Samaj Account with a ref your name - Chennai.

12-3082-0124835-00, Bhartiya Senior Citizens

Measles alert from person who ignored quarantine instructions

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uckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) has confirmed a measles alert for Skycity Casino and Sugar Tree apartments after an individual ignored medical instructions to go into quarantine.

“By ignoring our instructions this person has put the health of the public at risk. There are many people who could potentially be exposed to measles and they will need to take immediate action if they suspect they are not immune to this disease,” says Medical Officer of Health, Dr Richard Hoskins.

People who have visited these locations are likely exposed to the disease and if not immune could get measles.

• Skycity Casino on February 9, 9.45 p.m.

- 12.00 a.m.: level 2 or level 3 and public areas • Sugar Tree apartments 9 on February 13: lifts and common areas If people are infected they will likely experience symptoms from February 17 onwards. The first symptoms are fever, and one or more days of a runny nose, cough and sore red eyes. After a few days a red blotchy rash starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.

“People who are feeling unwell and have visited these locations at the times suggested should immediately telephone their doctor or Healthline on 0800-611-116 for advice.

It is very important to phone in advance because measles is highly infectious and you could infect other people in the medical waiting room,” says Dr Richard Hoskins.

The illness is infectious before the rash appears and is easily transmitted. If you are not immune you can contract the disease by walking past an infected person or by standing or sitting next to them in a lift, café or waiting room.

People who visited Skycity Casino or Sugar Tree apartments during the specified dates and times will need to go into quarantine from February 17-27 in these circumstances: - If they are not immune to measles - If they are unsure about their measles immunity and haven’t had a blood test to confirm their immune status Those in quarantine should remain at home and call Healthline or their doctor for further advice. They cannot visit other people and should stay away from public places, events, social activities and school/ work environments.

Measles is a serious illness, and up to one in 10 people with measles need hospital treatment. There is a high risk of contracting the disease if you have not had the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccination or if you have received only one dose of this vaccine. Anyone born before 1969 is likely to be immune to the disease.

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Shirdi Sai Summit to focus on services to the community

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Rizwan Mohammad

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he Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan of New Zeland celebrates its fourteen years of establishment in New Zealand and is hosting a two-day summit on Saturday and Sunday February 27-28, 2016.

The Sai Temple in Auckland is one of the world’s largest Sai Temples and more than 40 delegates from different countries will be attending the event. The summit is organised at the temple at 12 Princes Street, Onehunga commencing from 10 am.

The theme of the summit for this year would be the ‘role of temples in the development of the community’. Since temples are built for the benefit of the community, the Shirdi Sai temple is looking for more avenues where the community can utilise and benefit from the services of the temple.

Retired IPS Officer Dr Chandra Bhanu Satpathy, well known as ‘Guru Ji’ will grace the event as the Chief Guest for the day. In his early years, Dr Satpathy has donned the role of the Director General of Police of Uttar Pradesh, India and is also the founder of Shirdi Sai Global Foundation.

Dr Satpathy, in his long fruitful journey spanning over a period of 27 years, has inspired to open more than 300 temples across the

Dr CB Satpathy in his long fruitful journey spanning over a period of 27 years has inspired to open more than 300 temples across the globe and globe and has done 315 ‘Pran has done Prathisthas’

315 ‘Pran Prathisthas’ (invoking life in idols).

Other prominent personalities that will take part in the summit are- Mr Sadashiv Lokhande, MP Shirdi, Maharastra and Dr Bawa Jain, Sec-General, World Council of Religious Leaders, USA. The event will focus on adopting various projects in the future keeping the community growth and development as the main agenda and focus. Community leaders, MPs and devotees will be present at the summit to give their ideas, suggestions and advice for the future projects to be undertaken.

The major meet of this kind was first held in Chicago in November, 2000. The current summit is the first of its kind happening in the Southern Hemisphere under the guidance of Guruji Dr C B

Satpathy. Delegates from India, USA, UK, Germany, Malaysia, Australia, and Canada will be attending the event during the next weekend. “The temple has been built with the contributions

from the community and it’s time to work more for the community in the true spirit of giving back to the society. The summit is being held to kick start the concept and make it an ongoing campaign, not just here but in every temple across the world” added Duvvuru Bhaskara Reddy, President of the Shri Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan of New Zealand Incorporated.

The sansthan will be releasing a souvenir to mark this momentous occasion and hopes to raise a huge NZ$12000 through it. The organisation has adopted the project of Starship Foundation and will be donating this money to the charity in the concluding session of the summit.

On the first day of the summit, the temple committee will give a presentation on Global Shirdi Sai Movement, and role of Social Media. The event will also discuss the theme ‘getting closer to Sadguru—role of literature/satsangh” On the second day of the summit the delegates will deliver presentations on the issues and challenges associated with management of temples and non profit organisations.

The 2nd session of the day will enlighten the audience about the community service initiatives being undertaken in USA, Europe, UK, Australia and India by Global Shirdi Sai Movement.

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19 February 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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Finance Minister to deliver Budget on May 26

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inance Minister Bill English this week confirmed Budget 2016 will be delivered on Thursday, May 26 and will be focused on delivering policies that support more jobs, higher incomes and opportunities for New Zealanders.

“This will be the National-led Government’s eighth Budget and it will deliver further policies to support a resilient and confident economy.”

Mr English says that while there are a number of positive signs in the domestic economy, there is still a lot of work to do.

“An additional 175,000 jobs were created in the last three years, and the average annual wage is up by almost $11,000 since National came into office.

Unemployment has fallen to 5.3 per cent and we are focused on bringing it lower.

“Budget 2016 will be about building on that success and ensuring that New

Zealand families continue to see the benefits of a stronger economy.”

Mr English says there will be no letup in the

Government’s ongoing commitment to spending restraint after achieving a surplus in 2014/15.

“We’ve managed to turn an $18.4 billion deficit in 2011 into a $414 million surplus in 2015, but our focus is now on paying down debt built up following the Global Financial Crisis and Canterbury Earthquakes.”

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Growing health workforce fit for the future

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new report shows the health workforce continues to grow and adapt to New Zealanders needs.

“New Zealanders need a health workforce that is well equipped to handle current and future demands,” says Health Minister Jonathan Coleman.

The Health of the Health Workforce 2015 report outlines key facts and trends in the sector.

It includes a snapshot headcount - the regulated health workforce is at a record 97,786 practising health practitioners in 2015. This includes 52,729 practising nurses, 14,678 doctors (including 4,592 GPs), and 3,068 midwives.

The medical workforce has grown by 17.5 per cent in the past six years, with 2,185 more practising doctors. In addition, there were 6,764 more nurses practising in 2015 compared to 2009.

“The report notes that well targeted funding increases are also working to help fill hard to staff roles,” says Dr Coleman.

“A record 169 doctors entered general practice training in 2015, compared to 124 doctors in 2014. The report also found new midwifery graduates are benefiting from

a revised Midwifery First Year of Practice programme that is now compulsory and includes one-on-one mentoring and support.

“The report also highlights areas where we face ongoing challenges, these include staffing rural services and an ageing health workforce.

“Work programmes to help address these issues continue. This includes the Voluntary Bonding Scheme which encourages health practitioners to practise in specialties and regions that are traditionally difficult to staff.”

The health workforce is supported by the extra $400 million being invested into the sector this year, taking the health budget to a record $15.9 billion.

The report can be found on the Ministry of Health website, www.health.govt.nz

NZ Tertiary College launches new qualifications

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ew Zealand Tertiary College (NZTC) will add, to its portfolio of qualifications in 2016, a six month Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Leadership and Management) and an 18 month Master of Early Childhood Education.

After consultation with over 330 early childhood professionals throughout New Zealand and beyond, NZTC identified the need for a postgraduate certificate that equips learners with management, mentoring and leadership skills specific to early childhood education, and a master’s degree studied through online coursework featuring topics focused on practical outcomes for students to implement in early childhood contexts.

The new qualifications have been widely welcomed by the early childhood sector as new coursework options to add to the current postgraduate provision for the profession while assisting with pathways to further study research and enhance career progression.

NZTC’s unique delivery of qualifications has been praised for providing further opportunities for professionals to balance their work and study commitments.

“NZTC continues to assess the needs of the early childhood sector and the best ways to support these. We are excited to offer a new Master of Early Childhood Education by coursework and Postgraduate Certificate in

NZTC’s unique delivery of qualifications has been praised for providing further opportunities for professionals to balance their work and study commitments.

Education (Leadership and Management) in support of our profession. We look forward to meeting with students in the coming months to discuss these new options,” commented NZTC Chief Executive Selena Fox. NZTC will begin delivering these qualifications in February 2016. For more information about these exciting new postgraduate study options, please visit www. nztertiarycollege.ac.nz or call (09) 520 4000 / (03) 366 8000.

www.iwk.co.nz | 19 February 2016

Seminar conducted to discuss immigration related issues

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Studywel Immigration conducts a seminar on immigration matters in Edenz Colleges

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tudywel Immigration Solutions Limited was invited by the management of Edenz Colleges, Auckland campus last week to brief their students on matters relating to immigration. The seminar was attended

She dispelled various myths particularly about the ‘spouse visa’ and informed the students that their spouse can come to New Zealand irrespective of the level of the course being pursued.

Mr Satvinder Pal Singh, the CEO of

by almost 150 students of the college and consisted of students from various nationalities pursuing various courses.

The seminar was hosted by Mrs Jyoti Arora (Ex-Principal Abacus Institute of Studies), a licensed Immigration Adviser and the Director of Studywel Immigration Solutions Limited, New Zealand.

Mrs Jyoti Arora was asked various questions from the students which mainly focussed on areas such as work during studies, working after studies and partnership based visitor and work visas— also referred to as ‘spouse visa’ in India.

the company and Mr Mrinal Mehra, the Business Development Manager of Studywel Immigration Solutions Limited were also present at the event. Students appreciated the advice they received in the seminar by Mrs Jyoti Arora.

Studywel Immigration is a New Zealand-based company situated at 36, Campbell Road Onehunga, Auckland. The company also has offices in India that carry forward the legacy of Studywel Education Private Limited, a company which is more than 15 years old.

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19 February 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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Burglary is not a minor crime Phil Goff Labour MP

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ike many New Zealanders, I have had the experience of coming home to find our house had been broken into and burgled.

It’s an awful feeling to have had your personal effects rifled through and stolen. You feel uneasy that criminals have been into your home and might come back. In our case, they did. They came back a week later to steal the new electronic goods they expected would have been bought to replace the ones they had stolen!

It makes me angry when I hear government or police suggest that burglary, unlike crimes against the person, is ‘a minor crime’. It isn’t, and it shouldn’t be treated as a low priority.

At last week’s Select Committee meeting on Law and Order, I raised this issue forcefully with the Police Commissioner. I pointed out that in each of the three Auckland Police Districts, crime resolution rates had fallen over the last four years and that in high volume crimes like burglary and car theft, the conviction rates for offenders were so low that professional criminals now simply feel that they can get away with it.

For burglaries, less than one in ten of these crimes in Auckland are

now being resolved by the Police.

That’s lower than at any time in the past and in any other part of the country. I was told that what I should be focused on was that there were less burglaries than in the past. That’s no consolation for the thousands of Aucklanders who have their homes broken into every year. I was told what the Police are focused on is preventing crime rather than solving it. I don’t buy that argument either.

Professional criminals don’t just commit a few burglaries. They commit hundreds of them. So each time you catch a recidivist criminal and lock him up, you prevent that person from going on to commit many more crimes.

If people think they are

going to be caught, that’s a huge deterrent. The problem is that they don’t. Resolving crime is the best way of preventing it in this area. What annoyed me most was the suggestion that we shouldn’t worry too much about low crime resolution because minor things like garden gnomes being stolen were being listed as burglaries.

Frankly, that just insults our intelligence. The constituents I speak to are angry because the crimes being committed against them are intrusive and serious.

It’s not good enough that crime resolution rates are getting worse and 90 per cent of the time the criminals who break into your homes are getting away with it.

It’s not fair on the Police to just

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put the blame on them. The fact is, as the Commissioner admitted last year, the Police has had to absorb $300 million in extra costs without getting the funding from the Government to cover those costs. In real, inflationadjusted terms the Police budget has been cut. Front-line Police know that. In a recent survey 80 per cent of them thought they no longer had the resources they needed to do the job. One of the primary responsibilities of any Government is to ensure the safety and security of its people.

The worsening crime resolution rates show that this responsibility isn’t being taken seriously and it’s Auckland that is getting the worst deal.

