Waitakere Indian Association (WIA) was the first Indian community organisation to celebrate Diwali within public in 2000. From a small number of hundreds, it has grown to over ten thousand people from every walk of life, religion and ethnicity attending this much-loved event, which is in its 22nd year celebration with the community.

Waitakere Indian Association (WIA) was the first Indian community organisation to celebrate Diwali within public in 2000. From a small number of hundreds, it has grown to over ten thousand people from every walk of life, religion and ethnicity attending this much-loved event, which is in its 22nd year celebration with the community.

The ace photographer got to relive her missed opportunities to travel that the pandemic had halted for everyone. A soulful trip that was spiritual, where she got to explore and bring out a side of herself which was little known to her.

The Auckland Council Youth Advisory Panel's End of Term Report (2019-2022) was presented to the Council's Parks, Arts, Community and Events (PACE) Committee on Thursday, 22 September 2022.

The report was presented by Murali Krishna Magesan, President of Hindu Youth New Zealand and co-chairperson of the Youth Advisory Panel with Amy Irvine, co-chairperson of the Cross Panel Climate Change Working Group. Murali Krishna Magesan has been living in Auckland since 2014 when he moved from Rotorua to pursue his B.E. (Hons) at the University of Auckland and currently working as a Product Development Engineer at Fisher & Paykel Appliances

Hindus feel that it is time for the British monarch to drop the “Defender of the Faith” title, which was coined in the 1500s.

Britain was a multi-religious, multi-denominational and pluralistic society now and there were a substantial and growing number of non-believers. For a monarch, all subjects should be equal, while titles like this seemed to create a class structure and were highly irrelevant in 21st century; Hindu statesman Rajan Zed stated in Nevada (USA) today.

Moreover, monarchy should not be in the business of defending the faith. If some still thought that there was need to defend the faith, it should be left to individual religions and denominations and organizations of non-believers; Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, indicated.

New Zealand’s leading university, the University of Auckland, recently announced an extensive range of new scholarships for Indian students, with some worth up to $20,000.

With the Pacific country’s borders now fully open, the university is keen to get Indian students back on campus so has launched more than 200 scholarships, totalling almost NZD $1.5 million, for 2023. Applications for the University of Auckland India High Achievers Scholarship open on 10 October, and both undergraduate and postgraduate students can apply.