FIJI DYNAMICS - December 2020

DECEMBER 2020 - JANUARY 2021 | NO 2 | FREE

DECEMBER 2020 - JANUARY 2021

MISSION

KASHMIR

She's determined to

preserve and celebrate

unique Fiji identity

Raghwa Gopal:

Driving

innovation in BC

P 6-8

Rabuka:

Not giving

up easily

P 12-13

FIJI

2 DYNAMICS


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DECEMBER 2020

3

5

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NZ PRIME MINISTER’S

PRIME MINISTER’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

CHRISTMAS Kia ora koutou katoa and a very merry Christmas to everyone across Aotearoa New

Zealand.

This year has been a challenging one, and I want to thank you for everything you’ve helped

us achieve in 2020. Together, we’ve come this far, and I hope you can now take some time

to enjoy the holiday season.

Of course, this time of year can be difficult, especially for those who are unable to spend

Christmas with loved ones. It’s a good time to reach out to your friends and neighbours to

check they’re doing OK, and for those of you who are working right through the festive

period to keep us safe and to keep our country moving - thank you. We really appreciate

your efforts.

Finally, don’t forget to scan in with the COVID Tracer App wherever you go, and if you’re

unwell this holiday season, please stay home and get a test.

Rt Hon Jacinda Arden

Meri Kirihimete everyone, and all the very best for the year ahead!

Kia ora koutou katoa and a very Merry Christmas to everyone across

Aotearoa New Zealand.

DECEMBER 2020 5

This year has been a challenging one, and I want to thank you for

everything you’ve helped us achieve in 2020. Together, we’ve come this far,

and I hope you can now take some time to enjoy the holiday season.

Of course, this time of year can be difficult, especially for those who are

unable Rt Hon to Jacinda spend Ardern Christmas with loved ones. It’s a good time to reach out

to

Prime

your

Minister PRIME MINISTER’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

friends and neighbours to check they’re doing OK, and for those of

Kia ora koutou katoa and a very merry Christmas to everyone across Aotearoa New

you Zealand. who are working right through the festive period to keep us safe and to

keep This year has our been a challenging country one, and moving I want to thank you - for thank everything you’ve you. helped We really appreciate your efforts.

us achieve in 2020. Together, we’ve come this far, and I hope you can now take some time

to enjoy the holiday season.

Finally, Of course, this time don’t of year can forget be difficult, especially to scan for those who in are with unable to the spend COVID Tracer App wherever you go,

Christmas with loved ones. It’s a good time to reach out to your friends and neighbours to

and

check they’re

if

doing

you’re

OK, and for

unwell

those of you who

this

are working

holiday

right through

season,

the festive

please stay home and get a test.

period to keep us safe and to keep our country moving - thank you. We really appreciate

your efforts.

Finally, don’t forget to scan in with the COVID Tracer App wherever you go, and if you’re


unwell this holiday season, please stay home and get a test.


Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern

Prime

Hon

Minister

Jacinda Arden

Prime Minister

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Message from

Hon Michael Wood

“I am delighted to pass on my warmest greetings for the second edition of Fiji Dynamics

and to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas happy New Year.

The New Zealand Fiji community is diverse and active across our whole society, from

business and sports, medicine and social services, politics and education,

and many other fields.

It is great to see a publication being set up that will help to connect the community, tell its

stories, and raise important issues.

2020 has been year unlike any other, but the hard work of all New Zealanders has kept

our communities safe, and we have considerable freedom to enjoy more normal conditions

now that we have moved back to Level 1.

As such I know that many people are looking forward to major community celebrations

after many months.

“Regardless of your faith or cultural background, I hope that the Christmas spirit of hope,

peace, love, and joy surrounds you and your family at this special time of year.”

May Christmas and New Year bring you and your loved ones much joy.

Vinaka!

Hon Michael Wood

MP for Mt Roskill

Minister of Transport

Minister of Workplace Relations & Safety

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5

Message from

Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan

Minister of Ethnic Communities

Congratulations to the team at Fiji Dynamics on your excellent

new monthly magazine that highlights and celebrates the

achievements of the diaspora.

This year has been a tough one and we’ve all had to make

sacrifices to keep NZ safe in the face of the COVID-19

pandemic. Thank you all for this. Over summer, I hope you get

a good break and spend some quality time with

your loved ones.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan

MP for Maungakiekie

Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector,

Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities, and Youth

FIJI DYNAMICS is published by The Whānau Community Trust from its offices located at 35 East Tamaki Road, Papatoetoe, Auckland, Aotearoa-New Zealand and Printed by Horton

Media Limited, Auckland. Phone: 0800437686; Email : info@fijidynamics.com; Websites : www.fijidynamics.com; www.fijidynamics.online . EISSN 2744-3280

All material appearing on our printed, web, mobile app, social media, downloadable and email editions are the copyright of FIJI DYNAMICS. Reproduction in full or part in any medium is

prohibited, unless expressly obtained from and approved by FIJI DYNAMICS and/or The Whānau Community Trust. FIJI DYNAMICS and its management and staff do not accept any

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0800437686; Email: info@fijidynamics.com NOTE: The views of contributing writers are not necessarily those of FIJI DYNAMICS. While FIJI DYNAMICS makes every

effort to ensure that no misleading claims are made by advertisers, responsibility cannot be accepted by FIJI DYNAMICS or The Whānau Community Trust for the failure of any product

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Innovation driver

From humble beginnings in Nausori, Fiji, to an entrepreneur, community leader, philanthropist, and chief executive

of Innovate BC in Canada, Raghwa Gopal’s journey is one to be extremely proud of. Rohini Murti caught up with

the man himself in Vancouver (trying to catch up with Gopal can be an experience in itself – the man is always

travelling, but she had Covid-19 to thank for this).

What exactly is Innovate

BC? What does it do?

Founded in 2004,

Innovate BC is a

Crown agency of the

Province of British Columbia, Canada,

which funds entrepreneurial support

programmes in the province. It focuses

on the support of technology startups

and entrepreneurs through programmes,

sponsorship and competitions that facilitate

technology commercialiation.

So tell us a little about yourself.

I was born and raised in Nausori,

Fiji, and gained my primary education

at Koroqaqa Indian School, secondary

education at DAV Boys' College in Suva

and then enrolled for Algebra and Calculus

courses at University of the South

Pacific, while taking computer programming

courses from Wellington Institute of

Technology.

I worked for Fiji National Provident

Fund from 1977 to 1979 as a Software

Developer and then migrated to Canada

(Kelowna, British Columbia) in early

1979.

On arriving in Kelowna, I was very

lucky to connect with a local businessmen

and co-founded the very first

technology company in this city. We

worked extremely hard and grew this

company to become one of Canada’s

best and largest providers of software

and services to local governments all

across the country.

So technology isn’t exactly new to you

is it?

What paved the way to your being CEO

Raghwa Gopal: Entrepreneur, community leader, philanthropist, and chief executive of Innovate

BC in Canada.

of Innovate BC?

After selling my very first company (Vadim

Software) in 2001, followed by helping

several more startups, I started to

dedicate all my time to community work,

specifically helping non-profit organisations

in our community and mentoring

students and entrepreneurs. To provide

better and more broadly accessible mentorship,

I aided in the creation and setup

of a local accelerator called Accelerate

Okanagan. Later, I took on the lead role

as the CEO to run the accelerator. This

accelerator, and the programs it provided

regionally, became a huge success and a

model for other accelerators around the

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7

Chief guest Raghwa Gopal and wife Sarita at a Sangam Convention in Fiji in 2018, pictured with Sangam Fiji president Sadasivan Naicker.

province and the country. With my new

role at Innovate BC, I am hoping to bring

the same kind of success to the rest of

the province.

But why you specifically for

Innovate BC?

Being an entrepreneur, a mentor, an

investor, and having run a very successful

accelerator are the unique mix of

qualities and skills that I could bring to

the table at Innovate BC. My many years

of experience working with and connecting

with local and international businesses,

governments and investors also help.

Understanding the journey of a business

from start to finish is vital in knowing how

to help them and I feel my background

and experience offers valuable insight in

that regard.

What are your plans for Innovate BC?

I am hoping Innovate BC becomes the

leading organization to support all aspiring

innovators and entrepreneurs in British

Columbia by providing the resources

and programs they need to succeed - in

addition to providing timely assistance

to companies that are starting to scale

up so they can grow and stay in BC. We

hope this work will make Innovate BC

the model to look at by other provinces

and other jurisdictions around the world.

