The Indian Weekender, 4 August 2023

Friday, 04 August 2023
Volume 15 / Issue 19
Read • Watch • Engage
www.iwk.co.nz /indianweekendernz /indianweekender
Gurdwara
to global
spotlight
NAVDEEP KAUR MARWAH IN AUCKLAND
At the crossroads of diverse cultures and bound by
the universal language of music, Auckland-based
singer Amrita Kaur has carved a harmonious path
that transcends borders and touches hearts.
She is now making headlines globally after a video of
her recent musical performance in Pakistan has gone
viral on YouTube the last few weeks.
She performed a music concert at Haveli Baroodkhana
in Lahore in January this year for the reputed Virsa
Heritage Revived series, and the video of the concert
that was uploaded to YouTube last month has already
garnered nearly half-a-million views.
Born in the UK, Amrita’s roots are deeply entwined with
Malaysia, where her parents hail from.
She came to New Zealand when she was
seven, marking the start of an incredible voyage of
musical exploration.
• Continued on Page 7

Read online www.iwk.co.nz Friday, 4 August, 2023
NEW ZEALAND 3
“Sad affair”: Manager of Manurewa
dairy robbed twice in 12 hours
NAVDEEP KAUR MARWAH
IN AUCKLAND
The Kiwi-Indian manager of
a South Auckland superette
is reeling from shock even
days after his dairy was robbed
twice in less than 12 hours.
Robbers targeted Finlayson
Superette at Clendon Park in
Manurewa on July 31, 2023.
Talking to The Indian Weekender,
Gurpreet Singh, who has been
managing the shop for more than
eight years, said, “A gang of knifewielding
five youngsters, including
one female, targeted our store at
around 10.15am on Monday.
“They managed to carry away
three cash tills. Little did I know
that within 12 hours, the store
would be targeted yet again
by another armed intruder, at
around 6pm.” Singh revealed his
immediate concern was the safety
of his pregnant wife, who was also
working at the store at the time of
the first attack.
“I swiftly moved her to a secure
storeroom and activated the panic
alarm as the robbers ransacked
the tobacco cabinets and made off
with all three cash tills, containing
over $1,000. The store was left in
disarray, with broken counters and
chaos all around.”
The robbers managed to
escape, and though their car was
later found nearby, the culprits
remained unidentified as of August
3 afternoon.
As Singh was recovering
from the traumatic incident,
another nightmare unfolded.
A man in his 30s walked into
the store, pretending to be a
customer, whipped out a knife and
approached the counter.
This time, Singh reacted quickly
to jump over the counter and call
the police. The assailant hurried
away empty handed, but the
trauma left him deeply concerned
about his safety and the wellbeing
of the business.
“We definitely need to have
stronger laws that would serve
such offenders right. After these
Siva Kilari with Gurpreet Singh
incidents, I started fearing that any
customer could potentially be an
armed robber.
“This is such a sad affair that
one can’t even work peacefully,
and is under the constant stress
of being attacked, robbed, or hurt.
I feel India is much safer.”
Siva Kilari, the National Party’s
candidate from Manurewa for
2023 general elections, met Singh
on Tuesday, and expressed his
concern at the deteriorating law
and order situation in New Zealand.
Talking to The Indian Weekender,
he said, “NZ is going backwards.
We need to get NZ back on track.
The situation is so sad, and it
shouldn’t be like this. People
are living in fear, especially our
Indian community. They are being
targeted a lot despite working so
hard. We must make Manurewa
safer. I’ll make sure to keep
campaigning hard for this.”
The dairy in question has had a
fateful past. On January 25, 2008,
a young student lost his life in a
botched robbery at the store. The
perpetrator, a young man, was
later acquitted of murder on the
grounds he was criminally insane
at the time of the incident.
Counties Manukau Police are
investigating the latest incidents
and, at this point, are treating both
matters as unrelated incidents.
A police statement read,
“Understandably, the store worker
is shaken by both incidents,
and we have ensured there is
support available. '
Police are asking anyone who
might have information on the
aggravated robbery to contact
police on 105, quoting the file
number 230731/8777.
“Anyone who saw the man from
the second incident, last seen
heading onto Templeton Place,
should contact 105, quoting the file
number 230731/0305. Information
can also be provided anonymously
on 0800 555 111.”
GG’s Cuisine, buy direct at wholesale prices
• 1ltr $14.34
• 9kg $115.30
• 19kg $238.91
(All prices include GST)
Email your order admin@dairybox.co.nz before collection
Collection days available. Wednesday /Friday 12-4 pm
Payment is required for collection. Eftpos available
For any further inquiries:
Contact: Dairy Box New Zealand
Ph: 027 266 7592
Collect your order @ Dairy Box New Zealand
76C Maui Street, Pukete, Hamilton
New Zealand Qualifications Authority
Approved Category 1 Education Provider
Email: admin@dairybox.co.nz | Phone: 027 266 7592

4
NEW ZEALAND
Friday, 4 August, 2023
Read online www.iwk.co.nz
Indian diaspora leaders meet to discuss
Independence Day programme
DEV NADKARNI
IN AUCKLAND
Indian diaspora leaders
gathered at the Auckland Indian
Association’s Mahatma Gandhi
Centre on July 30 to discuss and
plan the upcoming Independence
Day celebrations, a momentous
occasion on the Indian calendar,
which falls on August 15.
With over 60 leaders in
attendance, the meeting aimed to
outline the festivities that would
take place on Sunday, 13th August,
at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre’s
main hall.
This year’s Independence Day
programme has been entrusted to
two major diaspora organisations:
Auckland Tamil Association and
Auckland Marathi Association.
Vai Ravindran, President of
Auckland Tamil Association, and
Neha Nalavade, President of
Auckland Marathi Association,
enthusiastically presented the day’s
events and activities.
The proposed programme
promises to be a vibrant and
engaging celebration, featuring
a diverse array of performances
including dances and patriotic
songs with participants from
various diaspora organisations.
Attendees can expect to be
enthralled by some 15 captivating
performances that showcase the
rich cultural heritage and national
pride of India.
Dhansukh Lal and Bhav Dhillon at the gathering at Mahatma Gandhi Centre.
What makes this year’s
celebration unique is that it
is the first time two diaspora
organisations have been granted
the opportunity to devise the
programme jointly.
This collaborative effort
symbolises unity and represents a
remarkable step forward in fostering
cooperation and inclusivity
within the Indian diaspora
community in Auckland.
Moreover, an exciting initiative
has been put in place to ensure
diversity and inclusivity in the
planning process for future
national day celebrations.
Organisations will be invited on
a rotational basis to design the
programme for forthcoming years.
This approach recognises the
richness of the Indian diaspora
community in Auckland and
allows different organisations
to contribute their unique
perspectives and talents to the
festivities.
As the Indian diaspora in
Auckland prepares to celebrate
the country’s 76th Independence
Day, there is a palpable sense of
excitement and pride among the
community members.
The event promises to be a
testament to the cultural richness
and shared heritage that the Indian
diaspora brings to New Zealand.
For the Indian diaspora in
Auckland, this celebration holds
deep sentimental value, connecting
them to their roots and evoking a
sense of collective identity.
The planning meeting at
Mahatma Gandhi Centre
showcased the determination
and commitment of Indian
diaspora leaders to uphold their
cultural traditions and celebrate
their nation’s independence in a
foreign land. The collaborative
approach to designing the
programme epitomises the spirit
of togetherness and inclusiveness,
a testament to the thriving Indian
community in Auckland.
This year, community
organisations have come together
to celebrate India’s national day,
ignoring attempts earlier by certain
forces to try to celebrate the day
under different banners separately.
This created unnecessary
confusion not only in the minds of
the community but also for invited
VIPs who had to attend different
functions celebrating India’s
national day.
It also needlessly created the
impression of a divided community.
The diaspora leadership must be
commended for forging this unity.
Addressing the gathering,
Honorary Consul of India
in Auckland Bhav Dhillon
congratulated the two
organisations that have taken the
lead this year and also shared
that joining the programme will
be a musical and dance troupe
from the northwestern state of
Rajasthan who will be visiting New
Zealand for the Independence
Day celebrations and will be
performing around the country.
The Hon Consul also said that
India’s High Commissioner in NZ,
HE Neeta Bhushan will attend the
celebrations in Auckland among
many dignitaries and politicians
from most parties.
Auckland Indian Association
President Dhansukh Lal welcomed
the guests and delivered a
brief speech.
As the final preparations are
made for the Independence Day
celebrations, excitement and
anticipation fill the air.
The forthcoming event promises
to be an awe-inspiring showcase
of Indian culture, talent, and
national pride, strengthening
the bonds of the Indian diaspora
community and leaving a lasting
impact on all attendees.
The guests were treated to a
sumptuous vegetarian dinner
hosted by Auckland Indian
Association’s catering committee.
Future Skills is accredited by the
NZQA and has a Category 1 rating.
Our students graduate with
nationally recognised qualifications.
We offer in-employment building
programmes for 80 Building Control
Authorities across New Zealand.
YOU CAN STUDY:
Healthcare
Quantity Surveying
Software Development
& Business Intelligence
Early Childhood Education
Building Control & Surveying
ENROL
NOW
English, Maths and Digital Literacy
0800 784 304
MANUKAU CAMPUS 15 EARL RICHARDSON AVE
ROYAL OAK CAMPUS 665 MANUKAU RD
AUCKLAND CAMPUS LEVEL 1, 350 QUEEN ST
TAKAPUNA CAMPUS 51 HURSTMERE RD

Read online www.iwk.co.nz Friday, 4 August, 2023
NEW ZEALAND 5
“Focus on retail crime,
youth offending”: Justice
Unemployment rate
increases to 3.6%
for latest quarter
RNZ
minister Andersen
NAVDEEP KAUR MARWAH
IN AUCKLAND
The rise in retail crime and youth
offending has been all over the
news lately.
The newly-appointed justice minister,
Ginny Andersen, says those issues are
top of mind for her as she takes over
from Kiri Allan.
Her beleaguered colleague had to
vacate the portfolio a few days back
after the former minister allegedly drove
into a parked car in Wellington while
she was over the legal limit for alcohol
consumption.
On her part, Andersen already had her
plate full as the police minister since
March, having replaced Stuart Nash who
had to resign over a string of scandals.
Government data shows retail crime
shot up by a staggering 39 per cent
between 2018 and 2022. On an average,
two ram raids were reported daily in the
six months to May this year.
Talking to The Indian Weekender,
48-year-old Andersen, who has been
engaging with various communities
and businesses impacted by these
crimes, shared her plans to address the
pressing issues.
“Since I became police minister, I
have been focused on getting on top
of retail crime and youth offending.
I’ve been around the country meeting
with dairy owners, business groups
and associations, and communities,
including the Indian community, who
are affected by these crimes.
As minister of justice, I am getting
up to speed quickly and continuing to
focus on these areas.”
Andersen, who became a Labour Party
member in 2004, says she is rapidly
immersing herself in the new role and
is dedicated to continuing her efforts to
curb youth offending and retail crime.
Last month, the government
announced a series of new measures
it said will help reduce crime. One
of the key initiatives introduced is
the implementation of a new ram
raid offence, aimed at holding young
offenders accountable for their actions
and providing law enforcement with
more robust tools to combat this type
of criminal activity.
The move is expected to act as a
deterrent and enhance the ability of
the police to take swift action against
offenders.
Andersen says, “To address gaps
in the justice system and combat
the rising menace of ram-raiding,
the government has taken decisive
action by introducing a new offence.
This legislation specifically targets
ram-raiding incidents and carries a
maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
“Furthermore, the government has
allocated $26 million to bolster the
capacity of police prosecution staff.
This financial injection will help clear
the backlog of cases and ensure justice
is delivered efficiently and
promptly.”
In a bid to tackle the
emerging trend of offenders
boasting about their crimes
online, the government
will also introduce two
new aggravating factors in
sentencing.
Those who publicise their
criminal activities on the
internet will face increased
penalties, reflecting the
gravity of their actions.
Other new rules are
also in the works,
including a provision
to ensure adults who
exploit young people
to commit crimes face
harsher sentencing.
Andersen reaffirmed
her commitment to
prioritising these critical
measures, focusing on
enhancing accountability
for young offenders
and empowering the
police force to safeguard
communities nationwide.
“My priority will be to
progress this work to
increase accountability
for young offenders and
empower our police to
keep our communities
safe.”
Unemployment has edged
up slightly but the labour
market and wages show
few signs of deteriorating soon.
Stats NZ reported
unemployment at the end
of June was 3.6 percent
from 3.4 percent in the
previous quarter, with
record numbers employed,
and there was strong job
growth, especially in the
tourism sector. About
28,000 jobs were added
in the June quarter and
113,000 for the year, more
than expected and driven
by demand in the tourism
industry.
“Despite its small size,
a quarter of all annual
employment growth was recorded
in key tourism-related industries,”
Stats NZ senior manager Becky
Collett said.
Employment in tourismrelated
industries was back to
pre-Covid levels, and accounted
for nearly 10 percent of all the
people employed in the economy.
One measure of slack in the jobs
sector, the underutilisation rate,
which includes those without work
or wanting more work, rose to 9.8
percent from 9 percent.
“Despite the strong quarterly
increase, the June 2023 quarter
underutilisation rate remains
relatively low compared with
historic averages,” Collett said.
MP for Panmure-Ōtāhuhu
Electorate office:
7Fulton Cres, Ōtara
09 274 9231
Panmure.OtahuhuMP@parliament.govt.nz
Ōtāhuhu and Riverside Clinic:
Ōtāhuhu Town Hall,
10-12 High St
Monday Mornings
9.30am to 11.30am
Panmure and
Point England Clinic:
By Appointment
Phone 09 274 9231

