27 November, 2015 Vol. 7 Issue 36 www.iwk.co.

nz

NZs first Kiwi-Indian weekly newspaper

The pulse of Kiwi-Indians

GURPURAB
MESSAGE OF PEACE,
LOVE AND COMPASSION

PHIL GOFF
DESIGNS ON AUCKLAND

CONTENTS

27 November 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz

Red

Pg 4

NEW ZEALAND

Sikh student mistaken

as terrorist

Pg 17

OPINION/EDITORIAL
After Paris attacks, Western
media as arbiter

Pg 21

SPORTS

Djokovic beats Federer to

win fourth ATP finale

Black

Pg 19

INDIA

India Malaysia trade talks

Pg 23

SPECIAL FEATURE
Beach therapy

Orange

Pg 30

techmate

Bon voyage
digital traveller

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10am till 2pm

where hopes are fulfilled

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Auckland 2018
PH: 09 536 5689
E: ask@hungryhopes.co.nz
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HUNGRY HOPES HAS PLENTY OF PARKING SPACE FOR EVERYONE. YOU CAN ALSO ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND AT THE BEACH JUST NEARBY

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 27 November 2015

Red

Black

Orange

Time to bring out those travelling shoes

New Zealand tops in the worlds best travel destinations, but do we, who are so blessed to live in this Gods own country venture out to
discover and explore this beautiful country?
Maya Shivam

Bay of Islands

ew Zealand, the land of

the long white cloud, the
Middle-earth or Gods
own country, whichever way you
describe it, it tells the story of how
this countrys unique combination
of landscapes, people and activities
cannot be found anywhere else in
the worldit is a 100% Pure New
Zealand experience.
The Tourism NZ campaign
over the years has used 100% pure
relaxation, 100% pure welcome,
100% pure adrenalin and 100%
pure youall connected back to
the core premise of 100% Pure
New Zealand to describe the travel
experience in New Zealand.
The latest adaption is 100%
Middle-earth, 100% Pure New
Zealand, leveraging the huge
exposure New Zealand is getting
around the world from the first
Hobbit movie. 100% Middleearth, 100% Pure New Zealand

was named best destination

marketing campaign at the 2012
World Travel Awards.
Awards or not, the sheer
experience of traveling through
this abundantly endowed country
is nothing but pure bliss. With the
daylight saving giving us an extra

hour and summer giving us longer

days, it is the best time to enjoy
the experience of discovering
this beautiful country. So as the
school holidays approach and the
silly season catches up, it may
be the best time to head out and
experience the wonders of this

A growing industry with current skill shortages

NATIONAL CERTIFICATE IN HORTICULTURE L4 (ADVANCED)

A National (NZQA) Qualification internationally recognised

Offered on-site with hands-on training
Two year full time programme
Eligible for Student Visa and Post Study Work Visa
In transition to NZ Diploma level 5 (subject to NZQA approval)

JOB OPPORTUNITIES and RELEVANCE

We are part and parcel of the horticultural sector and are

continuously in touch with the industry needs.
Our training emphasis is on learning by doing and the graduates
will be skilled in operations with awareness to safety, quality and
traceability.
An acute shortage of skilled staff is projected in various disciplines
of Horticulture
Students have high chances of getting good jobs and building
successful and satisfying careers in Horticulture Production.

Contact Dr Raj Saini at 027 278 2789 / 09 2363770

FRANKLIN INSTITUTE OF AGRI-TECHNOLOGY
760, Glenbrook Road, RD4, Pukekohe 2679, AKL
Email: enquiry@fiat.ac.nz Web: www.fiat.ac.nz
Office: 09 2 36 37 38 Fax 09 236 3772

Part of the Rupex Group of companies

www.rupex.co.nz

beautiful country. In this issue,

we bring you some options that
are worth considering. A snapshot
on the short and quick trips
around Auckland that are easy
on the pocket and on the time at
hand but promise the full New
Zealand experience.
We hope to cover the length of
the country in different issues and
start right from the top in this one,
starting from the Bay of Islands.
The Bay of Islands is one
of the most prominent tourist
destinations in New Zealand,
conveniently located just over
three hours from Auckland by
road. The weather is usually warm
all year round, which makes it
popular for big-game fishing,
snorkelling, diving, and sailing
as well as other water-based
activities. The Bay of Islands is
also home to several historical
attractions such as the Waitangi
Treaty Grounds and the Stone
Store. No matter your age or

interests, you are sure to discover

activities of your liking here, be
it relaxing on the golden sandy
beaches or exploring the hidden
caves of the islands.
The Bay of Islands has 144
islands and includes the tourist
towns of Russell, Opua, Waitangi
and Paihia. There are an
abundance of picturesque views
that will take your breath away, as
well as a host of exciting activities
to keep you entertained. Great
options include going kayaking,
chartering a yacht, or walking
along the seaside with your family
and friends. You can also go on the
famous ferry ride to the town of
Russell, visit the Hundertwasser
attractions in Kawakawa, view
the scenic sunset on the 90 Mile
Beach, hang out at one of the
famous cafes or collect souvenirs
from flourishing art shops
in Kerikeri.
Continued on page 22

NEW ZEALAND

27 November 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz

For a better Auckland

Phil Goff
Labour MP

job creating export enterprises.

Theres a lot to attract good people
and good enterprises to Auckland.
We have a beautiful natural
environment, framed by our
spectacular coastline, harbours,
our maunga, islands and regional
parks. Those are assets that must
be respected and protected for
generations to come.
We need to make Auckland
a place where our urban
environment
and
lifestyle
matches the quality of our
natural environment. Good urban
design and protecting our green
open spaces is vital as the city
intensifies. And we must be an
inclusive citywhere diversity
brings richness not division.
To realise this vision, we must
confront the challenges head-on.
While we have made progress,

we have also missed valuable

opportunities. Mayor Robbie
was right all those years ago. We
needed to anticipate the future
and plan for it. Instead, too often,
we have responded after the event
and continue to do so.
Our infrastructure has not
kept up with growth. Our roads
are congested. Without the
investment we need, the gridlock
will just get worse, causing even
more frustration, pollution and
lost productivity. This is an
investment that will pay dividends
to all of New Zealand in the future.
Auckland must succeed for New
Zealand to succeed.
Its the same for housing.
Median house prices in Auckland
have gone up by over $180,000
in the last year. The Kiwi dream
of owning your own home is

slipping out of the reach of more

and more Aucklanders. We are
now in the worlds top ten least
affordable cities.
There are ways to bring supply
and demand in housing back into
balance and Auckland should
be strongly advocating for those
solutions. Policies that give the
building industry confidence
and certainty to gear up for
construction. Policies that put
home buyers ahead of speculators.
More intensive housing in the
city and along arterial routes is
needed. But that must be balanced
by good urban design, plenty of
public open space and protection
for areas of high heritage value.
We need to enhance and sustain
our environment. We should
be opening up our harbours to
people, not extending the port
further into the Waitemata
to create parking spaces for
imported cars. We have to address
pollution, silting in the Gulf and
harbours and protect our access
to recreational fishing. We need
an urban forestry programme to
green our city.
Last but absolutely not least,
for Auckland to succeed, it must
operate effectively and efficiently.
The Super City was supposed to
eliminate bureaucratic duplication
and waste. Its fallen short of that
target. Under my leadership, we
will be fiscally prudent. We will
learn to do more with less. Rate
increases have to be brought under
control and offset by cutting waste
and finding savings. We need to

Sikh student mistaken as terrorist

Kumar Suresh

ow does one describe

a
terrorist?
These
days, a beard, a
turban, coloured skin and a few
wires dangling out of ones bag
is probably enough to brand a
person as one. Twenty-one-yearold Jaspreet Singh found out
about this the hard way.
The University of Auckland
medical student was at Colombus
Coffee in Grafton to meet his
professor. When he reached, he
stopped the music and placed his
headphones in his bag. This was
enough for a customer at the cafe
to dial the emergency number to
alert them about a guy with some
wires in his bag.
When Mr Singh removed his
headphones from the bag, the
police realised it was a mistake
and apologised before leaving.

Black

Orange

Phil Goff has announced his decision to stand as an independent candidate for Mayor of Auckland
next year. As Mayor, Phil Goff promises to focus on a number of issues that directly impact on the
lives of Aucklanders, including tackling traffic congestion and increasing the housing supply.
Mr Goff is committed to working in an inclusive way with future fellow councillors and the
government, whatever its political makeup. He talks about his vision for Auckland in this piece.

or three decades I have

enjoyed the privilege of
representing Aucklanders
from Mt Roskill and New Lynn in
Parliament. Over the years, I have
seen Auckland grow and change.
It has become more diverse
and dynamic.
As the city has grown so too
have the opportunities and choice
for learning, work and recreation.
We
are
an
internationally
competitive city and the best
chance New Zealand has to attract
and keep talented people in
this country.
A million Kiwis live overseas
on a long-term basis. On average,
about 50,000 of our best and
brightest people leave every year.
Auckland is the place that can
attract those Kiwis back here to
live and raise their families.
The
late
scientist
and
entrepreneur Sir Paul Callaghan
talked of making New Zealand a
place where talent wanted to live.
He got it absolutely right.
My vision is of Auckland
unleashing itself as a creative,
innovative and entrepreneurial
city. It should be a centre of
learning and a centre of culture.
This is a city that should be
producing more high-tech, highpaid jobs. New Zealand is sixth
in the world in publishing hightech research reports. But its only
63rd in high-tech manufacturing
output. We need measures to
promote R&D investment and
venture capital to translate
good ideas into successful and

Red

Jaspreet Singh

Police spokesperson Scott

Leonard later confirmed the
incident: Someone saw a male
with headphones out and then
put wires into what looked like a
transistor radio in a backpack.
Personally, I feel no anger.
It is just slightly disappointing
that something like that is still
happening in a country like ours.
Because of the Paris attacks,
people are a bit scared, and I think
that had a part to play in this as

well, said Mr Singh. The question

that one needs to ask is whether
this individual, who called the
emergency number, is actually
the face of society she lives in?
There can be no denying the fact
that such incidents actually are
the by-product of fear, racism
and ignorance.
One can understand the fear
in common man when he/she
reads or hears acts of violence
such as the ones seen in Paris
recently, but to allow it to control
ones judgment and thinking is
only going to glorify the cause
for which organisations such as
ISIS and Al Qaeda stand for. It
would be playing into the hands
of these terror groups who want
to inflict physiological damage on
the mankind. In these times, to
blindly point fingers at someone in
public and calling him a terrorist
is nothing less than a crime.

The number of people who

are fighting ISIS on the ground
is innumerable compared to the
western forces that at best are
flying sorties after sorties over
Syria. One should understand
and appreciate the effort from all
the sects who are contributing
towards the war against ISIS.
The most beautiful line at the
end of the day came from Mr
Singh himself when he said in his
Facebook page: I think today is
not about holding that one lady
accountable for what she did, but
rather serves as a reminder that we
cannot let fear get the best of usI
will leave you with this quote from
Professor Larkin who was with me
during this incidentWe must
not let ignorance and fear run
the show...It is unjust, immoral,
unfair, inconsiderate, and a huge
step backwards for humankind.

put our own house in order and

make Auckland New Zealands
best performing city. When we do
that, we are in a stronger position
to leverage Government resources
to meet the needs created by
rapid growth.
Auckland needs someone with
skills and political experience.
Thirty years as an MP and Cabinet
Minister has given me a unique set
of skills. Ive led teams of diverse
people and led large organisations
tackling complex issues on
tight budgets.
I know how central government
works and what it takes to make it
responsive to our needs. I dont
pretend to have all the answers
no one does. But I have a record
of sound judgement and doing the
job I am entrusted with.
I
am
running
as
an
Independent. I want to bring
an inclusive approach to the
Mayoralty and forge a team that
works well together for the benefit
of this city.
The solutions to our citys
problems are not ideological.
They must be evidence-driven. I
will work with any Government,
National or Labour led, to get
the best deal for Auckland. The
interests of the city and its people
will come first. And I will be their
fiercest advocate.
Above all, I want to lead a
council that remembers that
it is a public, democratic and
transparent
institutionand
accountable to Aucklanders.

HRC praises Mr Singh

Race Relations Commissioner
Dame Susan Devoy praised the
way Mr Singh responded after a
stranger rang the police because
she thought his headphones were
a bomb.
We can all learn a lot from
Jaspreet Singh and the way he
responded to prejudice and fear
with dignity and mana, said
Dame Susan. It is ironic that
Jaspreet is a third-year medical
student who will no doubt go on to
help save many lives.
My friend London bombing
survivor Gill Hicks has a saying,
Make Peace a Verb, and this is
exactly what Jaspreet and others
like him are trying to do. Violent
extremists dont want us to stand
alongside one another in peace
and solidarity, they want us to fear
and hate: we must not let them
win, she added.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 27 November 2015

Australian horticulture students

visit Franklin Agritech

Red

Black

Orange

IWK BUREAU

wenty students from the

University of Sydney, pursuing
a Bachelor of Agriculture
and Business, descended on the new
Franklin Institute of Agri-Technology
as part of a week-long study tour to
explore the horticulture industry
in New Zealand where they spent a
whole day in Pukekohe.
University of Sydney students at Franklin Agritech
The students were brought to New
Zealand by Dr Brian Jones, Associate Dean
Practices): quality, safety and traceability
Undergraduate Studies of the Universitys
and how these components form
Department of Plant and Food Sciences.
an essential part of greens supply
The group was hosted by Dr Raj Saini,
chain management.
CEO of Franklin Agritech and Director
The group was impressed to see the
of Rupex Growtech Ltd. The day also
effective use of simple technology and
included visits to Jivan Produce Ltd
mechanisation that is not only cheaper to
where BharatJivan, the chairman of the
install but also easier to maintain and is still
Pukekohe Vegetable Growers Association,
capable of sophisticated and high quality
briefed them about vegetable growing on a
outcomes. They learned the importance of
commercial scale.
an integrated approach to pest control in
Students also visited A.S. Wilcox & Sons
which hygiene, environmental regulation
Ltd and Hari R.C. & Sons Ltd, which are
and balanced plant growth through
among the largest local enterprises for field
balanced nutrient application, are all in
crop production.
balance rather than relying simply on the
The students were impressed to see
application of chemicals.
things happening on a large scale and
Dr Saini introduced them to the
how academic knowledge is being applied
economic imperative of developing a
to actual growing on a commercial scale.
steady flow of trained staff to sustain the
They were particularly interested in the
future of the industry as his rationale for
close integration in the Pukekohe area of
developing the new training institution,
the various aspects of the greens supply
Franklin Agritech.
chain and Rupexs balance of crops between
He also explained how the training
vegetable seedlings for the domestic
provided in New Zealand would benefit
market and cymbidium orchids for the
young international students returning to
their home countries with fresh thinking
international cut-flower market.
about innovative ways to serve changing
Students heard about the three basic
supply chain needs in these countries.
components of GAP (Good Agricultural

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Thinking of selling or looking to buy? Call us now for a free appraisal or to discuss opportunities

NEW ZEALAND

27 November 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz

Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrations Public memorial

IWK Bureau

ne of the most sacred

festivals in Sikhism,
Guru Nanak Jayanti
is celebrated by Sikhs, Hindus
and followers of Guru Nanaks
philosophy. The day is observed to
the mark the birth of the first Sikh
and the founder of Sikhism.
This year, more than 2,500 Sikh
pilgrims from India have arrived
in Lahore to participate in the
religious rituals to mark the 547th
birth anniversary of Guru Nanak
Dev. From Lahore, the pilgrims
left for Hasan Abdal town in
Attock district to visit the temple of
Panja Sahib.
Sikhs in New Zealand also
celebrated the birth anniversary
of the great saint at Gurudwaras
around the country. Gurudwara
Sri Kalgidhar Sahib in Takanini
and Otahuhu held celebrations
on November 25. The programme
included kirtan samagam, which
was followed by a display of
fireworks.
On November 21, Guru
Nanak Sikh Temple in Hamilton
also
organised
a
kirtan

service for Jonah Lomu

Red

darbar, which was followed

by langar.
Indian
President
Pranab
Mukherjee and Vice President
Hamid Ansari greeted people
on the occasion. On the joyous
occasion of the birthday of Guru
Nanak Devji, I convey greetings
and good wishes to all my
fellow countrymen, the
president said.
Stating that Guru
Nanak believed that
service of man is
supreme,
Mukherjee
urged people to lead
a
moral
and
righteous life.
In his message,
Hamid Ansari
said
Guru
Nanak, the
first of the
10 Sikh
gurus,
h a s

remained
an
icon
of
truth,
compassion,
and
righteousness
through
his
noble life.
He noted the divine teachings
of Guru Nanak would forever
inspire people to follow the path
of righteousness and show respect
for all humankind
irrespective
of
caste, creed or
religion.

