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5 December 2014

5 December, 2014 Vol. 6 Issue 20 | www.iwk.co.nz

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New Zealands first Kiwi-Indian weekly newspaper

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The Pulse of Kiwi-Indians

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COVER STORY

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

On the right course

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Studying in New Zealand is a dream often explored by Indians in their home country. Indian Weekender speaks to education providers
and student immigration advisors to provide a low-down on how to plan that career move

Paula Ray

re you considering enrolling for higher

studies at a tertiary institution in New
Zealand? The Ministry of Education has a
detailed description of what higher education
has to offer on this land.
Broadly speaking, it includes university
education at any of the eight public-funded
institutions. All have strong international
connections and collaborate with universities
in other countries on a range of research and
teaching programmes, says the Ministry of
Education website.
You can also enrol for technical and
vocational education at the numerous
institutions. Tertiary TVET is offered at
Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics
(ITPs), Industry Training Organisations (ITOs),
Private Training Establishments (PTEs).
NZ Immigration states, International
education contributes more than NZ$2 billion
annually to New Zealands gross domestic
product, and supports around 32,000 jobs.
Of the 49,000 student applications received
annually in NZ, a substantial percentage come
from India international students arriving
from India are only second in number to China.
FACT SHEET
Most courses of one-year duration begin
in February and end by November. If they
are longer courses, students can enrol in
February for the first semester or July for
second semester.
During the peak processing months of

February, March and July, an average of

nearly 10,000 student visa applications is
received each month.
Immigration advises students to apply for
visa as soon as their study is confirmed
(but no earlier than 60 days before their
course starts). This helps the student to
avoid queues and gives them the security
of being issued with a visa before or early
in their studies.
Apply online if the education provider is
accredited as a Students Online partner
(immigration guarantees to make an initial
assessment of online applications within
48 hours).
Whether students apply online or
manually, they should make sure that they
provide all the information/documentation
required. At present, 29 per cent of all
manual applications are incomplete, which
means processing is delayed while we seek
and receive the missing material, says NZ
Immigration.

WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOES NOT

All of New Zealands universities offer
a broad range of subjects for undergraduate,
masters and doctoral (PhD) degrees in
commerce, science and the humanities. Each
university has its own specialist subjects such
as medicine, engineering, law, veterinary
science, agriculture and environmental
studies. A number of universities have
more than one campus, often located
in different cities, and some have
overseas programmes. Our
universities also work

closely with the business community, in New

Zealand and overseas, to include students in
leading-edge research and development, says
the website studyinnewzealand.com .
On behalf of overseas students who would
like to explore New Zealand as an option for
higher education, Indian Weekender asked
education providers and student
immigration advisors a few
questions.
Continued on Pg 4

NEW ZEALAND

23 May 2014

COVER STORY

info@trustinsurance.co.nz

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

Continued from Pg 3

Why would international students choose NZ

over the US, the UK or Australia?
Thereare numerousreasons for
preferring New Zealand over otherdeveloped
countrieslike the US, the UK or Australia, by
international students. NZ has earned global
reputation in the sector of foreign education
allaround the world. It is also called a 100
per cent pure country and offersquality of
education at affordabletuition fees as compared
to other countries. The most important factor
that alluresinternational students to studyin
NZ is theopportunity to settlepermanently
after the completion of course on the attainment
of a jobrelevant to the course completed.
There are other factors that NZ offers, like a
multicultural society, a peaceful place, friendly
ambience, student supportservices that make
the country the most suitableplace to study,
lists a spokesperson from Angels Immigration
and Education Consultants.
NZ has a fairly open and clear policy and
students with previous education or experience
overseas have obtained residency in less than
two years of coming to NZ. Their spouse can
also get visas and can come to NZ with them.
In addition, NZ has a clean and green image
and for students looking to study in a great
environment, what better than being here and
taking a step closer to their dreams, explains a
Dreams Immigration spokesperson.
Kiwi Study spokesperson, however, puts
in a word of caution: The NZ education
system is heavily regulated and monitored so
that only quality programmes accredited with
the government(via NZQA) can be offered to
international students.Courses are regularly
audited to ensure standards are maintained.
Tertiary education is a quality affordable product
recognised worldwide geared to preparing
students for success in life, adding, NZ is a
safe, clean green environment offering access
to opportunities and adventures not available in
other countries with plenty of opportunity for

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provide them with the experiences and support
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sports or extracurricular activities they would
normally engage in or they would like to pursue.
They must remember it is a lot of investment
and their expectations as well as those of their
parents, so they need to make sure the institute
can provide them with opportunities to fulfil
these obligations.

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5 December 2014

What do education providers look for in

international students when they make them
an offer of place?
Students must meet the minimum
academic requirements of the specific degree
programme they are applying for, and may need
a higher score depending on the level of other
applicants for the same programme.Some
programmes have additional programme entry
requirements, for example an audition or
interview. International students must also meet

ur
an
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home
Loans

Ins

ask their agent as to which category college

they are getting admission into. It makes a
huge difference in studying
which
Red
Black at a college
Orange
has good facilities and can cater to students
requirement from time to time, says Dreams
Immigration.
Angels Immigration adds, The best part of
New Zealand education system is thevariety of
courses offered to international students ranging
from nursing to cookery thatinternational
students may opt.Students belonging to
different streams have different options that
they may choose according totheir interest.
All courses which are offered to international
students arerecognized for visapurposes
providedstudent canclear ones intention
ofstudying the intended course with clear
career path.Wealways recommend students
to opt the course in which they are interested
so that they may complete it successfully and
avail lucrative job options after the completion
of course.
Kiwi Study spokesperson says, All courses
from Primary School and High School (provided
the school is a signatory to the Pastoral Care
Programme) and higher (i.e. Tertiary NZQA
level 5 to level 9) are recognised by INZ for
Student Visa purposes, provided the courses
are accredited with NZQA. Students should
choose courses that reflect their area of interest
and/or career aspirations.

COVER STORY

the Universitys published English language

requirements, explains the University of
Auckland spokesperson.
SIT looks at the students likelihood for
success, whether they will fit in to the community
and environment at SIT and whether the course
would be able to deliver to their needs. SIT also
is on a hunt for talented sports students that can
give back to the community and help raise the
level of athletes and sports men and women that
come from Southland, by offering John Wright
Scholarships to such deserving students, says
the institutes spokesperson, adding,For SIT
it is about the welfare of the student and we
appreciate the destination and conditions in
Southland are not for everyone. Having said
that though, if students succeed here, they can
certainly succeed anywhere!
Call for change to stop student
exploitation
New Zealand Association for Migration and
Investment (NZAMI), a leading professional
association for immigration specialists, says
the exploitation of students which has recently
been highlighted in the media starts in their
home country.
They are being enticed to study in New
Zealand with false promises of developing
Continued on Pg 6

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COVER STORY

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

Continued from Pg 5

their career in this country and gaining New

Zealand residence, explains NZAMI chair,
June Ranson.
Ranson says, the problem of migrant
exploitation starts at the agent recruiting the
student in India. In 2008 the NZ government
introduced licensing of immigration advisors.
In May 2010 an exemption was granted to
offshore persons to become student agents. This
exemption was quickly picked up on by selfappointed agents, who negotiated arrangements
with NZ education institutions and introduced
prospective students.

In spite of the investment

that they put into the
country through tuition
fees and get their open
work permits at the end
of their courses, these
almost never convert
easily into permanent
residency. These students
often find themselves
in a catch 22 situation,
where Immigration
expects them to provide
job offers as managers
and the NZ work stream
expects them to have NZ
work experience to even
offer them entry level
positions.

The people overseas who are providing

guidance and organising their student visas
for New Zealand are not necessarily qualified
to do so. They are enticing students to enrol
in low-level Management courses in New
Zealand without a thought for the likelihood of
them getting work once they have completed
the course, and building expectations that the
student will be eligible to apply for residence
after study.
Ranson says students coming straight out of
study are most unlikely to obtain a management
position in NZ, but this is of little concern to
the unlicensed agent offshore as they will
have been well paid by the time the student
completes the course.
The NZ Government announced last year its
initiatives to encourage further growth in New
Zealands $2.6 billion international education
sector the second major revenue earner for
New Zealand. India is NZs biggest growth

market for students.

These students and their families sacrifice
everything to come and study in NZ. Many
of the students already hold Bachelor degrees
or some other sort of degree gained at highly
reputable universities.
One would have to question why they
are being strongly encouraged by these
agents to come and study low-level business
qualifications. We believe it is a quick, moneymaking opportunity for agents who have
no responsibility for what happens to these
students.
These students would have a far better
chance of gaining permanent residence in NZ
if they were given guidance about courses that
would better suit their circumstances such as
post-graduate studies in the area of their studies
back home.
This has now encouraged some disreputable
employers to take advantage, she says, adding

that the NZ governments current approach is

very short-sighted and shameful, with no long
term focus.
Red
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These employers, however, cannot be
completely blamed as the unaccommodating
immigration policies and the NZ job market
are both unsupportive of students being able
to find a future for themselves. In spite of
the investment that they put into the country
through tuition fees and get their open work
permits at the end of their courses, these almost
never convert easily into permanent residency.
These students often find themselves in a
catch 22 situation, where Immigration expects
them to provide job offers as managers and
the NZ work stream expects them to have NZ
work experience to even offer them entry level
positions.
It is, at this juncture, that these students
feeling shortchanged turn to immigration
consultants, paying hefty amounts for their
application for permanent residency. Many a
thousand dollars later, frustrated and desparate,
these students either end up being exploited at
the hands of their employers or return to their
home countries having lost time, money and
dreams of a brighter future in the land of the
long white cloud. For those who choose to
stay and preserve, also struggle to find jobs as
employers often hesitate to support people on
short work permits.
While, on one hand, NZ concerns itself with
the brain drain and loss of talented and qualified
work force to its neighbour, Australia, its own
immigration policies do little to retain the
talent and work force that choose NZ as their
destination of choice.
This approach will undoubtedly damage
the opportunity for trade as the exploited
students will return to their home countries
with a poor impression of the country and they
could well be the future leaders of our trading
partners, Ranson concludes.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

Taken for a ride!

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We want to voice what affects us; we want to be heard. This is our

platform to stand united against all odds

Paula Ray

Once we reached our destination, I walked

up to the driver and couldnt help but ask:
t was the school holidays and my daughter
Why did you behave that way with me? Did
and I decided to take the
you not trust me when I said
Inner Link bus from New
I had swiped both the HOP
Market.
cards?
We waved down the next
He wasnt expecting me
bus and stepped inside to
to raise such a question and
swipe the AT HOP card. We
so mumbled in response: I
have two cards: one for me
asked you to swipe again and
and one for my eight-yearyou didnt.
In this column, I share my
old. There were quite a few experiences that would perhaps be
That was it. I just lost
passengers boarding the bus familiar to you too. If you can relate
it and blurted out: Would
before and after us. But, the to them, please share your thoughts
you have done the same to
driver stretched his hand or similar experiences with me
another mum and child if
out and stopped me at the
they looked different than
touchscreen where you tag
us, i.e. looked like local Kiwi
on the card, saying: Thats
people?
a school-going child. You
I was trying to keep it
need to pay for her.
politically correct, but it was
I replied: Yes, of course.
enough to get an agitated
Thats why I have two HOP
reaction from the nowcards.
unnerved driver. I ignored his
The driver said: Swipe both of your cards.
response and got off the bus with my daughter
I replied: I just did.
in tow, adding: All I want to say is that your
He got off his seat, took both the cards
behaviour was quite rude.
from me and swiped them again. By doing so,
I didnt look back to see how the cohe tagged us off. So I asked: Does this mean
passengers behaved or what they said after
I dont tag off when we get off the bus? He
us. Questioning the driver and voicing what
replied: Yes.
was evidently humiliating, gave me enough
We found our seats and sat down, but I
satisfaction. It also helped me explain my action
simply couldnt understand why the driver had
to my daughter and instil in her the importance
to stop me and behaved the way he did. With
to speak up against injustice, albeit keeping
other passengers, he didnt bother much. The
your dignity intact.
more I thought about it, the angrier I felt.

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www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

MOs raise over $1.1M for mens health

Red

Black

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ore than 11,600 Kiwi moustaches have

raised over $1.1m for mens health this
Movember, and donations are still flooding in.
Together, New Zealands Mo Bros and Sistas
are contributing to a rapidly rising total of more
than $84 million raised worldwide to change
the face of mens health.

Thank you to all our Mo Bros and Sistas.

Each year were blown away by the passion you
have for creating awareness, raising funds and
growing the best moustaches you can. Its your
efforts that make it possible for us to continue
our work improving and saving the lives of men
affected by prostate cancer, testicular cancer
and mental health problems, says Robert
Dunne, New Zealand Country Manager, The
Movember Foundation.
Auckland had 4,700 participants this year,
the highest of any region in the country, and
raised more than $430,000. But Wellington
achieved the greatest dollar per Mo ratio with
each Mo in the capital pulling in an average of
$104.45, almost two times the national average.
In another fundraising highlight, the
Movember Platinum Club will welcome
more than 100 Kiwis into their arms this year,
recognising Mo Bros and Mo Sistas who have
raised more than $1,000 during the month.
Further standouts this year include Villa
MOria, a team of 64 who have raised more
than $16,900 so far, currently topping the team
leaderboard. Sean Brown, top of the individual
leaderboard, has raised a whopping $7,942
through his unconventional fundraising tactic
of recreating iconic celebrity photos which
caught the attention of the public.
Its the comradery, the competition and
the creativity that captures attention, and thats

how Movember first began with 30 Mos

that stood out and got people talking. Now
dedicated Kiwis are taking Movember to the
next level with company teams growing to 60plus members and their creative fundraising
strategies helping pull in more money per Mo
than previous years, says Robert Dunne, New
Zealand Country Manager, The Movember
Foundation.
Globally, more than 715,800 Mo Bros and
Sistas have registered online and have raised
over $84 million. This money enables The
Movember Foundation to fund programmes
in research and survivorship for men who are
affected by prostate and testicular cancer and
mental health.
A substantial global project for Movember
is the Global Action Plan, a collaborative
research programme that brings together the

best researchers in the world to solve key issues

relating to prostate cancer and testicular cancer.
A portion of the funds raised in each country go
towards this programme.
Locally, money raised by Kiwi Mo Bros and
Mo Sistas goes to the Cancer Society of New
Zealand and the Mental Health Foundation of
New Zealand to fund mens health initiatives.
Prizes for the most funds raised by an
individual, a team of 10 or less, and a team
of 11 or more, as well as the best Mo space,
will all be announced on9 December 2014,
but Kiwis can continue to donate through till
Christmas. Donations can be made online
athttp://nz.movember.com/donate.
About The Movember Foundation
The Movember Foundation is a global
mens health charity committed to changing the
face of mens health. With an official presence

in 21 countries, the Movember Foundation is

now recognised as one of the worlds leading
non-government funders of research and care
programmes for mens health issues.
The Movember Foundation is dedicated
to driving significant improvements for the
prioritised mens health issues prostate
cancer, testicular cancer and mental health.
Together, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas have raised
$709 million (NZD) which has funded more
than 800 programmes aimed at achieving the
Movember vision of having an everlasting
impact on the face of mens health.
Since relatively humble beginnings
Melbourne in 2003 when 30 Mo Bros first grew
moustaches, Movember has grown to become
a truly global movement, inspiring more than
4 million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas to participate
across 21 countries worldwide. New Zealand
was the second country to participate, with the
first moustache grown here in 2006.