6
NEW ZEALAND
RAVI BAJPAI IN AUCKLAND
People and groups cutting across
religious lines are rallying behind the
Hindu community after anonymous
intimidating letters were sent to several
temples across New Zealand.
The letters delivered to temples in
Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin among
other cities over the last fortnight denounce
idol worship, quoting from the Quran, Islam’s
holy book.
“Islam teaches that God does not share
His divine attributes with anyone”, the letters
say, among several passages quoted from
the Quran.
The letters don’t issue a direct threat of any
kind, but officials from temple management
say such menacing letters are upsetting,
especially given temples across the country
were targeted in a concerted effort.
Management officials at Thiru
Subramaniyar Aalayam Temple in the South
Auckland suburb of Mangere say they had
heard about the letter even before they
received one.
“We knew it was coming,” founding member
and Treasurer Ilango Krishnamoorthy told
The Indian Weekender.
“We didn’t even open it, just kept it aside.
We are a strong community and we won’t be
bullied by such kind of intimidation.”
Hindu Council spokesperson Selva
Ramasami told RNZ it was unclear who had
written them or what the motivation was.
“The letter is...intimidating in nature
because it has denounced the Hindu
worship practices of what we call the murtis,
or the statues. It is what we worship, like the
elephant god of Ganesh is in the form of a
statue,” RNZ quoted Ramasami as saying.
“The letter also quoted that you can’t
worship a saint or Jesus and that sort of
thing….it’s very vague in nature but it’s quite
disturbing for our community.”
The letters have been reported to the
police, who say they are investigating
the circumstances surrounding these
letters. Police’s national manager of ethnic
partnerships Superintendent Rakesh Naidoo
said they had received reports of letters
involving intimidating content.
“We understand the concern of the
community and its institutions and want
to reassure them that these letters are
definitely not welcome,” RNZ quoted Naidoo
as saying.
“Police are actively investigating the
circumstances surrounding these letters,
including working to identify those
responsible. We urge anyone who receives
Friday, 4 August, 2023
letters of this nature to contact the police
immediately.”
Community leaders say they are treading
with caution as such issues can escalate
quickly. Members from the Muslim
community in many cities have met temple
managements to show solidarity.
Ilango Krishnamoorthy says he is
confident people from all faiths will stand by
the Hindu community.
“Our Muslim brothers and sisters are with
us. This [the letter] seems to be the work of a
lone miscreant.”
Read online www.iwk.co.nz
Follow the trend: Master your
life in New Zealand with a degree
OUR SERVICES
duration as you.
To qualify for residency status in New
RESIDENCE VISA
WORK VISA
PARTNERSHIP VISA
SPECIFIC PURPOSE VISA
VISITOR VISA
STUDENT VISA
Zealand, SECTION you must 61 have REQUEST a skilled job, or a
job offer from an accredited employer in the
country. SPECIAL DIRECTION
Furthermore, your skilled work experience
IPT APPEAL
must be in a full-time position, with at least
EMPLOYER ACCREDITATION
BUSINESS VISA
30 hours MEDICAL of work per WAIVER week. REQUEST
However, with the three-year Post Study
VANDANA
Vandana Rai
RAI
JOB CHECK
CHARACTER WAIVER REQUESTS Work Visa, you will have ample time to find a
(LIA No. 201400900)
job and gain relevant experience.
Get ready to embark on a journey of
Following this approach, you could
higher education that will expand
apply for a resident visa just one year after
your mind, enhance your skills,
completing your Master’s degree in New
and open up a world of possibilities. New +64 9 379 0219 contact@nzimmigration.info
Zealand. All you need is six points, a skilled
Zealand is experiencing a surge in study visa
job or an offer from an accredited employer,
applications, with over 75,000 applications Completing a Master’s degree in New Skilled work experience points
and relevant work experience.
received for the upcoming year. And Zealand satisfies the criteria for a three-year Skilled work experience points are another Pursuing a Master’s degree in New Zealand
guess what? Ninety per cent of them were Post Study Work Visa.
crucial factor in achieving residency status offers a wide range of benefits that include
approved!
With this visa, you can live and work in in New Zealand. While the Master’s degree the opportunity to obtain residency status.
China and India are leading the way, New Zealand for up to three years after will give you five points, gaining skilled work With the upcoming changes in the Skilled
accounting for over half of all approved completing your degree. This is an excellent experience in New Zealand during your Migrant Category Resident Visa pathway set
student visa applications. With the opportunity to gain work experience in post-study work visa will give you additional to take effect from October 2023, it is ideal to
government’s new changes to skilled your chosen field, network with people, and points. You can claim one point for each year take advantage of this opportunity.
residence pathways becoming effective in
October 2023, New Zealand is set to become
improve your chances of finding a job in a
related field.
of skilled work experience in the country,
and you only need six points to apply for the
Obtaining a Master’s degree in New
Zealand offers you skills, knowledge, and
an even more attractive destination for Acquire 5 points for qualification
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa. experience that make you highly valuable to
skilled professionals.
Completing a Master’s degree in New Work visa for partner
employers, which can improve your chances
Studying for a Master’s degree in New Zealand allows you to acquire five points Your partner can join you in New Zealand, of finding a job and securing residency
Zealand cannot only upskill but pave the way towards the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) and both of you can experience a thrilling status. If you’re considering studying
to obtaining a resident visa in New Zealand, Resident Visa.
new life together! With the partner of a abroad, New Zealand could be an excellent
making it more than just a qualification to This is because the New Zealand Student Work Visa, your loved one can live option to explore.
add to your resume.
government considers a Master’s degree to and work in New Zealand while you study. (The writer is Director at Immigration
Let’s dive deeper into how getting a be a highly valued qualification. By obtaining They have the freedom to choose any Advisers New Zealand Limited -
Master’s degree can boost your chances of
https://nzimmigration.info/;contact@
a Master’s degree, you demonstrate you job and employer, helping to support their
nzmmigration.info; visit 71 Symonds
achieving residency status.
have high-level skills and knowledge in your family financially. No New Zealand job offer Street, Level - 6 at Grafton, Auckland;
Eligible for 3-year Post Study Work Visa field.
is needed. Plus, they can stay for the same phone +64 09 3790219)
ONNECT WITH US
Caution after intimidating letters
sent to temples across country
Zespri files civil
case in China
over unauthorised
production and sale
of gold kiwifruit
MONIQUE STEELE/RNZ
www.n
Kiwifruit marketer Zespri is taking legal
action to try to stop the unauthorised
production and sale of its gold
kiwifruit in China.
Zespri owns the rights to Sun Gold, or G3,
and growers in New Zealand pay hundreds
of thousands of dollars per hectare to grow
it. A grower took clippings to China and
since 2016, the amount being grown there
has been increasing - it is now believed
there are more gold vines in China than in
New Zealand.
In an update sent out to growers this
morning, Zespri chief executive Dan
Mathieson said a civil case had been filed
against two defendants involved with the
unauthorised production, sale and marketing
of the G3 fruit in China’s Intellectual Property
Court. Mathieson said it was a significant
step in protecting the investment made by
New Zealand producers in developing the
licensed kiwifruit varieties - and also for
its consumers. Zespri’s latest assessment
indicates there are now more 7850 hectares
of the lucrative fruit planted in China.
Recent law changes in China strengthened
the intellectual property rights of the
horticulture sector in China, Mathieson said.
He said changes to its Seed Law last year
enabled action to be taken against those
selling the fruit - rather than just growing it.
An Industry Advisory Council delegation is
planning to visit China in the coming months
to better understand the situation from
orchard to market. The case will commence
in mid-September.

Read online www.iwk.co.nz Friday, 4 August, 2023
NEW ZEALAND 7
“Music, Sikhism,
Bollywood connect
me to India”:
Amrita Kaur
The Auckland-based singer performs at an event in Lahore, Pakistan. (Supplied photo)
•Continued from Page 1
Sitting at her recording studio in Mt Roskill,
Auckland, Amrita’s eyes light up as she tells
us about her trip to Pakistan.
“My dad, Yadvinder Singh, and I were
invited to Pakistan for a kirtan tour. We
performed at various places within Punjab
and Sindh, including Nankana Sahib,
Panja Sahib, Daharki, Lahore, Karachi and
Hyderabad.
“We got in touch with Mian Yousuf
Salahuddin (a Pakistani philanthropist and
ex-politician), who was keen to produce a
Virsa Heritage show with us at his haveli.
“So at the end of the tour, in the last few
days, we flew to Lahore from Karachi for
a day…did the show and then returned to
Karachi before flying back to Auckland.”
Reflecting on the experience, she says,
“The show was amazing. It was the first time
I did a solo show that long…of ghazals, songs
and Punjabi poetry. It was a very memorable
experience. It was probably meant to be, the
universe made it happen.”
The cold night in Lahore did little
to dampen her spirits as she graced
the stage, accompanied by talented
musicians, including a guitarist who had
earlier performed with the legendary
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
Amrita also has a ‘kirtan’ (devotional
songs) YouTube channel that she
launched with her father nearly five years
ago. Quite a few of the videos on the
platform (https://www.youtube.com/@
AmritaKaurYadvinderSingh) have more than
a million views. Their Gurbani tracks are also
available on Spotify, Apple Music and other
streaming platforms.
Amrita is now preparing for an upcoming
kirtan tour in India in September. She says
her connection to her roots remains strong
Amrita with her father, Yadvinder Singh.
despite not having an immediate
extended family in India.
“My ancestors moved to Malaysia a few
generations back. We don’t have direct
relatives in India. But we do go quite often
because my dad has strong connections
there,” Amrita says, reflecting on the family’s
regular visits to the country where her father
once pursued his own study of music.
The connections her father forged
with India during pilgrimage tours as
part of his family business in Malaysia
have kept the flames of their Indian
heritage burning bright.
Frequent visits to India over the years
have further strengthened their ties to the
land that resonates with music, spirituality,
and the essence of Sikhism.
“I think it is mostly the music and the
spirituality and, of course, our religion - most
of Sikh history is based in India with many
places of significance, including Harmandir
Sahib (Golden Temple). Apart from that, I
Auckland bar chain Brew on Quay
buys Good Spirits Hospitality
RNZ
Listed pub and restaurant owner Good
Spirits Hospitality (GSH) has found
a buyer for its pubs, which will see it
exit the stock exchange.
The company’s nine bars in Auckland
and Hamilton have been on the block since
the start of the year, after the company
was being pressured by main lender and
shareholder Pacific Dawn - a subsidiary
of Japanese finance giant Nomura - to
strengthen its finances.
The buyer was the hospitality group
Brew on Quay (BOQ), which currently owns
three Auckland venues, for $20.7 million.
BOQ is jointly owned by current GSH chief
executive Geoff Tuttle, Richard Sigley -
who sold the 11 establishments to GSH’s
predecessor company, Veritas, in 2014,
current GSH director Matt Adams and
Jamie Dutton.
The chair of GSH’s Independent
Transaction Committee, John Seton, said
the sale would ensure a stable future for the
GSH venues.
“The BOQ team have a long, successful
history of growing and operating some of
NZ’s best performing establishments.
“The process we ran was independent,
robust and conducted with the cooperation
of lender, Pacific Dawn.
The price achieved is at the upper end of
our expectations. We are satisfied that it is
the best outcome for all our stakeholders.”
The sale needs approval from major
breweries DB and Lion, as well from
shareholders, which if given, will lead to
GSH delisting from the NZX.
BOQ director Richard Sigley said it was
an exciting time for the company and led to
growth.
“We believe that the transaction
will provide customers, suppliers and
employees with familiar faces and fresh
ideas.”
“The
show was
amazing. It was the
first time I did a solo
show that long…of ghazals,
songs and Punjabi poetry.
It was a very memorable
experience. It was probably
meant to be, the
universe made it
happen.”
A young Amrita performs kirtan
at a gurdwara.
have grown up watching
Bollywood movies, so
that is also how I connect,”
she says.
Music played a central role
in Amrita’s life from an early
age, thanks to her father’s influence.
Together, they performed kirtan every
Sunday at the Kolmar Road gurdwara in the
southern Auckland suburb of Papatoetoe.
“I used to sing along with my dad,” she
recalls fondly.
This nurturing environment ignited
Amrita’s passion for music, leading her
to learn classical Indian music under the
guidance of revered music guru Professor
Shuk Dev Madhur.
“I performed as part of my music school
shows while growing up, and alongside I
was singing at the Guruduara as well. So,
it was good because I was getting good
practice and exposure. I continue to learn
and improve.”
Beyond her artistic pursuits, Amrita’s tryst
with science plays out in her day job. She
has a Master’s degree in architecture from
University of Auckland, where she explored
the intriguing relationship between music
and architecture in her thesis. She works
full-time in the building industry.
Amrita says she is inspired by an array
of artists like Arijit Singh, Mehdi Hassan,
Kaushiki Chakraborty, Sunidhi Chauhan,
Shreya Ghoshal and Jagjit Singh.
While she cherishes the idea of singing
playback, Amrita’s musical journey has
a sense of fluidity, and she believes in
embracing opportunities as they come.
Whether it is a kirtan tour in India, or exploring
collaborations and original compositions,
she seeks to carve her path in the world of
music.
“I am happy to see where the journey
takes me, including the hope of organising a
solo show in Auckland,” she says, exuding a
sense of openness and possibility.

