Indian Weekender 9 September 2016

9SEP2016
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30/08/2016 11:35:14 a.m.
NEW ZEALAND
www.iwk.co.nz | 9 September 2016
NEW ZEALAND
Duped students demand fair

treatment
Swati Sharma
About
50 students
and members
of migrant
associations took
part in a protest
last weekend
against the
governments
decision.
ore than 150 Indian

students are demanding
justice after being told
they would be deported later
this month.
This follows claims that agents
who processed the students
papers to study legally in New
Zealand had falsified documents
without the knowledge of
the students.
Immigration New Zealand
(INZ) has issued deportation
liability notices (DLN) to 41
Indian students in relation to a
range of issues includingincorrect
information
in
their
visa
applications or for subsequent
issues
including
crimes
committed in New Zealand.
Responding to our query about
how the students were able to
obatain the visa in the first place,
INZ said, In the last financial
year, INZ has processed 35,171
Indian
student
applications
with 20,000 approved, but it
Sunny Singh (centre), one of the organisers of the protest at Mt Roskill, with the students
should be stressed that the very

nature of fraud is to try to avoid
detection. Fraudsters are cunning
in their tactics and increasingly
sophisticated in their techniques.
The new procedures put in place
by INZ since the fraud was
uncovered and the deportation
liability notices served, shows
just how seriously INZ take such
offences. About 50 students and

members of migrant associations
took part in a protest last
weekend
against
the
governments decision.
The protesters marched from
Stoddard Rd Health Centre
to National MP Dr Parmjeet
Parmars offices in Mt Roskill.
Parmars office was locked,
and she did not show up at

the gathering.
The protestors are disappointed
that none of the National MPs
have come forward to help or
support the students.
Indian
Weekender
spoke
to eight students and protest
organisers Anu Kaloti from Indian
Migrant Workers Association and
Sunny Singh, a former student,

to know more about their side of
the story.
Singh said although they
approached
the
community
organisations,
gurudwaras
and
temples
to
come
forward
and
stand
with
the students, no one had
come forward.
The common perception even
in our community is that Oh! He
Continued on page 4
NEW ZEALAND
9 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz
Continued from page 3
is an Indian. He must have done

something wrong. But they need
to understand that these students
are the victims here, Singh said.
The students received the
deportation notice in May this
year. However, they did not tell
anything to anybody because they
didnt know who to approach
and share this with.
Kaloti said that when Indian
Migrant Workers Association
found out about the issue, they
approached these students as
nobody else was supporting them.
We can only help those who
want to be helped, she said.
Most of the students, who
are about to be deported,
have spent their parents life
earnings towards their study in
New Zealand.
Anu Kaloti (left) and Sunny Singh

(right), the organisers of the protest
The students, who hail from the

Hyderabad state in India, claimed
that they had been cheated by
immigration agents in India.
When asked about why they did
not do their own research while
applying for a visa, the students
said that they thought the agents
were far more experienced than
them in such matters.
students responsible for the fraud

documents, INZ told Indian
Weekender, all students, as
part of their application, must
personally make a declaration
that states that the information
provided in their application is
both true and correct, regardless
of
using
an
Immigration
Adviseror student agent. As
with all visa applications, the
responsibility is on the applicant
to ensure they provide genuine
and accurate information as part
of their visa application to INZ.
When you visit their office and

see their achievements on the
notice board, how many people
have had their applications
successful through them, you
tend to believe that this man
surely knows his job, said Hafiz
Sayed, one of the students who
might face deportation. Holding
Sunil Chinta, a student at AWI

International Education Group,
said when he was signing the
document, the amount mentioned
in the loan disbursal letter was Rs
15 (NZ$30), whereas when he
received the document from INZ
saying that it was a fake one, he
was surprised to see the amount
I dont have an account in the

bank but I have taken a loan from
them! How is that possible?
said Chinta.
students are in a state of trauma

as they feel that, if deported, they
will be labelled as criminals by the
society, back home.
Ram, a student from New

Zealand Institute of Studies
(NZIoS), and Shujath from NZSE
pointed out that it is not possible
for the students to produce a fake
financial document such as loan
disbursement letter even in India.
We are the victims, not

offenders. We have come here to
study, not to commit some sort
of crime.
Where would we get the stamp

from? Even if we get it, how
can we get the signatures of the
bank manager on the paper? It
isnt possible for us to do that!
said Ram.
They
(colleges) have
backed off
completely. As per
the law, they must
abide by the duty of
care, but they just
left the students
to deal with this
situation on their
own saying that
its your problem,
we have nothing do
with it.
altered to Rs 1,500,000 (approx
NZ$31,000).
He added that he doesnt even
have an account in the bank
mentioned in the document.
Blaming the agents back home

and INZ, the students expressed
their dissatisfaction over the way
New Zealand authorities have
handled the situation.
They (immigration officers)
never established a direct contact
with us, neither did the colleges.
Why is it that after almost a year,
they realised that the document
was fake? We realise now that
the agents only cared about their
commission and colleges also
cared only about the fees, said
Dilnawaz, another student.
Pointing out the irresponsible
attitude of the colleges, Kaloti
said, They (colleges) have backed
off completely. As per the law,
they must abide by the duty of
care, but they just left the students
to deal with this situation on their
own saying that its your problem,
we have nothing do with it. The
Many students have already

returned to India, as they did not
want to be defamed and get into
any more trouble.
While some of the students
were ready to go back to India if
their fees was returned, others
were adamant on staying in New
Zealand saying that they have
spent a whole year and a lot of
money. If we go back, everyone
will look at us as some sort of
criminals. We wont be able to
make a good future for [ourselves]
even in India.
Can they (government) return
an entire year of my life? If
they can, I will go back, said a
devastated Ram.
Sayed says that even if the
government agrees to return the
fees, it still wont make things
better for him as he has completed
his studies. Now when I want the
job search visa, they have pointed
out that a document in my
application was fake. I came here
so that I could study and explore
job opportunities. But now I will
be sent back with the deportation
stamp that would make it very
difficult for me if I want to go to
any other country in the future.
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What the Indian leaders

have to say
NEW ZEALAND
Indian Weekender contacted the Indian

High Commissioner Sanjiv Kohli and
Kiwi-Indian MPs Kanwaljit Bakshi, Dr
Parmjeet Parmar, and Mahesh Bindra
to ask what they were doing to help
the students.
Kohli said that although the students had
not yet approached the high commissions,
we have, on our own, taken up both
matters concerning students at IANZ as
well as those facing possible deportation
with the concerned authorities. Our effort
is to safeguard the interests of our students
to the extent possible.
I believe the tendency to attribute blame
to one party or another is not the solution.
I do believe that there have been certain
acts of omission and commission on the part
of each stakeholder-students, institutions,
agents, immigration, and education
agencies. Under such circumstances, it is
more of a case of systematic deficiencies
where the necessary scrutiny and oversight
procedures were not sufficient to manage
the numbers involved.
It is now important for both sides to find
appropriate solutions through collective
application of mind rather than take knee
jerk reactions.
It does not sound fair if the consequences
of the failure of the system are transferred
to just one constituency, which also
happens to be the most vulnerable and
stands to lose the most.
Kohli said that situations such as
these could have a strong impact on the
India-New Zealand relationship. In
the long-term interests of this aspect of
our engagement, solutions need to be
Indian High Commissioner Sanjiv Kohli
We have, on our
own, taken up both
matters concerning
students at IANZ as
well as those facing
possible deportation
with the concerned
authorities.Our effort
is to safeguard the
interests of our students
to the extent possible.
found in an atmosphere of goodwill. I
am afraid deportations do not create the
right atmospherics.
He assured that he was making efforts
to ensure that the Indian students
rights were not exploited and they were
treated fairly.
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get the qualifications. And it would be

pretty tough if they were to become the
victims of the injusticelose their money,
lose their opportunity, go home in shame
and have their dreams shattered. I think
the government needs to act fairly, and
it also has to be seen to act fairly because
otherwise the $3 billion international
education industry of New Zealand could
be damaged; the reputation of that system
could be damaged.
My submission has been to allow these

students to complete their education and to
let them stay as per terms of visas granted
to them.The lessons learnt from the
investigations are helpful in setting in place
necessary safeguards but seem harsh and
unfair if applied with retrospective effect.I
am confident that our relationship has the
maturity to deal with such challenges.
Although National MPs Bakshi and
Parmar did not mention anything about
what they were doing to make sure the
students get justice, if they were not
involved in the fraud, they assured that
the government is taking necessary
steps to make sure that the cases are
being investigated.
Sunny Kaushal, Indian community leader
National MP Dr Parmjeet Parmar
Denise Roche, Green Party MP
of behaviour has taken place then action

will need to be taken, Bakshi said.
These students have fallen prey to

scammers taking advantage of New
Zealands poor visa oversight systems.
Its not their fault that Immigration New
Zealands systems did not do due diligence
on visa applications by third parties.
Dr Parmar said that while these cases are

being worked through, the government
makes no apologies for holding people to
account if they have obtained their student
visa fraudulently.
Immigration New Zealand has worked
hard to prevent this (fraudulent visa
applications)this year 38% of applications
were turned down and more resources
have been increased in their Mumbai office
to ensure the integrity of applications,
she says.
National MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi
There have been a number of cases

where fraudulent documentation have been
submitted. It is unfortunate that all of the
main English language education countries
have experienced some fraud issues in
India, including the United Kingdom,
the United States, Canada and Australia.
Although, this government takes a zero
tolerance approach to fraud and if that sort
Views of other political and

community leaders
Denise Roche, Green Party MP,
Spokesperson for immigration
Indian students facing deportation from

New Zealand are victims of fraud, and the
government should allow them to stay.
Punishing students whose families have
invested tens of thousands of dollars in
their education is completely unfair.
The government needs to step up and

take responsibility for its mistakes by
improving oversight of the system and
offering better protection for students who
are scammed by overseas agents.
Steven Joyce wants to increase
international education in this country
by another $2 billion dollars, but his
government is failing in its duty of care to
students who are already here.
If the government is truly interested
in students learning and not just in their
tuition fees, they need to cancel this
deportation order and allow these students
to complete their education.
Phil Goff, MP for Mt Roskill
Labour Spokesperson for
Ethnic communities
29 SHAKESPEARE ROAD, MILFORD, AUCKLAND
Phil Goff, MP for Mt Roskill
I have written to the minister of

immigration on behalf of the 41 students,
and have suggested that he should consider
more sympathetic response, provided there
is no suggestion of fraud or dishonesty on
the part of the students.
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These students are not asking for a

residency or asylum in New Zealand.
What they are asking is to let them
complete their studies in New Zealand.
They are contributing to New Zealand
economy... They are here to study; they are
not criminals.
The Indian community in New Zealand
was expecting a better response and resolve
from Minister Steven Joyce on this issue
to stop the exploitation of international
students, but asking them to leave the
country in middle of their studies without
refunding their fees is not fair.
We New Zealanders are known globally
to champion Human Rights and fairness.
THE INDUSTRIAL LONE WOLF OF MILFORD
Sunny Kaushal, Indian community leader
I understand from their (students)

lawyer that they could not reasonably
have known that the documents had
been falsified.
On the general issue, I think for the
agents that were involved for institutions
such as the IANZ and students who
deliberately engaged in fraudulent activity,
there should be strong sanctions.
The students have paid good money
to get qualifications and places, and if
the integrity of the education system is
undermined, then you damage everybody.
So the governments responsibility is
to uphold the integrity of the education
system and those that are working within it,
including the agents.
And I think that the minster, where
warranted, could use his discretion and a
more understanding approach to prevent
some of those students that have paid out,
for them what is a fortune, for the fees to
We would like to see these students be

given [a fair treatment]. If the government
can soften rules to allow hundreds of Chinese
students in July 2012 facing deportation on
similar fraud in China and then [more than]
a thousand duped Filipino workers caught
in an immigration scam be given amnesty
to live in NZ, there is no reason why these
students cant be allowed to complete their
studies against the fees they paid in full.
The government must introduce a strong
code of conduct for all stakeholders and
take action against the nexus of fraudulent
immigration
agents
and
involved
education providers.
INZ issued deportation liability

notices (DLN) for 41 Indian student
nationals for providing fake
loan disbursement document
in their visa applications and for
subsequent issues including crimes
committed in New Zealand.
Once aDLN has been issued, the
holder of the visa has14 days to
ask for a review of the DLN by an
independent compliance officer
and 28 days to appeal to the
Immigration and Protection
Tribunal against deportation on
humanitarian grounds.
Since the set up of the new
procedures to identify fraud in July
this year, INZ has identified a total
of 158 cases that used loan fraud
between March 7 and August 31,
2016 and 290 cases with other types
of fraud.
NEW ZEALAND
Call to share your

stories about racism
T
IWK Bureau
hats Us, New Zealands first

nationwide, anti-racism campaign,
encourages Kiwis to share their
stories
about
racism,
intolerance,
and hatred, and their hopes for
the future.
Race Relations Commissioner Dame
Susan Devoy says that through the campaign
started by NZ Human Rights
Commission on September
2, they hope that by
raising the voices of
those who face racial
intolerance, other
New
Zealanders
will take the time
to
listen
and
address the issue.
Many people
dont think racial
intolerance
or
racism is a problem,
often because they
do not experience it
themselves, says Devoy.
We suspect many of us dont
realise when something we say is unfair or
biased, but we would if someone pointed it
out to us. Devoy adds that New Zealand
always had a problem with racial intolerance
but what has changed in the past couple
of years is that the country has grown to
become incredibly diverse in less than a
generation. Racial intolerance is on the rise
VOTE
LOCAL
overseas and closer to home. Weve become

very diverse in a short period of time. While
overt racism is not widespread yet, we are
confident New Zealanders are ready to take
part in meaningful conversations that will
talk about the realities of racism and what
each of us can do about it.
Although 400 formal complaints are
received every year, Dame says that there
are many others who have casual or
quiet racist encounters.
We
know
the
overwhelming majority
of
people
never
complain
or
go
public when a car
drives past and the
people in it scream
a racist obscenity
; when the woman
registering students
at university smiles
at every other student
but the brown ones; or
your son is called racist
names as he runs down the
rugby field.
She hopes that the campaign provides a

platform for people to share such stories
with other New Zealanders.
Our national identity isnt just about
a flag. Our national identity is about who
we are as people and how we treat each
other on our streets, on our rugby fields, in
our communities.
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NEW ZEALAND
SOUTH LINE
News-in-brief
from South Island
Islam Awareness
Week ends with
Mosque Open Day
Gaurav Sharma
s
part
of
the
nation-wide
Islam
Awareness Week, the
Masjid Al-Noor of Christchurch
organised
a
Mosque
Open Day during the last
weekend of August.
The Bhutanese Society of Christchurch (BSC), which organised the Teej festival on September 3, had also organised the first-ever Bhutanese Nite (Bhutani Sanjh) in
Christchurch recently. Held at Elmwood School Auditorium, the event was attended by more than 300 Bhutanese living in the Garden City | Picture courtesy: BSC
NEPALESE AND BHUTANESE
COMMUNITY CELEBRATE TEEJ