Black

Orange

IWK BUREAU

rime Minister John Key

has announced details of
the public memorial for
Jonah Lomu.
A public service will be held on
Monday, November 30, from 1:00
p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Eden Park
in Auckland.
Jonah touched peoples lives
across the country and around the
world, says Mr Key.
This service will be open
to all members of the public
who want to remember the
significant contribution Jonah
made, not only to rugby here and
overseas, but also to the wider
community through his work with
charities such as UNICEF and
Kidney Kids NZ.
The service will be a
celebration of Jonahs life and I
expect a large number of people
will want to be there.In addition
there will be special Aho Faka

Famili (Day of the Family) event

allowing Pasifika to pay their
respects in their traditional way.
This will be held at the
Vodafone
Events
Centre
on Saturday, November 28
from noon.
A private funeral for Jonah will
be held on Tuesday, 1 December.
Lomu family spokesperson
John Hart says family members
were grateful to the government
for their support.

Make a difference

Voting opens for new

flag design

IWK BUREAU

NEW ZEALAND AIDS FOUNDATION

ecember 1 is observed as
World AIDS day. Here
are ways you can raise
awareness and help prevent HIV
in New Zealand.

three million New Zealanders

from

Wear a tee
Order and sport special World
AIDS Day t-shirtsfrom www.
mrvintage.co.nz . In New Zealand,
a high level of condom use has kept
HIV at very low levels. But this
has also made HIV invisible in our
communities. HIV still exists
almost 3,000 Kiwis currently live
with the virus. People living with
HIV say that the stigma of HIV is
worse than managing the virus.
With modern medicines and
treatment, people living with HIV
can lead long lives.
Go to the theatre
Friday, 27 November is
the opening night of the sixday theatre project Puwai,
markingWorld AIDS Dayat the
Te Pou Theatre. Body Positive and
Positive Women Inc are hosting
this event. It marks the start of
aweek of performances that aim

November

20,

Deputy

Prime Minister, Bill English, is

Drink coffee
Show
your
support
by
grabbing a coffee from one of
NZAFs partner cafes around
New Zealand. Each cup carries a
different HIV fact and is designed
to increase knowledge and
reduce stigma.Auckland:Garnet
Station,Up
Cafe,Cocos
Cantina, Marcellos Caff, Blue
Rose. Wellington: Flight Coffee
Hangar.Christchurch:STAT
Espresso,Beat Street Cafe,C4
Coffee,Hello Sunday.

ith voting papers

being
delivered
to
more
than

encouraging Kiwis to have their

say on what New Zealands flag
should look like.
The

voting

pack

being

delivered between November 20

and 27 includes voting paper, a
return free post envelope, full
information on how to complete
to help reduce HIV stigma through
laughter and song.
Volunteer
Shake a bucket on November27
at the World AIDS Day Street
Collection and help fundraise.
Collectors in Auckland, Hamilton,
Wellington, Christchurch and
Dunedin will be on the street in
their red sashes with red ribbons
raising money to support people
living with HIV.
Donate
If you spot one of NZAFs
volunteers on November 27, smile,
wave anddonate! By making a
financial contribution, youll be
helping to take positive action in
New Zealand towards UN AIDS
targets of 90-90-90: 90% of
people with HIV to be diagnosed,
90% of those diagnosed to be on
medication and 90% of those on
medication with undetectable
viral load.Donations can also be
made onlineand in-store at MAC
Cosmetic outlets.

Wear the iconic red ribbon

the paper, and information about

The red ribbon is symbol of

showing solidarity with people
living with HIV and those who
have died due to AIDS related
illnesses. You can ask our
volunteers Street Collectors for
one on November 27.

the five flag options. The first

Join NZAF at Aotea Square

have ever asked their citizens for

For the first time, Auckland will

be hosting the World AIDS Day
Hub at Aotea Square from 8:00
a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on November
27.Atomic Coffee will be bringing
their Airstream Coffee Cart from
noon to 3:00 p.m. with proceeds
from coffee cup sales going to the
The Wellness Fund, and MAC
Cosmetics be doing special World
AIDS Day red lips from 11:00 a.m.
to 3:00 p.m.

their views on the design of their

Post, like, follow and #hashtag

to announce the official result of

Once completed, voting papers

this first referendum on December

should be placed in the return

15. That design will then proceed

envelope, and posted in a New

to a second binding referendum in

Zealand Post post box by Tuesday,

March, where voters will choose

December 8 to ensure they get

between it and the current flag.

back in time.

Access and share accurate

information via your social media
presence, to help clarifying facts
about HIV and dispel myths.

postal referendum will run until

December 11.
This is a once in a lifetime
opportunity.

Very

few

governments around the world

national flags.
Id encourage everyone who
is eligible to vote to have their
say and choose the flag they feel
best represents New Zealands
proud, pioneering past and its
exciting, ambitious future, Mr
English says.
The Electoral Commission aims

The five proposed designs for the new New

Zealand flag

Enrolled voters who do not receive

their pack should visit elections.
org.nz or call 0800 36 76 56 to get
a replacement paper. They can also
request a replacement paper if they
make a mistake, lose, or destroy
their paper.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 27 November 2015

MoneyGram customers in
NZ can send money to bank
accounts in India

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oneyGram (NASDAQ: MGI)

has announced that customers
in New Zealand can now send
money to all Rupee-denominated bank
accounts in India in as little as three hours*,
when sent during Indian banking hours.
Customers can choose to send money
from any Lotus Exchange or Travel Money
locations or one of the 70 MoneyGram
agent locations across New Zealand.
As more immigrants from India move
to New Zealand, the demand for money
transfer services is increasing, says Michael
Minassian, MoneyGrams senior regional
director Australia and New Zealand.
We are pleased to offer our loyal
customers a quick, reliable and secure way
to get money to their friends and family in
their home country.
The service taps into the national Indian
banking payments network, National
Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT), to
provide customers around the globe
with a quick and easy method to send
international money transfers directly into
Rupee-denominated bank accounts.
This new service is available to all major
banks in India including Axis Bank, Punjab
National Bank, ICICI, HDFC, SBI and many
more. Indian banking hours are generally
Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m.
to 7:00 p.m. (Indian Standard Time), and
Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
(Indian Standard Time).

Receivers of money transfers in India

who do not have access to a bank account
can still use a traditional cash-to-cash
MoneyGram service accessible through
more than 50,000 agent locations in India.
According to the World Bank, remittances
from New Zealand to India were USD $312
million in 2014.
*Transactions completed after banking
hours will be deposited the next business
day. Timing of funds availability is subject
to banking hours and compliance with
regulatory requirements.

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26/11/15 10:59 am

NEW ZEALAND

27 November 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz

Change our thinking, not

our climate
Barry Coates
Green Party

crucial climate change summit

will take place in Paris, starting
on November 30. This is the time
that New Zealand needs to step up to meet
the challenge of climate pollution. But this
will mean some changes in the ways that we
look at climate change.
Firstly, it isnt a debate. The scientific
evidence is overwhelming. Ninety-seven
per cent of peer reviewed science says
climate change is happening and human
activity causes it.
Secondly, it isnt in the future. Its now.
Hundreds of thousands of people around
the world, particularly in the poorest
communities of India, Bangladesh and
Africa, are already suffering. In my previous
role as CEO of Oxfam New Zealand, I saw
the ways in which climate pollution-related
floods, storms and droughts meant that
homes were destroyed, harvests were
ruined and water sources were dry. Millions
of vulnerable people are affected. As New
Zealanders, we need to agree to take action
to support people at risk and prevent an

even greater humanitarian crisis. Thirdly,

its doesnt just affect someone else. Its
us as well. This week, a report from the
Parliamentary Commissioner for the
Environment identified 9,000 New Zealand
homes at risks from storms, flooding and
coastal erosion.
She called for early action to manage a
retreat from high risk areas and to prepare
for the impacts. The government dismissed
the report as speculative, continuing
its head-in-the-sand approach to climate
pollution. But we need to plan ahead and
prepare if we are to avoid houses being
uninsurable and communities devastated.
Fourthly, we can take action to prevent
the worst impacts. This means we need
policies to start the transition to a low
emissions economy.
Despite our good environmental
reputation and a large base of renewable
hydroelectric power, New Zealand has done
little. Instead of emissions reducing, our

emissions have risen by 20% under this

government. Lastly, taking action can be
good for us. Countries around the world are
investing in solar energy, electric vehicles,
public transport and a range of clean
technologies that are creating decent jobs
in rapidly growing global markets.
But New Zealand is being left behind.
Low emissions policies would strengthen
our economy and make our cities and
towns better places to live. The arguments
for action are strong, and the Green Party
has been at the forefront of innovative ways
for New Zealand to step up to the challenges
of climate change. New Zealand needs to do
better, urgently.
We must do everything we can to reach
a good global agreement at the forthcoming
climate summit in Paris. There will be a
family-friendly Peoples Climate March
in Auckland on Saturday, 28 November,
starting at 11 a.m. in Albert Park. Please
join us.

Hunters Plaza
completes
$10m upgrade

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IWK BUREAU

$10 million upgrade has just been

completed at Hunters Plaza that
now gets new Italian marble floor
and the addition of a second travellator
linking 700+ undercover car parks to a
newly-refurbished Countdown store.
The new format Countdown store has an
expanded range of fresh meat and produce
and a new layout, making it easier for
customers to navigate.
To celebrate, Hunters Plaza will be
rewarding 1,000 customers with a $15
Countdown Gift Card for every $40
purchase at any store from Thursday,
November 26 to Sunday, November 29.
The centre will also be running a number of
prize draws, retailer offers, complementary
voucher giveaways and free entertainment
for the whole family.
Hunters Plaza has been servicing the
Papatoetoe area and beyond since 1991
and remains a strong supporter of the
local community through partnerships
with local charities including PACT, The
Attainable Trust, Totara Hospice South
Auckland and The Papatoetoe Returned
Services Association.
With more than 40 specialty stores,
Hunters Plaza is anchored by Kmart, Noel
Leeming and Number One Shoes.
The centre continues to build its
choice of retail with new stores including
Number One Shoes, Precious jewellery
and accessories and a unique G-Shock
concept store.

Spreading the message of love

e the change, Be Mother Teresa,

that was the message that came
from the inter-faith committee
meeting that was held in Auckland recently.
This is an annual event held by The Mother
Teresa Centennial Committee. This years
meeting was held on November 21 at Christ
the King Church, Auckland and saw the
Minister of Ethnic Affairs, Peseta Sam
Lotu-Iiga, attending and addressing the
gathering. Mr Lotu-Iiga said, In todays
world, the teaching of love, of Mother
Teresa is even more important than
ever before.
Dr Jebamalai, the former Principal
Adviser to the Director General, UNIDO,
Vienna, Austria and Chairman, Experience
Foundation was the Guest Speaker this
year. Dr Jebamalai mentioned about his
experiences in Africa and how he worked
to make a change following the teachings of
Mother Teresa. He said, If you want to be
a true follower of the Mother, then become
the Mother. Spread Love and caring and
make the change.
The Catholic Bishop of Auckland,
Diocese Patrick Dunn also addressed the
gathering and said that Mother Teresas
message of love is the most important to
heal the world. Bishop Dunn lit the lamp,
along with the other dignitaries present.
The convener of the inter-faith
committee, Mr Wenceslaus Anthony,
emphasised the need to start spreading
love from your immediate circle, from
your family and community. He said, If
everyone starts taking care of people in
their immediate community or event one
person of a family in need, the world would
be a better place. Mr Anthony also showed

Clockwise from above: The Mother Teresa Centennial Committee members along with the chief guest, Chief guest Dr Jebamalai
lighting the lamp, (from left to right) Kevin McKenna, NZTE, Most. Rev. Bishop Patrick Dunn, Bishop of Auckland; Charg
daffaires Indian High Commission, Sandeep Sood; Convener, Interfaith committee, Wenceslaus Anthony and gathering at the
Mother Teresa interfaith meeting.

a video clip of Mothers message to the

people. This was a direct message from the
Mother, and everyone loved to see it.
Mr Anthony quoted Gandhiji: An eye
for an eye will only make the whole world
blind. Gandhiji like Mother Teresa was
propagating Love and Peace. He said that
if we have an eye for eye in the family

and in the community, the family and the

community will be blind. However, if we
practice what Mother Teresa and Gandhiji
preached to radiate love and oeace, we will

have clear vision and enjoy the joy and the

beauty of this world for which we have been
created by the Almighty.
The meeting saw an impressive line-up
of dignitaries, from the sitting parliament
MP Mr Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Dr Parmjeet
Parmar, to the charg daffaires Indian High
Commission, Mr Sandeep Sood. There was
representation from NZ
Police, with inspector
Rakesh Naidoo.
As part of the
proceedings, there were
hymns and prayers
from various faiths. Also
students from St Marys
school, Avondale, gave
a beautiful rendition
of We are the world.
Among those on the
committee are representatives of the Hindu,
Muslim, Buddhists, Christians, Sikhs and
Zoroastrians communities from around the
Auckland region.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 27 November 2015

White Ribbon Day puts spotlight

on family violence

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IWK BUREAU

hite Ribbon Day highlights

the need for a continued focus
on helping to reduce family

Enjoy this season

with friends and
families at

and sexual violence, Justice Minister Amy

Adams says.
The theme for this years White

We use fresh Meat and vegetables in our cooking and cholesterol

free oil. The Experience begins when you visit us. Our Menu includes
South Indian like doas and curry Indo Chinese like Manchurian and
chilly Veg and non veg North Indian cuisines including Tandoors

Ribbon campaign focuses on respectful

relationships between men and women,
consent as a necessary requirement of
all sexual relationships, and challenging
attitudes and behaviour around violence
against women.
While the government has a significant
amount of work underway to help reduce
family and sexual violence, campaigns
[such as] White Ribbon Day are a reminder
that there is still a long way to go, says
Ms Adams.
Domestic

commitment to tackle this issue head

on. This includes an overhaul of New
Zealands family violence legislation and
implementing a range of family violence
initiatives such as the recently announced
Chief Victims Advisor to government, she

growing

said. Ms Adams says there is also asuite

around

of sexual violence reforms underway

the world. Ms Adams says the same is

including looking at alternative ways for

seen in New Zealand. New Zealand has

victims to give evidence and ensuring

the highest reported rate of intimate

adequate support and advice for victims.

issue

violence

in

India

is

and

partner violence in the developed world.