Hospitals under pressure with influx of people Winston Peters NZ First leader

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he National government’s open door immigration policy has brought with it wide-ranging consequences for all sectors of New Zealand society.

One that the government might not have foreseen was the impact on hospitals.

The situation has got so bad that New Zealand First believes a new policy must be enforced.

The policy is—when you go to a hospital seeking medical assistance prove that you are a New Zealand citizen, otherwise, sorry, you must pay.

A week or so back the Auckland District Health Board said they were struggling to deal with the enormous pressure being placed on their systems as a result of immigration. Large numbers of immigrants are flocking to the DHB’s hospitals seeking treatment for quite ordinary ailments which could be handed by a GP.

The Auckland DHB reported it is under full-on pressure 12 months of the year.

Last year nearly 100,000 immigrants came to live in New Zealand. Admittedly some of them were Kiwis returning home, but most were immigrants.

This means if New Zealand taxpayers who have paid taxes

all their lives go to our hospitals, they are having to join a queue comprising a large number of immigrants who have been in the country five minutes.

The unavoidable fact is the immigrants have worked out that if they visit a GP a charge would be required.

If they go to the hospitals instead, however, chances are, care will be provided free of charge.

New Zealand First says this must stop. It is only fair that immigrants should pay and hopefully, they will realise that they should be visiting the GP instead.

A second measure to improve this pressure on our hospitals is one New Zealand First has expressed for years: It is—put a

New Year, new direction needed Barry Coates

Green Party

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t’s the start of a new year and it’s time to look ahead. On one hand things look fine, especially the Black Caps limited over cricket results, but there are storms ahead for New Zealand.

Firstly, the economy is looking shaky.

The global economy is headed for difficult times, and New Zealand’s is vulnerable Continued dependence on exporting unprocessed commodities means that we are likely to suffer from falling prices. The dairy sector and the rural economy are already under pressure. The government’s push for more and more agricultural commodities, polluting our rivers and

converting down our forests to dairy farms, has been short-sighted and economically disastrous.

The government has also been pushing for more environmentally damaging coal mines and highly risky oil and gas exploration. Coal and oil prices have collapsed and there have been bankruptcies across the world, including the state-owned Solid Energy. Oil and gas exploration is at a standstill.

Our economy has become more dependent on financial speculation, inflated house prices, low value unprocessed commodities and polluting industries. The government’s short-sighted fiddling with the economy has failed to provide a sound foundation for the future, and our exports as a proportion of our economy have dropped since 2008. We need a new approach.

Tax the speculators, invest in our productive sectors, including the rapidly growing clean technology sectors where New Zealand could be leading the world, and build a smart and innovative

economy for the future, with good jobs and opportunities for young people.

Secondly, the gap between rich and poor has widened. Since 2008, wages and salaries have risen by 2.8% but house prices by over 80% (considerably higher in Auckland).

Those who don’t own a home are worse off, especially young people who can’t afford to buy a house. There are growing numbers of children living in poverty. Families are under pressure.

We can do better. We need to ensure that every child grows up in a warm, dry and

cap on immigration.

One final measure that would ease pressure on our health system is to require immigrants coming into New Zealand under the parent reunion category to take out private health insurance for 10 years. This is what happens in other countries and should be applied in New Zealand.

Tens of thousands of immigrant parents have entered New Zealand without being required to work or pay income taxes and these are the people most likely to use our health system.

New Zealanders are renowned for giving people a chance but this can be abused.

It is only fair and right that immigrant parents should have some self-support by way of private health insurance.

safe home. They should have opportunities for good education, decent health care and nutritious food. Our children are our future and we need to ensure that they get the best start in life. The Green Party has policy solutions that work. We are championing rights for tenants renting houses, home insulation and a basic ‘warrant of fitness’ to ensure homes are safe, food in schools and community hubs to ensure that health care is available, and decent wages for working people. We need economic policies that work for all, not just big business. We need to look after people, not just regard them as expendable labour. And we need to look after our environment and tackle climate change, not pollute our rivers, seas and atmosphere. See more good Green policy at www.greens.org.nz.

Barry Coates is next on the list to get into Parliament for the Green Party.

He is coordinator of It’s Our Future campaign and a former CEO of Oxfam New Zealand.

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www.iwk.co.nz | 19 February 2016

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Young athletes get funding boost

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n Auckland Council Regional Sports and Recreation Grant of $208,000 has been awarded to the John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams (FYFOD) Foundation, to support its general operations.

“We are pleased to support FYFOD, which runs five programmes providing accessible sport and recreation experiences for 7-18 year olds across South and West Auckland,” says Auckland Council Parks and Recreation Committee Chair, Councillor Christine Fletcher.

“FYFOD’s programmes, which have been going since 2008, build character development, life enhancing values, good health and community cohesion,” she says.

FYFOD Foundation Chairman Richard Walker says the grant of $208,000 per year for two years will ensure the foundation has a stable infrastructure in place to support the expansion of FYFOD’s programmes further across Auckland, improving health and recreation outcomes for young people.

“We already reach more than 70,000 children from 80 primary and 12 secondary schools in

Auckland South each year and this grant will help expand our services across South and West Auckland,” he says.

“With five programmes currently running and others planned, the future is very positive.”

FYFOD’s flagship Community Swim programme has delivered 750,183 free swimming lessons to primary school children.

The foundation’s Primary Sport programme reaches 20,000 young people each year and its Throw for Gold programme is being extended to include running and jumping components.

About community grants Auckland Council recognises the vital role community groups and organisations play in helping Auckland become the world’s most liveable city.

Grants are one way that the council contributes to a thriving community sector, by supporting organisations to deliver a wide range of services, projects and events that benefit Aucklanders.

Council’s Community Grants Policy came into effect on 1 July 2015.

This policy created a fairer, simpler and more accessible approach to accessing council grants by introducing three main grant types: • local grants, administered by local boards; • regional grants for projects, activities or events that have a regional impact; and • multi-board grants, for projects spanning several board areas but not the whole of Auckland.

This grant was awarded under the Sports and Recreation Regional Grants policy.

In case of disaster… help yourself

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uckland faces risks from a wide range of disasters, from megastorms, floods and fires to Zika-like pest infestations and pandemics.

Recent Australian emergencies have shown that a city prepared for an emergency is a city where the residents and communities understand the need to help themselves until help arrives.

Auckland Council’s Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) committee chairperson Councillor Sharon Stewart has launched a draft plan to make the city more resilient to emergencies and is calling for public involvement.

“The draft CDEM Group Plan outlines how we could build resilience over the next five years.

It’s a guide to get Auckland ready, prepared, responsive, engaged and able to recover well from disasters that could affect our city,” she says.

“Council is leading this initiative to build a safer and more resilient Auckland but we can’t do it alone. It’s important that everyone takes responsibility— from families and individuals, to businesses, private organisations and government.”

Auckland Civil Defence and Emergency Management Director John Dragicevich says the new plan aims to increase social resilience—the ability of our community to cope with a disaster—by improving community communication channels, increasing the public’s awareness of risks and increasing individual preparedness.

“As a city, we have one of the best civil defence plans in the world and we are continuing to develop it, yet fewer than 10 percent of Aucklanders have developed their own emergency provisions,” he says.

“It’s been ten years since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and that city’s population has still not recovered.

We need to protect our population of 1.57 million people from 180 different cultures so that, should disaster strike, more than just our infrastructure will survive—our communities will also.”

The draft CDEM Group Plan (2016 – 2021) is now open for public consultation. Aucklanders are encouraged to contribute by providing their feedback on shapeauckland.co.nz before 18 April, 2016.

Help guide Auckland’s direction for 2016/2017 Each year we set our budget to meet future growth and deliver the services that council provides.

As part of our Annual Budget consultation we want your feedback on rates, the Interim Transport Levy and local board activities and priorities for 2016/2017.

Visit shapeauckland.co.nz to have your say and find out how you can provide your feedback in person at one of the Have Your Say events in your local board area.

Have your say by 4pm on Thursday 24 March, 2016.

For more information, to provide feedback or for a full list of Have Your Say events, visit shapeauckland.co.nz, or your local library, service centre or local board office.

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19 February 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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Planning advice in the wake of the Valentine’s Day quake in Christchurch

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ust a week out from the fifth anniversary of the February 22, 2011 earthquake, Christchurch was rocked on Valentine’s Day by a severe 5.7 shake which jolted everyone’s emergency country’s plans.

The experience of recent earthquakes in Christchurch has shown the importance of both individual and collective preparedness, New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI) expert says. Dr Wendy Saunders, an NZPI member and natural hazards planner with GNS Science, says research shows people underestimate the consequences of an event and overestimate their personal preparedness.

Community resilience is enhanced by social connections, pre-disaster - however, people generally adapt to the new conditions.

This is enhanced through good connections within their neighbourhoods and workplaces, Dr Saunders says.

“Due to its location and environment, New Zealand faces many potential disasters. In some cases, such as a weather-related or volcanic disaster, there may

Photo taken by Make Lemonade staff following the February 22, 2011 earthquake that claimed 185 lives.

be time for a warning. But an earthquake or a tsunami close to land could strike without warning.

“All disasters have the potential to cause disruption, damage property and take lives. So it’s vital that you prepare now. The website www.getthru.govt.nz/ provides details on how to get ready for a disaster, including – find out about possible disasters that could affect you; make and practice a household emergency plan; have some emergency survival items stored at home; and a getaway kit in case you need to leave home in a hurry.

“People in Christchurch need to be aware that earthquakes will continue to shake the area for some

time yet. As such, they need to be prepared, both at home and work, for the unnerving earthquake pay us a visit, and associated with that the possible disruption of services.

Remember – drop, cover, hold in the event of a large earthquake.

“Information on preparedness can be found on the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management website http:// www.civildefence.govt.nz/getready/). There are key messages that all businesses should understand prior to initiating or reviewing continuity planning arrangements. It is not an option to be unprepared. Disasters do happen, but you can make the mess less and hasten a return to

normalcy through prior planning and committing to mitigation and preparedness activity. This can save time and money in the long term. “Risk assessment must consider risks posed by external factors; particularly interdependencies or out-sourced services/arrangements. Business continuity must protect business assets - staff, equipment, facilities, IT systems, reputation, marketshare and liquidity. Business continuity must protect both internal and external service capability, particularly in support of civil defence and emergency management critical activity such as emergency services and medical facilities. Forecast and prioritise external demand before the event.

“Planning can only be effective if developed co-operatively with all business stakeholders so that responsibilities and roles are clearly understood and assumptions validated.

Risk, asset, and emergency management or continuity planning processes must develop across an entire organisation, from hazard assessment through

to exercising, audit, review and feedback.

“The replacement Christchurch District Plan which is currently being heard by the Independent Hearings Panel is taking a riskbased approach to natural hazards, where activities become more restrictive as the risk increases.

These proposed restrictions for private property account for a higher level risk given the current aftershock environment.

“I support these types of land use restrictions on development to ensure continued sustainable and safer development. While we cannot account for all risks, we can and should plan for the most likely and damaging risks to protect people and property.

“As far as coastal areas in New Zealand, we are susceptible to tsunami, from both local source earthquakes as well as those from distant sources around the Pacific.

Getting ready before a tsunami strikes will help reduce damage to your home and business and help you survive. People should develop a Household Emergency Plan and have a Getaway Kit ready,” Dr Saunders says.

20 Indians receive New Zealand citizenship in Christchurch One of those functions which give me absolute joy, an honour, a privilege— Lianne Dalziel, Mayor of Christchurch Gaurav Sharma

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n a ceremony high on symbolism, 20 Indians received their New Zealand citizenship certificates from the Mayor of Christchurch Lianne Dalziel in Christchurch on Monday, February 15, at city’s prestigious St Margaret’s College. In all, 178 people from various nationalities became the country’s newest citizens. After the opening address by the Mayor, the candidates took an oath of allegiance or an affirmation of allegiance— depending upon whether they were religious or not—to respect the rights, freedoms and laws of New Zealand. As a special touch and symbolic of becoming a New Zealander and choosing to put roots down in this country, all new citizens were presented with a native tree to plant at home.

Surinder Tandon and Archna Tandon from Christchurch Multicultural Council, and Poto Williams, the labour MP from Christchurch East, were also present at the occasion.

Noting that she is overjoyed to be the first to congratulate the new citizens, Dalziel added, “There are

certain functions that I attend as Mayor of Christchurch that are an absolute joy, an honour, a privilege. These include the bravery awards, the civic awards, and particularly this one—the citizenship ceremonies.”

To those new citizens who might be a bit sad about leaving their roots behind, the Mayor empathised and said, “None of you have severed ties with your home countries or left anything behind. In fact, you have brought all aspects of your culture to enrich New Zealand’s culture.