What plans for BC through

Innovate BC?

I want to make British Columbia the

leader in innovation and technology. We

are becoming world leaders in clean/

green technology and want to do the

same and more in other sectors. Secondly,

we want to help foster the creation

and growth of British Columbia based

companies that are innovative and are

solving real life, large scale problems

Raghwa Gopal loves cooking too.

Let us help design and build your dream kitchen

Kushma Nair – Managing Director

+(649) 2501346 / 021-533213

61 East Tamaki Road, Hunters Corner, Papatoetoe, Auckland, NZ

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Kelowna city councillor Maxine Dehart hands over the Olympic torch to Raghwa Gopal.

of the world. Lastly, we hope to create

high quality, high paying jobs for British

Columbians.

As though Innovate BC isn’t enough

to keep him busy, Gopal and his wife,

Sarita, have set up the Gopal Foundation.

What was this geared towards?

The inspiration to create a family foundation

came from my mum. I admired

her courage and hard work to get me

educated when really there was very little

means available for her to do it. To her,

she would sacrifice anything to make

sure her children got educated – as she

very strongly believed that education

was the only way out of poverty.

To that note, the foundation currently

provides scholarships for students at

Okanagan College, for those students

that want to get an education but can’t

afford it.

The foundation has also setup a

scholarship program in Fiji to help under

privileged students who are eager to

learn but have no means to pay for

university studies. The foundation is also

sponsoring a women’s empowerment

project in India.

Our family has also been very involved

in helping local organizations with

fundraising efforts and other volunteer

activities for many years – whether it be

with Rotary, United Way, Project Literacy

etc.

About five years ago, we decided

to take on some large fundraising to

support organisations like BC Cancer

Society, Karis Support Society, The

Rotary Club of Kelowna and YMCA -

via our signature fundraising event, the

Bollywood Gala.

Over the past five years, we have

raised close to $400K for four different

organisations.

And after Innovate BC? Will you ever

retire?

I feel like I have done everything that I

wanted to do, achieved everything that

I desired, so there isn’t much left to do –

other than retire happily ever after.

But anyone that knows me well will tell

you that I will never fully retire, so I will

continue to find interesting projects to

continue to work on. I have a huge passion

for improving diversity and inclusion

and to help create better communities,

so you will find me doing stuff in those

areas for a while. I do have an ambition

for one more thing which I won’t unveil

right now, but keep an eye in the next

two-three years and there may be some

news on this front.

Fiji remains close to your heart - do

you have plans for going back and settling

there if you retire?

We, as a family, have been going to

Fiji for vacation every year for the past

25 years or so, and we will continue to

do so in the future as well. Our retirement

plans include a lot of travelling

and our visits to Fiji will be longer at

that point as I do have plans to help my

fellow Fijians. We have already setup a

scholarship programme in Fiji and I am

in the process of setting up a couple of

new programmes for the students there

called Junior Achievement and Coding

Camps. We will continue to spend twothree

months in Fiji every year and the

rest of the time in Kelowna and traveling

abroad.

And recreation – what do you do to

relax – if at all?

Golfing has been my hobby for many

years but the last few years I have gotten

a bit too busy and haven’t golfed as

much as I like. And we love traveling –

going to different parts of the world and

experiencing different cultures, different

foods and just taking in the great sights.

- Raghwa Gopal lives in Kelowna with

Sarita, his wife of 39 years and has two

beautiful children, Amreeta and Ronish.

Sheikhil Khan – Advisor / Franchise Owner

with over 20 years of industry experience

Mobile: 027 223 6489

sheikhil.khan@mikepero.co.nz

mikepero.co.nz/Sheikhil-khan

FIJI

DYNAMICS

Reconnecting with resilience


9

by Norisha Chand

Born in Labasa, Fiji, and now living in Wellington, Kashmir Kaur is determined to

preserve and celebrate the unique Fiji identity, and she is already making her mark.

THE language, the culture and

the history of Fiji is something

all us Fiji Indians hold close to

our hearts.

Extrovert, Kashmir Kaur is passionate

about preserving our unique identity

by raising awareness of the journey

of Fiji Indians, developing sustainable

resources on the Girmit history and

establishing our hyphenated identity

within New Zealand’s dynamic population.

A once-in-a-lifetime event, led by

Kaur, was recently held by a dedicated

Fiji Indian project team in Wellington

called "Fiji Girmit Exhibition – 100

Years of Reflections" to signify 100

years since the legal abolishment of

Indian indenture system in Fiji.

“The exhibition aimed to reconnect,

reclaim and restore Girmit history by

remembering, celebrating and advocating

Fiji heritage, identity and diaspora,”

Kaur explained to Fiji Dynamics.

“Girmit has a special place in my

heart, given I am a child of the girmitayas.

“Three of my four grandparents had

arrived in Fiji through the indenture

system.”

The event was received exceptionally

positively by the viewers who

attended in person and those that

followed virtually through live streams

and other social media platforms.

“We were receiving astonishing and

encouraging feedback from Fiji, Australia,

US, Canada, South Africa and

of course from all over New Zealand,”

says Kaur.

The exhibition, jointly aided by the

Fiji Girmit Foundation New Zealand

The Fijian touch, Kashmir Kaur with a Hibiscus flower tucked in her hair. photo: Project Bloom

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Kashmir Kaur speaking on ethnic youth empowerment at a conference in 2019.

MC at a dinner for NZ police recruits at Royal NZ Police College.

With husband Ajay Singh, daughters Supriti, left, son Arnav, daughter Pri.

and Ekta NZ Inc, featured:

• Actual objects and artefacts from

Girmit history,

• Printed materials telling stories of

the Girmitayas,

• Interactive activities,

• Poetry reciting in Hindi, Fiji-Hin

di, Fijian and English,

• Youth forums,

• Folk music,

• Documentaries on "finding your

roots".

Kaur hopes that this event is a

reminder to reconnect with resilience.

The participation and enthusiasm from

the younger generation is a testament

that they are keen to learn more, not

just about the Girmit era but also the

unique Fiji Hindi language that shapes

the distinctive identity of Fiji Indians.

“The use of Hindi Language and

culture is an invaluable asset that has

been passed on to us, and it is our

responsibility to continue passing it

on,” Kaur says.

“My first step towards promoting the

use of Hindi language and culture is

to maintain it at home and within my

family.”

Kaur, 43, was born in Labasa, Fiji,

and lives in a traditional extended

family setting, with three generations

under the same roof in a scenic suburb

of Wellington.

“It’s like a mini ‘mandali',” she says.

"We all speak Fiji Hindi, recite and

listen to Hindi scripts and Fiji Hindi

music, watch Bollywood, play Indian

classical musical instruments, occasionally

drink kava and enjoy fusion of

Indian and Pasifika food.”

The maintenance of language and

culture is then extended to the wider

community where her three children,

through Wellington Hindi school, become

ambassadors of their language

and culture within their mainstream

schools and wider networks.

Kashmir Kaur, principal advisor at a

central government agency, and her

husband, Ajay Singh, also support

Wellington Hindi School in its governance

as the current chairperson and

ex-treasurer respectively.

“Since 2006, we’ve been involved

in various projects of the 28-year-old

community language school, which

is one of the ten community-based

Hindi schools in New Zealand," Kaur

explains

"Under operations manager Sunita

Narayan’s outstanding leadership, the

fully voluntary run community-based

school have been leading discussions

at national and international levels on

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11

These items were all part of the display at the recent Fiji Girmit Exhibition in Wellington.

Hindi language and culture.”

Kaur has also been supporting

no- for-profit, non-political

and non-religious charity Ekta

NZ Inc from the sideline since

2017 and has recently joined

its executive committee.

“My favourite part associating

with Ekta is the speed

at which ideas are turned into

actions, and this is evident in

the number of high-profile and

groundbreaking projects that

Ekta NZ Inc has delivered in

its three years of existence.”

Fiji born, Kashmir Kaur,

moved to New Zealand with

Ajay and their 18-month-old

daughter in 2002 and has

also been a member of the

Asia New Zealand Foundation

Leadership Network since

2007, Fiji day committee since

2016 and Junior Girls basketball

manager for two years

now.

“I could not be doing any

of the community work if it

wasn’t for my family’s wholesome

support, especially

Ajay’s.

