ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
Indian students and Migrant Workers Association (MWA) took it to the streets last weekend to protest against the deportation notices issued to the students, only to receive little to no attention from the authorities.
The protest held at noon on Sunday, October 2 at Kolmar Road, Papatoetoe, outside National MP Kanwaljit Bakshi’s office, was able to draw the attention of a few from the Gurudwara across the road as some devotees joined the demonstration.
This was the 3rd protest organised by the students in the last one month. The students are seeking a reversal of deportation notice by the Immigration New Zealand, for allegedly providing fraudulent financial documents at the time of original student visa application back in India.
“The numbers are increasing as some Punjabi students have got in touch with us last week; we are roughly looking at the figure in hundreds soon,” said Anu Kaloti, a lead organiser from MWA.
Auckland mayoral candidate Penny Bright turned up at the event expressing her solidarity with the protesting students. She reiterated the fact that these students are facing the music for the mistakes they did not make.
A number of small community organisations such as Racial Equity Aotearoa, Community League, United Union, and Socialist Aotearoa came forward extending their support for the students. Mandeep Singh from Azad Rangmanch performed a small street play narrating the plight of the students suffering because of this issue.
A supporter from protest pleaded to the public, “Please tighten the screening procedure of documents in future, so that only authentic candidates are passed. But allow these students to stay here as their career is at stake.”
MWA’s next move will be to contact NZ First party to find if they can raise the issue in the parliament, and also get in touch with the representatives from Green party for their support in the parliament. The peaceful protest will continue as the group looks forward to raising more awareness and sympathy for the students.
“Our next protest will be at Aotea Centre during the Auckland Diwali Festival in the city as we aim to get as many people to sign the petition to let the students stay back in New Zealand,” said one of the protestors.
Indian students and Migrant Workers Association (MWA) took it to the streets last weekend to protest against the deportation notices issued to the students, only to receive little to no attention from the authorities.
The protest held at noon on Sunday, October 2 at Kolmar Road, Papatoetoe, outside...
Indian students and Migrant Workers Association (MWA) took it to the streets last weekend to protest against the deportation notices issued to the students, only to receive little to no attention from the authorities.
The protest held at noon on Sunday, October 2 at Kolmar Road, Papatoetoe, outside National MP Kanwaljit Bakshi’s office, was able to draw the attention of a few from the Gurudwara across the road as some devotees joined the demonstration.
This was the 3rd protest organised by the students in the last one month. The students are seeking a reversal of deportation notice by the Immigration New Zealand, for allegedly providing fraudulent financial documents at the time of original student visa application back in India.
“The numbers are increasing as some Punjabi students have got in touch with us last week; we are roughly looking at the figure in hundreds soon,” said Anu Kaloti, a lead organiser from MWA.
Auckland mayoral candidate Penny Bright turned up at the event expressing her solidarity with the protesting students. She reiterated the fact that these students are facing the music for the mistakes they did not make.
A number of small community organisations such as Racial Equity Aotearoa, Community League, United Union, and Socialist Aotearoa came forward extending their support for the students. Mandeep Singh from Azad Rangmanch performed a small street play narrating the plight of the students suffering because of this issue.
A supporter from protest pleaded to the public, “Please tighten the screening procedure of documents in future, so that only authentic candidates are passed. But allow these students to stay here as their career is at stake.”
MWA’s next move will be to contact NZ First party to find if they can raise the issue in the parliament, and also get in touch with the representatives from Green party for their support in the parliament. The peaceful protest will continue as the group looks forward to raising more awareness and sympathy for the students.
“Our next protest will be at Aotea Centre during the Auckland Diwali Festival in the city as we aim to get as many people to sign the petition to let the students stay back in New Zealand,” said one of the protestors.
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