Indian Weekender, October 30, 2015 Vol 7 Issue 32

The pulse of Kiwi-Indians

30 October, 2015 • Vol. 7 Issue 32 • www.iwk.co.nzNZ’s first Kiwi-Indian weekly newspaper

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INDIA ABROAD Seven British Indians among influential Asians

NEW ZEALAND Diwali celebrations in New Zealand

OPINION/EDITORIAL United Nations at 70

INDIA India-Africa Summit kicks off

SPORTS It’s All Blacks Vs Wallabies in Rugby World Cup final

Pg 27FEATURES Updates from the tech world

Pg 30

Pg 20Pg 17Pg 4

Pg 22

www.iwk.co.nz | 30 October 2015

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Auckland celebrates victory of good over evilRizwan MohaMMad

Everyone rejoiced and the scene erupted with the echoes of Bolo Shri Ram Chandra ki Jai as soon

as the 25-foot high effigy of Ravana was set on fire.

According to the Hindu epic Ramayana, Shri Ram along with his brother Laxman and his devotee Hanuman and his army marched to Lanka to rescue Shri Ram’s wife Sita from the captivity of the 10-headed demon Ravana. This victory of Shri Ram and his army over the evil ruler is celebrated as Dussehra, also known as Ravana Dahan.

Maa Shakti Charitable Trust organised Dussehra celebrations at the Malaeola Community Centre in Mangere on Monday, 26 October. The programme started with cultural dances followed by Ram Leela performed by school students and concluded with the burning of the Ravana effigy.

For the first time in New Zealand, a 25-foot effigy of Ravana was burnt at the event followed by fireworks. The figurine was placed in an open ground next to the community centre and fenced for the safety of the public. At the end of Ram Leela, a crowd of around 500 people assembled in the ground guarded by fire safety men and

the effigy was set on fire by the chief guest.Millions of people around the world

celebrate Diwali post-Dussehra, which is one of the most important festivals in the Hindu calendar. The burning of the effigy signifies the defeat of evil and the victory of good.

Dussehra is not only a festival to remember Ravana’s destruction but also implies to exterminate and overthrow the Ravana prevailing within us..

A 25-foot effigy of Ravana was burnt to celebrate Dussehra

Durgotsav celebration in Henderson

Durgotsav—the spirit of Kolkata relived in AucklandRizwan MohaMMad

Durga Puja is one of the biggest festivals of Kolkata, India’s city of joy, that is celebrated for

nine days. Numerous pandals are set up throughout the city with huge idols of goddess Durga on display.

The Bengali community in Auckland relished the magic of Durga puja in a small yet significant manner last weekend. The Probasee Bengalee Association of NZ Inc., Sarbojanin Durgotsav organised the three-day event at Ram Mandir on 11 Brick Street in Henderson from Friday, 23 October to Sunday, 25 October.

The event hosted a number of activities, pujas, cultural programmes and lunch/dinner for the devotees. Durgotsav is being celebrated here for the last 24 years in Auckland with the number visitors increasing every year.

The idol of goddess Durga was imported from Kolkata in 2005 and is refurbished every year for perfection.

The puja was conducted by Dr Debes Bhattacharya, who is also a professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Auckland. Approximately 400 people participated on each day of the puja. Women at the puja wore elegant Bangla

cotton sarees while the men were dressed in ethnic Bengali kurtas.

The event included Mahashashthi puja, Mahasaptami puja, aarti, Pushpanjali, havan, Dashami puja and concluded with a speech by Smita Biswas from Auckland Council and Sindoor Daan.

According to Hindu mythology, Durga is a manifestation of divine power, strength, prosperity and the protector of the universe. The association plans a bigger celebration for Saraswati puja in February next year.


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Diwali celebrations in New ZealandThe festive season is upon us. The land of Aotearoa lit up with vibrant cultural performances, live music and fireworks as Diwali was celebrated in different parts of New Zealand. Here’s a look at the celebrations held in Manukau, Christchurch and Wellington.

Bringing the Indian flavour to ManukauRizwan MohaMMad

The festive season for the Indian community is here, and it is reflected almost every weekend

in Auckland. The ATEED Diwali at Aotea Square was held two weeks ago—where Indian Weekender was a proud media partner— and, more recently, the Manukau Diwali was organised by Humm FM and The South Trust Diwali.

Vodafone Event Centre in Manukau housed another Diwali celebration with hours of live DJ music, fun activities for children, lip smacking Indian delicacies, fashion and performances at the end.

Mayor of Auckland Len Brown, National List MP Kanwaljit Bakshi, MP Dr Parmjeet Parmar, Sunny Kaushal and President of Auckland Indian Association Harshad Patel attended the event.

Held on Sunday, 25 October, the event started at noon and continued till 9 p.m. The fashion show organised by Khazana set the ramp on fire, which was followed by dance performances.

Face painting, mehndi, bouncing castles and kids rides entertained the visitors and their children until the evening.

Mayor Len Brown acknowledged the Directors of Humm FM 106.2, Mr Satyen Prasad and Mrs Roshila Prasad, and Kal Kular, Chairwoman of South Trust.

RJs from Humm FM kicked started the evening by entertaining the crowd followed by performances that ignited the whole arena. The show concluded on beats of bhangra followed by fireworks and open dance session by Humm FM DJ.

Auckland until the middle of November is going to be the hottest place in New Zealand with a number of celebrations lined up and Halloween this weekend.

Christchurch lights up with a multicultural Diwali gauRav shaRMa

O f course, Indians, from all parts of India, were there. Kiwis were there. Even Chinese were

there. That’s what Christchurch’s Diwali celebration was. Arguably the most multicultural event for the city.

While it will take some time for the organisers—Indian Social and Cultural Club (ISCC)—to assess how many people attended the festival held last Saturday at the Horncastle Arena, the numbers would easily cross 10,000 going by the past experience.

“What is even more important for us is that people from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, of different nationalities and cultures were there to celebrate Diwali with us. When ISCC started organising Diwali in Christchurch in 2010, which has since become the biggest Indian community event in the South Island, our aim was to showcase our culture to the wide and diverse New Zealand communities and welcome them to be a part of our celebrations. And we have been very successful in doing that in the last five years,” noted Hitesh Sharma, event manager at ISCC.

In all, the festival, which was attended by Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel, Selwyn Deputy Mayor Sarah Walters, and Consul General of China in Christchurch Jin Zhijian, saw 27 different dance groups with around 380 performers mesmerise the audiences for almost four hours. Most notable were the performances by the Punjabi folk dance group Giddha

Girls and the Abacus Bhangra Group of Christchurch.

“We have been preparing for this performance for the past three months,s as this is the biggest stage in the South Island to showcase our talent. It’s also our way of remembering our homeland and sharing with Kiwis what India is all about,” said Ankit Shah, a member of the Guruji Garba Group, who performed the Gujarati folk dance with 14 of his friends during the festival.

For food lovers, the festival had stalls offering cuisines from all parts on India including those by the Canterbury Tamil Society and Mumbai Memories.

Other major attractions were henna and tattoo corners, handmade crafts by Jambalaya, and ethnic Indian wears by Exotica Indian Urban Boutique (EIUB) and Jalsa Unique Indian Wear.

“Ever since I showcased our traditional Indian wear during the last year’s Diwali celebrations, the response from Kiwis has been amazing. Our clothing is so rich in colour, and I find much appreciation of that here in Christchurch,” noted Rinku Dias, owner of EIUB.

Ajesh Jose, who works at Spark Business, hails from Kerala and has been in Christchurch for the past 11 years, agreed: “I have seen how Christchurch is getting diverse with time. To see so many non-Indians attending celebrations of a traditional Indian festival is heartening.”

A sentiment shared by Rex and Jane, both Kiwis, who were at the festival to support their grand-daughter Manaia

Davies, who was performing as part of Moorhouse Dance Studio. “I have lived in Christchurch for the past 17 years and can safely say that Diwali is probably

the most multicultural event that we have in this city,” Rex said.

Selwyn’s Deputy Mayor Sarah Walters summed the evening rather nicely, “Taking Christchurch’s lead, Selwyn will have its own Diwali festival next Saturday for the first-time ever. The Indian community there, though small but very vibrant, led by Surinder Tandon, are working hard to make it a

multicultural bonanza, same as this one. And all are invited.”

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Employment Standards Legislation Bill still leaves loop holesiwK BuReau

Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner, Dr Jackie Blue supports the intention of the

Employment Standards Legislation Bill but considers that it should provide better protections for people in insecure employment.

New Zealand is a signatory to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). Article 7 provides that State Parties are required to recognise the right of all persons to:

} Just and favourable conditions of work } Fair wages and equal remuneration } Remuneration that provides a decent

living for the worker and their family.Dr Jackie Blue says that while the Bill is

a step in the right direction, she would like it mandatory for minimum hours to be set out in casual employment contracts.

“There is still too much uncertainty for casual workers and the ‘zero-hour’ contracts are legally dubious. Workers who are constantly concerned about income security perform less well at work and this income insecurity impacts negatively on health,” Dr Blue said.

“I feel that the broad nature of s 65(2)(iv) still leaves too much room for zero-hour contracts, as there is still no provision for minimum hours to be offered in individual employment contracts.

“Improvement of employment standards and conditions through a more rigorous statutory scheme is essential if entrenched disparities and inequalities that

currently exist in the labour market are to be adequately addressed,” she said.

The NZ Council of Trade Unions estimates that 635,000 New Zealanders are in ‘insecure work’, with 95,000 workers having no usual work time.

“The ‘no care no concern’ for the workers employed in insecure arrangements is not how the economy will prosper and is unfair to those workers that are required to be on call at all times but have no hours guaranteed.

“Strengthening protections against unfair employment practices should improve the overall circumstances of vulnerable, low-wage workers, most of whom are women that work in insecure work arrangements. I support full wage protections for without notice shift cancellations,” Dr Blue said.

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Visiting Indian IT group eyes NZ alliancesKuMaR suResh

India Trade Alliance, the newly-formed body to promote trade and investment between New Zealand and India,

hosted its first major event in Auckland on Monday, October 26.

The alliance has been formed with a view to actively pursue closer economic ties between the two nations, says Chairman Giriraj Gupta.

“ITA is working with a cross section of stakeholder publics ranging from government ministries and policymakers to chambers of commerce and the private sector in both countries,” he says.

In its inaugural event, ITA hosted a high-profile group of technology entrepreneurs from the southern Indian state of Kerala. The group, which was on its third road show—this time across New Zealand, Australia and Singapore—comprised more than a dozen entrepreneurs and government officials.

Senior Kerala Government official P H Kurian, the state’s Principal Secretary for Industries and Information Technology, headed the delegation.

Drawing parallels between his state and New Zealand, Mr Kurian said there was great potential for the two to cooperate in the field of information and communication technologies and other service industries such as education, culture and tourism. Kerala, like New Zealand, had a vibrant small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, he said.

Mr Kurian said he was pleased to see New Zealand’s high profile involvement in the event, which had Members of Parliament Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi and Mahesh Bindra in attendance, besides chief executives and senior officials of several New Zealand organisations that are looking to establish or build their existing business relationships in India. Deputy Head of the delegation Binu Jacob said it was a revelation to see what New Zealand had to offer in terms of opportunity to work together.

Mr Jacob is Managing Director of global IT product and services company Experion, which has operations in the United States, Europe and Australia. He said he was keen to seek business opportunities in New Zealand. ITA counts a number of high-profile New Zealanders on its board including former Reserve Bank of New Zealand Governor Don Brash and former MP Dr Richard Worth. The alliance is in the process of forging relationships with business and industry stakeholders in New Zealand such as New Zealand Trade & Enterprise and the

Auckland Council’s business development arm ATEED, Mr Gupta said. “ITA aims to provide the necessary linkages and connections to its members so that they are able to grow their businesses locally and internationally, beginning with building on our relationships in both New Zealand and India,” he added.

In his vote of thanks, ITA Deputy Chairman Richard Worth said, “Five years back when you looked at the Indian community in Auckland, it seemed incredibly inward looking. It was a highly committed community, hardworking, law abiding, but inward looking. Now, the Indian community in Auckland just blossomed. I feel the same thing is true about India as well.”

Top: Mr Giri Gupta in conversation with MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi and Brett O’Riley. Above: IT delegation from Kerala with ITA Executive committee and dignitaries from NZ government. Below: Leader of the delgation P H Kurian, Deputy Leader Binu Jacob and and Hon Dr Richard Worth.


