Indian Weekender #102

www.iwk.co.
nz 21 June 2013
21 June, 2013 Vol. 5 Issue 4 | www.iwk.co.nz
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www.iwk.co.nz 21 June 2013
Aaradhna Patel makes waves at the

Fresh from her awards sweep at the Pacific Music Awards, the soul diva talks to Shriya Bhagwat-Chitale about life, likes and longings
Q1. Congratulations on the awards sweep. Wake Upwas a bit up and down on the charts were you surprised on winning? Yes, surprised, but super grateful and I know how much hard work the team and I put into this record so it was nice to get some recognition for it. And for Wake Up to go up and down the charts and still reach platinum status was another awesome surprise for us. Q2. It is reported that Wake Upwas instrumental in your own recovery from depression I was in a dark place for sometime and I wrote this song to myself, it was me telling myself to get my act together and get out of the nutshell that I was in. Q3. How much of life winds up in your work? Almost all of it, I write most of what I go through or feel strongly about. Q4. From the first to the latest album, how have you changed as an artist and how is it reflecting in your work? I know with my first album I was more naive about life - I was young and still had a lot to experience and I wasnt as open as I am now. My music now is more grown up - Aaradhna who is more open and honest. is going through the motions of love and its a good thing that there are those artists that can paint, sing or write about it; while some others cant, they have people that can and thats where the connection beginsNo I dont think relationship themed songs are overdone they are still much needed. Q7. If you had to reflect on your worse moments as a person and an artist would be My worst moment as a person and an artist was quitting because of negative people. I really let negative people take over my decisions in life and that is where I went wrong. I know now not to make a stupid mistake like that again. Q6. How much do what the critics say matter? Back in the days it mattered a lot, it really hurt me to hear bad comments but these days my critics get no attention from me. Its a waste of my time if I give them the satisfaction. Q8. How do you practice to keep your voice in top shape? Some simple vocal warm ups and breathing exercises every day.
Q5. Do you think the whole relationship theme is a bit overdone as far as music records go currently? In my opinion, songs about relationships can never be overdone, everyday somebody
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Pacific Media Awards

Q10. How do you bring musical influences from your mixed ethnicity in your work? I feel its just naturally shaped my voice. While growing up, most of the music I listened to was music from Indian movies that I watched with my dad. I used to try to emulate the vibrato in their voices and I thought it was pretty awesome how they could do that with their voice box. My dads a great singer, so watching him perform at birthdays was inspiring and my mother writes her own Samoan music. She would always encourage me to write my own songs. Growing up in a musical environment definitely played a big part in shaping my craft today. Q9. How does your family play a role in helping you? My Mum and Dad are both very supportive and give me their tips all the time even when I dont ask for them (laughs). They are extremely honest with me and Im grateful for that because I need that especially from people that I respect and love the most. Q11. Tell us a bit about your mixed cultural heritage My mother is Samoan and my Dad is Indian. I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters and all our names start with double As, Aayushya, Aakash, Aashchay and Aashiyana. I have a close-knit bunch of friends since high school and we used to sing together in school. I have a partner who is an athlete and he plays in the NZ basketball league. I have a bullmastiff mix gentle giant of a dog named Rucker that I love so much! Q13. You have travelled a bit, share with us the most memorable bits It has to be Savaii in Samoa, I visited my mothers villages Papsataua, Auala and Falealupo-Uta where she grew up and did all the hard yards. It was a real emotional journey for me. I have visited my Dads village Navsari but I was a young kid so I dont remember too much of it. Im aiming to visit his village again sometime soon. Q12. From your experience, do you feel it is hard to breakthrough for people of ethnicity or things may change yet? It does get hard because a lot of people want to put you in a certain box and when they cant figure you out they tend to just ignore you and not give you a chance. But we are all unique in our own way and I can only do my best to stand out and that all comes down to the music I make and put out. Q17. What are your favorite food, colour, fragrance and outfit? My favorite food is pasta, my favorite color would be the colors of the rainbow, my favorite fragrance right now would be Escada Marine Groove and outfit at the moment would be this custom made maroon and white ethnic patterned peplum dress made by my amazing stylist Kylie Cooke. Q16. Name 5 things on your personal bucket list 1. Get Married 2. Own a 1954 Volkswagen kombi and a 1959 Cadillac Eldorado. I love old school cars. 3. Buy My Mum and Dad a big house 4. Travel the whole World - I want my passport to look like a map book. 5. Act in a Horror or Action movie. Q15. Do you have a tattoo? Whats the significance? Yes I have three. One on my arm of my parents names decorated with birds and hearts, one on my neck going down the top of my back with Indian patterns (its unfinished), and I have Samoan Malu and Indian patterned tattoos on both my hands they represent both my cultures. Q14. What do fans still dont know about Aaradhna? Im extremely shy. Q18. Do you support any charities or would you in the future? I dont support any charities yet but I am interested in the kids Starship foundation. Q19. After the recent success what next for you as an artist? It gives me confidence that I must be doing something right. I plan to keep writing music, put out more albums, and I plan to tour and hopefully get to write for other artists. Q20. Any words of wisdom to those kids out there in the ethnic communities writing, singing and creating If you want something that bad you will find ways to make that happen! Write down some goals and steps towards your dreams and Never Ever let negative people get in the way of what you want to do in Life! For the full interview visit www.iwk.co.nz
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Auckland to grow a little up and a bit out

IWK Bureau
The unitary plan enables options and choices around housing. For people at different parts of their lives, renting for example is preferred by some. This is a plan that is a building block towards making Auckland a truly international city, said Mayor Len Brown at a special media briefing in Auckland. Currently, the draft Unitary Plan has received 22,700 individual pieces of feedback via forms, emails and letters, as well as an additional 6,540 comments and posts gathered from social media and the Shape Auckland website. Housing affordability and the shaping of neighborhoods - is clearly something that Aucklanders feel strongly about. So much so that the proposed plan, especially the Metropolitan Urban Limit and housing affordability has received some criticism with people fearing overcrowing. Priced out, a report from the NZ initiative states in its conclusion that one of the things that would improve the housing situation in New Zealand in terms of affordability is to increase the supply of land for housing and following a less constrained approach to urban planning. However, Mayor Brown said that the Unitary Plan will facilitate the making of a
Auckland seeks sister-city in India
quality, compact city with a high focus on sustainability; which will protect open spaces around it. Auckland is expected to have a huge population increase over the next few years. The regions population is likely to grow by a third from 1.5 million to 1.97 million, by 2031, accounting for 61 per cent of the countrys total population growth.
This is a balanced approach to take which will address the housing shortage and the compactness of the city will support and efficient public transport network, said Mayor Brown. Touching upon transport, the Mayor said he has a keen eye on fare rises and the answer to which he said is high utilization.
Currently, Auckland has 12 sister city relationships. Recently, the relationship with THE German city, Hamburg, was renewed to stimulate and strengthen the civic and economic relationship between the two cities. Auckland has no such understanding with local councils of any Indian cities. This is to some extent because there history of having such understanding in India. But, perhaps Ahmedabad would be an option seeing as there has been historical immigration to New Zealand from Gujarat and Punjab, said Mayor Len Brown. He added that this would happen on the back of the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries. Councils can be catalysts for their local businesses and internationalisation through networks of partner cities. We know that to achieve the growth targets we have set in our Economic Development Strategy we need to really turn up the heat over the next decade and strengthening our global connections is an important part of this. - IWK Bureau
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UnitaryPlan:mythsbusted
Thousands of Aucklanders have taken the opportunity to have their say on the draft Auckland Unitary Plan. But what is the Unitary Plan and how will it affect you? Read on for some insights from the Auckland Council on the policy that aims to build an international city
Myth1: Your house could be taken off you and be demolished to make way for terraced housing and apartments. Fact:Nobody will be forced to change their way of living. Auckland Council does not have the power to take your property from you. Nothing will ever change on your property unless you as the property owner decide to renovate, build or sell. Myth2: Apartments are planned in every neighbourhood. Fact:They wont appear in every neighbourhood. In fact the proposed terraced housing and apartment building zone will make up only 7% of Aucklands total residential land use. Myth3: High density = high rise. Fact:No. The majority of future Auckland housing will remain at two storeys. Increased density will be achieved by allowing for well-designed housing options on smaller lots. Multi-level dwellings in residential areas will be only between four and six storeys, not highrise which is considered over nine storeys. Some of the areas proposed for terrace housing and apartments already have apartments of this height. Myth4: Aucklanders do not want to live in apartments. Fact:Many Aucklanders already choose to live in apartments. There are 3-4 level apartments across Auckland. Those choosing this lifestyle are not just younger Aucklanders or students but baby boomers who are downsizing their property for low maintenance living. Myth5: The draftUnitaryPlanwill allow for rows of badly designed block buildings and shoeboxes. Fact: Quality design for our citys future development and public spaces is a top priority under the proposed UnitaryPlanrules. Some of whats been built in Auckland in the past has been too small, not enough variety, and not well designed. The rules for minimum unit sizes is proposed to be 30sq m plus a mandatory 8 sq m outdoor living space. There cannot be a building solely made up of units of a minimum size as there are limits on how many of one type of unit a building can have. The draftUnitaryPlansets design controls, which will be supported by the Auckland Design Manual. Myth6: Infrastructure and transport are ignored in theUnitaryPlan. Fact: Planned new developments will only occur with adequate infrastructure in place. The draft Auckland UnitaryPlansets out rules to ensure safe, efficient and secure development, operation and upgrading of infrastructure. ThePlanhas specific sections on infrastructure. However, it is wrong to expect that thePlan deals or must deal with all aspects of infrastructure. Myth7: If a terrace house or apartment is built next to me, I will experience shadowing, loss of privacy and sunlight. Fact: The draftPlanhas specific rules that will protect the privacy, sunlight etc. of neighbours that apply to all such new apartment developments. They include height in relation to boundary (daylight access rule) and privacy rules. Myth8: We dont need to change anything. Fact: When Aucklands eight councils amalgamated, there were 14 different district and regionalplans. The council is still operating under theseplans, many of which are out of date, have inconsistent rules and are more than 10 years old. The Government required the new Auckland Council to create a singleUnitaryPlan. It is needed for us to implement the 30-year AucklandPlanand create the worlds most liveable city.
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NEW ZEALAND
Pathbreaking portal aims to create careers in software testing

Arwa Janjali
t took a random chat for Yadwinder Sharma to launch careers in the New Zealand IT market for a profile which is not even taught as a subject in NZs IT courses. After a brief discussion with the NZSEs (New Zealand School of Education) Career Advisor last year, this Software Test Manager for Telecom New Zealand, created a revolutionary portal, which has become an interface between the IT Industry and NZ Education/Unemployed people. The portal aims at creating careers in Software Testing, a lucrative IT profile which has remained less prominent in the industry till date. According to Sharma, Software Testers in the current market can start their career from 55-60k and can end up making 90-100 NZD per hour in a few years. And its not that hard to become a Software Tester. The eligibility for a candidate is basic IT knowledge, good analytical skills, and good verbal and written communication skills, Sharma informs. Hence, he created the platform www. getskills.co.nz after a successful webinar on software testing, conducted by Telecom New Zealand for NZSE students. I have always believed that there is a big need of building a bridge between the industry and NZ Educational institutions and unemployed people. This is one of the best ways to build a knowledge sharing culture in NZ. Today anyone can create their account on this website and join paid and free courses under Public Courses delivered by industry experts. Once the course is joined you can see classes for those courses in My Classroom. You can attend these classes online sitting
With some basic skills anyone can be up skilled to become a Software Tester, which in turn can help NZ IT companies to keep their intellectual property in house without thinking about outsourcing this work. It also broke the myth that there are no jobs in the IT field in NZ. - Yadwinder Sharma
from your home computer, watch the recordings of the classes you have already attended and take online exams after each module to measure your learning progress, Sharma tells us. GetSkills started its first batch of International Software Testing exam course taught by Sharma on February 25, 2013 with a few students coming from different professional backgrounds. At the end of the course, some scored 95 percent, which according to Sharma, is close to the highest score that anyone could achieve in this exam. A few weeks later, most students started getting calls from companies that were hiring
software testers. Currently, two of them have already got Software Testing jobs along with others undergoing the interviewing process, he reveals, adding, This whole exercise proved a point that with some basic skills anyone can be up skilled to become a Software Tester, which in turn can help NZ IT companies to keep their intellectual property in house without thinking about outsourcing this work. It also broke the myth that there are no jobs in the IT field in NZ.
With the aim to spread this word among the unemployed people in NZ, Sharma got in touch with Work and Income NZ (WINZ), a Ministry of Social Development (MSD) department, which helps unemployed people to get jobs. With the support of Mr Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, I submitted a proposal to WINZ asking them to give GetSkills the access to all candidates who have registered themselves under the IT category. The proposal was to adopt these candidates, up skill them with the right IT certifications and tools and help them in getting jobs through our existing network.A leading NZ Test consulting firm called The Testing Consultancy is supporting Getskills in this initiative by providing highly experienced Testers/Test Managers as coaches and guest lecturers for the Getskills Testing courses, Sharma informs. This proposal was instantly accepted by the MSD, which is in process of recommending a business case for a trial with GetSkills. In this trial Industry experts from different companies will teach and up skill WINZ candidates. Our final goal is to bring the unemployment numbers down in New Zealand and set an example that its just a bit of cooperation that is needed to solve the biggest problems of the world. The first step towards this initiative is that job aspirants have to register themselves with WINZ so that we can all join in to help them score good jobs. This initiative is based on the Pay it forward idea. Hence, one has to register with the intention of up skilling the rest of the unemployed people along the course. After all, we are all in the same boat, Sharma signs off.
INZBC elects new executive

