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Kia ora koutou and apa khabar (Hello in Malay),
Welcome to our last edition for 2023!
How quickly the year has gone! This edition is all about acknowledging how we have shaped our journey and getting ready for the exciting things coming up in the new year.
This time of year reminds me of how important it is to be grateful for all the people who support us in our lives – particularly our family and friends.
Firstly, a heartfelt thank you to all those who actively participated in the recent elections, exercising their right to vote and contributing to the vibrancy of our democratic society.
Now, with a new government in place, I am pleased to introduce our new Minister for Ethnic Communities, Melissa Lee. In this edition, we share a video message from the Minister to our ethnic communities.
Minister Lee is well known to many ethnic communities. We look forward to working with her to empower our communities and to ensure everyone feels included and their contributions truly valued.
We have all had a challenging year for many reasons. The global landscape, particularly the situation in the Middle East with the Israel/Palestine conflict, has impacted many in our communities, both directly and indirectly.
Our thoughts go out to all those affected, and we stand in solidarity during these challenging times with our impacted communities. This conflict serves as a reminder of the peace we are so privileged to experience in New Zealand.
New Zealand stands out globally for its unique blend of harmony and peaceful coexistence. To preserve New Zealand’s international reputation, we need to highlight these positive qualities and provide counter narratives to those focused on division and polarisation.
We recognise the integral role that faith plays within many of our ethnic communities. In August, I called for the first meeting of leaders from faith-based communities in New Zealand.
Faith and ethnicity are closely connected. It is essential to build understanding among different beliefs to promote community cohesion. The relationships formed during these meetings are especially important during conflicts. They create a foundation of shared values that supports people to work together, even if they may have disagreements. This is a cornerstone of a healthy diverse society.
I urge each of you, particularly our youth, to utilise your platforms and social media to promote unity and peace and to show empathy for all those affected by global conflicts. A few words of support and kindness can make a big difference to them.
We have initiated several projects to support the wellbeing of affected communities and foster cross-community dialogue.
Our Ethnic Communities Development Fund (ECDF) continues to seek community-led initiatives to enhance strong relationships in the community. In this edition, you'll find more about them.
I also want to express my acknowledgment of the challenging period experienced by everyone involved in the ongoing coronial inquest into the Christchurch terror attacks.
I know how difficult it is to go through this process. I admire the bravery shown by the survivors and families of the victims. Through their testimonies, they are pushing for important improvements in our systems to keep our country safe for everyone. Our thoughts are with you.
We know law and order issues are significant for our ethnic communities. In this edition, I share my interview with Andrew Coster, New Zealand Police Commissioner, to answer some of the questions raised by ethnic communities about their safety concerns and how law enforcement works for them.
I hope you find answers to your questions and gain insights into the NZ Police organisation and the law-and-order landscape in New Zealand. Your thoughts and feedback are always welcome.
With the holiday season approaching, I extend my heartfelt wishes to you and your loved ones for a year filled with success, meaningful connections, and good health.
I look forward to continuing our productive mahi and constructive connections in 2024 and many years after!
Noho ora mai,
Mervin Singham
Chief Executive
Ministry for Ethnic Communities
Message from our new Minister for Ethnic Communities
We are delighted to share a special video message from our newly sworn-in Minister Hon Melissa Lee. Minister Lee extends warm wishes for the holiday season to our diverse communities in her heartfelt video on her Facebook page.
Watch the video here: A Message from Minister Lee to our Ethnic Communities.
Minister Lee took her oath in both English and Korean during the swearing-in ceremony on November 27, 2023, reflecting the cultural diversity that enriches New Zealand's political landscape.
Melissa Lee is the Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Ethnic Communities, Minister for Media and Communications, and Associate Minister for ACC.
Born in South Korea and raised in Malaysia, Minister Lee immigrated to New Zealand with her family in 1988. Before entering politics in 2008, she had a successful career in media, including roles as a newspaper reporter and hosting Asia Dynamic/Asia Downunder on TVNZ for over a decade.
Minister Lee looks forward to connecting with ethnic communities in person in the new year.
Click the play button to the left to watch Minister Lee's message.
