INDEPENDENT NEWS

On the Bright Side: Paenga Hihiko

Published: Mon 31 Jul 2006 12:37 AM
Human Rights Commission
Te Kahui Tika Tangata
v
Hongongoi / July 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.
Auckland Branch of the New Zealand Chinese Association
For the Going Bananas: Multiple Identities Forum, August 2006. Following on from the success of last year’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Banana conference, the NZ Chinese Association will be holding their Going Bananas: Multiple Identities forum on Saturday 12 August at AUT University, Auckland. The gathering will highlight the evolving identity of Chinese New Zealanders and the country’s changing cultural-ethnic demographics. The forum continues the work of the NZ Chinese Association in embracing this country’s diverse communities and promoting strength in diversity. Further details about the forum, including how to register, can be found at www.goingbananas.org.nz and information about the NZ Chinese Association can be found on their website http://www.nzchinese.org.nz .
You’re invited to the New Zealand Diversity Forum: 21-22 August
A major national forum on National Identity, Cultural Diversity and Harmonious Relations will take place in Wellington on 21-22 August, preceded by a National Youth Forum, Rangatahi ki te Rangatira, on Sunday 20 August. The New Zealand Diversity Forum 2006 will feature professional and sector group meetings on diversity (e.g. museums, libraries, researchers, news media, local government community liaison staff), lunchtime information forums on a wide range of topics, and afternoon workshops on diversity and women, the arts, interfaith, languages, race versus need, and bringing diverse communities together. A plenary at Te Papa on 22 August will feature a powhiri at Te Papa marae, a youth challenge, keynote speakers and plenty of time for networking.
Full programme details and a registration form can be accessed at www.hrc.co.nz/diversityforum . The forum is organised by the Human Rights Commission as part of the New Zealand Diversity Action Programme with support from the Office of Ethnic Affairs, Te Papa, UNESCO, Te Puni Kokiri, Ministry of Social Development, the Asia New Zealand Foundation, the Wellington City Council and other NZ Diversity Action Programme participants. Last year’s forum was attended by over 400 people from throughout New Zealand.
Melani Anae, Lautofa Iuli and Leilani Burgoyne, Auckland
For the book Polynesian Panthers, July 2006. This book is the first record of the original Pacific rights and social activist movement in New Zealand, told by those who were there. Their actions were a desperate but necessary revolt by young Pacific Islanders against the entrenched stigma of racism and discrimination their peoples faced trying to integrate into a New Zealand way of life during the 1970s and early 1980s. Collecting interviews, memoirs, poetry, newspaper articles as well as critical analysis, Polynesian Panthers is an edgy, hard-hitting account of an important period in New Zealand’s social and cultural evolution.
Prayas Cultural Group
For Charandas Chor, July 2006. Charandas Chor (Charandas the Thief) is a delightful, entertaining and powerful Indian play in English that was launched in October 2005, and was back by popular demand for further performances in Auckland in July. This production is part of the initiative by the Prayas Cultural Group who are a non-profit organisation formed by Indian New Zealanders to showcase some fine contemporary Indian Theatre for a New Zealand Audience as an integration initiative. For further information visit www.prayas.co.nz .
Dairne Poole, Wellington
For the Global Eye Exhibition, July-August 2006. Following the successful exhibition two years ago, this year’s Global Eye exhibition opened on July 27 and will run until August 13 at Pataka, Porirua. The exhibition brings together artists from a range of different ethnicities to present art pieces that convey their thoughts and feelings on conservation and the environment in an alternative form, to coincide with Conservation Week. Because of the range of ethnicities of the artists, a multitude of cultural perspectives are represented. Visitors to the exhibition have the opportunity to vote for their favourite artwork, and the winning artist will be offered a week’s creative residency on Mana Island, sponsored by the Department of Conservation. More information about Pataka’s conservation week programme can be found on their website: http://www.pataka.org.nz/ .
Cath Marr and Jane Zhou, Wellington
For opening a bilingual Chinese-English pre-school, June 2006. Chinese language is being promoted at the Donald Street Pre-School in Wellington, as reported in the Wellingtonian newspaper. Pre-school teacher Cath Marr came up with the idea of setting up a bilingual Chinese-English pre-school in New Zealand when she was teaching at a bilingual school in China, where the two languages had equal standing and children were exposed to both languages. The children are taught jointly by Ms Marr and Jane Zhou, one of her teaching partners from China. Although the pre-school has only been open for a few weeks, the Kiwi children have responded well to being spoken to in Chinese, and generally respond in Chinese. So far they have learned numbers, colours and some songs in Chinese and books are available in English and Chinese. Further information on the programme can be found by contacting cath@donaldstpreschool.co.nz .
Christchurch City Libraries
For the addition of an Arabic collection of books, July 2006. On 14 July the Central Library introduced a collection of books in Arabic to its growing collection of books in other languages. The initial shipment of books in Arabic includes works of Middle Eastern fiction, poetry, biography, politics, history and general titles on health, child development and cookery. There is also a small selection of children’s books available, including Harry Potter, at the Centre for the Child at the Central Library. The library also has collections in a variety of languages that reflect the diversity of settlers in the Canterbury region including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Farsi and Russian. More information about the Christchurch City Libraries can be found on their website: http://library.christchurch.org.nz/ .
