The Indian Weekender, 21 October 2022

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923293570-Diwali Adaptation ANZ-Price-190x260-en.pdf 1 10/13/22 1:49 PM 

Friday, 21 October 2022 

Volume 14 / Issue 31 

www.iwk.co.nz /indianweekendernz /indianweekender 

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Read online www.iwk.co.nz Friday, 21 October, 2022 

NEW ZEALAND 3 

Hipkins admits youth offending 

‘real concern to whole country’ 

NAVDEEP KAUR MARWAH 

Side-stepping a question 

whether New Zealand is 

facing a crime emergency, 

Police Minister Chris Hipkins said 

youth offending particularly 

in the upper half of the North 

Island is a real concern for the 

whole country. 

Hipkins and Sunny Kaushal 

(Chair, Dairy and Business 

Owner’s Group) briefed the 

media in Mt Roskill Wednesday 

morning about the dire situation 

of crime and fear in NZ and what 

is being done to address it. 

When asked whether 

New Zealand faced a crime 

emergency, Hipkins replied, 

“I absolutely accept... that 

particularly in the upper half of 

the North Island we’re seeing 

an escalating pattern of youth 

offending. And that is a real 

concern for the whole country. 

It’s more acute in this part of 

the country than in others, but 

that’s not to say that we’re not 

seeing it in other parts of the 

country as well. But certainly 

the upper half of the North 

Island is where the data will 

tell us we’ve got the biggest 

challenge ahead of us. 

“If you’re a business which is 

a victim of that, then clearly, 

that is an emergency for your 

business. We’re committed 

to working with the small 

business community to make 

sure they can feel safe in their 

businesses,” Police Minister 

Hipkins said. 

While addressing the media, 

Hipkins stressed that the 

government doesn’t want to 

see escalating violence and 

wants to take the heat out of 

this issue. He said, “We want 

there to be fewer ram raids, 

fewer instances of businesses 

becoming victims in the first 

place. That’s got to be our key 

area of focus. I’ve acknowledged 

the genuine concerns of the 

small business community and 

the concerns that they have 

around their safety. I think 

that there is more that we can 

do to support them, and we’ll 

continue to do that.” 

He said the Small Retailer 

Crime Prevention Fund is an 

area where the government 

can make more progress faster. 

“At the moment, I’m focused 

on getting the $6 million that 

we’ve currently got spent 

because I think we want to 

see faster progress there, 

and we’re starting to see that 

progress accelerate. It has been 

too slow to get up and running, 

and I acknowledge that,” said 

Hipkins. 

Safeguarding and praising NZ 

Police, Hipkins said the police 

are doing a very good job of 

supporting businesses that are 

victims and identifying who the 

offenders are. 

“But there is a challenge in 

ensuring that the intervention 

that follows from that is 

effective because we’re 

seeing too many young people 

reoffending. And that is an area 

where you’ll see a real focus 

of the government. We’ve 

got to do new things to get 

these young people out of the 

offending patterns they find 

themselves getting into. The 

more we can do to get young 

people back on the straight and 

narrow and out of trouble, the 

safer the whole community will 

be.” 

Hipkins also acknowledged 

that the harsh reality of the 

current situation is that there 

is no overnight fix. “Police are 

very active in this space. But it 

will take us some time to turn 

the whole situation around. I 

think anyone that says that 

there’s a magical solution that’s 

going to make this problem go 

away overnight, there isn’t one. 

I agree that the global image 

of NZ is being tarnished. There 

has been heightened interest in 

the level of criminal offending, 

particularly youth being in 

space. That is something that 

the government needs to 

address,” said Hipkins. 

Kaushal, who has been 

taking up the cause of a safer 

community on behalf of small 

business owners, believe that 

the time for talks is over, 

and actions are required. 

“I thank you, Minister, for 

accepting that there is indeed 

a crime emergency. And if 

there’s an emergency, we 

need urgent actions. Also, 

until the government gets 

tough on crime, I don’t think 

any money can solve this 

problem. There should be a 

message of accountability and 

consequences to offenders. I 

think we have been too lenient. 

Our judicial system is failing our 

police and community. There is 

a need to make sure that we 

can run our businesses safely 

and trade safely, not living 

every day in fear.”

Happy 

हमारे साथ, हर िदन िदवाली 

Brighten Your 

Diwali With Us


NEW ZEALAND 5 

Your immigration queries answered 


Last Wednesday (October 

12), Immigration minister 

Michael Wood made the 

much-awaited announcement 

to confirm the reopening of 

the parent and skilled migrant 

residence visas from next 

month. 

According to the 

announcement, the Skilled 

Migrant Category (SMC) visa 

would reopen under current 

settings, and the first selection 

will take place on November 

9 for migrants with 160 

points. However, the points 

requirement will rise to 180 

when a new system for the 

skills category commences 

starting next year. 

As regards the parents’ 

residence visa category, Wood 

confirmed that the visas 

would reopen from November 

14 for people who already 

have expressions of interest 

in the queue. And a ballot for 

new expressions of interest 

would begin from October 

12, with the first selection in 

August 2023. 

Another significant change is 

that the number of these visas 

granted yearly would increase 

from 1000 to 2500, with a 

lower income threshold of 

1.5x the median wage for one 

sponsor supporting one parent 

Jagjeet Singh Sidhu Saif Shaikh Shaneel Kavit Kumar 

and 2x the median salary for 

joint sponsors. 

Another important change is 

that siblings would also be able 

to co-sponsor applications, and 

joint applications would be able 

to apply for up to six parents, 

with the income threshold 

increasing by 0.5x the median 

wage per parent. 

These changes have left 

many unanswered questions 

for the migrants waiting for the 

categories to reopen. 

Indian Weekender spoke 

to immigration experts Saif 

Shaikh (Director, Immigration 

Advice NZ); Jagjeet Singh Sidhu 

(Director, Immigration Matters) 

and Shaneel Kavit Kumar 

(Director, SNK Consultancy 

Limited) to answer some of 

those questions. 

Do I have to hold an NZ resident 

visa for three years to 

sponsor my parents? 

Saif Sheikh (SS): Yes, you 

need to, and if applicable, the 

joint sponsor also needs to be 

an NZ resident for a minimum of 

3 years and must be ordinarily 

resident in NZ, i.e. must have 

spent 184 days or more in each 

of the 12 months within the 

last three years immediately 

preceding the parent’s 

application. 

Can I sponsor my mom if my 

solo annual income is 75,000 

and my wife’s income is 

$55000 annually? 

Saif Sheikh (SS): If you are 

a solo sponsor to your mom 

alone, then you need to meet 

the income requirements for 

at least two 12-month income 

periods within the three years 

- $86611.20 (2022), $84,240 

(2021) and $79,560 (2020). 

If you and your partner are 

sponsoring a single parent, then 

as a couple, you need to meet 

the income requirements for 

at least two 12-month income 

periods within the threeyear 

period - $115481.60 

(2022), $112320 (2021) and 

$106040 (2020). 

Please note these incomes 

has to be taxed as income that 

IRD was paid to. 

Do parents need to give IELTS 

or meet English requirements? 

Jag Sidhu (JS): There is a 

requirement for the parent 

to have acceptable English 

Language test results (no more 

than two years old at the time 

of application is lodged) as 

follows: 

• IELTS (General or Academic) 

– 4.0 or more in at least two 

of the four skills (Listening, 

Reading, Writing and 

Speaking) Or an overall score 

of 5 or more 

• PTE Academic – 29 or more 

in at least two of the four 

skills or an overall score of 

36 or more 

• TOEFL (internet-based test) 

– overall score of 35 or more 

or t least two of the following 

skill scores: Listening: 2 or 

more; Reading: 2 or more; 

Writing: 11 or more and 

Speaking: 11 or more 

• B2 First or B2 First for 

Schools – overall score of 

154 or more or 142 or 

more in at least two of the 

four skills 

• Continued on Page 10 

New Zealand Qualifications Authority 

Approved Category 1 Education Provider

6 

NEW ZEALAND 

Friday, 21 October, 2022 

Read online www.iwk.co.nz 

Wellington sizzles to lights 

and sounds of Diwali 

VENU MENON IN WELLINGTON 

Bollywood staples. The dance schools 

that showcased their young talents 

included the Natraj School of Dance 

and the Shivam, Mayur, Mudra, and 

Shimmy’s dance academies, among 

others. Summing up, Murali Kumar, the 

event organiser, said: “Events such as 

Diwali contribute to social inclusion and 

cultural awareness. Our wider Wellington 

communities turned up in large numbers 

to celebrate Diwali, and the event was a 

grand success.” 

MCs Neelima Bhula, Sophia Ratnam, 

Neelisha kumar, Ishant Ghulyani and 

Sagar of Radio Tarana engaged with the 

audience, while Yudhishtar entertained 

the crowd with his live band. 

The food stalls at the venue served 

up popular Indian delicacies, while the 

retail outlets sporting Indian jewellery, 

garments and accessories, were a big 

draw. Craft stands, such as the one 

on lantern making, caught the fancy 

of children, while ladies flocked to the 

henna counters. 

The evening culminated in fireworks 

display on the Wellington waterfront. 

The Wellington Diwali Festival of 

Lights lived up to its promise and 

delivered an action-packed, highdecibel, 

fun-filled evening for the Greater 

Wellington diaspora on October 16. 

The Michael Fowler Centre in downtown 

Wellington was packed to capacity as 

the Kiwi Indian community cheered 

back-to-back acts that straddled the 

whole gamut of Indian culture, with 

an explosion of colourful costumes 

accompanied by traditional Indian music, 

reflecting the multilingual tapestry and 

mosaic of India. 