It has made this country more colourful and vibrant.”

Apart from the lifestyle benefits, a major attraction of New Zealand citizenship is the visa-free or visa on arrival access to 170 countries and territories.

“I would not say that can be the only consideration. But certainly it is an added perk,” said Juhi Hooda, who hails from Delhi, works at Fletcher Construction and first came to New Zealand in 2008.

An interesting case is of Dr Punam Dahiya, a veterinary doctor from Sonipat in Haryana.

She gave up her Indian citizenship and became a Singaporean citizen during her stay in that country till 2010.

“I moved here six-years back when my husband Professor Madhav Bhatia, got an opportunity to head the Inflammation Research Group at the University

of Otago, Christchurch. He has lived in seven countries all over the world. But there’s something about New Zealand that finally, we have a place which we can call home and put our roots down. He took up the citizenship last year and I have followed him today,” she noted. But call it emotional

attachment or familial ties. Letting go of an Indian passport is tough.

A case in point is Mohammad Shamim Siddiqui and his family who immigrated to New Zealand in 1999 from Jamshedpur. A hotelmanagement graduate, he worked in the hospitality sector till 2012, and has since then shifted to the taxi-business. He has a 12-yearold son, who was born here, and a 21-year-old daughter who studies in the University of Otgao in Dunedin.

Why it took him 17 years to take up New Zealand citizenship, Siddiqui exclaimed, “India is not only my country. It’s a part of me. My culture, my values, my identity. Everything that I am emanates from India. So it was not an easy decision.”

Elaborating on the reasons, his wife, Rehana Parween, who sometimes wear a hijab, concluded, “Apart from the safety that I feel for my young daughter, New Zealand is so much better in integrating and respecting people from other faiths. Especially being a Muslim, we feel so comfortable here. There will always be aberrations. But in general, Kiwis are a very welcoming lot.”

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www.iwk.co.nz | 19 February 2016

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Why voting for flag change is voting for an identity W

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Kumar Suresh

hat is New Zealand to the rest of the world? I am sure many of us would have heard some strange answers from outsiders.

One common reference that comes up all the time while geographically placing our country, is the proximity to Australia.

We have always remained as a tiny nation under the shadow of our Trans-Tasman ‘older’ brother neighbour. The equation becomes foggier when one tries to explain the difference between the flags of the two great nations, which is strikingly similar.

In 1984, when Australian Prime minister Bob Hawke visited Ottawa, he was greeted with a New Zealand flag.

According to the current Prime minister of New Zealand, John Key, he has been seated and welcomed more than once under the Australian flag during international summits.

One can imagine the frustration one must have experienced in such circumstances and hence, it is the time for us to separate ourselves from being ‘a small country beside Australia’ to an independent and proud country. If one looks beyond the argument that our flag looks similar to the Australian flag, there are many more reasons, which pop up glaring at us.

The Union Jack in the current flag

has a touch of colonialism, which is anachronistic and doesn’t represent the values of independence and freedom which our country stands for.

It signifies the heritage of the Great Britain but fails to value the essence of Maori and other ethnic groups, which have contributed immensely to the country’s heritage and growth. Even our servicemen and women who are buried in battlefield cemeteries across the other side of the world have the silver fern engraved on their headstones, not the New Zealand flag.

Therefore, it becomes imperative that we have a flag that is simple but yet powerful enough to take our story and our people to the world.

It is a chance for us to come out of the Australian shadow. The best example for this is Canada. It changed its flag in 1965 to a simple maple leaf, which makes it instantly simple, recognizable and effective.

It still remains a part of commonwealth and a constitutional monarchy under Queen Elizabeth II. It is once in a lifetime opportunity to opt for a change that will change the way the world would look at our country. We are the country of firsts. It will be for the first time in the world history that a country will choose its flag through a democratic process.

Council grant scores goal for New Zealand Hockey

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he first of Auckland Council’s new regional sports and recreation grants has been awarded to Hockey New Zealand, providing a $40,000 boost to its Auckland-wide development programme.

“Hockey is one of the most widely played sports in Auckland, involving more than 17,000 school children, 6,300 Summer hockey players of all ages and more than 10,000 Winter hockey players,” says Councillor Christine Fletcher, Chair of Council’s Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee, which oversees the grants.

“It’s the kind of healthy, outdoor activity we are trying to encourage with these grants and we are confident that Hockey New Zealand, in collaboration with North Harbour Hockey, Auckland Hockey and Counties-Manukau Hockey, is ideally placed to deliver a high standard of programmes for Aucklanders,” she says.

Hockey New Zealand Acting Chief Executive Ian Francis says his organisation is focused on making hockey a more accessible and enjoyable sport, delivering programmes in school, clubs and at association level for all ages.

“We are very pleased Auckland Council sees the value in supporting our regional development programme with this $40,000 grant towards our costs,” he says.

“The primary role of the regional development programme is to develop hockey participation and robust delivery structures including coaching, umpiring and volunteering that provide easy and affordable community-wide access to hockey.”

About community grants Auckland Council recognises the vital role community groups and organisations play in helping Auckland become the world’s most liveable city.

Grants are one way that the council contributes to a thriving community sector, by supporting organisations to deliver a wide range of services, projects and events that benefit Aucklanders.

Council’s Community Grants Policy came into effect on 1 July 2015. This policy created a fairer, simpler and more accessible approach to accessing Council grants by introducing three main grant types: Local grants, administered by local boards; Regional grants for projects, activities or events that have a regional impact; and Multi-board grants, for projects spanning several board areas but not the whole of Auckland.

This grant was awarded under the Sports and Recreation Regional Grants policy.

New Zealand flag has changed three

to be a New Zealander in the 21st century.

times before but this time around, we have

Vote for change this March. Have your say

a genuine opportunity to express what it is

and vote to change the flag.

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19 February 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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McCully to visit Fiji

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New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully

agricultural sector.

“While in Suva I will also meet with opposition representatives

and Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Dame Meg Taylor,” Mr McCully says.

iji Parliament unanimously agreed last week for Fiji to ratify the Paris Agreement on climate change.

The agreement followed a motion by Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum who informed Parliament that United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-Moon had invited world leaders to attend the signing ceremony of the ratification of the agreement at the UN HQ in New York in April.

“I move that Parliament approve the ratification of the Paris Agreement without being referred to the committee on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

“United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-Moon has invited all world leaders for a signing ceremony on April 22, 2016 for the historic climate change agreement that was reached in Paris in December last year.”

Koya leads 2016 Tourism Fiji road show in India

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ourism Fiji commenced its annual Roadshow on Friday February 5, 2016 in the city of Chennai, India. This year the emphasis is on creating awareness on the Singapore launch of direct flights to commence on Tuesday 5th April 2016. The Roadshow will conclude on Saturday 13 February and will include the six (6) cities of Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, New Delhi and Kolkata.

The week-long roadshow is being led by the Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Honorable Faiyaz Siddiq Koya and includes the participation of government officials, Tourism Fiji, Fiji Airways, Rosie Holidays, Tour Managers, Pacific Destinations, The Pearl South Pacific Resort, Mana Island Resort & Spa, and Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa. The core role of the Roadshows are

to educate our travel partners on destination Fiji.

In opening the roadshow, Minister Koya emphasised the importance of India to Tourism Fiji’s long-term strategy to boost visitor arrivals.

Also, India is central to Fiji’s plan to expand into non-traditional markets as it has been identified as having great growth potential which will further be realised with the newly introduced Fiji Airways direct flight to Singapore in April.

This was seen to be the biggest impediment to developing the Indian tourism market after previous roadshows.

There is such great potential for growth in the Indian market as Fiji is able to provide unique experiential products available in Fiji for every type of visitor. Past year activities in the market have contributed significantly to the increased visitor arrivals this year

Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Faiyaz Siddiq Koya.

which will grow further with more investment in branding activities and the combined efforts of our trade partners.

Therefore in exploring the Indian market, the Fiji delegation during the course of the next few days, via the Roadshow, will promote our diverse range of products that make Fiji unique and the destination every Indian tourist should visit.

The year will see the inclusion of two new cities namely Ahmedabad and Bangalore. Minister Koya

attributed the Fijian people as the key element for Fiji apart from the pristine environment, beautiful sandy beaches and diverse culture.

He stated that our people are what sets us apart as we still maintain our distinct culture in dress, language and culinary habits.

Our genuine hospitality and infectious nature spreads the happiness bug and promotes our tagline of ‘Fiji – Where Happiness Finds You’.

Akbar meets Indian delegation

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iji’s plan to build a regional Barefoot College is taking shape through discussions held in Suva last week between the founder of the Barefoot College in Tilonia, Rajasthan, India, Professor Bunker Roy and the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Rosy Akbar. Accompanying Professor Roy on this visit to Fiji is the chief executive officer of Barefoot College International, Meagan

Source: Fiji Sun

Fallone. During their meeting last week, Ms Akbar met Professor Roy and Ms Fallone along with the key local stakeholders to discuss the way forward on building the Fijian Barefoot College Pacific.

Also present during the meeting was the acting Indian High Commissioner to Fiji, Jagdev Singh Rana and representatives from UNDP and UN Women. Ms Akbar and Prof Roy travelled to the Northern Division

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oreign Minister of New Zealand, Murray McCully will travel to Suva to meet with Fiji’s Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.

“This will be my first visit to Suva since the 2014 elections and it is an opportunity to discuss our ongoing re-engagement directly with the government of Fiji,” Mr McCully says.

“My discussions with Minister Kubuabola and other government representatives will cover a range of matters including regional issues, trade, and our aid and development programme.

“Fiji is New Zealand’s largest trading partner in the Pacific and a growing number of New Zealand businesses are active there. We are ramping up our development relationship and I plan to visit the Koronivia Agriculture Station near Suva, where New Zealand is looking to support an upgrade to help boost Fiji’s

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Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Rosy Akbar (third from left), with the Founder of Barefoot College International, Bunker Roy (2nd from left), while visiting the Northern Division.

to scope a suitable site for the construction of the college.

He said on the first day, the agreement would be open for signatures which coincided with the observance of the International Mother Earth Day observed in many countries as Earth Day. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum told Parliament the secretary general intended to use the occasion of the signing ceremony to further engage leaders for business and civil society to put the new agreement into action.

“The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change 1992 aims to achieve in accordance to the relevant provision of the convention, the stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that prevents dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.”

A total of 196 states are party to the agreement.

Fiji, Thailand to explore investment opportunities

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iji and Thailand say they will explore new markets among ASEAN and Pacific countries, taking advantage of each other’s position as regional hubs. This was announced during a meeting between Thailand Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives General Chatchai Sarikulya and his Fiji counterpart Inia Seruiratu.

The meeting was a follow on from an MOU on agriculture and fisheries co-operation signed between the two countries last year. Mr Seruiratu said Fiji’s bilateral co-operation relationship with Thailand was getting stronger and Fiji would look to capitalise on this. “In the areas of trade we hope that Fiji can become a hub for Thai in terms of their investment and distribution and of course we look to Thailand as well,” Mr Seruiratu said.

Ms Akbar reiterated that establishing Barefoot College Pacific is a significant development project for Fiji.

For 40 years, the Barefoot College has demonstrated impacts of demystifying and introducing modern technologies in the rural areas through provision of rain water harvesting, solar electrification and livelihood development.

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www.iwk.co.nz | 19 February 2016

From Fiji to Nepal with love

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oing things for other people whom you do not know gives great pleasure, especially when those strangers smile at you and say thank you.

This may not be applicable to everyone but there are some people in our midst who find pleasure in helping others in need.

With the genuine desire to help people in need, Ranjila Singh embarked on a journey to a different corner of the world to assist people who were affected by an earthquake.

The country she decided to go to and volunteer her services was Nepal, which had been struck by an earthquake on April 25 last year that killed more than 8800 people and injured thousands.

Mrs Singh went to Auckland in New Zealand in December last year to visit her daughter Karishma Singh, who had arranged for their trip to Nepal.

On December 23, they left Auckland and stayed in Hong Kong for three days before heading towards the Himalayan region.

“The whole project was planned by my daughter who is an accountant in New Zealand. She contacted Projects Abroad and made all the necessary arrangements for our trip,” said Mrs Singh.

“We paid our own airfares to Nepal, for accommodation and meals there and for other things like buying bottled water.

“We stayed at Baghdol from December 28 last year to January 13 this year to reconstruct a school. We did all the work in reconstructing the school. I even carried bricks on my head.

