The Indian Weekender

Friday, 25 August 2023 

Volume 15 / Issue 22 

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Khaike 

Paan… 

A Kiwi-Indian's quest for a taste 

of India ends in Christchurch 

NAVDEEP KAUR MARWAH 

IN AUCKLAND 

"Mahual tha paan ka…paan khilate the 

aur khate the (‘Paan’ was an evergreen 

delicacy)." Rakesh Sharma recalls 

his early days back home longingly as he 

chews on the topic of ‘paan’, India’s beloved 

mouth freshener with spices wrapped 

in a betel leaf. 

The retired accountant’s yearning 

for that taste of India is growing, quite 

literally, in the backyard of his house in the 

southern Auckland suburb of Mangere. 

He has cleared off a patch to harvest betel 

plants from a cutting he managed to track 

down in Christchurch. 

“I did a lot of research and found this 

paan leaf closest to the one we get in 

Kolkata [dark green],” says the 67-yearold 

behind ‘Sharma Paan’, a budding 

brand whose products are now available at 

stores across Auckland. 

Born in Hoshiarpur in the northern 

Indian state of Punjab, Sharma spent most 

of his life in Mumbai before settling in 

New Zealand in 2000. 

“I used to eat paan a lot throughout 

my life in India…but when I came to New 

Zealand, I didn’t get paan. The New Zealand 

government does not allow betel leaves or 

betel nuts (‘supari’) to be imported from 

India,” he says. 

• Continued on Page 7 

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Read online www.iwk.co.nz Friday, 25 August, 2023 

NEW ZEALAND 3 

Maori-Indian 

woodcarver’s Raksha 

Bandhan gift lives on 

VIHAN DALAL 

‘Kia Ora’ and ‘Namaste’ were the two 

salutations I was greeted with as 

soon as Tane Singh-Lagah answered 

my video call on what sounded like an 

eventful Tuesday night at his house. 

Though he was in Rotorua, the sound 

of kids running around and a baby crying 

in the background were reminiscent of a 

bond that many families share in India. 

Tane’s Maori and Indian heritage 

seemed to symbolise the unity between 

the two communities, which made the 

festival of Raksha Bandhan special for 

him. He was in a fond reverie when he 

recalled his experience at an Indian 

cultural festival he had visited over a 

decade ago. 

“The day and the festival were awesome. 

I hadn’t been to one like that before. I learnt 

a lot and it was fun learning, and I noticed 

similarities between Maori and Indian 

culture,” he says. 

Tane carved ‘Ekta Shankh’ (conch 

of unity), on the occasion of Raksha 

Bandhan in 2010, a festival celebrating 

the bond between brothers and sisters, 

which was unveiled at Mahatma Gandhi 

Centre in August that year. 

The artwork currently resides with NZ 

Hindu Council in Auckland. 

Tane’s voice filled with pride and joy as 

he talked about the conch he had carved. 

“My grandfather was from Punjab, 

and getting to do the carving for Raksha 

Bandhan…that was awesome and a bit 

more special,” Tane says. 

Though Raksha Bandhan is a celebration 

of the bond between brothers and sisters, 

Tane spoke of a bond between families 

to highlight the similarities between 

Indian and Maori cultures. 

“There’s a thing that we call the 

whakawhanaungatanga, which is 

family ties or connections, and that 

“My grandfather was 

from Punjab, and 

getting to do the carving 

for Raksha Bandhan… 

that was awesome and a 

bit more special.” Tane 

Singh-Lagah 

can go for any person and that goes 

into whakapapa or genealogies as 

well,” he says. 

He also spoke of a belief within Maori 

culture about the bond humans share 

through gods. 

“In Maori, we say that Tane is the 

creator of all humans, so, this [person] 

who isn’t Maori is a relative to us through 

the creator, through Tane.” 

The conch carved by Tane for Raksha 

Bandhan did indeed symbolise the bond 

of unity between the two communities. 

Perhaps the bond runs deeper than just 

cultural practices. 

The two communities seem to be united 

through their beliefs and worldviews too, 

says Tane. 

“The main thing would be making 

another connection or bond between 

the two communities through the 

Taonga (treasured possession) and 

maybe being of Maori and Indian 

descent too, and me doing it, we 

are adding a new layer or a new bond 

[between the two communities],” Tane 

says. 

The President of the Wellington branch 

of NZ Hindu Council, Vijeshni Rattan, 

says the bond between the Indian and 

Maori communities is also shared 

through worship. 

“The Maori worship the sun 

god just like Hindus do,” she told 

The Indian Weekender. 

The President of Hindu Youth New 

Zealand, Murali Magesan, has also 

highlighted the shared values of 

collective responsibility for sustainability, 

as well as the understanding of the 

cosmos between the Indian and Maori 

communities. 

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‘Real milestone’ if Modi 

RAVI BAJPAI IN AUCKLAND 

It would be a “real milestone” 

in bilateral relations if Indian 

Prime Minister Narendra 

Modi were to visit New Zealand, 

National’s Deputy Leader Nicola 

Willis has said. 

“I know that it would be 

wonderful to have him visit. 

Mr Modi, of course, would be 

welcomed by just about every 

country in the world. I'm sure that 

New Zealand is certainly a country 

that would like to see him.” 

The Indian leader has been in 

the region thrice in the recent 

past–twice to Australia and once 

to Fiji and Papua New Guinea–but 

he hasn’t visited New Zealand. 

Willis spoke candidly about 

relations between the two 

countries during a freewheeling 

chat at the office of The Indian 

Weekender, just weeks ahead of 

the general election on 

October 14, 2023. 

She described New Zealand’s 

relationship with India as an 

important one, “particularly our 

people-to-people ties”. 

“We're so fortunate in New 

Zealand to have many people 

of Indian descent…and India, of 

course, is home to many New 

Zealanders. But there's so much 

potential.” 

She pointed out despite the 

“great cultural affinity in terms of 

National's Deputy Leader Nicola Willis at The Indian Weekender office in Auckland. 

our shared love for democracy”, 

bilateral trade remained quite 

small. 

“It's actually shrunk the last few 

years under Labour [government]. 

So National wants to see New 

Zealand pursue a greater trading 

relationship with India, because 

we think we have a lot to learn 

from each other and gain from 

each other.” 

In 2010, former prime minister 

“I know that it would be 

wonderful to have him visit. 

Mr Modi, of course, would be 

welcomed by just about every 

country in the world. I'm sure that 

New Zealand is certainly a country 

that would like to see him.” 

John Key made it a priority to 

settle a trade deal with India, but 

those talks ended about the time 

he visited New Delhi in 2016. 

Officials have often described 

India’s reluctance to offer 

concessions on New Zealand’s 

primary exports like dairy as a 

deal breaker when exploring a 

comprehensive trade agreement. 

But business leaders have 

pointed out any approach to 

bilateral relations that focuses 

solely on an FTA will never work 

with India, and instead New 

Zealand should build industryspecific 

deals incrementally. 

Willis underscored pursuing 

stronger relations with India “will 

be a priority” for her colleague 

and National’s prime ministerial 

candidate Christopher Luxon if the 

party were to form government. 

“In terms of his diplomatic 

efforts, he said that he wants to 

see a free trade agreement [FTA] 

with India pursued, and he knows 

that that will require New Zealand 

making itself very available… 

“...right from the top and 

through all levels of diplomacy to 

ensure that we're starting those 

conversations, and we're making 

it clear that that's an important 

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NEW ZEALAND 5 

were to visit NZ: Willis 

A report released this year 

by India New Zealand Business 

Council, a trade organisation, 

suggested the government 

must look beyond the traditional 

transactional approach and 

instead make India a diplomatic 

priority, 

“Regrettably, in the last 40 years 

there have only been four formal 

prime ministerial visits to India, 

and it is now fast approaching 

a decade since the last one 

occurred. 

“There remains a widespread 

view that our highest-level 

government engagements in India 

are vitally important in advancing 

our relationship with India,” the 

report states. 

It warned New Zealand was at 

risk of being further marginalised 

as the centre of economic and 

geopolitical gravity shifts towards 

India. 

The trade body recommends 

identifying sectors where India’s 

interests intersect with New 

Zealand’s capabilities in order 

to grow trade relationships; 

indicating agriculture, forestry, 

agritech, fintech, education and 

renewable energy would provide a 

good starting point. 

National wants to review if AEWV ‘is working’ 

Some of the jobless migrants stranded in Papakura, Auckland. 

RAVI BAJPAI IN AUCKLAND 

The National Party is 

promising to take a hard 

look at Accredited Employer 

Work Visa (AEWV) to see “whether 

the scheme as a whole is working”, 

its Deputy Leader Nicola Willis has 

said. 

The scheme launched in 2022 is 

based on a high trust model, and 

it allows employers accredited by 

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) 

to bring in workers from overseas 

with minimal checks. 

Last week, nearly 150 migrants 

from India, and some from 

Bangladesh, who arrived under 

the scheme were found crammed 

into houses across Auckland after 

their agents and employers failed 

to place them in the jobs they were 

offered. 

“I think given the failures we’ve 

seen this week, we have to look 

[at the scheme],” Willis told The 

Indian Weekender. “So, we in the 

National Party, we'll be looking at 

why it's failed and what we need 

to do to fix it." 

Among the victims found 

last week were skilled welders, 

fabricators and truck drivers with 

years of experience in countries 

like Dubai and Singapore, who 

were charged up to $44,000 by job 

contractors to procure Accredited 

Employer Work Visa (AEWV). 

Immigration officials say they 

have launched an inquiry into a 

possible immigration fraud and 

migrant exploitation in Auckland 

involving Indians. 

Many similar stories of 

exploitation and misuse of AEWV 

from across the world have 

emerged over the last few months, 

but INZ officials say the scheme is 

by and large working well and they 

have no plans to review it. 

As of August 14 this year, at 

least 80,576 migrants had arrived 

in the country since the AEWV 

was launched in July 2022, and 

nearly 27,892 employers had been 

accredited. As of August 6, INZ 

says 164 accredited employers 

were being investigated for a 

variety of offences. 

Immigration officials have, so 

“So, we in the 

National Party, we'll 

be looking at why 

it's failed and what 

we need to do to fix 

it." Nicola Wills 

far, revoked accreditation of six 

employers while those of five 

others have been suspended. 

National’s Willis pointed to 

the latest visa fraud involving 

Indians to say the scheme, which 

was meant to stop migrant 

exploitation, was failing to deliver 

on its promise. 

“For all of us to read that 

human beings have been treated 

with so little dignity here in our 

own country, and conditions of 

squalor… 

“We’re calling on the government 

to look at what were their systemic 

failures that allowed this to occur, 

because it must not happen again, 

as we sit here today, neither of 

us can be confident that it’s not 

happening somewhere else in the 

country as well." 

Steve Watson, Head of 

Immigration Compliance and 

Investigations at INZ earlier told 

The Indian Weekender the vast 

majority of employers are doing 

the right thing. 

“[They] treat their migrant 

workers fairly and well. Employers 

are expected to take their 

responsibilities seriously and 

comply with AEWV conditions. 

“We are not currently looking 

at pausing the AEWV scheme as 

it is working well and allowing 

employers to bring in migrants 

for jobs that urgently need to be 

filled.” 

Dr Anae 

Neru Leavasa 

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6 

NEW ZEALAND 

NAVDEEP KAUR MARWAH IN 

AUCKLAND 

New Zealand’s Trade and Export 

Growth Minister Damien O’Connor is 

excited about his upcoming visit to 

India starting August 27, 2023. 

In an exclusive interview with The Indian 

Weekender, the 65-year-old, who has held 

the portfolio since November 2020, shed 

light on his key priorities, the status of New 

Zealand’s trade relations with India, his 

challenges and prospects for the future. 

“I’m very pleased to say that I’ll be going to 

India this weekend for ministerial meetings. 

This will be my second trip to India in the 

past year and the fourth by a minister in 

as much time. I’m hoping we can agree on 

priorities for our economic cooperation in 

primary industries, tourism, and education.” 

Speaking about New Zealand’s trade 

relations with India, he underscored the 

robust ties between the two nations. “We 

have a very good relationship with India, 

which we are building on. 

"We have people-to-people ties through 

our Indian diaspora, which forms about five 

per cent of the Kiwi population. Our Indian 

diaspora makes a significant contribution to 

our economy.” 