Gaurav Sharma
he Nepalese and the

Bhutanese community of
Christchurch got together
last weekend (September 23)
to celebrate the Hindu festival
of Teej.
Bishnu Pokhrel, President of

Canterbury Nepalese society
informed, Teej is the most
awaited festival for our ladies
during which we dance all
night long on typical Teej songs
and have delicious daara
Nepalese delicacy.
It signifies the advent of
monsoon when ladies pray to
goddess Parvati for the long life
of their husbands. Almost 200
people attended the Hartalika
Teej celebrations 2073 this
year. Akash Drupka, President
Imam Gamal of the Masjid,

who is from Egypt but has
been in New Zealand for more
than a decade now, noted, Our
goal is to present a unique and
intimate look at Islam and the
Muslim community in New
Zealand during this week to the
wider community.
It is an opportunity for
Muslims to dispel common
misconceptions
in
society
as well as a way to celebrate
their own uniqueness and
contributions to the country.
During the Open Day, the
attendees were given a guided
tour of the mosque, followed
by an informative speech by
the Imam, which ended with a
question and answer session.
The Canterbury Nepalese Society (CNS) organised its annual Hindu festival of Teej Sanjha 2073 on September 2, which was
attended by more than 200 Nepalese families living in Christchurch | Picture courtesy: CNS
of Bhutanese society of Chch,

added, Teej is also big in Bhutan
and around 150 people from our
community were present during
the weekend event.
Apart from married women, it is
also a festival for unmarried ones
where they pray to get nice and

supportive husbands. Moreover,
adding another example of
how ethnic communities are
preserving their heritage in New
Zealand, is the initiation of free
Nepalese language classes in
Christchurch soon. Committed

to the preservation of Nepalese
culture
and
language,
the
CNS has decided to provide
Nepalese language classes to
our children from September 4,
informed Pokhrel.
Notably, according to the 2013

census, the Muslim community
in Canterbury is concentrated
in Christchurch with more than
40 nationalities represented
in the more than 3,000 people
living here who practice the
Islamic faith.
ISAs My Big Fat Indian Community celebrates Ganesh

Wedding coming soon Chaturthi with gusto
The Otago universitys Indian students flagship
cultural event will feature 135 performers
Gaurav Sharma
ancing to Bollywood
songs from the past
and present and acting
out melodramatic scenes, the
musical, My Big Fat Indian
Wedding,
a
student-led
and directed musical will rock
the South of New Zealand in
mid-September.
An initiative of the Indian
Students Association (ISA) of
the University of Otago, which is
celebrating its 10th anniversary
this year, the event will feature
more than 135 performersthe
largest ever.
We have the founders of
ISA returning from around the
country to attend the event
this year.
We will also have the 2006,
2008, 2009, 2014 presidents
and
committee
members
from each year between 2006

and 2015 present during
the weekend.
It is our biggest event of the
year, and preparations are well
underway with tickets sales
bigger than usual, informed
Neeraj Khatri, President of ISA.
After the final show, ISA
will be hosting an after-party
featuring Bollywood music with
ASHWYNZ (from Wellington)
and DJ Ajay (from Christchurch)
performing
that
night,
Khatri added.
Encouraged
by
the
near-houseful ticket sales, the
ISA members also informed
that the musical will run for two
days, between September 16 and
17, which has been supported by
the Dunedin City Council as well
as OUSAthe Otago University
Students Association.
Gaurav Sharma
rganised by Mumbai
M e m o r i e s a
Christchurch-based
company bringing Mumbai street
food to the city residentsthe
second public celebration of the
annual Ganesh Chaturthi festival
saw more than 500 devotees
bowing their heads to one of
the most adored gods in the
Hindu religion.
Hitesh Sharma and Sandeep
Khanna, owners of Mumbai
Memories, whose efforts led
to the first-ever celebrations
of Lord Ganeshas birthday in
Christchurch last year, were
overwhelmed by the response
this year.
Especially
the
team
of
volunteers, who made this
possible. Its a public event in
the true sense of the word, said
Khanna, who hails from Mumbai
and has been in Christchurch for
more than a decade now. The
festival is huge back home, and
The team of Mumbai Memories, Sandeep Khanna (left) and Hitesh Sharma with
their wives
I used to miss it when we moved

here. That prompted us to start
organising the festival at this scale
since 2015.
Apart from the murti stapana,

and morning and evening prayers,
the festival was rendered even
more colourful when Esha and
Akshita Shevde, who are both
from Maharashtra, performed
a traditional Marathi dance on

Ganesh stuti.
Pramila Nand, who spent hours
and hours making the make-shift
Ganesh temple, and Raju Sampat
of Yogiji stores who arranged for
prasad to be distributed during
the festival, have been a great
help in making it a success,
Sharma concluded.
NEW ZEALAND
Taxi drivers protest against Uber again
Gaurav Sharma
group of more than 50

taxi drivers belonging to
all major taxi companies
in the city, including Blue Star
and Gold Band, organised a
two-hour protest in Christchurch
on September 5 against what they
called governments inadequate
action on dealing with Uber.
It was the part of the
nationwide action taken by
taxi drivers against the billiondollar multinational with similar
protests taking place in Auckland
(read our report on page 18)
and just outside the parliament
in Wellington.
Jaspinder Pal Singh, who
has been driving a taxi in
Christchurch since 2009 and was
the main organiser of the protest
informed, What Uber drivers
have been doing in our city is
completely illegal.
Their tariff is not fixed,
they drive without proper
endorsements on their driving
licenses, they dont maintain
any log books, have less rigorous
background checks, and they
dont have any camera installed in
their cars. Since the government
is not listening, our only resort
is to keep protesting. While
Their tariff is not fixed, they drive

without proper endorsements on their
driving licenses, they dont maintain any
log-books, have less rigorous background
checks, and they dont have any camera
installed in their cars
we welcome competition, it
has to be within the confines
of the law. There has to be
a level playing field for all
concerned parties.
A similar such protest was
organised by the taxi companies
in July when assurances were
given but nothing has been
done so far, Singh complained.
Notably, a majority of taxi drivers

in Christchurch are migrants
with almost 70 to 80% from the
subcontinent, who are feeling the
heat as Uber started operating in
the city in April.
The New Zealand Transport
Authority so far has maintained
that what Uber is doing in
Christchurch, and rest of the
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Taxi drivers protesting in Christchurch on September 5
country, is illegal, and that it

has made this clear to Uber, to
the public and to potential Uber
drivers in Christchurch.
Minister
Nicky
Wagner,
who met the taxi companies
representatives at the earlier
protest, had also noted then
their concerns relating to the
requirements of P-endorsements,
work-time
limits,
vehicle
Certificate of Fitness, and
in-vehicle cameras.
She had also informed them
that the cabinet has already agreed
on the policy changes for the
new system and these are being
included in the Land Transport
We have been getting such

assurances for months now but
nothing has been happening on
the ground.
When we approach the
authorities, we are always told
that changes are coming soon.
When, nobody knows.
So
while
Uber
keeps
operating in New Zealand, we
are losing our precious income,
concluded Singh.
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NEW ZEALAND

ADVERTORIAL
BC5816_IN_99
10
Seminar on further study

options in New Zealand
here is a sense of despair among

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On top of that, the recent crackdown on

students who used false means to gain entry
in New Zealand has been a talking point
among all and has caused a panic among
the Indian student fraternity.
Jyoti Arora, a licensed immigration
adviser for Studywel Immigration Solutions
Limited has served as a campus principal in
one of the category one colleges in Auckland
and knows the stress and situation of
students going through the dilemma.
Recently, Studywel Immigration organised
Options after Study in New Zealand in
which many students met her and had a
DEVELOPMENT AWAITS
1
4 MegaPixels
2272x1704
good discussion on their future road map.

Continuing the efforts to guide students
properly and ethically and to dispel myths
and to spread more awareness about
Immigration New Zealands policies and
recent updates, Studywel Immigration
in association with Regent International
Education group, is organising a seminar
on Tuesday, September 13, in Regent
International Education Group at 1 p.m.
This will be a free seminar for all. Students
of any college are welcome and can bring
along their friends to get genuine and
updated information from reliable sources
rather than relying on rumours and
widespread misinformation.
Those interested in attending the seminar

may contact Studywel on +64 223878591
or drop an e-mail to info@studywel.co.nz
for registration.
26 Rangiriri Road,
Rangiriri
Located just off State Highway 1
is this substantial site ready for
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of 4,093m, this property lends
itself well to land bankers,
developers and add value
investors alike.
Auction 11am,
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96 Ulster Street, Hamilton
View By appointment
www.bayleys.co.nz/811940
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M 027 229 8865
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A TASTE OF HISTORY
1
4 MegaPixels
2272x1704
46 Canada Street,
Morrinsville
This character building originally
built in 1934 as Council
Chambers has been converted
for use as a popular caf and
bar. Council Caf and Bar offers
both a lunch and dinner service,
with a bar and live music.
Walking into the building one
can only appreciate the
woodwork and appeal of which
was once the council chambers.
Auction 11am, Thurs 6 Oct 2016,

(unless sold prior)
96 Ulster St, Hamilton
www.bayleys.co.nz/811901
Josh Smith
M 027 229 8865
SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT
2008.
INDIAN WEEEKENDER
SUBSCRIBE AND READ ONLINE AT

issuu.com/indianweekender
For a noble cause Badminton
NEW ZEALAND
11
championship
calling for teams
Members of the Gujarati Samaj who prepared the dinner for cancer patients at the Domain Lodge
IWK Bureau
s part of their services to the

community, Gujarati Samaj New
Zealand organised an evening
of dinner and entertainment for Cancer
Society, Auckland at Domain Lodge.
On August 10, under the leadership of

Vijay Mody, Jt Secretary and executive
member of Gujarati Samaj, and with the
support of Gina Ferguson, Coordinator
Relay for Life at Cancer Society, a Gujarati
cuisine buffet was prepared for cancer
patients. Narhari Patel, Rashmika Patel
and Anjana Tailor along with other kitchen
committee members of the samaj prepared

the dinner at the Domain Lodge.
President Chunilal Mehta and Vice
President Dharmendra Mehta of Gujarati
Samaj were present at the event.
Kiwi guests at the dinner, who tasted the
cuisine for the first time, appreciated the
efforts of the team. Ferguson also extended
her thanks to Gujarati Samaj for taking the
initiative to coordinate a social event.
The evening also saw entertainment
organised by Purshottam Merai and
his team.
Above: AMBC team at Smash 2016

organised by Auckland Malayali Samaj
on July 2
Right: A game in session at AMBC
Swati Sharma
uckland Malayali
Badminton
Club
(AMBC) is holding
its first ever badminton
championshipNZ Open
Malayali
Badminton
Championshipon October
1, for which they inviting
interested teams.
The tournament will be held at
AMBCs home ground at College Rifles
Badminton Club, 33 Haast St, Remuera.
More than 30 teams are expected. Many
badminton clubs in Auckland and teams
from Hamilton, Whangere, and Wellington
have already submitted their expression of
interest to participate.
Members of the Gujarati Samaj at the blood donation camp
Gujarati Samaj endeavours to save lives

On August 3, members of Gujarati Samaj participated in a blood donation camp
organised by NZ Blood, Auckland. Twenty members of the committee signed up
for the cause. They were led to NZ Area Waitakere in Henderson for the camp under
the leadership of Dilip Thakkar, executive member of the samaj.
The tournament is restricted for mens

doubles teams and requires at least one
of the team members to be from Malayali
community. Teams can be register at www.
ambc.org.nz.
The registration closes on September
27. AMBC players emerged winners at the
Smash 2016, a badminton championship
organised by Auckland Malayali Samajam
in July this year, winning mens doubles,
mens single and mixed doubles titles.
AMBC is a group of enthusiasts with a mix
of experience and amateur players that

provides an opportunity and platform to
people who enjoy badminton.
AMBC also organises training sessions on
Saturdays with the aim to guide and advise
new players.
The club also holds social badminton
sessions every Saturday at 7 a.m. and
occasionally on public holidays.
Booking for the training must be made
at least a week in advance to ensure the
courts are available for the practice and
training sessions.
Interested players can visit www.
ambc.org.nz/register-2/ to register for the
training sessions.
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NEW ZEALAND
12
Guru Granth Sahibs prakash

parb celebrated
urudwara Sri Guru Harkishan

Sahib New Lynn celebrated
the first prakash parab (birth
anniversary) of Guru Granth Sahib, the
holy scripture of Sikhs.
BAPS NZ pays
tribute to HH
Pramukh Swami
Maharaj
During katha vichar at the gurudwara,

Bhai Ratan Singh, one of the devotees
present, explained gurbani (compositions
of Sikh gurus). Bhai Kapoor Singh
Khanne Wale, Bhai Rajinder Singh and
Bhai Pardeep Singh performed kirtan.
The event saw a large number of
devotees gather for the celebration that
concluded with langar.
birthday
specials
Sept
5th ~ 29th
Chole
Bhature
masala/
plain
dosa
$7
each
Khoya
Barfi
all
pedas
(kesar, sada,
mathura, laal)
coconut
barfi
$25
kg
Pani Puri
Papdi
Chaat
Dahi
Bhalla
samosa
chaat
Idli
Sambar
$5
each
is Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj

(Shastri
Narayanswarupdas),
the fifth spiritual guru of socialspiritual organisation BAPS Swaminarayan
Sanstha, passed away on August 13.
His Holiness Mahant Swami (Swami
Keshavjivandas) succeeds him as the sixth
spiritual successor.
Around 2.1 million devotees from around
the world and thousands of dignitaries arrived
at Sarangpur, Gujarat in India to pay homage
to swamishri.
To
commemorate
Swami
Maharajs
departure, a seven-day discourse on his life,
work, and saintliness was held from August
18 to 24 in Sarangpur. BAPS NZ organised a
solemn tribute sabha to honour the life and
legacy of His Holiness on September 4 at BAPS
Swaminarayan Mandir, Avondale.
GET
INVOLVED
GET
NOTICED
Send us information and
photographs about your community
events and get featured in
Indian Weekender.
Email at swati@indianweekender.co.nz or
Call Swati at 020-40081234
NEW ZEALAND
13
Meet the citys potential future leaders

Continuing from last week, we introduce our readers to four more Auckland mayoral candidates who are
standing for the elections this year
Esha Chanda
his
week,
Indian
Weekender spoke to Phil
Goff, Tricia Cheel, Penny
Bright and Mark Thomas and
asked them about their vision
for Auckland, how they plan
to address the two important
issues faced by Aucklanders
public transport and housing
and their view on the Auckland
Unitary plan.
Phil Goff
designed to make Auckland more

pleasant to live and to absorb
carbon emission.
AUCKLAND
LOCAL ELECTIONS
Your views on the Auckland