IWK Bureau
he India New Zealand Business Councils elections saw Mr. Sunil Kaushal (ANZ bank) being elected as the Chair with a decisive margin in a straight contest against Prashanta Mukherjee (India Horizons). Over 25 years, the INZBC has developed a robust and fair mechanism to elect its governing body. Robert Barker from NZIFS got elected as the Deputy Chair against Edwin Paul. Both Prashanta & Edwin were part of the outgoing executive but could not retain their positions on the council. INZBC is continuously working towards expanding commerce between New Zealand and India. It was established in 1988 and is duly recognised by both the Governments of NZ and India as the pre-eminent body in this space. Educating, networking and promoting trade between the two countries through
organizing events and knowledge exchange through experts is what INZBC members actively and proactively do. They present opportunities for interested parties to learn from each other. Sunil Kaushal the incoming Chair said, I am humbled by the trust fellow members have put in me and I will work tirelessly towards the goals of the council and its members. Through the long India experience of many of its members it provides mentoring facilities for less experienced members about doing business in India. It also lobbies Government on matters pertaining to commerce between the two countries, and affecting the interests of its members; The Council works closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, and the Indian High Commission. The council is working towards the successful conclusion of a high quality FTA between the two countries. In the recent elections, Bhav Dhillon
(Cemix) retained his position as the executive and was elected unopposed for the position of Treasurer. The outgoing Chair Wenceslaus Anthony will retain a seat on the National Executive to maintain continuity. Under the constitution of INZBC, there are 7 elected executive council members for which 11 nominations were received and the elected persons are as under:
Dinesh Naik - KPMG Kamal Ghose - Lincoln University Matthew Findlay - Christchurch Airport Prince Kumar - Edex Consulting Rick Ede - UNITEC Sameer Handa - Patton Pravin Dlima - Fresh Partners
Sunil Kaushal
NEW ZEALAND
King Alphonso now in NZ
Wenceslaus Anthony at the mango tasting. He says at first bite, he was transported back to India.
Say goodbye to the tinned stuff this season. The alphonso mango, what the Indians call the king of fruits, is now available in New Zealand. Given the countrys strict rules regarding agricultural and bio imports, this is a significant development. The India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) has been instrumental in getting this approval by consistently and persistently lobbying both Governments to allow import of Mangoes into NZ. It is difficult for local kiwis to understand the love affair between mangoes and Indians. This is a small yet significant step towards improving and enhancing trade relations between India and NZ commentedBhavDhillon who is on the national board of INZBC and accompanied Prime Minister John Key on his maiden trip to India. - IWK Bureau
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The details that make-up people

IWK Bureau
ongstress Lata Mangeshkar has a taste for raw green chillies, one that she acquired while in Kolhapur. And maestro Pandit Bhimsen Joshi had a fondness for fast cars. Indira Gandhi had a special technique for honing her memory that her father Jawaharlal Nehru taught her. Interesting, quirky details like these that sometime never make it into newspaper spreads or on television screens are what veteran journalist and interviewer Sudhir Gadgil has been privy to. And he was in Auckland recently where Marathi speaking Aucklanders enjoyed his simple form of traditional and informal storytelling or gappa in Marathi (or kisse in Hindi) at the Mount Eden War Memorial Hall. Mr. Gadgil shared select anecdotes from his cache of 3270 interviews and the narration in simple, untarnished Marathi, that delved into the unique facets of people and not just the famous ones. Mulkha Vegli Manse evolved from his curiosity, a love for people and the ability to listen, says Gadgil. The event was organised and hosted by Migrant Heritage Charitable Trust and was supported by Auckland Marathi Association in Auckland. It is about how you ask as well as about what you want to know, says Gadgil of his style. His work is as much about people as it is about personalities. You scratch the surface and really see people. When I met Madhuri (Dixit) at her Denver home, I saw that here was someone who had seen success as a star. But at her home, she only had two kittens, her two babies for company and I asked her when she planned to come back to India? recalls Gadgil. I felt she must obviously miss the vibrancy of her life before she moved to the US. After a pause and a long sigh, she answered with a date. And sure enough, she is back in Bollywood today. Gadgil incidentally was the first one who interviewed Madhuri at the start of her career. There are stories and unexpected gems all around us Gadgil says. Like Baburao, a raddi seller in Pune who participated in the Olympics or the bhangar walli who imparted Gadgil with some sound business principles built around her daily trade of creating value through buying and selling junk. The introduction to this narration does tend to become a bit longwinded, albeit peppered with familiar jibes at Punekars, Mumbaikar and Nagpurkars. True to its promise, Mulkha Vegali Manase is successful in scratching the surface to reveal the undiscovered facets that make-up people.
Audience crack-up at the insider jokes and jibes at Punekars and Nagpurkars
Veteran interviewer Sudhir Gadgil
Mr. Gadgil shared select anecdotes from his cache of 3270 interviews and the narration in simple, untarnished Marathi, delved into the unique facets of people and not just the famous ones.
Prashant Belwalkar (Migrant Heritage Charitable Trust) gives Sudhir Gadgil the traditional welcome by presenting him with a shawl and a coconut (shree-fal)
We would like to give a heartfelt thank you to all our volunteers

The Heart Foundation is New Zealands heart health charity. We are very grateful for people like you, from all walks of life who help in our fight against heart disease. Support your community by using and developing your skills. Whatever your availability, you can help save a heart by joining our inspirational team of volunteers.
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Young professionals take charge

IWK Bureau
etworking, skills-sharing and professional development was at the top of the agenda for the young professionals who met at an annual event at Stamford Plaza organised by the Auckland Young Professionals. AYP was founded in 2012 by Navtej Randhawa, Sid Sharma, Sid Bhandari, Gawan Bakshi, Dev Dhingra and Sonu Luthera, all young professionals themselves, to respond to a changing world that is powered by the ambitious and motivated. Through a series of business and social events, like the one held recently, AYP hopes to foster a sense of enterprise, innovation and connect like-minded professionals. The turnout has been improving year on year with almost 150 young professionals attending the annual event this year. The speed networking segment was fun, fast and useful. The gathering had a mix of professionals from diverse industries and there was plenty of time for taking mutually beneficial conversations forward over the later part of the evening. Experienced speakers shared tips to succeed. Staying clear focused and not giving up is most important if you want to become successful as a professional, said Dr. Pawan Kalra, an Auckland based dentist. Dr. Kalra spoke about his journey from first migrating to New Zealand in 1995 and re-qualifying in a new country to setting up the Lumino Dental Group, a thriving practice.
Similarly, Sarvajith D.R. founder of Krew, a web-based recruitment start-up where employers find you, shared his mantra for success. It is better to have 50 per cent of a successful venture, rather than a 100 per cent of a failed one, he said, a tip that potentially could mean the difference between success and failure. By coordinating networking events we not only want to foster professional relationship building and celebrate our achievements but also provide a platform to empower young professionals to become better leaders to enhance the communities in which we work and live, said Sid Bhandari. Our members are undeniably our greatest resource. The core committee is also looking to involve more women from next year onwards. ABOUT: In early 2012 a group of young professionals came together with the idea of forming New Zealands first young professional society dedicated to the South Asian community. The need stemmed from feedback from various young people within the community that they required a platform in which they could meet like-minded professionals to develop their networking and business skills, enhance their inter-cultural competence and have the opportunity to be mentored by business leaders within the community.
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Free seminars and workshops

Free IRD Rental Property Income Tax Seminar
If you already have, or are planning to purchase a residential rental property, this seminar is for you. Do you need to understandRental Property Income Tax? How to calculate net profit from rental, what expenses to claim for, GST and rental income. How do you treat boarders and flat-mates? Are profits from property sales taxable? Learn all about it. Address: ARMS Manukau Resource Centre, 2 Osterley Way (Next to Work & Income),Time: 9:30am -1:30pm @ 26 June, 2013. Contact Phone: 09 2635490 or emailmanukau@armsmrc.org.nz Kiwi Saver. Date: 27 June, 2013. To make an appointment to see our friendly taxation specialist for help, please phone: 09 2635490. Address: ARMS Manukau Resource Centre, 2 Osterley Way (Next to Work & Income).
Vipan Garg appointed trustee of ASB Trust
Free Job Search workshop for Migrants

Job Search workshops free for new migrants seeking professional employment in New Zealand. These interactive workshops cover New Zealand employment culture and labor market, Kiwi job search skills, Kiwi style CV and advice for job seekers.Time: 9:30am to 2:30pm Thursday 4thJuly, 2013, at ARMS Manukau Centre. Address: 2 Osterley Way, Manukau City.To register please call 09 263 5490 or emailmanukau@ arms-mrc.org.nz
Free English Language Advice Clinics in Manukau
Auckland Regional Migrant Services help migrants improve their English through English classes and community resources. Date: 26 June, 2013.Make an appointment to meet the English Advisor at ARMS Manukau Resource Centre, 2 Osterley Way, Manukau City (Next to Work & Income). Contact phone 2635490 to make an appointment. You are welcome to bring a support person with you.
Meeting with Information Officers
Free Taxation Clinics
Are you new to New Zealand? Do you have problems with Tax issues? Do you have your own business? This clinic will give you the opportunity to meet with specialist from IRD individually for consultation on Income Tax, GST, PAYE and
Advice and information in Chinese, Korean, Arabic and Samoan is now available at Auckland Regional Migrant Services Manukau Centre. Information available on: Job search, Benefits, English class information and help, Settlement information including Taxation, schooling, housing and more. If youd like to come and talk with an Information Officer, please contact Auckland Regional Migrant Services Manukau Office @ 09 2635490 or email manukau@arms-mrc.org.nz
Aucklander Vipin Garg has been recently appointed trustee of the ASB Commmunity Trust. The prestigious appointment has made the community proud. The usually reticent Mr. Garg lives in Remuera in Auckland with his wife Shalu and their three children. He is a JP and member of several community groups, including the Bharatiya Mandir Indian Temple in Balmoral, Auckland. A qualified Chartered Accountant, he has been in retail and property business for the last 18 years. For more than 10 years he has been on the board of Super Liquor Holdings Limited, a franchisor company with more than 140 retail stores all over New Zealand. He has experience in the fields of corporate governance, financial management, and audit and cost control. He was part of the official New Zealand business delegation to India in June 2011, which was led by Prime Minister the Rt. Hon John Key. His other community experience includes participating in World Vision projects, community and religious activities.
GOPIO hosts womens forum
GOPIO WomensCouncil celebrated the think pink program on its 5th anniversary. GOPIO hosted the womens openforum on 9 Junewith the presentations from Dr. Pushpa Wood (president, GOPIO Wellington chapter), Gurmeeta Singh (Auckland), Janet Franks ( Hamilton), Anjum Rehman ( Hamilton). Ms Sue Moroney (Member of Parliament, Labour list) was chief guest. Mr. Manilal Jogia was guest of honour. Ms Davinder proposed the vote of thanks.
NEW ZEALAND
11
Save the environment, one plastic kayak at a time