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NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

HIV in Asian communities on

the rise in New Zealand
S

Red

Black

Orange

In the last three years the proportion of Gay

tigma around HIV is real in all cultures.
and Bisexual Men diagnosed with HIV who are
People have a great fear of HIV because it
Asian has jumped from 10% to 22% to 24% in
is incurable and because AIDS , which is cause
2013.
d by untreated HIV, is so closely associated
In response the NZAF has been talking to
with death. HIV stigma it is often mixed with
the Asian community to try to understand what
stigma about discussing sexual issues and with
is going on. we have
homophobia. All of
commissioned research
these fears and barriers
into the attitudes and
add up to make many
knowledge of young
people afraid to test
Asian gay and bisexual
for HIV because they
men and we are in the
are concerned about
process of employing an
how their families
Designer
Asian staff member to
and communities will
Uncle
help us to connect better
treat them if they test
with that community
positive, says Shaun
so as to promote HIV
Robinson,
Executive
Husband
knowledge and condom
Director, New Zealand
Tutor
use.
AIDS
Foundation
This year, NZAF and
on World AIDS Day,
Brother
the groups representing
which is observed on
people living with
December 1 each year.
HIV (Positive Women
For people from
Inc., Body Positive
Asian
communities
and INA) are engaging
some of these taboos are
HELP US GET TO
THIS WORLD AIDS DAY
in
meaningful
very strong it can be
WWW.WORLDAIDSDAY.ORG.NZ
conversations
about
very hard for people to
stigma experienced by
seek information about
people living with HIV.
how to prevent HIV or to come forward and test.
Kicking-off the campaign, six people living
NZAF is trying to overcome this by creating a
with HIV share their stories and experiences
positon focused on the Asian community.
of stigma. Their candour and honesty captured
As the population of New Zealand has
in a short film produced jointly by NZAF and
become more diverse this is being reflected in
Positive Women Inc. reveals how stigma and
the HIV diagnoses. The Asian population has
discrimination is alive in New Zealand.
doubled in New Zealand in the last decade.

Lalit Bajaj

HIV
DOES NOT
DEFINE
ME

Director & Adviser

(RFA)

WE REGULARLY
HOLD FREE FINANCIAL
EDUCATIONAL
SEMINARS.
PLEASE CHECK OUR
FACEBOOK PAGE TO
BOOK YOUR PLACE IN
THE NEXT SEMINAR.

10

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

ADVERTORIALS

NZSE celebrates a decade of transforming lives

elebrating its 10 year anniversary this

month, New Zealand School of Education
(NZSE) has been committed to providing
alternative tertiary education opportunities for
Kiwis and international students to help them
transform their lives through the power of
learning.
NZSEs key differentiator is its focus on
giving second chance learners an opportunity
to embrace an exciting tertiary educational
experience.
No matter what their life experience, NZSE
is here to ensure that every student is equipped
with the necessary qualifications and provide
them with a steady launch pad should they
choose to pursue their degree or go out into the
working world, said Brijesh Sethi, Managing
Director of NZSE.
We have always been passionate about
taking in second chance learners or those that
may that have fallen through the cracks in the
school education system. We take great pride
in transforming the lives of these students and
will continue to keep doing so.
Our aim is not to churn out graduates but to
give everyone individualised attention to help
them discover their potential and this is done
through small classes, strong student support
and practical based programmes, continued
Brijesh.
New Zealand Warriors star player, Ben
Henry, learnt quickly that playing professional
league will not last forever and that it was
important to get a tertiary education under his
belt. NZSE provided him with the flexibility to
be able to realise his educational goals.
Through school, my favourite subjects
were computer studies, engineering and PE.
When I joined the Junior Warriors and league
turned into my career, I kept it top of mind that
playing professionally will not last forever,

Red

recounts Ben.
I spoke to one of my friends who was
studying Computer Studies at NZSE, and
decided to find out a bit more about it as well
as how I could fit it around training and games,
which is vital to any decision I make.
Ben has since finished the first part of the
Computer Studies course at NZSE and will
return in the first semester of 2015 to continue
his education.
IT is a growing industry and one I firmly
believe will continue to grow in importance. I
feel that the course will really help me gain a job
post-footy. I cant put all my eggs in one basket,
and that is my motivation, Ben concluded.
Over the years, NZSE has made a name
for itself in providing quality educational
experiences and has managed to build strategic
academic partnerships with universities and
polytechnics such as AUT, Unitec, Massey and

Black

Orange

Southern Cross University in Australia amongst

many others which means their graduates have
direct pathways into degree programmes.
Looking to the future, NZSEs focus is
to continue building and strengthening its
relationship with both tertiary and industry
partners and growing its presence both in
New Zealand and in export education within
strategic markets such as India and China.
We have a very exciting journey ahead of
us. Being a private institution, we are nimble
and can easily convert our training to suit
industry needs which gives us good standing
in the industry compared to some of the more
traditional academically-driven institutions,
said Brijesh.
New Zealand has made enormous strides
in its education system and with its export
education policy, we are thrilled to be bringing
this into India and China. This has immense
growth opportunities for us, as well as the
education sector, he concluded.
About New Zealand School of
Education Ltd (NZSE)
Founded in 2003 New Zealand School of
Education Ltd (NZSE) has three campuses
in New Lynn, Queen Street and Manukau to
provide tertiary education opportunities to the
community and contribute to the education
sector in New Zealand.
Delivering a range of programs in IT,
Business, Design, Animation, Education
and Foundation English support, NZSE
strives to impart learning outcomes for career
advancement, workforce development and
community education that are responsive to the
local business and industry.
For more information, please
visit: http://www.nzse.ac.nz/

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

Find your language

Red

Black

the unique Mori culture.

Student has to come to school for 12-15
hours a week for 18 weeks. We will be using
mixed mode for delivering the program.
This will include Compulsory face to face
learning, Compulsory directed self-study and
Self-directed study. We have different times to
choose from to suit the students routine.
Any migrant who has a Permanent resident
status or is a citizen, over 16 years of age, have
pre purchased ESOL or have a certified refugee
status can enrol in this program.

In 2015, we will be delivering New Zealand

Certificate in English Language (NZCEL) a
new, national qualification in English language
which replaces our old programs -Certificate in
English for Speakers of other Languages and
Certificate in Practical English.
This new qualification provides a clear
pathway to progress in studies or career.
Students will gain a nationally recognised
and credible qualification issued by the New
Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) that
will make it easier to transfer between New
Zealand education providers.
We will offer Foundation Level 1, Level 1,
2 at all our sites. NZQA approval for Level 3 &
Level 4 is pending but once approved Level 3
will be delivered at all our sites and Level 4 will
be taught only in Queen Street and Albany. We
are also a Cambridge Examination Test Centre.
This program will help students to use the
language in real world settings-to live, work
and study as we teach all the skills-reading,
writing, speaking and listening. We will have
General, Academic and Workplace English to
choose from at Levels 3 & 4. Students will be
introduced to NZs diverse society including

For more information call 0800 355344!

AAT Institute of New Zealand is a trading

arm of KAAT Trust established in 1981
and accredited by New Zealand Qualification
Authority,
registered with New Zealand

Road, East Tamaki Manukau, the heartland of

Polynesia and area full of opportunities. KINZ
has captured this colorful energy and offers a
learning experience that is not found anywhere

Ministry of education as a private training

establishment, providing community service.
Our fee is affordable to International students.
KINZ delivers educational excellence by
providing a learning environment that prepares
all students to succeed in the global economy
by offering quality educational pathways,
opportunities and services.
Our Chairperson have clear vision to serve
for community and educate the young people
in Business ethic, Management technique,
latest Information Technology exposure and
groom young children from early childhood.
Therefore, KAAT Trust works with two arms:
KAAT Institute of New Zealand
Te Reo Rarotonga (Bi-lingual early
childhood centre)
Both identities have highly skilled
multicultural supportive management who
believe in quality education and service for
community. KAAT is based in 208-A, Preston

else. KAAT environment educates, provides

practical learning, community service in a
crime less society. Our homely environment
and parents trust build better citizens.
KAAT has a range of qualification
and courses .e.g, Business, Management,
Information Technology, Early Childhood,
English, NZ Driving license.
Keeping in view of business relationship
with other educational institute in future,
KAAT aims to have a branch in Auckland CBD.
For all enquiries, Call Naeem Latif at
+64210678896

Gain two qualifications in New Zealand

International students who are enrolling for Concordias Diploma in
Business Level 7 have the opportunity to concurrently complete the BA
(Hons) Business and Management (Final Year).

Ntec Tertiary Group

National Technology Institute

Auckland | Christchurch | Hastings | Tauranga

www.ntec.ac.nz

11

Learn the trades

Orange

ynaSpeak is a Language school which is

a part of Te Wananga o Aotearoa and has
5 campuses across Auckland - Queen Street,
Albany, New Lynn, Botany and Manukau.

ADVERTORIALS

Auckland Head Office & Campus

Ntec Tower, 20 Hobson Street, CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand

T: 0800 131 STUDY (78839) | E: study@ntec.ac.nz

12

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

NEW ZEALAND

Nation holds its breath as Trubridge misses

world record
Red

Black

Orange

ew Zealanders nationwide held their

breath in anticipation as fellow Kiwi
William Trubridge attempted to break his own
unassisted free dive world record. The 15-times
world record holders existing record was
101 metres. William reached his target of 102
metres, but got into trouble 20 metres from the
surface, missing out on the new world record.
William recovered quickly and despite missing
his target is philosophical about the result.
William Trubridge said not long after his
attempt, I am honoured and humbled with the
support I have received from New Zealand and
while I am disappointed about not achieving
my goal, this is just a plot twist and I am not
put off attempting it again in 2015 I feel like I
owe New Zealand a world record.
However, his extraordinary effort is still
worth celebrating. Putting it into perspective,
the bungy jump off the maximum height of the
iconic Skippers Canyon in Queenstown is the
same depth.
At this point underwater, theres no longer
light, sound or gravity as we know it
everything is stripped away, leaving just the
diver and his mental strength, stamina and
resilience.
Michael Taylor from Steinlager, comments:
We admire Williams awesome feat today. He
showed us an extreme example of what the
human body and spirit is capable of, and he is
still the world record holder a champion that
New Zealanders can be proud of!
Steinlager Pure partnered with TVNZ to
broadcast nationwide coverage of the dive so

that New Zealanders could watch one of the

worlds top extreme athletes. Trubridge has
said he felt the support of the nation behind him
and knowing the dive was being broadcast here
made him all the more determined.
Steinlager has long been a vocal champion
for the indomitable Kiwi spirit that refuses to
accept limitations.
In William, Steinlager Pure identified an
incredible New Zealander who defies the

physical and mental pressures of what is normal

for a human body.
Trubridge, who has a lung capacity two
litres larger than the average adult, attempted
the dive at Deans Blue Hole - a 200m deep
cavern - near his home base in the Bahamas.
The pressure at the depths William dives
could easily crush untrained lungs and around
40 people die each year from free diving
accidents.

William captured the hearts of the nation

along the way, in some ways an even greater
feat than a new world record, says Taylor. His
extraordinary effort is still worth celebrating
and it sends a pretty strong message to us all
win or lose its the giving it a go that gives
William his edge and we should all feel pretty
proud of him today.

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

ADVERTORIALS

13

Learning to meditate for inner joy and peace

Red

Black

Orange

editation New Zealand (also known as

New Zealand School of Meditation)
teaches simple and enjoyable forms of
meditationthat can be practiced alone or with
a group of friends. Through meditation we can
experience inner peace and freedom from the
stress and anxiety of this world. Meditation can
bring into our lives greater understanding of
who we are and enableus to taste the inner joy
and happiness for which we are all longing.
Meditation New Zealand is a non-sectarian,
non-profit organisation with all classes given
free. The following classes are organised:
Yoga Relaxation & Meditation
An evening of pure relaxation for body,
mind and soul. Beginning with some gentle
yoga stretches, followed by a guided deep
peace relaxation, yoga breathing exercises
and ending with serene and beautiful kirtan
(chanting of sacred mantras). You will leave
feeling enlivened and with a sense of peace and
inner calm.

When: Tuesday 7 - 8 pm. No booking

required.

outward breath while focusing the mind on the

beautiful Gauranga sound vibration.

Meditation Evening

Japa Meditation
Japa is generally an individual practice using
a set of japa or mala beads. Japa meditation
incorporates the sense of touch. It can be done
quietly or loudly, sitting or walking at any time
and any where. It is a very easy and practical
meditation to apply at any time throughout your
day.

editation is the spiritual essence of Yoga.

M
It is food for the soul.It enables us to calm our
mind, relax our body, and ease away stress and
tension.Through meditation we can bring into
our lives greater understanding of who we are
and where real happiness lies. Learn simple,
easy to apply and effective meditation practices
to achieve a deeper sense of peace in your daily
life
When: Sunday 7 - 8 pm. Bookingrequired.
Kirtan &Free Vegetarian Meal
Experience an enlivening and uplifting
meditation evening with beautiful kirtan,
guided meditation and an inspiring talk on
spiritual insights. Enjoy a delightful, free
vegetarian meal. Leave feeling refreshed and
ready for the week ahead. Come Celebrate,
Meditate and Let The Music Set You FREE!
When: LastSunday of each month,6pm.No
bookingrequired.
Meditation New Zealand
The three main meditation practices we
teach are
Gauranga Breathing
A
very
relaxing,
meditation
techniqueslowing down the inward and

Kirtan
Kirtan is a very powerful and enjoyable
form of meditation. It is the heartfelt singing
of Mantras, generally accompanied by musical
instruments. It can be practiced alone or with
a group of family or friends. It is especially
powerful when practiced congregationally and
is the recommended process of meditation for
this day and age.

For more information call 09 302 2332, visit

www.meditationnewzealand.co.nz or email at
classes@nzsm.org.nz
All of our classes are located at Ferndale
House, 830 New North Road, Mt Albert,
Auckland 1025.
They are provided free of charge.Donations
gratefully accepted. All welcome.

The International Travel College celebrates students success

t The International Travel College of New

Zealand (ITC) we always take time to
celebrate student success. After all, thats what
makes our jobs so worthwhile seeing our
students achieve their goals.
Established in 1996, ITC is a premium
supplier of training courses for the airline,
aviation, travel and tourism industries. We
teach students about these exciting industries
and prepare them for the workforce.
We have had a lot to celebrate over the past
few months. Our students continue to impress
us with their motivation, work ethic and
positive attitudes. Its great to see them making
their dreams happen!
Most recently ITC student Anastasiya
Kolchunova scored the highest mark in New
Zealand for her IATA qualification. What an
achievement! Four of her fellow classmates
were awarded Distinction. Overall, a great
result for ITC.
We have also seen many of our students start
exciting new jobs. In September ITC Graduate
Shannon Bailey landed a role with Bon Voyage,
a specialist travel agency based in Parnell,
Auckland. Shannon was picked to be their new
Travel Apprentice a role which will give

her fantastic exposure to the travel industry.

She works as a personal assistant, performing a
variety of tasks, from making reservations and
flight arrangements to booking luxury travel
packages such as cruising holidays.
Shannon wasnt the only person to land
a great job. One of our international students
from China, Lisa Chen, has started a part-time
role with Base Backpackers in Auckland City.
She is working as a receptionist while she
finishes her studies. Lisa was offered the role
after she did two weeks of work experience
for Base. They were so impressed with her
they asked her to come and work for them on a
permanent basis!
And if thats not enough student success
to celebrate, there are also 50 ITC students
working for Renaissance Tours over the cruise
season. The students will work as check-in
agents at The Hilton Hotel when cruise ships
dock in Auckland Harbour. They are often the
first people to greet arriving tourists to New
Zealand.
One of the successful job applicants, ITC
student Courtney Robinson has nothing but
good things to say about the role so far.
Its really exciting being around such an

eclectic group of people from all over the world.

You get to be their first point of contact while
theyre in New Zealand which gives you a very
unique opportunity to show them how friendly
and welcoming Kiwis are, and how much we

appreciate people making the huge trip to come

to our country, Courtney said.
We are incredibly proud of our students and
hope to see the success continue well into the
new year. ITC is enrolling now for 2015. If you
are interested in starting an exciting career in
airline, aviation, travel or tourism, then why not
give us a call? We can help you achieve your
goals. Call 0800 TOURISM to find out more.

