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Friday, <strong>10</strong> <strong>May</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
Volume 16 / Issue 07<br />
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TRAGEDY STRIKES<br />
NEW MIGRANTS<br />
URJITA BHARDWAJ<br />
<strong>The</strong> two missing <strong>Indian</strong> healthcare<br />
workers, who went fishing in<br />
Northland, were this week identified<br />
as Sarath Kumar, 37, and Ferzil Babu, 34.<br />
<strong>The</strong> duo was fishing at Taiharuru,<br />
Whangārei Heads, at a spot known as <strong>The</strong><br />
Gap last week.<br />
Emergency services were alerted around<br />
midnight after the pair failed to return<br />
home as expected by 11pm.<br />
Kumar's body was found in the water on<br />
Friday by the police dive squad.<br />
However, the search continues for Babu.<br />
A police spokesperson said the search,<br />
now including the shoreline, was still<br />
ongoing with the assistance of a drone.<br />
Poor marine weather forecasts<br />
complicated search efforts, with easterly<br />
swells hindering operations on the water<br />
last weekend, according to a police<br />
statement.<br />
An extensive search involving multiple<br />
agencies was conducted over the weekend,<br />
but the missing <strong>Indian</strong> was not located.<br />
<strong>The</strong> police, along with other agencies, are<br />
closely monitoring weather forecasts.<br />
• Continued on Page 6<br />
Two healthcare workers from<br />
Kerala drown fishing in <strong>The</strong> Gap,<br />
notorious for large swells<br />
<strong>The</strong> body of Sarath Kumar (left) has been found; while Ferzil Babu is still missing. (Supplied photo)<br />
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Read online www.iwk.co.nz Friday, <strong>10</strong> <strong>May</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
NEW ZEALAND 3<br />
Incoherence, mistrust cloud<br />
INZ student visa process<br />
HIMANSHU RAI<br />
In an era where global mobility<br />
and cultural exchange should<br />
be celebrated and encouraged,<br />
Immigration New Zealand's<br />
(INZ) approach to student visa<br />
applications is, in stark contrast,<br />
ridden with unreasonable and<br />
irrational decision-making.<br />
<strong>The</strong> decline letters being<br />
handed over to offshore students<br />
reflect inconsistent decisions and<br />
ill-explained reasons permeating<br />
the decision-making process.<br />
<strong>The</strong> stakeholders’ perception<br />
is that such a process is less<br />
about safeguarding the country’s<br />
interests and more about creating<br />
uncertainty and unpredictability<br />
for those who seek to contribute,<br />
learn, and experience New<br />
Zealand.<br />
Challenging the one-size-fitsall<br />
paradigm<br />
<strong>The</strong> sanctity of a visa<br />
application process lies in the<br />
assurance that every decision<br />
made has a fair and just<br />
grounding. This is also reflected<br />
in the immigration instructions<br />
published by Immigration New<br />
Zealand.<br />
However, Immigration New<br />
Zealand's recent methodology<br />
paints a concerning picture of<br />
deviation from their own laid down<br />
principles.<br />
<strong>The</strong> once methodical and<br />
customised evaluations have now<br />
been replaced with a one-sizefits-all<br />
approach that demeans the<br />
genuine aspirations of countless<br />
international students.<br />
Decisions that should arise<br />
from careful consideration and<br />
evaluation are being delegated<br />
to templates and profiling.<br />
Some decisions also reflect that<br />
immigration officers may not<br />
have a complete understanding<br />
of documentation from different<br />
parts of the world and are making<br />
decisions without considering the<br />
complete documents and their<br />
import.<br />
This shift away from a nuanced<br />
consideration of an applicant's<br />
potential contribution to New<br />
Zealand's educational landscape<br />
suggests a move towards a<br />
more impersonal, assembly-line<br />
method of processing student<br />
visa applications, lacking the<br />
essential human element crucial<br />
for a fair evaluation.<br />
Eligible students presenting<br />
compelling cases are bewildered<br />
by the lack of reasonable rationale<br />
behind the rejection of their<br />
applications.<br />
<strong>The</strong> templated decline letters,<br />
as ambiguous as they are<br />
impersonal, leave many questions<br />
unanswered. What specific<br />
immigration criteria were not met?<br />
What information was<br />
unconvincing? What led the<br />
immigration office to doubt the<br />
student’s intentions to study?<br />
<strong>The</strong>se are not trivialities but<br />
indispensable guides for students<br />
and their parents who often<br />
plan to invest substantially to<br />
Himanshu Rai<br />
enable their children to gain<br />
an internationally recognised<br />
qualification and improve their<br />
future career prospects.<br />
Official Information Act<br />
documents, accessed in<br />
accordance with the Privacy<br />
Act, reveal that immigration<br />
officers are resorting to phrases<br />
such as "deal breaker"—phrases<br />
not recognised within official<br />
immigration guidelines.<br />
This approach prematurely<br />
terminates a detailed assessment<br />
of student visa applications,<br />
culminating in their rejection<br />
through the dispatch of a generic<br />
decline letter.<br />
This practice highlights a<br />
deviation from standard procedure<br />
and underscores the necessity for<br />
a more transparent and consistent<br />
application review process within<br />
the realm of immigration services.<br />
Documents acquired via the<br />
Official Information Act also<br />
indicate that almost all offshore<br />
applications from India and<br />
Nepal are going to offshore<br />
Risk and Verification officers as<br />
per the protocol established by<br />
Immigration New Zealand for<br />
evaluating offshore student visa<br />
applicants.<br />
This strategy involves<br />
analysing applicants' educational<br />
backgrounds, work experience,<br />
nationalities, and selected study<br />
programmes to categorise them<br />
into high or low-risk groups.<br />
High-risk applications are<br />
subject to enhanced scrutiny by<br />
immigration officers, influenced<br />
by comments from the offshore<br />
Risk and Verification officers, who<br />
apparently do not have access<br />
to the student's complete profile.<br />
In such instances, even a trivial<br />
comment such as “no online<br />
presence of the company sighted”<br />
can inadvertently trigger a biased<br />
approach by onshore immigration<br />
officers.<br />
This approach fosters<br />
inconsistent and subjective<br />
decision-making by immigration<br />
officers.<br />
An appeal for<br />
coherence and<br />
consistency<br />
<strong>The</strong>re should<br />
not be critique<br />
without a<br />
proposal for<br />
improvement.<br />
What is needed<br />
is a system<br />
guided by<br />
transparency<br />
and consistency,<br />
one that not<br />
only protects<br />
New Zealand's<br />
interests but<br />
also fosters an<br />
environment of<br />
mutual respect.<br />
Immigrants,<br />
students or<br />
otherwise,<br />
should be<br />
regarded as<br />
partners in<br />
a common<br />
mission to<br />
propel New<br />
Zealand to<br />
greater heights.<br />
INZ officials<br />
often highlight<br />
the Client<br />
Complaint<br />
Resolution<br />
Process<br />
(CCRP) as the<br />
established<br />
way to tackle<br />
issues when a<br />
process failure<br />
is detected<br />
and resolved.<br />
However, due to<br />
the templated<br />
nature of decline<br />
letters, students are required<br />
to wait a month to receive the<br />
Client File Records, which are<br />
significantly redacted, before any<br />
issues in the assessment process<br />
can be identified. In addition, the<br />
complaints process is confined<br />
to just Stage 1, which mainly<br />
produces templated responses<br />
from the designated Immigration<br />
Managers of the Immigration<br />
Officers giving decisions; there is<br />
no Stage 2 as used to be the case<br />
till 2017.<br />
It is paramount that Immigration<br />
New Zealand revisits its approach<br />
by discarding adhocism in favour<br />
of a transparent and consistent<br />
process. Every decline letter must<br />
contain a rationale and reason for<br />
the decline, and every decision<br />
must be based on a fair and<br />
reasonable assessment of each<br />
individual application. It is only<br />
through such means that New<br />
Zealand can truly claim to be an<br />
equitable destination for global<br />
talent.<br />
<strong>The</strong> call to action is clear<br />
and urgent. <strong>The</strong> restoration of<br />
consistent and just immigration<br />
practices in the processing of<br />
offshore student visa applications<br />
needs to be immediate. Our<br />
collective future—rich in diversity<br />
and promise—relies on the<br />
courage to confront the current<br />
misgivings and the commitment<br />
to do better.<br />
New Zealand, renowned for<br />
standing up for what is right, must<br />
lead by example in this regard,<br />
too. It is time to bring back the<br />
fairness that every international<br />
student and aspiring immigrant<br />
deserves, irrespective of their<br />
nationality.<br />
(Colonel Himanshu Rai (retd) is a<br />
former <strong>Indian</strong> Army officer, now<br />
CEO and Director at Aucklandbased<br />
Immigration Advisers<br />
New Zealand Ltd)
4<br />
NEW ZEALAND<br />
Friday, <strong>10</strong> <strong>May</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
Read online www.iwk.co.nz<br />
Auckland Council<br />
wants you to know<br />
‘any dog can bite’<br />
IWK BUREAU<br />
Auckland Council is calling<br />
for greater caution as a<br />
rise in dog attacks on<br />
children have set off alarm bells.<br />
As many as 12 children have<br />
been taken to hospital this year<br />
after being injured by canines<br />
across the city–especially<br />
South Auckland–a figure council<br />
officials say is likely just the tip of<br />
the iceberg since many incidents<br />
go unreported.<br />
“In 2023 alone, Auckland's<br />
hospitals saw 783 cases of dogrelated<br />
injuries in children under<br />
14 years old, with an additional<br />
300 injuries reported for the 15–<br />
19 age group,” an official says.<br />
Auckland Council has<br />
now launched an awareness<br />
campaign to educate both dog<br />
owners and residents to ensure<br />
the safety of children.<br />
Titled ‘Any dog can bite’, the<br />
campaign emphasises that even<br />
the most gentle and beloved dogs<br />
can exhibit aggressive behaviour<br />
under certain circumstances.<br />
Last year, the southern<br />
IWK BUREAU<br />
<strong>The</strong> Hindu Council of New<br />
Zealand, along with the<br />
Hindu Organisations,<br />
Temples, and Associations (HOTA)<br />
Forum, is gearing up for the next<br />
"Delegation of Hindu Leaders’<br />
Pilgrimage to Bharat" in October<br />
<strong>2024</strong>, following the success of the<br />
inaugural pilgrimage.<br />
Led by Dr Guna Magesan,<br />
President of the Hindu Council of<br />
New Zealand, and spearheaded<br />
by Pravinbhai Patel, the twoweek<br />
spiritual journey that took<br />
place from 14-28 March this year,<br />
aimed to deepen participants'<br />
connections with their cultural and<br />
religious heritage.<br />
<strong>The</strong> yatra was designed to<br />
encompass significant spiritual,<br />
historical, and cultural landmarks<br />
across India. Inspired by the<br />
historic inauguration of the<br />
Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and<br />
the restoration of the Kashi<br />
Vishwanath corridor in Varanasi,<br />
the pilgrimage brought together<br />
20 delegates from New Zealand,<br />
Australia, and India.<br />
<strong>The</strong> journey began in Delhi,<br />
where delegates were warmly<br />
welcomed, and continued with<br />
visits to Kurukshetra, Rishikesh,<br />
Haridwar, Vrindavan, Mathura,<br />
Prayag Raj, Varanasi, Sarnath,<br />
and concluded in Ayodhya. Along<br />
the way, delegates participated in<br />
soul-enriching activities, including<br />
visits to temples, educational<br />
institutions, and spiritual<br />
ceremonies.<br />
"My personal experience was<br />
immensely gratifying, and I was<br />
really blessed to have met so many<br />
like-minded people and visited<br />
Auckland suburb of Papakura<br />
reported the highest number of<br />
dogs considered to be menacing<br />
in the region, with Auckland<br />
Council's animal management<br />
report showing 60 canines were<br />
reported and ordered to get<br />
neutered in the year to June.<br />
<strong>The</strong> breeds most involved in<br />
attacks, on people and animals<br />
combined, included American Pit<br />
Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull<br />
Terriers and Mastiffs.<br />
Councillor Josephine Bartley<br />
emphasises that while dogs<br />
are cherished members of<br />
families, it's essential to<br />
recognise that any dog can bite.<br />
She underscores the need for<br />
increased vigilance around dogs,<br />
particularly when children are<br />
involved.<br />
Dr Natasha Duncan-Sutherland,<br />
an emergency doctor at Auckland<br />
Hospital, says her research<br />
shows children aged 0-9 years<br />
are at a higher risk of serious<br />
injuries to the head and neck in<br />
dog attacks.<br />
She emphasised the necessity<br />
of a societal shift in perception,<br />
all the divine places, said Pravin<br />
Patel, one of the participants<br />
of the Yatra.<br />
Highlights of the pilgrimage<br />
included a yoga session guided<br />
moving from<br />
an assumption<br />
of safety to an<br />
awareness of<br />
potential risk.<br />
Auckland<br />
Council's<br />
Manager of<br />
Animal Management, Elly Waitoa,<br />
says dog owners must take up<br />
the primary responsibility of<br />
ensuring safety of people around.<br />
“We need close supervision when<br />
children are around dogs, both<br />
in private and public spaces,”<br />
she says, pointing to safety tips<br />
like never leaving children alone<br />
with dogs and understanding<br />
the potential triggers for dog<br />
aggression.<br />
<strong>The</strong> council’s new campaign<br />
includes a range of educational<br />
materials and outreach efforts,<br />
such as radio advertisements,<br />
street posters, community<br />
papers, and digital banners.<br />
Additionally, it offers advice<br />
for dog owners, including<br />
the importance of containing<br />
dogs within their property and<br />
supervising interactions with<br />
by Baba Ramdev at the Patanjali<br />
Ashram in Haridwar, experiencing<br />
the Ganga Aarti with Swami<br />
Chidanand Muni at Parmarth<br />
Niketan in Rishikesh, and<br />
children.<br />
Safety tips:<br />
Toddlers and children should<br />
not be allowed to:<br />
• be around dogs, including<br />
puppies, without adult<br />
supervision<br />
• put their face down to a dog’s<br />
face, hug or kiss it<br />
• play with a dog’s, food,<br />
feeding bowl, toys or bedding<br />
• wander into neighbouring<br />
participating in the holy bath at<br />
the Triveni Sangam in Prayag Raj.<br />
Delegates also had the opportunity<br />
to interact with personalities such<br />
as Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Union<br />
Minister of State, Ministry of<br />
Consumer Affairs, Food and Public<br />
Distribution and Ministry of Rural<br />
Development, and Dr Chinmaya<br />
Pandya, the Pro Vice Chancellor of<br />
Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya in<br />
properties where there may be<br />
dogs<br />
Signs of an unhappy dog:<br />
• tail is stiff and up or tucked<br />
tightly between the dogs leg<br />
• lips are pulled back and<br />
showing teeth, could be barking<br />
or growling<br />
• hard eyes that may appear<br />
black as pupils dilate<br />
• ears folded back tightly in a<br />
defensive position<br />
• hair on the back and shoulders<br />
standing rigid and uptight body<br />
Hindu Council NZ gears up for next pilgrimage to India<br />
"Delegation of Hindu Leaders’ Pilgrimage to Bharat" in March, <strong>2024</strong>. Photo: Supplied<br />
"It was a truly special<br />
moment for us to partake<br />
in the sankalpam and<br />
shodasopachara puja to Ma<br />
Ganga," Participant Geetha<br />
Devi KS<br />
Haridwar.<br />
"<strong>The</strong> pinnacle of our journey<br />
undoubtedly was the Ganga Aarti.<br />
It was a truly special moment for<br />
us to partake in the Sankalpam<br />
and shodasopachara puja to Ma<br />
Ganga," said another participant<br />
Geetha Devi KS.<br />
In Varanasi, delegates attended<br />
the Mahamangala aarti at Kashi<br />
Vishwanath Mandir and explored<br />
the sacred sites associated with<br />
Lord Krishna's saga in Vrindavan<br />
and Mathura. <strong>The</strong> pilgrimage<br />
concluded with a visit to the<br />
Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, where<br />
delegates offered prayers.<br />
Dr Guna Magesan, President of<br />
the Hindu Council of New Zealand,<br />
expressed gratitude to Ajay Kumar<br />
and his family for making the tour<br />
arrangements and ensuring a<br />
seamless and enriching experience<br />
for all participants.<br />
For the full report of the<br />
delegation to India, visit https://<br />
hotaforumnz.org/bharat-dhamyatra/.<br />
Individuals interested<br />
in participating in the Yatra in<br />
October <strong>2024</strong> are encouraged to<br />
email hindu.nz@gmail.com.<br />
Established in 1996 and formally<br />
incorporated in 2006, the Hindu<br />
Council of New Zealand is a nonprofit<br />
organisation dedicated to<br />
promoting Hindu culture in New<br />
Zealand.<br />
Through various initiatives<br />
and events such as New Zealand<br />
National Hindu conferences,<br />
annual Health for Humanity<br />
Yogathon, and Hindu Māori Hui, the<br />
council strives to foster interfaith<br />
understanding, community<br />
cohesion, and spiritual growth<br />
among Hindus and the wider<br />
community.