A bunch of dynamic young New Zealanders are spreading the message of sustainability and environmental preservation through the first-of-its-kind initiative in NZ. Shreya Gejji brings you details of The Plastic Bottle Kayak project
IWK Bureau
Use it as a vase that is probably the answer Id give to someone if they asked me how to recycle a plastic bottle. For a bunch of passionate and driven young New Zealanders though, that answer was something entirely different and unexpected... build kayaks out of them! The Plastic Bottle Kayak project was the brainchild of Shruthi Vijaykumar and Daniel Cullum, who decided to combine their love for travel and their passion for sustainability by developing a venture that was the first of its kind in New Zealand a journey down a river in plastic bottles. The project culminated in an expedition down the remote and pristine Whanganui river earlier this year over 3 days in May, with 15 young New Zealanders, amongst whom were proud KiwiIndians Ajay Ravindran (pictured) and Serena Sarika Lal. Sustainability and environmental preservation have always been Ravindrans foremost passions, who jumped at the opportunity to partake in this project. According to the Chennai-born 20 year old, single use plastics being dumped into water ways are challenging the image of clean & green New Zealand. Being able to experience the Whanganui River on kayaks made out of plastic bottles helped me realise that its vital that we think more about our use of plastic. They are slowly killing our natural and raise awareness for a cause she is passionate about. For her, the Plastic Bottle Kayak stands testament to the power of the youth in creating positive change. this expedition has proved to me that there is no excuse for not taking action. It is our duty. As a Kiwi-Indian I know that I have the power to shape New Zealand. The efforts of Ravindran, Lal and the 13 other young Kiwis have been hugely fruitful. In addition to being picked up by several local news shows including Campbell Live and TVNZ breakfast, the project has garnered international attention with individuals from countries like Egypt and Brazil seeking to replicate their success. This kind of attention is a marker of the projects success which has managed to raise awareness about plastic consumption and bring this often overlooked environmental issue to the forefront. Lal and Ravindran represent the new generation of change-driven and passionate Kiwi-Indians who dont shy away from putting their money where their mouth is. As community leaders and activists they are acutely aware of the role they play in steering New Zealand towards a better future and have taken it upon themselves to lead through action.
Serena Sarika Lal on the kayak made by plastic bottles and (right) Ajay Ravindran
wonders. The visual of the pristine, remote and largely untouched river provided a startling contrast to what hes experienced on his many trips back to India and served as reminder of why we need to inspire change. There needs to be a sincere effort to challenge beliefs and change habits around single-use plastic, because the integrity of our environment depends on it. He says the issue of plastic consumption is absolutely critical and one that isnt highlighted enough. His fervent passion isnt misplaced. Over the years, there has been a steady increase in the amount of plastic being consumed across the globe. Statistics suggest that worldwide shoppers now use over 500 billion single-use plastic bags per year. The Plastic Bottle Kayak initiative has come at a time when it is more imperative than ever that consumers make positive choices about the kinds of products they consume. As Lal puts it, The issue is that nobody is taking ownership of the problem. The Fiji-Indian, University student has taken it upon herself to effect change. I now find myself in a place, born within a generation and in a country where I can take action. It was this sense of ownership that propelled Lal to kayak (often under harsh conditions) down the river
AT HOP is coming to buses. Way to move, Auckland.

SUBMIT
AT HoP , your one prepay travel card for trains and ferries, is now coming to buses.
Later in 2013, youll be able to move around Auckland on public transport using the AT HOP card, tagging on and off as you go. Youll get at least 10% off single trip cash fares (excludes NiteRider bus service), be able to Find out if youre entitled to a FREE AT HOP card. Go to top up online and travel for free on City LINK buses. Look out for information that will be provided by your bus operator as we roll-out or go to ATHOP.co.nz
CANT FIND YOUR CLUB? CONTACT US
Find out if youre entitled to a FREE AT HOP card. Go to ATHOP.co.nz
ATHOP.co.nz
Find out if youre entitled to a FREE AT HOP CARD. Go to ATHOP .co.nz

You may be entitled to a free AT HOP card if, for example, you have a purple HOP card, Urban Express smart card, Howick & Eastern Ezi Pass or Ritchies - Fast Pass.
Here are the planned timings for when AT HOP is coming to your bus service.
STAGE ONE STAGE TWO STAGE THREE
JUN
URBAN EXPRESS
JUL
BIRKENHEAD TRANSPORT
AUG
RITCHIES NORTH STAR
SEP
METROLINK/LINK GO WEST NORTHERN EXPRESS
OCT
HOWICK & EASTERN AIRPORTER WAKA PACIFIC
NOV
WAIHEKE BUS BAYES
ATHOP0165
Terms of use and registered prospectus for the AT HOP cards are available on ATHOP.co.nz or at the Transport Information Centre, Britomart. The obligations of Auckland Transport under the AT HOP cards are unsecured.
Coming Soon
12
NEW ZEALAND
A taste of good times in NZ Community leader
honoured in Sri Lanka
Ritu Dalmia on the sets of Travelling Diva in NZ

Crew from the popular Indian television network NDTV Good Times were in Auckland recently to shoot New Zealand produce as a part of a series on global food flavors. The show is presented by celebrated chef Ritu Dalmia who owns multiple specialty restaurants including popularItalianrestaurant Diva in Delhi, which she established in 2000 and Latitude 28. She showcased the best of New Zealand produce, and the country as a destination of one of the best wines, meat and sea food in the world. As a part of the show Travelling Diva, she visited eateries like The Depot, Auckland Seafood Market, Neat Meatsin Ponsonby to check out NZ lamb, Takatu Lodge in Matakana, wineries, beehive and seafood restaurant in Waiheke and event went fishing so that she could catch and cook fresh NZ snapper. Ms. Dalmia cooked alongside Nadia Lim of Masterchef New Zealand fame. Ms Lim is touted as the poster chef for healthy living in New Zealand. - IWK Bureau
Mohammad Iqbal, who has long years of community service in New Zealand was recently honoured in Sri Lanka. He was particularly acknowledged for promoting Ceylon tea in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Mr. Iqbal has played a significant role in bilateral negotiations between Governments
and corporates for the trade of Ceylon Teas. The citation presented to him noted that his zeal for the brew and technical competence in all areas of tea promotion has gone a long way in Ceylon Teas gaining a sustainable foothold in the Australian and New Zealand markets.
Seniors enjoy their day out to Mangawhai

Dhiru M Patel
n a beautiful Sunday, 49 members of the Senior Citizen Group of the Auckland Indian Association enjoyed another exciting day trip up north. On 14th April, we took off in a Luxury bus at about 8.30am. After about one and half hours of driving we arrived at Mangawhai Heads - our first stop. Drinks and delicious home cooked snacks were shared by all. Some relaxed with their morning tea while others enjoyed walking on the beach. After taking a few photographs we visited a chocolate factory. Seeing various types and shapes of beautiful chocolates, just about everyones mouth was watering. Before we arrived at Goat Island, we had lunch in a restaurant in this small town. The area around Goat Island is a protected nature reserve where the land, vegetation, sea and everything in the sea is protected. Surrounded by beautiful scenery we viewed underwater sea life by having a tour around the island in a glass bottom boat. We thoroughly enjoyed watching the under-water activities. After the boat ride we were ready for another cuppa. Thanks to Laxmiben who brought some NZ hot house grown Mangos and Guavas. Everyone enjoyed the beautiful and tasty orange fleshed Mangoes and tropical pink Guavas. Special thanks to go to Laxmiben Jasmat for the mangos and guavas and Prabhubhai Nathoo for organising this trip.
NEW ZEALAND
13
Abuse and neglect of elders worries MP

Sallyshni Devi
onely, isolated and the forgotten elderly in our community have the right to a live free of fear, feeling safe. And this can only happen if the abuse and neglect of elders comes to an end. There is cause to worry. As per data by Age Concern, 80 per cent of abuse is carried out by family members-sons and daughters, husbands and wives. To mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and to spread the message of love, kindness and compassion for elders in the community, people gathered in large numbers at the Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall recently. MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi emphasized on the importance of the day. The day gives us a chance to focus on the issue of elder abuse and neglect and agree that it will not continue in the communities. The prevention of elder abuse and neglect is one of the key priorities for the minister for citizens, he said. Elder abuse he says happens in many ways and is often well hidden within families and communities. And it is based on an imbalance of power, where an older person feels they have no choices and are too afraid to complain. And can also be the result of inaction, leading to neglect and isolation. They are frightening, anxious and distressed and a quarter experience long-term consequences and half
Nationally, there is a range of services called TOA Pacific, based in Manukau, where the largest numbers of older multi-cultureD people reside responding to the needs of eight cultures.
suffer significant health effects from the abuse they have experienced. Sometimes there are no obvious signs of abuse, especially in the case of financial abuse. To elaborating on the statistics by Age Concern - two out of every five abused older
people say they have lost confidence and selfesteem as a result of the abuse. Beliefs and values are essential to the happiness of older people. The Family Commissions 2008 research report, Elder Abuse and Neglect: Exploration of Risk and Protective Factors discussed Pacific, Chinese and Indian perspectives on elder abuse in New Zealand. Some of the factors that contribute towards causing abuse included changes people had to make to live in a country with differences in lifestyle and social resources of the original country. Nationally, there is a range of services called TOA Pacific based in Manukau where the largest numbers of older multi-culture peoples resides that responds to the needs of eight cultures. If a person has any concerns or queries about elder abuse or neglect, they can contact an Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention service for confidential support, advocacy and information. Mr Bakshi thanked the Shanti Niwas Charitable Trust Inc, a non-profit organization, which has a proud history of working with socially isolated senior citizens of Indian and South Asian origin living in the Auckland region. Older people contribute to their communities, by helping families and individuals and enriching the he lives of others by sharing their experiences where it is needed the most.
Taking Auckland into the future needs passionate and committed people to step forward for election. If you want to make a difference, come along to a candidate meeting to get the information youll need to stand. To find out where your nearest meeting is being held go to www.voteauckland.co.nz
2013 Auckland Council Elections. www.voteauckland.co.nz
OG_AC2027_IW1
14
INDIA
Rise of Modi marks split in NDA

IWK Bureau
mid speculation that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United) might split as the rift between the two parties grew louder, BJP patriarch LK Advanilast weekspoke to JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Significantly, although L K Advani appealed toNitish Kumarand JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav not to act in a hurry and repeated the assurance that BJP would not decide on its PMs candidate without consulting them and other NDA partners, the BJP leadership was reconciled to the impending collapse of the 18-year-old partnership. It is an eventuality that will trim the already lean NDA and which will leave it with only Shiv Sena and Akalis as worthwhile allies. Bihar CM, who has publicly announced that JD(U) would not brook Modi becoming BJPs PM candidate, was unmoved by a last-ditch plea by Advani not to leave the NDA. Sources said that the BJP veteran, told the JD(U) chief and Bihar CM that BJP would take no decision on the PM candidate without consulting them and other NDA partners. Meanwhile, speculations over a third front grew louder as senior JD(U) leader KC Tyagi met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata. Banerjee told reporters that she has already spoken to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Nitish Kumar over the formation of a Federal Front. I spoke to Nitishji. He also feels that the regional parties should form a federal front, Banerjee said. Tyagi earlier told media that both the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) have failed. Both the UPA and the NDA have failed. I will be meeting Mamata Banerjee, Tyagi told media before meeting Banerjee. The buzz of JD(U) calling off its alliance with the BJP is doing the rounds after Nitish Kumar convened a meeting with senior JD(U) leaders in Patnarecently and asked them to not leave the city for consultation in this matter. The JD(U) leaders have reportedly been asked to even contact independent MLAs and garner their support in JD(U)s favour. With the elevation of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the chief of the election campaign committee, the JD(U) has pepped up its attack on BJP and is considering the fact to
The buzz of JD(U) calling off its alliance with the BJP is doing the rounds after Nitish Kumar convened a meeting with senior JD(U) leaders in Patnarecently and asked them to not leave the city for consultation in this matter.
LK Advani (Top) & Nitish Kumar
Banerjee told reporters that she has already spoken to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Nitish Kumar over the formation of a Federal Front.
break its alliance with BJP. We cannot compromise with the rioters of 2002, senior JD(U) minister Narendra Singh told media referring to Gujarats 2002 communal riots during Modis first term as CM, in which hundreds of Muslims were killed. Singh said JD(U) is not pleased with Modis leadership and will soon announce their decision according to the demand of the situation.
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INDIA
15
Suraj Pancholi sent to police custody