The 21st edition of this annual event 

came after the festival was cancelled 

last year on account of the pandemic. 

Local dignitaries addressed the 

audience before lighting the ceremonial 

lamp, with each speaker noting the 

significance of the festival of lights to 

the multicultural fabric of Wellington. 

Mukesh Ghiya, the Charge d ‘Affairs of 

the Indian High Commission, said: “Diwali 

extends beyond all cultures and religions 

and is celebrated around the world as it 

unites people in goodwill.” He elaborated 

on the mythology behind the festival for 

the benefit of the audience. 

Ghiya acknowledged “the great 

contribution [made] by the people of 

Indian descent to New Zealand.” 

Ghiya was preceded at the podium 

by newly elected Mayor Tory Whanau, 

who noted Wellington was a city of 

cultural diversity, which made it special. 

“Everyone here forms a major part of 

our community and ….…...it’s important 

Wellington feels like home to you and 

our other communities,” she said. 

Minister of Customs Meka Whaitiri 

recalled her trip to India last month 

which helped cement ties between India 

and New Zealand. 

She said the links between the two 

countries went back to the 1800s when 

the first Indian migrants arrived in NZ. 

Labour MP and Deputy Speaker Greg O 

Connor spoke next. Tracing his ancestry 

back to Ireland, he said: “We all came to 

New Zealand because we were looking 

for something better than where we 

lived.” 

Migrants brought back the best from 

their homelands and incorporated 

them here. Diwali was a celebration 

that was part of mainstream 

New Zealand, he noted. 

“It means that we are really getting 

that match between what we left behind 

Let’s Stay Safe and Healthy this Summer! 

and where we are now,” O Connor added. 

National member of parliament 

Chris Bishop said while NZ was built on 

“bicultural foundations” between Maori 

and Pakeha, it had become increasingly 

a country that embraced people from all 

backgrounds, ethnicities and religions. 

He said Diwali’s message of the triumph 

of good over evil, light over darkness and 

knowledge over ignorance was relevant 

to the troubled world we lived in. 

MPs James McDowall (Act), Ginny 

Andersen and Paul Eagle (Labour) 

echoed the sentiments expressed by the 

previous speakers. 

Once the dignitaries left the stage, 

it was taken over by the young talents 

from various dance schools that dotted 

the cultural landscape of Wellington. 

A welcome song by the students 

of the Wellington Hindi School 

heralded the proceedings, which was 

followed by a dazzling array of dance 

routines covering all forms, from the 

classical Bharatanatyam to Kathak, 

folk and the fast-paced, foot-tapping 

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8 

NEW ZEALAND 


Kiwi Indian Indu Bajwa 


honoured by Governor General 


Jonas Salk, American scientist who 

invented the polio vaccine once 

said, “The reward for work well 

done is the opportunity to do more.” 

Undoubtedly, one feels special when 

one is recognised for one’s dedication, 

hard work and achievements. 

And that’s precisely how Kiwi-Indian 

and known face of the Indian diaspora in 

Auckland, Inderjeet Bajwa (fondly known 

as Indu Bajwa), is feeling at the moment. 

From being a radio presenter, a 

community leader and a Justice of the 

Peace to being a caring wife and a doting 

mother of two, Bajwa now has another 

feather to her already illustrious hat. 

She has recently been awarded the 

coveted Member of The Order of St 

John (MStJ) award from New Zealand 

Governor-General Her Excellency the 

Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro in an award 

ceremony in Auckland. 

Bajwa received this award for serving 

the community since 2006. Since then, 

she has uplifted and revitalised the Caring 

caller programme at St John’s, which 

was previously struggling. Addedly, she 

has also shaped the Hindi caring caller 

program for the Indian community. 

It may be noted that becoming a 

Member of The Order of St John is made 

on merit. Candidate is admitted because 

they stand out from their peers. It is an 

honour only bestowed upon deserving 

members who have demonstrated 

loyalty and service to the organisation. 

The Royal Charter incorporated the 

order during the reign of Queen Victoria. 

Members of the Order were formerly 

known as Serving Brothers and Serving 

Sisters. Each year all the countries send 

their chosen list to the Queen. 

The process involves getting nominated 

by St Johns. Then, the nominations are 

approved by the executive board of St 

Johns. The finalised nominations are 

then sent to the Queen, who chooses 

the final award recipients. Bajwa’s name 

was selected by the Queen when she 

was still alive. 

The awards are published in The 

Gazette for official public records. Bajwa 

was on the list for MStJ from NZ. 

Seeming excited about the award, 

Bajwa said, “The award was a big 

surprise for me. Usually, someone within 

the St. Johns community nominates for 

the awards. Seeing my name on the list 

made me feel delighted and humble. It 

also inspired me to keep working hard 

and serving my community to the best 

of my ability.” 

She added, “It is inspirational 

and fulfilling to work with 

tremendous enthusiasm. 

"The award presentation was 

very mesmerising and receiving it 

from the Governor-General made 

it more appealing.” 

As a volunteer, Bajwa’s journey with 

St John’s started way back in 2006. 

Reminiscing, she said, “My journey 

with St John has been incredible. 

One learns how to give back to the 

community through volunteer programs 

like caring callers, youth programmes, 

health shuttles, hospital friends, pet 

therapy and many more ways to reach 

the community. In 2006, I chose to 

volunteer as a caring caller (A caring 

caller has the responsibility of phoning 

people to ensure their well-being).” 

After a couple of years, she stepped 

up as a team leader for the program and 

later as the Northern district manager for 

the caring caller department. “I have a 

team of 44 callers and two team leaders 

who help to run the program smoothly 

and efficiently. I organise a mid-year 

tea party or a Christmas party for the 

callers and team leaders. We have fun, 

discuss the happening all year round, 

and reflect on improving it. I am also on 

the Manukau Area committee, where we 

organise and support different events 

yearly. We also do lots of fundraising for 

St. Johns,” Bajwa said. 

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10 

NEW ZEALAND 

Fiji Indian assaulted 

by hammer; family 

in shock 


The increasing cases of assault and ram 

raids in Auckland have become a regular 

feature with several incidents reported 

almost daily causing people to live in fear. 

A Manurewa resident of Fiji Indian heritage 

named Harpreet Singh (name changed on request) 

is in hospital after being brutally assaulted with 

a hammer by an unknown person on Sunday 

(October 9) morning. 

Singh’s brother Amardeep (name changed on 

request) says, “My brother has gone to the Mobil 

station to get fuel and to fill the air in tyres at 

around 6 am. 

"While he was still in the car and had just parked 

it near the air pump, he was assaulted by random 

people. It was such a random and shocking attack. 

My brother didn’t even know anyone and had not 

done anything...he just wanted to get fuel.” 

Harpreet, a handyman by profession, is 

currently being treated at a South Auckland 

hospital as he was severely wounded and 

even sustained multiple skull injuries in 

the random attack. 

Amardeep says that the incident has 

traumatised Harpreet and his entire family. “This 

is such a sad state of affairs in NZ. This is not 

how NZ’s law and order situation should be. The 

authorities and police should take these incidents 

seriously. Else we don’t know what all we will 

have to face.” 

He added, “We don’t want this to happen to 

anyone else. My brother is still trying to figure 

out what wrong did he do?” 

When Indian Weekender approached NZ Police 

for an update on the case, the police media team 

replied, “There are no updates at this stage. The 

investigation is ongoing.” 

When told about the same, Amardeep said, 

“This is so frustrating. We don’t know what the 

police are doing. 

"We feel so helpless and are just concerned 

about our safety and the people at large. We 

don’t feel safe in NZ anymore.” 


• Continued from Page 5 

• OET – Grade D or higher in 

at least two of the four skills 

(Listening, Reading, Writing 

and Speaking) Or Grade C 

or higher in all four skills 

(Listening, Reading, Writing 

and Speaking) 

Another option is that the 

applicant may pre-purchase 

English for Speakers of Other 

Languages (ESOL) tuition. 

The amount of ESOL tuition 

to be paid is NZ$1,735 per 

applicant. 

If we are two brothers, both 

NZ Citizens living in NZ, and 

want to sponsor our parents, 

what is the annual income 

we have to show? Can this 

amount be divided among 

both of us? 

Jag Sidhu (JS): If the siblings 

are sponsoring a single parent, 

then they have to meet the 

income requirements for at 

least two 12-month income 

periods within the threeyear 

period - $115481.60 

(2022), $112320 (2021) and 

$106040 (2020). 

If the siblings are sponsoring 

parents, then they need to 

meet the following income 

requirements for at least 

two 12-month income 

periods within the three-year 

period - $144352 (2022), 

$140400 (2021) and 

$132600 (2020). 

If I don’t have a valid IELTS, 

can I apply for the SMC pool 

next month, as I meet all the 


other criteria? How can I get 

an English test booked at the 

earliest? 

Shaneel Kumar (SK): You 

do not need to provide test 

results if one of the following 

applies to you. 

You are a citizen of Canada, 

Ireland, the United Kingdom 

or the United States, and 

you have spent at least five 

years working or studying in 

those countries or in Australia 

or New Zealand. 

You have a qualification 

similar to a New Zealand level 

7 bachelor’s degree gained in 

Australia, Canada, Ireland, New 

Zealand, the United Kingdom 

or the United States, and you 

studied for at least two years 

in any of those countries to get 

that qualification. 

You have a qualification 

gained in Australia, Canada, 

Ireland, New Zealand, the 

United Kingdom or the 

United States, which is 

comparable to a postgraduate 

New Zealand qualification. 

You must have studied for 

at least one year in any of 

those countries to get that 

qualification. 