Read online www.iwk.co.nz Friday, <strong>10</strong> <strong>May</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
NEW ZEALAND 5<br />
How Bhartiya Samaj Trust helps <strong>Indian</strong>s in NZ<br />
URJITA BHARDWAJ<br />
Relocating to a new<br />
country can pose various<br />
challenges, particularly<br />
when one is starting from<br />
scratch. Securing suitable jobs,<br />
finding appropriate schools for<br />
children, and reconnecting with<br />
one's cultural heritage can all be<br />
daunting tasks.<br />
It was this recognition of<br />
such challenges that led to the<br />
establishment of Bhartiya Samaj<br />
Charitable Trust New Zealand.<br />
<strong>The</strong> trust's primary objective is<br />
to provide guidance and support<br />
to <strong>Indian</strong> migrants, offering them<br />
a safe platform to seek accurate<br />
information, assistance as they<br />
settle in their new homeland and<br />
to provide distress support.<br />
Founded in 1995 by Jeet Suchdev<br />
and Roopa Suchdev, Bhartiya<br />
Samaj Charitable Trust is a notfor-profit<br />
organisation dedicated<br />
to serving the community. Suchdev<br />
recalls the motivations behind<br />
establishing the trust.<br />
"In the 90s, <strong>Indian</strong> migrants<br />
sought a platform to engage with<br />
fellow <strong>Indian</strong>s who could guide<br />
them in the new land."<br />
<strong>The</strong> trust advises migrants on<br />
the laws of the land, provides<br />
settlement-related advice, and<br />
hosts events and seminars<br />
to educate and connect the<br />
community.<br />
Jeet Suchdev arrived in New<br />
Zealand in 1987 and managed<br />
successful business ventures in<br />
hospitality and tourism before<br />
switching to full-time social work.<br />
"I experienced inner changes within<br />
me. I decided to give everything<br />
up and become a freelance social<br />
worker."<br />
Suchdev says he was driven<br />
by a desire to serve the <strong>Indian</strong><br />
community, especially newcomers<br />
who often felt lost and lacked<br />
knowledge on accessing<br />
healthcare, finding suitable jobs,<br />
and navigating the education<br />
system.<br />
"To address these challenges,<br />
we began conducting workshops<br />
and providing guidance on<br />
settlement-related, job seeking<br />
and educational opportunities.<br />
We also organised cultural<br />
classes for children to help them<br />
stay connected to their <strong>Indian</strong><br />
roots," Suchdev says.<br />
<strong>The</strong> elders of the families who<br />
migrate from India often find<br />
themselves isolated and lonely in<br />
a foreign land.<br />
<strong>The</strong> trust, therefore, launched a<br />
senior citizen group that offers a<br />
space for the elderly to connect<br />
with social support.<br />
This wing also addresses issues<br />
of abuse and distress among the<br />
elderly, offering workshops and<br />
seminars to educate and support<br />
them.<br />
International Day of Older<br />
Persons, September 2022<br />
Suchdev explains that due to a<br />
lack of resources to address family<br />
violence professionally, they created<br />
Bhartiya Samaj's sister organisation,<br />
Roopa<br />
A u r<br />
A a p<br />
(RAA).<br />
RAA<br />
delivers<br />
professional<br />
help to<br />
the victims<br />
of family violence.<br />
Roopa Aur Aap, headed by Roopa<br />
Suchdev, provides free counselling<br />
and intervention programmes for<br />
victims of domestic violence and<br />
disputes, aiming to educate and<br />
empower individuals and families<br />
within the<br />
community.<br />
Both organisations are also<br />
working towards the development<br />
and empowerment of the South<br />
Asian community, particularly<br />
those facing inequality and family<br />
violence.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y welcome individuals and<br />
families from all walks of life, regardless<br />
of a person's background<br />
or country of origin.<br />
"We do not discriminate. We<br />
serve the community members<br />
from adjoining countries like Sri<br />
Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh,"<br />
Suchdev says.<br />
<strong>The</strong> organisation is organising<br />
an event on the occasion of World<br />
Elder Abuse Awareness Day on<br />
June 8, highlighting its commitment<br />
to supporting and advocating<br />
for vulnerable senior members<br />
of the community.<br />
<strong>The</strong> trust also offers a diverse<br />
array of services through its Senior<br />
Citizens Wing, Children & Youth<br />
Wing, New Migrants Support Wing,<br />
and Social Services Wing.<br />
Pan Asian New Year<br />
Celebrations in Auckland, <strong>2024</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong> trust also offers colloquial<br />
English-speaking classes for<br />
seniors, assists newcomers in<br />
job-seeking and settlement, and<br />
provides networking opportunities.<br />
It also focuses on early years<br />
and youth development, offering<br />
Hindi language skills for children,<br />
overall personality development,<br />
and a deeper understanding of<br />
cultural values to help children remain<br />
grounded in their roots and<br />
strengthen family bonds.<br />
<strong>The</strong> trust's playgroup is particularly<br />
beneficial. It encourages children<br />
to develop social skills and<br />
emotional confidence, preparing<br />
them for independence at an early<br />
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6<br />
IWK BUREAU<br />
NEW ZEALAND<br />
<strong>The</strong> government may<br />
have dropped the ball<br />
on regulating property<br />
managers but a Kiwi-<strong>Indian</strong> top<br />
executive has decided to take<br />
matters in his hands.<br />
Rishabh Kapoor, CEO of property<br />
management firm Impressions<br />
Real Estate, says it’s time those<br />
driving the fortunes of renters and<br />
landlords firm up their game.<br />
“We have already reached 80%<br />
on our target to independently<br />
certify all our property managers<br />
to the level 4 standard by end<br />
of <strong>2024</strong>, a requirement that<br />
would have become law had<br />
the proposed bill seen the light<br />
of day,” says Rishabh, whose<br />
company manages at least 1,000<br />
rental properties in Auckland.<br />
Renters and realtors are upset<br />
with the government’s decision<br />
last week to scrap the bill meant<br />
to regulate property managers<br />
over concerns about unethical and<br />
unlawful behaviours.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y say the current state of<br />
the property management sector<br />
lacks any minimum standards<br />
or basic checks and balances to<br />
protect tenants and landlords.<br />
But Housing Minister Chris<br />
Bishop told Parliament's Social<br />
Services and Regulations<br />
Committee to stop considering the<br />
bill last week, indicating the costbenefit<br />
analysis was marginal and<br />
uncertain.<br />
“While the government has<br />
abandoned plans for regulation,<br />
it is critical the industry adopts<br />
a level of self-regulation to help<br />
restore investor confidence,”<br />
Rishabh says.<br />
He points to industry data that<br />
shows the recent tax benefits<br />
offered on residential rental<br />
properties and the 90-day eviction<br />
law have not impacted a chronic<br />
shortage of residential rental<br />
stock as the government had<br />
hoped.”<br />
“<strong>The</strong> figures show the number of<br />
prospective tenants viewing each<br />
rental property has continued to<br />
grow, doubling over the last six<br />
months.<br />
“Residential vacancy rates<br />
have dropped from 3.8 per cent<br />
to 2.3 per cent, and prices have<br />
increased by six per cent over the<br />
same period.”<br />
This is based on internal data<br />
measured from Nov - April <strong>2024</strong><br />
across over 1,000 properties in the<br />
Greater Auckland region.<br />
Rishabh says while the return<br />
of interest deductibility and the<br />
Friday, <strong>10</strong> <strong>May</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
Property Managers Bill:<br />
Kiwi-<strong>Indian</strong> takes lead<br />
as govt shies away<br />
“<strong>The</strong>re are a number<br />
of property managers<br />
out there working<br />
out of the back of<br />
their car who simply<br />
don't understand the<br />
industry's requirements<br />
and legalities." Rishabh<br />
Kapoor<br />
ability to evict tenants with 90-<br />
day notices will be welcomed by<br />
some landlords, more is needed to<br />
address the growing supply deficit<br />
and reduce rental prices.<br />
“<strong>The</strong>re are a number of property<br />
managers out there working out<br />
of the back of their car who simply<br />
don't understand the industry's<br />
requirements and legalities.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> downstream impact of this<br />
is that it can result in thousands<br />
of dollars worth of damage for<br />
owners and as a result, they often<br />
want to exit the rental industry.”<br />
Rishabh says the Residential<br />
Property Managers Bill would<br />
have changed that by ensuring<br />
property<br />
managers were licensed,<br />
well trained, and subject to a<br />
complaints and disciplinary<br />
process if they don't adhere to<br />
industry standards.<br />
“Other investment sectors<br />
already have similar protections<br />
around advisors and we need<br />
a way of signalling to the<br />
market that residential property<br />
management is no longer<br />
operating like the Wild West<br />
and their multi-million dollar<br />
investment has appropriate<br />
safeguards.”<br />
He adds introducing a minimum<br />
training standard will provide the<br />
same reassurance for investors as<br />
envisioned under the now junked<br />
bill.<br />
Rotary Club Papatoetoe Central's gala dinner raises funds<br />
IWK BUREAU<br />
On Sunday, <strong>May</strong> 4,<br />
the Rotary Club<br />
Papatoetoe Central<br />
hosted its Annual <strong>Indian</strong><br />
Diaspora Fundraising<br />
Dinner at the Mahatma<br />
Gandhi Centre, a gathering<br />
that showcased the power<br />
of community service and<br />
philanthropy.<br />
<strong>The</strong> event brought<br />
together leaders from<br />
various sectors to support<br />
charitable causes, making<br />
a tangible impact in<br />
local and international<br />
communities.<br />
Rotary, a global network<br />
of 1.4 million individuals,<br />
envisions a world where<br />
people unite to create<br />
lasting change.<br />
With over 46,000<br />
clubs worldwide, Rotary<br />
members collaborate<br />
to promote peace,<br />
fight disease, support<br />
education, and address<br />
societal challenges.<br />
As founder Paul Harris<br />
famously said, "Whatever<br />
Rotary may mean to us, to<br />
the world it will be known<br />
by the results it achieves."<br />
<strong>The</strong> event was graced<br />
by distinguished guests,<br />
including Members of<br />
Parliament Hon Jenny<br />
Salesa, Honorary Consul<br />
of India Bhav Dhillon,<br />
Honorary Consul of<br />
Nepal Dinesh Khadka,<br />
Past District Governor<br />
Allan Smith, his wife<br />
Sue Smith, and Michael<br />
Wood. Rotarians Jennie<br />
Hearing, Raj Chand, and<br />
District Governor Elect<br />
Vidhya Nand also joined in<br />
support of the cause.<br />
Ashima Singh, Chair<br />
of the event, expressed<br />
gratitude to the over<br />
200 attendees for their<br />
support, highlighting<br />
the significance of the<br />
occasion in raising<br />
funds for charities. She<br />
extended special thanks<br />
to those who generously<br />
contributed and dedicated<br />
their time, emphasizing<br />
their commitment to<br />
community welfare.<br />
<strong>The</strong> evening commenced<br />
with Raj Pradeep Singh,<br />
President of Rotary Club<br />
Papatoetoe Central,<br />
presenting an overview of<br />
the club's initiatives and<br />
achievements.<br />
Raj highlighted<br />
successful projects<br />
executed throughout the<br />
year, both locally and<br />
internationally, including<br />
the club's recognition at<br />
a conference in Fiji for its<br />
exceptional contributions.<br />
Raj also shared<br />
upcoming projects, such<br />
as Pink Ribbon, book<br />
donations, and support<br />
for SPCA initiatives,<br />
showcasing the club's<br />
ongoing commitment<br />
to positive community<br />
impact. A substantial<br />
portion of the funds<br />
raised will be donated to<br />
End Polio Now and the<br />
Mental Health Foundation,<br />
demonstrating Rotary<br />
Club Papatoetoe Central's<br />
dedication to addressing<br />