IWK Bureau
Mumbai courtlast weeksent Bollywood actor Aditya Pancholis son Suraj Pancholi to police custody till June 13 in connection with actressJiahKhans suicide case. Pancholi was arrested on Monday. He was reportedly in a relationship withJiahand was the last person to speak to the late actress over the phone before she committed suicide. Jiah, who committed suicide last week, was heartbroken because of her boyfriends womanizing character, a note found three days after her death has revealed. The note reportedly mentions that Jiah was deeply hurt at having to abort her baby with Suraj. Suraj and his father Aditya Pancholi were questioned by the Mumbai Police for three hours on June 4. Khans mother made her suicide note public in the few days following the actors death. The note detailed the Pancholi and Khans tumultuous relationship with allegations of abuse and assault. In the letter, widely published in the Indian media, the British-educated Khan speaks of being physically and emotionally abused and of having to have an abortion against her will. Subsequently, the police found five letters exchanged between the deceased actor and her boyfriend Suraj Pancholi in a search operation at the latters residence. Also, the police have recovered some medical reports from Jiahs place. All the documents including the CCTV footage of the hotel and the house where the two
Jiah, who committed suicide last week, was heartbroken because of her boyfriends womanizing character, a note found three days after her death has revealed.
went the day Jiah ended her life is being verified by the police. Bollywood in the meantime has taken sides on the issue. Columnist Shobhaa De wrote on her blog: We are talking about Jiah because she was famous, beautiful and a Bollywood actor.Out of the thousands who flock to Bollywood, only a handful succeeds. Years and years of struggle go into that tenuous hope that there will be a rainbow at the end of those stormy clouds hanging over their tender lives. Over the years, I have watched other Jiahs, with deepening sorrow and a growing sense of despair. And each time, I have felt like warning all those other young girls waiting in the wings to stay away from this lethal business. unless they possess nerves of steel. Theres no place for losers and has-beens in Bollywood. This is not cynicism talking. This is experience. My mind keeps going back to Parveen Babi. Its a scarily similar tragedy with an almost identical story line and cast of characters.
Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi
N AT I O N A L L I S T M P
AUCKLAND OFFICE: Unit 1, 131 Kolmar Rd, Papatoetoe, Auckland
Ph: 09 278 9302 | Email: bakshi.mp@parliament.govt.nz Postal Address: PO Box 23136, Hunters Corner, Auckland 2025
www.bakshi.co.nz
www.national.org.nz
16
Thought of the Week
Editorial
To resist, it is not enough to say No it is necessary to desire!

Braziliantheatre director, writer and politician (1931-2009)
Caring for the carers

Coverage and reporting of elder abuse evokes sympathy and shock in varying degrees. But, perhaps it would serve the elderly better if the focus shifted a little on the carers instead. As per data by Age Concern, up to 35% of abusers are primary caregivers and up to 50% of abusers are adult children. Up to 80% of abuse is committed by family members. And abuse, like disease, is not restricted by race or color and it takes place in every community. Culturally, the Indian community, places a high value placed on filial piety. The pressure to look after aging parents is coupled with the stigma attached to any indication of being good children as convention and tradition demands. While this is great in theory, every family is different and a way to giving an elder the dignity they deserve might be outside of the constraints of convention. There are no ready, simplified answers but an article in the Social Policy Journal of New Zealand that draws on qualitative interviews with older people and their care givers quotes a respondent from the Indian focus group in Auckland, People are becoming more self-centered because of the economic situation, with both parents working and little time left over for the older generation. The same article identifies multiple factors that contribute to elder abuse, one being the changing cultural perspectives about reciprocity between generations, and families collective responsibility to look after each other, might contribute to the occurrence of elder abuse and ideas about loyalty to family members can get translated into silence about such abuse. Much anecdotal evidence points to the struggle in first generation Indian families where elders find it hard to adjust to a foreign land if they choose to live with their grown children. Similarly, their carers are struggling to meet multiple demands of life in a foreign land themselves. So, any solution to is incomplete and ineffective without addressing the needs of carers and the attitude of the community as a whole. This could be training, counseling and support to change attitudes towards elder care and education about what constitutes abuse. Those over 80 are the fastest growing age-group with more than 160,000 New Zealanders aged over 80 as per Statistics New Zealand. This number could reach half a million by 2050. And what of those that migrate here from overseas having spent a whole life in a totally different environment? Surly many Indians genuinely want to have their parents live with them; they want to look after them in their old age with affection and give their own kids the privilege of having grandparents around. But the best intentions can go awry with the pressures of multiple generations living under the same roof. Conflicts starting from the morning cuppa to the nightcap are not uncommon. So, how we perceive each other in the community as we care for our elderly is as important as the attitude towards the elderly or reporting elder abuse. Caring for an older person is hard. Though this is no excuse for abusing an older person or violating the trust they have in their children, questioning prior beliefs about what constitutes best care needs to be re-evaluated. This includes families being able seek help when needed and being allowed to consider all options that best suit everyone in the family. To be able to do this, care givers need guidance and support from the community, not moralizing or judgment. - Shriya Bhagwat-Chitale
- Augusto Boal
Open letter to Mayor Len Brown

Dear Len, I have been to many meetings on the draft Unitary Plan (UP) and have had innumerable discussions with residents, ratepayers and small businesses. I have concluded that the process and timetable towards formal notification and operative status September is causing as much concern as any of the actual details in the Plan. I realize that the Council, and indeed the Government, are both concerned with the need to provide affordable housing but that issue must not override the property rights of every property owner in the Auckland region, which the current process of the Unitary Plan threatens to do. Presentations currently made by Councils planners are introduced by way of explaining how brilliant this new Plan will be because it will apply everywhere in the new SuperCity, and the rules for development will be the same everywhere. There is recognition that this is good for developers and those who are involved in business across the city, but of only moderate interest to residents and ratepayers whose main interest is centered on their local community. This project is of such enormity because it affects every piece of land in the Auckland Region. And most of those pieces of land are individually owned by over half a million ratepayers including 474,484 residential and rural ratepayers, and 39,188 business ratepayers. Changes to property zoning inevitably result in changes in value a critical issue to home-owners for whom the home is their major asset. And of course such revaluing affects the incidence of rates. One of the obvious problems with the current round of engagement is the sheer size of the whole plan 7,000 pages including the overlays in the e-plan, or almost 2,000 pages in the printed versions. There is a growing lobby questioning the need to act now to rezone the whole city in one fell swoop, to specify and control exactly where an extra one million people will be accommodated in 2041 almost 28 years away. There is also a growing lobby looking for much more information on planning the infrastructure needed to supply and service this wholesale intensification and how that infrastructure will be paid for. The Unitary Plan follows from the claimed acceptance of the Auckland Plan but that Plans acceptance is untested. The Auckland Plan is the vision for the future but did not go through a formal process of submission, response and appeal. To rezone the whole city on the basis of an untested vision, and then try to give that rezoning legal status almost immediately, is a step too far. There is enormous distrust in the community generally the Plan is too big to grasp in one round of engagement. My proposal to you is: Treat this round of engagement as a first draft of the Plan and continue the schedule of meetings explaining the UP and encouraging submissions. At the same time announce a revised process which includes a commitment to prepare a response to all submissions made, and then prepare a Second Draft UP for a second round of engagement prior to any move to a legal Proposed Unitary Plan for formal consultation, submission and appeal. That response to the current round of engagement must address honestly the concerns submitted, and the Council should explain its reasons for accepting or rejecting the submissions made. This Round 2 engagement should be based on 112 draft neighbourhood plans to encourage each neighborhood to concentrate on the specific plan for their local community. While many individuals will comment on the Plan as a whole, it is the impact at local level which matters to most people. I believe that it would be a great mistake to push ahead with the present timetable of aiming to notify the Unitary Plan in September. To do so would provide fertile fields for increasing anger and distrust within the community. My proposal would, I believe, salvage much of the wreckage towards which the Unitary Plan is heading. The Plan has been brilliantly put together as an exercise in IT but that should not overshadow its true purpose, content and intent. Accepting my proposal for a revised timetable, and giving responses to people after the current round of engagement, will surely give the community at large an assurance that they are being listened to and all the work which has gone into constructing the plan will not be wasted.
of the week: What do you feel about the treatment of elders and the attitude of family members towards older people in the Indian community in New Zealand?
Email your opinion in no more than 50 words to shriya@indianweekender.co.nz along with your photo, name, occupation and area of residence. Please request anonymity should you wish your name and picture to be withheld. Readers who share their photos and names are more likely to have their opinions published.
Indian Weekender Volume 5 Issue 4 Publisher: Kiwi Media Group Limited Managing Editor: Giri Gupta | girigupta@xtra.co.nz Associate Editor: Shriya Chitale| shriya@indianweekender.co.nz Chief Reporter: Arwa Janjali | arwa@indianweekender.co.nz Chief Technical Officer: Rohan Desouza | rohan@ indianweekender.co.nz Design: Media Solutions Advertising & Business Development Manager: Gaurav Gupta M: 021 292 4519 l gaurav@indianweekender.co.nz Accounts and Admin.: Farah Khan - P 520 0922 l accounts@indianweekender.co.nz Views and comments: e-mail at: arvind@indianweekender.co.nz Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher is not responsible for advertisers claims as appearing in the publication Indian Weekender is published by Kiwi Media Group, 98 Great South Road, Auckland Printed at Guardian Print, Ashburton Copyright 2010. Kiwi Media Group. All Rights Reserved.
Kind regards David Thornton Founder No More Rates
COMMENT
17
A Muslim girl in Hamilton

Anjum Rehman
he decision to stand for Hamilton City Council has been a difficult one for me.In the end, I decided to do so because its an extension of the work Im already doing in the community. I arrived in Hamilton as a 5-year old in 1972.At that time I was the only Indian in my primary school, the only Muslim girl in Hamilton. Ive experienced growing up feeling that you dont belong, that the society you live in wasnt designed for someone like you. Im keen to change that experience for people from ethnic minorities living in our beautiful city. We have already come a long way. There is much greater diversity, and it shows in the food, the festivals and the colours of our city.This year, prayers at the start of Council meetings are said by a different faith group each time, as a formal recognition of diversity. However, more can be done to improve social cohesion within the city.It is time for our ethnic minority communities to be more actively involved in Council decisionmaking.Diversity around the table leads to better decisions, as there are a greater number of perspectives. Im a trustee of Shama (Hamilton Ethnic Womens Centre), which provides a range of services for ethnic women. We know some women have issues such as lack of access to transport, language barriers and difficulty in gaining employment.We also know that the elderly in our communities face similar
issues. The Council has a role to play in ensuring we have a strong public transport system. Council can also invest in community development, and support groups and activities which bring people together. Central government must play a role, and provide strong partnerships with local government to ensure that we build
Accountant with small and medium-sized businesses. I also have a leadership role in NGOs, and understand that running a notfor-profit organisation is different to running a commercial enterprise.While there are aspects of Council activities that need to have a strong commercial ethos, Council as a whole needs to function for the betterment of all people of the city.This means Council
There is much greater diversity, and it shows in the food, the festivals and the colours of our city.This year, prayers at the start of Council meetings are said by a different faith group each time, as a formal recognition of diversity.
strong communities.Its sad that central government is making it increasingly difficult for local communities to have power over what goes on in their neighbourhoods.The lack of central government resourcing for public transport is particularly damaging for many in ethnic minority communities. Sound financial management is a priority, and I work professionally as a Chartered decisions should be transparent, with more consultation. I oppose the privatisation of Council services, particularly regarding the provision of water. We must continue to have strong public amenities, and support our libraries, art facilities and museum.These are places where various communities in the city connect with each other, and they play a role
in integrating ethnic minority communities with the wider population. For example, our museum has been a trail-blazer with an exhibition focusing on different faith communities, a photographic exhibition on the Somali community, and various activities that help us get to know one another. Our library provides books in various languages, and is soon to establish a living books project which will involve actual people being available to have conversations with individuals and groups about their experiences. It is activities like these, funded and supported by Council, that improve the lives of countless numbers of people in the city.It is therefore extremely sad to see the current Council cutting funding for the museum and introducing higher fines at the library thus reducing the number of people taking out books.There are savings that can made in other areas, and in particular, Council needs to have much more consultation and stronger processes before committing to major projects such as the Claudlands Events Centre and the V8 races. Many people from ethnic minority communities tend not to vote in local body elections.Its a pity, because so much of the work done by Council affects their daily lives. I hope people will take time to get to know their candidates, in order to make informed choices in this election. Hamiltonian Anjum Rahman has announced her candidature for the Council elections due be held on October 12, 2013. To know more visit www.anjum.co.nz
Handy tips to insure your life