Otherwise, you must provide 

an acceptable English language 

test result (no more than two 

years old) at the time of lodging 

EOI. INZ is being pressured 

about the English test, so it is a 

wait-and-watch situation 

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12 

NEW ZEALAND 



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With more than 32 million persons of Indian 

origin living outside India, Indians are the 

world’s largest diaspora. 

In 2021, Indian diaspora sent home remittances 

worth a whopping $89 billion, keeping India at the 

top of the list of remittance-recipient countries in 

the world. It has held the top spot since 2008. 

New Zealand has more than 250,000 persons of 

Indian origin amounting to some 5 per cent of the 

country’s population. 

As well as sending back funds to India, overseas 

Indians seem to effortlessly purvey Indian culture 

and everything that goes with it: colourful festivals, 

delectable cuisines, ancient wellness practices 

like yoga, meditation and 

traditional performing 

arts, ‘Bollywood’ cinema 

– all of which spreads 

India’s soft power to the 

corners of the world. 

Ever since it came to 

power in 2014, India’s 

National Democratic Alliance 

(NDA) government has 

accorded great importance 

to overseas Indians and 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi 

has always strived to meet 

and spend time with the 

Indian diaspora on his official 

visits to countries around 

the world. 

There is no gainsaying 

Indians living overseas are 

an extremely important 

factor in India’s global 

progress toward becoming 

the world’s third largest 

economy by 2030. 

While this seventy-fifth 

year of India’s independence 

is being celebrated by 

Indians worldwide as ‘Azaadi 

ka Amrit Mahotsav’, Prime 

Minister Modi has named the 

next 25 years that will take 

India into its centenary of 

independence as ‘Amrit Kaal’ 

that translates as ‘Age of 

Immortality’, by which time a 

confident India aims to be a 

fully developed nation. 

It is clear that there is a 

leading – as well as emerging 

– group of spirited Indian men 

and women the world over 

who are leading the charge 

of achieving this dream of 

PM Modi’s ‘Amrit Kaal’. Some 

of these are very much in 

his government at present. 

And there is no doubt that 

one of them is the erudite, 

competent, well-spoken and 

much-feted External Affairs 

Minister Dr S. Jaishankar. 

It is fitting that Dr 

Jaishankar was recognised 

as a “Global Indian Icon” 

on behalf of the Kiwi-Indian 

Community in NZ by Prime 

Minister Jacinda Ardern during the Indian Weekender 

Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame in Auckland on 6 October. 

He was presented with an exquisitely carved koru 

specially crafted from kauri wood for the occasion. 

As the esteemed guest of honour at the Hall of 

Fame, Dr Jaishankar delivered a stirring speech 

based on the anthology ‘Modi@20’ authored by 

eminent Indians drawn from many walks of life, 

which he also released on the night. 

He was also on stage at the award ceremonies, 

when Prime Minister Ardern presented the top 

award inducting her Cabinet Minister Priyanca 

Radhakrishnan into the Indian Weekender Kiwi-Indian 

Hall of Fame. 

Dr Jaishankar’s visit to NZ is significant in that 

such a visit by an Indian external affairs minister has 

come after over two decades and it was fortuitous 

that it came on the eve of the Kiwi Indian Hall of 

Fame’s 2022 edition. 

The event annually celebrates the brightest, high 

achievers of the Kiwi-Indian community and their 

achievements and contributions to the community 

and the country are feted and celebrated in the 

presence of the country’s prime minister and a bevy 

of VIPs and dignitaries. 

Dr S. Jaishankar has been in the global headlines in 

recent times for his exceptionally astute 

diplomacy and leadership, particularly on 

diverse multiple fronts such as the Ukraine crisis, 

challenges in the Indo-Pacific and India’s own 

geographical borders. 

Dr Jaishankar holds a an M. Phil and PhD in 

international relations specialising in nuclear 

diplomacy. In his long and distinguished diplomatic 

career, he has been India’s ambassador to the 

United States, China, the Czech Republic as well as 

High Commissioner to Singapore and India’s Foreign 

Secretary in New Delhi. 

The consummate diplomat that he is, he speaks 

English, Russian, Tamil, Hindi, Japanese, Mandarin 

and some Hungarian. 

He was conferred Padma Shri, India’s fourth 

highest civilian award, for his contribution to the 

country’s international affairs. 

Since 2019, he has been India’s External Affairs 

Minister and his work is making a global impact 

reflecting a brave, new, confident, India offering 

technological, scientific and healthcare solutions 

to the world while also reclaiming its status 

as a true Vishwaguru, with its vast knowledge 

base and rich heritage as it forges ahead into a 

glorious ‘Amrit Kaal’. 

Dr Jaishankar truly 

is a fine example 

of today’s Global 

Indian Icon.


NEW ZEALAND 13 

A befitting tribute 

to Bollywood divas 


The magic, allure and 

charm of Bollywood divas 

were brought to life on 

stage by Indiance, one of New 

Zealand’s earliest Bollywood 

dance schools. 

The theatrical titled - She 

is Bollywood - was another 

spectacular event by the school, 

which fascinated one and all. 

The show, which took place 

on Saturday (15th October) 

at the Bruce Mason Centre 

in Takapuna, celebrated the 

journeys of Bollywood heroines 

through the various eras. 

Everything was well 

coordinated - from the 

lighting and the song 

selection to the choreography 

and story narration. 

The narrator of the dance 

production took the audience 

on a journey that revealed 

the accomplishments of 

Bollywood female stars and 

their contribution to the film 

industry. The massive stage 

production saw a crew of 100 

artists enthralling Aucklanders 

with their performances on 

over 60 songs. 

It may be noted that 

Indiance has already done 

successful productions such 

as ‘Finding Aaliyah’, ‘The 

Arranged Divorce’, ‘Bombay 

Beat: Bollywood Heat’ and 

others in the past. 

Akshita Nama, Founder of 

Indiance, said, “I felt proud of 

the whole team for bringing 

the whole production together. 

It was better than we had 

imagined, and the audience 

loved it. We are overwhelmed 

and grateful for all the love and 

support we have received for 

“She is Bollywood”. 

Rahul Chopra, a dancer and 

guest performer at the show, 

compared the production 

to that of famous broadway 

shows. He said, “The overall 

production was done with great 

detail and professionalism, 

which can be compared with 

famous broadway shows. It was 

“I felt proud of the 

whole team for 

bringing the whole 

production together. 

It was better than we 

had imagined, and the 

audience loved it. We 

are overwhelmed and 

grateful for all the love 

and support we have 

received for “She is 

Bollywood”. 

a privilege to be a part of this 

incredible production as a guest 

performer.” 

Even the guests had all the 

praise for the show that paid 

a befitting tribute to around 

20 heroines of Bollywood, 

right from Madhubala to 

Jhanvi Kapoor. 

One of the guests, Simran, 

said, “Indiance always puts 

up a beautiful show. The 

set and costumes are so 

elaborate and well thought 

out. The choreography and 

music brought back many 

familiar childhood memories 

of Bollywood beauties I 

grew up watching. 

The script was great and 

lighthearted but still impactful. 

The dancers genuinely looked 

like they were having so much 

fun. I thoroughly enjoyed it! 

What a great effort by the 

whole team.” 

Another attendee and Indo- 

Kiwi artiste, Arjun Bhat, better 

known as The AJ Sound, praised 

the show on social media. He 

wrote, “What a fantastic night, 

one of the best shows we’ve 

witnessed in Auckland organised 

by the Indian community here. 

Really upped the game; lovely 

hosts, great choreography, nice 

“story” and just overall very 

entertaining and enjoyable!!” 

Sheetul Bisnauthsing, another 

attendee, described the show 

as a visual delight. She said, 

“She is Bollywood’ was a visual 

delight. The different costumes, 

the vibrant energy and high 

spirits of the dancers and the 

choreographies brought magic 

to Auckland. The audience were 

in for an absolute treat.” 

Have a joyful Diwali & 

Happy Bandi Chhor Divas 

Left to Right: Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan (MP for Maungakiekie, Minister for the Community & Voluntary Sector, Diversity, Inclusion & Ethnic Communities, and Youth), 

Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall (Labour List MP, Minister for COVID-19 Response and Seniors, Minister of Research, Science and Innovation), Marja Lubeck (Labour List MP based in 

Kaipara ki Mahurangi), Vanushi Walters (MP for Upper Harbour), Naisi Chen (Labour List MP based in Botany), Ibrahim Omer (Labour List MP), Ingrid Leary (MP for Taieri) 

Contact Labour’s Ethnic Communities Team: 

09 622 2557 | ethnic_communities_labour@parliament.govt.nz 

/Labourethnic | labour_ethnic_communities 

Authorised by Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

14 

NEW ZEALAND 



Keeping the Tamil legacy alive 


New Zealand is one of the 

most ethnically diverse 

countries in the world, 

and this diversity is a source of 

strength for Aotearoa. 

Ethnic communities that 

make up this multicultural 

NZ have a considerable 

contribution to NZ’s economic 

and social fabric. There is little 

denying that the Kiwi Indian 

community in NZ is growing by 

leaps and bounds. The Indian 

diaspora is indispensable in the 

migrant community, and Kiwi 

Indians love to bring a slice of 

their own culture to NZ through 

various cultural associations. 

Continuing with our series on 

cultural Indian associations in 

NZ, in this twenty-third edition, 

we take a closer look at the 

Dunedin Tamil Society (DTS), 

which has more than 300 

members. 

The Tamil community is 

known to have a strong 

presence in NZ, and that’s why 

there are around ten registered 

Tamil associations in NZ. 