pressing issues.<br />
<strong>The</strong> event also featured<br />
the presentation of<br />
Community Awards to<br />
individuals who have made<br />
exemplary contributions<br />
to their communities,<br />
embodying Rotary's ethos<br />
of service and goodwill.<br />
<strong>The</strong> prestigious Paul<br />
Harris Awards, Rotary's<br />
highest honor, were<br />
presented to recipients<br />
Gurpreet Kaur, Rachna<br />
Dave, Nidhi Bhasin, and<br />
Karnail Badhan for their<br />
significant contributions<br />
to humanitarian and<br />
educational objectives,<br />
reflecting Rotary's<br />
commitment to service<br />
and goodwill.<br />
<strong>The</strong> evening concluded<br />
with an exhilarating<br />
auction, where participants<br />
enthusiastically supported<br />
Rotary's goals.<br />
<strong>The</strong> event concluded<br />
with a dinner, raffle draw,<br />
and heartfelt gratitude to<br />
all participants, reaffirming<br />
Rotary's mission to make<br />
a positive impact on<br />
communities worldwide.<br />
Read online www.iwk.co.nz<br />
Ill-fated<br />
health<br />
workers<br />
enjoyed<br />
fishing<br />
• Continued from Page 1<br />
Rabin Ranji, secretary of<br />
the Whangārei Malayalee<br />
Association, expressed shock<br />
over the incident, noting it was<br />
the first time the community<br />
had experienced such a<br />
tragedy, <strong>The</strong> New Zealand<br />
Herald reported.<br />
<strong>The</strong> association had<br />
appealed for support and<br />
donations in a Facebook post.<br />
Kumar, a registered nurse<br />
in the Whangārei Emergency<br />
Department, had only been<br />
living in Whangārei for two<br />
months after migrating to New<br />
Zealand in late 2023.<br />
He leaves behind a wife and<br />
a 5-year-old daughter.<br />
Babu moved to New Zealand<br />
after marrying his wife in<br />
January 2023. <strong>The</strong> couple<br />
welcomed a son six months<br />
ago.<br />
<strong>The</strong> families of the deceased<br />
<strong>Indian</strong>s are grateful for the<br />
support and efforts of the<br />
police and search and rescue<br />
teams.<br />
A police liaison officer<br />
has been in constant touch<br />
with the association and the<br />
families. A Givealittle page<br />
has been set up to assist the<br />
families with expenses and<br />
repatriation.<br />
<strong>The</strong> search for Babu<br />
initially involved police search<br />
and rescue, a police Eagle<br />
helicopter, and LandSar<br />
volunteers.<br />
<strong>The</strong> national police dive<br />
squad and other agencies have<br />
since joined the operation.<br />
Hapū have placed a rāhui<br />
(prohibited access) around the<br />
Gap for at least five days.<br />
<strong>The</strong> fishing spot, known<br />
locally as <strong>The</strong> Gap, is notorious<br />
for its large swells and<br />
treacherous conditions.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Whangārei Malayalee<br />
Association is providing<br />
support to the men's families.<br />
Both men have one child each.<br />
Sijoy Alex, President<br />
of Whangarei Malayali<br />
Association told <strong>The</strong> <strong>Indian</strong><br />
<strong>Weekender</strong> that although<br />
the family is devastated by<br />
the news, they have a good<br />
support system around them,<br />
and they also have been<br />
liaising with the families of<br />
their husbands back in India.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Indian</strong> High Commission<br />
is in touch with the Malayalee<br />
Association and is working to<br />
collect more information on<br />
the case.<br />
Local fishermen, on the<br />
other hand, stress the need<br />
to respect <strong>The</strong> Gap's dangers,<br />
which have claimed lives in<br />
the past. Police divers are<br />
expected to continue their<br />
search efforts on Friday.
Read online www.iwk.co.nz Friday, <strong>10</strong> <strong>May</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
NEW ZEALAND 7<br />
Why construction loan is harder<br />
to get than home mortgage<br />
RAVI BAJPAI<br />
Industry insiders are<br />
forecasting an uptick in the<br />
real estate market the coming<br />
year but securing a loan to<br />
develop a property is not a walk in<br />
the park.<br />
Construction loans are<br />
considered a high-risk<br />
proposition, and nine in <strong>10</strong><br />
applicants typically end up<br />
knocking at the doors of private<br />
lenders, unlike the home buying<br />
market where the conventional<br />
bank mortgage is the norm.<br />
One of New Zealand’s leading<br />
mortgage brokers Nathan Miglani<br />
says banks tend to rely on a lot of<br />
assurances before lending money<br />
for construction projects.<br />
“For instance, if you are<br />
planning to buy a piece of land<br />
and develop townhouses, the bank<br />
would want proof of pre-sales,<br />
etc.<br />
"Many building projects are not<br />
at that stage in their sales cycle<br />
at the time a loan is needed,”<br />
says Nathan, whose company NZ<br />
Mortgages has recently launched<br />
a specialised construction<br />
loan business by the name<br />
Construction Loans.<br />
Construction loans, unlike<br />
conventional mortgages, are<br />
considered high risk due to<br />
their complex nature and<br />
the uncertainties inherent<br />
in construction projects.<br />
Consequently, the process<br />
of obtaining such loans is<br />
significantly more arduous.<br />
It is relatively easy to find a<br />
broker for the traditional home<br />
mortgage but it’s much harder<br />
to find experts specialising in<br />
“You have broadly two<br />
types of applicants in<br />
this class-homeowners<br />
and first-time builders;<br />
and seasoned builders<br />
and developers. All<br />
these categories are<br />
different and require<br />
deft handling of the<br />
proposal and financial<br />
forecasting.” Nathan<br />
Miglani<br />
construction loans since they are<br />
few and far between.<br />
“<strong>The</strong>re’s a scarcity of mortgage<br />
brokers focusing on construction<br />
loans since only a select few have<br />
the deep knowledge necessary to<br />
navigate the complexities of this<br />
domain,” Nathan says.<br />
Even within the construction<br />
loan industry the market is<br />
segregated and certain kinds of<br />
mortgages might be harder to find<br />
than others.<br />
A report by CBRE Research last<br />
year showed lenders were keener<br />
to fund townhouse development,<br />
even more than apartments,<br />
with seven in <strong>10</strong> domestic<br />
non-bank lenders saying that<br />
is their preferred option for new<br />
construction loans.<br />
<strong>The</strong> lender sentiment survey<br />
found industrial property lending<br />
was favoured, but funding land<br />
subdivisions wasn’t as popular<br />
as those two sectors, nor<br />
apartments.<br />
Nathan says applying for a<br />
construction loan requires a<br />
nuanced approach.<br />
“You have broadly two types<br />
of applicants in this classhomeowners<br />
and first-time<br />
builders; and seasoned builders<br />
and developers.<br />
"All these categories are<br />
different and require deft handling<br />
of the proposal and financial<br />
forecasting.”<br />
After a period of relative<br />
stagnation over nearly the last<br />
two years, there are promising<br />
signs of revival in the construction<br />
industry.<br />
Nathan says strong indicators<br />
point towards growth in the early<br />
months of 2025.<br />
“Bank interest rates have<br />
stabilised and astute developers<br />
are already proactively acquiring<br />
land.”<br />
Nathan says the launch of<br />
the construction loans division<br />
underscores NZ Mortgages'<br />
commitment to innovation and<br />
addressing the evolving needs of<br />
its clientele.<br />
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8<br />
NEW ZEALAND<br />
Kiwi-<strong>Indian</strong>'s<br />
entrepreneurial<br />
success in<br />
Silicon Valley<br />
Friday, <strong>10</strong> <strong>May</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
Read online www.iwk.co.nz<br />
BLESSEN TOM/RNZ<br />
Start-up executive Ken<br />
Hendricks believes<br />
New Zealand offers<br />
young entrepreneurs plenty<br />
of opportunities despite the<br />
tough economic conditions that<br />
currently exist nationwide.<br />
Hendricks became the first<br />
Kiwi <strong>Indian</strong> to be accepted into<br />
the competitive Y Combinator<br />
start-up programme in the United<br />
States at the end of last year.<br />
"It felt like something was finally<br />
kicking off, and there was some<br />
light at the end of the tunnel,"<br />
Hendricks says.<br />
Y Combinator, situated in Silicon<br />
Valley, has nurtured renowned<br />
global tech companies such as<br />
Airbnb, Coinbase, Twitch and<br />
Reddit.<br />
<strong>The</strong> companies that have<br />
managed to get off the ground<br />
through the start-up accelerator<br />
are now valued at a staggering<br />
US$600 billion.<br />
Getting into Y Combinator<br />
certainly wasn't easy.<br />
"I used to read a lot about YC<br />
and watch countless videos about<br />
it," he recalls. "I attempted to gain<br />
entry three or four times before<br />
finally succeeding."<br />
According to Y Combinator<br />
CEO Garry Tan, more than 40,000<br />
applications are submitted to join<br />
the programme each year, but only<br />
a few hundred are accepted.<br />
Hendricks says the programme<br />
offers successful applicants<br />
opportunities they would struggle<br />
to find on their own.<br />
"Selected start-ups undergo<br />
four months of intensive work on<br />
their ventures in San Francisco,<br />
where they receive funding and<br />
gain access to a network of<br />
influential partners," he says.<br />
Hendricks co-founded Basepilot<br />
with Pascal Wieler in 2023.<br />
"Basepilot is essentially a<br />
platform designed to automate<br />
back-office tasks for larger<br />
enterprises," he says.<br />
"Some of these large companies<br />
have a lot of manual repetitive<br />
processes like operations,"<br />
he says "(Using AI agents),<br />
Basepilot automates that work."<br />
Born in Mumbai, India,<br />
Hendricks relocated to New<br />
Zealand at the age of six.<br />
He always harbored a passion<br />
for technology and engineering,<br />
eventually attending the<br />
University of Auckland.<br />
During his university days,<br />
Hendricks, alongside a friend,<br />
launched his first venture - a<br />
clothing company utilizing 3D<br />
scanning technology to create<br />
custom apparel.<br />
<strong>The</strong> business folded amid<br />
the Covid pandemic, prompting<br />
Hendricks to join a fintech startup<br />
so he could start working on<br />
Basepilot.<br />
"<strong>The</strong> start-up eco system is<br />
definitely a lot newer in New<br />
Zealand but it's also a really cool<br />
place," Hendricks says.<br />
Mahesh Muralidhar, CEO of<br />
Phase One Ventures, agrees.<br />
"<strong>The</strong> start-up culture in<br />
New Zealand is still nascent,"<br />
Muralidhar says.<br />
Phase One Ventures supports<br />
start-up founders in New<br />
Zealand such as Ken Hendricks,<br />
particularly those within<br />
universities.<br />
"I came back home three years<br />
ago, and I've had the fortune of<br />
being a founder myself <strong>10</strong> years<br />
ago and being part of the early<br />
team in Canva you learn so much,"<br />
says Muralidhar who was one of<br />
the early leaders of the Australianbased<br />
online graphic design<br />
company that's now worth about<br />
US$40 billion.<br />
Muralidhar knew Hendricks<br />
through a mentoring programme.<br />
"He kept coming back," he says.<br />
Muralidhar notes a growing<br />
interest among young Kiwi<br />
<strong>Indian</strong>s in entrepreneurship.<br />
"One of the reasons why a<br />
person becomes a start-up<br />
founder is because they've got a<br />
glitch in their system," he says.<br />
"<strong>Indian</strong> founders often have<br />
firsthand experience of adversity,<br />
instilling in them a desire to effect<br />
positive change," he says.<br />
"I think that's one of the reasons<br />
why the <strong>Indian</strong> tech community<br />
across the world is able to thrive<br />
because they probably take things<br />
less for granted, which sets them<br />
up for life."<br />
16 - 19 <strong>May</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
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Read online www.iwk.co.nz Friday, <strong>10</strong> <strong>May</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
NEW ZEALAND 9<br />
145th Girmit Remembrance Day:<br />
