In a panel discussion organised by the Khadija Leadership Network (KLN) and Pearl of the Islands Foundation in Auckland on Tuesday, three women MPs - Golriz Ghahraman of the Green Party, Parmjeet Parmar of the opposition National Party, and Priyanca Radhakrishnan of the ruling Labour Party, participated.
And once again as a proof of success of people of Indian origin, in whatever field they choose to in New Zealand, two Kiwi-Indians figure prominently in the top 10. While Auckland-based Dev Dhingra of The Fundmaster secured his second spot for the second year running, Christchurch-based Nathan Miglani of Loan Market was ranked sixth.
The ongoing exhibition at Depot Artspace in Auckland, Sex Workers of Aotearoa – a day in the life of, is unique in every possible sense. While challenging the beliefs, the stigma and the stereotypes that surround New Zealand’s sex industry, it is also a behind-the-curtain into an industry still fighting for mainstream space, almost 17 years after the Prostitution Reform Act was passed in 2003, which decriminalised sex work in Aotearoa New Zealand. “But most importantly, the exhibition is about sex workers taking charge of how they want to be represented. We need to tell our own stories. Sure, stereotypes exist, but they don’t represent everyone,” says Jordan Quinn, the curator of the exhibition.
The biggest private sector union in New Zealand, E tū, has suspended a staff member and unionist, after a female business owner has come forward with allegations that the E tū representative had demanded sexual favours from her, in return for settling her worker exploitation case in which he [the E tū representative] was involved as a mediator. Confirming this was Bill Newson, E tū National Secretary, who said, “I can confirm that I have received a complaint making serious allegations against one of my staff.”
If a single word could describe Bala Beeram’s – once again National’s candidate from Kelston – passion for joining politics, it would be education. Which actually is no surprise given, both he and his wife, were teachers in India before immigrating to New Zealand, some 21 years back. He comes from Andhra Pradesh and is a proud father of a 19-year-old daughter who is training to become a neuroscientist.
Migrants Workers Association (MWA) of Aotearoa organized two rallies, in Auckland and in Wellington, over the weekend, to highlight the plight of work visa holders, both onshore and offshore.
Our Hijrah, a research project undertaken by Khadija Leadership Network (KLN), is aiming to record and understand the journeys of Muslim women in New Zealand, and their contribution and service to their communities. The project is partially funded by UNESCO New Zealand.
As part of the world’s largest evacuation exercise undertaken by the Government of India (GOI), which till now has brought over half a million Indians safely back to India, the New Zealand leg of Vande Bharat Mission (VBM) finished on July 3. In total, over the course of just over a month, the leg which started on June 7, took 1,650 Indians stranded in New Zealand back home, covered across 10 flights. Nine were flown by Air India, and one was a private charter.
Organised by the Facebook group New Zealanders United to Save the Indian Constitution, a small group of protestors gathered on Sunday at Auckland’s Aotea Square, to highlight what they called “arrest and intimidation by instruments of the State of journalists, activists and students”.
“I’m proud Labour has candidates like Dr Gaurav Sharma who is prepared to put his hand up to represent his constituency. As I said at the beginning of the year Labour is focused on running a positive and inclusive campaign. We have fantastic Indian candidates such as Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Baljit Kaur and Dr Sharma who I am hopeful will join our team in Parliament after the election,” PM said.
“Over the last three days our volunteers have been hard at work putting New Zealand Labour Party signs up across the town. This morning we found out that one lovely Hamiltonian was harassed and verbally abused by two sets of people for having signs supporting ‘a curry candidate’”.
In a path-breaking story for Indians in New Zealand, and around the world, New Zealand international, Sarpreet Singh, made his starting eleven debut for Bayern Munich in Bundesliga on Saturday. Starting the match, Singh guarded Munich’s midfield along with his team-mates Leon Goretzka, Michaël Cuisance, and Thomas Müller.
