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RNZ News
29-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Some undocumented children have no rights to work, study
law refugees and migrants about 1 hour ago Imagine growing up in New Zealand your whole life only to find at 18 that you have no right to work, study or even remain here. That's the reality facing a rising number of undocumented young people who were born after 2006's citizenship law change. Concerns are now mounting within ethnic communities as more children of overstayers emerge, with community leaders warning the teenagers may be the visible edge of a much deeper problem. RNZ Asia's Blessen Tom reports.
RNZ News
01-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Indian Panthers suspended from National Basketball League
Photo: RNZ / Blessen Tom The Indian Panthers have been suspended by the National Basketball League after allegations of contractual breaches by the team. In a statement, the league deemed immediate suspension necessary due to the gravity of the situation and potential impact on the league and its teams. "It is very disappointing for the Commission to be facing this situation, especially given that following careful due diligence, the original concept was sustainable and so exciting for the league, the game and the fans, both here and in India," said Tracey Garland, commissioner chair of the National Basketball League. "However, we have had to face the reality that things have not panned out as any party intended." Garland said an investigation had been launched. "The Panthers are fully aware of the conditions they must meet for any consideration given as to their future participation, and these will remain confidential while both parties work through this," she said. "At the same time, the league has commenced an investigation into the alleged breaches." The suspension comes after allegations have surfaced on social media of unpaid salaries and growing dissatisfaction in the squad. The Panthers players did not take the court against Canterbury Rams on Tuesday in protest, with the match being postponed. However, Panthers CEO Parveen Batish told RNZ on Wednesday that the issues were resolved, acknowledging there had been some delays in salary payments. "We have been a bit slow in terms of payment, but that has been rectified," Batish said. "The actual amount that was owed was $3200." The situation escalated on Tuesday evening after former Panthers player Alex Robinson Jr. posted a pointed message on Instagram alleging he had not been paid. Robinson left the Panthers and joined the Nelson Giants in April. The Panthers have faced a series of setbacks in their debut season. The team played without any of the 10 Indian players originally named in the squad in their season opener against the Hawke's Bay Hawks on 12 March due to international commitments. The Panthers faced another setback in March when head coach Miles Pearce resigned just two days ahead of their first home game. The team is yet to register a win after nine matches and, since April, has shifted its base from Bruce Pulman Arena in South Auckland to Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre. "We have been advised by the Panthers today that all players have been paid, including former player Alex Robinson, and that staff and other creditors will be paid by May 15. We hope all of these payments will be made as communicated to us," Garland said. "In particular, we want the players and staff of the Panthers to know we are treating the alleged breaches seriously, and their interests and the integrity of the competition is our highest priority." she said. The Indian Panthers have been approached for a comment.
RNZ News
30-04-2025
- General
- RNZ News
New Zealand's Indian community embraces interfaith unity
The Wellington celebrations began with a khosha yatra, a traditional procession with participants wearing ethnic attire. Photo: Supplied Hundreds have gathered nationwide from Hindu, Christian and Muslim faiths in recent weeks to celebrate three festivals that reflect the community's commitment to secularism and interfaith unity. The Hindu festival of Vishu, the Christian commemoration of Easter and the Muslim celebration of Eid al-Fitr typically fall around the same time of year in South Asia. Christians celebrate Easter to mark the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, while Muslims celebrate Eid to signify the end of Ramadan - a month of fasting and reflection. Vishu, meanwhile, is a Hindu festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala with lights, firecrackers and festivities to mark the beginning of a new year . The South Indian community marked these celebrations in New Zealand's major cities with cultural performances, food and live concerts last weekend. Robin Babu is president of Auckland Malayali Samajam. Photo: RNZ / Blessen Tom In the country's largest city, festivities were celebrated at Mount Albert War Memorial Hall, hosted by Auckland Malayali Samajam. "We've always tried to bring everyone together and never separate anybody based on religion, colour or anything like that," said Robin Babu, president of Auckland Malayali Samajam. "Unfortunately, the world is becoming more divided, and we don't want to be part of that. So, we are celebrating these three important festivals together as one family here." Babu said members performed various cultural and religious art forms to mark Easter, Vishu and Eid. "At the end of the day, we are all human and that's how the world should be - and, luckily, that's how New Zealand is too," he said. He said Auckland's Malayali community intended to celebrate the three festivals together in future. Festivities in Auckland were held at Mount Albert War Memorial Hall, hosted by Auckland Malayali Samajam. Photo: RNZ / Blessen Tom In the capital, celebrations were organised by the Wellington Malayalee Association at Lower Hutt Town Hall on Friday. Titled "Oruma 2025", meaning "oneness", the event similarly brought together people of different faiths. "We wanted to celebrate together despite religious differences to showcase the diversity of our community and the unity of the Kerala community and Indians in general," said Meera Muralidharan, secretary of the Wellington Malayalee Association. "The celebrations began with a khosha yatra - a traditional procession with members wearing ethnic attire - and performing chenda melam (a traditional percussion instrument)," Muralidharan said. "The procession was the first of its kind in Wellington and we wanted to share a message of oneness regardless of our religion and," said Anwar Vazhachalil, president of Wellington Malayalee Association. Muralidharan said showcasing unity was particularly important in today's climate. "With what has happened in Kashmir, it's very important to show the unity of Indians - something we hold very close to our hearts - despite the multitude of religions and cultures we