Indian Weekender 24 April 2015

24 April, 2015 Vol. 7 Issue 5 | www.iwk.co.
nz
New Zealands first Kiwi-Indian weekly newspaper
The Pulse of Kiwi-Indians
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24 April 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz
INSIDE
Pg 8
Pg 24
Red
Black
NZ LOCAL
Pg 17
ETHNICITIES
Pg 22
EDUCATION
WOMEN
Pg 27
HEROES
AMONGST US
Pg 30
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www.iwk.co.nz | 24 April 2015
Red
Black
Orange
The shared but forgotten history

Commemorating hundred years of the fearless Indian brigade at Gallipoli
Maya Shivam
In Gallipoli they
formed part of the
Australia New Zealand
Division. Of the
Indians who served in
Anzac, 1926 died and
3863 were wounded,
some more than once
They shall not grow old, as we

that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor
the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning,
We will remember them.
Lawrence Binyons,
For the Fallen
s efforts get underway

to commemorate the
100 years of Gallipoli
landings to honour the 18,000
New Zealand soldiers killed
during World War-I and more
specifically the 2721 men killed
in Gallipoli, it may be time to
acknowledge the forgotten fallen
Indian soldiers during the same
war.
The Gallipoli campaign took
place at Gallipoli peninsula in
Turkey from 25 April 1915 to 9
January 1916, during the First
World War. A joint British and
French operation was launched to
capture
the Ottoman
capital
of
Istanbul,
and
secure a sea route
to Russia. The attempt
failed,
with
heavy
casualties on both sides.
India being under the British
empire at the time, made up the
British contingent, along with
New Zealanders and Australians.
A million Indian troops
fought in the First World War, of
them 700,000 were pitted against
the Ottoman Empire. In Gallipoli
they formed part of the Australia
New Zealand Division. Of the
Indians
w
h
o
served
in
Anzac, 1926 died and 3863 were
wounded, some more than once,
says Pradeep Kanthan, author
and independent researcher.
Gallipoli was the strife of people
of different races and it has had
a special impact on Australia,
New Zealand and Turkey, who
have kept the spirit alive. What
is not immediately remembered

is that there was a significant
participation by troops from
India.
Many New Zealanders and
Aussies believe Gallipoli was the
defining moment that fostered
a sense of national identity in
the two countries. Anzac Day is,
therefore, a major event in New
Zealand and is marked by parades
and remembrances in both these
countries. However, Indias vital
contribution to the Allied victory
in the war rarely gets a mention
within India or overseas.
As the nations prepare to mark

the centenary celebrations in New
Zealand, Australia and Turkey
with the underlying theme LEST
WE FORGET. The distressing
fact that stares us South Asians
in the face, is that the sacrifices
of our fallen soldiers are not
remembered because they have
not even been acknowledged
the contribution of soldiers from
the Asian sub-continent (i.e.
Undivided India and Ceylon)
now comprising India, Pakistan,
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka who
participated in these operations.
Aucklands Carl Gomes and
Ravee Sahrawat (late) in their
paper called The Forgotten
Blokes of the Indian Brigade
Gallipoli Revisited, give a detailed
account of our shared heritage
full text available at www.iwk.
co.nz). Gomes says I hope this
will result in recognizing their
contribution, at least during the
centenary year, both in India and
Down Under.
Continued on Pg 4
NEW ZEALAND
Continued from Pg 3
The Indian contribution

to the First World War
was in the form of seven
Expeditionary Forces (A to G)
and it was Expeditionary Force
G that fought in the Gallipoli
Campaign. It comprised the 29th
Indian Brigade, which had under
its command
four Infantry
Battalions,
namely: 14th
(King Georges
Own) Ferozepur
Sikhs,
1/5th
Gurkha
Rifles
(Frontier Force),
and the 1/6th
and
2/10th
Gurkha
Rifles.
An
artillery
component: 7th
M o u n t a i n
Artillery Brigade
with 21st (Kohat)
and the 26th (Jacobs) Mountain
Batteries, equipped with breech
loading 10-pounder guns.
These mountain batteries were
the first to be reluctantly Indianised after the great mutiny of
1857. Further, except for the
Gurkha battalions, all other units
had equal components of Muslim
troops. As the Ottoman Empire
at that time held sway over
the Islamic world and Indian
troops were subject to Turkish
propaganda, units with Muslim
The shared history

troops were quickly moved
away to France, leaving mainly
the Gurkhas to fight it out in
Gallipoli Gomes and Sahrawat
explain.
There was also an Indian
mule cart train of the Indian
Supply and Transport Corps

whose services were vital for the
operations of the entire Anzac.
The lone Indian muleteer who
stayed back to provide logistic
support to Kiwis is part of the
folk lore to date. All these units
were further served by the 108th
Indian Field Ambulance. In
addition, 69 Punjab Unit and
89 Punjab Unit, on their way to
France and Flanders as part of
7th Indian Infantry Division were
rerouted and sent to Gallipoli.
Pradeep Kanthan in his piece
Anzac and India: A shared but

forgotten camaraderie goes on to
say Many accounts of Gallipoli
remember the Indian Ambulance
Brigade and the Indian Mule
Transport.
Quoting
Major
HM Alexander, Indian Mule
Transport he says The Anzacs
called every Indian Johnny
and treated them like a brother,
with the consequences that the
Indians liked them even more
I often saw parties of Australians
and New Zealanders sitting in
the lines, eating chuppatties and
talking to the men.
Prof. Peter Stanley of the
University of South Wales
believes that to understand the
Indian experience of Gallipoli,
you have to look at Anzac
records the diaries, photos
and letters of Anzac soldiers
who wrote endearingly about
their Indian mates. Many Anzacs
mention the bravery of the Indian
infantry man Karam Singh, who
continued to issue orders to his
troops, even after he had been hit
by a shell and blinded by it.
Even the most famous
Australian Anzac John Simpson
Kirkpatrick
(popular
in
Australian folklore as Simpson
and his donkey), used to stay with
the Indian mule drivers, because
he loved the fresh food cooked
by the Indian troops much
more than the bully beef that
Red
was supplied in the Australian

rations.
Letters sent by Anzacs
show that they had the highest
regard for the courage and
professionalism shown by the
Indian troops. One Anzac even
sent a photo with his Indian
mate, which was published in
the Sydney Mail in 1916 with the
title Best Chums. Prof. Stanley
believes that true friendship
b e t w e e n
Indians and Australians can
be traced back to the fields
of Gallipoli, a friendship that
must be commemorated at the
centenary this year.
Prof. Stanley has written the
first ever book about the Indian
Black
Orange
troops at Gallipoli titled Die

in Battle, Do not Despair: The
Indians on Gallipoli 1915 which
will be releasing
on 28 April 2015.
He described the eight month
long Gallipoli campaign in 1915
that cost at least 125,000 lives.
Fighting alongside the Anzacs
and the allies were 16,000 Indian
troops, of whom 1600 became
casualties of war. Prof Stanleys
book lists the names of these 1600
fallen Indians, predominantly
Gurkhas or Sikhs, who were also
cremated in Gallipoli after they
fell.
The spirit of Gallipoli lives
on as battle honours in the
regiments that exist even to date
in the Indian Army albeit under
new titles. Indians who gave their

supreme sacrifice in the Helles sector
are commemorated on the memorial at
Red Cape Helles, alongside
Black Twelve Tree
Orange
Copse
Memorial that commemorates the New
Zealanders killed in the sector.
But how many of us know of this shared
history.
Pradeep Kanthan goes
on to say in his blog that
Indian, Australian and
New Zealanders have
had a long history of joint
military operations. After
Gallipoli, in the Second
World War the Indian
Army was, to number,
nearly 2 million men- the
largest volunteer force
in the history of human
conflict. It was natural
that the Indian troops
would take to the field with their
old
ANZAC companions. They did so in the
battlefields of North Africa and later in the
fierce fighting to roll back the Germans in
Italy, in Burma and the Pacific theatre.
Indians and Anzac, who fought
alongside in Gallipoli had much more in
common than merely
being comrades in arms. They served like

in the Charge of the Light Brigade not
to reason why, but to do and die Anzac
day needs to remember the Indian mates
who served in Gallipoli.
A report in the Times of India states
Hundreds of stories of camaraderie

between the Indians and the Anzacs
were recorded during the campaign. The
Australians, perceived to be the most
racist among white troops of the Great
War, had only respect and admiration
for the Indian soldiers. But a hundred
years on, many Australians seem to have
forgotten that Indians
fought side by side with
their ancestors.
It were the Indian
mule drivers who kept
the Anzacs well-fed and
well-equipped to fight the
enemy, not Australians
or New Zealanders or
anybody else for that
matter. Over 200 mule
drivers and 800 animals
Continued on Pg 6
NEW ZEALAND
NEW ZEALAND
Continued from Pg 5
died in the process. While the

Indian contribution goes as a
footnote to the British war effort,
the mention of the role of Indian
non-combatants is almost nonexistent.
While on the one hand we may
feel hard done by, by not getting
a mention for our contributions
at Gallipoli on ANZAC Day, how
many of us Indians do actually
realize or even know of this
shared heritage? Being a proud
granddaughter of World War
veterans, I have read about and
write this piece with great pride in
our gallant fore fathers who also
fought at Gallipoli. However, it is a
fact that our own countrymen are
completely oblivious to their own
proud history. Indian Weekender
brings this special feature for the
entire Indian community to read,
to learn and to walk taller with
pride in the brave actions of their
fore fathers and commemorate
this Centenary of Gallipoli with
equal pride. In the times of
Wikepedia and Google, I hope
more and more of us will research
this shared but forgotten history.
This is also an endeavor by
Indian Weekender to initiate a
dialogue amongst our people so
we integrate into the mainstream
better than we have ever before.
For when we realize of our shared
heritage, we cannot but help feel
like a part of the whole (New
Zealand Community).
(Sources of information: The
forgotten blokes of the Indian
Brigade Gallipoli Revisited,
www.freeperception.com,
SBS
Punjabi Radio)
Pictures
courtesy
of
SBS Punjabi Radio
We spoke to many Kiwi Indians about what they knew about ANZAC Day
Red
Black
Orange
and heres what they had to say.
Navi
at all! Have been living here for the last two

I dont know anything about ANZAC day... I mean not
ay or what... I have to work on public holidays
years and I dont really care whether it is a public holid
of knowing about this day. But I would like
also and been so busy in work that did not feel the need
e why is this day celebrated
to know more about it and I think we all should be awar
Dinesh Narayan
ANZAC day is in Australia and New Zealand. It stand
s for Australia New Zealand Army Corps and
is celebrated on 25 April and that is all I know... I have
been here for almost 13 years but never felt
the need of knowing about it
Rana & Monica

we are
we stay here we should know more about it,
We dont know, I have realised that when
ay but
holid
a
its
know
We
it.
time to think about
actually so busy in our lives that we dont get
about
e
mor
know
us
let
to
ed
ibut
definitely be distr
why, we dont know that... a pamphlet should
the Kiwi-festivals or special days.
Erica
It is about the soldier who died in the 1st world war to remember
the soldiers for their sacrifice, I
havent seen the parade yet but love to know more about the day and
where it is celebrated
Chirag
I know little about ANZAC day, but one thing is that when Indian come over here as student, they
dont know anything about this country. The government or Indian community should make a
booklet or a guide about the country and about important days of the country with a small note. This
will help anyone coming from overseas to know and be a part of the NZ culture
Karamjeet Kaur
Actually I really dont know anything about that day
because we are from India and we do not
celebrate this day in India. I am living here for last 5
years and I really want to know more about it
or any other festivals but we are so busy occupied with
work and priorities
2 MegaPixels
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M 021 80 80 92
+64 21 995 121
B 09 489 0810
+64 9 271 7267
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+64 21 22 77 110
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+64 9 489 0810
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NEW ZEALAND
Paul
Red
Black
Orange
I dont know much about ANZAC day except that it is
commemoration for the lives sacrificed by the soldiers of
Australia and New Zealand... It is a from the memories of
First World War
Shankar
Just know that it is a public Holiday, everyone here
celebrate it and so even we enjoy the holiday, I dont know
which day it is celebrated and no idea why...
Manoj
was so busy in my
I thought of it a couple of times, but
public holiday and I
profession but i am happy to have a
matters
guess for me that is the only thing that
Sharad
Remembrance of soldiers who lost lives by
participating
in the war- Sharad
Laura
Australia New Zealand
I know ANZAC day stands for
s and New Zealanders
Army Corps day for the Australian
for us.. It is a day to
who went to Gallipoli and fought
cuz its sad man, they
remember the soldiers who died,
Gallipoli
gave their lives for this country in
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NEW ZEALAND
Buddha Day draws thousands to Fo Guang Shan

Monastery in Botany
Red
Rizwan Mohammad
o
Guang
Shan
Monastery
celebrated
the multicultural day
last Sunday in Flatbush Botany,
Auckland.
Every
year
the
celebration takes place during the
3rd weekend of April at Aucklands
largest
Buddhist
Monastery
remembering the Great Buddha
and his teachings in the world.
Buddha is widely known as
the messenger of peace and
brotherhood and the founder
of Buddhism that is adopted by
millions in the world.
The multicultural day at the
Fo Guang Shan Monastery was
one of a kind with a huge footfall
of men, women and especially
children of different cultures.
The program started with a short
dance performance by small
school going kids on traditional
Chinese music and then followed
by performances by other ethnic
groups.
The one thing that caught
every ones attention was the
open house where a replica of a
tree, Buddha and a lady, all were
made with balloons. Besides that
there was a Buddhist art and
craft exhibition adjacent to the
cafe which is renowned for its

Chinese tea, and traditional cafe
items from China. There were also
monks in the gardens who were
leading the prayers and speaking
to the audience at the venue,
giving them knowledge about the
monastery and the religion.
One of the rooms showcased
an animated film of Buddhas
life and how he attained Nirvana
after years of meditation under
the Bodhi tree in Gaya a place
in the Indian subcontinent. The
monastery has a vast open garden
with stoned grounds and aligned
puzzle shaped grass line with a
long podium on which laid a small
wooden dome with incense sticks.
Inside the main section of the
temple was a huge idol of Buddha
in the centre with hundred of knee
chairs, and the walls had one of the
most splendid covers. All corners
of the main temple wall were filled
with more than 10000s of semitransparent Buddha frames with
lights glowing from inside. Just
outside the temple door on either
corner were another giant bell
with a knocking log and a huge
drum on the other end amongst
the red Chinese lanterns.
Asian food stalls were at the
venue and popular with many.
An Indian performing group
along with the others added the

flavour to the day. There was
also a fancy dress competition
for children who were dressed up
like Buddha and other prince and
Water charges for community

groups to be forgiven
ommunity groups have

had a small financial
reprieve with Auckland
Council forgiving outstanding
water charges for groups that
lease council land or buildings for
community activity purposes.
The amounts vary between
around 200 groups with an
average of about $500 per group
being forgiven.
Council has been working with
Watercare to reconcile water
charges for community groups
after the super city amalgamation
to align water and wastewater
charging for community groups
from the various legacy councils.
Because of the complexity in
determining how much each group

used per water meter, Auckland
Council became the default payee
for water and wastewater.
With a resolution in sight and
a more clearly defined billing
system scheduled to begin on1
July, Council is to forgive historic
payments required of community
groups that have not already had
their water charged directly from
Watercare.
Ian Wheeler, General Manager
Property at Auckland Council,
said with the vast range of
community facilities, the task of
attributing each community user
groups meter usage for water and
wastewater is a time-consuming
task.
It is more cost-efficient in
terms of staff time and resources
to forgive the charges and start
with a fresh slate in July, he said.
Mr Wheeler said it was
important
that
community
groups understood they would be
responsible for the payment of
their water accounts to Watercare
from July and he urged groups to
contact the Council if they have
any concerns about their future
metering charges.
He said Councils Property
Lease Advisors are available to
work closely with and support
community lease tenants as
they transition through this new
invoicing process and to answer
any queries.
EPA information now in Hindi, Punjabi and Gujrati

IWK Bureau
ife can be fragile and you

never know when the
ability to make your own
decisions could be taken from you
through sickness or injury.
Having an Enduring Power of
Attorney (EPA) means you can
have peace of mind that you have
decided, ahead of time, who you
trust to make decisions for you
if you cant decide for yourself.
Its important for every adult,
whatever their age, to take steps to
create an EPA.
Senior
Citizens
Minister
Maggie Barry has launched a new
range of multilingual resources to
help New Zealanders protect their

future with an Enduring Power of
Attorney (EPA).
Two pamphlets which explain
how to set up an EPA have been
translated into nine different
languages
including
Hindi,
Punjabi and Gujarati and are now
available for free online.
An EPA is an important
safeguard for all Kiwis to consider
putting in place, regardless of
age, gender, ethnicity or where
you live, MsBarrysays. Its
important to make information
about EPAs accessible to as many
people as possible.
MsBarrysays everyone should

consider setting up an EPA.
Unfortunately any of us could
lose the ability to make decisions
for ourselves at any time through
illness or injury. Having an EPA
in place means someone we
trust will be legally able to make
decisions about our property, care
or welfare.
The translations are also
available in Maori, Korean,
Samoan,
Tongan,
simplified
Chinese and traditional Chinese.
The pamphlets are available
now atwww.msd.govt.nz
princesses from Asian countries.

