A new philanthropic investment fund being launched today in response to the terrorist attack in Christchurch a week ago
will provide everyone with the opportunity to facilitate and support community inclusion and dialogue in the Waikato.
‘The Waikato Inclusion Fund – embracing our diverse communities / He aroha naa Waikato – Haapaingia ngaa haapori
tuaakiri manomano’ has been established by the Momentum Waikato Community Foundation with a gift of $50,000 allocated
from its endowment fund.
The new Fund will support projects and programmes that build and celebrate greater understanding and acceptance between
and amongst Waikato communities, and is already welcoming and encouraging donations from people and organisations from
all walks of life.
“Our hearts go out to our fellow New Zealanders - the survivors and the families of the victims of the atrocities at the
mosques in Christchurch last Friday,” says Momentum Waikato CEO Kelvyn Eglinton.
“To them and everybody in Christchurch, we stand with you, and offer our aroha, love, appreciation and support at this
terrible time.
“The Waikato Inclusion Fund will be a resource committed to fostering the inclusion of all cultures, religions,
orientations and genders in our region. We hope to ‘do our bit’ towards building the positive legacy of a better kinder
Aotearoa-New Zealand for everyone.”
The move is being welcomed by local community leaders.
“On behalf of the Waikato Muslim Association, it is a pleasure to be a part of a project which intends to build upon
community cohesion, and engagement,” says Dr Asad Mohsin, the association’s President.
“Such opportunities help to develop better understanding and greater integration with the wider community. It is an
excellent effort and we fully support it.”
“The Waikato Chinese Association welcome all initiatives that grow knowledge of different cultures and celebrate our
diversity,” says May Low, the association’s Vice President Membership. “We believe that knowledge and understanding will
eliminate the anxiety and mistrust that leads to xenophobia and the horrible consequences which result.”
“Our region enjoys a diverse community. Initiatives that acknowledge and create opportunities for our diversity to
surface, flourish, be maintained and celebrated are welcomed by K’aute Pasifika,” says the trust’s CEO Leaupepe Rachel
Karalus. “Such initiatives break down walls, disarm prejudice and bias, help overcome barriers, and promote the building
of empathy and connectedness across all society.”
“Waikato as a region is changing at a rapid pace,” says Ellie Wilkinson, the Hamilton Migrant Services Trust Operations
Manager. “The local ethnic communities have for many years been looking for ways to engage in a deeper and more
meaningful way with the wider communities. HMS Trust welcomes the opportunity to be part of this initiative and response
which aims to grow the seeds of inclusiveness, empathy, tolerance and cohesion and to eliminate the deep roots of
discrimination, racism and prejudice.”
Waikato-Tainui have also expressed their support for the Inclusion Fund and will be issuing their own statement.
Momentum Waikato will also be reaching out to other communities and organisations not yet contacted to introduce the
initiative.
Like the successful Waikato Women’s Fund, Momentum Waikato will manage the new fund’s investment programme, legal
obligations and administration, while an independent and diverse establishment group will set up its ongoing governance
body, which in turn will distribute grants from its investment income to community-based inclusion initiatives.
Mr Eglinton says Hamilton is one of New Zealand’s most diverse and culturally rich cities, and the Waikato is home to
every kind of human being.
“As a community we still have much to do to ensure that everyone can fully participate, be heard and feel safe and
appreciated here. It is clear from discussions we’ve all had in the last week that the city and the region want to do
more, indeed should have done more, to facilitate inclusion and banish alienation. So, Momentum Waikato, as the region’s
community foundation, has committed to this pro-active platform for local change.”
‘Community Connectedness’ was the number one issue identified by respondents to the Vital Signs research and
consultation programme run by Momentum Waikato in 2016. Addressing this concern has underpinned much of the foundation’s
work since and a dedicated inclusion initiative was already being discussed with community leaders, but last Friday’s
events has spurred this swift follow-up.
This new initiative in no way intends to distract from the immediate needs in Christchurch, and everyone is encouraged
to donate to the ‘Our People, Our City’ Fund set up by the Christchurch Foundation (Momentum Waikato’s Canterbury equivalent).
To support ongoing change here in the Waikato, donate to the new Waikato Inclusion Fund visit.