Unitary plan
2016
born
and
bred
Aucklander, Phil Goff has
represented Mt Roskill
for 10 terms of parliament. He
became New Zealands youngest
cabinet minister in 1984, and in
the following 15 years, he covered
a number of portfolios including
housing, environment, trade and
defence. He was also the first
Minister of Trade of a developed
country to negotiate a free trade
agreement with China.
Your plan for the first 60

days in office if elected
The first task is to put together
a budget, which will be due within
the first four weeks after the
swearing-in of the new council.
Secondly, I want to meet the
I support the Unitary Plan. If

we are going to grow by a million
people in the next 30 years, we
have to go up and out where we
need to intensify firstly in long
transport routes and transport
hubs, and town and city centres so
that way we can address both the
housing and transport problems.
ministers of housing and finance
to discuss the governments
infrastructure fund and to bring it
to a realistic level so that we can
meet the needs of a growing city.
I would also meet with Auckland
Transport and Auckland central
government transport agencies to
prepare a blueprint of how we can
prevent worsening congestion.
Lastly, I would meet with the
minister of police to discuss why
in the last five years we have
increased our police force in
Auckland by only five additional
officers, which is one a year, when
the population went up by 45,000
alone in the last year.
I would also start work on my
one million trees programme
Your approach
housing
and
transport issues
to the
public
One, we need to implement

the Unitary Plan. Two, we need
to review and improve the
building and resource consent
process so that it is quicker,
more efficient, and cheaper.
Three, we need measures to stop
people from land banking for
speculation. Four, we have to
get the government to increase
the size of its infrastructure fund
from one billion dollars covering
five growth areas to a much more
realistic level. Fifthly, we need
the government to embark on a
programme to provide affordable
and social housing. I would be
lobbying the government to
divert foreign investment from

existing houses into new houses.
If the government is not ready
to help meet the infrastructure
needs, then they have to curb the
right of that growth.
For transport, we need to look at
alternate funding sources to build
new transport infrastructure,
which may be the government
giving more help or we can look
at the private-public partnership.
We need more busways and
cycleways. We need to bring
forward discussion around light
rail and need to look at providing
rapid transport to the airport.
Three
initiatives
you
plan on undertaking as
the mayor
The first would be addressing
the housing affordability and
availability
crisis
and
the
initiatives would focus on
balancing the demand and
supply of the houses. Second is
addressing the growing transport
congestion, third would be to
capture the efficiencies that the
supercity was designed to create
so that we avoid duplication
and waste, and address the
length of coordination between
the
council
and
councilpatrolled organisations such as
Auckland Transport.
KANWALJIT
SINGH BAKSHI
MP BASED IN
MANUKAU
EAST
Auckland Office
Unit 1, 131 Kolmar Road, Papatoetoe, Auckland
Ph 09 278 9302
Email bakshi.mp@parliament.govt.nz
Postal Address PO Box 23136, Hunters Corner,
Auckland 2025
www.kanwaljitsinghbakshi.national.org.nz
Funded by the Parliamentary Service and authorised by

Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi MP, 1/131 Kolmar Road, Papatoetoe
www.national.org.nz
14
NEW ZEALAND
Your vision
of Auckland
for
the

corporate mindset for far too long. It
would be tackled from both the strategic
ecologically sound overview of integrated
organic management systems and local
community-based solutions.
future
Auckland needs to be a place where

talent and enterprise can thrive so that it
becomes a centre of learning, innovation,
and technological development. Auckland
will be the place where we attract and retain
the best and the brightest people from New
Zealand and beyond.
Three initiatives you plan

undertaking as the mayor
First, a pilot programme of innovative

integration of funding streams to be
more economic and effective and deliver
better outcomes for all. Second, local
community-based
actions
to
tackle
transport, waste, weed management and
other issues. Third, a blueprint to becoming
New Zealands first organic city by 2020.
The second part is that Auckland is

an inclusive place where people of all
ethnicities and religions are welcome. Also,
inclusive in the sense, where young people
can get the best start in life.
I want to protect and sustain Aucklands
environment and heritage so that we have
a city that has character, and it looks after
the things that make it a special place to
live in. Also, the city needs to be governed
and managed according to the international
best practices so that we deliver the best
possible quality of services to its people.
Mark Thomas
Your vision
of Auckland
Your approach to the housing and
public transport issues
Your plan for the first 60 days in

office if elected
I will use the development business

the council owns, Panuku Development
Auckland, to make quicker progress, letting
developers build more affordable housing
in the key metro centres including
Henderson, Onehunga, and Manukau. I
will use my experience on the governments
Rules Reduction Taskforce to cut more
council red-tape and change the council
culture to be more customer-focused.
My rewrite of the budget will restore the
$110million cut from the transport budget
so we can invest more in the backlog of traffic
congestion issues that has Aucklanders
currently wasting 20 days a year stuck
in traffic.
Turn the fluoride tap off, as per the last

referendum in Onehunga where 66%
voted against fluoridation. An immediate
moratorium on glyphosate, 1080 poison,
and other unnecessary toxic substances and
practices for all urban environments and put
the rest of the region on notice that permits
will eventually be required to use any of
these as seen in Hudson, Quebec, Canada.
Implement the police recommendations
around gambling, violence, alcohol and
other drugs.
Three initiatives you plan

ark Thomas is an experienced

business executive with an
extensive community leadership
background. He ran an Auckland-based
strategy
and
marketing
consulting
business for 10 years dealing with major
international and New Zealand companies,
industry organisations and not-for-profit
groups. He has been a Deputy Chair of the
Orakei Local Board since 2010. He was
re-elected in 2013.

office if elected
I will set the platform for my vision
of an Auckland that works much better
for Aucklanders. By day 60, I will have
developed my draft budget for consultation,
identified savings of $35 million and started
redirecting funding into our delayed top
transport and housing projects. I will also
have started work to rebuild trust and
confidence in the council and begin the
process of transferring decision-making
and funding to the local boards.
Your views
Unitary Plan
on
the
Auckland
It is not a silver bullet. It will make it

easier to develop more housing in suburban
Auckland, but by itself, it provides no
guarantee of quicker, more affordable
housing or of better roading/busways and
rail we need to support this growth. It also
may not be strong enough to protect the
character we value. It creates new rules
that make housing development easier in
many areas, but in areas such as Takapuna,
Henderson and Manukau, development
has been possible under the old rules. I will
use my detailed knowledge of the Unitary
Plan to support it, making good, sensible
development but will use my council
understanding of the traditional problems
to ensure we change the council culture
and funding issues that have been holding
us back.
on
on
One, make the council more affordable

by rewriting the critical Auckland Plan to
focus it on more of our top priorities. Two,
fast-track the key busway and rail planning
projects in the North, West, East, and South
of Auckland. Three, restore trust in the
council by boosting local board powers and
resourcing, and by introducing citizen veto
rights so we re-establish the local in local
government.
Your vision
of Auckland
for
the
future
I want an Auckland that works better for all

Aucklanders. That means making Auckland
Council more affordablereducing waste
and spending more of peoples hard-earned
money on our key transport and housing
priorities. It also means delivering better
transport sooner. Using the funding, I will
reprioritise from my budget rewrite into
more busways, roading, and rail planning.
And it means sorting out our growth and
housing problems by using my combined
business and council experience to change
the council culture to make quicker
progress, building more affordable housing,
particularly in the areas of Auckland where
the council owns a lot of land. I also want
the council stepping up to help make our
communities and businesses safer. There is
more council can do here too.
Tricia Cheel
orn in Onehunga, Tricia Cheel grew

up on a dairy farm in Dargaville.
She feels that fellow Aucklanders
are being poisoned due to fluoridation. She
studied in Auckland from 1967the year
she says fluoridation beganto 1971, and
often wondered why she felt perfectly fine
back home during the holidays while for
the rest of the year, she felt like she was
walking through treacle. She says that
as soon as she stopped drinking artificially
fluoridated tap water, she felt better in a
day. Her main aimget rid of fluoridation
in Auckland.
for
the
future
My vision for Auckland is to become

the healthiest, kindest, and the happiest
city in the world, with the lowest carbon
footprint possible because there is a rich,
thriving, diverse culture where people are
engaged in contributing to the solutions
once they feel appreciated, valued,
empowered and included, even if they have
dissenting views.
Penny Bright
Engage DHBs and Medical School to

study the results of lifting this toxic burden
off the community and environment with a
view to the government contributing from
the savings made to health, welfare, and
police budgets.
Engage
government
in
making
immigration manageable, and extracting
rightful taxes from big business so corporate
sponsorships, involving naming rights and
signage, are removed incrementally from
all the public venues without the users
suffering while protecting our young people
from the conflicting messages about their
health and safety concerning junk food,
alcohol, and other harmful influences.
Remove undue corporate influence in
decision making, signifying the culture
change
from
ego-centric
corporate
profiteering that has produced poverty and
homelessness, pollution and extinction;
and to ecologically sound governance
where everybody can enjoy a good life full
of opportunity.
Your views
Unitary Plan
on
the
Auckland
My initial overview is that it is an appalling

document that could result in cheap and
nasty housing and insufficient green space
left for an expanding population, but have
to work with it creatively.

Two of Aucklands major problems,
housing and transport, are inevitable
results of the crux of the problem, which is
the council operating with an extravagant
ith a 20-year experience in

local government, defending
the public and their interest,
as a self-funded anti-privatisation and
anti-corruption public watchdog, Penny
Bright says that as mayor, she would bring
council services and regulatory functions
back in-house under the public service
model, and stop corrupt cronyism and
corporate welfare.

office if elected
I intend to have the framework
for ensuring that the rule of law
regarding
ratepayers
and
citizens
lawful rights to open, transparent and
democratically-accountable
local
government in Auckland is in place,
particularly the Public Records Act 2005.
The Public Records Act 2005 is currently not
being implemented and enforced, although
it has been a law for the past 11 years. My
plan is to employattached to and paid for
from the Auckland Mayoral Office budgeta
small team of forensic accountants/
auditors who will go through the books with
a fine-tooth comb and find out where every
dollar of rates (and all monies) collected by
Auckland Council (and Auckland Council
Controlled OrganisationsCCOs) is being
spent, invested, and borrowed.
I have been focused on Auckland Council
and CCO spending, on private sector
consultants and contractors, particularly on
having the following information available
for public scrutiny:
The unique contract number
The name of the consultant/contractor
A brief description of the scope of
the contract
NEW ZEALAND
The contract start/finish dates

The exact dollar value of each and every
contract, including those sub-contracted
How the contract was awarded, by direct

appointment or public tender
I will then make that information

available to the public, via Auckland
Council and Auckland CCO websites.
That is the first step in establishing
cost-effectivenessfinding out exactly
where the costs fall.
Having attended five international
anti-corruption conferences, it is my
opinion that the root cause of most grand
corruption is the privatisation, contracting
out of central and local government public
services. How is it decided who gets the
contracts? What are the links between
those who give and those who get these
contracts?
Your views
Unitary Plan
on
the
Auckland
The Auckland Unitary Plan is a

democracy for (commercial property)
developers. The underpinning Auckland
Spatial Plan was not based upon the rule
of law because the population growth
projection used was high (an extra
million people coming to Auckland by
2040) when the Department of Statistics
recommended medium (an extra 700,000
people). The Auckland Spatial Plan was
supposed to be evidentially based and
coherent. It was neither. Auckland
Council was working towards the high
population growth projection, while two
major infrastructure providers, Auckland
Transport and Watercare Services, were
working to the medium population growth
projectionthe difference being another
300,000 people.

The question is why does all this growth
have to come to Auckland? Where is the
national population growth, migration and
regional employment strategy? The central
government and Auckland Council need
to work together on this, and there needs
to be sensible, co-ordinated planning, not
market madness.
There is actually no such thing as public
transport in Auckland. There are 10 private
bus companies, four private ferries, and a
French multi-national is running Auckland
trains. The only thing that is public, is
the million dollars of public subsidies for
private passenger transport services, which
Auckland Transport will not reveal on the
grounds of contractual confidentiality.
If the private sector is so efficient, why
do they need public subsidies? Why should
the public subsidise that which we no
longer own, operate, or manage? I believe
that public transport should again be
made public and operated as an essential
public service. Same with housing. I am
absolutely opposed to the privatisation
of public (State and Council) housing, by
NGOs, Iwi or corporate charities.
Three initiatives you plan on

Covered in preceding answers
Your vision
of Auckland
for
the
future
For the Auckland region to be governed

in the interests of locals and local
communities, and for the public majority
to benefit from the spending of public
monies, not a corporate minority. For the
people of Auckland to take back control of
our region from the corporate one per cent.
Our bravest
six-year-old
Esha Chanda
six-year-olds bravery was caught

on CCTV footage as she attempted
to stop an axe-wielding intruder
attacking her familys store in Auckland.
Sarah Patel was briefly caught up in the
middle of a violent robbery at her parents
electronics shop in North Shore where
she held on to the leg of one of the alleged
robbers in an attempt to stop him from
attacking an employee.
On September 5, five men barged into
the Expert Infotech store in Glenfield.
They started breaking the cabinets, and
one of them even ran behind my staff and
tried to hit him, Patel says.
Patels daughter usually finishes school
at 3 p.m. and then heads home. But on
Monday, after her grandfather picked her
up from school, they made their way to the
store.
She was here only for five to 10 minutes,
and she was right next to me when the
attackers came, says Patel. I asked her to
come outside with me.
Patel says that in the chaos, he didnt
realise that his daughter fell on the floor
and was left behind. He went outside the
store and called the police. I realised she
wasnt with me when I was out of the store.
But to my relief, she came out with her
grandfather in a matter of minutes.
But in those few minutes, Patel didnt
realise that his daughter attempted to stop
Young Sarah Patel
a robber from attacking an employee. Patel

says that he is proud of Sarahs ability to
remain calm through the entire episode.
At night, when I asked her what she meant
to do earlier that day, she replied that she
thought the attacker was a monster, says
Patel. She was merely trying to save my
employee. But when she saw an axe in the
attackers hand, she got scared and she ran
out of the room.
The police pursued the group of
attackers and finally caught five out of the
six teenagers in West Auckland. The sixth
offender is still absconding.
However, Patels wife later received a call
from Auckland District Court informing
that one of the five captured had escaped
custody. Now, they have captured four;
one is still absconding, and one escaped,
says Patel.
BIG INVESTMENT WITH DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL

17 KAHIKA ROAD, BIRKDALE, AUCKLAND
DR PARMJEET PARMAR
NATIONAL LIST MP BASED
IN MOUNT ROSKILL
1
Boundary lines are indicative only
Large industrial investment currently returning $735,000 pa