14

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

NEW ZEALAND

Christchurch wins
International Urban
Innovation Award

hristchurchs Transitional City initiative

has won a prestigious international
award.
The Christchurch entry was one of five
cities to win the Guangzhou International
Award for Urban Innovation at a ceremony in
Guangzhou, China on Friday 28 November.
The independent award jury, composed
of seven international experts and former

putting Christchurch on the map and the

Councils commitment to supporting these
initiatives, says Councillor Lonsdale.
There is relevance beyond Christchurch
for transitional city approaches. All cities are
evolving whether they have suffered a natural
disaster or not. The awards are a great way
to share new ideas and celebrate innovative
practices with participating cities. Hopefully

Red

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Orange

MAYORALDRIVE
New s f ro m th e C o u n ci l

Fun, sun and a run what Aucklanders

want from their waterfront

un and quirky spaces, sunshine, sea views, places to eat, public gatherings and events, areas
to swim, walk and run, and childrens play space.
These are some of the recurring themes on the list of what Aucklanders want from new
downtown spaces.
Auckland Councils City Centre Integration team is seeking feedback on what people want
to see in the downtown spaces, from outside Britomart train station to the waterfront areas
between Princes Wharf and Captain Cook Wharf. The survey runs until12 December 2014and
has elicited a variety of responses since it began earlier in the month.
The survey asks people to rank a variety of options under different headings. It also asks
what else they would like to see, with ideas put forward so far including bike parking, family
sporting events, places to swim, improving transport connections and an outdoor cinema.
The survey can be accessed throughshapeauckland.co.nz.

mayors, was impressed

by the Christchurch entry
which
illustrated
the
positive community impact
of transitional projects.
Councillor
Paul
Lonsdale, who represented
the Mayor and received the
award on behalf of Christchurch, says the
win was testament to the great work taking
place in Christchurchs post earthquake
environment.
We were excited to be selected as one of
the 15 shortlisted entries hosted by the city
of Guangzhou and have the opportunity to
present Christchurchs story. Transitional
initiatives have made a real difference to the
Christchurch community, adding colour and
vibrancy to the city in this interim stage of
recovery.
The award recognises the communityled transitional initiatives which encourage
participation to create the places that are

this
encourages
other
cities to be part of a global
movement where local
governments work closely
with their communities
to encourage innovation,
creativity and resilience.
Christchurch: Our Ever
Evolving City was one of 15 initiatives
shortlisted for the international award from
a pool of 209. A total of 177 cities from 57
countries and regions submitted entries. The
awards provided a rigorous and independent
process for entries to present and be
challenged on their innovations.
The Guangzhou Award aims to reward
innovations to improve the socio-economic
environments in cities and regions, promote
sustainability and advance the livelihood
of their citizens. Presented biennially, the
awards encourage and recognise outstanding
innovative projects and practices in the
public sector.

International literary gathering at

New Zealands City of Literature

n international conference on literary

culture will be organised in New
Zealands southern city of Dunedin to celebrate
its designation as a Unesco City of Literature,
Mayor Dave Cull announced Tuesday.
Dunedin, on the southeast of the South
Island, is one of four newly designated cities
of literature in Unescos Creative Cities
Network, after its bid was supported by sister
cities, including existing City of Literature
Edinburgh, City of Design Shanghai and City
of Film Sydney.
This announcement puts our city on
the world map as a first-class literary city.
We keep honourable company; other cities
bestowed with City of Literature status include
Edinburgh, Dublin, Iowa City, Melbourne,
Reykjavik, Norwich and Krakow, Xinhua
quoted Cull as saying in a statement.
Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie
Barry congratulated Dunedin on becoming the
first New Zealand city to be internationally
recognized as a Unesco City of Literature.
Dunedin represents a varied yet closely-knit
creative community across literature, poetry,
theatre and songwriting, among others. This
is an acknowledgement of Dunedins cultural
heritage but also reflects its contemporary
cultural sector, Barry said in a statement.
Unescos Creative Cities Network was

established to develop international cooperation

among cities and encourage them to drive joint
development partnerships.
Dunedin is New Zealands first city to be
appointed to the Creative City network.
The other three new cities of literature are
Granada (Spain), Heidelberg (Germany) and
Prague (Czech Republic).

New agency to fast track urban development

uckland Councils Governing Body agreed to support the establishment of an urban

development agency to improve the citys ability to address some of its pressing urban
development needs.
The new entity, called Development Auckland, will have a key role in helping deliver the
council priority of quality urban living and will have the mandate to deal with the challenge
of Aucklands rapid growth through regeneration and investment. The agency will have the
capability to deliver public and private development and infrastructure, including housing,
across the region.
The new entity is a result of the realignment of Auckland Councils council-controlled
organisations (CCOs).
Mayor Len Brown said: Central government, the council, the private sector and the not-forprofit sector will be able to work together in a way that does not burden ratepayers further with
the costs of growth, but rather sees them realise the benefits of it.
Development Auckland will see the merger of two CCOs: Auckland Council Property
Limited and Waterfront Auckland. It will allow the council to play a much stronger role in
urban development through greater economies of scale, enhanced commercial capability and
the ability to partner with others.
The Long-term Plan will be finalised in June 2015. If approved, Development Auckland
could be established by1 September 2015.

Crackdown on window washers for

public safety

uckland Council is clamping down on window washers intimidating behaviour at

intersections throughout the city and is targeting repeat offenders.
The council has begun pursuing the prosecution of window washers found to be in breach
of the Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw. The bylaw, which came into effect six months ago,
was designed to protect the public from nuisance but, after taking a graduated enforcement
approach, council officers have had to take a harder line.
When the bylaw first came in staff took an educational approach with offenders, focusing
on voluntary compliance. However this has not deterred people window washing in an unsafe
way, which makes drivers feel uncomfortable and even threatened, so council is taking a
tougher line, says Max Wilde, Manager Bylaws and Compliance.
As the lead agency for enforcement on window washing, council is working closely with
the Police to address problem hotspots around the region where there has been a noticeable
increase in window washers. As part of a targeted approach to tackle this continuing issue
and better protect public safety, an increase in enforcement activity is expected. The court can
impose a fine of up to $20,000 on a person convicted of breaching a bylaw under the Local
Government Act.
The Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw is in place to make sure public spaces feel safe and
are convenient for people to use and enjoy without being disturbed or experiencing offensive
behaviour. Auckland Council wants to ensure that residents and visitors to the region can freely
drive on public roads and enjoy shopping and other activities in public areas without feeling
intimidated or unsafe in any way.
What to do if you encounter a window washer:
Make it clear that you dont want your window washed shake your head or say no
Roll up your car windows and dont engage in conversation
If they continue to wash your car and demand payment in an intimidating way, make a
complaint to the council by phoning 09 301 0101
Take a photo on your phone of the offender if you feel unsafe and send to the council or
Police
In cases of criminal activity such as assault or wilful damage, call 111.

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

POWER COLUMN

New Zealand on track and growing

Red

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Orange

Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi

National List MP

ts encouraging to see the progress New

Zealand is making through the hard work
of households and businesses up and down the
country.
The economy continues to grow, jobs,
wages, and household savings are increasing,
and unemployment is coming down. Businesses
are confident and hiring more staff, all of our
regions are growing, and more New Zealanders
are voting with their feet and either staying

home or coming home.

Were also continuing to see improved
results from our public services in areas that
really matter such as lower crime, higher
educational achievement, and more New
Zealanders moving from welfare into work.
The National-led Government is playing its
part, supporting businesses and households by
responsibly managing the Governments books
and building a more competitive and productive
economy.
There have been some pretty good indicators
coming out recently. The economy grew 3.9 per
cent in the year to June, the fastest growth in a
decade. There were 72,000 extra jobs created
in the year to September, and unemployment is

down to 5.4 per cent, well ahead of Australia.

Cost of living increases are low inflation
was just 1 per cent in the past year. This is
helping keep interest rates lower for longer.
Pay packets, on average, are ahead of
inflation with hourly wages rising 2.3 per cent
over the past year, and average weekly wages
rising 1.8 per cent.
Other recent data shows New Zealands
household savings rate that is, the difference
between what households spend, and what they
earn or use to pay back debt has been positive
for five consecutive years. This is the first time
thats happened since the years 1989-1994.
The latest ANZ Regional Trends report
shows all 14 regions recorded an increase in

economic activity in the past year.

More and more Kiwis want to be part of
our strongly growing economy here in New
Zealand. Weve reached a big milestone with
net monthly migration from Australia to New
Zealand being positive last month for the first
time in 20 years.
To help get those Kiwis home the
Government is holding a series of job fairs in
major cities across Australia with the first in
Perth last weekend, Sydney this weekend, and
Melbourne and Brisbane early next year.
New Zealand is on track, growing, and the
future is bright as New Zealanders and the
Government work together to lift our countrys
performance.

Safety with
sensitivity
David Shearer
Labour MP

ts risky for a sensitive law like the

governments recent Countering Terrorist
Fighters Legislation Bill to be pushed through in
such a rush.
As Labours Foreign Affairs spokesman I
spent a lot of time last week helping to make the
wisest changes we could to the bill in the short
time we were given.
The bill deals with some profound issues:
it mayextend SIS powers to allow our spies to
search our homes without a warrant for up to 48
hours. Passports will be able to be revoked for
up to three years (the current limit is one year).
Some of the people making submissions
on the bill only had 24 hours to read the bill
and present their submissions. I hope they felt
they were able to give their best, and that their
input wasnt compromised because of the
governments rush.
One of the more powerful presentations
came from Dr Anwar Ghani, president of the
Federation of Islamic Associations in NZ and
Rehanna Ali his sister. They described the
pressure and stigma many of the 40,000 Muslims
in New Zealand are feeling right now, despite
being one of the most peaceful and law-abiding
communities in the country.
Many are subject to insults and suspicion,
because of the events in Iraq and Syria, many of
it directed towards Muslim women, because they
are identified through the wearing of the hijab or
headscarves.
It reminds us how sensitive we must be to the
wider implications of pushing this bill through
in haste.
For years I have benefited from the support
of a strong Muslim community in my electorate.
They have been telling me and I agree that
we need to take care we dont overstep the mark
in responding to imagined or possible threats
from a few radical and isolated individuals.
Taking away someones passport, for
example, is an extreme measure. Its a basic right
of a citizen to have a passport. So withholding a
passport should happen in only the most extreme
cases. It should never be done on a whim.
We need to make sure New Zealand stays the
safe place it is. But we need to move carefully
and with sensitivity, not blunder forward without
thinking through the consequences. Nobody
knows or wants that more than our Muslim
community.
Lawlike this should be subject to the full
scrutiny of the democratic process. That means
allowing the Law Society, Privacy Commission,
Human Rights Commission and indeed the
public, the time to read the bill thoroughly,
process it and have meaningful input.
It was wrong of the government to ram
through a bill that impacts on our civil liberties
without allowing us all to give it the consideration
it deserved.

China Southern Airlines special fares for Delhi

starting from $1315* ( inclusive all taxes)
*Travel dates : 9th Jan to 20th Feb 2015
*Sales Expiry : 15th Dec 2014 @ 4:00 PM.
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*Travel dates : 16th Jan to 31st Oct 2015
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15

16

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

NEW ZEALAND

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Black

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A thought that does not result in action is nothing much,

and an action that does not proceed from a thought is
nothing at all

Editorial

- Georges Bernanos

From the desk of the

Managing Editor

A tribute to Phillip Hughes

n the 16th December 2010, William Trubridge broke the CNF World Record at Deans
Blue Hole in the Bahamas. He dived to a depth of 101m (331.36ft) on a single breath,
using only his arms and legs to propel him. Two days ago, he set a new record - 100m at the
same site - and became the first man to reach a depth of 100m without the assistance of a
rope or fins.
On 3rd December 2014 (2nd December in the Bahamas), as part of the Vertical Blue
2014 competition, Trubridge attempted to break that record again: 102m. And the world was
watching. This time, he could not do it. Needless to say, each one of us is faced with these
moments, where we give our best shot and yet no matter how hard we try, we just about miss
the mark. Its times like these that are the true test of ones tenacity and endurance. Victory
belongs to those who persevere. You have to have the courage to push yourself out of your
comfort zone, to stand tall and firm in that place that you are most vulnerable and then use all
your strength to push through.
Indian Weekender is always keen to celebrate the endeavours of people who take the
courage to push outside of their comfort zones and the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame is our biggest
claim to honouring this fighting spirit. Our new column on celebrating the heroes amongst us
does exactly that. We also regularly feature a Face of the Week. These are everyday people
who, while going through their daily life, have done something exceptional, that makes them
stand apart from the crowd. If you know of someone who fits this description or you yourself
have achievements that you would like to share with us, please write to us and we will be
happy to interview you.
It was against all odds that we persevered to make our publication a weekly and I
am proud to present to you our tenth weekly edition. We hope in doing so we have met
your expectations and would love to hear from our readers on how we could improve our
publication even more.
In constantly trying to bring you something new, this issue also sees the introduction
of another new feature called Pimp my Cause. This is a platform to raise your voice and
awareness about any cause that seems to have affected your life or made a difference. This is
not a place to criticize or slander anyone, but a place for constructive feedback on issues that
have a scope for improvement.
In the same vein, participating in a function organised to celebrate 21 years of Aap Ki
Adalat anchored by well-known TV personality Rajat Sharma, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi said, Why be harsh when polite questions get desired answers? At Indian Weekender,
follow the same philosophy. Why be nasty, judgmental, accusatory or vindictive, when
awareness and social change can be brought about just as efficiently by the power of the
positive? Even at the cost of being criticized by others, we have never digressed from this.
We are committed to enhancing your reading experience by bringing to you everything that
assists you in getting further, upward and onward and never anything that pulls us down.
Until next time may the (positive) force be with you!

Giri Gupta

Indian Weekender Volume 6 Issue 20

Publisher: Kiwi Media Group Limited
Managing Editor: Giri Gupta | girigupta@xtra.co.nz
Associate Editor: Paula Ray | paula@indianweekender.co.nz
Associate Editor: Maya Shivam | editor@indianweekender.co.nz
Correspondent: Swati Sharma | reporter@indianweekender.co.nz
Chief Technical Officer: Rohan Desouza | rohan@indianweekender.co.nz
Graphic Design and Layout: IWK Design Team | designer@ indianweekender.co.nz
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Accounts and Admin.: Farah Khan | accounts@indianweekender.co.nz
Sales and Admin Support: Alpana Gupta | admin@indianweekender.co.nz
Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher
is not responsible for advertisers claims as appearing in the publication

Indian Weekender is published by Kiwi Media Group, 98 Great South Road, Auckland
Printed at Guardian Print, Ashburton
Copyright 2014. Kiwi Media Group. All Rights Reserved.

Pick of the week

Just another morning: Breakfast time for the Malabar Grey

Hornbill in Thattekad, Kerala, India. Photograph: Hari Menon

Koha

Pronounced: Koha
Maori for gift, present, contribution, donation
Usage: Although there is no entry fee for the workshop, koha will
be appreciated

TIP from the TRENCHES

Summer is here

Stay hydrated
Use a toner, sunscreen
Go for water-based moisturiser
Ditch those aerated drinks
Cleanse your face twice a day
Exfoliate
Bonus Tip: Eat healthy, exercise and sleep well.