“My family have not only

provided moral support and encouragement but have

actively helped out and participated in a lot of the community

work.

"They are my sounding board of ideas and constructive

feedback," she says.

“I guess if you are genuinely passionate about something,

you have the option of bringing others along with

you on that journey.

"Ajay and I encourage our children to take leadership

in their fields of interest, and they can do this easily if

we role-model that for them.

“I have also been so lucky to have landed jobs that

have provided the much-needed flexibility.”

She envisions a platform which can help us bridge

the gaps in the perception and knowledge of our unique

identities and our powerful stories.

For people wanting to promote the Fiji-Indian culture

she advises, “start small, start at home".

"If you are able to persevere and continue to use your

language and culture at home, you can extend that

passion to the wider community when you and your

family are ready," she says.

“With Indian lineage, born in Fiji and living here in

New Zealand, there is a constant slip between acceptable

stereotypes because traditional categories cannot

always organise identities," says Kaur.

“We may not be officially classed as Pasifika or anything

in particular yet, but a unique identity is crucial in

diaspora settings like New Zealand."

To the uninitiated, girmit is the term used to reference

indentured labourers who were brought from India to

work the sugar cane plantations in Fiji more than

140 years ago.

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Rabuka move could

spell the end of SODELPA

by Sam Thompson

THE man who ousted Fiji’s

democratically elected Bavadra

Government and initiated

the coup culture in Fiji, has

resigned from parliament, but

he has not bowed out of politics.

Opposition leader, 72-year-old Sitiveni

Rabuka, tendered his resignation saying

“I will no longer be an obstacle to the

bipartisan approach to be taken by the

leaders of Fiji to create harmony, progress

and unity in Fiji".

Rabuka spat the dummy, declaring he

will be forming a new political party after

losing a tussle for the leadership of the

Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODEL-

PA).

There’s a bitter division within SOL-

DEPA’s conservative right-wing and the

moderates.

Contesting the top job were Viliame

Gavoka, Ratu Jone Navakamocea, Pio

Tabaiwalu and Aseri Radrodro.

That saw the emergence of Gavoka,

an articulate, respected debater on the

opposition benches, as the new SODEP-

LA leader.

It’s an interesting mix to Fiji’s political

landscape as he’s the father-in-law of

Fiji’s most powerful political figure, the

Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

Rabuka led SODELPA since June

2016 and built it to be a formidable force

against his successor, coup leader Frank

Bainimarama.

His ascent to the leadership of SODEP-

LA was acrimonious with Ro Teimumu

Kepa forced to step down by a party

constitutional change that required the

party leader to relinquish the position after

an election loss.

That has come full circle to bite Rabuka

Sitiveni Rabuka ... now.

Rabuka, the coup leader, 1987.

in the proverbial behind, he failed to win

the 2018 general election, hence his

ousting by SOLDEPA caucus.

But underlying that is a bigger picture.

Rabuka still has considerable backing

within SODELPA, his ousting was only by

five votes.

Rabuka is relying on that and his name

to carry him through with the formation of

a new party led by him.

He’s indicated he’s working with his

former army mates, Colonel Sakiusa

Raivoce and Colonel Mataiasi Lomaloma,

to form his new party and he’s hoping

there will be defections by prominent

members of other parties to join him.

Rabuka’s political history is checkered.

He burst on to the scene on May 14,

1987, precisely at 10am.

That’s when Rabuka and his men

stormed parliament and kidnapped the

democratically elected Timoci Bavadra-led

government members of parliament.

I was one of five journalists in the press

gallery who were witness to that day that

changed the course of Fiji’s history.

As the then editor of Fiji’s independent

radio station FM 96, I went on to break

the news to Fiji and the rest of the world –

Community Seminars: coming up throughout the year

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FIJI

DYNAMICS


13

Viliame Gavoka: SODELPA'S new leader.

Voreqe Bainimarama: Prime Minister.

that “democracy as we know it ended at

10am today”.

Interestingly, the then Prime Minister of

New Zealand, David Lange, quoted me

saying that.

Rabuka’s usurping of power in Fiji was

not random, it was meticulously planned,

I suspect, years before its execution.

Underlying it all is the powerplay within

the political and chiefly system.

On the face of what is the new norm

now, after multiple coups, is supressed

uncertainty of the present regime.

Rabuka’s coup was supposed to open

the way for iTaukei rights – but who was

restricting it?

Successive iTaukei dominated governments

were and continued to make the

decisions that seemed unpalatable to Fiji

citizens, kept in line under the barrel of

a gun.

That is Rabuka’s legacy .

It doesn’t seem he wants to rectify

that, it’s more an attempt to remain in the

limelight.

A recap: he formed the Soqosoqo ni

Vakavulewa ni Taukei (SVT) after outing

the Bavadra Government in the 1987

coup.

He changed the constitution to ensure

he would not be prosecuted for treason

for staging the coup.

He subsequently went on to serve as

the democratically elected Prime Minister

from 1992 to 1997.

Rabuka formed a coalition with the National

Federation Party to fight the 1999

general election but suffered a humiliating

defeat to Mahendra Chaudhry’s Fiji

Labour Party.

The demise of his SVT party began

when Rabuka lost the election again in

2001.

That saw the rise of Laisenia Qarase’s

Soqosoqo ni Duavata ni Lewenivanua

(SDL) party which won that election and

the subsequent one in 2006.

Since then, Rabuka has been in the

political wilderness until his re-emergence

as SODELPA leader in 2016.

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum: Attorney-General and

Viliame Gavoka's son-in-law.

It’s a position he tried unsuccessfully to

capture two years earlier.

Rabuka has now cut ties with other

political parties announcing he will go

it alone, forming a new party, indicating

it will be set up along the lines of his

defunct SVT.

At the time of this edition going to print,

Rabuka hadn’t revealed further details

nor the name of the new party he will be

heading.

It has also raised a few interesting

questions.

Such as, SOLDEPA, what will become

of it?

Watch this space.

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FIJI

14 DYNAMICS


Stars in his eyes

by Special Correspondent

MOVIE buff, movie fan, movie

fanatic, filmmaker - call him

what you may, Salmeen

Khan is all of that and more.

The 44-year-old Aucklander, who

once had high ambitions to be an airline

pilot, is the latest of Fiji-born filmmakers

who are making an impression

in the fledgling industry.

Khan, a promotions co-ordinator

at Indian radio station, Radio Tarana,

has been a key driver behind the Fiji

Hindi film, Unlimited Tamaashaa, which

released in New Zealand theatres last

month.

For someone who started out as a

projector operator at Capitol Cinemas

in Dominion Rd, Auckland, more than

20 years ago, Khan has come a long

way as far as movie-making is concerned.

Along with his busy schedule at

Tarana, where he has worked for more

than 20 years, Khan has managed to

achieve quite a bit in the filmmaking

industry - his CV now includes acting

as well.

First it was Pump Up The Mandali

more than 10 years ago, where Khan

was involved in a lot of production

work, and also had a small role of a

pedestrian who gets knocked off his

bicycle by a high-hat motorist.

In his current venture - Unlimited

Tamaashaa - where he is an executive

producer along with Ayub Khan and

Shiv Bhagirath, Khan also plays the

lead villain role of "Bosso".

Directed by Sridhar Kallidai, Unlimited

Tamaashaa storyline revolves

around the kidnapping of a millionaire

businessman all gone wrong.

What ensues is a comedy of errors

culminating in a hilarious Fiji style drama

adventure.

"Making Unlimited Tamaashaa was

a great experience," Khan, who is also

known as "Kunj" in the Tarana studios,

recently told Fiji Dynamics.

"It was a very funny experience as

well, and I'm glad people have connected

with it."

His first stint at film production was

probably when Players, starring Abhishek

Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai,

was being shot in Wellington.

Salmeen Khan, left, with Sridhar Kallidai, director

of Unlimited Tamaashaa, at the premiere of the

movie in Auckland in November.

FIJI

DYNAMICS


15

"A good experience where I got to

help a bit in production role."

For Khan, dabbling in the movie industry

has been a lot of hard work, but there

have been perks as well.

For example, Khan is probably only

Aucklander who has met more Bollywood

stars than you can count. And not

just met, he actually spent time showing

them around Auckland for the time they

spent here.

The latest was Bollywood megastar of

yesteryear, Zeenat Aman, who was the

guest at Radio Tarana's Diwali Mela in

Auckland in 2019.

Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai,

Neha Dhupia, Jimmy Shergil, Riya Sen,

Bobby Deol, Govinda, Jackie Shroff,

Dharmendra, Imran Hashimi, Shakti

Kapoor, Suneil Shetty, Tushar Kapoor,

Jonny Lever, Salman Khan, Bipasa Basu,

Sonam Kapoor, Daisy Shah, Manish

Paul, Prabhu Deva, Abbas Mastan, Rajpal

Yadav, Neeraj Shreedhar, Neil Nitin

Mukesh, Daler Mehndi, Sonu Nigam,

Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta - you name

it, he's met them.

"It's the nature of my job," says Khan,

who gets to collect the Bollywood stars

at the airport when they arrive into the

country.

"I get to pick them from airport, take

them to their hotels, drive them around

to all engagements, and basically be

with them until they return to India.

"I've met so many of them, and they're

such good people...

"I found Bobby Deol, Govinda, Tushar

Kapoor, Suniel Shetty, and Jackie Shroff,

Johhny Lever so down to earth, we used

to even eat together sometimes.

"Lots of good memories of good times

with the stars," says Khan, who was

born in Simla, Lautoka, and has been

living in New Zealand since 1987.

He probably would have met more

Bollywood stars this year, but Covid-19

put paid to those ambitions.

For now, Khan is content with that he

and other cast, crew, and production

team have achieved with Unlimited

Tamaashaa.

Next on the list is Pump Up The Mandali

2, and a Punjabi movie is also on the

horizon.

Next month: Sridhar Kallidai tells of

struggles in the industry.

FIJI

16 DYNAMICS


Fijian soldiers fight for life in the UK

British Army veterans feel they have been abandoned by the country they once fought to defend

EIGHT Fijian-born British Army

veterans plan to continue

campaigning to live legally in

the United Kingdom despite

losing a legal challenge in the country’s

High Court this month.

Support for their cause is gaining

momentum across the region, with

calls from academics, journalists

and legal advocates for the British

government to do more to protect its

soldiers.

In a social media post, long-time

Pacific journalist and regional commentator

Bruce Hill said the ongoing

plight of the veterans needed to be

taken seriously by the UK government.

“I have it on good authority that

Her Majesty is aware of the situation

and has made her feelings known

with a quiet word in the right ears.

She has no power but a degree of

influence still,” Hill wrote on Twitter.

Dr Anna Powles, senior lecturer

at Massey University’s Centre for

Defence and Security Studies, said

the UK’s handling of the issue would

impact negatively on its credibility as

a partner to Fiji and the Pacific.

“As part of its wide re-engagement

with the Pacific and credibility as a

partner to the region, the UK needs to

genuinely step up with respect to its

treatment of Fiji veterans who served

in the British Army,” Dr Powles said

on Twitter.

The eight veterans alleged that

bureaucratic errors, expensive visa

fees and wrong advice left them living

illegally in the country they had once

fought to defend.

High Court Judge Mr Justice Garby

Sheldon Chanel, Suva

Isei Vono ... "where is the fairness after service?" photo: Jovesa Naisua/The Guardian

nham dismissed the veterans’ application

for a judicial review, concluding

that the claim came too late and

that the courts were concerned with

“illegality not misadministration” or an

“unfocused idea of fairness".

But campaigners from the group,

Commonwealth Neglected Veterans

(CNV), described the judgement as

“bitterly disappointing” and “ethically

wrong".

“We feel disgusted and betrayed by

the [court] judgment made,” Isei Vono,

a former British Army Combat Medic

who leads the Fiji branch of CNV, told

The Guardian newspaper.

“One of the covenants of the British

Army is that all Commonwealth soldiers

will be treated fairly but where

does the fairness go after service?”

Commonwealth countries have long

been a recruiting hub for the British

Army.

From the 5000 Commonwealth

soldiers currently in the British Army,

more than 1300 are Fiji-born, the

largest group behind the Nepalese

Gurkhas.

The Gurkha veterans had found

themselves in the same predicament

before they won the right to settle in

Britain, thanks to a high-profile protest

campaign, led by actress Joanna Lumley,

which forced the British government

to change its rules in 2009.

Lumley, whose father served in the

6th Ghurkha Rifles, organised protests,

pressured senior politicians and

presented a petition with 250,000 signatures

to 10 Downing Street before

the rules were eventually changed.

Ghurkas who have served for four or

more years are now allowed to settle

in the UK after retirement.

The Fijian vets see some parallels

with the Ghurkas, and they are hoping

for a similar outcome, especially with

the CNV rallying behind them and calls

for similar support for their campaign.

Fijians have been part of the British

Army since gaining independence in

1970.

FIJI

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17

Hundreds gather under the tanoa for the kava ceremony to open Te Ao Marama at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Te Ao Marama under the tanoa

AUCKLAND Museum’s Te Ao

Marama southern entrance

is a symbolic nod to the past

and heralds a bold new future

for one of Tamaki Makaurau’s iconic

landmarks.

The $38 million revamp breathes

new life into an institution built 91

years ago to honour the country’s war

heroes and is home to sacred taonga

from all over the world.

Hundreds gathered under the giant

tanoa that straddles the southern atrium

for the Maori powhiri and ceremonial

kava ceremony to open the new

space.

Board chair Orchid Atimala says part

of this project is the gallery renewable

phase telling the new stories

of Tangata Whenua, Pasifika and all

Aucklanders in a place that is now fit

for purpose.

“They will be able to share and convey

those stories with so much more

passion and contemporary interpretations

for our children of the future.”

Te Ao Marama allows for the portability

of knowledge and information of

age-old artefacts on to digital platforms

that are globally accessible on

the Internet.

None is prouder than outgoing

Pacific Advisory Board member Anna

Pickering who says watching the ceremonies

under the four-legged Fijian

Tanoa was pretty special.

She says one of the successes in

her time has been the five-year Pacific

Collection Access Project inviting

Pacific knowledge holders to share

their heritage and history of artefacts

that have lain dormant at the museum

for decades.

“Fiji has the largest collection and

took two years to showcase exhibits.

I would like to encourage all Fijians to

ask museum staff if you are keen to

view the Fiji collection.”

The Seafood Kitchen has a Taste of Kiwi, European and Island Fusion food

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www.elliottstables.co.nz/eat/the-seafod-kitchen

FIJI

18 DYNAMICS


Tongan Olympian Pita Taufatofua (first left) and Robert Oliver help Fiji’s budding Master Chefs in the Pacific Kids Food Revolution.

Cooking up a storm

BUDDING master chefs could

change health outcomes for

kids in Fiji thanks to a reality TV

children’s cooking show that promotes

healthy eating using fresh local food

grown in backyard gardens.

Best of all the four part series of the

Pacific Kids Food Revolution has won

the official seal of approval of Minister

of Education Rosy Akbar.

“Programmes like these provide

children a platform, not only to develop

their academic skills, but also positions

them as role models for their peers,”

Akbar says.

“Eating right and having a balanced

meal is taught right from lower primary

to higher secondary. It is important

that our curriculum continues to

reinforce the importance of having a

well-balanced meal.”

The four episodes focus on recipes

for making a fruit salad, green banana

salad, simboro and green burger.

Fiji's Minister for Health, Dr Ifereimi

Waqainabete, says micro-nutrient

deficiencies like anaemia, Vitamin A,

and the high prevalence of overweight

and obesity among the adolescents

and youths across Fiji need to be

addressed.

“There is a common solution to

all these problems - healthy and

diversified diets and lifestyle. Our

Ministry is putting all its efforts

in ensuring these problems are

addressed but with a solution that is

tailored to our local context and is Fiji

friendly.”

The Pacific Kids Food Revolution

is a partnership between the Fiji

government, Unicef and PI Food

Revolution mastermind Robert Oliver.

Children now have the opportunity

to take lead in demonstrating to their

families, schools and communities on

how health and nutrition issues faced

in the Pacific are preventable through

simple recipes that include affordable,

nutritious food.

Unicef representative Sheldon Yett

is pleased children are standing up

for their rights and playing an active

role in educating other children on

how to cook, prepare and eat healthy,

nutritious foods.

“Pacific Kids Food Revolution

provides a platform for children to raise

their voices and promote good health

in their country and the region.”