Giving details about the 

history of DTS, which was 

registered in 2017, Rajesh 

Katare, President of DTS, said, 

“It was first started as a friend 

group (Dunedin Tamil Friends) 

who were interested in bringing 

in Tamil culture together. 

It endeavours to foster 

understanding, friendship and 

goodwill among people of Tamil 

origin and between various 

cross-sections of the people of 

Dunedin and the wider Otago 

region. It was registered in 

2017.” 

DTS aims to provide social 

support and networking 

opportunities for new migrants 

and New Zealanders who 

are Tamil-speaking people 

or identify themselves as 

people of Tamil culture. It also 

encourages people interested 

in learning, promoting and 

celebrating the Tamil language 

and culture, irrespective of 

their language and/or cultural 

identity.” 

Katare reveals DTS 

organises many events to 

keep the Tamil culture and 

language alive in NZ, including 

Pongal (harvesting festival), 

Tamil New year, Eid, Deepavali 

and Christmas, where we 

bring Tamil-speaking members 

together to develop bonding. 

In association with Auckland 

Muthamiz Sangam, DTS also 

conduct Tamil classes for the 

future generation. Moreover, 

DTS also host community 

sports events such as 

cricket and Tennis and has a 

separate Women’s wing to 

develop bonding and sharing 

of experiences between them. 

However, Katare reveals that 

convincing volunteers is the 

biggest challenge. 

Lastly, when asked about 

the association’s future, 

Katare says, “We want to 

continue to foster Tamil culture 

and language among our 

“We want to continue to foster Tamil culture 

and language among our community. We would 

also like to work with other associations from 

around NZ for this purpose. Our next biggest 

event will be Deepavali on November 5, and our 

members are gearing up for the same.” 

community. We would also like 

to work with other associations 

from around NZ for this purpose. 

Our next biggest event will be 

Deepavali on November 5, and 

our members are gearing up for 

the same.”

16 INDIA 



NZ Police in midst of 

refreshing ethnic strategy 

VENU MENON 

The New Zealand Police 

celebrated Diwali at the 

Indian High Commission 

in Wellington on October 13 

with some snappy Bhangra 

dance moves. 

Commissioner Andrew Coster 

and Deputy Commissioner (Iwi 

and Communities) Wallace 

Haumaha, along with other 

guests, lit the ceremonial 

lamp, which was followed by a 

Bharatanatyam dance recital 

by the students of the Natraj 

School of Dance. 

The three young dancers, 

Sowjanya, Sai Nithya and 

Samhitha, then explained the 

legend behind the festival for 

the benefit of the uninitiated 

among the audience. 

Addressing the assembly, 

Commissioner Coster said 

the Indian High Commission 

used to be on Level 9 of the 

Diwali in major cities across NZ, 

with the support of the city 

councils, testified to the “great 

contribution of the people of 

Indian descent” to this country. 

After a quick-tempo 

dance routine that closed 

the entertainment segment, 

Deputy Commissioner Haumaha 

reminisced about his first 

childhood encounter with an 

“Indian gentleman” who married 

one of his great grand aunts 

and named one of his children 

Lakshmi. 

“So that name Lakshmi has 

been within my Maori community 

for many, many years…,” he 

said, adding: “I think now, on 

reflection, how blessed we were 

to have somebody like that 

police headquarters building 

on Molesworth St. “How the 

tables have turned as you’re 

now hosting us in this beautiful 

place,” he quipped, drawing 

titters from the audience. 

Coster noted the rapid 

change that NZ society had 

undergone, with 20 per cent 

of its population identifying as 

ethnic communities. 

“This reinforces the 

importance of occasions such 

as this, when we come together 

to celebrate inclusiveness, 

diversity and events of 

significance for our range of 

different communities,” Coster 

observed. He said it was an 

opportunity to reflect on the 

important contribution of the 

Indian community to NZ, and “ 

specifically within NZ Police.” 

Coster pointed out that over 

the past five years groups that 

were under-represented in NZ 

police had on average grown by 

137 per cent. 

“Ethnic people currently make 

up close to 9 per cent of police. 

Our Indian staff alone number 

more than 400,” Coster said. 

Inspector Seema Kotecha 

was the first female Indian 

commissioned officer, whose 

appointment followed in 

the wake of that of Rakesh 

Naidoo as the first Indian 

superintendent, Coster added. 

Next, the NZ Police 

headquarters staff performed 

a mixed medley of folk dances 

from the three Indian states of 

Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Punjab. 

Mukesh Ghiya, Charge 

d’Affairs of the Indian High 

Commission, who spoke next, 

noted that the celebration of 

So that name Lakshmi 

has been within my 

Maori community 

for many, many 

years…,” he said, 

adding: “I think now, 

on reflection, how 

blessed we were to 

have somebody like 

that bring a name 

like Lakshmi into my 

tribe.” 

bring a name like Lakshmi into 

my tribe.” 

The deputy commissioner 

acknowledged the hard work 

and strong family values 

that epitomised the Indian 

community. The NZ Police 

welcomed people of different 

ethnicities and faiths and led 

the way in changing the uniform 

guidelines to incorporate the 

wearing of turbans and hijabs, 

he said. 

“Through our engagement 

with our communities and, while 

listening to the feedback from 

our staff, we are at the final 

stages of refreshing our ethnic 

strategy, which is now more 

important than ever,” Haumaha 

added. 

He concluded with an old 

Maori saying: “With your food 

basket, with our food basket, 

together our people will thrive.”

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK 

The future of vehicles is electric. But right now, nearly 75 

percent of battery manufacturing is done in China. My 

infrastructure law invests in America’s battery supply chain, and 

I’m proud to announce 20 companies are being awarded $2.8 

billion of that funding. US PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN 

Editorial 

Police minister 

rejects tough-oncrime 

rhetoric 

Police Minister Chris Hipkins’ acknowledgement of retail crime “particularly 

in the upper half of North Island,” becoming “a real concern for the whole 

country” is a public endorsement of an everyday reality for the victims of ram 

raids and burglaries occurring in (but not limited to) Auckland. 

But there were more areas of divergence, than convergence, in the minister’s 

kerbside interface with media and business owners in Mt Roskill on October 19. 

There was no clear agreement on raising the corpus of the Small Retailer Crime 

Prevention Fund, set up in May to help retailers beef up their security, from $6m to 

$30m. 

Likewise, self-defence as a security option was ruled out by the minister. 

But the core area where the minister appeared to lean towards preserving the 

status quo, rather than bucking it, was on the question of accountability and 

consequences to young offenders. 

Hipkins was sceptical of what he called the “tough-on-crime-rhetoric” that defined 

the response of the business owners towards young offenders. 

The minister did not see an overnight fix for the problem. 

But the perception that the police are soft on crime has been gaining ground 

following a spike in the number of ram raids, particularly in South Auckland. 

On October 18, the Quick Picks convenience store in Mission Bay was broken into 

by three teens in the early hours. On October 6, two car-borne teenagers smashed 

into a petrol station on Manakau Rd in the small hours and fled the scene in a second 

vehicle. The same offenders then burgled a retail store on King St in Pukekohe an 

hour later. Their vehicle was tracked by helicopter and stopped using road spikes 

in the Manurewa area. The two occupants of the vehicle, aged 13 and 14, were 

arrested. 

While this drama was unfolding, another burglary was taking place at a Takanini 

superette around the same time. Almost simultaneously, yet another store was 

broken into on Alfred St in Central Auckland. 

A jewellery store in North Shore was struck three consecutive times in early 

October. Videos of the incident were posted on social media by members of the 

public. 

These are some of the recent instances of smash-and-grab raids involving juvenile 

offenders in stolen cars operating under the radar of the law. 

Small businesses are the backbone of the NZ economy and dairy owners, who form 

the segment bearing the brunt of this type of crime, are largely New Zealanders of 

Indian origin who toil day and night to ensure the uninterrupted supply of such basics 

as milk and eggs to the wider community. 

The police are clearly swamped by the back-to-back burglaries. But heightened 

police presence and community patrols are proving blunt instruments in the face 

of loopholes in the justice system, with juvenile offenders returning to the streets 

before the ink has dried on the paper work after arrests are made. Unsurprisingly, 

prosecution rates are low. 

The police are hamstrung by what are widely seen as the inadequacies of the law. 

The government is approaching the problem via its socio-economic roots by 

introducing the “Better Pathways” package that aims to bring more young people 

into the ambit of education and jobs training as a means of checking youth crime. 

Hipkins has described the package as designed to prevent young offenders from 

reoffending. The government is counting on reform to contain youth crime on the 

grounds that a punitive approach would only turn youngsters into adult criminals in 

the long run. 

As per this approach, all children aged under 14 years in Counties Manukau and 

West Auckland, implicated in ram raids, are referred to the cross-agency Social Wellbeing 

Board which intervenes with “wrap-around” support. 

But is this laudable approach delivering? 

Data indicates otherwise. In the year ending July 2022, police have recorded 436 

ram raids, double over the previous year’s figure. 

Significantly, the number of ram raids during the same 12 months five years ago, 

stood at 84. 

This means there has been a 400 per cent increase in ram raids over five years. 

Alarmingly, 76 per cent of those offenders are under 18 years of age, of which 38 

per cent were repeat offenders aged between 12 and 19 years. 

Many of the offenders were gang members. Most were doing it for thrills, social 

workers in South Auckland have found. 

Many of the teens caught up in the ram raid culture come from broken homes 

or are homeless and stuck in poverty. They lack good role models and end up as 

apprentices to adult criminals. 

These young people appear to fit the Hobbesian description of living in a world 

where life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.” 