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

OPINION / EDITORIAL

17

Kashmir outcome may provide Mufti, Modi

with new opening

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Saeed Naqvi

rinagar-New Delhi, India-Pakistan and

Hindu-Muslim are basically one complex
of issues. That there is a symbiotic relationship
between the three becomes apparent every
now and then. But there is, at policy levels, an
aversion to see the glaring reality.
Foreign secretary level talks in Islamabad
were cancelled because the Pakistan High
Commissioner in New Delhi, Abdul Basit,
consulted Kashmiri separatist leaders. The chill
was carried over to Kathmandu. Here was the
umpteenth instance of Kashmir casting a long
shadow on India-Pakistan relations.
Is SAARC a realizable promise without this
key triangle being resolved?
At the 1972 Simla Summit, Indira Gandhi
returned 93,000 prisoners of war to Pakistan in
expectation of some imaginary goodwill.
The Simla spirit did not prove to be a
panacea for Indo-Pak mistrust and bitterness.
Did Simla prove ineffective in the long run
because a Kashmiri voice was not present at the
Summit?
By the same logic, the Indira-Sheikh
Abdullah pact of 1975 failed because Pakistan
hovered like Banquos ghost but never had a
seat at the table.
Who knows, change may be round the
corner because the Narendra Modi government
appears to be bringing into play a different kind
of energy. Sooner or later, the Bharatiya Janata
Party president Amit Shahs electoral strategy
of communal polarization as a means to Hindu
consolidation must run into contradictions most certainly in Kashmir.

Already, a lesson appears to have been

learnt. In the state, the BJP is in something of
a shock. A 71 percent voter turnout in sub-zero
temperatures in the 15 seats that went to the
polls on Nov 25 is most extraordinary.
The BJP strategy to polarize the vote, then
scatter the opposition appears to have been
grasped by the electorate: heavy polling is
evidence of a sort of counter polarization. It
appears dummy candidates, set up to divide
the vote, have been bypassed by the electorate.
How else is one to interpret the highest ever
voter turnout in defiance of the hardliners call
to boycott elections?
BJP effort at communal polarization may
have been taken to its extreme at, say, Zanskar
in Ladakh. There has been a near total social
boycott here of Muslims by the local Buddhists.
There has always been considerable scope to
play one Muslim group against another. Indeed,
even the Shias of Kargil have been divided.
For instance, Anjuman-e-Islamia and the
Imam Khomeini Trust have been in perpetual
competition. But the scare that the Modi
phenomenon has created, may well be affecting
an unintended Muslim consolidation simply to
block the Modi machine.
Another emotion driving these elections is
a general disgust with Chief Minister Omar
Abdullah. It is tempting to see a similarity
between the Gandhis nationally and the
Abdullahs in the valley.
Yes, they are both in abysmal decline and
the Gandhis and the Abdullahs have little
credibility left as leaders in the foreseeable
future. But this is where the comparison ends.
Minus the Abdullahs, the National Conference

has a fairly impressive line up of leaders. For

example Shaikh Nazir, general secretary of
the National Conference, has considerable
credibility.
This precisely is the weakness in Mufti
Mohammad Sayeeds Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP). It is short on credible candidates.
The BJP is going flat out to accomplish its
Mission 44, which would give it a majority in
a house of 87. Towards that end it has inducted
RSS volunteers, primarily from Uttar Pradesh.
These voter guides have unintentionally
spurred the non-BJP voters to compose their
differences primarily in favour of the PDP.
Communal rhetoric has been held back in
the campaign so far. Even though RSS think
tanks have been studying article 370 and how
the state can be freed from it, the issue has
not become part of the BJPs campaign. Is
the powder being kept dry for the last phase

of voting in Jammu where the Muslim vote is

ineffective?
If the BJP falls short of 44 seats, Mufti
Mohammad Sayeed will be the probable front
runner. But the PDP may not be able to cross
the halfway mark. Who will the Mufti then
align with? A weakened Congress, unlikely
to be anywhere near power in the foreseeable
future, is hardly an attractive partner. Omar
Abdullahs National Conference is even less
attractive.
A political opening for both the Mufti
and Modi may open up. The critical triangle
sketched at the opening of this piece may then
require a deep, steady gaze by both.
Saeed Naqvi is a senior commentator
on diplomatic and political affairs and
the views expressed are personal.

Black money: BJPs advantage, Congress problem

Amulya Ganguli

rom the time in the 1960s when undeclared

income, or black money, stashed away in
foreign banks was said to constitute a parallel
economy, the issue of unaccounted funds has
remained a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside
an enigma.
The riddle or brainteaser relates to those
who have deprived the Indian exchequer of
vast amounts. It is a matter of some relief that
after the passage of more than half a century, an
estimate of the numbers is now available.
According to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley,
the government has a list of 627 accountholders, of whom the identities of 427 have
been established. Moreover, 250 have admitted
that they have kept their money abroad.
But, is the list complete? How many of those
who are in it are politicians who have always
been the prime suspects? And businessmen,
who have long had a bad reputation in India?
Are there any famous names among the guilty
which can bring down a government or rattle a
political party?
Such questions may appear to be too
prying and insidious. But, at their root, lies
the inordinate delay in shedding light on the
subject, which has strengthened the popular
belief over the decades that the governments at
the centre - of all hues - have been basically
engaged in a prolonged cover-up operation lest
anyone in the political establishment should be
shamed or incarcerated.
If this perception persists, the reason is that
the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hasnt played
its cards well in this sensitive matter. A fair
share of the blame for this lapse lies with Prime
Minister Narendra Modi, who merrily used the
black money stick to lambaste the Congress
during the campaign for the April-May general

election.
It was a legitimate political tactic since it
could not but evoke cheer, except for the fact
that he ignored the possibility of the charges
and the promises backfiring. This is exactly
what has happened since his pledge to recover
all the hidden money and deposit Rs.15 lakh in
the account of every citizen has now come to
haunt the prime minister and his party. What
sounds good at an election rally can prove to be
embarrassing when one sits on the throne.
The present scenario is not unlike what
happened when V.P. Singh failed as the prime
minister in 1989-90 to keep his promise to nail
the culprits of the Bofors howitzer scam - the
plank on which he rode to power.
Similarly, the present prime minister too will
suffer a loss of face if the secret vaults where
the plundered wealth - is it Rs 85 lakh crore?

- is kept remains a mystery. If no progress is

made in the near future, then the ingrained
suspicion in the minds of virtually all Indians
- that the people in power are birds of the same
feather - will be confirmed.
The customary explanations, which are
generally seen as bureaucratic obfuscation,
about banking regulations on confidentiality
and the danger of alerting the hoarders to move
their funds from one location to another, will
not suffice. Yet, given the snails pace at which
the case is progressing, it will be months, if not
years, before the veils are removed from the
faces of the accused.
The BJPs only advantage is that it is
somewhat more believable at present than its
predecessor in office if only because of Modis
emergence as an ace avatar of modernity and
progress, as Shashi Tharoor put it, much to

the dismay of other Congressmen. But it goes

without saying that too much delay will deny
the party its present advantage of probity.
The Congress problem is that for all its
attempts to trip up the BJP for failing to keep
its promise, the (no longer) Grand Old Party
simply does not have the moral authority to
press home its point because of its recent
crushing election defeats and inability over
decades to nab the culprits.
Moreover, the black money problem is the
result of the Congresss socialistic policies of a
controlled economy when the income-tax rates
touched 97 percent and passport-holders were
allowed to leave the country with all of eight
dollars in their wallets.
This was the period in the 1960s and 1970s
of all-round scarcity and forced abstinence manufacturers were not allowed to expand their
production even if there was demand for the
goods - when crafty politicians and businessmen
found ways and means of amassing fortunes in
safe havens without having to pay tax at home.
The ever-rising poll expenses must have
also acted as an incentive to keep the black
sheep in the political class and the corporate
sector together.
Arguably, there are no Indians who can
match the bank balance of $40-70 billion of
Egypts Hosni Mubarak, or the $13-35 billion
of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos, or the
$7.8 billion of Tunisias Zine el-Abidine Ben
Ali or the $2 billion of Saddam Hussein in
Switzerland and elsewhere.
But, whatever the amount, the size of the
parallel economy will now probably begin to
shrink in view of the first serious attempts to
trace and punish the tax-evaders.
Amulya Ganguli is a political analyst. The
views expressed are personal.

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

FIJI

18

Spruce up, schools!

Red

n an attempt to raise the standard of education,

school teachers and management staff will
be given one term next year to improve their
schools performance, said Dr Mahendra
Reddy, Minister for Education.
Speaking at the Batinikama primary and
secondary schools prize giving ceremony, Dr
Reddy mentioned that those who fail to achieve
results would be removed from their positions,
reports Fiji Times. They will be replaced by
younger professionals from within the school
system who had leadership qualities.
We will be very particular about the
performance of our head teachers and principals
next year, he said. We will give one term to
our principals and head teachers to turn around
their schools performance or they will be
removed out of the admin responsibility.
Someone younger in the school system
will be given an opportunity to lead the school
and we will give full support so that no one
provides any discouragement or stumbling
block to them.
This was part of many reforms in the

Black

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V-App for films

odafone Fiji, in collaboration with

Damodar Event Cinema, launched
the first-ever mobile app in Suva this
week. Users of this app will now be able to
access the latest film content on the go, said
Damodar Events general manager Madhu
Singh.
Santosh Payal, Vodafone Mobile Data
and Broadband manager, said that this would
attract more audience to Damodar Cinema,
as the Vodafone V-App Store opened up a
new experience for cinema patrons.

ministry next year so students directly benefited

from money allocated by Government, reports
Fiji Times.
In our efforts to standardise education
we will give more resources to rural and
maritime schools so from next year small
schools will receive more grants than what
they have received this year, Dr Reddy said.
No more money should be siphoned off by the

management as all money given to the schools

must be utilised for the benefits of students and
enhance the teachers teaching tools for better
delivery of teaching to students.
On one hand we also intend to reward our
teachers for their hard work through annual
increments, especially good performing teachers
who could lead in primary and secondary
schools in giving them opportunities.

World Supermodel: Beauty at its best

he World Supermodel pageant had its grand

finale with the beautiful Miss Botswana,
Nature Inger, being crowned the winner.
Although it rained all day, by evening the
day had dried up, thus facilitating an outdoor
event. Gavin Dooley, World Supermodel chief
executive, said that Fiji was proving to be a
very good host. The event, held at the Pearl in
Pacific Harbour, Dooley said, was in its fourth
consecutive year. They would even like to come
back, he added.
The competition was held in two categories
- the 16 to 19-year-olds in the teen and the 20
to 30-year-olds in the adult. There were six
finalists from each of the category. However,
the overall winner, Miss World Supermodel,
could come from either of the categories.
Miss Botswana was crowned Miss World
Supermodel, while Miss South Pacific Mary
Ludera was Miss Teen winner. Vivienne

NEWS in BRIEF

Breathe easy

he construction of the Universal

Meditation Centre in Nadi, set up within
the Ramakrishna Mission premises, was
financed by a number of businesses in the
Western Division.
Vinod Patel and Company Limited
and Arvind Raniga of Raniga Jewellers
contributed $100,000 each towards the
Ramakrishna Mission project, while Nitin
Hiralal of Grand Melanesian Hotel donated
$50,000. Australian architect Alan Croker
explained the design and structure to the
media.
We saw that the Ramakrishna Mission
was doing excellent work as they have been
running the Ramakrishna Health Centre
very nicely and for the first time in Fiji, such
a meditation centre was built, Patel said.
It is for all races and we thought that we
should give something towards it.

Movember ends

(From left) Miss Congeniality Fiona Andrew, Dane Venter, Miss Teen runner-up Hannah Moulden,
Miss Teen Mary Ludera Miss World Nature Inger, runner up Vivienne Barclay and Miss Photogenic
Emma Franklin

Barclay from Australia was runner-up to Miss

World Supermodel. She also won the best night
gown category, reports Fiji Times.
South African teenager Dane Venter won

the swimwear category, while Englands Fiona

Andrew was Miss Congeniality and Welsh
beauty Emma Franklin was Miss Photogenic,
added the report.

he Movember movement came to an end

last week. Organised by the Vodafone
Fiji group, throughout November, had staff
members from Vodafone Fiji raise funds for
the CWM Hospitals Oncology Unit through
different activities such as cake sales, inhouse fundraisers, morning walks and a
mini football competition.

SANTA COMES TO NADI

1

Paul Ross, founder of

Pacific Kids, organises for
a Christmas party for the
children at Loloma Home
1. Breakfast at McDonalds,
Nadi
2. At Big Bula - Inflatable
Water Park, Sofitel Fiji
Resort and Spa
3. Children have fun at Big
Bula - Inflatable Water Park
4. Adrenalin Sports for some
serious fun on the water
5. Water sports in the
afternoon

6. Lunch at Sofitel

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

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INDIA

19

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SMART Police - a need for India

Maya Shivam

hen you think about the rampant

corruption in India, the first organisation
that comes to mind is the Indian Police force.
Most citizens live in fear of this corrupt force;
often considered to be subservient only to
the highest bidder. I recall being often told
that, being a woman, if one gets stranded
somewhere,it is safer to ask a random stranger
for help than go to a policeman. Playing the
Devils advocate however, I am compelled to
give a thought to the working conditions of the
Police.
Subservient to their senior officers, under
staffed, under trained, under equipped and
way under paid, the Police force however
continues to plod along serving the people.
While these shameful stories top our charts
and are commonplace, stories of their heroic
and patriotic acts generally go unreported and
unrecognised.
Addressing the 49th Annual Conference
of Directors General of Police / Inspectors
General of Police and heads of all central police
organisations in Guwahati, the Prime Minister
called upon every police station to create
a website, and upload every week a factual
authentic story of good deeds done by them
(police), with a view to change the perception
of the Force and create a positive image among
the people.

Modi asserted that sacrifices and

contributions of the Police force should not
be ignored. Since independence, 33,000
police personnel have sacrificed their lives for
the Nation. This is not a small number. Their
sacrifices shouldnt go in vain. We cannot let
their sacrifices go in vain. Their sacrifice cannot
die.
Modi called for setting up a task force to
suggest ways to institutionalise the memory of
the deceased police personnel. He suggested
that all state Police Academies have a book
dedicated to the memory of Police personnel

who died in action.

The police is a protector force but is often
not portrayed as such in Bollywood cinema.
The mental image that people have of the police
has to change he added. Modi urged Indians
to change their perception about the Police,
and said there was a need to highlight the good
work done by them. The thinking of the
people about our police force can change, and
this can be done through knowing the ground
realities. Through you (police) a lot of good
things are happening in the Nation. Why cant
positive stories be put on a web site?

Modis Rocking foreign policy

Rocking six months of foreign policy

has been one of the highlights of Prime
Minister Narendra Modis government,
with interactions, collaborations and new
partnerships with most important of the world
leaders, including even the distant islands in the
South Pacific and our neighbours Fiji, Tonga
and Australia.
For a man who was originally seen as a
newbie, who slowly grew into the high-flying,
tough-negotiating world of global diplomacy.
Modi began his innings with the major
diplomatic initiative of inviting South Asian
leaders, including Pakistan Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif, to his May 26 swearing-in, a
move that took everyone, including the invitees,
by surprise.
Since that day, Modi himself and his foreign
minister Sushma Swaraj have been busy
interacting with most of the world and setting
the bar higher and higher for the countrys
diplomats.
Modi has met all the Permanent members
of the UN - the US, Russia, China, Britain
and France - meeting some twice. He met
the US President Barack Obama during his
outstandingly successful trip in September
and then again during the G20 in Brisbane,
Australia.
He has met Chinese President Xi Jinping
thrice - during the BRICS summit in Brazil, at
the bilateral when Xi came to India and again
on the sidelines of the G20.
Modi has met Russian President Vladimir
Putin twice - in Brazil and Brisbane, and is
slated to meet him during the India-Russia
annual summit in New Delhi in December. He
met British Prime Minister David Cameron and
French President Francois Hollande during the
G20 in Brisbane.
Modi, was Nepal for the 18th Saarc Summit.
He had left for Myanmar, Australia and Fiji
during which he attended four major multilateral

meets, interacted with

some 40 world leaders and
held nearly 20 bilateral
meetings.
He
attended
the
ASEAN-India and East
Asia Summit in Myanmar,
the G20 in Australia and
the first summit meeting
with the 14 South Pacific
Island nations, which is to
become an annual event,
going forward.
Modi spoke at length at
each of these occassions,
reassuring the world and
regional leaders about the
ease of doing business
in India and the change
in policies under his
government.
During
the
G20,
Modis intervention on the need for transparency
and automatic sharing of information in money
transactions led the final G20 communique to
adopt the point, which is expected to help India
in getting back black money stashed abroad.
In Myanmar, Modi stressed his governments
policy of not just Looking East, but Acting
East.
His meeting with Australian Prime Minister
Tony Abbott was the second - having met him
when the latter came to India in September. The
two leaders appear to have struck a warmth in
their relationship, with both exchanging warm
hugs and handshakes frequently and referring
to each other by their first names.
Modis visit to Australia was the first by
an Indian prime minister in 28 years. He also
became the first Indian leader to address the
Australian parliament Nov 18. Modis visit to
Fiji was the first by an Indian prime minister in
33 years. And he became the first Indian leader

to address the Fijian parliament Nov 19.

