One of the highlights of the last quarter was the inaugural Ethnic Research Hui Aotearoa 2023. This event brought together researchers, policymakers, and community members from across the country to discuss how to better embrace ethnic voices and evidence in public policy. The feedback we received on the day and social media was overwhelmingly positive. This hui was a valuable opportunity for people to come together, share their ideas, and create a more inclusive society for New Zealand.

In July, I was pleased to attend the third annual Christchurch Multicultural Festival. I was inspired by the sense of community and belonging at the festival and am grateful to the organisers for putting on such a fantastic event.

Before I leave you to read the rest of our newsletter, I want to remind you all to practise your right to vote. Voting is one of the most important things you can do as a citizen, and we are lucky to live in a country that allows us our democratic rights. It is a privilege that we should all cherish. I encourage you to learn as much as you can about the candidates and the issues before you go to the polls.

I remember the first time I voted in New Zealand. I was a bit nervous but also excited to exercise my democratic rights. I had studied the candidates and the issues carefully, and I felt confident that I was making an informed decision. 

As I walked into the polling booth, I felt a sense of pride. I was proud to be a New Zealand citizen and to have the opportunity to participate in our democracy.

Voting is a right and a responsibility. It is our chance to have a say in how our country is run. I encourage you all to vote and make your voice heard.

Like artists inspired by their surroundings, we find inspiration in the incredible communities we serve. Thank you for being part of our Ministry's journey, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the newsletter.

Noho ora mai,

Mervin

Coming together and celebrating

Third annual Christchurch Multicultural Festival

On the 29 July, our Chief Executive, Mervin Singham, played a central role in inaugurating the third Annual Christchurch Multicultural Festival.

This vibrant event, organised by the Indian New Zealand Association of Christchurch, exemplified the power of unity. The venue was packed with enthusiastic attendees, creating an immersive ambience through state-of-the-art lighting and equipment, infusing the festival with a fresh and modern vibrancy.

The festival featured an enchanting lineup of 33 non-stop cultural performances from around the world. These performances wove a rich tapestry of cultures, including India, Latin America, China, the Philippines, Mexico, Ireland, Argentina, Fiji, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Europe, Africa, Colombia, and many more. Each act left a lasting mark on the hearts of the audience, creating cherished memories.

We are delighted to support such initiatives through our Ethnic Communities Development Fund. These endeavours align with our mission to celebrate diversity, promote wellbeing, strengthen our bonds, and enrich our collective journey. Through events like these, we continue to create a more vibrant and inclusive community where every individual feels valued.

Photos credit: IndianNz Association of Christchurch Inc.

Te Puna Aonui - Ethnic Communities Network launch

The Te Puna Aonui - Ethnic Communities Network was officially launched at the end of August at Hoani Waititi Marae in Auckland. The launch celebrated the network’s formation and all the hard mahi that has led to this moment. 

It was a powerful and moving occasion, and there was a real sense of aroha, goodwill and unity within the marae’s walls.

The network was formed over the last year following engagements about the National Strategy to Eliminate Family Violence and Sexual Violence | Te Puna Aonui. These engagements identified the necessity for a network that represents the specific needs of ethnic communities in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Over the past year, our Ministry has helped form this network, which includes organisations and private practitioners who support victims of family and sexual violence.

The network works closely with the government, tangata whenua and communities to advance the strategy. It is looking for more members, particularly in the South Island, rural settings and more representation from male, disability, and youth support providers.

Fill out this survey if you are interested in joining the network.

Network members during the launch.

Photo of the Network’s members and supporters outside the marae courtesy of Diya Beharie.

Celebrating New Zealand's First Ethnic Women's Leadership course graduates

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the inspiring graduates of the first Lady Khadija Trust's Ethnic Women's Leadership course.

We are proud to announce that the Trust received funding from our Ethnic Communities Development Fund to facilitate this groundbreaking program. It's initiatives like these that empower individuals and uplift our diverse communities.

Learn more about this opportunity and the application process by visiting our website at Ethnic Communities Development Fund | Ministry for Ethnic Communities

Explore stories about this incredible course and other projects we've proudly supported on our website Ethnic Communities Development Fund - Community Stories | Ministry for Ethnic Communities

We're thrilled to witness the positive impact that these initiatives have on our ethnic communities. 