Brand new six year lease in place with multinational tenant
Site area of 1.6664 hectares with subdivision and development potential
Fixed rental increases of 3% per annum
A huge opportunity to secure a substantial industrial investment on the North Shore, with good
access to the CBD and port, has presented itself. Leased for six years, this site offers plenty of
avenues to the astute investor. It benefits from two entry points which allows complete drive
around access. The current owner also built an A grade warehouse of 2,114m (approximately)
in 2012 which is 13 metres high and has the capacity to hold up to 3,000 pallets. With surplus
land, the lease has been structured to offer the existing tenant an expansion option, and also
gives the new owner development opportunities in the future.
Property Details
Site Area
1.6664 hectares (more or less)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Total Floor Area
6,021m (approximately)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ashphalt Yard
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Expansion Land
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tenancy Details
Currently tenanted on a six (6) year lease term, with a commencement date of the 1st of
July 2016, and producing a net rental $735,000pa + GST and outgoings.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
BAYLEYS.CO.NZ/1500348
3
Deadline Private Treaty
(unless sold prior)
4pm, Thursday 29th
September 2016
29 Northcroft Street, Takapuna,
Auckland, New Zealand
Matt Mimmack
+64 21 229 5878
matt.mimmack@bayleys.co.nz
Laurie Burt
+64 27 413 6174
laurie.burt@bayleys.co.nz
Ranjan Unka
+64 21 711 755
ranjan.unka@bayleys.co.nz
15
MOUNT ROSKILL OFFICE:

A: 1/165 Stoddard Road, Mount Roskill
P: 09 620 6707
E: Parmjeet.Parmar@Parliament.govt.nz
www.parmjeetparmar.co.nz
facebook.com/DrParmjeetParmarMP

Funded by the Parliamentary Service and authorised by

Dr Parmjeet Parmar MP, Parliament Buildings Wellington
www.national.org.nz
WHAT DO YOU THINK

Do you support the newly-formed
NZ Peoples Party and why?
Editorial
Changing attitudes
for the better
Suresh Kumar Sukumarbabu,

New Lynn
If the new party is centered on ethnicity, then I wouldnt

support it. Any party that does not have inclusiveness
will not have my support. Forming a new party is not a
problem; its their core agenda that matters.
he start of an anti-racism campaign by the Race Relations Commissioner,

Dame Susan Devoy, must be lauded.
It is a bold initiative that is sure to touch a chord with many victims of racial
abuse and taunts, who in the past have not been able to have their stories heard, and,
in the process, initiate a change in attitudes.
The Thats Us campaign is about the kind of people we want to be as well as the
kind of country we want our kids growing up in. Thats Us is the first nationwide,
anti-racism campaign that asks Kiwis to start sharing their own stories about racism,
intolerance, and hatred.
It is a bold initiative simply because Dame Susans office has acknowledged racism
exists in our multiracial society, and that it will not be tolerated and shouldnt be.
Every year around 400 people make formal complaints about racism theyve faced,
from all over the country and from a wide range of circumstances.
There are thousands of more incidents of racial abuse that have not been reported,
and never will be.
This campaign provides an opportunity for all to share stories so that a clearer
picture of existing racism comes to light.
The overwhelming majority of people never complain or go public when a car
drives past and the people in it scream a racist obscenity; when the woman registering
students at university smiles at every other student but the brown ones.
Many people dont think racial intolerance or racism is a problem, often because
they do not experience it themselves.
Dame Susan points out that by raising the voices of those New Zealanders who face
racial intolerance in their everyday life, were hoping other New Zealanders will take
the time to listen. Many of us dont realise when something we say is unfair or biased,
but we would if someone pointed it out to us.
New Zealand has always had a problem with racial intoleranceMaori New
Zealanders know it is not new.
Whats changed is weve also become incredibly diverse, one of the most ethnically
diverse nations on earth in less than a generation. Racial intolerance is on the rise
overseas and closer to home, weve become very diverse in a short period of time,
while overt racism is not widespread yet.
The campaign aims to gauge whether New Zealanders are ready to take part in
meaningful conversations that will talk about the realities of racism.
As Dame Susan points out, our national identity isnt just about a flag. Our national
identity is about who we are as people and how we treat each other on our streets, on
our rugby fields, in our communities.
Hayat Kabir,
Royal Oak
I think there is a need for an ethnic-based party

especially in these times of crisis where Indian store
owners are suffering the most with silent racism and
robberies. A party that strictly focuses on different
minority ethnic groups represented by their own
people will draw more attention in the parliament.
Sreedhar Reddy,
Auckland CBD
I dont think there should be another party in the

scenario, there are already many. An
ethnic-based party has the potential to create a
divide in the community and the issues that are
faced by the community is already being addressed
in the parliament.
Syed Mohiuddin,
Mt Roskill
Its always good to have a representation from within

the community but it depends on what things are
there on the agenda and what is on their priority list.
The party has to tell what their aims are, long- and
short-term goals then it will make more sense on
whether to support it or not.
Elakiya Prabhakaran
New Lynn
I will support an ethnic community for sure provided

they have visions that are different and better than
other political parties. All parties have different
priorities and an addition wont matter because they
will have their own agendas.
See full article on page 7.
Indian Weekender : Volume 8 Issue 25

Publisher: Kiwi Media Publishing Limited
Managing Editor: Bhav Dhillon | bhav@indianweekender.co.nz
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Chief ReporterSouth Island: Gaurav Sharma
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Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher
is not responsible for advertisers claims as appearing in the publication
Views expressed in the articles are solely of the authors and do not in any way represent
the views of the team at the Indian Weekender
Indian Weekender is published by Kiwi Media Publishing Limited, 711 Mt Albert Road,
Auckland
Printed at Horton Media, Auckland
Copyright 2016. Kiwi Media Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Hari Kandel,
Papatoetoe
I think it is okay to start a new political party based on

ethnic values as long as it does not create a divide.
Many of our issues are not well addressed in the
parliament, and we barely have a few representatives
for such a huge population, diversified in different
parts of the country.
Thought of the week
Men are mortal. So are ideas. An

idea needs propogation as much as
a plant needs watering. Other wise,
both will wither and die.
B. R. Ambedkar
OPINION/EDITORIAL
17
Politics in action, diplomacy at risk
Sandeep Singh
wo things have happened

in the last few days in New
Zealand politics around
the high-profile Indian student

deportation
issue
that
has
slightly gone unnoticed by many
17
political pundits.
First, Tertiary Education Minister
Steven Joyce has demonstrated
an unusually uncompassionate
response towards the plight
of 150 Indian students facing
immediate deportation, on the
pretext of invoking a prophecy
of responsibility of educational
institutions
and
students
themselves, in allegedly failing
to verify the validity of visa
documents provided to New
Zealand immigration. A position
not many would agree is attuned
with the Nationals traditional
stance towards immigration in
New Zealand.
Second, NZ First leader Winston
Peters makes a sympathetic
call to the government to let the
students stay in New Zealand
claiming a need to rescue this
countrys reputation of dealing
with people, regardless of where
they come from, fairly. Again,
a departure from the traditional
pitch of NZ Firsts leader that we
are more habituated to expect.
Either something is unusual
about the current New Zealand
politics or we are just seeing a
strategic reorientation of key
political players, prior to entering
the
much-awaited
election
year ahead.
Otherwise what explains such
hardened, and to some extent, a
morally unsustainable stand, by
a senior minister in the National
government, when many insiders
believe that a high-level foreign
visit to India is in the order soon.
Politics and diplomacy have
always a difficult relationship, and
most of the times, when politics
is in action, diplomacy is either at
risk or have to wait, whatever is
less costly for those involved.
The Indian student deportation
crisis is definitely a case where
Indian students protesting at Mt Roskill, Auckland, against the governments

decision to deport them
politics is in action and has a

potential to put diplomacy at risk.
The issue of the presence of
a large number of unscrupulous
education and visa agents back
in India who put NZ immigration
system under tremendous strain,
is widely, and possibly mutually,
acknowledged by New Zealand
and Indian authorities. Therefore,
the timing of this issue when there
are reports that Prime Minister
John Key might be travelling to
India soon on a personal invite
by the Indian Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, supposedly
to streamline some mutual
foreign policy goals, raises
some eyebrows.
The fact that until Saturday last
week, Indian High Commissioner
Sanjeev Kohli was not even
approached by the NZ authorities
to be briefed about the impending
situation and the governments
possible course of action, does
imply that the government is
inclined to see the political value
of this issue rather than any
diplomatic cost, if any.
Following the trajectory of
these events, two important
implications can be drawn. First
and foremost, politically, this
visible strategic reorientation
among the two key political
players, where the Nationals
and the New Zealand First
party are seen as warming
up to each others respective
political constituencies, could
possibly lead to a strategic
realignment
between
them
in future.
Secondly, the Indian High
Commissioner
has
already
Action,
if any, has to
be against
the concerned
institutions,
their agents and
responsibility
fixed on those who
failed to supervise
the process and
cleared the visas
on the basis
of documents
presented.
possible deportation of Indian
students, in the United States

expressed his dismay on the issue
stating that it was grossly unfair
to target students who had already
started and invested heavily in
their studies. Action, if any,
has to be against the concerned
institutions,
their
agents
and responsibility fixed on
those who failed to supervise
the
process
and
cleared
the visas on the basis of
documents presented.
Furthermore, as of now, we
are also not yet aware of any
proactive action initiated by
the Indian High Commissioner
in raising flag about the issue
with the NZ authorities, which
suggests that this news has yet
not travelled back to India, where
its highly vocal media can quickly
escalate the issue and up the ante
against the central government
in India.
Similar previous instances of
fraud and impending crisis of
and Australia, have witnessed

a proactive diplomatic action
by the then Indian government,
fearing a public outcry at home.
Apparently, that urgency in
Indias diplomatic response is

missing in this instance.
Either way, there is a clear
strain on the diplomacy between

the two nations, which cannot be
continued for long. The current
situation of diplomatic inaction

on both sides could further result
in a negative impact on our

mutual bilateral relations if this
issue is picked up by the Indian

media and escalated at a level
that can bring discomfort to the

government in New Delhi.
It is important to note that the
Indian state of Punjab, a key

destination
of
NZ
education
export and naturally expected
to be sensitive to the news of

deportation of Indian students,
is
going
to
elections
soon,
and can therefore bring further
political pressure on the Modi

government, thus raising the
stakes on the issue.
Understandably, sometimes,
political
goals
could
lead
to an oversight of diplomatic
objectives,
yet
there
is
no room for complacency in
the diplomacy.
There is an urgent need for the
NZ government to not unduly
ignore the diplomatic costs of the
issue, by conveniently choosing
inaction against educational
institutions and visa agents who
bring enough revenue to the New
Zealands $3.3 billion education
export industry, over the plight
of 150 Indian students who have
been ripped of a fortune and are
facing a threat of deportation.
Sandeep Singh is a former
editor of Diplomatist
magazine of international
affairs and is currently
pursuing a PhD at the
University of Waikato
18
NEW ZEALAND
Sikh Childrens Day to

be held next month
Kiwi-Indian star to judge

Jhalak Dikhla Jaa
Rizwan Mohammad
ishi Deepak of Urban Turban and

Feeling Lucky fame is all set to don
the judges cap on Indias popular
dance show Jhalak Dikhla Jaa in Sydney
this weekend.
Colors Channels show Jhalak Dikhla
Jaa, Australia Spotlight will host its
auditions on September 11; the winners
will get a chance to visit Jhalak House in
India and perform with celebrities.
I have been asked by Colors to be the
judge for Jhalak Dikhla Jaa in Australia.
Its a big feat for me, and I feel proud
and honoured to represent the Bollywood
fraternity of New Zealand in this show,
Rishi Deepak told Indian Weekender.
Children at teh 2015 Sikh Childrens Day celebrations
IWK Bureau
n a one-of-a-kind event to celebrate Sikh

culture and heritage among children
from the community, the Supreme Sikh
Society of New Zealand will be organising
Sikh Childrens Day in October.
The two-day programme (October

1 and 2) at Gurudwara Sri Kalgidhar
Sahib in Takanini will see several
religion-themed competitions that will give
young Sikhs the chance to participate in
events such as gurbani (prayer) recitation,
Sikh art, dastar bandhi (turban-tying) and
kavishri (poetry).
The highlight of the event would be
the national gatka (Sikh martial art)
competition, which will have participating
teams from Tauranga, Hastings, Auckland,

Te Puke and Hamilton.
The second day would see a range of
entertainment activities for the children
such as slides and bouncy castles,
bungee runs, and volcano adventure and
safari train.
The event, which was started six years
ago, saw more than 600 children participate
in the celebration last year that was also
attended by parliamentarians Mahesh
Bindra from NZ First and Parmjeet Parmar
from National party.
Parents interested in celebrating the
day with their kids can drop an e-mail
to supremesikhsocietynz@gmail.com or
call Gurnoor Kaur, the event manager,
on 02102233147.
Rishi has been in the entertainment

industry of New Zealand for more than
a decade and is currently shooting for a
Bollywood flick in Australia.
He has appeared in many commercials

in New Zealand, hosted more than 1,200
episodes of different TV shows, and is an
actor and executive producer as well. His
acting and films are widely acclaimed in
New Zealand, Fiji, and the United States.
The names of the co-judges have not
been disclosed to keep the excitement until
the last moment. The show in the last nine
seasons has associated with big names in
the industry such as Karan Johar, Madhuri
Dixit Nene, Remo DSouza, Shahid Kapoor
and Farah Khan.
Check out
www.indianweekender.co.nz
and subscribe
to our weekly newsletter
with latest news and updates
Taxi drivers protest Ubers operation

Esha Chanda
round 100 taxi drivers

gathered on Queens Wharf
in Auckland on September
5, asking the government to take
an action against unregulated
Uber drivers in the city.
It was part of the nationwide

protests
undertaken
by
taxi drivers against the US
multinational company that runs
a popular ride-sharing business
and is a sought-after substitute
for conventional taxi service.
Protest organiser Harpreet
Bhullar told Indian Weekender
that taxis in New Zealand
operated under strict passenger
service licence laws, which
included in-car cameras for
safety of passenger and driver,
criminal and medical check-ups
through police, and mandatory
requirement of carrying a P
(passenger) endorsement ID.
Uber is not following these
laws by excusing themselves as a
share ride instead of taxi service,
Bhullar said.
Last month,
Transport Minister
Simon Bridges said
that Ubers change
in policy was illegal
and that it could
potentially face
a ban
Similar protests were held in

Christchurch (read our report on
page 9) and Wellington.
However, taxi fares are inclusive

of GST, which the drivers collect
and pay at the end of the year.
Bhullar added that Uber

drivers must fulfil their GST and
tax obligations.
There is no such provision

in Uber, and if there is one, its
not transparent enough for the
government to know. Also, on a
regular day, a ride from point A
to B could cost $10 and on a busy
day, the same could cost up to
Currently, the company retains

25 per cent of the total fare and
the remaining is transferred to
the drivers account, which may
or may not be taxable.
New Zealand taxi drivers protesting on