“There are about 85 per cent Hindus in Baghdol and I opted to go for the school reconstruction as it was a matter of children’s education. When we went there, children were studying in makeshift tents and it was very, very cold there, well for us it was. It was a major thing for me to be involved in the reconstruction of the school and I interacted with volunteers from other countries and I made new friends in Nepal.”

Mrs Singh, 57, of Vitogo in Lautoka, said their day started early in the morning and breakfast was served at 7am before they left for the school site. Although meat was available in Baghdol, she preferred to be on a vegetarian diet, with rice and dhal being the main menu every day. They worked from Monday to Friday and they had the weekends to themselves, time they spent exploring the mountainous region.

“It was very cold and we had to wear a few pairs of clothes to stay warm. But the place itself is very beautiful,” said Mrs Singh. “We climbed a mountain which is about 2000 feet above sea level and it was amazing when going up. The sun rising from behind the Himalayas was very beautiful.”

Mrs Singh said like other volunteers, she and her daughter drank either bottled or boiled water while in Nepal for obvious reasons. Asked what she gained from the trip, she said: “You know, doing things for others whom you don’t know gives you great pleasure, especially when you go out and see what people experience.”

“People who have that extra money should do something for somebody else, someone whom you don’t even know.

“At least people with that extra money should take a day out for those in need. It gives great pleasure in doing so, helping people whom you don’t even know,” said Mrs Singh.

Karishma Singh said she decided to go to Nepal with her mother because while growing up, she had always read a lot about the country, its rulers, history of the Gurkhas and its mountains.

“It only makes you wonder what it is to see the world’s most trusted and feared soldiers (Gurkhas) and being at such high altitudes,” she said. It was always a dream to go there. However, when I actually went there it was completely different to what I

could have ever imagined.

“It was really like walking into an antic shop as the country is so rich in its culture and its own way of life.” Ms Singh said she gave Nepal two and a half weeks of her time but in return she got friends from different

parts of the world and learnt to be patient.

“As young people, we are so caught up in our daily life of working to pay bills and maintaining our social life.

“We forget to appreciate the little things like our surroundings and the people around us. We forget to take time out and think what have I achieved and where we want to be in life or just stop and appreciate the people around us.

“Life is not about racing to win alone.

It’s about moving forward with your loved ones. Being in Nepal made me realise that how life is so simple — the less you have, the less you make your life complicated.”

Ms Singh said Nepal was an amazing

country and she was saddened to see how people were suffering there after last April’s earthquake. Mrs Singh also said that she would go back to Nepal in time to come to see the progress of students studying at the school she helped reconstruct.

Apart from travelling to Nepal at their own expenses, the mother and daughter also sacrificed their Christmas and New Year celebrations with families and friends.

Even though they spent thousands of dollars to travel to the Himalayan region and volunteer their services, they are satisfied that children now have a proper building to study in instead of being out in the cold.

Source: Fiji Times

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INDIANEW ZEALAND

Thought of the week

The man who is born with a talent which he is meant to use finds his greatest happiness in using it.

—Johann von Goethe

Editorial

From the desk of the Managing Editor

“

When we hear about extremely successful people, we mostly hear about their great accomplishments—not about the many mistakes they made and the failures they experienced along the way. In fact, most successful people throughout history are also those who have had the most failures. That is no coincidence. People who achieve great feats, no matter what field, understand that failure is not a stumbling block but a stepping-stone on the road to success. There is no success without risk and failure. We often fail to see this truth because the outcome is more visible than the process—we see the final success and not the many failures that led to it.

When I acknowledge that fulfilling my potential must involve some failure, I no longer run away from risks and challenges. The choice is a simple one: learn to fail, or fail to learn.” —Tal Ben-Shahar from Choose the Life You Want When I read these lines, I thought they were so timely given that we are now initiating the call for nominations for the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame. But it is true that whenever we acknowledge or appreciate someone for their accomplishments, it’s important to learn about their struggles and perseverance that lie behind the achievements. Having understood that, I think it is imperative that we understand that all failures are stepping stones to the ultimate victory and treat them exactly like that. Rather than let failures dampen or break our spirits, they should be the reason we bounce back.

Speaking of bouncing back, the resilience of Christchurch as a community has been marvellous and exemplary. Even as we draw closer to the fifth anniversary of the big quake there has been news that the city has been rocked again. It is, however, heartening to see that amidst all this, the Canterburians do not let it dampen their spirits.

We are proud to announce that we now join these troopers and will be featuring a regular page with news and events from down south. Look out for Southline and more news on what we are getting up to down-south in our subsequent issues.

We carry a story this time about the flag referendum and how it is a great opportunity to have your say. Needless to say, that there are both pros and cons of the change and whichever side of the fence you might sit at, it is important to have your say because it matters.

We have put together our regular columns and stories which we hope you enjoy.

The weather is changing again and it’s important to take care of our health and also heed to any warnings and suggestions that our doctors may give us. I hope everyone is aware of the measles alert and are keeping a close check on your children, friends and family members.

Pick of the week

A Ponderous Panda

A red panda appears to be deep in thought at the Darjeeling Zoo in West Bengal, India, home to a breeding center for the endangered animals. Photograph by Surendra Pradhan, National Geographic Your Shot

Take care of yourselves.

Until next time.

Giri Gupta

Indian Weekender : Volume 7 Issue 46 Publisher: Kiwi Media Group Limited Managing Editor: Giri Gupta | girigupta@xtra.co.nz Editor: Annu Sharma | editor@indianweekender.co.nz Chief Reporter: Swati Sharma | reporter@indianweekender.co.nz Reporter: Rizwan Mohammad | iwk.rizwan@gmail.com Reporter: Esha Chanda | iwk.eshac@gmail.com Reporter: Kumar Suresh | iwk.kumar@gmail.com Chief Technical Officer: Rohan Desouza | rohan@indianweekender.co.nz Sr Graphics and Layout Designer: Mahesh Kumar | mahesh@indianweekender.co.nz Graphic Designer: Yashmin Chand | designer@indianweekender.co.nz Accounts and Admin.: Farah Khan | accounts@indianweekender.co.nz Sales and Marketing: 022 3251630 / 021 1507950 | sales@indianweekender.co.nz Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher is not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearing in the publication Views expressed in the articles are solely of the authors and do not in any way represent the views of the team at the Indian Weekender Indian Weekender is published by Kiwi Media Group, 98 Great South Road, Auckland Printed at Horton Media, Auckland Copyright 2015. Kiwi Media Group. All Rights Reserved.

Word: Cuzzie Bro Meaning: A person who is your best mate/friend.

Usage: He’s my cuzzie bro!

Tip from the trenches 7 tips for giving the best massage

• Always use massage oil or lotion.

• Start at the lower back and work up.

• Pay attenton to their pressure preference.

• Knead muscles while feeling for knots.

• Work out knots by applying more pressure. Use thumbs to smooth the knot downwards.

• Use both hands to massage the arms one at a time. Massage all the way down to their fingertips before going back up.

• Finish at their shoulders and neck by working out any kins.

HALL OF FAME 2016

www.iwk.co.nz | 19 February 2016

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Inviting nominations for Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame 2016 Black

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K IW

I I NDI A

N

Established 2013

The Indian Weekender calls upon nominations for those who have built a road to glory for themselves and left a path for the coming generations to tread on. Touching the lives of thousands and enriching society with their being. Bringing fame and respect to New Zealand and the Kiwi-Indian community. The Indian Weekender invites nominations for such personalities from the community for getting inducted into the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame 2016.

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The guidelines, which need to be adhered to, for nominations, are as follows: 1.

He/she needs to have an undisputable recognition in his or her field of work.

2. Nominated by a nominator of repute. Further, the nominator has to be in confirmation with the nominee.

3. The nominator has to provide their full contact details. No anonymous applications will be entertained.

4. All fields of work are welcome. For the purposes of this award, ‘field of work’ can be politics, business, sports, art, culture, or any profession.

5. The definition of Kiwi Indian, for the purposes of this award, hereby, is defined as follows: any person of Indian origin, from any part of the world, who has settled here in New Zealand. To be of Indian origin, at least one of the parents of the nominee have to be Indian, by blood. Thereby making the nominee of Indian lineage.

6. The nominee must have either a Permanent Residency (PR), or Citizenship of New Zealand to be eligible for consideration.

7. The nominee should have no prior convictions.

8. Age is no bar; for minors, achievers under the age of 18, parental consent will be required.

9. The successful candidate will be required to attend the ceremony in person. In case a person is not able to attend, due to any unforeseen circumstances, the jury will use its discretion.

10. The jury’s decision will be final and binding; and cannot be challenged.

Entry Form: Form for nominating candidates for induction to Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame 2016 Nominator Details

Nominee Details

Name of the Nominator

Name of the Nominee

About the Nominee For how long do you know the Nominee?

Professional details of the Nominator

Age of Nominee

Why do you think the nominee should be inducted in the Hall of Fame 2016?

Please clarify the self-achievement that the nominee has earned in his / her area of profession / occupation.

Sex M F

Address & Contact number of Nominator *

Address & Contact number of Nominee * How do you think that the Nominee had added fame & respect to the Kiwi-Indian community?

Declaration by Nominator I have got confirmation from the Nominee for this application.

Nominee has accepted to appear in person for the ceremony, if he/she gets accepted for the induction to Hall of Fame 2016.

Yes No

Yes No

I hereby declare that the above information is true to the best of my knowledge. I also allow Indian Weekender and the Jury to use the information provided for background checks and to contact either me or the Nominee for the purpose of getting any more information.

Signed:

What to do next?

Please take a print out of this form, sign and send to us at: Jury Panel, Hall of Fame 2016 98, Great South Road, Epsom, Auckland

(Add extra pages to this form if required.)

For details contact Indian Weekender on 09-2137335 or go to: www.indianweekender.co.nz

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INDIA

19 February 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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One soldier dies every month in Siachen Abheet Sethi & Trisha Jalan

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ith the death of Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad and nine of his comrades, India has lost nearly one soldier every month due to avalanches or extreme climatic conditions in the Siachen Glacier, since first sending troops to the contested Himalayan area 32 years ago to counter the Pakistani Army.

Overall, 869 Indian troops died serving at the Glacier between 1984 and December 2015, according to data presented in the Lok Sabha. The death of 10 soldiers of the Madras regiment on February 3, 2016—buried under an avalanche that struck their post at an altitude of 20,500 feet—and three others this year brings India’s Siachen casualties to 883.

The toll includes 33 officers, 54 junior commissioned officers and 782 other ranks.

The number of troops killed in Siachen has declined steadily, from 24 in 2011 to 5 in 2015, according to Lok Sabha data. All of these are a result of avalanches or extreme climatic conditions, not enemy fire. The deaths this

year were from avalanches.

India has spent Rs. 6,566 ($4.5 billion) crore between 2012-13 and 2014-15 on clothing and mountaineering equipment— much of it imported—for soldiers at Siachen.

The world’s highest battlefield— but the battle is mostly with the weather.

The Siachen glacier, situated in a Himalayan region astride the India-Pakistan border, holds the dubious distinction of being the world’s highest battlefield.

Siachen’s forbidding conditions have claimed the lives of many Pakistani soldiers as well. Most recently, in 2012, an avalanche hit a Pakistani army camp at the strategically important Gayari sector killing 140 people, including 129 soldiers.

Altitudes reach as high as 22,000 feet (The top of Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak, is at 29,000 ft) and temperatures dip below -45 degrees Celsius.

Oxygen levels are low, and soldiers are prone to suffer from memory loss, blurred speech, frost bite, lung infection and severe depression. They also deal with the dangers of crevasses (long cracks or fractures in ice surface),

especially during the summer months.

Transporting the most basic supplies in these conditions is an arduous task, with some posts accessible only by helicopters.

A few posts use pulleys to hoist supplies up the mountainside.

During winter, when land routes close, ageing, light Cheetah helicopters are the only means of food and ammunition supplies and emergency evacuations.

Nearly 3,000-4,000 Indian troops from three battalions serve year round. Each battalion spends up to three months on the Glacier after acclimatization.

The high monetary and human costs of deployment, have prompted calls for the Glacier’s demilitarisation.

However, mistrust between India and Pakistan has prevented that.

“The decision on Siachen is based on the security of the

nation”, said Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar recently. “I am disturbed by the loss of life, but I think that due to this, some other solution (withdrawal) would not be the proper analysis.”

(In arrangement with IndiaSpend.org, a data-driven, non-profit, public interest journalism platform. Abheet Sethi & Trisha Jalan are writers based in Mumbai. The views expressed are personal.)

Tearful adieu to Siachen braveheart in Karnataka

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housands of people on February 12, bid a tearful adieu to Siachen braveheart Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad as his mortal remains were buried in his native village near Array Dharwad (Karnataka) with state and military honours.