The minister also highlighted cultural, 

sporting, and business collaborations as 

additional cornerstones of the relationship 

while highlighting the tourism and education 

sectors’ substantial gains from Indian 

visitors before the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The minister emphasised that trade 

between New Zealand and India, which 

currently stands at about $2.5 billion, has 

ample prospects for further expansion. 

“I think there’s scope to build that as we 

engage further - whether at ministerial 

or business-to-business levels. I believe 

trade is actually about sharing, not just 

transacting. There is very good scope 

for cooperation in the agriculture and 

horticulture space and beyond across all our 

goods and service sectors.” 

Regarding challenges for the New 

Zealand-India trade relationship, O’Connor 

said, “I don’t see any significant challenges 

or barriers to deepening our relationship.” 

He stressed the importance of consistent 

ministerial engagement as a foundation for 


‘Very pleased’: Trade minister 

O’Connor headed for India 

mutual understanding. He also recognised 

the value of enhancing air connectivity 

between the two nations through a direct 

flight. “Improving air connectivity through a 

direct flight between India and New Zealand 

would be a great development,” he said. 

When asked to comment on the possibility 

of a free trade agreement (FTA) with India 

akin to the one with the European Union, 

O’Connor reiterated the focus on building a 

robust relationship. 

“We see developing our relationship as 

the most important priority. India indicated 

some years ago that an FTA was not their 

priority, and we respect that,” he explained. 

He pointed to successful trade relations 

with the United States as an example of 

thriving commerce without a formal FTA, 

showcasing the value that the market sees 

in New Zealand’s offerings. 

Concluding with his vision for India-NZ 

relations, O’Connor emphasised consistent 

engagement and mutual respect. 

“I think by visiting and engaging in the 

way we have been over the past few years, 

by being consistent and showing that 

we respect India’s position on trade…it’s 

important that the focus remains on the 

breadth of the relationship and finding ways 

to cooperate.” 

‘World’s knocking on India’s door’: INZBC Chair 


IN AUCKLAND 

Michael Fox, the newly-appointed 

Chair of India New Zealand 

Business Council (INZBC), is 

excited about leading a business delegation 

to Delhi from August 27-31. 

In an exclusive chat with The Indian 

Weekender, Fox, who is also Head of Global 

Public Affairs and Communication at Zespri, 

talks about his new role, the upcoming trip 

to India, and NZ-India relations. 

Q1. How excited are you about the upcoming 

business delegation to India? 

It’s going to be a really great week. We 

have around 50 businesses and business 

leaders participating, and had more than 

100 expressions of interest, showing just 

how enthusiastic people are about the 

relationship and the opportunity, and how 

willing they are to invest in it. 

The business community has been 

strongly advocating for enhanced 

government investment in the relationship 

because of the opportunities it would help 

create. 

There are some great examples of New 

Zealand businesses succeeding in India 

and Indian businesses here, but there’s 

room and ambition to do lots more, 

especially if we’re willing to think creatively 

and to invest appropriately. 

INZBC is also holding our annual Summit 

in India for the first time since we launched 

it in 2014. It will give us an opportunity 

to hear from a lot of Indian investors and 

businesses as well as the opportunity 

to talk about the opportunities that New 

Zealand offers, directly to an Indian 

audience. That can be very powerful and we 

hope it leads to more opportunities. 

Q2 How would you describe India-NZ 

business relations? 

A work in progress–though there are 

some great examples of people who have 

got on with it already. 

One thing we do know is that a 

comprehensive FTA [free trade agreement] 

would unlock the market significantly, but 

we’ve a way to go before we get there so 

we need to be looking at what we can do 

in the meantime to try and help to drive 

that. If we can establish stronger trading 

ties in lieu of a full agreement, it’s going to 

create a platform for us to get there. Making 

New Zealand stand out from the crowd is 

going to be important because the world is 

knocking on India’s door. 

Q3 What do you think needs to be 

done to improve trade relations? 

We need to do more business together 

for starters, but more than that we need to 

invest in our government-to-government 

relationship and also our cultural one. We 

must build trust and demonstrate how we 

can succeed together. 

The INZBC report, 'India New Zealand: 

A Relationship Ready For Its Next Phase', 

lays out a roadmap for how we think the 

relationship can move forward, and we’ve 

been really encouraged by the government’s 

response to it and we look forward to 

seeing what concrete actions come out 

of it. That includes a focus on areas like 

education, tourism, diplomacy and direct air 

services. 

"There are some great 

examples of New Zealand 

businesses succeeding 

in India and Indian 

businesses here, 

but there’s room and 

ambition to do lots more." 

Michael Fox 

Q4 What are the highlights of the delegation 

you are taking to India? 

The fact that such a big delegation 

of New Zealand businesses is there for 

starters, and then the interest in engaging 

with them from the Indian side. 

The India New Zealand Business Council 

Summit will be one highlight, with sessions 

focused on collaborating with a superpower 

and what India wants, alongside a session 

with those who are already succeeding in 

India, which should be really instructive. 

We’re meeting with Invest India to hear 

about opportunities in India, NZTE is 

leading a day focused on local insights 

and we’re meeting with local chambers, 

including FICCI and CII, and discussing 

trade and economic policy to help inform 

our views on the way forward. There’s lots 

of great stuff to look forward to. 

RNZ 


Auckland 

Airport’s 

overall 

revenue 

doubles 

as tourists 

return 

Auckland Airport has revealed its 

first full-year underlying profit and 

dividend in three years as tourists 

returned following the easing of border 

restrictions. 

Key numbers for the 12 months ended 

June compared with a year ago: 

• Net profit $43.2m vs $191.6m 

• Revenue $625.9m vs $300.3m 

• Underlying profit (loss) $148.1m vs 

($11.6m) 

• Passenger numbers 15.9m vs 5.6m 

• Dividend 4 cents per share vs 0 cps 

The airport said it has experienced 

a stronger than anticipated rebound in 

travel markets over the year. 

It said international seat capacity had 

recovered to 90 percent of pre-pandemic 

levels by the end of the financial year, 

while domestic recovered to 89 percent. 

“We still have some way to go to 

achieving full recovery, but it all amounts 

to a fantastic turnaround for an industry 

that was in dire straits two years ago - 

bringing relief and optimism to those of 

us who work in aviation,” chief executive 

Carrie Hurihanganui said. 

Its bottom line profit fell by 77 percent 

to $43.2 million due to the weaker 

property market affecting the value of its 

investment portfolio. 

Overall revenue more than doubled as 

passengers returned. 

Aeronautical revenue also more than 

doubled at $219.5m, commercial property 

revenue rose 27 percent to $142.9m and 

retail revenue was $130.9m, compared to 

$22.7m the prior year. 

The airport posted an interim underlying 

profit of $68m for the six months ended 

December. 

Hurihanganui said the airport continued 

to see positive signs for the year ahead. 

It forecast underlying profit for 2024 

to be between $260m and $280m, 

with capital expenditure forecast to be 

between $1 billion and $1.4b. 

Airport chairperson Patrick Strange 

said the year was not only marked by 

the strong return of international travel, 

but also getting underway with the most 

significant upgrade in its history. 

The $2.2b integrated terminal 

project was met with fierce opposition 

from airlines concerned about 

aeronautical charges. 

“We appreciate their concern about 

cost, as infrastructure is a significant 

investment. We are always open to 

further feedback about how to reduce 

costs while still delivering a resilient, 

long-term solution,” Strange said. 

“However, we remain committed to 

the current programme of work we 

have underway to pave the way for 

a new domestic terminal. Delaying 

infrastructure is not in New Zealand’s 

best interests - we know where that road 

leads,” he said.


NEW ZEALAND 7 

Retired accountant in search 

of betel bliss in Aotearoa 

business in March this year, but the response 

has been great. We are the first to introduce 

paan in an organised and professional way 

in New Zealand. 

“At present, we sell about 400 paans a 

week. We are working on increasing it. We 

need more awareness about our products 

as we are very confident about the quality of 

our products.” 

Talking about his future plans, he shares, 

“We are a team of senior citizens on our 

project and as my business keeps growing, 

I would want to involve more senior citizens 

in the business. 

"The idea is to keep seniors occupied. 

Also, we plan to add more products in the 

coming time.” 

Rakesh Sharma and wife Neelam at the betel plantation in the backyard of their Auckland house. 

• Continued from page 1 

Sharma has nearly quit full time work 

as a chartered accountant to focus on his 

passion that took shape of a product in 

March this year. 

“I decided to convert my love for paan 

into my retirement business venture. About 

a year back, I went to Melbourne. We saw 

a great demand for paan and thought, why 

don’t we get it here in New Zealand? Then I 

started researching and zeroed in on a few 

paans we wanted to introduce here.” 

Paans available in New Zealand are mostly 

made from betel leaves imported from Fiji, 

which Sharma says are quite unique in their 

own right, but taste quite different from the 

Indian varieties. The first lot of betel plants 

growing in his backyard from the cutting 

he brought from Christchurch will start to 

blossom this summer, when he hopes to 

start using them on a large scale. 

Besides the Auckland Council-approved 

workshop at his home, Sharma has harvested 

the betel variety from Christchurch also in 

Hamilton and Papatoetoe to achieve scale. 

“It is imperative for us to give our 

customers unique and traditional taste 

in our products. We used to use Fiji betel 

leaves, but we hope to start using this new 

variety soon.” 

Sharma Paan offers Sweet Paan, Herbal 

Paan, Waffle Paan and mouth fresheners, 

available in packages of 4gm and 12gm. 

They also do Saada Paan for bulk orders. 

The products retail at about 15 restaurants 

and grocery stores across Auckland, and 

the company also offers courier service for 

customers from other cities. Its products are 

A worker prepares a sweet paan. 

also available on food delivery services like 

Uber Eats and DoorDash. 

Along with his wife Neelam and volunteers, 

Sharma assembles the products at a shed in 

his backyard. “We import all our ingredients, 

be it spices, gulkand, saffron, fennel seeds 

and dry fruits, by air from India. 

“All the products have a shelf life of 

six months, which we aim to increase 

to a year. We have paid an Indian paan 

company for the recipe for waffle paan. 

We have taken help from ‘Pandey Paan’, an 

80-year-old paan business at Connaught 

Place in New Delhi.” 

Sharma says he is happy with the market 

response so far. “We only started our 

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8 

NEW ZEALAND 

VIHAN DALAL IN AUCKLAND 

New Delhi and Wellington 

have agreed to increase 

bilateral cooperation 

during official talks last week. 

New Zealand hosted an Indian 

delegation for the fifth India- 

New Zealand Foreign Office 

Consultations (FOC) in the capital 

city on August 19. 

The Indian delegation was led 

by the Secretary (East) of the 

Ministry of External Affairs of India, 

Saurabh Kumar; and co-chaired 

by Deborah Geels from the New 

Zealand foreign ministry. 

Officials said both the sides 

expressed satisfaction at the 

enhanced engagement between 

the two countries. 

“There was appreciation on 

both sides about the fact that a 

lot had been done in the last one 

year following up on the visit of 

EAM Dr S Jaishankar,” India’s High 

Commissioner to New Zealand 

Neeta Bhushan said. 

“A large number of high-level 

delegations from India have visited 

New Zealand and there are some 

more in the pipeline.” 

The two sides took note of 

the significant potential in the 

trade and economic sectors, and 

agreed to promote governmentto-government 

and business-tobusiness 

interactions. 



India, NZ agree to increase 

bilateral cooperation at 5th FOC 

A blend of unity and culture at Papatoetoe event 


IN AUCKLAND 

Papatoetoe’s Cosmopolitan 

Club became a vibrant 

epicentre of cultural rejoicing 

as the venue recently played host 

to the ‘ACTIVE INDIA’ event. The 

spirited community gathering on 

August 12 paid homage to India’s 

77th Independence Day. 

Organised by New Zealand 

Chandigarh Club Inc. and 

supported by Ōtara-Papatoetoe 

Local Board (OPLB), the free event 

kicked off with an air of reverence 

as the ceremonial lighting of the 

auspicious diya illuminated the 

path of celebration. 

"Our event 

showcased the 

diversity of 

Indian culture 

by organising 

different state 

traditional/cultural 

performances." 

