Indian Weekender 22 July 2016

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22 JULY2016

NzIFF 2016 must-watch movies

Vol. 8 • Issue 18

NZ’s only Kiwi-Indian weekly

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

The Pulse of Kiwi-Indians since 2009

Advisory services launched for Indian students overseas PG3

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Pokémon Go

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22 July 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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New Zealand

Oamaru shop accused of racism

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www.iwk.co.nz | 22 July 2016

New initiative to support our international students Maya Shivam

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nternational students constantly make headlines and in recent times, much has been spoken and reported about students from India currently in New Zealand.

Indian Weekender has also done stories on the state of international students in New Zealand from time to time, whether it is their living conditions or the paucity of job opportunities or being exploited by rogue employers.

Students seem to be facing a lot of struggles that perhaps they had not been prepared for.

Most of these students leave India—a large number of them from rural villages leave their families and home country— with stars in their eyes, in search of their dreams. But alas, the reality is nowhere near what they expect.

Of recent times, to add to the heartbreak and pain, the truth about some agents have emerged who to serve their own interests, not only lie to and mislead the students and their families but have also been submitting false documents to Immigration

In a welcome step, the Government of India has issued an advisory for all international students studying in any country across the world

New Zealand (INZ). As a result of this, many students have been facing deportation. One can only imagine the plight of students who already feel under immense pressures from their families, who perhaps mortgage their homes and lands to meet the expenses of their children studying abroad, and are then served with a deportation notice.

Such situations leave the students clueless in terms of whom to contact or ask for help.

While INZ and the government are trying to address the issue, in

a welcome step, the Government of India has issued an advisory for all international students studying in any country. As part of its efforts to extend its outreach to Indian students studying abroad, the Indian govenment has added a specific student module to its Consular Grievances Monitoring System (MADAD). The home page link of the MADAD portal (https://portal1.madad.gov.in/ AppConsular/welcomeLink) provides basic guidance on how students can first register themselves on this module and

then proceed to provide basic information. This information will help the concerned Indian Embassy/High Commission to engage effectively with students and render them all possible assistance. The data entered in this module can be accessed and used only by Indian Missions and Ministry of External Affairs.

The High Commission of India in New Zealand is encouraging all Indian students in New Zealand to register themselves and provide basic information about themselves through

this platform. This will then allow the High Commission to support these students when required. Speaking about this new initiative, the Indian High Commissioner, Mr Sanjiv Kohli said, “The advisory is to convey new initiatives that we are taking to enable us to maintain an updated database and to facilitate direct interface with our students here so that in times of need, both sides can reach the other quickly. They can share their experiences and concerns with us. We want to ensure that we do everything possible to promote their well-being. This would also help us to take up their concerns with respective institutions and government agencies. This is going to be a continuing process and can develop further only through an interactive manner.”

It is hoped that this initiative is supported by our student community and they work with the High Commission of India to ensure that the students are better supported and have better outcomes to the various issues that they are faced with.

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NEW ZEALAND

22 July 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Labour’s comprehensive plan to address the housing crisis Phil Twyford, MP for Te Atatū

Labour Spokesperson for Housing, Building and Construction

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ome Sunday, hundreds of young Kiwis will be queuing up at open homes around the country, hoping against hope that maybe, just maybe, they’ll get lucky. It’s a scenario that is being played out every week—young couples up against a property market where dog eat dog has become the norm; where, unless you’re already on the ladder, or unless you win Lotto, the home ownership dream will continue to be just that—a dream.

And still, the National Government won’t admit there’s a housing crisis.

It has failed to rein in soaring prices, failed to stop speculators buying and flicking on homes for massive profits, failed to provide more temporary accommodation for increasing numbers of Kiwis locked out of even the rental market, and failed to provide anywhere near enough affordable homes for a new generation of first-home buyers.

Remember John Key’s solution to young families struggling to get onto the property market?

Look on Trade Me. And how

Latest figures from Statistics NZ only support the fact that the government’s been missing in action on housing. In the past year, the number of new families who own their own home grew by just 5,700 while the number of renters increased by twice as much—13,500 households.

about Paula Bennett’s solution to moving people out of cars and into temporary digs—ghost ‘flying squads’.

Labour, on the other hand, has a comprehensive plan to tackle the problem by setting up an Affordable Housing Authority to work with the sector to build more affordable homes and undertake major greenfields and revitalisation programmes and cracking down on speculators.

We will also end National’s state house sell-off and stop using Housing NZ as a cash cow, instead refocusing it on what it does best— looking after people in need. The dividend the government now demands of it will be reinvested

into building more homes and updating existing ones.

People camping out in cars or in friends’ and relatives’ garages will be helped into temporary accommodation through extra funding to emergency housing providers, while a major hurdle for developers in Auckland, the city’s urban growth boundary, will be removed, providing more options to grow.

The government doesn’t have a comprehensive plan; it is just a collection of piecemeal and grudging half-measures.

Their flagship supply initiative, Auckland’s special housing areas, has delivered only 1,000 homes in three years.

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Labour’s KiwiBuild will see 100,000 high-quality affordable homes built over 10 years.

Standalone houses in Auckland will cost $500,000 to $600,000, with apartments and townhouses under $500,000. They’ll range from $300,000 to $500,000 outside of Auckland.

Latest figures from Statistics NZ only support the fact that the government’s been missing in action on housing. In the past year, the number of new families who own their own home grew by just 5,700 while the number of renters increased by twice as much—13,500 households.

If homeownership levels were at their 1991 peak, there would be another 174,000 families who owned a home today.

That, along with the daily stories of people not being able to afford to rent, of young couples and their parents and grandparents resigned (almost) to kissing the Kiwi dream of owning a home goodbye, of speculators making tens of thousands a month by buying and flipping property, paint a pretty damning picture.

National is still trying to insist there isn’t a housing crisis.

We’re saying there is, and we’ve got some pretty bold ideas to address it.

oe Biden’s visit to New Zealand comes amongst desperate moves to try to rescue the deeply unpopular Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).

Citizens opposed to the TPPA gathered at Auckland Airport on Thursday, July 21, to call for an end to the TPPA. The TPPA was on the agenda for talks in Australia and is expected to be discussed in Auckland. The TPPA is in deep trouble in the US, with both Presidential nominees recently affirming their rejection of the agreement. There is overwhelming evidence that the TPPA will produce little if any economic benefit, cause social and environmental damage, and result in the loss of governments’ right to regulate. Yet, the current President is still talking about the TPPA as a key part of his legacy from eight years in office.

The campaign against the TPPA in New Zealand, It’s Our Future, is calling for talks to be abandoned.

Spokesperson Barry Coates said, “The US President and Vice President should not be leaving a toxic legacy from their time in office. People are waking up to the dangers of giving over powers to foreign corporations. The TPPA’s investor-state dispute settlement mechanism would allow foreign investors to challenge the decisions of our Parliament and our judicial system.

The recent TransCanada US$15 billion case against the US government’s rejection

of the KeystoneXL pipeline shows how action on climate change will be further undermined by the TPPA.” There is a strong and growing opposition to the TPPA and similar pro-corporate treaties around the world, including huge opposition to the parallel Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations between the US and EU. A majority of the New Zealand public opposes the TPPA, according to opinion polls.

There is no chance to pass the TPPA in the US using the usual democratic processes, so the US administration is trying to push the TPPA through during the ‘lame duck period’ between the Presidential election on November 8 and the time the President takes office on January 20, 2017.

As with the previous push for Fast Track Authority, the wheels will be oiled by lavish corporate contributions.

It’s Our Future is calling for a halt to the ratification process in New Zealand, and if the TPPA is to continue, there should be a binding referendum on New Zealand’s participation.

It’s Our Future spokesperson Barry Coates concluded, “The world has moved on. The TPPA is a throwback to the era of extreme liberalisation, trickle-down, growth-at-all-costs policies.

It has benefited big corporations and the wealthy few and caused massive inequality, unstable economies, climate chaos and a hollowing out of democracy. It’s time to change direction.”

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 22 July 2016

Community comes together for Eid reception Rizwan Mohammad

F

ollowing the Eid-ul-Fitr festival of the Muslim community on Wednesday, July 6, the New Zealand Muslim Association Inc. (NZMA) organised an Eid reception last week inviting community members, Members of Parliament and heads of community associations from Auckland.

The Eid reception was held to celebrate the festival and share a platform to build stronger ties with the diverse community.

NZMA is an affiliate of the Federation of Islamic Associations of NZ (FIANZ), founded in 1950 to represent the Muslims of Auckland.

MP for Mt Roskill and Auckland’s mayoral candidate Phil Goff reiterated the contributions of the Muslim community to the growing diversity of New Zealand and its economy.

National List MP Dr Parmjeet Parmar, MP Kanwaljit Bakshi and Green Party MP Denise Roche were among the other Parliamentarians at the event.

Shaikh Mohammed Amir, Chair of Ulama Advisory Board of FIANZ, commenced the evening with a khutbah followed by a

Attendees at the Eid reception

short speech on the importance of sharing happiness with other communities as mentioned in the Quran.

The evening was also attended by Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy, President of Auckland Interfaith Council Ruth Cleaver and Chair of Dawah committee of FIANZ Dr Mustafa Farouk.

Jasmine, an 18-year-old Kiwi-Muslim girl delivered a short speech on growing as a young Muslim girl in a diverse community in Auckland.

The evening concluded with a dua and a thank you address by Ikhlaq Kashkari, President of New Zealand Muslim Association.

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NEW ZEALAND

22 July 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian students facing deportation Gaurav Sharma

T

he plight of Indian students studying in Canterbury is grabbing headlines again with many facing deportation due to submitting false bank documents, which incorrectly showed them having access to sufficient funds to pay their tuition fees.

Ruth Burgess, Solicitor at Christchurch-based Lexington Legal—the law firm representing several such students—noted, “The problem is fraudulent documents

showing that students meet the minimum requirement of funds in their bank accounts needed to secure the student visas. “[A] lot of unscrupulous agents have duped these students by promising them bank loans f o r studying in New Zealand, putting their houses as collateral, which never materialised. So when Immigration NZ and Education

NZ verify these documents, they found a lot of them to be fraudulent and many students now faced deportation.

We have taken several such cases and hoping for [an]

amicable solution.” Meanwhile the government, on its part, to provide international students with accurate and reliable information to make informed choices about coming to study and live in New Zealand has put in place two very important measures since July 1, this year.

First is the Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code Of Practice 2016 replacing the existing Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students, for which the New Zealand Qualifications Authority

is the Code Administrator.

Second is establishing a new International Student Contract Dispute Resolution Scheme— to be operated by FairWay Resolution Limited, a Crown company specialising in disputes resolution, to resolve contractual and financial disputes between international students and education providers.

While this will certainly help the new arrivals, what happens to Indian students already here and facing deportation remains unclear.

Jalsa Fiji Radio—the heartbeat of Hindi-speaking community in Christchurch Gaurav Sharma

S

tarted on October 19, 2014, and nominated for NZ Radio Awards last year, Jalsa Fiji Radio—a community radio station owned and operated by the FijiIndian husband-wife duo of Vinesh and Rajneeta Prakash—is now entertaining Hindi-speaking audiences in Christchurch for more than one-and-a-half hours every Saturday.

Presented via the Community Access Radio Plains FM 96.9, Smrita Tiwari and Rita Verma start the evening at 5:30 p.m. playing ’70s, ’80s and latest Bollywood hits in their show called the Dip

Jalsa Fiji Radio entertaining the Hindi-speaking community in Christchurch

Chick Moments. This is followed

time presented by Vinesh, DJ Avi,

by an hour of (starting at 7 p.m.)

Monil and Shahil. “In this hour we

Desi Boys and Bad Boys party

do Bollywood gossip, party music,

announce upcoming events, pass on important community news as well as present entertaining issues.

Overall, our goal is to engage [the] Hindi-speaking audience in the Greater Christchurch area and spread community news.

One of our proudest moments came in February in the aftermath of the Winston Cyclone when we interviewed (via Skype) Satya Nand, a famous Fiji radio announcer, and Ritika Pratap, [a] news reporter from the Fiji Broadcasting Commission.

Their first-hand information from ground zero helped us in mobilising support and aid for the cyclone victims back home,”

said Vinesh. Meanwhile, showing its vibrancy and kick-off a winter full of entertainment, the Fiji-Indian community in the city is gearing up for a series of events in the coming fortnight.

“First up is the Christchurch Kirtan Sandhya on July 22 where Fiji’s kirtan star Nitin Nilesh Prakash is performing.

Then on July 30, Khalid Hussein, the Qawal from Fiji, will battle it out with the Christchurch’s very own Avinash Dass in the Grand Qawali Muqabala.

Finally on August 6, the Fijian stand-up comedy sensation Jimmy Moses is coming to town,” informed Prakash.

Oamaru shop accused of racism Gaurav Sharma

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charity shop in South Island’s Victorian town of Oamaru was in the news last week for all the wrong reasons when its owner was accused of

racism, swearing at a Canadian woman, and telling her to go “back to India”, “you’re banned”, “we don’t want your sort here”.

The incident was picked up by the local media when Zahra Muhammed, a Canadian,

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who now lives in Dunedin, and was on a visit to Oamaru on July 15, narrated it in a Facebook post. She accused the Oamaru Charity shop owner Bonnie McLellan of hurling racist abuses at her and accusing her children of stealing. She added that while this is of no relevance, “it’s important to note I’m not Indian”.

“I am Canadian, and of White, European decent. I do however wear

a head scarf for religious reasons and have done so for just over 10 years. My children 5, 3, and 3 months are half Fijian Indians.”

Meanwhile, McLellan while talking to Otago Daily Times later termed the incident as a “verbal argument”, “blown out of proportion”, and denied any swearing. Although she admitted and regretted telling Zahra to go “back to India”.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 22 July 2016

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Horticulture and agribusiness as new study options

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orticulture is one of the most important sectors under the umbrella of agriculture.