Mervin Singham interviews Andrew Coster, Commissioner of NZ Police
At the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, we emphasise the importance of diversity and enhance access to government services for ethnic communities.
Recognising the diverse backgrounds and experiences of ethnic communities, we have created a Chief Executive video series.
This series explains government services available to all New Zealanders, with a specific focus on ethnic communities.
In this video, Chief Executive Mervin Singham discusses several issues that matter most to our communities with Andrew Coster.
Click the play button to the left to watch the full interview: Mervin Singham interviews Andrew Coster, NZ Police
Coming together
The Ministry’s social cohesion and wellbeing initiatives
In response to the distressing humanitarian situation arising from the Israel/Palestine conflict, we have taken proactive steps to engage with affected communities in New Zealand.
We have worked on creating a safe space for the Muslim and Jewish communities to share their concerns and to let us know what helps them most during such a difficult time. We will continue exploring ways to extend assistance and support to both communities.
We need cohesion now more than ever. To address the diverse needs of the impacted communities, we are actively supporting community-led social cohesion projects through our Ethnic Communities Development Fund.
In recent months, the ECDF has approved several projects aimed at promoting understanding, unity, and peaceful relationships between affected communities.
One approved project aims to create content to educate Jewish people and others in New Zealand about Jewish culture and history. This knowledge helps reduce anti-Semitism. The goal is to connect more with the younger Jewish community.
Another project we are supporting is a three-month digital campaign by the Asturlab Cultural Centre. They want to spread awareness about the Gaza crisis using online platforms and community events across New Zealand. The project plans to focus on individuals from the Middle Eastern and Muslim communities in New Zealand, including Kiwi Muslims, Jews, Palestinians, and Arabs.
We have also implemented a range of initiatives, including wellbeing workshops. These workshops are being conducted across different regions to provide a safe space for dialogue and support.
The impact of the workshops held to date has been profound, with attendees expressing gratitude for connecting and sharing with one another.
The power of shared experiences became evident as one participant noted, "It was really a good chance to hear each other and to feel supported by other ladies in the community. Thank you so much for this workshop. Looking forward to the next one."
The positive feedback emphasised the importance of such initiatives, with a call for more equally open and supportive workshops. We plan to organise more workshops, continuing to create safe spaces for our communities.
Symbolising unity: The Christchurch Mosaic project
We acknowledge that it has been a tough and challenging time for the March 15 terror attacks survivors, victims’ families, witnesses and all those affected during the coronial inquest.
In solidarity with the Christchurch Muslim community and local emergency services, we collaborated with the New Zealand Police Ethnic Liaison Team to host the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Southern Command Liaison Team (CLT) during their visit to Christchurch in September.
The ceremony, held at the Christchurch Art Gallery and co-organised by our Ministry and New Zealand Police, was an occasion for the Christchurch communities and emergency first response services to get together, with our Senior Community and Engagement Advisor, Hisham Eldai, emceeing.
Recipients of the mosaics included the two mosques (Linwood Islamic Centre and Masjid Alnoor), representatives of the bereaved and injured members of the Muslim community, and representatives from the New Zealand Police, St John, and Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
Crafted over two years, including during the period of COVID-19 lockdowns, the mosaics became a collective effort involving hundreds of Australians, including AFP and emergency service members. The mosaic pieces allowed community members from different faiths and ethnicities to contribute to the project.
The resulting Mosaic artwork became a tangible representation of unity and solidarity between communities across borders.
Click the play button to the right to watch a video about the Mosaics journey: Christchurch Mosaic Project 2021
More information about the project is available here: AFP honours Christchurch community and local emergency services | Australian Federal Police
Photos from the Christchurch ceremony on 20 September 2023.
Empowering futures: Highlights from the third intake of the Ethnic Communities Graduate Programme
It was wonderful to catch up with our 16 graduates and to hear how they are settling into their public service roles and growing in confidence, three months into the third intake of the Ethnic Communities Graduate Programme (ECGP),
The graduates have been placed in various roles across six government agencies, including policy, human resources, communications, community engagement and data and intelligence. Host agencies for this intake include Inland Revenue, Ministry of Transport, New Zealand Customs Service, New Zealand Intelligence Community, New Zealand Police, and Public Service Commission. We work with these host agencies to support graduates to have the best possible experience in the public sector.
