The Indian Weekender | 3 May 2024

Friday, 03 May 2024 

Volume 16 / Issue 06 

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E X C E P T I O N A L C H I L D C A R E 

A CCTV grab from House of Gold and Diamond jewellery store robbed on April 25. 

URJITA BHARDWAJ 

The Kiwi-Indian owners 

of House of Gold and 

Diamond say they are 

considering a move to Australia 

after their store in Auckland was 

robbed on Anzac Day. 

Navita Shee, the sister of 

the owner, told The Indian 

Weekender the incident on April 

25, 2024, has left her entire 

family in shock. 

“Looking at the increasing 

robberies across New Zealand, 

The Kiwi-Indian owners of Auckland 

jewellery store robbed at rush hour 

are weighing their options 

we thought Australia might be 

safer. We are still contemplating 

the idea of moving.” 

CCTV footage of the smashand-grab 

shows six masked 

robbers wielding hammer and 

machete forced their way into 

the store in Manurewa. 

At least seven customers 

can be seen jumping over the 

cabinets to hide at the back of 

the store, and a couple trying to 

duck in defence before finally 

making their way out of the 

store.“The National Party made 

rules and promises to minimise 

crime, but I don’t see any 

change. 

It has been the same for the 

last so many years,” Shee says. 

The National Party-led 

coalition government rode to 

power in last year’s national 

elections on the back of a poll 

campaign that largely centred 

on poor law and order under the 

Labour administration. 

• Continued on Page 2 

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W W W . S M A R T K I D S E D U C A R E . C O . N Z

2 

NEW ZEALAND 


Takanini gurdwara initiative 

eases driver's licence process 

IWK BUREAU 

In New Zealand, navigating 

the process of obtaining 

a driver's licence can be 

a daunting task, especially 

for newcomers and the aged. 

Recognising this challenge, the 

Takanini Gurudwara committee 

has embarked on an initiative to 

assist individuals in overcoming 

the initial hurdle of acquiring their 

learner's license, thus paving 

the way for greater mobility and 

independence. 

The Gurudwara, in partnership 

with the New Zealand Police, is 

offering support to all community 

members who aspire to obtain 

their learner's licence. 

This inclusive initiative is 

open to individuals of all ages, 

backgrounds, and genders, 

emphasising equal opportunity for 

all. One of the standout features 

of this program is its commitment 

to language accessibility. 

Acknowledging that language 

should not be a barrier, the 

practical course can be conducted 

in multiple languages, including 

Punjabi, Hindi, and English. 

This ensures that participants 

can fully comprehend the material 

and confidently complete the 

necessary requirements. 

Participants are advised to 

bring their passport or identity 

proof and residential address 

proof when attending the 

theory test session. Prior to 

the test, individuals will receive 

Representational Image 

comprehensive training, lasting 

4-5 hours, to equip them with the 

knowledge and skills needed to 

pass the test with confidence. 

For those seeking a new 

learner's licence, the cost is 

$196.10. Conversely, individuals 

looking to convert their overseas 

license will face a fee of $244. 

Regarding the theory test 

session, it is tentatively scheduled 

for 18th May, but the final date will 

be confirmed depending on the 

number of participants. 

To secure a spot, interested 

individuals should contact the 

This programme is specifically designed to 

remove barriers and provide comprehensive 

support to individuals in the community, 

regardless of their background, encouraging 

them to take the initial steps towards 

obtaining their driver's licence. 

Takanini Gurudwara office at 09 

2962376. 

The process of organising this 

initiative, with the assistance of 

the New Zealand Police, spanned 

approximately six weeks. Daljit 

'Proven structured literacy 

approach' for education 

RNZ 

From next year, the 

government expects all 

public schools to teach 

students to read in a "proven 

structured literacy approach". 

The pre-Budget announcement 

was made by Prime Minister 

Christopher Luxon and Education 

Minister Erica Stanford on 

Thursday afternoon. 

It comes after the government 

this week announced its six 

education priorities. 

Stanford said the approach 

would change the way Kiwi 

children learnt to read, improve 

achievement and set students up 

for success.It taught children to 

read by using sounds and phonics 

to understand words, she said. 

"Being able to read and write is 

a fundamental life skill that too 

many young people are missing 

out on. 

"Recent data shows that just 56 

percent of Year 8 students are at 

the expected level for reading, and 

just 35 percent for writing. 

"Domestic and international 

evidence shows this method is the 

most effective way of equipping 

children with strong reading skills 

that are critical for their futures." 

Stanford said a number of 

schools already teach reading 

in this way and there had been 

"significant improvements" in 

achievement. 

She said she wanted all children 

to experience that. 

"This government has set an 

ambitious target of getting 80 

percent of Year 8 students to 

curriculum level by 2030, and 

teaching structured literacy 

is a critical part of how we 

plan to get there." 

The government was putting 

$67 million, as part of Budget 

2024, into supporting: 

Professional development on 

structured literacy for teachers; 

Books and resources for 

schools and teachers; 

Introducing phonics checks to 

assess student progression; 

Additional support for students 

that need it. 

Stanford said structured 

literacy went hand-in-hand with 

the government's requirement for 

schools to teach an hour every 

day of reading, writing and maths. 

"Today's funding announcement 

ensures teachers will receive the 

training, support and resources 

they need to deliver this. 

"Our teachers are amazing and 

we are supporting them to deliver 

improved outcomes in reading 

and writing." 

The new approach would be in 

place from term one of 2025. 

The government's budget will 

be unveiled in full on May 30. 

Singh, a committee member, 

expressed a strong commitment 

to the initiative's continuation, 

aiming to expand its reach to 

include even more participants in 

the future if the initiative proves 

successful. 

This programme is specifically 

designed to remove barriers and 

provide comprehensive support 

to individuals in the community, 

regardless of their background, 

encouraging them to take the 

initial steps towards obtaining 

their driver's licence. 

Participants are strongly 

encouraged to seize this valuable 

opportunity and book their spot 

early to begin their journey 

towards becoming a licenced 

driver, thereby contributing to 

the safety and mobility of the 

community. 

IWK BUREAU 

The Corrections Department 

has revealed spending 

over $305,000 on slushy 

syrup and maintaining frozen ice 

machines over the past six years. 

This disclosure comes amidst 

proposed job cuts affecting 3460 

positions in a bid to save costs, 

news portal Stuff reported. 

Controversy arose in 2019 when 

it was disclosed that Corrections 

had spent over $1 million of 

taxpayer money on 193 slushy 

machines. 

Then-National leader Simon 

Bridges criticized the expenditure 

as "irresponsible and wasteful," but 

then-Corrections Minister Kelvin 

Davis defended it as a matter of 

health and safety. 

Despite the initial backlash, the 

slushy fund has persisted, with 160 

of the original 193 machines still in 

use. The $305,906 spent includes 

costs for syrup and maintenance. 

The data was released following 

a request under the Official 

Information Act. 

It revealed that over six years, 

Corrections spent $217,273 on 

slushy machine syrup, including 

some maintenance. An additional 

$81,598 was spent on machine 

maintenance and cleaning, with 

Read online www.iwk.co.nz 

Retail crime worries 

after Auckland 

jewellery store heist 

• Continued on Page 2 

Shee says numerous incidents 

of ram raids and robberies at 

liquor and vape stores and 

supermarkets lately leave “little 

hope” for businesses. 

The security footage of the 

robbery at House of Gold and 

Diamond shows masked men 

wrapped up the heist in just 45 

seconds. Shee, who was at the 

store when the robbers struck, 

says some of the assailants 

seemed rather young, and 

is calling for stricter laws to 

discourage juvenile delinquency. 

“The youth continue to resort to 

such crimes because they know 

they will be released soon without 

accountability,” Shee says. 

The police reportedly found the 

vehicle the robbers used dumped 

nearby about 15 minutes after the 

robbery. A team of forensics took 

fingerprints from the dumped car, 

Shee says, but it could take a few 

days before these can be traced 

to the culprits. 

The House of Gold and Diamond 

store reopened to customers the 

next day to slow business. Shee 

says the community has been 

supportive and the family “is 

trying best to recover from the 

incident”. 

“We have insurance, but we 

are waiting for an assessment 

to come in,” says Shee, whose 

family moved to New Zealand in 

2008 and opened the jewellery 

store in 2012. This is the first 

time the family had experienced a 

robbery of this kind. 

Over $300K spent 

on slushy syrup and 

machines for prison staff 

$7035 on "other consumables." 

In a letter accompanying the 

data, Leigh Marsh, Corrections' 

commissioner of custodial 

services, emphasized the 

department's duty to minimize "the 

risk of heat stress" to prison staff. 

He noted that frontline staff 

work in hot and confined spaces, 

sometimes wearing heavy 

equipment, which can increase 

tension and aggression among 

prisoners, posing serious risks. 

Marsh explained that the 

introduction of the slushy 

machines for staff only followed 

the hot, dry summer of 2017/18, 

during which Wellington recorded 

its hottest January since 1927. 

He cited research showing that 

crushed ice drinks are up to three 

times more effective than water in 

reducing core body temperature. 

When questioned about the 

research, a spokesperson referred 

to an academic journal article 

titled "Crushed Ice Ingestion - A 

Practical Strategy for Lowering 

Body Temperature." 

Like other government bodies, 

Corrections has been tasked 

with reducing spending, aiming 

for a 6.5 percent cut. Officials 

say Corrections has paused 

recruitment for non-essential 

"back-office staff".

Read online www.iwk.co.nz Friday, 3 May 2024 

NEW ZEALAND 3 

Big rivals announce 

merger: McClymont Shaikh 

Immigration Specialists 

RAVI BAJPAI 

A 

glint of mischief in his eyes, 

Saif is always eager to 

crack a joke– looking for an 

opening to lighten the moment. 

Alastair McClymont is a study 

in contrast. With lips pursed and 

eyes squinted, he pierces you with 

a gaze so deep it can be unnerving. 

But they have one thing 

in common–years of stellar 

performance in New Zealand’s 

immigration landscape, with a 

focus on Indians. 

This common passion, they 

say, has driven them to take 

the audacious yet tantalising 

decision to join forces–and 

launch McClymont Shaikh 

Immigration Specialists. 

The new company is a merger 

between Saif Shaikh’s Immigration 

Advice NZ and Alastair’s 

McClymont & Associates. Between 

them, the two have 50 years of 

industry experience. 

“40 years from Alastair, and 10 

years from me,” Saif quips, letting 

out a shy smile. 

“Being in the industry for many 

years, we have decided to work 

together. Under the guidance of 

Alastair, and his experience, we've 

decided to put our teams together 

so that it's a win-win situation for 

The new team at McClymont Shaikh Immigration Specialists. (Supplied photo) 

our clients and us.” 

When it comes to immigration 

consultancy, Saif and Alastair 

have their specialties. Immigration 

Advice, a venerable institution, 

has been the go-to for standard 

immigration procedures, guiding 

countless individuals and families 

through the labyrinth of paperwork 

and regulations. 

Meanwhile, MyClymont and 

Associates have earned a 

reputation for tackling the thorniest 

of cases, the ones that require not 

just expertise but a touch of legal 

finesse. 

Alastair says as they began 

contemplating a merger, exploring 

the synergies and opportunities 

that lay before them, skepticism 

gave way to possibility. The 

merger, they realised, could be a 

game-changer, not just for their 

firms but also for the clients they 

served. 

“When we talk about 

immigration, you know, as friends 

for many years, we've discovered 

that we share the same sort of 

passion for immigration and for 

serving our client base. 

“And because we have that 

shared desire to provide the best 

possible customer service and 

to really look after our clients, we 

thought this merger made total 

sense,” Alastair says. 

Saif says he is looking forward 

to the partnership 

particularly given 

Alastair’s passion 

to help clients with a 

deft personal touch. 

Alastair 

“He is going to keep McClymont and 

us on our toes.” Saif Shaikh. 

Alastair is (Supplied photo) 

hoping Saif will 

add value to his 

expertise, especially in the area 

of operations. “The experience 

he brings around processes and 

operations is immense…and you 

know that face-to-face dealing 

with the clients and solving the 

client problem.” 

The new immigration company 

began operations on May 1. 

M 

S H A I K H 

MCCLYMONT + 

I M M I G R A T I O N S P E C I A L I S T S

4 

NEW ZEALAND 



Chaos, panic and confusion 

during Northwest mall robbery 

RNZ 

A 

retail worker at a West 

Auckland mall says there 

was chaos, panic and 

confusion following an armed 

robbery on Sunday. 

A group of five thieves made off 

with jewellery from Michael Hill in 

a brazen smash and grab attack 

at NorthWest Shopping Centre 

about 3.45pm. 

A 27-year-old man had been 

arrested and was due to appear in 

court for his alleged involvement 

in the robbery, Detective Inspector 

Glenn Baldwin said on Monday. 

Synergy Hair receptionist Tessa 

van Houten told RNZ she was 

serving a customer when they 

heard loud bangs and saw groups 

of people running. 