IN FOCUS : Picture of the week 

This week in New Zealand’s history 

Indian Weekender : Volume 14 Issue 31 

External Affairs Minister 

(EAM) S Jaishankar met 

United Nations Secretary- 

General Antonio Guterres 

in Gujarat on Wednesday 

and exchanged views on 

pressing global concerns 

and challenges in 

multilateralism. Terming 

India a partner of choice 

of the UN, Guterres said 

New Delhi has increased its 

impact on the international 

stage due to the donation 

of medicines, equipment, 

and vaccines at height of 

Covid-19 to neighbouring 

countries. 

21 OCT 2008 

Stolen medals returned to National Army Museum 

The 96 medals, including nine Victoria Crosses, two George Crosses and an Albert 

Medal, had been stolen from the Waiōuru museum early on the morning of 2 

December 2007. The VCs included those awarded to Reginald Judson, Keith Elliott 

and Henry Laurent. 

23 OCT 1869 

New Zealand ensign proclaimed 

The design of the New Zealand ensign that was to be flown by ships owned by 

the colonial government was established by a proclamation by the governor, Sir 

George Bowen. 

23 October 1948 

Mt Ruapehu air crash kills 13 

The Lockheed Electra airliner ZK-AGK Kaka went missing in poor weather on a 

flight from Palmerston North to Hamilton. Searchers did not reach the wreckage 

for a week. 

23 OCT 2011 

All Blacks win their second World Cup 

The All Blacks won the Webb Ellis Cup for the second time in seven attempts, 

defending grimly to hold onto an 8–7 lead over France in front of 61,000 

spectators at Eden Park, Auckland. 

26 OCTOBER 1942 

Women Jurors Act allows women to sit on juries 

The Act provided for women aged between 25 and 60 to have their names placed 

on the jury list on the same basis as men – if they so desired. 

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Wellington Reporter: Venu Menon | 021 538 356 | venu@indianweekender.co.nz 

Christchurch Reporter: Mahesh Kumar | 021 952 218 | mahesh@indianweekender.co.nz 

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is not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearing in the publication 

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Send your suggestions and feedback to editor@indianweekender.co.nz


NEW ZEALAND 19 

Kiwi-Odia community celebrates 

Dussehra with great enthusiasm 


The Odia Community in Auckland, 

which is small but certainly 

growing, got together to 

celebrate the festival of Dussehra with 

much excitement. 

The NZ Odia Society organised 

the event on 15 October (Saturday) 

from 3 pm to 11 pm at the Mt 

Roskill War Memorial Hall. For the 

uninitiated, the NZ Odia society is a 

close-knit community of individuals 

and families in Aotearoa, who are from 

Odisha or closely associated with the 

Odia language or culture, wherein they 

aspire to enrich the multiculturalism 

of New Zealand by acting as a bridge 

between the state of Odisha and the 

people of Aotearoa. 

Talking about the event, a 

spokesperson from the society said, 

“The event was very successful, with 

the largest attendance of any of the 

events organised by the organisation. 

“We had attendees and participants 

from Odias across the country. 

More than100 people attended and 

participated in this event, with some 

families flying into Auckland as far as 

from Timaru.” 

One of the key highlights of the 

celebration was a dance drama based on 

Ramayana by kids aged five to 11 years. 

“The kids not only brought the 

characters of Ramayana to life but also 

painted each of them in their own style. 

The challenges of making such young 

kids act were manifold, including their 

understanding of Ramayana and how the 

characters behave but also some of their 

location outside Auckland,” revealed 

the spokesperson. 

Besides this, kids mesmerised the 

crowd with their masterpieces on their 

choice of musical instruments, including 

ukulele, tabla, flute, piano and violin, 

where everyone was performing for the 

first time on stage with a crowd of more 

than a hundred watching them. 

The event consisted of more than 15 

energetic cultural performances with 

solo and group dancing and singing by 

the adults and young ones. 

When asked about the reason for 

holding a belated Dussehra (which 

was on 5 October) celebration, the 

spokesperson said, “The NZ Odia society 

consists of closely knit members where 

almost everyone in any city is close 

family friends of each other and in some 

cases relatives as well. Since this event 

was being organised after almost a year 

and a half of the Covid-19 break, we tried 

to schedule the event to accommodate 

most members and their families. 

Hence, a weekend during the 

latter part of the school 

“The break was chosen 

kids not 

only brought 

for the Dussehra 

celebration.” 

the characters of The guests, 

Ramayana to life but too, were seen 

also painted each of enjoying the 

them in their own mingling and 

style. getting together 

for the celebration. 

Pragyan Mohanty, who 

originally hails from Cuttack and was 

one of the attendees, said, “I felt great 

to come together and meet the fellow 

members of the Odia community in NZ. 

I truly felt like being back in India among 

my family and friends. Such community 

events should be encouraged.” 

Bank of India (New Zealand) Ltd 

Bank of India (NZ) Ltd 

wishes everyone 

Services we offer : 

1. Opening of Zero balance saving account 

2. Free remittance to India with attractive exchange rate 

3. Same day credit to any bank in India. 

Contact here: 

Auckland: 09 9265797 

Papatoetoe: 09 2781784 

www.bankofindia.co.nz 

Head Office: 

10 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland 1023 

Papatoetoe branch: 

31 East Tamaki Road, Papatoetoe, Manukau 2025

20 

NEW ZEALAND 



Guarded support for Bill to 

protect migrant workers 

VENU MENON 

Parliament witnessed a lively debate 

around the Worker Protection 

(Migrant and Other Employees) 

Bill, tabled by Minister for Diversity, 

Inclusion and Ethnic Communities 

Priyanca Radhakrishnan, during its sitting 

on October 18. 

The Bill aims at stamping out 

temporary migrant worker exploitation 

in New Zealand. It seeks to do this by 

introducing a “fit for purpose offence and 

penalty regime” to empower regulators. 

Employers who exploit migrant 

workers will be held to account more 

effectively under the Bill, the minister 

told the House. 

“This is not an ambulance at 

the bottom of the cliff,” Minister 

Radhakrishnan told the House. “Instead, 

it’s an extra line of defence at the top.” 

The government had committed $50m 

to support efforts by Employment 

NZ and Immigration NZ to curb 

exploitation, she said. 

The minister highlighted government 

initiatives such as the migrant 

exploitation protection visa that 

enabled migrants to leave “exploitative 

[workplace] situations quickly and to be 

able to remain lawfully in NZ.” 

Migrant workers were ignorant of their 

rights, the minister noted. 

Once passed, this legislation will amend 

the Immigration Act, the Employment 

Priyanca Radhakrishnan 

Relations Act and the Companies 

Act to bring in fines and penalties to 

deter employers of temporary migrant 

workers from non-compliance with their 

obligations under both immigration and 

employment law, the minister explained. 

The Bill fills the gaps that exist in 

enforcing the law on employers who 

exploit their migrant workers, she said. 

It empowers immigration officers 

and labour inspectors to “deal with 

Erica Stanford 

lower-level offending before it 

becomes more serious.” 

Once the Bill is passed, immigration 

officers will be able to compel employers 

who have supported a visa to produce 

documents relating to a migrant 

worker’s employment and wages to 

“verify that those employers are actually 

complying with their obligations,” such 

as paying migrant workers the salary 

quoted in their employer-supported 

visa application. 

It would also help monitor the working 

of the new Accredited Employer Work 

Visa system. 

At the moment, employers are not 

time-bound to respond to requests 

for information from the regulators. 

Employers who infringe the new 

10 working days’ time-frame to 

furnish information will be issued 

infringement notices. 

Currently, Immigration NZ 

has no mechanisms to tackle 

“low-level offences.” 

However, National’s Erica Stanford, 

while “tentatively supporting the Bill, with 

great trepidation and many concerns,” 

cited a news report to say investigations 

into migrant complaints were falling 

behind and were inconclusive. 

This Bill will not solve the problems 

with resourcing of Immigration NZ and 

compliance officers, she said. 

Instead, the Bill allows “deskbased” 

officials to request wage and 

employment documents from employers, 

and empowers them to slap fines. 

• Continued on page 24


NEW ZEALAND 21 

Christchurch’s Bargain store 

aims to stop food wastage 

MAHESH KUMAR 

The first discount grocery store in 

Christchurch, BargainMe offers 

a variety of short-dated or endof-line 

products at an affordable price, 

reducing food waste by giving these 

products a second life. 

A venture by Shawn Thomas, a wellknown 

face in the Indian community, 

BargainMe was launched seven months 

ago and has been rising in popularity 

after a slow start due to the Omicron 

variant. 

His father, Thomas Shaji Kurian, is 

also well-known in Christchurch’s Indian 

diaspora and a successful businessman 

with multiple ventures, including the 

ever-popular Bikanerwala. 

While there are similar discount stores 

in the North Island, what made Thomas 

come up with the idea for the first such 

store in South Island? 

“The idea came when I saw a few 

suppliers chucking away items that 

were either close to date or had minor 

damage. These goods were going to 

landfills. So, we thought these products 

could have a second life somewhere, 

especially with the current economic 

climate and rising inflation when families 

find it difficult to put food on the table. 

“Initially, we started with a focus 

on bulk foods like big, large cans of 

baked beans and canned fruit. We 

were targeting larger families, church 

groups, and community groups. We 

also had many schools coming in to 

buy our products. Over the months, we 

have diversified with a wider range of 

products. When we started, we focused 

more on getting good deals for people. 

But now we’re thinking of customer 

experience. Creating a model where 

people feel that they should visit us 

every week. At the moment, a place like 

this maybe once a month, but we want 

to create a weekly experience.” 