Were also improving education around

Thats why Ive made helping to reduce

sexual assault and consent and helping

family and sexual violence one of my

to support victims of sexual violence by

core priorities.

funding a Sexual Violence Advocate as well

The government spends $1.4 billion

as specialist sexual violence court advisors

each year responding to family and

who have supported more than 1,400

sexual violence and weve made a firm

victims in the last year.

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Indian and Tandoors.

Enjoy 10% off

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tauranga: Shop 702 , Bayfair shopping Mall, 075741320. Tauranga.

10

NEW ZEALAND

27 November 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz

Red

PM welcomes closer
partnership with ASEAN

rimeMinister John Key has

welcomed an agreement
to work more closely with
the Association of South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN) to boost
trade and investment links and
announced New Zealand will
invest more than $200 million
into the region.
Mr
Key
made
the
announcement
that
New
Zealands formal relationship with
ASEAN would be upgraded from
a Comprehensive Partnership to
a Strategic Partnership, at the
ASEAN-NZ
Commemorative
Summit in Kuala Lumpur.
This year we celebrate 40
years of diplomatic relations with
ASEAN, a key regional partner,
Mr Key says.
The regionhome to 625
million people and with GDP
expected to grow to USD$5.2
trillion
by
2030presents
significant
opportunities
for
New Zealand and in recent years
we have seen strong growth in
trade. Mr Key also announced

Philippines President Benigno

Aquino III, left, and New Zealand
Prime Minister John Key react,
during the Gala Dinner at the 27th
ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia

New Zealand will increase its

investment into the region to
more than $200 million over
the next three years. New
Zealands development assistance
programme in the ASEAN region
will be the second-largest after the
Pacific. The funding will focus
on building the capability of the
regions people and creating links
between our young leaders and
emerging
entrepreneursthe

people who will build on the ties

we have forged in the past 40
years, Mr Key says.
We will also expand trade
and economic cooperation and
capacity building efforts, focusing
on NewZealands trade and
agricultural expertise, and we
will increase our efforts to help
improve the ability of ASEAN
member states to respond to
natural disasters.

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Orange

Study confirms NZs

commitment to education

new report shows that

New Zealand invests
a larger portion of its
public spending in education
than all but a handful of other
OECD countries.
Education At a Glance
2015,which
was
released
overnight, shows that New
Zealand ranks in the top two
OECD countries for expenditure
on both school and tertiary
education as a percentage of total
public expenditure.
The results demonstrate
New Zealands commitment to
equipping our students with
the skills they need for the
21stcentury, says Mr Joyce.
The survey shows 30 per cent
of adult New Zealanders (those
aged 25 to 64) have a degree
compared with the OECD average
of 28 per cent and that tertiary
qualification rates for women
in New Zealand are among the
highest in the countries studied.
New Zealand also has high
levels of people studying for
vocational qualifications.

The annual survey revealed

that the number of 15- to
19-year-olds staying in secondary
school has increased in recent
years.New Zealand has in fact
just posted its lowest-ever level of
1519 year olds not in education,
employment or training.
These gains show our efforts
to deliver a quality education to
all New Zealanders are bearing
fruit, says Heika Parata.
I want to thank all our
teachers, schools and tertiary
institutions for the difference they
are making to the future of our
young people.
The report also notes that New
Zealand is in the top third of OECD
countries for early childhood
education participation, funding
and teacher-child ratios.
The country is one of only nine
OECD countries where salaries
for experienced tertiary-educated
teachers compare favourably
with salaries for people with
equivalent
qualifications
in
other occupations.

Clinical Hub pilot among St

John Ambulance successes

ssociate Minister of Health Peter

Dunne says a funded pilot service
in Auckland to screen 111 calls
for urgency helped keep 6,000 people
out of hospital often by treating them at
home or providing advice over the phone.
The Clinical Hub pilot service, which saw
registered nurses and paramedics providing
telephone assessments for less urgent 111
calls, is one of the initiatives reported in the
organisations annual report.
St Johns assessed most of those
6,000 people as able to be given
advice over the phone and treated
at home. As well as providing callers
with more appropriate care faster,
ambulances and
Auckland Emergency
Departments were freed up to treat more
urgent cases.
The pilot continues to be funded while
it is assessed for its wider applicability, Mr
Dunne said.The Annual Report includes
highlights for the 201415 yearfrom
response times to life threatening incidents
to St Johns ongoing work in the community.
In the last year, St John has increased
its frontline resourcing with 158 additional
staff in 35 locations across New Zealand,
jointly funded by government and St
John. This has resulted in a significant
improvement in response times, and more
ambulances are now fully crewed.
St John received four per cent more
ambulance 111 calls in 201415 but
succeeded in dispatching ambulances to
life threatening incidents 20% faster than
in previous years. 201415 has also seen

St John make significant advances in its

ICT infrastructure, in partnership with the
Ministry of Healths Information Group.
The introduction of electronic patient report
forms provides for secure transmission of
patient information between ambulances
and emergency departments and will allow
further integration with primary care
information systems in future years.
While
embracing
technology,
St
John continues its work on the ground
with increased participation rates in
programmes such as St John in Schools and
First Aid Training. An independent review
of St John and Wellington Free Ambulance
funding for ambulatory services is currently
underway to help inform future financial
support arrangements.
Both St John and Wellington Free
Ambulance provide quality ambulance
services New Zealanders can feel proud
of. Because of this, I am confident
ambulance services will continue to serve
New Zealanders well in the face of rising
demands and resource constraints. The
review will provide useful advice on the
funding arrangements that would best
support this, Mr Dunne says.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 27 November 2015

11

$250,000 to Centre for

education leadership

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Centre for Education Leadership

Excellence is to be established
to build leadership across the
education system, Education Minister
Hekia Parata has announced.
The centre will be established by the
Education Council of Aotearoa New
Zealand, the newly-formed professional
body for teachers and will be partially
funded by the Ministry of Education, which
is contributing $250,000 to its set-up costs.
Its initial focus will be the principals
who have been selected to lead the new
Communities of Learning established to
foster systematic collaboration across the
education system.
I am particularly pleased that the
Education Council will be leading
professional development for this group of
principals, Ms Parata says.
The Council was established to raise the
quality and status of the teaching profession
and this is a practical demonstration of how
it plans to fulfil its mandate.
Research tells us that quality leadership
is one of the two most important inschool influences on student learning.
Growing leadership capability across our
education system will make a material

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achievement.Ms Parata says the new
centre will strengthen links between early
learning centres, schools and education
researchers in tertiary institutions. One
of its first tasks will be to work with
the achievement challenge leaders of
Communities of Learning.

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12

NEW ZEALAND

27 November 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz

Red

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Failing to plan ahead on rising sea level

Winston Peters
NZ First leader

hen
the
Parliamentary
Commissioner
for
the
Environment brought out
a paper calling for serious planning
against the threat of rising sea levels, the
government took little notice.
As an independent advisor we would
expect the government would listen and act
on her well-evidenced and carefully thought
through views.
She said there was no need to panic
but carbon emissions must come down
and money put aside to deal with any
future crises.
With the Paris Climate Change
Conference soon to get under way the

File photo of waterfront properties in Miami, USA

timing of her report on sea level rises

was appropriate. But Minister of Climate
Change Issues Tim Groser revealed only a
smugness about his knowledge of the issue,
and would not take her warnings on board.
At the same time, Finance Minister
Bill English claimed her advice, based
on science, was speculation. He was
contradicted by several mayors who said

they had already started planning for

changes along our coastlines which might
affect homes.
The commissioner warned that the
current governments advice and direction
is not up to it. Remember she said it is not
a time to panic but rather a time to look at
serious plans here and overseas to either
mitigate change or in some areas accept it.

First-homes for Kiwi Families

Kanwaljit Bakshi

National List MP

uying a first home is exciting, but

it can also be a challenge for many
average New Zealanders. Thanks
to the governments KiwiSaverHomeStart
scheme, thousands more New Zealanders
have been helped into achieving the Kiwi
dream of home ownership.
In April this year, the government doubled
support for first-home buyers and since
then almost 6,300 KiwiSaverHomeStart
grants have been approved.
Young families around the country are
telling us they couldnt have bought their
home without this scheme, and that it really
is a dream come true.
These grants are helping people right
across New Zealand, not just in the main

cities. Weve had feedback from Auckland

and Tauranga, right down to Christchurch
and Invercargill.
Around another 2,500 additional
applications have been pre-approved and
those people are now looking for the right
house to buy.
Couples buying a newly built home can
receive government grants of up to $20,000
and those buying an existing home can get
up to $10,000 to put towards a deposit on
their first home. First home buyers can now

also withdraw almost all their KiwiSaver

funds to put towards their first home.
The KiwiSaverHomeStart scheme is
expected to help 90,000 New Zealanders
into their first home over five years. The
government is investing $435 million into
this scheme to support more Kiwi families
onto the property ladder.
Weve also expanded eligibility for
Welcome Home Loans, which help firsthome buyers with only a 10 per cent
deposit. In the six months to September,

But this is typical of this National

government; its planning by the day, by the
issue. Putting out fires as they spring up,
but with no vision for what might lie ahead.
As far as climate changes goes, overseas
experience suggests some of the changes
can be handled and some may not be able
to be. But doing nothing is not an option.
Even President Obama said sea level
rise was a threat to peoples safety,
infrastructure and the American economy.
He has had his ears and mind open to his
advisers, something this government is
not doing.
One wonders why a government would
bother to have eminent people, like
Dr Jan Wright, holding the position of
Commissioner if they are not going to heed
their advice.
It will be embarrassing indeed to be
part of this government in Paris. What
does the Minister say when someone
asks him why he isnt listening to the
advice of the Parliament Commission for
the Environment?

nearly 1,200 new Welcome Home Loans

were approved.
While KiwiSaverHomeStart is delivering
on its goal to help thousands of New
Zealanders into their first home, the
government also has a package of initiatives
helping to improve housing affordability.
One of our main priorities is increasing
the supply of housing. Eight housing
accords and Special Housing Areas across
the country are freeing up more land for
housing by fast tracking and streamlining
consents. The total number of Special
Housing Areas in Auckland is now 106, with
potential for more than 48,000 new homes.
The government has also taken action
to constrain building material costs, cut
compliance costs, and improve productivity
in the building industry. Were also
ensuring everyone, whether from New
Zealand or overseas, pays their fair share
of tax on housing investments. Through
our wide reaching housing programme, the
government remains committed to helping
more New Zealanders into their own home.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 27 November 2015

Red

Black

13

Orange

Karekare Surf Lifesaving Club

moves into the drone zone

n a New Zealand first, Karekare

Surf Lifesaving Club will receive
a surveillance drone, to trial in
partnership with Surf Life Saving New
Zealand and Surf Life Saving Northern
Region, to further improve rescue response
times in keeping our community safe in
the water.

equipment, says club patrol captain and

fully qualified drone operator Matt Wade.
It wont take away the need for rescue
craft and lifeguards but it will give us
another pair of excellent eyes where it
really counts.
The Karekare club is 80 years old this
season, the second oldest club in Auckland,

Mayor Len Brown presents the drone to club patrol captain Matt Wade, Karekare lifeguard Jeremy Gershen and
Surf Lifesaving Northern Region acting CEO Matt Williams

The drone was a gift from the Mayor

of Guangzhou to Mayor Len Brown who
decided to gift it to Karekare after a
discussion with club stalwart and Auckland
Champion Sir Bob Harvey.
It is envisaged the drone will be used
during a trial at the beach. Huge potential
exists in its ability to be directed to fly to
an area needing to be searched prior to
other manned air assets coming onto the
scene.Similar research is being conducted
in Australia which SLSNZ has been looking
into. Lessons learnt from there, together
with this trial, will add to the understanding
of how this technology could be used to save
lives in the future.
We are absolutely delighted to be able
to have the necessary equipment to start the
process of trialling this exciting piece of new

and has saved 5,000 people since its

inception in 1935. Valued at around $1,000,
the GHOST Basic drones merchandise
describes it as the worlds easiest to fly
and takes all editions of GoPro cameras
including an auto-levelling function.
Ideally we will be able to fly the drone
north over the infamous Cauldron where
many rescues take place and south over
unpatrolled areas toward Whatipu, and we
will ensure we operate within Civil Aviation
Authority regulations, says Mr Wade.
It will alert the lifeguards to people
swimming out of the patrolled area and
generally enhance our ability to save lives.
Drones have been trialled by a surf club
in Queensland with great success according
to Mr Wade who says the club is grateful to
the Mayor for the gift.

Westfield St Lukes consent

decision

uckland
Councils
Hearings Committee
has
determined
that the resource consent
application from Scentre
Group to extend Westfield St
Lukes will proceed on a nonnotified basis.
The decision, made in
the confidential section of
the committees meeting on
17 November, is now public
as council has informed
the applicant.
There is an existing
Westfield St Lukes
resource consent in place
to extend the shopping mall, which was
granted in 2011.
This latest application makes some
amendments and additions to the already
consented
proposal,
including
the
replacement of rooftop parking above the
consented mall and expanding retail areas.
Councillor Linda Cooper, Chair of the
Hearings Panel, says that the effects in the
application are considered less than minor.
The proposal is in line with the St
Lukes Concept Plan, which was developed

following extensive public consultation.

The proposal will have a height and
separation distance to neighbouring
properties that will avoid dominance,
amenity
or
shadowing
effects
for neighbours.
It also considers all traffic aspects and
does not anticipate additional parking
demands on surrounding roads.
Independent commissioners have been
appointed to decide the outcome of the
resource consent application.