Queens Whatrf in Auckalnd
against regulated Uber drivers
$50. The same does not apply for

taxi drivers.
Safety of the passengers is also
a matter of concern, as for most
Uber drivers, it is a second job.
Under NZTA laws, drivers cannot
work continuously beyond a
certain number of hours without
taking a break. As there is no
system in place where the number
of hours of Uber drivers can be
monitored, it puts customer
safety into jeopardy.
In March this year, when Uber
extended its operations in New
Zealand to include Christchurch,
they informed their drivers
that they could do away with P
endorsement and start working
by merely passing the companys
security screening process. The
following month, the policy

was rolled out in Auckland
and Wellington.
of the governments regular

reassurances, nothing has been
done yet.
Last month, Transport Minister

Simon Bridges said that Ubers
change in policy was illegal and
that it could potentially face a
ban. Bhullar says that in spite
He said that taxi drivers were

not seeking a ban on Uber. We
welcome new technology. All we
want is an equal playing field.
NEW ZEALAND
POWER COLUMN
Supporting small
businesses and our
thriving tourism sector
John Key
Prime Minister
mall businesses are the

backbone of the New Zealand
economy. Thats why were
focused on helping small businesses
get ahead and saving them more time
and money.
Earlier this year, I delivered a
pre-budget speech in Wellington
where I announced some important
tax changes that will be positive for
businesses, particularly smaller ones.
The aim is to reduce compliance
costs and make tax simpler. One
of the key changes is reforming
provisional tax so that up to 110,000
small businesses will be able to use a
new pay-as-you-go option.
Its important small businesses
succeed because that boosts our
economy and helps to create
more jobs and higher wages for
New Zealanders.
This is just the latest initiative weve
introduced to help small businesses.
Others include cutting ACC levies by
around $2 billion a year since 2011.
This is putting more money back
into workers, businesses, and motor
vehicle owners pockets and is about
the equivalent of a sizeable tax cut.
Were making easier to connect
business to the rest of New Zealand
and the world by rolling out faster
broadband across the country, with
more than 1,000,000 households,
businesses, schools, and hospitals
across the country now able to access
or connect toUltra-Fast Broadband.
Building a more productive and
competitive economy is one of the
National-led governments priorities

for this term. These initiatives show
how were supporting that.
Our work programme is helping
to ensure New Zealand remains one
of the better performing developed
economies in the worldwith a
growth of around 3.4% predicted for
the next few yearswhich is giving
businesses the confidence to invest
and grow.
One area of the economy that is
continuing to perform is our thriving
tourism industry. With more visitors
coming, staying longer, and spending
more, tourism is becoming an
increasingly significant part of our
economy.
Its now our second biggest export
earner and a major employer of New
Zealanders. Thats why the Nationalled government is committed
to supporting this industry and
ensuring all our regions benefit
from it.
The latest Monthly Regional
Tourism Estimates released last week
showing domestic and international
visitors spent more than $1.7 billion
last month, and every region had an
increase in tourist expenditure for
the year to July 2016.
As Tourism Minister, its fantastic
to see these results as they reinforce
what I see when I travel around
the
countrysmart,
innovative
people providing outstanding local
experiences for visitors from other
parts of New Zealand and abroad.
The National-led government will
continue to focus on helping small
businesses and the tourism sector
continue to grow and perform in
order to help the economy deliver
more jobs and higher wages for Kiwis
and their families.
Show your support for

Gandhi Nivas
IWK BUREAU
tahuhus early domestic

violence
intervention
programme, Gandhi Nivas,
ELEASE
is inviting the community for a
ber 2016fundraising event on September 16.
violence. It is a join-venture between

Auckland-basedmedical provider
network Nirvana Health Group,
The evening will include dinner,
Counties Manukau Police and
UR SUPPORT
FOR GANDHI
entertainment,
spot NIVAS
prizes and an
Sahaayta Counselling and Social
auction at Waipunas new conference
Support. The aim of the programme
early domestic
intervention
programme,
is holding
centre,violence
60 Highbrook
Drive,
East Gandhi
is to Nivas,
provide
earlya fundraising
intervention
6 September
and youre
and prevention services to people
Tamaki.
Prizesinvited!
and auction items
identified at risk of committing
have been donated by Trelise Cooper,
to new
help them
Annah
Stretton,
Jaguar, spot
Pita prizes
Pit, anddomestic
g will include
dinner,
entertainment,
an auctionviolence
at Waipunas
change their behaviour, reduce
The Reddy
Group,
Auckland
centre, Vector,
60 Highbrook
Drive, East
Tamaki.
the likelihood of further domestic
Cricket, Bird on a Wire, Kilimanjaro
violence and increase safety for
Dental
Centre
and
many
others.
auction items have been kindly donated by Trelise Cooper,
Stretton, Jaguar,
Pita
families.Annah
Entertainment
will include
Gandhi
Nivas
is
a
programme
The Reddy Group, Auckland Cricket, Bird on a Wire,Ratna
Kilimanjaro
Dental
Centre and
more.
Raman,
Deliciousa
Samoan
that provides emergency housing,
group of dancers, and a bhangra
counselling and referrals to social
performance.
Get Bangra.
in touch with
ent includes Ratna Raman, Delicious a Samoan group
of dancers, and
services for men who have either
Ranjna Patel atranjna@ethc.co.nz to
been issued with a Police Safety
book your ticket or a table.
ur ticket or table, get in touch with Ranjna Patel: ranjna@ethc.co.nz
Order, or are otherwise involved
For more information, visit:www.
in police matters related to family
gandhinivas.org.nz
dhi Nivas
19
NZ should help break

Nauru impasse
David Shearer
Labour MP
or several years, Australia

has held asylum seeker
families on the remote
Pacific island of Nauru. Its
been clear that the detention
conditions arent good, but
last month, more than 2,000
incident reports were leaked to
the media, detailing allegations
of cruelty there, including
sexual abuse and violent
assaults on children.
How did those children come
to be on Nauru? They had to flee
danger in their home countries.
They and their families took a
risky journey on a boat, seeking
safety in Australia.
But
Australian
policy
supported by both major
partiesis clear that no refugee
or asylum-seeker who arrives,
or attempts to arrive, by boat
will ever settle in Australia.
Sending them to Nauru is
intended to act as a deterrent to
other potential boat people.
There are currently 843 men
held on Manus Island and 466
people, including 50 children at
the Nauru detention centre.
They are trapped with

no
endpoint:
seemingly
incarcerated
indefinitely,
without representation or any
sense of progress: a recipe for
suicide and despair.
Australia has changed laws
to keep conditions on Nauru
secret. If a doctor or social
worker speaks out about things
they have seen on Nauru they
risk a two-year prison sentence.
As Australias close friend, I
believe we have a responsibility
to
question
this
policy.
In August, I met with the
Australian High Commissioner,
Peter Woolcott, in an effort to
understand where he believes
Australias policy is heading.
But nobody seems to know.
Australia wants to resettle
the asylum seekersmost of
who have been deemed to be
legitimate refugeesin thirdworld developing countries.
But its not working. Less than
a handful have left Nauru.
Another of my questions
to
the
Australian
High
Commissioner was to ask what
New Zealand can do to help
break this deadlock.
In 2000, we took 150 asylum
seekers from the Tampa,
effectively getting Australia out
of a similar situation. Those
young people are now proud,
educated Kiwis who have given

our country so much more than
they ever needed to take.
If asked, I believe New
Zealand should consider taking
asylum-seekers from Nauru but
only to help the policy come to
an end. We should take them
on the condition they are not
replaced on Nauru. We must
never become complicit in
Australias policy.
Last year, we saw a young
Iranian man, just 23 years
old, burning himself to
death on Nauru, unable to
bear his seemingly endless
incarceration on the Island.
This is how tired we are, were
Omid Masoumalis final words
before setting himself alight.
This action will prove how
exhausted we are. I cannot take
it anymore.
This young man had been
assessed as a genuine refugee
facing persecution in his
homeland.
At the moment, despite
the pressure, Australia is
continuing with its policy.
Ultimately thats their call as a
sovereign nation.
But it should not continue
with our acceptance, and we
should be willing to break
the deadlock.
ADVERTORIAL
Caring for our community
ommunity
First
is
a team of dedicated
locals working for the
community and not a major
political party. The party has set
up six key policies with an aim
to serve the community:
1. Caring for our community
by pushing for more and
improved
community
facilities,
including
community swimming pool
and youth facilities, retaining
our libraries, promoting and
preserving our heritage sites,
buildings and homes, through
fully-funded quick graffiti
removal, by provisioning
for
full-time
community
constables and promoting the
installation of surveillance
cameras
at
appropriate
street corners.
2. Caring for our environment
by
promoting
water
saving schemes.
3. Caring for affordability by
keeping the rates rebate
scheme, pushing for a rates
postponement scheme for the
elderly and restricting rate

increases to inflation rate.
4. Caring
for
community
governance. The party wants
the control of Local Boards
returned to the community.
Community First will push
for more decision-making
and resources to be given
to the Local Boards to
further the interests of the
neighbourhoods. The party
also supports the governance
principles of no taxation
without representation and
that taxes must be used for
the purpose for which they
are raised.
5. Caring for transport needs.
Community First believes that
securing additional funding
for transport improvements
in Auckland is a priority. A
package of funding sources
(rather than a single source)
should be used to raise the
additional
$400
million
per year required to meet
the
transport-funding
gap.Community Firstbelieves
that a further funding mix

should be developed that
better spreads the load across
users and ratepayers.
6. Caring for our sport and
recreation. All Community
First candidates running for
the Whau Board fully endorse
a sporting policy that allows
the youth of the community
to have every opportunity to
participate in local sporting
organisations. The party
acknowledges the need for
better facilities for all sporting
codes that include fields
and clubs amenities. The
Community First candidates
will endeavour to work with
Auckland Council Sport &
Recreation personnel on
securing funding that will
benefit the Whau Community.
Sport is an essential part of
creating pride within the
community. Community First
will do all it can to generate
that pride.
Material supplied by
Community First
20
FIJI
FIJI
PACER plus legal

text finalised
Fijian Prime Minister

likely to visit New
Zealand in October
rime
Minister
Voreqe
Bainimarama plans to accept
an invite to visit New Zealand
to watch the All Blacks, reports an
NZ news website. It will be part of
the warming of relations between
two countries.
he legal text of the Pacific Agreement

on Closer Economic Relations
(PACER) Plus agreement has been
concluded by the Pacific Islands Forum
Ministers responsible for trade.
between the All Blacks and Australia.

The match is set for October 22.
Bainimaramas trip will be a reciprocal
visit to New Zealand Prime Minister
John Keys visit to Fiji in June.
When the two leaders met in
Suva in June, they exchanged
sporting memorabilia.
The Fairfax newspaper groups widely

ready Stuff website says it is understood
Bainimaramas love for rugby means
he will accept an invitation to go to
Aucklands Eden Park in October to
watch the final Bledisloe Cup test
Bainimarama is the president of the

Fiji Rugby Union.
Rugby has been a keen topic of
discussion
between
Bainimarama
and Key.
Need to build stronger FijiIndia business relations
ijian businesses need to exploit all

avenues to do trade with their Indian
counterparts from India.
Nadi Chamber of Commerce and

Industry president Dr Ram Raju made
those remarks during the High Commission
of India sponsored Fiji-India Business
Council Mini-Forum at the GDR Hall in
Malolo, Nadi on September 3 .
Dr Raju said it was a fantastic interaction
where businesses in Nadi were enlightened
with the goods and services that are
available for the trade.
The relation mentioned by the Indias
High Commissioners, the scope of industry
and the scope of growth showed there is a
huge potential between Fiji and India. We
need to tap on that more, he said.
Dr Raju added there is a lot of
opportunities that India has to offer.
Theres excellent opportunity that has
various companies present. Bilateral

trades are not up to the potential at the
moment so we want to see what avenues
are available potential, he said.
Stakeholders with Indian High Commissioner

Vishvas Sapkal during the mini-forum at the
GDR Hall in Nadi
Fiji-India Business Council president

Swani Maharaj said, We need to have a
bigger council and we are looking
into developing on that
through
the
Indian
The scope of
High Commission.
industry and the
scope of growth showed

He said they are
got excellent products that will give
there is a huge potential planning to hold a
excellent services, all across the
between Fiji and India. meeting in Suva soon
sectors not only medical tourism,
We need to tap on
to work on enlarging
that is still growing, cultural tourism,
that more
the
Council.
We
industries and pharmaceuticals and
dont want volumes, he
many more.
stressed. We want other
He added there is a need for help in
people to be involved and look at issues
agro-industry and that is what Fiji should
such as medical yourism, cultural issues,
look into with the Indian expertise.
the body of innovation and the new item.
Sapkal was impressed with the forum
We need to encourage that.
as there were a lot of representatives from
The agreement is said to be aimed at

creating jobs, raising standards of living
and encouraging sustainable development
in the Pacific. The question that arises now
is that have the Pacific Island countries,
in particular Fiji, got what they wanted or
have they been strong-armed by the two
regional powerhouses?
Fiji had been lobbying for a legally
binding commitment to labour mobility.
While labour mobility has been included,
it is outside the legal framework of PACER
Plus. Sounds good, right? Not entirely
because being placed outside the legal
framework means it can be withdrawn at
any point in time.
Fiji used to be a part of the Australia and
NZ labour mobility scheme established
earlier but got kicked out after the events of
2006 that saw rapidly deteriorating political
relationship between the countries. What
is the guarantee if the relationship between
the countries is not good in the future, Fiji
isnt kicked out again?
The general feeling is that Fiji has lost
out in a number of ways especially with two
crucial issues. Australia and New Zealand
are believed to have included the Most
Favoured Nation provision in the legal text.
The provision will ensure if Forum Island
Countries have future trade agreements
with third parties, then they are to extend
the same benefits and privileges to
Australia and New Zealand.
Fiji, together with other Pacific islands,
is understood to have opposed this.
Another provision believed to have had
a disappointing outcome was the infant
industry clause.
The PACER Plus agreement is expected
to be signed by end of this year.
Pacific students to benefit

from EU programme
he European Union is looking to send

more Pacific students to participate in their
Erasmus+ programme, says EU Ambassador
to Fiji and the Pacific Andrew Jacobs.
Jacobs revealed this at his residence while hosting
Fijian and international students including university
staff who had participated or were currently benefiting
from the programme.
NEW ZEALAND FIRST LIST MP
MAHESH
BINDRA
The EU-funded programme with a total budget of

$37.63 billion (EUR16.4 billion) for the period from
2014 to 2020, allows students and university staff
from around the world to study and train in European
universities and for Europeans to study at local
universities in partner countries such as Fiji. Jacobs
said this year, five Fijian masters students from the
Fiji National University and the University of the
South Pacific and one university staff member were
selected for the Erasmus+ scholarships.
BASED IN AUCKLAND
Like every year we will reach out to all universities

in Fiji once the 2017 Erasmus+ call for proposals is
launched, so that Pacific students can benefit from it
to the greatest extent, he said.
Contact
Auckland Office
Level 1, 21 East Tamaki Rd, Papatoetoe, Auckland 2025

Ph: 0800 BINDRA (246372)
mahesh.bindra@parliament.govt.nz
Authorised by Mahesh Bindra,

