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, malo e lelei, talofa lava, namaste, ni hao, mabuhay, anyoung haseyo, and very warm greetings to all. This month, I was delighted to celebrate Indian Independence Day with so many of our New Zealand Indian families and friends, at Radio Tarana’s event in Auckland. It was very special to have so many of my Cabinet and parliamentary colleagues, as well as major community organisations attend. Well done to everyone who made this celebration a success. Director's UpdateKia ora koutou katoa Welcome to the Office of Ethnic Communities’ August newsletter. Education has been an ongoing area of focus for the Office this month. We are currently collaborating with the Education on the Education Conversation, to improve New Zealand’s education system for future generations. In September, the Office of Ethnic Communities will be assisting Education with three of its pan-ethnic consultations across Auckland, and identifying key themes and concerns raised by our ethnic communities around the NCEA system.
Have your say on the future of educationThe Ministry of Education is working to understand what New Zealanders need and want from the education system. Live your Dream - Ethnic Women in EntrepreneurshipWhat links a cupcake business, an ethnic driving school for women and an IT support and training service for the elderly? These businesses all began with the Women Entrepreneurship Centre’s Live Your Dream workshops. Christchurch, a refugee settlement, once again!On the 18th of August at the Canterbury Refugee Resettlement and Resource Centre Hon Iain Lees-Galloway, Minister for Immigration, announced that the Government will reinstate Christchurch as a place for refugee resettlement. Suffrage 125 spotlight - Grace RyuThis year marks the 125th anniversary of the women’s suffrage movement, which gave all women in Aotearoa the right to vote. Grace Ryu was born in South Korea and arrived in New Zealand in 1997. She is the Operations Manager of the Asian Health Services at Waitemata District Health Board, and is on the ethnic advisory panel for English Language Partners (a Non-Government Organisation for former refugees and migrants). She was recently appointed as a panel member of the Ethnic Community Development Fund. Hamilton City Mayor welcomes international studentsOn the 15th August, His Worship Andrew King, Mayor of Hamilton, welcomed over 200 international students to the Hamilton region at an event jointly hosted by Hamilton City Council and Study Waikato. Students from countries across Europe, the Middle East and Asian nations attended the event reflecting ethnic diversity and a thriving New Zealand. Supporting Active CitizenshipSPLICE, an Auckland-based movement aimed at connecting communities, has recently been supported by the Ethnic Communities Development Fund to launch Active Citizens in New Zealand. 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. |