Modi, during his foreign visits, has been
actively connecting with the diaspora. He
addressed the Indian diaspora in Sydney, in a
replay of the Madison Square Garden event in
New York.
He went to Japan in August during which
both countries inked several major agreements.
As part of the neighbourhood interaction,
the Modi government has covered most
neighbours. While Modi and Sharif met briefly
during the formers swearing-in, prospects
of bringing normalcy in bilateral ties took a
nosedive due to the frequent incidents of firing
on the border and also when the Pakistani
envoy in India met Kashmiri separatists ahead
of the foreign secretary level talks, which were
called off by India.
Modi has also interacted with many of
the Latin American countries, and is actively
enhancing its outreach with the Middle East.

It was at this conference that Modi delivered

his mantra for the Police. He said that it was
time for making the Police of our Country a
SMART police force which is Strict and
sensitive , Modern and mobile , Alert and
accountable , Reliable and responsive, Trained
and tech-savvy . The Prime Minister urged
the officials to focus on building a quality
intelligence network which he said, would
ensure minimal use of force. He pointed out
that from Chanakyas time, only those societies
which had the most effective intelligence
network were considered to be the most
secured.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the
image of the Police has to change, and called
for SMART policing that would encompass
sensitivity, reliability and modernity.
The prime minister also pressed the need
to ensure the welfare of police personnel and
their families. He said police personnel cannot
perform well if their families were not taken
care of. Issues such as health of the families and
education for the children of police personnel is
a priority. This would have come as a breath
of fresh air for the Police personnel, and one
can only hope that the Government views these
issues seriously and takes some concrete steps
to improve the situation for this force.
It may be a colossal task, yet, should the
Prime Minister choose to focus on the state of
policing in India, it can be the dawn of acche
din for the law and order in the Country.

Its contact with Africa was affected when

the India-African Union summit planned for
December had to be postponed due to the Ebola
outbreak in West Africa.
A noticeable factor during Modis
interactions during his three-nation tour was the
easy manner in which the prime minister was
shaking hands, laughing and talking with many
of the world leaders - indicative perhaps of the
comfort level he has reached in conducting
international diplomacy. He also switched to
addressing gatherings in English in Australia.
Modi mostly speaks at diplomatic events in
Hindi, which is translated into English.
I would say that Prime Minister Modi
has arrived on the regional and international
political arena. In a way he been able to
establish his credibility and along with that
there is renewed confidence about India,
strategic expert C. Uday Bhaskar, director of
think tank Society for Policy Studies (SPS),
told media, on Modis recent foreign tour.
Modi also pulled off a kind of diplomatic
coup in getting President Barack Obama to
accept his invitation to be the chief guest at
the Republic Day parade on January 26, this is
the first time a US president has been accorded
this honour. This will also be the first time that
an American president will visit India twice
during his presidency.
Taking note of Chinas increasing
interaction with the 14 South Pacific Islands,
which lie at the centre of a key maritime route
and are rich in resources, Modi during his Fiji
visit proposed that the India-Pacific Islands
Cooperation (FIPIC) summit meeting be held
on a regular basis.
The next meeting would be held in 2015 at a
coastal location in India. For us in New Zealand,
it will be interesting to watch how New Zealand
responds to this growing phenomena called
Modi.

20

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

INDIA

NEWS in BRIEF
Chacko in charge of Congress
in Delhi

Congress president Sonia Gandhi Thursday appointed P.C.

Chacko as the party in-charge of Delhi. He will be filling in for party
general secretary Shakeel Ahmad.
The decision to replace Ahmad was made after he requested the
party president to temporarily discharge him of his duties for three
months. Ahmad would be away on a personal visit to Canada to
attend to his ailing wife next month. In view of the impending Delhi
assembly elections, the dates of which are expected to be announced
soon, the move to find a replacement was time-sensitive.
The Congress that was reduced to a mere eight members in the
Delhi assembly after three terms in power is desperate to resuscitate
from its drubbing in December 2013.

France to open eight new visa

centres

France will open eight new visa application centers in India,

taking their number from six to 14, French Ambassador Francois
Richer said.
Richer also announced that ChaloParis, a travel application
specifically designed for Indian tourist would be launched while
tourist and business visas for Indians visiting France will now be
delivered by the French consulates within 48 hours.
He said the number of visas delivered by the French consulates
in India has jumped by 33 percent in 2014 compared to 2013. Richer
said that currently around 3.5 lakh Indian tourists visit France and it
wanted to increase their numbers.
He said that the new centres will be opened in Chandigarh,
Jalandhar, Pune, Panaji, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Hyderabad and Jaipur.

Lok Sabha passes bill

increasing list of SC
communities

The Lok Sabha Thursday passed a constitutional amendment bill to

add more communities to the existing list of scheduled castes in many
states. The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Orders (Amendment)
Bill, 2014 was passed by a voice vote. The bill adds communities in
the list of scheduled castes in the states of Kerala, Madhya Pradesh,
Odisha, and Tripura. It removes the Majhi community from the list
in Sikkim.
Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot
said the amendment was necessary for betterment of lives of many
people belonging to scheduled castes.
Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav urged the minister
to include names of more communities from Uttar Pradesh like
Kahar, Rajbhar and Prajapati in the list.
Some of these communities are already availing reservation in
states like Madhya Pradesh and other neighbouring states, he said.

Six new AIIMS set up

Six new AIIMS have been set up across the country in order to
correct the imbalance in availability and affordability of tertiary
health care, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda told parliament last
week.
The new AIIMS have come up in Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur,
Patna, Raipur and Rishikesh. In each of these new AIIMS, three
batches of MBBS students and two batches of B.Sc. (Nursing)
students are receiving education, Nadda told the Lok Sabha in a
written reply.
The central government is setting up new AIIMS in a phased
manner in different states under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha
Yojana (PMSSY) which aims at correcting the imbalances in
availability of affordable and reliable tertiary level health care and to
augment facilities for quality medical education in the underserved
areas, he said.
The health ministry has requested the chief ministers of different
states to identify three or four locations for setting up of new
AIIMS, and governments of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Gujarat,
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have done so, Nadda said.

Law amended to pave way for next

CBI chiefs appointment
Red

Black

Orange

arliament approved amendments to the Delhi Special

Police Establishment Act to provide for appointment
of a CBI director in a situation where there is no leader
of opposition in Lok Sabha, paving way for naming a new
agency chief before incumbent Ranjit Sinha retires.
The Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment)
Bill, 2014 was passed by the Rajya Sabha Thursday after
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley assured the house that the
government intends to work through consensus on the
appointment of chief of Central Bureau of Investigation
(CBI) and wants to strengthen the systems.
The bill, passed by Lok Sabha Wednesday, provides for
including the leader of the single largest opposition party
as a member of the selection committee to choose the CBI
chief, instead of the leader of opposition as in the act earlier.
The step had to be taken as there is no leader of
opposition in Lok Sabha, with largest opposition party
Congress falling below required numbers to claim the post.
The bill also does away with the need of all members to be
present to chose a CBI chief.
Mallikarjun Kharge is currently the leader of Congress
in Lok Sabha and is likely to get the post in the panel.
The idea is that when there is no recognised leader of
opposition, we must have a representative of opposition
party in the collegium, said Jaitley, who tabled the bill in
Rajya Sabha.
He said there was a practice of sharing names on the
panel a day before the meeting of the committee and it
would be followed.

AAP gets over

Rs 50 lakh at
fundraiser
T

he AAP raised over Rs 50 lakh at a fund raising lunch

organised by partys traders in New Delhi last weekend
ahead of likely assembly polls in February.
At the event, organised at a restaurant in central hub
Connaught Place, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind
Kejriwal promised to rationalise Value Added Tax (VAT)
in Delhi by reducing it on goods in which it is higher in
comparison to other states, particularly neighboring states.
A total of 125 traders from various parts of the capital
were present at the launch where each plate was for
Rs.20,000. Previously, the AAP had collected Rs.91 lakh
by hosting a dinner in Mumbai.
Outlining partys vision for traders of Delhi, Kejriwal
said that the AAP would make Delhi a trading powerhouse
by creating a trader-friendly environment.
The former chief minister said that the rationalisation of
VAT would help the consumers and traders, while asserting
the AAP is committed to simplify the procedure of payment
of this tax.
Also promising to initiate online payment of VAT for
convenience of traders, he also assured the traders that
his party will abolish raids by VAT department inspectors
which are carried in the name of sudden visits, if the AAP
was voted to power.

We will like to have consensus...We want the system to

be strengthened, Jaitley said.
The motivation (for the bill) is that CBI must be a fair
agency and there should be participation of opposition, he
said.
The act provides for a three member committee,
comprising the prime minister (chairperson), the chief
justice of India or a Supreme Court judge nominated by
him, and the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, to
make recommendations to the central government for
appointment of the director.

President, PM
attend TV show
Aap Ki Adalat

resident Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra

Modi and senior ministers attended an event on Dec 2
to celebrate 21 years of television show Aap Ki Adalat
that has been running since 1993.
The event will also be attended by top bureaucrats,
judges and cricketers.
Tributes will be paid to late Bal Thackeray, Rajesh
Khanna, Rajesh Pilot, Pramod Mahajan and ghazal singer
Jagjit Singh, who had appeared on the show, Ritu Dhawan,
managing director and CEO, India TV, said in a statement.
Rajat Sharma, chairman and editor-in-chief, India TV,
said: Aap Ki Adalat has been synonymous with Indias
eventful journey in the last 21 years. It continues to leave
its indelible footprints on the sands of time.

Three Indians, Thai

get Jamnalal Bajaj
awards

our eminent Gandhians, including one from Thailand,

were Friday conferred the prestigious 37th Jamnalal
Bajaj Foundation Award for 2014, said foundation chairman
Rahul Bajaj.
The Indian awardees are Chennupati Vidya, founderpresident of Vasavya Mahila Mandali in Andhra Pradesh,
Surendra Koulagi, founder of Janapada Seva Trust in
Karnataka and Ram Kumar Singh, director and managing
trustee, Suruchi Shikshan Vasahat Trust in Gujarat.
Sulak Sivaraksa, founder, International Network of
Engaged Buddhists (INEB) Thailand, is the international
recipient of the award for propounding Gandhian values,
said Bajaj.
The awards were given away at a ceremony here by this
years Nobel Peace laureate from India, Kailash Satyarthi.
From this year, the prize money has been double to
Rs.one million per awardee, from the Rs.500,000 earlier,
to mark the 125th birth anniversary of the doyen of Indian
industry, the late Jamnalal Bajaj.

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

INDIA

21

Modi, Sharif bonhomie gives fresh boost to Saarc

Red

Anil Giri

Black

Orange

n a final ice-breaking moment that gave

a huge boost to Saarc and floundering
regional cooperation, Indian Prime Minister
Narendra Modi shook hands with his Pakistani
counterpart Nawaz Sharif, laughed and even
patted him on the arm at the closing ceremony
of the blocs 18th summit here Thursday, to
resounding applause from a relieved audience
comprising leaders, diplomats and officials
from the eight South Asian countries.
In a photo-op that appeared to belie the
recent animosity between the two neighbours,
Modi and Sharif kept their handshake for
several seconds and chatted, smiling all the
while, as Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala,
the host of the summit, looked on happily.
Modi and Sharif had shaken hands and
interacted briefly during the retreat at Dhulikhel
outside Kathmandu earlier in the day.
The two had otherwise studiously ignored
each other during the summit Wednesday, the
sixth anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai terror
attacks that India has blamed on Pakistani
elements.
India is for peaceful and cooperative
relations with Pakistan. If this shake hand leads
to that we will welcome it. However, emphasis
is on meaningful dialogue, external affairs
ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said
later to reporters.
To a question, he said he was unaware of
what Modi and Sharif spoke about during the
Dhulikhel retreat as there was no one else.
Nobody else knows what they talked of. They
spoke of Saarc matters, but what specifically
they discussed, no one is privy.
During the concluding ceremony, as soon
as Koirala declared the session closed, Modi
turned to the immediate neighbour to his right,
Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, and
shook hands and chatted.
He then shook hands with Maldives
President Abdulla Yameen, and with Afghan

President Ashraf Ghani, and was joined by Sri

Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Sharif was away from the group, talking to
a Nepali minister, while Koirala was looking
awkwardly on, standing in the midst of the two
rival prime ministers.
Just when the question was on everyones
mind - will they, wont they - Modi finished
chatting with his group of Saarc leaders, turned
around and spoke to the Nepali prime minister,
and stepped ahead to shake hands with Sharif.
Modi and Sharif smiled warmly at each
other, and kept their hands clasped all the while
as they chatted like old friends.
As the audience erupted into loud applause,
Modi cracked what appeared like a joke,
laughed and slapped Sharif gently on his arm as the two kept their handshake on.
Both the leaders then turned towards the
audience, comprising diplomats and senior
officials of all the eight countries, as they
continued to shake hands. A relieved Koirala,
who is credited with mediating between them,
looked smilingly on.

India launches e-visa

facility for 43 nations

ith the launch of electronic visa (e-visa)

facility last week, tourists from 43
countries can apply for Indian visa in four
simple steps.
The step is aimed at boosting tourism sector
and offer hassle-free travel to foreign nationals.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, along
with Union Minister of Culture and Tourism
Mahesh Sharma launched the Tourist Visa on
Arrival (TVOA) service enabled with electronic
travel authorisation (ETA) scheme here.
Tourists from countries like Brazil,
Cambodia, Kenya, Oman, Singapore, Norway,
Thailand, among others can avail this facility.
India has a unique advantage in tourism
sector owing to its geographical location and
that no other country offers such abundance of

diversity in weather conditions, said Singh.

This visa will allow entry of the tourists into
India within 30 days from the date of approval
of ETA and will be valid for 30 days stay in
India from the date of arrival in India.
The facility will be extended to other nations
in a phased manner. The tourists will be allowed
to enter and depart from nine international
airports - Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi,
Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and
Thiruvananthapuram.
Tourists availing this facility would be able
to go for usual sightseeing and recreational
activities.
The tourism ministry has included facilities
like short duration medical visit and casual
business visit with e-visa.

The Himalayan Times was prompt in putting

up the news on its website.
Titled Smiling Modi, Sharif shake hands
at Summit closure, it wrote: At the closing
ceremony of the 18th South Asian Association
for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit,
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and
Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif shook
hands with smiling faces.
The heads of governments of two historic
rivals posed for photographs during the
handshake for nearly a minute. The duo were
seen talking to each other, it said.
Earlier in the day, away from the glare of
cameras, Modi and Sharif held informal talks
at the Dhulikhel retreat, those present said. The
effect of the informal talks was immediately
reflected in the proposed agreements.
The heads of state and government agreed
to sign the Saarc Framework Agreement on
Energy Cooperation on electricity trade, and
decided to sign two other pacts -- motor vehicle
and railway agreements -- within three months,
a big face-saver for Summit host Nepal in

particular and the region as a whole.