The venue also housed face
painting, bouncing castle, tattoo
making, balloon crafting, free
medical checkups etc. The venue
Black
Orange
itself had an ambience of absolute

peace and harmony, and that was
the message of the Buddha Day
celebration.
Helping families with

special children
IWK Bureau
he Parent and Family

Resource Centre (trading
as Disability Connect)
has announced the first Indian
Families with Children of Special
Needs Support Group meeting
in May 2015. Disability Connect
received funding from Culturally
and Linguistically Diverse (CALD)
project to provide support service
to South Auckland Families with
children who have special needs.
Disability Connect is inviting
Indian families with special
needs children to come along to
this meeting. It will explain to
families the services that they
offer at Disability Connect and
how they can help a family. The
organisation is also wanting to
hear from the families of their
needs and how would they like the
support group to run.
All Indian families raising
a child with special needs are
welcome to this meeting. The
group is urging people to inform
as many parents as possible
about this meeting as this is a
great networking opportunity. All
attendees will receive a copy of
the presentation about Disability
Connect and their services.
For
catering
purposes
it is important to register
for this meeting. You can
register by emailing Sanny of

Disability Connect at sanny@
disabilityconnect.org.nz. You can
also phone 636-0351 to book over
the phone.
The event details are below:
Please note that the meeting
will start promptly at 10am

Indian Families with Children
of Special Needs
Support Group Meeting
Tuesday 5th May 2015
9:30am till 1pm
Theatre
Room,
Nathan
Homestead
70 Hill Road, Manurewa,
Auckland
FREE entry and ample FREE
car parking
Complimentary
light
vegetarian lunch included
Programme for the day:
9.30am Registrations Open
(tea and coffee)
10.00am
Presentation:
Disability Connect and our
Cultural Disability work what
we do and how we can help
12 noon Lunch and Networking
1.00pm Finish
NEW ZEALAND
Manukau Indian Association

announces new team
Red
Black
Orange
IWK Bureau
s with the democratic traditions of

the Manukau Indian Association,
a new team has been elected to
manage its affairs for the year 2015-16. This
was announced at the MIAs Annual General
Meeting (AGM) earlier this month, where
the founding members Keshav Govind and
Balubhai Mistry presided as the election
officers.
Veer Khar was elected as MIA President
for the second term. Among the other officebearers elected at the meeting wereSuresh
Ramji (Vice President), Ram Lingam
(Secretary), Hansa Naran (Treasurer),
Monark Panchal & Gurwant Singh (Asst
Treasurers) and Roy Kaunds (Assistant
Secretary).
The members of the newly elected
Executive Committee team include Avtar
Singh,Balubhai Mistry, Gurmeeta Singh,
Keshav Govind, Laxmiben Morar, Mohanpal

Bath, Munish Bhatt, Paramjit Dutt, Ranjana
Patel, Rajinder Bedi, Rajinderpal Singh
Bajwa, Resham Singh and Surjeet Singh
Sachdeva. Marshall Gass, Narinder Singla,
Dhiru Patel, Cyrus Mehta and Rati Mehta
were co-opted into the Executive Committee
at their first committee meeting held on 13
April.
The AGM agenda comprised of the
Annual Report by President Veer Khar. This
was followed by a presentation on a long list
of MIA activities during the 2014 term by
Ram Lingam and Roy Kaunds.
MIA, an association for Indians living in
New Zealand, welcomed Indians from any
origin and any part ofIndiasettled inNew
Zealandto become members of MIA and
participate in its various cultural, social and
developmental activities. MIA administrator
Sarah Gass can be contacted for MIA
memberships at 09-2799202.
Bhakthi Madhuram at
Shirdi Sai Baba Mandir
Rizwan Mohammad
hri Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan of NZ

Inc organised Bhakthi Madhuram
a melodious devotional music
programme by renowned singer from
Mumbai, India Shri Shailendra Bhartti on
Saturday, the 18th April 2015 at Shri Shirdi
Sai Baba Centre at 12-18 Prince Street,
Onehunga in Auckland. The audience
enjoyed singing with the artist several
bhajans in praise of Sai Baba. This was a
Fund Raising programme by the Sansthan
and well supported and attended by the
community..
Shailendra Bhartti is a renowned
singer with rich artistic temperament and
melodious voice. Hailing from a family
with a background enriched with musical
heritage, Shailendra started his tutelage at
an early age of eight under his father and
guru Shri Anand Kumar Bhartti. Shailendra
further trained and received early exposure
in the intricacies and nuances of music
under the guidance of renowned Tabla and
Vocal Maestro Late Pt. Bansilal. Coming
from a school of thought that learning is
unending, he is now carrying forward the
Buy Now for Growth
1938 and 1988 East Coast Road, Silverdale, Auckland
same by receiving training from Pt Murli

Manohar Shukla, the doyen of Kunwar
Gosai Shyam Gharana. He has a gifted
touch in his voice and can conquer any
horizon ranging from classical music to
light music.
He can sing in several languages, gave
concerts in several countries and released
over 350 CDs. He has previouslyworked
with eminent artists like Pt Murali
Manohar Joshi, Pt Jasraj, Asha Bhosle,
Lata Mangeshkar.
Audience, who attended the concert
were enthralled and emotional at the end
and look forward another performance in
near future.
www.bayleys.co.nz/377681
1
Boundary lines are indicative only
3
Boundary lines are indicative only
Farm now or land bank

Two land opportunities for sale
Located within rapidly growing Silverdale
Located 3 kilometres away from the fast developing Silverdale town centre, the properties
are in close proximity to the new shopping centre, PAK'nSAVE, medical centre, North
Arena Swimming Centre and other local shops.
Currently zoned General Rural, under the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan (PAUP), 1988
East Coast Road is zoned Future Urban, and 1938 East Coast Road is zoned Countryside
Living.
The properties overlook the Motorway (State Highway 1) with access from East Coast
Road. The house at 1988 East Coast Road is rented with ancillary buildings. 1938 East
Coast Road is currently leased for grazing and would suit a land banker or farmer looking
for a strategic purchase.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Property
Details
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1988 East Coast Road
1938 East Coast Road
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Land
Area
80,188m (8.0188ha)
140,500m (14.050ha)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Zoning
General Rural
General Rural
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PAUP
Future Urban
Countryside Living
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tenancy Details
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
There is a residential tenancy and a grazing agreement in place. Full details are available
upon
request.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tenders Close (unless sold prior)

4pm, Thursday 21st May 2015
29 Northcroft Street, Takapuna
Auckland, New Zealand
Tony Chaudhary
M +64 21 995 121
B +64 9 271 7267
tony.chaudhary@bayleys.co.nz
Bayleys Real Estate Ltd, Manukau,
Licensed under the REA Act 2008
Damian Stephen
M +64 21 80 80 92
B +64 9 489 0810
Devereux Howe-Smith Realty Ltd, Bayleys,
Eddie Zhong
M +64 21 22 77 110
B +64 9 489 0962
eddie.zhong@bayleys.co.nz
Devereux Howe-Smith Realty Ltd, Bayleys,

10
NEW ZEALAND
Red
$123 million worth drugs

seized in dual busts
etectives
from
the
Polices
Organised
and Financial Crime
Agency New Zealand (OFCANZ),
working together with Customs,
have seized 123 kilograms of
methamphetamine during two
successful pan-Auckland drug
operations.
Detective Inspector Bruce Good
said the scale and sophistication
of the supply chains and
manufacturing techniques that
were infiltrated during Operation
Wand and Operation Sorrento
shows the ability of Polices
OFCANZ and Customs to tackle
organised criminal groups.
Police
Minister
Michael
Woodhouse and Customs Minister
Nicky Wagner today congratulated
agencies for the latest successful
drug-related operation targeting
the production and supply of
methamphetamine in Auckland.
These
operations
were
successfully executed due to the
great work of Police districts
and the Organised and Financial
Crime Agency New Zealand
(OFCANZ), and I commend their
efforts, Mr Woodhouse says.
Police Commissioner Mike
Bush
said
the
successful
terminations underline Polices
determination to target the trade
in methamphetamine and the
organised crime groups that run
it.
Methamphetamine
is
a
significant driver of crime that
does enormous damage to our
communities. It ruins lives and
destroys families and Police are

determined to prevent the harm
and victimisation it causes,
Commissioner Bush said.
The Government is committed
to reducing the harm caused by
gangs and transnational crime
groups, through our whole-ofgovernment action plan to clamp
down on gang activity.
Police and Customs also
enjoyed similar success during the
termination of Operation Sorrento
in late March. Criminals need to
know that drug activities will not
be tolerated in our communities,
and any profits or assets from
these atrocious activities will
be seized. The results of these
operations go a long way in
sending that message, Mr
Woodhouse exclaimed.
The terminations of Operation
Wand and Operation Sorrento
illustrate that there are a
number of players involved in
the importation, production and
supply of methamphetamine in
the Auckland region.
Mr Good said Police and
Customs staff from across the
country worked on the dual
terminations.
Customs
Minister
Nicky
Wagner says the operation is a
brilliant showcase of how law
enforcement agencies are working
together.
Seven of those charged are
Chinese or Hong Kong nationals
while the remaining two are New
Zealand citizens.
Deflation:
Another economic
headache linked to
housing crisis
he housing crisis is
causing
even
further
damage with the second
consecutive quarter of deflation, a
genuine concern the Reserve Bank
can do little about, as it focusses
on Auckland house prices, says
Labours Finance spokesperson
Grant Robertson.
This is a double blow for New
Zealand businesses. Prices for
their products at home are falling
and our dollar is overinflated
due to high interest rates,
making product prices high and
uncompetitive for exporting.
The Reserve Bank has had to
keep the OCR at one of the highest
rates in the developed world
because it fears pouring petrol on
the overheating housing market.
This has pushed our dollar
to overinflated levels, making it
much harder for exporters to sell
their products overseas.
Now we have had deflation
for two quarters in a row. For
short periods deflation is little to
worry about but if it sticks around
it means businesses are losing
money, profits, and inevitably,
jobs Grant Robertson says.
Coleman launches flu

immunisation campaign
ealth Minister Jonathan

Coleman
launched
the annual influenza
immunisation campaign at Victoria
University of Wellingtons Student
Hub last week.
The Government is committed
to increasing influenza protection in
New Zealand, especially among high
risk groups, says Dr Coleman.
This year there is a particular
focus on ensuring younger people
with long term health conditions
such as severe asthma or diabetes is
protected.
High risk groups include those
with long-term health conditions
such as heart disease, stroke,
diabetes, respiratory disease, kidney
disease, cancer, as well as pregnant
women and people aged 65 and

over.The ministry of health has
appealed to all the communities in
New Zealand to take immunisation
and consult their GPs for
instructions and checkups. Influenza
immunisation is free for Kiwis who
are at high risk of complications
and is accessible through their
local general practice and some
pharmacies. Many employers also
provide free vaccination.
This year, the influenza
immunisation was delayed globally
a few weeks so that two new vaccine
strains could be incorporated, says
Dr Coleman.
This will ensure the communities
in the country are better protected
this winter from the strains of
influenza circulating around the

world. The vaccines are expected to
be administered well before peak
influenza season in winter, and
similar to last year, a total of 1.2
million doses are expected to be
distributed.
This week is also Immunisation
Week which is an opportunity to talk
about immunisation for babies and
young children, as well as protecting
Kiwis throughout their life.
Adults can protect themselves,
their families and their communities
by immunising against serious
diseases,
including
influenza,
whooping cough and measles.
People should talk to their GP to
find out if they need to catch up,
says Dr Coleman.
Black
Orange
Consultation sought on
tobacco control protocol
ublic feedback is being

sought on whether New
Zealand should sign up to
an international agreement aimed
at getting rid of the illicit trade in
tobacco products.
These illegal products are
usually cheaper than legal
tobacco, which is taxed. Smokers
buying illicit products may be
less inclined to quit and nonsmokers may be more likely to
take up smoking.The illicit trade
in tobacco products results in lost
government revenue through tax
evasion, and can be used to fund
other criminal activity, Associate
Health Minister Peseta Sam LotuIiga says.
Illicit tobacco trade also
encourages the users to use more
of tobacco products without a
public health warning or quitting
drive of such tobacco products get
slower to nil. This has the potential
to undermine our governments
goal of a smoke free New Zealand
by 2025.
Illicit trade is thought to make
up only about 2-3 per cent of the
tobacco market in New Zealand.
However, there is no guarantee it
will not become a greater issue for
this country in future, Mr LotuIiga says.
New Zealand took part in
the negotiation of theProtocol
to Eliminate the Illicit Trade in
Tobacco Products, under the
World Health Organisations
Framework
Convention
on
Tobacco Control,and now needs
to decide whether to become a
party to it.
The Protocol contains a range of

measures which include controls
on the tobacco supply chain and
encouraging international cooperation and collaboration to
prevent illicit trade in tobacco.
Feedback obtained through
the consultation will assist
government
with
deciding
whether New Zealand should
become a party to the Protocol.
High school students and
young adults are very much prone
to take up smoking because these
illicit tobacco products are easily
available through a chain of users
and the supply is done secretly.
Since the rule in the country does
not allow anyone below 18 year of
age to purchase and use tobacco
products, there is a huge penalty
on the stores who sell tobacco
products to minors in New
Zealand.
The consultation document
is available on the Ministry
of
Healths
website:https://
www.health.govt.nz/our-work/
preventative-health-wellness/
tobacco-control/who-frameworkconvention-tobacco-control/
illicit-trade-protocol
Minister to host forums for

ethnic communities
ew Zealand is seeing
the benefits of ethnic
diversity,
not
just
economically but culturally as
well. The diversity continues
to grow every year and ethnic
communities are becoming more
established and enriching our
cultural landscape.
To engage more with the
growing
ethnic
groups
of
different cultures and faiths,
Ethnic Communities Minister
Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga will hold
a nationwide series of evening
community forums that began in
Taupo this week.
The forums will give us
opportunities to discuss the issues
and challenges facing our ethnic
communities, Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