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FIJI

DYNAMICS


19

Fighting the

good fight

Down, but not out ... NZ First Party's Anne Pala takes stock of the Covid election that took the wind out of her party's sails.

by a Special Correspondent

NZ First’s Anne Pala knew she

was facing a juggernaut of

sorts standing in the Kelston

electorate against Labour’s

Carmel Sepuloni in October’s election.

But the Fiji-born businesswoman

boldly walked the talk, doorknocked

on countless doors and addressed

locals in what has been a hugely challenging

campaign for NZ First Party.

The party won 2.7 per cent or 75,020

party votes, more than double the

Maori Party’s 33,630 party votes, but

NZ First failed to win any electoral

seats.

Critics say bad timing and unscrupulous

media scrutiny spurred on by the

Serious Fraud Office’s probe over party

donations led to NZ First’s demise.

Gone are some of the country’s most

powerful voices who made transformative

changes to the Pacific Reset,

regional development in New Zealand

alongside women and child welfare

and defence force strategies.

But political pundits know this is not

the end of NZ First nor its 75-year-old

party leader, the unflappable Winston

Peters.

“It is a good time to reflect, time to

strategise, take a bit of a break and

think how things are going to be sorted,”

says Anne Pala.

“At the end of the day it’s a party

owned by Winston, led by Winston, he

is the party basically.”

“People are getting democratised

and they are putting their interests in

party politics and I think it should be

open to anybody.

“Even with our ethnic communities

there is a sense of reluctance. You

need to put your hand up and say

choose me because I can give back.

We shouldn’t shy away from public

office.”

Among the 120 MPs sworn into Parliament

this year are newbies Mexican

Ricardo Menendez of the Green Party,

African-born Ibrahim Omer of the

Labour Party, Sri Lankan lawyer Vanushi

Walters and infectious diseases

specialist Dr Ayesha Verrall.

Second term Labour MP Priyanka

Radakrishnan is now the Member of

Parliament for Maungakiekie and local

GP Dr Gaurav Sharma won the electorate

seat for Hamilton East.

Four more new Pacific MPs make

the Labour led coalition one of the

most colourful, diverse, highly skilled

governments to date.

Pala says the next three three years

will be a time to rebuild for NZ First.

“It has been a Covid election and it

was a red tsunami that’s swept Labour

into power.

“Hopefully the Rangatira will be

back. Let’s give somebody else a

chance this time and let’s look for a

chance to come back.”

Remembering . Celebrating . Advocating

Fijian Indian heritage, identity & diaspora

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20 DYNAMICS


Rachael Wood, marketing events co-ordinator,

and Libby Fisher, of Bula Coffee, at the Auckland

Food Show.

Rajiv Prasad, PanPac general manager, with some of his products at the Auckland Food Show.

Fiji's finest on show

SOME of Fiji's finest food

products were be among

hundreds of others on display

at the Auckland Food Show in

November.

The Fiji Trade Commission, in collaboration

with four Fijian companies, was

out in force promoting locally-made

products at the ASB Showgrounds, in

Greenlane.

Among them were Island Style PNB,

Tavulomo Coconut Processing Ltd,

Bula Coffee, and PanPac.

Panpac is one of the leading importers

and distributors of Fijian products

in New Zealand. Throughout the years

they have expanded their portfolio to

include some of the most popular products

in Fiji's food and beverage sector.

Their work has been pivotal to increase

Fijian goods' market presence in

New Zealand.

And PanPac NZ general manager Rajiv

Prasad is passionate about getting

more of the popular Fiji made products

to the people in New Zealand.

Owned by CJ Patel Ltd, PanPac

distributes some of the most popular

brans in New Zealand, including its

beer range Fiji Gold, Fiji Bitter, Vonu,

and now Fiji Bitter Extra.

Its rum range includes Ratu, Bati and

the liquer style coconut rum, coffee

rum, and white chocolate. Other products

include Skipper tuna, Angel Gold

Chris Wyllie, and his sister Patti Wyllie-Kunaqoro

of Tavulomo Coconut Processing Ltd.

tined fish, Fiji Sugar, Bongo snacks and

many more.

More than five years ago, Chris Wyllie

and his partner, Rusila Vere, established

Tavulomo Coconut Processing Ltd

with the goal to re-educate Kiwis about

the different types of cold pressed

coconut oils.

These days, they specialise on value

added products such as coconut water

and vegan snacks manufactured from

coconut meat.

They have also expanded to non-coconut

products such as ginger juice

and cold pressed turmeric. These have

been sold all over the world including

New Zealand, Australia, Germany, China

and Japan.

Island Style PNB's journey started

when a New Zealand-based Fijian family

of peanut butter lovers took a holiday

Heather and Gary Pickering, the team behind

Island Style PNB.

to Fiji. As they couldn't find a natural

peanut butter available in the local

market, they took matters into their own

hands and decided to create one.

Gary and Heather Pickering bought

peanuts from a roadside stall and

roasted them in Fijian virgin coconut oil

at a relative's house, and the result was

so amazing that when they returned

to New Zealand they decided to share

their creation.

They first started selling it at local

markets and later introduced it into

supermarkets.

They are now focused on setting up

base in Fiji to make more peanut butter

products, using locally-produced peanuts

of course.

Bula Coffee strives to build the Fijian

coffee industry from the ground up.

Before their business was founded, in

Fiji wild coffee beans would grow in the

bush, fall on the ground and rot.

Committed to reduce this waste they

started working with a small village to

pick the beans.

Since then, Bula Coffee has followed

sustainable business practises to enable

social and economic development

in Fiji. Their network has expanded

to over 38 villages from the remote

highlands in Fiji where they have trained

more than 1200 coffee pickers.

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DYNAMICS

Fiji: The outsourcing hub

HISTORICALLY, Fiji had been

overlooked as a destination

to hire or invest in Business

Process Outsourcing (BPO)

services.

However, as a result of the government

efforts to diversify the country’s

economy and become less reliant on

tourism, the BPO sector has significantly

grown over the past decade.

Positioning itself as the BPO “Hub of

the Pacific”, Fiji has become an attractive

alternative for global businesses

who are moving away from traditional

markets such as Indian or the Philippines.

Fiji’s young, educated and natural

English speaking population has been

the country’s main asset.

Their naturally friendly attitude and

remarkable efficiency has been recognised

internationally when they won the

European Outsourcing Association’s

Offshoring Destination of the Year

2014.

Fijian BPO providers have a tremendous

opportunity as international firms

are increasingly prioritising quality over

quantity when navigating the different

markets.

“Fiji has proven through their customer

service and back office support

for companies ranging in size from multimillion-dollar

multinationals, such as

Lufthansa and DHL Express, to SMEs

that they can operate to an international

level of quality,” says Peter Rudd,

Manager Trade & Investment (NZ) the

Fiji Consulate General and Trade Commission

to Australia and New Zealand.

In addition, Fiji offers competitive incentives

for new operators in the BPO

industry including duty free importation

of equipment, tax deductions and tax

holidays depending on the size of the

business.

BPO companies operating in Fiji,

can provide a wide range of services

including inbound / outbound customer

sales and servicing; virtual assistants;

back office accounting; and IT and

website support.

Another advantage Fiji has over the

traditional markets, specially for NZ

businesses, is its geographical proximity.

Doing business with Fijian companies

is more convenient when there is

only a three hour flight separating both


21

Peter Rudd, manager trade and investment at Fiji Trade Commission, left, pictured with Carol Watkins,

president of the BPO Council of Fiji, Camila Eiras, communications advisor and Carline Bentley, Investment

and Trade Advisor at Investment Fiji.

countries, frequent daily flights available

(pre Covid-19) and being in the same

time zone most of the year. Fiji’s location

also makes it ideal for “overnight"

processing for client based in Europe.

“Fiji’s is the perfect call centre location

for New Zealand companies, when

you consider its proximity and mutual

cultural understanding,” says Rudd.

The global disruption caused by

Covid-19 has made companies realised

BPO operations should be diversified

geographically. As Fiji has managed to

maintain business as usual, many BPO

operators have not missed a single day

of work.

With 35 cases and two deaths, Fiji is

one of the few countries to successfully

contain Covid-19 and hasn’t had a case

of community transmission in over 200

days. While their competitors in India

and Philippines continue to face the

spread of the virus, the safe working

environment makes Fiji an even more

attractive destination.

