FIJI GIRMIT FOUNDATION NZ TO MARK 140TH GIRMIT ANNIVERSARY IN AUCKLAND

The Fiji Girmit Foundation of New Zealand is gearing to mark the 140th Anniversary of the arrival of first Indian indentured labourers in Fiji, which was on 14 May, 1879.

FIJI GIRMIT FOUNDATION NZ will have its commemoration of 140th Girmit Thanksgiving Day at Skipton Hall in Auckland, New Zealand on the evening of Friday 10th May, 2019. You all are invited to come to salute our Girmitiyas -ORDINARY PEOPLE WHO ACHIEVED EXTRAORDINARY THINGS IN EXTRAORDINARY ENVIRONMENT.

It will be a day to commemorate the suffering and sacrifices of the Girmitiyas and celebrate triumph of the human spirit over formidable adversities.

This event will take place on 10 May 2019 at ARST Skipton Hall, 53 Skipton Street, Mangere East, Auckland.

The Foundation was established in 2013 with the sole objective of reconnecting, reclaiming and restoring Fiji Indian history, which has failed to echo in successive generations as it should have. This event is organized to provide opportunity to every Indo-Fijian family to remember and pay respects to their Girmitiya forebears for the sacrifices they made and the legacy they left behind for successive generations.

It is also the Foundation’s fervent hope and desire to bring enlightenment of their foundational Girmit history to Fiji Indians who have all grown in ignorance of their tragic but fascinating history. In addition to this, it is their fervent desire to honour some of the descendants of the Girmitiyas for their achievements in various fields. 

In History of New Zealand, Girmit Remembrance was never marked regularly till the Foundation was established, and held commemoration from 2013 to 2015 inclusive. In 2013, elderly Fiji Indians (those over 80) were recognised, honoured and given Girmit Commemorative Medals.

In 2014, they had most eminent and celebrated son of Girmit, Professor Brij Lal as their chief guest and keynote speaker.

LEONIDAS  -the first Girmit transporting ship which arrived in Levuka, Fiji on 14 May, 1879. But it was not able to dock on that day, and docked into harbour on 15 May. That is why some use the date of 15 May. But officially, we recognize 14 May as the designated date.

In 2015, the then Minister for Foreign Affairs of Fiji, Hon. Ratu Inoke Kubuabola was the Chief Guest at Girmit Remembrance Day in Auckland. The theme for the occasion was “Commemorating the Syria Tragedy”, which included remembering, acknowledging and paying tribute to the Nasilai Villagers who risked their lives to render assistance in the rescue efforts, mounted by Dr William McGregor on that fateful night of May 11, 1884. Hon. Kubuabola led a delegation from Fiji, including staff of Fiji High Commission based in Wellington to honour the occasion on behalf of the Government of Fiji. 

Following this event, the Foundation led a delegation to Nasilai Village on October 15, 2015 to formally thank the Nasilai villagers for the role their ancestors had played in the rescue efforts, which saved hundreds of lives. It was a solemn occasion, reliving a tragic event but provided us an opportunity to meet the descendants to express our appreciation, though belatedly. The villagers honoured the visitors with traditional welcome and subsequent discussions led to undertaking of important renovations and improvements to the village communal facilities, costing us over $80,000. 

Syria Tragedy - the remains of Syria Ship which was wrecked on Nasilai Reef in May, 1884. A delegation from FIJI GIRMIT FOUNDATION NZ made a pilgrimage to Nasilai Village in Rewa, Fiji in 2015 and made improvements worth some $FJ 100,000 to the village hall (See story elsewhere on FIJI PUNDIT),as a show of goodwill to the descendants of the villagers who helped rescue the Indian indentured labourers on the ship. Some 57 Indians lost their lives.

The Foundation is also gearing up to focus on some issues which Fiji Indians need a voice in, playing a wider role by having a closer link with New Zealand Government, the government agencies, political and community leaders.
There is a revamped, passionate, professional and diverse youth executive team who are coming on board, empowered to carry the banner and baton of Girmit and create awareness in the new generation. One may say, like New Zealand Prime Minister, Fiji Indian Millennials  in Auckland have been given an opportunity to take the lead and torch of Girmit. 

The Foundation considers it important to enlist the support of our community to ensure that our tragic but fascinating Girmit history is not lost with the passage of time. Accordingly, public awareness was vital and the commemorative events that commenced some six years ago lit and fanned the spark, which has ignited the desire in our people to reconnect and revive our Girmit history.

At least five commemoration events are planned for Auckland to mark and salute the pioneer Indian indentured labourers who were ordinary people who achieved extraordinary feats. And this is evident in a new breed and race of people, who originated from India, but have created a distinct Pacifica culture, with best of both worlds.

Girmitiyas in front of a sugar mill during those Girmit Days. Note the railway lines in the foreground and railway carts in the background.

There have been requests to Girmit Foundation to join with Global Girmit organisations overseas. However, NZ Girmit Foundation feels first they need to make it effectively work here at grassroots level before venturing overseas. Most of the so-called International Girmit organisations appear to be an academic exercise and some are merely social-media, or paper organisations. 