Parliament Buildings, Wellington
Jacobs said studying and training in Europe would

be beneficial for Pacific Island students as well as
students from Europe and the Caribbean would
benefit coming here. He added that the programme
brought people together and broadened the minds of
the students involved.
INDIA
21
INDIA
India, Africa to focus on medical

research, pharmaceutical trade
ndia and Africa will jointly focus

on
medical
research,
education
and pharmaceutical trade. The two
regions will also have more exchanges of
scholarship programmes and collaborative
research projects, according to the outcome
of the first IndiaAfrica Health Summit.
Kashmir problem can

only be addressed
politically:
Omar Abdullah
The three-day summit, which ended on

September 3 in Delhi, also saw India and
Africa ensuring that their collaboration in
various areas of the medical arena will help
in offering accessible and affordable health
services to people of both regions.
The principles [of] this partnership
are clear.
It will be reciprocal and built on
complementary strengths for developing
excellence in clinical and biomedical
research in both regions, said Soumya
Swaminathan, Director General of Indian
Council of Medical Research (ICMR),
during the closing of the summit.
The summit, which saw the participation
of health ministers and senior health
officials from more than 20 African
countries, also discussed the efforts
being made to harmonise regulatory
frameworks to advance the development of
pharmaceutical markets in Africa nations.
Speaking of Indias commitment
towards Africa, Development of North
Eastern Region For North East India
Minister Jitendra Singh said, Our political
leadership led by the honourable Prime
Minister is extremely forward looking in
promoting both science and technology
as well as strengthening relationships
It is imperative
to bring world class
training coupled with
executional brilliance in
both medical education
and research, to boost
health ecosystems.
between India and Africa. There could

not be a more opportune time to have
this meeting.
The
recommendations
broadly
focused on how capacities can be jointly
built and strengthened in health and
research, to improve the delivery of care,
address diseases of common concern and
achieve shared health goals, said M. K.
In light of similar health challenges faced by both

India and Africa, the delegates discussed steps
in the areas of joint biomedical research medical
education and pharmaceutical manufacturing
and trade
Bhan, former Secretary of Department

of Biotechnology, who was present on
the occasion.
It is imperative to bring world class
training coupled with executional brilliance
in both medical education and research, to
boost health ecosystems, Bhan added.
The summit was jointly organised by
IMCR, Health Ministry and the Ministry of
External Affairs.
Among the other dignitaries who
attended the summit were Minister of State
for External Affairs V. K. Singh, Science
and Technology Minister Harshvardhan
and Commerce and Industry Minister
Nirmala Sitharaman.
A single nation spreading

terror: Modi at G20 Summit
rime Minister Narendra Modi,

on September 5, accused a single
nation of spreading terror and
using terrorism as an instrument of state
policy. Addressing leaders gathered at the
two-day G20 summit, the Indian leader urged
them to isolate and sanction supporters
of terrorism.
Modi told Chinese President XI Jinping
how the scourge of terrorism was affecting
the region. There are some nations that
use it as an instrument of state policy. One
single nation in South Asia is spreading
agents of terror in our region, he said,
without naming Pakistan.
Indias ties with Pakistan have soured
after Islamabad declared Kashmiri terrorist
Burhan Wani, shot dead by security forces,
as a martyr. India has a policy of zero
tolerance to terrorism. Because anything
less than that is not enough, he said.
On the sidelines of the summit, Modi met
new British Prime Theresa May, Argentine
President Mauricio Macri and Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Modi said India viewed the UK as an
important partner despite its decision to
quit the EU. This was Modis first bilateral
with May, who succeeded David Cameron
after the Brexit vote in June. May said she
Former Chief Minister and working president of

the regional National Conference Omar Abdullah
ormer Chief Minister and working

president of the regional National
Conference (NC) Omar Abdullah,
on September 4, said the government
can neither tire out nor buy the ongoing
agitation in the Kashmir Valley and the
only way out was to address it politically.
Speaking to media after he led an
NC delegation to a meeting with the
all-party delegation in Srinagar, Omar
Abdullah said, We told the delegation
that the government can neither tire nor
buy the present agitation.
The only way out is to address it
politically. Abdullah criticised Chief
Minister Mehbooba Mufti saying, She
wants to be the government and the
opposition at the same time.
On the one hand, she says the
sacrifices of those killed in the present
agitation will not go waste and, on the
other hand, she says only five per cent
people are involved in the agitation.
Abdullah wondered that if only five per
cent people are involved in the present
agitation then why is every paramilitary
force in the country represented in
controlling this agitation.
Indian PM Narendra Modi shakes hands with Chinas President Xi Jinping (right) at the 11th G20 leaders
summit in Hangzhou, China
was keen to support Modis vision for India

and take forward the broader strategic
partnership. She underlined the great
importance the UK attached to the Indian
diaspora. She sought Modis suggestions
on further strengthening their partnership,
particularly in trade and investment ties.
May said she backed Modis reform
agenda and that the UK was keen to
participate in Make in India, Smart Cities
and the Skill India Programme among
others. The two leaders discussed their
defence partnership. Modi also met
Argentinas newly elected President Macri
and invited him to visit India, External

Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas
Swarup said.
Modi thanked Macri for Argentinas
strong support for Indias membership in
the Nuclear Supplier s Group (NSG).
The two leaders agreed to expand
cooperation in areas such as agriculture,
mining and hydrocarbons, Swarup said.
Speaking with the Turkish President,
Modi raised the issue of Indias membership
to the NSG. In June, Turkey had teamed up
with a group of countries to oppose Indias
membership to the 48-member cartel.
He added, The Chief Minister

writes to separatist leaders to give time
and place for meeting the all-party
delegation while these separatist leaders
are under arrest.
He recalled his father Dr Farooq
Abdullah having told the then Prime
Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao to
give internal autonomy to Jammu
and Kashmir.
My father had then said give internal
autonomy now, for I fear if you delay it
today, there may be no hands to take it
tomorrow. I fear that time has come in
Kashmir, he said.
22
INDIA ABROAD
INDIA ABROAD
Indian-origin researchers develop

multi-modal wearable device
I
ndian-origin researchers at
Missouri University of Science
and Technology have developed
a multi-modal sensing device
that can track the fine-grained
activities and behaviour of people
with dementia and it could help
in army combat training, too.
The researchers, Debraj De
and Sajal K. Das, along with their
teammates created a wearable
device for the wrist that can track
a persons movements, ambient
environment, bio-signals and
much more.
The smart chair and the
wearable
device
are
new,
non-invasive
strategies
for
earlier diagnosis and represent a
partnership among scientists and
physicians, said Mignon Makos,
Neurologist who collaborated
with
the
researchers
for
the project.
The sensing device has four
basic functions.
Like a fitness tracker, it records
fine-grained movement, measures
the wearers direct physical
The smart chair and the

wearable device are new, noninvasive strategies for earlier
diagnosis and represent a
partnership among scientists
and physicians.
environment for
humidity
and
air pressure.
temperature,
barometric
It also will track health status

through heart rate, respiration
rate and galvanic skin response
(a persons skin reacts to
stimuli through the sympathetic
nervous system, producing a
weak electrical current that
indicates the wearers emotional
state, such as being startled
or agitated).
Finally, the sensing device
has functions such as GPS and
communication with Bluetooth
beacons in proximity for various
location
contexts.
The
multi-modal
sensor
data
can
reveal
fine-grained
user activity and behaviour
contexts, powered by machine
learning-based analytics.
The wearable device has
real-time data communication
and analysis capability.
The entire system is designed
to support body multi-positional
sensing applications as well,
where the device can be worn on
other body parts.
For those rehabilitating and
those with dementia, the ability to
track their fine-grained activities
Image of Intex Fitrist (for

representational purpose only)
and behaviour, measure their

heart rate and locate them indoor
or outdoor helps healthcare
providers keep tabs on their
patients.
The GPS function is especially
helpful [for] dementia patients,
who can wander away from home
and not know how to return. For
the army, the device has different
functions, said Debraj De, a
researcher at Missouri University
of Science and Technology,

in a statement.
With the heart rate monitor,
respiration tracker and GSR
functions, it can see if a recruit
is gun shyafraid and hesitant
to squeeze the trigger during rifle
trainingbecause of the recoil or
noise when it fires.
It also could study soldiers
physiological
responses
for
traumatic brain injuries or if
theyre exposed to pathogens
and
how
they
respond,
such as twitching eyes or
ragged respiration.
SPORTS
SANIA, BOPANNA WIN,

PAES OUT OF US OPEN
India thrashes Puerto Rico 41

in international football friendly
ndias tennis stars Sania

Mirza and Rohan Bopanna
won but veteran Leander
Peas US Open campaign came
to an end as he was beaten in a
second-round
mixed
doubles
match
at
Flushing Meadows.
Paes-Hingis were beaten 67

(1), 63, 1113 by American
seventh seeds Rajeev Ram and
Coco Vandeweghe at Court
5 on Saturday, September 3.
The match was closely fought.
Paes-Hingis led 84 in the
match-deciding tiebreaker but
then fell apart. The defeat ended
of Paes US Open campaign
as he lost in the
The
Indian ace tennis players Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza
mens doubles
defeat
tournament
comfortable in the 62,
pair of Rohan Bopanna and
ended of Paes
with Andre
76
(5)
win
over
the
Gabriela Dabrowski won against
US
Open
campaign
Begemann
as he lost in the mens SwissAmerican pair Polish-Czech pair of Lukasz Kubot
on Friday.
of Viktorija Golubic
and Andrea Hlavackova 57, 63,
doubles tournament
But Sania
and Nicole Melichar
107 in the second round.
with
Andre
Mirza
had
at
Court
5.
They completed the victory
Begemann on
no
such
They
needed
one
hour
in
an hour and six minutes at
Friday
problems
in
and 19 minutes to secure the
Court 6. They will next meet
their
womens
win to book a date with unseeded
unseeded
ColombianGerman
doubles second round
Nicole Gibbs and Nao Hibino in the
pair of Robert Farah and
match.
She and her Czech
next round. The IndoCanadian
Anna-Lena Groenefeld.
partner Barbora Strycova were
Indian football players celebrate a goal against Puerto Rico in an international

friendly in Mumbai, India
he Indian national football

team came up with a
dominating performance
to defeat Puerto Rico 41 in an
international friendly match on
September 3.
Narayan Das (18th minute),

Sunil
Chhetri
(26),
Jeje
Lalpekhlua (34) and Jackichand
Singh (58) helped the hosts earn
a much deserving win. Emmanuel
Sanchez scored the only goal for
the visitors. India played with a
4231 formation with striker
Jeje Lalpekhlua leading the
attack with Jackichand Singh,
and Chhetri helping him.
The Puerto Ricans started the
match on a positive note scoring
the opening goal in the eighth
minute to give the visitors the
advantage right at the start. But
the home side did not sit back but
struck right after a few minutes

via Narayan to level the scoring.
The first goal gave the Stephen
Constantine-coached side muchneeded confidence as they
stormed ahead with the second
goal via former skipper Chettri.
Soon after his strike, the home
fans erupted with joy as Jeje
netted home the third goal of the
night for India to put the home
side right in control.
The first half thriller stayed at
31 as India held the advantage.
Coming into the second half,
India played much positively and
went on to earn the fourth goal
via star player Jackichand.
After that, there was no
looking back for India as they
surged ahead with quality
defence and went on to win the
match comfortably.
FEATURES
23
Apple launches iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

A
O
@maheshk
colour called jet black. This is in

addition to regular black colour.
To compensate for the loss of
3.5mm jack, Apple introduced
new headphones that can be
connected through the lightening
port. Apple also unveiled wireless
headphone set called AirPods
that can be bought separately.
Oh, and there is also an adaptor
in the box, so you can still use
your old but expensive 3.5mm
headphones.
pple
launched
its
best ever iPhone on
September 7 in California,
US. As is the case before every
big ticket launch of a new device,
the industry was abuzz with
rumours and leaks about what
new features will the new iPhone
come out with. Surprisingly, this
time, most of the rumours were
true and almost all features that
were leaked found their place
in iPhone 7. So yes, there is no
3.5mm headphone jack in the new
phone anymore. With that out of
the way, now lets talk about some
other big changes that iPhone
7 and iPhone 7 Plus will come
out with.
Camera
his time, the two new models

come with different camera
set-ups. While both phones come
with optical image stabilisation,
12MP sensor and six element
lens with f/1.8 aperture, iPhone 7
Plus has not one but two lenses.
We have already seen dual lens
camera set-ups on some recent
Android phones (such as LG
G5 Huawei P9). Just like those
set-ups, here the two lenses are
wide angle and telephoto.
Dual lens cameras have
more capabilities
with SLR-
Design
he two phonesiPhone 7
and iPhone 7 Pluskeep
the original design and screen
size of 4.7 and 5.5 respectively
from last years line-up. The
screen resolution also remains
unchanged. The display is
apparently upgraded to be 25%
brighter with better colour
reproduction. The change in the
design is that the new phones are
now water- and dust-resistant
and come with IP67 ratings. So
dont panic if you get few splashes
on your iPhone 7 during your
next beach outing. Technically,
you can keep them under 1-meter
deep water for 30 minutes. The
new line-up also has a shiny new
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One-way Fares starting from $595*

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like performances and depth

of field.
Features
ther features of the phone

include a stereo speaker
set-up and a redesigned pressure
sensitive home button.
Performance
he new phone comes with

A10 Fusion chip that features
a 64-bit four core CPU
Apple Watch 2
pple also launched its next

iteration of watch series. The
new watch comes with built-in
GPS enabling you to go for your
runs without carrying your phone.
It is also now waterproof up to
50 meters, so you can also take
it for swimming. Apple Watch
series 2 is twice as fast as series 1
and comes with new bands and a
new ceramic body.
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24
FEATURES
Mother Teresa declared a saint
She was beatified in 2003, a key step to

sainthood. Two miraculous cures of the
sick after Mother Teresas death have been
attributed to her intercession.
ope Francis, on September 4,

declared Nobel Peace Prize winner
Mother Teresa, revered for her work
among the poor in India, a Saint of the
Catholic Church.
The youngest of three children, she

attended a youth group run by a Jesuit
priest called Sodality, which eventually led
her to become a nun.
We declare and define Blessed Teresa

of Calcutta to be a Saint, the Pope said
to a roar from the thousands gathered at
St Peters Square, including many Indians
who held or waved the Indian flag.
We enrol her among the Saints,
decreeing that she is to be venerated as
such by the whole Church. In the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit, he said, making the
long-awaited announcement.
Around 120,000 people attended the
Mass, according to the Vatican Press
Office. This included Indian External
Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Chief
Ministers Mamata Banerjee of West Bengal
and Arvind Kejriwal of Delhi. Kejriwal had
briefly worked with Mother Teresa.
Crowds flooded the Vatican to celebrate
the highly anticipated canonisation of
Mother Teresa, an event which Catholics
and non-Catholics alike had looked forward
to since the nuns death in 1997.
Many arrived before dawn to get a good
spot for the ceremony, the Catholic News
Agency reported. Cardinal Angelo Amato
read a brief biography of Mother Teresas
work and then asked the Pope to canonise
her in the name of the Church.
Mother Teresas life was given to service
and she was committed to defending
life, especially the unborn and those
abandoned and discarded. The Pop said
that she was committed to defending life,
She joined the Sisters of Loreto in Ireland

at age 17 and was sent to Calcutta, where
she taught at a high school.
After contracting tuberculosis, she was
sent to rest in Darjeeling. It was on the
way that she felt what she called an order
from God to leave the convent and live
among the poor.
Above: St Peters Square was packed with

thousands of Catholics and curious tourists as
Pope Francis made Mother Teresa a saint
Inset: Pope Francis waves to the faithful as he
leaves after a Holy Mass and the canonisation of
Mother Teresa of Calcutta (Kolkata)
The Vatican granted her permission

to leave the Sisters of Loreto and to live
her new call under the guidance of the
Archbishop of Calcutta.
She was committed

to defending life,
ceaselessly proclaiming
that the unborn are the
weakest, the smallest,
the most vulnerable
ceaselessly proclaiming that the unborn
are the weakest, the smallest, the most
vulnerable. Speaking of Teresa, the Pope
noted how she bowed down before those
who were spent seeing in them their
God-given dignity. Today, I pass on this
emblematic figure of womanhood and
of consecrated life to the whole world of
volunteers: may she be your model of
holiness! Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu
on August 26, 1910, in Skopje, now in
Mother Teresa, the nun who cared for the worlds

most unwanted and became the icon of the
Catholic Church, was canonised at a ceremony
in St Peters Square
Macedonia, Mother Teresa founded the