We will also focus on how
we can help New Zealand move
forward together economically,
socially and culturally by working
closely to inform government
policy and practice.
I want the forums to be a
productive discussion on what
we each want to achieve and any
perceived barriers to us getting
there, Mr Lotu-Iiga says.
As well as the Taupo forum,
over the next three months
there will be forums in greater
Auckland, Northland, Hamilton,
greater Wellington, Christchurch,
Invercargill, Palmerston North
and New Plymouth.
NEW ZEALAND
No more sweet talk

on obesity
Red
Black
Orange
he Government should be looking at

broader measures to combat obesity
rather than re-hashing pre-announced
initiatives, Labours Health spokesperson
Annette King says.
While it is encouraging to see the
Government finally waking from its slumber
and restoring a focus on obesity lets see some
new ideas, such as reducing sugar in processed
food. Manufacturers did it with salt, theres no
reason they cant do the same with the sweet
stuff added Annette King.
The latest health promotion push is not
new, with Prime Minister John Keydeclaringit
would adopt the Australian anti-obesity
programme months before last years budget.
Call me cynical but once again we have
National congratulating itself on a re-hashed
announcement. It is ironic that it has taken
so long for Government wake up to the fact
something needs to be done about the growing
problem of obesity. said Labours Health
spokesperson. One of the first things National
did when it was elected to Government seven
years ago was dump two successful Labour
initiatives - the Healthy Eating-Healthy Action

programme, aimed at achieving a healthy
weight for all New Zealanders, and guidelines
around school tuck shops.
Talk about political stupidity exclaimed
disappointed Annette King
It is also disappointing that the Government
is using an Australian programme as its
template whenthe country has an incredibly
successful home-grown solution, Project
Energize that has been running in the Waikato
region since 2005. Primary and intermediate
school children in the Waikato District Health
Board region are involved in Project Energize
which aims to improve nutrition and physical
activity levels in those age groups, reduce
obesity rates and reduce cardiovascular risk
factors.
A total of 44,000 primary and intermediate
school children are now part of Project
Energize through 244 Waikato schools.
More than a million Kiwis are now
considered to be obese. Turning that around
will take more than one community-based
initiative, Annette King concluded.
11
Victims of crime to get new

code of rights
ustice Minister Amy Adams says a

new draft Victims Code of Rights
will help to ensure victims are better
informed and put them at the heart of the
justice system.
The New Code will ensure that the
victims of crime know the judiciary system
better, when they are caught up between
rules and regulations and understand them
better.
The draft code outlines victims rights,
the services available to victims and their
families from government agencies and
other organisations, and the obligations of
justice sector agencies when dealing with
victims.
Ms Adams says the Government is
seeking peoples views on how easy the
draft code is to understand and how to
ensure people know about it.
Developing the Victims Code is an
important part of our work to ensure
victims know their rights.It is vital that
victims of crime who are caught up in the
criminal justice system through no fault of
their own know about and understand it,
Ms Adams added.
To be effective and reach those who
need it, the code needs to be user-friendly
and readily available to victimsand their
families. The Government has developed
the code with the interests of victims in
mind, and is seeking public feedback to
ensure weve got it right.
The Ministry of Justice has previously
consulted widely about the content and
structure of the code. Its implementation
The new code will ensure

that the victims of crime
know the judiciary system
better, when they are caught
up between rules and
regulations and understand
them better.
follows changes to the Victims Rights Act
2002 that strengthened and expanded
victims rights.
Anyone wishing to comment can do so
through a short online questionnaire, both
the draft code and questionnaire can be
found on:
www.justice.govt.nz/publications/
global-publications/v/draft-victims-codefor-consultation.
NEW ZEALAND
12
Awards celebrate young

people making a difference
Seven categories based on the

seven goals of the I Am Auckland Plan,
launched by Mayor Len Brown last year
ominations are now open for the

second annual I Am Auckland
Awards.
Led by Auckland Council
and its Youth Advisory
Panel, the awards celebrate
people under 24 making
positive contributions to their
communities across Auckland
and those supporting them to
do their best.
Young people play a vital
part in making Auckland the
worlds most liveable city,
says Flora Apulu, Chairperson
of the Youth Advisory Panel.
The I Am Auckland Awards
recognise
passionate,
dedicated young people going above and
beyond in their communities, and the
teachers, youth workers and mentors
supporting them to make a difference.
Working towards making Auckland
the worlds most liveable city is all about
creating the best possible future for our
children, says Mayor Len Brown
Thats why these awards are so
important. Recognising the contribution of
young people as we work to make Auckland
the best very best it can be.
On behalf of Auckland Council, I am
very proud to be associated with an event
that celebrates young Aucklanders who are
determined to make a difference in their
communities.
will celebrate youth achievement in

areas including leadership, education and
Rangatahi Mori development.
To nominate a young person, youth
organisation or youth worker use theonline
formathttp://bit.ly/iamaucklandawards.
Only those aged 12 to 24 can nominate a
youth worker or youth organisation.
Winners will be announced at an awards
evening in May.
The awards are led and delivered by
young people, with support from Auckland
Council and the Ministry of Youth
Development.
Nominations close midday onMonday
11
May. For
more
information,
contactawards@iamauckland.co.nz
ARTISTS IMPRESSION ONLY
FREEHOLD STRATA TITLE RESIDENCES

QUA
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L S
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CORNER VICTORIA ST WEST & FEDERAL ST

12
OPPOSITE
AUCKLAND SKY TOWER
CARPARKING ON-SITE
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WA
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M AY O
1 Sky Tower
2 Sky city casino
3 Countdown Supermarket
4 Auckland university
5 AUT
6 Auckland Domain
7 Aotea centre
8 Auckland art Pgallery
021 0235 6648
9 Myers
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chetan.k@harcourts.co.nz
10 Albert park
11 Victoria park markets
12 Chancery
13 Vulcan lane
14 Britomart Train/bus station
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Red
rtist Michael Parekowhai has

completed the next step in creating
an iconic artwork for the northern
end of Aucklands Queens Wharf.
Developed design on this landmark project
sees refinement of the initial concept for The
Lighthouse (working
title); a house filled
with
light
and
detailed
glasswork
chandeliers in the
Matariki constellation
formation.
Barfoot
&
Thompson Managing
Director
Peter
Thompson,
whose
N ews fro m
leading real estate
company gifted $1m to
the city of Auckland for a public art commission
in celebration of 90 years in business, says the
design has reached an important stage.
Michaels concept for The Lighthouse has
really started to take shape and now the detailed
work can begin. We are committed to Michael, to
the project and our gift to Auckland. We believe
the Parekowhai lighthouse will be a unique
art work and a drawcard for Aucklanders and
visitors to the city we are very much looking
forward to seeing work on the project progress,
says Mr Thompson.
Mayor Len Brown applauds Barfoot &
Thompson for its generosity and commitment
to Auckland and says its now over to council
and its partners to deliver on the Michael
Parekowhai vision.
This is the most generous gift of public art
Black
Orange
that Auckland, perhaps even New Zealand,

has ever seen. Family-owned businesses like
Barfoot & Thompson have shaped our city for
over 150 years and their ties to Auckland run
deep. Also, what better way to reflect the culture
and heritage of Auckland than with an artwork
by one of our most
prominent
artists:
a lighthouse on our
harbours edge and a
partnership with one
of our oldest business
partners, says the
Mayor.
The
developed
design visuals for The
th e C o u n c i l Lighthouse show a
conceptual lighthouse
made of wood and steel, with doors and
windows and a viewing platform that allows
people to see the ten celestial chandeliers
hanging within. The chandeliers depict the
night sky and Matariki constellations. The
next stage is for the artist and project team to
complete detailed design, which will allow work
to begin on the construction of the house and
creation of the hand blown glass chandeliers.
The Mayor also acknowledges the debate
that artwork can generate.
Artworks by their very nature inspire
debate imagine Paris without the Eiffel
Tower, Sydney without its Opera House and
New Plymouth without Len Lyes millennium
sculpture. I look forward to seeing this work
unfold before us, he says. Installation of the
artwork on Queens Wharf is planned for mid2016.
MAYORALDRIVE
ARTISTS IMPRESSION ONLY
PRICED FROM
Queens Wharf artwork reaches

developed design stage
NEW ZEALAND
Red
Black
13
Orange
Creating a confident,
better performing
economy
Kanwaljit Bakshi
National List MP
ext month Finance Minister Bill

English will deliver the Nationalled Governments seventh Budget.
It will be a Budget that builds
on the strong foundations
weve laid through our
economic programme over
the past six years.
Our
strong,
growing
economy, backed by the
Governments
clear
economic plan, is
translating into real
benefits for New
Zealand
households
and businesses.
We have one of the fastest-growing
economies in the developed world. Its
supporting more jobs 80,000 new jobs in
the past year.
Inflation and interest rates are low.
Wages, on average, are increasing faster
than the cost of living.
More Kiwis are voting with their feet and
either staying home or coming home to take
up opportunities for their families.
But there is much more to be done a
couple of good years are not enough to
change our long-term well-being.
Well need many more years where we
grow faster than other developed countries
so we can continue lifting incomes and
creating more jobs.
And we need to remain wary of the
risk and challenges in an uncertain and
changing world whether its falling global

commodity prices, a fragile Europe, and a
weaker economic outlook for countries like
Australia and China.
For its part, the Government will press
on with its consistent programme of
sensible reforms thats what the Budget
on 21 May will focus on.
In his pre-Budget speech, the Prime
Minister has outlined some important
announcements ahead of Budget 2015.
Two of the most important ways we can
achieve sustainable, long-term growth are
through innovation and investing in the
education of our young people.
We
will
provide
another $244 million
over the next four years
for seven new schools,
major expansions
at four other
schools, and
an extra 240
classrooms at
existing schools
right across New Zealand.
We will also invest another $80 million
over four years in encouraging more private
sector research and development.
This is on top of the $566 million we had
already committed to private sector R&D
grants over four years.
It also means the National-led
Government
has
boosted
science
funding significantly since we came into
government this year it will total $1.5
billion a 70 per cent increase since 2008.
Thanks to the hard work of New
Zealanders and many migrants who now
consider New Zealand their home, were
in a strong position to build a brighter
future. Providing we stick to our clear
plan, we can deliver the opportunities
and security New Zealanders and their
families deserve.
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14
FIJI
Red
Black
Orange
Fiji, India boost defence ties Preserve culture,

Sarma urges
ndias Defence Advisor based

in Canberra, Australia, Captain
(Navy) Chetan Chandegave was
in the country on an introductory
visit to meet with heads of Fijis
defence forces.
Captain Chandegave arrived
into the country on Monday night
and his first visit was to acting
Deputy Republic of Fiji Military
Forces Commander, Captain (Navy)
Viliame Naupoto, and Land Force
Commander Colonel Sitiveni Qiliho.
Captain Chandegave will also
be meeting with the Commissioner
of Corrections, Ifereimi Vasu, and
senior officers of the Fiji Police Force
before returning to Australia.
Speaking to the Fiji Sun after the
meeting at the Commanders Office
at Berkeley Crescent, Suva, Captain
Chandegave said India holds Fiji in
special regards.
Fiji is a very beautiful place. It
reminds me so much of home and
I feel at home here. In a very, very
short time, I can see that it is a very
warm society and warm people and
I am hoping that I will be here more
often. Fiji is always special for us
and we are here in Fiji whenever we
can and we look for opportunities

for more co-operations with Fiji.
During this visit, I got to know the
senior leadership. My focus is to
improve our defence co-operation
with Fiji because there is so much in
common and we would like to learn
from the good practices of Fiji and
incorporate it back in India.
Captain Chandegave will also
be focusing on getting more senior
military officers to India for studies.
Colonel Qiliho said India and
Fijis relationship had become

stronger with time and would
continue to strengthen.
We are old friends (Fiji and
India) and we look forward to
working together for the betterment
of both countries and also to
continue with our good relations that
we have had. The Indian Military has
stood by us when others had left and
they are still here with us and we are
happy that he has taken time to visit
us first, he said.
ndias High Commissioner to

Fiji, Gitesh Sarma, says Fijians
should celebrate and preserve
the countrys cultural diversity.
Mr Sarma was the chief guest
at the 88th Sangam Convention at
ANZ Stadium in Suva last week.
It was his first time at the
convention and he reminded
citizens to take care of their elders at
all times.
Your ancestors and parents
have given you a lot. This is part of
our culture and we all should give
respect to our parents and elderly.
This is an exciting time for the
country and the Sangam convention
has contributed to a lot of things and
this time is about looking after the
elderly people.
I am surprised and happy that
Fiji people are maintaining the
culture and, of course, Fiji is a special
place because its a multicultural
country, says Sarma.
Meanwhile,
Then
India
Sanmarga Ikya (TISI) Sangam
National
President
Sadasivan
Naicker highlighted the theme for
PM tells supporters: Be 0n election mode
rime Minister Voreqe

Bainimarama reminded
FijiFirst supporters to
remain on election mode.
Speaking at the
partys
election success celebration at the
Saint Joseph the Worker School
in Nakasi, the Prime Minister
acknowledged the support of the
Nasinu voters.
During the September election,
FijiFirst accumulated the most
votes from the Nasinu area.
My colleagues we must never
forget that while the Fijian people
have given us their trust, we need
to work as hard as we can to keep
with it, Mr Bainimarama said.
We need to treat every week
that passes as a week we need to
win in the hearts and minds of

the Fijian people. It is very easy
to start taking people for granted.
We are not going to fall into that
trap. We thank God for the
blessings that have been bestowed

on us as a party, as a people and
as a nation that under the FijiFirst
banner we are moving forward
together as one.
Unlike our opponents, we

passionately believe in equalit5y
of opportunity for every Fijian. We
dont govern for one section of the
community or particular elite. We
govern for everyone without fear
or favour. We want every Fijian to
have the same opportunities no
matter who they are or where they
come from.
Nakasi resident Joji Temo said
he was satisfied with the current
work that the Government was
doing for the past five months.
My childrens tuition fees and
books are being paid. Im happy,
Mr Temo said.
At least a hundred people
were part of the celebration at the
school
for sale of and export any turtle

shell, flesh or derivatives thereof,
or even digging up eggs and

consuming them, he said.
Turtle poaching banned
he Minister for Fisheries

and
Forests,
Osea
Naiqamu, says those
caught catching turtles would be
prosecuted.
Despite the blanket ban on
catching turtles, some fishing
communities in the Central
Division continue to slay turtles
for consumption.
Mr Naiqamu said members of
the public should report instances
where turtles are slaughtered.
The conservation of our
marine system is not only our
work, but it is the responsibility of

everyone in our communities, Mr
Naiqamu said.
He said people needed to
understand and know the
importance of the life cycle of
turtles.
The ban on sea turtle harvest
in Fiji will go on until December
31, 2018, under the Fisheries
Protection of Turtles Amendments
2010.
No person shall in any way
molest, take or kill turtles of any
species, or sell, offer, or expose
Indias High Commissioner to Fiji,