8
NEW ZEALAND
Friday, 4 August, 2023
Rotary Club Papatoetoe Central to focus
on women empowerment: New president
NAVDEEP KAUR MARWAH IN
AUCKLAND
Auckland-based legal expert Raj
Pardeep Singh has added another
feather to his cap as he has been
appointed President of Rotary Club
Papatoetoe Central.
With a commitment to empowering
women, promoting youth leadership, and
serving the local community, Singh’s
vision for the club promises to bring about
transformative changes.
Singh, who is Founder and Principal of
Legal Associates Barristers and Solicitors
in Papatoetoe, South Auckland, says, “I
am feeling honoured and privileged to be
president of a vibrant club that has been
involved in community activities.
“I hope more and more our community
will take part in Rotary work, and we as a
community changing people’s lives by doing
service projects, fundraising and donations
to various organisations in New Zealand. We
have great like-minded people in our club
who are passionate about working for the
betterment of the community.”
Talking to The Indian Weekender, Singh
reveals he is determined to prioritise
women’s empowerment within the club. “I
will encourage the women members of our
club to come forward and take charge of the
Hundreds of tickets pre-sold for Auckland
Indian Association’s ‘Chhookar Mere Man Ko’
DEV NADKARNI IN AUCKLAND
The Auckland Indian
Association, the oldest
organisation of Indians
with a rich history dating back to
its formation in 1920, is gearing
up to commemorate its centenary
milestone with a gala musical
extravaganza on September 30,
2023, in Auckland.
The much-anticipated details of
the centenary show were unveiled
during a special gathering that
brought together prominent Indian
diaspora leaders at Auckland Indian
Association’s Mahatma Gandhi
Centre on July 30. Hundreds of
tickets were pre-sold shortly after
the announcement of the show.
Initially scheduled to be held
two years earlier, the centennial
celebration had to be postponed
twice due to the global Covid-19
pandemic. However, the wait will
finally come to an end as the grand
event is now set to take place at the
spacious and impressive Victory
Convention Centre in Freemans Bay.
Titled ‘Chookar Mere Man Ko’,
the show will be an enchanting tribute to
the timeless songs of two of the greatest
legends of Hindi cinema.
The spotlight will shine on the iconic
Amitabh Bachchan, hailed as India’s
greatest superstar of all time, and the
evergreen Kishore Kumar, whose melodious
voice has left an indelible mark on the
hearts of millions.
The evening will resound with the soulstirring
melodies that have transcended
time and captivated generations of cinema
lovers.
To ensure an unforgettable experience,
the event will feature a line-up of
exceptionally talented singers from New
Zealand, led by the renowned Gopal Bhatia.
Joining them will be some of the foremost
contemporary musicians from India, adding
a touch of authenticity to the performances.
Beyond the enthralling entertainment, the
Raj Pardeep Singh with his wife Ashima
projects as Chairs. I will fully support women
empowerment in my term, executive team
and board.”
Among his long-term plans, he intends
to form a Rotaract Club, which will cater
to the youth and encourage leadership
among them. Additionally, he aims to extend
support to local schools and community
organisations and create awareness within
the community to join Rotary Club initiatives.
When asked about the priority issues
to be addressed, Singh outlined three key
areas. Firstly, he aims to boost the club’s
membership, thereby ensuring a stronger
centennial celebration carries a profound
sense of purpose and goodwill.
A portion of the proceeds from the
concert will be contributed to Cure Kids, a
well-known NZ registered charity. Cure Kids
is dedicated to funding crucial research
initiatives aimed at enhancing the health
and well-being of children.
Anticipation for the centenary show is
running high, with organisers expecting
a sold-out event. The Auckland Indian
Association holds an esteemed reputation
within the Indian community, and this
landmark celebration based on the greatest
legends of Hindi cinema promises to be a
cultural extravaganza like no other.
As the historic organisation reaches
its 100-year milestone, there is a shared
sense of pride and reverence among its
members and supporters. The Auckland
Indian Association’s century-long journey
exemplifies the spirit of unity, resilience,
community impact.
He will also seek to ensure projects for
the community are consistently completed,
generating positive change. Lastly, he plans
to address the need for more young people in
Rotary and attract more youth involvement
to contribute to the club’s endeavours.
Recognising the challenges ahead,
especially amidst an economic slowdown,
Singh emphasised the importance of
motivating club members to volunteer and
contribute despite financial difficulties.
“My strategy will include focusing on the
community’s needs and requirements to
inspire and engage the team. I want our club
to embark on a journey of empowerment,
service, and positive change for the
community.”
Rotary Club Papatoetoe Central was
founded in 2015 with a broad member base
amongst the larger Kiwi-Indian community,
particularly from South Auckland.
But the club takes pride in being open to
all ethnicities and cultures. It is one of the
youngest Chapters of Rotary New Zealand
and has been deeply involved in rendering
community services.
and cultural preservation that
has cemented its position as a
cornerstone of the Indian diaspora in
New Zealand.
Addressing diaspora leaders,
Auckland Indian Association
President Dhansukh Lal said, “This
is not just the centenary of the
Auckland Indian Association, but the
entire Indian diaspora.” He exhorted
the leaders to treat the event as their
own and make it a grand success.
He said the ticket process had been
pegged at very affordable levels for
an event of this calibre.
India’s Honorary Consul in
Auckland Bhav Dhillon echoed the
president’s sentiment and called
on diaspora leaders to help make
the event a big success, as it was
not just about the association but
the whole Indian community in New
Zealand.
Centennial Committee chair
Narendra Bhana gave details of the
concert as well as tickets, which are
available at www.iticket.co.nz.
Gopal Bhatia, who will lead the
show, gave a brief performance along
with other artistes to lusty applause from
the audience, who had a brief taste of the
concert to come.
As the countdown to September 30
begins, excitement builds among the Indian
diaspora and the wider community in
Auckland. The centennial celebration is not
only a tribute to the past but also an ode to
the bright future that awaits the Auckland
Indian Association, as it continues to foster
cultural heritage and community spirit for
generations to come.
The Indian Weekender is proud to be
associated as media partner and will run
several promotions in the run up to the
show. CFI Events is managing the event.
RNZ
Read online www.iwk.co.nz
House prices
begin to rise in
key markets:
Report
The property market downturn
appears to be in its final stages as
prices begin to rise in key markets,
according to a new property report.
Property research firm CoreLogic’s
house price index dropped 0.4 percent
in July, the smallest rate of decline since
January and a significant deceleration
from 1.2 percent the month prior.
Chief property economist Kelvin
Davidson said there were signs in key
regions of prices stabilising or in some
cases even growing in parts of Wellington
and Auckland.
“July’s drop in prices at the national
level may seem surprising, given
the recent commentary about an
emerging turnaround for the housing
market,” he said.
“Market indicators started looking
stronger in June and that positive
momentum has continued in July.
“There are several key factors pointing
to the trough for house prices, including
a broad peak for mortgage rates, albeit
some further tweaks by the banks can’t
be ruled out, an easing in the CCCFA and
LVR rules, still-high employment, and
solid net migration flows.”
Davidson said the easing in LVR policy
had already helped more low deposit
investors into the market, such as those
with 35 to 40 percent deposits who were
previously locked out.
“We’ve also seen a pick-up in the
volume of sales, stock on the market is
dropping, and this is likely starting to
result in the re-emergence of competitive
price pressures,” he said.
Davidson said the trough for New
Zealand’s house prices appeared to have
arrived.
“There will be mixed views about
this point we’re at in the cycle,”
Davidson said.
“Existing property owners will no doubt
be pleased but there are always two
sides to the coin in the housing market,
and aspiring buyers would clearly prefer
to see further declines.”
But reaching a trough in the downturn
would not likely lead to sudden
widespread strong gains in house prices,
Davidson said.
“Generally speaking, the ‘next phase’
of the cycle could still be relatively
muted, given that affordability remains
stretched, mortgage rates aren’t set to
drop anytime soon, and also in light of
the prospect of caps on debt-to-income
ratios for mortgages early in 2024.”
The most visited
Indian news website
in New Zealand
For online advertising
options, email at
sales@indianweekender.co.nz
Contact Ravi:
Ph: 021 952245

Read online www.iwk.co.nz Friday, 4 August, 2023
NEW ZEALAND 9
Petition seeks unrestricted visitor
visa for parents of NZ migrants
NAVDEEP KAUR MARWAH IN
AUCKLAND
It is the dream of many migrants in New
Zealand to have their parents stay with
them for long periods.
Taking a cue from the same, and in a bid
to foster family reunification and strengthen
family ties, SNK Consultancy, a South
Auckland-based immigration and visa
services firm, has launched a petition urging
the New Zealand government to introduce
unrestricted visitor visas for parents of New
Zealand citizens and residents.
The request seeks to address challenges
faced by many New Zealanders who wish to
be reunited with their aging parents but are
hindered by current visa restrictions.
Many have found it increasingly difficult
to be with their parents during critical
moments or special occasions due to the
limitations of visitor visas, which often have
strict conditions regarding the length of stay
and frequency of visits.
Talking to The Indian Weekender, Licensed
Immigration Advisor and Director of SNK
Consultancy Limited, Shaneel Kavit Kumar,
says, “Many New Zealanders miss important
family milestones and cannot provide the
care and support their aging parents require.
“I have started a petition requesting the
government to create a visitor visa category
for parents of New Zealand citizens and
residents where parents can stay in New
Zealand without restriction on duration.
“This means that those parents will be
able to stay in NZ for as long as they want
but on a visitor visa status.
This will allow New Zealanders to have
their parents live with them but at their kids’
expense.
“The kids can take out medical insurance
or pay for their parents’ expenses. I believe
such a category will allow New Zealanders
to have their parents live with them without
costing the government a lot of money.”
When asked if any other country has such
a policy, Kumar says, “No, but that does
not stop New Zealand from having one and
setting a precedent for others.
“I have started a petition requesting
the government to create a visitor
visa category for parents of NZ
citizens and residents where parents
can stay in New Zealand without
restriction on duration. I believe
such a category will allow New
Zealanders to have their parents live
with them without costing the govt a
lot of money.” Shaneel Kumar
"By granting residency to more than
165,000 migrants under RV2021, New
Zealand has done something in the past that
no other country has done.”
Kumar, a Fiji-Indian who became an
immigration advisor in 2021, maintains
that restrictive visa policies have been a
significant concern for families separated by
geographical boundaries.
“I have done hundreds of applications
for residency under the RV2021 category.
Once residency is approved, every one of
my clients has asked me ‘how do I get my
parents to come over?’
The government cannot give out residency
to all these parents because it would be too
costly to the system – especially medical
services.
“Once a person becomes a resident,
they are entitled to benefits which cost the
government a lot of money, which is why the
parent category only awards residency to
2,500 parents per year.”
Kumar believes that enabling parents to
spend more time with their children and
grandchildren can have immeasurable
benefits for both generations.
“I hope that policymakers will take
notice and consider implementing more
inclusive and family-friendly visa policies
for the parents of New Zealand citizens and
residents,” he says
The campaign launched on August 1 has
already garnered significant support with
more than 300 signatures.
One of the supporters, Thembinkosi Terra
Mafanya, says, “It is a great initiative. I will
definitely sign and share it, too.”
Another signatory, Yashmin, said, “It would
be a dream come true if our parents could
stay with us long term, even on a visitor
visa. It would save the hassle of applying for
their visa again and again. I fully support the
petition.”
To sign the petition, which ends on
September 8, and show support,
visit: https://petitions.parliament.
nz/bd9acabc-5e0d-4ab2-790d-
08db8c944d78
Tell us what’s
important,
Auckland
23-PRO-1204_IW2_AUC
THIS MONTH’S SPECIAL
Black Forest Gateau
OFFER VALID : 01/08/2023~31/08/2023
[ $73 NOW $66 ]
Auckland Council's 21 LocalBoards have comeupwith
athree-year plan outlining keyinitiatives we want to
focus on in your communities.
Help us check if we’vegot it right!
Submissions mustbereceived by 4pm Monday14August.
Formoreinformation go to:
akhaveyoursay.co.nz/localboardplans
It ’ s your place. Your voice.
www.gateauhouse.co.nz
Albany / Botany / Glen Eden / Glenfield / Henderson / Mt Eden / Newmarket / Queen St / Stonefields

