Dr Rajen Prasad – 
Providing the Indian community with a quality newspaper is a challenging goal for any publisher. To have maintained the standards and reach of Indian Newslink for 16 years is an achievement to be celebrated and thus I add my congratulations to the many others who will be noting this achievement.
This achievement is a credit to the Editor Venkat Raman, the former owners Indiana Publications (NZ) Limited, members of staff and the long list of people associated with the production of a newspaper dedicated to the needs of the Indian community.
New Objectives
Indian Newslink now has new ownership, a new location and no doubt new corporate as well as community service objectives for the future. Again I offer my congratulations to Jacob Mannothra as the new owner for branching out into what will be new territory for him. I have known Jacob for many years and respect him for his business acumen, personal thoughtfulness and ethical standards.
I know Jacob will rely on Venkat Raman’s intimate knowledge of the newspaper as well as the needs of the Indian community to continue the success of Indian Newslink. No doubt Venkat’s role becomes even more pivotal in the newspaper addressing the changing face of ethnic journalism in New Zealand.
A Reflection
An anniversary is also a good time to reflect on the future direction for Indian Newslink and it is here I wish to dwell a little.
Establishing a vehicle for news about compatriots is a hallmark of progress for migrant communities in any society. In Auckland, these outlets include Radio Tarana, Apna Radio and TV, Humm FM, Indian Weekender and of course perhaps the best known print medium – Indian Newslink.
They have all developed a respectable market share but no doubt will be reflecting on the match between their product and the role of ethnic media in Auckland and New Zealand at this time. Smaller and more recent ethnic publications will no doubt be doing the same.
Super Diversity
In the last week or so (popular lawyer) Mai Chen and others have exposed us to the concept of super diversity. While reflecting our growing diversity is not new, what is new is the focus on discussing its implications for how Auckland and New Zealand takes advantage of this super diversity in every aspect of its functioning.
It is argued that businesses, organisations, communities and institutions will miss out unless they adjust their perspectives and strategies to understand and take advantage of this super diversity.
Using the label ‘Super Diversity’ thus brings a fresh focus on ethnic diversity and urgency to considering its implications.
Journalism generally will play a critical role in shaping the discourse about this super diversity and its impact on all aspects of the lives of Aucklanders and New Zealanders. Responsible media will want to reflect our super diversity through building a constituency for accurate information, deepening understanding, building mutual respect, harnessing expertise, and reflecting on challenges.
The alternative is to persist with a mainstream perspective that will see super diversity for its novelty value or as a troubled development. The current discussion about super diversity is partly designed to get us to accept its reality and to capitalize on its promise.
Embracing challenge
It is in this space that, in my view, Indian Newslink can rise to confront the changing face of journalism in general but Indian journalism in particular.
This is a complex field and requires as much attention to be given to the adaptation of the Indian community to our adopted home, and the natural home of our children and grandchildren, as it does to the needs of mainstream and other communities to be fully conversant with New Zealanders of Indian origin, their lives, aspirations and contribution.
If this challenge is embraced, New Zealanders of all backgrounds will see this publication as a source of information, debate and reflection on our super diverse city and nation. That will be a service worth offering to the future of this great country.
Anniversaries provide opportunities to look back as well as forward.
I have focused on the latter without taking anything away from the past achievements of Indian Newslink.
Dr Rajen Prasad is a Special Envoy to the Commonwealth. He was earlier Member of Parliament on Labour List, Chief Families Commissioner of the Families Commission and Race Relations Conciliator.