Gitesh Sarma
2015 Sangam Year for the Elderly

and
remembered
Christians
celebrating Easter throughout the
country.
On this auspicious day in the
Christain calendar, I wish to quote
the Bible in the 10 commandments
which says, honour your mother
and father and you shall have a long
life. All religions teach us the same.
Mr Sarma said old age was a
serious impediment and elders at
their stage of life needed love and
care.
Register for free

medicine
embers of the public are

encouraged to register
with Governments free
medicine initiative.
The Assistant Minister for
Health and Medical Services,
Veena Bhatnagar launched the free
medicine initiative at the Super Drug
Pharmacy at Nabua last week.
Ms Bhatnagar said the initiative
was the Government and Health
Ministrys commitment to improve
health services and health delivery to
its people.
Medicinal supply has always
been a challenge and the health
ministry and the Fiji Government
has worked towards addressing this
issue, she said.
The Minister for Health and
Medical Services, Jone Usamate had,
during his recent trip to India, met
with the organisations that can assist
the ministry in its pharmaceutical
challenges like stock items, wastages,
procurement processes and overall
inventory system.
The ministry, she said, aimed
to better and improve health
service delivery through an efficient
pharmaceutical supply system. Those
eligible for the free medicine initiative
can provide such prescriptions to
any government pharmacy and/ or
selected private pharmacies and upon
presentation of valid identification
(ID) will be able to access selected
medicines free of charge.
FIJI
Lessons to learn from faraway India
Red
Black
Orange
ndia, which is one of the largest

democratic country in the world, has been
a development assistance partner of Fiji
for some time.
Apart from providing scholarships to Fijian
students and assisting in the medical field,
India has also been giving assistance in other
areas. But now, a visit to the worlds largest
democracy by the Agriculture Minister, Inia
Seruiratu, and other officials has opened up
doors for developments in the agricultural
field. While his visit has resulted in some major
decisions being made by Indian companies, of
interest is the decision to improve the coconut
sector in Fiji.
The Fiji High Commission in New Delhi
NEWS in BRIEF
Nurses urged to
research job practices
reported that Mr Seruiratu and the Fiji

delegation met with the Coconut Development
Board chairman T K Jose and senior officials
at the CDB headquarters in Kochin, India.
The meeting highlighted a few issues, which
includes Fijis need to consider improving
coconut productivity.
According to the High Commission, Indias
coconut export earning in 2013 was around US
$440 million.
Indias success is based on its genetic
approach to coconut production and process
coupled with continued government support
to the industry, said Mr Jose.
He said value addition was an important
area that Fiji needed to pursue and to be
recognised.
The Fiji delegation also toured a coconut
museum displaying all coconut by-products.
During the visit by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, we had expressed our interest
into an MoU with specific agencies within
the government of India as we intend to
pursue agriculture-related issues, particularly
seed development, training and exchange of
technical expertise, he said. The Fiji delegation
also visited a crab and prawn farming area
in Kerala, which has fascinating traditional
farming methods and practices.
During his visit to Fiji in November last
year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
also announced a $75m line of credit to Fiji
for the co-generation power plant at Rarawai

in Ba.
Mr Modi also announced a grant of US $5m
(about F $10m) for the development of small
micro-enterprises in villages in the country.
He also announced visa-free travel to India
for Fijians, and an increase in scholarships for
Fijian students wishing to study in India.
Starting from
NZ
$1470*
(inclusive all taxes)
Starting from $1165*

NZ police post returns

to Fiji
Indian Minister for Rural Development Birendra Singh receives gifts from the Minister for
Agriculture, Inia Seruiratu.
FLY TO INDIAN SUB CONTINENT
he Fiji Nursing Association (FNA)

is encouraging the 2600 registered
nurses nationwide to do more research
on nursing practices for their own benefit.
In an interview during the associations
scientific forum in Suva, FNA general secretary
Salanieta Matiavi said research was now more
than necessary as their work was now evidencebased.
We just want them to do research because
if we want change in any nursing practice, we
need evidence, Ms Matiavi said.
This is a forum where more than 200
nurses from around the country have come
together to present their research work about
their profession and how they can improve their
services to the people of Fiji. This is a platform
where we assess them (nurses) as part of their
Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
points. Each nurse needs to gain 20 points
annually in order to become licensed to practise
nursing.
he New Zealand Police Pacific liaison

has returned to Fiji after heightened
tension in 2009 forced the post to be
moved to Samoa.
The incumbent officer, Detective Inspector
Don Allan, who has been in Suva since late
March, says Fijis position as a hub in the Pacific
means it makes sense to be based there. He says
it was always the intention to return to Fiji once
the country had normalised.
Mr Allan says he would take a measured
approach to re-engaging with Fiji, as there had
been significant changes over the past seven
years. Among recent changes in Fiji, where
democratic elections were held last year, was
the appointment of a new Police Commissioner,
South African Ben Groenewald.
15
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Force to discuss a training programme that will
focus on border security.
The New Zealand authorities say the
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border security in the Pacific.
Fiji authorities last year intercepted large
shipments of cocaine and heroin.
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Thought of the week
The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to

reach your full potential... these are the keys that
will unlock the door to personal excellence.
- Confucius
Editorial
From the desk of the

Managing Editor
Funny bone
n his address during his Canadian visit Prime Minister Modi said President
Kalam used to talk about a positive column in newspapers, today it is finally
happening. And he cited the example of a newspaper editor who wrote to him
to say they had implemented a policy of doing only positive news once a week. We
from Indian Weekender have written to Prime Minister Modi to let him know that
since the last six years, the one publication that is based on the philosophy of only
featuring positive news about Indians. Indian Weekender is dedicated to enhancing
the image of Indians and as such adding value to the way we integrate into the
larger community in a country that we have chosen to call home.
The centenary commemoration of the battle of Gallipoli is upon us and there
are numerous events around Australia and New Zealand being organized. Of all
the discussions that are happening around the country, none seem to mention the
contribution of the fallen Indian soldier.
The Indians were approx. 1.2 million who volunteered to fight under the British
Indian Army in WWI, making them the largest volunteer army in the Great War. Of
these, 1926 were killed and 3863 were wounded at Gallipoli while fighting as a part
of the Australian New Zealand Division, which itself was a part of Australia New
Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). But how many of us know of this shared heritage
and how many of us actually care to know? In search for some answers, Indian
Weekender spoke to members of the Kiwi Indian community. Unsurprisingly
the number of people who know anything of this, was negligible. Since this is the
centenary of the Gallipoli operations with the underlining theme lest we forget,
we want to bring the story of Gallipoli to the community and hence our cover story.
Its important that we not only know and remember but walk tall, proud of the
actions of our fearless forefathers who fought the Great War.
It was heartening to know that the New Zealand Sikh Society (Wellington) Inc.
will be laying a wreath on ANZAC Day 25 April 2015 at WELLINGTON citizens
wreath laying.The Wellington Gurudwara priest S. Dalbir Singh along with Master
Sachram Singh will lay the wreath on behalf of theNew Zealand Sikh Society
(Wellington) Inc. It is important that we continue to participate in these events and
share in the commemoration of the centenary events. We hope to bring you more
details on this next time.
The countdown to the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame is now on and we have
acknowledged our confirmed sponsors and supporters for the event. Needless to
say, this is just the beginning and there are many more to come as we get closer to
the date. The excitement is also building with the two new awards that have been
announced this year. We will be happy to share with the readers how it all unfolds.
So as the long weekend rolls on and we set about doing what we might have
planned with our friends and family, I urge the entire Kiwi Indian community to
spare a moment and think of all the heroes of Gallipoli who laid down their lives for
a battle that became a defining moment in history for New Zealand.
Giri Gupta
Pick of the week
New Zealanders and Australians gather on Anzac day to commemorate the 100th
anniversary of their soldiers landing at Gallipoli in Turkey in World War I.
Indian Weekender Volume 7 Issue 5

Publisher: Kiwi Media Group Limited
Managing Editor: Giri Gupta | girigupta@xtra.co.nz
Editor: Maya Shivam | editor@indianweekender.co.nz
Associate Editor: Paula Ray | paula@indianweekender.co.nz
Chief Reporter: Swati Sharma | reporter@indianweekender.co.nz
Reporter: Rizwan Mohammad | iwk.rizwan@gmail.com
Chief Technical Officer: Rohan Desouza | rohan@indianweekender.co.nz
Art & Layout Design: Mahesh Kumar | mahesh@indianweekender.co.nz
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Accounts and Admin.: Farah Khan | accounts@indianweekender.co.nz
Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher
is not responsible for advertisers claims as appearing in the publication
Indian Weekender is published by Kiwi Media Group, 98 Great South Road, Auckland
Printed at Guardian Print, Ashburton
Copyright 2015. Kiwi Media Group. All Rights Reserved.
Duvet
Pronounced: du-ve
Meaning: Quilt;
Usage: In winter, the sale of duvets in supermarkets increases
by manifold
TIP from the TRENCHES

When booking flights and hotels online enable
private browsing. Travel sites often track your visits
and will raise the price simply because youve visited
before.
Use Google Maps offline by typing OK Maps and the
visible area will save for future access.
Bring a power strip and be a hero for other travellers.
On the last day of your trip to a foreign country,
collect all of your loose change and give it to the
homeless.
OPINION / EDITORIAL
17
Indian settlement in NZ: then and now
Red
Black
Sekhar Bandyopadhyay
espite the myth of

cultural
prohibitions
preventing
Indians
from crossing the ocean, Indians
have been an outgoing people
since the ancient period. Coming
to the more modern period, with
the establishment of the British
Empire in India in the eighteenth
century, Indians have migrated
Orange
stay in our part of the world too.

Last week the New Zealand India
Research Institute organised
a workshop to discuss various
aspects of Indian migration to the
Pacific and Indian Ocean states.
Twelve papers were presented to
cover the history of this migration
to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and
Southeast Asia, from the colonial
period to the present day. We may
present here some interesting
n
cademic
ccount
wherever the Empire expanded.
As lascars they were sailing in
the East India Company ships; as
sepoys they were protecting the
empire; as indentured labourers
they were developing its plantation
economy; as babus they were
manning the lower levels of its
administration. In a real sense the
Indians were partners in empire
building.
In the postcolonial period,
through professional migration
and student mobility, thousands
of Indians travel to different parts
of the world every year. According
to the Ministry of Overseas Indian
Affairs of the Government of India,
about 22 million people of Indian
origin lived in 205 countries in
May 2012. A good many of them
Prof Sekhar Bandyopadhyay
Director of New Zealand India Research Institute
new information presented at the

workshop about Indians in New
Zealand.
Our knowledge about the first
arrival of Indians in Aotearoa has
now shifted, as we now know,
thanks to the research of the
Waikato scholar Todd Nachowitz,
that the first Indians arrived here
in 1769, the year James Cook first
touched the shores of New Zealand.
Nachowitz further showed in
his paper in this workshop that
throughout the eighteenth century
in countless ships hundreds of
Indian lascars (sailors) and sepoys
(soldiers) visited New Zealand.
In other words, along with the
Europeans, the Indians were also
partners in the early exploration
and settlement of this land from
According to the
Ministry of Overseas
Indian Affairs of the
Government of India,
about 22 million
people of Indian origin
lived in 205 countries
in May 2012
the very beginning of its history. It
is time that this story is properly
recognised in the nations history.
I have also mentioned in my
previous columns that the size and
character of the Indian population
in New Zealand have significantly

changed in the past decade. Now
from Alison Booths analysis of the
2013 census figures we know that
93.7% of these Kiwi-Indians live in
the North Island; 90.8% can speak
English; over 81% have fulltime
employment, with $27,400as
median income. Most of them
are professionals, managers and
sales workers, engaged in retail
trade, health care and hospitality
industry.Also a large section of this
Indian population are students,
as Indian student enrolment in
New Zealand has increased from
slightly over 2000 in 2006 to over
15,000 in 2014.
In recent weeks this sudden

influx of Indian students has been
a subject of public debate, as unlike
other Asian students, Indians
prefer to take an immigration
path. However, what is interesting
about of this enrolment pattern is
that 66% of these Indian students
have enrolled in various Private
Training Establishments, 24%
in Polytechnics and only 9% in
universities. So the question is,
are these students coming for the
right type of qualifications, which
can get them jobs in New Zealand,
and eventually residency? If not,
then we are seeing here a problem
in the making.
Bilingual and multicultural

Paula Ray
ew Zealand has a
bilingual
language
policy. It means all
official communications should
be in English and Maori. This is
most reflected in governmental
communication
through
notices, application forms, public
announcements,
monument
plaques, art and the likes. But how
many Kiwis actually follow the
language and speak it fluently?
Only a hand-full, at the most.
If the New Zealand government
has a policy to offer a bilingual
curriculum to school-goers, how
come so many New Zealanders
dont know the language? It is
because learning the language is
optional. In early primary school,
children are taught a few Maori
words. But very soon it is replaced
by Mandarin.
As the same policy-makers
claim, Mandarin is the future
business language of New Zealand.
The primary reason being that the
Kiwi-Chinese comprises one of the
large ethnic communities in New
Zealand, and they have ownership
of a commendable share of the
countrys economy. No surprises
if the business language in the
near future changes to Mandarin.
Ironically, the community is still
considered an ethnic minority, in
spite of their economic dominance
standing a few heads taller than

the rest with their investments in
this island nation.
The segregation of ethnic
communities is also felt at public
schools, where they have a
separate class for students who
want their medium of instruction
to be in Maori language. These
students
study,
play
and
participate in social activities that
do not include the other classes.
They grow up in segregation. I
daresay, sometimes they are even
discriminated against by their
peers, because they look and talk
in a certain way.
My question is: if New

Zealand is bilingual, why is Maori
language not taught hand in hand
with English language? To an
immigrant, the Maori community
is also perhaps an ethnic
community, in spite of living on
this land much longer than the
European New Zealanders.
Interestingly,
according
to the 2013 census, there are
approximately 600,000 Maori
identified in New Zealand,
making up approximately 15
percent
of
the
countrys
population. They comprise the
second-largestethnic group, after
European New Zealanders.
Of all the immigrants who have
inhabited New Zealand for almost
two generations or more, how
many actually understand the
Treaty of Waitangi? How many of
us know the significance of Anzac
Day? Again, only a hand-full.
This is mainly because there
isnt much awareness shared with
immigrant communities about the
second largest ethnic community.