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CHALLENGING GRAVITY

14

FIJI

27 November 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz

Red

Black

Orange

Hindus welcome prayer room at Fiji airport

indus have welcomed

the idea of prayer
room
at
Fijis
main airport and regional
hub for South Pacific, Nadi
International Airport.
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in
a statement in Nevada (USA), said
that having a prayer room at
the airport would be a step in the
positive direction.
It would help infuse spirituality
into the atmosphere of this

important airport and would

provide a place for reflection and
prayer for passengers, employees,
visitors,
and
others
using
the airport.
The currently progressing
$105 million upgrade at this
airport, expected to be complete
in mid-2016, reportedly includes
a prayer room in the first floor
departure lounge.
Zed, who is President of
Universal Society of Hinduism,

pointed out that prayer/worship

to God was highly important in
Hinduism, oldest and third largest
religion of the world with about
one billion adherents, and it would
be nice to have a Hindu prayer
service at Nadi prayer room so
that Hindu passengers did not
miss their daily worship rituals/
rites while travelling through;
which might include recitation of
texts, repetition of mantras and
dhayan (meditation). Hindus
would appreciate if a corner of

this prayer room had murtis

(statues) of popular deities, copies
of sacred scriptures, a traditional
bell and recorded devotional
music; and once-a-week kirtan
and arti session was held in it,
Rajan Zed noted.
Zed indicated that Nadi
should also seriously consider
providing yoga room for the
passengers if it wanted to help
reduce their stress levels and be a
world-class
airport.
Many
international airports already

have yoga spaces. Rajan Zed

urged all major airports across
the world to make a provision
for sacred space in the shape of
prayer room and a yoga room.
Many airports reportedly already
do have multi-faith prayer-rooms.
Airports Fiji Limited, fully
owned Government Commercial
Company, owns and manages
Nadi International Airport. Faiz
Khan is Executive Chairman. Nadi
already has a massage parlour.

Accessing climate change fund

Tradition attire
to represent all
Fijians at Miss
Pacific Islands
pageant, says
Miss Fiji

hile France and the

European Union have
pledged multibillion
funding for climate change
initiatives, accessing these funds
have been somewhat difficult for
Pacific Island countries.
However, charge daffaires of
the European delegation for the
Pacific, Johnny Engell-Hansen
said Fiji was one of the countries
in the region that was able to
access the funding because of
the technical expertise within
the country.
With the 2015 Paris Summit
or COP21 around the corner,
discussions were held at the Grand
Pacific Hotel on how the private
sector could contribute to reducing
global warming.
The event was organised by
Women in Business, the EU and
the French Embassy and featured
topics on the business climate
and the way forward, benefits of
sustainable tourism enterprise
and how the private sector
could be involved in sustainable
development. Mr Engell-Hansen
defended the stringent criteria
reminding the forum that they

iss Fiji, Zaira Begg

says her traditional
attire at the Miss
Pacific Islands pageant in the
Cook Islands next month will
represent all Fijians.
Begg is working with her
designers to make a costume that
will truly represent Fiji and the
struggles we have gone through as
a nation.
Twenty-one-year-old
Zaira
Begg who hails from Ba is a dancer
and model with her passion
centered on cultural dance,
fashion and acting.
The Miss Pacific Islands
Pageant will be held at the Cook
Islands from December 6 to 13.

Miss Fiji Zaira Begg

also had to play a balancing act.

With past failed projects, the
donors had a duty to ensure
taxpayer funds were utilised well.
However, he added, the EU was
also ready to assist countries with
their submissions by providing
technical
expertise.
French
ambassador Michel Djokovic said
they were ready and keen to assist
countries access this funding to
adapt and mitigate the effects of
climate change.
Mr Djokovic also said the
contribution of the private sector
was vital for the success of COP 21.

MV Suilven sinks in the Suva Habour

aritime
Safety
Authority of Fijis
(MSAF)
oil
spill
equipment is on standby at the
Government Shipping Services
(GSS) ready for deployment
after the MV Suilven, owned by
Venu Shipping, sunk in the Suva
Harbour on Tuesday afternoon.
This ship went down with 25
20-feet reefer containers with a
few trucks.
Infrastructure and Transport
Ministry permanent secretary
Francis Kean confirmed that
MSAF had also liaised with oil
companies for their oil spill
equipment to be on standby
for deployment should the
need arise.
Mariners have been advised
to proceed with caution when
navigating within the vicinity of

the entrance to Suva Harbour

and to be on the lookout for any
floating containers.
In a notice sent from Mr Kean,
he stated the RORO (roll-on, rolloff) ship sunk at the entrance
of Suva Harbour at the coordinates of 18 degrees 08.433S
and 178 degrees 23.69E. Mr

Kean confirmed that at the

time of the accident, the ship
was carrying 30 crew members
and four passengers who were
truck drivers.
Initial reports from the
owners, Venu Shipping, indicated
that the container cargo lashing
failure contributed to the listing

of this RORO ship. All crew and

passengers were safely evacuated
on board the Tug Tanunda, Mr
Kean said.
Mr Kean confirmed that
the Tug Tanunda, under the
charter Fiji Ports Corporation
Ltd (FPCL), was first to respond
to the scene with their pilot
boat Murimai.
He said Kiro was also deployed
to render assistance after they
were informed of the incident.
Fiji Navy Commander John
Fox said they co-ordinated with
FPCL and had given them the
operation to take charge of.
The only woman crew Fuga
Luse, who was a cook with the
ship, said they could not divulge
what was wrong with the ship but
they were thankful to be alive.
The only thing that I have
saved is my mobile phone so I

could call home and the clothes

Im wearing, Ms Luse said.
Another crew member claimed
there were about five engineering
students on the ship with others
studying at the Maritime School of
the Fiji National University, and
they were told not to divulge any
information about the accident
before they were evacuated
off the ship.
Venu Shippings boss Bob
Naidu confirmed that the ship
did not carry passengers and was
only a cargo ship but he would
not comment any further as the
case was being investigated by
the Maritime Safety Authority
of Fiji.
The ship is understood to
have been built around the early
1970s and has been around for
about 40 years.

FIJI

www.iwk.co.nz | 27 November 2015

15

We will not give up on sugar cane in Fiji: PM

Red

Black

Orange

rime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama

says that despite the odds that are
stacked against us, we do not intend
to give up on sugar cane in Fiji.
While speaking during the 48th Session
of the International Sugar Organisation
Council in London, Bainimarama says
it is about continuing the programme to
modernise the industry, to embrace new
technology to improve the yields and provide
information that is needed to make better
planning decisions.
He says it is about continuing Fijis
programme of extracting as much sugar
as possible from a single plant and value
adding with new products and by-products.
The Prime Minister also says it is about
building resilience to the threat posed to

NEWS in BRIEF
PM leads Fijian
delegation to
international
sugar meet

rime Minister and Minister for

Sugar Industry Hon. Voreqe
Bainimarama is leading Fijis
delegation to the 24th International
Sugar Organisation (ISO) Seminar in
London. The ISO is an intergovernmental
body devoted to improving conditions on
the world's sugar market through Debate,
Analysis, Special Studies, Transparent
Statistics, Seminars, Conferences and
Workshops. Reforms implemented to
revive and improve Fijis sugar sector
has been carried out through close
consultations with the ISO.
Fijis participation in the ISO Seminar
will enable the government to work
closely with sugar experts from across
the globe. In turn, this will enable
government to replicate in Fiji some of
the best practices carried out in other
sugar-producing nations.

the industry by climate change and it is

about constantly scanning the horizon for
new markets and working as hard as we
can as an industry to give those markets
what they require.
Bainimarama says the challenge for our
industry in Fiji has never been greater, as
our preferential access to the European
market draws to a close in 2017.
He says Fiji remains confident that we
can meet that challenge as we continue to
fast-track our capital projects to diversify
our revenue streams.
Bainimarama says Fijis crushing
performance last year was again hit by a
prolonged drought that started in March
and the planting programme had to be
aborted because of the lack of rainwater,
and that we planted a mere 1,300 hectares

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama with the Fiji delegation at the International Sugar Organisation Council in London

against a planting target of 3,000 hectares.

According to Bainimarama as of November
2, two of the four sugar mills completed
their crushing and the other two mills
should finish their crushing by November
30. He says against the crop estimates
of 2.1 million tonnes made in March,
crop harvested has yielded 1.9 million

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tonnes and the sugar make was 197,000

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INDIANEW ZEALAND

Thought of the week

You get what anybody gets

you get a lifetime.

Neil Gaiman

Editorial

Courtesy :
Satish Acharya
sify.com

From the desk of the

Managing Editor

Almost without exception, people who have done great things have also
experienced great failures. Bernard Roth from The Achievement Habit

He talks about the fact that Oprah was fired from her first job as a television anchor,
Dr Seusss first book was rejected dozens of times (it only got published because a
friend decided to publish it himself), and, of course, Edison failed countless times in
pursuit of a commercially viable light bulb.
Its like what Winston Churchill said, Success consists of going from failure to
failure without loss of enthusiasm. Failure and success are Siamese twins; they
dont exist without each other. Theres no way around it. The problem with the word
failure is that it connotes that youre a loserand losers dont succeed or win or get
the girl (or guy or pie or pot of gold or whatever it is you want to get). As a result,
many people would rather play it safe, not take chances, not explore, and never, ever
stick their neck out to actually try.
So every time we reach a roadblock, a failure, let us just brace ourselves and get
ready for another try. In the end, it is all about our attitude and approach. It is not
for nothing that it is said that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Each
successful person will tell you how many times he or she failed and picked himself or
herself up before they made it.
Another packed week. This week we celebrated Guru Nanak Jayanti, so timely, as
it brings us back to the lessons of love, harmony, peace and compassion; especially
at a time when the world is rife with all the violence and hatred and the debate on
intolerance, which is currently very hot. It is a good time to remind ourselves that
peace starts with each one of us. I hope everyone had a good Gurpurab. On behalf
of the entire team at Indian Weekender, I greet all our readers on the occasion
of Gurpurab.
The White Ribbon week was also observed; a week to remind us that violence in
our homes is not ok. It is also timely to remind ourselves that violence isnt always
physical, verbal and psychological violence can be equally damaging. With the
growing instances of these numbers being reported within the Indian community, it
is a good reminder to each one of us to say NO to violence.
As we approach summer and the silly season, all of us are looking to spend time
with our family and friends. In this issue, we bring special stories on short trips
and other travel ideas that are also easy on the pocket and a great way to enjoy the
outdoors with your families, especially the children. We have also included a column
with the best apps for your smart devices that enhance your travel experience. So
take that time out to get away and hopefully our stories can help inspire some plans.
We would be delighted to hear about your travels and experiences. Please share them
with us.

Pick of the week

Until next time.

Giri Gupta

A Hindu devotee takes a selfie before offering prayers to the sun rising over Yamuna river during the festival of Chhath Puja in
Delhi. Photo credit: Anindito Mukherjee.

Indian Weekender : Volume 7 Issue 36

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

Tiki tour
Pronounced: Tiki tour
Meaning: Go on a journey with no destination in mind

Usage: Lets take a tiki tour around the South Island.

Tip from the trenches

Hangover remedies

Heres what works when you wake up from a

throbbing pain in your head after a night of binge
drinking
Waterno surprises there. Drinking alcohol
makes your body dehydrated. The best way to
avoid a hangover is by drinking water before you
go to sleep. Or replace it with electrolytes.
Refuel at the breakfast tablescrambled eggs
and toasties. Although the thought of consuming
any food may seem repulsive, a good breakfast
often helps in easing a hangover.
Exerciseit might sound crazy but a light
workout can make a big difference.

OPINION/EDITORIAL

www.iwk.co.nz | 27 November 2015

17

After Paris attacks, Western media as arbiter

Red

Black

Orange

Saeed Naqvi

he massacre in Paris is not just a

French or a Western tragedy. It has
caused universal outrage. Yet the
global medias coverage of the horror tends
to give the West a monopoly on pain.
Why, hours before the Paris attack,
nearly 50 Shia Muslims were slaughtered
by the IS and more than 200 injured in
Beirut; 27 members of a Shia leaders
funeral were butchered in Baghdad, which
has lost count of such occurrences. And all
of this on the heels of a Russian passenger
aircraft brought down over Sinai, killing all
224 passengers, and the October massacre
in Ankara, killing 102 and so on and so
forth including the 141 school children
slaughtered in Peshawar at the hands of
terrorists now wearing the IS garb.
Could all those smart anchors on the
streets of Paris not have reflected on the pain
outside their immediate surroundings? This
is the parochialism of the contemporary
media, focused only on us and our kind.
In the imperial global hierarchy, the
media covering such events and the one
that is beamed worldwide happens to be
in exclusive control of Washington and
London. This medias perspectives are
prioritised by Western interests. Whatever
the explanation, the coverage of an event
such as Paris divides the world into two sets
of audiences.
Folks in the West, their anxieties
heightened by the outrage, find comfort in
the international community getting into

After the Paris attack, the

media has boosted the antiterror mood to the sort of
pitch reminiscent of the
first Gulf war. This time even
Russia is part of the pack.
a scrum on the issue in Vienna, Antalya
wherever. They find the coverage in tune
with their fears and concerns.
This powerful community is not even
aware of the popular Cairo blog, which asks
the question: The international community
keeps asking what the region is doing to
stop the spread of the ISIS; the region
keeps asking why ISIS is only a problem
when it strikes Western targets. Social
media in the region lampoons the Wests

reactions. A cartoon shows two patients

in a hospital: one covered head to toe in
bandages is named Syria, and the other,
in the adjacent bed, with a bandaged finger
is called Paris. A man in a three piece suit,
labelled the international community, leans
over to kiss the bandaged finger.
Since there is in the Arab world (as in
India) no media capable of live coverage of
events such as the attack in Paris, there is
among these populations an acute sense of
helplessness. Each family is riveted on its
TV set that blares Muslim terror at them but
never dwells on Muslim pain. Iraq, Libya,
Syriathree efficient dictatorships have all
been destroyed. Nearly three million have
been killed by Western bombardment,
the IS, consequent civil wars. Hundreds
of thousands are on the march towards a
Europe torn between hospitality and its

exact opposite. Self-centred coverage by

the Western media comes across to them
as frames from which their continuing
tragedies are missing.
I am sensitive to these disparities, as
I was present at the inauguration of the
global media when in February 1991 CNN
brought the first ever war live into our
drawing rooms. This was the Operation
Desert Storm.
What irks Arab intelligentsia most is a
sense of impotence at two levelsone at the
level of their own authoritarian regimes,
which are often in cahoots with the West,
and secondly with the West itself that is
impervious to popular Arab discontent.
It is an article of faith in the Arab world
that the ISIS is, in its origins, a US, Saudi,
Turkish, Israeli creation. Off the record,
Arab ambassadors in New Delhi will
testify to this widespread belief in their
respective countries.
After the Paris attack, the media has
boosted the anti-terror mood to the sort of
pitch reminiscent of the first Gulf war. This
time even Russia is part of the pack.
Incidentally, the media forgot to
mention the first effect of the Paris attack
cancellation of Iranian President Hassan
Rouhanis visit to France, Italy and the
Vatican, an outcome that must have
pleased Riyadh. Western resolve to fight
terror will be on test in Africa where the
entire belt from Nigeria right up to Somalia
is in the line of fire of IS look-alikes such as
Boko Haram and Al Shabab.