Kiwi-Indian and former List MP from New Zealand First (2014-17), Mahesh Bindra, sat with Gaurav Sharma, Associate Editor of The Indian News, on Tuesday, for a straight talk on a range of issues, including his relationship with Shane Jones and other party leaders, his party's stand on racism, immigration and exploitation of international students coming from India, as well as on New Zealand-India relations going forward.
Labour's rising star, sat with his namesake Gaurav Sharma, Associate Editor of The Indian News, on Thursday, for a straight talk on a range of issues concerning racism, migrant exploitation, his drive in politics, his election campaign for 2020, his priorities for Hamilton West, and Labour's plan for economic revival in a post-covid New Zealand.
Mistake..ek galthi, is an hour-long thriller directed by Santosh Tukkapuram from Hyderabad and produced by Nasir Khan from Islamabad, who also stars in the movie along with Yoshna Singh
I hope to continue in this role as Minister of Ethinic Affairs when we form the next government; Can't comment on Section 64 of Social Security Act 2018 but will advocate for helping migrants in every possible way : Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, National List MP based in Manukau East.
Siva Kilari, 40, came to New Zealand from Tirupati, India, in 2002. A graduate of Loyola College in Chennai, his first part-time job here was picking asparagus on minimum wage at Feilding near Palmerston North, while studying automobile engineering. Now, almost 18 years later, he is the Director of Universal Granite (UC), New Zealand’s leading supplier of stones including marbles, granites, quartzite, soapstone, onyx and more.
Born and brought up in West Bengal, Karpal Singh moved to New Zealand in 2001, as an international student. After completing his studies, he went on to spend over fifteen years in the New Zealand banking and hospitality sectors.
In a first case of its kind in New Zealand, a well-known Kiwi-Indian community leader based in Wellington, Mr Kantilal Bhagabhai Patel, has lost his membership of the Wellington Justices of Peace (JP) Association, after some of his social media posts were deemed anti-Muslim in nature.
New Zealand’s most important historic site. More details at www.waitangi.org.nz
The kauri museum is north of Auckland at Matakohe. It is enroute to the Giant Kauri trees in Waipoua Forest on the Twin Coast Discovery Highway. The award winning Kauri Museum tells the story of our pioneering settlers though the lens of the Kauri Industry. The museum specialises in the legacy of our Kauri Forests; specifically the strong durable timber and the highly prized Kauri Gum.
A polymer science graduate, whose grandfather immigrated to New Zealand from Navsari, Gujarat, believes in doing whatever we can as a society, to make sports gear accessible to everyone, especially the youth of New Zealand society, and our Kiwi-Indian community.
The event was organised in Auckland on Sunday, January 19, with some speakers speaking in favour of CAA as well.
As protests have been raging across India against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC), protests in Auckland are continuing as well.
Manoj Rathi, joint secretary of Pakistan Association of New Zealand who also manages the All Sindhi’s Association of New Zealand, shares his experiences with Gaurav Sharma
Started on December 14 last year, Paanwala New Zealand, which in just under a year, is found in over 20 Indian restaurants and super-markets across Auckland, is looking to expand its footprint to the other two main centres in the new year.
Aminder Gill is a man on a mission. Having played hockey all his life, firstly in his school and college in Punjab, and since 2008 in New Zealand, he now wants to pass on his wealth of knowledge to the younger generation.
Together, Sid and Chand Sahrawat, are a formidable team. What else can describe their achievements in just under ten years. The recent one is of course, their restaurant Sidart, winning the Restaurant of the Year title at the Cuisine Good Food Awards announced last month. But this list is long.
Kush Bhargava, a naturopath by profession, who comes from Madhya Pradesh in India, has been leading the green homes revolution in New Zealand since 2010, when he established his company, the Wellington-based Eco Green Homes.
Last weekend (August 14-15), was very important for the Indian and Pakistani communities across New Zealand. As both countries celebrate their respective independence days on these days. India’s is on August 15, and Pakistan celebrates it a day earlier, on August 14. As such, there were major celebrations planned in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and other major cities, by several Indian and Pakistani community organisations.