Dinesh Bhattarai, foreign relations advisor
to Koriala, who was present in the retreat,
confirmed to IANS that both the leaders held
informal talks after meeting each other along
with other heads of state and government.
Prime Minster Koirala pushed the two
leaders to sit for talks, at least informally now,
and break the logjam in the bilateral relations as
other Saarc countries feel that the India-Pakistan
dispute was impeding progress on greater South
Asian cooperation and understanding.
During his talks with Modi, Koirala asked
the Indian prime minister to reach out to
Pakistan, given the formers stature as Saarc
leader, and its size, population and economy.
While watching the Himalayas and taking
herbal and organic food, Modi and Sharif were
seen more open and close, a diplomat said.
The focus was on how to carry on the Saarc
process and how to strengthening the bilateral
ties.
The Saarc leaders, including Modi, Sharif
and Koriala, cracked jokes, planted trees and
shared their personal matters with each other.
After the retreat, the leaders agreed to sign
the Saarc Framework Agreement on Energy
Cooperation which was announced in the
Kathmandu Declaration in the evening.
Because of the deadlock between India and
Pakistan, the three proposed agreements related
to motor vehicle, railway and energy, all pushed
by New Delhi, were uncertain until Thursday.
After the retreat and unofficial talks among
the leaders, the Saarc leaders agreed to sign the
energy deal and agreed to complete the other
two agreements within three months, Bhattarai
said.
The 33 food items served to the leaders were
totally vegetarian, perhaps in deference to the
diet preferences of the Indian prime minister
who is a strict vegetarian. Gujarati basundi with
jalebi was served to Modi as dessert.
Anil Giri can be contacted at
girianil@gmail.com

Foreign tourists will double in Goa

with visa on arrival: Minister

oreign tourists to Goa could double to one

million in the next four years thanks to
the newly announced visa-on-arrival (VoA)
facility that became operational from last week
at the Dabolim international airport, Tourism
Minister Dilip Parulekar said.
The facility would help beef up the tourism
numbers in Goa because visa-related hassles
would now be history, Parulekar said at a press
conference here.
We are very happy today to announce that
the facilities have finally been launched and
extended to 43 countries effectively from today
(Thursday), he said.
Within the next four years, we could see the
arrivals doubling from 500,000 to one million,
Parulekar said.
The Dabolim airport, which caters to around
3.5 million passengers annually, is one of the
nine airports in India where the facility will be
provided.
The list of 43 countries considered for VoA
are Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cook Islands,
Djibouti, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Indonesia,
Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos,
Luxembourg, Marshal Islands, Mauritius,
Mexico, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, New
Zealand, Niue Island, Norway, Oman, Palau,
Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Philippines,
South Korea, Russia, Samoa, Singapore,

Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu,

UAE, Ukraine, US, Vanuatu and Vietnam.
Goa already sees nearly half a
million foreign visitors annually, of which nearly
100,000 are from Russia.
Interestingly, Britain, which sends the
second biggest contingent of tourists to Goa
(also around 100,000) is not a part of the list
of countries.
Britain could be added to the list later. The
overall objective of the central government is to
extend the list to over 100 countries, Parulekar
said. He said the facility will enable tourists
from the 43 countries to apply and procure
visa within 96 hours with a validity for 30 days
which is extendable subject to approval from
the respective embassies.

22

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

INDIA ABROAD

Diaspora doubts British

sincerity on Gandhi statue

Sandeep Datta

head of the proposed installation of a

statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the British
parliament, a section of the Indian diaspora
has expressed scepticism about the British
governments motive behind the move and
instead favoured redressal of their concerns as
a real tribute to the Father of the Nation.
Created by sculptor Philip Jackson, based on
Mahatma Gandhis last visit to London in 1931,
the statue is estimated to cost around one million
pounds (about $1.5 million/Rs.9.7 crore) and is
slated to be unveiled at the Parliament Square
here in early 2015.
The memorial to Gandhi, who studied in
London for many years before leading nonviolent resistance to the British rule in India, is
to be erected opposite the Houses of Parliament.
Talking to a private TV channel recently,
NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul expressed his
sadness at seeing that the British government
could not find the money for the proposed
Mahatma Gandhi statue. He also questioned
the wisdom behind announcement of setting up
of the statue with such a fanfare by Chancellor
George Osborne and the then Secretary of State
William Hague while visiting India in July.
Gandhi was assassinated on January 30,
1948, four and a half months after India gained
independence from Britain.

Designer Ritu Beri gets

Spain honour
Red

tudent mobility is a proven means of

building long-lasting relations between
countries. There is no better opportunity for
India and Britain to further this cause than now
when our two countries mark the 400th year of
direct relations.
As chancellor of the University of
Birmingham, the most frequent question I
am asked during my visits to India relates to
Britains post-study work visa that allows
students to work with a minimum salary
threshold of 20,000 pounds a year. Thats a
little under Rs.2 million.
In 2007 I led an initiative in the British
parliament calling for a two-year post-graduate
work visa for international students. I was
certain this would prove to be an attractive
proposition, especially for Indian students. It
offered the opportunity to remain in Britain
for two years after graduation and enabled
international students work and earn some
money to pay for their education.
This, indeed, worked very well. In the larger
context, it continued to reinforce the bridges
between our two countries. As an Indian
student in Britain, there was also the prospect
of building bridges for your country, enabling
a third generation to be educated in the UK and
paving the way for future generations in years
to come. I myself was the third generation
of my family to be educated in the United
Kingdom, something that gave me a wonderful
start in life.
However, many of the positive developments
for international students have gone backwards
- especially now that the two-year visa is no
longer automatically granted upon graduating.

The student has to get a job first, after satisfying

the minimum salary threshold, and only then is
one given a little time to find work. From my
own experience, no Indian is going to stay on in
Britain if he or she does not get work.
On the positive side, any graduate in the
UK can expect to earn at least 20,000 pounds
a year - which is below the average salary in
the country. So in a way, when you actually get
a job, the situation is even better than before.
That is because you can now be entitled to a
three-year visa, which is extendable by up to
five-six years.
However, the absence of the term Post
Study Work Visa is off-putting to many
Indian students, who do not realise technical
terms such as Tier Two - reverting to the
old terminology would be a straightforward
way to make the current arrangements more
welcoming to Britains international students.
There is another issue, that of categorising

Orange

ashion designer Ritu Beri was Friday

bestowed the Order of Civil Merit, a
civilian award by the Spanish government here
at the Embassy of Spain.
The Delhi-born fashion mogul was
honoured the merit by Gustavo de Aristegui,
Ambassador, Embassy of Spain on behalf of the
Spanish monarch Felipe VI, and by Minister of
External Affairs Sushma Swaraj.
Beri dedicated the title to her family and
colleagues and said that in her journey as
a fashion designer, the biggest thing she has
achieved is peace of mind and happiness.
This is a great honour for me -- to get
honoured by the country that has been my
inspiration throughout. This is certainly lifes
full circle moment for me. In December this
year, Ill start my 25th year in the fashion
business and for me this honour means a lot.
The struggle, hardships, success, fun and joy
that I have had in my career has been immense,
she said at the event.
Ritu, who is a National Institute of Fashion
Technology alumnus, was earlier conferred the
Chevalier dans lOrdre des Arts et des Lettres
(Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters), one
of the highest civilian awards by the French
government, earlier in 2010.
At the Embassy of Spain Friday, Swaraj said
that India is glad about Beris achievements and
its a special and proud moment for the country.
Its a moment of joy for me because an
Indian woman is being recognised for the
extraordinary contribution in her chosen

Britain should double intake

of Indian students

Karan Bilimoria

Black

students. Do we really want to call them

immigrants? This is particularly important
in the context of signals sent out by Britain
with regard to immigration targets. The
Government wants to reduce immigration by
tens of thousands and bring down the net level
to below 100,000. The figure now is more than
200,000 people.
The crux of the problem is that we
continue to categorise international students as
immigrants. They have to be taken out of this
list to send out the signal that we dont want to
look at students as immigrants. In fact, we want
to welcome them and increase the number of
foreign students in Britain.
By all means, one must clamp down on
illegal immigration and crack down on the
bogus colleges. But Britain has more than
130 bona fide universities. We should actually
be setting a target to increase the number of
foreign students.
The Minister for Universities and Science,
Greg Clark MP, with whose delegation I visited
India earlier this month, has publicly said that
the UK is going to increase the number of
foreign students. It is the first time that I have
heard anyone from the Government say this so
publicly.
I would go further and say we want to
double the number of Indian students by 2020.
International students are one of Britains
top 10 exports. This is no philanthropy. The
economic benefit to the country is close to a
$20 billion. This is not counting the cultural
benefits to domestic students in Britain - by
their interactions with their fellow learners
from overseas, notably a nation as diverse as
India.

field. India and Spain share a strong bilateral

relationship. Both countries are rooted in their
culture and support traditional roots.
In recent years, India-Spain relations
have gained momentum through regular high
level visits. Year 2015 will mark 60 years
of diplomatic relations between the two
countries, she added.
Some of the notable international
personalities for whom Beri has designed
wardrobes are former US President Bill
Clinton, Prince Charles, Nicole Kidman and
Andie MacDowell.

Statue of Indianorigin British fighter

pilot unveiled in Kent

statue of Mahinder Singh Pujji, an Indianorigin fighter pilot who had served in
Britains Royal Air Force (RAF) during the
Second World War, was unveiled in Kent.
Pujji had died at the age of 92 in the
Gravesend town of Britains Kent county in
2010, as the longest surviving fighter pilot
from a group of 24 Indians who had arrived in
Britain in 1940, BBC reported Friday.
The statue is intended to represent all the
service personnel from across the world who
have fought for Britain in conflicts since 1914.
Members of the Pujji family attended the
unveiling in St Andrews Gardens.
Pujji, who learned to fly as a hobby in India,
began training with the RAF in the autumn of
1940.
Early the next year, he began flying
Hurricanes, protecting coastal convoys and
intercepting bombers and fighters when Adolf
Hitler ordered the bombing of London.
He survived several crashes and flew combat
missions throughout the second World War in
Britain, Europe, north Africa, the Middle East
and Burma (Myanmar) and was awarded the
Distinguished Flying Cross.
After the war, he became a champion air
race pilot in India.
Reading about him made me realise what
an amazing hero he was, said the statues
sculptor Douglas Jennings.
(Pujji) was a volunteer. It was his choice to
fight for the British and that bowls me over,
he said.
Gravesham borough councillor Tanmanjeet
Singh Dhesi said the Gravesend community,
which has one of the largest gurdwaras
in Britain, raised 70,000 pounds (around
$109,500) for the statue in a month.

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

Red

Black

FEATURE

23

From the
desk of I am Woman
Orange

From good morning to a good day

Swati Sharma

heres nothing new about women achieving

the heights of success in almost every
field. But this journey to the top is not easy and
theres a lot that goes into paving the way to
success. It is said that a thousand mile journey
starts with a single step. For every successful
journey, its the start that is important. The
one commonality amongst successful people
around the world is, the way they kick start
their mornings. It was for this reason that
we got you the perfect formula to Rise and
Shine a few weeks ago. Most successful
people including doctors, sportspersons,
presidents and business- persons around the
world cherish their mornings and dedicate the
major part of their success to their morning
routines.
When it comes to women the case is not
much different but much tougher. Women have
always been setting examples in how they
maintain their family and work life balance.
Handling their families, kids, and household
responsibilities along with the professional
pressures is no joke - and yet we multi-taskers
do this with considerable ease.
As per recent research on some top women,
suggests that they are able to handle all this
successfully because they start their day early.
Each one of them has their own rituals in
the mornings that keeps them going, through
the day. To have a great day you need to have
a great start, a great morning. In the words of
author and motivational speaker Tony Robbins,
an hour of power every morning is a must to
have a great start.
Routines help you reduce stress as when
your day is planned and managed, you exactly

know what to do and when, and hence your

efficiency and consistency is improved.
According to recent Forbes article about
top 12 women, they all heed to strict morning
routines. Being on the top in their industry,
they strictly follow their regular schedule.
They wake up at 6:00 am on average and
most of them being married and mothers have
additional responsibilities too.
If they can, then so can we. Its just that you
need to focus on what would be your priorities
for the day. Thats it and you are sorted!
Whatever comes your way, youre ready to
face.
Lets have look at the daily morning
routines (source: Forbes) of some of the top
ladies of their industry:
Noel Bailey Merz, Doctor
5:40Out of bed,a hold-over from driving
kids to 6am workouts and never changed the
habit.
5:45 Exercise and shower
6:30 Breakfast with husband
7:15 Drive to medical center,30-45 minutes
depending on traffic. Frequent conference call
with hands-free in the car. Otherwise listen
to NPR (Three stations in the LA area so I
can avoid fundraising drives as an annual
subscriber.)
C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, FACC, FAHA
is the Director, Preventive Cardiac Center,
Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute.

Leslie Hale, CFO

6:30 Wake up and express in prayer how
thankful I am to have woken up that day

Keri Glassman, Nutritionist

because someone went to sleep that night and

didnt wake up.
6:35 Mentally walk through my priorities
for the day. (family priorities,then work)
6:45 Head down to the home gym for a
workout and watch Squawk Box.
7:15 Wake the kids and give/get lots of
kisses and talk to them about what they are
going to do that day.
7:30 Get dressed while continuing to watch
Squawk Box.
8:15 Head to the office and listen to local
news on the radio.
8:30Skim the newspaper (WSJ).
8:45 Send at least two networking notes, a
follow up noteor a new connection note.
9:00 Write down the priorities for the day. I
have to get all the mental notes that have been
piling up in my mind since I woke up on paper
before I forget.
9:30 Start working on that list.

5:45/6:00 Alarm goes off.I am usually very

fast to get up and out. Go to kitchen and pour
myself large glass of water and add a lemon
wedge. Take my supplements. Turn coffee pot
on on a good morning I already put the coffee
in the night before.
Go to the computer and usually edit one or
two items. I do my best thinking in the morning
so I save these for the early morning. ThenI
move on to the kids scheduling. Did I respond
to so and sos mom that yes Maizy could play
that day, did I make sure to tell the soccer
coach that Rex had a dentist appointment?
6:45 I pour my coffee and make breakfast
and then sit by myself in my living room.
Sometimes with the Post or WSJ, sometimes
the news, sometimes my iPhone. Breakfast
could be a smoothie or ezekial toast with
cashew butter, or oatmeal with chia seeds and
almond butter.
7:00 Two sets of push ups and then I am in
the shower fast.
7:15 I wake the kids up. While kids are
getting dressed (wooohooo this is done on their
own now!) I make their breakfast and lunch. I
am down to making one lunch so it goes faster.
8:05 We walk to school to drop Maizy, then
I walk Rex to the bus.
8:15 I say, Aaahhhh and then the rest of
the day begins.
Keri Glassmanisthe founder and president
ofKeri Glassman, Nutritious Life.