As Koppad’s body was lowered into the grave, a 21-gun salute was given amid the sounding of bugles by 20 soldiers from the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre at Begalvi, which was preceded by a brief ceremony at Betadur in Kundagol taluk.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Home Minster G. Parameshwara,

union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Ananth Kumar, leader of opposition Jagadish Shettar and other dignitaries joined the grieving family in paying homage to Koppad.

Koppad died in an army hospital in New Delhi on February 11, three days after he was rescued and flown from the

Siachen Glacier on February 9, where he remained buried for six days when an avalanche struck Sonam Post on February 3.

Earlier, the body was kept at Hubli Nehru auditorium to enable the public to pay their last respects to the gritty soldier who battled for life after lying buried under tonnes of snow at the world’s highest battlefield.

Koppad was posted in the 19th Battalion of the Madras Regiment, which he joined 13 years ago.

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INDIA

www.iwk.co.nz | 19 February 2016

Replicate Silicon Valley to spur entrepreneurship: Ratan Tata

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tate governments should try to replicate benefits offered by hubs like the Silicon Valley in the US to spur entrepreneurship, Tata Sons chairman emeritus Ratan Tata said on Monday.

“We need research centres to encourage youngsters to innovate, a venture-capital led financial environment to help entrepreneurs and industrial parks with benefits like those in Silicon Valley,” Tata said at a panel discussion on investing in Maharashtra at the ‘Make in India Week’ event in Mumbai.

Lamenting that infrastructure in Maharashtra failed to keep pace

with the growth, Tata said for him, infrastructure was both physical and growth enabling.

“Over the years, where Maharashtra has failed is its infrastructure has not kept pace with growth.

“What we lacked is thinking big in skilling innovation and infrastructure for the growth

that we could achieve,” Tata said at the event, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the state government.

“I will work with the industry to promote research and development in the state,” Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on the occasion.

India Inc. honchos such as Reliance Industries director Nikhil Meswani, Bharat Forge chairman Baba Kalyani, Sun Pharma managing director Dilip Shanghvi, Mahindra & Mahindra executive director Pawan Goenka and Raymond group chairman Gautam Singhania participated in the discussion.

Mysuru again tops list of India’s cleanest cities

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ysuru in Karnataka has topped the list of the cleanest cities in India for the second year in a row.

It was followed by Chandigarh, Tiruchirapalli, New Delhi Municipal Council area and Visakhapatnam, said a report following a nationwide survey— ”Swachh Survekshan 2016” under the ‘Swachh Bharat’ Mission.

“The survey is not done to demoralise any city or place of the country. It aims at generating a healthy competition among them,” Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu told reporters while releasing the

survey report in New Delhi.

It aims at popularising the ‘Swachh Bharat’ Mission, “and to bring competitive spirit among people to keep their cities clean”, the minister added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency Varanasi was ranked 65th among 73 cities surveyed.

The survey, first since the launch of the ‘Swachh Bharat’ Mission in October 2014 by the prime minister, was carried out by Quality Council of India.

The government had commissioned a survey on the sanitation scenario in 75 major cities including 53 with a population of above 10 lakh each and state capitals.

The list of the top 10 includes Mysuru, Chandigarh, Tiruchirapalli, New Delhi Municipal Council area, Visakhapatnam, Surat, Rajkot, Gangtok, Pimprichindwad and Greater Mumbai.

Defence ministry signs MoUs for making jets, choppers

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he defence ministry has signed 40-50 MoUs with many global players, including manufacturers of jet aircraft and helicopters, as part of the ongoing ‘Make In India Week’ in Mumbai, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said.

The production of helicopters and jet aircraft in the country will create employment opportunities for around 100,000 skilled workers, he said at the ministry’s pavilion.

“The ministry has addressed procedural bottlenecks and 70 percent of licence requirements have been done away with, while the new defence procurement policy will be announced next

month and become effective from April 2,” Parrikar told media persons. The minister said public sector undertakings in the defence sector have seen their exports rise two times and this was set to rise further as they plan to double their production capacities and earmark 10 percent solely for exports.

“We will have a new category—’indigenously designed, developed and manufactured’— as the most preferred category

for procurement. It will boost domestic private and small scale industry,” he said.

He said the Akash missile was now 90 percent indigenously designed and developed, while the next variant of the missile was in advanced stages of development.

The Indian Air Force will buy 100 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, which was developed in the country, he said.

All these initiatives under the ‘Make In India’ initiative will take the country’s economic growth to unimaginable heights from the current levels of 7.0-7.5 per cent and the government promises to make the defence market more lucrative for the Indian industry.

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Govt unveils maiden capital goods policy

T

he central government on Monday unveiled a comprehensive national capital goods policy to address various challenges being faced by the sector.

“The clear objective of the national capital goods policy is of increasing production from Rs.230,000 crore in 2014-15 to Rs.750,000 crore in 2025 and raising direct and indirect employment from the current 8.4 million to 30 million,” said Heavy Industry and Public Enterprise Minister Anant Geete at the Make in India week being held in

Mumbai.

Geete unveiled the “national capital goods policy” at the event.

The document is the maiden policy which has been framed specifically for the promotion of the capital goods sector.

Further, the minister called for adoption and acceptance of latest technologies to promote the sector.

The minister invited foreign companies and funds to India, by describing the country as the most secure investments destination with adequate manpower.

India-Bhutan ties model relationship between neighbours

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hutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay on Tuesday described the relationship between India and Bhutan as a model relationship between neighbours.

He said this in a meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi during the course of which the two leaders discussed bilateral relations.

Tobgay was on a transit visit to India on his way to Canada when he took the opportunity to hold the meeting with Sushma Swaraj.

“The Bhutan prime minister hailed the India-Bhutan relationship as a model relationship between neighbours,” external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup told media.

Tobgay also informed Sushma Swaraj that the fifth five-year plan in the Himalayan kingdom was progressing well with India’s support.

“He expressed Bhutan’s gratitude for India’s continued support for the plan,” Swarup said.

Currently, over 3,000 projects are running in Bhutan with the Indian government’s support.

“The prime minister said that the small development projects are especially doing very well,” the spokesman said.

Till now, 498 SDPs in Bhutan have been approved by the Indian government.

Tobgay also updated Sushma Swaraj on the progress in the work on three major hydroelectric projects being set up with India’s support - Mangdechhu (720 MW), Punatsangchhu I (1,200 MW) and Punatsangchhu II (1,020 MW).

According to Swarup, during the course of the meeting, the Bhutanese prime minister recalled his long association with India, including his student days in Kalimpong.

“The prime minister also invited our external affairs minister to come on a standalone visit to Bhutan,” he said.

Ponder over passive euthanasia issue, SC tells govt

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he Supreme Court of India on Monday directed the government to consider the matter of passive euthanasia and made it clear that pendency in the apex court should not come in the way of authorities to take a decision on the matter.

The Centre earlier told the court to allow a public debate on passive euthanasia or “living will” by terminally ill patients not

willing to prolong their lives by the use of life-support system instead of determining the issue judicially, as sought by non-governmental organisation Common Cause.

Urging that the public debate on the contentious issue would be a better course, Additional Solicitor General P.S. Patwalia, appearing for the Centre, told an apex court bench of Justices Anil R. Dave, Kurian Joseph, Shiva

Kirti Singh, A.K. Goel and R.F. Nariman that the law commission report was under examination of the health ministry.

Seeking deferment of court hearing till July, Patwalia told the constitution bench that once the health ministry examined the law commission report, the law ministry will draft the necessary law.

Even as NGO counsel Prashant

Bhushan urged the court to consider the limited issue of a terminally ill patient executing a ‘living will’ as the right to die with dignity was a part of the right to life, Justice Kurian Joseph asked him if he wanted “judicial decisions or the people’s decision”.

Allowing the Centre’s plea for more time, the bench adjourned the matter till July 20, observing that the government was

considering the issues of passive euthanasia and living will.

The court made it clear that the matter’s pendency before it should not come in the way of a decision by authorities who should go ahead with consideration of the issue. As Prashant Bhushan pointed to a long adjournment saying the petition was filed in 2005, the court said” “We are only giving a reasonable time.”

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INDIA ABROAD

19 February 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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Chandigarh born judge seen as new US apex court justice Arun Kumar

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he sudden death of a US Supreme Court justice has catapulted a Chandigarhborn Indian-American judge to the top of succession stakes amid a major political battle during an election year.

Srikanth Srinivasan, 48, who became a judge of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit—a traditional launching pad for Supreme Court nominees—in May 2013 after a 97-0 Senate vote, was on the short-list of many in the media.

Speculation over whom President Barack Obama would nominate to replace Antonin Scalia started hours after the

conservative judge’s death on February 13 in Texas even as top Republicans said the choice should be left to the next president.

Obama said on February 13, he would nominate a successor “in due time,” and the Senate will get

“plenty of time to give that person a fair hearing and a timely vote” even as Senate Republican leaders and presidential candidates were dead set against the move.

Any list of potential replacements begins with Srinivasan, said CNN noting that Obama would likely try to find someone that at least some Republicans in Congress might find acceptable given that the opposition party controls both chambers. Obama first nominated him to the post in 2012, and the Senate confirmed him, Srinivasan’s father hailed from Mela Thiruvenkatanathapuram, a village near Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. His family, including two

Indian American danseuse named for US Presidential Scholars

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n Indian American danseuse has been nominated for 2016 US Presidential Scholars in the Arts, one of the nation’s highest honours for high school students.

Pavithra Nagarajan from California is one of the 60 candidates nominated recently by the National YoungArts Foundation in the US in the discipline of Indian classical dance, said an official statement.

“YoungArts is thrilled to nominate these outstanding YoungArts Winners for this year’s US Presidential Scholars in the Arts, as they have all gone above and beyond to become leaders in their schools and communities,” Lisa Leone, vice president of Artistic Programmes for YoungArts, was quoted as saying.

YoungArts nominated students who were actors, dancers, singers, classical and jazz musicians, photographers, filmmakers, visual artists, designers and writers.

The candidates will be reviewed by the White House Commission

on Presidential Scholars, and will select 20 high school seniors to be recognised as US Presidential Scholars in the Arts for their academic and artistic accomplishments, leadership responsibilities, community service and outreach initiatives, and overall creativity.

The semi-finalists candidates will be announced by mid-April and winners will be named by early May. The art scholars will join the 141 other Presidential Scholars for the national recognition program in Washington, DC.

younger sisters, migrated in the late 1960s to Lawrence, Kansas.

Srinivasan was a high school basketball star in Kansas before attending Stanford University, which he graduated from in 1989.

He was Obama’s principal deputy solicitor general, most notably working on the successful fight against the Defence of Marriage Act. Srinivasan also has experience on the other side of the aisle, serving as an assistant to the solicitor general during the George W. Bush administration and as a clerk to Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. He was once a partner in the law firm O’Melveny & Myers.

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Indian-American named Kennedy Centre trustee

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resident Barack Obama plans to appoint Ranvir Trehan, an alumnus of the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) in India, as general trustee on Board of the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts in the American capital.

“These fine public servants bring a depth of experience and tremendous dedication to their important roles. I look forward to working with them,” he said in announcing Trehan’s appointment along with five other individuals. Dedicated to the memory of President John F. Kennedy, the Kennedy Centre is the busiest performing arts facility in the US and annually hosts about 2,000 music, dance and theatre performances for audiences totalling nearly two million.

Trehan, who came to the US in 1964 after receiving a BS from BITS, is chairman of the Trehan Foundation, a philanthropic organisation he founded for giving primarily for international development in 2003. It’s focused on global poverty, as

well as a performing arts centre and human services. Previously, Trehan was Vice Chairman of Apptis Holdings, Inc. from 2005 to 2011 and was Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SETA Corporation from 1987 to 2005, according to the White House.

Trehan was a department head of Information and Communications Systems from 1985 to 1987 and a member of the technical staff from 1969 to 1985 at The MITRE Corporation.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of CARE and a former member of the board of the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. He holds an MSE from the University of Michigan, and an MBA from the University of Dayton. At over 30, Obama administration has more Indian-Americans working in top jobs than any other previous US government.

Indian-origin US man wins $3.1 mn in discrimination suit

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n Indian-origin man who was among 47 immigrants denied recruitment as police officers for being foreign-born has won a $3.1 million discrimination suit filed against the Chicago Police Department in the US, the media reported.

Masood Khan won $3.1 million in compensation, along with Glenford Flowers, a Belize-

born man, as victims of the discriminatory hiring policy, reported The American Bazaar last week. Both men took part and passed the 2006 police exam.

