Human Rights Commission - Te Kahui Tika Tangata
On the Bright Side: Paenga Hihiko Hui-Tanguru / February 2006
Kia ora. Anei te mihi ö te Kaihautu Whakawhanaunga ä Iwi, mo ngä mahi nui, mahi whakamana i te tangata i roto i ngä
kaupapa Whakawhanaunga ä Iwi i Aotearoa. Here are this month’s acknowledgments from the Race Relations Commissioner for
positive contributions to race relations in New Zealand.
Jo Clair and Hamish Munro
For the Waka Wairua Journey, February 2006. Hamilton City Council Neighbourhood Development Adviser Jo Clair and
Auckland Royal Oak Venturer Scout Leader Hamish Munro joined forces for Waitangi Day in the Waikato and organised a four
day river journey for 11 Maori and 11 non-Maori young people kayaking the Waikato River upstream from Port Waikato to
Hamilton, culminating with a welcome from the Governor General at the Hamilton City Waitangi Day celebrations at Innes
Park. The Maori participants were all youth leaders from Hamilton South, and the non-Maori were Auckland Venturer Scouts
who had previously done the Whanganui River. They travelled in eleven kayaks, with one Maori and one non-Maori in each,
and stayed at marae and riverbanks along the way. The organisers’ vision was “the joining of two diverse groups coming
together to share their knowledge, skills and culture”, and it succeeded beyond their wildest expectations. Of the
myriad of Waitangi events throughout the country, this is our pick as the one that best captured the spirit of the day.
The Race Relations Report
Tþi Tþi Tuituià, Race Relations in 2005 was published this week on the Human Rights Commission website. It is the second
annual review of race relations in Aotearoa New Zealand and contains a wealth of information on issues and developments
in 2005, as well as a snapshot of New Zealand’s diversity, the facts on racial equality, a summary of the incidence of
discrimination and race related crime, and an overview of diversity research. It is published as a resource for
discussion leading up to Race Relations Day on 21 March, when organisations and communities are invited to reflect on
our race relations, celebrate our diversity, and consider joining the New Zealand Diversity Action Programme. The report
and details of Race Relations Day are available at www.hrc.co.nz.
Auckland City Council
For Co-existence and Beyond, March 2006. The Council is organising a debate at 11 am this Saturday 4 March at the
Britomart Pavillion to explore what co-existence means to a city where 181 different ethnic groups have chosen to make
their home. It follows on from the Co-existence exhibition organised by the Auckland downtown business community.
Journalist and editor Finlay McDonald will facilitate a panel including Oscar Kightley, Tze Ming Mok, Zahra Sarawri,
Habibullah Akbary, Leonie Pihama and Pip Cheshire. To register your interest contact ateesh.patel@aucklandcity.govt.nz.
Christchurch City Council
For It’s Time To Talk About Race Relations, March 21 2006. There are multitudinous Race Relations Day events coming up
throughout the country for Race Relations Day, but Christchurch Mayor Garry Moore is taking the opportunity to achieve a
long held dream to introduce New Zealand to a very popular US programme called It’s Time To Talk. The Council is
bringing Herman McKinney, Director of the Urban Enterprise Center in Seattle, to Christchurch to do a presentation at
the Cathedral from 7pm to 9pm on Race Relations Day, preceded by ethnic foods available in the Square. Garry is
confident it will be inspirational, challenging and participatory, and Herman McKinney has taken his programme to
business and community groups in many parts of the US and abroad. RSVP’s are required to Jenny.sturgess@ccc.govt.nz as a
large turnout is expected.
Auckland Museum
For the Living Treasures 06 programme, February-March 2006. Auckland Museum has an extensive programme of some 35
different activities through February and March associated with the Chinese New Year, the Co-existence exhibition, the
Pasifika Festival and Race Relations Day, as a contribution to the New Zealand Diversity Action Programme. It’s another
example of how New Zealand museums are at the forefront of engaging with their communities on cultural diversity.
Special congratulations to Cultural Relations Manager Natasha Beckman for putting the programme together. Details are at
www.aucklandmuseum.com.
Glenda Wynyard, The Media Counsel Ltd, Auckland
For facilitating media support for Race Relations Day 2005. Media Counsel Managing Director Glenda Wynyard challenged a
number of her media associates to contribute to Race Relations Day on March 21 by publishing a version of the Race
Relations Day poster – Aotearoa, New Zealand, Turangawaewae, Our Home. Among those who responded positively were the New
Zealand Listener, New Idea Magazine, and NZ TIME Magazine, so check out their publications in the weeks before Race
Relations Day. A positive response also came from Adshell Media, who will be displaying the poster on bus shelters in
Auckland and Christchurch.
Separately, the March edition of Spasifik also carries a four page feature on Race Relations Day, and the NZ Herald has
foreshadowed the day in an extensive feature on the 2005 Race Relations Report. Certificates of appreciation have been
sent to them all. Others are challenged to follow their example.
Jonathan Boston, Paul Callister and Amanda Wolf
For The Policy Implications of Diversity. This book is the product of a three year process of research and discussion
about diversity and public policy prompted by a request from public sector chief executives to the Institute of Policy
Studies (now part of the Victoria University School of Government). It has been brought together by three leading
academics and is a topical, thorough and challenging examination of the issues. Although it is directed at the policy
makers, it is very readable and accessible, and will be just as important for those seeking to grapple with these issues
in the general community. As the Victoria University slogan goes, it makes you think. An in-house seminar for staff
based on this book would be an excellent activity for public service departments and local government organisations to
organise to mark Race Relations Day.