10
NEW ZEALAND
Friday, 4 August, 2023
Read online www.iwk.co.nz
Multicultural festivals have vibrant
impact on communities: Mervin Singham
MAHESH KUMAR
IN CHRISTCHURCH
The IndianNZ Association
of Christchurch (INZAC)
hosted ‘3rd Christchurch
Multicultural Festival - Celebration
of Cultures’ on July 29, which was
a resounding success, bringing
together communities from diverse
ethnic backgrounds to celebrate
their vibrant cultures, arts, and the
city’s rich diversity.
The festival that took place at
La Vida Convention Centre from
4.30pm to 9.30pm saw a full
house. The venue was beautifully
decorated with modern lights and
traditional cultural decorations,
making it a perfect spot for families
to take pictures together.
Several distinguished guests
graced the event. The chief
guest, Mervin Singham, Chief
Executive of the Ministry for Ethnic
Communities, inaugurated the
event by lighting the lamp and
formally commencing the festival.
Among the other notable
attendees were minister Megan
Woods; parliamentarians Melissa
Lee, Duncan Webb, Tracey
McLellan; Tracy Summerfield,
National’s candidate from Wigram
for 2023 general elections; and
Kirstin Dingwall, Community &
Economic Development Advisor
from Selwyn District Council.
During his address at the
event, Singham appreciated
the importance of multicultural
festivals for the community, “Ethnic
people from all parts of the world
bring many things to New Zealand,
but one thing is very clear from the
performances tonight–we bring
vibrance, the colour, the sound,
and the sensory qualities that we
enrich our country with, is what
makes our lives immeasurably
better in so many ways.
“We love sharing our culture, our
song, dance, and performances
that add to the strong branding
of New Zealand as a multicultural
country that’s really vibrant. We
are all going to benefit from the
performances that we have seen,
but very importantly, it’s our
children that will see themselves
represented today,” he said.
Megan Woods also highlighted
how such events foster a spirit of
togetherness and mutual respect.
“I think it is wonderful that we
have multicultural festivals like
this, where we come together as
a city to showcase what 21stcentury
Christchurch looks like.
Auckland Zoo eyes planned habitat
in Australia to rehome Burma
LOUISE TERNOUTH/RNZ
Auckland Zoo’s last remaining
elephant may have finally found a
forever home to live out her twilight
years in South Australia.
In April last year, Australia Zoo pulled the
pin on plans to take 40-year-old Burma just
a week before she was set to move over in a
custom crate onboard a jumbo jet.
Zoos South Australia has launched a
fundraising campaign to build an elephant
habitat at its Monarto Safari Park for Asian
elephants within the Australasian region.
If the fundraising for stage one of the
facilities required is successful at a cost of
about $6 million, the open range zoo would
provide a forever home for three Asian
elephants, one of which could be Burma.
“We are very excited about the possibility
of Monarto Safari Park developing this new
14ha habitat for the Australasian regional
elephant programme - one of the largest
of its kind in the region and really hope that
this fundraising effort can become a reality,”
Auckland Zoo director Kevin Buley said.
In the meantime, Burma is being well
looked after at the zoo, though she has been
the last elephant left for over a year after
elephant Anjalee left for Taronga Western
Plains Zoo early last year.
“She’s happy, but in the long term we know
that she needs to be with other elephants
and that’s always been our plan,” Buley said.
A new herd at Monarto Safari Park, which
would initially also include two Asian
elephants from Perth Zoo that were in
similar circumstances, would be the perfect
forever home, but the zoo was still keeping
its options open.
“We are of course continuing to work
with the Zoo and Aquarium Association
Australasia [ZAA] programme to explore
other accredited zoo back-up options that
would provide Burma with the elephant
family herd and environment that she needs
for her long-term wellbeing.”
Auckland Zoo will know by the end of
October whether the fundraising campaign
has been successful and its plans can
progress. If successful, Burma could be
moving to her new home in late 2024.
We are diverse, unified, and a city
that celebrates our differences,
finding strength in the interests
and cultures from all corners of our
community.”
Melissa Lee said, “I bring you
greetings from Chris Luxon
who was supposed to be here…
Multicultural events like these
bring the communities together,
and it gives me joy to see different
generations perform on the same
stage.”
The most exciting part of
the event was the 33 non-stop
cultural performances that made
the night truly memorable and
one-of-a-kind. The diverse range
of performances showcased the
cultural richness of various places,
including parts of India, Latin
America, China, the Philippines,
Mexico, Ireland, Argentina, Fiji, Sri
GOT A BUSINESS IN SOUTH ISLAND?
DO YOU WANT TO GROW IT BY FOCUSING ON THE
INDIAN SUBCONTINENT CUSTOMERS?
TALK TO US.
“It is wonderful that
we have multicultural
festivals like this, where
we come together as
a city to showcase
what 21st-century
Christchurch looks like.
We are diverse, unified,
and a city that celebrates
our differences,
finding strength in the
interests and cultures
from all corners of our
community.” Megan
Woods
Lanka, Taiwan, Europe, and Africa.
The performers dressed in
colourful traditional dresses
brought their traditional music,
dance, and art forms to the
stage, allowing the audience to
experience vibrant cultures from
different corners of the globe.
Vineet, who attended the event
with his family and parents
visiting from India, said, “We
especially loved the energetic
bhangra performances, but each
performance was a window into
the culture and traditions of these
nations and a great learning
experience for the audience.”
The hosts for the night were Avi
Singh Aulakh and Harpreet Maan,
who were great fun and had the
audience entertained.
The INZAC, formed in 2017,
hosts a variety of events in
Christchurch, celebrating the city’s
diverse communities.
Parminder Kaur, Chairperson of
INZAC, explained the association’s
vision. “Our goal is to organise free
community events that showcase
the cultures of different countries
to Kiwi-born children and involve
them to maintain connections with
their roots and heritage.
“This event is close to my heart
as all the communities get to come
together and showcase the rich
tapestry of their cultures.”
She thanked all the performers,
guests, attendees and sponsors for
their support. “Our next event will
be the Youth Festival on October
28, 2023, and the Christchurch
Lohri Mela on January 27, 2024,”
she said.
Call us for a customised
advertising solution with
Indian Weekender.
Call at 022-3251630
Email sales@indianweekender.co.nz

Read online www.iwk.co.nz Friday, 4 August, 2023
NEW ZEALAND 11
WHO anti-smoking measures: NZ
falls short because of vaping
RACHEL GRAHAM/RNZ
A
new WHO report shows
there are now four countries
who have met all of its antismoking
best practice measures.
New Zealand was almost up there
but falls short in one area - the
promotion of vaping.
The guidelines, known as the
MPOWER measures, outline six
steps the WHO recommends as
best practice on tobacco.
They include monitoring
tobacco use, protecting people
from tobacco smoke, and raising
taxes on tobacco.
The WHO said the Netherlands
is now the fourth country in the
world, following Turkey, Brazil and
Mauritius, to meet all six goals.
New Zealand is one of eight
countries almost there.
University of Auckland research
fellow focusing on child health
Dr Victoria Egli said New Zealand
was held back by not banning the
promotion of tobacco, specifically
of tobacco vape products.
“We can’t get there unless
the government implements
a complete ban and enforces
that ban on all forms of tobacco
marketing nationwide.
“And it’s important for our
kids and for our kids’ health,
because what we are seeing is
the rates of children starting to
vape is increasing so we know
the marketing from these tobacco
Representative photo.
companies is reaching our kids.”
The government recently
introduced legislation which will
ban vape stores within 300 metres
of schools, but Egli would like to
see that extended further and to
include other child-centred spaces
such as playgrounds and movie
theatres.
Janet Hoek, a professor of
public health at the University of
Otago based in Wellington, and
co-director of Aspire Aotearoa,
a research centre focused on
making New Zealand smokefree,
said in many ways the country
had already gone well beyond the
measures outlined in the WHO
guidelines.
“The new policies to control
“We know from work we
have done that people
who work in those stores
typically know more
about the products that
they sell and are better
able to advise people
who smoke about the
transition from smoking
to vaping.” Professor
Janet Hoek
smoke tobacco here include a
large reduction in the number
of outlets selling tobacco
products, denicotinisation, and
the introduction of a smokefree
generation.
These are going to be
really profound and, we hope,
transformational measures.”
Professor Hoek said vaping
could provide a reduced-harm
alternative for people who could
not stop smoking, but young
people have been aggressively
targeted to encourage them to
take up vaping.
She would like to see vaping
products removed from dairies
and other convenience stores.
“Make them only available in
specialist R-18 stores where they
are the only product that is sold in
those stores.
“We know from work we have
done that people who work in those
stores typically know more about
the products that they sell and are
better able to advise people who
smoke about the transition from
smoking to vaping.”
She would also like to see
removal of disposable vapes,
which she said were far more
attractive to young people who did
not yet smoke than they were to
long-term smokers trying to quit.
ASH - Action for Smokefree 2025
director Ben Youdan also believed
New Zealand’s smokefree policies
had already gone far beyond the
measures sought by the WHO.
He said in New Zealand smoking
levels across the whole population
have dropped markedly, but a
major issue was the disparity in
who was still smoking.
Youdan said that was where the
focus should go.
“Particularly those New
Zealanders living in the poorest
communities and also with our
Pasifika smoking rates which
haven’t changed a great deal in the
last decade.
“We are down to low smoking
rates as a population, down to
around 7 or 8 percent but we need
to put much more effort into those
communities who still smoke to
support and encourage them to
become smoke-free in the next
couple of years.”
The Ministry of Health has been
contacted for comment.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK
The India Way is to make the world ‘India ready’
and ourselves ‘world ready’.
- Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar
Editorial
Incoming govt faces
uphill battle as NZ
slips on key indices
If the cost of living crisis and the deteriorating law and order situation seem to be the top
two issues at the October elections, the incoming government will have a laundry list
of issues to deal with to stem New Zealand’s steady slide on a number of indices over
recent years when compared to other OECD nations.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an intergovernmental
organisation that promotes policies that improve the economic and social well-being of
people around the world.
Started in 1961, the group comprises 38 countries, including NZ.
Over the years, NZ has faced numerous challenges and experienced declines in key areas
when compared to other advanced economies.
It serves as a stark reminder of the critical issues that demand urgent attention from the
new administration, going beyond the cost of living crisis and law and order, which have
seized the imagination of the average voter today.
Income inequality has been a persistent thorn in NZ’s side. Despite some progress since
the 1980s, income inequality remains higher than the average among OECD countries.
The divide between the rich and the poor has widened, posing significant socioeconomic
challenges.
Although governments have implemented measures to address this issue, it remains a
daunting task to create a more equitable society.
Housing affordability is another area of concern that looms large on the nation’s radar.
Particularly in major cities like Auckland and tourism hubs like Queenstown, the cost of
housing has skyrocketed, leading to declining affordability compared to other OECD
countries.
This housing crisis has left many Kiwis struggling to find suitable and affordable places
to live, creating a sense of insecurity and pushing the dream of homeownership further out
of reach for many.
Education outcomes have also been a cause for concern in recent times. In international
education assessments, NZ’s system has faced declines in rankings compared to its OECD
counterparts.
This is an alarming trend as education is the bedrock of any thriving society. Ensuring that
the country’s youth receive high-quality education must be a top priority for the incoming
government to secure a promising future for NZ.
The government’s decision to boost teachers’ wages this week is a step in the right
direction to stem the steady flow of teachers leaving the profession because of poor wages
and working conditions.
Healthcare waiting times have been a pressing issue that demands immediate attention.
Lengthy waiting periods for certain medical procedures have raised concerns about
accessibility and efficiency within the healthcare system.
The new government needs to implement reforms that prioritise efficient healthcare
delivery and ensure timely access to medical services for all citizens.
Productivity is the lifeblood of a nation’s economy and competitiveness on the global
stage. Unfortunately, NZ has consistently struggled to match the productivity levels of some
other OECD countries. This deficiency can hinder economic growth and innovation, and it
requires concerted efforts to boost productivity and create a more dynamic and thriving
economy.
Environmental indicators reveal another area where NZ is slipping compared to its OECD
peers. The country’s greenhouse gas emissions per capita have been higher than many
other advanced economies, making climate change mitigation a significant challenge.
Mental health is a crisis that NZ cannot afford to ignore. Recent instances of violent crime,
including the workplace killing of two construction workers by a man who was on home
detention, have been attributed to mental health, as have been a slew of recent cases.
The country has also been grappling with alarmingly high rates of youth suicide compared
to other OECD nations.
This epidemic is a tragic reflection of the pressures and struggles faced by young people
in NZ. The government must invest in mental health services and foster a supportive and
nurturing environment for the nation’s youth.
It must be mentioned that NZ’s performance varies across different indices and indicators.
To achieve meaningful change and make informed policy decisions, it is crucial for the
government to rely on the latest and most comprehensive data.
NZ’s new government faces a formidable task in addressing the array of challenges that
have contributed to its slipping standing among OECD countries.
By focusing on these critical areas and taking proactive measures, the incoming
administration can lead the country toward a more prosperous and equitable future.
The journey ahead is undoubtedly challenging, exacerbated by mounting debt attributed to
the present government’s fiscal policies following the Covid-19 pandemic.
After all, nothing can be achieved without the government’s books getting back in shape.
That’s a whole different story altogether.
IN FOCUS : Picture of the week
The Probationers of Indian Foreign Service (2022 Batch) called on the President
of India, Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on August 1, 2023. Addressing
the probationers, the President said that there could not be a better time to be an
Indian diplomat.
This week in New Zealand’s history
August 4,1923
Rail tunnel pierces the Southern Alps
The opening of the 8.5-km Ōtira tunnel completed the long-planned transalpine railway
between Christchurch and Greymouth. At the time, it was the longest tunnel outside the
Alps and the seventh-longest in the world.
August 4, 1965
Cook Islands achieves self-government
First included within the boundaries of New Zealand in 1901, the islands were governed by a
Resident Commissioner until 1946. When they achieved self-government, Cook Islanders
remained New Zealand citizens.
August 5, 1914
New Zealand enters the First World War
New Zealand received the news of the outbreak of war just before 1 p.m. on 5 August. At 3
p.m. the Governor, Lord Liverpool, announced the news from the steps of Parliament to a
large and enthusiastic crowd.
August 6, 1936
Lovelock wins 1500-m gold at Berlin
Jack Lovelock won New Zealand’s first Olympic athletics gold medal at the 1936 Berlin
Olympics in a race witnessed by 120,000 spectators – including Adolf Hitler.
August 8, 1995
Shakti begins in New Zealand
On 8 August 1995 Farida Sultana and seven other women met to discuss the establishment
of a culturally specialist support service for Asian, Middle Eastern and African women in
New Zealand.
August 10, 1995
News Corporation’s rights to professional rugby bolstered
All Blacks Josh Kronfeld and Jeff Wilson signed contracts with the New Zealand Rugby
Football Union (NZRFU), heralding the victory of Rupert Murdoch over Kerry Packer in a battle
for the right to televise professional rugby.
Indian Weekender : Volume 15 Issue 19
Publisher: Kiwi Media Publishing Limited
Editor: Dev Nadkarni | dev@indianweekender.co.nz
General Manager: Ravi Bajpai | 020 441 2233 | ravi@indianweekender.co.nz
Graphic Designer: Yashmin Chand | design@indianweekender.co.nz
Multimedia Specialist: Karan Bhasin | 022 0772 156 | karan@indianweekender.co.nz
Accounts and Admin.: 09-2173623 | accounts@indianweekender.co.nz
Auckland Reporter: Navdeep Kaur Marwah: | 021 952 246 | navdeep@indianweekender.co.nz
Christchurch Reporter: Mahesh Kumar | 021 952 218 | mahesh@indianweekender.co.nz
Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher
is not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearing in the publication
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
Kiwi Media Publishing Limited - 133A, Level 1, Onehunga Mall, Onehunga, Auckland.
Printed at NZME, Auckland, New Zealand.
Copyright ® 2022. Kiwi Media Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Send your suggestions and feedback to editor@indianweekender.co.nz