Rajshree Nigudkar
you. Caveat Emptor - buyer beware Find out what you are getting in, ask your
unlikely that theyre sorted in one phone call. You will need evidence - jewelry valuations, keeping these records, receipts, photos
bought my first insurance policy 15 years ago and only read the small print a few years back, much later when I myself started working in the insurance industry. This is true for many people who pay thousands of dollars every year on insurance: life insurance, domestic, medical or business insurance. And its never too late to take a closer look at what the policy covers or doesnt cover. So, how to keep it all under control and ensure the best insurance strategy? Especially, when the danger of natural calamities, like the Christchurch disaster for instance, is all too real? It is prudent to pay close attention to the changes in policy that can potentially have significant impact on your life, without just paying the premium year after year. Here are a few simple, handy tips from my experience in direct insurance: Research before you buy There are number of resources and comparative pricing available online. Use it to make the right choice. Choose a company that has good credit rating, good claims payout history and who is willing to listen to
Remember, claims are a process, and its unlikely that theyre sorted in one phone call. You will need evidence - jewelry valuations, keeping these records, receipts, photos which will make the claims process easy and quick for you.
friends and family or even better someone working in the industry. Invest more time in your insurance You pay the premium, but the value you get out of that premium, to a certain extent depends on how much time you invest in your insurance. Talk at length with your provider, ask them questions like what it covers, make them give you some scenarios as example, ask what happens at claims time. Remember, claims are a process, and its which will make the claims process easy and quick for you. Recording details is vital. So, make sure correct details are recorded on your policy, make a note of when you called or met your broker or agent, their name, and what was it about. Always ask for written confirmation for your records. It costs nothing to hear insurance companies out Usually we think that when insurance providers are always keen on up-selling or
cross selling. It does not harm to listen to whats on offer? It is important to stop and think, ask questions like how its going to help you. Compare the money you will invest in this policy and the consequences of not having that cover at all. The customer always has the power to say no. Its a necessity indeed Unfortunate events like Christchurch earthquakes only reiterate the importance of insurance. I feel for the retailers and businesses that may have declined the offer to save few dollars in the short term. Public memory is short, hence the little reminder helps. Change is the only thing constant. As noted before, the insurance covers are changing. Home policies change basis the size of the house to a dollar value limit. The reinsures, that is, insurance companies who insure your insurance company in the event of catastrophes, have put that condition on insurance companies, as their risk management strategy. * Rajshree Nigudkar is not an insurance agent or a broker, but has many years experience in the industry.
18
INDIA ABROAD
Wonder kid Ritankar Das felicitated at the Indian Embassy in US

IWK Bureau
ndia-born wonder kid Ritankar Das, who this year became the youngest graduate topper of the prestigious University of Californiain more than a century, has been felicitated by the Indian Embassy for hisoutstandingacademic achievements. Indian Ambassador to US Nirupama Rao felicitated 18 years old Das, who has taken just three years to complete his studies with a double major in bioengineering and chemical biology and a minor in creative writing from the University of California, Berkeley. FurtherKolkata-born Dasis the first student from the College of Chemistry in 58 years, and the first ever from the Department of Bioengineering, to earn the honour, which includes a USD 2,500 scholarship. In his remarks, Das said he seeks inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi believed that everybody had a right to beautiful life and without his efforts I can say I would not have been here today, Das told a select audience at an event held at the Indian Embassy on Monday.
Without people likeMahatma GandhiandMartin LutherKing, without their efforts, I would not have been here, said Das, who is fluent in Bengali andHindi. Das, who now heads to Oxford University to pursue a masters degree in biomedical engineering with a fully fundedWhitaker Fellowship, has founded See Your Future, a student-run non-profit that presents scientific content to middle and high school students through in-class demonstrations, videos, interactive activities and games. In this span of just 18 years, he has been able to achieve so much. He would put all of us to shame being able to come out with such flying colours at the UC-Berkley, and broken all records over a century, Rao said. He has not only brought glory to this country, but also to his mother country, she added. At Berkeley, Das helped manage a USD 1.7 billion budget as an academic senator, founded the Berkeley Chemical Review research journal, designed a chemistry DeCal course and was a graduate student instructor.
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INDIA
19
Flash floods in North India, death toll mounts

IWK Bureau
orrential continued to pummel North Indian states, including Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, taking the death toll to at least 130on Tuesday, June 18while thousands remained stranded. Flash floods, cloudbursts and landslides have claimed more than a hundred lives in Uttarakhand, while dozens more are reported missing.The States Rudraprayag district was the worst hit where at least 20 people have been killed and 73 buildings, including 40 hotels, along the banks of the Alaknanda river have been swept away. Latest estimates said as many as 73,000 people remain stuck in the state, including a huge number of pilgrims from other states who were headed to visit the four shrines or Char Dham that include Badrinath and Kedarnath. The famous Kedarnath shrine was virtually submerged in mud and slush while a portion of the temple compound has been washed away. Authorities however said no damages were reported to the structure itself even though about 500 people, including 45 policemen, are reported to be missing around the Kedarnath temple area.In Himachal Pradesh, rains and snow wreaked havoc, claiming over a dozen lives, said police. Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who was stranded in Kinnaur district for nearly 60 hours due to landslides, was airliftedon Tuesdaymorning. Five army officials have also lost lives while conducting rescue operations.In Uttar Pradesh, at least four people have been reportedly killed in rainrelated incidents. In Delhi, around 1,500 people who who live on
banks of the Yamuna in eastern fringes of the city have been evacuated as the river flowed above the danger mark.Government officials said 20 camps have been set up in the state to provide shelter and medical assistance. In Uttarakhand, while two teams of the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) were already available, twelve additional teams were dispatched. More than 5,000 personnel of the Army were deployed in various areas of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, rendering aid to distraught people reeling under natures fury. The Uttarakhand Government also made a request for helicopters to rescue the stranded people to the Ministry of Defence. Union Home Secretary R K Singh said food, medicines and blankets were air-dropped in remote areas of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradeshon Tuesday. Approximately 1,800 pilgrims have further been moved from Govindghat to Joshimath. In addition medical facilities, refreshments and lodging facilities have been extended to over 1,300 persons at Joshimath. Approximately 1,000 tourists were reported stranded in Rekong-Peo and 500 in Sangla Valley. Helicopters have been dispatched to Sangla Valley this morning for rescuing the stranded. The BRO has been asked to assist the State PWD in restoring the communication to both Rekong Peo and Sangla Valley. One team of NDRF has reached Sangla and the other team is on way to Po to assist the district administration in relief work. Several parts of Haryana were flooded after water level of Yamuna crossed the danger-level mark. The PM has also directed all agencies of the Union Government to assist in rescue and relief operations in thefloodaffected areas of the state.
India wont accept US spying

IWK Bureau
ndia has said it will not accept violation of Indian laws on privacy of information by the US National Security Agencys (NSA) surveillance programme launched on web users worldwide. If you ask that if it is discovered that Indian laws relating to privacy of information have been violated what would be the view of the Indian Government, obviously we would find it unacceptable. If Indian laws relating to privacy of information of ordinary Indian citizens have been violated, surely we would find it unacceptable, said External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin. The statement comes in the wake of reports that the NSA has been spying on emails and social network activity of web users across the world for nearly six years. The disclosures were made by aformer US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) agent Edward Snowden, seen as a whistleblower by many now. According to reports, Snowden has revealed to the Washington Post and the Guardian
It was because of Snowden that India came to know how US was snooping on them. It is an obligation for India to protect Snowden.
Cyber Security Dialogue, and it is coordinated by the National Security Councils on both the sides. We feel that this is the appropriate forum to discuss such issues,Akbaruddin said. He said India will seek information and details from the US over reports that India was the fifth most-tracked country in the US. We intend to seek information and details during consultations between interlocutors from both sides on this matter in that appropriate forum, he said.
Whistleblower Edward Snowden and Julian Assange

newspapers that intelligence-gathering agencies of the US have been secretly garnering information from the countrys largest Internet companies, including Google, Facebook and Apple to spy on private information of users around the world. The programme is codenamed PRISM, which has been reportedly in operation since 2007. If you want to ask whether we are concerned by media disclosures suggesting that data relating to private communications of Indian citizens may have been harvested, my answer to you is, yes we are concerned and surprised about it, he said. Between India and the US we have a
20
FIJI
Get your act together, FFA told

Manoj Kumar
he Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, has told the Fiji soccer administrators to get their house in order. In his opening address at the Vodafone Fiji FACT at the ANZ Stadium, Commodore Bainimarama said the parent body needed to lift their game. Personally, I have always believed that football has been a great unifying force within our country. It attracts players and fans from all backgrounds and brings them together. Its one of our major national sports, and is much loved by Fijians across the country, Commodore Bainimarama said. In fact, football fans the world-over are known for their die-hard passion. Im sure all gathered here today, would agree and are diehard fans themselves. Thats why we need to raise the quality and standard of Fijian football to the level our nation deserves. I remember the days when the standard of football was very good, one of the regions best. Thats the standard we need to return to and improve on. Commodore Bainimarama said Fiji football was struggling to keep pace with the rest of the world. The current state of our national side is a constant cause of complaint and concern amongst fans: just look at all the letters to the
editor written on the subject. Football in Fiji has too often been let down by the administrators at the national level. Its a story that were all too familiar with in Fiji. Corruption, mismanagement and favouritism are barriers that our nation has faced in many different areas, including football. Commodore Bainimarama said his government had committed itself to smashing these barriers across a broad front. Transparency, accountability and good governance are absolutely critical to any organisation: and Fijis sporting bodies are no exception, he said. Soon, under our new constitution, public office holders will have to answer to an independent Accountability and Transparency Commission. The management of the Fiji Football Association and other sporting organisations should also be held to the same rigorous standard, answering not to a commission, but directly to the fans and players - to those whose confidence in the organisation has been shaken. Fiji Football Association officials need to do a better job in order to regain that confidence. They need to use the groups affiliation with FIFA to channel resources into the sport. They need to open management to new blood, with new ideas. They need to focus on professional development, at all levels. They need to understand that just because someone is a good administrator, it doesnt make him a good coach. And they need to work to get Fijis ranking back up where it belongs.
Woman locked up for 40 years

Felix Chaudhary
Nadi woman who had been locked in a shed for close to 40 years will finally receive long overdue treatment at a health or mental care facility. The Ministry of Health has confirmed officials are discussing whether to admit 49-year-old Nur Nisha to the Lautoka Hospital or the St Giles Hospital in Suva for psychiatric care after her case was highlighted in the New Zealand media recently. Nadi Disabled Peoples Foundation president Kitione Waqanisau, who donated a wheelchair this week to assist with her care, said the conditions under which Ms Nisha lived was the worst he had ever seen. She lived in conditions which were far from humane, Mr Waqanisau told the Fiji Times. First and foremost, she has a right to decent living. And this is something that needs to be stressed to all families who are tasked with taking care of people with mental and physical disabilities. There needs to be more awareness on the issue and there also needs to be some sort of pathway to government assistance provided especially for those who have very limited or no income at all. Health Ministry spokesman Shalvin Deo said contrary to media reports, Ms Nisha had been receiving regular visits and treatment from doctors and nurses before the decision to move her to a facility was finally made this week. Its not that her case being highlighted in the New Zealand media has prompted us to do something, Mr Deo said. Nisha has been receiving regular care and
medication for some time. Right now, we are trying to assess what type of treatment is urgently needed - whether its psychiatric or medical. And based on this, she will soon be moved to either the Lautoka Hospital or the mental health facility in Suva. When The Fiji Times visited the woman at her Navakai home this week, she was found naked and squatting on the concrete floor of a two-square metre shed that served as her sleeping quarters, dining room, toilet and shower. She was covered in a blanket. The decrepit condition of what had been her home for decades was almost impossible to believe. A plastic pipe on the floor served as a makeshift toilet, from which emitted the overpowering stench of raw sewage. The roofing iron shed had no ventilation or windows. When asked about bedding, family members and neighbours said there were none. If we try to put clothes on her, she tears them off and tries to walk around the settlement naked, said elder sister Nur Jahan. And we are afraid that if we put her on a bed she may fall and hurt herself, thats why she just sleeps on the floor. According to Ms Jahan, her younger sister had become violent and uncontrollable when she was about eight years old and her condition worsened over the years. Neighbours at the settlement said Ms Nishas family had begun locking her inside the shed after she tried to break out of the family home on a number of occasions. Her elder sister is the only one that looks after her by washing her down with a hosepipe and feeding her, neighbours said.
One baby abandoned at hospital every month