The Foundation believes that without an effective home-grown tangible and functioning Girmit organisation like the Foundation, it is pointless being part of any overseas paper organisations, which does nothing tangible on the ground. Hence there is a desire to empower Fiji Indians to extend this organisation as an advocacy body for Fiji Indians in New Zealand, who, as stated earlier, while being Indians also happen to be a distinct Pacifica people - Fiji Indians.

The Foundation wishes to work on ground with Fiji Indians in New Zealand, and also create awareness in Canada and USA to arm the new generation with their original identity, and advise them the importance of reconnecting and restoring their Girmit history as a tribute to the Girmitiyas.

Thakur Ranjit Singh, a founding trustee of the Foundation will travel to Fiji later this year to initiate and inaugurate Totaram Sanadhya Vatika, a Girmit Botanical Garden at Fiji Girmit Centre in Lautoka. This will be as a part of DAV Reunion in Fiji, in association with Fiji Girmit Council.

Since its inception in 2013, FIJI GIRMIT FOUNDATION NZ organised regular Girmit Commemoration at Skipton Hall, Mangere, Auckland from 2013 to 2015 inclusive. This was the banner for 2015 commemoration which has Syria Tragedy as its theme. We had Minister of Foreign Affairs of Fiji, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola as the chief guest. We are still awaiting out request to Fiji Government to declare 14 May as a Public Holiday in Fiji in honour of the pioneer Girmitiyas.

The Trustees of Fiji Girmit Foundation are respected member of Fiji Indian community in Auckland. They are Master Shiu Charan, Sardar Harnam Singh Golian, author Rajendra Prasad, Janab Nek Mohammed, Pundit Ram Kumar Sewak, Krish Naidu and journalist Thakur Ranjit Singh. 

The foundation earnestly seeks participation of all descendants of Girmitiyas to show their gratitude to the vision and sacrifice of ordinary people who did extraordinary things in an extraordinary environment.
The request of Girmit Foundation to Fiji Government to have Girmit history in Fiji school curriculum has already been implemented. The Foundation is now awaiting Fiji Government of their request of declaring 14 May as a Public Holiday in Fiji.

More information on the 140th anniversary would come in the next edition. Please reserve the evening of Friday 10th May, 2019 to pay homage to those who made Fiji Indians into who they are today.

[Thakur Ranjit Singh is the founding Trustee of Fiji Girmit Foundation NZ and is a media commentator. He has a passion for his forebears, and has written various articles on them in the past.]

WILL NEW ZEALAND COME OUT SPINELESS IN ITS TROUBLED CHINA RELATIONS?

Thakur Ranjit Singh

Weekend Herald of Saturday 16 February, 2019 carried many revealing articles and opinions on New Zealand’s current karate kick with China.

New Zealand and China Flag respectively, with the Beehive in the background. Chinese flag is higher, it however does not mean China will be allowed to blackmail and push New Zealand lower with bait of trade and tourism and relegated as a lower and weaker partner. 

W.D. Howard of Pakuranga implied a conspiracy theory and asked:

Will somebody please tell us why China is so desperate for Huawei to set up in New Zealand, if indeed it is?

HUAWEI: The apparent source and cause of tension, as it was pushed out by NZ as security concerns. Some raise question about a conspiracy theory as to why China is so relentless to have Huawei's access to NZ's sensitive issues.

 Len Houwere of New Plymouth was more forceful and lamented our one-minded obsession with Chinese trade:

..if our only measure of value is selling our commodities and buying the next-flat screen TV as cheaply as possible, we might one day discover we have  bargained  away more than  a trade  and deficit…Independent foreign policy with China  might well become an oxymoron as we bend over backwards  to appease this hyper-sensitive  intolerant regime. Not having a spine might make that act easier.

Indeed, New Zealand needs to show it has a strong spine to stand tall, and heed the Labour Party history.  Ardern’s Labour-led Government is advised to follow the path of dare paved by David Lange in removing “z” out of ‘ANZUS. Lange, as a tiny David challenged USA, the Goliath over nuclear ship visits to NZ.
  

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters (left) and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who collectively are responsible for NZ's external affairs. Would a National Government taken the same stance on Huawei? Should not Opposition work with the Government when it comes to external foreign matters and wider interests of New Zealand is concerned? Why is national Party politicising this matter? Isn't National party breaching a long-established protocol?

We hope Jacinda Ardern has inherited advisors with daring from those days when we stood up to a superpower- and stood tall. We have the same challenge now. New Zealand has a habit of punching above its weight in international scene. Be it rugby, human-rights, transparency, clean-green image, ease to do business with, treatment of original settlers and progressive foreign policies, among others. While trade is very important, losing soul for a few dollars more has never been the character of New Zealand. Now is the time we need to show resolve and not be bullied, otherwise we will be seen to be bargaining away our sovereignty in exchange for a good trade balance with China. 

As for the views of David Mahon, who has lived and worked in Chine for 32 years, hope they are not blinkered and he appreciates China’s cheque-book “colonialism” in smaller, poorer and weaker Pacific nations. Two such, among others are Papua New Guinea and my birth –country, Fiji.  Chinese go with blank cheques to invest in infrastructure, with a provision that they may take over once these cash-strapped nations are unable to pay those debts. They have already “colonised” a few infrastructure with such unethical dealings.

Are relations between New Zealand and China in tatters? Is Opposition National Party politicising this matter which may end up hurting Kiwis?