But their candidacy was rejected because they had lived in the US for less than 10 years. They filed charges of discrimination, which were upheld by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and referred to the

Justice Department. “Chicago, through CPD (Chicago Police Department), has pursued policies and practices that discriminate against individuals born outside

the US because of their national origin and that deprive or tend to deprive foreign-born individuals of employment opportunities because of their national origin,” the lawsuit stated. The Department of Justice also sought back pay, interest on lost wages and compensatory damages on behalf of Khan and Flowers who applied to be police officers but were rebuffed by the rule.

According to the complaint, more than 92 percent of the candidates that were rejected because of the rule were foreign-born, while only eight percent of these had lived in the country for more than 10 years. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission began the investigation into the policy but was unable to reach a resolution and the case was referred to the Department of Justice in 2014.

CLASSIFIEDS

www.iwk.co.nz | 19 February 2016

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MonkeyMaths Maths Monkey Maths Monkey Monkey Maths

Sudoku Sudoku Sudoku Sudoku

BABOON BABOON BABOON APE BUSHBABY BABY BUSH BUSH BABOON CHIMPANZEE CHIMPANZEE CHIMPANZEE BUSH BABY GIBBON GIBBON GIBBON CHIMPANZEE GORILLA GORILLA GORILLA GIBBON LEMUR LEMUR LEMUR GORILLA MARMOSET MARMOSET MARMOSET LEMUR MONKEY MONKEY MONKEY MARMOSET ORANGUTAN UTAN ORANG UTAN ORANG MONKEY TAMARIN TAMARIN TAMARIN ORANG UTAN TAMARIN

To Colour Colour To Colour To To Colour

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RHINOCEROS? RHINOCEROS? How word Howmany manywords wordscan canyou you make make from from the the word RHINOCEROS? RHINOCEROS?

Send us stories, drawings, poems and other contributions by your little ones along with their photographs for this page.

E-mail us at editor@indianweekender.co.nz

www.kidspuzzlesandgames.co.uk www.kidspuzzlesandgames.co.uk www.kidspuzzlesandgames.co.uk www.kidspuzzlesandgames.co.uk

SPORTS

www.iwk.co.nz | 19 February 2016

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Ashwin spins India to series win over Sri Lanka, India remain T20 No.1

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ff-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (4/8) spearheaded an incisive bowling attack to help India beat Sri Lanka by nine wickets in their third and final T20 International and win the series 2-1 in Vishakhapatnam on February 14. The series win also enabled India remain No.1 in the T20 rankings.

Chasing a paltry target of 83 runs for a win, India lost just the wicket of righthander Rohit Sharma (13) in the sixth over when their score was 29. Left-hander Shikhar (46) and Ajinkya Rahane (22) guided India home in 13.5 overs for a win with 37 balls to spare.

Ashwin was named Man of the Match as well as the Man of the Series for his impressive form.

Earlier, Ashwin ran through Sri Lanka’s top order to help India bowl out Sri Lanka for a mere 82 runs.

Ashwin’s supreme display was backed by his team-mates as pacers Ashish Nehra (1/17), Jasprit Bumrah (1/10), left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (1/6) and parttimer Suresh Raina (2/11) all contributed to

the Sri Lankan debacle. Sri Lanka’s batsmen could never get going with Dasun Shanaka (19) being their highest scorer. They were bowled out in the 18th of their allotted 20 overs.

India won the toss and chose to field.

Dhoni’s decision was justified by off-

spinner Ravichandran Ashwin who opened the bowling and struck twice in the very first over.

Opener Niroshan Dickwella (1), in for the injured Chamara Kapugedera, was stumped on the third ball and his experienced partner Tillakaratne Dilshan (1) was trapped leg

Sania-Martina win 13th title, stretch winning run to 40

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ndian tennis star Sania Mirza and her Swiss partner Martina Hingis won the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy in St. Petersburg on Sunday, February 14 and extended their remarkable winning streak to 40 matches in the process.

The top seeded Indo-Swiss pair hardly broke sweat on their way to a 6-3, 6-1 victory over the Russian-Czech team of Vera Dushevina and Barbora Krejcikova in the women’s doubles final that lasted for an hour.

This is the fourth title that Sania and Martina have won this year. Their overall trophy count now stands at 13.

They started the year with wins in Brisbane and Sydney before completing a hat-trick of Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open.

They have been close to unstoppable since an upset loss in the French Open quarter-finals last year.

Since then, they have claimed titles at Wimbledon, US Open, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Beijing, the WTA Finals in Singapore, Brisbane and Sydney.

READ ONLINE AT www.indianweekender.co.nz

before wicket off the sixth ball to cap off a dream over by Ashwin.

Sri Lanka got rattled by the poor start, and their troubles worsened when skipper Dinesh Chandimal (8) skied an aggressive shot off Ashwin to be caught at mid-off to leave the visitors reeling at 12/3 in the third over.

Ashwin continued to torment the Lankans, picking up his and the team’s fourth wicket shortly thereafter, dismissing debutant Asela Gunaratne (4). Sri Lanka were tottering at 20/4 inside five overs.

Pacer Nehra joined in the act, clean bowling Milinda Siriwardana (4) in the next over.

At 21/5 in the sixth over, Sri Lanka were looking down the barrel. They struggled to score freely and kept losing wickets at regular intervals with Seekkuge Prasanna getting run out (9) and Dasun Shanaka (19) bowled by Jadeja.

From there on, it was always going to be difficult for the Islanders to post a decent total, and they ultimately folded for 82.

Rio Carnival heats up for Olympics

“

The second biggest event in Rio this year is over. Now it’s time to get ready for the biggest,” Rio Olympics organisers sent this message after the 2016 Rio Carnival lowered its curtain.

With less than six months till the Rio Olympics begin, the city embraces Olympics in street parties and Olympians past and present join the parades at the Sambodromo, the home of Rio Carnival.

“Feeling this energy, it makes you excited, the Games are here!” said Brazilian volleyball player Gabi Guimaraes. She said the celebrations till last week were just “a glimpse” of what is to come in August 2016 when Rio hosts the first Olympic Games in South America, Xinhua reported.

At the Sambodromo—which will host the archery and marathon finish during the Games—the Rio 2016 spirit was in full effect as mascots Vinicius and Tom got the celebrations up and running.

As it is the year of the first Latin American Olympics, the Rio Olympics are also the favourite theme of the samba schools.

The samba school presented the theme “Olympic in nature. Everyone is meeting in Rio” on February 7, the first day of the special group carnival competition. Their procession included dancers clad in ancient Greek-style costumes, a large depiction of the famous Christ the Redeemer statue and athletes from cyclists to acrobatic wheelchair

competitors. During its parade, sport and samba combined from beginning to end. Vanderlei Cordeira de Lima, who won the Pierre de Coubertin medal after finishing third in the Athens 2004 marathon despite being attacked by a spectator while leading, led the way, carrying a replica of the Rio Olympic torch.

The final float was packed with Brazilian Olympic medalists, such as volleyball players Giba, Giovane and Jaque Silva, and swimmer Ricardo Prado, as well as current athletes, including synchronised swimming duet Duda and Luisa and volleyball player Gabi with everyone signing the samba school’s lyrics.

After the carnival, Rio 2016 will stage a further 22 test events to warm up the city for the sporting extravaganza.

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ASTROLOGY

19 February 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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Weekly forecast: February 19 to February 25 ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

Changes envisaged on the home front are likely to be initiated now.

You may fail to deliver something that is expected of you on the professional front and fall from a superior’s grace. Your efforts on the social front are likely to come in for praise. Making your romantic life lively and happening is on the cards and promises lots of fun. A group travel is foreseen and will make the journey interesting. Money earned by you may disappear due to irresponsible spending.

You will need to get ahead of someone who is in close competition with you. It is difficult for you to remain down and out. Those feeling down in the dumps for sometime are likely to bounce back strongly to conquer the professional front.

Some excellent opportunities will come your way at work. Wealth is likely to come to you from more than one source. Those trying to make a venture profitable will succeed. Health remains satisfactory.

An invitation may take you out of town for a marriage or a function. You may have to be a bit more assertive and aware of what is happening around you at work. Although you are monetarily comfortable, you will still choose to conserve money. A prime property may come into your name.

Socially, this seems to be an excellent week, when whatever you do is likely to be followed by others. There seems to be a strong possibility of finding a suitable mate on the romantic front.

Financial prosperity is likely to follow closely at your heels and keep you in a comfortable situation. Your enthusiasm and gusto will be much in evidence on the social front and may prove infectious. Possibility of an office romance cannot be ruled out. Good company is likely to make a journey pleasurable. Don’t disclose your cards to anyone. Things which seemed going the wrong way at work will suddenly come out right. Your mental prowess will help you take on the best on the professional front.

Lucky No: 3 Lucky Colour: Orange

Lucky No: 2 Lucky Colour: Lavender

Lucky No: 6 Lucky Colour: Blue

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

Money is likely to come in dollops and add to your wealth. Ailments are likely to disappear, as you enter a healthy phase of life. Understanding and love will make you feel closer to the one you love. Avoid getting at loggerheads with someone over a trivial issue. You are likely to have a time of your life on the social front.

Much fun is in store for those on a vacation. Success on the professional front is a foregone conclusion and will improve your career graph.

Spending time in seclusion and murmuring sweet nothings is likely to be the highlight on the romantic front. Enhancing fitness level may become the sole aim of those in the sports arena. Avoid delay in a journey by setting out early. Delay decision regarding property for some more time. A productive time is foreseen at work, which will enable you to clear the backlog. Previous investments may start giving handsome returns now. Attending a wedding or a function is indicated and will help in expanding your social base.

You will need to be more thorough in whatever you are handling to avoid errors from creeping in. Those out shopping need to look for bargains or they may end up spending more than required. An ailment may need care. A blame game ensuing at home may leave a bad taste in mouth. Your romantic aspirations are likely to be fulfilled in full measure! A leisure trip can unexpectedly materialise and delight you. Setting up a new house or buying something new for the house is indicated.

Chances of availing a break by undertaking a fun trip cannot be ruled out for some. A property issue is certain to be decided in your favour.

You will need to be better than rivals to come into the eyes of superiors on the professional front. Financially, you will need to come into the saving mode at the earliest. You are likely to keep yourself entertained by remaining socially active. Tensions cropping up on the romantic front will subside, as you grow more tolerant towards lover.

Lucky No: 2 Lucky Colour: White

Lucky No: 5 Lucky Colour: Green

AQUARIUS

PISCES

You will manage to establish yourself in a new environment.

An approaching event on the professional front will bring you onto the centre stage. A tough competition will find you coming out with flying colours on the academic front. You will find yourself much happier in a present relationship, than you were when single. Some of you can plan to join a close relation overseas.

Financial help will be forthcoming and will help realise some of your dreams.

Betting or speculation may bring some into big money. You will get the support you need on the social front. A wedding in the family is likely to be arranged. Romantic front may turn into a mutual appreciation club between lover and you! Don’t take health for granted. Your luck begins to turn for the better. An unexpected career move is possible that may bring you greater prosperity and mental satisfaction. Growing prospects in a venture can turn your focus totally towards it.

Efforts will be needed by those trying to come back in shape. An unsuitable mode of conveyance may make the journey uncomfortable, but you will be able to reach the destination anyhow! Someone’s support will help in keeping your confidence high.

Luck favours those buying or selling property. You may need to weigh the pros and cons of an action that you contemplate at work. It will be in your interest to keep a portion of your wealth for the rainy day.

Lucky No: 7 Lucky Colour: Peach

Lucky No: 4 Lucky Colour: Maroon

Lucky No: 3 Lucky Colour: Pink

(March 21-April 20)

(April 21-May 20)

Lucky No: 1 Lucky Colour: Golden

(July 23-August 23)

(August 24-Sep 23)

Lucky No: 11 Lucky Colour: Green

Lucky No: 9 Lucky Colour: Purple

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov 23-December 11) You can be at your ingenious best at making excuses for refusing money to someone. Something said in jest on the romantic front may offend lover.

Don’t be in any sort of haste while driving. You will be able to garner support and resources for something you have undertaken on the professional front. A changed mindset is likely to make you more acceptable to others on the social front. Avoiding excesses and focussing on health may become the key factors in attaining total fitness.