Van Houten said initially she 

thought it was kids ''mucking 

around" on the last day of the 

school holidays. 

''But then there was a lot of 

yelling, and more people were 

running and I [saw] further 

up in the mall stores were 

closing their gates. 

''We didn't know what was going 

on but I thought 'oh well, it's better 

to be safe than sorry and lets 

follow suit'." 

Van Houten said she, her coworker 

and several customers 

waited inside for 15 minutes until 

an alarm sounded telling everyone 

to evacuate to the car park. 

Outside, there were "helicopters 

flying over, a lot of police sirens 

and fire trucks ... we still didn't 

know what was happening''. 

Van Houten said mall workers 

and customers were in the car park 

for half an hour before they were 

able to return inside. 

"We noticed Michael Hill had 

been smashed and grabbed ... 

after my shift we got a closer look 

and saw that a lot of the glass 

cabinets had been broken into, the 

front ones didn't seem [smashed] 

but the ones towards the back 

seemed completely broken." 

She said the recent fatal 

stabbings at a Sydney mall were 

top of mind for her and the salon's 

hairdresser. 

"Me and my co-worker had 

discussed [the other week] what 

would we do in a situation like that 

y'know, so we already were on the 

same page.'' 

Another retail worker told 

RNZ she thought the Bondi 

stabbings was one of the main 

reasons people in the mall were 

panicked. 

Van Houten agreed it was 

nerve-wracking but said she was 

determined to keep calm for her 

customers. 

In a statement, a spokesperson 

for the shopping centre said they 

were limited in what information 

they could provide as it was an 

active police investigation. 

"However the safety of 

our customers, retailers and 

colleagues is of paramount 

importance to us. We would like 

to commend the swift action of 

the New Zealand Police, as well 

as our retailers, security teams 

and colleagues for managing the 

situation in line with our security 

procedures. 

"The Northwest Shopping Centre 

team continues to support all of 

those involved following [Sunday's] 

incident, and are actively assisting 

New Zealand Police in their 

investigation." 

Police said they would continue 

to have an increased presence in 

and around shopping centres and 

malls and will continue to prioritise 

prevention patrols over the 

coming weeks. 

"Just after 9pm on Sunday, 

police responded to reports of the 

vehicle travelling on Browns Road," 

Baldwin said. 

"The Police Air Support Unit, 

Eagle, was soon above to provide 

directions to units on the ground." 

Baldwin said the vehicle 

allegedly failed to stop when 

signalled to and was driven in a 

"concerning manner". 

It came to a stop on Rowandale 

Road, where the driver took off on 

foot. He was found soon after and 

taken into custody. 

He was due to appear in 

Waitākere District Court on 

Monday morning on charges 

relating to aggravated robbery and 

failing to stop." 

Boot camps need to happen 

quickly - retail boss 

Retailers need to see government 

action quickly, including the setting 

up of youth academies or boot 

camps to target persistent youth 

offenders, Retail NZ's boss says. 

Carolyn Young told Morning 

Report criminals were trying to 

stay one step ahead of retailers' 

security initiatives. 

"These young people swarming 

into stores with aggressive 

behaviour and tools to hurt and 

harm people and steal goods is 

a new way that's happening and 

we're needing to look at how we 

can combat these sorts of things."


NEW ZEALAND 5 

Miss India 

finalist teaching 

dentistry in 

Otago 

MAYANK KUMAR 

A 

Kiwi-Indian woman from 

Dehradun is breaking 

barriers by embracing 

multiple career goals and carving 

out a niche for herself in New 

Zealand. 

Medhika Priya Singhal has not 

only made a mark in the field 

of dentistry but has also made 

significant strides in the world of 

modeling. 

Medhika teaches dentistry at 

University of Otago, having shifted 

base from Auckland in 2023. She 

earned her bachelors in dental 

surgery back in India when in 2014, 

her mother suggested she enter 

Femina Miss India. 

“My mother and I are big fans 

of Sushmita Sen (former Miss 

Universe) and she’d say how the 

actress and I shared the same 

features, so I should give it a go 

too,” recalls Medhika. 

She applied for the beauty 

pageant, but faced rejection. 

She believes being fair-skinned 

is generally preferred for Indian 

beauty standards. “From that 

moment on, it became my dream 

to get selected, not my mother’s,” 

she says. 

Medhika researched more about 

the process of the competition 

until she tried again the following 

year, and was selected. Despite 

facing stereotypes, particularly 

regarding her dusky complexion 

in India, Singhal was one of the 

finalists in The Miss India Femina 

competition in 2015. 

“Once your name is in the ring 

as a contestant in India’s biggest 

beauty pageant, a country with 

over a billion people, the public 

have no choice but to agree with 

it,” she adds. 

Her modelling career took 

off and she started getting 

collaborations with renowned 

brands. She has graced the ramps 

and campaigns for OYO, Amazon, 

Anamika Khanna, and Galaxy Mars 

Chocolate. 

She also clinched the Top 3 

position in the 2015 Kingfisher 

Supermodels 3 competition, aired 

on NDTV Goodtimes, further 

solidifying her presence in the 

fashion world. 

“Although it pays well, having 

to audition and then waiting for 

callbacks takes a lot of time. I 

couldn’t sit around at 

home all day.” 

After months of 

runways, gigs and 

commercials in India, 

while also working 

as a dentist, Singhal 

flew to New Zealand 

in 2017, pursuing 

postgraduate study 

in public health at the 

Auckland University 

of Technology. She is 

now also studying for 

her final exams before 

she’s able to practice 

dentistry in New 

Zealand. 

Her talent 

transcended borders, 

proven by her 

participation in the New Zealand 

Fashion Week (NZFW) for three 

consecutive years, from 2017 

to 2019. Her portfolio boasts of 

an array of collaborations with 

designers like Tanya Carlson, 

Trelise Cooper, Juliette Hogan, 

and Twenty-Seven Names, among 

many others. 

Her portfolio led her to also 

venture into the beauty and 

cosmetics world with brands like 

Aleph Beauty, Thin Lizzy, and 

Farmers, showcasing her ability to 

embody diverse beauty standards 

and trends. 

“It was a big difference to how 

I used to be treated when I was 

“It’s very easy to 

get into modelling 

here, and it’s 

important to 

know that age, 

complexion and 

body shape is no 

bar. There are many 

modelling agencies 

that adore all skin 

tones, all shapes 

and sizes, so you 

will feel welcome 

and accepted.” 

younger in India. Now my whole world was 

turned upside down,” she says. 

Beyond her endeavours in India and New 

Zealand, Medhika has also made her mark on 

the Australian fashion landscape. When asked 

for tips for aspiring brown-skinned models, she 

says, “I’d say you’re in the right country to start. 

“It’s very easy to get into modelling here, and 

it’s important to know that age, complexion and 

body shape is no bar. There are many modelling 

agencies that adore all skin tones, all shapes and 

sizes, so you will feel welcome and accepted.” 

From her humble beginnings as a beauty 

pageant finalist to her success on the global 

fashion stage, Medhika inspires aspiring talents, 

redefining standards of beauty and excellence in 

the industry. 

Number of 

businesses 

seeking help 

to downsize 

doubles as 

unemployment 

grows 

Businesses are hurting and have 

"run out of grit", the Employers and 

Manufacturers Association (EMA) says. 

The official unemployment rate rose 

to 4.3 percent on Wednesday with 

economists predicting it would reach 5 

percent by the end of the year. 

The EMA's head of advocacy and strategy 

Alan McDonald said the number of businesses 

they'd had calls from for help with restructuring 

and making people redundant had doubled 

year-on-year in April. 

"What they're telling us at the moment is 

they're still really hurting... They've just run 

out of grit I suppose and they're having to let 

people go very reluctantly. 

"We are in the real bottom of the cycle, it's 

probably as tough as it was in the 90s, the last 

time we got this low." 

Migration was also not helping because 

the skills coming in didn't match the demand, 

McDonald said. 

Businesses were also concerned about 

the work-readiness of young people leaving 

education, he said. 

Council of Trade Unions Craig Renney 

told Morning Report the government needed a 

plan to deal with unemployment. 

"It's about understanding that each of these 

stories of job loss is a family, is a household, 

and because there's no plan, this is going to tip 

thousands of families into poverty." 

Renney also pointed out that young people, 

aged under 25, Māori, Pasifika and women 

were more heavily represented among the 

unemployed. 

"Unemployment for those aged 20-24 is 

now 9.8 percent, which is up from 6 percent a 

year ago. 

"These groups are going to be the ones who 

clearly are bearing the burden of the cost of 

tackling inflation right now and are doing so 

without a plan to help them back into work, to 

give them some opportunities into work and to 

help grow the economy in a way that's actually 

going to deliver good jobs in the future." 

Both men agreed it was time to reconsider 

the Reserve Bank's inflation target and the use 

of the Official Cash Rate to achieve it. 

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6 

NEW ZEALAND 



Chewing 

over South 

Asian 

fascination 

with paan 

in NZ 

BLESSEN TOM/RNZ 

A 

specialty Indian digestive 

made from betel leaves 

is experiencing a surge in 

popularity nationwide. 

Paan, which is made from 

betel nut leaf and consumed 

with slaked lime, rose petal jam 

and mouth fresheners such 

as cardamom and cloves, has 

fascinated South Asians 

for centuries. 

What historically started out as 

an after-dinner treat has gradually 

evolved into a cultural symbol, 

often associated with hospitality, 

celebrations and 

religious ceremonies. 

The meticulous production 

of paan has also become 

something of an art form, with 

variations spanning regions and 

communities across 

the subcontinent. 

Now, a growing collection of 

small family-oriented businesses 

are bringing those flavours to 

households in New Zealand. 

"I never thought that I'd be in 

this business but here we are," 

says Sreeman Myadam, owner 

of Paanwala, which launched 

in 2018. Despite coming from 

a family that owned a paan 

business in India, Myadam was 

reluctant to start a similar venture 

in New Zealand upon arriving 

ANAN ZAKI/RNZ 

The Reserve Bank (RBNZ) says a 

number of households are facing 

greater job uncertainty, while 

some are struggling to meet mortgage 

repayments due to higher interest rates. 

In its half-yearly financial stability 

report (FSR), the central bank said most 

borrowers have moved to higher rates, but 

better wages were helping them to adjust. 

On the inflation front, the RBNZ warned 

that there was a risk that new or persistent 

inflation pressures could mean global 

interest rates could stay higher for longer. 

However, it said the country's financial 

system remained in good shape to handle 

severe downturns. 

"A small proportion of mortgage 

borrowers have not been able to manage 

higher interest costs. 

"Difficulty in keeping up with payments 

has likely been made worse by cost-of-living 

pressures and other unforeseen events like 

Sreeman Myadam and his family are the 

driving force behind Paanwala. Photo: 

Supplied 

in 2008 due to the difficulty in 

sourcing ingredients, especially 

betel leaves. 

"The main challenge was 

sourcing the leaves for the paan," 

the 43-year-old Hyderabad 

native says. 

Unable to import betel leaves 

from India due to Ministry of 

Primary Industries restrictions, 

Myadam turned to Fijian 

exporters. 

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, 

Myadam imported around 1500 

leaves a week, although he brings 

in roughly half that amount 

these days. 

"Right now, I supply about 30 

job losses," the RBNZ said. It said the share 

of home loans 90 or more days in arrears 

had risen from a "very low" 0.2 percent in 

2022 to about 0.5 percent. 

The number of home loans 30 days past 

due had also risen above the recent peak 

of 2020, but remained low compared to the 

post global financial crisis years of 2009 to 

2013. 

It said housing market activity was weak 

due to the effects of higher interest rates 

on borrowers, while prices had increased 

Rakesh Sharma grows betel leaves in greenhouses to make 

paan in New Zealand. Photo: Supplied 

restaurants and Indian grocery 

shops in Auckland," he says. "I 

(also) ship to Wellington, Hamilton 

and Christchurch." 

His business now offers five 

different kinds of paans; laddu 

paan, three varieties of chocolatecoated 

paan and fresh paan. 

"My clientele is mostly South 

Asians but often I see Kiwis giving 

it a shot," he says. 

Sixty-nine-year-old Rakesh 

Sharma started a paan business 

bearing his family name last year. 

"We are three senior citizens 

who have joined hands and 

started this venture," 

Sharma says. 

Similarly challenged by the 

scarcity 

of betel 

leaves, 

Sharma 

found an 

innovative 

solution. 

"We decided 

to grow our own 

leaves because 

we couldn't 

import them from India due to the 

restrictions," he says. 

He says most paan available 

in New Zealand are made using 

betel leaves imported from Fiji. 

While acknowledging their 

uniqueness of betel leaves from 

the Pacific region, he says they 

slowly over the past year and remained 

within its estimated "sustainable range". 

It said proposed debt-to-income ratios 

would help protect against financial stability 

risks created by risky mortgage lending. 