Expecting mothers who do not attend antenatal clinics at the CWM Hospital are usually among those who abandon their babies there. The hospitals head of gynaecology, Dr James Fong, said babies were abandoned in hospitals because some mothers do not make prior adoption arrangements. Most of the babies left in the hospital are planned abandonment, thus its generally easier to manage in terms of screening and treating the mother and organising the care of the baby, Dr Fong told the Fiji Times. The abandonment of newborns poses a problem, mostly in terms of legalising any adoption process because we find it easier if the mother tells us they wish to give the baby up for adoption and we then plan the adoption process from before delivery. Dr Fong said on average one baby was left for adoption at the hospital every month. Every now and then a mother will abandon her baby with no prior notice and usually these mothers have come in un-booked. We try to get to them through the nursing network and other community networks, however, the police may be involved as a last resort. Dr Fong said absconding mothers were usually mothers at high risk of acquiring conditions that needed treatment urgently. He said the police were involved in such cases because mothers need to be searched and given medical treatment accordingly. My advice to those mothers-to-be who feel unsupported and lonely is that presenting yourself to a health facility is the one thing that you have the right to do. - Mere Naleba
FIJI
21
Ancient settlements discovered in Fiji

Avinesh Gopal
he historical discovery of two village sites dating back to at least 500 years has been made by a team from the Fiji Museum. Following a request from villagers on an island off Lautoka, the team carried out a survey in the Koroyanitu mountain range in Lautoka last week. The survey resulted in the discovery of two old village sites. Fiji Museums head of history and archaeology, Elia Nakoro, said the villagers wanted them to do a survey to substantiate stories passed down the generations. Mr Nakoro said the villagers were only aware of the old village site from oral history. He said the survey found clear evidence of people once living at the site of the old villages. The team would not disclose the name of the island that requested an archaelogical survey for various reasons, including safeguarding the site. There is evidence of houses being at the site, with stone alignments in the mountains and some clay pottery pieces also found, he told the Fiji Times We also did a mapping of the site which is on a slope towards Navilawa, just at the bottom of the mountain range. Asked when the villages existed, he said: The villages would have existed between the years 1500 and 1800. Most villages were established on high ground like a fort at that time because of tribal wars to enable people to lookout for their enemies. Its a source of ancestral link for the villagers and it also shows just how the early Fijians were moving about and they ended up on the island. Their movements have been confirmed by the Native Lands Commission records and the nearby villagers of Abaca and Navilawa in the Koroyanitu mountain range. Mr Nakoro said the villagers could have ended up on the outer island either to escape
their enemies or in search of marine resources. The Koroyanitu mountain range is the origin of most villages in the West, especially in Nadi and Lautoka. His team has taken photographs and finer details of the old village site, which would go down in historical records. The team has been going around the country doing surveys based on information received from people. Mr Nakoro said his office had been flooded with requests from villagers to trace and confirm their old village sites. There are numerous requests received by the museum from villages around Fiji to confirm and protect their cultural heritage from any sort of development - infrastructural, mining, hotel, logging, agriculture. The Archaeology Department has been doing this in the past several years by utilising Cap 264 of the Preservation of Objects of Archaeological and Palaeontological Interest Act. We have been assisting villagers in
confirming their sites of cultural significance and also one that is tied to their identity and origin. Mr Nakoro said the museum had been helping in tracing the movements of the iTaukei ancestors from one place to another, recording historical accounts and linking it to
the existing cultural features in the form of old village sites through mapping and reporting. He said the data collected was entered into a database of cultural sites of Fiji and used to advise government departments and developers.
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22
SOUTH ASIA
Sri Lanka: Looking back and forward

The future lies as much in resolving war crimes as it is in showing real progress in meeting international obligations in times of peace
Shriya Bhagwat-Chitale
took their other children away too. Often, there was no food or medicine. People, especially those in their 20s and 30s disappeared without a trace. Torture, terror took many forms remembers Palani of his 8 days in the camp at Vanni. Armed conflict between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which wanted a separate state for the countrys ethnic Tamil minority in the north and the east, began in 1983. From the earliest days of war, ordinary Sri Lankans have witnessed and experienced violence at the hands of both sides. After a brief ceasefire from 2002 to 2006, conflict re-emerged with the armys defeat of the LTTE in May 2009. From 2008, with no independent witnesses in the conflict areas, the Sri Lankan government is accused of gross human rights violations and war crimes; charges that they have consistently denied. The final offensive in May 2009 is remembered by those who were there, like Palani, as particularly brutal, specifically targeted and included the full gamut of offenses - no distinction between military objectives and indiscriminate attacks on civilians; labeling them traitors; unlawful killings, including extrajudicial executions; abductions and enforced disappearances; and torture of prisoners. At Vanni, there was a special `show camp Katharagama for the visiting foreign journalists, says Palani. Around this time, a contagious whooping cough infection proved lucky for him as it was enough to convince the army doctor to shift Palani to a hospital in Vavuniya. His sister, incidentally a nurse at the same hospital, agreed to help him. At the hospital, he made his way out through the nursing quarters and escaped. From Vavuniya, he took a train to Colombo. There at the Indian embassy, an agent organised a Visa to India and he came to Chennai. From here his papers for NZ were processed and in March 2013, Palani found himself in New Zealand. Today, as per the Amnesty International report Sri Lankas Assault on Dissent: Sri Lanka is failing to comply with its international obligations to respect and protect the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, as well as other rights. Civil society activists and others who have expressed dissent have been subjected to threats, harassment and intimidation, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, torture and other ill-treatment, and in some cases have been killed; some have fled the country for their own protection and now live abroad. Even today, the 20-30 age group is missing from the areas. Some pay money, the lucky ones escape and no one knows what happened to the rest. If I had remained there, I would have been the one of the missing ones too, Palani says. He carries a bit of the war with him even today. Two pieces of shrapnel from the injuries he sustained in the attack are still lodged in his leg and he is currently on a waiting list at a New Zealand hospital to have them removed. The route of redress and justice is not easy. Suffering and grief is an intensely personal experience. So, as an outsider, I can never fully understand it, remarked Gordon Weiss former UN Former UN spokesperson in Sri Lanka until 2009 and author of The Cage - The fight for Sri Lanka & the Last Days of the Tamil Tigers. Grief is not necessarily something that will give the issue a hearing. This issue needs to be dealt with realism, pragmatism, not idealism. Weiss was particularly referring to qualifying the situation in Sri Lanka as genocide. Even so, the UN, the commonwealth and Sri Lankas bilateral partners would play a vital
Part II of a special series. For part I visit www.iwk.co.nz
ll eyes are on Sri Lanka as it is poised to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November this year. So far, Canada has vociferously opposed this in light of Sri Lankas abysmal Human Rights record. Currently in Sri Lanka, the crackdown on Tamils continues. While some would stop shy of calling this genocide, it is clear that an independent, transparent investigation of old and new cases of human rights violations and war crimes is urgently needed. In Sri Lanka, there is a pervasive sense of subjugation and only a veneer of peace. There have been some positive changes in recent times, like the emergence of large scale protests, to which the government has reacted with severe heavy handedness, said Kadambari Gladding, an independent journalist based in New Zealand. So, while war is over, attention must not shift from the ongoing crackdown on dissent. She adds that some of those who seek refuge overseas are no doubt economic migrants but most are largely genuine asylum seekers. 33 year old Palani, talking in flat consonants of Tamil and an even tone, speaks of his own journey from the military camp in northern Sri Lanka to the far shores of New Zealand. In the immediate aftermath of war in mid2009, captured civilians were herded into enclosures, stripped naked and waved this way or that. 5 people per tent, 50 people per toilet. Everyone bathed at a common lake and slept on the bare ground. Sometimes, army personnel randomly questioned and took children away. Their mothers never dared to protest, lest they
role in keeping the pressure on in ensuring the government meets international obligations and ensures accountability. The war started for a reason. I do believe that the Tamils were being marginalizedin some areas and the Singhalese only policybrought about by the former Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranaike, no doubt contributed to it. Though I dont blame the Tamils for the uprising, I dont condone terrorism at all by LTTEor any other organisation such as the Taliban.Sri LankanTamils as well as Singhalese both were victims of the war, says Asoka Basnayake who is a member of the Auckland Council Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel and who witnessed the start of the war in 1983up until she migrated in 1996. Basnayake, a Sinhalese left after she saw signs of the war intensifying and narrowly escaping a couple of bomb attacks. She lost friends and relatives in the war, includinga close friendwho was killed by the LTTE in one of the early conflicts. The war may be over in Sri Lanka, but is it over for the diaspora globally? I dont think so. Most Sri Lankans in New Zealand are reluctant to speak about the war or share their opinion. Their fear is palpable and they worry about the safety of loved ones back in Sri Lanka. So, why has Palani, a recent refugee, agreed to speak out? To tell the truth, he says simply. In spite of so much already being lost, if I speak the truth, then maybe, at least some people will benefit and something will be saved. (This is the concluding part of the special series. Some names have been changed)
TRAVEL
A weekend encounter with the big cats

IWK Bureau
hen my family came from India, one of the things I thought we left behind, was the opportunity to show my daughter the wild big cats, and what they would look in the wild. Well, I need not have worried, I realised after I visited the Kingdom of Zion. Kingdom of Zion is a tranquil countryside retreat near Whangarei in Northland, New Zealand, and is home to the Lionman, Craig Busch. The park provides a sanctuary to 33 big cats lions, tigers, cheetahs, and a black leopard. Yes! 33 big cats. Not an easy task to get them here and to provide a good lifestyle to them. However most of the cats are in huge cages, but care has been taken to give them enough open space to have a fight or just walk around. What really sets this part apart is that Kingdom of Zion is dedicated to the preservation of big cats. Many of these animals are extremely rare and some are even extinct in the wild. But the passion of Craig Busch and his team has made them survive in a remote land like New Zealand.
The cats at Zion have been with the team for many years and almost all of them are so close to their trainers that they just respond to them fast! One actually made a Lion look at my lens for a nice click! One of the main Lion, has been used
in the shooting of the Holywood movie, Narnia. Sure, they didnt have much of retakes. Apart from a good day out, Its nice to take the family out for a field day at Zion, to appreciate the great gift of nature, in the form of these
majestic big cats. Thanks to efforts of some environmentalists like Craig Busch, our next generation can have a look at real-life Lions, Tigers and the kind. To help fund habitat development and the ongoing care of the big cats, they offer a range of guided tours, available daily. From a normal guided tour, to a feed tour, they also offer a fullday behind-the-scenes look at what happens at the Kingdom of Zion. Its more than worth a look. For more details, you can go on their website: www.kingdomofzion.co.nz
FEATURES
23
NZTCs Bachelor of Teaching (ECE) revamped for 2013

New Zealand Tertiary College launches a fully reviewed and updated Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) program on the 1st of July 2013. NZTC is excited to unveil the updated program, which incorporates the latest research on the care and education of young children, as well as extensive feedback from students, Associate Teachers and early childhood experts. NZTCs academic team ensured the new program aligns with the Colleges values and the New Zealand Teachers Council Graduating Teacher Standards. The program has been approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and the New Zealand Teachers Council. This achievement celebrates NZTCs aim to empower our graduates with the knowledge, skills, values and beliefs necessary for them to serve young children and their families with excellence, and reflects the Colleges commitment to enabling our students life-long learning journeys through flexible modes of study. Features of the 2013 Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) include: Emphasis on practical application The field practice courses have been extended from 18 to 20 weeks over the 3 years to allow students more time to build knowledge and confidence in practice. Studying through NZTC Online, the Colleges unique online learning environment, while developing skills in an early childhood centre, enables students to immediately make connections between theory, early childhood experiences, resources and teaching methods. Online communities Online community forums are integral to each course. In the forums students engage in support and learning discussions with peers and lecturers. Students are a part of a supportive community of learners irrespective of their location throughout New Zealand. New Infants and Toddlers course Infants and Toddlers is a new course focussing on the care and education of children under two years of age. Students engage in this specialist area considering the unique characteristics of this age group and promote appropriate learning experiences. Interactive learning
EDUCATION
New Zealand Te reo Mori is woven throughout all course content, block courses and field practice placements. NZTC lecturers have written and produced a new resource - Te reo Mori: He taonga mo ttou Mokopuna - to support students with their familiarity and pronunciation of te reo. Wide range of block course topics A newly developed block course schedule ensures all students access to a wide range of relevant topics. Block courses are structured to ensure equity for students throughout the different regions in New Zealand. As with our current Bachelor of Teaching (ECE) program, graduates are eligible to apply for New Zealand Teachers Council provisional registration. Contact us now for more information on studying this or any one of our specialist early childhood programs. Call (09) 520 4000 or email international@ nztertiarycollege.ac.nz
Students have access to new videos, audios, power-points, diagrams and tools to support learning and self-assessment in each course. Celebration of biculturalism in Aotearoa/
Managing reactions gives freedom