Lucky No: 1 Lucky Colour: Red

CAPRICORN

(Dec 22-January 21)

(May 21-June 21)

(Sep 24-October 23)

(Jan 22-February 19)

(June 22-July 20)

(Oct 24-November 22)

(Feb 20-March 20)

By Manisha Koushik Manisha Koushik is the talented daughter and associate of world renowned celebrity astrologer Dr Prem Kumar Sharma. She is gifted with strong intuitions and clairvoyance right from the childhood. A practicing astrologer, tarot card reader, numerologist, vastu and fengshui consultant is based in India but maintains a global presence through the online channels. She is available for consultations online as well. Reach out to her to explore what the future holds for you. Let her tarot cards do the magic and numbers make you understand which choices in life will be best for you!

E-mail: support@askmanisha.com | Website: www.askmanisha.com Contact: +91-11-26449898, 26489899 | Mobile/Whatsapp: +919015607139

FEATURES

www.iwk.co.nz | 19 February 2016

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Vegan is the new swag

Every year more and more people around the world are deciding to go vegan, and for good reason. There are so many amazing benefits of being vegan including less stress on our environment, more efficient ways to use our resources, and many more.

Maya Shivam

Chickpea pleaser:

Health Benefits: A vegan diet is considered one of the healthiest ways to live. Plant-based diets often contain plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds which are higher in vitamins, minerals and fibre. Healthy vegan diets are packed with vitamins B1, C, and E, folic acid, magnesium, and iron while also being low in cholesterol and saturated fats.

A plant-based vegan diet can significantly reduce the risk of: • Type 2 diabetes • Cardiovascular disease • Ischemic heart disease • Hypertension • Stroke • Obesity • Some cancers including prostate and colon cancer

Ingredients: • 450-g chickpeas, soaked overnight then boiled • 2 stalks celery, finely chopped • 3 green onions, thinly sliced • 1 firm tomato sliced • 1/4 cup finely chopped red bell pepper • 3 tablespoons store-bought or homemade vegan mayonnaise • 1 1/2 teaspoons yellow mustard • 1 green chili finely chopped • Few stalks of coriander chopped • 1 1/2 to 3 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, to taste • 1/4 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt, or to taste • Freshly ground black pepper

texture.

2. Stir in the celery, green onions, bell peppers, tomato, chili, coriander and mayonnaise until combined.

3. Stir in the mustard and season with

the lemon juice, salt, and pepper, adjusting the quantities to taste.

4. Serve with toasted bread, on crackers, wraps, or on top of a basic leafy green salad.

Directions: 1. In a large bowl, mash the chickpeas with a potato masher until flaked in

Effects on the environment There was a time during our evolution when eating meat was essential to our survival. However, our environment cannot support our current level of food production. In 2010, the UN released a report encouraging a global move away from animal products. The report states, “Impacts from agriculture are expected to increase substantially due to population growth increasing consumption of animal products. Unlike fossil fuels, it is difficult to look for alternatives: people have to eat. A substantial reduction of impacts would only be possible with a substantial worldwide diet change, away from animal products.”

Breeding and feeding animals for food is a highly inefficient use of our natural resources as animals raised for food production are fed over half of the world’s crops. This is not sustainable.

Cauliflower bonanza pasta:

Animal welfare There are misconceptions about how animal products are obtained and we often turn a blind eye towards inhumane animal agricultural practices. Some factory farming practices have shown some of the most severe examples of animal cruelty for food production. Unfortunately, factory farming offers the most competitive prices and makes the most profit, so it’s difficult and in some cases impossible for smaller businesses to survive without adopting the same principles. The same inhumane conditions exist for animals used in the meat, dairy and the egg industry. There is a lot of information online should anyone may want to read more about this.

For us, Indians eating vegan is not very difficult as a lot of our basic meals are essentially vegan. Some examples of vegan meals can be - all legumes like Rajmah (kidney beans), Chana (Chick peas), all lentils (daal) that we normally eat with rice or roti. Most of our vegetable (bhaaji, tarkari or subji) preparations are vegan.

I would like to share here a few quick and new recipes that, being vegan, you can try to make more interesting.

Directions: 1. Add cauliflower florets in a large pot with water and cover. Bring to a low

Ingredients: • 1 small/medium cauliflower • 1/2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil • 1 tablespoon minced garlic (from 2 med/long cloves) • 1/2 cup unsweetened and unflavoured almond milk (or non-dairy milk of choice) • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice • 1 onion - chopped • 1/4-1/2 teaspoon garlic powder • 3/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste • 1/4-1/2 teaspoon pepper, to taste • Fettuccine pasta of choice • Fresh parsley, for garnish

Vegan chocolate cake: • • • • • • • • •

Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup white sugar 1/4 cup cocoa powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar 1 cup water

Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. Lightly grease one 9x5 inch loaf pan.

3. Sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add the oil, vanilla, vinegar and water. Mix together until smooth.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

boil. Once boiling, cook for another 3-7 minutes until tender. Drain.

Meanwhile, add the oil into a skillet and saute the chopped onion, minced garlic over low heat until softened and fragrant, slightly browned.

In a high-speed blender, add the cooked and drained cauliflower, sautéed onion and garlic, almond milk, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Blend until a supersmooth sauce forms.

In a large pot add your desired amount of pasta and boil as directed on the package. Drain pasta.

Add cauliflower sauce into the pot and add the drained pasta. Heat over lowmedium until heated enough to your liking.

Serve with fresh minced parsley and black pepper. Feel free to add in your favourite sautéed or roasted

4. Pour into prepared pan and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and allow

vegetables like peas, mushroom or broccoli.

spinach,

to cool.

5. Serve with your favourite fruits.

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FEATURE

19 February 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Jashn-e-sangeet with Jashan Singh Red

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Jashan Singh of MTV Coke Studio fame performs Live in Auckland, and talks about his journey and more Swati Sharma

L

ast year during Indian Independence Day, MTV Coke studio came up with three tracks featuring some of the best and famous Punjabi artists, including Gurdas Mann, Diljit Dosanjh and Sukhwinder Singh.

But there was a new face amongst themJashan Singh.

Jashan rose to fame with Coke Studio’s Allah Ve that also featured Manj Musik (Sunny Brown) and rapper Raftaar. The track was a hit and has had nearly 2 million views to date.

Last weekend, Jashan blew Aucklanders away with his maiden performance.

Indian Weekender caught up with this rising star to talk about his journey and upcoming projects.

Swati: Tell us about your childhood and early days.

Jashan: I was born in Chandigarh, Punjab and did my schooling from YPS Mohali. My father S. Hardeep Singh ji is a living legend in the Punjabi music industry and has given about thirty hit music albums.

I have got my musical genes from him and he has been my greatest inspiration. My mother is a house-wife and for me is the source of strength.

I completed my higher studies from Victoria University, Melbourne.

Swati: How did your musical journey start?

J a s h a n : My interest in music started almost since birth. Being a son of a renowned singer, I grew up in a musical environment. I got my musical training from my father and my professor S. Harwinder Singh ji. I have always aspired to make

a career in the entertainment industry.

There was a force that always kept pushing me. While I was studying, my friends also motivated me, as I used to sing all the time.

After finishing my studies, I came back to India and started working towards fulfilling my dream, and that’s when I recorded my first song. Later, I went on to record four video songs, the most recent of which is the Allah Ve from Coke Studio.

Mann saab, Sukhwinder ji.

Diljit

and

Swati: Now you are all set for your acting debut. How was the transformation from a singer to an actor?

Swati: How did you get the first break?

Jashan: My first song was Dil de kutte for the Punjabi movie Rangeelay, featuring Jimmy Shergill and Neha Dhupia. I was in Mumbai with the music director Jaidev Kumar ji those days and he knew that I was willing to work with him.

The song was supposed to be recorded and sent to Eros in two days and I was in the studio with him that day.

I was just looking for one chance to showcase my talent. So in that situation of urgency Jaidev ji gave me the chance and that’s how it all happened.

Swati: Tell us about your coke studio experience and how you got the opportunity.

Jashan: Coke Studio is such a big and unique platform that I think every artist wants to perform there. It is an out of the world experience, one of its kind. I love that concept, how it is designed, how it is presented a n d promotedeverything about this concept is brilliant.

I strongly believe that whatever I have been able to achieve today is all because of ‘sai ji di kirpa’ (blessings of my god/ guru) and how I got this opportunity, is one of the many examples of that fact. Initially, a legendary singer I wouldn’t name, was doing Allah Ve. But the day it was to be recorded, he got stuck in Delhi and couldn’t come. Manj is a good friend of mine. He called me and asked me if I will be willing to take up this project. It was a no-brainer and I readily agreed. For me, it was a dream come true and I still pinch myself sometimes. It was great working with Manj and Raftaar and share the same season with legends like Gurdas

Jashan: The transformation was pretty smooth. Whether it is singing or acting, the purpose of both is to entertain people, which every artist wants. Acting was always a dream and working with a big banner as Mahesh Bhatt is an honour for me.

I am a person who loves challenges. I think any artist should try and do different things that entertain their audience.

There’s a lot to learn, working with Mahesh Bhatt. He’s a legend and working with him is a new learning experience every day.

TRIVIA:

Swati: Tell us something about your film.

Favourite movie: Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

Jashan: The movie’s name is Dushman and I am playing the lead role. At this point, I can’t reveal much about the movie yet. It is a suspense thriller with romance and action and is releasing worldwide on August 14-15, 2016. I am also singing a couple of songs in the film.

Swati: How was your New Zealand experience? What would you like to say to your fans here?

Favourite actor: Aamir Khan Favourite actress: Deepika Padukone

Favourite Punjabi singer: My father Favourite Bollywood singer: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Hobbies: travelling, swimming, sports.

Role model: my father

Jashan: New Zealand was fantastic.

I have performed in Dubai and Canada too before this, but this was my first trip to down-under. I enjoyed performing here and I hope Aucklanders also enjoyed watching and listening to me. Just want to say that keep loving my music.

I have more coming up for New Zealand.

Stay tuned and keep supporting.

Favourite song: I love singing Heer

Jashan was invited to perform in Auckland for the Valentine’s weekend

by Old Fort—a restaurant known for its ‘dining with a difference’. He, along with his accompanying musicians- Dharmesh, Araad and Shamal, brightened many a hearts over two days.

Favourite car: Range Rover

Favourite genre: I love all types of music and covering all types of listeners Favourite food: simple daal-roti Favourite place: Melbourne, always

Favourite bike: Yamaha Favourite sport: soccer

FEATURE

www.iwk.co.nz | 19 February 2016

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LUMINARIES GRACING THE SUMMIT Black Orange Guruji Dr.Chandra Bhanu Satpathy, a renowned scholar, philanthropist and spiritual thinker who has been spreading the glory and teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba across the globe since 1989 and the first Indian to be given the special honour in the history of US house of representatives to act as the Guest Chaplain in June 2015 will deliver the keynote address in both inaugural and valedictory sessions.

‘Prominent International Personalities at the summit’ Mr Sadashiv Lokhande, Member of Parliament, Shirdi, Maharashtra, India Dr.Bawa Jain, Secretary General - World Council of Religious Leaders, USA

Jai Shri Sai

Shirdi Sai Devotees Summit Auckland, New Zealand 27-28 February 2016

INVITATION

‘Prominent Personalities from New Zealand’ Mr Phil Goff, Member of Parliament, Mt Roskill Mr.Kanwaljit Bakshi, Member of Parliament Dr.Parmjit Parmar, Member of Parliament Mr.Mahesh Bindra, Member of Parliament Mr Brad Clark, CEO, Starship Foundation Besides the above, Some more towering personalities are expected to attend the summit.

The ensuing devotee’s summit will be attended by large number of highly dedicated devotees from different parts of the globe such as India, USA, Canada, UK, Germany, Australia and Malaysia. This being the rare opportunity to interact and listen to widely experienced people drawn from different corners of the globe, Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan of New Zealand Inc is extending a cordial invitation to the devotees and others interested in rendering community service to attend the summit.

The Venue of the summit Shri Shirdi Sai Centre, 12-18, Princes Street, Onehunga, Auckland - 1061 Organising Committee Shirdi Sai Devotees Summit - Auckland 2016 For more details on the summit, please contact:

Bhaskar Reddy Duvvuru President - Shri Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan of NZ INC +64 212923807 Amar Alluri Secretary - Shri Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan of NZ INC +64 272305360

Special Note: Lunch, Dinner, Morning and Evening snacks are served on both the days of the summit. www.shirdisaibaba.org.nz

PURPOSE OF THE SUMMIT With the grace and blessings of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba and under the guidance of Guruji Dr.Chandra Bhanu Satpathy, the first ever Global Shirdi Sai Devotees Summit is being organised in Southern Hemisphere to give a new direction to the Global Sai Movement.

