Ekta, a Wellington-based charity will start distributing prepared and pre-packed vegetarian meals on a weekly basis in Porirua from July 18. In addition to the pre-packed food, there will also be breads from Pandoro bakery, which Ekta collects under its food rescue program.

In a speech delivered in Parliament on Wednesday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern outlined a “plan in the event we have a new case of community transmission of COVID-19 in New Zealand,” she said. We present the relevant excerpts. Full text can be read here www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/next-steps-covid-response

New Zealand has joined a global initiative that aims to enable all countries to access a safe and effective Covid-19 vaccine, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters announced on Wednesday.

“At Alert Level 4, Ekta was providing green grocery supplies to some of the Wellington charities, when we came to know that some students, migrant workers and passengers stranded here ,especially from India also needed assistance. We arranged for a few rendezvous to get food parcels to these people without breaching the alert level rules.”

On June 13, Wellington-based Ekta NZ and St Peter’s Church got together to mark their second year of support to the Wellington City Mission (WCM).

International Yoga day commemorated at New Zealand parliament.

Alert Level 1 sees everyone being able to return without restriction to work, school, sports and domestic travel, and you can get together with as many people as you want.

As regards to the tickets prices, the Ekta representative added, “These will be Auckland to Delhi flying on June 8, USD$2,100 economy and USD$3,800 Business; Auckland to Chennai flying on June 10, USD$2,100 economy and USD$3,800 Business; and Christchurch to Mumbai flying on June 13, USD$2,100 economy and USD$3,800 Business.

The Government has established a $1M hardship fund for international students to address urgent, temporary needs, for example temporary inability to access cash or because of reduced part-time employment.

That’s why Cabinet met today and agreed that, effective immediately, we will move to Alert Level 3 nationwide. After 48 hours, the time required to ensure essential services are in place, we will move to Level 4.

550th birth anniversary celebrations of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, by MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi at the New Zealand Parliament.

India-New Zealand 2025: Investing in the Relationship sets out a framework for New Zealand Government agencies and partners to grow the relationship with India over the next five years.

Following the announcement that more than 340 schools will be funded to run events promoting vocational education, the Government has announced it will fund a further 257 events to be run by employers and industry.

Budget 2020 will be delivered on Thursday 14 May, Finance Minister Grant Robertson announced on Wednesday. “This year’s Budget will continue the Coalition Government’s focus on tackling the long-term challenges facing New Zealand while also preparing the economy for the future.

Ekta is very pleased to have contributed in helping one of our regulars at the Guru Nanak Free Kitchen to find accommodation. He was living in the bushes (unbelievable as it may seem) and is since January 30, 2020, living in an albeit a sparely furnished apartment. We hope with help, to be able to help furnish his apartment over time.

The Wellington Indian Association (WIA) raised over two thousand dollars at their recent Christmas party for the charity Marry Potter Hospice, which in a Facebook post noted, “We'd like to say a huge thank you to the Women's Division (known as the Mahila Samaj) of the WIA who raised an incredible $2,520 for Mary Potter Hospice at their recent Christmas Party.

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway on Wednesday announced, “The Government is making sure we share the prosperity of our strong economy fairly with those on the minimum wage by lifting it to $18.90 per hour on 1 April 2020 – the next step in the Government’s plan for a $20 minimum wage by 2021.

In an interactive session held on December 12, in Wellington, the Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand, Muktesh Pardeshi, met several local leaders and representatives of community organisations.

Started in 2015 by the Wellington Indian Association, this year’s Community Service Awards held last weekend in the capital, recognised four individuals for “outstanding dedicated service” to the community. These included Karuna Ranchod, Sumati Lala, Santi Damania, and Jay Shaw.

Produced by the non-profit Communities Action Trust NZ (CATNZ) established in 2008, and brought to the capital by the Wellington City Council, this year’s Diwali held last weekend, had a very local empahsis.

Ekta Foundation’s, Jallianwala Bagh Massacre Photo Exhibition curated by the Partition Museum of Amritsar, India, was officially launched on November 21, by Labour MP Michael Wood and the Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand, Muktesh Pardeshi. The exhibition ran for a week, ending on November 28.

On April 13, 1919, the British forces led by Brigadier General Reginald Dyer opened fire in Jallianwala Bagh on thousands of unarmed and peaceful protesters, including women and children, killing over one thousand men, women and children trapped inside the garden.

In a gesture signifying the evolving multicultural nature of New Zealand, the New Zealand Parliament for the first-time ever hosted a - Diwali-Annakut and Hindu festivals exhibition, on November 5.