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Bihar Foundation—Auckland, NZ chapter launchediwK BuReau

Adding to the multi-cultural milieu of Auckland’s many cultural and ethnic associations in New

Zealand, the Bihar Foundation Auckland launched its first chapter in New Zealand on September 26 at its Secretary’s residence in Avondale, Auckland.

The objective was to introduce the newly formed Executive Committee Members to all members. The forum for discussion was open on how Biharis can strengthen the Bihar Foundation motto of bonding, branding, business amongst the growing Bihari diaspora in Auckland. Chairperson of the BF—Auckland, NZ Chapter, Mrs Ragini Gautam and the Secretary, Mr Ajay Verma, lit the candles amidst the invocation of chanting of sacred mantras.

“We are delighted to have this opportunity in launching the first ever Bihar Foundation Chapter in NZ. There are many Bihari non-resident Indians who have been seeking such an umbrella organisation that can give them a sense of bonding for their birthplace. This opportunity provides for all to engage in community welfare activities,” commented the Co-Vice Chairman, Auckland Chapter, Dr P. Nagi, a reputed GP.

The ECM office bearers also include Dr Gautam Sinha as a Co-Vice Chairperson and Sanjeev Prasad as the treasurer. The Auckland chapter took pride in announcing the participation of female members and youth. Mr Verma also highlighted the upcoming activities being undertaken. There was a proposal to include a celebration of the Bihar Day on March 22,

2016, by offering a free medical camp for all and presenting a Bihar craft and art mela. The Chapter also has plans to promote trade and business investment to Bihar, as the government of Bihar is keen to channelise interests via the Auckland Chapter. Sharing of NZ food technology for Agro-based industries in Bihar is also on the agenda.

A key initiative announced was to undertake a first-ever religious and cultural tour to Bihar for our Fiji Indian community, many of whose ancestors came from Bihar. The Auckland, NZ Chapter anticipates keen government support and help to organise such a historic tour sometime in October 2016.

Bihar Foundation is a not for profit, autonomous body floated by the Bihar government in 2008 under the patronage of the CM Nitish Kumar. It is a voluntary association but governed by certain rules of conduct and membership as stipulated by the parent body, Bihar Foundation Patna.

The Bihar Foundation has chapters worldwide, including one in Sydney, Doha, New Jersey and USA. Membership is free, and everyone who has an affinity for Bihar or is a Bihari is welcome to join this new organisation promising to change the perception of all things Bihari.

Bihar Foundation—Auckland, NZ

Samantha McClung crowned Miss Universe NZ 2015iwK BuReau

Skycity Theatre, Auckland, played host to a glittering beauty pageant last weekend where 20-year-old

Samantha McClung was crowned the new Miss Universe NZ.

Competing against 20 finalists, this qualified make-up artist from Christchurch, edged out surf instructor Hannah Henderson and mental-health nurse Gabrielle Manaloto, who are the first and second runner-up. The final results was decided by an intenational judging panel and public voting, both constituting 50 per cent to the final result. The newly crowned Miss Universe NZ will now represent New

Zealand on a global platform at the Miss Universe contest to be held in Las Vegas later this year.

Miss Universe New Zealand 2015 Samantha McClung (centre) with runner-up Hannah Henderson (left) and second runner-up Gabrielle Manaloto (right)

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The Impact and Compactof thirsting love for humanity

Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 2 pmat the Catholic Church of Christ the King

260 Richardson Road, Mt Roskill, Auckland

An opportunity not to be missed. Free Entry for all!

Guest Speaker

Dr Jebamalai VinanchiarachiFormer Principal Advisor to Director General,

United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)

BishopPatrick Dunn DD

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland and

the members of the Mother Teresa Interfaith

CommitteeInvite you to attend an

Interfaith Meeting

In homage to inspiring

leadership and

community work

Enrolment— the first step to voting

iwK BuReau

I t is time for New Zealanders to make sure they are correctly enrolled and ready to vote in the first referendum

on the New Zealand flag. Only those correctly enrolled by

Thursday, 19 November will be able to vote in the first referendum, and voting papers will be sent out from Friday, 20 November.

“If you’re already enrolled and have checked that your details are up to date, then that’s great,” says Robert Peden, Chief Electoral Officer, “But if you’ve moved house, or aren’t sure, or know you’re not enrolled, you need to get on and do it now. It’s easy.”

People can check that their enrolment details are up to date at elections.org.nz or by calling 0800 36 76 56.

Enrolment forms are available at elections.org.nz, by calling 0800 36 76 56, by free texting your name and address to

3676, or at any PostShop.The referendum runs from Friday 20

November until Friday 11 December, and will be held by postal vote. Voters will be asked the question ‘If the New Zealand flag changes, which flag would you prefer?’

They’ll be asked to rank the five alternative flag designs from one to five, and can rank as many or as few as they wish.

The most preferred alternative will go to a second referendum in March 2016, where voters will be asked to choose between the current flag and the preferred alternative.

“We want all eligible New Zealanders to have the opportunity to get enrolled and have their say,” says Mr Peden.

The five new flag designs Kiwis can choose from

Top: Representatives of Gtech, NZTIA, NZTE, ATEED and INZBCAbove:Signing of the MoU with Experion, India

Speed Dating—tangible outcomes, INZBC styleKuMaR suResh

I f one feels that there is not enough presence of Indian IT companies in New Zealand,

the perception is to change soon. On 27 October, CEOs of 14 Indian IT companies of the Gtech Group, Kerala, met with many businesses in their quest to forge improved business relations between India and NZ. The programme was action packed and started with Gtech meeting Councillor Arthur Anae, who represented the Mayor of Auckland and Brett O’Riley, the CEO of ATEED. This was followed by a valuable session held with Michael Barnett and Smitha Shanbagh of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. A working lunch was held at the Bank of Baroda, where a local TV channel interviewed the visiting group.

In the afternoon, meetings were held with the AUT senior management and their business school and the day culminated in a business session at the NZTE offices where every member of the visiting delegation made a quick power point presentation showcasing their capabilities. Followed by these presentations, one on one business matchmaking and speed dating style meetings were held between the visitors and local Kiwi companies. The highlight of the visit was Experion Limited from India signing an agreement with INZBC member

Jay Changlani of Wellington. INZBC Treasurer Bhav Dhillon was elated at this news of Experion starting an office in NZ and hiring staff. He commented that INZBC does not believe in photo opportunities and instead such tangible outcomes are needed to take the India-NZ trade relationship to the next level. The business session in the evening at NZTE offices was a joint effort by India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC), New Zealand Technology Industry Association (NZTIA), New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development (ATEED).

According to Wenceslaus Anthony Head of Govt. Relations of the INZBC, “the whole purpose of this meet was to get the relevant IT companies from India and New Zealand to interact with each other so as to develop mutual business and forge collaboration between companies. This session was indeed an excellent example of NZ Inc working together with a steadfast focus on measurable results”.

The delegation from India was headed by Mr P. H. Kurian IAS, Principal Secretary of the Kerela Government and comprised some well-established companies such as Neologix Software Solutions, Mozanta technologies and Acolade. An elated Mr P H Kurian,

said, “Our delegation to Auckland has been very successful. We had many meetings since mornings with various government officials and businesses and all have been very fruitful. We will also do a follow-up visit next year and hope to finalise more collaborations by then.”

Graeme Muller, CEO of NZTIA said, “From a New Zealand’s perspective, India is a huge opportunity but there has been a lack of understanding and awareness. Today we have a large Indian population in New Zealand which makes so much more sense to build bridges between the two countries.” When asked about the opportunities that the IT sector from both the countries have in working together he said, “relationship between the IT sector is very appropriate because most sectors in New Zealand can be tech-centric, be it agro-tech or energy sector or health tech or education sector. All of this forms a good channel into the Indian market. So the tech relationship

can provide the pathway for New Zealand to get to the larger market in India.” The general mood of the members of the delegation was upbeat and spoke of sensible and business savvy ways of investing in the NZ market. Thomas Varghese, the Managing Director of the Mozanta technologies who is a part of the delegation said, “My strategy would be to begin doing something small and take it from there. We look forward to start working with at least one client immediately. Building trust with clients is very important and once that is achieved, bigger steps would follow.” Shaman M. Hanif, sales head of Neologix said, “We

have felt that there are many opportunities for us New Zealand and Australia. In fact, we have zeroed in on Auckland and Sydney for setting up our base if we are to start our operations in this region in the future. To be honest, sitting in India and looking for clients in New Zealand will not work. We have to come and personally talk to clients and build good relationships if we intend to provide our services here in New Zealand.”

Overall this visit was a great success due to a lot of hard work put behind the scenes by Elizabeth Gollan of ATEED and Wenceslaus Anthony of the INZBC.


Red Black Orange

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Local talent star in recruitment campaign for new health initiativeiwK BuReau

Healthy Families Manukau, Manurewa-Papakura is using local champions to front

a social media campaign to recruit passionate people who can inspire longer, healthier living.

Healthy Families is an innovative new approach to empowering healthy lifestyles right where people live, learn work and play.

Beginning as they mean to go, the campaign celebrates the vibrant communities that live in Manukau, Manurewa and Papakura.

Healthy Families Manager (Manukau, Manurewa-Papakura), Ben Youdan, says that having locals as the face of the campaign, was an exciting opportunity to reflect the diverse communities that Healthy Families is looking forward to working with.

“We’re looking for all kinds of awesome, not just the experienced health nuts. Health sector practice is a bonus, not a necessity. What people must have is an ability to identify and navigate the complexities that influence people’s health and strive to improve equity for Maori and Pacific peoples.”

Youdan said he felt really strongly about using the recruitment phase as an opportunity to promote how significant the community are in everything Healthy Families are about.

“We got together with local photographer and storyteller, QianeMatata-Sipu, to capture local movers and shakers doing fun and crazy things in celebration of positive action around their well-being. It was

inspiring to see supportive local families volunteer their time and embrace doing things differently.”

One face of the campaign is Porse home-based childcare Educator, Parwati Pillay.

“I know that Healthy Families will engage well with communities in South Auckland because of the way they made me feel. I felt comfortable and really welcomed throughout the photo shoot, and I loved that I could wear my traditional Indian dress while doing things outside my comfort zone, like climbing the jungle gym and swinging around in the playground. I had a blast.”


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10 NEW ZEALAND

Detainees isolated and desperateNew Zealanders in Australia’s

remote Christmas Island Detention Centre have spoken

about the trauma of being locked up thousands of miles away from their families in a facility designed to house people considered to be a terrorism threat. Labour’s Corrections spokesperson Kelvin Davis gained access to some of the 40 New Zealanders being detained while appealing against their deportations.

He says the five-hour visit was highly emotional: “We were able to hear about all the alleged human rights violations and assess their health and well-being.

“They’re angry, hungry, traumatised and so desperate to return to their homes in Australia they are even considering rioting.

“These New Zealand born Australians are not murderers or rapists. They have served their time yet Australian authorities are treating them as though they are a terrorism threat.

“The stories of the eight detainees we met were all consistent. They hate the isolation, the lack of family contact, and the lack of contact with legal support.

“None of them want to take up John Key’s proposal to return to New Zealand to settle their visa applications. They think it’s a trick designed to prevent them from returning to their families and jobs in Australia.”

He said he was grateful to Australia Border Force superintendent Maritime Operations WA, Mark Wilson, who allowed the five hour visit.

“We were drug tested on arrival, then escorted into an airless visit room where the detainees were brought in two at a time for 30 minute visits.

“We weren’t allowed to film or record their stories so we sat and yarned, laughed and cried about their plight.

“We also took a box of chocolates for Ricardo Young who turns 30 today, and whose family asked us to take him a cake after we met them in Sydney. However such is the ridiculousness of the rules the authorities couldn’t decide if he was allowed the chocolates.

“These people are not terrorist threats and they don’t deserve to be locked up thousands of kilometres away from their families,” Kelvin Davis said.

Labour for hire not a recipe for exploitation

Labour is supporting a call for an investigation into alleged dodgy employment practices within

labour hire companies.“FIRST Union says it has numerous

reports of people employed by hire companies not receiving their minimum legal entitlements,” Labour Relations spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway says. “While breaches can be challenged through costly court processes, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse should at least sit down with the union to discuss its concerns about widespread abuses in the labour hire industry.