Reeta Arora 

Attendees rose from their seats 

in unison, offering a heartfelt salute 

to India’s journey to independence. 

Among the distinguished 

guests in the gathering of more 

than 300 community members 

were Head of Chancery at the 

Neeta Bhushan, Saurabh Kumar, Chris Seed and Mark Talbot 

Saurabh Kumar and Deborah Geels 

High Commissioner Bhushan 

said New Zealand trade minister 

Damien O’Connor’s upcoming 

visit to India “will certainly help 

to promote interactions among 

businesses." 

“A number of activities are 

also taking place, such as in the 

defence, education as well as S&T 

Indian High Commission Mukesh 

Ghiya, Honorary Consul of 

India in Auckland Bhav Dhillon, 

Honorary Consulate of Georgia 

In New Zealand Dr Jagjit Singh; 

Chair of OPLB and former MP 

Ross Robertson, and Ethnic 

Responsive Manager of NZ Police 

sectors,” Bhushan said. 

Saurabh Kumar held bilateral 

meetings with the Chief Executive 

and Secretary of Foreign Affairs 

and Trade, Chris Seed, and 

Secretary of Defence Andrew 

Bridgman, as well. 

He also visited Auckland to meet 

with members of the city’s Indian 

Jessica Phuang. 

The repertoire included a special 

guest performance of laughter 

yoga by Botany Ethnic Association, 

folk dances representing 

Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, 

Punjab, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, 

and Assam; Bharatnatyam, a skit 

prepared by senior citizens and 

patriotic songs. 

One of the event’s most 

memorable moments was when 

Darshan K Bedi, the 95-year-old 

wife of freedom fighter late Dr. KSP 

Bedi, was honoured. 

diaspora at an informal dinner 

hosted by High Commissioner 

Bhushan. 

Saurabh Kumar said he met a 

cross-section of people from the 

“There was 

appreciation on both 

sides about the fact 

that a lot had been 

done in the last one 

year following up on 

the visit of EAM Dr S 

Jaishankar,” Neeta 

Bhushan, India’s 

High Commissioner 

to New Zealand 

Indian diaspora and exchanged 

views on ways to take forward 

business, culture and people-topeople 

cooperation. 

The next Foreign Office 

Consultations between the two 

countries will be held in India 

on mutually convenient dates, 

officials said. 

Business and official-level talks 

between India and New Zealand 

seem to have revived after India’s 

foreign minister Jaishankar visited 

Nimi Bedi, Jessica Phuang and Reeta Arora. (Right), Darshan K Bedi being felicitated. 

Talking to The Indian Weekender, 

Reeta Arora, President of New 

Zealand Chandigarh Club Inc., said, 

“The event was mainly dedicated to 

salute and pay tribute to our nation 

on Indian Independence Day. Our 

event showcased the diversity 

of Indian culture by organising 

different state traditional/cultural 

performances. 

“Papatoetoe is an area where 

a huge Indian community lives, 

and this event gave them a great 

feeling of their valuable culture. 

“Some of Papatoetoe’s residents 

Aotearoa in October 2022. 

His counterpart Nanaia Mahuta 

had then ruled out any possibility of 

a foreign trade agreement between 

the two countries, saying it wasn’t 

a priority for her government. 

But on a visit to New Delhi in 

February this year, she said New 

Zealand sees India as a critical 

partner in the Indo-Pacific region, 

seeking to increase its economic 

resilience and ties with its 

international partners. 

After wrapping up his New 

Zealand tour, Saurabh Kumar and 

a delegation from the Indian High 

Commission made an official visit 

to Samoa for the first Foreign 

Office Consultations with Samoan 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and 

Trade. He also met Prime Minister 

Fiame Mata’afa, as well as the 

Indian diaspora in the country. 

According to the high 

commission’s Facebook 

post, “Both sides discussed 

development partnership in 

ICT&Health, follow up on FIPIC 3 

Summit, regional and multilateral 

cooperation in the Pacific, UN, and 

CHOGM.” 

Kumar also met with the 

Indian diaspora in Samoa to 

express his appreciation for the 

efforts in enhancing people-topeople 

ties between India and 

the Pacific region. 

live in a pocket of isolation, some 

are unfamiliar with other cultures. 

Some groups are insular and do 

not mix with others. This event 

brought them together on common 

ground.” 

She maintained that such events 

are essential to stay connected 

with the community and culture 

and to remember the golden 

heritage of our country, as they are 

an excellent platform for the new 

generation to learn and share our 

culture. 

Calling it an ‘amazing community 

event’, one of the guests, Anita 

Keestra, said, “Huge thanks to 

Reeta Arora and her team from 

the New Zealand Chandigarh Club 

for organising another amazing 

community event. Thoroughly 

enjoyable” 

Messages of goodwill from 

prominent personalities, 

including Neeta Bhushan, High 

Commissioner of India in New 

Zealand, as well as Bollywood 

stars like Bhumi Pednekar, Prince 

Kanwaljit, and Mukesh Rishi, 

added a touch of glamour and 

significance to the event. 

Attendees revelled in the 

delectable snacks and lunch, 

showering accolades upon the 

organisers for their dedication.


NEW ZEALAND 9 

Auckland Malayali Samajam 

marks Onam with style 


IN AUCKLAND 

The spirit of Kerala’s vibrant 

culture and traditions came 

alive at the recent Onam 

celebrations in Auckland. 

Hosted by the Auckland Malayali 

Samajam (AMS), a community 

organisation representing the 

Kiwi-Indian Malayali community, 

the event at Mahatma Gandhi 

Centre brought together more than 

1,300 attendees from the Kiwi- 

Indian community and beyond. 

From the vibrant ambience 

to the breathtaking floral 

arrangements, Auckland Malayali 

Samajam’s Onam celebration 

authentically captured the essence 

of the occasion. 

The event garnered attention not 

only from community members but 

also from esteemed dignitaries. 

Statistics Minister Deborah 

Russell, parliamentarian MeIissa 

Lee, Micheal Wood, Mark Mitchell, 

Simeon Brown, and Honorary 

Consul of India in Auckland Bhav 

Dhillon were among the dignitaries 

who graced the occasion with their 

presence. 

The main inspiration behind this 

year’s event was to commemorate 

the harvest season and create 

a platform that fosters unity 

and togetherness within the 

community. 

According to Blessan M Jose, 

President of AMS, the celebration 

was aimed at “celebrating and 

upholding the rich cultural heritage 

of Kerala and bringing together the 

community in a spirit of unity and 

festivity”. 

With a lineup of about 30 

diverse cultural programmes and 

traditional highlights, the event on 

August 19 truly encapsulated the 

essence of the harvest festival. 

From the graceful Thiruvathira, 

a joyous ritualistic dance 

performed by women in Kerala, to 

the pulsating rhythms of Chenda 

Melam, a percussion instrument 

widely played across Kerala, 

by Vadyakala Team, the event 

showcased the diversity and depth 

of the southern Indian state’s 

cultural offerings. 

The vibrant Pulikali, a unique 

recreational folk-art form where 

artists paint themselves as tigers 

or leopards and dance, and Maveli 

Procession further enriched the 

atmosphere, showcasing Onam’s 

colourful and lively spirit. 

Undoubtedly, the crown jewel 

of the celebration was the 

meticulously prepared Onam 

Sadya, a traditional feast served 

on banana leaves. It was crafted 

with genuine care and enthusiasm, 

resulting in flavours that 

transported attendees to the heart 

of Kerala. 

“The Auckland Malayali 

Samajam’s Onam celebration was 

a vibrant showcase of our culture 

and heritage,” said Sunil Kaushal, 

a prominent figure in the Kiwi- 

Indian community and President 

of Waitakere Indian Association. 

He commended the dedication 

of President Blessan M Jose and 

his team for orchestrating the 

celebration, urging the community 

to continue cherishing their 

traditions. 

Prominent community figures, 

including former parliamentarian 

Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi and Shefali 

Mehta, praised the event for its 

vibrant atmosphere and cultural 

performances. 

Dairy and Business Owners 

Group Chairperson Sunny Kaushal 

congratulated the organisers for 

a beautiful festival celebration, 

allowing attendees to experience 

the rich Malayali culture and 

cuisine. 

The organisers, too, felt 

overwhelmed by the response. 


Blessan said, “The event allows 

them to reconnect with their 

roots, showcase their traditions, 

and introduce their culture to the 

broader Kiwi society. It serves as 

a platform for cultural exchange, 

integration, and the preservation 

of heritage within the Kiwi-Indian 

community.”

10 NEW ZEALAND 


‘Mahabali’ lights up 

Onam celebrations 

NAVDEEP KAUR 

MARWAH 

Onam celebrations in 

the South Island city 

of Nelson were nothing 

short of spectacular as Kiwi- 

Malayali Blint Varghese 

returned with his avatar of 

‘Mahabali’ over the weekend. 

Talking about his 

transformation into the 

central figure of Onam 

folklore, Varghese expressed 

his honour in being able to 

bring the community together 

through the portrayal. 

“The transformation into 

King Mahabali involved 

wearing traditional regal attire 

and donning the distinctive 

cosmetics associated with 

the character, which were 

specially bought from India. 

“I was so excited to wear 

those king’s cosmetics. It was 

a great honour since I got a 

turn to be king for the second 

time. It was a grand entry as I 

entered into the event with the 

escort of New Zealand Police,” 

he told The Indian Weekender. 

The story of Mahabali 

and Onam underscores the 

timeless message of the 

triumph of goodness over 

adversity, and the importance 

of preserving cultural heritage. 

Hailing from the southern 

Indian state of Kerala, the 

36-year-old found himself 

on a unique journey when he 

moved to New Zealand in 2016 

to pursue higher education. 

Settling down in various 

cities across the country, 

including Wellington, 

Christchurch and Blenheim, 

he eventually made Nelson 

in South Island his home two 

years ago. 

While settling into his 

new life in New Zealand, 

Varghese, currently working 

as a community support 

worker at Te Whatu Ora, was 

determined to keep his cultural 

roots alive. Keeping that in 

mind, he started actively 

participating in the Onam 

celebrations in Nelson. 

For the August 20 

celebration at Saxton Pavilion, 

Varghese transformed into the 

legendary king once again, his 

second time doing so. 

Reflecting on the 

significance of Onam for the 

Kiwi-Malayali community, 

Varghese highlighted the 

importance of these cultural 

gatherings in fostering unity 

and nostalgia among the 

diaspora. 

“Living far away from their 

homeland, these celebrations 

serve as opportunities for 

community members to come 

together, share their heritage, 

and create lasting memories. 

Such events offer a platform 

for the younger generation 

to connect with their cultural 

heritage, enabling them to 

understand and appreciate 

the customs and traditions of 

their roots. 

I’m proud of being a part 

of our fast growing Malayali 

community in Nelson. We have 

more than 150 active families, 

consisting of 400 people. 

The Nelson committee 

members took the initiative to 

make this event a success.” 

In a world that’s becoming 

increasingly globalised, 

maintaining one’s cultural 

heritage has become 

imperative. 

Living far from one’s 

homeland can often evoke a 

sense of nostalgia and longing 

for the cultural traditions and 

festivities left behind. 

RNZ 


Businesses 

worried use of 

AI outpacing 

regulation: 

Survey 

Large numbers of businesses 

are concerned about the 

ethical use of artificial 

intelligence (AI), according to 

a survey by cloud accounting 

company Xero. 

The company commissioned the 

survey of 3000 small businesses 

in six countries, including New 

Zealand, to gauge attitudes and 

approaches to the use of AI. 

The survey showed 78 percent of 

the New Zealand respondents were 

concerned that AI development 

and adoption was outpacing 

regulation. 

About half of local firms were 

most concerned about sensitive 

information disclosure and data 

privacy, with 44 percent also 

seeing worker displacement as the 

biggest ethical challenges. 

But the survey also showed 

about a third of respondents 

looking for ways to use AI, 

with levels of investment and 

experimentation, although about 

a third also were not taking any 

steps to be involved. 

Xero chief executive Sukhinder 

Singh Cassidy was not surprised 

the survey was a mixed bag. He 

said Xero was mindful of the need 

to educate and assist clients with 

AI concerns, but was “balancing 

innovation with safeguards”.