And their respect for environmental issues is highly questionable, as in Fiji they are currently desecrating mangroves in defiance of law, in building a hotel and tourist infrastructure in Malolo Island, west of Nadi Airport.

One may look in the crystal ball and prophesy how National Party would have acted on Huawei issue if they were in government. FIJI PUNDIT predicts they would have walked the path Labour did. However, Opposition needs to politicise such issues and blow their trumpet to show the government in poor light.

Some National Party politicians are making a big deal, blaming the government for a fall back and decline on Chinese tourists to Aotearoa because of the Huawei fiasco. In fact reduction in some tourist numbers appear to be God-sent temporary reprieve for some of our overloaded tourism infrastructure.

In some areas, the country has more visitors than it can handle. Concerns have already been raised about over-tourism, so a temporary slowdown in Chinese visitor numbers is a blessing in disguise.

Furthermore, Chinese will be shooting in their own feet if they boycott NZ. So many Chinese airlines make a beeline to Auckland Airport. Chinese tourism in New Zealand is a cash cow for them as they net millions. Much is said of Hong Kong Airlines pulling out of Auckland. Such commercial decisions are long-term commercial decisions and not mere knee-jerk reaction just because Huawei was rejected. Many hardly know we had such an airline. Cathay Pacific? Yes, that is the Hong Kong airline we know, and is here to stay.

We know Cathay Pacific as official carrier of Hong Kong. What is the big deal about little-known privately-owned Hong Kong Airlines pulling out of Auckland?

So many Chinese business operators have opened and invested in Mandarin -speaking tourism trade and infrastructure here. They have made a concrete-jungle of China and they love clean and green New Zealand. Chinese still love NZ more than Huawei. So much that they will take travel advisory of the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in New Zealand with a pinch of salt. There have been no concerns in the past and a hastily concocted warning notice on potential risks to Chinese tourists travelling to New Zealand will be taken with scorn it deserves. Chinese tourists have nothing to fear - and history supports them.

There is a hysteria created by the National Party. NZ will still have millions of visitors from Taiwan, South Korea, Cambodia, Thailand, India, Malaysia and other Asian countries, and we will still have our hands and facilities full – with millions of them.

And a strong spine to stand tall if we ignore the hysteria created by the Opposition.

[Thakur Ranjit Singh is a Fiji Indian media commentator based in Auckland, and runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT]

When a Mandir Delivers Beyond the Call of its Religious Duties

Thakur Ranjit Singh

We have multitudes of religious societies and organisations in New Zealand. They are performing commendable duties of religious teachings, promoting their respective Gods, and in doing so, handsomely collecting funds for upkeep of their respective institution. Some have accumulated loads of money. Nothing wrong with that, in fact very admirable, if properly utilised.

Let the walk begin: Devotees and volunteers in front of Mandir before the walk.

However, one among very few, that stands out from the above categorising is SHRI RAM MANDIR at Brick Street, Henderson, Auckland, New Zealand.

Being a Hindu institution, it really stands out and appropriately follows the definition of Hinduism, which is more of a way of life than mere rituals. The spirituality is their priority, which means being good, compassionate, caring, respecting, community -conscious, God-loving and a good human being. And these teachings need to physically translate into practical deeds rather than being confined as theoretical discourse only.

The Managing Trustee of Shri Ram Mandir, Pravin Kumar (extreme right) announcing the fund collected, and Minister of Housing and Transport , Phil Twyford (centre) handing the cheque for $43, 442.60 to Rajesh Chaudhry, Chairperson of Friends of Fiji Health Foundation. Project Manager, Mahendra Sharma (in yellow safety vest), with other Trustees of both the organisations look on.  

And according to our scriptures, the best deed one can do is service to humanity, what we call parr hitt. This is also taught by other religions and well depicted in Abu Ben Adam poem by Leigh Hunt. The bottom line message here is that God loves and blesses those who love their fellow beings.

And that is exactly what Shri Ram Mandir does – it literally walks the talk in loving its fellow beings. And this is done through its walkathon which they call Ram-A-Thon, named after Lord Ram, who walked across India during his exile. Here, the devotees walk and raise funds for worthy causes.

The dedicated and passionate team of walkers take a break for photo in the picaresque Oratia walk in Henderson: From left, Pushpa Adhar, Sunita Singh, Master Shiu Charan, yours truly, Thakur Ranjit Singh, his wife, Shashi Kala Singh and Satish Chand.

The colourful Rewa team of walkers, led by Viren Lal (extreme left), with two Tavua (yellow) walkers as well.

Six years ago, this started as a full day 35 km of marathon walk from Papatoetoe to Henderson. It was later reduced to 20 km walk from Auckland Domain (Museum) to Mandir at Henderson. Since then they have held two other walkathon to help out Starship Children’s Hospital (over $10,000) and Saint John Ambulance (over $16,000)

This year, it was decided to reduce the walk to 10km, but utilise the day to assemble people together in a huge community networking and people wellbeing quest, developing it into a family carnival.

Sport Waitakere conductors were on hand to keep the participants busy. Here a lady coordinator is conducting exercise for Senior Ladies. It was indeed a day of fun and laughter, and all had loads of fun.