Brahmachari Adarsh Chaitanya
HERITAGE
ne day a friend of mine was narrating how he had one of the worst days of his life where he nearly lost his job. It goes something like this He was preparing his tea in the morning, and as he was going to the table with that hot cup of tea, he did not notice his wifes cat shot by from under the table. Obviously startled by that, the hot cup of tea fell on his office trousers. It so happened his wife walked in at that moment. She was busy preparing the lunch boxes for the kids. He immediately screamed at her for bringing that useless cat home. Now he had to go iron another pair of trousers for work, as there was an important presentation at work that day. Being in a foul mood he could not find a suitable pair of pants and he kept screaming at his wife for not doing the washing, etc. She in turn started shouting at her two boys for taking time with their breakfast, as she had to clean up and go to work as well. Each time he would shout at her, she would shout at the boys, you have not done your bed the room is a pigsty your earlier lunch is still there, etc. He finally huffed and puffed and kept shouting at everyone about how he was late due to the cat and how he had told that he doesnt want an animal in the house, etcThroughout the ride to
the school the atmosphere in the car was either of an ere negative silence or if something was said it would be a scolding or a sarcastic comment. The boys obviously reacted by showing an attitude by banging the car door as a sign of their discontentment. Even that spread more negative energy in the car between husband and wife. Since
time to himself but the traffic was really building stress in him. Finally, he reached work only half an hour before his meeting. As he was getting ready for it he realized that he had forgotten to save the updated file which he had worked on in the morning. Needless to say that realization shattered whatever little poise he had left. As a
Even the greatest of disasters, only become inspiring stories later on in our lives if we can climb out of it with a positive mindset.
REALITY. He let a soiled trouser, nearly ruin his career that day and more importantly spoil relations with his family. He said what if that was the last time I was going to speak to my wife and children, would I want those words to be the last words they recall? He said, his negative reactions brought only negativity to his environment that day, and that a positive action of quietly going and finding a trouser would have ended all that negativity from spreading. If I hadnt been so preoccupied with so many negative thoughts when I left home, probably I would have even remembered to take that file who knows? Thus, to manage our reactions is to free us from a chain of negative thinking. Very often we bind ourselves with it. We would all be so much freer from all the negative thoughts that our mind entertains if only we manage our strong reactions to situations. See the travesty and the consequence of holding on to them. Remember, even the greatest of disasters, only become inspiring stories later on in our lives if we can climb out of it with a positive mindset. Bramhachari Adarsh Chaitanya serves as the Resident Acharya of Chinmaya Mission Auckland and conducts weekly spiritual classes for children, youth and adults. For more information about the Chinmaya Mission and Bramhachari Adarsh Chaitanya please follow this link: www. chinmaya.org.nz or contact him at 2756954
they were late to leave home that morning, they obviously met the rush hour traffic. As a result he was getting delayed even further. All this was working on his mind and his conversations with his wife sounded increasingly like World War III, where she felt he had no right to blame her for his sloppiness and that she was equally busy too. After leaving her to work my friend had some
result, the meeting was less effective and hence his boss wasnt at all impressed with him and threatened to relieve him from his duties. I was so surprised to hear this story because I knew the person to be a positive man of great achievement. He then told me what he learnt from the incident. He learnt that REACTIONS GIVE
24
FEATURES
India, of her memories

Anita Desai, one of Indias premier novelists, shares titbits of her life and writing with Arwa Janjali in an exclusive chitchat at the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival last month
inding warmth in Fire on the Mountain in a cosily cold Indian winter is probably one of my early memories of Anita Desai and reading books at large. Immersing into the world she creates is nothing less than luxury, those who have devoured her books will agree. Sometimes dreamy, sometimes disturbing, her writing has been rich in language. Even though she has been known to choose her words carefully, she has never refrained from an overuse in order to make her pages moving pictures. But in person, she speaks with careful thought and minimal words. Born to a German mother and Bengali father, Anita is among the first Indian writers in English, a term bestowed on Indian writers back in the 40s and 50s who chose to write in English rather than Hindi or any of the other Indian languages. She is also among those Indian writers, whose works have garnered international recognition but still remain lesser known in the country. Vivid portrayals on different facets of India, her books have only been revived in recent years and made available for access to Indian readers. What has it been like for her to write books, which have essentially been Indian but have catered to an international audience? This was a great discussion in the 50s. Since Indian publishers were interested in publishing only textbooks, we didnt have much of a choice but to send our manuscripts abroad. Things changed in the 80s, she tells us.
Despite publishing constraints back home, Fire on the Mountain earned her the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 1978. She went on to win the Guardian Childrens Fiction prize for her 82 novel The Village by the Sea: an Indian family story. In addition, she has been shortlisted thrice for the Booker Prize. As a writer, Anita has always believed in drawing from her inner self and thus, her writings have mainly revolved around personal memories and her observations on life. How easy it is to rely solely on memories though? We
ask. It is not easy. There is always doubt and fear. Because with memories, no matter how vivid, they are slipping away. One has stepped away from them, she says. Just like she has from India. Living now in a small village on the outskirts of New York, Anita continues to write about the India of her past, the India where she grew up. But she admits to not having the same fondness for the country anymore. I keep going back as I have family there. But I am not very comfortable with the place now. I havent lost a country as much as I have lost the time, she
takes a thoughtful pause and continues, India is engulfed by speed and progress. People live such different lives there. I feel I should now step out of it and I think I have stepped out too. She must have lost the time she cherished but that doesnt keep her from reliving her memories through writing. After taking a detour with Fasting, Feasting, in which she explored the American culture, she is back to narrating Indian stories with her latest release The Artist Of Disappearance. I gave up writing on America because it was something I dont understand very well. You need familiarity, she stresses. At the age of 76, the dreaminess in Anitas eyes and voice is unmistakable. And when we mention her daughter Man Booker Prizewinning novelist Kiran Desai her voice takes on a much more endearing tone. All my four kids resisted writing first. They were like oh you writers have such boring lives. We will do something more exciting. But once Kiran started writing, she couldnt stop. I share a good companionship with her. We share ideas. Earlier I had no one to share my writing with, she says. Talking about Kiran, she also observes how young women writers today are much more aware of their society. They dont write in a state of unconsciousness as we used to. And that awareness forms a part of their thinking and writing process, she says, transporting me back to the same warmth of her books as we part.
BOOK REVIEW
Fear and loathing in Bombay, then and now

A Review of The Quarantine Papers by Kalpish Ratna
The Plague Inspectors broke into homes, summarily removed anybody they found having a fever The quarantine was ingenious. It even dealt with Bombays railways and roads. Plague passes were issued for people who wanted to go from Bandra to Mahim Inspectors were stationed along the causeway. In you boarded the train at Bandra, the carriage doors were locked shut till you reached Grant Road or Mahalakshmi. There you were jumped by the Plague Inspectors, and whisked away to a hospital or a Segregation Camp. They learnt and perfected it here, the British. It would be their model for the Concentration Camps in South Africa that Alfred Milner would establish two years later during the Boer War. This was Queen Victorias Diamond Jubilee! Hitler was just a copycat. It all sounds sane at this remove, but imagine it happening to you! The book is set on a somewhat flimsy premise of a secret pact made by four men that must be honoured by their families down the ages; flimsier still is the story of the protagonist Ratan who lives two lives one his own in 1993 and one of his grandfather a century before. His grandfathers memories and experiences of communal tension are sparked into urgent action when Bombay breaks out into riots and communal violence following the destruction of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. Ratan slips in and out of history as he tries to make sense of inexplicable bits of knowledge and a sense of tragedy that must be averted. As a laboratory technician he finds himself working on victims of communal violence; however, his medical knowledge and skills belong to the doctor his grandfather was. He struggles to come to terms with what these flashbacks are trying to tell him even as his modern-day surroundings fill him with anger and despair. The book works despite its undeniable flaws because of its evocative storytelling. Bombay of 1993 comes alive, with its fear and disbelief, as does the Bombay of 1896 wracked by disease and consequences such as evacuation, segregation and travel restrictions.
Sunayana Roy
aediatric surgeon, columnist and novelist Kalpana Swaminathan has made a name for herself in Indian literary circles today with her engrossing mystery novels featuring female detective Last Resort Lalli. She has also written unusual childrens fiction such as Ordinary Mr Pai and Gavial Avial. She is equally prolific as half the person behind Kalpish Ratna, the pseudonym used by her and her surgeon and writer colleague Ishrat Syed, for articles, columns and eight books written together. Their common interests, history and medicine, come together, compellingly, in The Quarantine Papers. Published in 2010, this is a mystery novel set against two historic events in Bombay the riots of 1993 and the plague of 1896.
A short description of the bubonic plague in Bombay may be found here: www.iias.nl/ iiasn/25/regions/25SA1.html
FEATURES
25
Panchatantra retold in classic style

P
rayas Youth Theatre (PYT), a newly formed youth wing of the local community theatre group Prayas, was voted audience favourite into the Gala Finals of the annual Short and Sweet Dance festival this year. They were recognised with a Spirit of the Festival award as well as Highly Commended by the judges as they competed with an array of professional dancers around New Zealand. PYTs 10 minute performance was a dance-drama adaptation of an Indian fable (Panchatantra tale) that chronicles the friendship between a crocodile and a monkey. The story is told in a part-dance part-narration format, adapting and juxtaposing the distinct dance style of Bharatnatyam (classical Indian dance form) with contemporary. S + S is an international performing arts festival that runs in Auckland, Australia, India, Malaysia, Singapore and Dubai.It brings a compilation of the best ten minutes of short
Pics: Ronberg Creative
dance, theatre and song performances. Prayas Youth Theatre was chosen under the dance category to perform at this biggest little dance festival in the world.
Weekend of Nasha
After a hiatus of a few months, Nasha the band of passionate performers was back to performing live at an intimate concert at Mt Albert War Memorial Hall in Auckland.
Back Row L to R: Ben Fernandez, Gina Treleaven, Rebecca Rose Reid, Carla Tinsley, Maddie Reid, Olivia Bloxham, Carly Gill, Natasha Easey, Theresa Murphy, Liam Smith, Manjit Singh Middle L to R, kneeling:MarkPinto de Menezes, Michelle Edwards, Emma Bell Front L to R kneeling: Raul Cardoza, Priya Shankar, Ajitpal Singh Saini, Dean Rodrigues, Maria OFlaherty
L to R: Olivia Bloxham, Maddie Reid, Rebecca Rose Reid, Raul Cardoza, Maria OFlaherty, Theresa Murphy, Emma Bell & Michelle Edwards perform to the song Senorita
(Top) Nasha with Priya Shankar: L to R: Raul Cardoza, Priya Shankar, Ben Fernandez,MarkPinto de Menezes, Manjit Singh, Ajitpal Singh Saini, Dean Rodrigues & Liam Smith (Left) Singer Priya Shankar - IWK Bureau The Bhangra Troupe performing Anakh Punjab Di
26
Varanasis oldest Ramleela on screen
(Top) The oldest Ramleela in Varanasi. (Below) A still from Isaaq.
hanks to his Maharaja uncle, Manish is the first filmmaker to be granted permission to shoot Varanasis oldest Ramleela. Manish Tiwary has a special relationship with Varanasi. After all, the directors uncle is the Maharaja of Benares. And thanks to his connections with the royalty, Manishs film has captured one of the citys oldest Ramleelas that has been running across three centuries, thanks to the patronage of the citys royal family, said an official spokesperson. The directors maternal uncle is apparently Maharaja Anant Narayan Singh. Manishs film, which is an adaptation of Shakespeares classic Romeo and Juliet, has been shot in Varanasi. A source from the sets said, The Ramleela has been running in the city since the past 300 years. Never before has anyone apparently got the permission to shoot Varanasis biggest Ramleela at Ramnagar and Nati Imli. According to Manish, several requests had been made to the Maharaja before to shoot his cultural event but every request had been rejected. The director said, I actually started my film career by making a short feature on this Ramleela. At that time, my maternal grandfather was the Maharaja. So I had received the permissions to go ahead with my shoot. This particular event has not been exposed to modern technology. The traditions have been kept intact and there are no extra lights or mics used. The Maharajas Ramleela attracts a huge crowd of people, often numbering to around 10 lakh. While shooting for his Prateik-Amyra Dastur starrer, Manish said he successfully managed to avoid any security hassles for his cast and crew. Varanasi is my hometown and I had a sense of confidence while shooting there. People there are used to seeing moviemakers visiting the city so they tend to ignore you, he said. Issaq slated to release onJuly 26.
ENTERTAINMENT
27
WHATSOn
Vote for these Desi Dance Queens
Hit ground running with these specially designed workshops by the Auckland Regional Migrant Charitable Trust. Learn about New Zealand employment culture and labour market, get expert advise on how to write a kiwi style CV and learn about effective job search strategies. Just take along a copy of your passport showing your personal details and current immigration status.
Auckland Heritage Festival
Pakistan Independence Day Celebrations