Auckland hosts main event<br />
ARVIND KUMAR<br />
Auckland will celebrate,<br />
commemorate and honour<br />
Fiji’s indentured past at a<br />
grand function later this month.<br />
<strong>The</strong> 145th Girmit Remembrance<br />
Day, following on from the<br />
Hamilton event last month, will<br />
again be held at the spacious<br />
Malaeola Centre in Mangere, on<br />
<strong>May</strong> 25, although the actual Girmit<br />
day is <strong>May</strong> 14.<br />
And Fiji Girmit Foundation New<br />
Zealand national president Krish<br />
Naidu expects another huge<br />
turnout for the free event.<br />
“As in the past years, this year’s<br />
event is also expected to attract<br />
huge number, I’d say close to 1200<br />
rolling crowd,” Naidu said.<br />
“It is a popular event on our<br />
calendar, it is a time our people<br />
come together to honour and<br />
celebrate the sacrifices of our<br />
forefathers.<br />
“As time goes on, this piece of<br />
Fiji’s history has become more<br />
significant, and our diaspora are<br />
always keen to remember and<br />
“As time goes on, this<br />
piece of Fiji’s history<br />
has become more<br />
significant, and our<br />
diaspora are always<br />
keen to remember and<br />
reminisce.” Krish Naidu<br />
reminisce.”<br />
Naidu said the <strong>May</strong> 25 event<br />
would feature children’s oratories,<br />
role plays by seniors, cultural<br />
performances, snacks and Fiji<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> food.<br />
“We're running a programme for<br />
youths that focuses on creative<br />
writing and oratory - flyer is on<br />
our FB page.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> event includes role plays<br />
on Girmit history, displaying of<br />
artefacts, showcasing Girmit<br />
cultural performances, and giving<br />
special awards to Girmit seniors<br />
over 80 years old.<br />
“We'll also have inter-faith<br />
prayers for our ancestors, a<br />
candlelight vigil, and everyone<br />
gets in for free with food<br />
provided.”<br />
Hamilton last month became<br />
the latest member of the Fiji<br />
Girmit family in New Zealand<br />
when the inaugural event was held<br />
in the city on April 7.<br />
Attended by more than 300<br />
people, the Hamilton event proved<br />
to be a huge success, and Naidu<br />
was pleased with the growth of<br />
the event throughout the country.<br />
• Continued on Page <strong>10</strong><br />
Organising Chair for Hamilton Girmit<br />
Dhirendra Naresh addresses guests.<br />
SNK Consultancy Limited<br />
SPECIALISING IN COMPLEX IMMIGRATION MATTERS<br />
HAPPY GIRMIT DAY<br />
SALUTING THE SPIRIT OF MIGRATION<br />
<strong>The</strong> Girmityas reshaped not just their life but<br />
also helped build a nation, etching success<br />
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<strong>10</strong><br />
NEW ZEALAND<br />
Friday, <strong>10</strong> <strong>May</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
Read online www.iwk.co.nz<br />
•Continued from Page 9<br />
“Our first event of the year was in<br />
Hamilton, which was the first time<br />
we held it there,” Naidu said.<br />
“We want to give a big thank<br />
you to organising chair Dhirendra<br />
Naresh and his team in Hamilton<br />
for making it happen.”<br />
Naidu said it was “important<br />
for us to take pride in our Fiji<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> heritage and identity as a<br />
community”.<br />
“We also need to make sure<br />
we're properly counted and we<br />
all can play our part when filling<br />
out official documents and forms<br />
around ethnicity.”<br />
Naidu, who has been leading the<br />
organisation for the past five years,<br />
said even though the Fiji Girmit<br />
Foundation NZ had made great<br />
strides in the country, it was still<br />
without a base.<br />
“Despite making such an impact<br />
for 13 years, the organisation is<br />
still homeless, there is definitely a<br />
need for a dedicated space where<br />
our community can come together.<br />
“A Girmit centre can be a<br />
space to share historical Girmit<br />
memorabilia, artefact, paintings,<br />
and also a place from where the Fiji<br />
Girmit Foundation can serve the<br />
community better.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> 145th Girmit Remembrance<br />
Day will start at 5pm at Malaeola<br />
Centre, 16 Waokauri Place,<br />
Mangere, Saturday, <strong>May</strong> 25.<br />
Why <strong>May</strong> 14 is significant for the Fiji <strong>Indian</strong> diaspora<br />
For the Fiji <strong>Indian</strong>, <strong>May</strong> 14 is a<br />
significant date for two main<br />
reasons.<br />
First, the arrival of the first<br />
indentured labourers from<br />
India to work on the sugar cane<br />
plantations in 1879. And second,<br />
the 1987 military coup which was<br />
orchestrated to stop the progress<br />
and remove the <strong>Indian</strong>s from<br />
positions of power.<br />
It was on <strong>May</strong> 14, 1879, that<br />
the first ship - Leonidas - arrived<br />
in Fiji with 463 <strong>Indian</strong> indentured<br />
labourers to work largely in the<br />
country's sugar cane plantations<br />
as bonded workers, which<br />
came to be referred as Girmit<br />
(a loose adaptation of the word<br />
"agreement').<br />
<strong>The</strong> indenture system in Fiji<br />
lasted from 1879-1920 and in this<br />
Poignantly, <strong>May</strong><br />
14 evokes painful<br />
memories for Fiji<br />
<strong>Indian</strong>s, but it also<br />
demonstrates their<br />
resilience to bear<br />
adversity with<br />
courage, vision and<br />
fortitude<br />
<strong>The</strong> First Indenture Ship, LEONIDAS. It<br />
brought 479 indentured labourers to Levuka,<br />
Fiji on <strong>May</strong> 14, 1879. That is why the day<br />
is dedicated internationally as Girmit<br />
Remembrance Day<br />
period, 60,495 <strong>Indian</strong> indentured<br />
workers were brought in.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y were required to work for<br />
12 hours Monday to Friday and<br />
five hours on Saturdays and their<br />
daily wage was <strong>10</strong> cents per day<br />
Nukulau Quarantine Station: Map showing plantations where <strong>Indian</strong> immigrants were<br />
employed in 1890 in Fiji.<br />
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for men and 9 pence per day for<br />
women.<br />
<strong>The</strong> indenture contract was for a<br />
period of five years, but to qualify<br />
for free return tickets to India, the<br />
indentured workers had to stay in<br />
Fiji for another five years.<br />
<strong>The</strong> working and living<br />
conditions were so horrendous<br />
that Fiji had recorded the highest<br />
number of suicides in the world.<br />
By the end of the indenture<br />
period, the majority of <strong>Indian</strong><br />
indentured workers stayed back<br />
and became successful smallscale<br />
sugarcane farmers, thus<br />
making the sugar industry the<br />
backbone of Fiji's economy until<br />
the 1980s. <strong>The</strong> descendants of<br />
the <strong>Indian</strong> indentured workers are<br />
evenly spread over the two of the<br />
main islands of Fiji - Viti Levu and<br />
Vanua Levu. However, thousands<br />
migrated to other countries,<br />
Fijian commemorative postage stamp<br />
following the military coups,<br />
ironically, which again took place<br />
on <strong>May</strong> 14, in the year 1987.<br />
“Poignantly, <strong>May</strong> 14 evokes<br />
painful memories for Fiji <strong>Indian</strong>s,<br />
but it also demonstrates their<br />
resilience to bear adversity with<br />
courage, vision and fortitude,” says<br />
Krish Naidu, national president of<br />
the Fiji Girmit Foundation NZ.<br />
This year also marks the <strong>10</strong>5th<br />
anniversary of the termination of<br />
the indenture system.
Read online www.iwk.co.nz Friday, <strong>10</strong> <strong>May</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
NEW ZEALAND 11<br />
‘Naag<br />
Mountain’:<br />
<strong>The</strong> Girmit<br />
story told<br />
through<br />
poetry<br />
journey about human trafficking on sugar<br />
plantations in Fiji and Australia, which<br />
brings to life the histories and events,<br />
the stories and myths of a displaced and<br />
exploited people, that have been lost in<br />
time or forgotten or hidden from view.<br />
It is a journey in which the living, the<br />
dead and the natural world communicate<br />
in music, language and dream.<br />
As Auckland academic and Neaw<br />
Zealand Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala-<br />
Marsh (2017-2019) puts it: “Epic in<br />
nature, rich in detailed imagery … an<br />
important and timely contribution to<br />
Pacific literature by one of its emerging<br />
gifted storytellers.”<br />
Says Eunice Andrada, author of “Flood<br />
Damages” and “Take Care”: “Naag<br />
Mountain” is an exquisite work that<br />
resounds with the reminder of what can<br />
be reclaimed when a community moves<br />
towards their awakening.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> “Naag Mountain” story revolves<br />
around a community in northern<br />
Queensland, whose ancestors were<br />
indentured by the Colonial Sugar Refining<br />
Company, receive messages from their<br />
friends across the Tasman.<br />
A mysterious reel of film washes<br />
ashore, depicting harrowing violence<br />
on sugarcane plantations under the<br />
indenture system.<br />
<strong>The</strong> actors walk out of the film and into<br />
the world of the living.<br />
<strong>The</strong> community walks into the<br />
projection.<br />
“Naag Mountain” was launched by<br />
Autumn Royal, renowned poet, editor<br />
and author at a function held at <strong>The</strong><br />
Alderman in Brunswick East, Melbourne.<br />
“Naag Mountain” is now available online,<br />
and also in bookshops throughout<br />
Australia, and will soon be available in<br />
New Zealand and Fiji.<br />
Manisha Anjali was born in Suva, Fiji,<br />
studied in New Zealand and Australia,<br />
and now lives in Melbourne.<br />
Poet and writer Manisha Anjali does a reading from her book,<br />
Naag Mountain, at the launch in Melbourne last month.<br />
In a tribute to the Girmitiyas and Fiji’s<br />
indentured past, a New Zealand poet, writer<br />
and teacher has just released a book – “Naag<br />
Mountain”.<br />
Fiji-born Manisha Anjali’s debut collection,<br />
published by Giramondo Publishing, was launched<br />
at a function in Melbourne, last month.<br />
“Naag Mountain” is about an intensely imagined<br />
recovery of a little-known cultural inheritance,<br />
in which historical figures,<br />
folk<br />
characters and mythical entities<br />
feature in a procession coloured by the metaphors<br />
of poetry and the surrealism of dreams.<br />
<strong>The</strong> book of poetry is a journey across oceans,<br />
from the Asian subcontinent to the South Seas, a
A Message from H.E Ratu Inoke Kubuabola<br />
HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI TO NEW ZEALAND<br />
145th Girmit Remembrance Day<br />
Bula Vinaka, Namaste, Asalaam Alaykum, Noa'ia 'e mạuri, Kia Ora!<br />
On 14th <strong>May</strong> every year, members of our great Fijian family remember an important era in our<br />
nation’s history - the arrival of 60,000 indentured labourers from British India precisely 145 years<br />
ago to the day. It was a noble pursuit for a group of people who had never heard of Fiji before and<br />
for the many that had never been aboard a ship.<br />
<strong>The</strong>ir stories are of extreme hardship overcome by inspiring resilience, and of poverty overcome<br />
by the riches of perseverance and vision. Many chose to settle in their new home and build<br />
families and a future.<br />
In New Zealand, many of you have endeavoured to keep the story of your Girmitya forebears<br />
alive through the practice and teaching of your cultural traditions. <strong>The</strong> Fiji High Commission has<br />
always supported these initiatives since its inception. <strong>The</strong> Girmitya voice in New Zealand has<br />
grown through the years which is also reflective of the growing number of Fijians making New<br />
Zealand their home.<br />
Man Kaur Thakur Bansi Kashmir Par aji Samnudari<br />
<strong>The</strong>ir stories are of extreme hardship overcome by inspiring resilience, and of poverty overcome<br />
by the riches of perseverance and vision. Many chose to settle in their new home and build<br />
families and a future.<br />
We wish you all the best for the commemoration and pray continued prosperity upon your families.<br />
God Bless You all! God Bless Fiji! God Bless New Zealand!