Inflation warning 

The RBNZ noted global inflation was 

easing after a period of elevated levels and 

financial markets had priced in lower rates 

over the next year. 

But it said central banks remained 

cautious due to uncertainty around the 

inflation outlook. 

"Stronger-than-expected inflation could 

prompt a tightening in global financial 

conditions," the FSR said. 

It said major central banks were focused 

on the slow pace of disinflation in the 

service sectors. 

"Labour market conditions continue to 

ease gradually, but remain tight in advanced 

economies including New Zealand," the 

RBNZ said. 

taste very different from their 

Indian counterparts. 

Sharma now has multiple 

greenhouses with betel plants in 

Auckland and in Hamilton. 

"Betel leaves have been grown 

in New Zealand for the past 30 

years but not professionally, so 

we thought we should give it a 

try," he says. 

Sharma says the 

greenhouses have 

heating systems to 

keep the plants 

warm in winter. 

Currently 

Sharma's 

business offers 

five paan 

products in 

New Zealand, 

including a 

waffle paan 

and two types of 

mouth fresheners. 

Looking 

ahead, 

Sharma 

aims to 

boost sales 

and says 

his production facility in South 

Auckland can churn out 1000 

paan each day. 

"It's a truly distinctive product 

that resonates with many 

members of the 

community," he says. 

The meticulous production of paan has become 

something of an art form, with variations 

spanning regions and communities across the 

subcontinent. Photo: Supplied 

Job uncertainty, mortgage rates hit NZ households 

Risk of house prices 

rising too fast 

While the housing market remained weak, 

the recent increases in prices had been 

underpinned by rental growth, driven by 

population growth outstripping supply, the 

RBNZ said. 

"Strong net immigration has increased the 

demand for rental housing, while the supply 

of new housing is expected to slow once 

developers complete existing projects," it 

said. 

The RBNZ said recent tax policy changes 

would also affect the housing market and 

restoring the tax deductibility of interest 

expenses for residential property would 

lead to increased demand for existing 

properties. 

"Looking ahead, strong population 

growth, potentially lower mortgage rates 

and increased investor activity from tax 

policy changes suggest there is a risk that 

house prices will rise relative to sustainable 

levels," the RBNZ said.


NEW ZEALAND 7 

Takanini gurdwara 

unveils state-of-the-art 

community kitchen 

IWK BUREAU 

This week marked the grand 

opening of the state-ofthe-art 

community kitchen 

at the Takanini Gurdwara. 

A 200-square-meter area was 

transformed into a cutting-edge 

culinary facility, made possible 

through the support of the WLT, 

Trillian Trust, Council, and local 

board. 

The newly renovated kitchen 

boasts innovative technology and 

modern amenities to enhance 

capacity to serve the community. 

Among the highlights is a 

revolutionary $90,000 pot 

capable of producing 300 litres 

of vegetables in one automated 

cycle, setting a new standard for 

efficiency and productivity in our 

kitchen operations. 

The extensive renovations 

include: 

New flooring, ceilings, and 

drainage systems for improved 

functionality and hygiene. 

Installation of high-tech 

stoves, stainless steel walls, 

deep fryers, Nutella cabinets, 

and washing areas to streamline 

food preparation and cleaning 

During the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, this kitchen played a pivotal role in providing nourishment to thousands of 

individuals. Photo: Supplied 

processes. 

There is ample storage space 

with cabinets for stocking piles 

of utensils and a dough machine, 

ensuring seamless organization 

and accessibility. 

The total investment of 

$345,000 from their partners has 

enabled them to realize the vision 

of creating a hub for culinary 

excellence that 

not only serves thousands of 

meals weekly but also acts as a 

beacon of hope and support for 

the community. 

During the challenging times 

of the COVID-19 pandemic, this 

kitchen was pivotal in nourishing 

thousands of individuals, a 

testament to its vital importance 

to the community's well-being. 

The council's recognition of this 

impactful service underscores 

their commitment to investing 

in projects that benefit the wider 

community. The support of the 

local council, local board, Trillian 

Trust, and the Wiri Licensing Trust 

has made this project a reality. 

Woman 

beaten 

with 

hammer in 

Hamilton 

RNZ 

A 

woman has serious 

head injuries after 

allegedly being beaten 

with a hammer in the Hamilton 

suburb of Frankton. 

Police officers were called to 

Marire Ave in Frankton about 

6pm on Monday night. 

"On arrival they found a 

woman who had allegedly 

been badly beaten with a 

hammer at a nearby property," 

Detective Sergeant Nicholas 

Stark said. 

"She managed to escape 

and get to the Marire Ave 

address, where emergency 

services were called and she 

was taken to hospital with 

serious head injuries." 

The alleged offender was 

known to the woman and has 

not been located. 

Police want to speak to 

anyone was driving along 

Norton Road between 7pm and 

8pm Monday night, who saw a 

distressed woman. 

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8 

NEW ZEALAND 

'Totally unacceptable': 

Man has to wait a 

year for surgery 



Does fighting inflation 

always lead to recession? 

What 60 years of NZ data 

can tell us 

MICHAEL RYAN 

PHIL PENNINGTON/RNZ 

A 

Canterbury man whose 

surgery has been delayed 

is disbelieving that a cost 

savings drive ordered at hospitals 

will not impact patient care. 

Te Whatu Ora has given the 20 

health districts a target to save 

$105 million collectively by the end 

of June, by reining in spending on 

staff, such as on overtime. 

Canterbury district must save 

$13.3m in 10 weeks - which 

equated to a rate of about five 

percent of its operational spend in 

that period. The man just received 

a hospital letter warning him he 

faced a long wait for surgery, and 

adding: "We sincerely apologise for 

this, but the circumstances are not 

within our control." 

Health Minister Shane Reti said 

on Friday that "none of these costsaving 

measures will impact the 

level of care patients receive". 

The man said that seemed 

"incredibly naive". His one-page 

letter from the hospital contained 

a "special notice about current 

waiting times for surgery". 

RNZ has seen the letter and 

asked Te Whatu Ora how many had 

been sent out. 

"The letter that was sent to 

me was obviously sent to a large 

number of people awaiting surgery, 

possibly thousands," the man said. 

The letter said: "Unfortunately, 

the health system has been under 

very high pressure, in part due to 

the ongoing effects of Covid-19. 

"We currently only have capacity 

to treat patients with a nondeferrable 

condition, such as 

cancer. 

"When our capacity improves, 

there will be a large number of 

patients that we will need to 

prioritise surgery for, and this is 

going to take some time. 

"This means the waiting time 

for your surgery is currently much 

longer than expected, and longer 

than you may have been indicated." 

Health New Zealand chief 

executive Margie Apa has said 

hospitals now have enough staff 

to "live within our means" post- 

Covid. "Times have moved on 

and that means a return to more 

business-as-usual practices," Apa 

said in a letter to health unions a 

few days ago, outlining the savings 

drive - what she called "reducing 

the overspend, not making cuts". 

The Canterbury man said the 

hospital had told him directly that 

he would have to wait a year. 

"In 2022 the wait time was 65 

days. Now it is 365 days. This 

quite frankly is absurd and totally 

unacceptable," he emailed RNZ. 

"I must confess that I was 

stunned at the state of things. 

My normally placid GP cut loose 

with language that you would not 

expect from a doctor." 

The last three months had driven 

spending over budget, the health 

agency said. 

Its quarterly report to December 

2023 showed internal personnel 

costs were $100m under budget, at 

$5.6 billion for the first six months 

of the financial year, against a 

budget of $5.7b. 

But outsourced personnel costs 

were $112m over budget, mostly 

due to overspending on external 

medical staff ($100m) and external 

management and administration 

personnel ($108m). 

The man said he appreciated the 

country had to "tighten our belts". 

"But we need to be reassured 

of a high level of competence 

in our nation's leadership. This 

saga reeks of immaturity and 

inexperience. 

"It was completely predictable 

that the hospital would react in 

this way." 

There is an ongoing global 

debate over whether the 

high inflation seen in 

the aftermath of the COVID-19 

pandemic can be lowered without 

a recession. 

New Zealand is not immune 

to this issue. Reserve Bank 

governor Adrian Orr has said 

a recession is needed to tame 

inflation – described as a “hard 

landing”. Others have disagreed, 

arguing New Zealand could and 

should aim for a soft landing (a 

reduction of inflation with no 

recession). 

But are reductions in inflation 

inextricably linked to recessions? 

New Zealand’s own economic 

history, it turns out, can give some 

guidance on this, and point to the 

risk factors within the country’s 

economic outlook. 

Are we in recession yet? 

There is no hard and fast 

definition of a recession. The term 

“technical recession” is widely 

used to refer to a period with two 

consecutive quarters of negative 

real growth in gross domestic 

product. By this measure, New 

Zealand entered a recession at the 

end of last year. 

But many economists prefer 

the alternative definition from 

the National Bureau of Economic 

Research (NBER) in the United 

States: a recession is “the period 

between a peak of economic 

activity and its subsequent trough, 

or lowest point”. 

Technical recessions and 

recessions meeting the NBER 

criteria do not always coincide. 

In 2014, two researchers used 

the Bry-Boschan algorithm, which 

is based on the NBER definition, to 

identify New Zealand’s recessions 

between 1947 and 2012. 

The question is whether we can 

identify these recessions in real 

time rather than in hindsight. The 

so-called Sahm rule stipulates 

a recession is likely when the 

unemployment rate starts to 

increase after recent lows, which 

can help with timely analysis of 

the economic conditions. 

The dashed line in the graph 

below shows a recession indicator 

based on unemployment, dating 

back to 1986 when quarterly 

unemployment data was first 

published. The indicator usually 

coincides (within one quarter) with 

the start of a recession based on 

the Bry-Boschan algorithm. 

According to this indicator, 

we were not in recession in the 

fourth quarter of 2023. However, if 

the rise in online job applications 

and fall in job ads continues, this 

indicator might flash red soon. 

The highs and lows of NZ 

inflation 

Since 1961, New Zealand has 

experienced eight falls in inflation 

(disinflations) of four percentage 

points or more. 

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NEW ZEALAND 9 

Workplace tensions simmer 

over local & migrant pay rates 

GILL BONNETT/RNZ 

Workers are finding 

out their overseas 

colleagues are being 

paid more, with companies and 

lawyers saying it is brewing 

discontent in the workplace. 

More than 30,000 companies 

in New Zealand have become 

accredited to employ migrants 

since 2021, and most migrants at 

those businesses must receive 

at least the median wage - about 

$30 an hour. 

With the minimum wage set 

at $23, some local staff have 

realised they are not getting the 

same salary as their overseas 

workmates. 

"We've had instances where 

you have two people working 

alongside each other doing the 

same job and one's a migrant and 

one's not - and the migrant wage 

to bring them in under the scheme 

would in some cases have been 

significantly higher or maybe a 

couple of dollars an hour higher, 

and that's caused some friction," 

Employers and Manufacturers 

Association head of advocacy 

Alan McDonald said. 

"If the guy next to you or the 

person next to you is doing the 

same job, it's identical and they're 

only getting more because they 

had to be paid the median wage 

when they came in, then obviously 

the expectation of the workers 

around them is that they will also 

get that level of reimbursement as 

well." 

Resentment could also fester 

because migrants cannot exceed 

a number of hours according to 

their visa terms. That could create 

friction with local colleagues who 

do not want to work longer hours, 

while migrants may want to get 

overtime pay. 

Businesses had been paying the 

market rate previously and were 

having to level up the rest of their 

workforce to the more expensive 

visa-required threshold when 

they could not afford to do so, 

McDonald said. 

The Council of Trade Unions 

said the Accredited Employer 

Work Visa's wage requirement 

raised the pay of local staff and 

ensured businesses did not use 

overseas labour as a way of 

keeping costs down. 

Whereas some pay disparities 

may not be visible, workers could 

find publicly available information 

on migrant rates to know what 

their colleagues are earning. 

"We know that employers in 

particular have made a bit of noise 

about this because they resent 

not being able to pay people less," 

CTU president Richard Wagstaff 

said. "It does have an effect to 

lift wages in the sector which 

was why we support it. Where 

employers are employing local 

people and they have migrant 

workers under the scheme, we 

would expect that they would 

employ their local people, the 

domestic labour force, on the 

same rates. 

"It's long been our view that 

pay should be transparent, and 

people doing the same job should 

be getting the same pay. Where 

workers aren't being paid those 

rates, and they think someone 

is being paid more, as you can 

imagine that would be a source of 

concern." 

Employment lawyer Barbara 

Buckett said workers may get paid 

more because the visa mandated 

it, or because the employer had 

to pay more anyway to attract 

in-demand staff, especially in 

healthcare. 

Either way, it could stir up racist 

sentiment and resentment among 

staff whose pay has not also gone 

up, she said. 

"People talk around the water 

cooler and then something 

slips - and somebody finds out 

that they're being paid less than 

somebody that's come in from 

overseas and managed to achieve 

a great pay rate." 

