Venkat Raman –
venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz
“A commercial bank should be the financial heart of the community, working closely with people to ensure that they are progressive and prosperous. Nothing gives a financial institution a larger meaning than ensuring the success of wealth creators.”
Those words ring true not only at business and trade events but also at social and community celebrations in New Zealand’s multicultural society.
That was how it was at the Customer Function hosted by ANZ Bank to mark the beginning of the ‘Year of the Monkey,’ celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year on February 18, 2016. Although we are late in reporting this impressive event (paucity of space being the ruling factor), the fun and food-filled afternoon will be remembered until February 2017 when ANZ ushers in the ‘Year of the Rooster.’
More than 500 guests representing a cross-section of New Zealand’s population including Maori, Pacific Islanders, South Asians, South East Asians and Europeans were at the luncheon held at Sky City Convention Centre.
Proud Celebrant
John Body, who recently took charge as Managing Director, Retail & Business Banking (he was previously Managing Director, Wealth & Private Bank) said that his Bank was proud to join the large Chinese community in celebrating their New Year.
“At ANZ, we recognise and applaud the growing diversity of our customers, their needs and their ambitions. Our staff are equally diverse and well prepared to serve them. In celebrating events such as the Chinese New Year and Diwali, we reaffirm our commitment to serve all sections of the society,” he said.
Earlier, Andrew Webster, the Bank’s General Manager for Auckland, said that ANZ considers such events as landmarks in relationship with customers.
Honouring Achievers
The Bank honoured four persons with special awards at the event. They included Ariel Abrogena (ANZ Community Spirit Award), Stephen Reed (ANZ Migrant Support Award on behalf of Royal Reed), Victoria Yao, ANZ Migrant Entrepreneur Award and Lito Banal (ANZ Migrant Business Award).
About the Year of the Monkey
Monkey is the Ninth in the 12-year cycle of Chinese Zodiac. The Years of the Monkey include 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028, 2040, 2052, 2064, 2076, 2088 and so on.
The Monkey is a clever animal and is usually compared to a smart person. During the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), the dignified Chinese official title of ‘Marquis’ was pronounced ‘Hou’, the same as the pronunciation of ‘Monkey’ in Chinese. The animal was thereby bestowed with an auspicious meaning.
Hindus all over the world worship ‘Hanuman’ (The ‘Monkey God’) for strength, successful achievement of challenges and realisation of goals. Hanuman is a Bachelor God and His fellow monkey were the main forces that helped Lord Rama (a Reincarnation of Lord Vishnu) to defeat Ravana of Sri Lanka to liberate His wife Sita held captive by the ferocious king.
Chinese New Year is an important Chinese festival celebrated at the turn of the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. It is also known as the ‘Spring Festival.’
The first day of the New Year falls on the New Moon between January 21 and February 20. The first day of the Chinese New Year this year was on Monday, February 8.
