Human Rights Commission
Te Kahui Tika Tangata
On the Bright Side: Paenga Hihiko
Whiringa-ā-rangi / November 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.
Johna-Lee Kapoor, Napier
For getting a Diversity Fern tattoo, November 2006. Johna-Lee is a full time volunteer for the People’s Advocacy Service
in Napier. She had been contemplating getting a new tattoo for some time when she was given a temporary tattoo by a
colleague. It just ‘clicked’ that this was the tattoo she wanted to get permanently. The temporary tattoo depicted the
NZ Diversity Fern designed by Jean Voon, a Malaysian born designer. It was originally designed for Race Relations Day in
2005, and is now used as the logo for the NZ Diversity Action Programme. Johna-Lee says that the tattoo reflects the
diversity within her own family, with an Indian husband, and also the diversity of her close friends. The meaning and
sentiment behind the design resonated with her. She has altered the design slightly, removing the kowhaiwhai pattern and
fleur de lys and replacing them with a self-designed Maori motif representing her own whakapapa. The new section has
eight heads entwined, representing Johna-Lee, her husband, and her six children. More information about the original
Diversity Fern can be found on the HRC website.
New Zealand Police College
For the installation of a diversity poupou, November 2006. A variation of the Diversity Fern was also unveiled at a dawn
ceremony at the New Zealand Police College on 29 November. It was carved by Takarirangi Smith on the basis of Jean
Voon’s design, and was a joint project of the Police College, Ngati Toa, and Police Maori, Pacific and Ethnic Services
as part of the Police’s contribution to the New Zealand Diversity Action Programme. The poupou has been placed together
with the 12 existing poupou carved by iwi from each of the 12 police districts, and acknowledges the identity of all New
Zealanders and staff of all ethnicities within the New Zealand Police. The unveiling took place during the Police’s
Ngakia Kia Puawai conference, involving senior police managers and iwi liaison officer from throughout the country, as
well as ethnic community representatives.
Porirua Strong Pacific Families Steering Group.
For Porirua Strong Pacific Families Action Week – Under the Canopy, November-December 2006. Porirua has been focusing on
the success of strong and vibrant Pacific families during the 2006 Strong Pacific Families week which ends on 2
December. Throughout the week over 50 community organisations have been holding displays under the Canopy Connection in
Porirua Mall. On Thursday 30 November the focus is on Health and Wellbeing, and on Friday 1 December on Strong Families.
The grand finale of the week will be the Pacific Matua Celebration on Saturday 2 December. This unique occasion will
honour elders, many of whom migrated from the islands in the 1950s and 60s to build the successful pacific communities
in Porirua and give their children greater opportunities. A matua chosen by each community to represent the strength of
the community will be presented to dignitaries. This is the second year Strong Pacific Families Week has been held as a
great celebration of what pacific family life is about. For further information please contact Barbara More at
Barbara.more015[at]msd.govt.nz .
RMS Refugee Resettlement and Waitakere City Council
For the official welcome to former refugees, October 2006. Over 80 former refugees from Myanmar were officially welcomed
at Te Piringatahi o te Maungarongo Marae at Massey in October. The event was designed to help foster a sense of
belonging within Waitakere City and to promote cultural understanding and awareness within their new community. More
than 170 people attended the welcome. Each family was presented with a native plant as a symbol of the opportunity to
put down new roots, to be nurtured and grow in a new environment. For more information on RMS and their work, visit
their website at http://www.rms.org.nz/ .
Greytown Primary School Kapa Haka Roopu
For REAP South Wairarapa Cultural Festival, November 2006. Around 500 children from 14 schools throughout the Wairarapa
were welcomed by Greytown Primary school for the Wairarapa REAP (rural education activities programme) Primary Schools
Kapa Haka Festival held at Kuranui College. The day long festival started with a powhiri at 9am, ending after 15
performances with a closing karakia at 3pm. The festival brought together children from a variety of cultural heritages,
some of whom have only been living in NZ for a few years and who have found kapa haka an exciting way of understanding
their new home.
Christchurch City Council
For New to Christchurch: Tips for Migrants, November 2006. A new booklet in eight languages to help migrants settle in
to Christchurch has been produced with funding from Settlement Support. Providing information in Arabic, Chinese
(traditional and simplified), Farsi, Korean, Japanese, Russian and Samoan, the booklet was launched by Christchurch’s
Deputy Mayor Carole Evans and Kaiwhakahaere of Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu Mark Solomon on November 28 to an invited audience
of recent migrants to Christchurch. This booklet is in additional to the online English resource offered by the Council
which can be found at http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Christchurch/Migrants/ .
Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand and David Bateman Ltd
For Māori Peoples of New Zealand/Nga Iwi o Aotearoa and Settler and Migrant Peoples of New Zealand, November 2006. Te
Ara launched its first print publication at a function at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa on 31 October.
Published by David Bateman Ltd in association with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, the first book to be drawn
from Te Ara’s website content is Māori Peoples of New Zealand. The book contains all of the articles published on the
site as Māori New Zealanders, as well as a selection of images. The second volume, Settler and Migrant Peoples of New
Zealand, was launched on 22 November, and contains all of the articles published on the website as New Zealand Peoples
together with a wide selection of illustrations. Both books are excellent references for New Zealanders and visitors
alike. The Te Ara website can be visited at http://www.teara.govt.nz/en. Join the million visitors who have already used
this incredibly valuable resource so far this year.
Kate Millington, Auckland
For the Diversity Mural Mosaic, November 2006. This 69 square metre mosaic is located at the intersection of Surrey
Crescent and Great North Road in Grey Lynn, Auckland. Grey Lynn has long been regarded as the multi-cultural heart of
the inner city and its liberal, diverse and artistic community has been proud to celebrate and showcase its many talents
and creativity. Kate Milligan’s intention was to create a mural of unification with a message of co-operation and
co-habitation using stylized iconic images from a range of different cultures. The final archway with the words ‘many
people one community’ further reinforces the notion that the celebration of difference can also lead to understanding
and peaceful co-habitation. The mural was funded by the Western Bays Community Board and also sponsored by the
Friedlander Trust.
Auckland Workers Education Association
For Tangata Tiriti – Treaty People, November 2006. This informative and interactive resource on the Treaty of Waitangi
has been developed for use with and by migrant communities in any part of NZ. The kit is aimed at new migrants,
including those for whom English is a relatively new language, as it provides information in ‘plain English’ about the
Treaty, its history and implications. The resource is divided into six chapters and consists of 29 activities, each of
which comes with handouts, overheads, worksheet and cards, as well as notes for facilitators. For further information,
contact Lucy at Auckland Regional Migrant Services at lucyl[at]arms-mrc.org.nz or (09) 625 2440.
Centre for Asian Health Research and Evaluation (CAHRE) & The Asian Network Incorporated (TANI)
For the Asian Health and Wellbeing Conference, November 2006. The University of Auckland’s Faculty of Medical and Health
Sciences held the second International Asian Health and Wellbeing Conference in November. The conference brought
together national and international experts to consider the health needs of Asian peoples, and to respond to the
challenges of providing health care for diverse populations. Speakers from a variety of disciplines discussed recent
advances and issues in Asian health in NZ, and the global context for Asian health. For further information on the
research conducted by CAHRE, visit their website at http://www.health.auckland.ac.nz/population-health/cahre/ .
The DARE Foundation
For DARE to be You, October 2006. The DARE Foundation launched two new programmes on October 31 at the National Library
in Wellington, DARE to be You, and DARE Reducing the Harm. The launch was compered by Caroline and Georgina
Evers-Swindell, and speakers included DARE Foundation Patron Sir Douglas Graham, and Deputy Commissioner Rob Pope from
the NZ Police. DARE to be You is a bibliotherapeutic programme centred around the story Run for the Trees by Mandy
Hager. It is designed to engage at risk youth to build and reinforce self-esteem and to encourage self-control, empathy
and self-reliant decision making. One of the five modules of the programme involves celebrating diversity, and
encourages participants to look outside their own sphere of experience and to discover the positives of the diversity
around them. It looks at the breaking down of stereotypes and at the innate qualities that link together the family of
humans. For more information on these resources, visit the DARE Foundation’s website at www.dare.org.nz .
Otago University Press
For the publication of Living Together: Towards inclusive communities, 2006. Edited by Michelle Thompson-Fawcett and
Claire Freeman, this book explores some of the challenges, strategies and solutions to the question of how we develop
inclusive, engaged and robust communities. Many issues are considered, including how to provide for the needs of
specific groups, including migrant and indigenous peoples. The book offers strong arguments for inclusive communities,
working towards better futures and, as the title suggests, ‘living together’. It presents some of the difficulties that
communities face, and identifies potential ways to overcome these difficulties.
If you would like to nominate a person or an organisation for acknowledgment please email
positive.contribution[at]hrc.co.nz with the details. For information about race relations visit the Human Rights
Commission website www.hrc.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.nz/diversity
ENDS