follow," she said, referring to the recent attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that left more than two dozen civilians dead. While the event was planned months before the attack, Muralidharan was pleased the celebration became a day of solidarity for the community. The Wellington Malayali Association organised a community celebration at Lower Hutt Town Hall on Friday. Photo: Supplied Vazhachalil agreed. "We're glad we were able to spread this message of unity through our joint celebration of Edi al-Fitr, Easter and Vishu in the capital," he said. Attendees in Wellington wore traditional clothing and participated in cultural performances representing each faith. In the South Island, the Christchurch Kerala Association hosted celebrations on Saturday at the Lincoln Event Centre. "It was a fantastic day with food, music and cultural performances," said Sruthi Jacob, a member of the organising committee. "We have members who follow many different faiths, and it is wonderful to bring them together," Jacob said. "Celebrating this uniqueness of diversity and unity is very special, and we're glad we could do it." Other parts of the country also celebrated in a similar spirit. The New Plymouth Malayali Association marked Vishu, Easter and Eid on Saturday at Bell Block Hall. Meanwhile, the Kerala Cultural Forum Christchurch celebrated on 20 April at Riccarton High School. The Nelson Malayalee Association will host a similar event for the community on 17 May at the Headingly Centre in Richmond. The Kerala Association hosted a live concert in Christchurch celebrating Easter, Vishu and Eid al-Fitr. Photo: Supplied New Zealand's Telugu-speaking community has also gathered recently to celebrate Ugadi - the Telugu New Year. Ugadi marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year, recognising a change in the lunar orbit and signalling the advent of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. In Auckland, Ugadi celebrations were organised by the Telangana Association of New Zealand on 4 April at Mount Eden War Memorial Hall, and by the New Zealand Telugu Association on 5 April at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre. The Tauranga Telugu community gathered on 30 March at Bethlehem Hall to celebrate Ugadi, organised by the Tauranga Telugu Community. Telugu Association South Island also organised celebrations in Christchurch. Meanwhile, New Zealand's Sikh community celebrated Vaisakhi, also called Baisakhi, a festival that celebrates the founding of the Sikh community in 1699. It is a spring festival that is celebrated on the 13 or 14 April each year. The festival is typically celebrated with nagar kirtans - vibrant street processions where devotees sing hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book. A procession was held in the South Auckland suburb of Takanini on 15 March, organised by the Supreme Sikh Society and attended by thousands . Another procession was held in Rotorua on 5 April, organised by the Sikh Sangat NZ Trust. Similar celebrations were held nationwide, including in Hamilton, organised by the Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur Ji, and in Christchurch, by the Gurdwara Singh Sabha.
RNZ News
25-04-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
New Zealand's Indian community unites in condemning Kashmir terror attacks
About a hundred people gathered at Auckland's Aotea Square on Thursday evening for a candlelight vigil expressing solidarity with victims of a terror attack in Indian-administered Kashmir , which took place on Tuesday afternoon India time. At least two dozen people died after gunmen opened fired on tourists near the picturesque town of Pahalgam in the Himalayas. Foreign Minister Winston Peters strongly condemned the terror attacks in a social media post. The post said, "New Zealand strongly condemns the terrorist attack in Kashmir. We send our deepest condolences to the victims, their families and to the Indian people. We stand with our Indian friends at this difficult time." Meanwhile, organisers at the vigil shared the reason for the gathering. "We have come together to pay our respects to the victims and condemn the terror attacks which has really shaken us," main organiser Rahul Chopra said. "[The victims] were a bunch of tourists who had gone there just to enjoy and now they are not coming back home. As all of us are Indians at heart, we have come together to stand in solidarity with our homeland." Dr Primla Khar, who works as a GP in South Auckland and comes from the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, broke down while sharing her emotions at the vigil. "What happened in Kashmir this week has brought back memories of utterly senseless violence, which we Kashmiris have faced for decades. "We have gathered here today to tell our motherland India that we are with you, no matter what," Khar said. Rahul Chopra is the organiser of the vigil. Photo: RNZ / Blessen Tom Former MPs Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi and Mahesh Bindra called on the Indian government to take appropriate actions against the terrorists who have killed innocent people. "The mood today, of every Indian, is that people responsible for this should be brought to justice. As simple as that," Bakshi said. "What I want to say to the terrorists of this world, whoever they are, wherever they are, that they are dealing with this new India. And when this new India retaliate, it's going to hurt," Bindra added. Meanwhile, ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar in a statement expressed deep sorrow at "this senseless violence". "Every human being has inherent dignity and deserves to live in peace. Disputes must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy - not through cowardly acts of brutality," Parmar said. President of the New Zealand Indian Central Association Veer Khar said, "The Kiwi Indian community is with the people of India in this hour of extreme pain and anguish". A poster listing the names of the victims of the Kashmir terror attack in India. Photo: RNZ / Blessen Tom Supreme Sikh Society of New Zealand also "condemned the killing of innocent individuals in the strongest possible terms". "It is imperative to question who is behind this and what the motive could be," president of the Supreme Sikh Society Daljit Singh said. "Such acts are beyond human conscience. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we stand with them in this difficult time." The Hindu Council of New Zealand called on the international community "to take unequivocal stands against such acts of violence". "Terrorism must never be rationalised, justified or relativised based on political or ideological motives. "Any form of violence against civilians, especially when driven by religious or ethnic hatred, must be denounced in the strongest possible terms," a spokesperson of the Hindu Council of New Zealand said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