As we have said before, since the inception of Ram Mandir in Henderson, it has developed more than a religious institution into a Community hub. There was Ghazal and Bollywood nights, hosted Senior Citizens group, has become a venue for wedding and birthdays and promotes music, arts, culture and history.

The family carnival that was held after the walk at Henderson Park was fun-filled Mini Fiji carnival where we had friendly sporting rivalry between the districts in Fiji like Suva, Lautoka, Rewa, Ba, Tavua, Rakiraki, Labasa and Nadroga.
And we had a bucketful of family and sporting events such as Men’s soccer, Tug of war, seniors lawn balls, seniors ball and bucket, Ladies penalty kicks and Ladies Volleyball.

The friendly district loyalties and rivalries prompted greater efforts to make your team win. The highest funds were collected by Tavua, over $16,000, followed by neighbor Ba, with a distant $6000 and Rewa with just over $5,000 being third.

  The family fun: Tug –of –War, with father and son in Ba team. Pravaal Tahal,  (extreme right) giving all he can in pulling the rope while his father, Manoj Tahal (third from right) is putting in all efforts to pull for the Ba team in one of the many fun sports event at Henderson Park.

Some individuals were recognized for their efforts. Master Shiu Charan was the best overall fundraiser, who put great efforts in penetrating to the community and donors to raise funds. Bhavishna Dutt from Tavua was the highest fundraiser with $5070 raised. And of course, the Tavua team was also judged the best with overall high points.

The Project Manager of the event, Mahendra Sharma was elated with the overall results and thanked all for their overall efforts. Another reason for his joy was that he had his brother Pundit Dhirendra Sharma and his wife from Surrey, Canada, who participated in the event. While Dhirendra raised over $500 in just a few days and walked the distance, his wife, Punditaain helped in preparing food for the participants.

When two brotherly Pundits meet: Dhirendra Sharma (left) and Project Manager Mahendra Sharma at Henderson Park, Auckland during family carnival. Dhirendra is a practising Pundit in Surrey (Vancouver) Canada and was visiting his brother and decided to help. Within 3 days he was able to raise over $500, and beat two of the district teams in this short time, while walking the full length.

The success of the fundraising and a joyful family day goes to the very kind-hearted sponsors and partners. These, among others were, Sport Waitakere, Cooperative Bank, Northern Football Federation, Oratia Football, Auckland Co-op Taxis, Subway Central (Daven and Babita Maharaj), Roshan Nauhria, Sam Achari, Lotus Foreign Exchange, The Indian News, Apna TV and Apna 990 Radio.

We were blessed with generosity of our sponsors and wellwishers. Here we have owner of Subway,  Deven Maharaj, serving a child, providing free vegetarian subway. His company has been sponsoring food to Ram-A-Thon since its inception.

While having fun, the friendly rivalry between the districts accelerated the fundraising efforts, as amount collected far exceeded what they did previously. This year funds collected went to Friends of Fiji Health (FOFH). Statement by them is self-explanatory:

$43,442.60 was donated by Shri Ram Mandir Trust to FOFH. This was the highest amount by a single donor. Our most sincere appreciation to Pravin Kumar, Mahen Sharma and a large number of their executive members, volunteers, soccer team members, youth groups and community and social workers. A big thanks to FOFH Medical team who provided free basic medical check-up to the general public who attended the fundraiser and family festival. The cheque was presented by Hon. Phil Twyford, Minister of Transport and Housing.

The dedicated doctors and support medical personnel of Friends of Fiji Health (FOFH) Foundation, who dedicatedly spend their time and money to help the needy people in Fiji. There is NO administration cost, and each dollar contributed adds over $18 of value-added service provided in Fiji.

The managing Trustee of Shri Ram Mandir observed that while Ram-A- Thon has been intended to raise funds for worthy charities that is not necessarily their prime objective.

We wish to engage with the wider community, including children, youths, elders, women and people from all walks to life, while enhancing diversity, teamwork, networking and multiculturalism. It has been an effort to create awareness of well-being, healthy living, walking, exercising and keeping fit, while raising funds for worthy causes. In doing so we worked collaboratively with other like-minded charitable, community and religious organisations and obtained corporate and commercial businesses on board as sponsors. 

The unsung heroes of family day: food servers, Rakesh Singh, and chutney expert, Robert Goundar, (in cap, back to the camera) serving continuously for some three hours, from 12 noon to 3pm, feeding all those in the carnival. Very tasty plau and chutney cooked at Shri Ram Mandir, and lovingly served by the smiling duo. Rakesh served plau while  tasty (and Khatta) tomato chutney served by Robert. They made our day.

Indeed, it was a fruitful day, and the general verdict from community elders is that other like-minded religious institutions need to broaden their base and lower their radar to capture many in the community who are normally by-passed by Mandirs focussing on religion only.

As the message from Abu Ben Adam speaks, God loves and blesses those who love their fellow beings. 

And Shri Ram Mandir receives such blessings in abundance for its trendsetting humanitarian and philanthropic deeds.

[Thakur Ranjit Singh runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT and has been part of Ram-A-Thon since its inception in 2014]

Shri Ram Mandir to help Fiji community through Ram-A-Thon

Thakur Ranjit Singh

What started four years ago as a prop to raise funds for completing Shri Ram Mandir in Henderson, Auckland, has snowballed into annual fundraiser for needy organisations. 