In spite of the Treaty of Waitangi,
New Zealanders in general do not
know equally about the two topmost ethnic communities of the
land. This is partly why the Maori
people will never become part
of the mainstream community.
Is this another fall-out of ethnic
segregation in a multicultural
country?
If the so-called mainstream
community
was
open
to
integration of cultural values
across all communities, perhaps

they could have learnt a lesson or
two from a multilingual nation like
India. Every state in India makes
it compulsory for its inhabitants to
learn and use the state language,
along with the official language
(English) and sometimes even
the national language (Hindi). As
such, almost every Indian grows
up speaking all three languages,
right from their childhood. And
that is the true essence of being
multicultural.
18
INDIA
Red
Black
Orange
Modis three-nation tour: Projecting a

self-confident India
Ranjana Narayan
rime Minister Narendra Modis

three-nation tour was marked by
several high points - the surprise
announcement on purchase of 36 Rafale
fighter jets in France, clinching a five-year
uranium supply deal with Canada, pushing
the Make in India initiative in Germany,
assuring all of the ease of doing business in
India, not forgetting the rockstar connect
with the Indian diaspora. The tour has
led to positive achievements and led to
a portrayal of a self-confident India, say
analysts.
As Modi returns home after his long
April 9-16 tour, the visit had several other
notable points. Modi paid tribute to the
thousands of Indian soldiers killed in World
War I at the Neuve Chapelle memorial in
France, becoming the first Indian prime
minister to do so.
He raised the pitch for India seeking
a UN Security Council permanent seat,
terming it as Indias right and listed out
the reasons, during a civic reception by the
Indian community in Paris. In Berlin, Modi
said at a civic reception that India would
set the agenda for the climate change talks
in Paris this year, as India has traditionally
always followed the principle of reuse and
recycle and never believed in wastage of
resources. At the same event, Modi made
a significant statement, saying that Indias
secularism is based on strong foundations
and it can never be shaken.
Modi also strived to establish a personal
connect with the three leaders. With
Frances President Francois Hollande,
the nao pe charcha moment during a
cruise on River Seine grabbed eyeballs. In
Canada, Modi got Prime Minister Stephen
Harper to travel by Air India One from
Ottawa to Toronto and the two leaders
jointly addressed the thousands of ecstatic
Indians at the Ricoh Coliseum in an event
reminiscent of the Madison Square Garden
event in New York last year. Besides, Modi
mingled everywhere with Indian expatriates
and also clicked selfies with them, helping
strike a personal chord.
In different ways all the three visits have
produced positive results for India; besides
strengthening the idea, which Modi has done
successfully, that India is becoming more
(Above): Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting with the Prime Minister of Canada,
the Right Honourable Stephen Harper at Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Canada; Modi addresses
media during the Joint Press Statement, at Federal Chancellery, in Berlin, Germany. Also
seen German Chancellor Angela Merkel
attractive as an investment destination,

which is critical for his development plans
in India, former foreign secretary Kanwal
Sibal told media.
On Modi strongly pitching for a UNSC
seat, Sibal said that this marked a change
in tone. Earlier India has been lobbying,
now his tone is different; I will not beg for
it, I deserve it and giving reasons for that.
This is part of his general approach of a
self-confident India which is now willing to
make effort to become part of the big power
league.
Former envoy Sheel Kant Sharma
termed the agreement on uranium as
path-breaking, especially as Canada had
put India off nuclear cooperation following
the 1974 peaceful nuclear blast. And now
they have come full circle and are selling
uranium to us, for five years. And Canada
has also agreed on the same terms which we
have with US, they are also not interested
in the tracking issue, which has been raised
by some other countries. In that sense it is
the completion of the process that started

in 2005, of Indias mainstreaming; India
can get uranium from the major uranium
suppliers, Sharma, who has been Indias
representative at the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA), told media.
According to Sibal, Canada is the third
country from which we will get raw uranium;
and considering the history of our relations
with Canada on the non proliferation front,
this is a very major strategic step forward.
Noted strategic expert C. Uday Bhaskar
termed the uranium agreement significant
in relation to Indias growing energy needs
to boost growth and development and the
symbolism as poignant, in the backdrop
of Canada having suspended nuclear
cooperation following the 1974 nuclear test.
On the Rafale deal, Bhaskar, told media
that it will provide much-needed platform
infusion to the Indian Air Forces depleting
fighter squadron strength.
India clinched a deal to buy 36 Rafale
fighter jets in fly away condition in Paris.
Bhaskar, who is director, Society for Policy
Studies (SPS), said it was a deft political
decision to manage a complex exigency
- both in relation to Indias composite
military capability and the tangled technocommercial negotiations over the 126
MMRCA deal concluded by the UPA
government.
Sibal said the Rafale deal is a step that
will bolster our strategic partnership with
France.
In Germany, Modis main thrust was
economics. He held meetings with German
CEOs and jointly inaugurated the India
pavilion at the Hannover Messe with
German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He
passed on the core message that India is
open for business and he will make doing
business in India easier, and also promised
that he will have mechanisms put in place
that will facilitate the entry of German
businessmen into India, said Sibal.
On his connect with the diaspora,
Sharma says that Modi realizes the value
of the diaspora in the way he reaches out to
them, meets them and shakes hands with
them. It helps them identify with the prime
minister of India, as one who rose up the
ladder to the top, and most of the diaspora
have also come up the hard way.
Political intervention necessary in democracy, says Modi
rime Minister Narendra Modi said

though political interference was
undesirable, political intervention
was necessary to ensure people-friendly
governance in a democracy.
Addressing civil servants on the occasion
of Civil Services Day in New Delhi, Modi
urged them to end their silo approach and
work as a team.
Modi called upon civil servants to
maintain a positive outlook, convert
adversity into opportunity and strive
towards perfection.
Recalling Sardar Vallabhbhai Patels
vision of the civil services of independent
India, he said, socio-economic integration
should also be an objective of the civil
services.
The prime minister said national unity

today implied an end to the digital divide,
urban-rural divide and all forms of socioeconomic inequity.
Modi said the entire administrative
machinery should gear up to serve the
needs of the society.
He referred to a Goldman-Sachs report
which said it will take India a decade to
reach the Asian average on government
effectiveness.
Sheelam Param Bhushanam (character
is the highest virtue), Modi said, urging the
civil servants to maintain a positive outlook
and spend quality time with their family as
well.
Your life should not become a file, the
prime minister said.
Modi, who conferred Awards for

Excellence in Public Administration for
2012-13 and 2013-14, said the civil services
required capacity-building to be able
to better serve the people as the Indian
economy moves from scarcity to plenty.
Referring to good governance, the
prime minister said it requires the ART
of Accountability, Responsibility and
Transparency.
He urged senior civil servants to spend
time in motivating youth to join the civil
services so that the best talent was available
to the government.
Modi said the best practices should be
adopted, and urged civil service personnel
to develop an institutional memory.
INDIA
Red
Black
Orange
Dissident AAP leaders Bhushan and Yadav

expelled from party
t was the end of the road for

Aam Aadmi Partys (AAP)
founder-leaders,
Prashant
Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav,
with the party expelling them for
anti-party activities.
Besides, Ajit Jha and Anand
Kumar were also removed from
the party.
The development came late on
Monday night following separate
replies of Bhushan and Yadav,
to the show-cause notice for
organising an anti-party meet in
Gurgaon last week.
The National Disciplinary
Committee met on April 20, 2015
at 6 pm at 514, VP House to decide
on the complaints against Yadav,
Bhushan, Kumar and Jha.
On the request of the
respondents, the committee had
earlier extended the deadline for
submitting their explanations by
one day, that is, to 3 pm on April
20, 2015.
However,
the
committee
received the responses of Yadav,
Bhushan and Kumar while Jha
19
failed to furnish his response

within the prescribed time.
The
committee
carefully
considered responses furnished
by Yadav, Bhushan and Kumar
and found them unsatisfactory.
The committee reached the
unanimous
conclusion
that
Yadav, Bhushan and Kumar had
indulged in gross indiscipline and
They have violated the Code of
Conduct detailed in Article VI A
(a) of Partys Constitution.
T
h
e
committee was
of the view that
Jha had failed
to furnish his
response in a
stipulated time
despite sufficient
time
at
his
disposal.
After examining the evidence
put before it, the
committee was
of the unanimous view that
Jha was also
guilty of gross
indiscipline and
indulging
in
The committee, therefore, has
decided to expel all the four members from the party.
Earlier, Bhushan and Yadav
described the partys show cause
notice as a pre-scripted drama
where the outcome is already
decided and well-known.

Bhushan
accused
AAPs
general secretary Pankaj Gupta
of accepting Rs.2 crore donation
from shell companies and Ashish
Khetan of writing a planted story
in a national magazine defending
a telecom company, allegedly
involved in 2G spectrum scam.
He reiterated that the AAPs
actions were reminiscent of
Stalinist purges, where in the early
years after the Soviet Revolution
Stalins acolytes were both
the accusers and judges of the
dissidents both in the party and the
government.
I received your Show Cause
Notice around midnight on April
17.
Frankly, I have been in a
dilemma on whether to respond to
this communication.
On the one hand it appears
part of a pre-scripted drama where
the outcome is already decided
and well-known, Yadav said in his
lengthy reply, indicating that he
would be ousted from the party.
20
INDIA
India well on path to economic

recovery : Arun Jaitley
he Indian economy is on a recovery

path with 7.4 percent growth in the
first three quarters of the last fiscal
with the new NDA government committed
to maintaining overall macro-economic
conditions, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
said here.
The Indian economy is now clearly on a
recovery path. We are committed to maintain
overall macroeconomic conditions on a
sustained basis so that the Indian economy
is able to achieve and sustain growth of
8 percent and above, Jaitley said in his
address on Saturday to the International
Monetary and Financial Committee.
He said Indias growth recovered to 7.4
percent in the first three quarters of 2014-
15 as compared with 7.0 percent during the

same period of 2013-14.
Advance estimates have placed the
countrys gross domestic product growth for
the full fiscal 2014-15 at 7.4 percent.
Inflation in the country has also
moderated significantly, he added.
Jaitley said the consumer price indexed
(CPI), or retail, inflation declined to 5.2
percent in March 2015 from 11.2 percent in
November 2013.
In terms of the flexible inflation targeting
framework adopted recently, the Reserve
Bank of India will seek to bring the inflation
rate to 4 percent by the end of a two- year
period starting fiscal 2016-17, Jaitley told the
IMF.
World Bank programme to focus

on air quality in India
Red
Black
Orange
new World Bank administered

programme, with an initial total
allocation of around $45 million,
air pollution alone in 2012 according to the

World Health Organization.
Government officials from several
will focus on air quality management in five

major urban areas in India, China, Egypt,
Nigeria and South Africa.
As such, the Pollution Management
and Environmental Health (PMEH)
programme could contribute to improved
environmental health conditions for an
estimated 150 million people in those cities
over the next five years.
PMEH, a new multi-donor Trust Fund
will also support other countries and cities
of Sub-Saharan Africa, and aim to reduce
land and water pollution, according to a
World Bank media release.
Pollution contributes to the preventable
deaths of an estimated 9 million people
each year - most of them in developing
countries.
An estimated 7 million people were killed
by diseases related to indoor and outdoor
countries joined top musicians from around

the world to commit to improving peoples
health by ending pollution at the Global
Citizen 2015 Earth Day event on the US
National Mall, in Washington DC Saturday.
Musicians from China and the US
performed an original score to a multimedia
presentation dedicated to ending pollution
for healthy lives.
Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day was
organized by the Earth Day Network and
Global Poverty Project and marked the
45th year anniversary of the founding of
Earth Day.
The event aimed to educate and
energize people to support development
and environmental issues and served as
a platform for the launch of the PMEH
programme.
INDIA ABROAD
Red
Black
Orange
Obama names Indian-American

Shamina Singh to key post
resident Barack Obama

has named yet another
Indian-American
as
member of the Board of Directors
of the Corporation for National
and Community Service for a term
expiring in October 2019.
The nomination of Shamina
Singh, executive director of the
MasterCard Centre for Inclusive
Growth since December 2013, has
been sent to the Senate, according
to a White House announcement
last week.
She joined MasterCard in
2013 as the global director for
government services and solutions
where she expanded MasterCards
business capabilities to digitise
social
subsidy
programmes
in over 40 countries. Prior to
joining MasterCard, Shamina
led government and public
affairs for Nike and spent five
years with Citigroups Global
Community Development Group.
Over the course of 15 years in
the public sector, she held senior
positions within the Clinton
Administration and the US House
of Representatives.
She is a Young Global Leader
and Member of the Global Agenda
Council on India with the World
Economic Forum, a Henry Crown
Fellow with the Aspen Institute
and served on the Presidential
Advisory Commission on Military

Leadership Diversity.
Shamina has a graduate
degree in public policy from the
Lyndon B. Johnson School for
Public Affairs at the University
of Texas, Austin, and has
completed executive programmes
at Harvards Kennedy School
of Government, Yales Jackson
Institute for Diplomacy and the
India School of Business.
In 2003, she served as a senior
advisor to US House Democratic
Leader Nancy Pelosi and in
2002 was the deputy campaign
manager for the Ron Kirk for US
Senate campaign.
Raja Rajeswari
becomes New
Yorks first IndianAmerican judge
By Arun Kumar
C
Shamina Singh was executive
director for the Presidents
Advisory Commission on Asian
Americans and Pacific Islanders
and the White House Initiative
on Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders from 1999 to 2001.
Operation Rahat ends, Indian

ships return home from Yemen
NS Tarkash that participated

in Operation Rahat, returned
to a heros welcome at Mumbai
harbor here on Saturday, while two
passenger ships with the last batch
of Indians evacuated from Yemen
reached Kochi, an official said.
It was preceded by the return of
another ship, INS Mumbai, which
returned here last Friday, with the
two ships helping evacuate 1,783
Indians and 1,291 foreign nationals
from 30 countries from the strifetorn Yemen over the past three
weeks.
The ships crew was greeted by
senior officers of the command and
the Indian Navy chief, Admiral R.K.
Dhowan, will be interacting with the
crew last week.
Operation Rahat, which earned
global admiration, was launched to
rescue Indian nationals stranded in
various parts of Yemen following
21
a bloody civil war in that country,

military intervention by Saudi
Arabia and other nations, resulting
in continuous aerial bombardments
around that country.
The situation led to all airports
and seaports in Yemen being
crippled, barring Al Hodeidah,
leaving few options for people
wanting to leave the country.
The Indian diaspora in Yemen
was estimated at around 4,000,
many of them working and living
there since decades.
A majority of them were located
in and around Yemens capital
city of Sanaa that witnessed a
lot of violence. As the situation
continued to deteriorate, the Indian
government launched Operation
Rahat to evacuate all Indian
nationals from there on March 30.
The Indian Navy deployed
INS Sumitra, one of its latest
offshore patrol vessels, to Aden

and evacuated first batch of 349
Indians from there on March 31
and sailed them to Djibouti, across
the Gulf of Aden. The evacuation
operation at Aden was punctuated
by bombings, gunfire, disorder and

pandemonium. But at Djibouti, they
were received by Minister of State
for External Affairs Gen.(Retd.) V.
K. Singh, and later flown home by
an Indian Air Force aircraft.
hennai born Raja Rajeswari,

who came to America when
she was 16, has become the
first person of Indian descent to be
named as a criminal court judge in
New York City.
Rajeswari, 43, an assistant district
attorney at the Richmond County
District Attorneys office, who was
nominated to the bench by Mayor
Bill de Blasio, formally assumed her
new office Tuesday.
Its like a dream. Its way beyond
what I imagined, she was quoted
as saying by silive.com, a Staten
Island news website. For someone
like me, an immigrant who comes
from India, Im beyond grateful, she
said. I told the mayor this is not only
my American Dream, but it shows
another girl from a far away country
that this is possible.
Rajeswari, who has worked at
the district attorneys office for 16
years, has been the deputy chief of
the Special Victims Unit for more
than four years. She hopes to use
her new position to improve the
judicial system by encouraging
interpreters to have more access to
aid immigrants, the news site said.
Rajeswari told ethnic Desi Talk
she had observed gender inequality
even before coming to the US when
some of her brilliant girlfriends in
India were married off at the age of
14 and 15. That has always stayed
with me.
As a prosecuting attorney in
New York, she has come across
numerous cases of spousal and
child abuse within the South Asian
community in New York, Rajeswari
said. Currently, there are two male
judges of Indian descent in civil
court settings - Jaya Madhavan on
the New York City Housing Court in
Bronx County, and Anil C. Singh of
New York County Supreme Court,
1st District, according to ethnic New
India Times.
Indian-origin scientist develops first self-powered camera
omputer scientist Shree K.

