Posts in Ethnic communities
'We can utterly refute this allegation'

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.  

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Korea is in turbulence

Democratic practice has been largely withdrawn by untested leaders in Korea.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.

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Filipino food experience at Learn from What You Eat programme

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.

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Exploitation: Auckland car-wash pays $35,151 to migrant employees

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

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Grateful: Thank you for the rebuild: Streets, Durham St Methodist community Ministry, to migrant construction workers

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.

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'We want our four-month-old daughter back and some time to look for other options', says Indian couple whose child was removed by Child, Youth and Family on February 20

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.

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Singaporean doctor dies in Hagley Park

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. 

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Fiji community lose a dedicated nurse

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.

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Two Indians stabbed during Domino's Bishopdale aggravated robbery

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."

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Labour: Chch's Bahn Thai Restaurant to pay 25k for three categories of breaches of minimum code requirements

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.

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Colours: Chch's Holi will be a free event this time

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.

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Book on Rewi Alley available from April 1

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).

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Multiculturalism: Chch City Council to adopt the Multicultural Strategy on Feb 9

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.

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Recap 2016

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.

 

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Festival: Celebrate Bishopdale!

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.

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Expo: Migrant business is very important to us - Eric Chuah, Head of Migrant Banking at ANZ, NZ

- 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.

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Community: Vigil held in Christchurch for Brisbane driver

On Friday, November 4, an intimate gathering of friends and family mourning the loss of Manmeet Alisher – a 29-year-old Indian bus driver living in Brisbane who was brutally murdered – was held outside Victoria Square in Christchurch. Manmeet was driving a local city council bus when he burnt to death after being doused in inflammable liquid and set alight by a passenger on the bus. Anthony O’Donohue has been charged with murder, arson and 11 other counts of attempted murder relating to the tragic incident. So far, authorities have ruled out terrorism or racial hate as being motives behind the attack.

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Report: Government and some industries see immigration as an easy-fix to skill shortages, rather than tipping the balance in favour of upskilling young New Zealanders - Salvation Army NZ

No young person must be allowed to leave school to nothing—no job, no further training, no hope. The Salvation Army is issuing this challenge to the New Zealand community in a report titled ‘What Next?’, focused on the employment needs of 15- to 24-year-olds.

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