Editorial<br />
Will $1.9bn<br />
in corrections<br />
spending curb<br />
crime?<br />
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s announcement of a significant $1.9 billion investment<br />
into law and order measures this week comes at a critical time for New Zealand. As<br />
the country grapples with rising violent crime, including the recent tragic shooting on<br />
Ponsonby Road, the government’s decision to bolster the corrections department by adding<br />
corrections officers and prison beds has once again brought the national conversation about<br />
the best ways to ensure public safety to the fore.<br />
In recent years, New Zealand has seen an unsettling shift from its reputation as one of<br />
the world’s safest countries. Instances like the Ponsonby Road shooting contribute to the<br />
growing unease among residents and raise questions about the effectiveness of current<br />
crime prevention strategies.<br />
Violent crime and youth offending, which took off in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic<br />
has shown no signs of abating, even several months after a change in government. With<br />
violent crime reportedly up by 33 per cent since 2018, the government is under immense<br />
pressure to act decisively.<br />
<strong>The</strong> $1.9 billion allocation includes training for 470 new corrections officers and an<br />
addition of 8<strong>10</strong> beds to the expansion of Waikeria Prison. This move, intended to manage<br />
and rehabilitate a growing number of inmates, is necessary but not solely sufficient. While<br />
increasing the capacity of prisons might help contain crime temporarily, it does not address<br />
the root causes of criminal behaviour.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Prime Minister’s emphasis on a connection between social investment and crime<br />
prevention is promising.<br />
Steering individuals away from a life of crime through social programmes is a proactive<br />
approach that could reduce recidivism. However, the details of these social investments are<br />
vague, and their success will depend on effective implementation and real engagement with<br />
at-risk communities.<br />
While the government focuses on physical capacity and staffing for corrections, there’s a<br />
parallel need for robust rehabilitation programmes.<br />
Rehabilitation, especially for remand prisoners who currently make up a substantial<br />
percentage of the inmate population, is crucial. <strong>The</strong>se programmes should aim not only<br />
to prevent repeat offences but also to reintegrate individuals into society as productive<br />
members.<br />
<strong>The</strong> reliance on ‘tough on crime’ policies such as the controversial three-strikes law has<br />
been critiqued for failing to deter serious recidivist offending and persistent youth offenders<br />
effectively. Instead, such policies often exacerbate the challenges within the prison system<br />
by increasing the population without necessarily improving safety outcomes.<br />
New Zealand might consider looking at more nuanced legal reforms and preventive<br />
measures, such as stronger gun and weapon control laws, enhanced community policing,<br />
and more accessible mental health services.<br />
<strong>The</strong> current approach also raises questions about the sustainability of funding. <strong>The</strong> cuts<br />
of $442 million in the corrections budget to free up resources highlight a shift in spending<br />
rather than new funding.<br />
This reallocating might strain other areas of the corrections system, potentially impacting<br />
the quality of service and safety.<br />
<strong>The</strong> promise of not needing to resort to double-bunking —an often-criticised practice<br />
due to its impact on prisoner welfare and rehabilitation— seems optimistic and should be<br />
monitored closely.<br />
<strong>The</strong> steady exodus of police officers to Australia and failed pay negotiations adds<br />
another layer of complexity to New Zealand’s law and order challenges. This migration not<br />
only depletes the local workforce but also impacts morale among those who remain. <strong>The</strong><br />
disillusionment in the ranks could hinder the effectiveness of policing, a critical component<br />
in both preventing and responding to crime.<br />
This situation underscores the need for the government to revisit its compensation<br />
strategies to retain its law enforcement personnel, ensuring that the policing arm remains<br />
robust and capable of upholding safety and order.<br />
Addressing these internal issues is crucial as an unhappy police force could potentially<br />
compromise the overall crime prevention efforts, making it even more challenging to manage<br />
the rising crime graph effectively.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Luxon administration has set a clear benchmark for measuring the success of its<br />
initiatives: the reduction in the number of crime victims. While this metric is straightforward,<br />
the real test will be in the long-term outcomes of these policies. Can they truly reverse the<br />
rising crime trend, or will they serve as a temporary fix?<br />
While the government’s investment in corrections is a step toward addressing the country’s<br />
sharply rising crime rates, it should not be the sole focus.<br />
A balanced approach that includes tough, yet fair legislation, robust community<br />
engagement, preventive measures, and substantial social investments will be essential to<br />
restore the country’s reputation as a safe haven.<br />
A multifaceted strategy is necessary to tackle the complex roots of crime effectively.<br />
QUOTE OF THE WEEK<br />
“<strong>The</strong> key is not to prioritise what’s on your<br />
schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”<br />
— Stephen Covey<br />
IN FOCUS : Picture of the week<br />
A view of the ice-making refrigerator and immersion tub that is placed in the Heat Stroke<br />
room of the Heat Stroke Unit at RML Hospital in New Delhi on Tuesday. This is the first set<br />
up in the state to treat heat stroke patients.<br />
This week in New Zealand’s history<br />
18 <strong>May</strong> 1937<br />
New Zealand nurses detained on way to Spanish Civil War<br />
<strong>The</strong> only organised New Zealand contingent to serve in the Spanish Civil War comprised<br />
New Zealand Spanish Medical Aid Committee (SMAC) nurses René Shadbolt, Isobel<br />
Dodds and Millicent Sharples.<br />
19 <strong>May</strong> 1987<br />
Attempted hijacking in Fiji foiled<br />
Cabin crew foiled the attempted hijacking of an Air New Zealand Boeing 747 at Nadi<br />
airport, Fiji, by striking the hijacker on the head with a whisky bottle. Flight TE24 from<br />
Tokyo to Auckland made a refuelling stop in Nadi. Ahmjed Ali, a Fiji <strong>Indian</strong> who worked for<br />
Air Terminal Services, walked onto the flight deck and told the captain that he was carrying<br />
dynamite.<br />
20 <strong>May</strong> 1773<br />
New Zealand's first sheep released<br />
During his second visit to New Zealand in 1773, James Cook released a ewe and a ram in<br />
Queen Charlotte Sound. <strong>The</strong>y survived only a few days after apparently eating poisonous<br />
plants – an inauspicious start to this country’s long association with sheep.<br />
20 <strong>May</strong> 1865<br />
Loss of City of Dunedin with all hands<br />
<strong>The</strong> paddle steamer City of Dunedin left Wellington at around 5 p.m. on Saturday 20 <strong>May</strong>,<br />
bound for Nelson and then Hokitika. It was never heard from again, and no trace was ever<br />
found of Captain James Parker Boyd or his 24 crew and at least 22 passengers.<br />
20 <strong>May</strong> 1870<br />
Pasifika labourers arrive in Auckland<br />
New Zealand received its first known shipload of labourers from the Pacific Islands when<br />
the clipper schooner Lulu docked in Waitematā Harbour with ‘a quantity of cocoanuts,<br />
&c.,’ and 27 adult male passengers from Sandwich Island (Efate) in the New Hebrides (now<br />
Vanuatu).<br />
21 <strong>May</strong> 1840<br />
Hobson proclaims British sovereignty over New Zealand<br />
Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson proclaimed British sovereignty over all of New<br />
Zealand – the North Island on the basis of cession through the Treaty of Waitangi, and<br />
South and Stewart Islands by right of discovery.<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Weekender</strong> : Volume 16 - Issue 7<br />
Publisher: Kiwi Media Publishing Limited<br />
Editor: Dev Nadkarni | dev@indianweekender.co.nz<br />
General Manager: Ravi Bajpai | 020 441 2233 | ravi@indianweekender.co.nz<br />
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Senior Digital Producer: Urjita Bhardwaj | 021 952 246 | urjita@indianweekender.co.nz<br />
Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher<br />
is not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearing in the publication<br />
Views expressed in the articles are solely of the authors and do not in any way represent<br />
the views of the team at the <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Weekender</strong><br />
Kiwi Media Publishing Limited - 133A, Level 1, Onehunga Mall, Onehunga, Auckland.<br />
Printed at NZME, Auckland, New Zealand.<br />
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Send your suggestions and feedback to editor@indianweekender.co.nz
14<br />
INDIA<br />
Friday, <strong>10</strong> <strong>May</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
Read online www.iwk.co.nz<br />
'BJP can do anything during<br />
elections': Punjab Congress chief<br />
Days after former<br />
Punjab Chief Minister<br />
Charanjit Singh Channi's<br />
controversial "stuntbaazi" remark<br />
on the terrorist attack on an<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> Air Force convoy in Jammu<br />
and Kashmir's Poonch, Punjab<br />
Congress president Amarinder<br />
Singh Raja Warring made a similar<br />
statement on Tuesday, saying<br />
that "BJP can do anything during<br />
elections."<br />
"Pulwama attack still remains<br />
a mystery, about which even the<br />
then Lieutenant Governor has<br />
raised questions. <strong>The</strong>re is nothing<br />
new in this. BJP can do anything<br />
during elections," Warring, who<br />
is also the Congress candidate<br />
from Ludhiana parliamentary<br />
constituency told reporters here.<br />
Charanjit Singh Channi had<br />
alleged that the attack was<br />
"stuntbaazi" to make the BJP win.<br />
"This is stuntbaazi. When<br />
elections come, such stunts are<br />
done to make the BJP win. <strong>The</strong>se<br />
are pre-planned attacks; there is<br />
no truth in them," Channi said while<br />
speaking to reporters in Punjab.<br />
Charanjit Singh Channi's<br />
remarks drew a sharp reaction<br />
from the BJP.<br />
Slamming Channi, the Bharatiya<br />
Janata Party leader Ravi Shankar<br />
Prasad on Monday said, "<strong>The</strong>se<br />
people make agreements with<br />
terrorists."<br />
"What can we say if they<br />
are making such statements<br />
on national security? Are they<br />
speaking in favour of the terrorists?<br />
After Uri and Balakote, Rahul<br />
Gandhi asked for proof. <strong>The</strong>y said<br />
that we do politics on martyrdom.<br />
<strong>The</strong> same is happening now.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se people make agreements<br />
with terrorists. <strong>The</strong>y take no action<br />
against PFI because they want a<br />
vote bank. Those who have done<br />
this will be finished but martyrdom<br />
should not be mocked," he said.<br />
An <strong>Indian</strong> Air Force soldier was<br />
killed and four others injured in the<br />
terror attack in Poonch district.<br />
Russia-Ukraine<br />
war human<br />
trafficking case:<br />
CBI arrests two<br />
people from Kerala<br />
<strong>The</strong> CBI on Tuesday arrested<br />
two people for allegedly<br />
being involved in the human<br />
trafficking network that pushed<br />
<strong>Indian</strong>s into the Russia-Ukraine<br />
war zone, officials said.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y were arrested from<br />
Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala but<br />
the agency has not disclosed their<br />
identities yet.<br />
<strong>The</strong> officials said that it is likely<br />
that some more arrests could be<br />
made.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Central Bureau of<br />
Investigation (CBI) had busted a<br />
major racket of travel agents that<br />
was luring <strong>Indian</strong> youths with<br />
opportunities in Russia but pushed<br />
them in the Russia-Ukraine war<br />
zone after confiscating their<br />
passports, they said.<br />
<strong>The</strong> central probe agency's FIR<br />
has listed 17 visa consultancy<br />
companies, their owners and<br />
agents spread across India, they<br />
said.<br />
<strong>The</strong> agency has booked them<br />
under <strong>Indian</strong> Penal Code sections<br />
related to criminal conspiracy,<br />
cheating and human trafficking.<br />
<strong>The</strong> CBI has alleged that the<br />
accused persons through their<br />
agents trafficked <strong>Indian</strong> nationals<br />
to Russia on the pretext of getting<br />
them jobs related to the Russian<br />
army, security guards and helpers,<br />
for a better life and education, and<br />
a huge amount was charged from<br />
them.<br />
<strong>The</strong> agents also duped students<br />
by providing them admission to<br />
dubious private universities in<br />
Russia instead of government<br />
or public universities by offering<br />
discounted fees, and visa<br />
extensions.<br />
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi<br />
Adityanath on Tuesday claimed<br />
that abusing Sanatan culture and<br />
questioning the existence of Lord Ram and<br />
Lord Krishna has become a “fashion” for the<br />
opposition leaders.<br />
“Supporters of the Samajwadi Party open<br />
fire on Lord Ram’s devotees and perform<br />
‘aarti’ for terrorists. <strong>The</strong>y demand<br />
the withdrawal of cases against the<br />
perpetrators. <strong>The</strong>y celebrate the death of<br />
Lord Ram’s devotees and shed crocodile<br />
tears over the demise of gangsters,” he<br />
said.<br />
Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs rituals as he offers prayers at the Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Temple at Vemulawada in Karimnagar on<br />
Wednesday. (ANI Photo)<br />
Addressing election rallies in the state,<br />
Adityanath said after the third phase of<br />
polling for the general elections on Tuesday,<br />
voting for over half of the Lok Sabha seats<br />
would be over and the nation is “resonating<br />
with the slogan ‘Abki Baar 400 Paar'”.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> new India stands resolute against<br />
terrorism, responding with strength,” he<br />
said. At election meetings in Sitapur and<br />
Misrikh parliamentary constituencies,<br />
the BJP leader alleged that questioning<br />
the existence of God and abusing Sanatan<br />
culture has become a “fashion’ for the<br />
opposition. He urged people to exercise<br />
their franchise to show those who insult<br />
Lord Ram and Lord Krishna their rightful<br />
place.<br />
“How can we accept those who raise<br />
questions about Lord Ram and Lord<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> official<br />
concludes visit to<br />
Saudi Arabia, aims<br />
at strengthening<br />
partnership<br />
Muktesh K Pardeshi,<br />
Secretary (Consular,<br />
Passport, Visa and<br />
Overseas <strong>Indian</strong> Affairs) concluded<br />
his official visit to Saudi Arabia,<br />
which aims at strengthening the<br />
strategic partnership between the<br />
two nations.<br />
<strong>The</strong> visit underscored the depth<br />
and breadth of the relationship<br />
between India, Saudi Arabia and<br />
the Gulf Cooperation Council,<br />
reaffirming commitment to mutual<br />
prosperity and collaboration<br />
across diverse fields.<br />
In a press release, the Ministry of<br />
External Affairs stated, "Muktesh K<br />
Pardeshi also conducted a review<br />
of preparations for Haj in Jeddah<br />
and Madinah. He met with Vice Haj<br />
Minister Abdul Fattah Mashat and<br />
discussed logistical arrangements<br />
and infrastructure developments<br />
aimed at the welfare and comfort<br />
of pilgrims. This year, a total of<br />
175,025 <strong>Indian</strong> pilgrims will visit<br />
Saudi Arabia under the <strong>2024</strong> Hajj<br />
quota."<br />
"During his visit from 4 to <strong>May</strong><br />
7, the Secretary also reviewed the<br />
well-being of the 2.4 million-strong<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> community in Saudi Arabia.<br />
He appreciated the leadership of<br />
the Kingdom for their efforts in<br />
ensuring the welfare of the <strong>Indian</strong><br />
community," the release added.<br />
In Riyadh, the Secretary held<br />
substantive discussions with Saud<br />
bin Mohammed Al Sati, Deputy<br />
Minister for Political Affairs at the<br />
Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs,<br />
and reviewed the progress under<br />
the Strategic Partnership Council<br />
(SPC) in addition to a number<br />
of topics of bilateral and mutual<br />
interest.<br />
Abusing Sanatan culture now a fashion for opposition: Yogi Adityanath<br />
Krishna? Ultimately, it is the people of the<br />
country who will respond through their<br />
votes,” Adityanath said. He said that BJP’s<br />
double-engine government has taken up<br />
several initiatives for the development<br />
of Naimisharanya, a pilgrimage spot in<br />
Sitapur.<br />
“Just as Ayodhya is experiencing a<br />
revitalization, Naimisharanya is also<br />
undergoing a transformation.<br />
"Plans are underway to introduce air<br />
services and electric bus services along<br />
with the construction of guest houses for<br />
the visitors,” Adityanath said.