First we helped out the Starship Children’s Hospital with a collection of just over $10,000.

Second we helped out Saint John’s Ambulance and collected just over $16,000.

The next walkathon, which has been named as Ram-A –Thon to reflect its initiative from Shri Ram Mandir, will be held on Sunday 3 February, 2019. This will be to help people needing urgent medical attention in Fiji. Funds collected will go to FRIENDS OF FIJI HEALTH, which organises volunteer doctors to help out people in Fiji.

Shri Ram Mandir-where it all starts - A flashback-beginning of Ram-A -Thon 2017 in front of Ram Mandir before boarding the bus.

A WALK WITH A DIFFERENCE

Unlike past walks which was long and used up the whole day, walking through built up area and roads, we have reduced this walk to just 10km. And we have moved down nearer to the beauty and greenery of West Auckland.

A glimpse of beautiful cemented walkway for 2019 walk,  just beyond Sturges Road in the greenery of Henderson Valley. You will be assured of magnificent face of West Auckland.

It starts at Shri Ram Mandir at 8.30 am, with assembly time of 8am to get organised. The walk from Mandir proceeds down to Swanson Rd, turning right into Sturges Rd, turns left into second Vintage Drive (off near 61 Sturges Rd) and joins picturesque cemented walkway of Henderson through beautiful forests, vines, and Oratia Stream, between Sturges Road and Henderson Valley Road. 

The major break will be at 359 Henderson Valley Road Ashram.

The main difference this year is the addition of a family fun day. The walk will terminate at Henderson Park, where a day full of activities is planned, commencing at 11 am. Planned competitive activities include Women's volleyball & penalty kicks, Men's 7-a-side soccer & tug o' war, Senior citizens' lawn bowling & ball and bucket, Kids’ marble & spoon, sack race, and relay and other non-competitive fun-filled activities will be organised for all age groups.

Another glimpse of picturesque walk among the bushes of Henderson Valley Road, where this walk will takes us to. Breathtaking views of greenery.

For soccer fans from Fiji, attraction will be division and competition according to ten districts as follows:  Rakiraki, Tavua, Ba, Lautoka, Nadi, Nadroga, Suva, Nasinu, Rewa, and Labasa.

MESSAGE OF SPIRITUALITY TO THE COMMUNITY

With our example, we appeal to other like-minded organisations to extend their radar of focus to wellbeing of the community.

The person leading the organisation that came with this benevolent thought, stressed that this type of walkathon has multi-pronged objectives. Pravin Kumar, the Managing Trustee of SRMCT said, “We have advised from the outset that the priority of this charity walk was not fundraising. While that is one of the aims, it is one on low priority.”

When and where it all began- a flashback 4 years ago, at 8.52am on 30 November, 2014 at Shri Ram Krishna Mandir at Onslow Rd, Papatoetoe where the first Ram-A-Thon began for the marathon 35 km walk.

He advised that the multi-objectives of this walk are: 

• To engage with the wider community, including children, youths, elders,            women and people from all walks to life – enhancing diversity, teamwork, 
        networking and multiculturalism. 
• To create awareness of well-being, healthy living, walking, exercising and 
        keeping fit. 
• Raise much needed funds for worthy charitable causes and help inculcate 
        the concept of helping others who are less fortunate than us
• Work collaboratively with other like minded charitable, community and 
        religious organisations 
• Get corporate and commercial businesses on board as sponsors

Keeping fit, and show of women-power of Shri Ram Mandir. Ladies leading the walk of 2018, just at Winter Gardens at Auckland Domain where the walk began.

We are requesting general public to reserve Sunday, 3 February, 2019 in your calendar for walking to help vulnerable people in Fiji, needing urgent medical attention. With our help, Friends of Fiji Health will be able to do that much more back home.

While walking to help, this will also bring the community together to have family fun in Henderson Park.

Further information and sponsorship forms can be obtained from Event Director Mahendra Sharma on 027 661 3242 or e-mail – family_sharma@hotmail.com

For further details please visit Shri Ram Mandir Facebook page or can be obtained by contacting Pundit Markand Bhatt on 09-836 4647 at the Mandir.

[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh runs the blog FIJI PUNDIT, and is also a media commentator, and promotes community and other events beneficial to the society and enhances community wellbeing. He is part of the organising committee for 2019 Ram-A-Thon]

The Scandal of Lack of Business Confidence

The Scandal of Lack of Business Confidence

Thakur Ranjit Singh

The biggest scandal the world has seen was the Y2K BUG or THE MILLENNIUM BUG. 

Then we have some home-grown scandal and red-herring in New Zealand. One is the National Party’s mantra and gravy-train of a ROCK STAR ECONOMY. 

And the third scandal which is also home grown in NZ is so-called LACK OF BUSINESS CONFIDENCE in the new Labour led coalition government.

What is significant is that the business survey which says there is lack of business confidence is carried out  by ANZ bank which is chaired by former Prime Minister, Sir John Key, who boogied to popularity and then abandoned a sinking ship under the scam of a rock star economy (which we subsequently found was, in fact, rotten)

For your information, this ANZ Bank made an after tax profit of $1.780 billion dollars in 2017 and $1.986 billion in 2018 in New Zealand, in supposedly an environment with lack of business confidence!