It delves into landscaping, plant biology, soil science, and plant protection. Another field of study in demand within agriculture is agribusiness.

Regent International Education Group on Queen Street is offering a new course to students to get a combined knowledge of business and New Zealand agriculture sector, which is vital for the industry.

Diploma in Business (Advanced) Level 7 in Agribusiness Management falls both under agriculture and business studies, and the prospects in learning expand to both agricultural field and the management of agriculture-related businesses.

The course offers eight modules in one year with marketing, agribusiness studies, agribusiness management, applied research project, budgeting and financial planning as some of its subjects.

Such courses encourage students to take entrepreneurial opportunities and start a venture within the agricultural sector.

With growth in agribusiness, which is set to create thousands of jobs in the next decade, the demand for related studies is

increasing with more students signing up for the course.

One of the popular sections within horticulture is soil science where many students are opting for further studies.

“I am studying soil science, and the knowledge I gained about the soils of this country is fascinating. We made a field trip to Muriwai Beach, north of Auckland city, and had a first-hand experience about the diverse kinds of soil in one location,” says a level 4 student studying at Regent International Group.

For further information on other courses and admission, interested individuals can call 09 920 6886 and have a direct conversation. The enrolment for the course has started and terms start from mid-August 2016.

Sandringham property fetches $1,880,000

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by Gawan Bakshi and Jonathan Lynch of Colliers International. The sale price represents a yield of 4.78%

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22 July 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Mumbai Unplugged brings unique musical treat to Auckland IWK Bureau

A

ucklanders are in for a unique musical treat with Mumbai Unplugged where tradition meets innovation with world-renowned percussion wizard Taufiq Qureshi and sitar maestro Purbayan Chatterjee from Mumbai. World leading artistes Taufiq Qureshi and Purbayan Chatterjee from Mumbai will join Auckland musicians Ben, Jo, Manjit and others in creating a unique musical tapestry like no other.

Mumbai Unplugged will feature music and rhythms that transcend genres, with sounds and beats from many countries around the world, while yet being solidly rooted in tradition.

It’s a whole new take on traditional melody and rhythm with exotic and new influences from music and rhythms from many worlds. There’s a bit of jazz and blues, a bit of classic Bollywood, Indian classical and folk, world music influences, some techno and much more, but all with firm traditional roots.

Hence the tagline Tradition meets Innovation.

Mumbai

Tickets are priced at $30 and $25. Visit www.iticket.co.nz to book or call Dev on 021-1712777 Taufiq Qureshi (left) and Purbavan Chatterjee (right)

Unplugged is being hosted under the auspices of the Mohan Nadkarni Foundation, the University of Auckland School of Music and Might-I. Taufiq, who is the youngest brother of world famous tabla master Ustad Zakir Hussain, and Purbayan have collaborated over many years and have regaled audiences at musical gigs in major cities around the world and India, many times jamming with local musicians, as they will also do here in Auckland. The celebrated duo will be performing with Auckland’s

own favourite Raag Time trio of Ben, Manjit and Jo on Saturday, August 20 at 6 p.m. at the Dorothy Winstone Centre.

Mumbai Unplugged will commemorate the 50th anniversary of a unique and successful experiment in the history of India’s popular music.

In 1968, legendary Bollywood music directors Shankar Jaikishan collaborated with a whole host of Jazz artistes of the time to produce the wildly successful vinyl album Raga Jazz Style. The album was an instant success worldwide and is

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listened to with much nostalgia to this day. It featured 11 tunes based on Indian traditional and classical music but played mainly with non-Indian instruments popular in jazz such as saxophone, trumpet, piano, drums, bass, electric guitars, and piccolo. The only traditional Indian instruments were tabla and sitar. Taufiq, Purbayan and the Auckland artistes will recreate some of these tracks at Mumbai Unplugged.

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www.iwk.co.nz | 22 July 2016

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NZ silver screen set for world cinema Go on a cinematic adventure at this year’s New Zealand International Film Festival Esha Chanda

T

he New Zealand International Film Festival opened last week with the world premiere screening of Poi E: The Story of Our Song. Director Tearepa Kahi’s documentary explores the history of Poi E—a song that was released 32 years ago. Readers who haven’t grabbed a ticket for the screening on July 23 and 24 (the website says that it’s already sold out) might have to wait for its official release. But till then, Aucklanders can catch the screening of the other movies featured in the robust collection this year. We browsed through the line-up to pick five movies that you shouldn’t miss at the 48th international film festival.

Under the shadow

T

he Iranian-British horror film, written and directed by debutant Babak Anvari, is a spine-chilling thriller. Set against the historical background of Iran-Iraq war, viewers are introduced to Shideh (Narges Rashidi), an aspiring doctor who is unable to resume her studies due to her political activism. As bombs pelt down around them, Shideh confronts the demons inside her house. She is left alone to protect her daughter from a

Under the shadow

Midnight Special

supernatural phenomena. Under the Shadow bears resemblance to Jennifer Kent’s The Babadook (2014), but this thriller will ask you to read between the lines while delivering the eeriness of a horror film.

Friday, July 22, at 8:30 p.m. at SKYCITY Theatre Sunday, July 24, at 8 p.m. at Event Cinemas, Queen Street Saturday, July 30, at 8 p.m. at Event Cinemas, Westgate

Life, Animated

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tories possess a powerful magic, which when unleashed, can help us face every demon in life. Based on the best-selling novel by Ron Suskind, Life, Animated is an uplifting documentary about Owen Suskind, 23, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of three.

The family saw their son go into a silent retreat, and it wasn’t until years later when they discovered

that the key to communicating with him was by immersing into the world of Disney animated films. Life, Animated is an emotional coming-of-age story that beautifully uses animation to give an insight into Owen’s world.

Saturday, July 23, at 3:15 p.m. at SKYCITY Theatre Sunday, July 24, at 5:45 p.m. at Event Cinemas Queen Street Wednesday, July 27, at 2 p.m. at Event Cinemas Queen Street

A Quiet Passion

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Quiet Passion takes you back in time to 19th century America and into the world of American poet Emily Dickinson.

Directed by Terence Davies, the biopic, which stars Cynthia Nixon as the poet and Jennifer Ehle as her sister Vinnie, opened at Berlins Film Festival earlier this year to rave reviews. Hailed as one of Davies’ finest works, the period drama is about the reclusive and

frustrated life of Dickinson. She spent most of her adult life in her study at her parent’s house in Amherst, Massachusetts, where she gave birth to her art.

The movie is a brilliant portrayal of one of the world’s famed poet known for her solitude life and poignant verses.

Sunday, July 24, at 1:30 p.m. at The Civic Theatre Wednesday, July 27, at 10:30 a.m. at The Civic Theatre

Winter Song

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irected by Georgian master Otar Iosseliani, Winter Song is a beguiling low-key comedy that sees an ensemble cast in a story that unfolds in the early 1980s France—after leaving the USSR—through a series of random sequences. The movie’s visual gags dominate the screen that projects dreams spaces, love stories, and friendships between

the characters. It’s not until the very end does Iosseliani brings them all together and patches the whimsical storylines to present an ingenious plot for his audience.

Thursday, July 28, at 11 a.m. at Academy Cinema Sunday, July 31, at 1:15 p.m. at Academy Cinema

Midnight Special

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eff Nicholas’ Midnight Special is a mysterious sci-fi thriller.

The movie features a boy, unlike us, with unexplained powers, and a father who is willing to risk anything to protect his son from religious extremists and the federal government.

The movie starts with two men driving into the night with a small boy sitting in the back seat. And then the manhunt begins. The audience is taken on a journey with a father determined to help his son reach his ultimate purpose.

Tuesday, July 26, at 4 p.m. at SKYCITY Theatre Friday, July 29, at 9 p.m. at The Civic Theatre

NEW ZEALAND

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22 July 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

$19m redevelopment of Freemans Bay School getting underway

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onstruction work is set to begin on the $19.2 million redevelopments of Auckland’s Freemans Bay School, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced on July 14.

“Yesterday, local kaumatua buried a mauri stone and blessed the construction site, so construction workers can now pick up their tools and get cracking,” says Ms Kaye. “This is a big milestone for the school, which needs a significant rebuild

to accommodate roll growth and remediate leaky buildings. Last December, I announced that the redevelopment originally planned for the school would be upscaled.

The rebuild will allow for a roll of 600, and will include a new learning block, as well as a new multi-purpose hall, library, administration building and Rumaki Whanau Ata, the school’s Maori Immersion Unit.

“The government is investing $18 million in this project, with

the school’s Board of Trustees contributing $1.2 million towards the new hall. Preconstruction work was carried out during the most recent summer holidays.

“The redevelopment is due to be completed by the end of 2017.

This will enable the new facilities to be used from the start of Term 1 in 2018. As with all major school redevelopments, the new learning block will provide an innovative learning environment which supports evolving teaching

The rebuild includes a new learning block, a multi-purpose hall, library, administration building among others developments

practices, now and into the future.

Freemans Bay School is one of the oldest schools in New Zealand, having been established back in 1888. I’d like to acknowledge the hard work of the Board and

Minister launches EmployAbility

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isability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner launched EmployAbility on July 14, an employment programme to assist people with health conditions and disabilities into work to take place in the Bay of Plenty. “Work and Income will match clients with a health

condition or disability to jobs that suit their particular skills.

Once a person gets a job, we’ll offer ongoing support to them and their employer, to help ensure it’s successful for everyone,” Ms Wagner says.

“EmployAbility is an extension of the successful Christchurchbased employment programme,

Project 300, which saw 584 people get into work. What we learnt from Project 300 is that engaging with and supporting both employers and employees helps to form a mutually beneficial relationship. It’s about matching the right person to the right job.

“People with health conditions and disabilities tell me that they

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the community. EmployAbility helps employers build successful businesses, great teams and stronger communities. We want to hear from employers about the support they need to help them employ people with health conditions and disabilities, and what they need to become a disability confident employer.”

Housing crisis affecting more than 98% of NZ

NEW R EL EA S E

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want the same opportunity to work that other people have and that having a job is important to them.

“Having a job is more than just earning a living. Working gives people confidence and independence. It helps them build a better future for them and their family. It connects them with

Principal over the last few years. A lot of planning has gone into this project, and the redevelopment will set the school up to serve its communities for many more years to come.”

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abour’s new housing map shows the housing crisis is now affecting more than 98% of New Zealand, Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little says.

“Housing pressures have seen house prices rise faster than wages in all but four areas of the country: the Grey District, Increasing rents and state housing waiting list makes it difficult for Masterton, Westland New Zelanders seeking a house in Auckland and Wairoa.

These the Waitemata. Unsurprisingly the highest four areas make up 1.25% of average house price—a staggering $1.4 our population. million—is found in Auckland’s eastern “The housing crisis is making life tougher suburbs. In comparison in Kawerau, it for most New Zealanders. Skyrocketing is $131,000. The shortage of houses in house prices are locking a generation out Auckland is now affecting other areas. of the Kiwi dream of homeownership and In South West, Hamilton house prices pushing rents up so high, families are being rose 29.8% in the past year—the fastest in forced to live in cars and garages.

New Zealand. The fastest rent increases “Labour’s interactive housing map— were in the Bay of Plenty where they rose being launched at http://www.labour. 9.5% in the year to March. org.nz/housingmap—shows anyone Behind all these figures are families who how the housing crisis is affecting their are paying more and more for a roof over neighbourhood. Information includes rises their heads, leaving less and less for food in house prices, changes in homeownership and other essentials for themselves and rates, rent increases and the length of state their kids. housing waiting lists.

“Only Labour has a comprehensive plan “The map highlights how dramatically to address the housing crisis. We will build National’s housing crisis is exacerbating 100,000 affordable homes, crack down on inequality. The highest homeownership offshore speculators and provide the social rate in the country is in Waimakariri and emergency housing our country so at 80%, compared to just 39% in badly needs,” Andrew Little says.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 22 July 2016

Councillors set to make decision on SkyPath

Stand for council–make Auckland a great place to live

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A representation of the SkyPath | Credit: Build Media

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uckland Council’s Finance and Performance Committee will next week make a decision on whether to deliver the SkyPath project through a public-private partnership (PPP). If councillors agree to the recommended PPP option, it would be the first partnership of its kind for significant infrastructure in Auckland by the council.

The PPP would mean that the construction, operation and maintenance of SkyPath would be financed and delivered by the PIP Fund for the contract period and there would be an admission charge for users of SkyPath. The council would provide a limited underwrite of the revenue.

This means if minimum revenue streams from fares, sponsorship, etc. are not met, the council would need to top-up funds to meet a pre-agreed amount. In turn, if profits reach a certain level, council and the Auckland Harbour Bridge Pathway Trust will receive a share in these.

Auckland Council would also receive ownership rights and obligations at the end of the contract period. Ahead of their recommendation, members of the Finance and Performance Committee will consider two reports relating to SkyPath. The Finance and Performance Committee met on July 21. The Governing Body will now formalise the decisions of the committee at its meeting on July 28.

ould-be Auckland leaders keen to stand in the upcoming local elections can put their names forward as candidates.

Nominations for candidates opened on July 15, and close at noon on August 12. Aucklanders will choose from the pool of candidates standing in the elections.

“If you’re interested in representing your community, and you think you can contribute useful skills and ideas, now is your chance to be involved in the decisions that make Auckland a great place to live, by standing for election,” says Auckland Council Electoral Officer Dale Ofsoske.

Elected roles for council include local boards, councillors and mayor, and voters will also get to choose district health board representatives, and licensing trust members in some areas.