Read online www.iwk.co.nz Friday, 4 August, 2023
NEW ZEALAND 13
How a Thai student overcame
her English-speaking concerns
SUPPLIED CONTENT
Much like many Indian
students who come to
study in New Zealand,
Thai national Kunyakorn Nundee
faced initial challenges with her
english proficiency when she
began her studies in Auckland.
Having arrived four years ago,
Kunyakorn had previously worked
as a teacher in Thailand, and
as an assistant teacher at an
international school. However,
she decided to embark on a new
path, seeking personal growth
and upskilling opportunities.
After hearing positive reviews
from friends, Kunyakorn reached
out to Future Skills Academy,
where she found a course that
resonated with her aspirations
and decided to enrol.
“When I contacted Future
Skills, they were very friendly and
helpful and had a course I wanted
to do, so I decided to join,” she
says.
The English, Maths and Digital
Literacy class at Future Skills
Academy became a source of
joy for Kunyakorn. She says she
found immense support from her
teacher and the friends she made
in the class, which created a
relaxed and encouraging learning
environment.
The academy’s teaching
and learning systems proved
instrumental in improving her
english proficiency, allowing
RNZ/BLESSEN TOM
Author Franciska Soares
writes in an attempt to
document the loves and
lives of communities that have
been neglected.
“I like writing about forgotten
communities,” Soares says.
They have been at the heart of
Soares’ two novels to date.
Her 2022 debut, They Whisper in
My Blood, includes elements of the
Portuguese Indian community in
Mumbai’s Orlem neighbourhood.
Her latest release, A Smatter of
Minutes, centres on Orlem’s small
Roman Catholic community.
India has clearly influenced
Soares’ world view, with the
subcontinent nation’s colours and
festivals adding “sound and fury”
to her writing.
“I grew up in a street similar to
the street featured in A Smatter of
Minutes,” says Soares, who prefers
to be called by her pen name
instead of the name given to her
at birth, June Baptista. “It was a
comforting, cozy piece of suburbia,
a micro-country as it were, with
its own nuanced customs and
language, tucked away just 20
miles (32 kilometres) from Mumbai
City proper.”
Born in Hyderabad before
moving to Mumbai as a young
child, Soares still has a lot of
memories associated with India.
her to access online resources
for practice and engage in
meaningful conversations with
her classmates and teacher
to enhance her speaking and
communication skills.
Initially struggling with English,
Kunyakorn tackled the challenge
head-on by actively engaging
with the language outside
of class, listening to music,
watching movies, and conversing
with her New Zealand family.
“If you want to improve your
English, speaking and listening
are very important,” says
Kunyakorn.
Upon completing her
foundation programme,
Kunyakorn set her sights on a
promising industry with good job
prospects.
Her desire to care for her
elderly mother-in-law led her to
choose a healthcare programme
“We played in the street after
school till it got dark when the
dwindling sun coloured the sky a
faded orange and the koels made
comforting evening noises in the
trees,” she recalls.
Soares believes she has always
had an urge to write, claiming to
have been “baptized in flaming
ink”.
From Orlem to Queenstown
Soares’ relocation to New
Zealand two decades ago gave
her the inspiration to get back into
writing.
“I write seated on a couch
drawing inspiration from the view
through my bi-fold doors, watching
the quicksilver choreography of the
clouds draping the Remarkables
that aligned perfectly with her
compassionate nature.
“Being able to help the
elderly and those who have
reduced mobility, to make them
comfortable and happy, makes
towering above the whitecaps of
Lake Wakatipu,” she says.
“The juxtaposition of the
dramatic with an underlying
dispassionate permanence so
reflects what life is all about, I feel,
and I try to re-create that in my
writing.”
Soares is captivated by the
tangata whenua and its culture.
“The Māori culture with its rich
and varied history has fascinated
me enough to spend time on a
marae and delve into the myths
and legends that richly populate
it,” she says. “You will find all my
stories punctuated by what I have
gleaned from these experiences.”
Soares has been battling hearing
loss in recent years.
me feel so good. So, I wanted to
learn to help them even more,”
she says.
At Future Skills Academy,
Kunyakorn has excelled,
earning awards for outstanding
attendance, literacy and
numeracy.
She attributes her success
to her strong work ethic and
dedication to her goals, always
striving to do her best.
“I always try my best in what
I have been assigned. l always
try to keep thinking of my goals,”
she says.
Studying English, Maths and
Digital Literacy at Future Skills
Academy
For individuals seeking to
enhance their communication
skills and improve their
employability, Future Skills
Academy offers the English,
Maths, and Digital Literacy
course, which has proven popular
among immigrants beginning
their English learning journey
and those aiming to boost their
confidence in various
aspects of life.
Studying Healthcare with
Future Skills Academy
Future Skills Academy
“My hearing impairment was
always in the background … (but) it
has gotten worse over the years,”
she says, adding that it was most
likely caused by the “trauma of a
very difficult birth”.
“If anything, I think my
impairment has helped me be a
prolific writer,” Soares says.
Adjusting to silence
In addition to literary fiction,
Soares also writes poetry.
Earlier this year, Soares
published a collection of poems
titled Quite Enough, which charts
her journey from noise to silence.
Soares advises people
experiencing hearing loss to
embrace technology.
“I have a smart watch that’s
attached to my hearing aids and
that ensures I do not miss a call,”
she says. “I use a feature on my
phone that generates closed
captions, so I don’t miss the
important parts of conversations.”
She says she has also acquired
a new skill.
provides hands-on healthcare
programmes for those
passionate about caring for
others, offering flexibility in terms
of study options, including fulltime
or part-time, in-person or
online, across three campuses.
Why choose Future Skills
Academy?
Future Skills Academy
is a renowned Category 1
private education provider
registered with the New Zealand
Qualifications Authority.
It offers forward-thinking
programmes in industries
facing skill shortages, striving to
improve people’s lives through
education.
The academy’s commitment
to producing empowered and
employable graduates fosters
capable communities and
sustainable sectors, with a strong
focus on learner achievement,
quality provision, and innovative
education delivery.
Keen to enrol?
If you are interested in
upskilling or pursuing a
career in healthcare, visit
www.futureskills.co.nz or call
0800 550 410 to explore the
opportunities available at
Future Skills Academy.
‘Baptized in flaming ink’: Inside NZ author’s vibrant Indian roots
June Baptista writes under the pen name Franciska Soares.
“Being able to help
the elderly and
those who have
reduced mobility,
to make them
comfortable and
happy, makes me
feel so good. So,
I wanted to learn
to help them even
more." Kunyakorn
Nundee
“My next novel is populated with
rusty characters from 18th-century
novels - tomes forgotten on a dusty
old shelf in a vast university library
in Mumbai - who take on a modernday
cannibalistic, fanatic and a
philandering English lit professor.”
“Lip reading,” she says. “That
came automatically. As did my
brain’s ability to put together the
lip-reading cues, the context in
which a conversation is taking
place and some keywords in the
same conversation.”
Soares’ struggle is familiar to
Lachlan Keating, chief executive
of Deaf Aotearoa. He believes that
visibility is important for artists
like Soares and others who have
experienced hearing loss.
“We’re using New Zealand sign
language to highlight any work
that artists are carrying out and it
happens in many forms,” he says.
“We highlight them through
bimonthly media stories.”
Keating says he’s constantly
fighting for greater access to
members of Aotearoa’s creative
community who have been
diagnosed with hearing loss.
Soares is busy writing her next
novel, which she hopes will be
published next year.
“My next novel is populated
with rusty characters from 18thcentury
novels - tomes forgotten
on a dusty old shelf in a vast
university library in Mumbai - who
take on a modern-day cannibalistic
fanatic and a philandering English
lit professor,” she says.
She is also planning to write a
collection of short stories based
on her experiences travelling on
trains in Mumbai.