“The government could do a lot more to prevent the exploitation of working people by employers who do not meet their legal obligations. New Zealand has far too few

labour inspectors, with each inspector having to oversee double the number of workers their Australian counterparts have to. The government’s repeated attacks on unions mean that fewer and fewer people have someone to turn to when their rights at work are breached by their employer.

“Labour Day provides the perfect opportunity to focus on the increasing insecurity of work and the difficulty people have securing what ought to be their basic rights.

“The government has allowed a situation to develop where more and more people are reliant on the temporary work offered by labour hire companies. The Minster must make sure this is not just a recipe for greater exploitation,” Iain Lee-Galloway says.

Medical advice on obesity fails to tip scalesThe government snubbed advice

from its chief child health adviser to set an obesity target in favour of soft

pedalling in the interests of big business, Labour’s Acting Health spokesperson David Clark says.

“Buried in a report to Jonathan Coleman—uncovered in a government document dump—Pat Tuohy, a specialist paediatrician and the go-to adviser for the government on child health, recommends establishing a healthy weight target for four-year-old pre-schoolers using BMI and waist circumference as a better public services target.

“The target would have seen 75 per cent of four-year-old children at a healthy weight by 2020.

“That’s an achievable target, yet Dr Coleman seems loathe to act against the interests of wealthy corporates, omitting to include the proposal in the government’s new obesity strategy, of which Pat Tuohy has been the professional face.

“A watered down target will see children identified as obese in the B4 School Check be referred to a health professional with no guarantee of any follow up.

“Other recommendations, including guidelines around healthy food in schools and reducing the amount of saturated fat and sugar in processed food, were also ignored.

“That all adds up to a government that is not really committed to tackling the obesity crisis at all,” David Clark says.

Online services save hours of taxpayers’ timeRevenue Minister Todd McClay

says many hours of taxpayers’ time is being saved by Inland

Revenue’s innovative changes to online and phone services.

The most recent is the ability to activate personal online MyIR accounts by text rather than having to phone Inland Revenue’s call centre to do it. “That alone has saved eight minutes for each of the 11,000 customers who’ve used the service in its first month,” says Mr McClay.

“That’s just more than 1,600 hours in one month, and of course, call centre operators save that amount of time too, meaning they can be more efficient and help more customers more quickly.”

Mr McClay says more time on the phone had also been saved by people being able to file tax returns online, including e-filing and returns via Inland Revenue’s mobile app.

“Electronic filing is up to 6.6 million returns in 2015 compared to 5.7 million in 2014. That means a lot less time on the phone for taxpayers making returns-related enquiries, and for businesses, as we know, time is money.

“Inland Revenue estimates that some 89,000 taxpayers have been saved about 14 minutes each since 2013 by filing online. That’s because between February and August this year there were more than

89,350 fewer phone calls about returns than in the same period for 2013. So doing the maths, that’s 20,766 hours of real time saved.”

Another time-saving innovation was the automatic voice identification service. That means customer voices are instantly recognised by the system, making the enquiry process quicker and more efficient.

“There are now 1.5 million people signed up, meaning 15,500 hours of customer time saved. And every 100,000 more customers signed up to Voice ID means another 500 customer hours saved—for the customer and for our call centre,” he said.

“Inland Revenue is doing more and more to help New Zealanders meet their tax obligations. 80 per cent of refunds from Personal Tax Summaries were made in under a day and 75 per cent of all custo mer phone calls were answered in the first two minutes.

“Our ongoing Business Transformation programme is totally customer focussed in its intention to modernise and simplify New Zealand’s tax administration by bringing it into the 21st century.

“This will result in even more time savings for individual taxpayers and businesses in the coming years,” says Mr McClay.

Unprepared govt scrambles to deal with deporteesI t is staggering that Amy Adams is

only now waking up to the fact that the deportees Australia is sending

back to New Zealand will need monitoring, Labour’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson David Shearer says.

“This new legislation is a belated attempt to cope with these deportees, some of whom have serious criminal records. It begs the question, what on earth the government has been doing for the past 11 months?

“Since Australia changed its law on deportation in December last year the departments of at least six government ministers have been involved in negotiations with their Australian counterparts, knowing all along the number of Kiwis being sent back would soar.

“Australia deemed some of them so dangerous that it chartered private aircraft to avoid the risk of them travelling on commercial airlines. Yet those same people

have effectively been dumped at the airport when they arrived and have received little or no support.

“It’s a recipe for disaster. And you only have to look at what’s been happening around electronic monitoring to know the system is already at breaking point. We don’t have the technology or the staff resources to cope with current demand, let alone an increased workload.

“Not only has John Key’s government buckled to the Australians, but they haven’t made the most basic plans for their arrival.

“As lead minister, Amy Adams needs to explain to New Zealanders why she was so woefully unprepared when she knew of this looming problem for months but failed so miserably to do anything about it.

“Or has the government just been dishonest—acting like the policy was sprung on it, when it knew it was happening all along?”


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11NEW ZEALAND

Waerenga estate—neW hOmes frOm $449,000Te Kauwhata has been kept a

secret for many years, but this sleepy rural Waikato town is now

coming to life with a surge of growth as Aucklanders are discovering just how close it is and what a great lifestyle it offers.

Hidden well off the motorway, it is often bypassed unless people have a reason to stop or already live there.

The Rangiriri section of the Waikato Expressway is currently under construction and will be completed in 2017 and the northern section between Auckland in 2018, decreasing the travel time between Te Kauwhata and Auckland. The section between Hamilton will be completed in 2019.

Currently a 50-minute drive from Auckland CBD and 30 minutes from Manukau, Te Kauwhata is becoming a desirable place for Aucklanders to move and still be close to work, family and friends.

As prices in Auckland are at an all-time high and Pokeno is 35–50% higher priced than Te Kauwhata, it is fast becoming a popular alternative.

Stage 1 of Waerenga Estate has just been released and is selling quickly. The subdivision is set on the edge of town and offers a point of distinction in location, design and construction.

Waerenga Estate is walking distance to the local primary and secondary school, child care centres, Waikare Golf Course and village shops. Te Kauwhata

offers a relaxed, small town, semi-rural lifestyle with picturesque vineyards and rolling countryside and its growth is accelerating. Now is the time to secure a part of this market before prices increase. Completion of the homes will take place from January 2016 to late 2016.

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Time to modernise role of Reserve BankThe dilemma faced by the Reserve

Bank Governor in setting the official cash rate highlights the

need to broaden the objectives of the bank to put jobs and the overall well-being of the economy at the heart of its mandate, Labour Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson says.

“Commentators are in agreement that the Graeme Wheeler is likely to leave the official cash rate where it is tomorrow. On the basis of his current mandate that may well be justified, but with unemployment still too high the narrowness of that mandate has to be addressed.

“At the moment the sole objective of the Reserve Bank is to formulate monetary policy to achieve and maintain price stability. Controlling inflation is important, and no one wants to return to the Muldoon era of double digit inflation. But as the sole focus it leaves the overall health of the economy exposed.

“For the past few years we have had low inflation but stubbornly high unemployment. It has not dropped below 5.5 per cent and bank economists are now predicting it will reach 6.5–7 per cent over the coming months.

“In recent times we have seen an overvalued dollar and high interest rates hurt the prospects of our exporters.

“We need a monetary policy that supports our productive sector across economic cycles and puts employment up as a core objective.

“Labour supports our independent Reserve Bank. A broadened mandate would mean some changes for the bank, and we would review other aspects of the Bank’s legislation and powers, including the Policy Targets Agreement, to ensure it would work in practice. It is time monetary policy served the needs of the people rather than the other way around,” Grant Robertson said.

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12 NEW ZEALAND

Winston PetersNZ First leader

Phil GoffLabour MP

Kanwaljit BakshiNational List MP

Time to give families with babies a Helping Hand

Last month, a bill designed to allow Mum’s to have six months Paid Parental Leave on the birth of their

child passed its first reading in Parliament by the narrow margin of one vote.

National and Act opposed it but every other Party supported Labour MP Sue Moroney’s Bill. Labour introduced Paid Parental Leave in 2002. It gave a parent, usually the mum, 12 weeks Paid Parental Leave, funded out of taxes.

But New Zealand hasn’t kept up with the rest of the developed world and today we provide the second least generous support

to parenting in the OECD developed countries. Times have changed and New Zealand hasn’t kept up with providing the assistance leading experts say is so important to child rearing.

The World Health Organisation recommends that mothers who are able to should breast feed their children for at least six months. In health terms this gives children the very best start in life.

However, just as important is the bonding and attachment between mother (and father) and child in the first months of their life. Child rearing in those vital early months is a demanding time and can be stressful for the mother.

Trying to feed and care for a baby when both parents have to work is tough. What should be a rewarding and joyful experience can easily become stressful and put pressure on the mental and physical health of the mother which in turn affects the baby.

This week, I talked to Donelle, a young mother who made a heartfelt plea to the

Select Committee listening to submissions on Sue Moroney’s first Paid Parental Leave Bill two years ago.

Donelle and her husband, who already had one child, were blessed on her second pregnancy with twins. Because of financial pressures on the family paying high Auckland rents and meeting all the additional costs that come with children, Donelle went back to work after her paid parental leave ran out at 14 weeks. The babies were in childcare at an Early Childhood Care Centre opposite her workplace. However, she had to commute with them each day by train from Papakura to the centre of the City. She was up at 6 a.m. to get the babies ready and not home till 7 p.m. With three young children and the pressures of housework and caring for the kids as well as her paid work, there was little rest. She had interrupted sleep with the babies each waking three or four times a night. The pressure was too great and she almost suffered a breakdown before having

to give up work. No mother should have to cope with those sorts of demands.

Sue Moroney’s Bill will help, by ensuring that mums at least get a six month’s break from work and mother and baby can spend time together.

The cost would be $45 million a year extra from 2016 and the same amount again from 2018.

When we can spend $26 million on a flag referendum, $30 million to house pandas for a temporary stay and upgrade already high class residences for ambassadors, I say it’s time to look again at our priorities.

Putting families first and realising the benefits of our children getting the best start in life is a far more important priority. Every family should be able to do this, not just those who can afford to live on one income. Overwhelmingly polls show New Zealanders support this. It’s time for the government to give away its increasing tendency to lecture down to people and to start listening to them.

Attending the thanks giving ceremony in Fiji

I was recently invited to visit Fiji, along with the members of the Fijian-Indian community in New Zealand, by the Fiji

Girmit Foundation. Whilst there, I participated in a thanks-

giving ceremony in memory of a Girmit Ship, Syria, which sank around a 130 years ago while carrying Indian indentured labourers sank claiming 59 lives; the then residents of Nasilia reef rescued the survivors, providing them with food, shelter and care for their health and well-being.

My visit to Fiji followed Fiji’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Rātū Inoke Kubuabola’s visit in May where he was the chief guest during the Girimit Commemoration.

We were welcomed by the Naselai Villagers with a traditional Fijian Ceremony known as yagona ceremony. The Nasilai villagers were also presented

with a plaque for their kindness and saving the lives of those who were in the fateful ship. This was then followed up by Talanoa, known as networking and

informal speaking session and tour and sightseeing. We also visited Nasamila District School where we were greeted by the school teachers and students who organised cultural performances for the delegation. This was facilitated by the Ministry of Education.

New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Fiji, as well as the Indian High Commissioner to Fiji, also joined us at the ceremony.

The delegation also included Trustee of Fiji Girmit Foundation, Sardar Harnam Singh Golian and eight other delegates from New Zealand.

Being a Member of Ethnic Caucus Committee, it was a wonderful opportunity for me to meet the Fiji-Indian community and hear the stories of those who were in some way associated with the tragedy.

The visit helped in developing in strengthening the relationship between the two countries.

Visa fraud shows up loose and mindless immigration policy

The latest visa scam revolves around an agent allegedly falsifying work experience on visa documents for

Filipino farm workers. In four years to 2013 there were more than 3,000 complaints of immigration fraud.

Imagine how many cases went unreported. You can understand the migrants but the fraud is the price New Zealand is paying for loose, unsophisticated and mindless immigration and failure to train our own workforce.

It is the price of having a government obsessed with the view that escalating consumer numbers will drive the economy and intent on allowing cheap and compliant workers to dominate industries. At the same time, the government keeps deceiving New Zealanders that immigration is about skilled workers.

No one in their right mind would suggest that the Philippines is full of experienced dairy farmers and construction workers. Many are here because agents, often from the same country, are charging outrageous fees, have falsified documents to show experience, either with or without the workers’ knowledge. The workers learn their skills here.