Anyone over the age of 18 can stand for election as long as they are a New Zealand citizen and on the Parliamentary Electoral Roll. Voting documents are posted out from Friday, September 16 and must be received by the Electoral Officer by noon on Election Day, Saturday, October 8. Candidate nomination forms are available for download or from the following locations: ¡¡ Electoral Office, Independent Election Services, Level 3, Custom House, 50

Anzac Avenue, Auckland

¡¡ Great Barrier Island Service Centre, Hec-

tor Sanderson Road, Claris ¡¡ Henderson Service Centre, 6 Henderson Valley Road, Henderson ¡¡ Manukau Service Centre, 4 Osterley Way, Manukau ¡¡ Orewa Service Centre, 50 Centreway Road, Orewa ¡¡ Papakura Service Centre, 35 Coles Crescent, Papakura ¡¡ Pukekohe Service Centre, 82 Manukau Road, Pukekohe ¡¡ Takapuna Service Centre, 1 The Strand, Takapuna ¡¡ Waiheke Service Centre, 10 Belgium Street, Ostend Completed candidate nomination forms must be in the hands of the Electoral Officer or an electoral official at one of the above locations no later than noon on Friday, August 12. Each nomination must be accompanied by a deposit of $200 GST inclusive (payable by cash, bank transfer, cheque or EFTPOS).

Candidates can submit a profile statement with their nomination paper for publication in the voting documents sent to electors.

An attachment to the nomination paper outlines the rules and procedures governing candidate profile statements.

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NEW ZEALAND

22 July 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Giving children the best possible start in life

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John Key Prime Minister

elping to keep more New Zealanders and their families healthy is a priority for the National-led Government.

This year we will be investing a record $16.1 billion into health and continuing our drive to get better results for New Zealanders and their families from that investment.

That’s why we’ve also introduced a number of

important initiatives to help give New Zealand children the best possible start in life. Around 780,000 children are benefitting from our policy of free GP visits and prescriptions, as well as free after-hours services, for all children aged under 13.

To date more than 1.2 million influenza vaccines have been distributed across the country, protecting over a quarter of our population.

We’ve also lifted immunisation rates for babies, with around 93% of eight-month-olds now fully immunised. This means thousands of more babies are being protected from potentially life-threatening illnesses.

There’s been a significant reduction in national rheumatic fever rates, dropping 45% since 2012. This shows the $65 million investment the National-led Government has made to prevent rheumatic fever is making a difference to the young people, families, and communities most at risk.

The latest issue threatening the health of young New Zealanders is obesity. One in three New Zealand schoolchildren is either obese or overweight, and more than a third are inactive.

That’s why the government launched the Childhood Obesity Plan last October. We’re one of only a few developed countries

with a comprehensive plan and a target to support it.

Under our new target, we expect that more than 4,000 children a year—95% of children identified as obese—will be supported to achieve a healthy weight by the end of next year.

These children will be identified through our free B4 School Check programme, which benefits around 58,000 four-year-old children each year with a free health and development check.

They will then be referred to an appropriate health professional with their family to get advice and help to support healthy eating and activity. We’re also taking a fresh look at what we provide

for young people to ensure they participate and develop a lifelong love of sport. While Kiwi kids have traditionally been active and sporty, around the world participation rates are falling and New Zealand is not immune. We are determined to ensure more young people get involved and stay involved in some form of sport as it helps them to led healthier lives.

Deliver better health services remains a top priority for this National-led Government. That’s why we are investing more than ever before into health and are committed to achieving better results for New Zealanders and their families.

2030. TPP will save New Zealand businesses NZ$272m per year in tariffs when fully implemented.

TPP is our first free trade agreement with Japan, United States, Canada, Mexico and Peru.

The US is the largest economy in the world and Japan is third

largest. New Zealand has sought FTAs with these countries for 25 years.

TPP will eliminate tariffs on 93% of our exports to our new FTA partners as well as reducing non-tariff barriers. TPP will save exporters $96m in tariffs on the $4.3 billion worth of products exported to TPP countries.

TPP will save meat exporters $84m in tariffs on the $2.8 billion worth of meat sold to TPP countries a year. TPP will save kiwifruit growers an average of $6,000 a year each when fully implemented or $18.4m. $34m saved annually in tariffs on fruit and vegetables. $16m saved annually in tariffs on wine, and duty-free access into seven new countries.

Apart from negotiating the TPP this New Zealand Government is also working the European Union towards EU-NZ FTA. We are also negotiating FTAs with India and the GCC. The Prime Minister and our Trade Minister are currently in Indonesia negotiating terms of trade.

Our approach is to refresh our trade policy and work towards the elimination of non-tariff barriers that arise with our trading partners.

There is always more to do for New Zealand and New Zealanders.

We will continue to seek avenues that allow us to keep our New Zealand lifestyle, grow our jobs and our economy.

Importance of trade to the NZ economy Kanwaljit Bakshi National List MP

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ree Trade Agreements (FTA) enable New Zealand exporters to sell more products and services to the world, creating more jobs and higher incomes for New Zealanders.

Tariff savings represent money businesses can spend growing and employing more New Zealanders.

Tariff savings are often the narrowest measure of the benefits of trade agreements, which also include economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits.

New Zealand has signed TPP, which includes 12 AsiaPacific countries, covering 36% of the global economy and 800 million customers.

This is New Zealand’s largest FTA and is estimated to be worth at least $2.7b a year to our GDP by

Council needs to become more efficient Phil Goff

Labour MP

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hen the Auckland Super City was established in 2010 and eight different councils were amalgamated into one, my expectation was that this could help eliminate duplication and wastage across the City.

Eight Chief Executives replaced by one, economies of scale, and an organisation focused on delivering services more effectively seemed a good idea to me, and many others, at the time.

Today, Council claims to have saved several hundred million dollars but the perception

certainly is not that ratepayers have received a dividend of greater cost efficiency and more reasonable rates.

Rather it is that the Council still has a long way to go in delivery on the promise of a Super City that is more transparent, responsive and effective. To be fair, with Auckland growing by 40,000 people a year and building consents trebling over the last six years, there is undoubtedly more work to do.

However, pressure needs to be kept on Council to do more with less. As an organisation not subject to competition to keep its prices down and become more efficient, there needs to be a drive from the Mayor, elected representatives and from the top of the Council bureaucracy for this to happen.

Rates do impose a burden and we need to keep rate rises at a low level, not the double figure rises that some have had imposed on them over recent years. There are aspects of the current and inherited Council culture that have to change. Using its people resources more efficiently is one of them. A woman came to see me recently after an appointment with Auckland Transport (AT), a council-controlled organisation.

She wanted permission to use a small number of car park spaces for a car-sharing scheme she runs.

She went to her appointment with AT to be confronted with eight officials from the organisation.

Why that number was required is incomprehensible. What is worse, not one of the officials had the

authority to make a decision on her application.

Another story. A drainage engineer in my electorate oversees connections of new water and wastewater connections to new houses. Under the old regime, he dealt with one Council engineer.

Now he deals with seven, across Council, Watercare and Auckland Transport!

We also need Auckland Council to become a can-do organisation, not just an obstacle to people’s aspirations. We need it to treat the ratepayers who fund it as their valued customers.

Here’s an example of what really frustrates people about bureaucracy.

Howick Rotary each year runs a book fair to raise funds for local community and

charitable organisations. They told me they applied to put up small, half-real estate size signs on grass berms to advertise the fair.

First, they were told by AT that they couldn’t, then that they might be able to if they sought exemption from the rule of not putting signs on berms. The catch was that the fee to apply for an exemption was $180, not altogether, but for each sign. It would have cost Rotary $9000 non-refundable, to put out their 50 signs!

We can do better than this. My goal is to change the culture of Council. I want it to be a much more responsive, transparent, efficient organisation that can deliver to its ratepayers more for less.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 22 July 2016

Housing crisis needs urgent action from government give up on their dream of owning a home, and rents are rising.

In Auckland, the situation is dire. First-home buyers in Auckland are, on average, earning only about half as much as the daily increase in house prices, which is now around $500 a day. We are seeing the impact of the housing crisis on extended families and communities, as young people can’t afford to buy houses in the neighbourhoods and cities that they grew up in.

It’s astonishing then, that this government is refusing to acknowledge that we are facing a crisis. National’s council infrastructure loans, their “big idea” on housing, aren’t going to do anything to help young families watching as the median price keeps rising, while their savings are worth less and less in comparison. The housing

James Shaw Green Party Co–leader

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ll New Zealanders need somewhere warm and safe to live. Having a home, whether it’s a safe, warm rental or a property of your own, is an important part of belonging to your community. It’s about being able to invest time and energy in your neighbourhood. It’s about getting to know your neighbours and walking your kids to school in the morning.

That’s what makes New Zealand’s current housing crisis so concerning. As house prices keep going up every week, more and more people are having to

problem is also having a huge impact on essential services in Auckland. Schools are finding it increasingly difficult to find teachers who can afford to live and work in the city, and other crucial jobs such as nursing, paramedics and police will also face the same problem unless something changes.

Across New Zealand, a growing number of families are out of options. For some, this

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means having to sleep in cars and garages or spending weeks living in overcrowded houses with extended family. Many New Zealanders are horrified by the number of people affected by homelessness this winter, but National has refused our call to investigate the problem. We need better information and better solutions to this issue, which is why we launched a homelessness inquiry last week. We think that

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Kiwis have been patient with this situation for long enough and we need the government to step up.

A Green Government would tackle the housing crisis head on.

We have a plan to help Housing New Zealand build new homes and stop them from selling off existing stock.

We would also bring in a proper capital gains tax (excluding the family home) to take the heat out of the housing market and restrict non-residents from buying up homes that are needed for New Zealanders.

After eight years of inaction, it’s clear this government lacks the courage, conviction, and vision to do what’s right, and what’s smart, for our country. We can do much better, and that’s exactly what the Green Party will do when we’re in government.

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FIJI

22 July 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz

India backs Fiji at UN

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ndia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, has presented a US$250,000 (F$513,062.50) cheque to the President-elect of the UN General Assembly, Ambassador Peter Thomson. The donation is to assist with costs of running the Office of the President of the General Assembly’s 71st Session.

Ambassador Akbaruddin said that as a fellow developing country, India wanted to show its support to the President’s Office in order to contribute to a successful session in the year ahead. Ambassador Thomson thanked the government of India for its

Bastille Day celebrated In Fiji

F Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin (left) with the President-elect of the UN General Assembly Fiji’s Ambassador Peter Thomson | Photo: DEPTFO News

solidarity and generosity. He said India’s assistance to Fiji and the Pacific Small Islands Developing States was deeply appreciated by all concerned. He said like all funds received to support the

Office of the Presidency for the 71st Session, India’s donation would be deposited in the UN Trust Fund, so that receipt of funds and expenditure would be transparent to all.

Ministry aims to better aid cluster system

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he government is committed to building and strengthening the Fiji humanitarian cluster system to improve humanitarian response in times of disasters.

This was highlighted by the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, Permanent Secretary, Meleti Bainimarama, while addressing an Inter-Cluster Forum in Suva.

Highlighting the necessity to improve on inter-cluster co-ordination, communication and information sharing, and co-ordination with Government in the field, Mr Bainimarama encouraged clusters to conduct review exercises and to share widely on lessons learnt during Tropical Cyclone Winston response efforts.

“This is a valuable process that will strengthen our future co-operation, and I look forward to hearing the outcomes and your proposed solution which will form policy development and the formulation of a new Cluster Guideline,” Mr Bainimarama said.

Mr Bainimarama further acknowledged the work of the clusters during the TC Winston operation and post Winston recovery. “I must say that overall each and every cluster did a remarkable job, and I would like to

rench Ambassador to Fiji Michel Djokovic defined the true meaning of Bastille Day at the French Ambassador’s residence on Thursday, July 14.

“The first meaning that comes to mind is the sense of our past history, so as not to forget to see where we come from. Without the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789, without revolutionary ideas, France wouldn’t have become what it is,” he said.

He said everyone’s presence at the Bastille Day (National Day for France) which is meaningful to him as he speaks of all those who are committed to their common values, be they French or Fijian or another nationality.

He stated another meaning of the Bastille Day was the will to

defend the values in the face of threats that are present.

“Concerning the future, let’s work together in order to leave a planet where our children and grandchildren can live in peace and safe from disasters.

“Fiji was the first country to ratify the Paris agreement and France ratified it in June this year.

United, we may defeat climate change and its devastating consequences [such as] cyclones, sea level rise, drought and flooding that happened in Fiji and French Polynesia,” Mr Dojokovic said.

Since last year’s Bastille Day, many diverse events linking France and Fiji took place strengthening the friendly bonds between the two countries.

Suva U17 eye first win

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uva have yet to register a win in the Vodafone Under-17 Youth League after going down to Rewa 3–2 in the third round of competition at the

every team wants to achieve, which is important.

“I believe we are heading in the right direction, the whole of last week we worked on our defence and we defended well

Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management Permanent Secretary Meleti Bainimarama (left)

extend my thanks to you and your cluster members for your solid support of the Fiji Government and people,” Mr Bainimarama said.

Clusters are groupings of humanitarian response organisations including both government and non-government organisations that work in the main sectors of disaster response and humanitarian actions.

Representatives from the following clusters were present at the meeting: health and nutrition; water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); food security; shelter; safety, protection; education; logistics; and communications.

Vodafone U17 Youth League Suva team at the Fiji Football Association Academy in Vatuwaqa | Photo: Justine MannaW

Fiji FA Academy in Vatuwaqa on July 18. Suva led 1–0 at half-time with a goal from Philip Leong but Rewa came back in the second half with goals from Anare Naituva, Viliame Tuinakau and Kartik Chand in the 56th, 65th and 80th minute. Suva’s Gerard Lal scored their second goal in the 88th minute but it was not enough for a win.