Added to that were exemptions, 

or differing minimum salaries 

according to migrants' industries, 

which were complex and seemed 

inconsistent with a fair bargaining 

regime under the Employment 

Relations Act. 

Migrant workers among fishing 

crews must be paid $5 above the 

minimum wage, bus drivers get 

$28, while the threshold for highly 

skilled jobs varies but can sit 

between $36 and $65+ a hour. 

"There are exemptions that 

can be made and they seem in 

themselves to be quite arbitrary 

and discriminatory," Buckett 

said. "They seem dependent on 

the strength of the industry's 

ability to negotiate with the policy 

determinators or remuneration 

setters." 

Immigration lawyer Lauren Qiu 

said most employers were already 

very aware of pay sensitivity and 

were doing their best to match 

or come close to the Accredited 

Employer Work Visa median wage. 

"Where I have seen pay 

disparity, is where the employer 

is under considerable financial 

pressure themselves, where they 

need the Accredited Employer 

Work Visa employee to fill a 

critical role but cannot temporarily 

also provide a pay increase to 

the same level for their existing 

employees. 

"It is often a matter of survival 

and not out of malice. In these 

scenarios, depending on the 

pay disparity, the resentment is 

usually directed at the employer. 

Employers are the ones left 

to wear most of the external 

pressures." 

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10 

NEW ZEALAND 

MPs have reacted 

cautiously to the news 

they are set to get a pay 

rise, admitting it was a no-win 

situation. 

On Tuesday afternoon, the 

Remuneration Authority, an 

independent body which sets 

pay for key public office holders, 

determined MPs should get a pay 

increase. 

MPs have not received 

increases to their salaries 

since 2017. Those approached 

by RNZ shortly after the news 

broke stressed stressed the 

independence of the authority. 

"I follow the directions of the 

Rem Authority," cabinet minister 

Shane Jones said. 

"It's an independent decision, 

I think it's really important these 

decisions are separated off and 

not made by politicians, that's 

why we have the system we have," 

fellow minister Chris Bishop said. 

An ordinary MP's salary will 

rise from $163,961 to $168,600, a 

2.8 percent rise backdated to last 

October. 

That will be followed by another 

2.9 percent bump from July, a 

further 2.4 percent next year, and 

then 2 percent in 2026. 

It means by the end of this 

Parliamentary term, an ordinary 

MP's salary will be $181,200. 

"That's a real surprise, actually," 

Labour's Willie Jackson said. 

Cabinet ministers will get 

$327,000 by 2026, and ministers 

outside Cabinet $276,000. 

The prime minister's salary will 

increase to $520,000. 

Christopher Luxon immediately 

indicated he did not want or need 

an increase, and so any increase 

would be donated to charity. 

A question to the Prime 

Minister's Office asking to name 

the charity or charities was not 

answered. 

The deputy prime minister's 

salary will increase to $369,800 

by 2026 - but the role is set to 

change hands next year. 

The leader of the opposition's 

salary has been reviewed, with the 

authority deciding its status had 

changed since the advent of MMP, 

and its salary relative to other 

party leaders was overstated. 

It means Chris Hipkins will get 

a $13,000 increase over the same 

time period, rising from $296,000 

to $309,000. 

MPs were keen to separate 

themselves from the decisionmaking 

process, while also 

admitting their discomfort. 

"The Rem Authority makes 

those decisions, it's really good 

that we stand back from it and say 

it is what it is, right," Labour MP 

Duncan Webb said. 

"I think probably there's never a 

right time to give MPs a pay rise," 

Webb's Labour colleague Rachel 

Brooking said. 

Speaking before the 

announcement, ACT leader David 

Seymour said MPs would accept 

the law and abide by it, and 

discussions over whether they 

deserved it or not were a no-win. 

"Politicians' pay has been flat 

for six years, somebody has 

a legal obligation to set it for 

politicians and judges and so on. 

"And from the point of view 

of someone like me, you're kind 

damned if you do and damned if 

you don't, it's just a process and 

law that you have to follow." 

He said it was not particularly 

great timing when the public was 

doing it tough. 

Green Party co-leader Marama 

Davidson admitted she was 

uncomfortable getting the pay 

increase amid a climate of rising 

rents and the loss of half-price 

bus fares. 

"There are other things we could 

be doing to make sure ordinary 

New Zealanders don't feel like 


'Never a right time': MPs 

respond to pay rise news 

ACT leader David Seymour said MPs would accept the law and abide by it, and discussions 

over whether they deserved a pay increase or not were a no-win situation. Photo: RNZ / 

Samuel Rillstone 

"It's an independent 

decision, I think it's 

really important these 

decisions are separated 

off and not made by 

politicians, that's why 

we have the system we 

have." 

we're rushing ahead," she said. 

Fellow co-leader Chlöe 

Swarbrick agreed it would be 

galling to some members of the 

public to see MPs get a pay rise. 

"I think that we end up with a 

real political football whenever we 

are engaging in what politicians 

should be paid or otherwise, 

and I think that's the point of 

the independent Remuneration 

Authority," she said. 

ACT's Simon Court, 

Parliamentary Under-Secretary 

for the Minister for Infrastructure 

and RMA reform, said he was not 

in Parliament for the money but 

observed MPs had not had a pay 

rise since he entered Parliament 

in 2020. 

"I think it's really important we 

keep this in context. I'm willing to 

accept a pay rise of 2.8 percent. 

The cost of living has gone up by 

much, much more than that in 

the time I've been in Parliament. 

I think it's important that MPs' 

salaries and allowances keep 

pace as far as practical with the 

private sector." 

Parliament can pass legislation 

to overrule the pay rise. 

In 2018, then-Prime Minister 

Dame Jacinda Ardern froze 

salaries for a year, while during 

the early days of the Covid-19 

pandemic in 2020, ministers took 

a 20 percent pay cut and MPs 

took a 10 percent cut. 

In 2015, Sir John Key 

overhauled the Remuneration 

Authority Act, by tying MP salaries 

to those of the wider public sector. 

It was repealed in 2019. 

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said 

both Dame Jacinda Ardern, and 

Sir John Key before her, had made 

a mistake in intervening outside of 

the authority. 

"I do think it was a mistake, I 

think we should just leave it to the 

process." 


7 hours on phone: Air NZ apologises to customer left in limbo 

RNZ 

Air New Zealand has been 

rated a four out of 10 

for customer service by 

a family left in limbo when its 

Chicago to Auckland flight was 

suspended. 

US-based New Zealander, 

Rupert, said Air NZ left them in call 

centre limbo, refusing to rebook 

them with like-for-like seats on a 

different service. 

Six people were booked on the 

flight from Chicago to Auckland 

for Christmas. Their booking 

included three sky couches. 

But in March, Air NZ suspended 

its direct flights between Chicago 

and Auckland] citing maintenance 

issues with the Rolls Royce 

engines on the Boeing 787 

Dreamliners. 

Rupert told Checkpoint he 

had spent $15,000 and wanted 

equivalent tickets and sky 

couches on another Air NZ flight. 

"What I expected is that we would 

be rebooked Chicago to Auckland 

with a layover somewhere else, 

with the sky couch on the US to 

Auckland leg, or the same number 

of sky couches that we booked 

originally. I thought that would be 

a simple like-for-like swap." 

But when he looked at other Air 

NZ flights, available sky couches 

were "blacked out" and he believed 

the airline wanted to sell them at a 

higher price. 

"The response from Air New 

Zealand was that they couldn't 

book us on the sky couches but 

that they could refund the amount 

that we had paid for our sky 

couches. 

"That, of course, was not a very 

satisfactory solution", he said, 

because it would mean a oneyear-old 

on their laps for a 12- to 

14-hour flight. 

"It has been surprisingly 

difficult. I've had several nights up 

well past midnight over here in the 

US trying to figure this out. 

"I was on the phone for 

seven hours last weekend. It's 

frustrating because the systems 

don't seem to be designed for 

anyone's convenience, so you 

know be talking to one person 

and they say they'll get back to 

me. But then if they're out of the 

office, no one else can take over 

that until that person comes back. 

"So it's been very difficult, much 

more difficult than I would have 

expected." 

He said after 

RNZ's Checkpoint intervened, Air 

NZ e-mailed saying that the sky 

couches had been booked now. 

However, Air New Zealand 

disputed that it responded only 

because RNZ was reporting the 

story. 

Air New Zealand long haul 

general manager Scott Carr said 

Rupert's rating was fair for the way 

he was treated. He apologised for 

the situation Rupert was put in. 

"I don't mind taking a hit every 

now and then for these kind 

of things. I don't think anyone 

in our contact centre team, or 

myself, would say that that's a 

great experience for one of our 

Auckland 

Airport's new 

terminal bridges 

domestic, 

international 

services 

FELIX WALTON 

Auckland Airport's 

new terminal will 

bring domestic and 

international transfers, checkins 

and bag drops under one 

roof. But it will not be without 

disruption for up to 20 million 

travellers a year, until the 

building is ready in 2029. 

The almost $4 billion project 

will replace the airport's ageing 

domestic terminal, which 

originally opened in 1966. 

"This won't be a gold-plated 

terminal," Auckland Airport chief 

customer officer Scott Tasker 

said, but it would focus on the 

basics. 

The new building would bridge 

the domestic and international 

terminals, meaning travellers 

would be able to transfer from 

domestic to international 

services without leaving the 

airport. International and 

domestic customers will also 

be able to check in at the same 

place with new kiosks and 

automatic bag drops. 

"It will offer better navigation 

for travellers, more seating 

areas and places to charge your 

phone, good bathroom facilities, 

and more capacity for airlines 

to add more flights during peak 

periods," Tasker said. 

But he warned of disruption 

for the next five years while work 

was under way. 

"It of course does mean 

disruption for the 18 to 20 million 

travellers that will be departing 

and arriving from Auckland 

Airport each year," he said. 

"We're working really hard to 

ensure that we minimise that 

disruption as well as possible." 

customers. 

"You can't plan for every 

eventuality," he told Checkpoint. 

He blamed resourcing for 

the incident, despite the airline 

knowing in advance it was going 

to cancel the flights. 

"The changes were made last 

week," he said, and no bookings 

were left unattended. 

The airline's disruption policy 

allowed for full refunds to 

customers who did not receive a 

product they paid for, Carr said. 

"The response from 

Air New Zealand was 

that they couldn't 

book us on the sky 

couches but that 

they could refund 

the amount that we 

had paid for our sky 

couches."


NEW ZEALAND 11 

What the shock poll tells us 

about coalition government 

JO MOIR/RNZ 

It's much too early in the term for 

the Coalition to be truly worried 

about the latest poll, but it 

should also be much too early for 

the public to be considering turfing 

it out of power. 

Christopher Luxon will be alert to 

the factors driving the dire polling 

but won't be waving the white flag 

just yet. 

The 1News-Verian poll on 

Monday night had National down 

two points to 36, Act down 1 point 

to seven and New Zealand First 

out of Parliament altogether falling 

under the five percent threshold on 

just 4.2. 

That gives National and Act 

just 57 seats between them, not 

enough to hold the government 

benches. 

On the other side of the House 

Labour was up two points to 30. 

The Greens went up two as well 

hitting 14, and Te Pāti Māori was 

steady on 4. 

Assuming Te Pāti Māori gave its 

support to Labour and the Greens, 

the left-bloc would have the 

numbers to govern. 

In reality it is only four or five 

points of movement, with a margin 

of error +/- 3.1 percentage points, 

but it is all going in the Opposition's 

David Seymour, Christopher Luxon and Winston Peters in November 2023. Photo: RNZ / 

Samuel Rillstone 

direction. 

Just five months into the 

Coalition's programme of change 

that will have Luxon and his kitchen 

Cabinet pondering which bits are 

resonating and which programmes 

might be putting people off. 

Part of the problem is that so 

much of the Coalition's work so far 

has been cuts and repeals. 

It creates a negative framing of 

the work they're doing and makes 

it hard to sell a positive story. 

Much of the cuts and repeals had 

been signalled along with more 

controversial work such as the 

fast-tracking of big infrastructure 

projects, but other changes are 

burning up some of Luxon's 

political capital, for example, the 

repealing of smokefree legislation 

and cuts to lunch in schools. 

While Luxon told Morning 

Report he had no plans to shy away 

from the tough decisions needed 

to turn the economy around, ACT 

leader David Seymour appeared 

slightly more concerned by the 

poll given he penned a letter to 

supporters last night titled, 'Labour 

could be back in 2026'. 

He's blaming the inflation 

hangover and debt from the 

previous government for the 

Coalition's bad polling and 

certainly the economic outlook 

figures in the 1News Verian poll go 

some way to supporting that. 

While optimism was down three 

points to 36, pessimism was up 

seven points to 26. 

All eyes are now on the Budget in 

just a month's time and what is or 

more importantly isn't in it. 

