Press
The first significant step in the process of integrating Tamil-speaking people in New Zealand was taken on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 when Transport and Workplace Relations & Safety Minister Michael Wood launched the Aotearoa New Zealand Federation of Tamil Sangam (ANTS) Inc at the Banquet Hall of New Zealand Parliament. The first significant step in the process of integrating Tamil-speaking people in New Zealand was taken on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 when Transport and Workplace Relations & Safety Minister Michael Wood launched the Aotearoa New Zealand Federation of Tamil Sangam (ANTS) Inc at the Banquet Hall of New Zealand Parliament.
Milestone in Parliament
The event also witnessed another milestone- Pongal Day celebrations with Inclusion, Diversity and Ethnic Communities Minister Priyanca Radhakrishnan and Vanushi Walters, Elected Member of Parliament from Upper Harbour saying that the Festival is an important occurrence in their lives as well.
FIRST-EVER PONGAL CELEBRATIONS IN NZ PARLIAMENT
Wednesday, February 24, 2021 Rizwan Mohammad
The first-ever celebrations of the Tamil festival Pongal were held in the New Zealand parliament on Tuesday, February 23, witnessing participation from community members from all around the country.
The importance of promoting language as a cultural and regional identity and the need to encourage the younger generation to understand linguistic values were emphasised at a unique event held in Wellington yesterday (August 1, 2021).
Organised by the newly formed Aotearoa New Zealand Federation of Tamil Sangam (ANTS) Inc, the one-day Retreat, held at Brentwood Hotel in Kilbirnie event was attended by Indian High Commissioner Muktesh Pardeshi, Wellington Mayor Andy Foster, Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon, Labour List MP Ibrahim Omer, Ethnic Communities Ministry Regional Manager Kudakwashe Tuwe, Multicultural New Zealand President Pancha Narayanan and New Zealand Police National Partnerships Manager Ethnic Superintendent Rakesh Naidoo and others.
The Retreat was attended by a majority of the Founding Members of ANTS, Presidents and Secretaries of member organisations and others. The event included the launch of the new Sangam’s website (www.tamilfederationnewzealand.org.nz)
A guiding star from Tamil Nadu shines in Kiwiland
Peniel Prabhakaran-Elliot:
Deepening Maori-Tamil relations
Venkat Raman
Auckland, January 16, 2022
As Peniel Prabhakaran-Elliot rendered the Powhiri in chaste Maori and Tamil at the start of the Leaders Meeting of the Aotearoa New Zealand Federation of Tamil Sangams (ANTS) on Friday, January 7, 2022 in Wellington, the pride in the room went to lofty heights.
For, this young woman, with her proficiency in Maori and Tamil- first as a child of Tamil Nadu and then as the resident of New Zealand, her adopted country – not only symbolised the bond that exists between Maori and Tamils for centuries but also glorified the efforts of ANTS leadership to forge an even tighter bond. More of these elsewhere on this page.
As the Patron of ANTS, this Reporter is gratified that Peniel has been appointed to lead a Project to strengthen relationships with iwi Maori and Tamil Samudayam.
Tamil Federation vows to promote Language and Heritage
ANTS Leaders Srinivasan, Vai, Raveen and Rajesh at the meeting on January 7, 2022
Venkat Raman
Auckland, January 16, 2022
Promotion of Tamil language and culture, a better understanding of Teo Maori to foster a closer relationship with the Maori people, a day-long Seminar with Maori in their environment in Rotorua later in the year and unifying the Tamil-speaking people in the country are among the priorities of the Aotearoa New Zealand Federation of Tamil Sangams (ANTS).
Citing the above at a two-day meeting of the Leaders of the Federation at Brentwood Hotel in Wellington on January 7 and January 8, 2022, President Raveen Annamalai said that uniting the Tamil-speaking people and effecting a meaningful integration with Maori is now becoming a possibility with the establishment of ANTS.
India’s envoy embellishes ANTS get together in Wellington
Staff Reporter
Auckland, January 16, 2022
The get-together of officials of the Aotearoa New Zealand Federation of Tamil Sangams (ANTS) held in Wellington on January 7, 2022 acquired added dignity and significance with the presence of India’s High Commissioner Muktesh Pardeshi and his wife Rakhi Pardeshi.
The event was further exemplified by Durga Dass, Second Secretary (Press, Information and Culture) at the Mission, who attended with his wife Deepa Dass.
ANTS Leaders Srinivasan, Vai, Raveen and Rajesh at the meeting on January 7, 2022
Tamil Federation launches a meaningful engagement with Maori on July 2, 2022
நியூசிலாந்தில் நடைபெற்ற தமிழ் - மாவோரி மொழி பண்பாட்டுச் சங்கமம் நிகழ்ச்சி on July 2, 2022
Cultural commonalities strengthen the Maori-Tamil bond on July 2, 2022
Venkat Raman
Auckland, July 2, 2022
More than 250 men, women and children of the Tamil fraternity assembled at the Ngati Ngararanui of Waiteti Marae in Ngongotaha in Rotorua over the last weekend (July 1 to 3, 2022) creating the first-of-its-kind engagement with the Maori, the original inhabitants of this Aotearoa New Zealand.
The three-day event in Rotorua was organised by the Wellington-based Aotearoa New Zealand Federation of Tamil Sangams (ANTS) Inc under the title, ‘Sangamam’ (Confluence).
The participants were of Indian, Fiji Indian, Singaporean, Malaysian, South African and Sri Lankan origin, in addition to other countries.
While men and women participated in the proceedings, separate arrangements were made for children to be kept engaged in sports and other activities.
July 4, 2022
நியூசிலாந்து: நியூசிலாந்து நாட்டின் ரோதோருவா நகரில் முதல் முறையாக தமிழ் - மாவோரி மொழி, பண்பாட்டுச் சங்கமம் நிகழ்ச்சி நடைபெற்றது.
அவொத்தியரோவா நியூசிலாந்து தமிழ் சங்கங்களின் கூட்டமைப்பு (ANTS) நிறுவனம் மற்றும் பல்வேறு சமூக, அரசாங்க நிறுவணங்கள் இந்நிகழ்ச்சியை ஒருங்கிணைந்து நடத்தினர்.
சென்ற வாரம் மாவோரி மக்கள் அனுசரிக்கும் 'மாட்டாரிகி' (புத்தாண்டு) கொண்டாடப்பட்டது. இது வரலாற்றில் முதன்முறையாக நிலத்துக்குரிய தொல்முதற்குடியான பண்டிகை ஆகும். மேலும் அன்றைய தினம் அரசு விடுமுறை அறிவிக்கப்பட்டது, வரலாற்று சாதனையாக பார்க்கப்பட்டது. இதனையொட்டி, தமிழ் - மாவோரி பண்பாட்டுக் கொண்டாட்ட நிகழ்வும் நடந்தது.
Ashtaen Harcourt
Recorded at Rotorua on July 2, 2022
When I was first asked to give a speech about Maori and Tamil unity, I thought that it was a very difficult subject. I struggled to find anything to say, but then remembered a quote from the poem ‘The Human Family,’ by American Memoirist and Poet Maya Angelou:
I note the obvious differences
Between each sort and type,
But we are more alike, my friends,
Than we are unalike.
And that gave me some inspiration to find out what is common between the two cultures.