A panel of five ECGP alumni now working in the public sector came back to share their programme experiences and to empower and encourage the current cohort.
We heard from graduates that they now have a better understanding of how government works and the range of ways their work serves communities. We also heard that their families are proud of them for their achievements and the positive difference that they can make through their roles.
Read more about the programme on our website: Ethnic Communities Graduate Programme
Photos from November workshop.
Key updates
The Ministry’s 2022/23 Annual Report released
In October, we published our 2022/23 Annual Report, providing a detailed perspective on our dynamic, productive second year.
In reflecting on the past year, it becomes evident that our accomplishments result from collective efforts — an achievement made possible by the collaborative endeavours of government and community partners, the trust and support of ethnic communities, and the dedication of our team.
The report showcases the Ministry’s efforts to make a positive impact for all New Zealanders, including our ethnic communities.
To explore our key highlights and accomplishments, read the full report on our website: Annual Report of the Ministry for Ethnic Communities 2022/23.
2022/23 highlights from the Ministry’s annual report.
New multilingual resources on our website
We are excited to announce a user-friendly upgrade to our website, making accessing vital information in 20 different languages easier.
Our new drop-down language menu allows you to explore translated content about our mission, services, and the diverse communities we proudly serve.
Discover valuable information on:
- how to access language support when communicating with government agencies
- our health and Ethnic Communities Development Fund videos
- assistance for Cyclone Gabrielle and Auckland flooding
- posters and resources in different languages.
Stay tuned as we continue to expand our library of translated materials.
Check the material available in languages other than English on our website: Information in languages other than English | Ministry for Ethnic Communities
Webinar recap: Empowering governance journeys
On December 6, a joint webinar was given by the Institute of Directors (IOD), the Ministry and the nominating agencies, including the Ministry for Women, the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, the Ministry of Māori Development, and Ministry of Disabled People.
The session aimed to support individuals registered on the agencies' nominations databases on their governance paths.
Over 160 participants heard from Kirsten (KP) Patterson, CEO of IOD, who shared advice about serving on a board. She underscored the obligation of board members to act in the organisation's best interests leading and navigating towards the organisations’ outcomes.
KP spoke about the significance of an effective board culture and highlighted the need for a supportive Chair, diverse thinking, skill sharing, conflict management, and teamwork.
She covered some of the pressing issues identified by boards, one is climate change. KP encouraged aspiring and current board members to visit the Chapter Zero New Zealand website for valuable resources, news, and events related to climate governance.
Jill Steffert, IOD Network Manager Branches, provided practical steps towards securing a board role. Key tips included:
- expressing interest in governance within personal and professional networks,
- aligning with what boards seek, building relationships with stakeholders,
- cultivating a personal brand (including a strong social media presence), and
- connecting with organisations of interest through volunteering.
For those who missed the live session or wish to revisit the valuable information shared by IOD, a recording of the webinar will soon be accessible on the Ministry for Women's Leadership Learning Hub.
We will share information about online learning sessions for 2024 in our Nominations Newsletter and via our LinkedIn account.
To receive our Nominations Newsletter and board vacancies email notifications, please register in our nominations database: Register with us | Ministry for Ethnic Communities
Highlights from our ethnic communities
Guru Nanak's birth anniversary celebration in Wellington
Celebrating the 554th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh faith, was a remarkable event at the Parliament precincts in Wellington on 27 November.
Organised by not-for-profit organisation Ekta NZ, the gathering included members of the Indian diaspora, Indian High Commission officials, the diplomatic corps, government representatives, and Ministers Nicola Willis and Chris Bishop.
Speakers, including our Chief Executive Mervin Singham, highlighted the exemplary role of the Sikh community during the COVID-19 pandemic and in every aspect of life, emphasising values of generosity, charity, and equality preached by Guru Nanak.
The event concluded with a langar (a shared free meal in Sikhism), offering a diverse array of multi-ethnic cuisine.
