INDEPENDENT NEWS

On the Bright Side: Paenga Hihiko Hui-Tanguru

Published: Wed 1 Mar 2006 04:40 PM
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/

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