Kiwis take to virtual platforms for real world interaction

Anuja Nadkarni

ith the rapid increase of new

media technologies, more
Kiwis are signing up to online
platforms that help arrange interest-specific
meet ups.
Auckland University social psychology
PhD student, Yuthika Girme, says the trend
of planned get-togethers with strangers is
growing in popularity.
Back in the day who you knew and who
you hung out with would be people from
your social community, church, school
networks and family friends, but I think
now people are wanting to expand their
social networks and meet and interact
with people that they wouldnt usually be
able to.
Miss Girme says the proliferation of the
Internet and mobile devices are turning
into a tool for people with shared interests
to meet in person in the real world.
Wellington based self-proclaimed foodie
Lucy Mutch is one of six co-organisers of
the citys most popular food based meet
up group, The Wellington Foodies. Ms
Mutch started the group in 2010 as a way
to meet new people and soon joined forces
with five other food enthusiasts to create
an ongoing six events per month, one each
hosted by each enthusiast. The events
include monthly foodie book clubs, movie
nights based around food and cooking
classes and are often free or encourage a
potluck format.
Ms Mutch says social media has played
an instrumental role in organising the
meet ups: I have a constant dialogue with
the followers. They contact me suggesting
new restaurants or movies that we can set
up an event around. It has also allowed
a platform for us to speak to the masses.
Glow in the dark meet up coordinator and

yoga instructor, Gemma One Tree Hill Tai Chi meet up co-organiser
Alice Chan practices the ancient Chinese exercise at
Hogan, says she thinks a Saturday morning class
humans are longing to
meet new people in the
digital age and meet ups
are enabling strangers
to forge communities.
I think people are
more curious to try
something out and
give it a go. It is using
the
technology
to
connect with people
and meet new people
that share interests
that some people may
not be comfortable
sharing
with
the
people people congregate to learn the ancient
they know, Ms Hogan says.
Chinese exercise regimen that is believed to
She monthly meets up on full moon enhance wellness.
nights where she provides glow in
English practicing meet up group
the dark stickers to her attendees to organiser, Rodrigo Feitosa, originally
encourage conversation.
from Brazil started his group after his
Its yoga but its community. Youre regular English meet up group suddenly
giving people an opportunity to come discontinued one day.
together, and participate in something very
I dont speak English in Brazil because
holistic and natural and just to connect they mock up if you dont speak [well]. I
with people.
have no choice [but] to speak it here. People
Ms Hogan says she usually gets around are friendly [here]. When I first got here I
25 to 30 attendees each month and also was depressed because I didnt have friends
conducts weekly yoga sessions that end and was new to everythingthe language.
with a movie and tea session every Sunday. So I went to [an] English meet up group
Several meet up websites and apps and really enjoyed [it] but [they] never meet
are available. One of the most popular is again so I decide to make my own group.
Meetup.com that has more than 22 million
There are a number of other languageusers worldwide and, according to the learning meet up groups including
website, an average of 400 meet ups take Mandarin, Japanese, Spanish and French
place in Auckland.
in Auckland.
Co-organiser for a tai chi meet up group,
Mr Feitosa says many of these groups
Alice Chan, says the popularity of the meet meet regularly in downtown cafes and the
ups has spread through word of mouth. Mrs members tend to be new migrants and longChans tai chi group meets every Saturday, stay visitors keen to share their knowledge
if the weather permits, at One Tree Hill, of languages of their countries of origin.
in Auckland, where a group of some 30 There are at least 21 Meetup groups in

Auckland that are dedicated to developing

language skills. Ms Mutch, of Wellington
Foodies, says since she has been organising
meet ups she has only encountered two
negative experiences.
I stipulate in our rules that were not a
dating site and people should only join if
theyre interested in foodso thereve been
a couple of instances of men where theyve
tried to contact or instigate relationships
with female members that theyve been to
an event with.
But Ive got a blanket policy on throwing
people out immediately and if they go too
far Ill have no hesitation in contacting
the police.
Mrs Chan, of the tai chi group, says two
of her friends experienced similar negative
encounters at meet ups.
Sometimes people sign up for [the]
wrong class. They want to look for partners
but [they] go into eastern philosophy or
something and make other people feel a
bit uncomfortable.
Glow in the Darks Ms Hogan says
she has not heard or experienced any offputting incidents.
Theres not a great deal to be lost,
there is more to be gained because you can
find something interesting, exciting or try
something and know that its not for you,
Ms Hogan says.
Miss Girme says meet ups are just like
any other social interaction. Experiences
with people vary as much as the people
themselves, she adds.
At the end of the day we all want the
same thing out of a relationship. We want
people to hang out with, to share interests
with, to get support from and have people
encourage us. All of those things havent
changed but how were meeting people is
changing, Miss Girme says.

INDIA

18

27 November 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz

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Intolerance to inaction on climate change:

Modi can make a difference
Rajendra Shende

S
President
Barack
Obama
made
his
emblematic
statement
at the G20 summit in Turkey on
November 15 that the Paris attacks
were an attack on civilized world.
If left unchecked, these terrorists
could pose a growing threat
beyond that region, including to
the United States.
The attacks overshadowed the
G20 summit as they will the Paris
climate change talks two weeks
from now. However, if the climate
summit ends without any legally
binding and ambitious treaty, the
global community would certainly
repeat
President
Obamas
statement,
albeit
replacing
the word terrorism with
climate change.
Minutes after Prime Minister
Narendra Modi addressed the
60,000-strong
audience
at
Londons Wembley stadium,
terrorists struck in Paris, just
across the English Channel with
deadly bombs and gunfire. Modi,
in his speech, had said, It is the
responsibility of every human
living in this world to fight global
warming and terrorism...India

will show the world the path to

fight both.
While the climate messiah,
former US vice president Al Gore,
has described global warming
as inconvenient truth, Modi
has demonstrated, when he
was chief minister of Gujarat,
by
implementing
ambitious
renewable
energy
projects
there, that the mitigation of
global warming is in fact a
convenient action.
The convenient action was
however lacking in the informal
meeting of the 62 ministers,
hosted by French government, in
Paris between November 8 and
10. The objective was to avail the
final opportunity before the Paris
summit to bridge the nagging gaps
in the negotiating debates
When the meeting ended,
the inconvenient truth seems to
have emerged that there are few
items of agreement among the
participants. It started emerging
that legally binding targets would
not be decided in Paris but over
the years that would follow.
The last high-level opportunity
to converge on certain seminal
issues seems to have been
lost. The political momentum,

particularly in committing to
ambitious targets, fairness in
delivering climate justice, post2020 financing for the developing
countries and pre-2020 action by
the developed countries, has been
frittered away.
A day after start of that meeting,
the
World
Meteorological
Organisation (WMO), which
monitors
global
warming,
signalled the crying need of
action on climate change. The
amount of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere reached yet another
new record high in 2014...In
spring 2015, the global average
concentration of CO2 crossed
the 400 parts per million (ppm)
barriers, it declared.
Thus, levels of 400 ppm will
now be the new normal that the
world has to live with. At such
rising rate, the CO2 levels in the
atmosphere will reach to the level
of 1200 ppm by end of this century.
And, the global thermometer will
show an average temperature
rise of about five degrees Celsius
against the aimed figure of two
degrees Celsius.
Sadly, the process of negotiating
the treaty in Paris has now become
business-as-usual
diplomacy.

Its success elements could include

agreement on continuing post2015 negotiations on all major
issues of financing and the
emission reduction targets.
Modi stands to make difference
at this crucial juncture. He had,
in the past, conveyed to the
world that two most formidable
challenges today are terrorism and
climate change. India is now being
hailed globally as genuine player
in addressing climate change,
mainly due to its thoughtful
INDCs and steps already taken
in the area of energy efficiency,
renewable energy and forestry. It
has acquired a legitimate position
by declaring that India is not part
of the problem but would like to
be part of the solution.
As the leader of the worlds
largest democracy and a proponent
of inclusive development, Modi
knows well that addressing
climate change means using
clean energy that would reduce
air pollution thereby reducing
1.4 million premature deaths
in India. It means enhancing
renewable energy generation that
would reduce energy-poverty and

provide electricity to the remaining

80,000 villages of India. It means
deploying sustainable agricultural
practices for farmers to conserve
water and quality of soil,
increase their income and reduce
their suicides
It means increasing energy
efficiency of the air conditioners
by us of non-HFC refrigerants
to reduce the peak loads during
the summer and subsequent
power blackouts. It means
reducing
povertythe
key
sustainable development goal in
post-2015 era.
Modi has convinced the world
on International Yoga Day. Can
he convince the world to be
intolerant towards inaction on
climate change? The G20 leaders
observed a minute of silence
to remember victims of the
Paris attacks.
Would Modi lead a minute
of silence at the Paris climate
summit if the world leaders do not
agree on an ambitious and legally
binding treaty in the December
of 2015? Yoga teaches us to be
tolerant but not towards terrorism
and inaction on climate change.

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INDIA

www.iwk.co.nz | 27 November 2015

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19

Orange

India, Malaysia to deepen defence

cooperation, expand trade
I
ndia and Malaysia agreed
to deepen defence and
security cooperation and
expand bilateral trade while
signing three accords in the
areas of cyber security, culture
and infrastructure.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
on the third and last day of his
visit to Malysia that marked the
beginning of the bilateral phase,
held delegation-level talks with
Malaysian Premier Najib Razak,
following which the two leaders
held a joint press conference.
Modi attended the 13th Asean
(Association of Southeast Asian
Nations)-India
Summit
on
Saturday and the 10th East Asia
Summit on Sunday.
I am particularly grateful
to you (Razak) for our security
cooperation, Modi said at the
press conference.
It underlines our shared
commitment
to
deal
with
our security challenges. We
will continue to deepen our
cooperation in this area, he said.
He said the recent spate of
attacks in different countries,
apart from the ceaseless terrorist
attempts against India and

PM Modi and Malaysian PM Najib Razak inaugurate Torana Gate in Malaysia

Afghanistan, were a reminder of

the global nature of this threat.
We will also make our defence
cooperation stronger, including
for advancing maritime security
and
strengthening
disaster
response in our region, the
Indian prime minister said.
He also said that the agreement
to cooperate in cyber-security
between the two countries was
very important.As our lives get
more networked, this is emerging

as one of the most serious concerns

of our age, he stated.
While the cyber security
agreement was signed between
the Indian Computer Emergency
Team (CERT-IN) and Cyber
Security, Malaysia, the one on
culture was inked between the
ministries of culture of the two
countries. The infrastructure
development agreement was
concluded
between
Indias
NITI Aayog and Malaysias

Stress on banks to ease

post-resolution of sectoral
issues: Jaitley

he major stress on state-run

banks owing to bad loans will
progressively commence easing
once issues are gradually resolved in
various sectors, including implementation
of reforms in the power sector, Finance
Minister Arun Jaitley said.
The health of public sector banks,
particularly in relation to the carry-over of
past problems like the unacceptable level
of NPAs (non-performing assets) and bad
loans was discussed, Jaitley told reporters
here after a meeting with heads of PSBs.
The problems continue, but the banks
NPAs situation will improve, the finance
minster said.
Reforms in the power sector, once
they are worked out, the stress posed by
discoms (distribution companies) would
give way. The highways sector has started
moving, he added. He informed media
persons that the bankers had offered
specific suggestions regarding the steel
and aluminium sectors.
Problems of the steel sector and steps
taken by the government in this area were
discussed. The secretary, department
of financial services, will co-ordinate
steps with the department of revenue
to take further steps for the banks, the
minister said.
The gross NPAs of PSBs rose to 6.03 per
cent at June-end, as against 5.20 per cent in
March 2015.

A series of steps suggested by the

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) which the
banks are implementing will ease the
situation. Additionally, the government
has been proactive in solving problems of
various sectors, he added.
Jaitley has allocated Rs.7,940 crore in
the budget for recapitalisation of PSBs
during this financial year.
In this regard, the finance minister said,
The first tranche of money that goes to the
banks has already gone.
Noting the massive stressed assets
of the state-run banks, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi had late last month said
the government would infuse Rs.70,000
crore in the PSBs over the next few
years. Jaitley had in September said the
government might consider reducing its
stake in PSBs to 52 per cent.

Performance
Management
and Delivery Unit (Pemandu).
The Indian prime minister
also called for scaling up trade
and investment relations with
Malaysia.The two sides agreed
to promote joint collaboration,
especially
in
infrastructure
and construction sectors, and
to facilitate joint projects and
collaboration between the private
sectors of the two countries, in line
with the new developmental and
business initiatives undertaken
by India, such as the Make in
India, Digital India, Smart Cities
and Skill Development that
offered significant investment
opportunities
for
Malaysian
businesses, the joint statement
issued at the end of the talks said.
India and Malaysia also agreed
to discuss further with a view to
concluding the signing of an MoU
on transfer of sentenced prisoners
to each others prisons.
Modi and Razak later jointly
inaugurated a Torana Gate, a
traditional gateway to Hindu and
Buddhist temples.
This Torana is not merely
a piece of art on stone. This is
connecting the two nations and

illustrates the two great cultures,

Modi said while inaugurating
the gate at Brickfields, popularly
known as Little India.
Razak
described
the
gate
as
a
symbol
of
India-Malaysia friendship
Torana Gate is a symbol of
India-Malaysia friendship. It
offers a gateway to one of the
oldest civilisations, he said.
As the visit drew to a close, Modi
held a meeting with Corporate
Malaysia.We have ended
regulatory uncertainty to a large
extent, creating a policy driven
state, Modi said in his meeting
with the corporate honchos.
I assure you that India
wants to progress. You have the
experience and expertise. We have
the requirement. It is a perfect
match, he said.
Modi
was
accorded
a
ceremonial welcome and a guard
of honour at Putrajaya, the federal
administrative centre of Malaysia,
where he was greeted with a hug
by Razak.
He later left for Singapore on
the second and last leg of his fourday visit to Southeast Asia.

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20

INDIA ABROAD

27 November 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz

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Indian-origin student awarded

presidential scholarship in US

n Indian-origin student
has been awarded a
presidential scholarship
in a US college for outstanding
academic merit and an exceptional
commitment to the field of
culinary arts.
Kendall College School of
Culinary Arts in Chicago awarded
Aashrit Abhinav Sundar the
scholarship recently following
a final interview with college
president, Emily Williams Knight,
a press release said.
Throughout his life, Aashrit
has demonstrated a passion for the
hospitality and culinary industry
and a drive to build a remarkable
career in the field of baking and
pastry, Knight said.

Having
completed
his
hospitality management degree
in India, Aashrit now wants
to take his love for baking and
pastry and attend one of the

best programmes in the US, she

added. Sundar began classes at the
institution in October 2015 and is
pursuing an Associate of Applied
Science in Baking and Pastry. The
scholarship will cover 50 per cent
of the programmes total cost.
Aashrit is confident, driven,
and passionate about his field of
study, Knight noted.
It is clear that he is a leader
and he is an example of the type
of student that will thrive and lead
the industry in the future.
The US Presidential Scholars
Programme is a programme of
the department of education
that recognises the academic
achievements of distinguished US
citizens graduating high school. It

Indian-Americans short film in

Oscar race

ndian-American Pixar artist

and director Sanjay Patels
animated short film Sanjays
Super Team has been shortlisted
among 10 animated short
films to advance in the voting
process for the upcoming 88th
Academy Awards.
As many as 60 films had
originally qualified in the category
before the list was narrowed down
to 10.
Short films and feature
animation
branch
members
will now select five nominees
for the final shortlist, read a
statement on the website of the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts
and Sciences. Screenings for the

film will be held in Los Angeles,

London, New York and San
Francisco in December.