NEW ZEALAND 11 

From YouTube beginnings to 

first live gig in Auckland 


IN AUCKLAND 

Auckland-based singer, 

songwriter and live 

performer Avish Sharma 

has captivated audiences with his 

unique blend of indie sound and 

soulful melodies. 

Avish’s path to music began 

with humble origins as he posted 

covers on YouTube, a platform that 

introduced him to the world and 

sparked his initial passion. 

However, as time passed, he felt 

the flame dimming and a desire 

to explore new avenues within 

the realm of music. It was during 

a trip to Mumbai that the tide 

turned for him. 

A heartfelt conversation with 

his brother, who was already 

immersed in writing songs, 

shattered misconceptions about 

songwriting and composition. 


he reveals, “I used to post covers 

on YouTube years ago, but that 

flame slowly died, and it just didn’t 

excite me anymore. 

“On a trip to Mumbai, a 

conversation with my brother, 

who was already writing his own 

songs, broke down some walls 

and misconceptions I had about 

songwriting and composition 

being this very alien thing that 

one needed a lot of technical 

knowledge for. It turned out to be 

simpler than that and became sort 

of a therapy which I didn’t realise I 

needed badly at the time.” 

Avish’s songs have garnered 

more than seven million views 

across social media, and his 

songwriting is deeply influenced 

by personal experiences and 

emotions that resonate universally. 

He acknowledges that while 

lyrics may often go unnoticed, they 

come to life when emotions like 

love, heartbreak, or loss strike. 

“I was never really one to pay 

too much attention to lyrics. I think 

Avish Sharma 

most people do not, until they’re 

hit by a never-experienced-before 

emotion like love, heartbreak or 

“On a trip to 

Mumbai, a 

conversation with 

my brother, who was 

already writing his 

own songs, broke 

down some walls 

and misconceptions 

I had about 

songwriting and 

composition." 

loss of some kind. I feel an event 

like that gets you observing art 

more closely to make sense of 

things and heal.” 

Currently stationed in the scenic 

town of Queenstown on a working 

holiday, Avish is channeling 

his creative energies into his 

upcoming music video. 

“I’m filming a music video for this 

song “Jaane Do,” which I’ve written 

and performed in collaboration 

with an Indo-Canadian artist.” 

For Avish Sharma, live 

performances are a way to forge 

powerful connections with his 

audience. Keeping this in mind, 

Avish is gearing up for his firstever 

headlining act in New Zealand 

at Dorothy Winstone Centre in 

Auckland on September 23, 2023. 

“The thrill of performing often 

comes with nerves akin to 

jumping out of an airplane, yet 

the exhilaration that follows is 

unmatched.” 

Avish fondly recalls a memorable 

on-stage moment during a 

concert at an engineering college 

in Jaipur, Rajasthan, where the 

crowd’s infectious energy created 

a rockstar moment that left him 

pleasantly surprised. 

Preparations for Avish’s 

upcoming show are well underway. 

“The preparations are going well. 

Over 60 per cent of the tickets have 

been sold already with under a 

month to go for the show. We have 

a great lineup of musicians and a 

super exciting song list of old and 

new Bollywood hits,” he says. 

“Most of these songs would 

not have been performed live in 

Auckland before, so I look forward 

to seeing how people respond to 

them. I’m counting down the days 

to September 23. Auckland, please 

do come out. You’re going to love 

it!” 

Looking ahead, Avish envisions 

a future brimming with original 

compositions and musical growth. 

With aspirations that extend to 

collaborating with legendary 

composer AR Rahman, his 

ambition knows no bounds. 

Tickets for Avish’s performance 

can be purchased on www. 

eventbrite.co.nz. 

Retail spending continues to 

fall as economy contracts 

RNZ 

Retail spending has slumped 

for the third consecutive 

quarter as the country faces 

a consumption recession. 

The total volume of retail sales 

fell 1 percent in the June quarter, 

on top of declines in the previous 

two quarters, according to Stats 

NZ. 

Weak activity in the sector was 

broad-based with 11 of the 15 

retail industries showing lower 

volumes, while motor vehicle sales 

had the largest rise, up 3.7 percent. 

Food and beverage services 

spending was down 4.4 percent, 

liquor fell 2 percent, while 

supermarket and grocery store 

spending declined 0.6 percent. 

A pullback in discretionary 

sectors was evident with hardware, 

building and garden supplies, 

recreational goods and clothing, 

footwear and personal accessories 

all falling around 5 percent. 

ASB senior economist Kim 

Mundy said core volumes slumped 

by 1.8 percent and the outlook 

remains bleak. 

“Those headwinds facing the 

sector aren’t likely to dissipate any 

time soon. 

“In fact some of the support to 

the sector at the start of the year, a 

decent amount of savings left over 

from Covid, nominal wages growth 

was relatively high, and also that 

we had that surging population 

growth to start the year - those are 

all fading.” 

Mundy said weak consumer 

demand was consistent with 

ASB’s view that the Reserve Bank 

had done enough to bring inflation 

back to the target by the end of 

next year.

Editorial 

Lunar landing and NZ- 

India trade mission a 

cosmic convergence 

In the vast expanse of the cosmic order, where stars twinkle and planets dance, 

a unique alignment has brought together two nations, New Zealand and India, at 

a pivotal juncture. 

As the stars seem to align, it is not just the celestial bodies that have converged 

but also the aspirations and endeavours of these countries. 

The recent coincidence of NZ’s most extensive 50-member trade mission to India 

and India’s ground-breaking lunar landing presents an extraordinary opportunity for 

these two nations to transcend historical constraints and elevate their relationship 

to new heights. 

Particularly given the fact that a NZ company played a vital role in the mission’s 

navigation systems. 

In times when diplomatic relationships are increasingly measured by their 

economic collaborations, NZ’s largest-ever business delegation arriving in India is 

a momentous occasion. 

While physical distances have always posed challenges, the shared goals and 

visions of the two nations now seem to converge in remarkable ways. 

The timing couldn’t be more opportune, as India’s Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission 

touched down on the Moon’s south pole, marking a historic feat in space exploration. 

This synchrony, whether cosmically orchestrated or coincidental, holds the promise 

of forging a strong and mutually beneficial partnership. 

The lunar landing itself is a testament to human ingenuity and innovation, yet 

it bears an even more profound significance for NZ and India. For the first time 

in history, a spacecraft has achieved the remarkable feat of landing on the lunar 

antipode, a scientific marvel that mirrors the extraordinary potential of the NZ-India 

relationship. 

This cosmic alignment is further underscored by the pivotal role played by NZ’s 

own Rakon, a technology company whose Bengaluru facility contributed to the 

mission’s intricate navigation system. 

Such collaboration on a mission of this magnitude symbolises the strength and 

compatibility of the expertise that both nations bring to the table. 

It is often said that great endeavours bring people closer, and this is precisely the 

essence of the burgeoning NZ-India relationship. 

The shared pursuit of technological advancements, scientific breakthroughs, and 

economic prosperity has the power to propel these nations into a higher orbit of 

cooperation. 

The success of Rakon’s contribution to the Chandrayaan-3 mission exemplifies 

the potential for NZ companies to play a significant role in India’s technological 

landscape, fostering innovation and knowledge exchange. 

As the business delegation from NZ embarks on its journey in India, there is a 

palpable sense of optimism in the air. 

The alignment of aspirations, like celestial bodies harmonising in the night sky, 

suggests that the upcoming days could yield substantial progress. 

The hope of sealing substantial trade deals, fostering investments, and enhancing 

bilateral relations is not merely wishful thinking. Rather, it is a logical continuation 

of the cosmic synergy that has brought NZ and India together in an unprecedented 

manner. 

The parallels between space exploration and diplomatic engagement are striking. 

Just as the lunar landing required meticulous planning, precise calculations, and 

unwavering determination, so too does the cultivation of strong international 

relations. The groundwork laid by diplomats and business leaders is akin to plotting 

the course of a spacecraft in uncharted territory. 

However, just as the Chandrayaan-3 mission reached its destination, the business 

mission NZ to India carries the promise of arriving at a destination where the two 

nations thrive in tandem. 

In a world grappling with challenges that transcend borders, collaborations like 

these offer a beacon of hope. 

The NZ-India relationship has languished in the doldrums for too long, constrained 

by geographical distances and historical circumstances. 

The convergence of the lunar landing and the trade mission serves as a reminder 

that the universe is vast, mysterious, and full of surprises – and that great things can 

be achieved when nations dare to reach for the stars. 

Let’s hope the deliberations in New Delhi this week and next lead to some real big 

deals landing on this little antipodal nation that’s so close to our own planet's south 

pole, just as Chandrayaan-3 did on our beloved satellite’s south pole. 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK 

The success of Chandrayaan is a major achievement for the 

whole of humankind. It shows how India has harnessed its 

rich traditional knowledge base along with modern science 

in the service of humanity. 

- Indian President Droupadi Murmu 

IN FOCUS : Picture of the week 

Indian cricket team in Dublin celebrate successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 

spacecraft on the surface of Moon on August 23, 2023. 

This week in New Zealand’s history 

August 26, 1866 

Telegraph line laid across Cook Strait 

After two bungled attempts and near disaster at sea, the installation of the first 

communications cable between the North and South Islands of New Zealand was 

completed. A simple copper telegraph cable was laid on the sea floor from Whites Bay, north 

of Blenheim, to Lyall Bay on Wellington’s south coast. 

August 26, 1911 

New Zealand Coat of Arms warranted 

On this day King George V signed the Royal Warrant assigning the first New Zealand Coat 

of Arms. The Warrant was published in the New Zealand Gazette on 11 January 1912. 

August 27, 1904 

Foundation stone for Victoria University’s first building laid 

Victoria College (now Victoria University of Wellington) was founded in 1897 to mark 

Queen Victoria's 60th jubilee. Until the opening of the Kelburn building in 1906, classes 

were taught in rented rooms. 

August 29 1914 

New Zealand force captures German Samoa 

Colonel Robert Logan led a 1400-strong expeditionary force to capture German Samoa in 

New Zealand’s first military action of the First World War. This was the second German 

territory, after Togoland in West Africa, to fall to the Allies in the war. 

August 30, 1926 

Kawarau Falls dam becomes operational 

Hundreds attended the opening ceremony for a dam above the Kawarau Falls which was 

to temporarily block the outlet from Lake Wakatipu and hopefully expose gold-bearing 

rock to prospectors. 

August 31, 1894 

Arbitration Act becomes law 

The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration (IC&A) Act made New Zealand the first country 

in the world to outlaw strikes and introduce compulsory arbitration. 

Indian Weekender : Volume 15 Issue 22 

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


NEW ZEALAND 13 

Elections 2023: Kiwi-Indians seek 

representation, cultural inclusion 

SUNIL KAUSHAL 

It is an election year and time to reiterate 

three strongly held views within the Kiwi- 

Indian diaspora. 

One. Politicians only pay lip-service to 

the Indian community and are not really 

interested in understanding or doing 

anything to resolve community issues. 

Two. Voting in the general election is a 

pointless exercise since it does not make 

any difference to either the community or to 

the political party. 

Three. Kiwi-Indians are not really 

considered as part of the Kiwi fabric and are 

still outsiders. 

Let me state right at the onset that these 

“strongly held” views may or may not be 

anchored in facts, and may or may not 

represent reality, but ask any Kiwi-Indian 

and they will broadly agree with these three 

sentiments. 

Let me unpack each one of these 

three ideas. 

The prevailing sentiment in the Indian 

community is that we do not matter to the 

politicians and our issues are too small for 

them to even consider. 

What is even worse, from the Kiwi-Indian 

community’s standpoint, is that an Indian 

Member of Parliament will always toe the 

official party line, and will rarely stand up for 

the community. 

Of course, we know what happens when 

an MP falls out of line. Remember Gaurav 

Sharma and how he was treated by his 

colleagues and the Speaker? 

That segues into the next point of view, 

that is, if politicians are not listening to us, 

what’s the use of voting for them. 

In 2014, Statistics New Zealand pointed 

out that 60 per cent of migrant voters do not 

vote in the general election. 

Things may have changed since then but 

not by much. 

ACT’s David Seymour defends 

vetting after candidate controversies 

RNZ 

It is not always apathy or lack of 

understanding of the electoral process 

which is the reason for low migrant voter 

turnout. In the Indian community, at least, it 

is a lack of connect. 