Suva football coach Radhe Krishna said despite the loss, he is happy with how the boys performed as they have improved from the two rounds of competition.

“I am pleased with the boys performance because considering the last two games where we were thrashed, this game is a huge improvement for us, whatever we learned during training we tried to put it into practice. In coming games, we should do better. Our main aim coming into the competition is to develop our players and that is something Source: Fiji Sun

today. Rewa only penetrated once, the other two goals came from set pieces so we are doing something good.”

Krishna said they are working on certain areas of their game every week and they would try to implement that into their games.

“That is how we are improving.

It is not about winning or losing, I mean of course we would like to win a few games but the main important thing is to develop. There has been a big improvement with the boys since the league started.”

Coming up next week is their clash with Nasinu, Krishna says, they are settling for nothing more than a win as they will be working really hard this week.

“I feel the boys are ready and they just need to get past a couple of games before they settle down and really get into it. But we are anticipating a good game and I hope that we can finally get a win next week,” he added.

FIJI

www.iwk.co.nz | 22 July 2016

Indonesian Minister in Fiji for big welfare meet

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high-level delegation led by the Minister of Women Empowerment and Children Protection, Dr Yohana Susana Yembise arrived on July 17 at the Nausori Airport.

In a briefing held with the Permanent Secretary for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Josefa Koroivueta, the Indonesian Minister, Yohana Susana Yembise expressed her gratitude towards the Fijian Government for the invitation.

“I am pleased to be here once again and look forward [to] an interactive discussion and exchange information for the mutual benefit of both the countries,” Ms Yembise said. The MoU called for strengthened partnership between the two countries to share information and resources for increased development opportunities.

The Joint Technical Working Group is a result of the commitments made by the two nations under the MoU. Last year, the

Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Rosy Akbar had signed a three-year MoU to formalise Fiji-Indonesia collaboration in the areas of women empowerment, gender equality and child protection. It comprises experts from the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation in Fiji, to collaborate with the Ministry for Women Empowerment, Child Protection and Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia.

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Indonesian Minister of Women Empowerment and Children Protection, Yohana Susana Yembise is welcomed by the Permanent Secretary for Women Dr Josefa Koroivueta at the Nausori International Airport

Thank you, Kiwi medics

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ssistant Minister for Health and Medical Services, Veena Bhatnagar bid farewell to the New Zealand Fiji Medical team that had been providing free medical treatment to the people of Labasa.

The medical team, made up of former Fijian residents now living in New Zealand, attended to 25 laparoscopic and other surgical cases with a 100% success rate.

Ms Bhatnagar, while speaking at the farewell dinner for the medical team in Labasa, acknowledged the team’s great effort in helping to support Fijians.

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Team leader Shiu Kumar said they were always ready to provide much-needed treatment to the people of Labasa and hoped to return in future to render similar services.

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Nasevou Day raises more than $17K

he sub-clan of Nasevou in Lami Village raised more than $17,000 in their bid for further development on July 16. Speaking at the Nasevou Day celebrations at their village ground, sub-clan representative, Esiromi Ratini said they celebrated the twoday event every year by raising funds for village projects.

“The money that we raise is used for things like rubbish collection fees and this year we aim to upgrade our village hall,” he said. “I would like to thank the members of the mataqali and supporters from other nearby communities for contributing to the soli.” Nasevou is one of the five sub-clans that make up Lami Village.

The day was celebrated with various entertainment from the village youth and presentations from the Fiji Police Force, Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and health checkups by a team from the Ministry of Health.

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The community post caters for more than 10 villages and settlements in Delainavesi, Suvavou and Lami which has a population of more than 10,000.

“We thank the mataqali of Nasevou for allowing us to come in and be part of their celebrations and do community policing,” he said. Mr Raco said one of the prevalent issues they wished to address in the area was domestic violence.

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Thought of the week

I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I’m awake, you know?

—Ernest Hemingway

Editorial

From the desk of the Managing Editor

“

On its way to landing astronauts safely on the surface of the moon, the miracle of modern engineering that was an Apollo rocket was actually on course only 2 to 3 percent of the time. Which means that for at least 97 percent of the time it took to get from the Earth to the moon it was off course. In a journey of nearly a quarter of a million miles, the vehicle was actually on track for only 7,500 miles. Or to put it another way, for every half-hour the ship was in flight, it was on course for less than one minute. And it reached the moon—safely—and returned to tell the tale.

How was such a thing possible? Because modern space travel is a masterful example of slight edge course-correction in action.

If this machine, at the time one of the most sophisticated, expensive, and finely calibrated pieces of technology ever devised, was correcting its own off-course errors twenty-nine minutes out of every thirty, is it reasonable to expect that you could do better than that? Let’s say you were able to match an Apollo rocket’s degree of accuracy in the pursuit of your own goals: that would mean that you’d be perfectly on target and on course no more than ten days in any given year. The next time you’re giving yourself a hard time because you feel like you’ve gotten off track, think about the Apollo program, and give yourself a break.” ~Jeff Olson from The Slight Edge

Most high achieving people often go through phases when they beat themselves up for little mistakes or the smallest of setbacks. When I read these lines, I had to stop and smile to myself. Even, if for all the effort you put in, you succeeded even once every 30 times, you did fine. Life is a series ups and downs. So when the downs hit, it is important that we don’t beat ourselves but just keep going forward on our planned course. Eventually, we will find our destination.

The world saw a live example of this today with William Trubridge setting his world record. I clearly remember when he tried the last time and did not succeed. It would have been easy for him to give up, but he chose to keep going and came out on top.

We have recently had an important advisory by the High Commission of India, and I would like to urge all international students to register on the Indian Government’s website. This way the Government of India can help and support the students at their most vulnerable moments. This will also be great in taking up and addressing various issues that overseas students face. We carry more details on this initiative in our issue.

Have you been bitten by the Pokémon bug yet? It is important that while playing the game, people remain aware of their personal safety at all times. Techmate brings you up to date with this new phenomenon and also its apparent health benefits in the health section. We hope you enjoy reading our new edition. Until next time.

Until next time.

Giri Gupta

Pick of the week

Hot Spot: In the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park, a ranger surveys a new lava field created by Nyamulagira, the most active volcano in Africa. The 10,033-foot peak erupts roughly every two years. In the foreground is a sulfur deposit from a recent eruption. | Photograph: Brent Stirton for National Geographic

Indian Weekender : Volume 8 Issue 18 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 Chief Reporter - South Island: Gaurav Sharma Chief Technical Officer: Rohan Desouza | rohan@indianweekender.co.nz Sr Graphics and Layout Designer: Mahesh Kumar | mahesh@indianweekender.co.nz Graphic Designer: Yashmin Chand | designer@indianweekender.co.nz Accounts and Admin.: accounts@indianweekender.co.nz Sales, Marketing & Distribution: 022 3251630 / mahesh.iwk@gmail.com 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.

Māori Phrase: Kei reira!

English translation: Right on! That’s the one

Tip from the trenches

Master the art of public speaking

1. Keep it simple. Use everyday languages and short sentences.

2. Change your pitch, volume, and speed as you deliver your speech 3. Avoid verbal tics such as ‘umm’ 4. Use visual aids to grab the attention of the audience 5. Practice before you deliver your speech

www.iwk.co.nz | 22 July 2016

Make in Mozambique: The real reason Modi visited

OPINION/EDITORIAL

Abhishek Waghmare

I

t has as many people as Punjab, and its people are three times poorer. But Narendra Modi became the first prime minister to visit Mozambique in 34 years because the impoverished South African country has something every Indian wants.

India—the world’s leading producer of pulses, with 22% of global output—signed a contract to import 100,000 tonnes of pulses from Mozambique in 2016–17, doubling to two lakh tonnes by 2020–21.

That would still be no more than two per cent of 2015–16 imports and 0.5% of what Indian farms grow.

But every tonne counts, as imports pouring from 60 countries indicate, from some as little as 1,000 kg, the amount your neighbourhood grocery store might sell in a week.

An important staple food and source of nutrition, pulses available for every Indian have fallen by three kg over half a century. With two years of failed monsoons, insufficient irrigation and flawed, over-regulated marketing, India’s pulses output

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi witnessing the signing of agreements, at Maputo, Mozambique

is at a six-year low, sparking shortages and spiralling prices.

For the first time, imports of pulses in 2015–16 touched $4 billion, a quarter of demand and more than one per cent of India’s import bill. India imported a record 5.8 million tonnes of pulses in 2015–16, 80% more than two years before.

But why have imports risen over the last two years, when they were fairly constant (between 2.5 to 3 million tonnes ever year) over

the last decade ending in 2010?

The answer: The output of pulses for the decade ending 2010 rose, stabilising imports, but two years of drought (2014 and 2015) changed all that.

As Indians eat more pulses and production drops, prices keep rising. Indians want more pulses, but yield is among world’s lowest pulses are also known as grain legumes, a set of 12 crops, high in nutrition, particularly important to developing countries

such as India with rising incomes.

But the prices of pulses are rising in concert with growing demand and falling production.

Imports fill the gap.

India’s pulses productivity is among the emerging world’s lowest. Even poorer Myanmar produces twice as much per hectare, Egypt more than four times as much. Regardless of yield, production is dropping.

The bottom line is a 250% rise (over five years to 2015 in

17

Maharashtra) in the prices of the dal, benefitting the farmer and importer. In the arid southeastern Maharashtra district of Latur, Sukesh Kode, 35, is unconcerned that tur output on four acres of his 17-acre unirrigated farm has fallen to 38 quintals (100 kg=1 quintal) this year from 42 quintals in 2015.

When prices rose last year, the “immediate reaction” of consumers was to buy fewer pulses. But in a couple of weeks, they got used to it. Pulses are so central to the Indian diet that middle-class consumers will buy them and cut back on other things. The poor have no option but to eat fewer pulses, as an editorial in The Hindu explained. A good monsoon, in general, keeps prices steady, and a bad monsoon increases imports and prices. The Maharashtra government on July 5 decided to sell a kg of tur dal per month to poor families at a subsidised rate of Rs 120 per kg (against a retail price around Rs 180 per kg).

But these are temporary measures.

With irrigation uncertain and farmers reluctant to grow more pulses, Mozambique will continue to remain of interest to India.

India needs to shed anti-competitive market distortions to prosper Amit Kapoor

W

hat makes c e r t a i n economies relatively prosperous than others has been a question of debate among economic scholars and public policy practitioners for a long time.

It is slated to continue well into the future.

In the debate, while some have stressed on natural resources and economic geography, others focus on technology, institutions and the way societies structure and implement the rule of law within societies as prerequisites for economic growth and prosperity.

While all these factors play an important role in determining prosperity, the role of competition for enhancing productivity and ultimately prosperity is central to economic development. At times, despite knowledge of what works, the policy is steeped in politics, legacy issues and previous experience in. This may cause several distortions to fully functioning competitive markets.

A recent study by UK-based Legatum Institute titled AntiCompetitive Market Distortions and Their Impact—India Case Study has interesting insights about market distortions and their impact on prosperity in

A recent study by UK-based Legatum Institute has some interesting insights about market distortions and their impact on prosperity in India

India. The study has two related cases of India’s aviation and cotton and garment industry to reinforce the findings of the main study. There are four important points of note.

First, the study describes “regulatory regime” as “the legal, economic and governance structure” that applies in the country as a whole.

Anti-competitive market distortions (ACMDs) are described as policies or regulations that provide a competitive advantage to some players or a player to the detriment of others.

The study looks to categorise ACMDs into six broad types: government laws, regulations, or practices that eliminate competition completely; laws that

lessen competition; laws that are applied differently among firms, or exemptions given to some firms; distortions caused by stateowned enterprises; action or inaction by competition agencies; and anti-competitive state aid or support.

The study maps India’s ACMDs and tries to put them into a “productivity simulator” under the three broad heads of property rights, international competition and domestic competition. The productivity simulator indicates the potential productivity gains that accrue in GDP per capita terms due to reform measures.

The study also tries to understand the gains in three different scenarios. In level 1, scenario improvements are made in doing business such as registering a

business. The simulator results show that improvements would be negligible, in this case, a GDP per capita rise (at constant prices) from $1,500 to $1,507.

In the level 2 scenario, several improvements are made along the dimensions of resolving insolvency, freedom to own foreign currency bank accounts, intellectual property protection and improvement in all ease of doing business parameters. Here, the GDP per capita increases from $1,500 to $3,723. In the third scenario, which has a completely pro-competitive regulatory framework, a high productive increase is recorded, catapulting India from a per capita income of $1,500 to $29,691.

For the three levels, the cumulative job addition will be 0.002, 1.6 and 242 million.

This indicates the extent to which market distortions have hampered India’s progress.

Third, the benefits that may accrue due to removing market distortions have a big impact on poverty. It is estimated that removing ACMDs has the potential to lift many people out of poverty. However, this will have an impact on prices, which may lead to changes in how poverty is defined.

In the cases on the Indian aviation and cotton industries,

the study compared and focuses on how improvements can be made to the existing structures as well as how regulations can be made more market-friendly.

While in the civil aviation sector the ACMDs have diminished in the past, it is a work in progress.

The aviation sector and regulatory framework are also compared with the EU and the conclusion is that the latter is freer.

In the case of cotton and garment industry, the study mentions minimum support prices and input price controls as sources of market distortions.

In the garments industry, small-scale reservation for the textile sector and import duties are seen as anti-competitive market distortions. Apart from this, labour laws and taxation are ACMDs hampering the sector’s growth. Over the next few years, more such studies should be done which focus on the economics of prosperity derived from real world experience and how to unlock value in various sectors of the economy. The study covers new ground in this regard to make India more competitive.

In this 25th year of India watershed moment in economic history, policymakers must further India’s reform agenda and strive to remove its anti-competitive market distortions.