Sanjays Super Team, inspired

by Patels childhood when he felt
conflicted by the modern world
and Hindu traditions of his
family, follows the daydream of
a young Indian boy, bored with
his fathers religious meditation,
who imagines Hindu gods
as superheroes.
Bear Story, Carface, If I Was
God..., Love in the time of March
Madness, My Home, An Object
at Rest, Prologue, We Cant Live
Without Cosmos and World of
Tomorrow are the other nine
shortlisted titles.
The 88th Academy Awards
will take place on February
28 next year.

is described as one of the nations

highest honours for high school
students in the US.
In
Kendell
College,
the
presidential
scholarship
is
awarded each academic term to
one international student who
demonstrates superior academic
achievement and passion for their
area of study.
Kendall College, founded in
1934 and located in Chicago,
Illinois, offers undergraduate
degrees in business, culinary
arts, early childhood education
and hospitality management to a
diverse and passionate community
of more than 1,800 students.

Black

Indian
Weekender
Year-end
Special
To advertise,
Call

022 - 3251630/
021 - 1507950

Indian-origin mans firm

raises funds for diabetes cure

n Indian-origin mans
company organised a
diabetes awareness walk
in Dubai and raised funds to
support on-going research to cure
the disease, a media report said.
Landmark Group, a retail and
hospitality group and Fitness
First, a Britain-based health club
group organised Beat Diabetes
Walk in a bid to raise awareness
about the condition and promote
the benefits of a healthier lifestyle.
Nearly,
17,000
residents
joined the seventh edition of the
programme and took part in spot
fitness challenges, in addition to
yoga and body balance classes.
We are grateful to the people
of the UAE and the wider region
who stepped out of their homes to

join the Beat Diabetes Walk, said

Renuka Jagtiani, vice-chairperson
of the Landmark Group.
The initiative raised 350,000
dirhams ($95,296) and the
money will be donated to Al
Jalila
Foundationa
global
philanthropic
organisation
dedicated to transforming lives
through
medical
education
and research.
We hope the initiative
continues to inspire people to
make lifestyle changes to either
prevent or better manage the
condition, added Jagtiani.
The people in the walk donned
blue T-shirts and caps. Noted
radio presenters in Dubai,
Kris Fade, Priti Malik, and Big
Rossi, also took part to support
the cause.

Top CEOs pledge support for UN Climate Deal

he heads of 78 major
multinational companies
from India, Brazil, China,
Europe and the US have pledged
support for the United Nations
Climate Deal and have urged world
leaders to reach an ambitious
climate deal that they argue will
generate jobs and growth across
the world.
In an open message, CEOs
from 78 companiesa crosssectoral coalition facilitated by
the World Economic Forum that
includes banking, manufacturing,
construction
and
energy
extended an open offer to
governments to co-design climate
solutions ahead of the UNFCCCs
Conference of the Parties (COP21)
in Paris.
The conference will see the
leaders of nearly 200 countries

meet to finalise a global agreement

on climate.
Delaying action is not an
option, they said.
The 78 CEOs represent $2.13
trillion in revenueequivalent to
Indias GDP.
In the current scenario,
emerging nations need, to some
extent, to increase their carbon
footprint,
while
developed
nations are resistant to reducing
theirs. This leads to a perceived
dichotomy between development
and sustainability. I believe this
is a false dichotomy, Mahindra
Group chairman Anand Mahindra
said in a statement on the deal.
Economic growth without
environmental sensitivity is a
Faustian bargain, as some of our
smog filled cities in India and
China demonstrate. And a focus

on sustainability without rapid

development will only serve to
perpetuate poverty, he added.
The message from the CEOs
has been welcomed by Christiana

Orange

Figueres, executive secretary of

the United Nations Framework

Convention
on
Climate
Change (UNFCCC).
She said climate action
represents
a
massive
economic opportunity.
This is the first internationally
directed industrial revolution and
will be the source of good new jobs
and strong growth for the coming
decades, something developing
countries
are
increasingly
realising and taking the lead on.
The move is part of the ongoing
push to deliver a lasting legacy on
climate change.
The CEOs hope to capitalise on
the momentum created by pledges
from more than 160 countries,
notably from the US and China, in
recent months to bolster the case
that governments have industry
support to take decisive action to
combat climate change.

SPORTS

www.iwk.co.nz | 27 November 2015

Red

Black

Orange

Indian hockey colts

emerge Asian champs

armanpreet
Singh
successfully converted
four penalty corners
as India overpowered traditional
rivals Pakistan 62 in the final of
the Eighth Junior Mens Asia Cup
hockey tournament at the Wisma
Belia Hockey Stadium.
Harmanpreet scored his hattrick inside 30 minutes to ease the
issue for India. Armaan Qureshi
(44th minute) and Manpreet Jr
(50th) were the other goal-scorers
for India. India started the match
on a positive note, pressing hard
since the opening minute of the
first half and was soon awarded
with a penalty corner in the 10th
minute. Harmanpreet converted
the penalty corner to take his tally
to 12 goals in the tournament and
give India an early advantage of
10.India was again awarded
with back-to-back penalty corners
in the 13th and 14th minute
the second one being fruitful
for Harmanpreet.
Pakistan fought back in the 28th
minute with a successful penalty
corner from Yaqoob Muhammad.
However, India again got back on
attack and earned another penalty
corner that completed hat-trick
for Harmanpreet two minutes

later as India went into the lemon

break with a 31 lead. The second
half saw the Indian domination
continue with Qureshi scoring in
the 44th minute. Manpreet Jr.
made it 51 in the 50th minute.
Three minutes later, senior
Indian international Harmanpreet
once again executed a perfect
penalty corner conversion that
made it a stunning 61 lead.
Harmanpreet
took
his
tournament goal tally to 15 goals
highest in the eight-nation meet.
Dilber Muhammad got the
second goal for Pakistan in the
68th minute as the match ended
62 in Indias favour. India chief
coach Harendra Singh said his

Djokovic beats Federer

to win fourth successive
ATP finale title

orld number one

Novak
Djokovic
capped a perfect
season as he beat six-time
champion Roger Federer to win a
record fourth straight ATP World
Tour Finals title at Londons
O2 Arena.
The 28-year-old Serb, who
lost to Federer in the group stage,
broke the Swiss three times to win
63, 64 in just 80 minutes on
Sunday, November 22, levelling
their record with the 17-time
Grand Slam winner at 2222.
It was Djokovics 11th title of
the season, including three Grand
Slam trophies. He played 88
matches in the season and won
82 of them. Djokovic, who won
the event for the first in 2008,
has now collected the season
finale five times and surpassed
Ivan Lendls 1987 feat. Im very
proud for achievement, Djokovic
said. This season could not have
been better. Its been the best of
my life.
Federer said, It is never fun
on the not winning side, but it is
better than not playing at all like
last year. This week was great,

21

there were some crazy points

tonight, but like plenty of times
this year Novak deserved it.
With the wins that I had
this season and throughout my
career, especially in the last five
years, I put myself in a very good
position, knowing that I made
a lot of records and history,
said Djokovic.
Im convinced with this
dedication to the sport, I can
achieve more. How much, I dont
know. I dont have a sense of
urgency. I dont chase anything. I
just try to be in the moment and
see where it takes me.

team was hungry for the title

after finish runners-up to Britain
in the 5th Sultan of Johor Cup
last month.
It was an exciting final and
the boys displayed immaculate
passion and calmness on the field.
We ended up as runners-up in the
5th Sultan of Johor Cup which
made it an even bigger win as
we were hungry for the podium
position, Harendra said in
a release.
The support was immense and
we felt we were playing in our own
backyard. We only have to look
forward from here and keep giving
such excellent performances.

Klopp tastes success

as Liverpool crush
Manchester City

ew manager Juergen
Klopp saw the best
result since his arrival to
Liverpool as the Reds beat Premier
League title chasers Manchester
City 41.
A
stunning
first-half
display of high pressing and
counterattacking saw Klopps side,
which move to within six points of
a Champions League berth, surge
into a three-goal lead at the Etihad
last weekend.
It was the first time since
February 2003 that City had
conceded three goals before the
interval in a league fixture.
First-half goals from Brazilian
duo Philippe Coutinho and
Roberto Firmino stunned the
hosts, which had fallen behind
after Eliaquim Mangala put
through his own net.
Firmino enjoyed his best
performance in a red shirt since
joining the club from German side
Hoffenheim for a reported fee of
29 million pounds ($45.8 million).
He was flanked by compatriot
Coutinho, who continues to
thrive under Klopp. The pair
was involved in all three goals as

Liverpool established a firm hold

on the game.
Fit-again striker Sergio Aguero
pulled one back shortly before the
interval, curling a splendid effort
beyond Liverpool goalkeeper
Simon Mignolet.
City slipped to third on 26
points, two adrift of new league
leaders Leicester, while Liverpool
moves up to ninth with 20 points.

Lucky to have Sania as my partner:

Hingis

wiss veteran tennis player

Martina Hingis heaped
praise on her womens
doubles partner Sania Mirza,
terming the Indian as an extremely
professional and optimistic and a
partner she is lucky to play with.
The unstoppable duo of MirzaHingis came up with yet another
stupendous performance recently
to win the womens doubles title
at the prestigious $7 million WTA
Finals in Singapore.
It was the pairs ninth
title
together
this
season,
having also won in Beijing,
Wuhan, Guangzhou, US Open,
Wimbledon, Charleston, Miami
and Indian Wells.
Sania also won the Sydney
International in January with
American Bethanie Mattek-Sands
to take her doubles trophy count
to 10 this year.
It has been a great year for
me with Sania. She is a great
player. We have great respect
for each other. She is extremely
professional and an optimistic
player. Our friendship and
relationship both on and off the
court has lead to this success,
Martina said at a press conference.

Sania has improved a lot on

the nets. We all know she is an
extremely good at the backhand
but she has improved on the
nets too. Hoping to continue this
good runs in days to come. Lucky
to have Sania as a partner in the
incredible journey, the 35-yearold said.
Speaking on her mixed doubles
partner Leander Paes, she said,
Paes is a legend in this game. I
can rely on Paes as he is a great
player in the nets and I can
concentrate at the back. He also
has great volleys.
Praising both Sania and Paes,
the Swiss star said the duo might
have some weakness in the court
but their strengths make them
a champion in the game. They
both have different strengths

and weaknesses. They have good

qualities and that makes them
champion that is their strengths,
she said.
Martina is in India to play for
Hyderabad Aces in the Champions
Tennis League starting on Monday
which is the mastermind of the
legendary Vijay Amritraj.
Reigning US Open womens
singles champion Flavia Pennetta
will play for Mumbai Masters in
the six team tournament featuring
Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chandigarh,
Raipur, Nagpur and Chennai.
Speaking on the competition,
Hingis said, This is a great
tournament to play in. I am
looking forward to give my best
for my team and do well. Amritraj
has brought this up and I wish him
all the best for this.

22

SPECIAL FEATURE

27 November 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz

Continued from Page 3

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The Bay of Islandsits where
stories begin.
See www.visitboi.co.nz for
more useful information on
the area.

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Cuisine themed itinerary in

the Bay of Islands
Day 1:
Stay
at
the
waterfront
Kingsgate Hotel in Paihia - the
perfect position to explore the
Bay from.
Enjoy dinner at Provenir, an
intimate local restaurant with
a seasonally driven menu that
emphasises the age-old formula
of simple ingredients cooked
well, with a focus on handmade
and artisanal.
DAY 2:
Visit the Old Packhouse Market
in Kerikeri for the freshest, locally
grown produce, quality meats,
poultry, seafood, cheeses, flowers
and more. See http://www.
theoldpackhousemarket.co.nz/
Head back to Paihia to enjoy
a casual lunch and drinks over
the water at the picturesque
Alongside Bar.
Take the passenger ferry
from Paihia to Russell and dine
at the award-winning Duke of
Marlborough
restaurant
on
Russells beautiful waterfront
where you can embrace the history
and charm of New Zealands first
licensed hotel. The Duke is a
truly majestic destination for an
unforgettable experience.
Fun and adventure themed
itinerary in the Bay of Islands
and Hokianga
Day 1:
Stay at the tropical 4 star
Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands,
situated at the entrance to Paihia
its a short stroll into town to the
main wharf, visitor activities,
dining and shopping.
Day 2:
Cruise the sparkling waters
of the Bay on the Inner Island
Explorer Tour. Youll encounter
diverse wildlife in their natural
surroundings with a chance to
swim with the dolphins.
Drive two hours to Hokianga
and stay at the 4 star Copthorne
Hotel & Resort Hokianga. From

the beachfront rooms, you are

just a one-minute stroll to the
picturesque shore, providing a
relaxed ambience away from the
hustle and bustle of city life.
Walk through the spectacular
Waipoua Forest at night to see
the mighty Tane Mahuta with
Footprints Waipoua.
Day 3:
Let out your inner child
and have fun sandboarding in
the giant sand dunes of with
Hokianga Express.
Family fun-themed itinerary
in the Bay of Islands
Day 1:
Spot the thousands of luminous
glow-worms at Kawiti Caves
Northlands ultimate glow-worm
experience. See www.kawiticaves.
co.nz for more details.
Stay at the tropical 4 star
Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands,
situated at the entrance to Paihia
its a short stroll into town to the
main wharf, visitor activities,
dining and shopping.
Day 2:
Learn about where New
Zealands story began with a
guided tour of the Waitangi
Treaty grounds and an authentic
Maori
cultural
performance
including waiata, poi and haka in
the Marae.
Explore the Bay of Islands on
a cruise that has it all the iconic
Hole in the Rock Cruise will take
you in search of dolphins and
other marine life as you journey
to the end of Cape Brett Peninsula
to the famous Hole in the Rock on
Motukokako Island.
Enjoy
a
unique
dining
experience over the water at 35
South Restaurant, the central
60,000-litre salt water Aquarium
filled with local fish in the centre
of the restaurant is sure to be a hit
with the kids.

Romance-themed itinerary
in the Bay of Islands
Day 1:
Stay at The Duke of
Marlborough Hotel in Russell,
a unique setting where you can
embrace the history and charm
of New Zealands first licensed
hotel. Located on the waterfront
in the heart of romantic Russell,
The Duke is a truly majestic
destination for an unforgettable
holiday experience.
Enjoy
fabulous
threecourse fine dining at The Duke
of Marlboroughs award-winning
restaurant.
Day 2:
Treat you and your special
someone to a luxurious couples
massage at La Spa Naturale at the
award-winning boutique Paihia
Beach Resort & Spa Hotel.
Continue to relax and unwind
with cocktails and canaps at
Alongside Bar perched over the
water in Paihia.
Make no mistake, while the Bay
of Islands itself is picturesque,
the trip itself is worth every mile.
There are several cafes and scenic
points to stop and soak in natures
beauty.
So inspire yourself to choose
from one of the itinerary
inspirations and head out this
summer. A quick check on the
relevant websites (www.visitboi.
co.nz) will give you more options.
(Source Mango, Auckland)

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www.iwk.co.nz | 27 November 2015

Beat the heat with beach therapy

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Sun-kissed days are back, and it is time to pack your beach bags and head for the comfort of velvety sand dunes that blanket the land.
Heres our pick of the must-visit beaches in and around Auckland.
Esha Chanda

Piha
he vast stretch of black sand that covers
Piha beach is one of the most popular
go-to locations in summer. Situated on the
west coast of North Island, it is a 45-minute
drive from the city of Auckland. Make
your way through the lush rainforest of
the Waitakere Ranges to a beach marked
by rugged cliffs. The small scenic bay is
guarded by Camel Rock (Taitomo Island)
to the south and Lion Rock (Whakaari) to
the north.
Piha is known for its notorious wild
surfs that roll in over the Tasman Sea and
is a popular surfing location among tourists
and Kiwis. Bask under the sun or take a
dip in the turquoise waters during the day
or climb the majestic Lion RockPihas
iconic landmarkto see the Maori carving.
Watch the sun disappear in the horizon as
the sky turns a beautiful shade of orange
and pink and spend the night lying supine
on the sand to watch the slow dance of the
infinite stars.

