THE KILLER VIRUS WE GET FROM AUCKLAND COUNCIL

The Killer Virus we get from Auckland Council

Thakur Ranjit Singh

If Phil Goff was running Air New Zealand, the almost empty planes on international routes would still be flying to whichever destination was allowing them to land. And domestic runs would be going at full swing, with or without passengers during this lock down.

That is exactly what happens if you get a boss to run the biggest business in New Zealand, Auckland Council, by a career politician. We have allowed Auckland Council to be headed by a person who has not even run a corner store but who, throughout his political life, has been using other people’s money, without any shareholder accountability or constraints of profitability. Hence we get a mayor we deserve.

Thanks that Air New Zealand, as a prudent company has recruited a former Walmart CEO who has done bigger things and managed a bigger business than Air New Zealand. The airline is thankful for its new CEO Greg Foran, who has economic business acumen, business foresight, and sheer common sense in these unprecedented trying times. Hence, based on demand, he has grounded 95% of flights and has parked the unused planes to cool off and serviced while running skeleton charter, domestic and cargo flights, which make economic sense.

CEO of Air New Zealand, Greg Foran. He has prudently grounded 95% of Air New Zealand flights because of lack of demand. Wonder if he would have allowed empty Metro buses, trains and ferry at Auckland Transport run in a locked-down city, if he were heading Auckland Council?

On the other hand, Phil Goff’s Auckland Council’s Uncontrolled Council Organisation, (read CCO), Auckland Transport are running empty buses on all its routes and operating 95% of service, if not 100%. Same with its rail network, burdening ratepayers with huge unnecessary bills while pretending to provide a service to a city in lock down.

I stay in Te Atatu Peninsular on the routes 131 and 132. Most passengers I saw were no more than two a few times, and none most other times. Most vehicles running on my street are the empty Metro buses-more than cars. As a ratepayer, each time those empty bigger buses (eight-wheeler double axle, with rear door) rumble past my house, it seems to run on my heart, as I with other suffering ratepayers are paying for this economic silliness and folly of Auckland Council, bereft of any business sense and ratepayer responsibility. 

Empty bus, Route 132 in Te Atatu Peninsula. Such empty buses make some 100 empty trips per day from City. Isn't Auckland Transport playing with ratepayers money?

These two bus routes run at every half hour intervals, could be 20 minutes, and make over 80 round trips in 18 hours of operation from 6.00 am to 12 midnight. With estimated 40 km return trip, it adds up to 1,600 km per bus per day. You work out the costs. Would the Mayor Phil Goff, Transport Minister Phil Twyford or Finance Minister Grant Robertson run their father’s bus business or any business on full steam when they have just 1% of revenue or potential customers? Would they have run Air New Zealand normally in the current situation?

They why is Auckland Transport allowed to run its buses, trains and ferry empty when Auckland and New Zealand is in lock down? As I am typing this at 10.30 pm on Wednesday evening, April Fool’s Day (1 April, 2020), 7th day of lock down, those empty buses still run past my house, with my heart crying out for the ratepayers. And same is the story around the city, and I hope other ratepayers see this wastage and may raise their concerns, once they have stocked on their supply of toilet paper and flour.

Another empty bus in Te Atatu Peninsula on 1 April, 2020. This is Route 131. Wonder how many hundreds of other empty buses are running in a locked down city, resulting in wastage of ratepayer money.

The mantra of Auckland Mayor and Auckland Council is that they run this “ESSENTIAL SERVICE FOR ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL”. Have they determined how many essential staff catch their buses on my route which run at all hours, with each costing approximately some $8000 per day? And how many such buses and trains they run throughout the city for “essential personnel”? Wouldn’t it have been cheaper for Auckland Council/Transport to organise taxis or alternative transport for only those essential service personnel these full time buses and trains were supposed to carry? Why did not Auckland Council adjust to this extraordinary situation? Did Auckland Transport look at any cheaper and economically sensible alternative? Weren’t Sky Bus more business-prudent to halt their services to Airport for lack of passengers?

Ironically, I see the Mayor now has set up a Mayoral Business Advisory Panel, while the Council itself is committing this blatantly careless financial idiocy which we ratepayers will pay for.

