Message from

the Chief Executive

Assalam Alaikum, Kia ora e te whānau

I hope you and your loved ones are well and safe.

March is a time for us all to remember the mosque attacks in Christchurch.  It has been four years, but it feels like yesterday. I recall hearing about the attacks that day. I was at work as the news emerged incrementally through the day. I was shocked and felt a deep sorrow for the people who were lost, their families and loved ones. That memory is engraved in my mind and heart until today.

It was undeniably a devastating event. The tragic deaths of 51 Muslims who were praying, was eye-opening to us in New Zealand and the world on what happens when hate and racism are left to become a real threat.

New Zealanders showed unity and sympathy following the attacks.  The solidarity we intuitively showed as a nation was exemplary to the whole world of how to support the different ethnic and faith-based communities and make them feel safe, valued, and equal to others.

Hate, anti-immigrant, and racist ideas pose a critical threat to our society's social peace, and don’t differentiate between Muslims and non-Muslims. In fact, the incident’s broad impact was on everyone, even beyond our borders.

The tragedy was a wake-up call, not only for our society but for the international society to fight anti-Muslim movements. As a result, in 2022, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution by consensus that proclaimed March 15 as 'International Day to Combat Islamophobia', which is taking place in 140 countries worldwide.

Flowers and tributes at Al-Noor mosque - 17 March 2019.

March 15 was a turning point in our nation’s history, and it resulted in several government and community actions to support the bereaved families and ensure that there’s no place for hate here in New Zealand.

In the aftermath of the attacks, the New Zealand government introduced new gun laws, which banned military-style semi-automatic weapons and assault rifles. The government also launched a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCOI) into the terrorist attack on Christchurch masjidain and identified any potential failings by government agencies.

As a result of the RCOI’s recommendations, our Ministry was established in July 2021. It was the first time in its history that New Zealand has had a Ministry solely focused on improving outcomes for our ethnic communities, who comprise around 20 percent of our population. We know various ethnic communities also belong to one of our many diverse faith-based communities.

Since becoming a Ministry, we have strengthened our relationships with national and regional Islamic organisations. For example, following the release of the RCOI report in December 2020, the Ministry has been working on its recommendations and organised 33 hui (meetings) between Muslim communities and relevant public sector agencies. Those meetings aimed to raise awareness of its findings and provide an opportunity for communities to suggest realistic, practical community-led rehabilitation programmes.

We actively support and attend various Muslim-led events.

We are aware that our Muslim communities have done many things to support inclusion as well - examples range from the Islamic Women’s Council New Zealand organising Women Empowerment and Leadership programmes, FIANZ organising a Dawah at Newtown Festival in Wellington, New Zealand Muslim Association’s opening up of Auckland mosques to support whanau impacted by the recent Auckland floods and cyclones to the Unity Week organised by Sakinah Trust with support from the Christchurch City Council.

While we know this is not an exhaustive list, we acknowledge the time our communities invest in putting together initiatives that benefit not just Muslim communities, but everyone in our society.

Photo credit – RNZ: Minister Megan Woods, Minister Priyanca Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Chris Hipkins visit Al Noor to meet with the Christchurch Muslim community on 3 March, 2023.

We also continue to be persistent working alongside government organisations and ethnic communities, towards a brighter, safer, and more inclusive future for Aotearoa New Zealand that sees and embraces the value of diversity and togetherness.

Fairness, cohesion, and social harmony, which we aim for in everything we do, are the shield that will protect us all and the coming generations from such incidents.

However, it’s not only the government’s commitment that’s needed to protect our communities. Much more is required from all of us. It’s a collective responsibility on our shoulders that we need to commit to.

It’s also about how we educate our kids about the importance of diversity, understanding and respect, how we, as ethnic communities, support each other, learn more about others’ cultures, and showcase our beliefs, strengths, and advantages to New Zealand.

The fourth anniversary of this year is marked by several events and ceremonies to remember the victims and reflect on the impact of the attacks on New Zealand and the world.

Last Sunday, 12 March, Al-Noor Mosque organised a collective prayer event from 1pm to 3pm for all Muslim community members, supporters, and well-wishers. 

The Ministry has posted on our social media about several initiatives taking place by the government and the community to observe the day, including broadcasting the Adhan (Islamic call to prayer) on Wednesday, 15 March, at 1.30 pm on RNZ, RadioActive 88.6FM, Best News Entertainment, Planet FM, and Plains FM 96.9. I invite you all to join those events and stand together as one.

I want to also acknowledge the approach of the holy month of Ramadan, which is less than ten days away - Ramadan Mubarak.

Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa - Let us keep close together, not far apart. 

Mervin

Contact Us

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