Missionaries of Charity in 1950.
Her iconic work in the slums of Calcutta
(now Kolkata) won universal acclaim.
She began her work with lepers in

1957 for which her Order became well
known around the world. She founded
several missionaries in India, including
Missionaries of Charity, Brothers in 1963;
Missionaries of Charity, Contemplative
Sisters in 1976; and Missionaries of
Charity Fathers in 1984. In 1971, she was
granted permission for setting up missions
outside India; the first one opened that
year in Venezuela. The Indian government
awarded her citizenship in 1951 and in 1980
she was conferred the countrys highest
civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna.
After stepping down as head of her order
in 1997, Mother Teresa passed away in
Kolkata, India on September 5 due to a
heart failure. She was 87.
By Manisha Koushik
Manisha Koushik is the talented daughter and associate of world renowned celebrity astrologer Dr Prem Kumar Sharma.
A practicing astrologer, tarot card reader, numerologist, vastu and fengshui consultant is based in India but maintains a
global presence through the online channels. She is available for consultations online as well. Let her tarot cards do the
magic and numbers make you understand which choices in life will be best for you! E-mail: support@askmanisha.com |
Website: www.askmanisha.com Contact: +91-11-26449898 Mobile/Whatsapp: +919015607139
WEEKLY FORECAST: SEPTEMBER 9 TO SEPTEMBER 15

Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20)
Your popularity on the social front is set
to rise. Dont get involved in someones
personal matter. You will need to out
shine your colleagues to advance up the
corporate ladder. A prized posting can
be yours if you play your cards well. Your
judiciousness on the financial front will
help in saving for the rainy day. Fathom
the mood of partner if you want to
remain on the right side!
Lucky No.: 7
Lucky Colour: Pink
Taurus (Apr 21-May 20)

Someone eligible in the family may start
giving broad hints regarding matrimony.
You will be able to strike a good rapport
with an influential person and benefit. It
is best to delay starting anything new
towards the mid of week, as stars are
not favourable for it. Your performance
on the academic front will put you ahead
of your rivals. Those playing the stocks
may get it right the first time. The home
front seems most inviting for rest and
relaxation.
Lucky No.: 7
Lucky Colour: Orange
Gemini (May 21-Jun 21)

You will manage to make the right moves
to bag a lucrative deal. Wealth comes
your way from unexpected sources.
Good performance at work will be
acknowledged by those who matter. Your
ego may come in the way of reaching out
to someone. You will get the opportunity
to express your love for the one you
admire. Those unwell will find distinct

improvement in their condition. You may
be required to balance too many tasks on
the academic front.
Lucky No.: 9
Lucky Colour: Peach
Cancer (Jun 22-Jul 20)

You are not likely to take things that
you dont approve lying down. A word of
praise is in store for something that you
have achieved on the academic front.
Your performance is likely to impress
those who matter at work. Chances
of getting romantically linked to the
one you secretly admire are possible.
Depleting liquid assets may find you on
a saving spree. You may get spiritually
inclined and take up meditation and
yoga in a big way.
Lucky No.: 8
Lucky Colour: Lavender
Leo (Jul 23-Aug 11)

Outwardly you may appear calm,
but inside you may be boiling to get
even with a rival at work. Someone
close may find it difficult to join you
in celebrating a special occasion.
Dont get impulsive in matters of the
heart, as you may spoil your chances
on the romantic front. Job prospects
for those freshly out of college seem
bright, but efforts will be required.
Fluctuating income may prove
mentally stressful. Avoid junk food.
Lucky No.: 15
Lucky Colour: Grey
Virgo (Aug 24-Sep 23)

Someones suggestion may compel
you to change your plans but it will
be the right decision. A comfortable
journey is foreseen for those
travelling long distance. You are
likely to floor those around with your
communication skills. An encounter
with someone you admire will leave
you with fond memories. Falling in
love is a distinct possibility for the
lonely hearts. Those apprehensive
about their medical reports will heave
a sigh of relief, as they turn out perfect.
Lucky No.: 3
Lucky Colour: Lemon
Libra (Sep 24-Oct 23)

Making the most of an opportunity is
indicated this week. Your influence
is likely to make things easy for you
in your personal sphere. Curbing
wasteful expenditure at home seems
difficult, so be strict. Those pursuing
a professional goal may find the going
tough. Not planning investments
well may make your money sit idle.
Assuage partners feelings, if you want
the relationship to endure. Asking for
guidance on the fitness front will be a
step in the right direction.
Lucky No.: 22
Lucky Colour: Bottle Green
Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22)

Try as you may, you are most likely to
get involved in something that you are
trying to avoid! Good budgeting will
help in keeping the expenditure under

control. A new idea looks promising
and needs to be given shape, so find
time for it. Those waiting to get posted
out of town must prepare well for the
move. You manage to maintain your
physical routine through sheer will
power to get back in shape.
or bonus is in the offing for some.

Romantic possibilities appear on the
horizon for the lonely hearts. Health
remains satisfactory.
Lucky No.: 2
Lucky Colour: White
You may now be able to see a situation

in a new light that had hurt you in
the past. Academics will need to
take priority over other things at this
juncture. You maintain consistency on
the professional front and contribute
towards career progression. Those
into real estate or gems and jewellery
may strike it rich. Refresh your resolve
to get back in shape and not take to
your old lethargic ways. A venture
proves profitable.
Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 11)

Your long-held belief may get
shattered in the wake of new
developments.
Counter
extra
expenditure by exploring more
avenues for earning. Those planning
an outing with a lover are certain to
have a good time. A good financial
move can prove healthy for your bank
balance. A family member is likely to
do his or her bit to help you out. Those
involved in outdoor activities are likely
to get thoroughly refreshed. Spouse
needs some loving care!
Lucky No.: 5
Lucky Colour: Maroon
Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 21)

Stubborn instilled in you keeps pitting
you into problems. You will do well
to listen to others opinion and act
on it. A past contentious issue will
be amicably resolved with no hard
feelings. Professionals are likely to
come across some profit making
opportunities that can pave the way
for a bright future. An increment
Lucky No.: 3
Lucky Colour: Lemon
Aquarius (Jan 22-Feb 19)
Lucky No.: 17
Lucky Colour: Light Blue
Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20)

You will need to keep your interest
alive in a cause or mission if you
dont want it to fizzle out. Those
seeking leave will need to be at their
convincing best. Catching the eye of
or getting hitched to an out of town
person cannot be ruled out. You may
suffer on the health front through
sheer negligence. It is best not to take
liberties with a colleague. Dont be
hasty in disposing of your property.
Lucky No.: 11
Lucky Colour: Baby Pink
KIDS ZONE
25
Crossword Puzzle
September
DAY & DATE
Answer the following questions using the calendar below.
How many Sundays are in

September?
SEPTEMBER 2016
What day is September

29th?
Labor Day is celebrated on

the first Monday of
September. Write the date.
Cody begins a new school

year on September 6th.
Write the day.
Autumn Sudoku
Choose any date in the last week of September. Write it 2 ways.
Every row, column and mini-grid must

contain the letters A C O R N S.
Dont guess - use logic
O
O
S A
O R
N
Copyright 2016 Education.com LLC All Rights Reserved

More worksheets at www.education.com/worksheets
N
O R
S N
C
N
www.ActivityVillage.co.uk - Keeping Kids Busy
ENTERTAINMENT
26
Still dont think I

completely fit in
Bollywood: Sunny Leone
Durga Chakravarty
he ventured into Bollywood in 2012 with the erotic

Jism 2 thriller and has been on a roll since then.
Indo-Canadian actress Sunny Leone says she felt like
an outsider when she initially ventured into the Hindi film
industry and still feels she doesnt fit in.
Asked if she ever felt like an outsider, Sunny said in an
e-mail interview from Los Angeles, Yes, of course, but that
would be anyone who is new to the job. I still dont think I
completely fit in (Bollywood).
At the same time, the Mastizaade star feels she has met
some nice people in Bollywood who she has grown fond of.
Sunny has tasted success with films like Jism 2 and

Ek Paheli Leela and has faced failure with movies like
Kuch Kuch Locha Hai and One Night Stand in her
four-year-long journey.
Do bad times ever affect her?
Yes, it does, I dont think I would be human if it didnt. But
I have a great support system and try and find the good out of
the bad always, she said.
The Ragini MMS 2 actress has also been roped in for a
song for superstar Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Raees, which is
directed by Rahul Dholakia. The song, which is picturised on
Sunny and Shah Rukh, is reportedly a new take

on the 1980 chartbuster Laila O laila from
Qurbaani. The original track featured Feroz
Khan and Zeenat Amaan.
Sunny, whose real name is Karenjit
Kaur Vohra, said, I just did a song
(with Shah Rukh), its a small part in a
very big film. I am very grateful for the
opportunity. Hope I get a chance to act
opposite Shah Rukh one day, she said.
Would she like to star with the other
two Khans of BollywoodSalman
and Aamir?
Ah
yes...Who
she asserted.
wouldnt?
The 35-year-old star was seen

walking at the New York Fashion Week
(NYFW) becoming the first Bollywood
star to be on the ramp at the fashion
event. The actress opened the show for
popular designer Archana Kochhar on
Thursday, September 8.
Bollywood is going
through a tough
time: Farah Khan
ilm-maker Farah Khan, who

is known for making several
big budget films, says Bollywood
is going through a tough time.
Diwali 2018 date set for

Amitabh, Aamir starrer
hugs of Hindostan, for

which Yash Raj Films
(YRF) has managed a
casting coup with megastar
Amitabh
Bachchan
and
superstar Aamir Khan, is set
for a Diwali 2018 release.
Fireworks are likely at the
box office.
YRF is bringing the two stars
together on the big screen for
the first time.
Vijay
Krishna
Acharya
(Victor), the writer-director of
Dhoom: 3, is teaming up once
again with Aamir for the film, a
statement said.
Finally, the moment Ive

been waiting for has come...
to work with my icon, Mr
Bachchan! Thanks Adi (Aditya
Chopra), Victor, for Thugs of
Hindostan. Im too thrilled
to be working with the actor I
have admired all of my life.
Shoot starts early next year,
and the release has been locked
for Diwali 2018. Cant wait to
get started! Fingers crossed,
Aamir posted on Facebook
this week.
The leading lady of the film
is yet to be announced.
Bollywood is going through

a really tough time. The kind of
taxes that are put on a Bollywood
movie is crazy. Hollywood movies
come here but their taxation is
half of ours. They are not taxed as
we are, Farah told reporters.
It has become very expensive to
make a movie and now everyone
wants to watch on phone. Thats
going to be the future. Also, half
of the money the government
takes, so it is becoming difficult,
she added.
However,
this
phase
in
Bollywood doesnt scare her as
a film-maker.
It doesnt scare me but they
(government) have to figure out a
way to control it. Its the budget
thats wrong, especially the small
budget movie that you have to
worry about, she said.
Bollywood judges
you on your looks,
says Swara Bhaskar
ctress Swara Bhaskar, who

was last seen on-screen in
the film Nil Battey Sannata, says
that actors are judged on the basis
of their looks in Bollywood.
Swara recently treated her
fans and followers to a question
and answer session on Twitter,
where a fan asked her one lesson
that the Hindi film industry has
taught her. And she answered:
That you are judged on your
looks. Theres no avoiding it...
Taught me the meaning of and
how to follow the adage when
in Rome, do as the Romans do
#AskSwaraAnything.
Another user asked the
Tanu Weds Manu actor if
Bollywoods
glamour
has
over powered the elements
of different theatre forms?
Swara shared that the two
mediums should be viewed
sin competition.
But the fact is theatre is
really the actors medium. And
will always remain. Cinema is
directors medium, she added.
Pleasure to back
good scripts:
Anurag Kashyap
ilmmaker Anurag Kashyap,

whose production company
Phantom Films has collaborated
with Cineman Productions for
the Gujarati movie Wrong side
Raju, says its a pleasure to back a
good script.
Its always a pleasure to back

a good script, and we are happy
with the way Wrong Side Raju
has shaped up and also that we
have found partners all over, to
be able to release it worldwide
simultaneously. I feel that will
help the audience to watch the
film at one go, and probably
reduce the chances of piracy,
Kashyap said in a statement.
The film is slated to hit the
screens this weekend.
Wrong side Raju is a
thriller drama based on a hit-andrun case.
presents
Mr and Ms
Diwali 2016
Indian Weekender is on the lookout
for Mr and Ms Diwali 2016 Is
that you?
Entries open now*

How to enter:
Entrants must be 18 years and above
Answer the following questions in a one-minute video,
upload it on YouTube and share the link with us by
sending an e-mail to swati@indianweekender.co.nz.
Why is Diwali Festival important to you?
Tell us about how you would infuse traditional Indian
culture with 21st century New Zealand life.
What makes you the ideal contestant for the
pegeant?
Entries close Monday, September 26 at noon
Exciting prizes for the winners

More details to follow soon.
For more information, call Swati: 020 400 81234
or email: swati@indianweekender.co.nz
*Terms and conditions apply
Auckland Diwali Festival