This is a serious malaise since it sucks the 

community into a vicious cycle. I don’t vote 

because ‘what’s in it for me’. The politician 

says why should I listen to you if you don’t 

vote for me. 

Migrant communities, especially the 

Indian community, must be more politically 

aware, more clued-in, and more active. We 

should learn from the LGBTQ community 

how to create the narrative and then how to 

control it. 

To do that, the community must be aware 

of the manifestoes of the political parties 

and eventually be able to influence those 

manifestoes. 

Which brings me to the third viewpoint. 

The Indian community on the whole feels 

alienated and not really part of the Kiwi 

fabric. 

Migrants are caught between the need to 

be monolithic and adopt the “Kiwi culture” 

(however that is defined) in the formal 

world, while preserving their unique cultural 

identities in their real worlds. So what does 

this have to do with voting? 

New Zealand politicians should make a 

serious effort to better understand their 

Kiwi-Indian constituents. In this, they have 

failed miserably. 

At present they have graduated to 

understanding the difference between 

Namaste, Namaskaram and Kem Cho (lipservice!). 

Beyond that they rely on their Indian party 

members (who have very narrow and vested 

personal interests) to inform them of what’s 

happening in the Indian community. This 

intel may or may not be accurate. 

It is time the nearly 300,000 Kiwi-Indians, 

six per cent of the population, realised 

the power they have to influence the 

election results. 

(Sunil Kaushal is a well-known Kiwi-Indian 

community leader and a commentator on 

NZ-India relations. The views are solely 

his own, and not necessarily shared by 

The Indian Weekender editorial team and 

management.) 

ACT is in damage control after 

candidates were revealed to have 

made inflammatory posts on 

social media. 

One candidate who likened vaccine 

mandates to concentration camps has 

resigned, while another who linked the 

Covid-19 vaccines to drownings has 

renounced the comments and apologised. 

A third candidate, Anto Coates, who 

referred to Covid-19 as “mass hysteria” 

and in a parody song said former prime 

minister Dame Jacinda Ardern had 

thought about thowing people in a 

gulag - and stepped down more than a 

month ago. ACT leader David Seymour 

said Coates had resigned “for personal 

reasons”. 

1News reported on Wednesday the 

resignation of Rangitata candidate Elaine 

Naidu Franz and the apology of Darren 

Gilchrist over their posts. 

Seymour said the concentration 

camps comparison was “absolutely 

unacceptable”. 

He said the matter had been brought to 

his attention by the media. 

“I spoke with the two people who 

remain as candidates ... one has said 

‘actually I don’t agree with the statements 

anymore’, the other one has said ‘actually 

I don’t want to be a candidate anymore’ 

and I agreed with that on the spot. 

“We’ve actually done a very good job 

of vetting over 60 candidates. There are 

some that have slipped through the net 

and they’re now gone.” 

He said the vetting process involved 

interviews with the party’s board and 

regional members, reference checks, six 

sessions of preparatory schooling, and 

checks on the candidates’ social media. 

RNZ / Angus Dreaver 

“The comment, that was nearly two 

years old, so if you think about how 

much you have to go through in order to 

look back two years through someone’s 

comments - that’s pretty extensive stuff. 

“I don’t think that we’ve had a specific 

timeframe for vetting, what we have done 

is ensure that we take a good look at 

each person and it seems the offensive 

comments this person made were some 

way back, much earlier in the piece.” 

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said the 

matter was a demonstration of the sorts 

of people who would make up a National- 

ACT-NZ First government. 

“Look, I think the fact that ACT have 

been selecting these people really is as 

bit of a warning sign of what you could 

get under a National-ACT-New Zealand 

First government,” he said. 

“Some parties are courting the 

conspiracy theorists more than others 

and ACT certainly seem to be. 

“There’s no such thing as an absolutely 

foolproof candidate selection process, 

but where there are basic alarm bells and 

basic warning signs, parties should pick 

that up. 

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie 

Ngarewa-Packer said she was not 

surprised by the revelations.

14 

FIJI 


India reaffirms support 

for Fiji’s health sector 

Indian High Commissioner to Fiji 

Palaniswamy Karthigeyan has emphasised 

that cooperation in the healthcare sector is 

a key area of focus in the bilateral development 

partnership. 

Karthigeyan has outlined the transformative 

role played by Indian generic medicine 

manufacturers in the fight against HIV across 

the world, including Fiji. 

The Indian government handed over a 

consignment of anti-retroviral drugs for HIV 

patients in Fiji worth over $280,000 to the 

Ministry of Health this week. 

Karthigeyan has reaffirmed India’s 

commitment to work even more closely with Fiji 

to improve access to quality healthcare in the 

country. 

The consignment, requested by Fiji, also 

included a limited quantity of tuberculosis 

medicines and was delivered as a grant of 

assistance by India to expand the medical 

supplies in Fiji. 

Fiji’s endemic 

species under 

threat, warns 

Thomas-Moko 

Fiji’s unique species are 

under threat from wildlife 

trafficking, warns Director 

of Nature Fiji Mareqeti Viti Nunia 

Thomas-Moko. 

She says the illegal trade of 

endemic creatures like Fiji Crested 

Iguana, Fiji Banded Iguana, and 

Natewa Swallowtail Butterfly has 

surged, endangering their survival. 

Thomas-Moko says a collective 

effort is needed to curb the illegal 

trade and exploitation of these 

species, which, if not done, can 

have a profound impact on the 

natural environment. 

“These are some of the issues 

we have to deal with in terms of 

ensuring that these species and 

All former Fiji citizens 

and descendants who 

are passport holders 

of other countries will not face 

any immigration issues when 

entering Fiji, says Finance Minister 

Professor Biman Prasad. 

He highlighted this while opening 

Oceania Fiberglass Pte. Ltd. in 

Nausori this week. He said Fijians 

who are living overseas have Fiji in 

their hearts and minds all the time. 

He added that they are 

encouraged to see that many 

of them are coming back and 

investing and making sure that 

they contribute with their finances, 

newfound skills, knowledge, and 

wisdom. 

“We want to provide all the 

support, remove all the barriers 

and the bottlenecks that might 

have existed before. The 

government has already changed 

Indian High Commissioner Palaniswamy Karthigeyan (left), Health Minister Atonio Lalabalavu. 

their habitats are protected or 

looked after, and they are not at 

risk of being collected, harvested, 

or sold illegally.” 

Thomas-Moko added that Fiji’s 

wildlife faces a further existential 

threat from rampant logging and 

that immigration law, and very 

soon with the new regulations, 

all former Fiji citizens and their 

descendants who left Fiji and are 

holding other passports, will not 

need a permit anymore when they 

come to Fiji,” he said. 

Prasad also shared that it is 

agriculture. 

“Over 90 percent of Fiji’s 

endemic plants and animals that 

are found only in Fiji depend on 

the forest, so the more we lose the 

forest, the more threatened they 

become.” 

always an auspicious occasion 

when local businesses open and 

provide services in the local and 

international markets. 

He says employment 

opportunities are created and 

contributions to the country’s GDP 

increase. 

The Nature Fiji Mareqeti Viti 

director says better coordination 

and partnerships are needed 

among relevant authorities to 

cease the illegal trade of wildlife. 

Government commits to removing 

investment barriers for former citizens 

Meanwhile, Oceania Fiberglass 

Pte Ltd, the sole manufacturer 

of fibreglass products in Fiji, 

has made an investment of half 

a million dollars and currently 

employs 20 staff. 

They aim to employ 100 people 

in the next two years. 


Fiji Rice 

explores 

new 

markets 

Fiji Rice Limited is exploring 

new markets both on the 

local and international front 

to introduce its products. 

Speaking on Saqamoli Matters, 

FRL Chair, Raj Sharma says it is 

targeting the tourism sector, which 

is our fastest-growing industry 

and the catalyst to our economic 

recovery since the Covid-19 

pandemic. 

Sharma says there are also plans 

to expand horizons by supplying 

rice to markets in New Zealand, 

Australia, and the United States. 

“Brown rice was on our Fiji 

Airways business class flight so 

last week I spoke to the ATS people 

about how we should get our rice 

back on that and I think they have 

requested for a sample. We all 

know that tourism is thriving so 

hotels, we would like to tap into 

that.” 

Sharma says Fiji Rice is looking 

at improving mill efficiencies 

in local facilities, as well as the 

mechanisation of the industry and 

system upgrades of infrastructure. 

Minimal 

impact 

from 

India rice 

export ban: 

Sharma 

Fiji Rice Limited has allayed 

concerns that the decision 

by India to stop exporting 

non-basmati white rice could 

lead to an increase in cost of 

rice sold locally. 

Chair Raj Sharma says farmers 

should look on the bright side as 

this presents an opportunity for 

them to plant more rice and meet 

the local demand. 

Sharma says the ban 

implemented by India this year is 

to ease its rising domestic prices, 

which led to price increases in the 

United States and Canada. 

“My request to the farmers 

would be this is the opportune 

time to plant rice, not only to 

save the country but to feed 

yourselves too. 

"When there is a shortage of 

anything in supply, the prices may 

go up. We do not know if it will 

have a direct impact here or not 

but the beauty about us is that we 

can plant and get it done in 120 

days,” he said. 

Sharma is encouraging farmers 

to plant as much as they can in the 

upcoming season, which begins 

in October, and to also make 

use of various subsidies offered 

by the government, including 

for weedicides and fertilisers to 

boost production.


INDIA 15 

Chandrayaan-3 

successfully soft 

lands on Moon 

In a momentous achievement, the Indian 

Space Research Organisation (ISRO) 

announced that its Chandrayaan-3 

mission has triumphantly accomplished a 

soft landing on the lunar surface. 

"Chandrayaan-3 Mission: 'India, I reached 

my destination and you too!': Chandrayaan-3. 

Chandrayaan-3 has successfully softlanded 

on the moon! Congratulations, India!" 

posted ISRO on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

The success was met with jubilation at 

ISRO's headquarters, as Chief S Somanath 

extended his gratitude to the team and 

supporters for their unwavering dedication. 

Reflecting on the journey, he emphasized the 

invaluable lessons learned from previous 

setbacks that ultimately paved the way for 

this triumph. He said, "Thank you everyone 

for the support...We learned a lot from our 

failure and today we succeeded. We are 

looking forward to the next 14 days from 

now for Chandrayaan-3." 

"India is on the Moon", he said as 

Chandrayaan-3 lander module Vikram made 

a safe and soft landing on the Moon. 

Meanwhile, CRPF jawans in Jammu 

celebrate and raise slogans of 'Bharat Mata 

Ki Jai' as the ISRO's third lunar mission 

Chandrayaan-3 makes a successful landing. 

Officials at India's space agency ISRO 

headquarters in Bengaluru broke into 

applause after the Vikram began its powered 

vertical descent towards its landing site. 

With this India has become the fourth 

People in Bhubaneswar celebrate after the success of Chandrayaan-3 Moon mission. (ANI) 

country- after the US, China and Russia – 

to have successfully landed on the moon’s 

surface, it has earned a place in record 

books as the first to touchdown on the south 

side of Earth’s only natural satellite. 

Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft put down 

the Vikram lander on the lunar surface, 

descending and tilted to a horizontal position 

ahead of landing. 

The spacecraft was launched from the 

Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra 

Pradesh’s Sriharikota on July 14. 

Indian Space Research Organisation 

(ISRO) founder Vikram Sarabhai, who is 

considered the father of the Indian space 

program, once said India must be second 

to none in the application of advanced 

technologies to the real problems facing 

society. The establishment of the ISRO 

was one of Vikram Sarabhai's greatest 

achievements. He successfully convinced 

the government of the day of the importance 

of a space programme for a developing 

country like India. 

A white tiger and a Bengal tiger inside their enclosure at Nahargarh Biological Park in Jaipur. 

(ANI) 

Rajasthan gets 5th tiger reserve as 

Dholpur-Karauli reserve gets nod 

Rajasthan has acquired 

its fifth tiger reserve as 

National Tiger Conservation 

Authority (NTCA) gave its final 

approval to Dholpur-Karauli 

Reserve, Environment Minister 

Bhupendra Yadav announced this 

week. 

