Bihar Assembly Speaker meets Bihari diaspora in New Zealand
Auckland,(BiharTimes): Bihar Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary was accorded a traditional Indian welcome with ‘Tilak’ and garland by the office-bearers of the Non-Resident Bihari Diaspora, which includes Bihar Samaj and Foundation, Auckland Chapter.
Later a traditional Maori welcome with their Hakka dance was accorded to him in a nearby Marae sacred place of Maories, the tribe of New Zealand.
The Speaker visited Auckland as part of his study tour to New Zealand from December 23 to 26. The study tour during Christmas holiday was a part of an official tour to study skilled development, culture, environment and law and order of New Zealand.
In Auckland, the Speaker met Indian community leaders at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre hosted by New Zealand Indian Central Association (NICA), the oldest established Indian Organisation in New Zealand. He also attended a dinner meeting hosted by National Party List Member of Parliament Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi. The Speaker exchanged views on issues related to Bihar, demonetisation, flood and water resources of the state.
Chaudhary with his family went for sight seeing to a Rotorua, a town set on its namesake lake in New Zealand’s north island known for its geothermal activity and Maori culture.
He also met Mahesh Bindra, a New Zealand politician, representing New Zealand First as a List Member of Parliament and the few local Bihari Diaspora and exchanged views on democratic traditions of New Zealand and current political and economic scenario of present Bihar.
After local sight seeing the Speaker left for Sydney with his family on his way to India.
New Zealand is a developed island nation in the southwestern Pacific Ocean with a market economy. Geographically it comprises two main landmasses––that of the North Island and the South Island and numerous smaller islands. It has a high-income economy and ranks in international comparisons, such as health, education, economic freedom and quality of life.
Nationally, legislative authority is vested in elected, unicameral Parliament, while executive power vested with Prime Minister––currently Bill English.
Queen Elizabeth II is the country’s head of state and is represented by a Governor General.