Ha ha ha, what a rotten joke to discredit the new government under a survey which reeks of political punishment by businesses supporting  National Party which lost power.

Read on to be shocked….and informed.

We have seen some famous scandals, red-herrings and gossips over our lifetime. I will enumerate three.

World's biggest scandal -THE Y2K BUG or the MILLENNIUM BUG. Nothing happened despite predictions of the pundits of doomsday. Similarly, NZ has politically-oriented economic pundits predicting lack of business confidence despite such a rosy outlook. Just another politicised  lie and scandal.

The first and perhaps most notorious scandal and scare the world has seen was the Y2K bug or millennium bug, which scared daylights out of us. We were told the world would come to a standstill or it will go haywire when the clock ticks at midnight of 31 December, 1999. Nothing happened when the clocks ticked 2000.

The second such nonsense and claptrap is National Party’s “rock star economy.” Now Labour- led government is discovering the garbage, trash and rottenness under those rocks with no sight of any stars. They have been busy cleaning up years of neglect, under-funding in essential services, under-paying key (pun intended) people and lack of proper investment in infrastructure. While this made National’s books look good, such carelessness and lack of judgement nevertheless left a country with a veneer of good economic management but underneath, rotten to the core.

Another Scandal of a ROCK STAR ECONOMY under the mantra of which, former Prime Minister Sir John Key danced to prominence, while National Party slept on the job and housing market went out of control. Yes, Sir John gained out of dereliction of duty when he sold his Parnell mansion for over $20m to a Chinese buyer in an over-heated housing market his government ignored to tackle. So, he did gain out of that so-called rock-star economy, while we are now finding the rot in what National Government left behind.

And this brings us to the third scandal, and that is business confidence, or lack of it. This questionable measure has been given much oxygen by certain right-wing journalists in some mainstream media. They still cannot fathom the concept of MMP and the fact that National Party is no longer in power now. Hence they need to stop being cheerleaders of the Opposition.

As with the lack of acceptance of reality from sections of media about change in government, there appears to be a similar lack of approval from businesses. David McLean, Chief Executive of Westpac Bank seems to have a better appreciation of this fact where some CEO’s appear traumatised with National sitting in opposition. Mc Lean observed that this debate generated more heat than light, as irrespective of who is in government, there would be many challenges. This is because economic growth has its peaks and troughs in cycles.

Jacinda Ardern and her team now has to clean up the mess and make up for all all those under-funding in the National Government's so-called rock-star economy. Teachers, nurses, doctors, police and other strikes or threat of them are just the tip of those floating rock star economy icebergs.

Many business leaders are optimistic about performance of their own business in future, hence this talk about imagery business confidence needs to be taken with a pinch of salt.

This grain of salt tastes saltier once you decipher the link between this business confidence survey and those undertaking it. ANZ Bank? Yes, ANZ Bank which is chaired by none other than the Knight who abandoned ship from a so-called rock star economy - Sir John Key. He has a vested interest to rubbish Labour-led government, as he has already taken opportunity do this, riding atop a questionable survey undertaken by the bank he chairs. A mere co-incidence? He appears to be helping a hapless leader of National Party, Simon Bridges who is too engrossed in stopping a leak that has given Streisand effect a new meaning (FIJI PUNDIT will explain this effect in another article) 

In a recent meeting Prime Minister Ardern had with business leaders, she argued that business expectations as projected by such surveys did not correlate with economic indicators and unprecedented GDP performance. Others in the community have raised alarm about the serious disconnect between negativity of such surveys and daily optimistic comments on the economy.  This appears to be a matter of political prejudice rather than economic fact.

Business surveys reflect value judgements and government has been warned not be distracted by it lest those who voted it for change will be short-changed. 
Singer Bob Dylan said, “You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.’” No weather can be tamed or accurately reported by computers. Best sunshine is judged by looking out the window when the weatherman predicts a cloudy day.

Similarly, the politicised views of selected CEOs will not determine economic outlook or performance which look a great deal more confident than those painted by the questionable surveys.

You do not need a weatherman to tell you the wind direction. Similarly, you do not need a questionable survey to tell you about business confidence. A look out of window on the clogged motorway with business moving on trucks and traffic is a better barometer.

All you need to do is to look out the windows. Loaded trucks leaving the wharf clog motorways, building industry is booming, more and more flights are coming, booming visitor numbers are bursting tourism industry at seams, spending is greatest, stock exchange is doing better, reduced dollar is good news for exporters, shopping malls are crowded at all hours of the day, we are running short of hotels, and so much more is happening.

As you do not need a weatherman to tell you the wind direction, similarly you do not need a survey to tell you how we are progressing - all you need to do is look out the window.


In fact the view out of window of that clogged motorway with loaded goods trucks is a better barometer of the country’s business confidence than some politically-tainted subjective survey. 

[Thakur Ranjit Singh is a media commentator and runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT]

LABOUR NEEDS A LITTLE LESSON ON FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Thakur Ranjit Singh.

It was Mark Twain who said: It's better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open it and remove all doubt.

He said it some centuries ago (1835-1910) but it very aptly applies to Labour’s Justice Minister, Andre Little regarding his retort to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s  stance that: “My expectation is that when we set a budget, we stick to it.”.