18

22 July 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Support GST in national interest, Modi urges opposition

P

rime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, July 17, reached out to the opposition on the eve of the Monsoon Session of Parliament to seek its cooperation over the long-pending GST bill observing that the issue was not about which government would get the “credit” even as the Congress offered no assurance, saying it will support bills based on “merit”.

He also urged all the political parties to keep national interest above all considerations and also welcomed suggestions for extending the sittings of parliament.

“Important Bills, including the GST Bill, are to be taken up during the Monsoon Session beginning Monday (July 18) and I hope that there would be meaningful discussions and outcomes during the session,” Modi said at an all-party meeting convened by the government ahead of the parliament’s session.

Referring to GST, he noted that the issue was not about which government would get the

The All Party meeting in New Delhi on July 17

Whip in Lok Sabha, said, “GST issue was not discussed in the all-party meeting. With regard to GST, the government has still to revert to us on the three demands (raised by the party). There have been intermittent discussions, but no solution has come.”

The three demands are one per cent additional levy to be implemented by states, 18% cap on GST and setting up of a dispute resolution mechanism.

“We are still awaiting a concrete response from the government

credit for its introduction but the bill’s passage.

“We represent both the people and parties and there is a need to keep national interest above anything else,” Modi said, calling for passage of important bills, including the GST. However, the Congress said that it will support in Parliament any legislation that is in the nation’s interest but offered no assurance.

Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, who is the party Chief

on these issues. It is very clear to the people of the country that this government is adamant,” he added.

He said the Congress would raise in Parliament issues such as inflation, unemployment, interference of the central government in state affairs and incidents such as Kairana.

Party colleague Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, had told reporters ahead of the meeting that “the Congress will support any bill which is in the interest of the nation, people and growth. We will let the bills pass on [the] basis of merit... we do not obstruct passage of bills”.

He, however, did not clarify the party’s stand on the longpending GST bill, which tops the government’s priority list.

Meanwhile, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Sitaram Yechury said the issue of the GST bill cannot be settled between the Congress and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alone. “As far as the GST Bill is concerned, it’s not a matter

to be settled bilaterally between BJP and Congress. I have been requesting the government [for] two years to call an all-party meet to discuss the GST bill and listen to our concerns to form [a] consensus,” he said.

Terming the all-party meeting “fruitful”, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said all parties desired smooth functioning of parliament.

He also said that the government will talk to all opposition parties on the GST bill.

“We are talking to all parties and will talk in future as well on the GST and other bills. We want to create a consensus,” he said.

Responding to suggestions from some leaders for increasing the sittings of Parliament, Modi said he welcomed the suggestion and urged them to ensure proper utilisation of the available time.

As many as 45 leaders from 30 parties attended Sunday’s meeting. Keen on passing the GST bill, the government has been holding a series of meetings with opposition leaders.

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www.iwk.co.nz | 22 July 2016

Education policy should be job oriented: Tripura CM

T

ripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Saturday, July 16, said that the education policy should be job oriented focusing skill development and emphasising on quality.

“The education policy of the country should be job oriented focusing skill development and emphasising on quality so that after completion of required education youths are able to get jobs,” he said while addressing the Inter-State Council meeting.

He said, “Union and the states have the responsibility to provide quality, affordable and accessible education to all the children and adults in India.

“The education policies adopted so far could not provide adequate skills as well as lead to employment to the youth of the country. The result is prevalence of in large scale unemployment and poor learning outcomes in the states.”

On the use of Aadhaar card as an identifier and use of the Direct Beneficiary Transfer (DBT) for providing subsidies, benefits and public services to the people, Sarkar, a Communist leader, said that Tripura government supports enabling direct payments to the

200 food parks to come up across India: Minister

T Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar

people, but it (Aadhaar) should not be made mandatory to receive benefits and alternative forms of establishing identity also should be equally honoured.

On the Punchhi Commission recommendations on centrestate relations, the Tripura Chief Minister said that the central government should abandon its pursuit of acquiring states’ powers on any pretext.

“To improve internal security situations and to tackle emerging technology and cyber-based threats, the central government

should provide more funds to the states for modernisation of police and its infrastructure in real terms,” said Sarkar, who also holds the home portfolio.

Demanding to compensate states’ losses for delinking schemes and revenue shortfall caused due to the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission, Tripura Chief Minister emphatically urged the centre to distribute the share of taxes between the central government and states at least in the ratio of 50:50.

he Union government has planned 200 new food processing units across India, reducing the requirement of land and capital from Rs 200 crore to Rs 20 crores, Minister of State for Food Processing Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti said on July 17.

In her address on the final day of an international convention on potatoes, fruits and vegetables, she said Agra, which produces 45 to 50% of the country’s total potato crop should take advantage of the facilities being offered by the government and hoped the new initiatives would help the potato cultivators.

The minister said that due to earlier limits, entrepreneurs were not able to invest in this sector and potatoes from the Agra region are presently sent to other states due to high costs of processing.

Organised by the Federation of Cold Storage Associations of India, the event, which saw the participation of delegates from China, the US, Holland, and Germany, is expected to give a big boost to upgradation of technology in the food processing sector.

Minister of State for Food Processing Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti

Association’s secretary Rajesh Goyal said the partner country Holland sent 80 delegates to the exhibition which showcased the latest technology and techniques available to increase the efficiency of cold storages and promote the use of solar energy.

The Federation has been demanding an end to Mandi Samiti tax on potatoes.

Speaking at the valedictory session, Uttar Pradesh minister Ram Sakal Gurjar promised he would facilitate policy reforms and press the government to do away with annual licensing of cold storages, to have one-time licenses as in other states.

20

22 July 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Navjot Sidhu quits as RS MP, all set to join AAP

I

n a major jolt to the BJP ahead of the Punjab assembly elections, cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned from the Rajya Sabha on July 18 and hit out at the party, claiming it was preventing him from working for the state’s welfare.

Sidhu, who is likely to officially announce his future course of action in a day or two, is all set to join the Aam Aadmi Party and become its Chief Ministerial candidate for Punjab where assembly elections are due early next year.

He went in person to meet Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari to tender his resignation.

Later, Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien announced in the house that Sidhu’s resignation had been accepted. The resignation came as a big surprise to the BJP, which shares power with the Shiromani Akali Dal

Cricketerturnedpolitician Navjot Singh Sidhu

in Punjab.

Sidhu, in a statement, indicated his discontent with the BJP, saying, “In the war of right or wrong, you can’t afford to be neutral.”

Soon after resigning from the Upper House, Sidhu hit out at the BJP, saying that the party despite nominating him to the Rajya Sabha had closed his doors in Punjab.

“I had accepted the Rajya Sabha nomination for [the] welfare of Punjab. With [the] closure of every window leading to Punjab, the purpose stands defeated, now a mere burden. I prefer not to carry it,” he said, adding that he had accepted the Rajya Sabha nomination at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Confirming Sidhu’s move to join the party, AAP’s Punjab convenor Sucha Singh Chhotepur tweeted, “Appreciate Navjot Sidhu and Navjot Kaur Sidhu move, looking forward for their Welcome to @AAPPunjab2017

Government launches Transforming India portal

W

ith of the of

the aim sharing impact various governance initiatives with citizens in real-time, the government has launched a website–Transforming India—an official statement said on July 16.

The website was launched by Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology and Law and Justice, Ravi Shankar Prasad.

“This site is an effort by MyGov to comprehensively record each and every aspect of this transformation,” he said.

The website, www. transformingindia.mygov.in, will provide information in a user-friendly format enabling citizens to view the content in the form of infographics, e-books, performance dashboard, videos, daily news corner, and engage with the content by comments and sharing the content through social media.

The website was launched by Ravi Shankar Prasad

“The key facets of the website are that it promotes accountability in major national initiatives, acts as a repository of major policies and decisions and provides a central platform to citizens for sharing of transformational changes that they see around themselves.

“The website thus bridges the gap between citizens and government and provides a

seamless interface for two-way information interchange,” the statement said.

This platform facilitates twoway communication between the government and citizens.

There is a section of the site, where citizens can share stories about transformative growth in India. This can be in the format of videos, photos and comments.

@AamAadmiParty.”

Although AAP leaders in Delhi have officially refused to confirm the development, they have not ruled out the possibility of Sidhu and his wife walking across to the AAP. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said he “salutes” the cricketer-turned-politician for his “courage” in quitting the Rajya Sabha.

AAP leader Sanjay Singh, who is in-charge of the party’s strategy for the Punjab assembly elections, said that good forces should join hands in Punjab to oppose the land mafia and drug mafia.

“Sidhu is indeed a big force as he played a vital role in the politics of Punjab and also brought laurels to the nation in cricket.

He always raised the matters of Punjab credibly at the national and state level, and he and his wife continuously raised their voice against the corruption of the Akalis and the drug menace there,” he told a news channel.

He, however, said that people

will have to wait for a formal announcement in this regard.

Sanjay Singh also said that Sidhu’s resignation from the Upper House is seen as a “protest” against the ongoing Akali-BJP dispensation in Punjab.

“All right-minded people should join this dharam yudh (righteous battle) against corruption,” he said.

A senior AAP leader, who wished not to be named, said that speculations over Sidhu joining the AAP are “true”.

AAP is seen as a contender for power in Punjab.

Sidhu had won the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat in 2009 but did not contest in 2014 when senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley was fielded from there, apparently under Akali Dal pressure. Jaitley lost.

Sidhu has been a steady campaigner for the BJP in elections. He has appeared in popular TV shows and is known for his ready wit and Urdu shairi.

Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is important: Mukherjee

U

nderlining that Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is “extremely important” for socio-economic development of India, President Pranab Mukherjee on July 15, congratulated it for its achievements in a short span of time. The president also inaugurated the India Skills Competition in New Delhi on the occasion of the World Youth Skills Day (July 15).

Mukherjee said that India is a young nation with 62% of its population in the working age group and more than 54% of the total population below 25 years of age, and “young minds are India’s assets”.

“This is our demographic dividend which we need to harness. As policy makers, we have a duty to empower our youth

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee

by providing skills to them. We need to seize this opportunity.”

He, however, cautioned that if they cannot provide jobs to the huge number of people entering the job market every year, the population dividend could turn into a population liability and this explosive situation has to be prevented. The MSDE was created

by

Narendra

Modi

government in 2014.

Women naval team aims to circumnavigate globe after Mauritius expedition Mayabhushan Nagvenkar

T

hey exemplify grit and courage, proving that nothing is impossible for them. And now these six valiant women officers of the Indian Navy are back from their gruelling sea expedition from Mauritius.

On Thursday, July 14, they anchored their craft INS Mhadei on Goan soil at the INS Mandovi.

It was part of the practice run ahead of their voyage across the

world scheduled next year.

They appeared a bit done in by the tricky turns of the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea riled up by the monsoon, which repeatedly assaulted their craft day in and day out.

But according to team leader lieutenant Vartika Joshi, this was just the kind of trial and challenge they were looking for.

“We chose this time of the year so that we could encounter the rough weather during our training and therefore are prepared for it

during our circumnavigation. The sea was quite rough and it was very heavy, but that was the aim,” Joshi said soon after the sailors docked their craft.

The voyage from Port Louis in Mauritius—where they had gone for training and conditioning, across 5,000 nautical miles— took 16 days and nights. The nights, Joshi claimed, were particularly challenging.

“At night, when you have a problem with the boat, you try to repair that.

“Finally, when things work out, you get that relieved feeling,” Joshi said. But it’s the next big journey that the team has set their sight on—the circumnavigation of the globe.

The feat is so rare that only a few adventurers have accomplished it, as compared to those who have conquered Mount Everest, said Joshi.

But there’s in-house experience at hand. Commander Dilip Dhonde, who a few years ago circumnavigated the globe using

the same INS Mhadei, was there to see Joshi and her team off the sailing boat and offer them the much-needed tips.

Earlier, the team had also sailed in 2014 from Goa to Port Blair and last year from Goa to Vizag for the International Fleet review and back as part of training for the final circumnavigation attempt.

According to Joshi, adventure is one thing but serving the Indian Navy and sailing are their way and the navy’s way of promoting women’s empowerment.

INDIA ABROAD

www.iwk.co.nz | 22 July 2016

Indian scientist to head Germany-based group of nuclear physicists

N

oted Indian physicist Sibaji Raha has been elected as the first chairman of the Joint Scientific Council of the GSI and the upcoming FAIR (Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research) facility in Germany for exploring the nature of matter and the evolution of the universe.

The Department of Science and Technology had recently shared the development via Twitter.

“Prof Sibaji Raha, Bose Institute #Kolkata elected Chair of Jt Inter’ional #Scientific Council of GSI & FAIR #Germany,” a tweet said.

Raha, former director of the Bose Institute in Kolkata, is an internationally-acclaimed authority on high energy particle and nuclear physics. He will officiate as the chairman of the Council for an initial period of two years starting from June 2016.

The FAIR will be built near the premises of physical research institute the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research at Darmstadt in Germany.

The research programme at GSI covers a broad range of activities,

21

Indian researchers report cybersecurity risks in 3D printing

A

team comprising Indian-origin researchers has found cybersecurity risks in 3D printing by examining two aspects: printing orientation and insertion of fine defects.

Mechanical Engineering. The researchers reported that the orientation of the product during printing could make as much as a 25% difference in its strength.

Gupta explained that economic concerns also influence how a

3D printing has huge potential in commercial markets as well as for individuals

Indian physicist Sibaji Raga will be the first chairman of the Joint Scientific Council of the GSI

from nuclear and atomic physics via plasma and material research to biophysics. It is a major partner in many experiments at CERN in Geneva which in turn is credited with the discovery of Higgs Boson particle.