Read online www.iwk.co.nz Friday, <strong>10</strong> <strong>May</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
WORLD 15<br />
AstraZeneca withdraws Covid-19 vaccine<br />
worldwide, cites commercial reasons<br />
<strong>The</strong> pharmaceutical giant<br />
81 deaths in the UK and hundreds In a statement, the<br />
AstraZeneca's COVID-19<br />
of serious injuries. More than pharmaceutical giant said, "As<br />
vaccine is being withdrawn<br />
50 alleged victims and grieving multiple, variant Covid-19 vaccines<br />
worldwide after the company<br />
relatives have filed a lawsuit have since been developed, there<br />
acknowledged for the first time in<br />
court documents that it can cause<br />
a rare and dangerous side effect,<br />
according to a report in the British<br />
Newspaper '<strong>The</strong> Telegraph'.<br />
AstraZeneca has announced that<br />
the vaccine was being removed<br />
against AstraZeneca in a High<br />
Court case.<br />
AstraZeneca has insisted that<br />
the decision to withdraw the<br />
vaccine is not related to the case<br />
or admission that it can cause<br />
TTS and termed the timing a pure<br />
is a surplus of available updated<br />
vaccines", adding that it has<br />
led to a decline in demand for<br />
Vaxzevria, which is no longer being<br />
manufactured or supplied, <strong>The</strong><br />
Telegraph reported.<br />
It further announced its decision<br />
from markets for commercial<br />
coincidence, according to <strong>The</strong> to initiate the withdrawal of the<br />
reasons. It further said that the<br />
Telegraph report.<br />
marketing authorisations for<br />
vaccine was no longer being<br />
"We are incredibly proud of the Vaxzevria within Europe. <strong>The</strong><br />
made or supplied, having been<br />
superseded by updated vaccines<br />
that fight new variants.<br />
<strong>The</strong> application to withdraw the<br />
role Vaxzevria played in ending<br />
the global pandemic. According<br />
to independent estimates, over<br />
6.5 million lives were saved in the<br />
company said, "We will now work<br />
with regulators and our partners<br />
to align on a clear path forward<br />
to conclude this chapter and<br />
vaccine was made on March 5 and<br />
first year of use alone and over significant contribution to the<br />
came into effect on <strong>May</strong> 7. <strong>The</strong><br />
three billion doses were supplied Covid-19 pandemic."<br />
vaccine can be no longer used in<br />
that have given a go-ahead to the AstraZeneca in the High Court in<br />
globally. Our efforts have been An AstraZeneca spokesperson<br />
the European Union following the<br />
vaccine, known as Vaxzevria. February admitted that the vaccine<br />
recognised by governments around earlier said, "Our sympathy goes<br />
company's decision to withdraw<br />
In recent months, Vaxzevria has "can, in very rare cases, cause<br />
the world and are widely regarded out to anyone who has lost loved<br />
its "marketing authorisation."<br />
come under scrutiny over a very TTS".<br />
as being a critical component of ones or reported health problems.<br />
Similar applications will be<br />
rare side effect, which causes TTS which stands for Thrombosis<br />
ending the global pandemic," <strong>The</strong> Patient safety is our highest<br />
submitted in the UK and other<br />
blood clots and low blood platelet with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome<br />
Telegraph quoted AstraZeneca as priority, and regulatory authorities<br />
nations in the coming months<br />
counts. In court documents, has been associated with at least<br />
saying.<br />
have clear standards."<br />
EAM Jaishankar joins event marking<br />
25 years of establishment of India-<br />
Dominican Republic diplomatic ties<br />
External Affairs Minister S<br />
Jaishankar on Tuesday, attended<br />
the event marking 25 years of the<br />
establishment of India-Dominican Republic<br />
diplomatic ties.<br />
He thanked the authorities of the<br />
Dominican Republic for their support in<br />
India's Operation Indravati to evacuate<br />
its nationals from Haiti to the Dominican<br />
Republic during the political crisis.<br />
Earlier in March, Operation Indravati was<br />
launched to evacuate <strong>Indian</strong> nationals from<br />
Haiti to the Dominican Republic. As part of<br />
the operation, 12 <strong>Indian</strong>s were evacuated.<br />
On concerns over the safety of <strong>Indian</strong><br />
nationals in Haiti, Randhir Jaiswal at<br />
that time, said that the embassy in Santo<br />
Domingo in the Dominican Republic holds<br />
accreditation for Haiti and was monitoring<br />
the situation.<br />
EAM Jaishankar further recalled the<br />
unique contribution of Ambassador Hans<br />
Dannenberg Castellanos who established<br />
the resident mission and served as the Dean<br />
of the Diplomatic Corps.<br />
"Pleasure to join the event marking<br />
25 years of the establishment of India-<br />
Dominican Republic diplomatic ties.<br />
Recalled the unique contribution of Amb<br />
Hans Dannenberg Castellanos who<br />
established the resident mission and<br />
served as the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps.<br />
Thanked authorities for their support for<br />
#OperationIndravati that evacuated <strong>Indian</strong><br />
citizens from Haiti," EAM Jaishankar posted<br />
on X.<br />
Bilateral relations between India and the<br />
Dominican Republic (DR) have been friendly<br />
and cordial and continue to widen and<br />
deepen in all spheres. (ANI)<br />
<strong>The</strong> European Union and<br />
India held their second<br />
consultations on security<br />
and defence in New Delhi and<br />
exchanged views and respective<br />
assessments on international and<br />
regional issues in Europe, including<br />
Russia's war of aggression against<br />
Ukraine, as well as developments<br />
in South Asia and the Middle East.<br />
In consultations held on <strong>May</strong> 6,<br />
they also discussed security and<br />
defence policy developments. <strong>The</strong><br />
EU informed on the implementation<br />
of the EU's Strategic Compass<br />
and the Indo-Pacific Strategy,<br />
including the European Defence<br />
Industrial Strategy (EDIS), as well<br />
as new EU operations, such as the<br />
EUNAVFOR Aspides.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y also discussed and agreed<br />
to deepen engagement in existing<br />
areas of bilateral cooperation,<br />
such as cyber, maritime security<br />
Russia will emerge stronger,<br />
says Vladimir Putin after<br />
taking oath as President<br />
Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russian<br />
President Vladimir Putin expressed confidence in<br />
overcoming the current challenging period with dignity<br />
and emerging stronger.<br />
While speaking after taking oath for a new term of six years<br />
as the President of Russia on Tuesday he said, "I am confident<br />
that we will pass through this difficult pivotal period with dignity<br />
and emerge even stronger."<br />
"We will undoubtedly accomplish everything we have planned<br />
for the long term, all the far-reaching projects aimed at achieving<br />
our development goals," he added.<br />
Putin also stated that Russian citizens' confirmation of the<br />
country's direction is crucial amid challenges.<br />
"You, the citizens of Russia, have confirmed that the country<br />
is on the right course. This is of great importance right now, as<br />
we face serious challenges. I see this as your deep awareness<br />
of our common historical goals, and unwavering resolve to<br />
defend our choices, our values, our freedom and Russia's<br />
national interests," Putin said.<br />
Putin also expressed heartfelt gratitude to Russian citizens<br />
nationwide, including those in historically significant regions,<br />
for their unity with the Motherland.<br />
"In these solemn and crucial moments of assuming the office<br />
of the President, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to<br />
the citizens of Russia across all regions of our country, as well<br />
as those living in the historical territories of Russia who have<br />
won their right to stand united with our Motherland, " Russian<br />
president stated.<br />
He further added, "I humbly honour our heroes, the participants<br />
in the special military operation, and all those who are fighting<br />
for our Fatherland."<br />
Proceeding further in his speech, Putin promised to use his<br />
constitutional powers to justify the people's trust in him. He<br />
also stressed the importance of unity, integrity, and dedication<br />
to serving and protecting the country.<br />
Russian President stated, "I will do everything it takes,<br />
everything I can, to justify your confidence in me, using the<br />
powers granted to me as the head of state by the Constitution.<br />
At the same time, I would like to emphasise that the success of<br />
this endeavour depends above all on our unity, integrity and our<br />
desire to serve our Fatherland, protect it, and work to the best<br />
of our abilities.<br />
India, EU hold 2nd consultations on security and defence<br />
and crisis management, including<br />
by making full use of the<br />
possibilities offered by the EU<br />
project Enhancing Cooperation in<br />
and with Asia (ESIWA).<br />
<strong>The</strong>y also agreed on the need to<br />
explore new areas of cooperation,<br />
including space security.<br />
<strong>The</strong> consultations were cochaired<br />
by Joanneke Balfoort,<br />
Director for Security and Defence<br />
Policy of the European External<br />
Action Service, and by Vishwesh<br />
Negi, Joint Secretary (International<br />
Cooperation) of India's Ministry of<br />
Defence.
16<br />
TIME OUT<br />
i FreeDailyCrosswords.com<br />
ACROSS-----------<br />
1) "Brian's Song" star James<br />
5) Comes out of one's skin<br />
<strong>10</strong>) Self-congratulatory<br />
14) Radius' comrade-in-arms?<br />
15) Youngest-ever Oscar<br />
winner<br />
16) Folkestone farewell<br />
17) "B 5!" "C 11!"?<br />
19) Took_ (snoozed)<br />
20) Downed<br />
21) Typing type<br />
22) Considers carefully<br />
24) "Emma" author Austen<br />
25) Hersey's bell town<br />
26) Place or site<br />
29) Transverse beam<br />
32) Itsy-bitsy bits<br />
33) "In_ tn1st"<br />
34) Recipe word<br />
35) Cravings<br />
36) Emulate "Old Blue Eyes"<br />
O, O!<br />
1 2 3<br />
14<br />
17<br />
20<br />
26 27 28<br />
32<br />
35<br />
38<br />
41 42<br />
CROSSWORD<br />
37) Kid's "seat" on Santa<br />
38) Alternative to .net<br />
39) Less extroverted<br />
40) TV's "Cosmos" creator<br />
41) Author's explanation<br />
43) Yuletide songs<br />
44) Backup sounds<br />
45) Random sampling<br />
46) "Monkey Trial" teacher<br />
48) Seafood choice<br />
49) Josh<br />
52) Door section<br />
53) John Wayne character,<br />
larger-than-life?<br />
56) More than suggest<br />
57) Recording studio alert<br />
58) Water sport<br />
59) Some antique autos<br />
60) Family men<br />
61) Bud holder<br />
Richard Auer<br />
11 12 13<br />
7th June<br />
DOWN<br />
1) Island south of Florida<br />
2) Dismounted<br />
3) Archer or Heche<br />
4) Endless faultfinder<br />
5) Home of the John Deere<br />
headquarters<br />
6) Like beverages at barbecues<br />
7) A 1 Capp character<br />
8) Fielder's choice?<br />
9) Trooper's warning<br />
<strong>10</strong>) Wood-surface applications<br />
11) Tropical fruit dance?<br />
12) Great Salt Lake state<br />
13) Adjusts, as a spark plug<br />
18) Multicolored gems<br />
23) "_ on Down the Road"<br />
24) Traffic tangles<br />
25) Eagerness<br />
26)_ the land (how things stand)<br />
27) Alamogordo's county<br />
28) Kinshasa drum?<br />
29) Australian bush call<br />
30) Just right<br />
31) Wonderlands<br />
33) Southern breakfast dish<br />
36) Auto despair site?<br />
37) Marx or Benz<br />
39) Pirate's knife<br />
40) Town of many trials and hunts<br />
42) Plains homes<br />
43) Plays with crayons<br />
45) Lecterns<br />
46) Tim Duncan, for one<br />
47) Kind of package<br />
48) Cold spell<br />
49) Nautical mile<br />
50) Not going anywhere<br />
51) Condemn<br />
54) "Put_ Happy Face"<br />
55) Photo_ (media events)<br />
i FreeDailyCrosswords.com<br />
ACROSS-----------<br />
1) "Brian's Song" star James<br />
5) Comes out of one's skin<br />
<strong>10</strong>) Self-congratulatory<br />
14) Radius' comrade-in-arms?<br />
15) Youngest-ever Oscar<br />
winner<br />
16) Folkestone farewell<br />
17) "B 5!" "C 11!"?<br />
19) Took_ (snoozed)<br />
20) Downed<br />
21) Typing type<br />
22) Considers carefully<br />
24) "Emma" author Austen<br />
25) Hersey's bell town<br />
26) Place or site<br />
29) Transverse beam<br />
32) Itsy-bitsy bits<br />
33) "In_ tn1st"<br />
34) Recipe word<br />
35) Cravings<br />
36) Emulate "Old Blue Eyes"<br />
O, O!<br />
Friday, <strong>10</strong> <strong>May</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
CROSSWORD ANSWERS<br />
37) Kid's "seat" on Santa<br />
38) Alternative to .net<br />
39) Less extroverted<br />
40) TV's "Cosmos" creator<br />
41) Author's explanation<br />
43) Yuletide songs<br />
44) Backup sounds<br />
45) Random sampling<br />
46) "Monkey Trial" teacher<br />
48) Seafood choice<br />
49) Josh<br />
52) Door section<br />
53) John Wayne character,<br />
larger-than-life?<br />
56) More than suggest<br />
57) Recording studio alert<br />
58) Water sport<br />
59) Some antique autos<br />
60) Family men<br />
61) Bud holder<br />
1M l.1 1 b<br />
Richard Auer<br />
ATA<br />
N A p<br />
I G H 5<br />
0<br />
T 30 1 3e<br />
D D<br />
E E<br />
N<br />
7th June<br />
DOWN<br />
1) Island south of Florida<br />
2) Dismounted<br />
3) Archer or Heche<br />
4) Endless faultfinder<br />
5) Home of the John Deere<br />
headquarters<br />
6) Like beverages at barbecues<br />
7) A 1 Capp character<br />
8) Fielder's choice?<br />
9) Trooper's warning<br />
<strong>10</strong>) Wood-surface applications<br />
11) Tropical fruit dance?<br />
12) Great Salt Lake state<br />
13) Adjusts, as a spark plug<br />
18) Multicolored gems<br />
23) "_ on Down the Road"<br />
24) Traffic tangles<br />
25) Eagerness<br />
26)_ the land (how things stand)<br />
27) Alamogordo's county<br />
28) Kinshasa drum?<br />
29) Australian bush call<br />
30) Just right<br />
31) Wonderlands<br />
33) Southern breakfast dish<br />
36) Auto despair site?<br />
37) Marx or Benz<br />
39) Pirate's knife<br />
40) Town of many trials and hunts<br />