Pakistani Community and Student Association are invited to register interest to represent their culture by performing at the 67th Pakistan Independence Day Celebrations. There is a call for participation in a variety of programmes from quiz and face painting to fancy dress to drawing competitions for kids. Mail on the below link to register and for more info.
Play: The Worlds Worst Fight Adam & Eve When: Till June 22, 8pm Where: The Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre Play: The Blue Balloon When: June 25 to 29, 8pm Where: The Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre Play: Geetas first world problems When: June 25 to 29, 8pm Where: The Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre Play: Feature Wall When: June 25 to 29, 8pm Where: The Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre
When: July 6, 6pm. Where: Dorothy Winston Center, Gate 2,

16 Howe St.
When: August 24, 4:30pm onwards Where: Dorothy Winston Centre Hall,
Admission: $20 Web Links: Check out their Facebook
Auckland Girls Grammar School, 16 Howe St Freemans Bay Web Links: info@panznz.co.nz
page Vote Apsaras Da Crew Challenge Competition for more details
Childrens Book Awards

Auckland Heritage Festival 2013 is an opportunity to celebrate our natural, cultural and built heritage at events across the region, including fun activities for children and families, tours of historic sites, concerts, local festivals, family-tree workshops, heritage walks, film screenings and more. From kiwis to cakes, the diverse range of finalists in this years New Zealand Post Childrens Book Awards will be celebrated with free events at Auckland Libraries during June. Storytime takes to the big screen, at the Academy Cinema, with finalistsMelu, Mister Whistler, A Great Cakeand other favourite stories shown on screen, followed by a scavenger hunt. Other events are also planned for libraries around Auckland in the week before the winners are announced, including author and illustrator appearances and cupcake tea parties. The 2013 festival aims to reinforce the contribution of heritage to the character and quality of Aucklands places and landscapes. The three key themes of the 2013 festival are Aucklands waterways, celebrating our heritage, learning and encouragement. Auckland Council is calling for expressions of interests from event organisers, community groups and organisations.
Seminar on Employee Rights Short+Sweet Theatre 2013

Settlement Support NZ (SSNZ) North Shore is hosting this free seminar to assist newcomers gain a better understanding of Employee rights in the NZ Workplace : Types of employment agreements, leave entitlements and employment relations. Experts from Waitakere Community Law Services and The NZ Human Rights Commission will be presenting.
The Short+Sweet Festival this year has an exciting line-up of plays. From comedy to physical theatre, deep drama to superheroes, its got it all perfectly packaged and its only ever minutes to the next one! Check out some of these, which are not to be missed. For more info, log on to www.shortandsweet.org.nz.
When: September 28 to October 13 Web Links: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Play: Reading Lamouche When: Till June 22, 8pm Where: The Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre
International or Mr. Sandeep Mathur, GOPIO Waikato, Youth President
When: Tuesday, July 2, 9:30am 12:00noon Where: Level 1, Norman King Building (opposite) Northcote Library, Norman King Square, Ernie Mays Street, Northcote. To register call on (09) 486 8635 or mail at ssnznorthshore@raeburnhouse.org.nz
When: The whole month of June. Results of the awards: June 24 Where: Central City Library
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28
ENTERTAINMENT
SRK following Aamirs footsteps?

Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri Khan are expecting their third child, media reports said. According to reports, the couple is having their child through surrogacy. The baby is a boy, so Suhana will now have another brother after Aryan. It was entirely Gauris decision to go in for surrogacy, an insider said. SRK and Gauri consulted the same doctor that Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao went to for their baby Azad who, too, was born to a surrogate mother. Apparently Gauri was keen to have a third child, reports said. The couple has two children - son Aryan (15) and daughter Suhana (13).
Ugly receives standing ovation atCannes

Actor Rahul Bhat starrer Ugly recently received a standing ovation at the Cannes International Film Festival. Rahul Bhat said he was excited to walk the Red Carpet as his latest movie Ugly was screened atCannes2013. The talented actor, who plays the lead in
Anurag Kashyup directorial venture after Gangs of Wasseypur, is also the surprise element of the movie. The film was screened on May 19 at the prestigious film festival and even received a standing ovation. Not only did the movie receive a great response, but Rahul Bhat too was appreciated for his performance.
A source close to Rahul Bhat said, Rahul has been on cloud 9 ever since the screening and the subsequent response he got atCannes. Rahul Bhat says, The feeling has still not sunk in and it still feels like a dream. Produced by DAR Motion Pictures and Phantom, the movie has already garnered a lot of media attention and has become one of the most awaited releases of the year.
ENTERTAINMENT
29
Aamir loved Ship of Theseus

Kiran Rao, in collaboration with UTV Motion Pictures, has decided to release director Anand Gandhis critically acclaimed film Ship of Theseus in India. Sreya Basuchats up with the filmmaker on her latest project
What prompted you to take the responsibility to releaseShip of Theseusin India? I first heard of the film about two years ago. It was the same year when my film Dhobi Ghat (2011) had released. The director of the Toronto Film Festival wrote to me that he had seen 10 minutes of an incredible film Ship of Theseus by a filmmaker called Anand Gandhi, and suggested me to look at it. The film then had a long journey it was completed last year (2012) and I finally got to see it in November at Enlighten Film Festival and had my mind blown away. It was then I decided that I have to be associated with this film in some way or the other. Did Aamir Khan (actor-producer and Kirans husband) help you out with marketing tips for this film? When Aamir saw the film he liked it very much. We were wanting to take his suggestions on this matter. He helped us a lot in the beginning. He told me that you have to nurture a film like this and give it a special sort of release because if you arrange a broad-based release, the film will suffer as certain expectations from the film will built up which wont be met. We did take his advice from time-to-time but by and large, he has just been an outside supporter. Is it true that Aamir is behind the poster of this film? You can say that. Though the original poster was an apt representation of the film, we dedicated months on creating a more simplified poster. We were discussing the new poster when Aamir walked into the room and said: This poster is good. But where is the original poster and why arent you using that? Its clutter-breaking and something that has never been used as a film poster anywhere. So we decided to go on with the original poster. What are the criteria that you look for in order to promote a film or a script? When I see a film, my immediate reaction is purely instinctive. Whenever I like a film, I keep thinking how can I take the flick forward or get associated with it. Same goes with scripts. When I read the script ofDelhi Belly(2011), I found it very funny and immediately said this script should be made into a film. Every film has a different journey and you learn something new from every film. I dont really have a plan that we will choose a film based on a set rules or some defined subjects. By chance if we come across a good script or see a good film, we get attached to it.
So are you planning a production house? There is no long-term plan to present films or start a production house. I am still with Aamir Khan Productions and I still direct and produce for them. So there is no separate production house. This release is just me and its just because I loved the film.
THE HOME OF
INTRODUCING OUR NEW MOVIE CLUB...
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FRIDAY 21 JUNE 2013
Raanjhanaa is an upcoming 2013 Hindi romance film, directed by Anand L. Rai and written by Himanshu Sharma. The music of the film is composed by double Academy Award Winner, A. R. Rahman. Rated: (TBC)
NOW SHOWING
re a tga tsbym ovie.com.au theg reMusic a tga tsbym ovie.com.au facebook.com/roadshownz thegreatgatsbymovie.co.nz Soundtrack Album on Universal Music AustraliaSoundtrack Album on Universal Australia
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IN CINEMAS JUNE 6
JATT & JULIET 2

THURSDAY 27 JUNE 2013
After a huge success of Jatt & Juliet, the producers have making a sequel, Jatt & Juliet 2, will feature Diljit Dosanjh and Neeru Bajwa in lead roles Rated: (TBC)
DRESS UP IN 1920s GLAM &
WIN
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UPLOAD YOUR PHOTO TO OUR EVENT CINEMAS FACEBOOK PAGE & BE IN TO WIN!
IN CINEMAS JUNE 6
GHANCHAKKAR
FRIDAY 28 JUNE 2013
Ghanchakkar (English: Crazzy) is an upcoming Bollywood comedy thriller film directed by Rajkumar Gupta[1] and produced by Ronnie Screwvala & Siddharth Roy Kapur from UTV Motion Pictures. The film features Emraan Hashmi opposite Vidya Balan in the lead. Rated: (TBC)
TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY. COMPETITION END 11 JUNE 2013.
BOOK ONLINE AT www.eventcinemas.co.nz
30
RECIPE
Matar Ka Nimona [ Green Pea Curry ]

Ingredients 1 cup- peas boiled (if they are frozen thaw them and boil them) 1 Big potato boiled and cubed 1- Small onion grated 1 tsp- garlic paste 1tsp- ginger paste cup- tomato puree 1tsp- cumin powder 2tsp- coriander powder 1tsp- red chilli powder tsp- turmeric powder 1tsp- garam masala powder 1tbsp- oil for cooking Salt according to taste Oil for frying Method Heat oil in a wok, fry the boiled and cubed potatoes Keep them on absorbent kitchen paper and keep them aside Heat 2tbsp of oil in a pan add grated onions, when they are light brown in colour add garlic paste, stir, and add ginger. Continue to stir on low heat and add all the powders Mix all the powders well, while on low heat. Add tomato puree to this cooked onion masala, cook further until the oil separates from the masala Add peas puree to the masala keep stirring until oil separates Add the fried potatoes with 1 glass of water to make a gravy Cover and cook until boiling and turn off heat Garnish with chopped fresh coriander and serve hot with Naan or Roti. Or you can even toss them on the barbeque for a few minuites Serve with tamarind chutney or sauce of your choice.
Rubys Kitchen By Ruby Dhillon
FEATURES
31
Nandos gets a makeover
IWK Bureau
aiters with iPads to take your orders, fine cutlery arranged on tables and interiors as slick and cosy as a lounge... Nandos has just got a new face in New Zealand. The new franchise of this popular Portuguese-meets-African restaurant chain introduces the fine-dining concept. This is the first Nandos in NZ which offers fine-dining service. Started by the owners of India Gate
Kuldeep and Shivani Arora in the beginning of this month, the latest franchise is in the premises of India Gate. We thought the combination of both Indian and African cuisines in the same premise would give our guests a variety to choose from, says Mrs Arora. Although creating an atmosphere way more luxurious than the rest of the franchises, the menu of this excitingly new avatar of Nandos offers the good old tastes. We havent changed anything in the menu but have only attempted to give the place a refreshing feel, Mrs Arora informs. The Arora familys association with
Nandos goes back to 2005, when they bought their first Nandos franchise in Hamilton. At the time, that was the only Nandos in Hamilton, Mrs Arora says. Following their first purchase, they started the second franchise in Hamiltons The Base Shopping Centre, in a short span of time. I always liked the service and food of Nandos. The franchises had a very systematic approach, she adds. But the decision to start the third one in Auckland was purely on the insistence of friends and wellwishers. Owing to our hospitality and service, our friends insisted that we start a branch here,
Mrs Arora tells us. With two popular food joints rolled into one, the foodies in town now have the ideal haunt to dig into. Bon Appetit!
73
E R CT DE RA H W N U NT NT CO VE SE
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21 June, 2013 Vol. 5 Issue 4 | www.iwk.co.nz

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Aaradhna Patel makes waves at the

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The details that make-up people

Veteran interviewer Sudhir Gadgil

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Young professionals take charge

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