Photo of one of the course graduates.

Hearing from our ethnic communities

Inaugural Ethnic Research Hui Aotearoa 2023: Bridging Ethnic Voices and Public Policy

We celebrated a significant milestone on 14 September 2023 with the launch of the first Ethnic Research Hui Aotearoa 2023, a collaborative effort by the Ministry for Ethnic Communities and Ethnic Research Aotearoa.

This event brought together over 100 participants, including leaders, researchers, evaluators, and practitioners from various sectors, all eager to explore the theme: "Embracing Ethnic Voices and Evidence in Public Policy."

Expert presentations covered topics such as effective research and evaluation, ethnic data sovereignty, and research networks.

Interactive discussions within five essential streams allowed participants to engage deeply with the topics.

This inaugural hui is just the beginning of our commitment to driving impactful insights and policies for ethnic communities. We aim to bridge the gap between evidence and policy to create meaningful change through policies and analytics information.

Participants expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute ideas to achieve common objectives.

Stay tuned for more coverage of the hui on our website. For more information, email us at info@ethniccommunities.govt.nz.

A group photo from the hui.

Women on Boards NZ Summit 

We were proud to sponsor the Women on Boards NZ Summit in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland in August. Our Chief Executive, Mervin Singham and Talent and Governance Lead, Liz Chin, attended along with eight ethnic women from our Nominations Service database.

The Summit had a single focus: how to embed equity into governance. It was an excellent opportunity for people to make new connections, gain a better understanding of governance and hear from experts. Topics included the Te Tiriti o Waitangi - Treaty of Waitangi, economic outlook, cyber security, climate change, sustainability and more.

Mervin Singham was a panellist on the session 'Diversity and Inclusion on Boards – what does it really mean?'. This session explored diversity on boards more broadly than gender – leaning into ethnic representation and representation from the disabled community.

The Summit was a great platform for us to share some information about our Nominations Service. The Service is one way we are trying to increase ethnic representation on public sector boards and committees. 

Find out more about the Service on our website: Nominations Service | Ministry for Ethnic Communities

Mervin Singham participating in the Summit’s panel 'Diversity and Inclusion on Boards – what does it really mean?'

Mervin Singham and Liz Chin in a group photo with the participants.

Updates and Announcements

Third intake of our Ethnic Communities Graduate Programme

The Ministry's third intake of graduates recently started in various roles across six government agencies. This programme offers a pathway into the public service, helping to make it more representative of the communities it serves.  This is the first time the programme has expanded from being only policy graduates to graduate students who will work in other areas of expertise such as finance and human resources.

The Ministry keeps in close touch with our graduates from a pastoral care perspective and through relevant training initiatives.

Read more about the programme on our website: Ethnic Communities Graduate Programme | Ministry for Ethnic Communities

Photos from the induction event.

Don't miss your chance to vote in the 2023 general election

Voting is a fundamental right of Aotearoa New Zealand's democracy, allowing residents and citizens to have their voices heard. Therefore, your participation in the general elections is important so that you can have a say.

Our ethnic communities play an integral role in our society, and their votes are imperative and critical so that we have voices from all ethnic groups within New Zealand.

We are pleased to see ethnic leaders and community organisations encouraging their communities to exercise their right to vote.

Voting for the 2023 General Election commenced on Monday, 2 October, and concludes at 7 p.m. on election day, Saturday, 14 October.

Information from the Electoral Commission:

Eligibility:

• You must be 18 years or older.
• You should be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.
• You must have resided in New Zealand continuously for 12 months or more at some point in your life.

Find comprehensive information in 27 languages and accessible formats:
Visit 2023 General Election | Vote NZ for more details about the 2023 General Election.

Locate your nearest voting place:
Discover a list of voting locations at Find a voting place | Vote NZ or call 0800 36 76 56. Electoral Commission NZ staff will be on-site to assist if necessary.

This is your opportunity to voice your opinions on matters that impact you, your whānau, and your community!