42) Plains homes<br />
43) Plays with crayons<br />
45) Lecterns<br />
46) Tim Duncan, for one<br />
47) Kind of package<br />
48) Cold spell<br />
49) Nautical mile<br />
50) Not going anywhere<br />
51) Condemn<br />
54) "Put_ Happy Face"<br />
55) Photo_ (media events)<br />
Read online www.iwk.co.nz<br />
SUDOKU SOLUTIONS<br />
46 47<br />
52<br />
56<br />
59<br />
SUDOKU<br />
1; 4c 0 p<br />
Si><br />
E<br />
A N E<br />
S<br />
5lJ R G E b N<br />
S<br />
R E 0 5 6'p A<br />
S<br />
b<br />
E 1< 5 01<br />
Mb N D 0<br />
A I R 51> L 0<br />
p A 5 E M<br />
Your Weekly Horoscope: <strong>10</strong> <strong>May</strong> - 17 <strong>May</strong>, <strong>2024</strong><br />
ARIES (MAR 21-APR 20)<br />
It’s set to be a good week for you financially,<br />
with the Sun highlighting money and<br />
how you earn, save or spend it. As the<br />
Sun connects with restrictive Saturn, the<br />
planet that's currently influencing your<br />
moods, memories and ideas, the cosmos<br />
is encouraging you to invest in things that,<br />
until now, you’ve only dreamed about. What – or who – is<br />
truly important to you in life that’s worth investing your time<br />
in as well as money?<br />
.TAURUS (APR 21-MAY 20)<br />
It could feel like all your birthdays have<br />
come at once this week, with a New<br />
Moon in your sign encouraging you to<br />
rethink your approach to life as well as<br />
how you approach other people. Use<br />
the next six months to revamp your look<br />
and your outlook. With quirky planet<br />
Uranus in your sign, you’re more open to change and doing<br />
something new than you’d ever thought you could be.<br />
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUN 21)<br />
You’re always full of bright ideas but often<br />
you give up on them too quickly and go<br />
chasing after the next big thing before<br />
you've finished what you've already<br />
started. This week you get a helping hand<br />
from the cosmos to commit to an idea that<br />
could seriously benefit your career. Saturn<br />
connects to the Sun now, encouraging you to persevere with<br />
a creative endeavour that's inspiring and original, that could<br />
also have long-term rewards in store for you.<br />
. CANCER (JUN 22-JUL 20)<br />
Friendships and your ambitions are the<br />
big themes for you this week, with the Sun<br />
adding zest to all your collabs, hopes and<br />
dreams. As the Sun aligns with sensible<br />
Saturn, you get a cosmic push to help<br />
make fantasy a reality. Saturn gives you<br />
the determination to create a structure that<br />
you can build big dreams upon, with a little faith and luck,<br />
and a lot of determination.<br />
LEO (JUL21-AUG 20)<br />
Your ruler the Sun is currently shining a light<br />
on your career, giving your work life a boost<br />
as well as an annual cosmic appraisal. <strong>The</strong><br />
Sun connects with serious Saturn in your<br />
communication zone now too, so you’re<br />
being gifted with the power to turn a concept<br />
into a ‘thing’, whether this involves getting<br />
a project underway that so far has only been developing in<br />
your imagination, or by training to give you added skills to<br />
take the next step up the career ladder. Feeling fidgety?<br />
VIRGO (AUG 23-SEP 23)<br />
Life’s bigger picture calls to you now, and<br />
it could feel like a call you have to answer<br />
and act upon. <strong>The</strong> Sun is pushing you to<br />
encounter situations. experiences and<br />
people who would usually be out of your<br />
comfort zone. It’s a chance to think big and<br />
dream bigger, but also, with sensible Saturn in the picture<br />
too, to align yourself with others who can steer you in the<br />
right direction as mentors.<br />
LIBRA (SEP 24-OCT 23)<br />
You will be keen to impress those who<br />
matter on the professional front. Being<br />
regular in your workouts will prove good<br />
for your health. You will be much more<br />
conscious of your financial situation now,<br />
than previously and budget your expenses.<br />
Organising a function or an event on the<br />
home front can keep some busy today.<br />
SCORPIO (OCT 24-NOV 22)<br />
Good financial planning can get you in a<br />
happy state. Professional front brightens<br />
up for some as new projects come your<br />
way. Some of you are likely to participate<br />
in a fun-filled activity on the home front.<br />
Resuming an exercise routine is indicated<br />
for some. Getting something new may get<br />
some youngsters all excited. A trip may get cancelled or<br />
postponed. Some sacrifice on your part will be required to<br />
get close to your partner emotionally.<br />
SAGITTARIUS (NOV 23-DEC 21)<br />
You are likely to adopt healthy options<br />
to achieve total fitness. You are likely to<br />
grasp a situation on the work front quickly<br />
and turn it to your advantage. <strong>The</strong>re are<br />
indications that some of you can be asked<br />
to travel out of the station on short notice. A<br />
lucrative deal that brings in good returns is<br />
likely to be seized. Religious-minded will be able to achieve<br />
total peace of mind. Socialise more.<br />
CAPRICORN (DEC 22-JAN 21)<br />
Completing an assigned job will give you<br />
the edge at work. Discussing investment<br />
options with a financial expert will help you<br />
make the correct decision. Homemakers<br />
may be tempted to buy an appliance or<br />
gadget. Your fitness regime will benefit.<br />
Property investments may not get<br />
immediate results but promise big money at a later date. <strong>The</strong><br />
desire for a change of scene may take you out on an exotic<br />
vacation.<br />
AQUARIUS (JAN 22-FEB 19)<br />
You are likely to benefit immensely by<br />
making health your priority. Despite rising<br />
expenses, you will be able to remain<br />
fairly well off financially. You may have<br />
to seek alternatives if you are unable to<br />
accomplish something at work. Efforts<br />
on the academic front put in now will pay<br />
rich dividends later. People are likely to<br />
appreciate your upholding the family traditions. A chance to<br />
convert an official trip into a leisurely one may come to some.<br />
PISCES (FEB 20-MAR 20)<br />
An active lifestyle will help keep minor<br />
ailments at bay. You will manage to plan<br />
your expenses well to remain within the<br />
budget. Homemakers will need to be<br />
motivated to go in for cleaning and painting<br />
of the house. A promotion or increment<br />
is likely for some, especially those in the<br />
armed forces. Those travelling on a long journey will be able<br />
to find entertaining company en route. <strong>The</strong> social front can<br />
keep some busy entertaining guests.
Read online www.iwk.co.nz Friday, <strong>10</strong> <strong>May</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
FEATURE 17<br />
Healthy cooking every day<br />
Easy omelette Basic scrambled eggs<br />
Ingredients:<br />
• 4 eggs<br />
• ¼ cup milk<br />
• Salt and pepper as desired<br />
• Butter<br />
Ingredients:<br />
• 2 eggs<br />
• 2 tablespoons low-fat milk<br />
• pinch black pepper<br />
• 2 tablespoons each grated<br />
cheese, chopped tomato,<br />
chopped ham and sliced<br />
mushroom<br />
Method<br />
• Whisk together eggs, milk and a<br />
little black pepper.<br />
• Lightly oil a small non-stick<br />
frying pan and heat until hot,<br />
but not smoking.<br />
• Pour egg mixture into pan and<br />
gently shake to distribute the<br />
Ingredients<br />
• 1 tbsp sunflower oil<br />
• 1 onion , halved and thinly<br />
sliced<br />
• 4 skinless chicken breasts ,<br />
cut into chunks<br />
• 1 cinnamon stick , broken in<br />
half<br />
• 1 tsp ground coriander<br />
• 1 tsp ground cumin<br />
• zest and juice 1 lemon<br />
• 400g can chickpea , drained<br />
• 200ml chicken stock<br />
• 250g bag spinach<br />
Method<br />
• Heat the oil in a large frying pan,<br />
then fry the onion gently for 5<br />
mins.<br />
• Turn up the heat and add the<br />
chicken, frying for about 3 mins<br />
until golden.<br />
• Stir in the spices and lemon<br />
eggs evenly over pan.<br />
• Cook over a medium heat until<br />
the entire base is set. Use a<br />
spatula to lift omelette at the<br />
edges to see if the base is set<br />
and cooked all over.<br />
• Sprinkle the grated cheese,<br />
chopped ham, chopped tomato,<br />
and sliced mushrooms over<br />
omelette.<br />
• Use the spatula to fold the<br />
omelette in half. <strong>The</strong>n use the<br />
spatula to cut the omelette in<br />
half.<br />
• Carefully slide omelette onto<br />
two plates. Serves: 2<br />
Lemon-spiced chicken with chickpeas<br />
zest, fry for 1 more min, then tip<br />
in the chickpeas and stock.<br />
• Put the lid on and simmer for 5<br />
mins.<br />
• Season to taste, then tip in<br />
spinach and re-cover.<br />
• Leave to wilt for 2 mins, then<br />
stir through.<br />
• Squeeze over the lemon juice<br />
just before serving.<br />
Method:<br />
• Beat eggs, milk, salt and pepper<br />
in medium bowl until blended<br />
• Heat butter in large non-stick<br />
skillet over medium heat until<br />
hot<br />
• Pour in egg mixture.<br />
Ingredients<br />
• 1tbsp tamari<br />
• 1tsp medium curry powder<br />
• ¼tsp ground cumin<br />
• 1 garlic clove, finely grated<br />
• 1tsp clear honey<br />
• 2 skinless chicken breast fillets (or use<br />
turkey breast)<br />
• 1tbsp crunchy peanut butter (choose<br />
a sugar-free version with no palm oil,<br />
if possible)<br />
• 1tbsp sweet chilli sauce<br />
• 1tbsp lime juice<br />
• sunflower oil, for wiping the pan<br />
• 2 Little Gem lettuce hearts, cut into<br />
wedges<br />
• ¼ cucumber, halved and sliced<br />
• 1 banana shallot, halved and thinly<br />
sliced<br />
• coriander, chopped<br />
• seeds from ½ pomegranate<br />
Method<br />
• Pour the tamari into a large dish and<br />
stir in the curry powder, cumin, garlic<br />
and honey. Mix well.<br />
• Slice the chicken breasts in half<br />
Lighter Takes<br />
& Easy Tips<br />
• As eggs begin to set, gently pull<br />
the eggs across the pan with<br />
a spatula, forming large soft<br />
curds<br />
• Continue cooking – pulling,<br />
lifting and folding eggs –<br />
until thickened and no visible<br />
liquid eggs remain. Do not stir<br />
constantly.<br />
• Remove from heat. Serve<br />
immediately.<br />
• Serves: 2<br />
Tamarind prawn curry<br />
Our tamarind prawn curry will quickly become a family<br />
favourite. It's quick, healthy and low in fat and calories<br />
Ingredients<br />
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil<br />
• 1 onion, chopped<br />
• 1 red chilli, finely chopped<br />
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed<br />
• 1 tbsp grated ginger<br />
• 1 tsp turmeric<br />
• 1 tsp cumin seeds<br />
• 1 tsp ground coriander<br />
• 400g can cherry tomatoes<br />
• 1-2 tbsp tamarind paste (see<br />
tip, below)<br />
• 250g raw king prawns<br />
• 250g cooked basmati rice<br />
• handful of coriander leaves, to<br />
serve<br />
Method<br />
• Heat the oil in a frying pan over<br />
Chicken satay salad<br />
a medium heat and cook the<br />
onion for 5-8 mins until light<br />
golden. Stir in the chilli, garlic<br />
and ginger, and fry for another<br />
minute before adding the<br />
spices.<br />
• Tip in the cherry tomatoes, swirl<br />
the can out with a splash of<br />
water and stir that into the pan<br />
as well.<br />
• Simmer for 5 mins until the<br />
tomatoes burst and the sauce<br />
thickens.<br />
• Stir in the tamarind and prawns,<br />
and simmer for 2-3 mins until<br />
the prawns are cooked.<br />
• Serve the curry on top of<br />
the rice, with the coriander<br />
scattered over.<br />
horizontally to make 4 fillets in total,<br />
then add to the marinade and mix well<br />
to coat. Set aside in the fridge for at<br />
least 1 hr, or overnight, to allow the<br />
flavours to penetrate the chicken.<br />
• Meanwhile, mix the peanut butter with<br />
the chilli sauce, lime juice, and 1 tbsp<br />
water to make a spoonable sauce.<br />
• When ready to cook the chicken, wipe<br />
a large non-stick frying pan with a little<br />
oil.<br />
• Add the chicken and cook, covered<br />
with a lid, for 5-6 mins on a medium<br />
heat, turning the fillets over for the last<br />
min, until cooked but still moist.<br />
• Set aside, covered, to rest for a few<br />
mins.<br />
• While the chicken rests, toss the lettuce<br />
wedges with the cucumber, shallot,<br />
coriander and pomegranate, and pile<br />
onto plates.<br />
• Spoon over a little sauce.<br />
• Slice the chicken, pile on top of the<br />
salad and spoon over the remaining<br />
sauce.<br />
• Eat while the chicken is still warm.<br />
Pomegranate<br />
chicken<br />
with almond<br />
couscous<br />
Jazz up chicken breasts in<br />
this fruity, sweetly spiced<br />
sauce with pomegranate<br />
seeds, toasted almonds<br />
and tagine paste<br />
Ingredients<br />
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil<br />
• 200g couscous<br />
• 1 chicken stock cube<br />
• 1 large red onion, halved and<br />
thinly sliced<br />
• 600g chicken mini fillets<br />
• 4 tbsp tagine spice paste or 2<br />
tbsp harissa<br />
• 190ml bottle pomegranate<br />
juice (not sweetened; we used<br />
Pom Wonderful)<br />
• <strong>10</strong>0g pack pomegranate seeds<br />
• <strong>10</strong>0g pack toasted flaked almond<br />
small pack mint, chopped<br />
Method<br />
• Boil the kettle and heat the oil<br />
in a large frying pan. Put the<br />
couscous in a bowl with some<br />
seasoning and crumble in half<br />
the stock cube.<br />
• Add the onion to the pan and fry<br />
for a few mins to soften.<br />
• Pour boiling water over the<br />
couscous to just cover, then<br />
cover the bowl with a tea towel<br />
and set aside.<br />
• Push the onion to one side of<br />
the pan, add the chicken fillets<br />
and brown on all sides. Stir in<br />
the tagine paste or harissa and<br />
the pomegranate juice, then<br />
crumble in the rest of the stock<br />
cube and season well.<br />
• Simmer, uncovered, for <strong>10</strong><br />
mins until the sauce has<br />
thickened and the chicken is<br />
cooked through. Stir through<br />
the pomegranate seeds, saving<br />
a few to scatter over before<br />
serving.<br />
• After 5 mins, fluff up the<br />
couscous with a fork and stir<br />
through the almonds and<br />
mint. Serve the chicken on<br />
the couscous with the sauce<br />
spooned over.