The largest contact centre in Fiji is

Mindpearl; with over 1000 employees

working 24/7 the company has a global

client base including big players such

as Malaysian Airlines and DHL Express.

In the upcoming years, Fiji’s Government

aims to increase the number of

employees in the BPO sector from 4000

to 10,000; an ambitious, but reachable,

target considering the advantages Fijian

operators have over their competitors.

Despite the challenges 2020 brought,

the BPO Council of Fiji was officially

established. Their main purpose is to

work with key stakeholders to create

brand awareness for Fiji on the global

stage and to assist the industry become

a major employer in the Fijian economy.

Future plans for the council include

the creation of international certifications

for the Fiji’s BPO industry and

seeking to advance call centre training

courses at Fiji’s tertiary institutions.

The Fiji Consulate General & Trade

Commission to Australia and New

Zealand, held a webinar on Fiji’s BPO

sector on December 2, attracting more

than 50 registrants. Guest speakers

included Carol Watkins, president of the

BPO Council of Fiji, and Alan Graham,

chief commercial officer of Mindpearl.

To find out more about the BPO

sector in Fiji please visit https://www.

bpofiji.com or contact a member of our

team on https://www.investinfiji.today

- Fiji Trade Commission, Auckland

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22 DYNAMICS


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23

Cyclone appeals launched

TROPICAL Cyclone Yasa recently

hit Fiji, causing widespread

devastation in Vanua Levu,

especially in Labasa, Bua and

and Macuata.

At least four people have been

confirmed dead - 45-year-old man in

Labasa, a three-month-old baby in Ra,

and a 50-year-old man in Ra, and a

67-year-old man in Bua.

And in New Zealand, several organisations

have mobilised their services to

organise collection and supply of food

items for those affected by the cyclone.

Radio Tarana launched an appeal

on December 19, inviting listeners to

donate towards the appeal by donating

$30 or $50 food packs from participating

supermarkets.

The Fiji High Commission in Wellington

is also organising a collection of relief

supplies in Wellington and Auckland.

In Auckland, non-perishable food

items can be dropped off at 66A Stoddard

Rd, Mt Roskill, and in Wellington, at

31 Pipitea St (Fiji High Commission).

Here's a few images of destruction

from the cyclone:

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24 DYNAMICS


Camaraderie winner of the day

by Sam Thompson

A

VOICE for the small Fiji community

in the Bay of Plenty is

getting stronger by the day.

They have organised themselves

to form an incorporated society

to look after their interests.

The move has been prompted by the

success of hosting celebrations for Fiji’s

50th anniversary of independence.

Hosts, the small Fiji community in

Te Puke, 26km from Tauranga, were

pleasantly surprised at the huge turnout

for the celebrations.

More than 300 Fijians, Indians and

people with ties to Fiji, turned up to

mark the milestone, celebrate their

connection to Fiji, reminisce on their experience

in Fiji and New Zealand, catch

up with old friends and make new ones.

They came from as far away as Hastings,

Rotorua and Hamilton to take part

in the celebrations.

Pleasing to see was almost an equal

number of iTaukei and Indian people

of Fiji origin participating together in

laughter and merriment.

It was also an opportunity to emphasise

the importance of the Fiji community

looking after their health.

Quite a few of them took advantage

of free health checks provided by a

registered nurse through the Pacific

Islands Community Trust.

There were a lot of activities for

the kids and the big kids with soccer

and volleyball. Hamilton and Rotorua

contingent came prepared with their

teams for some serious fun filled indoor

soccer matches to challenge the well

organised Tauranga side.

There were a lot of "wailei", "isa"

and "kaila" as goals went begging and

scored.

The winner on the day was camara-

Judging by the smiles on the faces of this lot, Fiji Day celebrations in Tauranga was a huge success.

derie, the building of friendships and

the realisation that while they have left

Fiji, they were not alone.

But the gathering was not only of

Fiji people who have migrated to New

Zealand, there were also in attendance,

many seasonal workers from Fiji working

in the orchards in the region.

Some who would normally be back

home for Christmas, were stuck here

because of the Covi- 19 restrictions on

travel.

All were welcomed and made to

feel at home by the traditional Fijian

hospitality and it doesn’t come more

traditional than a lovo prepared at the

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FIJI

DYNAMICS

Te Puke Methodist Church venue.

Fijian and Indian cuisine were offered

for free to all those who attended.

Organiser Patrick Rounds says they

didn’t charge anyone for food because

the aim was for everyone to enjoy the

day together.

Rounds hopes the Fiji Independence

celebrations will be a catalyst for other

events to get Fiji people in the Bay of


25

Plenty together.

He is originally from Kulukulu, Sigatoka,

but he spent most of his time in

Nadi, before moving to New Zealand in

2008 at the age of 30.

Initially he moved to Wairarapa, spent

a stint in Martinborough before moving

to Tauranga seven years ago.

Rounds works as a Youth Pastor at

the Te Puke Baptist Church and he’s a

mentor for all the pacific island students

at Te Puke High school.

He also works with seasonal workers

who come here from the islands to

work in the agricultural sector picking

fruit.The success of this gathering

kick started the initiative to establish

a formal organisation to represent the

interests of the Fijian community in the

region.

Last month a meeting was held at the

same venue attended by Fiji people to

get the ball rolling.

The initial idea floated was to form a

Trust, but they settled on an incorporated

society instead, to avoid the red

tape required under a trust to get things

done.

They have made an application to

register it as the Bay of Plenty Fijian

Community Incorporated Society.

Among the aims is to foster the culture

and traditional values of the Fijian

people, represent the views of the Fijian

community and look after the holistic

well-being of the Bay of Plenty Fijian

community.

The society will also encourage and

promote the Fijian language, sports,

visual and performing arts.

President Kamal Nair says once the

paperwork comes through, the newly

formed 10-member committee will

meet, most likely in the new year, to

decide on the projects they will pursue

in the coming year.

Another occasion to get the Fijians

in the Bay of Plenty together is on the

agenda.

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FIJI

26 DYNAMICS


Remembering Fiji's big day

With Covid-19 gatecrashing

Fiji's 50th Independence

Anniversary party in most

centres, it did not stop

Auckland from rustling up a celebration

of sorts in October.

The New Zealand Fiji Business

Council threw a party for its members

Here are a few images from the Auckland celebration:

and friends on October 14, host by

Pacific Trade Invest at its premises in

Newmarket.

Fiji did, however, mark the occasion

with a day-long celebration at Albert

Park in Suva, on the exact spot where a

young Prince Charles handed over the

Instruments of Independence to first

Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara

on October 10, 1970.

The Newmarket celebration,

organised by council president Chandar

Sen, was attended by members of the

business community, including Fiji's

honorary consul in Auckland,

Harish Lodhia.

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FIJI

DYNAMICS


27

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FIJI

28 DYNAMICS


Fiji centre keeps busy

THE Whanau Community Centre

in Papatoetoe has been busy

this year in catering to the

local communities in Auckland.

In addition to their doing their bit for

the community during and after lockdowns,

the centre also hosts seniors

to free lunch every month, helps out

in food parcel drives, and even found

time to host a Diwali function.

Based at 35 East Tamaki Rd, the

centre is looking at expanding its services

in the new year.

Here are a few images of their efforts

through the year:

Elders & Seniors pose for a photo, after enjoying the monthly lunch

Diwali meal provided by the Auckland Rotuman

Fellowship Group Inc.

Volunteers handing out 500 free Food Parcels at Papatoetoe, Auckland

Youth helping distribute free Food Parcels

FIJI

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29

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30 DYNAMICS


'Diwali more than just lights'

by Sam Thompson

THE success of the Diwali festival

in Tauranga has organisers

contemplating a bigger venue

down the track.

This was the second Diwali - aka the

Hindu festival of lights - for Tauranga,

held at the grounds of the Historic

Village and the numbers attending are

climbing.

Around two-and-a-half -thousand

people turned up to the festival of light

last month in one of the fastest growing

cities in the countries.

Organiser Bela Dasi says the venue

may be too small for them going forward.

The Historic Village in central Tauranga

is a collection of original and replica

buildings from early Tauranga, many of

them home to local and national community

organisations.

Local artists use some of the buildings

as their studios offering classes

and workshops.

The village grounds are hired out

for special events such as this year’s

Dewali Festival which attracted a mix

of local Indian, Pakeha and Maori with

a smattering out of towners soaking

in the cultural atmosphere and Indian

vegetarian food on offer.