The Coalition is pinning a lot on 

its vaunted tax cuts, but it's not 

clear voters are as bothered about 

the tax cuts as much as some in 

the government are suggesting. 

Certainly in conversations with 

industry and business leaders, and 

everyday Kiwis in regional New 

Zealand, tax cuts very rarely come 

up in conversation. 

What will be more telling in 

the Budget are the programmes 

that are cut to create more fiscal 

headroom for that tax relief. 

Luxon has already had to walk 

back his categorical assurance 

to RNZ on Monday night that all 

programmes in the Budget will be 

fully funded over four years. 

The Prime Minister has been 

highly critical of Labour's "fiscal 

cliffs" and time-limited funding 

it left for the Coalition, but Luxon 

conceded on Morning Report on 

Tuesday that there will be some 

time-limited funding. 

It's an early walkback and while 

it's better to clear that up now, 

Luxon shouldn't have put himself 

in that position in the first place. 

The fight for a fundamental right 

ANANDITAA 

Reflecting on the long 

history of injustices 

women have endured 

solely because of our gender. 

Why? Is it because society 

perceives us as the fairer, weaker 

sex? Well, the truth is that we've 

always possessed inherent 

power, often unrecognised and 

deliberately suppressed through 

centuries of deep-seated politics, 

religious doctrine and patriarchal 

ideologies. 

Contrary to popular belief, 

women don't need empowerment— 

we already possess strength and 

resilience intrinsic to our being. 

Our ability to give birth, to nurture 

life, is a testament to our inherent 

power, a power that transcends all 

limitations and norms. 

Yet, at its heart lies a 

paradoxical conundrum, 

both complex and glaringly 

straightforward at the same time. 

A seemingly innocuous word 

that evokes a range of emotions 

in people, from discomfort to 

outright hostility: “abortion”. 

In the past three decades, 

several nations have embarked 

on journeys to liberalise their 

abortion laws. 

In 2020, New Zealand 

decriminalised abortion and 

granted women the autonomy 

to choose termination up to 20 

weeks into a pregnancy. In India, 

the legal framework governing 

reproductive rights has steadily 

evolved, with recent amendments 

in 2021 expanding abortion 

access up to 24 weeks under the 

Medical Termination of Pregnancy 

(MTP) Act of 1971, particularly for 

survivors of rape and incest, as 

well as unmarried women. 

Furthermore, on March 8th, 

France achieved a historic 

milestone, becoming the 

inaugural nation to formally 

recognise abortion as a 

constitutional right. 

However, the influence of 

religious conservatism has 

led to some of the world's 

most restrictive abortion laws, 

particularly in regions dominated 

by religious entities like the 

Catholic Church, such as Latin 

America and Poland. 

The recent resurgence of 

the abortion ban in the USA, 

tracing its lineage back to 1864, 

epitomises this regressive trend. 

Currently, 14 states in the US are 

enforcing bans on abortion at 

all stages of pregnancy. Despite 

scientific advancements that 

debunk outdated ideas and 

beliefs, the grip these institutions 

maintain over public discourse 

and policy is rather absurd. 

According to the World 

Women are not objects 

to be controlled or 

policed; they are 

autonomous beings 

deserving of respect, 

dignity and agency 

over their own bodies 

and lives. It is a 

fundamental human 

right, a foundational 

tenet of human dignity 

and no one, absolutely 

no one, should have 

the power to take that 

away from them. 

Health Organisation (WHO), 

approximately 25 million unsafe 

abortions occur globally each 

year, resulting in nearly 23,000 

maternal deaths annually. 

The numbers represent the 

harrowing reality of women's 

lives hanging in the balance due 

to archaic laws and patriarchal 

attitudes, that not only disregard 

women's fundamental rights 

but also endanger their lives, 

pushing them into the shadows 

of clandestine and hazardous 

procedures. 

For a woman, the decision to 

undergo an abortion is deeply 

personal and agonising, often 

borne out of insurmountable 

circumstances—be it 

socioeconomic hardships, health 

concerns, or the trauma of sexual 

assault. 

Yet, despite the gravity of their 

decisions, women are met with 

hostility, judgment and stigma. 

Criminalising abortion does not 

eradicate the need for it; it just 

drives it underground. Every death 

and injury from unsafe abortion is 

totally preventable. 

Women are not objects to be 

controlled or policed; they are 

autonomous beings deserving 

of respect, dignity and agency 

over their own bodies and lives. 

It is a fundamental human right, 

a foundational tenet of human 

dignity and no one, absolutely 

no one, should have the power 

to take that away from them. 

Anything less is a grave injustice 

to all humanity. 

(The author is a Mumbai-based 

producer and actor) 

Green MP 

Julie Anne 

Genter 

apologises for 

'intimidating' 

actions in 

Parliament 

Rongotai MP Julie Anne 

Genter has apologised in 

Parliament after National 

accused her of intimidating and 

attacking one of its ministers in 

the House. 

A spokesperson for the Green 

Party told RNZ her actions were 

"unacceptable" and fell short 

of the standards they expect of 

their MPs. As MPs were debating 

roading projects as part of the 

Annual Review - Transport on 

Wednesday night, Genter rose 

from her seat and walked across 

the chamber towards National's 

Matt Doocey. She then waved a 

book in his face and repeatedly 

yelled: "Read the report!" 

The debate's chair, Parliament 

Deputy Speaker Barbara Kuriger, 

interrupted and urged the Green 

MP to resume her seat. 

"We know that transport is 

one of those touchy subjects 

but if we want to get the best 

out of the minister, interjections 

are fine but it would be good if 

we could actually just ask the 

questions and let the minister 

answer them.... rather than 

shouting matches and it is not 

appropriate to get out of one's 

seat to go and have an argument 

with somebody on the other 

side," Kuriger said. 

National senior whip Scott 

Simpson told the House 

that Genter's actions were 

threatening and unbecoming of 

Parliament. 

"A few minutes ago, there was 

an incident that occurred in this 

chamber... that I have never seen 

before. It was unprecedented in 

my experience in this chamber. 

"To have a member rise from 

her seat, stride across the 

House and then confront, in a 

most intimidating manner, a 

member of this chamber I think 

is utterly unparliamentary and 

warrants further investigation 

and sanction," Simpson said. 

He then called for Parliament 

Speaker Gerry Brownlee to be 

recalled to the debating chamber 

and described Genter's actions 

as a "serious, intimidatory, 

physical attack upon another 

member". 

"Sir, I have never seen 

behaviour of that sort in this 

chamber in my time in this House 

and I think its a serious matter 

that warrants an intervention 

immediately. 

"That the member is still sitting 

in this chamber without having 

apologised or accounted for her 

actions I think is intolerable," 

Simpson said. MPs in the House 

stood to inform the Speaker 

what they saw. 

"I did not see any contact," said 

Genter's Green Party colleague 

Steve Abel, who admitted he 

did not see the incident in the 

House, but only caught the end 

on Parliament TV.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK 

“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it 

will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” 

— Earl Nightingale 

Editorial 

Nation in crisis 

while politicians 

get a raise 

IN FOCUS : Picture of the week 

In the midst of a recession and a cost of living crisis, rising unemployment rates, and 

businesses collapsing like dominoes, the news that New Zealand MPs are about to 

receive fatter pay packets comes as a slap in the face to struggling citizens. It begs 

the question: is this a wise move in the current climate, where every dollar counts and 

trust in politicians is at an all-time low? 

Politics stands alone as a profession where qualifications are not prerequisites 

for positions of immense responsibility, which affect people of an entire nation. Yet, 

paradoxically, it is one of the most lucratively compensated fields. 

This dissonance is glaring, especially when juxtaposed against the backdrop of the 

everyday struggles of ordinary Kiwis. 

Let’s confront the uncomfortable truth: trust in politicians is eroding, and for good 

reason. Recent headlines have been rife with stories of MPs embroiled in controversies 

ranging from shoplifting convictions and driving and crashing vehicles under the 

influence to threatening behaviour towards fellow elected members on the floor of 

parliament, to mention only a few. 

Such behaviour not only undermines public confidence but also raises serious 

doubts about the judgment and integrity of those elected to serve the nation. 

In addition to the concerning behaviour of individual MPs, the broader actions of the 

coalition government have exacerbated the challenges faced by ordinary citizens. Their 

binge on cutting government funding and jobs will likely have a devastating impact, 

particularly in essential services like childcare, education, and healthcare—pillars of 

wellbeing for the people. 

These cuts have not only resulted in job losses but have also compromised the 

quality and accessibility of crucial services, leaving vulnerable populations without the 

support they desperately need. 

At a time when access to healthcare and education should be safeguarded, the 

government's short-sighted austerity measures have only deepened the sense of 

insecurity and despair among New Zealanders. 

The ruling coalition government’s popularity has plummeted just five months into 

their tenure—a telling sign of widespread disillusionment with their performance. 

From failing to tackle the law and order crisis, particularly concerning retail crime and 

youth offending, to implementing austerity measures that have decimated government 

funding and jobs, the government’s track record is marred by missteps and what are 

beginning to be perceived as broken promises. 

In the face of such glaring inadequacies, rewarding MPs with salary increases sends 

the wrong message. It sends a message of detachment from the harsh realities faced 

by ordinary citizens. 

It sends a message of indifference to the struggles of those who elected them 

into power. It sends a message that accountability and performance are secondary 

concerns when it comes to remuneration. 

The argument could be made that competitive salaries are necessary to attract 

talent to politics. 

However, if talent is measured by the ability to enact meaningful change and serve 

the best interests of the people, then it’s clear that the current system is failing 

miserably. Pay raises should be contingent upon demonstrable achievements and 

effective governance, not merely the act of holding office. 

The timing of these pay increases could not be worse. With families struggling to 

make ends meet, businesses teetering on the brink of collapse, and the spectre of 

unemployment looming large, now is not the time for politicians to line their pockets. 

Now is the time for empathy, solidarity, and decisive action to alleviate the suffering 

of the most vulnerable in society. 

It’s imperative that our elected representatives earn the trust and respect of the 

electorate through their actions, not just their words. 

This means prioritising the needs of the people over self-interest and party politics. 

It means upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct and accountability. It 

means acknowledging and rectifying past mistakes instead of repeating them. 

The decision to increase MPs’ salaries in the midst of a crisis is not just tone-deaf. 

It erodes public trust in the political establishment and underscores the urgent need 

for meaningful reform. 

New Zealanders deserve better than a government that prioritises its own interests 

over the well-being of its citizens. It’s time for our elected representatives to listen, to 

empathise, and to act in the best interests of all New Zealanders, not just a privileged 

few. 

President Droupadi Murmu pays obeisance to the statue of the celestial bird Jatayu in 

Ayodhya on Wednesday. (ANI Photo) 

This week in New Zealand’s history 

7 May 1846 

Devastating landslide at Lake Taupō 

A 

devastating landslide obliterated the Ngāti Tūwharetoa village of Te Rapa on the southwest 

shore of Lake Taupō. Sixty people were killed, including the paramount chief 

Mananui Te Heuheu Tūkino II. This remains New Zealand’s highest death toll from a landslide. 


Henry Sewell becomes the country’s first premier 

Henry Sewell took office as colonial secretary - as early premiers were called - on 7 May 

1856. 


New Zealand Railways Magazine launched 

The New Zealand Railways Magazine was published monthly for 14 years, with the 

final issue appearing in June 1940. Based on British and American railway company 

magazines, it was launched as a journal for the Railways Department’s major customers and 

18,000 staff. 


First School Journal published 

New Zealand pupils were for the first time able to read a schoolbook published in their 

own country. 


New Zealand celebrates Victory in Europe 

Germany formally surrendered on 7 May, New Zealand time, but acting Prime Minister 

Walter Nash insisted that celebrations wait until after British Prime Minister Winston 

Churchill officially announced peace at 1 a.m. on 9 May, New Zealand time. 


NZ's first woman barrister and solicitor appointed 

Born into a prominent Dunedin Jewish family, Ethel Benjamin excelled at Otago Girls’ High 

School, where she passed the university junior scholarship examination in 1892. 


All-white All Blacks leave for South Africa 

Despite protests, the controversial rugby tour went ahead. The issue of sporting ties with 

South Africa would eventually split the country in 1981. 

Indian Weekender : Volume 16 - Issue 6 

Publisher: Kiwi Media Publishing Limited 

Editor: Dev Nadkarni | dev@indianweekender.co.nz 

General Manager: Ravi Bajpai | 020 441 2233 | ravi@indianweekender.co.nz 

Graphic Designer: Yashmin Chand | design@indianweekender.co.nz 

Accounts and Admin.: 09-2173623 | accounts@indianweekender.co.nz 

Senior Digital Producer: Urjita Bhardwaj | 021 952 246 | urjita@indianweekender.co.nz 

Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher 

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

Views expressed in the articles are solely of the authors and do not in any way represent 

the views of the team at the Indian Weekender 

Kiwi Media Publishing Limited - 133A, Level 1, Onehunga Mall, Onehunga, Auckland. 