If this is time to tighten our belts and save money, why is there blatant waste of Auckland ratepayer money by those who could not even seem capable of organising a piss up in a brewery? 

Can Phil Goff and his Mayoral Business Advisory Panel please respond to these questions?

1) How many passengers’ respective bus routes 131 and 132 carried in the first seven days of the lockdown?

2) How many such buses, trains and ferries are running throughout Auckland?

3) How many passengers did they carry throughout Auckland?

4) What is the total cost to Council for running these unnecessary, almost passenger-less services for the last week, and how much was cost per passenger?

5) And the killer, what, if any prudent financial management will Auckland Council mount to counteract this unprecedented economic situation? Will there be a wage and salary cut and freeze?

6) And now to Jacinda Ardern, Grant Robertson and Local Government Minister (if she at all knows what is happening in the Council) – With such Financial absurdity, what recourse, if any, do we suffering ratepayers have for a very wanting business and finance leadership at Auckland Council?

The movers and shakers. From left, Auckland Mayor Phil Goff, Transport Minister, Phil Twyford, Councillor Linda Cooper, National List MP Alfred Ngaro and Chair of Henderson Massey Local Board, Chris Carter. Would any of them run their father's bus business if they were running empty? Then why is Auckland Council burdening the ratepayers with this economic idiocy? Wonder if Phil Goff would have allowed Air New Zealand to fly empty planes if he were heading Air New Zealand during this crisis?

I invite the movers and shakers resident in my suburb of Te Atatu Peninsula to come and let’s sit two meter apart outside my house and cry together as these multiple   empty buses rumble through each way. Will Transport Minister, Phil Twyford, Chair Henderson Massey Local Board, Chris Carter, former Westie Councillor Penny Hulse, National List MP Alfred Ngaro and John Tamihere accept my invitation to witness this Council recklessness?

I hope the Mayor Phil Goff’s Mayoral Business Advisory Panel, together with brains in Auckland Council can make some strategic targeted decisions, and not choose  one-size- fits-all attitude in these difficult times.

All we call upon is to properly assess different locations and provide scaled down services as warranted, so we are able to reduce wastage in these trying times.

[Thakur Ranjit Singh is a media commentator, a journalist and community worker. He runs his blog FIJI PUNDIT]

RE-INVENTING HINDU RELIGION ON RADIO IN FACE OF SOCIAL DISTANCING

RE-INVENTING HINDU RELIGION ON RADIO IN FACE OF SOCIAL DISTANCING

Thakur Ranjit Singh

They say, necessity is mother of invention. We started flying when we saw a great need to travel faster and quicker. We invented phone and radio when humans felt a great need to communicate, and so developed our modern society with new inventions coming as we felt an urge for them. This social distancing has created another need- for religion by radio.

A plea to radio bosses: ROBERT KHAN of Radio Tarana, SATEN PRASAD of Humm 106.2 and IMRAAN HUSSEIN of 990am to stand up and show media and community leadership in addressing the way they present Hindu Programs in face of current crisis and social distancing.

If it was the month of Ramadan, at least two Hindi Radio Stations in Auckland would be daily dedicating three to five hours (if not more) for Islamic programmes, both sponsored and non-sponsored. However, no similar exposure has been noted for Hindu religion. This, however, has never been requested because the religion has a good network in community and did not need radio for its promotion. However, the current restrictions call us to change.

With the current social-distancing announced, and Ram Naumi on our doorsteps, FIJI PUNDIT requests for a Paradigm Shift for Hindi Radio Stations, not only in Auckland, but the whole Fiji Hindu Diaspora around the world. What this means is CHANGING a way of thinking to another due to changed situations. And social distancing and restrictions call in for a change of way things were done.

Such Ramayan recital and discourse can either be pre-recorded or brought live to our homes via Radio during nine days of Ram Naumi. We would sure have proud Hindus and businesses in our community who would be able to sponsor such programs in Radio if stations are nor prepared to do it as community service.

Ram Naumi is the most important continuous religious event of nine days, especially for Fiji Hindus, most of who have their origin in Uttar Pradesh, in Ayodhya, birth place of Shri Ram.