Aotea Square
October 15 and 16
28
ENTERTAINMENT
Rock on!!2 equally challenging,

exciting: Farhan Akhtar
Parineeti
enjoys acting,
performing live
ctor-film-maker Farhan Akhtar, who on Friday, September 2, released

the teaser of his film Rock on!! 2 says making the sequel was
exciting but also living up to the expectations of the first part is a
big challenge.
It was equally exciting and challenging to make a sequel. We wanted
the best in every segment of the film be it in music, casting, or the
location.
Most importantly, we have a certain responsibility to the sequel
and the people who have really kept the memories of the film alive so
that while watching, the audience would feel that we have made the
film with same sincerity and love, he told reporters.
The biggest challenge is to live up to the audiences expectation,
he added. Rock On!!, a 2008 rock musical, launched the acting careers
of Prachi Desai and Farhan. Farhan even produced the film, which also
stars Arjun Rampal, Luke Kenny and Purab Kohli and Rock On 2 is a
sequel to the film. The film was about the fate of a Mumbai-based rock
band Magik, members of which reunite after a decade-long split.
The sequel has been shot in Shillong and also includes a folk song in
Khassi. Talking about the music, Farhan said: I think we became more
matured in these 8 years. We have included instruments like Keyboard,
Sarod. It will be interesting as the writing is little more matured from the
first one, he said.
Directed by Shujaat Saudagar and produced by Farhan Akhtar and
Ritesh Sidhwani, the film stars Arjun Rampal, Prachi Desai, Purab Kohli
reprising their roles. New entrant Shraddha Kapoor will be sharing screen
space with Farhan Akhtar.The film is slated to release on November 11.
Sonakshis Akira
mints more than Rs
10 crore in two days
No place for horror in

archive of path-breaking
cinema: Emraan
mraan Hashmi has been associated with

horror genre for long, and will soon be
exploring the spooky realm with Raaz Reboot.
The actor says most of the stars shrug off the genre
thinking that it doesnt get a place in the archive of
path-breaking cinema.
ctress
Sonakshi
Sinhas
action-packed avatar in Akira
is having a steady run at the
box-office. The film has amassed Rs 10.45
crore in two days of its release.
Directed by film-maker A.R. Murugadoss,
Akira released on September 2.
According to a statement released by
films publicist, Akira managed to put up a
good day two with a slight jump.
The film has collected Rs 5.30 crore on
day two. On the first day, the film collected
Rs 5.15 crore. The total collection of the
film so far is Rs 10.45 crore.
Presented by Fox Star Studios, Akira
brought Sonakshi and Murugadoss
together once again. He had previously
directed Sonakshi in the film Holiday,
which was a success at the box office.
Akira sees Sonakshis character coming
to Mumbai from Jodhpur, where she gets
into a tiff with the goons of the college she
enrols in. The story is about her fight to
come out of a case, where the college goons,
a corrupt policeman played by Anurag
Kashyap and another played by Konkona
Sen Sharma, play crucial components.
I would say the general perception is horror

doesnt get a place in the archive of path-breaking
cinema even in Hollywood. Thats the truth ...
I am doing it purely because of the genre,
Emraan said. He added, It is one of the
genres that has a very different kind of
reaction from the audience and I find it
fascinating. Emraan has been associated
with horror genre through Raaz
franchise and Ek Thi Daayan.
It has a definite audience so thats the
reason I am doing it. You dont expect
[the] best actor award for horror films
for sure but its just the experience
that matters, he said.
Directed by Vikram Bhatt, the
fourth instalment of the Raaz
franchise
features
Emraan
with south Indian actress Kriti
Kharbanda. The film has been
shot in Romania. Emraan says
shooting for the fourth part was
nerve-wracking for him. It was
a nerve-wracking experience
doing this film. Since it is a
successful franchise, we want
to take it ahead to another
level. The look of the film
is unique which is being
appreciated. The audiences
are expecting a lot from this
film so I am excited to see
their response.
Produced by Vishesh
Films, the film will release
on September 16.
ctress Parineeti Chopra, who is

back from her Dream Team tour to
the US, says she likes to perform in
front of the camera as well as the audience.
Asked what is tougherperforming live
or on screen, Parineeti said, Both have
their own things. What you perform in
front of the camera will last forever. There
are many challenges to that...But live, you
have only one shot and you cant make
mistakes. There are challenges in both and
I enjoy both equally.
The Ishaqzaade star says there is a high
in performing live and also there is an
excitement in performing in front of the
camera. Talking about the tour, where
Parineeti performed with other Bollywood
celebrities such as film-maker Karan Johar,
rapper Badshah, actors Varun Dhawan,
Sidharth Malhotra, Aditya Roy Kapur, Alia
Bhatt and Katrina Kaif, Parineeti says it
was a wholesome experience.
On the acting front, Parineeti is currently
busy working with actor Ayushmann
Khurrana for the film Meri Pyaari Bindu.
Cant see Freaky Ali

working without
Nawazuddin: Sohail
ctor-filmmaker Sohail Khan says it

is his good fortune that Nawazuddin
Siddiqui joined the cast of Freaky
Ali, and that he cant see the film working
without him. Sohail says he wanted to make
a film on the game of golf. People think its
an elitist game meant for the rich and the
privileged. My basic premise for the film
was what if someone from the lower strata
of the society, in this case an undergarment
seller from small town, gets thrown into
the vast elitist green acres of golf?
What if this simpleton doesnt know of
the existence of the expert golfer within
him? Thats how this film started.
This is where writer Raaj Shaandilya
came to help Sohail co-write the script.
Sohail also needed Nawazuddin to play
Freaky Ali. Its my good fortune that
Nawaz came on board. I cant see this film
working without him.
Nawazuddin, admits Sohail, has become
a part of Sohails family. Its really very
simple in our family. If you love us, we love
you back. If you are hostile towards us,
then thats what you get from the family.
Apart from movies, Sohail, who has
directed Freaky Ali, says he has always
been interested in sports.
Auckland to New Delhi

from $1170 return*
*Selling Period: 04 September 2016 onwards
30
FEATURES
Thriving on a passion
For young Aravindan Ramakrishnan, a good short film is all about taking a simple concept and adding beauty to it through a unique scripta
formula he follows in his short film Vigatpam that won awards at the recently held TYONZ short film competition in Auckland. Indian Weekender
spoke to this soon-to-graduate business student to know more about his passion and commitment to the world of the cinema.
Esha Chanda
passion
fostered
in
childhood
for
drama
and arts paved the way
into the world of cinema for
Sri
Lankan-born
Aravindan
Ramakrishnan. He is not a film
student. He has no formal training
or background in film-making.
But his inquisitive mind and a
thirst for knowledge unfolded the
celluloid chapter in his life.
Ramakrishnan, a student at
Concordia Institute of Business,
came to Auckland last year in
November. He will be graduating
soon, but he already has reasons
to celebrate. In August this
year, a short film directed by
Ramakrishnan was awarded at
the second annual short film
competition conducted by the
Tamil Youth Organisation of New
Zealand (TYONZ) a non-profit
organisation that unites young
Tamilians across New Zealand
to help promote and understand
their unique language, history,
culture, and identity. His film,
Vigatpam,
was
nominated
in six categoriesthe highest
nominations received by any short
film this year. And on the evening
of August 20, in an event held at
Raye Freedman Arts Centre in
Epsom, Auckland, the short film
took away two awards: Best Music
Director and Best Crew. And it did
not stop there. The film was also
recommended for several other
short films festivals that would
take place later this year in the UK
and Norway.
My
passion
towards
film-making made me enrol
in the short film competition,
Ramakrishnan says. We were
nominated in several categories
that including best actress, best
Aravindan Ramakrishnan
supporting actor, best music

director, best cinematography,
best editor and best director. The
event was grand, and the support
we received was overwhelming.
Learning on the job
amakrishnans
interest
in film-making goes back
to his childhood days. He
grew up watching Tamil movies
and his greatest inspiration
comes from actors such as
Rajinikanth, Vikram and Vijay
and directors Mani Ratnam, K.
Balachander, Karthik Subbaraj
and Kamal Hassan. During his
schooldays at S Thomas College
in Sri Lanka, one of the oldest
and prestigious schools in the
country, Ramakrishnan often
took part in cultural programmes.
The school gave importance to
Free garba coaching session

Date: Sunday, September 25
Time: 3 p.m. onwards
Venue: To be confimed
Eager to swing those beautiful garba moves this

Navratri? Are you a fresher and want to learn the
basics of garba? Then come along and join this free
session by Sonal Bhavsar. Register your interest at
sonal.bhavsar@hotmail.com or contact Sonal BhavsarJoshi on 022 136 2906.
CAB driving workshop

Date:Thursday, September 15
Time: 1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Venue: Lecture Theatre at Whitireia
Polytechnic (entrance 1)
CAB Porirua will hold a free information session for

newcomers on driving in New Zealand. Find out about
converting an overseas drivers licence to a New
Zealand licence, process to get a New Zealand licence
for the first time and traffic law. The presenters are from
Automobile Association, New Zealand Police and CAB.
ToRSVP, call04 237 8846 or e-mailmanager.porirua@
cab.org.nz
I started
learning the
technical aspects
of making a film
when I was in India.
All the knowledge
that I have now
in film-making is
through experience,
online reading, and
observations.
extracurricular activities, and as a
young school boy, whenever there
was an opportunity to showcase
my talent, I always grabbed it.
Slowly, I developed an interest in
different fields such as dramatist,
poet, actor and an orator. He won

several school- and national-level
competitions but it wasnt until
Ramakrishnan enrolled in SRM
University in Chennai, India that
he first forayed into film-making.
At SRM University I learnt
about
film-making
through
my fellow mates who were
studying film-making and visual
communication, he says. I
always allocated time from my
studies to help them out with
their assignments on short films.
The time Ramakrishnan spent
behind the camera helped him
acquire technical knowledge, and
he gathered enough experience
to work on his own short film. He
believes that through experience
and practical knowledge, nothing
is impossible. I started learning
the technical aspects of making a
film when I was in India. All the
knowledge that I have now in filmmaking is through experience,
online reading, and observations.
As soon as I completed my course
in India, I went back to Sri Lanka,
started working in a multinational
company and during weekends,
I would work as a director on
several short films to keep me
attuned with what I had learnt in
the university.
Ramakrishnans
Vigatpam
(meaning difference) is based on
current events seen in the society.
The basic message conveyed
through the story is that when we
leave our own problems behind
to courageously stand up against
others, we will make a huge
difference, he says. In the film,
we have tried a different way to
shoot a scene that is rarely seen
in short film scripts, and it has
created a huge impact on the
audience. But Ramakrishnan says
CAB parenting workshop
Date: Monday, September 12, 19 and on Friday,

September 16, 23
Time: 10 a.m. to noon
Venue: Manaia Room, Pakuranga Library Building, 7
Aylesbury St Pakuranga Citizens Advice Bureau
CAB will be holding a free parenting workshop for

all families with children up to 12 years old, living in
Counties Manukau. Participants can learn to deal with
difficult parenting issues by observing, discussing, and
practicing positive parenting strategies. Workbooks
and tip sheets will be provided. Register by calling
021459520 or drop an e-mail at settlement.
pakuranga@cab.org.nz.
CAB workshop on wills and

power of attorney
Date:Saturday, September 17
Time: 9:30 a.m. to noon
Venue:English Language Partners, Level 1, 3091
Great North Road, New Lynn
CAB New Lynn will hold a free information session

for newcomers on buying a house,wills and power
that he owes it all to the team. I

worked with a young and talented
crew who coordinated everything
so well. This wouldnt have been
possible without teamwork.
Quick and easythe two
ingredients, Ramakrishnan says,
you need to make a good short film.
The game plan is to take a simple
concept and add beauty to it with
a unique script. But he stresses
that the way a story is conveyed to
the audience is more important.
A script can make a simple
story line more complicated and
a more complicated story line,
very simple.
The road ahead
amakrishnan would be
graduating by the end of the
year and would soon step
into the corporate world, but he
says his love for films will continue
to thrive. I am never going to
give up on cinema, he says. My
passion and commitment towards
film-making will always remain
the same, and I am confident that
I will come up with something
new and exciting. I will definitely
concentrate on making better
films in the future. I believe that
passion and career is not always
the same for all winners. It differs;
it actually depends on how well
you manage both.
Ramakrishnans aim is to start
a production company through
which he can not only entertain
people but also provide a platform
to support fresh talent. So is he
looking at developing feature
film? If there is an opportunity,
then why not grab it? he says.
I would love to do a full-length
feature film. All you need is a
correct platform to showcase your
talent. I am just waiting for the
right opportunity.
of attorney. Learnabout buying a house, presented

by Judy Ting-Edwards, Boyle Mathieson Lawyers,
and wills and power of attorney, presented by Jade
Mathews, Public Trust. Light refreshments will be
provided. To register, call 827 7830 or 827 4731 or
e-mail at newlynn@cab.org.nz. Intersted participants
can also drop in at Citizens Advice Bureau New Lynn,
Library Building, 3 Memorial Drive, New Lynn.
Pakuranga Toastmasters
Date: Monday, September 19
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Venue: Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts,
13 Reeves Rd, Pakuranga
Founded in 1975, Pakuranga Toastmaster provides

a safe, friendly, welcoming and fun environment
for people of all walks of life to build confidence,
leadership skills, and improve their communication and
public speaking skills. Themes, props, and sense of
humour are ingredients that allow participants to learn
and grow in a fun environment. Admission is free.
Send us information and details about your
community, social and cultural events and we
can publish them in the Whats On column
Shelter Realty
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DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this material is not intended to form professional legal advice or legal opinion.
Readers are advised to obtain their own specific legal advice.

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Indian Weekender 9 September 2016

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9SEP2016

NZs only Kiwi-Indian weekly

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

The Pulse of Kiwi-Indians since 2009

OFFERS VALID 7-26 SEPTEMBER 2016

15-16 OCTOBER 2016 | AOTEA SQUARE

J000722_Diwali 2016_IndianWeekender FPA.indd 1

30/08/2016 11:35:14 a.m.

www.iwk.co.nz | 9 September 2016

Duped students demand fair

ore than 150 Indian

should be stressed that the very

offences. About 50 students and

and she did not show up at

Sunny Singh, a former student,

9 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Continued from page 3

is an Indian. He must have done

Anu Kaloti (left) and Sunny Singh

The students, who hail from the

students responsible for the fraud

When you visit their office and

Sunil Chinta, a student at AWI

I dont have an account in the

students are in a state of trauma

Ram, a student from New

We are the victims, not

Where would we get the stamp

Blaming the agents back home

Many students have already

A free weed-eater for the first 10 franchises

NEW BUSINESS only

Area available throughout Auckland

Motorways, employment, parks and shopping and more all

Top One Real Estate Limited

Licensed (REAA 2008)

0800 4546 546

Gold Award 2015

JOIN OUR TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS TODAY!

www.iwk.co.nz | 9 September 2016

What the Indian leaders

Indian Weekender contacted the Indian

Indian High Commissioner Sanjiv Kohli

Licensed Restaurant Nice Ambience

Bakery/ Cafe HOT HOT HOT

Takeway in Prime Location

Indian Takeaway in Food Court

Indian Spice Store

9 September 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Continued from page 5

get the qualifications. And it would be

My submission has been to allow these

Sunny Kaushal, Indian community leader

National MP Dr Parmjeet Parmar

Denise Roche, Green Party MP

of behaviour has taken place then action

These students have fallen prey to

Dr Parmar said that while these cases are

There have been a number of cases

Views of other political and

Indian students facing deportation from

The government needs to step up and

29 SHAKESPEARE ROAD, MILFORD, AUCKLAND

Phil Goff, MP for Mt Roskill