A farmer, commenting on the latest scam, said his workers built up skills after they reached New Zealand.

They now have the “relevant work experience on farm” and NZQA “recognition of learning”.

Government researchers and economists could have predicted a need for farm workers, so where was the planning? Where were the courses and the cadetships to inspire and take young Kiwis on to the land to support dairying?

Kiwis were written off as too fussy, not flexible over hours and wages, etc., but it could have been different.

All that was required was some creativity. Take a bunch of young Kiwis to a farm and check out who has an affinity for animals and who looks suited to the land. Then put them into training.

Instead, people from overseas were accepted without skills and trained in this country. It was too easy to take advantage

of people from countries where there is less opportunity.

Now the Immigration Department and government have a dilemma of their own making—whether to deport hundreds of workers here on false documentation. If they grant an amnesty, what message will that send to others applying for visas?

The same message of laxity and looseness that attracted this abusive process and our laws in the first place.


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13NEW ZEALAND

auckland cOuncil’s $3.7bn budget fOr 2016–17Auckland Council’s 2016–17

Annual Plan process has begun with a series of workshops held

ahead of the Finance and Performance committee meeting, which will identify its preferences on what issues should be consulted on. Finance and Performance committee chair Councillor Penny Webster has welcomed the different approach to the process.

“These workshops have been helpful in understanding the process of the Annual Plan, which is different this year, and has helped us solidify our understanding of the issues that we want to talk to Aucklanders about,” she says. “We are talking about $3.7 billion of operating expenditure in

2016–17, with $1.9 billion budgeted for capital expenditure.

“Aucklanders will see this spend making a tangible difference to the region, with projects such as the CRL getting underway, completion of the Westgate multi-purpose library and community centre and the continuation of the AMETI project just some of the projects we will see in the 2016–17 year.

“We know from the detailed work undertaken through the long-term plan that the council is on a solid financial footing, and this Annual Plan process provides us with an opportunity to re-look and examine some of the things that could potentially be changed if needed.”

Wellington Mayor welcomes appointment of first Chief Resilience Officer

100 Resilient Cities—Pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation—is dedicated to building resilience in cities around

the world. Wellington is a founding member of a $164M effort.

Mayor Celia Wade-Brown welcomes the appointment of Mike Mendonça as Chief Resilience Officer (CRO), a new position created to lead city-wide resilience building efforts to help Wellington prepare for, withstand, and bounce back from the ‘shocks’—catastrophic events such as hurricanes, fires, and floods—and ‘stresses’—slow-moving disasters such as water shortages, homelessness, and unemployment, which are increasingly part of 21st century life. As Chief Resilience Officer, Mike Mendonça will oversee the development and implementation of a comprehensive Resilience Strategy for the city.

“Mike has wide experience and will be able to tap into an international body of knowledge and liaise with Chief Resilience Officers in Christchurch, Sydney, and around the world, in developing plans and strategies to make Wellington a resilient city,” says Mayor Wade-Brown.

Appointing a CRO is an essential element of Wellington’s resilience building partnership with 100 Resilient Cities that is part of a $164M commitment by The Rockefeller Foundation to build urban

resilience in 100 cities around the world. Wellington’s engagement with 100 Resilient Cities kicked off on 28 September.

“Mike Mendonça joins a network of peers from cities across the globe that will share best practices and surface innovative thinking,” said Michael Berkowitz, President of 100 Resilient Cities.

“Mr Mendonça will become a global leader in resilience, and will be a tool both for Wellington and other cities around the world.”

Mike is an avid Wellingtonian with previous Council service in the areas of infrastructure and civil defence. Wellington’s Resilience Strategy will be a holistic, action-oriented blueprint to build partnerships and alliances, financing mechanisms, and will pay particular attention to meeting the needs of poor and vulnerable populations.


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14 FIJI

News source: Fiji Sun

Hard work pays off for BeggA day after being crowned

the 2015 Miss Fiji, Zaira Begg finally wears an

expression of relief as she looks back on her journey over the past three months.

Ms Begg, who was crowned Miss Fiji in Nadi on Saturday night, says hard work was the only reason she had achieved what she set out to do with mentor and chaperone Lice Movono-Rova.

“We are still trying to let it sink in,” she said when The Fiji Times met her at the Nadi Bay Resort last week.

“We had worked so hard over the past couple of months and to see it all come to this, I’m so honoured and so blessed to come this far. I wanted to speak to young girls that it doesn’t matter what religion or beliefs they have

and it doesn’t matter where they come from, it’s about how much effort and hard work they put into what they are doing that will define what they achieve.

“I am from a very strict Muslim family. My dad is Muslim and my mum is an iTaukei. From an early age I was taught that no matter what we had, we should be happy with it even if it was not enough.”

Ms Begg said she used to sell mangoes at the market and it was something she treasured with her sister. Chaperone Mrs Rova explained the professional dancer had the best of both worlds when it came to representing two different cultures.

“She did Wwell to represent all of our different cultures and I am very proud of what she has achieved.

“We were working with very little resources but despite that the support that we got from musicians, photographers, make-up artistes, designers and just our friends who believed in our journey was what brought us through as well.

Ms Begg will represent Fiji at the Miss South Pacific Pageant in the Cook Islands in December.

Kuchar wins in Fiji as Singh storms homeAmerican Matt Kuchar

won the Fiji International at Natadola Bay last

Sunday, seeing off a blistering late challenge from three-time major champion Vijay Singh who set a new course record.

World number 16 Kuchar’s consistency proved the key at a tournament dogged by windy conditions. He fired a second consecutive three-under 69 to snare the title, four shots ahead of Australia’s Aron Price.

But it was local hero Singh who caught the eye in the final round on the course he designed for the Aus$1.125 million (US$820,000) event. Singh, who has not won an event for seven years and was in

33rd positon after Thursday’s opening round, hit a seven-under 65 to shave two shots off the course record.

The veteran managed seven birdies to finish joint third with New Zealand’s Ryan Fox and Australian Nick Cullen, five shots behind Kuchar. Kuchar attributed his victory to “solid” golf in challenging conditions, particularly during the early rounds.

“I felt I was surviving but played some really steady, good golf and that was a real difference,” he said. The Fiji event is co-sanctioned by OneAsia and the Australasian PGA.

Fiji PM receives top award in NY P rime Minister Voreqe

Bainimarama has received a top communications

technology award in New York.The ICTs (Information and

Communication Technologies) in Sustainable Development Award is in recognition of the progress made by Fiji in communications technology.

He said, “I am proud to accept this award and acknowledge the commitment of the Minister and staff of the Ministry of Communications who have worked on so many levels to catapult our country to an advanced state of communications.

“Their hard work has harnessed the talents of our businesses and our people, and helped countless of Fijians realise their untapped potential. Let me first thank the International

Telecommu-nications Union and all the people here in this room who are facilitating access to communications technology to everyone in the developing world. “It is noble work, and Fiji is honoured to be part of this global effort. Government has to set the

vision and put sensible policies in place. And it has to see advances in information technology as part of a larger plan to empower our people and create opportunities.”

One thing is clear: information technology is not an end in itself; it is a means to an end.

“In Fiji, we are attacking the causes of poverty, exclusion and inequality.

“We want to be sure that no one is denied the benefits of the modern world because of income, gender, disability or geography.

“We need to connect people in rural and urban areas to the modern economy through quality infrastructure.

“That means electricity, water, public transport, roads and ports. But it especially means access to affordable telecommunications.

We are convinced that bridging the digital divide between urban and rural, rich and poor, those in the centre and those in the margins, would help us bridge the political, cultural and social divides and mainstream all our citizens.”

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama receiving the ICTs award in New York

Miss Fiji 2015 Zaira Begg

Jordanian Princess commends health workers

Her Royal Highness Princess Sara Zeid of Jordan has

commended the work of health workers especially those at the maternity unit.

Princess Sara visited the Nadi and Lautoka maternity units and children’s hospital as part of her program for the Pacific Health Minsiter’s meeting currently underway at the Sofitel Resort in Nadi.

She is the Maternal Health Advocate for the United Nations and is in Fiji for the meeting where a paper on climate change and its effects on health for the COP 21 meeting in Paris later this year. Speaking at her visit to the Nadi Hospital, Princess Sara thanked the staff for their work.

“Your work to support mothers and to protect them and your help to ensure they are happy and healthy and care for so they can do what we all want to do, which is to care for our family and our children is extraordinary. I thank you. Thank you very much.”

Princess Sara will today preside over discussions where an outcomes of the experts’ meeting and their proposed strategies on strengthening resilience for women, children and adolescents is expected.

Sixteen Health Ministers from the region are here as well for the meeting.

They are to view the paper today and will endorse it as the collective voice of the Pacific in Paris.

Fiji to mark Blue Ribbon campaign

Government will officially launch the Prevention of the Child Abuse

and Neglect (PCAN) awareness campaign last Friday.

Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Rosy Akbar, in a press statement says the launch is also a build-up event for the commemoration of the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse also known as Blue Ribbon Campaign on November 19.

“The purpose of the launch is to share information and strengthen networks within government and non-government agencies service providers for child protection in Fiji.

“Oratory contests and essay competitions has also been organised in schools in partnership with the Ministry of Education.

“This would include awareness on National Child Helpline, positive parenting, counselling and support services available when addressing issues of child abuse and neglect.”

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News source: Fiji Sun

Women’s exchange in Timor Leste

Women MPs from Fiji’s parliament and co-conveners of the Fiji W o m e n ’ s Forum are c u r r e n t l y in Dili, Timor Leste to meet, learn and exchange with fellow women parliamentarians and women’s rights organisations there.

The Fijian delegation is led by the Assistant Minister for Health Veena Bhatnagar and she is accompanied by the Leader of Opposition Ro Teimumu Kepa, Salote Radrodro and Jilila Kumar.

Last week, the Fiji delegation met with the Chair and members of the Timor Leste women’s Parliamentary caucus discussing the challenges and success of working in solidarity for gender equality.

National Futsal team to tour New Zealand named

Fourteen players have been named in the Fiji Futsal side for a three match tour to New

Zealand in December. The team is made up of development

players and has been camping at the Fiji Football Headquarters in Suva this month.

Fiji Futsal coach, Intiaz Khan says it is a young squad and the tour will serve them well for the qualifiers for the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Colombia next year.

“The players support is there, if you see the team, the average is 22 so I don’t think we have any issues with more players coming in, plus many more will try to come in.”

Fiji plays its first match against New Zealand on 15 December in Auckland. The side will also play three build-up matches prior to the tour against Waikato Bay of Plenty, Auckland and F.C Faran of New Caledonia.

Diya crafter gears up for DiwaliF ifty-two-year-old, Jagdish

Prasad who operates a pottery business from

his home in Sasawira, Nakasi, says Diwali is the busiest time of the year.

Mr Prasad specialises in making diya that is used for Diwali festival and other religious occasions.

“I have to prepare the whole year to meet the orders of customers during Diwali,’’ said Mr Prasad

“The order of diya increases every year, I have to make 3000 to 4000 for Diwali festival.’’ He said his customers consists of

supermarkets such as R.B Patel, Nausori Municipal Market and others stores in Nausori Town. Mr Prasad said he used a special type of clay that was only found on the river banks in the Rewa Delta.

“When the clay is brought, it is then mixed with sand and ash it then goes onto a pottery machine then I use my hands to shape the pottery.

“It is then dried in the shade or sun and then baked in open fire,’’ he said.

He said he was taught by his late father the art of pottery making in Form Three and he has been running the business ever since.

Diwali Festival known as the Festival of Lights will be celebrated on November 11.

Jagdish shows the diya that is ready for the bake and supplied in November. The trend of making diya continues from his late father at Sasawira street in Nasinu.

“The order of Diya increases every year, I have to make 3000 to 4000 for Diwali festival”

Editorial— Amelia Earhart

Thought of the weekThe most difficult thing is the decision to

act, the rest is merely tenacity.

From the desk of the Managing Editor

D iwali celebrations are continuing across the country, and it is heart warming to note that we live in a multicultural nation where all cultures are embraced and celebrated. In the week gone by, we had Diwali celebrations

in Wellington, Christchurch and Manukau. We have reports and beautiful pictures from the events. Last week also saw Dussehra being celebrated for the first time in New Zealand with the burning of a 25 foot Ravana effigy. It may not be wrong to say that the Indians are truly getting into their element.