Jonathan Brookes
For the Directory of Interfaith and Ecumenical Activity in New Zealand. This new directory was launched at the National
Interfaith Forum at Parliament on 27 February, and is the first such directory to be published. It was a project
conceived by Professor Paul Morris of the Religious Studies Programme at Victoria University as a contribution to the
New Zealand Diversity Action Programme, and graduate student Jonathan Brookes was given the task of collating the
extensive information. The publication was supported by Asia New Zealand and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade,
and will be taken to the Regional Conference on Interfaith Cooperation in the Philippines this month to illustrate New
Zealand’s interfaith activity. A multifaith delegation from New Zealand will be taking part, and Prime Minister Helen
Clark will be a keynote speaker. For more information contact religious-studies@vuw.ac.nz or visit
www.vuw.ac.nz/religion.
Wellington Access Radio 783 AM
For 25 years of community broadcasting to Wellington’s diverse communities. Wellington Access Radio celebrates its 25th
anniversary this month. It was New Zealand's first access station, and began under the auspices of Radio New Zealand, in
1981, broadcasting over RNZ's 2YB transmitter. A colourful and eclectic array of performers will converge at Te Papa
Marae on 19 March to celebrate the anniversary. This is an exciting landmark event for New Zealand's oldest community
radio station which gives voice to over 25 ethnic languages, and a range of alternative communities throughout
Wellington. The celebrations will be held in conjunction with Race Relations Day and will feature performances from a
talented and diverse selection of Wellington's ethnic and alternative communities. The event kicks off at 2pm with live
music, and will be followed by an official opening from Mayor Kerry Prendergast who will get the ball rolling. This will
be a visual feast and an afternoon of quality performances hosted by stand-up comedian Matt Elliot. The website is at
www.accessradio.org.nz .
Settlers Museum, Petone
For the Japanese Festival, 25 February. The local Japanese community combined with the Settlers Museum at Settlers on
Brittannia (part of an impressive community library complex in Petone) to stage an all day festival of Japanese sports,
food, arts, crafts and culture for the Hutt Valley community. It provided an excellent forerunner to the impressive
season of events focused on Japanese culture at Te Papa through March and April to coincide with the Splendours of Japan
exhibition that opens on 4 March and runs through till 30 April. For details visit the exhibitions and events section at
www.tepapa.govt.nz . The Japanese festival was part of a month-long multicultural festival organized annually in
February by the Settlers Museum.
J R McKenzie Trust
For the establishment of Te Kàwai Toro. The Trust has announced the establishment of a new fund aimed at supporting
major projects run by Màori organisations that will benefit whànau. Projects must be about promoting and strengthening
whànau development. Funding is available for projects of up to three years starting in 2006. The Trust is looking for
projects that develop a new approach to whànau development, build on whànau strengths, have practical outcomes, promote
mana whànau, address whànau issues, enhance whànau participation in decision making, establish whànau networks and
provide for long-term sustainability of healthy whànau. Details are available at www.jrmckenzie.org.nz .
NZ Catholic
For the special Waitangi Day Issue, February 5, 2006. The national Catholic fortnightly, NZ Catholic, published a
special 16 page edition dedicated entirely to “The Church and The Treaty” for Waitangi Day 2006. It contained a wide
range of information, viewpoints and questions and answers on the Treaty. Explaining why the newspaper had published the
special edition, Managing Editor Gavin Abraham, said “The issues are incredibly important, despite the fact people’s
opinions will invariably differ. Our objective is to inform and challenge our readers. After reading it, we hope you
have practical advice on how better to honour the document that gives us all the right to live in Aotearoa New Zealand.”
The newspaper’s website is at www.nzcatholic.org.nz . There is a particular focus on the role of Bishop Pompallier at
Waitangi in 1840.
Southern North Island Rotary District 9940
For the Rotary Youth Leadership Award Programme, January 2006. This annual youth leadership programme (one of six around
the country) was held in Silverstream. It was organised by Rotary District 9940, which covers the area from New Plymouth
and Dannevirke down to Wellington, and brought together young people from 18-24 from a variety of backgrounds and
occupations in the region. They included students, builders, teachers and retail workers. The RYLA programme equips
youth from different cultures and backgrounds to better serve their communities. The theme for this year was “inspiring
the leader within”. The five-day programme saw the participants engage with industry leaders and experts on topics
related to inspiring and developing their leadership potential. Included was a workshop on understanding cultural
diversity.
Wellington City Council and Work and Income
For the Migrant and Refugee Work Experience Programme. This programme supports fifteen 12 month paid work placements
within Wellington City Council for migrants and refugees who have faced difficulties finding employment. The Council
developed the programme as a response to work issues raised by the city's ethnic communities forum. All participants in
the programme are supported by a Co-ordinator, and the programme is funded by Work and Income and Wellington City
Council. For further information contact amanda.golding@wcc.govt.nz .
If you would like to nominate a person or an organisation for acknowledgment please email us with the details.
For information about race relations visit the Human Rights Commission website http://www.hrc.co.nz/