Nayar from the Columbia
University has invented the
worlds first fully self-powered video
camera that can produce an image
each second, indefinitely, of a welllit indoor scene.
Nayar designed a pixel that not
only can measure incident light (a
ray of light that strikes a surface)
but also convert the incident light
into electric power.
We are in the middle of a digital
imaging revolution. A camera that
can function as an untethered device

forever -- without any external
power supply -- would be incredibly
useful, said Nayar, who heads the
computer vision laboratory at the
Columbia Engineering.
At the heart of any digital camera
is an image sensor, a chip with
millions of pixels.
The key enabling device in a pixel
is the photodiode which produces
an electric current when exposed to
light. The photodiode in a camera
pixel is used in the photoconductive
mode while in a solar cell it is used

in the photovoltaic model. This
mechanism enables each pixel
to measure the intensity of light
falling on it. Nayar, working with
research engineer Daniel Sims, and

consultant Mikhail Fridberg of the
consultancy firm ADSP Consulting
used off-the-shelf components
to fabricate an image sensor with
30x40 pixels.
In Nayars prototype camera,
which is housed in a 3D printed
body, each pixels photodiode is
always operated in the photovoltaic
mode. When the camera is not used
to capture images, it can be used to
generate power for other devices,
such as a phone or a watch.
According to Nayar, the image

sensor could use a rechargeable
battery and charge it via its
harvesting capability.
But we took an extreme
approach to demonstrate that the
sensor is indeed truly self-powered
and used just a capacitor to store the
harvested energy, he noted.
The team is set to present its
work at the international conference
on computational photography
at the Rice University in Houston
April 24-26.
22
EDUCATION
Red
ANZ teams up with

WelTec to encourage
women into technology
careers
NZ bank is partnering
with Wellington Institute
of Technology (WelTec)
to encourage more women to
consider technology careers in the
face of an industry shortage.
A lack of women entering the
IT industry is a key concern for
ANZ which employs more than
600 people in its technology team.
To help reverse the trend,
New Zealands largest bank is
now working with WelTec in a
partnership that includes a new
award for outstanding female
technology graduates.
The gender balance in New
Zealands IT workforce is bleak
with females making up just 25 per
cent and fewer women studying
IT at tertiary level, indicating a
worrying downward trend, says
Craig Bunyan, General Manager
Technology, ANZ New Zealand.
Georgia Bennett was presented
with the ANZ Award for Most
Outstanding Female Graduate
2015 by Craig Bunyan, General
Manager Technology, ANZ New
Zealand.
Diversity in our workforce
means we can deliver better
solutions for our customers.
Right now were missing out on
a lot of talent who are looking past
a career in technology.
Were building a relationship
with WelTec to encourage more
women into technology, through
this award and also through
our
Technology
Internship
ProgramME.
With one of the largest Schools
of Business and IT in the country
and almost 450 people studying IT
at degree and post graduate level,
WelTec was the ideal partner to

work with to start addressing
the skills shortage and gender
imbalance in the IT industry.
Linda Sissons, WelTecs Chief
Executive, says internships are
the most real way students can be
educated.
We are delighted to partner
with ANZ which, by offering
an award and an internship
programme, is acting proactively
to get more women into IT.
The $2,000 ANZ Award
for Most Outstanding Female
Graduate was presented yesterday
to Georgia Bennett, who has
graduated with a Bachelor of
information Technology majoring
in Information Assurance and
Security.
Georgia says she was honoured
Paneer Matar Masala

INGREDIENTS:
}} 250g- Paneer ( Indian cottage
cheese )
}} -cup- Frozen peas thawed
}} 1-Big Onion into paste
}} 1tsp- Garlic paste
}} 1tsp- Ginger paste
}} 410g- Tomato puree (one

can)
}} 2tbs- Cashew nut paste
}} 1tsp- Garam masala powder
}} 1tsp- Red chilli powder
}} 1tsp- Cumin powder (Jeera
powder)
}} 1/4cup-yoghurt plain (you
to receive the inaugural award and

has received many congratulations
from other IT students.
I very much appreciate ANZ
acknowledging there is a need
to encourage diversity in the
workplace through awards like
this.
Under-representation
by
women in technology is a welldocumented issue and to address
it New Zealand needs to do more
with young women and even
girls at secondary school, says
Georgia.
Georgia says she picked up
technology as a career path as
there is so much to learn and
many great opportunities and
challenges. She started studying at
WelTec after working in the public
sector.
can take greek yogurt)

100g- Crme
}} 2tbs- Butter
}} Salt according to taste
}} 1/2cup- fresh chopped
coriander
METHOD:
Melt Butter in a pan, add onion
paste and cook until golden brown
in colour. Add garlic paste and
saut, add ginger paste stir for
2-3 minutes.
Add all the powders to the
onion masala and mix it well.
Black
Orange
Unitec to deliver
foundation education
for all Police recruits
nitec
Institute
of
Technology
is
privileged to have been
selected to deliver New Zealand
Polices distance learning for
new Police recruits across the
country.
Starting
this
year
new
applicants to NZ Police training
must complete a 12-week,
specially
designed
distance
learning course through Unitec
to be eligible for appointment as
Police recruits.
Unitecs Faculty of Social
and Health Sciences has been
selected to provide education
which will introduce applicants
New Zealand Police College in

Porirua.
Unitec
has
considerable
experience in this area, having
run an optional pre-policing
programme for 11 years.
Executive Dean of the Faculty
of Social and Health Sciences
Wendy Horne says Unitec is
well-placed to provide this
service.
We understand the rigorous
recruitment process required
for those professionals who will
work closely with families and
whanau in our communities,
and the physical, academic and
literacy requirements of those
to policing in New Zealand.

The programme will include
culture
and
community
development, professional police
practice, crime prevention in New
Zealand and police investigation
and communication.
Using a suite of modern
blended learning and teaching
tools, applicants from across
New Zealand will complete
the course at a distance prior
to entering the residential
phase of training at The Royal
entering
these
challenging
front-line roles, she says.
We are pleased with the
appointment of Unitec for the
delivery of the Pre-Police College
Distance Learning programme,
says Superintendent John Price,
National Manager: Training and
Development at New Zealand
Police.
This is the first step in
preparing
applicants
for
the realities of the complex
operational environment.
ADVERTISE WITH
INDIAN WEEKENDER
Call 022 0151971 / 022 3251630
Add the cashew nut paste

followed by yoghurt keep stirring
until oil comes on the top.
Add tomato puree to this masala
and cook for a few minutes until
the oil separates from the masala.
Add Peas and cook until they are
done.
Add Paneer, mix it then add
cream.
Serve hot with chopped coriander
on it.
Serves- 4-5
KIDZONE
Red
Black
Orange
23
Puzzle: Join
the Dots
Dot to Dot
24
5
25
23
1
4
22
10
11
21
15
18
20
12
14
19
17
www.Activity
16
13
Village.co.uk
- Keeping Kid
s Busy
Unscramble Animal words

1. DBRI
1.
2. OGD
2.
3. OENYDK
3.
4. GFRFEIA
4.
5. GLOIARLTA
5.
6. ATC
6.
7. EHSOR
7.
8. OILN
8.
9. YMOEKN
9.
10. EBE
10.
The Elephant
and the Spar
row
pecker explained, M
y
couple of sparrows
this sparrow. She is friend, please meet
lived happily in their
a dear friend of mine
a huge tree in a jungle
nest on top of
eggs were destroye
.
.T
d by a wicked eleph Her
eggs in the nest and he female sparrow had laid her
ant;
please help us find a
they were expecting
way to destroy this
borns soon.On a pa
cruel
elephant.
rticular day, unable their newto bear the heat of
I will certainly help
the
summer sun, an eleph
yo
an
hearing the events, u, the fly said after
crashed into all tree t went berserk.He
How can I be your
s in his way. On his wa
friend,
and yet not help you
he broke the branch
y,
wh
es
frog as a good frien en you need me. I have a
ported the nest of th of the tree that supd,
e
Thus, the female sp let us seek his help to destroy this wick
branches fell, so did sparrow couple.As the
arrow, woodpecker
ed elephant.
the nest and all the
an
explained him of all
newl
laid eggs smashed ag
the events for which d the fly went to the frog, and
ainst the ground. Al y
they had come to him
The old frog said af
the sparrows mana
though
ter
fo
ged
What can this eleph hearing everything, The elephant is big r help.
heart-broken to see to escape by flying
ant do, if we work to
, but he is alone.
away, they were
that they had lost th
ge
He explained, Fly! W
cry and wail loudly.A
e eg
hen the sun is scorch ther to destroy him? I have a plan!
woodpecker, who wa gs. The female sparrow began to
ears. When he close
ing
by cries.He went to
s his eyes in sheer ec , your task would be to buzz in his
her and said, Dea s at a little distance, was touched
stasy, the woodpeck
be to peck his eyes
r good sparrow! Th
ers ta
ere is nothing
and make him blind.
can do by crying. W
In this scorching su sk would
hat is destined to ha you
mmer, he will
ce
rt
ain
ly search for wa
ppen,
will happen for sure
.
he will not be able to ter, but being blinded already
The female sparrow
do
re
of the nearby pit an so. I will then sit on the edge
true. But all my child plied, That is indeed
d
croak at the top of
re
He continued, Whe
my voice.
wicked elephant, th n were killed by this
n the thirsty elephan
is is also true. We ha
t
me
hears
,
he
wi
d
ll think there
no harm to him.
done
follow my voice. And is a pond or lake nearby and
If you consider your
wh
se
into the pit and peris en he does so, he will fall
tinued the female sp lf to be a friend, conh. This way, we can
de
at
ar
h
of
ro
w, Please suggest
th
avenge the
me a way to de
The others agreed to e sparrows children!
the death of my child
the plan, and organiz
ren.So I will, repli stroy this elephant and avenge
laid by the old frog.T
ed to do their part
friend. Let us go an
ed the woodpecker,
of the tasks as
he
d as
I
fell into a muddy pit y executed their tasks successfully,
Thus, the woodpeck k for her help to destroy this cruel ele have a fly as a
and the elephant
to eventually die.
er and the female sp
phant.
The wise indeed say:
arrow went to meet
the fly. The woodEven the low and hu
mble achieve results
Send us stories, drawings, poems and other

contributions by your little ones along with
their photographs for this page. Email us at
editor@ indianweekender.co.nz
24
FEATURES
From the desk of

Red
Black
Orange
Breaking the menstrual taboo: Moving beyond

the gender divide
Shweta Sharma
oronto-based poet Rupi Kaurs image

showing blood-stained pants was
recently deleted by a mobile photo
and video sharing service Instagram, stating it
goes against community guidelines.
Menstruation has always been a taboo
subject resulting in a conspicuous silence
surrounding this natural body function in
women.
Experts feel this silence needs to be
replaced with a conversation that would
result in changing mindsets from rejection to
confidence.
Despite womens emancipation, many girls
and women still face rejection during those
days and are asked to not visit a temple, not
to attend pujas, not cook food, sit on separate
beds and not discuss it with the male members
of the family.
Menstruation is a taboo across the globe.
Myths associated with it are mostly observed
in developing countries especially in villages.
Many boys/men doent even know the basic
science/biology behind menstrual hygiene.
Until and unless we create basic awareness
about menstrual hygiene among girls,
women, boy and men the situation will not
change, Jaydeep Mandal, founder, of Aakar
Innovations that enables women to produce
and distribute affordable, high-quality
compostable sanitary napkins within their
communities, said.
Nupur Gupta, consultant and unit head,
gynaecologist and obstetrician at Gurgaons
Paras Hospital, said breaking a taboo starts

with broaching the subject.
The best place to do so is in schools,
where the topic can be incorporated into
hygiene and sexual education. This requires
sound knowledge (and in some cases also the
courage of teachers) on how to use sanitary
items and related issues, Gupta said.
Understanding that menstruation is a
distinct biological female attribute women
should be proud of needs to be fostered, she
added.
Kathy Walkling, co-founder at Eco Femme,
a social enterprise working in the area of
menstrual hygiene management, said that
consequences of this include adolescent girls
not given accurate preparatory information
prior to onset of menstruation.
Listing the other consequences, Walkling
told media: Insufficient attention in society
to the needs of adolescent girls for privacy
and a dignified way to manage menstruation,
expectations of girls and women to adhere to
many rules and restrictions that for many are
perceived as constraining (e.g. not entering
temple) and for those who cannot afford it and
adoption of unhealthy practices such as using
unsanitary materials to absorb the menstrual
flow.
Serving the needs of economically
disadvantaged girls and women in India, Eco
Femme provides menstrual health education
and free washable pads to adolescent girls
through its Pad-for-Pad programme.
Experts point out that menstrual hygiene
has an important role in genital tract infections
and is also one of the causes of cervical cancer.
According to gynaecologists, use of

alternative sanitary care measures such as
unsterilised cloth, sand and ash make women
susceptible to infections and diseases.
Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes
of cancer deaths among women in India, with
approximately 1.32 lakh new cases being
diagnosed and about 74,000 deaths every
year. Filling this lacuna, Aditi Gupta and
Tuhin Paul-founded Menstrupedia, a friendly
guide to periods that helps girls and women
stay healthy and active during their periods.
Menstrupedia
aims
at
delivering
informative and entertaining content
through different media and shattering the
myths and misunderstandings surrounding
menstruation for ages.
The culture of silence is the main cause
of all the problems and awareness and the
only way out. Urinary tract infections are very
common. Only 12 percent of Indian women
used sanitary napkins, Gupta said.