14
INDIA
J&K: Pilgrims bound
for Amarnath Yatra hail
administration, army
A
fresh batch of pilgrims left from Pantha
Chowk Yatra base camp in Srinagar for their
onward pilgrimage to Amarnath cave shrine on
Tuesday morning.
Pilgrims who were going to pay obeisance at the
cave raised ‘Bam Bam Bhole’ slogans. The pilgrims
will take twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal to reach
the Amarnath cave shrine. Meanwhile, the pilgrims
who returned to Srinagar after paying obeisance at
the cave hailed Jammu and Kashmir administration
for having made arrangements for their yatra.
Speaking to ANI, a devotee said, “The
pilgrimage to the cave proved to be
satisfactory. The government had made
all the necessary arrangements.I want to
thank the government and the jawans
of the Indian Army”. Officials said
the total number of devotees who
undertook the pilgrimage as part of this
year’s Amarnath Yatra surpassed last
year’s number.
“A total of 9,150 devotees took darshan
at the Amarnath Cave shrine on July 27, taking
the cumulative figure of devotees to 369,288. This
surpasses last year’s total of 365,721 devotees taking
the Yatra,” an official said.
An official statement earlier mentioned that since
the influx of pilgrims is swelling with every passing
day, the government made sure that transportation
facilities be provided from Jammu to base
camps in Kashmir. Amarnath Yatra 2023 has also
witnessed a significant increase in the number
of foreign pilgrims visiting the holy shrine. The
Counting of
donations at
Kedarnath
Dham begins
in transparent
glass room
The counting of offerings
and donations by devotees
to Kedarnath Dham temple
began in a transparent glass room
on Monday. For this purpose, a
transparent glass house has been
built by Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath
Temple Committee (BKTC). The
donations and valuable materials
will be monitored through CCTV
cameras in the glass house.
The transparent counting room
made of glass was inaugurated on
Monday after the worship of Baba
Kedarnath. BKTC Executive Officer
Ramesh Chandra Tiwari and Kedar
Sabha President Rajkumar Tiwari
inaugurated the counting room by
participating in prayers.
Vedpathi Yashodhar Maithani,
Lokendra Ruwadi, Pradeep
Semwal, Arvind Shukla, priest
Shivling were present on this
occasion. BKTC Chairman Ajendra
Ajay is making efforts to bring
financial transparency in the
functioning of the committee.
The idea of having a glass
house was conceptualised by
him through a donor to maintain
transparency in the donations
offered to the temple.
There was some delay in the
construction of the glass house
owing to continuous adverse
weather conditions this year, which
led to difficulties in transporting
material to Kedarnath Dham.
“The
pilgrimage
to the cave proved
to be satisfactory.
The government had
made all the necessary
arrangements. I want to
thank the government
and the jawans of the
Indian Army,” a
devotee said.
A health worker provides oxygen to a pilgrim in Anantnag, Jammu &
Kashmir, during Amarnath Yatra. (ANI)
pilgrimage’s allure extends beyond national
boundaries, drawing people from all over the world to
partake in this spiritually enriching experience. Two
US citizens, a Ukrainian woman, a group of 35 Nepali
citizens and 30 citizens from Malaysia were among
the pilgrims who paid obeisance at the holy cave of
Amarnath. The annual Amarnath Yatra began on July
1. The 62-day pilgrimage will culminate on August 31.
Friday, 4 August, 2023
A Vistara aircraft engine was hit by a tow truck during push back at Mumbai airport on Tuesday. (ANI)
Read online www.iwk.co.nz
Probe ordered into deadly construction accident in Thane
The death toll in the mishap where a
girder launching machine collapsed in
Maharashtra’s Thane rose to 17 after one
more body was pulled out from the accident site
as on Tuesday morning, officials said.
A search and rescue operation is continuing
to rescue more people feared trapped under the
debris after the crane collapsed on a bridge slab
during construction of the third phase of the
Samruddhi Expressway near Shahpur.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde
ordered an investigation into the “unfortunate”
incident. He announced an ex-gratia of five lakh
Indian rupees to the kin of those who died in
the accident. Shinde said, “A company based
in Switzerland was working here. Instructions
have been given for its thorough investigation.
The NDRF team has reached the spot and
has given instructions for rescue work. Our
concerned department officials and ministers
are present at the spot.”
Earlier, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
condoled the loss of lives and announced an
ex-gratia of two lakh Indian rupees to the next
Persistent downpours in
the Shimla district blocked
National Highways in the
Jeori and Broni Nallah area near
Jhakri in the region, officials said
this week.
As per visuals by the National
Highways Authority of India (NHAI),
the highways at two Broni Nallah
and Jeori locations in Shimla
district were blocked as a result
of heavy rainfall in the hill state.
Several houses were damaged in
the early hours of Tuesday due to a
cloudburst in Kullu’s Panchnala. In
this regard, Deputy Commissioner
Kullu Ashutosh Garg said a total
of five houses were completely
damaged due to the occurrence of
cloudbursts.
“Five houses have been
completely damaged and
15 partially damaged due to
cloudburst. Apart from this, the
Bhuntar-Gadsa Maniyar road has
Rescue and search operation underway by NDRF after a
girder machine collapsed at Shahapur, in Thane. Reportedly,
a total of 15 bodies have been recovered so far. (ANI)
of kin of each deceased; and Rs 50,000 for
those injured.
“Pained by the tragic mishap in Shahapur,
Maharashtra. My deepest condolences to
the families of those who lost their lives. Our
thoughts and prayers are with those who
are injured. NDRF and local administration
are working at the site of the mishap and all
possible measures are being taken to ensure
proper assistance to those affected,” the prime
minister said on Twitter.
Himachal rains: National
Highway blocked in Shimla
Restoration works underway at the four-lane highway damaged by torrential rains in Kullu.
Rescue and search operation underway after a girder machine collapsed at Shahapur in
Thane. (ANI)
also been damaged. Two bridges
were also washed away due to the
cloudburst,” he said.
Earlier, National Highway-5
had been blocked at three places
in Shimla and Kinnaur districts
due to landslides in the region.
According to the NHAI, NH-5 had
been blocked due to landslides
at Nog Kenchi near Kumarsain,
Broni Nallah near Jhakri Village in
Shimla district and near Nigulsari
Village in the Kinnaur district.
The Himachal Pradesh Traffic,
Tourist and Railways Police took
to Twitter over the weekend, and
updated about roadblocks in the
Shimla district.
“NH 705 Theog-Hatkoti road
closed at Bagra due to landslide,
Kotkhai-Baghi road closed due
to landslide, Fagu-Kot darbar
road closed due to landslide,”
tweeted HP Traffic, Tourist and
Railways Police.
The most
visited Indian
news website
in New Zealand
For online advertising
options, email at
sales@indianweekender.co.nz
Contact Ravi:
Ph: 021 952245
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also
condoled the loss of lives. Taking to X, formerly
Twitter, Fadnavis wrote in Hindi (roughly
translated), “In Shahapur taluka some labourers
died in an accident during the construction of a
bridge on Samriddhi highway which is very sad
and heart-wrenching. I pay my heartfelt tribute
to him.
“We share the grief of their families. Three
workers were injured in this incident. They are
undergoing treatment in hospital. I pray to God
for their speedy recovery. I have ordered an
inquiry into the incident.”
Meanwhile, an NDRF official said, “One
more dead body has been recovered. Three
injured people are being treated, as per the
administration, at Shivaji Hospital in Kalva,
Thane.”
Speaking to ANI, Sarang Kurve from National
Disaster Response Force said, “We received
the information about the incident at around
1.30am. Our first team started the rescue
operation around 5.30am. Search and rescue
operation is still underway”.

Read online www.iwk.co.nz Friday, 4 August, 2023
WORLD 15
A still from Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’
ALEXANDER GILLESPIE
J. Robert Oppenheimer – the great
nuclear physicist, “father of the
atomic bomb”, and now subject of
a blockbuster biopic – always despaired
about the nuclear arms race triggered by his
creation.
So the approaching 78th anniversary of
the Hiroshima bombing invites us to ask
how far we’ve come – or haven’t come –
since his death in 1967.
The Cold War represented all that
Oppenheimer had feared. But at its end,
then-US president George HW Bush spoke
of a “peace dividend” that would see money
saved from reduced defence budgets
transferred into more socially productive
enterprises.
Long-term benefits and rises in gross
domestic product could have been
substantial, according to modelling by the
International Monetary Fund, especially
for developing nations. Given the cost of
global sustainable development – currently
estimated at US$5 trillion to $7 trillion
annually – this made perfect sense.
Unfortunately, that peace dividend is
MUHAMMAD ZULFIKAR RAKHMAT/
YETA PURNAMA
Mixue has dominated Southeast Asia’s
ice cream and tea businesses for five
years, having opened its first outlet in
Vietnam in 2018.
Based in China, where it operates 22,500
stores, around 1,000 Mixue outlets now operate
in several Southeast Asian countries, including
the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia.
In comparison, despite having been around
much longer, there are 10,000 Starbucks outlets
and around 9,100 McDonalds restaurants
throughout the Southeast Asian region.
In Indonesia, Mixue has become a trend on
social media platforms. People are posting
about their daily cravings for Mixue products
and making jokes and memes – it is common to
find the brand among Twitter’s trending topics.
The joke in the region goes that you have
to keep an eye on any vacant space in your
neighbourhood, because it will soon turn into a
new Mixue outlet. There are three contributing
factors behind Mixue’s success story in
Indonesia: supply chain efficiency, affordable
product prices and the ease with which a
franchise can be started.
In addition to this, we as researchers focusing
on China-Indonesia relations argue that Mixue
– along with other China-based international
retail operations like Miniso – is more than just
a business success story. It has the potential to
help China promote a positive national image in
Indonesia.
disappearing. The world is now spending at
least $2.2 trillion annually on weapons and
defence. Estimates are far from perfectly
accurate, but it appears overall defence
spending increased by 3.7 per cent in real
terms in 2022. The US alone spent $877
billion on defence in 2022 – 39 per cent of
the world total. With Russia ($86.4 billion)
and China ($292 billion), the top three
spenders account for 56 per cent of global
defence spending.
Military expenditure in Europe saw its
steepest annual increase in at least 30
years. NATO countries and partners are all
accelerating towards, or are already past,
the two per cent of GDP military spending
target. The global arms bazaar is busier than
ever.
The new nuclear arms race
Although the world’s nuclear powers
agree “a nuclear war cannot be won and
must never be fought”, there are still about
12,500 nuclear warheads on the planet. This
number is growing, and the power of those
bombs is infinitely greater than the ones
dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
According to the United Nations’
disarmament chief, the risk of nuclear war
More than just a business
In international relations, food can act as
a national ambassador and even influence
diplomacy. A country can use food as a source
of soft power to display cultural characteristics
and symbols. A 2012 study shows that public
knowledge about a brand’s country of origin
can improve a nation’s image. Surveying nearly
500 respondents in the US, the study supports a
claim made by Olle Wästberg, former director of
the Swedish Institute, that furniture brand IKEA
does more for the image of Sweden than the
government. The study also found the popular
energy drink Red Bull improved the image of
Austria. Mixue may carry similar potential for
China in Indonesia. The first Indonesian Mixue
outlet opened in Bandung in 2020. Its rapid
growth prompted many major news platforms
to write about the origin of Mixue, its owner
and even the meaning of its name (“snow that’s
sweet like honey”) as people grew more curious
about it. Many people expressed their joy when
the Indonesian Ulema Council issued a halal
certificate for Mixue.
Oppenheimer’s
warning lives on:
laws, treaties
failing to stop
arms race
is greater than at any time since the end of
the Cold War. The US is upgrading its “triad”
of ground, air and submarine launched
nukes, while Russia is reportedly working on
submarine delivery of “doomsday” nuclear
torpedoes capable of causing destructive
tidal waves.
While Russia and the US possess about
90 per cent of the world’s nuclear weapons,
other countries are expanding quickly.
China’s arsenal is projected to grow from
410 warheads in 2023 to maybe 1,000 by the
end of this decade.
Only Russia and the US were subject to
bilateral controls over the buildup of such
weapons, but Russian president Vladimir
Putin suspended the arrangement. Beyond
the promise of non-proliferation, the other
nuclear-armed countries are not subject to
any other international controls, including
relatively simple measures to prevent
accidental nuclear war.
Other nations – those with hostile,
belligerent and nuclear-armed neighbours
showing no signs of disarming – must
increasingly wonder why they should
continue to show restraint and not develop
their own nuclear deterrent capacities.
Ice cream serves soft power for China in Southeast Asia
A Mixue ice cream and tea outlet in Jakarta, Indonesia.
(Fikri RA, CC)
Mixue’s presence has also helped the
country’s tackle unemployment by recruiting
local workers. With the popularity of the brand
in Indonesia, the growing presence of Mixue
may already be helping China’s efforts to boost
its positive image in the country.
Negative perceptions of China
Negative sentiment towards China, however,
is still relatively high among Indonesians. A
2022 survey by ISEAS-Yushof Ishak revealed
that 65.9 per cent of Indonesian respondents
expressed concern over China’s growing
economic influence on Indonesia. Meanwhile,
as many as 25.4 per cent of Indonesian
respondents saw China’s rise as negatively
influencing Indonesia. But the Chinese
government continues to encourage its
companies to develop overseas not only for
economic gains, but also to promote a positive
image. This is especially true in the technology
sector. Thanks to the government’s support,
China’s technological progress has been rapid.
The country produces smartphone products,
such as Xiaomi and Oppo, which have a fairly
large market share in Indonesia.
Negative perceptions of China may not be
entirely eliminated by popular cheap food,
but the more Mixue spreads in Indonesia, the
more people may realise that there are aspects
of China’s presence in the country that they
actually like.
(The authors are engaged as Researcher
with Center of Economic and Law Studies.
This article is republished from www.
theconversation.com)
The threat of autonomous weaponry
Meanwhile, other potential military threats
are also emerging – arguably with even
less scrutiny or regulation than the world’s
nuclear arsenals. In particular, artificial
intelligence (AI) is sounding alarm bells.
AI is not without its benefits, but it
also presents many risks when applied
to weapons systems. There have been
numerous warnings from developers about
the unforeseeable consequences and
potential existential threat posed by true
digital intelligence. As the Centre for AI
Safety put it:
More than 90 countries have called for
a legally binding instrument to regulate AI
technology, a position supported by the
UN Secretary General, the International
Committee of the Red Cross and many nongovernmental
organisations.
But despite at least a decade of negotiation
and expert input, a treaty governing the
development of “lethal autonomous
weapons systems” remains elusive.
(The author is Professor of Law,
University of Waikato. This article is
republished from www.theconversation.
com)
Nepal warn citizens
against recruitment
by foreign forces
Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign
Affairs this week issued a
statement urging citizens
not to go for recruitment by foreign
forces in war-torn countries.
In the statement, the ministry
mentioned its attention has been
drawn to news reports about Nepali
citizens being recruited by foreign
forces in war-torn countries.
“The government does not have
a policy to allow Nepali citizens
to join foreign armies except for
some friendly countries that have
been recruiting Nepali citizens into
their national armies under the
traditional agreement regarding
the recruitment of Nepali citizens
in foreign armies,” the statement
stated.
Nepal has a long tradition of
sending its youths to serve as
soldiers for the British and Indians
through formal channels.
“Therefore, everyone is
requested not to go for securityrelated
work in war-torn countries
on the basis of false information,”
further added the statement.
The ministry also urged everyone
to be aware of the risks involved in
such activities and the difficulties
in conducting rescue.