Thomas is also an accomplished 

dancer, having taught Bollywood dance 

and led a performing dance group that 

has participated in many events all over 

New Zealand. When asked what made him 

jump to hardcore business, he shares, “I 

always wanted to do something through 

which I could reach everyone. This 

business offered me an opportunity to 

reach the general public, where I could 

use all my marketing and social media 

skills. Because of my design and creative 

background, I repackage and make these 

products look good. We also advertise 

it nicely. So, it helps me create a good 

experience for customers.” 

BargainMe is not just about clearance 

but about convenience as well. The 

store stocks regular daily essential items 

like milk, bread, eggs, etc. which are not 

necessarily short-dated products. 

The immediate focus for Thomas is 

to consolidate the business, evolve the 

customer experience and eventually 

expand by franchising. 

“By franchising, we can help other 

people also have their own and feel 

comfortable running the business. 

It might be a bit riskier than a dairy 

business, but it is a safer model with 

higher turnover.” 

With no prior experience in business, 

Thomas had to go through a learning 

curve. “I had to learn so much very 

quickly. I did not know any of the terms 

that suppliers and manufacturers use. I 

learned how to order, receive and shelf 

it. And regarding cash flow and financial 

aspects, it was a challenge for me despite 

all the systems in place. So, though I had 

a vision, all the practical stuff had to be 

learnt at the job. It was a blessing to 

have dad and family support, who were 

always encouraging and helped me out 

when needed. 

“It has been heartening to see the 

change we have been able to make. 

According to our estimate, we have 

saved around five tons of waste that 

would have gone to landfill. But we have 

repackaged and given a second life to 

these products.” 

Thomas wants to be a role model 

for the young entrepreneurs. I want 

to create a model that is dynamic and 

creates win-win situation for all the 

stakeholders in the chain. 

Bank of Baroda New Zealand 

team wishes everyone 

Safest & Secure way of 

sending money to India 

Same Day Credit on 

attractive exchange rates 

AUCKLAND: 

Ph: 09 6321020 

WELLINGTON: 

Ph: 04 4710196 

Call 0800 024 404 Toll Free 

www.barodanzltd.co.nz 

operations.aucknz@bankofbaroda.com | remittance.aucknz@bankofbaroda.com

22 

NEW ZEALAND 



Exciting Diwali in 

store for Invercargill 

MAHESH KUMAR 

Celebrate Diwali 

with Mitre 10 

After a two-year 

hiatus, Indian 

C o m m u n i t y 

Southland Inc. (ICS), 

has announced Diwali 

celebration 2022 which 

has excited the Indian 

community in Southland. 

The traditional Indian 

“Festival of lights” will be 

held at the ILT Stadium 

Southland on 29 October 

from 11 am to 7 pm. 

ICS had previous hosted 

successful Diwali festivals 

in 2018 and 2019. 

The most important 

Indian festival celebration 

this year will have the 

Indian community, 

residents of Invercargill 

and the Southland region 

celebrate in style with 

entertainment, food, 

music, and culture. 

This year, ICS Inc. is 

bringing something new 

and exciting by getting a 

popular and well-known 

dance group Khottey 

Sikkey comprising of 

Kesha Surti and the team. 

The group specialises 

in Bollywood Dance, 

folk, semi-classical, and 

other fusion dance. 

Having performed in 

various Indian community 

events over many years, 

it is the first time that the 

community in Southland 

will get to witness their 

talent and also participate 

in an interactive workshop 

conducted for the 

audience. 

ICS has also arranged 

a few activities for local 

communities to better 

understand Indian culture 

and vibrancy. These 

activity corners will include: 

• Saree draping for the 

lovely women–learn how 

to wear and carry this 

exotic attire. 

• Turban draping for 

the gentlemen– Have 

a feeling of being the 

prince when you will 

drape this turban on 

your head 

• Photo booth – Get your 

photos in front of the 

Indian backdrop 

The icing on the cake will 

be the Bollywood DJ from 

5pm on 29 October. 

ICS Inc. has received 

tremendous support 

and inspiration from 

local businesses and 

organisations and 

would like to extend its 

gratitude towards all these 

supporters. 

Indian Community 

Southland Inc. is inviting 

people from all over 

Invercargill and Southland 

region to come and be a 

part of this festivity on 29 

October at the ILT Stadium 

Southland, 11 am onwards. 

SUPPLIED CONTENT 

It is Diwali time, and everyone is 

soaking up the festive spirit. To 

help you prepare for Diwali, the 

major home improvement chain Mitre 

10 is offering a wide range of lighting 

and home decoration products. 

The spokesperson for Mitre10 told 

Indian Weekender, “Diwali is significant 

to many of our team members and 

customers. 

We celebrate this internally within 

Mitre 10, too, asking our team 

members who celebrate Diwali to 

share their stories with the rest of 

the team. Many stores also encourage 

their teams in-store to dress up in 

traditional wear leading up to Diwali. 

Mitre 10 is also hosting Diya painting 

kids workshops in their Auckland stores, 

which have been decked up with Diwali 

decorations, on 22 and 23 October. 

Acknowledging the significance 

of Diwali – the festival season for 

their business, the spokesperson 

said, “Diwali is a special time for our 

customers, and it’s important that we 

recognise this. 

Mitre 10 can help them prepare 

for Diwali and entertain their friends 

and family during the celebrations.” 

Interestingly, Mitre 10 is also 

expanding its business. 

Revealing the same, the 

spokesperson said, “Mitre 10 is ever 

evolving as the market changes. We 

are expanding our online business and 

ensuring that stores remain relevant 

and adapt to changing customer 

needs. 

Our store footprint will continue to 

expand in areas identified for expansion.” 

So do visit your nearest Mitre 10 store 

and decorate your home in style. 

Eid 

Mubarak 

from Shanti Niwas team & Trustees 

Our Services to the community - South Asian Seniors(since 1994) : 

• Positive Ageing Day Program 

• Online meeting on Zoom (Monday to Friday) 

• Activity centers– Onhunga, Manurewa and North Shore 

• Drop in center - A safe and secure meeting place for Seniors Balmoral and Manurewa 

• EARS - Elder Abuse Intervention Services 

• Khushi - Elder abuse awareness program 

• Dosti - Visiting service for Housebound : An outreach service to support the lonely and housebound 

• Sneh- Emergency home 

• Referral Services- for Home Support, Mobility Cards, Medical alarm, Winz etc.for seniors. 

SHANTI NIWAS CHARITABLE TRUST 

14 Spring Street, Onehunga, Auckland 

Please contact us for all Senior Support Services and Activities, 

• Vishav Sharma, Project CoOrdinator: 021 202 8406/ 09 622 1010 

• Krishna Dave, Lifestyle and Activity Officer: 022 135 6247 

Email: info@shantiniwas.org.nz | www.shantiniwas.org.nz

Celebrating 

the festival of lights 

HAPPY DIWALI 

from 

sudimahotels.com

24 

NEW ZEALAND 



NCEA and the future of School education 

RAHUL CHOPRA 

People 

migrate 

to New Zealand 

for a whole host 

for reasons. From 

pursuing better 

professional 

opportunities, to 

achieving a good work life balance and in 

most cases, seeking better educational 

prospects for our present and future 

generations. 

People of Indian origin who now reside 

in NZ often reflect and compare their 

school education to that of their children 

in this beautiful country. Wherein the 

Indian education system places, what 

some would say an unfavourable singular 

focus on Education; in NZ the emphasis 

is more on holistic growth. 

There is a definite importance on the 

need to balance education with sports 

and social development. 

I do, however, believe that as a nation 

NZ and we as its citizens need to critically 

evaluate our current state of skills and 

identify gaps that need to be plugged 

to address skills scarcity of doctors and 

nurses in our hospitals, engineers, ICT, 

and skilled professionals in our public 

and private sectors. 

Before those higher educational 

needs and challenges are tackled, we 

must critically reflect on the alarming 

absenteeism rates in our schools. The 

number of students achieving level 1 

has been steadily declining since 2017, 

excluding a slight increase between 

2019 and 2020, according to NZQA. 

Only 69 percent of students achieved 

NCEA level 1 in 2021, down from 72 

percent in 2020. Reports point out 

towards the trend that our children are 

lagging, compared to other comparative 

nations such as Australia and Canada 

and there is a descending curve in both 

comparative and definite academic 

accomplishments. 

This may well be attributed to Covid. 

Or an unfortunate by product of the high 

inflationary world of today. 

We have families who have children 

dropping out of school and joining the 

workforce, to assist with the financial 

needs of the family. 

Or the wheels coming off a young 

person’s life and the immense 

possibilities of a bright future getting 

marred by the regrettable association 

with anti-social activities, like ram raids. 

The NZQA deputy chief executive 

Andrea Gray thinks that the drop may 

be part of a wider shift. 

Source: NZQA and Stuff 

Attainment rates also fell slightly for 

NCEA levels 2 and 3 since 2020. 

In Year 12, the percentage of students 

with NCEA qualifications decreased 

by 2.2%, and in Year 13, it decreased 

by 1.6%. Then there were results of a 

pilot study of new NCEA standards that 

shows two third of Kiwi students failing 

the new standards. 

We as a country need to work on 

solving underlying issues of teacher 

and student engagement right from 

primacy school. Acknowledging we have 

a problem which is contributing to NZ’s 

economic and social growth is the first 

step towards formulating effective 

solutions. 

Technology has transformed the 

way education can be imparted and 

accessed, but we should not end up 

creating a society where there is a 

digital divide. Children should have 

access to technology, irrespective of 

their economic conditions. 

Teachers need to show leadership 

as they know state of literacy in their 

schools and those who do need to be 

appreciated and acknowledged. Efforts 

should be made to make the industry 

a more viable career option. To achieve 

this though, their workload needs to be 

properly managed. 