The Asia New Zealand Foundation & the Ministry of Education
For the publication of Preparing for a Future with Asia, July 2006. This is the final report of the Asia Knowledge Working Group, who aimed to research what knowledge of Asia is required for New Zealanders to confidently and successfully participate in the Asian region now and in the future. The report looks at the role of Asia in world affairs and points out the importance of raising knowledge of Asia and its people in New Zealand if New Zealand wants to take advantage of business opportunities in this growing region. The full report can be found on the Asia NZ Foundation’s website: www.asianz.org.nz .
New Zealand Dairy Workers Union
For An Introductory Guide to Understanding Maori, July 2006. In collaboration with Mark Apiata-Wade, the NZ Dairy Workers Union has produced a 96 page book for distribution to their union members and friends. It includes not only a brief guide to Maori language and pronunciation, but also information on Maori culture and marae protocol. The book was compiled in an effort to provide a ready reference that is user-friendly for people who may need to attend tangi, powhiri or other Maori cultural events to assist them in understanding what happens at such occasions and why.
Tasman District Council
For promoting Maori culture at the Boredom Busters Big Day Out, July 2006. Children from all over the Nelson-Tasman region experienced many facets of Maori culture at the Big Day out, which was hosted by the Parikarangaranga Trust and for the first time had a cultural theme. The aim of the cultural Big Day Out was to give children and recreation programme staff a chance to learn about Maori culture and protocol in a hands-on environment. Activities included raranga (weaving), taiaha and patu (traditional Maori physical activities), waiata (singing), kapa haka (performing arts), koru painting, poi, and making koauau (traditional Maori flutes). Further news and events in the Nelson-Tasman region can be found at the Tasman District Council’s website: http://www.tdc.govt.nz/ .
Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori/Maori Language Week
Workplaces and organisations throughout Aotearoa celebrated Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori in various ways from 24-30 July. Here are just a few examples of some of the events that took place, or ways that workplaces marked this important week. We wish we could acknowledge more, but space precludes that. All those who participated are encouraged to enter the Maori Language Week awards. Entry forms can be found at www.nzreo.org.nz and the closing date is 14 August.
Ministry for Culture and Heritage, who have added new information to their New Zealand History website about Maori language Week, the history of te reo and the te reo tribunal claim. See their website: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/tereo-introduction .
The Waikato Times, which for the first time in 130 years changed its front page banner for a day to Te Taimi o Waikato to mark the start of Maori Language Week, published stories in reo Maori by reporters Natana Takurua and Yvonne Tahana, provided daily words and phrases under the heading of Karawhiua! Go For It, and wrote an editorial saying It’s Time To Support Maori Language.
Television New Zealand, who have promoted Maori Language Week daily on TV1’s Good Morning with interviews and competitions, and also run kids’ competitions on TV2’s Mai Time with prizes from Reeds and Huia publishers.
TV 3, who again carried a daily news item in reo Maori throughout Maori Language Week, this year from Mereana Hond in London and Mihingarangi Forbes and Carmen Parahi in Aotearoa.
The Gisborne Herald, for devoting its monthly Maori supplement Te Ao Maori to Maori Language Week in July, having its masthead in Maori for the week (Nupepa o Te Tairawhiti), an editorial saying that it’s time to support te reo Maori, and providing extensive coverage during the week from Alice Te Puni.
Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC), who purchased a print run of the 2006 Give it a Go sports phrasebook with their own logo for distribution to sports organisations and have sponsored a special sports award for the 2006 Maori Language Week Awards.
Air New Zealand Christchurch Call Centre, who have acquired two twenty minute videos, a CD of songs and a CD rom which are designed for staff to improve pronunciation of Maori names and places and teach introductions and simple conversations.
Baha’i Community of Hastings, who produced a wallet-sized prayer for unity card in reo Maori and English. The prayer is by their spiritual leader Bahá’u’lláh, and the cards were produced as an aid to people who want to learn Maori.
Marisa Pene, CEO of Waimaori, who led the assembled dignitaries at Pipitea Marae in an aerobics session in reo Maori at the breakfast launch of Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori/Maori Language Week.
Blahzay, the student magazine of the Wellington Institute of Technology Te Whare Wananga o te Awakairangi, which carried a whole range of background articles on reo Maori, which can also be downloaded from their website in a single PDF file at www.blahzay.ac.nz .
Salient Magazine, Victoria University of Wellington, which continued a longstanding tradition for Maori Language Week of publishing their weekly paper in Maori with the title Te Ao Marama.
Reed Books, who have promoted their impressive Maori catalogue throughout July. It still features on the front page of their website at www.reed.co.nz .
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On The Bright Side is part of the Human Rights Commission’s contribution to the NZ Diversity Action Programme. For further details visit www.hrc.co/diversity
ENDS

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