16 FEATURE
Friday, 4 August, 2023
Healthy cooking every day
Creamy chicken veggie wrap
Ingredients
• 1 cup boiled chicken
• 1/2 cup tomato
• 1/2 cup low fat mozzarella
cheese
• 1 cup hung curd
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• salt as required
• 1 teaspoon chili oil
• chilli flakes as required
• 1/2 cup cucumber
• 4 lettuce loose-leaf
• 3 tortillas
• 2 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 handfuls coriander leaves Method
some lemon juice, paprika, salt,
• black pepper as required
• To begin with this easy recipe, pepper and mixed herbs, whisk it
• mixed herbs as required
wash and chop the veggies. well and add in the veggies, toss
• 2 tablespoon butter
Now, take a bowl and add in them up and keep aside.
Mexican chicken burger
Ingredients
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken
breasts
• Red Guitar Mexican Seasoning,
or your favourite Mexican
seasoning, or chili powder
• Tortilla chips
• Pureed green chilis or slices of
pickled jalapeno
• 4 slices Monterey Jack cheese
• 4 hamburger buns
• Tequila Marinade
• ¼ cup tequila
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ¼ cup lime juice
• 2 cloves garlic, sliced
• 6 slices, or more, fresh jalapeno
• Cilantro Mayo
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup plain yogurt
• 1 tbsp Be a Kitchen Hero Red
Guitar Mexican Seasoning,
or your favourite Mexican
seasoning, or chili powder
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 2 tbsp finely chopped cilantro
• 1 tsp finely chopped fresh
jalapeno pepper
• Guacamole
• 2 ripe avocados
• 2 tbsp chopped red onion, or
more to taste
• 2 tbsp lime juice, to taste
• 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh
cilantro
• Salt, to taste
• Quick Pickled Tomatoes
• 8 slices tomatoes
• 4 slices red onion
• Salt, to taste
• Splash of red wine vinegar
Method
• Cut the chicken breasts in half
horizontally to create two equalsized
thin chicken breasts.
Whisk together the Tequila
Marinade ingredients. Place the
chicken in the marinade. Cover,
and refrigerate all day.
• Preheat BBQ to high. Meanwhile,
whisk together the cilantromayo
ingredients. Cover and
refrigerate (can be made ahead).
In another bowl, mash the
avocados and add the onion,
lime juice and cilantro. Taste and
add salt. Set aside. Can be made
up to 1 hour ahead.
• Lay the tomatoes and onions on
a plate. Sprinkle the tomatoes
with salt. Sprinkle a little vinegar
over the tomatoes and the
onions.
• Remove the chicken breasts
from the marinade and lay on
a plate. Sprinkle with the Red
Guitar Mexican seasoning on
both sides. Grill over direct high
heat until cooked through, about
2-3 minutes or so per side. The
breasts are thin, so they will
cook quickly.
• To assemble: Toast the
buns. Spread a thick layer of
guacamole on the bottom bun.
Top with one chicken breast.
Top with a slice of onion and
2 slices of tomato, followed
by the Monterey Jack cheese
slice. If you like lots of heat, add
some pureed chilis or pickled
jalapeno. Top with a small heap
of crispy tortilla chips. Spread
the top bun with the cilantro
mayo and top the burger. You
may want to place a decorative
skewer through the bun to hold it
together. Serve immediately.
Paneer tandoori
Ingredients
• 400 gm paneer
• 1/4 cup refined oil
• salt as required
• 1 1/2 handful coriander leaves
• For Marination
• 2 tablespoon ginger paste
• 2 tablespoon meat masala
• 1 teaspoon kasoori methi
powder
• 2 tablespoon garlic paste
• 1 cup yoghurt (curd)
Method
• Wash the paneer under running
water and cut it into cubes.
Then, mix the paneer cubes with
ginger paste, garlic paste, curd,
meat masala and kasoori methi.
Marinate it for about 20 minutes.
Put it into a tandoor or grill it on
both sides.
• Now, put oil in a pan and heat it
over moderate flame.
• Then add in some onion and
toss it till it turns golden in
colour, then add in some ginger,
garlic paste and keep stirring.
Reduce the flame and add the
grilled paneer.
• Add some water and stir well,
then cover the lid and cook.
• Once the whole thing gets
Vegetable balls
Ingredients
• 1 cup grated cauliflower
• 1 medium grated carrot
• 1 large finely chopped onion
• 1 tablespoon ginger paste
• 1/2 tablespoon red chilli
powder
• 1/2 tablespoon coriander
powder
• 1/4 tablespoon powdered black
pepper
• 1/2 cup corn flour
• 1/4 cup boiled corn
• 1 cup grated cabbage
• 1 medium finely chopped
capsicum (green pepper)
• 1 tablespoon garlic paste
• 1 green chilli
• 2 tablespoon chopped coriander
leaves
• 1/4 tablespoon garam masala
powder
• salt as required
• 1 cup vegetable oil
Method
• Collect the finely chopped and
grated veggies like onion, carrot,
cabbage, corn, cauliflower,
Lighter Takes
& Easy Tips
• Meanwhile, take a pan and heat
the tortillas. Once done, spread
some butter and layer some
lettuce leaves.
• Take a bowl and add in hung
curd, chili flakes, salt and pepper,
whisk it well with 1 tsp chili oil to
make a homemade spread.
• Take the lettuce layered tortillas,
add in the veggies followed by
hung curd dip, spread it across
the wrap, add grated cheese.
• Fold it up and bake or microwave
it for 3-4 minutes to enjoy. You
can also heat it on a pan and
allow the cheese to melt and
enjoy!
reduced into gravy form, add
some more kasoori methi and
mix it well.
• Season the dish with salt
according to your taste. Your
dish is ready to be served. Serve
it hot with roti or parathas, or
even rice.
Tips
• To make the dish more amazing
add in some fresh cream.
• To make it more enticing add in
some roasted spices.
capsicum, green chilli and
coriander leaves in a bowl. Mix
them together.
• Now add salt, black pepper
powder, red chilli powder,
coriander powder, garam
masala, ginger paste, garlic
paste and mix everything well.
• Add corn flour to the veggies
and mix well to prepare the final
mixture.
• Pinch out small balls from the
mixture and roll them between
your hands to make balls. Now
heat oil in a kadhai and fry
the balls in batches. Fry them
until crisp and golden brown in
colour.
• Serve the Vegetable Balls with
chutney of your choice
Read online www.iwk.co.nz
Fried fish with
sweet chilli sauce
Ingredients
• 250 gm fish fillets
• 25 gm onion shallot
• 10 gm coriander leaves
• 15 ml tamarind juice
• 500 ml virgin olive oil
• 5 gm red chilli
• 10 gm corn flour
• 10 gm garlic
• 3 gm sugar
• 15 ml veg stock
• salt as required
Method
• Pound coriander roots, garlic,
red chilli and shallots using a
mortar and pestle.
• Add corn flour in a bowl along
with some water. Mix to make a
slurry.
• Now just dip fish fillet slices in
corn flour slurry and deep fry
them in hot oil. Once fried well,
take the pieces out on a plate.
• Now heat oil in a pan. Add the
mixture that we prepared by
pounding coriander roots, garlic,
red chilli and shallots. Stir fry for
a minute. Add sugar and salt as
per taste along with veg stock
and tamarind juice. Cook for
5-7 minutes or until the sauce
thickens.
• Place the fish on a plate and
pour the thick sauce on the fish.
Garnish with some coriander
leaves and serve.
Creamy Mango
Chia Pudding
Ingredients
• 2 medium
ripe
mangoes
• 1 1/2 cup
coconut milk
• 3 tablespoon
honey
• 4 tablespoon
chia seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon
cinnamon
• 2 tablespoon
flaked almonds
Method
• To begin with
this easy
delicacy,
wash and peel
the mangoes. Then cut
them into small chunks and
make a smooth puree.
• Take a bowl and mix chia seeds
with warm coconut milk, honey
and a dash of cinnamon. Toss it
well and soak overnight.
• Take it out in the morning and
assemble the dish by pouring
the fresh mango puree and
topping it up with chilled
coconut chia pudding and fresh
mango chunks followed by
almonds, repeat the layers and
refrigerate for an hour to enjoy.

Read online www.iwk.co.nz Friday, 4 August, 2023
ENTERTAINMENT 17
After the Central Board of Film
Certification (CBFC) gave a green
signal to Akshay Kumar-starrer
‘OMG 2’, the actor expressed his gratitude
to the members of the board for trusting
the makers.
“Vishwas rakhne ke liye abhaar
(Gratitude for trusting us),” Akshay posted
on Instagram this week.
As per trade analyst Taran Adarsh, the
censor board has issued an ‘A’ (Adults
Only) certificate to the film.
“#Xclusiv... ‘OMG 2’ RUN TIME...
#OMG2 certified ‘A’ by #CBFC on 31 July
2023. Duration: 156.10 min:sec [2 hours,
36 min, 10 sec]. #India. Theatrical release
date: 11 Aug 2023. #AkshayKumar
#PankajTripathi #YamiGautam,” Adarsh
tweeted. While the film was awaiting its
“Thank you for
the trust”: Akshay
Kumar after censor
nod for ‘OMG 2’
certification, it was previously reported
the film’s release date might be shifted.
However, the film is now all set to be
released in theatres on August 11.
Helmed by Amit Rai, the film also stars
Pankaj Tripathi and Yami Gautam in the
lead roles. It will face a big Bollywood
clash with Sunny Deol’s upcoming action
film ‘Gadar 2’.
‘OMG 2’ has been under the radar ever
since the makers unveiled the film’s
posters and teaser. Several reports
claimed the film was put on hold by the
censor board as the committee wanted
to be extra cautious due to the film’s
religious theme.
‘OMG 2’ is a sequel to Paresh Rawal and
Akshay Kumar-starrer ‘OMG: Oh my God’.
In the original film, Akshay essayed the
BollyBuzz
Bollywood
celebrities walk
the ramp during
India Couture Week
2023 at Taj Palace
Hotel in New Delhi.
(ANI)
character of Lord Krishna. In the new part,
he will be seen essaying the role of Lord
Shiva.
Last month, the makers of the film
dropped a teaser of the movie, showing a
glimpse of OMG 2’s world and introducing
key characters, with Akshay playing Lord
Shiva and actor Pankaj Tripathi in the
role of a devotee. They also unveiled a
powerful song titled ‘Har Har Mahadev’.
The track has Akshay channelling Lord
Shiva with ash smeared on his face and
body, and doing his famous Tandav dance.
The song ‘Har Har Mahadev’ opens with
an army of Shiva devotees, both men
and women, clad in vibrant traditional
attire. The song is sung and composed by
Vikram Montrose and written by Shekhar
Astitwa.
‘Chandu Champion’: Kartik
Aaryan’s first look unveiled
Actor Kartik Aaryan
this week unveiled
the first look from
his upcoming film ‘Chandu
Champion’.
Taking to Instagram,
Kartik shared a post which
he captioned, “When
INDIA is written on your
chest, it’s a DIFFERENT
feeling Proud to be playing
a Real Hero. A Man Who
Refuses To Give Up
#ChanduChampion #FirstLook End of Schedule 1
#London.”
In the first look, Kartik could be seen donning
the India blazer with short hair and an intense
expression with some little injury marks on his face.
The ‘Dhamaka’ actor has now wrapped up the first
schedule of the film. Helmed by Kabir Khan, the film
is all set to hit the theatres on June 14, 2024.
As per a statement, ‘Chandu Champion’ is “based
on the extraordinary real-life story of a sportsman
and his spirit of never giving up”. With the film, the
audience will see Kartik doing a film based on a
real-life story in which he will portray the character
of lead Chandu. Soon after the ‘Luka Chuppi’ actor
shared the first look, fans flooded the comment
section with red hearts and fire emoticons.
“Superb!,” a fan commented. Another fan wrote,
“You are Unstoppable Mr. Aaryan! Keep Shining!”
‘Chandu Champion’ marks Kartik’s first
collaboration with director Kabir Khan.
Sanjay Dutt announces
Punjabi debut
Actor Sanjay Dutt is all set
to make his debut in the
Punjabi film industry in
collaboration with actor Gippy
Grewal’s upcoming film ‘Sheran
Di Kaum Punjabi’.
Sanjay took to Instagram and
treated fans to this exciting
news. In the photo, Sanjay is seen
posing with Gippy Grewal and
Amardeeps Grewal. Sharing the
picture, he wrote, “Waheguru Ji da
Khalsa. Proudly announcing my
first Punjabi film ‘Sheran Di Kaum
Punjabi’ with Gippy Grewal @
gippygrewal @amardeepsgrewal
@eastsunshineproductions.”
The film will be written and
directed by Gippy and produced
by Amardeep Grewal. Gippy
is currently basking in the
blockbuster success of ‘Carry On
Jatta 3’Taking to Instagram, trade
analyst Taran Adarsh shared
updates about the film. “CARRY
ON JATTA 3 CREATES HISTORY…
#Punjabi film #CarryOnJatta3
sets a NEW BENCHMARK at
the *Worldwide #Boxoffice*…
Besides, #CarryOnJatta3 is
#GippyGrewal’s HIGHEST
GROSSING
F I L M ,
overtaking his
previous best
#CarryOnJatta2 by a big margin.
#GippyGrewal #SonamBajwa
#HumbleMotionPictures.”
Sanjay Dutt recently turned 64.
His birthday was marked with
much fanfare across the nation.
His fans gathered outside his
residence to catch a glimpse
of the actor on his special day.
Sanjay came outside his building
to meet and greet his fans.
Not only did he greet his fans,
he also gave them a return gift
by announcing that he has joined
the cast of ‘Double iSmart’, a
sequel to Ram Pothineni and
director Puri Jagannadh’s 2019
hit iSmart Shankar. The film went
on floors recently in Mumbai.
Sharing his excitement
about working in the movie,
Sanjay tweeted, “It takes me
immense pride to be working
with the director of the masses
#PuriJagannadh ji and the
young energetic Ustaad @
ramsayz. Glad to be Playing the
#BIGBULL in this sci-fi mass
entertainer #DoubleISMART
Excited to be teaming up with
this super-talented team and
Looking forward to the film
hitting the screens on MARCH
8th, 2024 @Charmmeofficial @
IamVishuReddy @PuriConnects.”
He also shared a poster
featuring his look from the film.
Sporting a funky hairdo and a
beard, Sanjay looks stylish in a
suit. He sports earrings, rings, an
expensive watch, and a tattoo on
his face and fingers. The poster
shows him lighting a cigar as
guns point at him.
After giving an impactful
performance in ‘KGF -
Chapter 2’, Sanjay is all set to
share the screen space with
Thalapathy Vijay in director
Lokesh Kanagaraj’s upcoming
Tamil film ‘Leo’.