Leslie Hale is the CFO of

RLJ Lodging Trust

Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi

N AT I O N A L L I S T M P

AUCKLAND OFFICE: Unit 1, 131 Kolmar Rd, Papatoetoe, Auckland

Ph: 09 278 9302 | Email: bakshi.mp@parliament.govt.nz

Postal Address: PO Box 23136, Hunters Corner, Auckland 2025

www.bakshi.co.nz

www.national.org.nz

24

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

COMMUNITY

Neighbourhood Community Safety

Ambassadors Project
A project of Shanti Niwas
Charitable Trust

hanti Niwas Charitable Trust Inc, a nonprofit organisation, has a long history of
working with socially isolated senior citizens
of Indian and South Asian origin living in the
Auckland region. Our Mission is to make
visible signs of hope, empower those whom
society has neglected, and celebrate change and
diversity.
The trust delivers positive ageing day
programme weekly for older people and once
a week for people with disabilities, Auckland
wide. We also provide counselling, advocacy,
translation services, help to access health
related practical assistance etc and help them
integrate into New Zealand society for the
betterment of the quality of life of seniors and
their families.
In the course of our work with seniors, we
have identified some issues like Isolation, stress,
culture shock, lack of knowledge of community
links, elder abuse, unable to integrate into
New Zealand culture, lack of opportunity to
participate and contribute for the betterment of
the society, lack of empowerment etc.
These issues cause feeling of depression, low
self-esteem and loss of confidence which leads
to mental and physical health problems. Also as
most of the seniors do not have the information
and knowledge of whats happening around the
community tend to get victimised easily. Many
seniors who are educated and active expressed
their interest to do more for the society and
contribute their time voluntarily. This project
was initiated to address the needs of the socially
isolated seniors and to empower them and

the communities through them. This project

address both the needs of the seniors who wants
to contribute and also target the identified needs
in the community through the Prevention First
strategy.
This is a pilot project, kick started on 24th
June to aid Prevention First strategy of NZ
Police and is being delivered in collaboration
with NZ Police - Auckland Central District,
Neighbourhood Support NZ and Onehunga
Chinese senior group. The project is being run
in the Onehunga area and has covered topics
such as shoplifting, car thefts, crime stoppers
etc.
The aim of the project is to engage the elderly
Asian people to become Safety Ambassadors,
to run effective campaigns together with the
Community Policing Team by communicating

to the public to take responsibility to keep

themselves safe which includes safety
education, crime prevention etc. Once a month
seniors are trained in a particular topic and walk
along with the police officers to disseminate the
safety information in the shopping malls and
the streets. Working alongside the police also
protects seniors from becoming victims of elder
abuse.
Please contact Shanti Niwas if you want to
volunteer for the programme.
14, Spring Street, (Beside Dolphin theatre)
Onehunga. Phone 09-622101
Email: shantiniwas@xtra.co.nz
Website www.shantiniwas.org.nz
http://www.facebook.com/snct.newzealand

Historic Move by Manukau Indian Association

Any member who has either donated an amount $100.00 or more or
have paid an amount of $100.00 or more towards future membership
fees; will be awardedpermanent Financial membership of the
Association
Please join as members of the association by:
1. Pay $100 (life financial membership) or $10 (for yearly membership)
into the account number given on the attached form
2. Scan and send the completed form (attached) to
secretary@manukauindians.org.nz
As a member you are:
1.
A part of the team that decides associations agendas and
activities
2.
Invited to various community functions and discussion forums
3.
Able to seek assistance in matters related to government of New
Zealand (e.g. immigration, social welfare, human rights etc)
4.
Able to seek assistance in matters related to government of
India (e.g. high commission services, trade, travel info etc)
5.
Can voice concerns regarding issues (e.g. law and order,
women atrocities, discrimination at work place etc)
6.
Able to get yourself and your children to participate in the
cultural programs and other social events
Most Importantly: By becoming a member, you are a part of the change
that you want to bring about.
Please join and encourage others.

Kiwis now fifth

in the world
for giving
N

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ew Zealanders can stand tall and proud to

be placed fifth in the world for giving and
for volunteer participation.
The World Giving Index 2014 measures
charitable behaviour among its people,
measuring donations of money to charities,
volunteer time and how often people helped a
stranger.
The nature of giving for kiwis has been
consistently high, and New Zealand has
moved from eighth place last year to fifth for proportion of people who volunteer time.
Volunteers are a vital part of our society, their
work is so valuable, says Vanisa Dhiru, Chief
Executive of Volunteering New Zealand.
On Tuesday 2 December, New Zealand
saw the launch of #GivingTuesday, a global
campaign to get people to work together and
improve their local communities, and to give
back in more meaningful ways during the
giving season.
Vanisa says, We want to get kiwis to think
about giving back in better and smarter ways.
Giving can be donating money, providing free
goods, or helping out in your neighbourhood.
Volunteering is integral to many clubs, societies
and charities. Lets all consider how we might
pitch in to help our local causes and groups that
are making a difference to our nation.
#GivingTuesday
is
supported
by
Philanthropy New Zealand, the Fundraising
Institute of New Zealand (FINZ), TechSoup
and Volunteering New Zealand.

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

COMMUNITY

25

Refugee women to share captivating tales of triumph at

community celebration

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cross Auckland, refugee women are

transforming their lives in enterprising
ways. Organisations and individuals are invited
to learn more about their re-settlement journeys
and how they are making great strides in their
lives through their participation in community
projects run by partner organisations, Auckland
Refugee Community Coalition (ARCC) and
Auckland Regional Migrant Services (ARMS
Trust).
The Making a Difference Friends-Raiser
takes place on 10 December, at the historic
Warnock House in Grey Lynn, starting at 7pm.
This special event being held on UN Human
Rights Day is an opportunity to become more
informed about these community partnership
projects - WISE Collective and the Safari
Multicultural Play Groups - run by the ARCC
and ARMS Trust.
More than 240 women from 12 different
countries are currently engaged in various
aspects of these projects, or have moved onto
other enterprise, training or employment
pathways.
Guests will have the chance to find out
more about the ARCC/ARMS partnership,
sample the WISE womens revered ethnic
cuisine, meet women involved in the WISE and
Safari Projects, purchase handmade blankets
and jewellery, hear more about future plans
for these projects, and find out how they can
become involved in supporting the projects.
These community projects rely on wider
community support to continue making a
difference in the lives of former refugee
families living in Auckland.

While funds help, it is being able to gather

up more supporters or friends that is really
priceless, says ARMS Chief Executive Mary
Dawson.
We welcome the skills, networks or
knowledge to contribute to the aspirations of
our former refugees who are determined to
make a success of their lives here in Auckland,
adds Abann Yor, Chair of the ARCC.
One woman who will be sharing her
incredible journey is 53-year-old EritreanSudanese Senet Abdu Mohamed. Senet fled to
Sudan from Eritrea in 1977. Living in a large
refugee camp in Sudan for 25 years, she gave
birth to seven children five girls and two boys.

When Senet and her family of seven moved

to New Zealand after spending 25 years in a
Sudanese refugee camp, they spent six weeks
at the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre
before moving into a house but they were
plagued with problems.
It was not a safe area, we were robbed
twice and the neighbours were not friendly,
she explains.
Housing New Zealand gave the family a
house in Henderson but that too was burgled.
Senet found solace at the Massey WISE
Hub, which she was introduced to by her
daughter. She says: When I arrived at the Hub,
I found the people welcoming and there were

people from different countries too.

WISE staff taught Senet how to follow New
Zealand recipes and crochet. She attended the
Food Safety Handling course and passed the
exam. Senet is now part of the WISE catering
service.
[WISE catering service] is my way of
sharing my culture. I am very happy to have
this opportunity to earn extra little income for
my family.
For Senet, the WISE Collective has given
her more than just a path to self-employment
and enterprise. I have more confidence since
coming to WISE Collective.
I noticed a difference in my memory from
crocheting a blanket, I was able to focus more.
Coming to WISE Collective Hub has also
increased my spoken English because I meet
women from different cultures so I have
to speak English. I have made friends from
different cultures.
Senet and other members of the WISE
Collective will be sharing their stories at the
Friends-Raiser.
Ticket Prices: Single: $65, Two or more:
$60 per head
All ticket sales go to the running of ARCC
and ARMS community projects.

For more information and to buy tickets,

visit: http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/2014/makingdifference/auckland

Advertise here
For just $99/- and
reach 60,000 potential
customers every week.
Contact us at
022 0151971
*Conditions apply

Two bedrooms, one bathroom,

large lounge and separate kitchen.
Located within easy walking distance to Newmarket, bus stop,
train station, supermarket and medical facilities.
Situated within the Grammar Zone and Epsom Girls Zone.
Rent $500/week includes water and power.
96 Great South Road, Epsom. Contact 021-915361

26

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

FEATURES

Up, close and personal

Bhavna Chahal, Mrs India NZ 2014, talks about her love, life and passion

Paula Ray
What made you choose to participate in
this pageant?
I had been wanting to explore something
new and different since a long time. When
I heard about Mrs India New Zealand being
organised for the very first time, it felt the
perfect opportunity.
What is the significance behind the title
Mrs India NZ?
For me this title signifies another facet of
a married woman. It is a platform for all the
married ladies to take time out for themselves
and showcase their inner woman.
The single best thing that has happened
so far?
Getting married to the love of my life is
the best thing that has happened to me and
everything else in my life is an extension of
that happiness.
The single most difficult challenge you
have faced so far?
Leaving my parents back home in India
when I moved to NZ was the hardest thing I
have ever done.
The most important lesson learned?
To be proud of my culture and my heritage.
You need to respect yourself for others to do
the same!
Who has been the biggest influence of
your life?
I know itll sound very clich but my
husband JD has been the biggest influence of

Bhavna Chahal

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my life. Whatever I have achieved so far is due

to his support.
Who is your role model?
My maternal grandmother and my dad are
my two role models - she is the definition of the
word calm and he represents strength.
Your favourite actress/ model?
I dont have a favourite actress, but I am a
diehard fan of SRK.
What do you plan to do next?
I run a Robert Harris franchise with my
hubby. It is a new project and we want it fully
settled before we think of anything new.
Tell us about that one dream that you
want to be real.
I want to visit worlds top 10 National Parks,
starting with Banff National Park, Canada.

Bring joy and celebrate life with Santa Claus

Ps Nikunj Macwan

he only month in the calendar which is

given so much importance is the month of
December. A group of Indians have dedicated
this December to celebrate Life through a
unique Christmas programme which is filled
with Indian flavours of dances, cultural items,
skits, bouncy castle, face painting and many
more
Its December, and at the mention of
it, we immediately think of Christmas,
Santa Claus and gifts. Shopping malls are
decorated colourfully, music is played softly
in the background, Christmas trees artistically
displaying the season with numerous wrapped
gifts surrounding the base.
Santa has already arrived in many stores,
enticing the customers to buy gifts to give to
loved ones. Many of us have already started
out to purchase gifts for our family and friends.
Christmas is in the air!
Christmas - a word that brings joy just at
the thought of it. What a joyous season it is!
But I wonder how many people know the true
meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate it.
Lets see if you know it.
Firstly, we think Christmas is about giving
gifts. But did you know that on the first
Christmas, God gave us the best and the most
precious gift ever. That gift was Lord Jesus
Christ Himself.
So on first Christmas, we were the recipients
of Gods gift life. How? Because we all sin and
the penalty of sin is eternal death; but Lord
Jesus Christ came into this world to take all
the sin and guilt upon Himself and to die on
the cross in place of you and me. So the most
important thing about Christmas is receiving
the gift that God gave on the first Christmas. If

<<
Pictures from 2013 Indian
Christmas in the park

you have not experienced Gods greatest gift in

your life, then you havent understood what it
is to receive the most precious life-giving gift.
You are missing out on receiving the forgiven
and everlasting life. So thats how we learnt
it from God to give gifts to others. Without
receiving that gift, we dont really know what
Christmas is all about. You will not experience
the true joy that Christmas brings, without it.
But why did God give us the gift in the
first place? Because He loves us so much, and
He knew that we were in need of the gift of
forgiveness of sin.
Christmas is a festival of joy because God
became man and dwelt in the midst of us and
gave us a hope for forgiveness of our sins. But
for God, He knew that He is coming down to
this earth to die on the cross for us. He knew
that He is leaving behind all the glory and
honour and power; all the worship and praise
of millions of angels and becoming a human

being where He will have to be dependent upon

another human being when he would take birth.
He knew that He will be insulted, spat upon,
beaten, whipped, nailed to the cross, pierced in
his side and killed.
But He still chose Christmas. And we
celebrate because there is absolutely no other
way for forgiveness of our sins. Thats why we
call the day when Jesus Christ was crucified
Good Friday. So when I say God gave us a
gift, we need to understand that gift is always
free but it cost Him everything, His very life.
Its free to us but its priceless. We could never
pay for it. He came to give us life.
This Christmas, Aucklands Mercy Gates
Christian Fellowship has chosen the theme
of Celebrating Life for this years outdoor
event at Sandringham Reserve which will be
on Saturday, 13th December from 11am to
4pm. As part of programme, there will be carol
singing, dances, skits; and bouncy castle and

face painting for children. Last years event was

action packed and children loved the activities
very much. With the addition of bouncy castle,
this year children are going to have even more
fun. We are going to celebrate the greatest Life
of Lord Jesus Christ and the eternal life that we
have received in Him.
The Bible records that when Jesus Christ
was born, wise men from far away came
looking for Him because they knew from the
Scripture that He was no ordinary child. They
came to Bethlehem looking for Him and when
they found Him, they bowed before Him and
worshipped Him.
They brought with them expensive gifts to
give Him. Today, the wise men still search Him
out because they know that the greatest treasure
any one could ever find is in Him.
So as you celebrate Christmas this year,
giving precious gifts to your loved ones, may
I encourage you to take a moment, to consider,
then accept the greatest gift ever that God is
offering to you, Eternal life through the Lord
Jesus Christ Himself.
For event details, see WhatsOn page

FEATURES

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

WEEK TWOBlack

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27

ggers

PARK

NZ Fashion Tech students, on a five-week exchange study

programme, blog from Sathyamangalam, in Tamil Nadu

NZ Fashion
Tech your best
opportunity for
a great fashion
career

Tori Green
Carrying on from the week before we were
lucky enough to visit the knitting and printing/
dyeing factories. After visiting these places it
makes you think a lot more about your whole
wardrobe and how things were printed and
knitted... or maybe thats just me.
Once seeing the dyeing process we had the
opportunity to dye and screen print out own
fabrics, we also had a mind twisting lesson
where we learnt about the chemical reactions
that occur during the dyeing process. After not
having done chemistry for quite some time it
was a surprisingly fun and testing exercise.
This week we were also treated to two days
in a yoga centre (the Temple of Consciousness),
we arrived late on Wednesday and didnt realise
how amazing it was till morning. The stunning
grounds are nestled beneath huge mountains,
and there were monkeys everywhere. Just
down the road from the centre are the monkey
falls which we visited both days. On the second
day though, myself, two other students and the
faculty members showered under the waterfall.
On Saturday we had a half-day rest and then
headed to the Sathyamangalam dam which
stretches 14km from mountain to mountain,
with 99% of it being made from mud. We
climbed to the top and as you could imagine
the views were beautiful. On Sunday, we had
an early start and travelled to Ooty, we scaled
the mountains dodging monkeys and busses
the whole way up and when we reached the top
it was covered in tea plantations and brightly
coloured homes, definitely my favourite place
in India so far. When I first started my journey
at NZFT, never in my wildest dreams did I think
that it would lead me to this stunning country
yet here I am.

Natalie Masters
The second week of our Indian adventure
has flown by in a flash. On Thursday nightwe
endured a 4 hour bus ride to a blissful place
called Aliyah. In Aliyah lies the Temple of
Consiousousnss which in other words is a
meditation and yoga retreat. Early the next
morning, we got shown around the beautiful
green grounds and then during breakfast of
curry and rice, we were pleasantly surprised to
see a cheeky monkey on the roof of a nearby
building.Next thing we knew there were
monkeys everywhere!
After breakfast we started our first
meditation and yoga class. I found the
meditation quite difficult as Im not used to
sitting up so straight (need to stop slouching)

and whilst concentrating on not thinking I

would find myself daydreaming about different
types of food from NZ that I was missing.
The next day we visited monkey falls which
is the most beautiful waterfall surrounded in
forest area and monkeys. A few of us decided to
bathe under the waterfall, it felt wonderful and
exhilarating. I felt so refreshed and clean for
hours afterwards.

Jimmie Mackay
As we travelled to the beautiful mountaintop town of Ooty, we were mesmerized by the
brightly-coloured homes darted around the hilly
landscape. The beautiful town offered an array
of fun activities such as boating, horse riding,
shopping and great food making it apopular
destination for tourist.
After briefly seeing the town we adventured
via van to the tranquil Pykara falls, a short 20
minutes drive from Ooty township. The falls
were peacefully located in the countryside and
although not large in scale the atmosphere was
calm and relaxing.The locals offered us treats
like barbecued corn and home-made chocolates
which were popular amongst us all.
On our way back to Ooty, we stopped by the
botanical gardens, a historical spot for locals
which was littered with people picnicking and
playing sports in the afternoon glow.
Nested above the gardens we visited the Toda
tribe, a small tribe of native people who spoke
the today language (an ancient language not
written or spoken by many). The tribeswomen
hand embroidered shawls, bags and other cloth
works using traditional methods. On sendoff the women performed a tradition dance in
which they danced in circular motion whilst
chanting blessings.