People wearing colourful traditional

Indian garb were on display, even

some pakeha got into the spirit of the

occasion wearing salwar kameez and

sarees.

There was a long queue outside the

stall where children and adults were

waiting eagerly for their chance to

get elaborate henna designs on their

hands.

Business was brisk for food stalls

offering Indian cuisine, all vegetarian of

course, with a small number offering

Indian sweets.

This year the organisers stepped up

the tempo to try and shed a bit more

light on the significance of Diwali,

which symbolises the triumph of light

over darkness, good over evil and hope

over despair.

Indian music could be heard in the

distance well before people arrived at

the grounds.

“This year we had live performance

on stage with a good mix of Punjabi

and Indian classical dance,” says Dasi.

Dancers in colourful costumes provided lots of entertainment for the crowds.

“Another improvement to last year

was that we spoke about Dewali, who

are we and what’s our connection with

the divine.

“I think that’s important because we

have observed that a lot of Indians have

lost their connection with what Diwali

means.

“Diwali is not just about dancing,

lots of lights and being merry together.

Diwali offers a lot more.

“It reminds me of the celebration of

Christmas with people not knowing

exactly why they celebrate Christmas.

“So we wanted to offer people who

don’t know much about Diwali at all,

some perspective and history behind it.

“For the children especially, many local

Indians from our community say it’s

so important to them that their children

don’t lose their cultural understanding.”

There were a lot of child at the park,

doing what children do, running around,

eating the goodies on offer and just

having fun.

To keep them engaged there was a

photo booth to capture their memories

of the occasion and a stall where they

could paint diyas.

“We were very happy with the dia

painting table,” says Dasi.

“Lots of kids painted their own dia’s.

It was right near the stage so the parents

could watch the show while their

children were engaged.”

Those diyas were lit as the sun went

down.

Unlike Auckland where Diwali festivals

culminate in a fireworks display, it

was much low key in Tauranga.

Lighting of the diyas is as close as we

got to any display of fire.

Dasi is pleased with how Tauranga’s

Indian community has embraced

Diwali.

“It’s an occasion that brings them

together,” she says.

“I feel we have gained their trust. Last

year Diwali was at the beginning stage,

but this year I could see many Indians,

ladies especially coming out, chipping

in and helping.”

FIJI

DYNAMICS


Flickering lights that spread

goodwill and joy

31

DIWALI for me conjures memories of

mithai, jalebi, sparklers and the waft of

freshly made savories painstakingly prepared

by Mrs Prasad.

The spirit of giving was sacred for this humble

Indian family who opened their doors to passers-by

to take home sweets, savouries and a

generous helping of joy and goodwill.

I grew up in suburbia Suva where my neighbours

were Fijians, Indians, Rotumans, Chinese,

Muslim, Kiribati, Part European, Tuvaluans and a

mixture of all sorts.

Even as child I understood the Festival of Lights

symbolised hope, a fresh new start and a time to

bury the demons of the past.

Each year I would watch my childhood friend

Nia and her brothers sweep their backyard, clean

out the chicken coop and hang mango leaves on

the top of their doors.

I found out later that mango leaves helped to

ward off evil spirits and usher in the blessings of

Lakshmi, the Hindu Godess who brought in wealth

and prosperity.

Mrs Prasad spoke little English, but she would

let me sit by her as she ground chillies and garlic

on stone and cooked everything on the open fire.

This was my happy place as a child where it

didn’t matter how old you were, what race, colour

or creed you belonged to - I felt like I too was a

daughter of the Prasad family.

Today every elderly Indian woman I meet

reminds me of Mrs Prasad, the matriarch who unknowingly

taught me respect, dignity and cultural

understanding.

Diwali in Auckland is a little different from the

Diwali of my childhood.

The dilemma around which India does one

belong to has redefined the way Fiji Indians view

themselves. But it has not diminished their sense

of generosity – only the portions are smaller and

not as sweet.

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FIJI

32 DYNAMICS


Exciting times ahead for Moana Pasifika

by Sri Krishnamurthi

EXCITING times lie ahead for the

Moana Pasifika team heralded

a new dawn for Pacific and

Fiji rugby in the Super rugby

competition from 2022.

The Fiji, Samoa and Tonga combined

team played against the Māori

All Blacks in Hamilton and went down

narrowly 28-21 in an enthralling encounter.

One-test All Black Josh Ioane led

the backline that also included Super

Rugby players Leicester Fainga'anuku

from Tasman and the Hurricanes

winger Salesi Rayasi of both Fijian

and Samoan roots, who has been one

of the star players for Auckland this

season.

The team to play the Maori was

coached by Blues assistant coach

Tana Umaga.

Familiar names in the forward

pack included Daniel Leinert-Brown,

brother of All Black midfielder Anton

Leinart-Brown who is line himself for

an All Blacks call up, Sione Mafielo,

Leni Apisai, Nasi Manu and Michael

Alaalatoa.

"We're really proud of the squad we

had selected,” said Umaga.

“A great side. We were really spoilt

for choice with selections, and as

we have always known, players were

really drawn to be part of this special

team. We believe we have selected

a squad that represents a great mix

of players who identify with the great

nations of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga,” he

told Radio New Zealand.

"We are really grateful to have had

great support from the coaching

teams of the Manu Samoa and Ikale

Tahi (Tonga) as they also see this as an

opportunity to build Pasifika home nations

rugby talent and capability first.

Salesi Rayasi ... a star performer for Auckland this year.

The players, like Josh Ioane, being

selected in this side does not mean he

can not play for the All Blacks, as the

players can opt which country they

choose to play for and their eligibility

is not in question.

"This is a special day. We are delighted

to be able to celebrate bringing

together a team of players who are

proud of their Pasifika heritage and

give them an opportunity to represent

the other nations with which they

identify,” said the patron of Moana

Pasifika Sir Bryan Williams.

Fiji is the other team set to join a

new-look Super Rugby competition in

2022, which will return to its original

12-team format.

The Fiji Rugby Union has been

asked to base a team in Suva, despite

the problems they are having with the

squad beset by covid-19 on their Autumn

European Tour and subsequently

having games cancelled.

Late in November, they had 29

positive cases identified within the

Fiji camp which has resulted in the

cancellation of the Fiji-Italy match and

Fiji-Scotland match.

Most of the European-based players

were selected for the ailing Flying

Fijians however, they expecting to be

tested and hoping to be cleared in

time to face Georgia who is the fourth

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FIJI

DYNAMICS


33

Fijian Drua ... competing in the Australian NRC.

placed team from Pool A on December

5th.

But, the team set to take its place

at the Super rugby table is likely to be

the Fijian Drua (Double Hulled sailing

canoe) which is based in Fiji and competes

in the Australian National Rugby

Championship (NRC).

The team was created by the Fiji

Rugby Union and launched in August

2017, shortly before the 2017 National

Rugby Championship.

The team were said to have high

ambitions of nailing a Super rugby title

in their first five years in the competition.

“We submitted a comprehensive

and compelling proposal to New Zealand

Rugby in August this year, and

our continued discussions and negotiations

have now borne fruit. We have

a lot of work to do with NZR and other

national unions, but our potential entry

is really exciting,” John O’Connor, the

Fiji Rugby CEO is quoted as saying.

The FRU were looking to private investors

to raise the necessary capital

to enter the Super rugby competition,

said O’Connor.

The Drua won the Australian National

Rugby Championship in 2018

raising hopes for similar success in

the Super rugby competition.

"Our goal is to win the competition

within five years, and this now gives

us the chance to not only attract many

of our best players back from Europe

to play at home, but also to keep our

emerging talent at home on playing

contracts that are fair and attractive,"

said O’Connor.

The Drua are expected to host five

games a year with the ambition to

build on the success of the Fiji sevens

team.

