Office of Ethnic Communities Update Flourishing ethnic diversity; thriving New Zealand What's been happeningThe Office of Ethnic Communities is government's authoritative advisor on ethnic diversity in New Zealand. Our purpose is that Ethnic Communities are strong and the benefits of ethnic diversity for New Zealand are realised. Minister's updateThe month of March was a busy month for ethnic communities-starting with International Women’s Day on 8 March, Race Relations Day on 21 March and a host of multicultural events delivered throughout the country. These events are so valuable and I try to get to as many of them as possible. I strongly encourage local communities to join in the festivities. General Manager's updateIn this newsletter you will see a column by the new Minister for Ethnic Communities – Hon Judith Collins. We welcome the Minister back to a portfolio she knows so well. Our Minister is also the Minister for the Inland Revenue Department, and you will see in her column that she is very keen to ‘join the dots’ between these two portfolios and ensure that ethnic business is well served by her Inland Revenue Department portfolio. The Minister will pen a regular column in the our newsletter. New Zealand Chinese and Maori Arts ExhibitionIn conjunction with the Maori Women's Welfare League and Te Mahurehure Culture Marae Society, the New Zealand Women's Association hosted the New Zealand Chinese and Maori Arts Exhibition on 19 March in Auckland. 8th Regional Refugee Forum ChristchurchThis year was the 8th annual regional refugee forum in Christchurch hosted by the Canterbury Refugee Resettlement and Resource Centre. The topic of this year’s forum was Refugee Health through Literacy, Advocacy and Outreach. The key note address, Psychiatry and Refugees, was given by Dr Sandy MacLeod . Celebrating Race Relations Day and flourishing ethnic diversity in Porirua.Pataka – Porirua’s art gallery, museum and library precinct hosted a Race Relations day event on the 23rd of March. The event was held to celebrate Race Relations Day and the newly established relationship between Multicultural Council Wellington and Porirua City Council. Christchurch is full of colorsOn 4 March, Holi (Festival of Colours) was held in Christchurch. 6000 people attended this year’s festival, an increase from the 4000 attendees of the festival last year. New organisation paving way for women empowermentA new women entrepreneur centre dedicated to developing ethnic women as successful business leaders is becoming a beacon of hope for many in Auckland. Canterbury Japan Day 2017On 3 March, Japan Day was held in Christchurch as an annual event in the Canterbury region. The event attracted over 13,000 people who enjoyed the unique culture and heritage of Japan and the richness that the Japanese community bring to New Zealand. Auckland Chinese Community CentreThe Auckland Chinese Community Centre (ACCC) formally opened the extension to its Mangere Hall on 11 March. Ethnic Communities Parliamentary Private Secretary Dr Jian Yang MP spoke on behalf of the Minister, Hon Judith Collins. The hidden multicultural history of ChristchurchDiscussion with respected academic, Dorothy McMenamin has led to an interesting historical gem about one of Christchurch’s most upmarket suburbs, Cashmere. Cashmere was named after Kashmir in India and is closely linked to Christchurch’s Indian community. 13 Indians and 4 Anglo Indians (plus an Arabian stallion) traveled with John Croft a former judge in British India, to Christchurch in 1854. Business connections between China and South IslandA newly established Chinese not-for-profit organization, the New Zealand-China Exchange Incorporated is expected to develop business opportunity between China and New Zealand. The organization brought together over 120 guests from across the Canterbury region to celebrate and share their aspirations building real connections between China and the South Island. New University Director of Diversity: Edwina PioThe Office of Ethnic Communities would like to congratulate Professor Edwina Pio who has been appointed as University Director of Diversity at Auckland University of Technology. Graduate of the Christchurch Ethnic Women's leaders programme heads offshoreOriginally from South Africa, Linda Cousins and her husband Brian have departed Christchurch after several years of voluntary service in the city. Linda has persuaded Brian to follow her dream of working with refugees (particularly women) in Turkey. 2017 Prime Minister’s Business ScholarshipsEntries are now open for the 2017 Prime Minister’s Business Scholarships, which offer New Zealand’s managers and executives the opportunity to improve their skills at the world’s best business schools. Applications for the scholarships close at noon on 28 April 2017. Calling all landlords of a low-income rental property.Recent changes to the Residential Tenancy act mean that by 1 July 2019 all rental properties must have ceiling and underfloor insulation meeting a set standard, where reasonably practicable. A limited number of grants are available through Warm Up New Zealand: Healthy Homes for ceiling and underfloor insulation for rental properties occupied by low-income tenants. Visit the EnergyWise website to learn more. Are you interested in your organization's details to be listed on our website?Did you know that the Office of Ethnic Communities has a Community Directory on its website? The purpose of the directory is to connect members of the public to relevant ethnic organisations. Any organisation interested in providing details for the directory, or want to update existing details are invited to contact Phoebe Peguero, Diversity and Engagement Advisor. Would you like to subscribe?Keep up to date with our projects and ethnic diversity issues by subscribing to our contact list. You will receive details about stories, events and community news by email. This includes our monthly newsletter the OEC Update. |