There are a few more Diwali celebrations that are lined up, and we will continue to bring reports from these. In addition, there are other celebrations that are coming up. The one big celebration that comes around this time of the year is Karva Chauth—a beautiful celebration of love, where the women fast and offer prayers for a long and prosperous life of their husbands/partners. Last year we had run a story and rightfully called it the Indian Valentine’s Day. There are many legends and stories that talk about the origins of this festival, however like most other traditions, this has also evolved over time. However, what continues to be the highlight of the festival is all the pre-festive preparations that the women seem to enjoy—the shopping, the jewellery, the henna and so forth. Then the very trying fast for the entire day—it is something that I am sure all men immensely admire and appreciate what the women do for them. It then becomes imperative that the men do take time out and pay extra attention to their wives/ partners and cherish and treasure them.

The other celebration that is coming up is Halloween. Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter—a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to Earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter (Ref History.com). The tradition travelled to America with the immigrants and Halloween has also evolved over time. Today it seems that a major chunk of the total candy sales is achieved during this time. It’s a pleasure to see little children go “trick or treat”, all dressed up in their Halloween outfits.

While all the celebrations and tricks and treats are ongoing, on behalf of the Indian Weekender family I hope that our readers are getting a lot of family time or making an effort to find time with their families, this festival season. We will continue to bring you reports and updates from around the country and keep the celebrations going.

Giri Gupta

Tip from the trenches

Pick of the week

Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly, commander of the current International Space Station, shows the eye of hurricane Patricia along the western coast of Mexico. It was the strongest storm ever recorded in the Americas. Photo credit: NASA’s Earth Observatory

Courtesy : Satish Acharya

For a healthier lifestyle } Trying to quit smoking? Just go to a sauna for three days in a

row. You’ll sweat out the nicotine and it will easier to quit. } Eat marshmallows to soothe a sore throat } Shrink a pimple by dabbing Listerine on it. Or simply apply

toothpaste to get rid of the zits! } The next time you can’t fall asleep, blame your smart phone.

The more you stare at the screen, the longer it will take for you to fall into deep sleep.

Indian Weekender : Volume 7 Issue 32

Publisher: Kiwi Media Group Limited Managing Editor: Giri Gupta | [email protected] Editor: Annu Sharma | [email protected] Chief Reporter: Swati Sharma | [email protected] Reporter: Rizwan Mohammad | [email protected]: Esha Chanda | [email protected]: Kumar Suresh | [email protected] Technical Officer: Rohan Desouza | [email protected] Graphic & Layout Designer: Mahesh Kumar | [email protected] Designer: Yashmin Chand | [email protected] Accounts and Admin.: Farah Khan | [email protected] Sales & Marketing: 022 3251630 / 021 1507950 / 09-2137335 | [email protected]

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, AucklandPrinted at Horton Media, Auckland

Copyright 2015. Kiwi Media Group. All Rights Reserved.

Pinky barPronounced: Pinky bar|

Meaning: Cadbury’s marshmallow and caramel covered milk chocolate produced only in New Zealand

Usage: Tried a Pinky bar the other day, and I’ve been in love with them since then.


Red Black Orange

17OPINION / EDITORIAL

UN at 70: a charter moment for the world body haRdeep singh puRi and JiMena Leiva-Roesch

The Charter of the United Nations came into force on October 24, 1945, 70

years ago.Addressing the General

Assembly on September 25, Pope Francis reminded leaders of the founding purpose of the United Nations: “saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war” and “promoting social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom”. These are, in fact, the very principles boldly proclaimed in the preamble of the UN Charter. The Pope, however, also reminded the august forum that without strong ethics and judicious use of power, the Charter can only be an unattainable illusion or “even worse, idle chatter which serves as a cover for all kinds of abuses and corruption”.

The 70th anniversary of the United Nations is also being marked by its inability to address new and emerging challenges and an inability to carry conviction, let alone credibility, in large parts of the world. Policy-induced failures, action with or without authorisation for use of force have resulted in the unravelling of countries, with long-term ramifications for the global community: from the highest numbers of displaced peoples since World War II to global pandemics.

The Syrian conflict has entered its fourth year, with more than 300,000 killed, millions displaced and more than 12 million in need of humanitarian assistance. The unravelling of Libya has produced a “Somalistan” on the Mediterranean coast. The ISIS/Daesh, the most vicious terror entity known to mankind, is holding territory larger than the United Kingdom and attracting recruits from more than 80 countries, including many from rich Western economies.

The United Nations itself was conceived during a period of disarray and long-term suffering. It is entirely possible that, without the Second World War, agreement on the Charter may not have been forthcoming. Unless all countries big and

small alike can set aside their immediate short-term differences and rededicate themselves to the principles enshrined in the Charter and a genuine reaffirmation of multilateral approaches—prevention rather than intervention—the situation will only get worse. The deep longing for peace was the basis for the creation of the United Nations. It must be that same yearning for peace, stability and growth which will give the United Nations hope for survival. Not everything, however, appears to be hopeless; there is a silver lining. On September 25, 193 member states adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This was one of the most important gatherings in recent years, attracting several heads of state

not usually present during the High-Level Week of the General Assembly. The adoption of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a historic moment for the community of nations, and is described as a “charter for people and planet in the 21 century” (2030 Agenda Declaration).

Building on the success of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the SDGs’ objectives are broader in scope and more ambitious, including: ending poverty in all its forms; reducing inequalities within and among countries; urgently addressing climate change; changing unsustainable patterns of consumption and production; and inclusive economic growth and employment.

Each goal is not built in a silo but is a part of the greater whole. As opposed to the MDGs, it is not an agenda solely for the south but rather a universal plan to be applied in all countries and by all peoples, with a firm priority to “leave no one behind” and reach those farthest away. The ownership of the agenda stems from a three-year negotiation process that included all member states, while eight million people offered their views.

The 2030 agenda sets a new international framework that encourages inclusive governance and inclusive economic growth. In order to implement these global

agreements, national policies will need to be integrated. The “business-as-usual” models of development and of economic growth that perpetuate poverty and inequalities require an overhaul.

The adoption of the SDGs constitutes the one bright spot and, hopefully renewing collective interest in multilateralism a new relevance for the UN. The summit demonstrates the UN’s unique convening power and a visionary path for the community of nations. The multilateral community will, however, be tested again this December.

Can member states adopt a universal agreement that limits average global temperature below two degrees Celsius and lead the way to the decarbonization of the world economy by 2050? These agreements require deep transformation in the world economy and in our societies.

The Pope’s message that “the misuse and destruction of the environment are also accompanied by a relentless process of exclusion” acquires a special relevance. World leaders normally do not stake their personal reputations on the successful outcome of a multilateral conference. The Pope had no hesitation doing so. World leaders gathering in Paris should draw inspiration from this.

Ban Ki Moon celebrates the 70th anniversary of UN in San Francisco

Staying safe during Guy Fawkes and DiwaliiwK BuReau

I t’s the time for festivities! Diwali is being celebrated across the country and next

week, Aucklanders will celebrate Guy Fwakes. But amidst all this cheer, it’s important that we don’t ignore safety. Fireworks form a part of both Diwali and Guy Fwakes celebrations, and therefore it is vital to remember to not let off fireworks in public places such as parks and beaches, where the activity is banned.

Fireworks can still be let off on private property, but in a move to protect people, animals and property, they were banned in public places across the whole of Auckland in 2013.

Cr Cathy Casey, Chair of Auckland Council’s Community Development and Safety Committee, says the ban resulted in zero fire callouts in Auckland public parks last year.

“The ban is working and allows people and their pets to enjoy public places without the nuisance and risk of injury from the uncontrolled use of fireworks,” she says.

Fire safety

Auckland Council principal rural fire officer Bryan

Cartelle urges caution this season. “Auckland is experiencing changeable and windy weather, which increases the fire risk. With Guy Fawkes around the corner, it’s a timely reminder to take care when using fireworks or having bonfires at home,” he says.

Mr Cartelle says people should consider the safety rules when using fireworks; do not use on dry and windy days, or close to light, flammable vegetation.

“Anyone considering bonfires in rural areas need to ensure that the fire is lit during daylight hours

and settled for nightfall, and that they use dry and brown vegetation to limit the smoke nuisance,” he says.

The New Zealand Fire Service supports the ban, saying it is in favour of any measure that encourages professionally-run public fireworks displays.

Pet safety

Even with the ban in place, the days surrounding fireworks

night are the busiest of the year for animal management officers out in the field, picking up lost and stray pets.

Last year council’s shelters were completely full, with pets often sporting injuries from being so scared and determined to escape the noises. Some pets were involved in traffic accidents as they tried to find safety.

Cr Casey says members of the public should call 09 301 0101 to report fireworks incidents and lost pets. “Please remember that your pets need your reassurance, and if you cannot stay home with them, ensure they are safe and very well confined,” says Cr Casey.

Pets that are micro chipped and registered have the greatest chance of being quickly reunited with their families.

Public displays

Cr Casey says that public firework displays around

Auckland will allow people to enjoy fireworks safely.

“Public fireworks displays are a great way to enjoy fireworks with your community and the health and safety risks are well managed.”

Public fireworks displays on Guy Fwakes this year include the following (entry fees may apply):

• Monster Firework Display, Kumeu Showgrounds, Kumeu, 30 October

• St Kentigern’s Primary

School, Hobson Bay Walkway, Remuera, 31 October

• Papatoetoe Diwali , Eric Backer Place, Papatoetoe, 31 October

• Manukau Festival of Lights—Diwali 2015—Manukau Sports Bowl Carpark, 31 October

• Ponsonby School, Pt Erin Park, 6 November

• Papakura Fireworks Display—Massey Park, Papakura, 6 November

• Waiheke Dirt Track Club, O’Brien Road, Rocky Bay, Waiheke—Council is permitting parking for the event at Onetangi Sports Park

• Spooks and Sparks at Trusts Arena, 65-67 Central Park Drive, Henderson, 7 November.

Gates at the following volcanic cones will close at the earlier time of 6 p.m. from Sunday, 1 November to Sunday, 8 November (inclusive) to reduce congestion and the risk to people as they walk to the summits to view firework displays:

• Takarunga / Mt Victoria• Maungawhau / Mt Eden• Owairaka / Mt Albert• Puketepapa / Mt Roskill• Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill

Domain• Maungarei / Mt Wellington


Red Black Orange

18

A time for transformational leadershipaMit dasgupta

I t is extraordinary how quickly we believe smart slogans. Advertising and marketing

are based precisely on the ability to win subscribers and getting them hooked through language and packaging. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has understood this all too well. When he spoke of aache din, he struck an immediate chord of empathy through the contrast with the previous four years. Similarly, his call for Swachh Bharat and Digital India resonated across socio-economic classes. People were hooked. This was political marketing at its best. His Make in India was cast in a similar mould.

But marketing gurus are also aware that advertising is not a substitute for the product. Consumers look through gimmickry because men cannot live by slogans alone. The unexpected defeat of the Vajpayee government in 2004 that rode on the crest of the India Shining wave ought to be a sobering reminder for the government.

After 18 months of Modi’s government, for most Indians, barring the very rich, happy days continue to be illusory. The economy, which is poised to overtake China, and notch 7.5 per cent GDP growth rate, owes much

to falling oil prices and to a slowing down of the Chinese economy than to any economic reforms that have eased doing business in India. Taxation policies remain opaque and unpredictable and, thus, a clear disincentive for foreign investors.

Furthermore, for the aam aadmi, food prices—whether of onions or pulses—continue to rise. Social sector spending has drastically fallen, especially in health and education. At an entirely different level, even the very social fabric of India stands threatened with ministers and political allies making hugely irresponsible statements

and indulging in acts of gross intolerance towards minorities, Dalits and dissenters. While the central government can, most certainly, take the plea that in a federal polity, it cannot be held accountable for everything that happens throughout the country, it ought to stir, if not shake, the government’s conscience, especially when President Pranab Mukherjee finds it necessary to publicly remind the nation of the idea of India.

Modi’s rise to the prime minister’s post has been dramatic and meteoric. The distinct lack of leadership in the Congress has been helpful and Modi is,

undoubtedly, looking at a second term. To achieve that, he most certainly needs to combine vision with strategy and decision making.

Consider his flagship Make in India programme, as an illustrative example. The shift from ‘made’ to ‘make’ was meant to woo foreign investors to make India a manufacturing base. But neither quality assurance nor skill development received the urgency that making in India requires. For foreign investors, this is clearly a major drawback. Nor has the government outlined the tax incentives that foreign investors would enjoy should they decide to make in India. Unless there is visible clarity, the programme is destined to become a slogan.