The Joint Scientific Council is the international advisory board of FAIR and GSI. “The Council has been tasked with

the responsibility of defining the roadmap of scientific programme to be pursued by both the existing GSI and the future FAIR facilities comprises 12 internationally acclaimed scientists from various countries, including USA, France, Italy, Poland, Japan, Sweden, South Africa, Germany, India, Russia, Spain and Austria,” a statement shared by Raha said.

Indian-origin MP appointed junior minister in Theresa May’s cabinet

I

ndian-origin MP Alok S h a r m a has been a p p o i n t e d Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with responsibility for Alok Sharma Asia and the Pacific in British Prime Minister Theresa May’s cabinet.

Following his appointment, the MP for Reading West said, “I am honoured to have been appointed by the Prime Minister as Minister for Asia & the Pacific, hugely important parts of the world that are crucial for the UK’s prosperity and security.

“Britain is a truly great country and I will work tirelessly to ensure we continue to thrive and prosper on the world stage. I look forward to working closely with my new colleagues and my counterparts across Asia & the Pacific, with a particular focus on strengthening commercial ties, increasing investment opportunities in both directions and promoting human rights in the region,” he said, according to a British High Commission statement.

Sharma will be reporting to the former Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, now the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

They found that since ComputerAided Drafting (CAD) files used in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation of a design does not give instructions for printer head orientation, malefactors could alter the process without detection.

Also, sub-millimetre defects that can appear between printed layers with exposure to fatigue and the elements were found to be undetectable by common industrial monitoring techniques, the researchers said.

“These are possible foci for attacks that could have [a] devastating impact on users from the end product, and economic impact in the form of recalls and lawsuits,” said Nikhil Gupta, an Associate Professor of

supplier prints a product. “Minus a clear directive from the design team, the best orientation for the printer is one that minimises the use of material and maximises the number of parts you can print in one operation.”

According to Said Karri, a cybersecurity researcher, “With the growth of cloud-based and decentralised production environments, it is critical that all entities within the additive manufacturing supply chain be aware of the unique challenges presented to avoid significant risk to the reliability of the product.”

He pointed out that an attacker could hack into a printer connected to the Internet to introduce internal defects as the component is being printed.

NEW ZEALAND FIRST LIST MP

MAHESH BINDRA BASED IN AUCKLAND

Contact Auckland Office

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

Authorised by Mahesh Bindra, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

22

22 July 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

India’s first ultra-marathon flagged off in capital

T

he ‘Great India Run’, India’s first multi-city marathon was flagged off in a gala ceremony at the iconic Amar Jawan Jyoti in India Gate early on July 17.

The event kicked off with a warm up session of the participating 15 ultra runners followed by flagging off the ultrarun and a five kilometre ‘fun run’.

The event was flagged off

by Sports Minister Vijay Goel and 2003 World Athletics Championships medallist Anju Bobby George.

The 1,480-km run, India’s first multi-city marathon, features 15 of the best ultra-marathoners from across the world.

Arun Bhardwaj led the team of 14 ultra-runners at India Gate while three of the runners simultaneously flagged off the event from Ghaziabad. At

Participants during the Great India Run, India’s first multi-city marathon at India Gate in New Delhi on July 17

around 10:30 a.m., all runners gathered at Kingdom of Dreams in Gurugram to kick start the Haryana leg. Five-kilometre ‘fun runs’ were also organised at each of these venues that saw a lot of participation from youngsters.

In its inaugural year, the ‘Great India Run’ has been strategically

placed prior to the Olympics, in order to stoke the flame of sport in the country.

The run, one of the longest and most challenging in Asia, will test the resilience of even the most experienced of the pack.

An almost pan-India event, it will pass through Uttar Pradesh,

Indian athlete Anju Bobby George flags off the Great India Run at India Gate in New Delhi

Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, finally culminating in Mumbai on August 6.

The run from Delhi will move on to Jaipur and pass through Ahmedabad to culminate in Mumbai.

The contingent consists of Arun

Bhardwaj, Siddharth Choudhary, David Bredo, Yuri Esperson, Meenal Kotak, Ranjana Deopa, Melanie Delaney, Joginder Chandna, Dinesh Heda, Sreekanth Reddi, Pia Hansson, Shweta Sharma, Sunil Sharma, Dhanaee Kumar and Kaushal Chauhan.

Spain’s Marquez wins at German Vijender beats Hope to MotoGP GP win Asia/Pacific title

S

panish motorcycle road racer Marc Marquez eased to victory in Sunday’s (July 17) 2016 German MotoGP Grand Prix at the Sachsenring, extending his points lead as the riders head into the second half of the season.

Marquez (Repsol Honda RC213), completed the race in 47 minutes, 3.239 seconds, 9.857 seconds ahead of second place Briton, Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda), reports Efe. Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha YZR-M1) started the race in the top ten, but dropped back significantly, fishing in 15th place, one minute, 17.694 seconds behind the winner, rounding off a disappointing weekend which was marred by falls in the practice and qualification rounds.

S

Marc Marquez celebrates after securing the second place in Italian GP held in Mugello, Tuscany, Italy

Lorenzo’s Italian teammate, Valentino Rossi (Yamaha YZR-M1) finished in the eighth position. In the overall rankings, Marquez had 170 championship

points going into August’s Austrian MotoGP Grand Prix, securely above second place Lorenzo (122) and third place Rossi (111).

Trubridge breaks the world freediving record

K

iwi freediver William Trubridge, on Thursday morning, broke his own world record of freeediving by reaching a depth of 102m on single breath at Dean’s Blue Hole in the Bahamas. His previous record for the deepest unassisted dive was of 101m. For Trubridge, 36, this victory comes as “a huge sense of relief and elation” after a failed attempt in December 2014, where he fell short of setting a record by a mere 10m.

“It’s been over two years in the making. To get this record now is a dream,” Trubridge said while speaking to TVNZ’s Breakfast on July 21.

His parents shook their head in disbelief at his achievement and said that they were “overjoyed”.

Trubridge expressed that for once he doubted if he would be able to make it this time or not and thought that he was too far from the surface. But pushing through the negative thoughts, he soon managed to calm himself and completed the challenge in 4 min 13 sec without any issues or using any assistance.

This is Trubridge’s 18th record.

In his two most recent records he dived back-to-back at the same location, during which he went 122m down using a rope.

tar boxer Vijender Singh defeated Kerry Hope of Australia in a hard-fought bout to win the WBO Asia/Pacific Middleweight title at the Thyagraj Stadium in New Delhi on July 16.

Faced with the most experienced and highly-rated opponent of his fledgeling professional career, Vijender carved out a 98–92, 98–92, 100– 90 verdict from the three judges to extend his record to seven wins from as many fights.

It was far from easy for Vijender in the first 10-round bout of his career.

The Australian exhibited superior technique and footwork for most of the fight although the Indian was the powerful boxer.

“Thank you, India! I didn’t expect it to go to ten rounds. It is all to my country, not about me! We have been working hard for this. Finally, we did it and we will work to improve my ranking now,” Vijender said after the bout.

“This win is special. This is for my country, for my India. I am now ranked 15th in the world,” he added.

“This was my first 10 round fight. I was surprised by how my body responded,” he added.

Both boxers were a bit cagey in the opening round, trying to gauge each other. Vijender did manage to penetrate his opponent’s defence once with a powerful blow that clearly shook up the Australian. The second round clearly belonged

Vijender Singh

to Vijender. He made good use of his long reach to evade Hope’s punches while going for powerpacked body shots.

Hope did better in the third round and managed to penetrate Vijender’s defence a couple of times with his fast right jabs.

The Australian gradually started to improve as the bout wore on, repeatedly outfoxing Vijender with his superior footwork and movement.

The Indian managed to put Hope in trouble towards the end of the sixth round, with a couple of body shots and a jab to the face.

The 2008 Olympic bronze medalist seemed to tire a bit as the fight wore on. Hope continued to move around with speed and vigour, exhibiting impressive technique and footwork while Vijender was comparatively less mobile in the later rounds, relying more on his power to counter his opponent. But despite taking some hits, he managed to hold his own until the end.

23

www.iwk.co.nz | 22 July 2016

The tree and the bramble

A Colouring

fir tree said boastingly to the bramble bush growing in its shade: You are useless.

Nobody wants you. I am everywhere used for roofs and houses. Men can't do without me. You're so right, said the bramble.

Here's a man coming to you with an axe, right now. Farewell.

Moral: Pride comes before a fall.

Join the Dots

Word search

Did you know

Honeybees have hair on thier eyes to help them collect pollen A lion's feet does not touch the ground when it walks. I walks on toes every time.

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

An adult toad eats at least 100 bugs every day

t

24

22 July 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Winter shoot Jeffery Chan

W

e are blessed to have four seasons in New Zealand and each season has its uniqueness. With winter upon us, it’s a great time to photograph ice and the effects of the cold. So get your beanie, gloves, jacket, and maybe ear warmers and head out for some shoot.

When you are out and about shooting, try to stick to a theme. That way, you can train your eyes to focus on one thing rather than everything. A theme could be water droplets, ice particles, a particular shape, or colour. Once you identify a theme, try shooting it from different angles. A photo becomes more interesting if it’s shot from an angle that we seldom see it. So try going low, sideways, top and don’t be afraid if it

doesn’t look good at first. Sometimes the photo just needs a little post production to make it pop.

Water droplets on a car windscreen might look ordinary. But some editing in Photoshop to enhance the contrast and change the white balance adds a different look.

Tips

T Here’s another photo of ice on the windscreen and what can be done in Photoshop to enhance the photo.

o get close-up shots, it might be helpful to get a macro lens. You should be able to get a macro lens for your DSLR or there are third party lens manufacturer such as Tamron 100mm f2.8. To get sharp images using a macro lens, I highly recommend using a tripod.

Otherwise, if you can’t afford a macro lens just yet, you can try getting a prime lens such as the 50mm f1.8. This lens is popular because it is affordable and it produces amazing images. Plus, shooting at apertures of f1.8 will produce creamy bokeh. Bokeh is a photographic term for the blurriness of an image. As you see in the next image, the bokeh is at all area except the part where the focus is, which is at the brown ball in the middle.

Try

U

Shooting from low

sing your available lens, try shooting outdoor at its lowest Aperture to

create a shallow depth. Think of winter as your theme and photograph something that occurs in winter. Submit your photos for review and the top three chosen image will receive a free gift from Auckland Camera. If you need addition gear, you can check out their store at www.aucklandcamera.co.nz.

Jeffery is the owner and photographer at STUDIO81 photography, which is located in Newmarket and East Tamaki.

STUDIO81 is one of Auckland’s leading portrait photography studios and specialises in modern glamour transformation. Jeffery is an award-winning photographer.

Playing Pokémon Go has health benefits too

A

s the GPS-based Pokémon Go mobile game takes the world by storm, an expert in the US has found that there are health benefits from playing the Augmented Reality (AR) smartphone game.

According to Matt Hoffman, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Nursing, this quest to catch ’em all is great as it pokes people to travel across the land, searching far and wide for a Pokémon resulting in regular exercising.

To progress in the game, players, known as trainers, must walk around to find and catch Pokémon and access specific locations called PokéStops— where Poké Balls and other useful items are collected. Poke eggs are among the things that can be collected at these locations.

Getting to PokéStops, catching different Pokémon and hatching the Poké eggs require a lot of walking. “What began as just playing the game has now become

Players are required to walk around to find and catch Pokemons

a hobby for me that provides certain health benefits,” Hoffman said in a university statement.

“I’ve spent an hour or two at a time venturing around the community to find PokéStops.

And, to hatch one egg, a trainer must walk anywhere from one-six miles.

“There’s no doubt about it, I am exercising more as a result of playing the game, and I am enjoying it,” added Hoffman who has been affectionately

dubbed the “Pokémon Professor” by co-workers.

Hoffman said the game also brings trainers at a certain place in search of Pokémon at PokéStops.

“The game is bringing people together, providing [an] opportunity for social interaction and increasing our sense of belonging which can have a positive impact on our emotional and mental health,” Hoffman noted.

Since Pokémon Go is a non-violent game, it also pushes families to walk around playing the game together.

“It encourages parents to go outside with their children while they play. Pokémon Go has the ability to transport families away from an evening on the couch to walking around the neighbourhood,” the author added.

Playing the game has also helped people discover new experiences and areas.

Hoffman emphasised players to watch where they walk and be aware of surroundings when playing.

“Remember, you should never play Pokémon Go while driving. It’s also important to avoid playing in dark, isolated areas—there have been reports of trainers being robbed and attacked,” he noted.

To know more about how Pokémon Go has changed the tech landscape, read our Tech Mate column on Page 30

Hypertension biggest risk factor for stroke

H

ypertension is the single major risk factor for stroke, which is a highly preventable medical condition globally, irrespective of age and sex, reveals a study.

A stroke, caused when poor blood flow to the brain results in cell death, is the leading cause of mortality and disability, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries.

The findings show that 47.9% of stokes were caused because of hypertension whereas physical inactivity caused 35.8%.

“The study confirmed that hypertension is the most important modifiable risk factor in all regions and is, therefore, the key target [for] reducing the burden of stroke globally,” said Salim Yusuf, Professor at McMaster University in Ontario.

The total for all 10 risk factors that included stress, poor diet, alcohol intake, smoking and diabetes was 90.7%, which was similar in all regions, age groups and in men and women, the researchers said.

25

www.iwk.co.nz | 22 July 2016

By Manisha Koushik

Weekly forecast: JUly 22 to July 28

Manisha Koushik is the talented daughter and associate of world renowned celebrity astrologer Dr Prem Kumar Sharma.

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

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

Some delay is foreseen in the completion of a project or task. You are likely to consolidate your gains on the professional front. Something you had started previously is likely to bring gains now.

Those in the hospitality and service sector will find things looking favourable. Academic performance is likely to place you amongst the leaders. Much rejoicing is foreseen on the family front. A social event promises to up your popularity and puts you on the centre stage.