Yadav termed it a ‘giant leap’ for 

wildlife conservation in Rajasthan. 

“Happy to announce that the state 

has got yet another Tiger Reserve. 

“The Dholpur-Karauli Tiger 

Reserve has been accorded the 

final approval by @ntca_india. Let's 

pledge to safeguard this precious 

ecosystem and its majestic tigers,” 

he posted on X. 

The Karauli-Sarmathura- 

Dholpur sanctuary in Rajasthan 

has been officially designated as 

Dholpur-Karauli Tiger Reserve 

(DTR). 

The new tiger reserve will span 

1,058 sq km, including 368 sq km of 

core area and 690 sq km of buffer 

area. The forest areas designated 

to be declared as a tiger reserve 

currently have nine tigers. 

Until now there were four tiger 

reserves in Rajasthan–Ramgarh 

Vishdhari Tiger Reserve, Mukandra 

Hills Tiger Reserve, Ranthambore 

Tiger Reserve and Sariska Tiger 

Reserve.Tiger reserves are 

constituted using a core and buffer 

method. The core area is legally 

designated as a national park or a 

sanctuary. In contrast, the buffer 

or peripheral areas are a mix of 

forest and non-forest land that is 

maintained as a mixed-use area. 

A devotee offers milk to a snake on the occasion of 'Nag Panchami' at the Mankameshwer 

temple in the northern Indian city of Lucknow. (ANI) 

Chennai doc performs 1st cross-blood heart transplant on 18-month girl 

In a first, Indian doctors from a private hospital in Chennai 

were able to perform India’s first successful cross-blood 

heart transplant surgery on a one-and-a-half-year-old 

baby girl, an official said. 

"MGM Healthcare has successfully completed an ABOincompatible 

paediatric heart transplant, crossing the 

blood group barrier. The one-and-a-half-year-old baby had 

multiple episodes of cardiac arrest before the transplant 

surgery. 

“Dr KR Balakrishnan, Dr Suresh Rao KG, and their team 

handled the child cautiously, resuscitated the patient every 

time she had a cardiac arrest, and successfully performed 

an ABO incompatible paediatric heart transplant," a hospital 

official said. 

According to authorities, a one-and-a-half-year-old 

child who was suffering from terminal heart failure due to 

dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) was airlifted from Bulgaria to 

Chennai for possible further treatment. 

On the way, over Karachi airspace, the baby suffered a 

cardiac arrest, and was successfully resuscitated after 40 

Air India signs 

deal for seamless 

intermodal travel 

to European cities 

Air India has taken a step 

towards enhancing 

connectivity options for its 

guests across Europe by entering 

into an intermodal interline 

agreement with AccesRail. 

This partnership promises to 

facilitate seamless travel to over 

100 cities and towns in Austria, 

Belgium, Germany, The Czech 

Republic, Hungary, Italy, and the 

UK, even those without dedicated 

airports. Under this agreement, 

Air India guests will have the 

convenience of booking a single 

intermodal ticket that grants 

them access to on-ground train 

and bus connections through its 

European gateways of Amsterdam, 

Birmingham, London Heathrow, 

London Gatwick, Milan, and Vienna. 

This collaboration will allow Air 

India passengers to enjoy the same 

generous baggage allowance on 

these rail and bus services as they 

do on Air India's flights. AccesRail, 

an IATA travel partner with its 

own designator code (9B), plays 

a role in enabling these seamless 

journeys on a single ticket. Nipun 

Aggarwal, Chief Commercial & 

Transformation Officer at Air India, 

said, "The expansion of our global 

network is one of our key priorities 

in the ongoing, comprehensive 

transformation of Air India. 

minutes of CPR, and finally landed in Chennai. On arrival at 

MGM Healthcare, the baby suffered another cardiac arrest 

and was resuscitated after 45 minutes of CPR with chest 

compressions. The child was rushed to the operating 

room, connected to veno-arterial (VA)-ECMO to support the 

heart, and shifted to the ICU with the chest open. The baby 

miraculously woke up after 48 hours and was recovering. 

The doctors were debating the further course of action of 

implanting an artificial heart pump, they said. 

In the meantime, a donor heart from a three-yearold 

brain-dead donor of a different blood group became 

available at Wadia Children's Hospital in Mumbai. The organ 

was allotted to this baby by the National Organ and Tissue 

Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), as there was no suitable 

Indian recipient for the organ, they further said. 

The organ was accepted despite being of a different, 

incompatible blood group and having significant dysfunction 

in view of the critical condition of this baby.

16 

WORLD 

How gender inequality 

is hindering Japan’s 

economic growth 



SARAH PARSONS 

Japan’s economy is under 

pressure from rising energy 

prices and defence costs 

and the impact of the pandemic. 

Plummeting birth rates and an 

ageing population further threaten 

the sustainability of its labour 

market. A 2023 study points to a 

labour supply shortage of nearly 

3.41 million people by 2030, and 

more than 11 million by 2040. 

Gender inequality is another 

significant pressure point. 

Japan has one of the lowest 

levels of gender equality among 

G7 countries. It has slipped to 

its lowest ranking yet in World 

Economic Health Forum’s latest 

Global Gender Report, particularly 

in terms of women in leadership 

positions. 

Socialisation of gender norms 

Gender norms in Japanese 

society are tightly connected to 

patriarchal hierarchies that have 

evolved historically from the 

influence of Confucianism. 

Children are taught these norms 

from an early age. Research shows 

that Japanese preschool teachers 

position children in various gender 

roles by encouraging gendered 

speech and behavioural patterns. 

Girls speak softly and act in a 

cute, non-threatening way. Boys, 

by contrast, use more dominant 

language and behaviour. Children’s 

books and TV programmes often 

perpetuate these hierarchical 

linguistic patterns and behaviour. 

These beliefs and values 

influence hiring practices and 

organisational behaviour within 

the Japanese workplace, which 

is still based on the male-based 

breadwinner/female-dependent 

model. 

From 1945 to 1991, a period 

which economists refer to as the 

economic miracle years, most 

Japanese women were isolated 

from the leadership career path. 

This resulted in low levels of 

Japanese women in key decisionmaking 

positions. 

Today, leadership is still seen as 

a male-dominated environment– 

even when the topic is about 

female empowerment. Japan 

was the only country to send a 

male delegate to the recent G7 

delegation on gender equality and 

female empowerment. 

Both the highly gendered 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is welcomed by diaspora members on his arrival at 

Johannesburg in South Africa on Tuesday. (ANI) 

workplace and unequal division 

of household labour mean that 

women are more likely than men 

to miss out on promotions, take 

on lower-paid irregular jobs, and/ 

or only consider having one child. 

Work-life expectations are 

unrealistic. And in the workplace, 

women face discrimination and 

harassment, as well as restrictive 

expectations of gendered 

behaviour and appearance. 

Yoshiro Mori stepped down 

as head of the Tokyo Olympics 

organising committee in 2021, 

after sexist remarks he had 

reportedly made in a Japanese 

Olympic committee meeting 

caused an international furore. 

Failed solutions 

Previous Japanese government 

initiatives to raise the birth rate 

and improve gender equality have 

focused on introducing quotas for 

female leadership and executive 

boards, more childcare places, and 

enhanced parental leave. 

However, these have either 

failed to reach their target or have 

become tokenistic. In fact, recent 

initiatives are reported to have 

exacerbated gender inequality and 

driven some women into poverty. 

Africa shouldn’t pick sides amid 

courting by China, Russia, US 

BHASO NDZENDZE 

The African continent is 

an obvious contender 

for major power courting 

as global political realignment 

takes place. This is for at least 

four reasons. My findings have 

led me to the conclusion that 

Africa can gain more by being 

neutral than by picking sides. 

The drivers 

Africa’s size in the UN General 

Assembly can’t be overstated. 

The continent sometimes 

struggles to respond in a 

coordinated way. Nevertheless, 

it has, in the past, been able to 

vote in sync in a way that has 

proved influential. 

The most notable example 

of this was the 1971 vote for 

the resolution that brought 

mainland China into the UN and 

replaced Taiwan. 

In total, there were 76 votes in 

favour, of which 27 came from 

African member states. Africa’s 

other major attraction is, of 

course, its resource wealth. 

This has become even more 

pronounced and taken on 

extraordinary importance in the 

push towards alternative sources 

of energy, both renewable and 

non-renewable. 

Then there are the trade 

routes. The Red Sea route, which 

straddles northeast Africa and 

links it to the Indian Ocean, 

constitutes 10 per cent of annual 

global trade . 

The Red Sea route passes 

countries like Eritrea and 

Somalia. Both have been actively 

Singapore recently embarked 

on a similar mission as part 

of a national gender equality 

review. Its government has 

gathered ideas and feedback 

from women’s and youth groups, 

private organisations, academics, 

policymakers and the wider public. 

This has resulted in a policy 

wishlist and report, the findings 

of which will be implemented into 

both policy and education. 

My research shows that this 

approach would work for Japan, 

US President Joe Biden with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping 

courted by Russia. For its part, 

China has earmarked the route 

through its Maritime Silk Road 

initiative. Its aim is to boost port 

infrastructure among countries 

with Indian Ocean coastlines. 

Lastly, Africa is home to 

the fastest-growing youth 

population. This will be important 

in the search for future markets, 

particularly in sectors such as 

technology and education. 

Africa’s ties with the major 

powers 

In 2022, the continent as 

a whole exported US$43.1 

billion worth of goods to the 

US and imported goods worth 

US$30.6 billion. 

By comparison, China 

exported US$164.1 billion to 

Africa and imported US$117.5 

billion worth of African goods, 

in the same year. With African 

exports totalling US$661.4 

billion, the US accounts for 6.5 

per cent and China 17.7 per cent. 

China’s ties with the continent 

are the result of decades of 

diplomatic and commercial 

too. It could allow people to voice 

their opinions and wishes in an 

open debate–which chimes with 

Japan’s cultural preference for 

decision-making achieved through 

consensus–rather than making 

direct criticisms of the patriarchal 

order. 

(The author is Senior Teaching 

Fellow and Lecturer in East 

Asian Business, SOAS, 

University of London. The 

article was first published in The 

Conversation) 

efforts to woo the continent 

through the Forum on China– 

Africa Cooperation. Part of this 

has been driven by its desire 

to counter the US. The other 

driving force has been to sustain 

its economy, given Africa’s 

untapped potential. 

Russia has pursued a different 

strategy. Given that its trade with 

the continent is at a minimum– 

exports and imports were 

about US$18 billion in 2021–it 

has rather sought to become 

a security partner, drawing on 

sentimentalised Soviet history. 

Washington’s principal 

instrument for growing 

trade, and encouraging good 

behaviour, in Africa is the African 

Growth and Opportunity Act, set 

to expire in 2025. The framework 

is a lever. But, as the data shows, 

trade is in evident decline. 

(The author is Associate 

Professor (International 

Relations), University of 

Johannesburg. This article 

was first published in The 

Conversation.)


FEATURE 17 

Kung pao chicken 

Ingredients 

• 1 cup capsicum (green pepper) 

• 250 gm chicken boneless 

• 1/2 teaspoon sugar 

• 1/2 cup schezwan sauce 

• 1/2 cup onion 

• 1 tablespoon garlic 

• 3 tablespoon corn flour 

• 1 cup red bell pepper 

• 1 cup carrot 

• 1 teaspoon vinegar 

• 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce 

• salt as required 

• 1 teaspoon ginger 

• 2 tablespoon refined oil 

• 1 cup broccoli 

• powdered black pepper as required 

• For Garnishing 

• 1 handful chopped spring onions 

Method 

• To prepare this main dish recipe, take a bowl and 

add cornflour to it. Pour 1 cup water into it. Mix 

these two to prepare a slurry and keep it aside for 

a while. 

• On a chopping board, chop the ginger, garlic, onions 

and carrots finely, chop the chicken into chunks, 

broccoli into florets, capsicum and red bell pepper 

into cubes. Add these in separate bowls and set 

these aside. Now, apply salt and black pepper to the 

chicken pieces and set them aside for some time. 

• Place a pan over medium flame and heat 

refined oil in it. When the oil is hot enough, add 

ginger and garlic. Saute until they turn aromatic. 