This was when the final cost of Justice Summit held in August in Porirua was more than double its budget of $700,000.  Prime Minister was reacting to the final cost of $1.5 million dollars - more than double its budgeted/estimated cost. 

Andrew Little defended this cost and said he was satisfied with it.
Poor Andrew Little, he made a huge error of judgement. He is a nice fellow, and in fact FIJI PUNDIT bestowed him the honour he deserved as the Queen-Maker. Had he not given that strategic Hail Mary Pass of Labour Leadership to Jacinda Ardern, Labour would have been languishing in opposition. His timely relinquishing of his position gave him this opportunity to be in Government and now defending the indefensible when his portfolio is caught napping.

Andrew Little (right) is, indeed, the "Queen maker". He very prudently vacated Labour leadership and gave the position to Jacinda Ardern. And the rest is history. However, his handling of the busted costs of Justice Summit leaves a great deal to be desired. He needs to inculcate financial prudence in his portfolios.

I wonder whether Little has previously done any big projects, events or organised anything involving financial management and budgeting? I wonder whether he was ever obligated to work to an estimated expenditure. Having worked with Boards of a Bank, a City Council and a Newspaper in Fiji, I appreciate the importance, prudence of financial management and working to budgets and forecasts. One’s career and livelihood may depend on it. 

It appears Andrew Little is bereft of any past experience in this area, because unexplained variance of over 100%, as in this case, would have resulted in his termination, unless it was beyond his control. If in any of the Boards above, we had attained the variance as in Justice Summit, heads would surely have rolled.

What Justice Minister failed to realise is that the Prime Minister was NOT questioning the cost of the summit. What she rightly questioned the lack of financial discipline by somebody who could have been the Prime Minister. She was questioning double the estimated costs, and as the guardian of national purse, she has a right to do that and expect her Ministers to regard public money as their own. All she called was a show of financial prudence by her team. 

This whole incident reflects on dereliction of duties of Little’s support staff, and they need to be disciplined. What credible support service does he get as Justice Minster? Doesn’t he have a highly paid Chief Executive (read ‘on six figure’)? In turn is he/she not supported by equally highly paid and highly qualified finance people and bean –counters? Did they do project plan, especially projected costing and budget and estimate for expenditure of this summit? If no, why?

If yes, then heads needs to roll unless Labour wishes to look at some real holes in their overall budget with its support staff sleeping on the job. And does Labour have other Ministers who are also sleeping on the job, supporting such oversight, and lacking proper judgement? How long will people expect Jacinda Ardern to be her brother’s keeper?

This article comes on the heels of FIJI PUNDIT article questioning a wanting media and communications support for the Prime Minister. I take no pleasure in writing such critique of a Party which I support and whose member I am. But I had warned them, and they have failed to notice that this Devil’s Advocate is real.

NZ Herald cartoon of 12 September, 2018 said it all. The Justice Summit was estimated to cost $700,000 but ended up costing more than double, at $1.5m. Apart from a busted budget, the summit will also be known for a very elaborate and sumptuous lay of the buffet table.

I will not sit on the side line and allow Labour Party to score own goals, and falling on their swords as they did while nine years in opposition. They need to be accountable to their members and voters who have shown confidence in their capabilities.

And Fiji Pundit, its Devil’s Advocate will pull them up whenever again they aim towards their own goal.

Finally, to the apex of the summit. I have attended many such summits, seminars, conferences or whatever you call them, both in Fiji and New Zealand. And what do you remember them for? The fine speakers? The video presentations that wake you from boring speakers? The message? The fantastic multi-media presentations? The free bag and other souvenirs? No, wrong. What you remember is the buffet layout and feasting.

And this Justice Summit in Porirua will be known for a “decadent glutton free chocolate brownie, pork, apricot and thyme pastries, four different kinds of croissants, luxury pies and chicken and cranberry casserole”

Indeed, justice has been done to this Justice Summit!

[Thakur Ranjit Singh is a media commentator and runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT]

Hang on, Girl: Do not be distracted by Pundits of Doomsday

Thakur Ranjit Singh

It appears the curse on Labour Party of having a deficient and wanting media and communication cell has weighed down on the Party since leadership era of Phil Goff, David Cunliffe, David Shearer and Andrew Little. And that jinx seems to be an obstinate one, has not been exorcised and stuck on for the millennial Labour Prime Minister and Hail Mary conversion scorer, Jacinda Ardern.

While having the blessings of Opposition Leader, Simon Bridges digging a hole in the travel leak fiasco, she nevertheless is cursed with some right-wing commentators in certain mainstream media. We get an impression that such commentators are doubling as cheerleaders of the National Party, and still haven’t fathomed the fact that we have a change of government now.

Jacinda Ardern, the first ever millennial Prime Minister has been carving out  a new culture granting natural justice to those caught in disciplinary issues. While she is seen as a PM with a heart, unfortunately her government appears to be cursed,  by her media team unable to communicate, project reality and facts to the general public and counteract many media wolves trying to devour this Government. 

Lest I be accused of hate speech, one glaring fact in New Zealand is that the mainstream media is still very White. Despite some plea, even the Labour Party did little to colour its media team. What I am writing should have been written by one of their well-connected and well paid media expert, and not this Fiji Indian, writing voluntarily for his blog, FIJI PUNDIT.

