Media release : November 14, 2012

Culinary delights in Puketapapa Reflection of Growing City

If you're a foodie in search of new culinary horizons, why not head down to Taste of Puketapapa - a week-long celebration of ethnic food ranging from Ethiopian injera to Gujarati delights and even your classic Spicy Pineapple pizza, but with a special twist?

Vishal Choksi, operations manager of Domino's Mt Roskill and Howick, is calling for Aucklanders to celebrate the colourful immigrant culture of the City of Sails and treat their tastebuds by visiting Taste of Puketapapa.

"There are 25 participating local cafes, restaurants and takeaways offering special dishes at great discounts. Everything costs between $5-$10 so you can sample a whole range of ethnic food for very reasonable prices," says Choksi.

"For example, at Domino's Mt Roskill, one of the participating eateries - we are offering two special 'Puketapapa pizzas', one vegetarian and one non-vegetarian. The vegetarian pizza will have a Spicy Pineapple base with extra toppings, and the meat pizza will have a Bangers and Beef base with extra toppings - and they're only $5 each!"

Choksi, who came to New Zealand from India four years ago as a business and IT student, says that the Mt Roskill store is a delight to work in.

"There are so many different ethnicities who live and work in harmony in the Puketapapa area. It's one of the most culturally diverse communities in Auckland, with over 100 different languages spoken by people across the community. I think it's wonderful and a reflection of how Auckland is growing and maturing, and taking its place on the world stage as part of a truly global multicultural society."

Choksi says one of the advantages of immigration is the melting pot of cuisines that has sprung up across the city.

"I would encourage visitors during the week to start with a nice slice of Puketapapa pizza, then do a food trail around all the different restaurants - you have seven days to whet your appetite! I am personally going to try the Bombay Chinese Chicken Haka Noodles but I'll also be dropping by Café Abyssinia for a traditional Ethiopian lunch, Moshims for a prawn curry and Tulip Café for one of their great steak, bacon and mushroom pies. It's a way for you to travel around the world - at least in terms of cuisines, without actually leaving your own backyard."

Taste of Puketapapa runs from November 15 to 22.

For more information, visit www.dominospizza.co.nz or http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/newseventsculture/events/Events/Pages/tasteofpuketapapa.aspx

-Ends-

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On The 2013 Budget

Among Thursday’s main talking points:

We are apparently on track for a margin-of-error $75 million surplus, now in sight for 2014/15. But this sickly creature is hobbling out of the lab on the basis of all kinds of facilitative conjuring: such as trimming by $200 million the amount of new spending next time around.

With this strictly nominal surplus in sight, the 1984-ish justification for eternal austerity will have a news talisman: namely, getting Crown debt down to 20% of GDP by 2020. More>>

Budget Report, Lockup Audio & Images: Budget Day 2013 As always and especially after the managerial mishaps of the past few weeks and months, (e.g. Aaron Gilmore, the Mighty River Power share float, the GCSB mishaps) Budget Day 2013 was always going to be a pageant of reassurance... More>>

Budget 2013 Comment: Plain Sailing, But It's No America's Cup Pattrick Smellie: Compared to the last four budgets, this year's reflects an economy moving out of recession and into calmer waters... Yet if the fastest annual growth rate we can expect over the next two years is 3 percent - with the Christchurch rebuild in full swing - then you'd have to say New Zealand's underlying low-growth problem is far from fixed. More>>

Auckland Discord: Govt’s Power Hungry Housing Approach A Threat - Labour

Last week the Government said this, ‘The Government commits not to use any proposed or existing powers ... to override the council's planning and consenting processes’. But its housing Bill says this; ‘If an accord cannot be reached in an area of severe housing unaffordability, the Government can intervene by establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developers’. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Housing accords legislation passes first reading - Legislation For Housing Accords, Land Supply - Housing package improves affordability, access
• Greens - Budget numbers show National’s failure on home affordability
• Auckland Chamber of Commerce - Budget 2013: Housing intervention needed
• Out-Link - Gareth Morgan: Response to housing problem limp-wristed
• Earlier, Pre-Budget - Auckland Accord announced

Extending Protest Ban, Relaxing Permit Rules: Govt Abuses Urgency To Extend Anadarko Amendment

The Government is trying to pass legislation under urgency which would make the Anadarko Amendment – which limits protest at sea – apply to an additional 1.7 million square kilometres, the Green Party said today. More>>

ALSO:

• Parliament Today - Parliament Resumes To Pass Budget Bills
• Labour - Government to extend protest ban
• Greenpeace NZ - Oil Companies Lacking ‘Expertise’ and ‘Financial Ability’ Set to Be Handed Drilling Permits
• 2010 image via: Pacific.Scoop - Media watcher gives NZ press nil score card for China oil spill coverage