The crew at The INDIAN would like to communicate a very Happy Dipawali to all.

AID volunteers in India are involved in providing immediate succour. We in the Diaspora here should do everything that we can to help out. We seek financial help from you for this cause.

Contributions to AID can be made through secure on-line credit-card deductions from AID's website: http://survivors.aidindia.org where further details and updates will also be made available. Please indicate that your contribution is for the "Relief and Rehabilitation Fund".

If you are being employeed within New Zealand here are some some major changes to the Holiday Act, which governs your entitlements to leaves and holidays.

These changes would occur in three main areas. They are:

1. New requirement to pay employees time and a half if they work on public holidays

2. An increase in Annual leave entitlement (with effect from April 1, 2007) and

3. A separation of and increase in entitlement to sick and bereavement leave.

The Indian extends its sincere wishes to all patrons, a Happy Diwali for 2004 and Prosperous New Year.

The Indian Crew wish to thank you for your continued support though out the last 2 years.

Diwali 2004 : Friday, November 12

Communicating has been made a whole lot easier for thousands of people this week with the launch of a new telephone interpreter service.

The scheme will provide interpreters in 30 different languages for people needing to communicate with various government agencies.

50,000 people in New Zealand do not speak any English, another 250,000 only have limited skills with the language.

That means life here can be a bit tough at times.

Now a new telephone interpreting system called 'Language Line' should make life easier for many non-English speakers.

It clarifies things, it means that right from the beginning both the official and the non-English speaking person understand each other.

This is how the system works...

Pratibh has come in to talk to Internal Affairs about citizenship. She needs an interpreter in Hindi

A call centre in Auckland is dialed up and the operator contacts an interpreter from a list of hundreds and within minutes.There is a three-way conversation.

The service will be available in six government agencies, at the Department of Internal Affairs, where passports and citizenship are dealt with, also the police, Housing New Zealand and Work and Income.

Non-English speakers can use the system either when they are contacting the agency by phone or in person.

Former Fiji residents in New Zealand have donated over $85,000 in cash and kind toward Cyclone Ami relief efforts.

Fiji High Commissioner to New Zealand, Bal Ram acknowledged the donations received, saying New Zealand had an abundance of goodwill for Fiji from individuals, community and government levels.

“Assistance from New Zealand was sent with the best wishes of the donors to help alleviate the hardship and suffering of cyclone victims and to contribute towards the Government’s rehabilitation work,” he said.

In March, five container loads of relief materials, worth more than $80,000 arrived in the country courtesy of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The relief assistance was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, NZAID, Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, the Fiji communities and Fiji High Commission.

Ministry of Pacific Islands Affairs, Relief Coordinator, Sai Lelea said the overwhelming support indicated the close attachment people in New Zealand had with Fiji.

Some former Fiji residents responded to the relief assistance call by way of cash contributions to Relief Fund set up by the Fiji High Commission.

The fund received $5275.95 from organisations and individuals. The money has been remitted to the Fiji Government through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The SARS (atypical pneumonia) virus currently sweeping across many Asian countries may constrain business and leisure travellers to cancel their trips to these areas, travel experts say.

Hong Kong researchers battling to identify the illness said it was caused by a virus from the paramyxoviridae family-the group which also causes mumps and measles. The transmission of the virus is by droplets and direct contact with the patient's secretions. Based on available information and the result of epidemiological analysis, transmission is most consistent with droplet spread of respiratory secretion. However, other routes of transmission cannot be ruled out.

The main symptoms of atypical pneumonia include fever, malaise, chills, headache and myalgia. Chest X-ray shows radiological changes compatible with pneumonia. Other symptoms include cough, shortness of breath or breathing difficulty.

It is understood people with a history of travel to endemic areas in Vietnam, some areas in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Canada are at high risk. Many Indian businessmen resident in New Zealand are known to travel to some of these countries regularly. Consult medical advice promptly if feeling unwell. Travellers who develop symptoms of atypical pneumonia are advised not to undertake further travel until fully recovered.

As of yet there is no vacine for this atypical pneumonia.

Click here for more on SARS.

The crew at The INDIAN would like to communicate a very Happy Dipawali to all.

Charan, Mrs Raj Kuari. Passed away peacefully with family in Sydney aged 77, on 28 December 2005. Wife of late Mr Guru Charan of 17 Veve Street, Lautoka, Fiji. Loved Mother of Shushila Pratap, Sarita Pande, Shailendra Kumar Charan, Surila Datt and mother-in-law of Uma Datt and Surendra Pande, Proud Grandmother of Sanjeev (Sandy) & Shirley (Australia) , Robbie & Supriya (Australia), Sanjay, Priya, Shareel, Shelvin, Alvin, Seema, Brendan and much loved Great Grandma of Calvin and Aidan (Australia), Aman, Dillan, Shantelle (Australia). The joy you brought on the family will be sadly missed. Most fortunate and blessed are you for upon you Lord Shiva showers his blessing in a very short time. Rest in peace Mum and Nani. Mrs Charans funeral service will be held at the Manukau Memorial Gardens Crematorium Chapel, 357 Puhinui Road, Papatoetoe on Thursday 5th January 2006 at 2pm. All communications to 3/12 Huia Road, Papatoetoe. Contact: (09) 278 0598.

The first Asia 2000 Diwali Festival of Lights was a huge success. Click here for photos from the events in Wellington and in Auckland.

In October 2002, Asia 2000 held its first Diwali Festival, India's Festival of Lights, in Wellington and Auckland.

Diwali (also known as Deepavali) is one of the most important and colourful of the Indian festivals and is celebrated enthusiastically by Indians all over the world. It marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year and is seen as a brand new beginning for all.

The Asia 2000 Diwali Festival of Lights was a chance for all Wellingtonians and Aucklanders and their families to experience a real Indian celebration.

Traditionally Diwali is celebrated for five days, each day having its own significance, rituals and myths. Light, in the form of candles and lamps, is a crucial part of Diwali, representing the triumph of light over darkness, goodness over evil and hope for the future. During Diwali people light small oil lamps (called diyas) and place them around the home to pray for health, wealth, knowledge, peace and fame. Fireworks are an essential and exciting part of Diwali. The celebration of the festival is also customarily accompanied by exchanging sweets.

Diwali was organised by Asia 2000 in partnership with Auckland City in Auckland and with Wellington City Council in Wellington.