The shortage of teachers across the 

education system is an issue that can 

only be addressed by having a steady 

stream of teaching professionals 

coming through our system, being ably 

supported by skilled professionals in the 

sector, migrating to our amazing shores. 

A skilled and educated population lays 

a solid foundation for a country to thrive 

and build a prosperous future on. 

What we must do is to ensure proper 

tools and support systems are in place 

so that children achieve their true 

potential and grow up to be productive 

members of our society, taking the 

country forward. 

Rahul Chopra works in the public sector. 

He is passionate about education and 

its effect on shaping inter-generational 

futures. 

• Continued from page 20 

Stanford faulted the Bill for 

going after the “very low-level 

offending,” and made the pitch 

that “the majority of employers 

( 97 percent ) want to do the 

right thing but are confused 

by the complex changes in 

immigration law in recent years. 

“The same employers are 

working under extreme labour 

shortages, the worst in 50 

years,” Stanford said. “And 

they need flexibility of workers 

to keep their doors open.” 

Stanford argued the Bill 

ignored the real problems such 

as “the under-resourcing and 

enforcement at the higher end.” 

The Bill targeted the good 

employers, mostly small 

businesses, who are trying 

to do the right thing, and are 

unsure of all of the changes of 

immigration law, she said. 

Stanford drew on the 

hospitality industry to 

highlight the shortage of staff, 

noting : “If a restaurant owner asks 

his cook to cover a front-of-house 

shift, that would be in breach of the 

visa conditions.” 

“Instead of focusing on getting 

workers into the country, which is 

what we need to relieve the severe 

[staff] shortages, this government is 

obsessed with making it more difficult, 

more costly, taking longer and adding a 

much more bureaucratic process to get 

workers into NZ,” the National Party MP 

lashed out. 

Stanford said her party’s support 

for the Bill at the Select Committee 

would hinge on the inclusion of “a 

reasonable cause” or grounds for 

an Immigration officer to request a 

business owner to provide documents. 

Without that, it would become a mere 

“fishing expedition.” 

The desk-based officers will replace 

the boots-on-the-ground compliance 

officers who are equipped to identify the 

real offenders, Stanford observed. 

In addition, there is no right of appeal 

for businesses who feel they have been 

unfairly targeted. 

The Bill, which had its first reading in 

the House, is set to go before the Select 

Committee for its deliberations. 

All Bills must have three readings in 

the House before they are passed.

26 

NEW ZEALAND 



A culinary 

tribute to 75 

years of India’s 

independence 

IWK BUREAU 

India’s seventy-five years of 

independence from colonial 

rule is being celebrated as 

‘Azaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ in a 

bewildering variety of creative 

ways across the world. 

Here in New Zealand, we have 

seen an all-new chancery of the 

Republic of India inaugurated on 

72, Pipitea Street in downtown 

Wellington, not far from the NZ 

Parliament precinct. 

The multimillion-dollar building, 

redolent of one of the many 

splendid structures of the 

erstwhile royal city of Jaipur 

in Rajasthan, was formally 

inaugurated by External Affairs 

Minister Dr S. Jaishankar during 

his visit earlier this month. The 

structure is already regarded as a 

landmark in the capital. 

The Indian High Commission in 

NZ has also hosted and sponsored 

many events around the country 

as part of the Azaadi Ka Amrit 

Mahotsav along with community 

and private organisations. 

The Indian Weekender, too, 

has participated in the Azaadi Ka 

Amrit Mahotsav celebrations by 

publishing a book titled ‘India’s 

Most Wanted Recipes’ by Indian 

Weekender’s cuisine editor Ruby 

Dhillon, who has been contributing 

her column to the publication 

since inception. 

Having contributed hundreds of 

recipes both traditional and avant 

garde over the past 13 years, 

Dhillon has chosen 75 of these to 

be included in the book to mark 

75 years of India’s independence. 

“This is no means an exhaustive 

list of dishes that define Indian 

cuisine. It was tough choosing 

75 from thousands of favourites 

across the length and breadth of 

the Indian subcontinent,” she told 

Indian Weekender. 

The book was soft-launched at 

the Indian Weekender Kiwi-Indian 

Hall of Fame in Auckland on 6 

October in the presence of NZ 

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and 

India’s Dr Jaishankar. The author 

personally presented copies of the 

book to the dignitaries present. 

The selection consists of the 

most recognisable dishes from 

Indian restaurants around the 

world that have come to define 

Indian cuisine. Indian cuisine is 

undoubtedly one of the most 

popular cuisines internationally 

and Indian restaurants and 

eateries have mushroomed in 

every country around the world. 

“This is no means an 

exhaustive list of dishes 

that define Indian cuisine. 

It was tough choosing 

75 from thousands of 

favourites across the length 

and breadth of the Indian 

subcontinent,” 

The book, produced both 

in hardbound and paperback 

formats, incorporates dishes from 

across India. As well as detailed 

descriptions of ingredients, prep 

and cooking methods, it also 

details the histories and evolution 

of many of the dishes, which 

makes the whole process of 

creating the dish more enjoyable. 

Almost all of the recipes are 

garnished, so to speak, with the 

author’s brilliant tips. 

The book is divided into sections 

and includes all courses that 

comprise India’s rich, flavoursome 

and elaborate culinary traditions – 

from appetisers and small dishes 

to accompaniments like chutnies, 

raitas and sauces; snacks; 

main dishes; desserts to even 

traditional beverages. 

The large format illustrated 

coffee-table sized book has been 

praised for its content and quality 

of production by readers who 

have had the chance to read the 

newly launched tome. 

Printed locally in New Zealand, 

the book will soon be available 

globally. 

For more information and to 

purchase a copy of the book 

visit: www.bit.ly/IMWRbook

28 

NEW ZEALAND 



India’s international ties guided by 

principles of equality: Rajnath Singh 

India does not believe in a “hierarchical 

world order” where a few countries 

are considered superior to others, 

said defence minister Rajnath Singh, 

adding that the country’s international 

relations are guided by the very essence 

of human equality and dignity, which is 

part of its ancient ethos. 

“We do not believe in making or 

becoming a client or satellite state, and 

so, when we partner any nation, it is on 

the basis of sovereign equality and mutual 

respect,” Singh said, while speaking at 

the India-Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD- 

2022) held on the sidelines of DefExpo 

2022 in Gandhinagar. 

“Forging relations comes naturally 

to India, as we work towards mutual 

economic development.” 

The dialogue successfully brought out 

various aspects of the IADD’s theme 

‘Adopting Strategy for Synergizing and 

Strengthening Defence and Security 

Cooperation’, said a statement. 

The Union minister defined the theme 

of IADD as the underlying commitment 

of India and African countries to explore 

new areas of convergence for defence 

engagements, including capacity 

building, training, cyber security, 

maritime security and counter terrorism. 

“India is steadfast in its commitment 

to provide support in all arenas to African 

countries, for fulfilling their aspirations 

for peace and stability in the region,” 

Singh said. “African priorities are our 

priorities. We appreciate the efforts 

made by African countries towards 

building a common African peace and 

security architecture.” 

India and African countries were also 

“important stakeholders” in ensuring a 

safe and secure maritime environment, 

especially in the Indian Ocean Region, 

the minister said. 

“I am sure that you also share our belief 

that the global world order deserves to 

be democratised further. The world’s 

multilateral forums should be reflective 

of the change in global realities,” he 

said, addressing representatives of 

over 50 African countries, including 

20 defence ministers, seven chief of 

defence staff/service chiefs and eight 

permanent secretaries. The IADD was 

institutionalised to be held biennially 

during successive defence expos. 

The IADD — which was accorded a 

high priority to India-Africa engagement 

in defence and security — showcased to 

the African nations the growing prowess 

of the domestic defence industry, which 

is one of the major drivers of the nation’s 

resolve to achieve ‘Make in India, Make 

for the World’ as envisioned by Prime 

Minister Narendra Modi. 

“This interaction is expected to help 

fulfilling the defence requirements of our 

African partners as also achieving the 

objective of catering to our domestic 

requirements,” the minister said. “India’s 

partnership with Africa is centered on 

“I am sure that you also 

share our belief that the 

global world order deserves 

to be democratised further. 

The world’s multilateral 

forums should be 

reflective of the change in 

global realities,” he said, 

addressing representatives 

of over 50 African countries, 

including 20 defence 

ministers, seven chief 

of defence staff/service 

chiefs and eight permanent 

secretaries. 

the 10 guiding principles articulated by 

PM Narendra Modi during his address to 

the parliament of Uganda in 2018.” 

DefExpo 2022 is set to be the 

biggest defence exhibition till date, 

with at least 75 countries participating 

in it. The theme of the 12th edition 

of the event is ‘Path to Pride’ and PM 

Modi will take part in the inaugural 

ceremony on October 19. 

Bhartiya Samaj & 

Roopa aur Aap 

Charitable trust 

wishes everyone 

Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust 

Phone : 096200579 | Mobile: 021-08881461 

Weblink Facebook You Tube

HAPPY 

DIWALI 

Capture the joy of Diwali with a special edition Diwali ANZ MyPhoto Visa Debit card. 

ANZ Diwali 

13+ age limit, eligibility criteria, T&Cs and fees apply 

ANZ Bank New Zealand Limited 

H220827_Diwali2022_355x255px_PRESS_Final.indd 1 

21/09/22 11:30 AM

30 ENTERTAINMENT 

India, Botswana FMs 

focus on health, trade, 

investment, including 

defence and training 

External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar met 

with his Botswana counterpart, Lemogang 

Kwape at Ektanagar, Kevadia, Gujarat and 

discussed trade, investment, including defence 

and training. 