Sesame chicken 

Ingredients 

• 1 egg 

• 2 tablespoon virgin olive oil 


• 1/2 cup soy sauce 

• 1/2 cup chicken stock 

• 1 tablespoon corn starch 

• 1/4 teaspoon ginger 

• 2 teaspoon sesame seeds 

• 3 tablespoon corn starch 

• 400 gm chicken boneless 

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 

• 2 tablespoon apple cider 

• 3/4 teaspoon sesame oil 

• 1 teaspoon garlic 

• 3 tablespoon brown sugar 

• 2/3 cup rice 

Method 

• In a small bowl, whisk together 

soy sauce, vinegar, sesame 

oil, cornstarch, brown sugar, 

minced garlic, sesame seeds 

and chicken 

• stock for the sauce. Set aside. 

Then cook rice and steam 

vegetables. Set aside. 

• In a small bowl, whisk an egg 

with cornstarch, salt and pepper 

and add chicken pieces to the 

Ingredients 

• 100 gm chicken breasts 

• 1/2 cup boiled chickpeas 

• 1 thinly sliced red bell pepper 

• 1 avocados 

• 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 

• 1 teaspoon finely chopped ginger 

• 1 1/2 tablespoon black sesame seeds 

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 

• 1/2 cup boiled rice 

• 1/2 cup shredded purple cabbage 

• 2 thinly sliced red onion 

• 1 handful arugula 

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce 

• 1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic 

• 1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder 

• For Marination 

• 2 teaspoon lime juice 

• 2 teaspoon powdered black pepper 

• Himalyan salt as required 

batter. Stir well so that the batter 

coats the chicken properly. 

• In a large pan, heat 1 tablespoon 

of olive oil and place chicken 

pieces one by one in it. Cook on 

all sides until they are golden 

brown. Do it in batches to cook 

the chicken properly. 

• Once the chicken is done, pour 

sesame sauce mixture over 

it and simmer on mediumlow 

heat. Cook until the sauce 

thickens and then remove from 

heat. Serve delicious sesame 

chicken with rice and a side of 

steamed vegetables. 

Next, add in the chicken chunks. 

• Fry these until they are no longer pink in the centre. 

• Next, add the onions in it and saute them 

until they become translucent. Once 

done, add the carrots, capsicum and red 

bell pepper. Saute these for some time 

and keep stirring. Cook until they are tender. 

• Now, add the schezwan sauce, soya sauce, sugar, 

vinegar and cornflour slurry to the mix. Give the 

mixture a stir and toss the vegetables. 

• Make sure that the sauces evenly 

coat the vegetables. 

• Sprinkle salt and black pepper powder over these 

and mix it again. Cook for 5 more minutes. Once 

done, take it off the flame and transfer it to a bowl. 

Garnish with chopped spring onions and serve it 

hot with noodles or rice to enjoy! 

Method 

• To prepare this delectable Buddha bowl 

recipe, wash the chicken breast and pat 

dry with a kitchen towel. 

• Then, rub some lime juice, Himalayan 

salt and black pepper powder over the 

chicken breast and let it marinate for 

about 30 minutes. 

Egg spinach salad 

Ingredients 

• 4 egg 

• 150 gm small potatoes with 

skins 

• 2 handfuls coriander leaves 

• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 

• 2 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil 

• 4 cloves garlic 

• 1 cup spinach 

• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese 

• 1 teaspoon dry red chili 


• water as required 

Ingredients 

• 6 taco shells 

• 100 ml salsa sauce 

• 150 gm cheese sauce 

• 50 gm lettuce leaf 

• 50 ml virgin olive oil 

• 5 gm white pepper powder 

• 225 gm paneer 

• 50 gm capsicum (green pepper) 

• 50 gm jalapeno 

• 50 gm coriander leaves 


• 1/2 teaspoon taco seasoning 

Method 

Creamy chicken veggie wrap 

Ingredients 

• 1 cup boiled chicken 

• 1/2 cup tomato 

• 1/2 cup low fat mozzarella 

cheese 

• 1 cup hung curd 

• 1 teaspoon paprika 


• 1 teaspoon chili oil 

• chilli flakes as required 

• 1/2 cup cucumber 

• 4 lettuce loose-leaf 

• 3 tortillas 

• 2 tablespoon lemon juice 

• 1 handfuls coriander leaves 

• black pepper as required 

• mixed herbs as required 

• 2 tablespoon butter 

Method 

• To begin with this easy recipe, 

wash and chop the veggies. 

Now, take a bowl and add in 

some lemon juice, paprika, salt, 

pepper and mixed herbs, whisk 

it well and add in the veggies, 

toss them up and keep aside. 

• Meanwhile, take a pan and heat 

the tortillas. Once done, spread 

some butter and layer some 

lettuce leaves. 

• Take a bowl and add in hung 

curd, chili flakes, salt and 

pepper, whisk it well with 1 tsp 

chili oil to make a homemade 

spread. 

Method 

• Take a pan and add 

water along with a dash 

of salt, add the eggs 

and cook them till they 

turn hard boiled. In the 

meantime, take a pan and add 

in olive oil. 

• Once the oil is hot enough, 

add in garlic chopped sauté 

for a minute, then add in small 

potatoes. Once done, add the 

spinach leaves, spices, cheese 

• Marinate paneer with salt, white 

pepper powder, olive oil & keep 

aside for 10-15 minutes. 

• Heat the griller with some oil 

and grill the Paneer until done. 

• Heat some oil in a pan, add 

taco seasoning, and then add 

capsicum and onions. Sauté 

nicely for 3 to 5 minutes, then 

remove from heat. 

• Place Taco shells on boat and 

line them with lettuce. Top them 

with grilled paneer and sauteed 

mixture, coriander leaves and 

• Meanwhile, line a baking tray with 

parchment paper. 

• And once the chicken is marinated, place 

it on the baking tray and grill it in the 

oven for about 15 minutes at 180 degree 

Celsius. 

• When the chicken is done, take it out and 

transfer in a bowl. (Note: You can even 

brush a little oil over the chicken.) 

• Next, you need to prepare spicy 

chickpeas. For the same, place a skillet 

over medium flame and heat extra virgin 

olive oil in it. 

• When the oil is hot enough, add chopped 

garlic and ginger in it and saute them 

for a few seconds. Once the raw smell 

goes away, add the boiled chickpeas and 

stir frequently so that the oil is smeared 

well over them.Then, add soy sauce 

along with Himalayan salt, black pepper 

• Take the lettuce layered tortillas, 

add in the veggies followed 

by hung curd dip, spread it 

across the wrap, add grated 

cheese. Fold it up and bake or 

microwave it for 3-4 minutes to 

enjoy. You can also heat it on 

a pan and allow the cheese to 

melt and enjoy! 

and give it a nice toss. 

• Turn off the flame, transfer the 

salad to a serving plate, add in 

the boiled eggs by cutting them 

into half, season with salt and 

pepper. Garnish with coriander 

leaves and enjoy! 

Cornitos grilled paneer tacos with salsa dip 

jalapeno. 

• Then, spread cheese sauce and 

salsa dip evenly on top and 

sprinkle taco seasoning. Serve 

Tacos with salsa dip. 

Grilled chicken and rice buddha bowl with spicy chickpeas 

powder, red chilli powder, garlic powder 

in the skillet and mix well. 

• Cook until the chickpeas are tender for 

about 5-10 minutes. 

• Once done, transfer them to the same 

bowl of grilled chicken. In the same pan, 

add another teaspoon of extra virgin 

olive oil followed by the shredded purple 

cabbage, red bell pepper along with black 

sesame seeds and lightly toss them for 

about 2-4 minutes. 

• Once done, transfer them to the 

same bowl as the grilled chicken and 

chickpeas. 

• Next, cut the avocado into thin slices and 

place them in the same bowl. 

• Finally, add the boiled rice in the middle 

of the bowl and place the sliced red onion 

in the bowl. Garnish with black sesame 

seeds and serve immediately!

18TIME OUT 

i FreeDailyCrosswords.com 

ACROSS----------- 

1) "Brian's Song" star James 

5) Comes out of one's skin 

10) Self-congratulatory 

14) Radius' comrade-in-arms? 

15) Youngest-ever Oscar 

winner 

16) Folkestone farewell 

17) "B 5!" "C 11!"? 

19) Took_ (snoozed) 

20) Downed 

21) Typing type 

22) Considers carefully 

24) "Emma" author Austen 

25) Hersey's bell town 

26) Place or site 

29) Transverse beam 

32) Itsy-bitsy bits 

33) "In_ tn1st" 

34) Recipe word 

35) Cravings 

36) Emulate "Old Blue Eyes" 

O, O! 

1 2 3 

14 

17 

20 

26 27 28 

32 

35 

38 

41 42 

CROSSWORD 

37) Kid's "seat" on Santa 

38) Alternative to .net 

39) Less extroverted 

40) TV's "Cosmos" creator 

41) Author's explanation 

43) Yuletide songs 

44) Backup sounds 

45) Random sampling 

46) "Monkey Trial" teacher 

48) Seafood choice 

49) Josh 

52) Door section 

53) John Wayne character, 

larger-than-life? 

56) More than suggest 

57) Recording studio alert 

58) Water sport 

59) Some antique autos 

60) Family men 

61) Bud holder 

Richard Auer 

11 12 13 

7th June 

DOWN 

1) Island south of Florida 

2) Dismounted 

3) Archer or Heche 

4) Endless faultfinder 

5) Home of the John Deere 

headquarters 

6) Like beverages at barbecues 

7) A 1 Capp character 

8) Fielder's choice? 

9) Trooper's warning 

10) Wood-surface applications 

11) Tropical fruit dance? 

12) Great Salt Lake state 

13) Adjusts, as a spark plug 

18) Multicolored gems 

23) "_ on Down the Road" 

24) Traffic tangles 

25) Eagerness 

26)_ the land (how things stand) 

27) Alamogordo's county 

28) Kinshasa drum? 

29) Australian bush call 

30) Just right 

31) Wonderlands 

33) Southern breakfast dish 

36) Auto despair site? 

37) Marx or Benz 

39) Pirate's knife 

40) Town of many trials and hunts 

42) Plains homes 

43) Plays with crayons 

45) Lecterns 

46) Tim Duncan, for one 

47) Kind of package 

48) Cold spell 

49) Nautical mile 

50) Not going anywhere 

51) Condemn 

54) "Put_ Happy Face" 

55) Photo_ (media events) 

i FreeDailyCrosswords.com 


ACROSS----------- 

1) "Brian's Song" star James 

5) Comes out of one's skin 

10) Self-congratulatory 

14) Radius' comrade-in-arms? 

15) Youngest-ever Oscar 

winner 

16) Folkestone farewell 

17) "B 5!" "C 11!"? 

19) Took_ (snoozed) 

20) Downed 

21) Typing type 

22) Considers carefully 

24) "Emma" author Austen 

25) Hersey's bell town 

26) Place or site 

29) Transverse beam 

32) Itsy-bitsy bits 

33) "In_ tn1st" 

34) Recipe word 

35) Cravings 

36) Emulate "Old Blue Eyes" 

O, O! 

CROSSWORD ANSWERS 

37) Kid's "seat" on Santa 

38) Alternative to .net 

39) Less extroverted 

40) TV's "Cosmos" creator 

41) Author's explanation 

43) Yuletide songs 

44) Backup sounds 

45) Random sampling 

46) "Monkey Trial" teacher 

48) Seafood choice 

49) Josh 

52) Door section 

53) John Wayne character, 

larger-than-life? 

56) More than suggest 

57) Recording studio alert 

58) Water sport 

59) Some antique autos 

60) Family men 

61) Bud holder 

1M l.1 1 b 

Richard Auer 

ATA 

N A p 

I G H 5 

0 

T 30 1 3e 

D D 

E E 

N 

7th June 

DOWN 

1) Island south of Florida 

2) Dismounted 

3) Archer or Heche 

4) Endless faultfinder 

5) Home of the John Deere 

headquarters 

6) Like beverages at barbecues 

7) A 1 Capp character 

8) Fielder's choice? 

9) Trooper's warning 

10) Wood-surface applications 

11) Tropical fruit dance? 