70%

of New Zealands
fashion industry
employ
ONLY our
graduates*
* See our website for stats

NZ Fashion Tech

AUCKLAND CBD
MANUKAU CBD | WELLINGTON CBD
NZQA registered and accredited - Certificates & Diploma

28

ENTERTAINMENT

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

New DDLJ trailer

celebrates 1,000
weeks of film

omantic drama Dilwale Dulhania Le

Jayenge(DDLJ), a film that redefined
romance in Indian cinema, is completing 1,000
weeks Dec 12. A slew of activities is being
planned for the day, but for now a special trailer
has been launched.
Shah Rukh Khan, who played Raj Malhotra
in the film, took to Twitter to announce the
launch of the new trailer.
My favourite line in a film ever... Nahin
main nahi aaoonga.... DDLJ (ver 2.0 trailer
reloaded)...I am so happy, he tweeted.
A statement from the movies production
banner Yash Raj Films (YRF) read: Starting
Dec 12, 2014, YRF is looking at a slew of
activities to commemorate the completion of
1,000 weeks of DDLJs uninterrupted run at the
box office.
The film released Oct 20, 1995, and ever
since has been playing out in the iconic Maratha
Mandir, making it the longest running film in
the history of Indian cinema.
It marked filmmaker Yash Chopras son
Aditya Chopras directorial debut and featured
SRK, Kajol, Amrish Puri, Farida Jalal and
Anupam Kher in key roles.
As part of the celebrations, SRK and Kajol,
who were last seen together in My Name Is
Khan, will appear on the television show
Comedy Nights With Kapil to celebrate the
occasion.
The film won 10 Filmfare Awards, including
Best Film, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best
Director at the 1996 edition of the ceremony.

Priyanka Chopra,
RedFreida Pinto
Black comeOrange
together for girls
education

Practice for PK did not

help Aamir

or actor Aamir Khan, who is known to

put in his best to make his character look
convincing, rehearsing for the role of his
upcoming movie PK did not help.
The actor says most of the scenes turned
out to be different from what he had thought
and prepared for.
This happened for the first time in my
career. There were many points when I used
to rehearse something and a whole different
thing happened when the camera started
rolling, Aamir said. The actor with the Mr.
Perfectionist tag says he liked the change.
Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, PK also
stars Anushka Sharma, Sushant Singh Rajput
and is slated to release Dec 19.
The movie details are shrouded in secrecy,

which is one of the main reasons behind the

built-up curiosity for the movie.
There were also reports of Aamir asking
Hirani to edit Anushka and Sushants scenes
after the success of Dhoom: 3.
Refuting these reports, the actor said: I have
given several hits in my career and Dhoom: 3
was not my first hit. So all this is untrue.
The actor was amused by all the hype and
rumours surrounding the film.
We dont want the rumours to die down.
Instead, people should keep on anticipating
about the film, the 49-year-old actor said.
A major part of the movie was shot in Delhi,
and the actor says he had fun shooting in Delhi
and gorging in the delicious food of the capital,
especially at Karims.

Films that relived Bhopals industrial

catastrophe
A

t least 3,000 people were killed on the

night of Dec 2-3, 1984, after poisonous
gas leaked from the Union Carbide pesticide
plant in Bhopal.
The incident has inspired quite a few
filmmakers and as the disaster is marching
towards its 30th anniversary, we list the movies
made on one of the worlds worst industrial
disasters on the big screen:
Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain: Directed by
Ravi Kumar, the film will release in India Dec
5. It had released Nov 7 in one theatre in New
York and the film was sold out on the opening
night.
It also opened in Los Angles Nov 14 plus
additional US cities throughout the month.
Hollywood star Martin Sheen, Mischa Barton,
Indian American actor Kal Penn and Bollywood
actors Raajpal Yadav and Tannishtha Chatterjee
feature in the film, which focusses on the
events leading up to the industrial disaster as
it intersects with the life of rickshaw puller
Dilip (played by Raajpal), who gets a job at the
Union Carbide plant.
Bhopal Express: The 1999 film directed
by Mahesh Mathai, is a powerful drama about
a newlywed couple whose lives are changed
during the lethal gas tragedy in Bhopal. The
movie has an impressive line of actors like
Kay Kay Menon, Naseeruddin Shah, Nethra

Raghuraman and Zeenat Aman.

One Night in Bhopal: Far from fiction,
the film tells the story of the tragedy through
the eyes of those who experienced it. The 2004
BBC documentary shows the sequence of
events that led to the disaster and horror and
terror in the early hours of Dec 3, 1984.
Bhopali: If the filmmakers took
inspiration from the events leading to the
tragedy, there were those who focussed on
the lives of victims too. Van Maximilian
Carlson is one such director who, through his
documentary Bhopali, presented the story of
the survivors of the industrial disaster. It shows
their suffering and their fight for justice against
Union Carbide, the American corporation
responsible for the catastrophe. The 2011 film
is a modern portrait of shattered lives in the
community surrounding the abandoned Union
Carbide factory.

Sambhavna: Four years back, Joseph

Malone had made a documentary about the
disaster that still haunts many even today. It
also shows Dow Chemicals responsibilities
to the people of Bhopal. It also focussed on
the Sambhavna Clinic, which provides free
healthcare to victims of the incident and to those
who were affected by water contamination,
caused by the fact that the site of the disaster
has still not been cleaned up.
The Yes Men Fix The World: The political
documentary was co-directed, co-written and
co-produced by Andy Bichlbaum and Mike
Bonanno. The duo even starred in the 2009
film, dedicated to the ongoing struggle of the
people of Bhopal. Also co-directed by Kurt
Engfehr, critics described it as outrageously
entertaining, almost too good to be a film
and comedic vigilante justice.

tory telling is one of the most important

mediums to evoke a sense of responsibility
towards the society. Keeping this thought in
mind, Girl Rising, a global campaign for girls
education, is set to engage kids through films.
The intiative made its entry in New Delhi,
India last week.

The campaign encompasses storytelling to

spread awareness of things girls can achieve if
educated. To grab eyeballs, the campaign has
roped in actresses Freida Pinto and Priyanka
Chopra, who enjoys wide global fan base.
We choose them as they are great
performers, are passionate about the issue
and platform and lastly when you have an
issue like girls education it is important to
have visible icons to carry the message, cofounder and CEO Holly Gordon told media.
The campaign in India would be focused
on getting more girls past Class 10, increasing
secondary school completion rates for girls
and reducing gender-based discrimination in
India. The program includes film narrated by
Priyanka, Freida and seven other Bollywood
names, a mass media campaign and an
aggressive grassroots campaign.
The best thing it is universal in nature. It
is not like the problem is only in India-- yes
there is-- but it is a problem in other nations
as well. It just took one phone call from me
to other actress associated with the project
for them to come on board. It proves another
point as well that female actress gets along
said Priyanka.
Frieda play an oppressed girl in Trishna,
which is set to release in India in January
2015. The actress says the role helped her
reinforce her belief in the cause.
I always felt that it was calling in this
area but the project made it more clearer. A
part of my job is to research, for the role I met
a lot of people, I went to several villages in
Rajasthan. The things I saw is beyond your
imagination.
Girls getting married at the age of 13 and
getting pregnant at 15... I mean you hardly get
your period at that age. It opened doors for
me, said the Slumdog Millionaire actress.
United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) has provided start-up
funding for Girl Rising: ENGAGE INDIA
(Empowering New Generations to Advance
Girls Education), to bring Girl Rising to
India.
As Indian sensibilities are different,
the campaign has been tweaked a little bit.
The film highlights the stories of nine girls,
striving against difficult circumstance to
achieve their dreams.
The campaign will be partner-led. Our
partner will tell what will work in India and
how to go about it, Holly said.
The official announcement was made at
an event held in American Center, hosted
by Charg dAffaires Ambassador Kathleen
Stephens later in the evening.

ENTERTAINMENT

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

Bollywoods immortal bad

girls revisited in exhibition

Red

Black

Orange

Paul has been collecting these posters for

over two decades from
various
dealers
s p r e a d
across
the
length
and
breath
of
India. Calling
it
antique
hunting
she
admitted
it
never
crossed
her mind that
she would collect
more than 300
posters in the
process.
One look at the
exhibition
would
take lovers of pulp
fiction down memory
lane, with posters
from some forgettable
films like Masterji,
Geeta Mera Naam
and Daku Rani Himmatwali making
the cut.
But what links these films with other
popular movies like Yudh and Laila Majnu
are women who have played the roles of vamp
and seductresses in the movies, taken to guns
and hunters and subdued their sexuality or
overplayed it.
Along with the exhibition, a few horror
films from Pakistan will also be screened.
The exhibition ends Dec 8.

ICC0013

emember Sridevi in
a tight leather suit,
carrying a hunter in her
hand in Himmatwala?
Or the fearless actress
and stunt woman Nadia
in
Hunterwali?
An
exhibition
of
film
memorabilia in New
Delhi is celebrating the
immortal era of these
screen
seductresses,
vamps
and
antiheroines.
Around 30 posters
of several Bollywood
films that go back to
1945 are mounted in
an exhibition, The
Other Woman, at
Khoj Studios that
was launched last
week Thursday.
The posters are
from the personal collection of
Priya Paul, chairperson of Apeejay Surrendra
Park Hotels, who is an ardent art collector and
design aficionado.
I used to collect oleographs from calenders
and advertising material. When I saw these
posters I realised how fragile they were and my
first instinct was to salvage them, Paul told
media.
While expanding my collection, I looked
for images with strong graphic quality that
juxtaposed tradition with modernity, she
added.

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Liars Dice is Indias entry for Oscar

ational Award winning Hindi film

Liars Dice, starring acclaimed actors
Geetanjali Thapa and Nawazuddin Siddiqui,
is Indias entry for the best foreign film
category at the 87th Academy Awards.
The film has been chosen by a 12-member
jury appointed by the Film Federation of
India (FFI), and out of a record number of 30
shortlisted films.
Liars Dice is the chosen film as Indias
Oscar entry this time, FFI general secretary
Supran Sen told media.
The last time we had a record number
was 25 films way back in 2001, Sen added.
The movie, debut directed by Malayalam
actress Geetu Mohandas, tells the story

29

of a young tribal mother who, along with

her three-year-old daughter, embarks on a
journey in search of her missing husband.
On the way, she meets an army deserter
who decides to accompany them to their
destination.
Liars Dice won the best cinematography
honour for Rajeev Ravi and best actress title
for Geetanjali at the 61st National Film
Awards.
It has also travelled to film festivals across
the globe. Its world premiere was held at the
Mumbai Film Festival last year and it was
later screened at Sudance Film Festival as
well as at the International Film Festival
Rotterdam.

30

EVENTS

WHATSOn

Jagad Guru Speaks

Date and Time: Thursdays at 8:30pm

and Sundays at 11:30am
Venue: Face TV (Sky 083)
For thought provoking and uplifting insights
into who you are and your purpose in
life, tune into Jagad Guru Speaks. Jagad
Guru Chris Butler is a direct disciple of His
Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
and a paramahamsa in a line of great
Vaisnava acharyas. He communicates
the message of spiritual love and wisdom
worldwide, speaking the Eternal Truths of
sanatanadharma. He encourages us to
follow the core principles of Bhakti and
Karma yoga, seeking shelter in Bhagavan
and the Transcendental Yoga Sound. The
Truth shared by Jagad Guru is your key
to inner peace and happiness. For more
information, call 0800 TVSHOW or visit
www.meditationnewzealand.co.nz

Join the Free family

event Celebrating Life

Date: Saturday 13 December 2014

Time: 11am to 4pm
Venue: Sandringham Reserve, Opposite
Paradise Restaurant, Auckland.
There will be carol singing, dances, skits;
and bouncy castle and face painting for
children. Last years event was action
packed and children loved the activities
very much. We are going to celebrate the
greatest Life of Lord Jesus Christ and the
eternal life that we have received in Him.
For more information about the event
contact Nevil on 0212352713 or go to
www.mercygates.co.nz

Future Maestros

Date: Sat 13 Dec 2014 - 6pm onwards

Venue: Ellerslie War Memorial Hall, 138
Main Highway Ellerslie, Auckland.
Rhythm school of Indian Music proudly
presents an evening of Indian classical
music with the students of Rhythm School
of Indian Music. Entry ticket: $10, free
dinner. For tickets and other inquiries,
contact Manjit Singh: 09-3905941,
021595941 or email: rythmschool@live.
com. www.rhythmschool.co.nz

Fiji Tanoa Festival

Date: Sunday 7 December 2014

Time: 12 pm to 8 pm
Venue: Vodafone Events Center,
Manukau
Free entry, free face painting, free bouncy
castles, free kids rides, free entertainment,
Fijian meke etc. Miss Tanoa pagent, Mrs
Tanoa Pageant and Bula Fashion Parade
will also be hosted. For more information,
contact: 09 2820831/ 021393760.

Christmas Parades,
Carols and Festivals

Get into the festive spirit by taking part in

these local events to celebrate Christmas.
Following are a few event that you can join
this weekend.

Coca-Cola Christmas in
the Park

This year, Coca-Cola Christmas in the

Park is celebrating 21 years and proudly

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

Red

supporting Youthline - developing and

supporting young people across New
Zealand.
Date & Time: Saturday 13 December,
7.30pm
Venue: Auckland Domain
Cost: Free

Browns Bay Christmas

Parade

Date & Time: Sat 6 December, 4pm-5pm

Parade route: Bute Road, Clyde Road,
Anzac Road, Glen Road
Contact: Call Sally Cargill on 021 137 3385
or email ecbcp@xtra.co.nz

Helensville Christmas
Parade

Date & Time: Sat 6 Dec, 12.30pm-2pm

Parade route: Commercial Road in
Helensville
Contact: Call Mike ONeill on 021 023
10263 or emailmichael.oneill@internet.
co.nz

Birkenhead Rotary
Christmas Parade

Date & Time: Sun 7 December, noon-1pm

Parade route: Starting at Nell Fisher
Reserve on Rawene Road, Birkenhead
Ave, Highbury Bypass, Mokoia Road, then
finishing on Rawene Road
Contact: Call Gordon Houghton on 027
674 9717 or email g.houghton@xtra.co.nz

Carols by Candelight and

Black

Orange

Movie Glenfield

Date & Time: Sat 13 Dec, 7pm-11pm

Venue: Marlborough Park, Glenfield
Contact: Call Michelle Whiu on
027 315 1293 or emailmichelle@
bngcommunitytrust.org.nz

Takapuna Christmas
Festival

Date & Time: Thu 11 December, 4.30pm11pm

Venue: Hurstmere Road, Takapuna
(between Anzac Street and Lake Road)
Contact: Call Anna Wishart on 021
0376 720 or emailanna.wishart@
takapunabeach.co.nz
Other Information: Nighttime Christmas
festival featuring stalls, rides, food, music
and a movie

Otahuhu Santa Parade

Date & Time: Sat 6 December, 11amnoon

Parade route: Great South Road
Contact: Call Hellen Park on 027 453
8344 or emailhellen@otahuhumainstreet.
co.nz

Beachlands Christmas
Parade

Date & Time: Sat 6 December, 1pm-2pm

Parade route: Beachlands Road, Wakelin
Road, Faling Crescent
Contact: Call Jenny Carter on 021 660 212
or 09 536 6122 or emailjenny@logcabin.
org.nz

www.iwk.co.nz
5 December 2014

Red

Black

EVENTS

Orange

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31

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PM John Key congratulating Ajay Kumar & Aseem

Ajay Kumar thanking Customers in

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(Below) AIA CEO with the GFS team

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