The Government’s intention to change the independence and the post of Race Relations Commissioner is both short sighted and unnecessary. The Human Rights Amendment Bill 2011 proposes to eliminate the title to the generic name of Human Rights Commissioner and subject it to delegation by the Chief Human Rights Commissioner. The position of Race Relations Commissioner (previously Race Relations Conciliator)…
Read MoreCategory: March 1, 2012 Issue
Solemnity marks a year of calamities
Thousands of men, women and children gathered at the Hagley Park in Christchurch on February 22 to mark the first anniversary of the Earthquake that rattled the City, plunging the nation in grief. The Army band played throughout, indicating human life continues, despite tragedies. As Bishop Barry Jones called for two minutes’ silence, people bowed their heads at the surety…
Read MoreScott Styris hits off his bat
I am happy to learn that Indian Newslink readers will be able to read a regular column by Scott Styris, one of our most popular cricketers. Watching Scott play has always an engrossing experience. This Australian born New Zealand player has been conferred with many monikers during his 12-year run in international cricket. His mates have called him ‘The Pig’…
Read MoreThe Queen sparkles on her Diamond Jubilee
New Zealand joined Britain, Australia and Canada last month to mark the Diamond Jubilee of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II as the British monarch. Prime Minister John Key paid tributes to the Queen at the Waitangi Day celebrations held on February 6, the day on which she commenced her Diamond Jubilee year. “The Queen took the throne on 6…
Read MoreFederation discounts media report
The Wellington based New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Councils (NZFMC) has reacted strongly to a Sunday Star Times report saying that it was not interested in ‘entrenching constitutional provisions for ethnic communities in New Zealand.’ The Federation however would fight for the removal of discrimination against any of the more than 100 ethnic groups it represents. The Sunday Star Times…
Read MoreGlobal support behind Dotcom arrest
New Zealand Police officials said that the recent arrest of Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom ((Born Kim Schmitz) in Auckland was the result of a high-profile operation involving several months of planning. Kim Dotcom and three others were arrested in January as a part of a global operation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) targeting alleged large-scale criminal copyright…
Read MoreSFO investigates gold trader
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) confirmed on February 15 that it had commenced a formal investigation into gold and precious metal trading company, Grace Holdings NZ Ltd, trading as bullion.buyer.co.nz Chief executive Adam Feeley said the media reports of investors’ concerns about their investments had resulted in numerous other persons coming forward to contact the SFO. “Since then, we have…
Read MoreFonterra recalls butter
Fonterra has launched an investigation into the alleged presence of metal objects in it butter, following public complaints. Brands managing director Peter McClure said that the company had recalled its Mainland Salted Butter 500 grams (Batch Number CV 12 with ‘Best before January 10, 2013 stamp) and Anchor Salted Butter 500 grams (Batch Number CV 28, with ‘Best before January…
Read MoreFacebook sees impressive growth in India
India has the third largest number of Facebook users in the world, according to‘Inside Facebook Gold’s 2011’. Although the number of users, placed at 34.6 million, is negligible compared to the country’s total population of more than 1.2 billion, the market is growing fast, it said. “The growth rate of Indian users is 162.4% second only to that of Brazil.…
Read MoreIndian varsities eye our tertiary education
A number of Indian universities are keen to examine the efficacies of the New Zealand tertiary education system and study the possibilities of adopting them to their own institutions. Vice-Chancellors of five prominent Indian universities, representing a total of one million students, were in New Zealand last month to establish what they called, ‘Contacts at Vice-Chancellors level,’ exchange information and…
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