18
TIME OUT
CROSSWORD
i FreeDailyCrosswords.com
ACROSS-----------
1) North Pole resident? 39) _-relief(sculpture)
4) Surrealist Jean
42) Clockmaker Thomas
7) Certain house pet 43) Gilbert and Sullivan
I 0) Creative person's deg. operetta (with "The")
13) "Who Wants to_ 45) Gusto
Millionaire"
49) Historic Scott
14) Loss of electricity 51) Type of wave
16) Hither's partner
52) They're heard at the Met
17) Affleck of Hollywood 54) Type of rug
18) 1954 Brando film 56) Baskin-Robbins alternative
19)_Lanka
57) Aretha Franklin song
20) It stops traffic
60) Touch, in a children's game
23) Brown or polar animal 61) Type of flu
25) Mr. Berra
62) Place to lay one's head
26) Hagar the Horrible's wife 65) Suffix with "favor"
27) Sexton and Frank 66) Held from above
29) Family business word, 67) Number of cities in a
sometimes
Dickens title
31) Money-managing execs 68) Type of station
32) Puzzle in a box
69) Droop
34) Kismet
70) Classic car of yesteryear
36) Word in a Shakespeare title 71) Make one's own clothes
37) Like a nursing infant
BE CAR-FUL
7 8 9
70
6th June
DOWN
1) Tidal reflux
2) Director Spike
3) Castanet player's dance
4) "M*A*S*H" star Alan
5) Like a marsh
6) Public places for walking
7) Bird or church official
8) Grows older
9) Choppers, so to speak
10) Me,_, and I
11) Precede
12) Baker and Loos
15) Hobo
21) "_Tu" ('70s hit)
22) VCR button
23) _ California (Mexican peninsula)
24) Beloved of Geraint
28)_ serif (font choice)
30) Daisy supporter
33) An unloved plant
35) Change sentences
38) Going off the path
39) They're unlikely to be collected
40) "Rome wasn't built in_"
41) Some music scale notes
44) Chicken_ (dish)
45) Pleasingly plump
46) List of mistakes
47) Military blockades
48) Menlo Park initials
50) More skillful
53) Exchanges
55) Type of wide dress
58) In search of whales, perhaps
59) Bi-, quadrupled
63) Lamb's mom
64)_ Jones average
Friday, 4 August, 2023
CROSSWORD ANSWERS
i FreeDailyCrosswords.com
ACROSS-----------
1) North Pole resident?
4) Surrealist Jean
7) Certain house pet
I 0) Creative person's deg.
13) "Who Wants to_
Millionaire"
14) Loss of electricity
16) Hither's partner
17) Affleck of Hollywood
18) 1954 Brando film
19)_Lanka
20) It stops traffic
23) Brown or polar animal
25) Mr. Berra
26) Hagar the Horrible's wife
27) Sexton and Frank
29) Family business word,
sometimes
31) Money-managing execs
32) Puzzle in a box
34) Kismet
39) _-relief (sculpture)
42) Clockmaker Thomas
43) Gilbert and Sullivan
operetta (with "The")
45) Gusto
49) Historic Scott
51) Type of wave
52) They're heard at the Met
54) Type of rug
56) Baskin-Robbins alternative
57) Aretha Franklin song
60) Touch, in a children's game
61) Type of flu
62) Place to lay one's head
65) Suffix with "favor"
66) Held from above
67) Number of cities in a
Dickens title
68) Type of station
69) Droop
70) Classic car of yesteryear
36) Word in a Shakespeare title 71) Make one's own clothes
37) Like a nursing infant
BE CAR-FUL
Jade Macklin
1 2
E L A S R Gp 7c S 1 1 1
A 9T M F
1 1 1 8 E 3 E A k A G \t 0 N
1
E s I R
1 s R I
E N
E T
G I
2
A N 0
I
1=
T
H
E
A
R
R
0 F
s I A T I
61"
651 T
D E N w 0
6t; A 7k E 75 E w
6th June
DOWN
1) Tidal reflux
2) Director Spike
3) Castanet player's dance
4) "M*A*S*H" star Alan
5) Like a marsh
6) Public places for walking
7) Bird or church official
8) Grows older
9) Choppers, so to speak
10) Me,_, and I
11) Precede
12) Baker and Loos
15) Hobo
21) "_Tu" ('70s hit)
22) VCR button
23) _ California (Mexican peninsula)
24) Beloved of Geraint
28)_ serif (font choice)
30) Daisy supporter
33) An unloved plant
35) Change sentences
38) Going off the path
39) They're unlikely to be collected
40) "Rome wasn't built in_"
41) Some music scale notes
44) Chicken_ (dish)
45) Pleasingly plump
46) List of mistakes
47) Military blockades
48) Menlo Park initials
50) More skillful
53) Exchanges
55) Type of wide dress
58) In search of whales, perhaps
59) Bi-, quadrupled
63) Lamb's mom
64)_ Jones average
Read online www.iwk.co.nz
SUDOKU SOLUTIONS
SUDOKU
Your Weekly Horoscope: August 4 - August 10, 2023
ARIES (MAR 21-APR 20)
When things don’t go your way, it’s easy to
assume the worst. That’s not a wise move
this week. Your ability to be emotionally
adaptive in trying situations is being tested,
Aries. Be willing to adjust your expectations,
or at the very least, don’t allow self-defeating
narratives to make things worse than they are. You may not
have what you want in this moment, but that’s no indication
that you won’t get it. Be patient and stay the course.
TAURUS (APR 21-MAY 20)
You may be feeling stagnant or emotionally
exhausted in the presence of others this
week. If that’s the case, it’s a sign that you
need to be spending some quality time with
the Taurus inside (that’s you!). Sometimes
the best way to invest in your relationships
with others is by taking a step back from them and doing
some mindful inner work on yourself.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUN 21)
It’s important that you stop looking outside
of yourself for answers. Start trusting the
wisdom you possess. This week, your ruling
planet steps into its retroshade, and it’s a tiny
nudge to go within. It’s time to trust in your
own capacity, energy, and ability to turn past
experiences into present inspiration and resourcefulness.
Choose your mentors and inspiration with care.
CANCER (JUN 22-JUL 20)
If you find yourself obsessing or fixating on
your fears, the way to combat that this week
is by taking small but sustainable steps to
materially improve your situation. While you
can’t control how you feel or what happens
to you or anyone else, you can do your best
to stay centred in your own most resilient and aligned
energies. Don’t let what ifs detract from what could be. A
shift in attitude can go a long way in creating just the shift in
circumstance that you need, Moonchild.
LEO (JUL21-AUG 20)
Venus retrograding through your sign is
meant to rattle your foundations, so if you’ve
already been feeling it, you’re right on time.
Any relationships, investments, and projects
that don’t reflect your values are likely to
be more uncomfortable this week. It points
you towards what needs attention and care.
Embrace some short-term discomfort in order to grow your
big-picture happiness, Leo.
VIRGO (AUG 23-SEP 23)
It’s time to transform your attachment to
control, Virgo. There’s no amount of figuring
and analyzing that will give you control
over your emotions, other people, or your
circumstances. Feeling uncomfortable and
unsure is simply part of the human experience.
Do your best to spend some time sitting with the unknown
and tending to whatever emotions come up for you.
LIBRA (SEP 24-OCT 23)
If you’re feeling frustrated, like you can’t get
ahead or like people and situations are trying
to block your progress, it’s important that
you don’t act out. Create some space in your
life where you can sit with your emotions so
that you can better understand what’s really
got you agitated. If you allow yourself to act out, passively
or aggressively, you’ll find that you create more drama than
you solve. Just give yourself the space you need, Libra.
SCORPIO (OCT 24-NOV 22)
You’ve got to let go of control, Scorpio. What
happens next, how people act or react, and
even your own moods—these are not under
your control. If you can accept what you
cannot change, you will have more energy
to focus on what you can. It’s hard to admit
that you are standing in the way of your own happiness, but
there’s so much freedom in doing so. This week, get real
with yourself so you can get free.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV 23-DEC 21)
This week, it’s important that you focus on
self-love, not to the exclusion of caring for
others but as a reinforcement of a healthy
foundation within yourself. Whether you
struggle with self-esteem or you are your own
BFF, it’s important that you find and express
gratitude for the parts of yourself that you genuinely love.
This will not only help you feel good, but it will bolster your
ability to cope with whatever comes, Sagittarius.
CAPRICORN (DEC 22-JAN 21)
As your circumstances change, you have the
opportunity to rise to the occasion and adapt.
Whether that means going with the flow or
fighting it, your capacity to respond with
intention is one that you should lean into this
week. Be willing to engage in heartfelt ways
that reflect what is not only true for you in the moment but
possible for you to grow into in the future. This is the time
to act with emotional maturity, Capricorn.
AQUARIUS (JAN 22-FEB 19)
It’s time to shift the load you’ve been carrying
so that you can keep it up, Aquarius. Tap into
your vulnerability, because as uncomfortable
as it might be, this is where you’ll find your
empathy and wisdom. It’s time for you to be
more intentional about how and where you
invest your time and energy. The more compassionate selfawareness
you have, the better you’ll be able to do what
needs to be done.
PISCES (FEB 20-MAR 20)
It’s important to have clarity about what’s
most important, and within that, to have
clarity around what values should guide and
protect those things. Otherwise, it’s easy
to get thrown off course. This week, other
people or circumstances may have you
second-guessing yourself. To reflect on your situation and
ask questions is healthy. To allow others to undermine you
is another story. Don’t forget to practice healthy boundaries
when you need them most, Pisces.

Read online www.iwk.co.nz Friday, 4 August, 2023
NEW ZEALAND 19