The Global Sai Movement has been expanding considerably over the last three decades. So many temples are built and the literature on Shri Shirdi Sai Baba and his teachings are being spread in many ways by innumerable devotees. If we look back and analyse, it becomes clearly evident that Shri Shirdi Sai Baba was a Greater Humanist who had tirelessly worked to mitigate the sufferings and to evolve the people who thronged Him in large numbers. During the 60 years of His stay in Shirdi

Shri Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan of New Zealand Inc.

12-18, Princes Street, Onehunga, Auckland-1061, New Zealand

in association with

Shirdi Sai Global Foundation

C-209, 1st Floor, Sushant Lok, Phase-1, Gurgaon-122001,Haryana, India

SUMMIT DETAILS 27- 02- 2016 (Saturday) Inaugural Function : 10.00 AM – 11.30 AM Session One : 11.45 AM – 1.00 PM There will be 3 - 4 presentations on Global Shirdi Sai Movement, Teachings and Philosophy of Perfect Masters.

Session Two : 2.00 PM – 2.30 PM Two presentations on Shirdi Sai Movement and Role of Social Media Session Three : 2.30 PM – 4.00 PM Four presentations on the theme "Getting closer to Sadguru – Role of Literature / Satsangh" Cultural Programme : 6.30 PM – 8.00 PM

from 1858 – 1918, He had just rendered selfless service to the suffering souls. His words and deeds stand as a clear testimony to this fact.

28- 02- 2016 (Sunday) Keeping in mind this important aspect, a two day programme is planned primarily to focus on effective community service as the way forward.

Considering the fact that humanity across the globe is going through troubled waters, time has come now for different trusts, societies and other organisations which are running Shirdi Sai Baba temples to move on from routine management of temples to undertaking several initiatives to address various societal needs and challenges. This way the larger section of the population could also be involved to participate in these programmes for the common good of the society. Besides this certain other pertinent topics would also be deliberated during the course of the summit.

Session One : 10.00 AM – 11.00 AM There will be 3 - 4 presentations on issues and challenges associated with Management of Temples and Non Profit Organisations Session Two : 11.30 AM – 1.00 PM Five presentations on the theme "Role of Temples in Community Development" (Community Service Initiatives in USA, Europe, UK, India and Australia will be shared in this session) Valedictory Function : 2.00 PM – 4.30 PM Felicitation to Delegates/SSSS NZ Donors : 5.00 PM – 6.00 PM Cultural Programme : 6.00 PM – 7.00 PM Address by Guruji Dr.C B Satpathy : 7.00 PM – 8.00 PM

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ENTERTAINMENT

You might see me soon on TV, says Juhi

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ctress Juhi Chawla says that currently she is listening to numerous scripts, which might take time to make, but she would most likely feature on a television show soon.

“I’m still listening to scripts, and films take time to be made, so probably you’ll soon see me again on TV,” said Juhi while interacting with the media after inaugurating a spiritual fair in Mumbai last weekend.

Juhi has hosted and featured in numerous award shows and has even come on filmmaker Karan Johar’s Koffee With Karan with fellow actress Madhuri Dixit.

But her most notable work on television was as a judge on the third season of the popular dance reality show, Jhalak Dikhla Jaa where she was accompanied by choreographers Saroj Khan and Vaibhavi Merchant in that season.

Madhuri became a judge in the fourth season while Juhi no longer was a part of the show. Juhi was last seen in Chalk N Duster, a film about the lives of teachers.

“A few days ago we held a show for 500 teachers and some of them spoke to other teachers and now there’s going to be a show for another 500 teachers. So if you like something and make certain efforts for it, it moves forward. Films definitely takes matters ahead, and if films are made on good topics, it is a positive thing.

Aishwarya shoots for Sarbjit at Golden Temple

19 February 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

inmates at a prison in Lahore in April 2013 and died a few days later. Aishwarya plays the pivotal role of Dalbir, Sarabjit’s sister, in the film. She has been shooting at various locations in Amritsar. But shooting at the Golden Temple was a unique experience for the team.

Kumar said, “We are really thankful to the officials of the Golden Temple to have allowed us to shoot inside the beautiful shrine. The way they guided us smoothly through various locations to shoot inside on such a busy day was impeccable and I am truly grateful.

“We got the shots that we desired and wrapped up the shoot by 5:30 p.m.”

Actor Randeep Hooda will be seen playing Sarabjit in the film, which will be narrated through the perspective of the victim’s sister Dalbir Kaur. The film is slated to hit the screens on May 19.

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Tough for me to change anything: Anil

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Vidya Balan is ‘Pride of Kerala’

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Parineeti would love to star in a biopic

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ctress Parineeti Chopra says she wants to be a part of a biopic.

Asked if she would like to act in a biopic, Parineeti told media, “Of course, I would like to be a part of a biopic. It is a great idea and if the person is inspirational, I would love to (be a part)...”

The Ishaqzaade actress, who made her Bollywood debut in 2011 with Ladies vs

Ricky Bahl, says she has not thought about whom she would like to portray on the silver screen.

“I have not thought about who would I like to play. If I would’ve (thought), I would have become a script writer...” the 27-yearold quipped. She says she would “wait for a nice and good offer (on biopic) to come” to her. On the big screen, Parineeti will next be seen in the upcoming movie Meri Pyaari Bindu, with debutant Akshay Roy. She will be seen playing an aspiring singer in the Maneesh Sharma production, which will also star Ayushmann Khurrana.

Baahubali to release in China in May

ctress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and the crew of Omung Kumar directorial Sarbjit shot a few scenes inside the Golden Temple in Amritsar on the occasion of Basant Panchami.

Sarbjit is a biopic on Sarabjit Singh, an Indian farmer who was convicted of terrorism and spying in Pakistan and was sentenced to death. He was attacked by

Red It is a known fact Blackthat SonamOrange had to told media.

The film has already been sold to over shed oodles of weight before entering the 30 international territories, including Latin showbiz with Saawariya in 2007. Now, America and Japan. Presently, the shooting the daughter of actor-producer Anil Kapoor of the second part of the film is under way. has made a name for herself not just as an It is expected to hit the screens later this actress, but as a fashion icon also.

Max Bupa, a joint venture between year or early next year.

Max India Limited (business corporate with expertise in life insurance and health care) and Bupa (a global health and care company), hosted a 33-day walking event ctor-producer Anil Kapoor says he touching five cities—Mumbai, Pune, Surat, has a lot of things to do so, and it Ahmedabad and Jaipur.

The initiative was an attempt to build wouldn’t be easy for him to bring a healthier India and encourage citizens about a change in anything.

Is Anil, currently busy with 24: Season 2, across the country to discover multiple benefits of walking. The 33-day intercity walk was flagged off by actors Akshay Kumar and Nimrat Kaur in Mumbai on January 10.

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.S. Rajamouli’s magnum opus Baahubali, one of India’s biggest blockbusters, will release in over 6,000 screens via E Star Films in China in May. “This will be the biggest ever release for an Indian film in China, superseding Aamir Khan’s PK, which released in 5000 screens. The makers had planned to release the film this month, however, it had to be postponed due to unavailability of suitable dates,” a source from the production team

trying to change the dynamics of television industry with the series?

“I am a very singular kind of a person.

I believe in singularity. I have lot more things to do so, it would be tough for me to change anything. I can just begin it. I need someone else to take it ahead. I don’t think I am the kind of a person who can really take it ahead,” Anil told media.

“As far as my children are concerned, they are also very creative. Their intention is not to make money. Money is great, but that’s not the driving force,” added the father of actress Sonam Kapoor, producer Rhea Kapoor and Harshvardhan Kapoor.

Any plans of coming up with more seasons of the hit TV show?

“I don’t think about that. For me, it’s all about the present,” he said.

24: Season 2 will also feature actors Sakshi Tanwar, Surveen Chawla, Ashish Vidyarthi, Sikandar Kher and Ritu Shivpuri.

Losing weight doesn’t require a lot of struggle: Sonam

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ollywood actress Sonam Kapoor, known for her successful weight loss story, says losing weight is not a big struggle as one can take the first step towards a healthier lifestyle by walking on a daily basis. Sonam, who is awaiting the release of Neerja, shared her fitness mantra after she flagged off the last leg of the fourth edition of Max Bupa Walk for Health event in New Delhi on Sunday.

“I think it’s great that health and fitness are on top of mind for everyone across age groups, be it young or old. People now understand the value of maintaining a healthier lifestyle by exercising and eating right. What a lot of people don’t know is that losing weight or getting fitter doesn’t necessarily require a lot of investment and struggle. You can take the first step towards health and wellness with something as simple as walking,” Sonam said.

ational Award-winning actress Vidya Balan, who hails from Kerala, has been feted with the Pride of Kerala award.

The Kahaani actress, who has received the honour, has mesmerized audiences with her powerful performances in films like Parineeta, The Dirty Picture and No One Killed Jessica. She was honoured by the non-sectarian, non-political community organisation World Malayalee Council and Kairali TV. “Proud to have received the Pride of Kerala award from the World Malayalee Council and Kairali TV,” Vidya tweeted.

On the silver screen, she will be seen with megastar Amitabh Bachchan and actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui in TE3N.

Salman, Anushka share new look from Sultan

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elebrating the ‘love of equals’, actors Anushka Sharma and Salman Khan’s new look from the upcoming movie Sultan was shared on Valentine’s Day. Anushka, who is learning how to wrestle for the film, has her arm around Salman in the image that was posted on the film’s official Twitter page. Both the actors are seen in blue tracksuits sitting near what seems to be like a wrestling arena.

The image was captioned: “Haryana ka Sher aur Haryana Ki Shaan ka ghana ishq hai takkar ka. This #Valentines Day, celebrate the love of equals. (Haryana’s tiger and Haryana’s pride in a keen tussle of love.)” Sultan will bring Anushka and the superstar, who is playing the role of a wrestler in the film, on the big screen together for the first time. The Ali Abbas Zafar directorial is being produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films banner.

The film also features Randeep Hooda and Amit Sadh.

www.iwk.co.nz | 19 February 2016

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19 February 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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www.iwk.co.nz | 19 February 2016

Our nation. Your choice.

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The people of New Zealand have a unique opportunity to decide the future of our flag in the final referendum 3-24 March 2016.

SILVER FERN FLAG

CURRENT NEW ZEALAND FLAG

Designer: Kyle Lockwood

Designer: Admiral Sir Albert Hastings Markham, KCB

THE BLACK has become recognised as a national colour and is associated with our many achievements internationally.

THE SILVER FERN has been part of our history and identity for many years and is an internationally recognised symbol of New Zealand. The fronds represent our diverse communities coming together.

THE UNION JACK combines the English Cross of St George, the Irish Cross of St Patrick and the Scottish Cross of St Andrew.

THE BLUE represents our clear skies and the Pacific Ocean.

THE SOUTHERN CROSS emphasises our location in the South Pacific Ocean. It connects with the colours in the Union Jack and the current flag.

THE BLUE comes from the British Blue Ensign and has come to represent the blue sea and sky.

DESIGNED when NZ was a colony and based on the British Blue Ensign, with the Union Jack in the first quarter or position of honour.

THE SOUTHERN CROSS emphasises our location in the South Pacific Ocean. It connects with the colours in the Union Jack.

Throughout this process, thousands of New Zealanders shared their opinions. The most commonly expressed views are summarised below to help voters consider the options and make an informed decision.

It is a uniquely New Zealand flag that will not be confused with Australia.

New Zealand is a proud, independent country. We are no longer a British colony, so we shouldn’t have another country’s flag on our flag.

All New Zealanders having a say in this decision honours the rights and freedoms that have been fought for.

New Zealand has changed significantly, we are far more aware of our bicultural origins and have become a multicultural society.

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The flag hasn’t changed since 1902, which shows our stability as a nation.

It represents the country which our soldiers fought and died for.

We’ll remain part of the Commonwealth.

Of 53 Commonwealth countries, only four still have the Union Jack as part of their flag.

For further details visit flag.govt.nz or call 0800 36 76 56 Authorised by the Flag Consideration Panel

We have grown up with and feel connected to this flag.

It reminds us of events and achievements from our past.

Our connection to Britain, which gave us democracy, respect for the law and a fair judicial system, can be seen in this flag.

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THE BEST OF ASIA IN YOUR LIVING ROOM Great news from SKY, we’ve launched two all-new Hindi channels!

Colours and Star Gold are now live, joining Star Plus.

SKY direct Basic customers are able to get one channel for $9.99, two channels for just $14.99 and all three for only $19.99 per month.

And you can try them all for free, until 8th March.

Conditions apply. Only available to SKY direct domestic customers with Basic. Channels are available on trial free to all SKY domestic customers until 9th March 2016. After that date, standard charges apply. See our website for details.