Crown boards and committees’ online event

About 120 people joined an online event to learn more about the 40+ Crown companies, boards, committees, and tribunals that the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) administer on behalf of the responsible Ministers.

MBIE officials Paul Metcalf, Manager of the Board Appointments and Governance, and Becky Gill, Senior Advisor, provided information about the different types of boards and committees, required skills and experiences, and explained the processes they follow.

The event was jointly hosted by the Ministry in collaboration with other nominating agencies (Manatū Wāhine – Ministry for Women, Te Manatū mō ngā iwi ō to Moana-nui-ā-Kiwa – the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, Whaikaha - the Ministry of Disabled People, and Te Puni Kōkiri – the Ministry Māori Development). Invitees were people registered with the different agency’s Nominations Services.

A recording of the event is available here Learning about the Crown boards that MBIE administer | Ministry for Women

For more information about serving on a public sector board or committee and how to join the Nominations Service, please see Nominations Service | Ministry for Ethnic Communities

A screenshot from the online event.

Are you interested in serving on a public sector board or committee?

Would you like to contribute your skills and experiences to the strategic direction, decision-making and success of public sector companies, entities, or committees? The Ministry for Ethnic Communities regularly nominates ethnic people from our Nominations Service database for governance vacancies on public sector boards and committees. 

We are always looking for people with the right skills and experiences to join our database. Check our website, Nominations Service | Ministry for Ethnic Communities, for further information about what is involved and the skills and experiences required.

To join the database, download the registration form from the website and send it to nominate@ethniccommunities.govt.nz along with your current governance CV. 

To be eligible to join, you need to identify as Asian, African, Middle Eastern, Latin American or Continental European.

What’s on?

Ministry of Social Development’s Ethnic Communities Violence Prevention programme – Trials and funding

Community organisations played a valuable role in the Ethnic Communities Violence Prevention (ECVP) workshops. The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) held these workshops in July 2023.

The Ministry for Ethnic Communities supported these workshops by having our staff participate in online and in-person workshops nationwide.

The ECVP programme focuses on building a stronger understanding of the experience of family violence and sexual violence in ethnic communities while working on community-led prevention solutions that may work best for these communities.

Key components of the ECVP programme include:

1. Engagement: connecting with ethnic communities nationwide, in-person and online, to understand family violence and sexual violence issues and explore community-led solutions

2. South-Asian Trials: launching trials specifically aimed at preventing family and sexual violence prevention among South-Asian communities in Auckland. These initiatives will be developed in partnership with South-Asian communities in Auckland and contribute to creating an evidence base for the work programme.

Organisations interested in engaging in the South Asian trials in Auckland can express their interest by filling out the survey below. 

Register your interest in the South Asian trials in Auckland – SurveyMonkey 

 Note: 'South Asian' encompasses people and communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. It also includes diaspora communities such as Fijian Indians and South Asian individuals from other continents, for example, Africa.

3. Funding for innovative solutions: MSD has recently announced a new Ethnic Communities Innovation Fund. The fund is for developing and implementing prevention initiatives to support diverse ethnic communities at risk of family violence and sexual violence.

More information about the fund, including criteria, will soon be available on the MSD website. 

If you want to learn more about these initiatives, please contact MSD at ECVP@msd.govt.nz.

From the engagement workshops with ethnic communities across New Zealand in 2023.

Art Grants by Creative New Zealand

Creative New Zealand's Arts Grants offer short-term funding opportunities for artists, arts practitioners and organisations. These grants are designed to support projects that:

• Foster sustainable careers for artists and arts practitioners.
• Promote innovation within New Zealand's vibrant arts scene.
• Enhance the development of arts practices.
• Create avenues for diverse communities to engage with the arts.

Applications are open anytime between 4 August and 31 October 2023.

For more information and to apply, visit Arts Grants | Creative New Zealand (creativenz.govt.nz)

Contact Us

Our regional teams are here to help facilitate and encourage inclusiveness and diversity in Aotearoa and to offer support and advice to all of our ethnic communities.

You can reach out to us by email at info@ethniccommunities.govt.nz.

Take care of yourselves, your families, loved ones and wider communities.

Ngā mihi nui

Mervin Singham
Chief Executive
Ministry for Ethnic Communities