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 UpdateKia ora, namaste, ni hao, mabuhay, anyoung haseyo, mālō e lelei and very warm greetings to you all. I began the month by visiting many bright year 7 and 8 students at St John the Evangelist School, in Ōtara. I shared with them my migration journey; from arriving as a Tongan teenager with English as a second language, to becoming a Cabinet Minister. It was a delight to meet such a diverse group of engaged students and future leaders. Many of our students and their families have similar migration journeys in coming to settle in Aotearoa New Zealand. It was a great opportunity to acknowledge their skills, and the ambition of positive changes they wish to bring about in South Auckland. Director's UpdateKia ora Welcome to the July edition of our monthly newsletter. At this time of year, the Office of Ethnic Communities also eagerly awaits the upcoming applications for the Ethnic Communities Development Fund. If you would like to know more about the Fund, or even receive some advice before submitting your application, please visit the Office of Ethnic Communities website or email us at community.matters@dia.govt.nz. Reminder - fund dates for 2018 are set.The dates have been set for the 2018 Ethnic Communities Development Fund. The fund will open for requests on Wednesday 15 August 2018 and close at midnight on Wednesday 26 September 2018. There is one funding round a year. Building positive ethnic community leadersEach year the Office of Ethnic Communities supports a range of worthy community initiatives through the Ethnic Communities Development Fund. Last year, we supported Umma Trust to set up a programme to empower refugee Muslim youth to become mentors and role models for refugee children and youth in their local community. This resulted in a number of successful outcomes for youth. Suffrage 125 spotlight: Nirmala NarasimhanThis year marks the 125th anniversary of the women’s suffrage movement, which succeeded in giving women in Aotearoa the right to vote. In recognition of this achievement, this month feature Nirmala Narasimhan who is a current champion for change for ethnic women. International connectionsSister Cities New Zealand is a national organisation established to promote peace by fostering exchanges between cities in New Zealand and abroad. It aims to facilitate cultural understanding, stimulate economic development and strengthen partnerships between New Zealanders, migrants and international communities. Ashburton: A most Welcoming CommunityOn 11 July, the Office of Ethnic Communities attended the launch of Ashburton District Council’s Welcoming Plan - Whakatau mai ki te rōhe o Hakatere. The Welcoming Plan was created to encourage local communities to take a greater leadership role in helping newcomers to settle in their new home. The activities are structured around Immigration New Zealand’s standard for welcoming communities focusing on: inclusive leadership; welcoming communications; equitable access; connected and inclusive communities; economic development; business and employment; civic engagement and participation; welcoming public spaces; and culture and identity. Former Afghan Interpreters given New Zealand CitizenshipOn 22 June, 68 former Afghan interpreters and their families became New Zealand citizens at a very special ceremony at Kirikiriroa Marae, Hamilton. Over 200 people attended, including family, friends, Hamilton Mayor Andrew King, members of the New Zealand’s Defence and Police forces, local Iwi and city officials. Leading the DanceShawn Thomas making the Indian community proud through his creative achievements; he’s part of TV3’s The Great New Zealand Dance Masala, a competition showcasing a variety of dancing styles including classical, traditional, hip hop and Bollywood. Shawn a judge on this Indian-inspired dance show; the first of its kind. 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. |