“During the meeting, both ministers reviewed 

the current state of bilateral relations between 

the two countries and explored means to further 

strengthen these relations in areas such as 

health, trade and investment, defence, economic 

cooperation, training and capacity building among 

others,” read the Ministry of External Affairs 

press release. 

This was the first meeting for any foreign 

minister with Jaishankar in Ektanagar, Kevadia. 

“First occasion to host a Foreign Minister in Ekta 

Nagar, Kevadia. 

A warm meeting with FM Lemogang Kwape 

of Botswana. Particularly apt to meet in 

Gujarat, since diamonds and pharma are 

so salient in our ties,” tweeted Jaishankar. 

Regional and international issues of mutual 

concern including cooperation in multilateral fora 

such as the UN were also discussed. 

“It was also decided to reinvigorate 

the existing institutional mechanisms and 

conduct these meetings at the earliest 

mutually convenient dates, including the 

meeting of the ministerial Joint Commission,” 

added the release. 

India and Botswana enjoy cordial 

bilateral relations underpinned by strong 

people-to-people ties. 

More than 6000 Indians live in Botswana. 

Bilateral trade between India and Botswana is 

about USD 806 million. 


The economic indicators 

from China don’t look 

encouraging as the 

country had been badly hit 

by widespread coronavirus 

lockdowns negatively affecting 

both businesses and consumers. 

China, the world’s secondlargest 

economy Gross 

domestic product (GDP) fell 

by 2.6 per cent in the three 

months to the end of June from 

the previous quarter, reported 

Geo-politik. 

Major cities across China, 

including the major financial and 

manufacturing hub Shanghai, 

were placed on full or partial 

lockdowns during this period. 

Together these hubs of 

manufacturing and transport 

are home to 127 million people. 

In April, not a single automobile 

was sold in Shanghai, 

according to a report in the 

Washington Post. Shanghai’s 

economy reportedly shrank 

by 13.7 per cent during 

the quarter ending in June. 

The length and severity of 

Shanghai’s lockdown sent 

shockwaves through global 

supply chains and even led 

to a rare outburst of public 

dissent from residents who 

complained of food shortages 

and arbitrary quarantine 

measures, reported Geo-politik. 


China’s economy badly hit by 

Covid lockdowns, negatively 

affecting businesses, consumers 

The slowdown was particularly 

visible in individual consumer 

spending, despite authorities’ 

efforts to build up consumption 

as a driver of economic growth. 

Consumers cut back on spending 

across the board, whether it 

was on big-ticket items like 

cars or lower-cost products 

like cosmetics available 

online from e-commerce 

platforms, reported Geo-politik. 

In a rare move, China’s central 

bank cut lending rates on 

August 15 to revive demand. 

Growth has halted, youth 

unemployment reached a 

record high, the housing 

market looks wobbly and 

companies are struggling 

with supply chain constraints. 

China’s job market has 

sharply deteriorated in the 

past few months. 

Most recent data showed that 

the unemployment rate among 

16 to 24-year-olds hit an alltime 

high of 19.9 per cent in 

July, the fourth consecutive 

month it had broken records. 

That means China now has 

about 21 million jobless youth 

in cities and towns. 

The overall figure is likely 

to be much higher since 

rural unemployment isn’t 

included in official figures, 

reported 

Geo-politik.

32 ENTERTAINMENT 

Filmmaker-actor Rishab Shetty has 

spoken about what type of 

content the audience wants to 

watch. In a new interview, Rishab said 

that the Indian audience love ‘stories 

rooted in our culture'. 

He also added that filmmakers 

thought 'desi stories' won't work and 

instead wanted to try content with 

'Western sensibilities'. 

Rishab also talked about his latest 

hit Kantara's 'USP', which he said was 

the connection between nature and 

humans. He said that Kantara addresses 

that 'in detail through a folk lore' and so 

people have loved the film. 

Written, directed and fronted by 

Rishab, the Kannada period action thriller 

Looking for a 

Planning 

Consultant? 

• Resource consents 

• Plan changes 

• Property advice 

on development 

potentials 

• Submissions 

• Community 

consultation & 

site selection 

was released on September 30. 

In an interview with Zoom Digital, “The 

people of India are sentimental. They 


love stories rooted in our culture and 

ethos. Filmmakers elsewhere thought 

that such desi stories will not work and 

they should make something with more 

western sensibilities, films that are 

more commercial in nature. However, 

audience kuch aur hi soch rahi hai (is 

thinking something else). 

They want grounded, rooted, 

regional village, realistic stories on 

the silver screen. 

Speaking about the awareness of 

Kannada films, he said, "In the 70s and 

80s there was a superstar Dr Rajkumar, 

whose films got dubbed into multiple 

languages, such was his stardom. 

Humara legacy bhi hai, but har industry 

mein ups and downs hota hai (We also 

www.vurbs.co.nz 

027 886 4181 

vishal@vurbs.co.nz 


Rishab Shetty on Kantara's USP: 'Filmmakers thought 

desi stories won't work, audience kuch aur soch rahi hai' 

have our legacy but every industry has 

its ups and downs) Toh after KGF 2, 

people suddenly had a renewed interest 

in Kannada films. It is a good thing.” 

Kantara was dubbed and released in 

Telugu, Hindi and Tamil last week. The 

Kannada version of the film has already 

crossed ₹100 crore nett mark as per 

Box Office India. 

Apart from Rishab, Kantara also 

features Kishore Kumar G, Achyuth 

Kumar and Sapthami Gowda in pivotal 

roles. Set in the fictional village of 

Dakshina Kannada, Kantara follows a 

Kambala champion, played by Rishab, 

who comes to loggerheads with an 

upright Forest Range officer, Murali 

(Kishore). 

Sooraj Barjatya 

reveals he took 

‘anxiety medicines' 

before narrating 

Uunchai script to 

Amitabh Bachchan 

Filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya has 

revealed that he took 'two 

anxiety medicines' before 

narrating the script of Uunchai to 

veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan. During 

the trailer launch of the film, Sooraj 

Barjatya said that it's not easy to face 

Amitabh as he listens to a script without 

blinking his eyes adding that a person 

can't 'face the gaze' of the actor. ( 

Uunchai is Sooraj's first film in seven 

years. Billed as a drama, the film is about 

four friends – Amitabh, Anupam Kher, 

Boman Irani and Danny Denzongpa. 

Apart from them, Parineeti Chopra, 

Neena Gupta, and Sarika also feature in 

Uunchai. The film is slated to be released 

on November 11. 

As quoted by Indian Express, Sooraj 

said, “I remember meeting sir (Amitabh) 

for the narration of Main Prem Ki Deewani 

Hoon and he listens ‘apalak’ (without 

blinking his eyes) and you cannot face 

the gaze, it’s not easy. When I wrote 

this script, I messaged him and he had 

given me time for a zoom meeting. I 

sat for the meeting, taking two anxiety 

medicines because it is not easy to face 

sir."Sooraj also shared his experience 

with Amitabh while shooting for the film, 

“I realised that sir is the easiest actor 

to work with. I enjoyed working with him 

on the sets but I enjoyed (his company) 

more in his vanity van. Because he would 

talk about life, poetry, filmmaking, he 

teaches us but on sets, he only listens 

and that’s the greatest thing.” 

Amitabh also said at the event, as 

quoted by news agency PTI, "I have 

worked with them (Rajshri Productions) 

before. Jaya and Abhishek too have 

worked with them and they would heap 

praises on them. And, whatever they 

said turned out to be true. At this age, 

there are very few opportunities for us. 

I am thankful to Rajshri Productions and 

my co-actors." 

The trailer, which released recently, 

showed Amitabh, Boman Irani, Anupam, 

and Danny planning and discussing the 

idea of summiting Mount Everest. But 

Danny's character dies of old age before 

they can reach a decision. The rest of his 

friends decide to carry on with his wish 

and immerse his ashes at Mount Everest.

HOWICK 

BRANCH 

wish you a Happy Diwali 

Your success is our priority. 

Our commitment is your guarantee. 

TEAM MUNISH SETH 

021 686 474 • 09 5345139

May this Diwali fill into our lives new hopes 

for the future and new dreams for tomorrow. 

HAPPY 

DIWALI 

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS 

Our team wish to take this time 

of reflection to thank you for the 

ongoing support of our business.

Celebrate 

Diwali 

with Your Loved Ones 

Mann Travel wishes you all 

immense happiness & prosperity on this Diwali. 

OUR SERVICES 

Mann Travel aims to make your travel memorable in every way possible. 

Get in touch with us to make the most of your vacation ! 

Best Value Flights 

We work till the end to let 

you travel for the cheapest! 

Our fares are the best on 

the shelf, making the customers 

come back to us for 

their trip bookings. 

24/7 Customer Care 

We are here and ready to 

help you 365-days per 

year and 24-hours per 

day. There are many ways 

to reach us, our toll-free 

number 09 973 1940 is one 

of them. 

Personalised & Trusted 

Advice 

Over the last 7 years, we 

have worked to bridge 

every gap between the 

customer and us. Their 

trust and loyalty are a true 

reflection of our efforts. 

Global Network 

With three fully functional 

and established offices in 

Australia, New Zealand and 

UK, we constantly add more 

airlines and flight connections 

for our prestigious 

customers. 

In case you require any further information, you may call our 24/7 Customer Care 

09 973 1940 

www.manntravel.co.nz 

Vote of Thanks 

We would not have achieved important milestone without 

your good wishes and wholehearted support.

The Indian Weekender, 21 October 2022

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