Change is inevitable and necessary in these trying times. Therefore, FIJI PUNDIT directly addressed Messrs Robert Khan, Saten Prasad and Imraan Hussein, respective Managing Directors of Radio Tarana, Humm 106.2 and Apna 990 Radio Stations in Auckland, and pleads with them to institute a strategic move, and change the way they are doing things for Hindus on air.

All these three stations saved financially from cancellation of Holi festival they were sponsoring or hosting this month, so revenue is their least of worry in these nine days. What is the worry is their hesitation to change in the evolving marketplace, as their strategic plans may not have anticipated such a scenario as we have now.

Hence I request them to come on board and devise ways of bringing Ramayan to our drawing rooms with either live or recorded version of Ramayan. There are many reputable Mandalis, Mandirs and Pundits who would oblige to help them.

Such home-based Ramayan recitals and katha have been discouraged and called-off due to current restrictions and fear of spread of virus. Radio Ramayan recitals can fill that vacuum.

On a daily basis of Ram Naumi, they could dedicate 5-6 am and 7.30 to 8.30 pm (or longer) of their radio time to Ram Naumi prayers and Ramayan Recital and discourse by different or same presenters. These times are away from the prime – time, hence not a great dent in their revenue. Some of the programmes could be sponsored as Islamic programmes are sponsored by generous Muslims and businesses. I assume we have such dedicated Hindus in our community who can do the same. While some of the stations have already been doing so during Ram Naumi, we call on all of them to make necessary changes due to current times.

Both Radio Stations and businesses have gained highly from Hindu religious people, which is one of the highest religion after Christianity. And this is a time to pay them back.

Hence I call upon the three CEOs and our various Hindu religious leaders to show their leadership in these trying times, and bring Ramayan recitals to our homes during this holy time of Ram Naumi. The ball is in their court, and I hope our Hindu community will make a move, and hope the radio Stations will cooperate and provide Hindu religion their deserved and balanced time on air.

Such Ram Naumi festivities are no longer allowed by restricting to 100 people, hence Radio Ramayan will be able to fill in this gap to some extent, especially for elderly and others without any access to live-streaming.

We have four clear days to 25 March, 2020, to implement this strategic change and will call upon all concerned to make this work. This article has been forwarded to the respective radio Bosses.

This also applies to radio Stations in Australia, USA and Canada to follow suit and bring Ramayan recital during such trying times of distancing in our homes via radio.

Wishing all a blessed Ram Naumi, with expectations that the current crisis will teach us to do things differently and realise how fragile human life can be.

[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is a journalist and a media commentator, and runs his blog FIJI PUNDIT. He is originally from Fiji and is based in Auckland, New Zealand.]

BOOK REVIEW - SATENDRA SINGH’S “THE RAGING STONE” WEAVES A HOME- GROWN FANTASY FROM THE PACIFIC

BOOK REVIEW - SATENDRA SINGH’S “THE RAGING STONE” WEAVES A HOME-GROWN FANTASY FROM THE PACIFIC

Thakur Ranjit Singh

Move over Lord of the Rings, the Chronicles of Narnia, the Hobbit fantasies, Alice in Wonderland, Jack and the Beanstalk, Hatimtai, Legends  of Vikram and Betal and the Adventures of Jurassic Park. 

We now have a home-grown rival. After his first book “The Tears of a Father, Satendra Singh, writing in the poetic name of STAN, has penned yet another blockbuster fantasy. This second novel, The Raging Stone, is a very readable fantasy very close to home in the Islands of Pacific-could even be Fiji. 

The carnivorous man-eating bird which are controlled by the witchdoctors to bring havoc to the Island of Butoka

While I told you about SATENDRA SINGH alias STAN, in the review of his first book, i wish to repeat it for those who came late. I always had a feeling, this Rarawai Wala Chora (the kid from Rarawai, Golflinks, Ba, Fiji), Satendra would do something greater. One thing he never told me was that he was writing books and ventured out as an author - and a good and credible one at that. 

The raging stone statue of the snake on the island that works as a barometer of the fortunes of Butoka Island

His life has been full of experience and adventures. He has been a childhood singer- I sang ‘Goa’s duet...”do diwaane dil ke…” in Radio Fiji’s Mehfil programme in 1965 with him. He was a school orator and debater, an accomplished MC, an event organiser, a radio announcer, Ramayan parcharak, film Actor (heard of ‘Love in Ba?”), a bank officer with Westpac and had audacity to tell his boss to “stick his job” upon the Bank’s show of insensitivity towards his culture. He has also been a secondary school teacher, a Farm Advisor with FSC, a community leader, a Member of Parliament in Chaudhry’s Labour Party, a business proprietor and many more.