There is no problem in having an Anglo-Saxon (White) team. Nevertheless, their weakness is lack of exposure to alternative kaleidoscope, and missing on diversity of wider views appropriate to a rapidly changing world.

Some mainstream commentators, including Mike Hosking and Matthew Hooton, among others appear to be spin doctors of the opposition party, tainting the fourth estate with their questionable and unbalanced views, masquerading as neutral media commentary.

In fact such blatantly blinkered media commentary haven’t gone unnoticed. One NZ Herald writer observed: 

Has there ever been a more concerted attempt to undermine a NZ government than that we are seeing from the National Party and its apologists such as Hooton, Hosking and Business NZ? If it weren't so serious, it would be seriously funny.

There is a frenzy of views on Ardern’s lack of business experience, drop in business confidence and her lack of decisiveness in party discipline. The latter refers to Labour youth conference scandal, and issues affecting two of her Ministers. They expect Ardern to be her brother’s keeper. While the editorial writer of NZ Herald could appreciate the issue on cabinet discipline, some of its celebrated columnists and radio commentators appear to be very naïve.

While being accused by some blinkered media commentators of lacking decisiveness, she nevertheless has proved to be  PM with a heart, and can be firm and resolute when need arises. Unfortunately she has been subject of unbalanced media commentary.

NZ Herald of Saturday 1 September, 2018 really summed it well when it rejected former Labour Party President, Mike Williams’s contention that such lack of discipline reflected a lack of training for those appointed ministers.

The Herald corrected him, by stating:

Voters and taxpayers have a right to expect that all of the people a political party offers for election - let alone those chosen to be ministers in government- possess the personal qualities needed at any level of leadership.

The question that arises is, did Clare Curren and Meka Whaitiri meet this criteria? Do you expect Ardern to nanny-sit these two, or any Ministers, who are experienced in management in their own rights? Should she be held responsible for their lack of judgement? And should she be castigated for what comes naturally to her - having a heart? Why should she not allow them natural justice that her older predecessors may have denied them? Should heads roll for all moments of indiscretion? (Read Bill Clinton)

We have for the first time in New Zealand history, a millennial Prime Minister. Being of the new generation, she introduced immense personal charm and aura. Having delivered for the vulnerable and the so-called underclass in our community, she has proved she also has compassion for poorly paid people ignored by previous governments.

Thankfully, Ardern rightly lacks ruthless and cold-blooded management style of her predecessors. She believes in natural justice and has a right to carve out a new culture that delivers mercy. That is where lack of diversity in media becomes noticeable. Kiwi journalists need to appreciate the Pacific Way of leadership with compassion, humanity and forgiveness. This is not a sign of weakness.

Media has failed to acknowledge her virtue and justice in halting undeserving pay rises for highly paid parliamentarians as well as state Chief executives in recognition of so many lower paid people who really deserve a pay rise.

Neither have these media commentators given her deserving kudos for outstanding achievement in working with the “enemy.” The fact that she has roped in rock star chief executive of Air New Zealand, Christopher Luxon as chair of Prime Ministerial Business Advisory Group speaks volumes for her charm offensive. As we are aware, Luxon was caught on the wrong side of Shane Jones, when Jones criticised Air New Zealand for ignoring the region and calling Luxon to resign and enter politics if he wanted to play politics. 

Working with the "enemy": Air New Zealand CEO Christopher Luxon  heads Prime Ministerial Business Advisory Group, despite being caught on the wrong side of Regional Minister Shane Jones.  Jacinda Ardern's ability to build and mend Bridges (pun intended) has not been recognized by certain section of the mainstream media.

And the fact that she has not reigned in Jones makes sense, and speaks highly of her maturity. Government needs a loose cannon the boom of which can open up the eyes and ears of corporate that were seen as treating the region with scorn and arrogance. Jones deserved the loose rope that Jacinda has given him - he is a hero to a great number of people who have been victims of big corporate (read Air New Zealand, Warehouse and, Australian Banks, among others) and had nobody speaking for them until Jones came on the scene.

The pundit of doomsday need to realise that so-called lack of economic confidence is not supported by economic indicators. (That will be visited by FIJI PUNDIT in another article). Media commentators who humiliate the Fourth Estate need to realise that New Zealand now has a new government. It has the agenda to correct weaknesses they inherited: skills shortage, lack of investment in productive sector (inflated house price is not productive), under-investment in infrastructure, low productivity, low-wages, environment neglect and little care on social welfare with an obsession for healthy books but extremely unhealthy everything else.
 

Shane Jones, the secret weapon, a loose cannon that the government deservedly needs. He has been given a loose rope to tie in delinquent corporate who have been used to bullying public under protection of previous government they supported. He is seen as the savior of the region.

Perhaps it is not too much for an ethnic (read Fiji Indian) journalist to request better understanding from the mainstream (read Anglo Saxon) journalists who need some refresher course on ethics, morals and balance in journalism. Hope that is not asking too much from a media which still fails to reflect the country’s demographic colour in its newsrooms.

Sadly, political parties also mirror such deficiency, including PM Ardern’s Labour Party.

[Thakur Ranjit Singh runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT, and is a media commentator]