Printed at NZME, Auckland, New Zealand. 

Copyright ® 2022. Kiwi Media Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved. 

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

14 

INDIA 


At over 40,000, Indians 

now form the largest 

international student 

community in Germany 

German deputy head of mission says country saw 

32.6% more Indian tourists in 2023 compared to 2022 

Indian students now form 

the largest community of 

foreign students in Germany. 

With over 42,578 enrolments in 

German universities as of 2023, 

Indian students have surpassed 

their Chinese counterparts in 

the European nation in terms of 

numbers, according to the German 

National Tourist Office (GNTO). 

At a joint press conference held 

by the GNTO and the German 

Embassy in India Tuesday, Deputy 

Head of Mission Georg Enzweiler 

told the media, “Unlike other 

countries, studying in Germany is 

basically free of cost. 

Education in German public 

universities is high-class and 

world-class, but at a much lower 

cost than other countries, with the 

German taxpayers paying for the 

education of both domestic and 

international students.” 

“The language,” he said, “could 

be the only downside, but that, 

too, has seen a dramatic change 

in the last 20 years with many 

more universities offering courses 

in English.” 

In 2022, while the number of 

international students in Germany 

Indian weddings are notoriously 

elaborate affairs, requiring a 

multitude of outfit changes for 

multiple days of festivities. 

It used to be normal for a family 

visiting Brij Kishore Agarwal’s sari 

shop, near the narrow lanes of 

Chandni Chowk market in India’s 

Old Delhi, to depart with a big 

bundle of bright, embroidered 

garments and leave behind a 

substantial pile of cash. 

Worries that someone would 

break in and steal the money 

before he could make a bank 

deposit kept the store’s now-79- 

year-old owner awake at night. 

These days he sleeps easier, 

because almost all his customers 

use e-payments to complete their 

purchases. 

“I have seen this country 

change,” says Agarwal, who has 

worked in the shop for about 65 

years. “We very rarely get cash 

payments.” 

Digital payments, made through 

systems like the Unified Payments 

Interface (UPI), which allow 

users to transfer funds instantly 

by scanning a QR code, have 

become ubiquitous across the 

world’s most populous country, 

transforming daily life. 

In Delhi, tea sellers collect 

rupees via mobile apps, and tuk 

“There has been a steep 

rise in the number 

of Indian students in 

Germany. Germany 

is very welcoming of 

Indians — they are 

hard-working and an 

ageing society as ours 

welcomes them.” Georg 

Enzweiler 

tuk drivers who pull over to buy 

parathas stuffed with steaming 

hot paneer pay with their phones. 

The e-payment revolution is 

also likely to play an important role 

in India’s attempts to become an 

economic superpower. 

It is the planet’s fifth biggest 

economy, and Prime Minister 

Narendra Modi, who is currently 

running for his third consecutive 

term, has said he wants India to 

be considered “developed” by 

2047. 

“Digital payments are likely 

to enhance India’s growth by 

eliminating frictions, increasing 

rose by 3.7 percent, the Indian 

student community grew by 26 

percent. Top choices of field of 

study include engineering, law, 

management, social sciences, 

mathematics and natural 

sciences. 

“There has been a steep rise 

in the number of Indian students 

in Germany”, Enzweiler said. 

“Germany is very welcoming of 

Indians — they are hard-working 

and an ageing society as ours 

welcomes them.” 

The German population is 

efficiency, and reducing costs,” 

Eswar Prasad, an economics 

professor at Cornell University, 

told CNN. 

“UPI and the broader digitization 

of the economy could also 

increase the inclusiveness of this 

growth,” he added. 

India’s push to digitize its 

society started about 15 years 

ago, but e-payments were slow 

to catch on. In 2016, 96% of 

transactions in India were still 

conducted with banknotes. 

Two events that year changed 

things. First, the non-profit 

National Payments Corporation 

ageing with over 18,781,831 

people above the age of 65, as of 

2022. Projections suggest that 

the number of people at working 

age will decrease by a range of 1.6 

million-4.8 million in the next 15 

years. 

Indian tourists in Germany 

Enzweiler believes that this 

trend will encourage more Indians 

to visit Germany to not just visit 

their relatives, but also explore the 

tourism offerings of the country. 

He said that Germany saw the 

inflow of 32.6 percent more Indian 

tourists in 2023, with over 8 lakh 

overnight stays, as opposed to 

6,23,363 overnight stays in 2022. 

In the first two months of 2024, 

there has been another 15 percent 

hike in the number of Indian 

tourists travelling to Germany. 

Enzweiler said, “Indians will be 

able to qualify more quickly. It 

is also in the embassy’s interest 

to issue long-term visas.” 

This comment is in line with 

the EU Ambassador to India’s 

announcement last week of a 

multi-year Schengen visa for 

frequent Indian travellers. 

of India (NPCI), an initiative of 

the central bank and a banking 

association, launched the 

payment infrastructure UPI. 

UPI allows users to use their 

phone as a virtual debit card, 

transferring money from almost 

600 member banks and fintech 

companies instantly without 

entering bank details or paying 

transaction fees. 

QR codes line the awning of 

Ramesh Kumar's towel shop 

at Sarojini Nagar Market in 

Delhi. Sania Farooqui/CNN 

Later that year, the 

government suddenly scrapped 

two large banknotes that 

comprised 86% of all currency 

in circulation, with the stated 

goal of fighting corruption. That 

prompted a surge in the use of 

e-payments. 

“We had no choice,” says 

Ramesh Kumar, 52, a towel shop 

owner in Delhi’s Sarojini Nagar 

Market, who started accepting 

digital payments in 2016. 

Covid-19 further boosted the 

adoption of digital transactions, as 

people tried to protect themselves 

from the virus. 

Now, Indians use UPI to 

pay everyone from vegetable 

vendors to doctors. More digital 

transactions are completed in 


India tests 

new weapon to 

boost navy’s 

anti-submarine 

warfare 

capability 

India on Wednesday inched 

closer towards deploying a new 

weapon designed to enhance 

the anti-submarine warfare 

capability of the Indian Navy, with 

the supersonic missile-assisted 

release of torpedo (SMART) 

system being successfully flighttested 

from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam 

Island off the Odisha coast. 

“SMART is a next-generation 

missile-based light-weight 

torpedo delivery system, designed 

and developed by the Defence 

Research and Development 

Organisation (DRDO) to enhance 

the anti-submarine warfare 

capability of the Indian Navy far 

beyond the conventional range of 

lightweight torpedo,” the defence 

ministry said in a statement. 

The indigenous weapon system 

has been tested earlier too. 

The canister-based missile 

system consists of several 

advanced sub-systems, including 

a two-stage solid propulsion 

system, electromechanical 

actuator system and precision 

inertial navigation system, the 

statement said. 

“The system carries advanced 

light-weight torpedo as payload 

along with parachute-based 

release system.” The missile was 

launched from a ground mobile 

launcher, and several state-ofthe-art 

mechanisms such as 

symmetric separation, ejection 

and velocity control were validated. 

“The development of the system 

will further enhance the strength 

of our navy,” defence minister 

Rajnath Singh said. 

Sari shops and street food stalls: How e-payments have taken over India 

QR codes line the awning of Ramesh Kumar's towel shop at Sarojini Nagar Market in Delhi. 

India than any other country, 

according to the government. 

In 2023, the number of UPI 

transactions topped 100 billion. 

There are some holdouts. 

Azeez, a 34-year-old rickshaw 

driver in Old Delhi, told CNN that 

he’s too scared of losing money to 

use e-payments. 

“I am [an] uneducated person, 

I am poor, I have never been to a 

school, I can’t read or write,” he 

says. “What if I make a mistake?” 

Still, the upward trend is 

expected to continue, further 

boosting the number and value 

of funds flowing into the formal 

economy. UPI is aiming for two 

billion transactions a day by 2030. 

“If I can, and my store, which 

is so old, can move forward and 

change like this, I am sure every 

buyer and customer will also do 

it,” says Agarwal, the sari seller. 

‘A stake in India’s economic 

growth’ 

India is the world’s fastestgrowing 

major economy and 

digitization “has played a fairly 

consequential role in the very 

successful economic trajectory 

that India is on,” says Prasad, who 

is the author of “The Future of 

Money: How the Digital Revolution 

Is Transforming Currencies and 

Finance.”


WORLD 15 

Biden administration plans to ease 

nationwide marijuana restrictions 

The Biden administration is 

reportedly planning to 

ease nationwide marijuana 

restrictions following a significant 

reclassification effort. 

The U.S. Department of Drug 

Enforcement (DEA) is on the 

verge of reclassifying marijuana 

as a lower-risk substance, in 

a dramatic reversal of longstanding 

American drug laws that 

could have far-reaching effects 

across the country as reported by 

Associated Press. 

A source told the news agency 

on Tuesday, April 30 that the DEA’s 

new proposal, which acknowledges 

the medical advantages 

of cannabis and its lower risk of 

abuse than other drugs, is in the 

hands of the White House office 

of Management and Budget. 

However, the DEA proposal doesn’t 

“directly aim to make marijuana 

legal for recreational use.” 

Marijuana usage is still ‘illegal’ 

While the plan is still under 

consideration, it is important 

Australia on Tuesday 

announced plans to build 

its largest navy since 

World War II, allocating more 

than $35 billion for the defense 

project over the next 10 years, in 

a move analysts said pointed to 

heightened tensions with China in 

the Indo-Pacific. 

According to a government 

statement, the plans will see the 

Royal Australian Navy boost its 

fleet of major surface warships 

to 26 in total after an independent 

review led by a retired US Navy 

admiral found “the current and 

planned surface combatant fleet 

is not appropriate for the strategic 

environment we face.” 

“A strong Australia relies on a 

strong navy, one that is equipped 

to conduct diplomacy in our 

region, deter potential adversaries, 

and defend our national interests 

when called,” Australian Chief of 

Navy Vice Adm. Mark Hammond 

said in the statement. 

“The size, lethality and 

capabilities of the future surface 

combatant fleet ensures that 

our navy is equipped to meet the 

evolving strategic challenges of 

our region.” 

The plan to bolster the 

fleet includes 20 destroyers and 

frigates, and six Large Optionally 

Crewed Surface Vessels (LOSVs), 

that can operate with sailors 

aboard or independently as 

drones. 

Those surface vessels will 

join a fleet of nuclear-powered 

submarines Australia plans to 

build under the AUKUS pact with 

the United States and the United 

Kingdom, the first three of which 

are expected to be delivered early 

next decade. 

The independent review noted 

Australia had “the oldest fleet 

Navy has operated in its history,” 

to understand that changing 

the marijuana classification 

(rescheduling) is different from 

making it completely legal 

(descheduling). 

according to the government 

statement. 

We're at biggest risk of conflict 

over China for many years, says 

Australia's top diplomat 

10:50 - Source: CNN 

And analysts said the security 

environment in the region – 

where rival China has built up 

the world’s largest navy and is 

asserting its territorial claims in 

disputed waters – meant Australia 

had to act. 

Collin Koh, research fellow 

at the S. Rajaratnam School 

of International Studies in 

Singapore, said increasing the 

Australian fleet’s size “is essential 

if there’s a need for capacity 

to match the growing set of 

Rescheduling wouldn't 

automatically make it okay to have 

marijuana everywhere. 

You could still get in trouble for 

possessing it in places where it's 

Australia unveils plan for largest 

navy buildup since World War II 

“A strong Australia 

relies on a strong navy, 

one that is equipped 

to conduct diplomacy 

in our region, deter 

potential adversaries, 

and defend our 

national interests when 

called.” 

mission requirements, especially 

projecting presence across the 

Indo-Pacific.” 

While there is no mention of 

China in the buildup plan, the 

review commission said the future 

surface fleet needed the ability 

“to support critical activities, 

including patrolling our northern 

approaches, close escort and 

theatre sea lift missions.” 

And analysts pointed to possible 

threats from China. 

“It probably signals how 

concerned both the government 

and defense are about our 

strategic circumstances,” Jennifer 

Parker, adjunct fellow in naval 

studies at UNSW Canberra, said 

in an interview with the Australian 

Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). 

“There are many saying that for 

the period of the latter 2020s, we 

are entering a period of risk in the 

Indo-Pacific and that’s generated 

by China’s increased aggression 

in both the South China Sea and 

Northeast Asia,” she said. 

Upon completion in the mid- 

2040s, the naval buildup would 

yield a fleet with the country’s 

three current Hobart-class 

guided-missile destroyers, which 

will get upgrades to their air 

defense and strike systems. 

illegal. 

According to the report, it could 

take several months for the Office 

of Management and Budget to 

issue their final ruling on the 

The United States on 

Wednesday accused 

Russia of violating the 

international chemical weapons 

ban by deploying the choking agent 

chloropicrin against Ukrainian 

troops and using riot control 

agents "as a method of warfare" in 

Ukraine. 