Its self-esteem and self-confidence which
is hampered the most. If a girl or a women cant
even talk about her natural biological process,
how will she ever talk about any violence that
she faces on her body, she asked.
Gupta added that information about
menstruation is not complex, it is a small
amount of information that every girl and
woman should be provided with - and that too
at an early age so that she is better prepared to
take care of herself during her cycle.
But its complex to achieve this when
teachers skip the chapter on periods, the
school curricula address this only in class
eight and nine while girls get their periods in
class six or seven.
When a girl gets her period, its the
mothers who say not to speak about it even to
their father of bothers. We raise our girls with
shame and boys with ignorance, she added.
Twin top rankings reflect rise of women in

Indian sports: Saina
Aritra Chowdhury
fter reclaiming the top

spot
in
badminton
singles rankings, Saina
Nehwal is doubly delighted at
fellow Hyderabadi tennis ace Sania
Mirzas rise to the summit of the
womens doubles rankings and
says
the
twin
achievements reflect the rise of

women power in the domain of
Indian sports.
Sania Mirza is a big name in the
world of tennis, she is the numero
uno in her game. I wish her all the
best in her future endeavours, Saina told media.
Women in sports have come
up in a big way in recent past and
I congratulate all of them, including Mary Kom, Krishna Poonia,
Geeta Phogat, Babita
Kumari, Heena Sidhu
and Sania Mirza, she
said.
It is good that
women power is visible in sports, she said,
crediting the central governments sports policies
for the success stories.
Sania was elevated to
the
No.1
spot in
the womens doubles rankings, according to the latest Womens Tennis Association (WTA) list released
on April 13. Saina became the first
Indian women to be crowned World
No.1 on March 29 after her Indian
Open Grand Prix triumph. But she
dropped to the second place, overtaken by Chinas Li Xuerui, following her semi-finals exit in the Malaysia Open Superseries.
But she regained the top slot after Li pulled out of Singapore Open
Superseries. Sania, on the other
hand, leapfrogged to the top
spot after winning her third consecutive Womens Tennis Association (WTA) title - the Family
Circle Cup - with new partner
Martina Hingis.
I am proud to be World No.1
in badminton. It is really tough
to reach the pinnacle in badminton... it took me five years to realise my dream as I became World
No.2 in 2010, the right-handed
shuttler said.
The 25-year-old Saina is the
only non-Chinese to get the top
billing since 2010 when Denmarks Tine Baun ruled the rank-
ings. The 2012 Olympic Games

bronze medallist dedicated her
recent feat to her parents, coaches
and well wishers. When asked what
makes a Chinese player so tough to
beat, she said: Maybe these players
are trained on best infrastructure
they have created for each sport and
the availability of best coaches compared to India and other countries
where hardly a few best coaches are
available. The number of players (in
China) is also very high compared to
us where there is a shortage of players. Luckily I started my career on
best infrastructure created in India
at Gopis (Pullela Gopichand) Academy at Hyderabad in 2004 and
continued till 2014 during which I
won national championships, Junior World Cup and some of Super
Series and Gold Grand Prix tournaments, she added.
Saina has clinched gold in the
2010 Commonwealth Games and
bronze in the 2006 edition, besides
picking up a bronze at the Incheon
Asian Games last year.
In 2014, she became the first
Indian woman to win the China
Open Super Series Premier beating
Japans Akane Yamaguchi in the

final. In another first for Indian
women shuttlers, Saina reached
the All England Open Badminton
final last month, but lost to Spains
Carolina Marin recently. In 2014,
Saina shifted to Prakash Padukones
academy in Bangalore. Since then
she has been under the tutelage of
Vimal Kumar. Former mens No.1
player Padukone also gave her
valuable tips. Saina credited excoach Gopichand and incumbent
Vimal Kumar for her success.
Both of them are the best
of badminton coaches in India.
With Gopi sir, I won a number
tournaments and now with Vimal
sir my progress is visible in the last
seven months, she said.
With expectations climbing
high with each day, Saina said her
ultimate aim is the Rio Olympics
next year.
I, as a badminton player, will
give my 100 percent for my sport.
I have to show better results in the
2015 World Cup. Many Superseries
are lined up this year and ultimately
our goal is Rio Olympics, the star
said.
FEATURES
Red
Black
Orange
Direction and
Background Music: Jayanta Bhaduri
(Based on a short story by Ajay Dikshit)
Venue: The Playhouse Theatre,

Glen Eden, Auckland 0602. Ph: 09-8185751
For Tickets please contact: PAVITRA- 021445166
BABLA- 0212649106 CHIRAG- 0276784966 RAHUL- 021528906
rangmanchnz@gmail.com www.rangmanch.org.nz
Writer: Vasant Sabnis

Direction & Background music
for this play: Bipin Chavan
www.iticket.co.nz Child Minding Services are available
Discounted Ticket Rates apply for Combo (more than 1 x play), group or block bookings.
Special rates for Students & Senior Citizens. Please check with us for further details.
Keep
watching
this space for
more information
Media Partners
At Rangmanch we share experience through the art of story telling & Create THEATRE that makes you THINK
25
26
FEATURES
From the Form to the Formless (1926 - 2011)

Red
Ravinder Grover
Due to His utmost Grace we

knew of His Divine presence
on earth and we must dare to
declare that
od incarnates from
the state of Atma
(Universal
Absolute
Consciousness) to the state of
Deha (Body), to play a specific
role as a part of HIS Cosmic
Drama.
The formless supreme Lord
chose to take on a phenomenal
and wondrous form as Sri
Sathya Sai Baba, lovingly called
Swami on 23 November 1926 at
Puttaparthi, India.
He embodied Himself with
dark aura of hairs, dressed
in graceful saffron robe, with
charming smile added with
dripping love endearing Him
to all hearts. The Divine Script
of His leela (divine play) was
written, directed and put into
action by Him alone in His own
unique fashion.
During his physical Divine
presence, millions of people have
been corrected, straightened,
advised, admonished, sheltered,
reformed, clothed, fed, educated,
nursed, cured, guarded, guided
and transformed every second
of the day all over the globe.
He just worked, day and night,
continuously to uplift the
mankind to Divinity.
He had been an open book
in which the essence of Divinity

inscribed in golden letters, Love
All Serve All and Help Ever
Hurt Never.
The two axioms that best
summarized His Life and His
Teachings are based on Five
Human
Values:
Sathya
(Truth),
Dharma
(Right
Conduct), Shanthi (Peace),
Prema (Love) and Ahimsa
(Non-Violence).
He advised the easiest way to
see the same ONE GOD in all
is to lead lifes journey with the
help of the Five Human Values.
It is only by practicing these five
principles that one can know
them, not merely by reading
or writing about them. Any
knowledge that is not put into

practice is no knowledge at all.
On Sunday, 24 April 2011,
when nobody ever imagined
could ever happen, our Divine
Master decided that He had
given His Teachings and must
now withdraw to His eternal,
formless
and
omnipresent
aspect, hence pulled the curtain
and took Mahasamadhi.
The Eternal dissolved into
Eternity, leaving his devotees
to come of age and behave like
adults and improve spiritually by
carrying on His Mission, besides
spreading His Teachings.
He never passed away but He
passed His Love and Message
into us.
}} The Divine Master/Love or

God Himself walked on Two
Feet
}} We lived with God and God
lived amongst us
}} We have witnessed this to be
true
Its time now to experience
eternity.
His essence lives on through
all of us, a fragment of Him in all
that we see.
He is still with us in many
forms: in dreams, visions,
vibhuti, visitations, a sense of
His presence.
In His Universal form He
can be found in all beings and is
manifesting in all world religions
and traditions in their forms of
worship.
And in the formless, it can be
interpreted as that it is infinite
silence, eternal peace, emptiness
of desires and attachments: pure
love, which is everything.
We must graduate now in the
Cosmic University and pledge by
paying our homage and tribute
to our Divine master with a
working Action Plan to:
Black
Orange
}} Live in constant integrated

awareness (CIA) of His
Omniscient, Omnipresence
and Omnipotent
}} Live His message of Sathya,
Dharma, Prema, Shanti and
Ahimsa
}} Maintain purity and harmony
in our Thoughts, Words and
Deeds
}} Help Ever, Hurt Never, Love
All, Serve All
}} Have
courage
and
determination to listen to our
Inner voice and walk on it
at all time
}} Make
Samastha Lokaah
Sukhino Bhavantu (Let all
the being in all the worlds be
happy) a way of our life
If we listen to His voice in
Silence of our mind, we might
hear, I am always with you,
and you are forever with Me,
Remember that you are a
fragment of Me, Blaze forth My
beloved child, My divine love
and energy, Emitting My light,
reflecting Me, Mine you are and
evermore shall be...
O My beloved Sai Maa, Divine
Mother! How greatly indebted
are we to you! Our heads bow low
in gratitude at Thy Divine Lotus
Feet!
Godrej Properties back again with

New PAN India projects for Auckland
NRIs
Illuminate: When We Go
to War
Godrej Group
major companies with interests in

Real Estate, FMCG, Industrial Engineering, Appliances, Furniture, Security and Agri Care - to name a few - turnover crosses 3.25 billion dollars.
Presence in more than 60 countries
ensures that customers are at home with
Godrej no matter where they go. Over
500million people use a Godrej Product
every single day.
With brands you can believe in, service
excellence that you can count on and
the promise of brighter living for every
customer, Godrej knows what makes India
tick today.
Godrej Properties
Godrej Properties brings the Godrej
Group philosophy of innovation and
excellence to the real estate industry.
The company is currently developing
landmark projects in 12 cities across India.
Established in 1990, Godrej Properties
Limited is the first real estate company to
have ISO certification.
With projects that span across the
country,
the
companys
upcoming
development covers over 8 million square
meters.
To create landmark structures, Godrej
Properties collaborates with outstanding
associates and reputed names like L & T,
Skidmore Owings & Merrill, Pelli Clarke
Pelli to name a few.
The company aims to deliver superior
value to all stakeholders through
extraordinary and imaginative spaces
created out of deep customer focus and
insight.
Gurudutt
Shenoy,
International
Marketing Advisor for Godrej Properties
states Investors in Indian Real Estate are
reaping handsome return year upon year.
With positive Business sentiment and
surging SENSEX, the current Government
is committed on substantial spending on
infrastructure and developing Smart Cities
which will boost huge demand for housing.
With price just starting just NZ $45,000
in Ahmedabad, multiple financing options
including NRI finance by Major Indian
Banks there has been no better time than
now to invest in worlds third largest
economy INDIA
After a resounding success in November
14 ,Godrej Properties is once again having
all day Road Show (10am-6pm) on 9th May
(Sat) and 10th May (Sun) at Hotel Holiday
Inn, 2 Ascot Road, Mangere, Auckland
PAN India projects including Pune,
Ahmedabad, Gurgaon, Bangalore, Chennai,
Panvel, Mumbai and many more will be on
display with special offers.
Venue: Auckland War Memorial Museum

Domain Dr, Auckland Domain, Auckland
Date: Saturday 25 April 2015
Time: 6 pm to 10 pm
Join us for this years Illuminate programme
featuring a specially created film taken
from TVNZs new First World War drama
series, When We Go to War. We will also be
screening rarely seen photographs of New
Zealanders at Gallipoli, from the Museums
recently published book, The Anzacs.
Inspirational Evenings
Venue, Date/ Time: Saturday 25thApril

at Bruce Mason Centre, The Promenade
Takapuna- 7 pm onwards
Sunday 26thApril at Ferndale House
830 New North Road Mt Albert- 7 pm
onwards
Two free public lectures on Wisdom of
Yoga by world-renowned Vaishnava scholar
and Bhakti Yoga teacher and student
of Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda
- Acharya Das. Contact NZ School of
Meditation: www.meditationnewzealand.
co.nz OR call 093022332
Anzac Day
Commemorations
Venue: Torpedo Bay Navy Museum, 64

King Edward Parade, Auckland
Date: Saturday 25 April 2015
Time: 10 am to 5 pm
On the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli
landings the Navy Museum invites you
to come and share in our Anzac Day
commemorations. Make a poppy and plant

it in our field of remembrance that will grow
over the day as we remember the service
and sacrifice of all those who have served:
including those who landed at Anzac Cove
100 years ago.
TEDx Auckland2015
Venue: Victory Convention Centre, 98

Beaumont St, Auckland
Date: Saturday 2 May 2015
Time: 9 am to 6 pm
TEDx Auckland will feature a selection of
New Zealands and the worlds leading
visionaries and storytellers showcasing
their Ideas Worth Spreading to a theatre
audience and simulcast to a wider
audience and the world through an online
broadcast.
Rangmanch Indian
TheatreFestival
Venue: Playhouse Theatre, 15 Glendale

Road, Auckland
Date & Time: Friday 15 May- 7:30 pm to
9.30 pm | Friday 22 May- 7:30 pm to 9.30 0
pm | Saturday 16 May- 7 pm to 9 pm0
Saturday 23 May- 7 pm to 9 pm
Sunday 17 May- 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm 00
Sunday 24 May 2015- 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm
This festival will be a mega event to
showcase of 4 x full length Indian plays
in Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and Bengali
languages of exceptional quality and value.
Such a grand celebration of the Art form
of Theatre in 4 x different ethnic Indian
languages is going to happen for the first
time in the History of Theatre in Auckland.
FEATURES
27
Hair to stay, come what may!
Red
Black
Orange
Raissa Sidhu, daughter of Raj and Claudia Sidhu who founded SRS Hair Clinic, talks about the familys journey to overcome the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake which destroyed their home as well as their clinic. The Sidhus rose
from the ashes to build a bigger and better business in their new-found home in Auckland
Paula Ray
Paula: Tell us about your journey to
New Zealand. Why did you decide to
come to this country?
Raissa Sidhu: We, actually, shifted from
Europe to Australia initially, for lifestyle
reasons. But we couldnt cope with the
extremely hot climate and so had to shift
again across the Tasman Sea. We decided on
Christchurch out of all cities, and lived quite
comfortably there until the Christchurch
earthquakes occurred in 2010-2011. We love
New Zealand; its a beautiful country with
lovely people and offers a great lifestyle.
We came to realise
that our opportunities
as a business lay
outside of Christchurch
and so we made the
tough decision to move
up to Auckland
PR: How were the first few years since

you emigrated?
RS: There are three of us in the family: My
parents Dr Raj Sidhu and Claudia Sidhu, and
myself. We did very well in Christchurch.
New Zealanders are increasingly embracing
natural therapies and are conscious of their
health and well-being, which is great.
PR: What is your hair clinic all about?
Who founded it?
RS: SRS Hair Clinic, a branch of SRS
Clinics, was founded by Dr Raj and Claudia
Sidhu in 2003, with its Auckland clinic
opened in 2011. The practice specialises in
the treatment of hair loss and the chronic
ailments that may cause hair loss, based on
three generations of expertise.
Dr Raj Sidhu, Director of SRS Clinics
and accredited Ayurvedic and naturopathic
practitioner, works with New Zealanders
who struggle with chronic, degenerative and
terminal illnesses. He has been practicing
for more than 25 years, and from a very
young age was involved in the process of
making medicines. His grandfather and
father used to have him grind up herbs and
would teach him about their properties.
He was always amazed at how a certain
combination of herbs could have such a
significant effect on a persons state of
health.
PR: How deeply were you affected by
the Christchurch earthquake?
RS: Our clinic premises suffered extensive
damage, our firm lost $160,000 worth of
stock and the whole place was red-stickered.
Additionally, our home in Redcliffs also
suffered severe damage - we basically lost
our home and business all at once.
As bad as the earthquakes were though,
dealing with the aftermath, including
insurance and the EQC (Earthquake
Commission),was even worse. With people
struggling to rebuild their homes and
lives, their focus was hardly going to be
on their hair; we came to realise that our
opportunities as a business lay outside of
Christchurch and so we made the tough
decision to move up to Auckland.
PR: Was it difficult to set up home
and business all over in Auckland?
What were the advantages and
Claudia(left) and Raissa Sidhu
disadvantages of your experience?