Devonport. The beach is home to sports

clubs such as Takapuna Football Club and
the Takapuna Rugby Club. With shops,
cafes and restaurants in close proximity,
Takapuna beach combines the rhythm of
the city and the vibe of a beach.
Maraetai
ocated on the Pohutukawa Coast in
east Auckland, this swimming beach is
an hours drive from Auckland CBD and is
popular among families every summer. In
Maori, Maraetai means meeting place by
the sea.
Drive along the Pohutukawa Coast,
swim in the water at the beach or explore
the loop tracks at Omana Regional Park.
And while you are at Maraetai, stop by the
neighbouring Beachlands area that has
three swimming beachesSunkist Bay,
Shelley Bay and Green Bay that form a part
of the Pohutukawa Coast.

Orewa
large flat beach with golden sand,
Orewa is not only one of the best

Piha beach

Takapuna
ith soft white sand and one of
the most breathtaking coastlines,
Takapuna is located at Aucklands coastal
suburb of North Shore. The beach, which
offers a clear view of the volcanic Rangitoto
Island, is a 15-minute drive across the
Auckland harbour bridge and can be
reached using the bus or the ferry. During
a low tide, part of a fossilised kauri forest
can be seen.

Cheltenham beach

beaches in the vicinity of Auckland but also

one of the best in the country. A favourite
among joggers, the beach stretches for three
kilometres and borders the Orewa town.
Situated at the north of Aucklands harbour
bridge, Orewa beach is a mere 20-minute
ride from the city. The beach is ideal for
different water sports such as windsurfing,
surfing and kayaking. Families with kids
can access the large playground near
the beach.
Orewa beach

to numerous beaches, is a few minutes

drive from Orewa. With numerous
cafes, restaurants and bars to dine at
and backpackers lodge available for
accommodation, you can spend your
weekend away from the city at the beach
and then head towards Waiwera Thermal
Resort to soak in the geothermal hot pools.
Pakiri
majestic 14-kilometre long white
sandy beach to the north, Pakiri is a
coastal paradise. The pristine beach has a
lot to offerfrom fishing for fresh snappers
to tackling the tumbling waves and
horse riding over the dunes and through
Pohutukawa groves. The magic of the beach
lies in soaking the sun rays as you watch
whales and dolphins on the horizon or spot
rare species of seabirds on the shore.
Pakiri beach is an hours drive from the
central city, located on the east coast from
Wellsford, north of Auckland. The Pakiri

Maraetai beach

Tourists often walk or cycle along the

Millennium Walkway that starts from
South Bridge and loops through Orewa
before returning along the beach. The
Whangaparaoa Peninsula, also home

Cheltenham
he mystical allure of Cheltenham lies in
the panoramic view it has to offer of the
Hauraki Gulf. With a backdrop of Rangitoto
Island, the beach offers a long sandy stretch
and calm waters and is popular with locals
and tourists for swimming and kayaking.
A 1.5-km walk from the ferry terminal, the
route has beautifully restored Victorian
villas and a stunning view of the ocean.
You can also access the North Head
Historic Reserve from the beach. With
benches located in shaded areas that
overlook the waters, Cheltenham beach
is popular among families for setting up
picnics. A short walk away is the Torpedo
Bay Navy Museum that gives an insight into
the countrys military history.

Score the best deal

Your guide to finding the best and cheapest flights

Esha Chanda

hile travelling, the airfare

is where you probably end
up spending most of your
vacation money. But with a little planning
(and luck), it is easy to find cheap airfare
for your trips. So before you book your
next vacation, skim through our moneysaving tips.

Go swimming or windsurfing, or take a

walk from Takapuna north to Milford (also
known as the lava trail or Golden Mile)a
path that follows the North Shore heritage
trail and ends at the seaside village of

beach walk is a one-hour return trail (south)

from the end of the Pakiri River Rd to Goat
Island. If you wish to head north, the path
crosses the Pakiri River and continues for
around 14 km.

Plan ahead
The best way to avoid spending your
months salary on the tickets is by booking
flights in advance. If you can, plan ahead.
Airlines usually go on sale up to 11 months
before the departure date.
Last-minute trips
If, however, you are not a planner, try
last-minute booking. Airlines are known to
cut their prices when the departure flight
is not full.
The 24-hour rule
In most cases, it has worked. Book
a flight and check the prices the next
morning. If the price has gone down,
call the airlines to cancel your ticket (in
most cases done without a penalty), and
then rebook.

Leave mid-week
It is said that Wednesday is the cheapest
day to fly. Most travellers leave on the
weekend, which means more seats during
the week. And more the number of empty
seats, more likely that the Airlines will
drop their prices.
Fly out early/late
If youre an insomniac, you are in luck.
Early morning and late night flights are
the cheapest.
Plan manually
Plan your route manually instead of
relying on flight search engines. This
way, you can avoid long layovers. It is
also sometimes cheaper to fly out of
certain airports.
Be flexible
Avoid peak travelling dates by adding a
few extra days before/after your vacation
dates. And if you are not too fussy about
your destination, youll be surprised to find
that it is much cheaper to fly to some cities
than others.
E-mail notifications
Sign up for e-mail notifications from
flight search engines for alerts on the best
deals available.

24

FEATURES

27 November 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz

Sathyamangalam beguiles
New Zealand fashion students

oping with the heat,

the new sights and
smells and tastes and
discovering the warmth of their
new friendships is adding to the
excitement for the 2015 Prime
Ministers Scholarship students
from the New Zealand Institute
of Fashion Technology on their
five-week visit to India hosted by
the Bannari Amman Institute of
Technology in Sathyamangalam,
Tamil Nadu.
Here in their own words, the
students share their experiences
and some of the many ways
these are complementing their
learning and will influence their
future careers.

From Angela
Welcome to India. This is
how I feel about my stay here in
India and at the Bannari Amman
Institute of Technology. Its been
an
enlightening
experience.
India is beautiful and colourful.
It awakens deep feelings of
inspiration. And the people,
even though they have little,
are kind to share and friendly
and welcoming.
The knowledge were gaining
from our trips to the different
companies is priceless. Were
getting information and a greater
understanding about production
processes and how things work in
the fashion industry, specifically
in production and exports.
We have only seen these
processes on computers and TV
or to a smaller extent in New
Zealand production companies,
but most of those are quite a
bit smaller in size. So this was a
whole other level of information
and were grateful to be able
to learn so much about what is
really happening in the world of
fashion production.
We are also grateful for the
Bannari Amman hospitality. They
have been making us feel at home
from day one. This is the most

welcoming and courteous country

I have ever visited. Im grateful
that Bannari Amman and NZ
Fashion Tech in cooperation with
the Prime Ministers Scholarship
grant have made this once in a
lifetime opportunity possible for
us lucky 20 students. Thank you
very much!

This first week in

India has been so
overwhelming and
surreal. It definitely
took a couple of days
for the reality of it all
to actually sink in...

From Grace
This first week in India has
been so overwhelming and
surreal. It definitely took a
couple of days for the reality of
it all to actually sink in! Its such

a beautiful country and riding

for seven hours on the bus from
Chennai as soon as we had landed
to where we are staying at BIT
in Sathyamangalam, highlighted
this beauty. Even though we were

all tired, the noise, the crowd, the

bright colours and the landscape
were so incredible and so much to
take in!
I feel as though we have
become somewhat integrated
into the culture here. We have
been made to feel so welcome and
the BIT staff have been so lovely,
going out of their way for us and
making us feel at home. We were
welcomed by the second year
fashion students with red Tilaka
and cultural dancing.
Where we are staying is so
nice, surrounded by coconut trees
and palms and the BIT campus is
huge. Its like a small town with
everything you need including a
book shop and a canteen. All of
the students have been so friendly
and we have already made
connections with people.
The biggest challenge has been
coming to terms with the hardship
of what is some peoples lives,
which is so incomprehensible
unless you come face to face with
this reality. The brightness of
the people and the surroundings
despite this is clear and everyone
is so friendly, smiling and waving
to us on the streets.
We have already done so
much. On the second day, here
we visited the Bannari Amman
Temple, which was such an
amazing experience, so bright and
colourful. To be able to witness
such a powerful form of worship
and sacrifice and to also take
part in that and to learn about it
was incredible.
We have already visited a cotton
spinning mill, embroidery and
manufacturing mill and the scale
of these factories is just insane.
It is so obvious that textiles are
vitally important in this region.
The colours, the prints and the
intricacy of the detail of the saris
we see the women wearing on a
daily basis are so beautiful and
unlike anything I have ever seen

Good partners make a winning business

hen Naz Shazmaani

had her car and all
of her commercial
cleaning
equipment
stolen
recently,
colleagues
rallied
round to ensure she didnt miss a
single contract.
Thats the difference a
good franchise partner makes,
she says. Theyre more like
family than a business; they
care about your success and
nothing is too much trouble.
Naz partner is Green Acres,
one of New Zealands longestserving
and
most-respected
franchise companies.
Naz says the company helped
her out with spare equipment
and materials so her home and

commercial cleaning business

wasnt interrupted, and they
also helped her with the
insurance claim.
Its been a year since Fijianborn Naz abandoned a career

as a qualified chef managing a

restaurant at Sky City, to become
a cleaner. Wait, not a cleaner, she
insists, but a person with her own
cleaning business.
Always believe in what you
do. Im proud to be managing and
growing my own business, and I
earn more today doing 32 hours a
week than I did working full-time
hospitality industry hours at Sky
City, she says.
Before joining Green Acres,
Naz says she looked at other
franchise offerings but settled
on Green Acres as having the
best offering, the most flexible
business model and the most
helpful team. People there are
friendly and approachable. They

Bl

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are always happy to help you out

if you have any problems.
She says Green Acres has given
her a lot of opportunities to grow.
They promoted me to practical
trainer and I have trained more
than 20 new franchisees, plus I
did a stint in their commercial
sales office when a team member
was on holiday.
And her advice for others
interested in a career as a
franchise business owner? Work
hard and go the extra mile for
your customers. When you do
a job, make sure you do it right
and check it. Communicate with
your customers and ask them

ggers
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NZIFT Student Blogs #1

before. We have so much to learn

about textiles and apparel here
and have already learnt so much.
Overall, it has so far been
an
incredibly
breathtaking
experience (it has been a full-on
week!). I am in love with the food;
the chefs have been amazing and
have increased the spice levels
after a few days, but it is all so
delicious. Words cant do justice
to the beauty and experiences we
have witnessed!
From Melissa
On Sunday after we arrived
in India, we went to the Bannari
Amman temple. It is such a
beautiful place, and it was
amazing with all the bright
colours and statues everywhere.
The next day we had a tour of the
campus. I also got to see my first
snake and hold one, which was
so cool.
On Tuesday, we had our first
classes on spinning fibers into
yarn, which was interesting, as
we had only looked at the basics
previously. Then on Wednesday,
some of us visited a spinning
mill while the others went to be
verified by immigration the next
day we swapped around.
On Friday, we went to a
weaving factory where they make
the fabrics. I loved seeing the
process of the fabrics coming
together. Saturday, we saw where
they were doing embroidery. This
was probably my favorite thing
so far because I was fascinated
by the way that the pictures were
coming to life on the fabric.
We also went to a printing
factory where we saw screenprinting and where they print
bulk patterns on fabrics using
rollers. I have had quite a few
culture shocks here, but Im
loving every bit of my stay here.
All the people are lovely and have
made us feel welcome. I cant wait
to see what adventures the next
four weeks bring.

afterwards if they are happy

with your work. If you lose a
customer its hard to get them
back, so you must look after the
ones you have. Eighty per cent of
Naz business comes from Green
Acres and 20 per cent is from
client referrals. Almost all of her
customers are now regulars.
And her advice on Green Acres?
If you ever want to buy a franchise
business, go and see Green
Acres. They have a whole range
of other home and commercial
franchise opportunities as well,
including carpet cleaning and
lawn care.

www.iwk.co.nz | 27 November 2015

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KIDS

27 November 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz

Spot the diffrence

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dots
e
h
t
n
i
o
J

Little KIDS explore outside environment

Silvana Ceni

ver the pastdays, gardening has been one

of the childrens (and teachers) favourite
activities. We are encouraging the children
to enjoy this sunny time of the year by exploring
the outside environment and nature
in different ways.The activities
includeplanting vegetable seeds,
planting flowers, watering
the garden, observing the
worm farm, helping feed the
chickens, mantaining and
cleaning the garden, and
caring for thebugs that live
in our garden.
In one of these beautiful
gardening days, Iinvited
some children to help me
toclear the dry leaves that were
accumulating on the back yard.
Sidh was the first child to join me, followed
for
Naseri and Tayler.
Sidh was interested in exploring how the lawn
rake works, as he persistently dragged the leaves
to apile of green waste. As we were working
together, we found worms, beetles, ants and
snails around the garden. Each time Sidh found
a creature in the soil he ran around the area
and called his friends saying: Guys, guys,
worm, worm! And a bunch of curious children
ran to observe the small creatures. By playing in the

garden Sidh could extend his English

vocabulary as herepeated the name
of each bug that we found in the
soil, such as ants, beetles, snails,
worms. Also through gardening
Sidh could learn how to use new
technologies (lawn rake) and
develop his gross motor coordination by managing
this tool.
While we weregardening,
Sidh observed two snails
climbing up on the fence. I commented
that they looked different. What arethe
differences? Tayler noticed that one of the
snails had a house and the other did not.
Yes, I said, one has a shell on the back, the
another doesnt. I wonder why? Because he
lost his house said Naseri.
I explained to them that these creatures are
not the same, the one that carries
a shell on the back we call
snail, and the other
without the shell we call
a slug. Sidh repeated
the words.
Sidh is a great
communicator,
especially
when
concerning
social
relationships. We noticed

this skill
when
Sidh
attentively observed whose
parents were coming
or leaving the centre. He made sure that everyone
was aware of the news when something special
happened, such as the arrival of someones parents.
Through these attitudes Sidh shows us that he is caring,
responsible and values the participation of the family
and friends in his learning.
We will support Sidhs interest and skills in
communication. We willuse those as opportunities to
increase his vocabulary in English, which will improve
his participation, understanding and contribution
for learning.
To respond to Sidhs interests as a communicator
and to foster his vocabulary, we will involve Sidh
more often in individual and group conversations,
ask him to transmit messages to other children and
teachers, and help him name the objects instead of
just pointing at them.