Modi’s advocacy of transforming India into a manufacturing hub can be exciting and most certainly gets us all hooked. After all, if it could happen—and there is no reason as to why it cannot—jobs would be created, foreign investment would flow in and economic growth would receive a substantial boost.

None of the above is likely unless a clear and transparent policy framework is outlined. Furthermore, the government needs focus, clarity and speed of execution.

The ‘Make in India’ example illustrates how the government

has not backed its slogans with action, or vision with strategy. Over the past 18 months, the quality of life has not improved. Modi needs to urgently recognise that his persistent silence is likely to be construed either as utter disregard for alternate voices or an inability of getting his own voice heard by his party colleagues.

The next elections are not that distant. While the Congress is in disarray at, it is not inconceivable that elections could see the party split and the emergence of a new challenger.

Modi and his team would, undoubtedly, heed the lessons of the Vajpayee defeat that slogans might win elections the first time around but consumers learn to avoid a bad product when it fails to meet expectations. It is hoped that he will demonstrate genuine leadership and translate his promises into action.

His reputation is dramatically flagging, even in the international space.

Mr Prime Minister, a huge mandate was given to you to realise the aspirations of the Indian people. It can happen only when you realise that you are Prime Minister of all Indians. This lies at the core of transformational thinking and thus, leadership. Many call it the tipping point.

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19

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Red Black Orange

20 INDIA

PM highlights need for organ donations

P rime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the need for organ donation

in the country and encouraged people for it. Stating that there is annual need of more than 2.5 lakh kidney, heart and liver donations, the prime minister said the organ donation is “very important in the country”.

“Only 5,000 successful transplants are done every year. Every year we need at least one lakh eyes. But we manage to do only 25,000 transplants. Those who die in road accidents, their organs can be donated. There are few legal formalities in this,” he said.

NOTTO has been established for this purpose and a national helpline is also available.

The prime minister made a special mention of students of Saint Mary Upper Primary School, Kochi, Kerala. “...They are carrying out public-awareness campaign for organ donation among people in their state, through various forms. These children wrote to me that I should appeal to the people to donate their organs through Mann Ki Baat,” he added.

Quake hits north India, Modi talks to Ghani, SharifAn earthquake measuring

7.5 on the Richter Scale with its epicentre in

Afghanistan on Monday shook large parts of north India, sparking panic in the region and damaging property in Jammu and Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif and offered India’s help.

Hundreds of thousands of people fled out of their houses and offices in Delhi as well as in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. There were no reports of casualties but there was major damage to property in Kashmir. The tremors were distinctly felt for 30–40 seconds. The epicentre of the quake lay in Jarm in Afghanistan. Dozens of houses and school buildings collapsed in southern and central parts of the Kashmir Valley.

Prime Minister Modi said India was ready to help Kabul and Islamabad.

“Heard about strong earthquake in Afghanistan-Pakistan region whose tremors have been felt in parts of India. I pray for everyone’s safety,” he tweeted, “We stand ready for assistance where required, including Afghanistan and Pakistan.”

Modi followed it up with telephonic conversations with President Ghani, who briefed him about the deaths and destruction in Afghanistan. Modi also spoke to Sharif and offered “all possible assistance” to Pakistan. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

asked people not to panic and said disaster management teams had been activated.

The worst hit were Afghanistan and Pakistan. At least 22 people were killed in Afghanistan and some 130 injured. The more populous districts of Pakistan suffered more, leaving 130 people dead and hundreds injured. Afghanistan soon felt a major aftershock—measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale. The quake was felt in most of the northern parts of Pakistan including major cities such as Islamabad, Rawalpindi,

Lahore, Sargodha and Kohat. The deaths and destruction covered a wide arc, from the areas bordering Pakistan to the Kashmir and Punjab regions near India. At least 200 people were admitted to a hospital in Swat and another 100 in a Peshawar hospital, officials said.

Military spokesman Maj. Gen. Asim Bajwa said army teams had been sent out for a quick assessment of earthquake damages across the country. All command military hospitals were placed on high alert.

India-Africa summit kicks off, two agreements discussed The third India-Africa Forum

Summit kicked off with senior officials of the host nation

and 54 countries from the continent negotiating two agreements.

“The summit formally started with the meeting of the senior officials of India and Africa,” Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup told the media.

“Two agreements are being negotiated. One is political, which will be about political partnership between India and Africa, and it will also touch upon global and regional issues.

“The other is a framework document of cooperation. That will recall the developmental partnership between India and Africa, lines of credit, what are African needs, where we can contribute and how both sides can work together to improving the lives of both our peoples,” he said.

Swarup said that the foreign ministers of India and the African countries will meet.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will then hold bilateral meetings with several of her African counterparts.

“Among the foreign she will be meeting will be those of Zimbabwe, South Sudan, Kenya, Malawi, DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), Cameroon, Cape Verde and Ghana,” the spokesperson said.

On Thursday, the summit meeting was attended by the heads of government.

The two previous India-Africa summits were held in 2008 and 2011, in New Delhi

and Addis Ababa but with only representative participation from African countries. The itinerary also included a grand banquet hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on the evening of October 29.

Ahead of the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India’s areas of focus in Africa will continue to be human resource development, institution building, infrastructure, clean energy, agriculture, health, education and skill development

Commerce is high on the agenda. India’s trade with Africa has ballooned 20 times in the last 15 years and currently stands at $70 billion, while its investment in Africa range between $30-35 billion.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif


Red Black Orange

21

Your guide to voting in the New Zealand Flag Referendums.

Soon you’ll be asked to vote in two binding referendums on the future of the New Zealand flag.

Both referendums will take place by post, so it’s important to make sure you’re enrolled and ready to participate.

If you’re not enrolled or need to update your details do it now. It’s easy. Visit www.elections.org.nz, call 0800 36 76 56, text your name and address to 3676, or get an enrolment form at any PostShop.

To vote in the first referendum you must be enrolled by 19 November.

Two referendums.

Postal voting.

Check you’re ready.

Enrol by 19 November.

1 2 3

4Once you’re enrolled you’ll be mailed your voting paper and information on the flag options, guidance on completing your voting paper, and a freepost return envelope.

Between 20 November and 11 December 2015, you’ll be invited to vote on the question If the New Zealand flag changes, which flag would you prefer?

You’ll be asked to rank five alternative flag options selected through the Flag Consideration Process from designs submitted by the public.

At the second binding referendum, in March 2016, you’ll be asked to choose between the preferred design from the first referendum and the current New Zealand flag.

Referendum One.

Rank your preferences.

Referendum Two.

Freephone 0800 36 76 56

elections.org.nz/flag

Vote from 20 November.

5

Learn more.10

6

7 8The flag that receives the most votes in Referendum Two will be the official flag of New Zealand.

The Result.

9

INDIA


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22 INDIA ABROAD

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Indian-American filmmaker wins award at New York festival

Emmy Award nominated Indian-American filmmaker Tirlok Malik won the best feature film award as also a special Outstanding Achievement in the Multicultural

Arts at the International Film Festival Manhattan.Malik received the Outstanding Achievement award in Acting,

Filmmaking, and Immigrant Advocacy last week at the festival, which shows films, which deal with social issues, according to a media release.

The festival has the most diverse selection of world class films and a focus on social issues and advocacy as part of the programming and goals. Many of Malik’s films such as Lonely In America, Khushiyaan and On Golden Years deal with the effects of migration in America.

“I am happy to be a part of this festival and I feel honoured for this award,” said Malik.

Malik also received the Best Feature Film (USA) award for On Golden Years. Luis Pedron, co-founder of the festival, said, “The film On Golden Years deals with social issues of retirement that millions of first generation immigrants face in their lives.”

Films from many countries such as Israel, Australia, Philippines,

Sweden, Singapore, USA were shown at IFFM.Written and directed by Malik, On Golden Years is inspired

by the book Seeking Roots by Iggy Ignatius, who is also the co-director of the film.

The film starring Ranjit Chowdhry, Jyoti Singh, Reeves Lehmann, Shetal Shah, Noor Naghmi and Tirlok Malik among others has been shot at the Indian retirement community Shantiniketan in Florida.

Sikh, Jain and modern India studies chairs in US varsityFunded by $6 million in donations,

the School of Humanities at the University of California,

Irvine (UCI) has announced three new endowed chairs in Sikh, Jain and modern India studies.

The chairs are named the Dhan Kaur Sahota Presidential Chair in Sikh Studies, Shri Parshvanath Presidential Chair in Jain Studies, and Swami Vivekananda-Dharma Civilization Foundation Presidential Chair in Modern India Studies.

Donations of $4.5 million, plus another $1.5 million from the Office of the California University President, will fund these chairs, intended to expand UCI’s scholarship in South Asian religions and culture.

Dr Harvinder and Asha Sahota established the Sikh Studies chair in honour of his late mother. The chair holder will be a scholar with in-depth knowledge of, and research interests in, Sikh religion and culture, including the history of the Sikh religion from its origins in 1469 in the Punjab region of India to the current worldwide diaspora of the Sikh population.

The Jain Studies chair has been set by Dr Meera and Dr Jasvant Modi and their children Dr Rushabh and Shruti Modi and family, Rajesh “Raju” and Neeta Shah and their children, Avani and Aakash Shah and family. The chair holder will be a scholar with wide-ranging knowledge of, and research interests in, Jain ethics, philosophy,

religion, history and culture, including the fundamental principles of Jainism— non-violence, non-possessiveness and a pluralistic perspective—and familiarity with Indian languages such as Sanskrit and Prakrit. The chair is named in honour of Bhagvan Parshvanath, the 23rd saviour of Jainism.

The Dharma Civilization Foundation, a California-based non-profit that seeks to promote philanthropic giving to further the systematic study of Indian religious traditions, established the chair in Modern India Studies.

The endowed chair is inspired by and named after Vivekananda (1863-1902), a disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and an institution builder, philosopher, orator, teacher, poet and musician in modern India. Earlier this year, Dr Ushakant Thakkar, chairman of the DCF, and his wife, Irma, contributed $1.5 million to establish the Thakkar Family-Dharma Civilization Foundation Presidential Chair in Vedic and Indic Civilization Studies. Thakkar has worked with the university’s

senior religious studies faculty—Keith Nelson, professor emeritus of history; Jack Miles, distinguished professor of English and religious studies; and Gerald Larson, professor emeritus of religious studies - and the officers of DCF to enhance the study of Indian religions in American universities.

“The establishment of three endowed chairs in South Asian religious studies within the School of Humanities is a prime example of how UCI is a vibrant intellectual and cultural centre with strong ties to its community,” said chancellor Howard Gillman.

California University’s religious studies programme is directed by Miles, who was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1996 for his book God: A Biography.

“2015 will be remembered as annus mirabilis—a year of wonders—in the history of religious studies at UCI,” Miles said.

“Thanks to the vision and great generosity of these leaders in the Indian American diaspora—a community of 3.2 million that well represents world religions in microcosm—Orange County will now become a major centre for the study of the religions of India.”

Georges Van Den Abbeele, dean of the School of Humanities, said: “By integrating Jain, Sikh and modern Indian studies into our curriculum we’re creating a panoramic study of India’s rich cultural, historical and religious traditions.”

Seven British-Indians listed as influential AsiansSeven British-Indians have secured a

spot in top 10 of the GG2 Power 101 list.

The GG2 Leadership Awards recognise and reward high achievers within ethnic minorities and celebrate the best of multicultural Britain.

The awards were presented at the 17th annual GG2 Leadership Awards dinner in London, The Guardian reported.

Pakistan-origin business secretary, Sajid Javid, has topped the list of 101 prominent

people with Indian-origin Hinduja brothers, S.P and G.P. Hinduja of the global conglomerate Hinduja Group, who have jointly secured the second spot.

Indian-origin employment minister, Priti Patel, becomes the highest-ranking woman, taking the third place.

Britain-based Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal and wife Usha have jointly secured the fourth spot. Mittal is the chairman and chief of ArcelorMittal—the world’s largest steelmaking company.

Fifth in the list is Ameet Gill. He writes British Prime Minister David Cameron’s speeches and is one of the premiers’ most trusted advisors.

Indian businessman Rakesh Kapoor finds seventh spot in the list. He is Chief Executive of Reckitt Benckiser—a Britain-based multinational consumer goods company, a major producer of health, hygiene and home products.

Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, Nobel winner for chemistry has been placed on

eighth spot. He is an India-born American and British structural biologist.

Anish Kapoor, an India-born Briton sculptor secures ninth spot. He is famous for his Cloud Gate sculpture in the US.

The list also includes youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai. She is a Pakistani activist for female education and placed at tenth spot.

The second youngest catwalk model, Neelam Gill and sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar also featured in the list.

Indian-American physicians to host health summit in DelhiThe American Association of

Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) will hold its 10th Global Health

Summit from January 1 to 3 in New Delhi with a focus on women’s health and non-communicable diseases in India.

A groundbreaking launch of the first Trauma and Brain Injury Guidelines for India is also planned for January 2, according to AAPI president Dr Seema Jain. Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Health Minister J P Nadda will be invited to launch these guidelines, she said.

The 10th anniversary Summit, promises to be one with the greatest impact and significant contributions towards harnessing the power of international Indian diaspora to bring the most innovative, efficient, cost effective healthcare solutions to India, Jain said.

“With the changing trends and statistics in healthcare, both in India and US, AAPI is refocusing our mission and vision of GHS 2016,” she said.

AAPI would like to collaborate with local partners in India towards making a positive meaningful impact on the healthcare in India. The mission of AAPI is to share best practice and experiences from leading experts in the world and develop actionable plans for launching demonstration projects that enable access to affordable and quality healthcare for all people, Jain said.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is AAPI’s chief patron will be the chief guest for AAPI’s first Women’s Leadership Forum on January 2.

Several prominent women leaders will be invited to the forum to discuss the future of women leaders in India, share personal examples of their challenges, struggles and successes.


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Spark to bring big sounds to Kiwi music loversiwK BuReau

Spark is partnering with Live Nation Entertainment, and event

promoters C3 Presents and CRS Presents to bring Auckland’s newest music festival, Auckland City Limits, to Western Springs Stadium in March next year.

Spark’s support of the event follows the digital services provider’s wider move into the music space, which involves strategic partnerships with Spotify, Live Nation and Rhythm & Vines.

Spark GM of Marketing, Clive Ormerod, says the event is about music fans coming together: “Hanging out with mates and family is part of the quintessential Kiwi summer—made even better

with music. Festivals such as this let us do that together on a big, exciting scale. They also provide a national stage for New Zealand’s own talent and attract top international acts.

“Over the past year we’ve helped tens of thousands of people enjoy priority access and unforgettable moments with their favourite artists. With Auckland City Limits, we’ll be doing that again—giving customers the opportunity to get closer to the music they love and to discover new artists.”

Ormerod says Spark will provide engaging and personal experiences for customers at Auckland City Limits, and will be revealing these exciting plans in the coming months. The one-day festival on 19

March 2016 promises a full line-up of more than 40 local and international acts.

The first announcement of artists will be 3 November.Campbell Smith from CRS

Presents says, “We want to produce a live music festival experience that is memorable and spectacular, created and curated specifically for Auckland.” The event is aligned with the Austin

City Limits festival, launched in 2002 in Austin, Texas. Charlie Walker of C3 Presents, promoters of the Austin event, believes the format will work well in Auckland. He says, “New Zealand offers an incredibly rich musical and cultural foundation to deliver a world-class festival that Auckland can be proud of.”

Spark will offer customers exclusive presales to Auckland City Limits through its Spark Thanks programme on Thursday, 5 November at 9 a.m.

Building business ties KuMaR suResh

Business delegation from Gtech, Kerala, comprising 14 IT

companies, are on a visit to New Zealand to seek new avenues for investment, business expansion and building client base. Their visit to Auckland saw them actively participate in business sessions hosted by ITA (Indian Trade Alliance) and INZBC (India New Zealand Business council). Indian Weekender spoke to the CEO of Gtech group of technology companies, Renjith Ramanujam, who is one of the main think-tank of the group. He is attached to the group for more than four years now and is one of the primary reasons for these companies to visit New Zealand.

IWK: How do you sum up the entire visit and what are you taking out of this?

Renjith: This is our second visit to New Zealand. Our first visit was in August 2014. To begin with we saw a definite match between the small and medium enterprises on both sides i.e., both Kerala and Auckland. Meetings that we have had has been extremely meaningful. We have had six meetings with government and non-government agencies throughout the day. We also had a good set of meetings with businesses in Auckland. Delegates are trying to forge a relationship either in technology or enter partnership in business. The motto of this delegation is to open up doors for joint ventures by which they will discuss transformational IT solution in various verticals.

This also gives everyone an opportunity to find out how everyone can scale up to each other in their own businesses or provide better services to their respective clients by joining

hands together. We don’t expect things to happen overnight and that’s precisely why we have kept it as a five-year initiative. We have in fact completed three years of it. Unfortunately, we could not come to New Zealand in the first year but then, two times that we have come here, the visits have been really fruitful. We have two more visits which would come up. We hope people from both sides meet each other as many times as possible before we come again for the next time which may be 10-12 months period from now.

IWK: Do you think that the potential for trade relationship between the two countries or in a larger perspective, the entire ANZ has never been exploited to the maximal extent which it is capable of?

Renjith: Kerala like many parts of India is actually not well known in this part of the world. So it is up to us to come here and let everybody know that India is not just about one or two cities. We exist too, this is what we do and these are the business opportunities that you have with us. That, unfortunately, we have not been able to do in the

past, which made us think about initiatives. It is important that we keep talking and potential unveils itself and people start doing a bilateral trade. There has been minimal trade taking place between the two regions so far. New Zealand companies have immense potential in Kerala.

IWK: There is a perception that trade between India and the western world has got mostly to do with IT servicing and outsourcing. Do you think companies from other sectors can come to New Zealand and explore opportunities?

Renjith: This trip is not about outsourcing at all and I feel in the last five years or so it has not worked that way either. At global level outsourcing model has sort of worn out and I believe if someone is still clinging on to that, they are going to have bad businesses. The whole point is to meet each other and explore and find out for one self what it is in it for them. It could be collaboration in sports, education, skill development process, age care and so on. So it is not just about IT or IT outsourcing only. For example, we are extremely happy to have

been a reason for initiation of business ties between the government of Victoria, Australia and our state, Kerala. What started as a relationship in IT has spread to sports, healthcare, agri-tech and many other sectors. So business happens both ways and we are open to making any introductions to companies who are desirous of exploring business opportunities in Kerala. Being based in the capital city of Kerala, Trivandrum, we have excellent relationship with government and government agencies. Anybody who has come to Kerala or this part of the world, we have taken them to all the required contacts in government and businesses and we will continue to do that.

IWK: Is there any specific advantage that businesses have in ANZ region?

Renjith: We have just started to explore and a good thing has been that people have been able to find synergy. There is no specific advantage as such for working with any specific region but finding a perfect match is what matters. See, people have been re-inventing the wheel. Someone in Kerala is trying to invent something and if someone in Auckland is doing the same thing at the same time without knowing that the solution is available in some other part of the world, it is a waste of time and energy. Only when people sit together and interact things would work better. That is what exactly should come out of these trade relationships. Tax regime, immigration policies, etc. can wait. It is all about finding the right match to do business either ways.

IWK: Bureaucracy in India is considered to be a major hindrance. How easy do you think it would be for a person to handle that who wants to

do business in India?

Renjith: There is no separate way of functioning of bureaucracy across the world. We are all well-travelled. People have come to our place and we have gone to theirs. There will be advantages and disadvantages, but there will always be people who will help you do business better with the government and we are one such trade agency which is happy to help. We support with counselor visits, inward delegation visits, etc. We even help people who come individually. Though our mandate set up is limited to IT sector, that doesn’t stop us from helping people meet with government officials. So that is one support you can expect us to help you with. Having somebody locally helps and if can’t help someone in a particular way, we help them get in touch with people who can help them.

IWK: There is a general perception about Kerala that setting up a business is very difficult as there are issues with working unions being very rigid. What do you have to say about that?

Renjith: Kerala traditionally had a perception of being not so friendly with industry which is seeing a sea change from the past. Plenty of industry and especially service industries have flourished in the state. We have thrived on tourism economy and IT-based economy. We can’t afford to lose even a single business day because of strike or any such thing. Let me tell you that the technopark that I represent has been there for past 25 years. I am proud to say that we have not a single day to strike or any other problems, unlike our neighbouring states, which have lost many working days because of various reasons.

Renjith Ramanujam, CEO of Group of Technology Companies (GTech), at the ITA event


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26 SPORTS


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27SPORTS

Four Indian golfers make cut at Women’s Indian Open

Only four Indian golfers—Aditi Ashok, Vani Kapoor, Saaniya Sharma and Smriti Mehra—

made the cut in the $400,000 Hero Women’s Indian Open at the DLF Golf and Country Club.

Amateur Aditi improved on her first round performance to shoot one-over 73 on the second day and climbed up the leaderboard from tied 19th to tied 11th position. She has a two-day total of four-over 148—five strokes behind leader Emily Kristine Pedersen of Denmark.

Vani too carded a 73 in the second and penultimate round to end the day at the 27th spot on eight-over 152. Saaniya scored a 75 to be tied 44th on 10-over 154, while Smriti added a 79 and was lucky to make the cut that fell at 12-over 156.

Sharmila Nicollet, Vaishavi Sinha and Neha Tripathi were the prominent faces who missed the cut. Another highlight of the day was a hole-in-one by Thai golfer Kanphanitnan Muangkhumsakul on the fifth hole.

But the day belonged to rookie Emily from Copenhagen, who avoided taking too

many risks and played a controlled round, maintaining her single shot lead. Eyeing her maiden title, the 19-year-old carded a lone birdie on the fourth hole against two bogeys on the fifth and 14th to end with a total of one-under 143.

The rookie from Denmark is in contention to win the Rookie Player of the Year award on the Ladies European Tour (LET). One shot behind the Dane was Becky Morgan of Wales (71). Another Dane, Malene Jorgensen carded even-par 72 to lie two strokes off the pace.

Dhoni climbs two places in latest ODI rankingsIndia might have lost the

One-Day international (ODI) series against South Africa

but skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has climbed up two rungs to the sixth place in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) batsmen rankings released on Monday.

Dhoni now holds an 11-point advantage over his teammate Shikhar Dhawan. The jump for India’s limited overs skipper was due to some of his scores, which included an unbeaten 92 runs and an innings of 47.

There were also gains for Rohit Sharma (up three places to 12th) and career-high gains for Ajinkya Rahane (up 11 to 27th). Right-handed batsman Rahane scored 247 runs during the lost series.

A number of Proteas batsmen have improved their rankings. Skipper AB de Villiers retains his number one ranking, and is now 96 points clear of India vice-captain Virat Kohli in second place, after scoring three centuries

(104 not out, 112 and 119) in five matches. Hashim Amla has dropped three places to fifth.

There is a career high jump of seven places for Faf du Plessis who is in joint 10th place with wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock who has vaulted 13 places after scoring 318 runs in the series, including 103 and a match-winning 109 in the decider. South African Farhaan Behardien moved up 12 places to 76th. In the bowlers rankings, Australia’s Mitchell Starc has returned to the top spot as Imran Tahir has slipped four places in the top 10.

Dale Steyn has dropped one place to sixth, although Morne

Morkel has climbed three places to eighth, and is now six points behind Mitchell Johnson, after claiming seven wickets for 132 runs in three matches.

Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has dropped a place to 10th, while a number of other bowlers have made significant gains across both series including Axar Patel (up 19 to 28th), Amit Mishra (up 13 to 32nd), Afghanistan’s Dawlat Zadran (up 69 to a career-high 34th), Mohit Sharma (up four to 44th).

Young Proteas paceman Kagiso Rabada has risen 58 places to a career high 49th after being the joint leading wicket-taker in the series alongside Steyn with 10.

There were career high placements for Afghanistan duo Mirwais Ashraf (up 10 to 56th) and Hamza Hotak (up 56 to 84th).

The all-rounder list is unchanged with Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan continuing to lead the way on 418 points.

it’s all blacks vs Wallabies fOr rugby WOrld cup final iwK BuReau

Last weekend New Zealand met old rivals South Africa for the first semi-finals

of the Rugby World Cup season. Although the Springboks were well positioned at half-time—even with the All Blacks leading 12–7—they lost the second-half kicking battle, and the New Zealand team emerged as victors with an 18–20 win.

