In response to our last issue's story about a four-month-old girl being removed by Child, Youth and Family from the custody of her Indian parents, where they had alleged that their daughter is not receiving proper care; The Migrant Times has received the following reply from the mother of the foster parents who took the child under their care. Meanwhile, the child was returned to her Indian parents by Child, Youth and Family on March 9.  

Democratic practice has been largely withdrawn by untested leaders in Korea. However, the impeachment will benefit the expat Koreans as well as people in the Korean peninsula much greater in the future than ever. Through the 1945 liberation, the 1950 Korean War, and the 1961 military coup d'état, Korea has never been able to take away the vested interests of the pro-Japanese regime. Korea’s democracy seemed to be developed off and on owing to the ruling of the opposition democratic forces, but again this impeached Park and the ruling party’s allegiance sparked the public’s desire to reset the Republic of Korea in all aspects including democracy, culture, economy and education.

The culture and cuisines of Filipino food were explained late last month at a project "Learn from What You Eat" gathering at Hagley Community College. As for previous culture and food session, the funding from The Tindall Foundation has enabled the migrants and newcomers families as well as the local residents to understand the NZ's diverse culture and people from different background through the traditional ethnic dish.

A car washing business, called Car-Fe Limited, in Auckland has paid $35,151 in arrears to 97 employees following a Labour Inspectorate investigation which found multiple breaches of employment law. The company's sole director, according to the Companies Office, is former All Blacks star Matthew Ridge. The investigation revealed that Car-Fe Limited underpaid holiday pay, failed to keep proper wage, time and holiday records, or provide employment agreements

To acknowledge the monumental effort migrant construction workers have put in to rebuild the Garden City after the 2011 Earthquake, several community organisations have come together to say “thank you” to them on March 26. The initiative is the brainchild of Rob Ferguson, Chaplain in the city, Durham St Methodist Church, who leads its community ministry called Streets.

The couple presently in Christchurch, who recently lost an appeal seeking refugee status in the Immigration and Protection Tribunal, is alleging that their daughter is continuously sick while in care of Child, Youth and Family, and no proper medication is being given to her. “The Social Worker in-charge also has no idea about the child's health,” said the woman. “Ever since our child was removed, we have not being advised by anyone from Child, Youth and Family on the next course of action. We are in complete dark about what is going on. And being migrants and new to this country, we don't know how things work here,” she added. Meanwhile, CYF denies the allegations. Also, when contacted the Indian High Commission in Wellington confirmed that they have advised CYF that the child should be returned to her parents.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has launched the $6 millionCommunity Resilience Partnership Fund to support the grassroots community projects underway around Christchurch which are helping community wellbeing, resilience, and psychosocial recovery following the earthquakes. "The Government has partnered with Christchurch City Council to each invest $1 million a year for the next three years into the Fund. This initiative was signalled in Budget 2016 and targeted grants are now available," said the Minister. Grants may be one-off, multi-year or graduated investments over three years, with the level of funding decided on a case-by-case basis.

Dr Husaini Abdul Hafiz, a 50-year-old doctor, who had immigrated to New Zealand from Singapore about nine years ago, collapsed and died in Hagley Park while on his way to work on February 13. A founding trustee of the Canterbury Muslim Community Trust (CMCT), Dr Husaini's death is not being treated as suspicious by the New Zealand Police and had been referred to the coroner. "Husaini will be greatly missed by the wider Muslim community of Christchurch for his leadership, enthusiasm and wise council," said CMCY in a social media post. 

The Canterbury Police, after completing scene examination of a shed fire on Tankerville Road in the Christchurch suburb of Hoon Hay have confirmed that the person found deceased in the incident that took place on February 9, 2017, was a 51-year-old woman named Savita Devi Naidu. Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Worner informed that the matter has now been referred to the Coroner. “There are no suspicious circumstances and Police are not seeking anyone else in connection with the death,” he added.

At approximately 10:10pm on February 13, Police received a report of an aggravated robbery at the Domino’s on Harewood Road, Bishopdale. Acting Detective Sergeant Simon Keith informed, "Two men who were heavily disguised have entered the store carrying a firearm and a knife. The two staff members working were threatened by these men and despite following the requests of the offenders, both were stabbed. One received serious but non-life-threatening wounds to the stomach and was transported to Christchurch Hospital, the other was treated at the scene. The offenders fled the store with an undisclosed sum of money."

These include penalty for failure to provide written employment agreements, failure to keep holiday and leave records and failure to keep wage and time records. "The respondent is to pay a penalty to the Crown in the sum of $25,000 in respect of three categories of breaches of minimum code requirements, plus $71.56 to the Labour Inspectorate as reimbursement of its Authority lodgement fee," said David Appleton, member of the Employment Relations Authority, in his judgement dated December 16, 2016.

Almost six years after suffering extensive damage in the 2011 Earthquake, ISKCON Christchurch will be holding a three-day grand opening ceremony of its newly constructed Hare Krishna Centre between 3 and 5 March this year.

Though still over a month to go, the Garden City has already started gearing up for the fourth celebration of Christchurch's Holi - the Festival of Colours. And the icing on the cake is, the event this time - being organised on March 4, Saturday, on the corner of Madras and Gloucester Streets (opposite Latimer Square) in Central City - will have free entry. Christchurch's new Crown company Otakaro Limited is one of the main sponsors of the event.

2017 is the 120th anniversary of the birth of Rewi Alley, whose 60 years of work for the Chinese community has made him one of the most revered foreigners in China. To commemorate the occassion, the book written by his niece Philipa Reynolds in 1997, will be updated and republished by the Christchurch China Sister Cities Committee. More info can be sought from New Zealand China Friendship Society (nzchinasociety.org.nz).

Aimed at three outcomes of Whanaungatanga — sense of belonging, Tūrangawaewae — a place for all to stand, and Whai wahitanga — participation; and in works for years, the final draft of the Christchurch Multicultural Strategy – Our Future Together, is all set to be adopted by the Christchurch City Council on February 9.

The Migrant Times was launched in June. We have published 13 issues till now. Our aim has been to put in the mainstream - the issues, news, views, struggles, successes, and celebrations of the migrant communities in New Zealand. Below we recap what all we published in the year 2016.

Canterbury’s Highway Patrol is reminding motorists to drive with caution while the Lewis Pass alternate highway (State Highway 7) remains the main route between Picton and Christchurch. The Lewis Pass/ Murchison alternate highway is likely to remain the only highway for some time, while the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) continue to clear slips generated by the Kaikoura earthquakes.

Celebrate Bishopdale 2016 was the fourth instalment of the local festival in the Bishopdale suburb of Christchurch. Every year, the event is organised by the Christchurch City Council’s Fendalton/Waimairi Community Governance staff in partnership with the Bishopdale Community Trust. Funding is provided by the Fendalton/Waimairi Community Board. This year, the stage performances started with Isleworth School Kapa Haka; and included Nor'West Brass Band and a dance act by the Christchurch Zhonghua Chinese Society. In all, there were over 30 market stalls for the local community to buy some Christmas gifts.

- he spoke to The Migrant Times after successfully organising the Bank's fourth Migrant Expo, held at the Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau, Auckland on November 5

Around 5,000 visitors attended the event, which started as a pilot three years ago. Last year, the event moved to Sky City and was organised as a family fun day with over 120 stalls.