Send us stories, drawings, poems and other contributions by your little ones along
with their photographs for this page. E-mail us at editor@ indianweekender.co.nz

www.iwk.co.nz | 27 November 2015

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ENTERTAINMENT

27 November 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz

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Tamasha not
auto-biographical, says Imtiaz
Ali

At
the
closing ceremony of the 21st Kolkata International Film Festival, Tagore, who
was heading the jury selecting
the best woman director and film
from 14 short-listed films, lauded
Salamis bravery.
It is very brave of her to show
the courage and make this film and
highlight the suffering of scores
of women in the name of religion
and tradition, Tagore said.
Although
Salami
didnt
bag the top honours, she received special mention from the
five-member jury.
In addition to Tagore, the jury
comprised well-known ChineseAmerican actress Bai Ling, Polish
director Filip Marczewski, Israeli

ilm-maker Imtiaz Ali says

there might be a few moments from his life in his
forthcoming film Tamasha, but
its not an autobiographical.
Talking about the story of the
film, Ali said, Tamasha has that
kind of love, which makes a normal person extraordinary, which
makes a commoner an artist. This
is the kind of love through which
you understand why you need a
woman in life and how it takes you
on a journey through which we
identify ourselves.
Ali, who got separated from
his wife a few years back, believes
that personal life incidents and
thoughts suggest you the story.
But its not necessary that the story youre portraying will be completely based on your personal
life. There might be a few minor
moments from my life in Tamasha, which you can see. But on the
whole, its not that this film is autobiographical, he said.
He also shared that Tamasha
as a title suits the film in every
possible way.
With Tamasha, its the first
time that I have liked the title of
my film. Tamasha means spectacle, a scene or a show, something
that you watch or something that
you enjoy watching, said Ali.
Secondly, Tamasha is always
associated with the stage and this
film has a lot to do with the stage.
What youll see ultimately is that
there is an artist who narrates his
stories on stage. So, this title is
suitable to the film in every way,
added the director.

Sharmila Tagore
lauds Yemeni
director

eteran actress Sharmila

Tagore heaped praises
on Yemeni film-maker
Khadija Al Salami, considered
the first woman director from
her country, for being courageous
enough to highlight the sufferings
of women in the name of religion
and tradition in her film I Am Nojoom, Age 10 And Divorced.

film-maker Samuel Maoz and Sri

Lankan actress Swarna Mallawarachchi.
Speaking on behalf of the jury,
Tagore also acknowledged SwissCanadian director Lea Pools The
Passion of Augustine for excellence in several fields.
It was at another level but it
was a beautiful level. It had beautiful photography, beautiful dialogues and stellar performances,
Tagore said.
Colombian film-maker Libia
Stella Gomez won the coveted
Golden Royal Bengal Tiger Award
for best woman director and
Hungarian entry The Wednesday
Child bagged the trophy for best
film at the festival.

People thought
Bajirao
Mastani will
never happen:
Bhansali

ilm-maker Sanjay Leela Bhansali says people

thought hell never be
able to make his ambitious project Bajirao Mastania film that
he planned to make for the past
12 years. I kept holding it for 12
years and kept thinking about it
for 12 years. People thought this
will never happen; that it was impossible for the film to be made.
Every year he begins it and every
year he scraps it, said Bhansali.

H e

initially wanted to cast his Hum

Dil De Chuke Sanam actors Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai
Bachchan for the title roles.
Bhansali said, Several people
came in and several went out. But
it is written in the destiny of our
Bajirao, Mastani and Kashibai
(actors). Bajirao, Mastani and
Kashibais souls had a will that
these people (actors Ranveer
Singh, Deepika Padukone and
Priyanka Chopra) do this film and
nothing could go against it.
It was their blessings. And
so, when it had to be made, it
got made.
About the experience of completing the film, Bhansali said,
Its a wonderful state to be in;
thats why we make films to experience this one moment of seeing
it on the screen. Economics might
matter or not matter, films are
obviously made with money but
more than money, its made with
passion and with people.
There are several talented
people whove worked on this film.
Theyre relieved. There is that sadness, emptiness and the feeling
that its done, now Im jobless,
he added.
Bajirao Mastani will hit the
screens on December 18.

LGBT film fest

kicks off in
Kolkata

he ninth edition of DIALOGUES: Calcutta International LGBT Film and

Video Festival began on Thursday
with a bouquet of 38 films from
13 countries.
According to organisers, Sappho for Equality, Pratyay Gender
Trust and Goethe-InstitutMax
Mueller Bhavan Kolkata, this
year the specially curated packages from the Dresden Film
Festival and Berlin Film Festival will be featured during the
four-day event.
Indias oldest Lesbian Gay
Bisexual Transgender film festival showcases films, shorts, and
videos from national and international filmmakers, highlighting
major feature films of interest to

the community and their friends.

The theme this year is Insider
Outsider, the organisers said in
a statement.
Back-to-back
screenings
will be held at the Max Mueller
Bhavan. The fest concludes on
November 29.
As many as 11 features, five
documentaries, one docu-fiction,
20 shorts and a short-fiction from
India, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Germany,
Indonesia, Morocco, Romania,
Spain, UK and USA are part of the
festival basket.

Qissa by Anup
Sharma was the
inaugural film.

ther highlights include

Romanian movie Beyond
the Hills (premiered at
Cannes Film Festival 2012), Plan
B by Argentinian Marco Berger
and the British comedy Appropriate Behaviour.
Tin Sottyi...In Fact, a documentary on lives of members of the
LGBT community, produced by
Sappho for Equality, will have its
premiere at the fest.
Shekhar Kapur making short
film on Buddhas enlightenment
Shekhar Kapur has embarked
on a quest to sneak into Lord Buddhas mind when he attained enlightenment, with his camera.
The film-maker says he is making a short film on what went in
the mind of Buddha at the time of
awakening in a more virtual and
immersive space.
I want to make a film on what
actually happened to Buddha at
the time of enlightenment. So,
Im trying to make a 1314 minute
film on it. Im trying to give the audience a feeling of what could have
happened in his mind, how he saw
the world, how the world changed
when he was going through enlightenment, Kapur said.
The period of enlightenment
in Buddhas life was when he distanced himself from all the materialistic things and luxuries of
life as a king and tried to find true
meaning of life.
The director, best known for
his award-winning films such as
Masoom, Mr India, Bandit Queen
and Elizabeth, delved into detail
about the project.
Beaming with joy while explaining the project, Kapur said that the
new virtual reality technology will
enable audience to enter Buddhas mind, look around it, look
through his eyes and come back.
It will give audience an immersive
experience and they can decide
how they want to see it.
He added that the project has
been on his mind for long.
I wanted to make a three-hour
long film on him, and suddenly I
have found a way to use virtual
reality to go into Buddhas mind. I

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may not be right but that is my interpretation of what might happen

if you experience enlightenment,
Kapur said.]]Kapur shared that he
is already in talks with a couple
of writers.

Wont be directing overdramatic

Indian cinema:
Vidhu Vinod
Chopra

fter helming pertinent

Hindi films such as
Parinda, 1942: A Love
Story and Hollywood film Broken Horses, film-maker Vidhu
Vinod Chopra says he is planning to go back to the directors chair, but not with some
overdramatic script.

Hindi cinema is very different

from international cinema as it
is loud and dramatic. As a director I had a crossroad and now I
wont be directing overdramatic
Indian cinema.
Its not like I dont like it. I love
it but I have done it all. I think
EklavyaThe Royal Guard was
my final tribute to such kind of
cinema, Chopra said.
He added, There is something
I want to do. Let us see otherwise
I will continue writing, producing
and editing.
Chopra, who after narrating
stories such as Khamosh and Mission Kashmir, turned into a producer only to churn out blockbuster hits such as 3 Idiots and PK.
The 62-year-old said he stumbled upon this conclusion after
working in Hollywood.
He (Abhijat Joshi) has instigated me to direct. Frankly the
trouble is that I have directed in
India and then Broken Horses.
I had an amazing distinction
of being the most successful producer and writer, but then I release Broken Horses and no one
goes to watch it even my friends
didnt watch it, Chopra said.
Chopra entered the western
world as a director with the mystery thriller Broken Horses this
year, but failed to impress.

ENTERTAINMENT

www.iwk.co.nz | 27 November 2015

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30

FEATURES

27 November 2015 | www.iwk.co.nz

Bon voyage digital traveller

I
Red

Mahesh K.

remember around eight years ago,

holidaying in Goa with a few friends.
Every morning, we would head to the
nearest cyber caf, which invariably used
to be packed with tourists from around the
world. They would be Skyping, booking
their next flight/hotel or just going through
their itinerary. We would also be checking
our e-mails or just browsing the web to see
what was happening around the world.
This was a fairly standard travel routine.
Sometimes out of pure nostalgia, I do
miss those tech-free holidays. The only
thing we had was a camera, Walkman,
books and playing cards. As you travelled,
you interacted with people, made new
friends and exchanged stories.
Today, it has all changed. Instead of
a cyber cafe, you now look for a Wi-fi
hotspot. You lug around your smartphone/
tablet/laptop. Google Maps has taken the
adventure out of exploring new places.
Having said that, technology has also made
travelling hassle-free and a social activity
(albeit virtually).
Advancements in mobile technology
have made a big difference to the way we
travel. In fact, the entire industry has gone
through quite a shake up. Travel companies
have been adapting new technologies
to stay ahead of each other and make it
easier for modern travellers to explore new
places, navigate cities, and document all
the fun and adventure.
There have been new developments,
which will potentially change the
industry forever.
Mobile payment technology:
Apple, Google and even Samsung
have introduced their own mobile wallet
systems. In another couple of years, as
these systems get more stable, mobile
payment will change how you spend money
while travelling. Already some apps such as
Uber have payment functionality built into
their apps.
Wearables:
Another major trend that can
impact the way we travel in a
big way is the emergence of
Wearables. Devices such
as smart watches are
making waves globally.
Every major hardware
manufacturer
worth
its salt has released its
own version of the smart
watch,
including
Apple,
Samsung, Asus and Motorola.
These devices bring a world of
convenience and will change how you
interact with technology. You can get
instant notifications about a delayed flight,
weather updates or nearest lounge location.
There are apps that let you open your hotel
room with a tap of your watch.
Smart luggage:
The suitcase is no longer dumb. A

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Orange

Wi-fi Map
This useful app lets you find Wi-Fi spots
around the world with tips and passwords.
It also lets you find smart cafes/ hotels with
integrated navigation facility
Google Translate
This brilliant app from Google helps you
translate 90 languages. It features twoway automatic speech translation in 40
languages, and can use camera to translate
text instantly in 26 languages. So if you are
trying to converse with a local, read a menu
or a signboard, just whip the app out.

crowdfunded start-up called Bluesmart

promises a luggage that can weigh itself
and can be locked, unlocked and GPS
tracked from your smartphone.
Apps:
There are a plethora of apps that are
designed to make your life easy while
travelling. From Skyscanner to TripAdvisor
and Airbnb, these apps have become travel
companions of frequent travellers.
Entrain

Say goodbye to jet lags. Jet lags or

circadian rhythm sleep disorders are
caused by alterations to the bodys internal
clock or bodys circadian rhythms. Entrain
is a free app designed by researchers at the
University of Michigan that records your
lighting history and stimulates your bodys
clock and makes recommendations, which
tell you when to seek light and/or dark.
Onavo Extend
While travelling abroad, it is easy to
blow up on data roaming if you cant
find Wi-fi spots. Onavo Extend
saves mobile data by working
in the background when
you use mobile data.
Hostelworld
This free app lets you
book a bed or a room in
more than 33,000 hostels
around the globe no matter
what budget you are on.
mPASS

If you are in New Zealand and a frequent

traveller on Air NZ, this is a must-have app.
The app puts your entire itinerary on your
smartphone screen. You can book flights,
board using the flight barcode and receive
up-to-date flight information.
itravelNZ
Put New Zealand in your pocket!
With this app, you can explore beaches,
museums, art galleries, events, activities
and accommodation in all NZs regions

Campermate

Trip Journal
If you keep a journal when travelling,
this app can
help create memorable
travelogues. The app can also record your
trip with GPS route tracking and lets you
geotag your photos and videos.
Field Trip

If you are planning to camp while in New

Zealand, give this app a whirl. CamperMate
connects you with other CamperMate users
and lets you find locations of all free, low
cost and paid campsites in New Zealand.
You can also get other relevant information
such as free Wi-fi spots, public toilet
locations and petrol stations.

A gem from Niantic, Inc. Field Trip

runs in the background, and when you get
close to something interesting, it pops up
a card with details about the location. It
helps you discover cool, hidden and unique
attractions around you. Give it a try! You
will be surprised.

Predict Wind
It can get really windy in New Zealand
and whether you are on a boat, cruise or
a yacht, kite surfing, wind surfing or just
fishing, it always helps to have accurate
wind forecast before you venture out.

Gogobot
Gogobot helps you find restaurants,
hotels, activities and events based on
recommendations of other Gogobot
members. You can also create postcards
and share with friends.

Mangere East Festival

Date: Saturday, November 28

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Venue: Walter Massey Park, 372 Massey
Road, Auckland
The community celebrations will
showcase performances and include
workshops, exhibitions, art and craft
stalls, sport competitions and activities,
live community mural painting and food.
Admission is free.

Santas Wonderland

Date: Saturday, November 28 to

Saturday, December 5
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Venue: Waiuku Memorial Town Hall,
Cnr Queen St and Victoria Ave, AKL
The Waiuku Memorial Town Hall in Queen
Street, Waiuku will make its annual
transformation into Santa-Land for lovers
of all things Christmas. Go through the
snow tunnel entrance as you look through
a series of fibre optic arches and pass by
the snow cave. Door sales only. Tickets
are priced at $6 for adults and $2 for
children.

Walking Stars

Date: Saturday, November 28

Time: 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Venue: Auckland Domain, Domain Dr,
Auckland
Walking Stars is New Zealands first
night-time walking half marathon, bringing

people from across New Zealand together

to light up Aucklands vibrant CBD. The
21.1 km walk begins after sun down and
takes you on a magical starlit walk past
some of Aucklands finest landmarks.
Tickets are priced at $45.
The money raised through Walking Stars
will help to fund breakthrough lifesaving
research and extend a helping hand to
cancer patients and their families. For
more information and to purchase tickets,
go to www.walkingstars.org.nz.

First Thursdays

Date: Thursday, December 3

Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Venue: Karangahape Road, Newton,
Auckland
Film Thursday is set to explore
Aucklands KRoad.
KRoad is the setting and the inspiration
for a collection of short films titled KRd
Stories, which will debut at
First Thursdays.
The collectionsthe work of 10
directorsis to premiere from 10 different
locations on the strip as a film festival first.
Venues from church halls to Laundromats
have been commandeered for the
evening for rotational showings of the
approximately seven-minute-long celluloid
creations. Admission is free for all. Find
more details on
www.kroad.com/firstthursdays

FEATURES

www.iwk.co.nz | 27 November 2015

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