The second semi-finals saw Argentina and Australia contesting for the finals. And it

was Adam Ashley Cooper’s hat-trick that paved Australia’s way into their fourth World Cup final. Although as Argentina tried to fight back in the second-half, but the Wallabies were headstrong.

Both New Zealand and Australia have now geared up for the finals that will take place on Saturday, October 31 at Twickenham, London.

South Africa and Argentina will face each other on Friday, October 30 at The Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London for the third spot.

Have something to say?Send your feedback and

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28 ENTERTAINMENT

Shahid Kapoor ‘more than happy’ to do TV shows

Actor Shahid Kapoor, who made his television debut with dance reality show

Jhalak Dikhla Jaa Reloaded, says he had “a lot of fun”, and would be happy to do more shows on TV.

“I had a lot of fun doing Jhalak... and I must say that I’m happy that I started with a show like that. So, I’m more than happy to do more shows on television,” said Shahid, who is currently seen alongside Alia Bhatt in romantic comedy film Shaandaar.

Shahid said though he was earlier “unsure” about doing a TV show, he managed to develop a “personal equation” with all on Jhalak Dikhla Jaa Reloaded after a while.

“I was very unsure in the beginning. I didn’t know how I feel about it (TV). In the beginning I was a little nervous. More than that, I was a little unsure because I don’t like judging people. But after spending a few week of doing that in Jhalak..., I actually had a personal equation with all the contestants. I used to talk to them as a friend,” he added.

Shahid, who is a trained dancer, says he would even “love” to do a dance-based film.

“I get to dance in everything that I do. I’ve no complaints that way. I would be happy and would love to star in a dance film if something comes my way.”

He will next be seen in director Abhishek Chaubey’s Udta Punjab, in which he stars with Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia and Diljit Dosanjh.

Not standing opposite Kareena in Udta Punjab: Alia

Actress Alia Bhatt, who has starred with Shahid Kapoor in romantic

comedy film Shaandaar, says she will feature in her own story in upcoming film Udta Punjab

and will not be “standing o p p o s i t e ” Kareena Kapoor Khan in the film.

I’m not standing opposite her (Kareena) in Udta Punjab. There are four different tracks in the film. Her track is different from mine. Similarly, Shahid and Diljit Dosanjh will have their own track,” Alia said.

Udta Punjab, which is currently under production, will be the first time when Alia will star alongside another actress in a film.

Asked whether she feels competitive in Bollywood, the daughter of film-maker Mahesh Bhatt and yesteryear actress Soni Razdan, said, “Competition is inevitable in life. But I don’t think that one should pay too much attention to what all is happening around. We are all happy people doing good work and just proud and happy for each other, in fact.”

So does she feel any pressure being a star kid?

Alia replied, “When I made my

debut, I didn’t make it in my family production. So it has nothing to do whether I come from a film background or not. Secondly, my expectations and pressure that I feel is to please the people who watch and appreciate my work.”

“I just wish to please them (audience) and keep them happy. I try and hope to do as many versatile characters as I can.”

Alia started her career with Student Of The Year and has since impressed cine-goers with Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, 2 States and Highway.

Kajol in ‘comfort zone’ with Dilwale

One of Bollywood’s most loved actresses, Kajol, who will be back on

the big screen with Dilwale, says she was in a “comfort zone” working with Shah Rukh Khan and director Rohit Shetty, and that she chose the film for its “unpredictable” element.

Asked about what made her say ‘yes’ to the film, considering that she is often quite “choosy”

when it comes to selecting her movies, Kajol said, “I wanted to do something which is unpredictable...and this film is definitely not predictable. I

wanted to do something that I have not done before and I really liked the role and character in this film.”

The fact that it has Shah Rukh as a co-actor and Rohit Shetty as a director made it her “comfort zone”, she said. “I think that matters a lot. I think that made a difference.”

Kajol spoke during an exclusive media interaction with select scribes at the Ramoji Film City, where the last leg of Rohit Shetty’s directorial is being shot.

Bollywood buffs are looking forward to the film, given Kajol and Shah Rukh’s roaring onscreen chemistry, a proof of which lies in films from Baazigar to Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge to My Name Is Khan. Together, they have made people believe in the magic of love.

The actress says working with Shah Rukh, who is also one of her closest friends in the industry, is not only a joy, but also a learning process.

Kajol was asked to describe how she and SRK have changed as individuals from the time they worked together in 1993 released film Baazigar till now. “I think I have changed for better and we have become better people and better actors today. As far as Shah Rukh is concerned, he is such a technically superior actor. He is one of the best actors we have today.

“Every time I work with him, I learn more and more from him. I learn more from watching him, working with him—whether it is technically or emotionally. Working with him is pleasure, joy and a learning process,” added Kajol, who promises to steal the thunder once again with her onscreen chemistry with the actor in Dilwale.

The team’s cast and crew was present here for a meet-and-greet with select media

persons, who were given a chance to witness the shooting of the film at Ramoji Film City. They also gave a sneak peek into what’s in store in Dilwale, which is produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, via a 20-minute video footage, which suggested that there will be dollops of romance, comedy and action in the upcoming entertainer. Also featuring Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon, Dilwale is set to release on December 18.

Anupam Kher starts shooting for Dhoni biopic

Veteran actor Anupam Kher, who is back after a global tour for his play

Mera Woh Matlab Nahi Tha, has now started shooting for Neeraj

Pandey’s directorial M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story.

The actor will be seen playing Dhoni’s father Pan Singh in the upcoming biopic.

“On my way to Karaghpur via Kolkata for the shoot of M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story with my favourite director Neeraj Pandey. I play Dhoni’s father,” Anupam tweeted.

Actor Sushant Singh Rajput is stepping into Dhoni’s shoes for the biopic.

Baahubali 3 on cards: Rajamouli

F ilm-maker S.S. Rajamouli said that the third part in the Baahubali franchise

is definitely on cards. However, it won’t be experienced in a way films are regularly viewed.

“Baahubali 3 is on cards. But the story that’s written for the two parts will not be dragged for the sake of it. This story will conclude with the second part itself (sic),” Rajamouli posted on his Twitter page.

He added that Baahubali 3 will be done in a way that audiences have never experienced via films before. According to an industry source, Rajamouli is planning a spin-off on Baahubali.

“He’s planning to work on a prequel to Baahubali. It could be

a spin-off on the franchise itself,” a source close to the film-maker said. Meanwhile, Rajamouli will resume filming Baahubali 2 from mid-November or early December. He has already completed 40 per cent of shooting of the second part. The film features Rana Daggubati, Prabhas, Tamannaah Bhatia, Anushka Shetty, Ramya Krishnan and Sathyaraj in important roles.

Angry Indian Goddesses wins award at Rome Film Festival

Pan Nalin’s film Angry Indian Goddesses bagged an Audience Choice

Award at the Rome Film Festival. The film-maker is elated about the win. The honour, titled BNL People’s Choice Award, is bestowed on a movie, which the viewing audience chooses as the best amongst the lot.

“Many will agree that best awards in the world are People’s Choice Awards; so here the people of Rome and Italy have voted after filling edge-to-edge five full house shows. What we started in a little village of Goa has gone global beyond all our goals,” Nalin said in a statement.

The director, whose film also got an eight-minute-long standing ovation at the festival, is thrilled for his film’s cast and crew.

“Above all it’s a great sign of inspiration that the international ‘janta’ (public) is connecting to stories of celebration of Indian womanhood,” he added.

Angry Indian Goddesses follows the stories of seven girls. It narrates the tale of how Frieda, essayed by actress Sarah-Jane Dias, invites her closest girlfriends to Goa to announce her wedding, and it all turns into a wild bachelorette party.

“In less than one month of its world premiere at Toronto, Angry Indian Goddesses has made sales across the globe and will be released theatrically in more than 50 countries. The positivity surrounding the movie has added to the thrill of releasing the film pan India,” said Gaurav Dhingra, the film’s producer.


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29ENTERTAINMENT


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30 FEATURES

Sandringham Village Street FestivalDate: Saturday, 31 OctoberTime: 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.Venue: Sandringham Village, 597, Sandringham Road, SandringhamSandringham’s annual festival gets bigger and better. Come for a day of fun, food and live music. The event will have food and craft stalls along with an interactive play area for kids. $5 tastings from participating restaurants. And to top it all, the winner of the ongoing Sandringham’s Best Biryani will be announced. Admission is free.

Christmas Craft WorkshopsDate: On Wednesdays, 4 November, 11 November, 18 November and 25 NovemberTime: 3:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Venue: Highwic, 40 Gillies Avenue, AucklandEnrol your kids into a Christmas workshop that will include making angels, Christmas

cards, Christmas decorations and Cornucopia decorations. Suitable for children sevn years and above. There is a $5 charge per child to cover materials. Call Highwic on 09 524 5729 or drop an e-mail at [email protected] to book a place.

Mantra Meditation—kirtan for your heart and soulDate: 29 October and 5 NovemberTime: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.Venue: The Loft Yoga Lounge, 103 Beach Rd, AucklandKirtan is a meditation in call and response style—the leader sings the mantra and the crowd responds, creating a dynamic experience for all. Just like there are yoga postures for the body to relax, there are mantras that revitalise the mind. Chanting these mantras while meditating rests the mind and relieves it from stress and anxiety. The session is open for all.

Day of the DeadDate: Sunday, November 1Time: noon to 11:00 p.m.Venue: Mexico, 23 Britomart PI, Britomart, AucklandInvite your friends and family to celebrate Day of the Dead in true Mexico style! Share stories over banquette and sip on ice cold special margarita while enjoying live music. $45 special banquette for four, $15 sangria carafes and free meal for kids under 12 from the kids menu. Admission is free.

Tech round-up : what’s new and trending Mahesh

We live in a digital age. There is so much happening

in terms of computing devices, software, consumer electronics, mobile devices and more. Every week there are various new announcements in the tech world. Some of these are truly exciting while some are just hyped. It can sometimes be a struggle to comb through the clutter and find something that has the potential to change the tech landscape.

This week, let us have a closer look at some interesting stuff that made news recently:

Apple’s 3D Touch

The latest generation of iOS devices that were recently

launched come with an amazing new feature dubbed as 3D Touch. Accordingly to Apple, this is a revolutionary new way to interact with your device.

Essentially it is just a technology that measures the amount of pressure when you touch the screen. So you can go beyond the normal tapping, swiping and pinching. Now you can also peek and pop. These two new ‘gestures’ add new levels of functionality to the overall touch experience. Now you can do more while interacting

less with the display. This technology also

promises of exciting new games and apps that

can sense the level of pressure and change scenarios. Expect

Android devices to also introduce something

equivalent in their future iterations.

YouTube goes Red

YouTube recently announced a paid video streaming service called YouTube Red. Those willing

to fork out US$9.99 a month can subscribe to YouTube Red service that promises ad-free videos, offline videos and even access to Google Play Music.

The service will compete with bigwigs such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and other video streaming services. Since it has built-in access to Google Play Music, it also competes with the likes of Spotify and Apple Music.

YouTube also plans to launch original and exclusive content not available to the free YouTube

versions. While this is an interesting move from Google, sorry, Alphabet, many users and even content creators are up in arms.

Some of the features might actually make it successful including an ability to save videos for offline

viewing on their devices and even play videos in the background with the screen off. The service was launched this Wednesday, so now is the time to wait and watch how it goes.

Microsoft Surface Book

Microsoft recently unveiled something they proudly call “the

ultimate laptop”. Surface Book is a stunning device crafted from high-end magnesium with a sharp 13.5-inch display and a great looking keyboard.

The laptop is built to fight off Apple’s Macbook. But it goes beyond the MacBook with a screen that can be detached and used as a stand-alone tablet. Surface Book has got great reviews for its design and performance. It also comes with a stylus that can be used in either laptop mode or tablet mode.

While there have recently been numerous Windows hybrid devices, Surface Book seems to have nailed it in terms of convenience and functionality. It is priced at US$1499 onwards and

is available for pre-orders.

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1kg NET

3 for $5.00 or

3 for $5.00 or

2 for $7.00 or

1.99

each

eacheach$7.99

$1.99

each$1.89

$ $1.99

3.99 each each

Gopala Natural Yoghurt Full Cream/Standard/ Premium 750g

Pams Raw Sugar 1kg

Specials

only apply

at this store

Prices are valid from Friday 30th October 2015 to Sunday 15th November 2015

Indian Weekender, October 30, 2015 Vol 7 Issue 32

Documents

Transcript of Indian Weekender, October 30, 2015 Vol 7 Issue 32