"The use of such chemicals is 

not an isolated incident and is 

probably driven by Russian forces' 

desire to dislodge Ukrainian 

forces from fortified positions 

and achieve tactical gains on the 

battlefield," the State Department 

said in a statement. 

The Russian embassy in 

Washington did not immediately 

respond to a request for comment. 

Chloropicrin is listed as a banned 

choking agent by the Hague-based 

Organization for the Prohibition 

of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), 

which was created to implement 

and monitor compliance with 

the 1993 Chemical Weapons 

Convention (CWC). 

German forces fired the gas 

against Allied troops during World 

War I in one of the first uses of a 

chemical weapon. 

Earlier this month, Reuters 

reported the Ukrainian military as 

saying Russia has stepped up its 

illegal of use riot control agents 

as it presses its biggest advances 

in eastern Ukraine in more 

than two years. 

In addition to chloropicrin, 

Russian forces have used grenades 

loaded with CS and CN gases, the 

Ukrainian military says. It says at 

least 500 Ukrainian soldiers have 

been treated for exposure to toxic 

substances and one was killed by 

suffocating on tear gas. 

While civilians usually can 

escape riot control gases during 

proposal. 

The Associated Press stated 

that "Once OMB approves, the DEA 

will solicit public comments on the 

plan to reclassify marijuana from 

its current Schedule I classification, 

which currently places it alongside 

heroin and LSD." 

This action proposes to maintain 

marijuana in Schedule III, along 

with ketamine and some anabolic 

steroids following the proper 

recommendation from the health 

organisations. 

What does rescheduling mean? 

Simply put, the reclassification 

would allow researchers to 

conduct a large-scale study of the 

substance to determine specific 

medical benefits and potentially 

open the door for pharmaceutical 

companies in terms of sale in the 

states where they are legal. 

In October 2022, President Joe 

Biden ordered the Department 

of Health and human services to 

review marijuana's classification. 

Russia breached global 

chemical weapons ban 

in Ukraine war, US says 

"The use of such 

chemicals is not an 

isolated incident and 

is probably driven by 

Russian forces' desire 

to dislodge Ukrainian 

forces from fortified 

positions and achieve 

tactical gains on the 

battlefield." 

protests, soldiers stuck in 

trenches without gas masks must 

either flee under enemy fire or 

risk suffocating. 

The State Department said it 

was delivering to Congress its 

determination that Russia's use 

of chloropicrin against Ukrainian 

troops violated the CWC. 

Moscow's use of the gas "comes 

from the same playbook as its 

operations to poison" the late 

opposition leader Alexei Navalny 

in 2020 and Sergei Skripal and 

his daughter Yulia in 2018 with 

the Novichok nerve agent, the 

statement said.

16 

TIME 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 

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E 1< 5 01 

Mb N D 0 

A I R 51> L 0 

p A 5 E M 

Your Weekly Horoscope: 5 May - 9 May, 2024 

ARIES (MAR 21-APR 20) 

This week, prioritise self-care and future 

planning. Even though you have a busy 

schedule, try creating spaces to relax 

and consider your long-term targets. 

Your parents can always be there for you 

emotionally, giving you advice and praise 

when needed. Don't be shy when you ask 

them for their advice. Try to keep your balance by managing 

your workload to allow your mind to think creatively. 

.TAURUS (APR 21-MAY 20) 

Your colleagues may expect you to play a 

more significant role than usual this week. 

What you say and do can influence other 

people, so try to be a source of good. Let 

people know what you know and share 

your thoughts publicly; this can help you 

become more recognised. Concentrate 

on creating a solid network of coworkers because they can 

be a valuable resource for your professional development. 

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUN 21) 

A whole lot of events are expected this week. 

Those who work on a commission basis or 

in the outsourced work environment may 

earn more by closing a deal or completing 

a project successfully. Acknowledge 

your creativity and innovation while at it, 

as the new ideas may prove much more 

profitable. Keep up-to-date with changes and be willing 

to learn from the circumstances. Ensure that you have a 

balanced life at work. 

. CANCER (JUN 22-JUL 20) 

Whether working in business or corporate, 

it's time to gear up for the job ahead. For 

organisations, active marketing of their 

products or services will be the key to 

achieving positive movement. For those in 

the corporate world, try to initiate projects 

and develop new ideas. Your seniors 

and subordinates will value your confidence and initiative, 

creating a platform for the next level of growth. 

LEO (JUL21-AUG 20) 

It is a week that will lay the foundation 

for your success. Travel for work could 

become a reality and will help strengthen 

professional bonds and build new networks. 

Even though the tasks are routine, execute 

them with care and precision. Attention 

to detail will be appreciated and valued by superiors. 

Communication is one of the most important tools to keep 

the workflow smooth and projects and collaborations on the 

right path. 

VIRGO (AUG 23-SEP 23) 

Financially, you are likely to remain in a 

comfortable position. Regular workouts 

will help in keeping fit. Things turn 

favourable at work, as your contribution 

gets acknowledged. The home front 

requires your attention, so don't neglect it. 

A pilgrimage is possible and is likely to prove most fulfilling. 

Buying a new property cannot be ruled out for some. Expect 

to get VIP treatment, as your social life perks up. 

LIBRA (SEP 24-OCT 23) 

You will be keen to impress those who 

matter on the professional front. Being 

regular in your workouts will prove good 

for your health. You will be much more 

conscious of your financial situation now, 

than previously and budget your expenses. 

Organising a function or an event on the 

home front can keep some busy today. 

SCORPIO (OCT 24-NOV 22) 

Good financial planning can get you in a 

happy state. Professional front brightens 

up for some as new projects come your 

way. Some of you are likely to participate 

in a fun-filled activity on the home front. 

Resuming an exercise routine is indicated 

for some. Getting something new may get 

some youngsters all excited. A trip may get cancelled or 

postponed. Some sacrifice on your part will be required to 

get close to your partner emotionally. 

SAGITTARIUS (NOV 23-DEC 21) 

You are likely to adopt healthy options 

to achieve total fitness. You are likely to 

grasp a situation on the work front quickly 

and turn it to your advantage. There are 

indications that some of you can be asked 

to travel out of the station on short notice. A 

lucrative deal that brings in good returns is 

likely to be seized. Religious-minded will be able to achieve 

total peace of mind. Socialise more. 

CAPRICORN (DEC 22-JAN 21) 

Completing an assigned job will give you 

the edge at work. Discussing investment 

options with a financial expert will help you 

make the correct decision. Homemakers 

may be tempted to buy an appliance or 

gadget. Your fitness regime will benefit. 

Property investments may not get 

immediate results but promise big money at a later date. The 

desire for a change of scene may take you out on an exotic 

vacation. 

AQUARIUS (JAN 22-FEB 19) 

You are likely to benefit immensely by 

making health your priority. Despite rising 

expenses, you will be able to remain fairly 

well off financially. You may have to seek 

alternatives if you are unable to accomplish 

something at work. Efforts on the academic 

front put in now will pay rich dividends later. 

People are likely to appreciate your upholding the family 

traditions. A chance to convert an official trip into a leisurely 

one may come to some. 

PISCES (FEB 20-MAR 20) 

An active lifestyle will help keep minor 

ailments at bay. You will manage to plan 

your expenses well to remain within the 

budget. Homemakers will need to be 

motivated to go in for cleaning and painting 

of the house. A promotion or increment 

is likely for some, especially those in the 

armed forces. Those travelling on a long journey will be able 

to find entertaining company en route. The social front can 

keep some busy entertaining guests.


FEATURE 17 

A big, bountiful salad is the best way to celebrate delicious seasonal produce! 

Broccoli salad 

Ingredients 

• 1 pound broccoli crowns 

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive 

oil 

• 3 tablespoons mayo, I like Sir 

Kensington's or vegan mayo 

• 1½ tablespoons apple cider 

vinegar 

• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 

• 1 teaspoon maple syrup or 

honey 

• 1 garlic clove, minced 

• ¼ teaspoon sea salt, more to 

taste 

• cup diced red onions 

• cup dried cranberries 

• Smoky tamari almonds 

• ½ cup almonds 

• ½ cup pepitas 

• 1 tablespoon tamari 

• ½ teaspoon maple syrup 

• ¼ teaspoon smoked 

paprika, more to taste 

Methods 

• Preheat the oven to 350°F 

and line a baking sheet with 

parchment paper. 

• Chop the broccoli florets 

into ½-inch pieces and any 

remaining stems into ¼-inch 

dice. Peel any woody or course 

parts from the stem first. 

• In the bottom of a large bowl, 

whisk together the olive oil, 

mayo, apple cider vinegar, 

mustard, maple syrup, garlic, 

and salt. 

• Add the broccoli, onions, and 

cranberries and toss to coat. 

• Place the almonds and pepitas 

on the baking sheet, toss with 

the tamari, maple syrup, and 

smoked paprika and spread 

into a thin layer. Bake 10 to 14 

minutes or until golden brown. 

• Remove from the oven and let 

cool for 5 minutes (they’ll get 

crispier as they sit). 

• Toss the almonds and pepitas 

into the salad, reserving a few 

to sprinkle on top. Season to 

taste and serve. 

Kale salad with carrot ginger dressing 

Ingredients 

• ½ cup chopped roasted 

carrots, from 3/4 cup raw 

carrots 

• 1/3 to ½ cup water 

• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil 

• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar 

• 2 teaspoons minced ginger 

• ¼ teaspoon sea salt 

• Salad 

• 1 batch Roasted Chickpeas 

• 1 bunch curly kale, stems 

removed, leaves torn 

• 1 teaspoon lemon juice 

• ½ teaspoon extra-virgin olive 

oil 

• 1 small carrot, grated 

• 1 small red beet, grated* 

• ½ watermelon radish, very 

thinly sliced 

• 1 avocado, cubed 

• 2 tablespoons dried 

cranberries 

• ¼ cup pepitas, toasted 

• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds 

• Sea salt & Freshly ground 

black pepper 

Instruction 

• Make the dressing and roast 

the chickpeas: Preheat the 

oven to 400°F and line a large 

baking sheet with parchment 

paper. 

• Toss the chickpeas with 

a drizzle of olive oil and 

sprinkle with pinches of salt 

and pepper. Place the carrot 

pieces for the dressing in their 

own corner on the baking 

sheet to roast alongside the 

chickpeas. Roast for 25 to 

minutes, or until the chickpeas 

Chicken Hawaiian salad 

Ingredients 

• 1/3 cup coconut milk 

• 1 tablespoon tomato ketchup 

• 1 teaspoon lime zest 

• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder 

• 1/4 teaspoon paprika powder 

• 1/4 teaspoon salt 

• 1 large chicken breasts 

• 1/2 cup pineapple 

• 1/2 avocados 

• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes 

• 1 cup rice 

• 2 1/2 tablespoon virgin olive 

oil 

• 1/2 teaspoon honey 

• black pepper as required 

• 1/4 cup pineapple juice 

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce 

• 2 cloves garlic 

• 1/4 teaspoon cumin powder 

• 1/4 teaspoon ginger powder 

• 1/2 tablespoon virgin olive oil 

• 1/2 cup corn 

• 4 cup lettuce leaf 

• 1/2 red onion 

• 1 carrot 

• 1 1/2 tablespoon lime juice 

• 2 tablespoon cilantro 

• 1/4 teaspoon salt 

Method 

• Take a large bowl and mix 

together coconut milk, 

Chicken broccoli 

Ingredients 

• 500 chicken breast fillet, skin 

off 

• 2 broccoli, chopped 

• 420g canned cream of chicken 

soup 

• 3/4 cup mayonnaise 

• 1/2 lemon, juiced 

• 1 tbs mild curry powder *to 

taste 

Method 

• Cut chicken breasts in half and 

if too thick slice lengthways, 

as well. 

• Fry each piece gently on both 

sides. 

• Steam broccoli until tender. 

• Place broccoli in a long or 

square casserole dish, then add 

chicken. 

• Mix soup, mayonnaise, lemon 

juice and curry powder in a 

bowl. Pour evenly over chicken 

and broccoli. 

• Bake at 180C for 50 minutes. 

Serve with rice. 

are browned and crisp and 

the carrots are soft. Set the 

roasted chickpeas aside. 

Transfer the carrots to a 

blender and add the water, 

olive oil, rice vinegar, ginger, 

and salt. 

• Blend the dressing until 

smooth and chill in the Place 

the kale leaves into a large 

bowl and drizzle with the 

lemon juice, ½ teaspoon of 

olive oil, and a few pinches of 

salt. 

• Use your hands to massage 

the leaves until they become 

soft and wilted and reduce in 

the bowl by about half. 

• Add the carrot, beet, 

watermelon radish, half of the 

cubed avocado, cranberries, 

pepitas, a few more good 

pinches of salt and a few 

grinds of pepper, and toss. 

Drizzle generously with the 

carrot ginger dressing. 

• Top with the remaining 

avocado, more dressing, the 

roasted chickpeas and sprinkle 

with the sesame seeds. 