THE RAGING STONE -cover of Satendra Singh's second novel, written under his poetic name of STAN

Satendra Singh has had an illustrious career in his life. Indeed, somebody with these skills was expected to irrigate the community with his fountain of wisdom. He was expected to do what nobody else in Bansi clan dared do or has done - to secretly become an author of fiction and reality as well.

Being a private dedicated family man as well taking out time for community, he has brought about his experience, and the current environment in weaving up a very intriguing, at times, frightening tales from close to home.

The Raging Stone is based in the Islands. The story is about romance, love, human greed, character of gold-digger women, witchcraft and fantasy of snakes and pre-historic carnivorous man-eating birds. These seem to resemble the man-eating birds from pre-historic times, as depicted in the latest Jurassic Park movies. And the Snake Good may have been inspired by Naag of Naag Mandir Labasa that has been protective over its people. And ideas may have also come from Kalia Naag that Krishn sent from River Yamuna to Ramneek Dweep, which we know as Fiji. Hence the snake are our protectors, as in the story.

A photo from Jurassic Park movie, where the man-eating birds attack and kill humans. Similar is the case in this book.

As the title suggests, it is about a snake god cast in stone in the imaginative island of Butoka. It becomes a barometer of the fortunes of the islanders, as this statue works as a warning for coming dangers, and it rages, and speaks in colours, and hence the title of the book.

I take my hat to the ability of the author to dive so deep in the ocean of thoughts and come up with pearls of such ideas that a normal person can hardly dream of. It is a human story of sibling love, parental love, a gold-digger wife who marries to rob her husband, about human greed to capture a mineral-rich colony for financial gain. And to do that how far can one go in supernatural and witchcraft to control a pre-historic carnivorous (man-eating) bird. And on the other side is a stone god of snake, who with snakes become the saviours of the people in the island of Butoka.

Other photos from Jurassic Park movie, showing carnivorous man-eating birds attacking humans. Such birds are fantasized in this novel

I take my hat to Stan for encouraging reading amongst our non-reading Fiji Indians who seem to have been so engrossed with modern technology of new types of phones, that they have stopped reading. Writing very readable books of just over 100 pages, he invites readers to take some time out to read lesser intimidating shorter stories. 

Like his previous book, “Tears of a Father”, his second novel, The Raging Stone is also very short, and can be read within a day. Once you pick up the book, you get so immersed in reality and fantasy that you do not feel like putting it down, wanting to know the end. This sense of anticipation keeps you stuck with the book until it is finished. And indeed, it ends very dramatically, but not before a great deal of gore and blood. I will not spoil your reading by revealing any more.

Another version of Snake God carved in stone, sitting on the mountain in the fantasy Island of Butoka

But I would urge you to support such local talents which can unite reality and fantasy side by side and weave them into very readable and credible reading. And what he has done is a mirror of the chain of movies and legends I have named at the beginning of this review. They all combine today, with yesterday and future, and weave very readable tales of fantasy and reality. 

Stan very ably and credibly narrates the evil tale of those who indulge in witchcraft to control creatures, and as is usual in most cases, the good always triumphs over evil. 

Is this Stan? Yes, Satendra Singh, the author of The Raging Stone

I will urge our reader to please obtain “The Raging Stone” and see how a local third-generation Fiji Indian, former banker, farmer, community worker and Member of Parliament from a humble village of Rarawai Golflinks, Ba Fiji gets this aptitude and depth to weave a tale that we can hardly imagine about.

The Raging Stone is a very readable adventure –a highly recommended reading
The book can be purchases online from the following sites:

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Wish you a Happy reading.

[About the Author of this Review: Thakur Ranjit Singh is a media commentator, a community-worker and journalist. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand and runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT. Thakur and Satendra also have a common grandfather – Girmitiya Aaja (Grandfather) Bansi, who came to Fiji in 1915 from Karouli, Rajasthan, India. E-mail: thakurji@xtra.co.nz]