Lucky No.: 7 / Lucky Colour: Saffron

Someone may be following you closely regarding your performance, so don’t relax. You want to spread your wings and fly on the professional front, but you haven’t yet figured out how. You will need to repose more trust in subordinates to lessen your workload. A lot of pressure can be put on some for marriage. You will need to manage your finances well if you want to realise your dream. Those in a long-term relationship can expect happy days.

Lucky No.: 6 / Lucky Colour: Rosy brown

Be careful at work, as someone is out to show you in a bad light. Your romantic endeavours are likely to meet a dead end but don’t lose hope. Those planning to buy a property would do well to wait a little more. You may have to judge things correctly in a joint family situation to keep the domestic fabric intact. Your suggestions on the professional front may not count initially, but will matter at a later date.

Lucky No.: 18 / Lucky Colour: Magenta

Professionally, you will simply be brilliant! The arrival of a distant relation is likely to brighten up the domestic atmosphere. You are likely to create good openings on the job front by sheer social networking.

Financial position is set to improve as profits start pouring in. Bringing order to your life will keep you in fine fettle on the health front. You will draw your partner nearer by revving up your romance.

Something promising is likely to happen.

Lucky No.: 22 / Lucky Colour: Electric grey

LEO

(July 23-August 23)

VIRGO

(August 24-Sep 23)

LIBRA

SCORPIO

You will manage to continue with your winning streak on the professional front. Adding to your skills by doing some course or attending some training is likely to enhance your employability. Wise investments will find your financial health improving.

Something that you have started on the side will become profitable. Much love and harmony can be expected on the domestic front. You are likely to succeed in your to rejuvenate your love life. Spouse proves a great support.

Lucky No.: 11 / Lucky Colour: Orange

Some changes can be expected at work, but they will not affect you. There seems a significant improvement in the condition of someone who is unwell. Healthy alternatives promise to bring you in the prime of your health. Those playing the stocks are likely to hit it rich. A good investment scheme may come your way. You can be in a contemplative mood at work and may reflect upon the satisfaction you are deriving out of your present job.

Lucky No.: 3 / Lucky Colour: Rosy brown

You may be made to do extra hours at work but will get to learn a lot. Wayside food may play havoc with your system, so desist. Don’t have blind trust in health products, as they may not suit you. You may end up paying more for something that could have been had for less. An appointment with someone important is likely to materialise soon. You may become instrumental in solving someone else’s problems on the social front.

Lucky No.: 22 / Lucky Colour: Light brown

You are likely to get passes or invites for a muchawaited extravaganza, so rejoice! Great enjoyment is in store for you on the social front. Meeting old friends and relations is foretold. Things look up in your work sphere, as you take steps to make yourself more useful. Small but regular gains will keep your bank balance in a healthy state. A satisfying time is foreseen on the romantic front.

You maintain your fitness level.

Lucky No.: 4 / Lucky Colour: Royal blue

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

You may have to abandon your idea, as it does not look practical. Plans may be afoot for organising a family gathering at home. Your help to someone in his or her upcoming event will be highly appreciated on the social front. Attracting people from the opposite gender is foretold, so rejoice as romance seems just round the corner! Neglecting something important at work may go against you. Overconfidence on the academic front may be your undoing.

Lucky No.: 3 / Lucky Colour: Purple

Your efforts to make an event a success may meet with partial success. Good news awaits you on the financial front, as chances of coming across big money cannot be ruled out. Resuming your daily workouts will be a step in the right direction and help you in regaining total fitness. Socially, you will be able to impress those who are the movers and shakers in your circle. Making plans for a romantic evening out with lover is indicated.

Lucky No.: 9 / Lucky Colour: Rose

This turns out to be a favourable period for you.

You are likely to remain socially active this week and enjoy every moment of it! On the business front, you are on the verge of signing a big deal.

Pursuing your academic dream becomes possible now. Help will be forthcoming for something you wanted to be done at home. Someone is likely to express his or her love for you and place you on a pedestal! Health remains excellent.

Lucky No.: 22 / Lucky Colour: Sea green

You will need to direct your energies in thinking and doing positive if you want a happy state of mind.

Financial help will be forthcoming for those seeking it. Handsome profits can be expected in a business.

A lifestyle change is possible for some, just to live healthily. Your creativity and eye for detail are likely to prove a boon for your home. You may feel reluctant to attend a social gathering and succeed in avoiding it.

Lucky No.: 1 / Lucky Colour: Pink

(March 21-April 20)

(Nov 23-December 11)

(April 21-May 20)

(Dec 22-January 21)

(May 21-June 21)

(June 22-July 20)

(Oct 24-November 22)

(Sep 24-October 23)

(Feb 20-March 20)

(Jan 22-February 19)

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26

22 July 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

School of creativity opens its doors in Manukau

W

arehouse Stationery has partnered with Ngā Rangatahi Toa to help kit out their first ever classroom space at Manukau Institute of Technology, which launched on July 18.

Ngā Rangatahi Toa (NRT) is an organisation, headed up by alternative education advocate Sarah Longbottom, that supports youth who have been excluded from mainstream school. NRT helps young people get themselves back on track by providing an alternative education focused on creativity.

Warehouse Stationery has kitted out the classroom with technology and

Manukau Institute of Technology

stationery that will be used during the students’ transformation back to work or study. Ngā Rangatahi

Toa Executive Director Sarah Longbottom says the classroom is the first step in its five-year goal

Gaming workshops engage kids with technology

A

n NZCER evaluation has found a recent pilot project that offered gaming workshops in seven public libraries around New Zealand to boost young people’s interest in science and technology and inspire them towards a career in gaming, programming and/or coding.

At the workshops held in late 2015 and early 2016, participants were taken through the process of creating their own simple 2D video game, learning the basics of coding, computational thinking, and digital game design.

The workshops were free and drew 426 people from across the seven locations, 336 of whom were under 18 years of age.

The project was funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Unlocking Curious Minds fund and developed through a partnership between Public Libraries of New Zealand, Gamelab, Hutt City Council and public libraries in Dunedin, Timaru, Nelson, Hutt City, Gisborne, Porirua and Wellington. The Gamefroot platform, publicly accessible at make.gamefroot.com, was used to create the games.

Public Libraries of New Zealand Executive Director Tim Antric said it was fantastic to see young people engaging with science and technology via public libraries.

The free workshops drew 426 people from across seven locations

“Some young people travelled for more than three hours to attend their nearest workshop, and the evaluation shows many of them learned more about being creative and solving problems.

“This is really pleasing and is exactly what public libraries are for.”

The evaluation also showed that participants thought the workshops had helped them learn to think strategically, had demystified computers for them and had taught them more about themselves and others.

Most said they had experienced at least one ‘aha’ moment during the course of the day.

Most adults who attended the workshops were there to support

young people to learn coding or design and a just under a third were primary school teachers.

Teachers taking part in the evaluation said the workshops had been useful for their professional development and that they were better able to talk about coding with their pupils.

In response to this feedback, Gamelab has decided to extend the workshops from one to oneand-a-half days and to create supporting resources for teachers to use in their classrooms.

Antric says improvements will also be made to make the workshops more engaging for female, Maori and Pasifika students.

SUBSCRIBE AND READ ONLINE AT issuu.com/indianweekender

of establishing the NRT School of Creativity as a mainstream school. “Our vision is for young people to transform their own lives through education and creativity. Our projects inspire a sense of purpose in those who others have given up on. Our first classroom will be a place that we hope will instil pride and become their home of learning. One day, we hope it will be recognised as a mainstream school,” says Sarah.

Warehouse Stationery CEO Pejman Okhovat says Warehouse Stationery has been really impressed with how NRT uses creativity to help youth transition back into study or work. “We also value creativity at Warehouse

Stationery and wanted to make sure the students had the resources they need to embark on their creative journey,” says Mr Okhovat. Ten young people aged 14 and 15 have started the first of the eight-week intensive creative arts programmes.

During the eight weeks, they will work with top artist-mentors to explore issues of social justice and personal development through music, visual arts, and performance art.

Students will be guided through the process of creating their own works for presentation, and will be supported to share their knowledge and creative process with their peers.

HELL gets more Kiwi kids hooked on books

T

he HELL Reading Challenge has incentivised young New Zealanders to read more than 2.5 million books.

Now in its third year, the HELL Reading Challenge has seen 400,000 Pizza Wheels distributed around the country to date.

“The Pizza Wheels provide young bookworms with a personal record of their reading achievement,” explains HELL general manger Ben Cumming.

“Each book read equals one stamp on the wheel, and once all seven ‘slices’ have been stamped by a local librarian, kids are rewarded with a free ‘333 kids’ pizza’ 2 by redeeming their completed wheel at their local HELL store.”

The programme is free for primary schools and local libraries to enter. “The response continues to be overwhelmingly positive and we are printing a further 50,000 Pizza Wheels this year to meet demand,” says Ben. The HELL Reading Challenge runs until Sunday, December 4.

Responses from schools and libraries so far include: “The more children we get reading, the better outcomes for our community as a whole!”

—Mackenzie Community Library “Our kids loved this last year and our teachers are very keen to be involved again.”

—Pegasus Bay School, Canterbury What the kids are saying: “The HELL Reading Challenge has really helped me because I read more books and I get better at reading.”

—India Rose, Year 5, Riccarton Primary School, Christchurch “I tried to read more books and I really liked it. I think reading books makes me smarter.”

—Pene, Year 5, St Therese School, Auckland “I didn’t like to read much but the Pizza Challenge made me read more books and I found that I loved to read.”

—Eunice, Year 6, St Therese School, Auckland “I hated reading but now I’m in love with it!”

—Britney, Year 8, Glenfield Intermediate, Auckland Key figures:

¡¡ 400,000 (Pizza Wheels

distributed to date) x 7 (books recorded on each wheel) = 2,800,000 books ¡¡ 2014: 100,000 wheels distributed in the launch year ¡¡ 2015: 150,000 wheels distributed. 319 school libraries and more than 100 public libraries across New Zealand took part ¡¡ 2016: 150,000 wheels distributed to date, including 50,000 extra wheels printed to meet demand. Three hundred and forty-four school libraries and 221 public libraries registered to date.

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Hrithik Roshan is very hardworking: Sharad

A

ctor Sharad Kelkar, who will be seen in Ashutosh G o w a r i k e r ’ s upcoming adventure-romance Mohenjo Daro, has praised his co-star Hrithik Roshan by saying that he is very hard-working.

Asked how was it working with Hrithik, Sharad said, “He is very sweet and is always there to help you. He is very hard-working, everyone should learn from him on how much hard work he puts in (to his work).”

The 39-year-old star also shared that the Bang Bang! star has a never-give-up attitude.

“Despite all the injuries, he got up and started shooting again. He has a never to give up attitude,” Sharad added Written and produced by Gowariker, the epic adventureromance is set in the city of Mohenjo Daro in the era of the Indus Valley civilisation which dates back to 2,600 BC. Mohenjo Daro, which also marks the debut of actress Pooja Hegde, is all set to hit the screens on August 12.

22 July 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

“Kay Kay Menon is a director’s delight. He will surprise a lot of people by his performance in 3 Dev. He is by far one of the best actors Bollywood has,” Bhatt said.

3 Dev is the story of a couple played by Tisca Chopra and Kay Kay, where the wife is extremely religious and the husband is not.

They rent out their house to three youngsters and certain situations lead to the trio being termed as ‘god’, leading to hilarious situations of lies, mistaken identity and chaos.

“We have all been told what kind of rituals to do or not to do for god but we have never been told what is god. 3 Dev very humorously tells you what is god and why we should believe in god,” said Bhatt.

“However simple it might seem, but actually 3 Dev is the most difficult script to execute,” he added. The three youngsters are played by Karan Singh Grover, Kunal Roy Kapur and TV actor Ravi Dubey, who marks his big screen debut with the film.

Sajid-Wajid are the musicdirectors of the film. The film also stars Raima Sen, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Priya Banerjee among others.

People misuse freedom of expression on internet: Salman

Kay Kay Menon will surprise people in 3 Dev: Director

F

“People misuse freedom of expression on internet 100%.

Freedom of expression is that you should be responsible for what you say. It’s not saying something behind someone’s back and thinking that no one will find out as it is on the web or do whatever you feel like or hire some company or some boys,” Salman said, adding that all this is “not only unfair, but gandh (dirt) as well”.

A clean-up around all the nooks and corners of the virtual world is required. The 50-year-old, who is enjoying the successful run of his latest release Sultan, asserts that things will get on the right track when action will be taken against people hiding behind the virtual veil.

He said, “All this will sort out with two-four cases being reported and they (those people) going inside the jail. Others will get an example of it and will be warned of consequences,” he added. The son of veteran writer Salim Khan went on to mention that cyber cells can track miscreants easily.

“They know exactly who is writing what,” he said.

Someday an Indian Avengers will be made: Tiger

A

ctor Tiger Shroff, who will be seen as a superhero in the forthcoming film A Flying Jatt, says some day an Indian version of the Hollywood blockbuster The Avengers will be made.

A Flying Jatt is most pro-Sikh community film ever: Ekta

A

Flying Jatt is a proSikh community film and care has been taken to ensure the content does not hurt anyone’s sentiments, says the movie’s producer Ekta Kapoor.

“From the script to the film, in each and every level of the film we have taken approvals and we have seen to it that no sentiments get hurt,” Ekta told the media here during the film’s trailer launch.

ilm-maker Ankoosh Bhatt, who has roped in Kay Kay Menon for 3 Dev, says he will surprise a lot of people with his performance in the film.

T

he virtual world has become a route for Bollywood celebrities to connect with their fans, but it has its negatives as well. Superstar Salman Khan says social media users forget to act “responsibly” while expressing their views on the internet as they get carried away thinking that “no one will find out” about it.