RS: Initially, Claudia and SRS employees
came up to Auckland to set up the new clinic.
We were quite lucky that we did not have to
make any of our staff redundant. In fact, we
covered their expenses for nearly six months
and brought them all up with us to Auckland.
We invested about $3 million in
setting up the new business, including
constructing a brand new manufacturing
facility/laboratory that is on par and even
exceeds our previous standards, as we
operate according to strict GMP (Good
Manufacturing Practice) principles. We had
to dig deep as it was all self-funded - the
majority went into the lab.
The business has really taken off - people
are happy to find a solution that works,
and the fact that it is 100 per cent natural,
with no side-effects, is hugely important to
people.
PR: Do you recall any remarkable
case of hair loss that you have helped
control/ overcome in any of your
clients?
RS: We have an extensive range of clients
suffering a range of conditions, including
male pattern baldness, female pattern
baldness and alopecia areata in men, women
and children of all ages. We have treated a
number of remarkable cases - not to mention
that we have successfully treated people that
had previously visited a number of different
hair clinics and specialists, all of whom were
unable to provide proper treatment for their
hair loss problem. We treat each client on
a case by case basis - every individual is
unique.
Dr Raj Sidhu
Inside the clinic after earthquake
28
ENTERTAINMENT
Red
Mary Kom
honoured in
Stockholm
islands. She organised a screening

of Mary Kom for her guests
also, and had two dinners in my
honour.
This award is a very big
achievement for us because now
it will bridge the gap between
Sweden and India, and we will be
able to distribute our films over
here, Kumar said in a statement.
Mary Kom will be showcased
in Sweden again by the Indian
Embassy at the Indian Film
Festival next month.
Riteish excited
to design new
project
Hrithik proud to
receive award for
HRX
ctor Hrithik Roshan is

proud to receive Brand
Visionary of the Year
Male award at the International
Advertising
Association
(IAA)
Awards for his brand HRX.
The actor launched his clothing
brand in February along with a video
titled Defeat Defeat which features
the star overcoming obstacles. He
took to Twitter to share the news
about the award with his fans.
He wrote: Proud 2 rec d award
frm @jayantsinha RT @hrxbrand:
Brand Visionary Of The Year Male
At #IAAAwards For #HRX (sic)
Meanwhile, the actor is shooting
for Mohenjo Daro, directed by
Ashutosh Gowariker.
purely magic. In Bombay Velvet,

Manish is playing the role of Jimmi
Mistry, a character based on a real
life personality.
Finding my Bombay Velvet
character, Jimmi Mistry, was a
fantastic journey and bringing it
to life with Anurag and his team
was pure magic, Manish said in a
statement. Manish was earlier seen
in films like Rocket Singh: Salesman
of the Year and Jannat 2.
HIGH YIELDING RETAIL INVESTMENT
ctor Manish Chaudhari,

who plays a negative role
in
Anurag
Kashyaps
upcoming film Bombay Velvet,
says working with the filmmaker
and bringing his character to life was
Papakura
32 Broadway, Papakura,
Auckland
D
1
4 MegaPixels
2272x1704
High profile corner location

NBS (Seismic) Rating 70%
Single level retail - Fee Simple
Three established tenancies
returning a combined income
of $63,962.33pa net
Auction (unless sold prior)

11am, Wed 20th May 2015,
4 Viaduct Harbour Ave, Auckland
Tony Chaudhary
M 021 995 121
Piyush Kumar
M 027 410 4750
BAYLEYS REAL ESTATE LTD, MANUKAU,
LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.
2007, welcomed Aaradhya in 2011.
May make more

films in sync
sound: Mani
Ratnam
M
ctor-producer
Riteish
Deshmukh,
also
an
architect, is excited about
designing a new project.
Riteish, who was at an Expo
in Milan, took to micro-blogging
site Twitter to share the news with
his fans. He tweeted: Excited to
Design a new project. - Detailing is
everything. (sic)
Last day at the Milan Expoenjoy being an architect- thrilled
to see innovation in design here,
added the actor, known for films like
Masti, Kyaa Kool Hai Hum and
Housefull.
Orange
Its the best

time to be with
Aaradhya: Big B
Working with
Anurag was pure
magic: Manish
Chaudhari
mung Kumars 2014
directorial Mary Kom,
which was selected for
the Stockholm International Film
Festival Junior (SIFFJ), has won
the Best Film award and has been
endowed with the Bronze Horse
Award, the festivals top honour.
The jury for the junior section
of the festival consisted of children
from the age of nine to 17.
Kumar, who directed the
Priyanka Chopra-starrer biopic
of the legendary Indian boxer
M.C Mary Kom, was present at
the screening of his film after
which children from various age
groups asked him questions in an
interactive session.
The Indian Embassy took
complete care of me and the
Indian Ambassador Banashri
Bose Harrison herself took me
around to show Sweden and its
Black
egastar
Amitabh
Bachchan says it is the
best time to be with
his three-year-old granddaughter
Aaradhya, who is a curious child and
very mature for her age.
Aaradhya is Abhishek and
Aishwaryas daughter and the
72-year-old grandfather said that he
loves spending time with her.
The little one gets precocious
by the hour.. and talks non stop,
with as many questions as one could
possibly imagine, its the best time to
be with her.
Her homemade stories, her
banter of what she feels about
situations, her friends, her family,
her toys and her home,!! These are
indeed the happiest days of their
lives, before they get exposed to this
big bad world! (sic), Big B wrote
on his official blog. Abhishek and
Aishwarya, who got married in
ce filmmaker Mani Ratnam

enjoyed making his latest
Tamil outing O Kadhal
Kanmani in sync sound so much
that he plans to make more movies
using the same technique.
Sync sound refers to sound
recorded at the time of filming
a movie. I thoroughly enjoyed
shooting the film in sync sound. It
breathes life into a film, especially
with artistes who speak the language
in which youre making the film.
The experience was so good that
Im thinking of making more films
in sync sound, Mani Ratnam told
media.
O Kadhal Kanmani, which
features Dulquer Salmaan and Nitya
Menen in the lead, was completely
shot in sync sound, and Ratnam
admits that more effort needs to be
put in while working with it.
To shoot in sync sound, you need
to have a controlled environment.
You need to take the effort to make
it work. But one shouldnt mind
because the output is beyond
satisfactory, he said. In the past,
Indian films such as Lagaan,
Dil Chahta Hai and Rock On!!
were shot using sync sound.
ENTERTAINMENT
Red
29
Krazy Promotions
Black
Orange
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
PRESENTS
SIDDHARTH
RANDERIAs
GUJJUBHAI
BANYA
DABANGG
GUJRATI COMEDY PLAY
AUCKLAND
Saturday 16TH MAY, 7.30pm

Victory Convention Centre 98 beaumont st, Freemansbay
TICKETS
VVIP $60
VIP $50
GOLD $40
SILVER $30
For more info and ticket enquiries contact

Harish 021 62 62 82, Ram Iyer on 09 213 3868 or 021 529982, Hemant 021 629 359
Sponsors
Catering Partner
FOR TRADE ENQUIRIES CALL

SPICE WORLD 09-820 7434
Media Partners
Event Managed By
30
FEATURES
Rewinding the musical odyssey
Red
Black
Orange
Of Morning Dew fame, young and talented Sayanti Chatterjee, shares her journey and feelings
about being one of the very few Indian singers and song-writers, in NZ in the western genre
SWATI SHARMA
We know you as a singer. Tell
us something more about you.
I am also a songwriter. I write my
own songs. It gives me immense
satisfaction to be able to express
my feelings in such a creative way.
I also enjoy creating live music for
PRAYAS theatre group as a musical
director.
I like to believe, I am a good
cook. My childhood ambition
was to become a chef- but that
changed after a few years. Being
interested in human behaviour
and how people think, I ended
up majoring in Psychology at
University. My plan B has always
been Psychology related careers.
Sayanti Chatterjee, Singer
How did you develop interest

in Music?
I started singing when I was 4/5
years old on stage. My mum would
force my siblings and me to get
up on stage and sing or dance for
community functions. I think, its
all part of being a Bengali. We are
made to start young. Whether we
are good at it or not, we have to do
it. Luckily for me, I realised I can
sing and dance. So that worked out
in my favour. It really was as easy
as breathing.
Where did you get your music
training from?
Growing up, learning folk songs
from mum and my late aunt was
kind of an early training. I had
music tutors come home to teach
Hindustani classical when I was
very young. Due to the lack of
interest and understanding of this
amazingly complex musical form, I
didnt show interest in it back then.
Eventually after moving to NZ
is when I realised how much I take
singing for granted and I started
taking
Hindustani
classical
training from Pt Chintamani Rath.
I moved to India for a short
stint, where I met my guide,
my mentor - Jennifer DSouza,

who trained me in western voice
production. Shes also my cosongwriter for most of my songs.
I have learned so much from all
these different styles. But I guess
my heart was always in Western
music.
When did you start singing
professionally?
Honestly, I never thought I would
ACTUALLY take it up as a career.
As a kid, dreaming and talking
about being one was one thing.
But actually doing itI still cant
believe it sometimes. After moving
to NZ and getting busier in school
and University, music took a backseat. That is when I realised, how
much I missed it.
And once I graduated from
University, with my parents
support, I went to Mumbai to get
in touch with my Indian roots.
I worked in the industry for a

bit, sang for jingles, and private
albums. I came back here in 2012
and decided this was the path I
wanted follow.
I have recorded and performed
a few original songs since then.
My debut release was Morning
Dew that I recorded with the very
talented Zorran Mendonsa. That
song caught the ears and attention
of quite a few people, including an
independent record label called
Affiliated records and they signed
me on.
As a musical director, PRAYAS
theatre group makes me go out of
my comfort zone, as I am required
to sing in Hindi. I have managed to
find a middle ground by using my
western vocal stylings with Indian
classical music and creating a
fusion sound which works like a
charm for the wider NZ audience.
Who or what is
inspiration or idol?
I have releaseda few original

songs in since 2013. They are up
on my YouTube and Sound Cloud
channel. I have performed for some
NZ music and arts festivals like:
PRANA (2013), Auckland Pride
festival (with AGRAM productions,
2014), Auckland Arts Festival
(2013), White Nights- Auckland
Arts Festival (with PRAYAS, 2015),
etc.
I have been a part of Prayas
Theatre
group
and
have
performed for them since I came
back in 2012. There should be
another Prayas production coming
up before the year ends.
I am working hard with my
Record label on getting an EP out
soon. There are many exciting
plans around that for this year,
but they are a bit premature to
discuss. Nevertheless, I am very
excited!
your
Musically- A lot of people

inspire me. I love Norah Jones,
Brooke Fraser, Emeli Sande, Etta
James, Aretha Franklin, John
Denver, Dido, Imogen Heap,
Coldplay and many more. I have
been heavily influenced by folk/
Indian classical music as well.
I think more than artists, its
individual songs that inspire me.
So I guess, I dont have idols, but
I do get inspired by songs that give
me goose bumps.
Non-musically- my father.
He has seen such economic and
other hardships in life, when he
was growing up, and yet he had
the courage and determination
to turn it around and give us
the life we live now- in so much
comfort and a life where we can
follow our dreams. Without my
familys constant support and
encouragement- I wouldnt be in
NZ and I definitely wouldnt be
pursuing music. I owe a lot to my
parents and my siblings.
What keeps you going as
singer here in New Zealand?
I love what I do, more so in
NZ. When I stand in front of a
crowd and sing, the amount of
appreciation and genuine love I
feel keeps me going. Theres a big
untapped market for Indian fusion
music here. Indian classical and
folk music have a very meditative
quality about them. The fact that
people like it, is such a high and
motivation to keep doing it.
People are genuinely interested
in seeing someone grow and
succeed. If you make it big, they
appreciate. If you have a setback,
you get a pat on the back, a helping
hand and ample opportunities to
keep going and start over.
I think NZ is the only place in
the world where I can have both a
9-5 career and follow my musical
dreams, without one holding me
back from the other.
2 MegaPixels
1600x1200
2 MegaPixels
1600x1200
79-85 Great South Road, Papakura, Auckland

D
Tell us about your past and

future music projects?
1
CALLING ALL ADD VALUE INVESTORS/OWNER OCCUPIERS Papakura
It is really a very satisfying space

to be in!
Well presented, main road profile property - Seismic Rating 90% (A)
Opposite Countdown, next to McDonald's, Hell Pizza etc.
Holding income of $196,577pa net (Expiry 2016)
Huge future Residential/Mixed Use development potential
What is your dream project?

I would love to work on a
collaboration with the amazing
music producers- AR Rahman and
Quincy Jones (yes, both on the
same project) - learn from them
and create with them something
grand that surpasses the norm,
supports a meaningful cause
and inspires people. If I can do
something that can achieve all
that, and do it with such geniusesI would consider this life well lived.
Is there anything else you
would like to say?
I am grateful to my family and
friends for being a constant
support system and grounding me;
my manager, Indika, and my label
Affiliated Records for having faith
in me. I know well do big things in
the future together.
And lastly, but not the least- I
want to thank you and the Indian
Weekender. Its thanks to such
local support that makes me want
to keep doing what I do. I feel very
humbled by it.
PROMINENT BUILDING - GOVERNMENT TENANT
Avondale
Auction (unless sold prior),

11am Wednesday 20th May 2015
46 Rosebank Road, Avondale, Auckland
Tenders Close (unless sold prior),
Tony Chaudhary
M 021 995 121

LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008
A well presented and solid building enjoying main road exposure

Seismic (Earthquake) rating 178% (A+)
Huge future Residential/Mixed Use development potential
Returning $272,562pa net from Government of NZ
2pm, Friday 22nd May 2015

Tony Chaudhary
M 021 995 121

LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008
Red
Black
Orange
FEATURES
31
2015
MAIN SPONSOR
KIWI INDIAN
KIWI INDIAN
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UNSUNG HERO
2015
PLATINUM SPONSOR
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SUPPORTED BY
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...many more to come.

Watch this space!

Indian Weekender 24 April 2015

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24 April, 2015 Vol. 7 Issue 5 | www.iwk.co.

New Zealands first Kiwi-Indian weekly newspaper

The Pulse of Kiwi-Indians

Auckland Christchurch Wellington Hamilton Palmerston North Hastings Invercargill

But all types of Insurance &

Ph: 09-215 9517

Ph: 09-215 9519

Ph: 09-391 1535

Accountants | Mortgage Brokers | Insurance Brokers | Property Managers

35 Morningside Drive, St. Lukes

Level 1/203 Great South Road

www.professionalfinancial.co.nz | Email: info@pfsl.co.nz

24 April 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz

wish it, dream it, do it!

Contact: Inderjit Ph: 021 186 8351, 022 2078167

NOW ALSO AT: 15, BUKEM PLACE, FAVONA, MANGERE

www.iwk.co.nz | 24 April 2015

The shared but forgotten history

They shall not grow old, as we

s efforts get underway

is not immediately remembered

As the nations prepare to mark

The Indian contribution

24 April 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz

The shared history

Supply and Transport Corps

Anzac and India: A shared but

was supplied in the Australian

troops at Gallipoli titled Die

www.iwk.co.nz | 24 April 2015

being comrades in arms. They served like

Hundreds of stories of camaraderie

died in the process. While the

24 April 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz

at all! Have been living here for the last two

Rana & Monica

RIPE FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

Contact the Agents below for further details

www.iwk.co.nz | 24 April 2015

Fruit & Veg Shop

Liquor Shop: Prime Location

24 April 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz

Buddha Day draws thousands to Fo Guang Shan

cafe which is renowned for its

along with the others added the

Water charges for community

ommunity groups have

determining how much each group

EPA information now in Hindi, Punjabi and Gujrati

ife can be fragile and you

help New Zealanders protect their

MsBarrysays everyone should

princesses from Asian countries.

itself had an ambience of absolute

Helping families with

he Parent and Family

register by emailing Sanny of

Please note that the meeting

will start promptly at 10am

www.iwk.co.nz | 24 April 2015

Manukau Indian Association

s with the democratic traditions of

Keshav Govind, Laxmiben Morar, Mohanpal

hri Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan of NZ

Please note that the meeting