Photos credit: Éva Kaprinay for Etka New Zealand Inc.
Celebrating community organisations’ anniversaries
We would like to recognise the journey and achievements of many of our close stakeholders.
In November, the Korean Positive Ageing Trust (KPACT) celebrated its 10th anniversary, The Asian Network Incorporated (TANI) celebrated its 20th anniversary, and the CNSST Foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary.
Our communities would not be as vibrant, harmonious and prosperous without organisations like them. These exciting milestones would not have been possible without the tireless work of service providers, community leaders, and volunteers over the decades.
Congratulations once again, and we are sure many more leaders are doing amazing work behind the scenes, creating positive stories across our communities.
Photos from the anniversary ceremonies of KPACT and CNSST Foundation.
Empowering Women: A Successful Women's Forum at IMI Auckland Conference
We are delighted to share the success of the Imamia Medics International (IMI) Women's New Zealand Chapter at the recent conference held in Auckland from November 17-19, 2023.
Photo of Dr Anmar Taufeek presenting.
Dr Anmar Taufeek, the Women's New Zealand Chapter Lead, played a pivotal role in curating and steering the women's forum, making it an immensely fulfilling endeavour for all involved.
The conference was captivating, advancing insightful conversations and empowering participant interactions. Dr Anmar Taufeek, in her presentation, shed light on pivotal issues and highlighted the remarkable accomplishments of women, laying the groundwork for impactful initiatives. For more information about the event, please visit IMI Women's Wellbeing 2023.
IMI International has recognised and appreciated the team's dedicated efforts in organising this inaugural women's forum.
"This acknowledgment, combined with the enthusiastic participation from the audience, fuels our commitment to furthering our mission of establishing an impactful and inclusive platform for women within our community," said Dr Anmar.
She also expressed her excitement about future ventures, "I am thrilled about the possibilities for continuous upliftment and empowerment of women in our society. The momentum gained from this achievement propels us to create more opportunities and a stronger voice for women in our community."
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the IMI Women's New Zealand Chapter for a successful women's forum, and we look forward to witnessing the positive impact of their ongoing initiatives.
Photo of the workshop participants.
Multicultural New Zealand's 34th AGM and Community Awards Dinner
Multicultural New Zealand (MCNZ) successfully hosted its 34th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Community Awards Dinner in Wellington in September.
Representatives from twenty-four Regional Multicultural Councils gathered, making this event a pivotal platform to celebrate the achievements of the past year and set the course for the Federation's future.
The two-day event commenced with engaging panel discussions. The panel, titled 'Government Working with Multicultural Communities,' featured our Chief Executive, Mervin Singham, Hoani Lambert, Deputy Chief Executive for Enterprise Partnerships at the Department of Internal Affairs and Superintendent Rakesh Naidoo, NZ Police Ethnic National Partnerships Manager.
Pancha Narayanan, re-elected President of Multicultural New Zealand,
expressed, "As one of the senior-most pan-ethnic organisations in New Zealand, we aspire to a multicultural future based on Te Tiriti. I am privileged to be part of a community network that provides a strong cultural infrastructure through dedicated community leaders focused on connecting people to ensure the safety of their communities, women, and children."
"This volunteer community effort continues to make New Zealand a safe place for immigrants to settle and flourish alongside host communities, thanks to the generosity of Tangata Whenua. We are grateful for the support from the New Zealand Government, other NGOs, and community groups," Pancha added.
The meeting also featured the prestigious presentation of Professor Kwan Goh Community Service Awards. These awards honoured outstanding community-minded volunteers for their remarkable contributions.
Find out more about the event and the Awards winners on MCNZ's website: Multicultural New Zealand AGM 2023, Multicultural New Zealand (multiculturalnz.org.nz)
Photos credit: Multicultural New Zealand.
New initiative aims to build connections between NZ and India’s Information Technology (IT) sectors
Photo of Shashank Handa speaking at the session.
The New Zealand Centre for Digital Connections recently hosted an informative session in Wellington with Shashank Handa, Enterprise Architect at the Civil Aviation Authority, who shared insights on his professional journey. The Centre is planning more sessions in 2024.