Salman witnessed the dark reality of the social media when some of his fans used fake accounts to post abusive comments about his colleagues and friends Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, and some time ago an impostor used his photograph on Facebook to make a casting call for a Bollywood film. He has even threatened to quit Twitter in the past.

for the movie, and says he always wanted a super-villain like him for A Flying Jatt.

“The character that I had for a superhero in mind was very innocent, and when he fights with someone, I wanted a supervillain whom one would see and feel, ‘How can anyone defeat him?’ When they stand together, look at the difference,” he said.

Tiger, who is playing the superhero in the film, says it was great to work with Jones.

“In fact, it’s the most pro-Sikh community film ever. My mother herself before she introduced me to Ram and Sita, she introduced me to Babaji (Guru Nanak)... I will not show anything that’s against the Sikh community,” she added.

Directed by Remo D’Souza, A Flying Jatt features Tiger Shroff and Jacqueline Fernandez in the lead roles. Remo has also roped in Australian actor Nathan Jones

“In Hollywood, there is Spider-Man, Superman, Captain America... and someday, an Indian The Avengers film will be made because we have Krrish and Ra.One... Now, we have A Flying Jatt,” Tiger said.

“All the actors are really working hard. It’s just that we (Indian artists) have limitations when it comes to budget and that’s the only difference. In fact, what we Bollywood actors do that they (Hollywood artists) cannot do is ... we dance, we sing, we fight and do a lot of things.

D’souza shared: “We are trying our best to be at par with the West, but we do have budget issues.

But yes, half of the special effects work is done here. It’s just that our perception of viewing films is different. Yes, we are all trying to bring a change.” A Flying Jatt also features Jacqueline Fernandez.

Will it be difficult for the audience to accept this superhero?

D’souza says, “We all know our

first superhero is Krrish and I am a huge fan of Krrish. Tiger is a huge fan of Hrithik Roshan (who played Krrish). We never thought that we were making a Krrish. We are making our film... and it’s a small film.”

He might be playing a superhero in his next, but for Tiger, his superhero will always be his father and actor Jackie Shroff.

Tiger said, “I think every kids’ superhero is their father, so for me, my father is my superhero.”

Richa Chadha to be part of Thespo festival again

A

ctress Richa Chadha will soon be addressing a crowd of college students and speak to them on the opportunities of theatres at the popular theatre fest Thespo.

Thespo is a festival where young talent under the age of 25 put together original productions and display their work for an audience.

“Since I had participated in Thespo in the past, I was excited to share my experiences with aspiring theatre people. Theatre is a great place to learn the arts and transform yourself and society.

I am happy to do anything I can at all to support it,” Richa said in a statement.

“Theatre opened the doors to acting and even to film for me. It is a very satisfying medium which is why I performed in a play even last to last August with Atul Kumar’s company,” she added.

29

www.iwk.co.nz | 22 July 2016

Dance films promote genre in places with limited reach: Shiamak Davar

By Durga Chakravarty

H

e has made B o l l y w o o d stalwarts such as Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Hollywood stars Kevin Spacey and John Travolta sway to his steps. Now, National Awardwinning choreographer Shiamak Davar is more than happy that dance-based films are creating waves in India as they help in promoting the genre in places where the reach is limited.

Films such as ABCD: Any Body Can Dance and its sequel, ABCD 2, directed by choreographer-director Remo D’Souza, have gained popularity among the youth for their focus on western dance forms.

Giving thumbs up to this trend, Davar said in an e-mail interview from Vancouver, “It is great that is happening because it exposes more people to dance in places where the reach is limited. There are many different films that are remakes or take inspiration from Hollywood.”

However, unlike D’Souza, Davar isn’t keen on making a

dance film yet. “That’s true! (I don’t wish to direct a film). But never say never. There are a lot of things close to my heart that I would like to express through cinema; so let’s see. Right now, directing movies isn’t my focus though,” Davar said.

“I am happy spreading the joy of dance via my schools,” he added.

Popular for his twinkle toes, the ace choreographer has been instrumental in popularising contemporary jazz and western forms of dance in India.

Talking about the hip-hop boom in the country, Davar said, “Every era is defined by a style. The youth loves hiphop; so that is what is ruling the music and dance scene currently in terms of its influence on Bollywood cinema.”

Amidst the popularity of western dance styles in Bollywood, does he think that the film industry is not focusing on Indian dance forms?

“Not really. There is a bit of everything. There is a strong classical influence in period dramas. It’s the requirement of the song and the film that defines the dance style,” said the

54-year-old, who is known for his enchanting smile. Davar, who has choreographed dance sequences in films such as Dil To Pagal Hai, Taal, Bunty Aur Babli and Dhoom 2, feels choreography in films is no more about running around trees as it has become more lyrical.

“Running around trees more than dance was an interpretation of romance back in the good old days... Now it’s different, choreography is more lyrical or to the accents rather than only an interpretation of emotions,” Davar noted.

Davar, who worked with Big B in the 2005 film Bunty Aur Babli, said the 73-year-old thespian exudes “inspiring” professionalism.

“Legends are legends. The professionalism that Mr Bachchan has is inspiring. Most of the new lot is also very hard working. With me, they have all been great, always on time for rehearsals, prepared before they come and hard working,” he said.

According to Davar, “competition helps actors strive for their best, which helps push their limits to make them perform even better”.

Tough for classical dancers I want to be fit like to adapt to other dance Sylvester Stallone: Sonu Sood forms: Madhuri

D

ancing diva Madhuri DixitNene says there were times when she would not get the steps right for a Bollywood dance number, sending her ego plummeting.

On the sets of dance reality show So You Think You Can Dance Ab India ki Baari, Madhuri, who is a trained Kathak dancer, disclosed how, in her initial days, she had a tough time learning Bollywood dance.

“Once you are a classical dancer, it is very difficult to adapt to other dance forms. And that time it hit my ego and I was like how can I not get the Bollywood dance since I’m such a good dancer,” Madhuri said.

Madhuri, who is seen as a judge alongside Terence Lewis and Bosco Martis in the show, will be seen giving a special tribute to Sridevi at the grand finale episode of the show, which will telecast on TV on Sunday night, said.

Choreographer Geeta Kapoor has choreographed the finale acts of all the judges.

She said, “Choreographing Terence did make me a bit nervous but it also felt like a reunion of sorts. On the other hand, Madhuri ma’am is an accomplished dancer and although I have worked a lot with her it always feels like the first time because I am also a fan of her talent who is totally in awe of her. But it was fun choreographing the acts for the judges ... we did solid masti.”

While Terence will be seen dancing to Malhari from Bajirao Mastani, Madhuri will dance to a remix version of the song Deewani mastani from Bajirao Mastani and Bosco will be seen portraying his journey through his dance.

B

ollywood actor Sonu Sood, who has shot for Kungfu Yoga with international icon Jackie Chan, says he idolises Hollywood biggie Sylvester Stallone when it comes to fitness.

At 42, Sonu has maintained a chiselled physique and follows a strict diet and workout regime.

“I started working out after watching Rocky. I wanted to be fit like Sylvester Stallone. Fitness is my life,” Sonu, who has been appointed as the brand ambassador of the Dabang Delhi Kabaddi Club (DDKC) of the Pro Kabaddi League, said.

Actors are often seen building up their body and working on their abs for movie projects. But Sonu feels that “making a fit body only for a film is not a big thing”.

“You have to keep that in you for life.

We pass it to the next generation. I feel that fitness is something that can only be achieved over years... It’s not a oneday task,” he said, adding that if one is physically fit, they are mentally strong too.

The actor, who has featured in movies such as Dabangg and Happy New Year, says it helps if celebrities promote a sport or fitness.

“Common public often has a tendency to follow celebrities considering them as their idols. When these sports are promoted by these stars, they somehow inspire and motivate them to get into this field,” said Sonu, who was an ardent cricket fan and used to even play kabaddi.

In fact, he said that he always wanted to represent India on the cricket field. He rued how the present-day generation is more

involved with indoor games nowadays rather than being outdoors, and said: “I am concerned about today’s generation who are completely involved in the games on play stations and smartphones. The outdoor games we played during our childhood are not played by them.

“It’s high time to provide awareness and shift them by bringing them into the field of outdoor sports like kabaddi and cricket.”

Sonu feels every person has the jazbaa (passion) of a sportsperson, and that platforms like Pro Kabaddi League, Celebrity Cricket League, Indian Super League and Indian Premier League are wonderful avenues for actors and film celebrities to explore their interest in sports.

Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham are some examples.

Also, Sonu is more than willing to take up a role in a film based on kabaddi if he is approached for it.

30

22 July 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Pokémon Go: a real game-changer?

Mahesh K

Y

ou couldn’t have missed the buzz around the new mobile game Pokémon Go unless you have been away from this planet. How one week can change the equations in the tech landscape was quite evident since the launch of the phenomenon that Pokémon Go has turned out to be.

The game was developed by Niantic Labs, a Google spinoff as part of a partnership with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. It possibly became the most viral app in history. In the US, the app quickly exploded to become the most downloaded application on both Android and iOS platforms with users spending more time on the game than on social media websites such as Twitter, Facebook, and Tinder.

Use of augmented reality adds to the appeal of the game, with Pokémon juxtaposed in the real world. Players (known as trainers) can walk around and the game opens up the device’s camera, allowing you to spot the creatures in the real world and capture them by flicking a Poké Ball towards them.

There are also PokéStops at locations such as a store or a mall where players can obtain lure modules, incense, incubators and Poké Balls. At a Pokémon gym, trainers can train their Pokémon or battle with other Pokémon.

A defining change in Pokémon Go is that the game encourages

A defining change in Pokémon Go is that the game encourages users to get up and go.

It brings a certain sense of outdoor adventure as players go on a hunt for these creatures. users to get up and go. It brings a certain sense of outdoor adventure as players go on a hunt for these creatures. It also encourages social interaction as players are now interacting with other players on the street to collect Pokémon. There were reports on how users are spending up to 43 minutes every day on the game. These players who take to streets to catch Pokémon end up burning an average of 1,500 to 1,785 calories over seven days.

It is astounding what the mobile game has achieved for its creator.

Nintendo, which has a stake in the Pokémon franchise, saw its market capitalisation in Japan double in just seven sessions and has pushed past established players such as Sony. The game is also setting new records and standards in terms of retention and engagement. It is available

Royal NZ Ballet

Date: Saturday, July 23 and Sunday, July 24 Time: Performances at 10:30 a.m. and workshops at 11:30 a.m.

Venue: ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre on July 23 and Bruce Mason Centre on July 24 Royal New Zealand Ballet will have a free performance where dancers will perform

excerpts from Francesco Ventrigilia’s The Wizard of Oz, the duet from Alexander Ekman’s Cacti and Geiger—a new work

by RNZB dancer Loughlan Prior. There will also be a free workshop by RNZB Dance Educator Pagan Dorgan to teach ballet essentials to children and to encourage participants to try out some of the steps that the dancers have performed.

for download in 30 countries and players have taken to the street in unprecedented numbers hunting for cute monsters. At one point of time, interest in the game even surpassed interest in porn with more searches on Google recorded for Pokémon Go. Recently, the game has been attracting around 21 million daily active users in the United States, getting past the Candy Crush saga. It also stands to make money by sponsoring PokéStops.

Local business owners can pay to use the lure module in the game that attracts Pokémon to their locations. Players will end up at these locations while chasing the creatures. The New York Post recently reported that a pizzeria in New York, L’inizio Pizza Bar, saw its sales surge 75% over the weekend after paying $10 to use the lure module.

Established online players such as Facebook and Twitter need to be threatened by the success of

Session on budgeting and banking services

Date: Wednesday, July 27 Time: 10 a.m. to noon Venue: Waikato Migrant Resource Centre, 46G Claudelands, Hamilton CAB Hamilton will hold a free information session on budgeting and banking services where participants can find out why we need a budget, how to make money last, how to plan a budget, prioritising income and savings, and about smart banking.

Morning tea will be provided. Confirm your place by calling the CAB office on 07 8390808 or by sending an e-mail to Hamilton@cab.org.nz.

Even dogs dig it

Pokémon Go. The phenomenon goes on to show that how in just a few days, something new can come out of nowhere and grab the attention of users, intimidating other apps that have built a steady user base over many months and even years. It highlights how quickly users can have their behaviour altered once they see something more exciting.

Experiment—an arts and music festival dedicated to bringing together the best of Auckland’s diverse creative community.

With a line-up that includes music, dance, theatre, street art, multimedia experiences, exhibitions, and performance art, The Experiment is all about challenging our artists to try out something new.

Tickets can be purchased from www. undertheradar.co.nz.

breath techniques, meditation and relaxation, and gain knowledge about basic yoga philosophy and a healthy lifestyle. It’s an ideal course for beginners and those looking to deepen their practical experience of yoga. Tickets are priced at $108. Door sales only. Concession tickets are priced at $90 and include two bonus classes to use within the course. For booking enquires, call 095508040.

Yoga course for beginners

Pakuranga Toastmasters

Date: Monday, July 25, August 1, and August 8 Time: 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Venue: Yoga in Daily Life Centre, 368 Onehunga Mall, Onehunga, Auckland

The Experiment 2016

Date: Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23 Time: 6:30 p.m.

Venue: Gelatos, 17 Galatos St, Newton, Auckland Galatos will host the third edition of The

Pokémon GO has turned into an unbelievably huge sensation.

Currently, it is topping the charts.

Its engagement with users is fantastic. But analysts are also questioning if this is just a fad.

Can the game keep growing, get new users and keep the existing users glued? Only time can tell.

Meanwhile, it is time to go and catch ’em all!

The beginners’ course covers all the foundations you need for an ongoing yoga practice. Experience yoga postures,

Date: Monday, July 25, August 8 and 22, and September 5 and 19 Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

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

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