The Inaugural Moana Pasifika team

was:

FORWARDS

1 Alamanda Motuga 26 1.83 96

Counties Manukau 1 Samoa

2 Daniel Leinert-Brown 27 1.84 109

Canterbury Highlanders Samoa

3 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti 28 1.96 112

North Harbour Blues Samoa

4 Jordan Lay 28 1.84 115 Bay of

Plenty Bristol (UK) 12 Samoa

5 Leni Apisai 24 1.86 126 Auckland

Blues Samoa/Tuvalu

6 Marino Mikaele-Tuu 23 1.91 115

Hawkes Bay Highlanders Samoa

7 Michael Alaalatoa 29 1.90 130

Manawatu Crusaders 5 Samoa

8 Naitoa Ah Kuoi 21 1.96 116 Wellington

Chiefs Samoa

9 Nasi Manu 32 1.90 118 Otago

Benneton Treviso 6 Tonga

10 Pita Gus Sowakula 26 1.95 110

Taranaki Chiefs Fiji

11 Samipeni Finau 21 1.93 109

Waikato Tonga

12 Samisoni Taukieaho 23 1.83 115

Waikato Chiefs Tonga

13 Sione Mafielo 27 1.78 128 North

Harbour Blues Tonga

14 Zane Kapeli 28 1.88 103 Bay of

Plenty Highlanders 10 Tonga

BACKS

15 Asaeli Tikoroituma 34 187 91

North Harbour 23 Fiji

16 Dwyane Polataivao 30 1.75

83 Tasman Utah Warriors (MLR) 16

Samoa

17 Etene Nanai-Seturo 21 1.83 92

Counties Manukau Chiefs Samoa

18 Fetuli Paea 26 1.89 95 Tasman

Crusaders 2 Tonga

19 Folau Fakatava 20 1.77 80

Hawkes Bay Highlanders Tonga

20 Jone Macilai 30 1.78 88 Northland

Fiji

21 Josh Ioane 25 1.76 85 Otago

Highlanders 1 (NZ) Samoa

22 Leicester Faingaanuku 21 1.88

109 Tasman Crusaders Tonga

23 Salesi Rayasi 24 1.93 105 Auckland

Hurricanes Fiji/Samoa

24 Stephen Perofeta 23 1.81 85

Taranaki Blues Samoa

25 Tomasi Alosio 26 1.85 83 Wellington

Samoa

26 Vince Aso 25 1.81 90 Wellington

Hurricanes Samoa

FIJI

34 DYNAMICS


James Singh

wins Fiji

heavyweight

crown

James Singh... Fiji's new heavyweight champion.

JAMES Singh became the new

heavyweight boxing champion

of Fiji on December 20 after

knocking out Jonasa Kavika in

the 8th round at Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka.

The last time the two boxers met,

Singh beat Kavika for the World Boxing

Foundation Australasian heavyweight

title last year.

Singh, known as "The Beast", has

eight fights under his belt with five

wins and three losses since turning

professional in 2018.

Kavika on the other hand, has fought

seven times, winning four and losing

three.

In another bout on the same

programme, Savenaca Naliva retained

his light heavyweight title after beating

Apisai Naqica via knockout in the fourth

round.

Unbeaten Sebastian Singh marked

his return to boxing with a points victory

over Robin Hazelman.

Labasa

legends

honoured

Labasa's legends with their medals, pictured with FFA president Rajesh Patel, from left: Solomone Catarogo, Jimmy Zoing, and Mohammed Sharif

THREE of Labasa's soccer

legends were honoured by

the Fiji Football Association

recently.

Legends Medals were presented to

Jimmy Zoing, Mohammed Sharif (aka

Tagari), and Solomone Catarogo by FFA

president Rajesh Patel.

The three champions are well known

for their rare combination of physical

prowess and unbelievable technical

ability, forming a lethal midfield and

striking force.

These three and many more of their

generation played the beautiful game

with genuine joy. They had the ability to

manipulate the ball with deft touches

and quick movements were simply

otherworldly.

As one fan puts it: "They were

aggressive, brazen, and ruthlessness

when attacking the goal. Each of them

dominated soccer.

"They played the game with

unprecedented amounts of creativity

and flair.

"The flicks, the tricks, the gold boots,

the smile, advertisement for everything

good about soccer in Fiji. These three

geniuses along with others saw the

game in a different way."

Labasa has produced one of the

some of the most talented soccer stars

the country has ever known - Mike

Jones, Anand Sami, Hussein Sahib,

Gordon Leewai, Ivor Evans, Mal Khan,

Simon Peters, Roy Krishna - to name

a few.

FIJI

DYNAMICS

Roy Krishna continues to strike


Tuwai named Player of the Decade

FIJI'S sportsmen continue to to make

their mark internationally.

Sevens team captain Jerry Tuwai was

earlier this month named World Rugby

Sevens Men's Player of the Decade.

The 2019 World Player of the Year beat nine

other finalists for the honour, including former

Fiji teammate Samisoni Viriviri, Fiji-born New

Zealand international Tomasi Cama and Samoan

sevens icon Mikaele Pesamino.

Tuwai, 31, made his debut for Fiji at the 2014

Gold Coast Sevens and has gone on to win

three World Series titles, an Olympic gold medal

in 2016, and is a three-time world sevens

player of the year nominee.

"I'm very happy but I know I have a lot

respect to the nominees like Cecil [Afrika from

South Africa] and Tim Mikkelson [from New

Zealand] - those two guys really stood the test

of time in rugby," Tuwai said.

"To all the nominees, like [Tomasi] Cama,

Perry Baker, Werner Kok, [Seabelo] Senatla,

Samisoni Viriviri, I respect them and I love them

Jerry Tuwai ... a humble winner.

35

as a rugby player and a human

being.

"I'm very happy to receive this

award on behalf of them, of Fiji,

my family and on behalf of everyone

who loves playing rugby."

Fiji coach Gareth Baber said

Tuwai was a deserved winner who,

despite his success, remained

humble and dedicated to his craft.

FIJI soccer's golden

boy Roy Krishna has

continued his golden

run in the Indian

Super League.

Krishna was recently

awarded the "Hero of the

Month" award by the league

– the prize given to the best

player of the month in the

competition.

The former Wellington

Phoenix star scored three

of the four goals of his ATK-

MB team in the process

– he’s also the team captain.

The striker recently gave

the win for ATK-MB against

Odisha with a late goal and

also turned into the first

player ever to score in the

clash East Bengal vs Mohun

Bagan played at Indian

Super League.

This clash is considered

to be one of the most

decorated football rivalries

of Asia.

Roy Krishna ... ATK-MB's super star.

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FIJI

36 DYNAMICS


ear Crossword

https://www.puzzle-maker.com/crossword_Free.cgi 1/1

1 2 3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

ACROSS

4 What is the traditional beverage that Fiji people drink?

ACROSS 5 What do people in Fiji throw/spray on each other during new year?

4 What is 7 the What traditional is the most drink popular that type Fiji of people meal that drink? Fijians eat on Christmas Day?

5 What do 8 How people many in years Fiji throw/spray ago did Fiji become on each an independent other during nation? new year?

7 What is 9 the What most musical popular instrument type do of Fiji meal people that like Fijians to beat eat during on New Christmas Year? Day?

8 How many 10 In which years sport ago did Fiji Fiji win became its first Olympic an independent Gold medal? nation?

9 What musical 11 Where instrument do Fijian Christians do Fiji go people to on Christmas like to beat Eve? during New Year?

10 In which sport did Fiji win its first Olympic Gold medal?

11 Where DOWN do Fijian Christians go to on Christmas Eve?

1 What is the first word in Fiji's national anthem?

DOWN 2 Who do most Fijians spend Christmas together with?

1 What is 3 the What first is the word name in of Fiji's the Fijian national dish anthem? that is cooked with taro (dalo) leaves and coconut cream?

2 Who do 6 most What else Fijians do people spend in Christmas Fiji sometimes together throw/sprinkle with? on on each other during new year?

3 What is the name of the Fijian dish that is cooked with taro (dalo) leaves and coconut

cream? WORD BANK: BLESSING, CHURCH, DRUM, FAMILY, FIFTY, KAVA, LOVO, PALUSAMI,

6 What else do people in Fiji sometimes POWDER, throw/sprinkle RUGBY, WATER on on each other during new year?

WORD BANK: BLESSING, CHURCH, DRUM, FAMILY, FIFTY, KAVA, LOVO, PALUSAMI,

POWDER, RUGBY, WATER

Answers to

Crossword Puzzle

L W A E R O V O R U R U G B C H U R C H

A K A V A

T M L

6

S I P U

7

S L S

8

F I F T Y W A

9

D M

N

Y E I

11

1

B

2

F

3

P

4

5

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FIJI

38 DYNAMICS


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39

BRINGS TO YOU

FIJI

40 DYNAMICS


FIJI DYNAMICS - December 2020

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