12) Great Salt Lake state 

13) Adjusts, as a spark plug 

18) Multicolored gems 

23) "_ on Down the Road" 

24) Traffic tangles 

25) Eagerness 

26)_ the land (how things stand) 

27) Alamogordo's county 

28) Kinshasa drum? 

29) Australian bush call 

30) Just right 

31) Wonderlands 

33) Southern breakfast dish 

36) Auto despair site? 

37) Marx or Benz 

39) Pirate's knife 

40) Town of many trials and hunts 

42) Plains homes 

43) Plays with crayons 

45) Lecterns 

46) Tim Duncan, for one 

47) Kind of package 

48) Cold spell 

49) Nautical mile 

50) Not going anywhere 

51) Condemn 

54) "Put_ Happy Face" 

55) Photo_ (media events) 


SUDOKU SOLUTIONS 

46 47 

52 

56 

59 

SUDOKU 

1; 4c 0 p 

Si> 

E 

A N E 

S 

5lJ R G E b N 

S 

R E 0 5 6'p A 

S 

b 

E 1< 5 01 

Mb N D 0 

A I R 51> L 0 

p A 5 E M 

Your Weekly Horoscope: August 25 - August 31, 2023 

ARIES (MAR 21-APR 20) 

Ganesha says according to Aries's weekly 

horoscope, you should be aware of your 

impulsive nature. The transit of planet 

suggests that one should not take hasty 

decisions. Focus on your long-term goals 

before making any major commitments. In 

matters of love, your passion and charm will be irresistible 

to others. If you are in a relationship, this is a good time to 

strengthen the bond with your partner. 

TAURUS (APR 21-MAY 20) 

Ganesha says Taurus weekly horoscope 

predicts that your practicality and 

determination will serve you well in achieving 

financial stability and professional success. 

This is an excellent time to strengthen 

bonds and create a sense of security in your 

relationship. For singles, you can attract potential partners 

who value your reliability and loyalty. 

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUN 21) 

Ganesha says the Gemini weekly horoscope 

suggests that this is an excellent time to 

initiate important conversations, as your 

persuasive abilities will be strong. However, 

watch your words and avoid getting into 

unnecessary arguments, which can lead 

to misunderstandings. There can be some sourness in the 

matter of relationships. Misunderstandings and differing 

opinions can create tension. 

CANCER (JUN 22-JUL 20) 

Ganesha says take time to reflect on your 

feelings and inner desires. This introspection 

will help you align your actions with your 

authentic self. In terms of relationships, this 

week encourages open communication and 

emotional vulnerability. Work carefully and 

wisely on the economic front. Avoid extravagance and take 

decisions wisely. Seek expert advice, if necessary, to ensure 

financial stability and growth. The Cancer weekly love 

horoscope suggests that honest communication will be key 

in nurturing your relationship. 

LEO (JUL21-AUG 20) 

Ganesha says your charismatic charm will 

draw people to you, and you will find yourself 

surrounded by a supportive network of friends 

and loved ones. It is an excellent opportunity 

to strengthen bonds and build lasting 

relationships. In terms of career and finance, 

you may get unexpected opportunities for 

growth and advancement. Keep an open mind and be ready 

to accept new challenges. 

VIRGO (AUG 23-SEP 23) 

Ganesha says professionally, you may 

experience an increase in productivity and 

creativity. Have confidence in your abilities 

and face new challenges. This is an ideal time 

to start projects, share ideas, and collaborate 

with others. Your attention to detail and 

practicality will be appreciated by colleagues and superiors. 

Be open to new possibilities and embrace the possibility of 

love in unexpected places. 

LIBRA (SEP 24-OCT 23) 

Ganesha says existing partnerships 

will deepen this week as you engage in 

meaningful conversations and express 

your feelings freely. Remember to listen to 

your loved one's needs and provide support 

where it is needed. On the work front, you are 

hitting on all cylinders. Your superiors will be impressed by 

your innovative ideas and attention to detail. Collaborative 

projects flourish when you inspire others with your creativity 

and ability to find common ground. 

SCORPIO (OCT 24-NOV 22) 

Ganesha says your assertiveness and 

strategic thinking command attention, and 

you may find yourself in a leadership role or 

be given additional responsibilities. Seize this 

opportunity to showcase your skills and leave 

a lasting impression. However, be careful of 

power struggles or conflicts that arise. Handle 

them diplomatically and avoid unnecessary confrontation. 

In the matter of money, this week is to be careful. Practice 

financial discipline and avoid impulsive spending. 

SAGITTARIUS (NOV 23-DEC 21) 

Ganesha says the Capricorn weekly 

horoscope suggests that communication 

will be important in your relationships. Take 

the time to openly express your thoughts 

and feelings, as well as listen carefully to 

your loved ones. Nurturing relationships and 

resolving conflicts through honest and compassionate 

communication will strengthen your bonds. Financially, this 

week encourages you to be prudent and strategic. 

CAPRICORN (DEC 22-JAN 21) 

As your circumstances change, you have the 

opportunity to rise to the occasion and adapt. 

Whether that means going with the flow or 

fighting it, your capacity to respond with 

intention is one that you should lean into this 

week. Be willing to engage in heartfelt ways 

that reflect what is not only true for you in the moment but 

possible for you to grow into in the future. This is the time to 

act with emotional maturity, Capricorn. 

AQUARIUS (JAN 22-FEB 19) 

Ganesha says the Aquarius weekly horoscope 

suggests attending social gatherings and 

connecting with like-minded individuals, 

which can lead to meaningful connections 

and valuable collaborations. Aquarius sign 

people may face some challenges on the 

career front. Staying focused and organized is essential 

to overcome any obstacle that comes your way. Be open 

to feedback and suggestions from colleagues, as they can 

provide valuable insight.. 

PISCES (FEB 20-MAR 20) 

Ganesha says relationships are highlighted 

on the personal front. Whether it is a 

romantic partnership, a friendship, or a 

family relationship, it is essential to nurture 

these bonds. Engage in open and honest 

communication to foster deeper relationships. 

Remember to listen carefully to your loved one's needs and 

concerns. In terms of career, this week can bring some 

challenges.when you need them most, Pisces.


ENTERTAINMENT 19 

'Whoever has a great 

script...': Kareena 

hints at film with 

Alia Bhatt 

Actors Kareena Kapoor Khan and Alia Bhatt share 

a great bond– after all, they are family. 

Recently, the divas surprised their fans by 

dropping a set of pictures on social media. The images 

showed Alia and Kareena posing together in ethnic 

ensembles. 

"Can it get any better...P.S. Can someone please cast us in a 

film together...even though we spend most of our time on set 

thinking," they captioned the post. 

The post left their fans excited and made them wonder if they 

have come together on board for a project. 

A few days after posting the pictures, Kareena, on Monday, 

arrived in Delhi for an event. And guess what? She hinted at her 

film collaboration with her sister-in-law Alia while speaking to 

the media here. 

When asked the name of the director she would want to work 

with if she is cast alongside Alia in a project, the 'Jab We Met' 

star replied, "There are so many directors out there...nowadays 

it is more about the content and more about the script...So 

whoever has a great script." 

Kareena and Alia are sisters-in-law. Alia is married to 

Kareena's cousin and actor Ranbir Kapoor. Alia is currently 

enjoying the success of 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani'. 

She will be next seen in 'Jee Le Zaraa' with Katrina Kaif and 

Priyanka Chopra. 

On the other hand, Kareena has Hansal Mehta's next, 

Sujoy Ghosh's ‘Devotion of Suspect X’, and ‘The Crew’ in the 

pipeline. 

Celeb Spotting 

Sachin Tendulkar praises Saiyami 

Kher for her bowling skills 

For Saiyami Kher, legendary cricketer 

Sachin Tendulkar has always 

remained an inspiration, and now the 

‘Ghoomer’ actor has shared a video with 

the master blaster in which she can be 

seen impressing him with her bowling 

talent.The actor took to her Instagram 

handle and wrote in the caption along 

with the video, “What’s the one dream 

you had as a child that you never 

thought could never come true? Mine 

was that someday, I would get to meet @ 

sachintendulkar my hero, my inspiration, my 

teacher. 

“I have loved and learnt this game 

watching him play. I’ve bunked college 

to watch him play. I’ve had the loudest 

“Sachinnn Sachhhin” chant in the North 

Stand. So, I can’t seem to explain what this 

means to me.” She added how the great 

cricketer motivated her in life to never give 

up and work hard to achieve the target. “His 

136 at Chennai, the Sharjah Storm, 241 at 

Sydney, 98 vs Pakistan, the list is endless. 

“He gave me joy, he taught me how to 

fight, he taught me passion, how to never 

give up, how to work hard, and how to stay 

grounded. Unknowingly, he taught me how 

to live. 

“When I began acting, my friends ragged 

me and said, ‘Ja ja, acting kar. Someday 

Sachin will watch your film’. And that 

became my goal. To work hard and hope that 

someday the Master will watch my work. 

“And then, it happened, the God of Cricket 

saw a film in which I play a cricketer. The God 

of Cricket asked me to show him how I bowled 

the Ghoomer,” she shared. 

She concluded, “Dreams really do come true. 

This. This part of my life is called happiness.” 

Earlier, Sachin shared his views about the 

film in a video that he posted on his social 

'Strength doesn’t take away feminity': 

Tamannaah Bhatia on ‘Aakhri Sach’ 

Actor Tamannaah Bhatia is currently 

gearing up for the release of her upcoming 

investigative drama series ‘Aakhri Sach’. 

Helmed by Robbie Grewal, and written by 

Saurav Dey, Aakhri Sach also stars Abhishek 

Banerjee, Shivin Narang, Danish Iqbal, Nishu 

Dikshit, Kriti Vij and Sanjeev Chopra. 

The series will delve into the lives of various 

characters as Tamannaah Bhatia, playing the role 

of Anya, the lead investigative officer, embarks on 

a mission to unravel the mystery of the deaths. 

Tamannaah said women have always been 

very instinctive. 

Actress Saiyami Kher plays cricket during the promotion of 

her film 'Ghoomer' in Mumbai. (ANI) 

media handle. He wrote in the caption, "Really 

enjoyed watching #Ghoomer by #RBalki. It was 

truly inspirational and should be watched by all 

youngsters. @bachchan was fantastic as the 

Coach, @saiyami looked very authentic, her 

love for Cricket and her ability to understand 

the character was amazing. @angadbedi 

was perfect as her constant support and @ 

azmishabana18 ji’s one-liners made my day. 

Simply loved the film." 

Helmed by the acclaimed director R Balki, 

Ghoomer stars Abhishek Bachchan, Saiyami 

Kher, Shabana Azmi and Angad Bedi in the lead 

roles. 

Mouni 

Roy in 

Mumbai on 

Sunday. 

Nushrratt 

Bharucha 

spotted at 

Bandra in 

Mumbai. 

(ANI) 

“A woman being strong doesn't 

make her androgynous. Strength 

does not take away feminity, 

it is another asset of feminity. 

Women have always been very 

instinctive, that’s an innate 

nature of women, we always have 

an intuition for everything. 

Indo-Canadian singer Amritpal Singh with Salman Khan and Ranveer Singh at the 

screening of his upcoming docu-series 'AP Dhillon : First of a Kind' in Mumbai. (ANI) 

“A woman being strong doesn't make her 

androgynous. Strength does not take away 

femininity, it is another asset of femininity. 

Women have always been very instinctive, that’s 

an innate nature of women, we always have an 

intuition for everything. 

“When we can marry our skills with our 

intuition, there’s nothing more powerful than that 

and that is what Anya [her character in Aakhri 

Sach] essentially embodies.” 

The series is set to stream on Disney+ Hotstar 

from August 25, 2023. Sharing details about the 

series, director Robbie earlier said, the story of 

Aakhri Sach is sensitive and each and everyone 

Tamannaah Bhatia and Abhishek Banerjee at the promotion of 

their film ‘Aakhri Sach’ in Mumbai. (ANI) 

has put a lot of hard work to deliver this series. 

"The series was created to narrate a story 

about a complicated case by bringing the police 

point of view to the forefront. Aakhri Sach is a 

fictional story, with fictional characters, inspired 

by a real case that shook the nation. 

“It follows the crime investigation done by a 

female cop named Anya. The character of Anya 

is played by Tamannah Bhatia and she has done 

a lot of preparation to get into the character."

The Indian Weekender

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