18<br />
ENTERTAINMENT<br />
Allu Arjun opened up at an<br />
event how filmmakers<br />
would approach him with<br />
subpar projects after his debut<br />
in 2003 with Gangotri due to his<br />
looks.<br />
Allu Arjun might be Allu<br />
Ramalingaiah’s grandson and<br />
Chiranjeevi’s nephew, but he didn’t<br />
have it easy in the early days of<br />
his career.<br />
Allu, who debuted in 2003 with<br />
the K Raghavendra Rao-directorial<br />
Gangotri, revealed how he initially<br />
didn’t get great scripts due to how<br />
he looked.<br />
‘Gangotri was a hit but I didn’t<br />
make a mark’<br />
Getting candid at an event in<br />
Hyderabad celebrating 20 years<br />
since Sukumar’s Arya released,<br />
Allu revealed how his career didn’t<br />
amount to much till he agreed to<br />
star in the 2004 romantic drama.<br />
He said, “Naa Gangotri cinema<br />
hit aindi. Nen ekkado chudadaniki<br />
pedda goppa ga lenu anesi naku<br />
pedda great films raledu (Gangotri<br />
was a hit but I didn’t look great, so<br />
good films didn’t come my way)<br />
<strong>The</strong> film was a blockbuster but<br />
it’s my failure as an artiste that<br />
I couldn’t make a mark. I went<br />
from 0 to -<strong>10</strong>0, I was a nobody.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> actor also detailed that even<br />
after his debut, he was roaming<br />
the RTC crossroads in Hyderabad,<br />
watching new releases and<br />
hearing scripts that failed to draw<br />
him in.<br />
But all that changed when he<br />
attended the screening of Nithiinstarrer<br />
Dil a month later with his<br />
friend and actor Tarun.<br />
“That’s where Sukumar<br />
approached me for Arya, he was a<br />
debut director but I liked what he<br />
had written.<br />
Chiranjeevi also heard the<br />
script, I also received a shield<br />
from him when the film completed<br />
125 days in theatres against all<br />
odds.<br />
When I watched Ravi Teja’s<br />
Actor Sonakshi Sinha opens<br />
up about the bold samesex<br />
foreplay scene in her<br />
latest web show, Heeramandi,<br />
which is created by Sanjay Leela<br />
Bhansali.<br />
Sonakshi Sinha is getting<br />
rave reviews for her act as<br />
Fareedan in Sanjay Leela<br />
Bhansali’s Heeramandi,<br />
particularly for going bold with<br />
a same-sex foreplay scene.<br />
Now, in an interview, the actor<br />
has revealed that Fareedan's<br />
sexuality was not explored further<br />
intentionally.<br />
In an interview with News18,<br />
Sonakshi also explained why<br />
Bhansali chose to not go big on<br />
exploring Fareedan's sexuality in<br />
detail. For the unversed, the scene<br />
in question showed Fareedan<br />
engaging in a foreplay with one of<br />
her maids, which implied sexual<br />
interaction between them. <strong>The</strong><br />
director didn’t explore it further.<br />
Revealing the reason behind it,<br />
Sonakshi said, “She was sold off<br />
when she was a nine-year-old girl.<br />
<strong>May</strong>be that’s why she absolutely<br />
hates men. It could<br />
be that. <strong>The</strong>y’ve left it very open.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y didn’t explore it any further<br />
than that one scene where she<br />
meets Choudhary saab (a nawab)<br />
and is with her maid”.<br />
“It’s just a very vast world<br />
and sir has tapped into different<br />
aspects of it in small ways,”<br />
Friday, <strong>10</strong> <strong>May</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
Allu Arjun says he didn’t get<br />
films after debut because<br />
he didn’t ‘look great’<br />
‘My key focus area is rooting for<br />
sustainability’: Bhumi Pednekar<br />
Actor Bhumi Pednekar is<br />
all set to take a big step<br />
towards driving ‘actionable<br />
change’ in the world. She has<br />
joined global leaders in Geneva<br />
for the World Economic Forum,<br />
where she will be inducted as a<br />
Young Global Leader of the world.<br />
<strong>The</strong> actor says she is taking on the<br />
new role with a lot of responsibility<br />
to work towards creating a<br />
sustainable future.<br />
<strong>The</strong> actor, who has been<br />
an advocate for having more<br />
conversations around climate<br />
change, is one of the five <strong>Indian</strong>s<br />
who have been chosen by the<br />
World Economic Forum to be a<br />
part of its Young Global Leaders<br />
(YGL) Community: <strong>The</strong> Class of<br />
<strong>2024</strong>. <strong>The</strong> actor is elated to take<br />
on the new role, and said, “I’m<br />
proud to be a Young Global Leader<br />
from India at the World Economic<br />
Forum! This motivates me to<br />
dedicate every minute of my life<br />
for social good. This recognition<br />
is even more special because it<br />
comes on the eve of my <strong>10</strong>th year<br />
in cinema next year!”<br />
“I’m constantly inspired by<br />
interacting with change-makers<br />
from various parts of the world<br />
who are walking the talk to make<br />
a difference. This incredibly<br />
prestigious platform gives me<br />
the opportunity to connect to<br />
such brilliant minds and combine<br />
forces to leave behind a better<br />
world for our future generations,”<br />
she added.<br />
Talking about the responsibility<br />
that comes with it, she shared,<br />
“As an actor, entrepreneur and<br />
a climate warrior, I want to work<br />
towards actionable change.<br />
My key focus area is rooting<br />
for sustainability and I wish to<br />
mobilise as many people as<br />
possible in a bid to keep our planet<br />
healthy. I am looking forward<br />
to opportunities to collaborate,<br />
exchange ideas and drive<br />
meaningful impact on a global<br />
scale.”<br />
In April, the international<br />
organisation released its list of<br />
nearly 90 changemakers under<br />
40 who are shaping the future<br />
and accelerating positive change<br />
through their work across the<br />
fields of public health, economic<br />
development, technology and<br />
sustainability.<br />
“If there’s one person<br />
in my life who has<br />
changed it forever<br />
and had the maximum<br />
impact, from Arya to<br />
Pushpa, it’s Sukumar.<br />
Irrespective of me<br />
delivering hits or flops,<br />
he is the one who<br />
helped me get on track<br />
to becoming an actor.”<br />
Idiot, I wanted to star in a cool film<br />
like that.<br />
Arya is my Idiot. I knew I could<br />
dance well and I just wanted the<br />
opportunity to prove it. I got that<br />
with the song, Thakadhimithom,”<br />
he revealed.<br />
Allu kept it brief when it came<br />
to praising Sukumar, stating that<br />
he will say just enough for people<br />
to grasp how much the director<br />
means to him.<br />
He said, “If there’s one person in<br />
my life who has changed it forever<br />
and had the maximum impact,<br />
from Arya to Pushpa, it’s Sukumar.<br />
Irrespective of me delivering hits<br />
or flops, he is the one who helped<br />
me get on track to becoming an<br />
actor.”<br />
Arya was a massive hit when<br />
it was released and changed the<br />
course of career for both the actor<br />
and the director.<br />
Music composer Devi Sri<br />
Prasad was the only one from<br />
the film’s team who had some<br />
experience, already famous for<br />
films like Khadgam, Manmadhudu<br />
and Varsham.<br />
Sukumar is now directing Allu<br />
in Pushpa: <strong>The</strong> Rule, the sequel of<br />
the 2022 film Pushpa: <strong>The</strong> Rise.<br />
<strong>The</strong> film also stars Rashmika<br />
Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil in<br />
the lead roles.<br />
she added. <strong>The</strong> 36-year-old is<br />
overwhelmed with the positive<br />
feedback coming her way for the<br />
series, which marked Bhansali’s<br />
debut in the OTT world. However,<br />
there is one comment which has<br />
found a special place in her heart,<br />
and it was getting appreciated by<br />
actor Rekha.<br />
“It was magical. I saw a<br />
screening like that after years.<br />
That was one of the biggest<br />
premieres I’ve been to in my entire<br />
career. I met so many people that<br />
day. But Rekha ma’am went gaga<br />
over Heeramandi and was so<br />
supportive and encouraging,” she<br />
said. <strong>The</strong> actor further reveals that<br />
the veteran star was ‘thrilled’ with<br />
the show.<br />
“She told me such beautiful<br />
things that I was just awestruck.<br />
I couldn’t believe my ears<br />
that Rekha ji was praising me.<br />
I’ll always remember that one<br />
conversation with her.<br />
She always tells my mum that<br />
she’s my ‘other mumma’. <strong>The</strong>re’s<br />
Read online www.iwk.co.nz<br />
Fahadh Faasil is<br />
impressed by Ranbir<br />
Kapoor's performances.<br />
In a new interview with Film<br />
Companion, Fahadh called Ranbir<br />
the ‘best actor in the country.’<br />
Fahadh also shared his thoughts<br />
on being labelled as a pan-India<br />
star and said that he is just an<br />
actor who is interested in doing<br />
films that he likes.<br />
During the interview when<br />
Fahadh was asked about the<br />
impact of his films and his image<br />
as an actor, the actor said, “I don't<br />
have to hide anything, I have to<br />
be honest. I am doing my stuff<br />
here. No disrespect to anything.<br />
I don't think people expect magic<br />
from me, from Pushpa. It's a<br />
pure collaboration, love for Suku<br />
[Sukumar] Sir.<br />
My stuff is here. Very clearly. It<br />
doesn't get to me because I and<br />
a lot of my friends here think and<br />
believe that Vicky Kaushal is the<br />
find of the decade. Rajkummar<br />
Rao is one of the finest actors<br />
India has ever produced. Ranbir<br />
[Kapoor], I mean, the best actor in<br />
the country. So, I don't know what<br />
they see in me.”<br />
Fahadh also shared his thoughts<br />
on him being considered as a<br />
pan-India star. He added, “No, I<br />
am just an actor. I have nothing<br />
to do with pan-India. I just do my<br />
stuff. And I do what I believe and<br />
the idea is never films do business.<br />
That's… that's secondary. But<br />
the films I do here, I don't I<br />
can ever do it anywhere else.”<br />
Sonakshi addresses same-sex foreplay scene<br />
in Heeramandi: ‘She absolutely hates men’<br />
“It was magical. I saw a screening<br />
like that after years. That was one<br />
of the biggest premieres I’ve been<br />
to in my entire career. I met so many<br />
people that day. But Rekha ma’am<br />
went gaga over Heeramandi and was<br />
so supportive and encouraging.”<br />
Fahadh Faasil<br />
calls Ranbir<br />
the ‘best actor<br />
in the country'<br />
a lot of love between us. We had<br />
a beautiful moment together,” she<br />
added.<br />
Through Heeramandi, Sanjay<br />
has told stories of love and<br />
betrayal in the lives of courtesans<br />
in pre-independence India. <strong>The</strong><br />
series explores the cultural<br />
reality of Heeramandi, a district<br />
in Lahore, through the stories of<br />
courtesans and their patrons set<br />
against the tumultuous backdrop<br />
of the <strong>Indian</strong> freedom struggle of<br />
the 1940s.
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