Season to taste and serve. 

pineapple juice, tomato sauce, 

soy sauce, lime zest, garlic, 

onion powder, cumin, paprika, 

ginger powder and salt. 

Marinate chicken for minimum 

3 hours, preferably overnight. 

• Mix dressing ingredients 

together in a jar, (lime juice, 

olive oil, chopped cilantro, 

minced garlic, honey, salt and 

black pepper) set aside for at 

least 15 minutes. 

• Heat oil in a non stick pan over 

high heat. Add chicken and 

cook each side for 3 minutes 

or until golden. Remove and 

Healthy taco salad 

Ingredients 

• 2 corn tortillas, sliced into 

strips 

• Extra-virgin olive oil, for 

drizzling 

• 1 medium head romaine 

lettuce, chopped 

• 1 cup shredded red cabbage 

• ½ cup cooked black 

beans, drained and rinsed 

• 2 red radishes, thinly sliced 

• ½ cup sliced cherry tomatoes 

and/or pico de gallo 

• 1 avocado, sliced 

• Jalapeno slices, optional 

• Cilantro Lime Dressing, the 

creamy avocado variation 

• Sea salt 

• Lime wedges, for serving 

• Shiitake Taco 'Meat' 

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive 

oil 

• 8 ounces shiitake 

mushrooms, stemmed and 

diced 

• 1 cup crushed walnuts 

• 1 tablespoon tamari 

• 1 teaspoon chili powder 

• ½ teaspoon balsamic vinegar 

• Sea salt and freshly ground 

black pepper 

Instructions 

• Preheat the oven to 400°F 

and line a baking sheet with 

parchment paper. 

• Toss the tortilla strips with a 

Grilled corn salad 

Ingredients 

• 3 ears of grilled corn on the 

cob 

• 1 red pepper, diced 

• 1 green pepper, diced 

• ½ small cucumber, diced 

• 2 ripe peaches, pitted and 

diced 

• 1 small avocado, pitted and 

diced. 

• 8 basil leaves, thinly sliced 

• juice of 1 lime, plus lime 

wedges for serving 

• 3 tablespoons Chile Lime 

Dressing, plus more to taste 

• sea salt 

• Chile Lime Dressing (this 

makes extra) 

• ¼ cup Sir Kensington’s 

Avocado Oil Mayo or 

vegan Fabanaise 

• 1 tablespoon olive oil 

• ¼ cup chopped cilantro, 

including stems, plus more for 

garnish 

• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, 

plus extra slices for serving 

• serrano chile, plus more to 

taste 

• pinch of garlic powder 

• pinch of onion powder 

cover with foil for 5 minutes, 

then slice thick strips. Cook 

plain rice and keep aside. 

• Sear 1/2 cup pineapple 

pieces and corn in the skillet 

tiny bit of olive oil and a few 

pinches of salt. Spread onto 

the sheet and bake for 10 to 14 

minutes or until crispy. 

• Make the Shiitake Taco “Meat”: 

In a medium skillet, heat the 

olive oil over medium heat. 

• Add the mushrooms and cook, 

stirring only occasionally, until 

they begin to brown and soften, 

3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the 

walnuts and lightly toast for 1 

to 2 minutes. Stir in the tamari 

and the chili powder. 

• Add the balsamic vinegar and 

stir again. Remove from the 

heat and season with salt and 

pepper to taste. 

• Assemble the salad with the 

romaine lettuce, cabbage, black 

beans, taco meat, radishes, 

tomatoes, avocado, jalapenos, 

if using, and generous dollops 

of cilantro lime avocado 

dressing. 

• Drizzle with olive oil and 

sprinkle with sea salt. Serve 

with lime wedges and extra 

dressing on the side. 

• sea salt 

Method 

• Make the dressing: In a small 

food processor, combine the 

avocado mayonnaise, olive oil, 

cilantro, lime, serrano, garlic 

powder, onion powder and a 

few generous pinches of salt. 

• Pulse until combined. Chill until 

ready to use. 

• Slice the kernels off of the 

grilled corn and place in a large 

bowl. 

• Add the red pepper, green 

pepper, cucumber, peaches, 

avocado, basil, lime juice, a few 

pinches of salt, and toss. 

• Add a few tablespoons of 

dressing, toss again, then taste 

and add more dressing and/or 

salt to taste. 

until golden. Assemble salad 

ingredients on a platter and 

top with sliced chicken. Drizzle 

over Dressing and serve the 

delicious Hawaiian salad.

18 

ENTERTAINMENT 

Aditi Rao Hydari 

reveals Sanjay 

Leela Bhansali told 

her ‘khana mat 

khana’ 

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 

Heeramandi is one of the 

most anticipated shows of 

the year. Aditi Rao Hydari plays 

Bibbojaan in the magnum opus, 

and revealed in a new interview 

with Rediff how she landed the 

part in the series. The director 

even told her not to eat before a 

crucial scene. 

In the new interview, when 

Aditi was asked about how she 

collaborated with Sanjay Leela 

Bhansali, the actor recounted her 

experience and said: 

“He's very passionate about 

everything he does. He's also very 

knowledgeable. He has true love 

for each and every art form that 

goes into making cinema, and that 

I find very infectious. 

"I would say that whatever 

one comes with in one's blood, 

when you walk on to a Sanjay 

Leela Bhansali set, it is complete 

surrender. You have to become a 

sponge." 

Aamir Khan talks 

about ‘power of 

namaste’ 

Aamir Khan has appeared 

on Kapil Sharma's show 

for the first time. In the 

latest episode, the actor shared 

several anecdotes from his acting 

career. He also appreciated the 

humility of the people of Punjab 

and said he learnt the power of 

'namaste' from them, when he 

shot for Dangal (2016) in a village 

there. 

Aamir said in Hindi, "This is a 

story which is very close to me. 

We shot for Rang de Basanti in 

Punjab, and I really loved it there. 

The people, the Punjabi culture is 

full of love. So, when we went for 

the shoot of Dangal, it was a small 

village we were shooting in. We 

shot for more than two months in 

that location and that house. You 

won't believe it, but when I used 

to reach there at around 5 or 6 in 

the morning, as my car entered, 

people would stand outside their 

homes just to welcome me with 

folded hands and 'Sat Sri Akaal.' 

They used to just wait to welcome 

me. They never disturbed me, 

never stopped my car, nothing. 

After my pack-up, when I would 

return, they would again be 

standing outside their homes and 

would greet me 'Good Night.'" 

Aamir added that being a 

Muslim, he was not used to 

folding his hands and greeting 

people with 'namaste.' He said, "I 

belong to a Muslim family, I am 

not used to folding my hands in 

namaste.'" 

She further continued, "People 

perceive actors in a particular 

way. They may be like, Oh, if you 

blow, she'll just fly away. She's so 

delicate! But for him, there's more 

to a person than that. One day, he 

kept me hungry because I had to 

do a scene which was full of fire. 

"People perceive actors 

in a particular way. 

They may be like, Oh, if 

you blow, she'll just fly 

away. She's so delicate! 

But for him, there's 

more to a person than 

that." 

He said, 'Aaj khana mat khana', 

and that helped me get that 

simmering sense of injustice.” 

Heeramandi features Manisha 

Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa 

Chadha and Sanjeeda Shaikh in 

Sonali Bendre is once again 

back to acting with the 

newsroom-drama series 

The Broken News. The sequel to 

the show is going to stream on 

ZEE5 in May 2024. The actor, who 

has been vocal about her cancer 

diagnosis, opened about her 

journey in a podcast for Humans 

of Bombay. 

Sonali was asked how did 

she deal with her cancer 

diagnosis and what was 

her initial reaction. She 

said, “When I received my 

cancer diagnosis, my first 

thought was, ‘Why me?’ I’d 

wake up thinking it was all 

a nightmare; I couldn’t believe 

that this could happen to me. 

That’s when I started to change 

the way I thought. 

Instead of ‘why me?’ I started 

asking, ‘Why not me?’ I started to 

feel grateful this wasn’t happening 

to my sister or my son. I realized I 

had the strength to deal with this, I 

had the resources to go to the best 

hospitals, and the support system 

to help me through this. Starting to 

ask ‘why not me?’ helped me start 

the healing process.” 

For the unversed, Sonali was 

diagnosed with stage four, 

metastatic cancer in 2018. After 

undergoing treatment in a New 

York City hospital, she became 

cancer free in 2021. Post her 

recovery, she has been advocating 

pivotal roles. It 

also marks the comeback of actor 

Fardeen Khan after a gap of 14 

years. 

The series explores the cultural 

reality of Heeramandi, a dazzling 

district, through the stories of 

courtesans and their patrons set 

against the tumultuous backdrop 

of the Indian freedom struggle of 

the 1940s. It releases on Netflix 

on May 1. 

Sonali Bendre reveals her 

first reaction to cancer 

diagnosis: ‘Why me?’ 

awareness and support 

for cancer survivors. The 

actor also penned an Instagram 

post on Cancer Survivors Day in 

2021. She wrote, “How time flies... 

today when I look back, I see 

strength, I see weakness but most 

importantly I see the will to not 

let the C word define how my life 

will be after it…You create the life 

you choose. The journey is what 

you make of it... so remember 

to take #OneDayAtATime and to 

#SwitchOnTheSunshine (rainbow, 

sunshine and heart emojis) 

#CancerSurvivorsDay.” 

Sonali Bendre will next 

be seen in The Broken 

News 2, co-starring Shriya 

Pilgaonkar and Jaideep Ahlawat in 

crucial roles. 


India's presence 

at the Cannes 

Film Festival has 

grown manifold in 

the last 30 years. 

Today, there could 

easily be 300 Indians 

on the French Riviera, 

including actors, 

directors and even 

some journalists. 

There is even an 

India Pavilion, which 

was first set up by 

Nina Lath Gupta 

from the NFDC. 

India at Cannes 

But sadly, India's 

movie representation 

at the festival has 

been poor. It could be 

that we do not make 

cinema that caters 

to an international 

audience. Or, it just 

could be that for 

a Western mind, 

Indian cinema is too 

confusing. Or, it can 

also be that selectors 

who are supposed 

to promote and 

push films from our 

country have little 

understanding of what Cannes is 

looking for. 

Once, it seemed like a joke 

that Devdas from Bollywood 

was picked as part of the official 

selections. Later, the Cannes chief, 

Thierry Fremaux, did tell me – 

although not in so many words – 

that Devdas was a mistake. 

Anyway, two Indian titles have 

made it to Cannes this year: Payal 

Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light 

is vying for the top Palme d'Or 

and Sandhya Suri's debut feature 

Santosh is in Un Certain Regard, 

the most important section after 

Competition. An Indian title arrives 

in Competition 30 years after 

Shaji N. Karun's Malayalam work 

Swaham. 

Also a matter of concern, Indian 

jurors at Cannes have been few and 

far between. In fact, between 1982, 

when respected auteur Mrinal Sen 

became the first Indian to serve 

on the main Competition jury, 

and 2022, when actress Deepika 

Padukone was picked for this slot, 

there have been a mere handful -- 

director Mira Nair (1990), novelist 

Arundhati Roy (2000), actors 

Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan (2003), 

Nandita Das (2005) and Sharmila 

Tagore (2009), moviemaker 

Shekhar Kapur (2010) and actor 

Vidya Balan (2013). 

Great Indian filmmakers 

ignored? 

Sadly, giants of cinema like 

Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Girish 

Kasaravalli and Ritwik Ghatak 

were never invited to be on the jury. 

Even Satyajit Ray, who was an 

icon of India, was ignored by the 


Why are Indian movies and 

jurors so few and far between 

at Cannes Film Festival 

Festival. 

Why were these great auteurs 

never invited? It could be that 

Cannes is no longer a cerebral 

Festival as it once was, especially 

during Sen's days. 

Today, there is far more glamour 

there than what we would like to 

imagine. 

Cannes has gravitated towards 

this glamour goal, which has 

been hugely promoted by big 

businesses. 

A cursory glance at the Cannes 

jury over the years, and we cannot 

miss the fact that members have 

all been global achievers who have 

come with a fair degree of glamour. 

This year for the 77th edition of 

the Festival, there are international 

celebrities like Greta Gerwig (of 

Barbie fame who will chair the jury), 

moviemakers Nadine Labaki, Juan 

Antonio Bayona, Pierfrancesco 

Favino, Ebru Ceylan, and Kore-eda 

Hirokazu. They are undoubtedly 

exceptional filmmakers, but they 

also come with an aura of allure. 

All said and done, Cannes may 

be liberally swathed in glamour, 

but the 12-day Festival -- which 

runs from May 14 to 25 – also 

offers memorable movies that are 

hard to ignore or forget.

For all your digital and print advertising requirements, 

call us on 020 441 2233 / 0223078920 Or email at 

sales@indianweekender.co.nz / ravi@indianweekender.co.nz

The Indian Weekender | 3 May 2024

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