The Centre, officially launched in August 2023, assists businesses in navigating the challenges of cross-cultural communication and collaboration. It aims to influence Government policy, support cross-country trade and offer guidance and mentoring.
Photo of Sunit Prakash and Lalita Kasanji.
Husband and wife Sunit Prakash and Lalita Kasanji are the brains and hearts behind the Centre. They are passionate about supporting Indian IT professionals to succeed in New Zealand. At the same time, they are trying to break down the barriers that many migrants face.
We are happy to see productive community initiatives supporting our ethnic communities and businesses to unlock their economic potential. This initiative aligns with our Priority 3 of the 2022-2025 Strategy to develop and support initiatives to improve economic outcomes, including addressing barriers to employment.
Read the full story about the centre and its work on our website: New Zealand Centre for Digital Connections with India | Ministry for Ethnic Communities
Shama Ethnic Women’s Trust multilingual series on preventing and responding to sexual violence
Shama Ethnic Women's Trust, founded in 2002 to address the unmet needs of ethnic women and children, strives to provide culturally sensitive support and empowerment programmes.
One of their initiatives, the 'Let's Talk' series, features videos covering topics such as preventing and addressing sexual violence, offering legal guidance, referral information, and culturally relevant scenarios.
Let's Talk is available in 18 different languages, giving people the opportunity to learn about sexual violence and what to do in their own languages.
Shama Ethnic Women's Trust is a community organisation supported by our Ethnic Communities Development Fund.
Watch Let's Talk videos at the below links:
Arabic | Cantonese | Farsi | French | Hindi | Japanese | Kannada | Korean | Malay | Malayalam |
Mandarin | Portuguese | Punjabi | Sinhala | Spanish | Tagalog | Tamil | Vietnamese
Screen capture of the 'Let's Talk - Spanish' series.
Ekta NZ's Christmas and New Year Food Drive: Nourishing communities and promoting unity
Ekta NZ launched their Christmas and New Year food drive in 2020. They noticed that over this period, most food banks were closed. This left Wellington’s most vulnerable people without food and created a strain on other food bank services when they reopened.
Ekta, meaning unity or oneness, was founded in 2017 when members of our Sikh community noticed a gap in ethnic food services in Wellington.
In response to this gap, Ekta NZ launched Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen, providing free vegetarian hot meals and Dya, an Ethnic Food Bank. Their aim is to serve the needs of the Asian and Middle Eastern communities of Wellington.
They also run an annual winter clothing and blankets campaign, and offer learning opportunities, including digital awareness, te reo Māori and financial skills.
All of Ekta NZ’s services are available to anyone who needs them, regardless of faith, region or language.
“We cannot only be extracting but must also be adding to make the society we live in better, enriching it in every way possible. And that is what Ekta is attempting to do,” said Manjit Grewal, one of the founding members of Ekta NZ.
For more information on Ekta NZ and their Christmas and New Years distributions, take a look at their Facebook page.
Ekta welcomes more volunteers to join their cause – contact them at contact-us@ekta.nz if you can help.
Photos from previous Ekta events.
Other organisations' support and services
Understanding ACC: Comprehensive care and support for injury recovery in New Zealand
In New Zealand, ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) provides care and support to individuals who sustain injuries, irrespective of their employment status – whether working, unemployed or retired. ACC's services extend to children, beneficiaries, visitors to New Zealand, and students.
Regardless of the location or nature of the injury, ACC assists in covering the costs of recovery and rehabilitation, encompassing treatment, support at home and work, and income assistance.
Talking to ACC in different languages
For individuals who prefer communicating in their native language, ACC offers translation services, accessible by calling 0800 101 996. Health professionals may also provide translation facilities, and Healthline at 0800 611 116 can arrange interpreter services upon request.
How ACC supports employers and their employees
ACC works with businesses to help prevent injuries in the workplace, care for people when they do have an accident and help people recover to the best of their ability after an injury.
ACC also supports New Zealanders and improves their quality of life by working with businesses and organisations to reduce the rate and impact of injury.
For more information about ACC, visit the ACC website.
Stay up to date and connect with us!
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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,
Ministry for Ethnic Communities
