PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, June 28, 2012

Federation will oppose de-establishing of Race Relations Commissioner position.

The New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Council held its 23nd their annual hui and Annual General Meeting last weekend at the Orongomai Marae in Upper Hutt. More than 120 delegates from 19 member Regional Multicultural Councils together with their member Ethnic Womens, Seniors and Youth council delegates.

The annual hui was held at the Orongomai Marae with the vision of the ethnic and migrant communities building a strong and sustainable relationships with Maori through better understanding of Te Tiriti/Treaty of Waitangi, maori customs and traditions and incorporating the tikanga values of Te Tiriti .

The Federation retained Mr.Tayo Agunlejika unopposed as its National President, and elected Priyani de Silva- Currie (Nelson) as Vice President, Alexis LewGor (Rotorua) as Secretary and Anita Mansell (Lower Hutt) as its Treasurer for 2012-2013.

Amongst the number of key issues raised, the position of Race relations Commissioner and establishment of a Ministry of Ethnic Affairs was discussed and endorsed. The korero on this matter lead to the following 2 resolutions that:

1. The Federation will actively make submissions and engage with government and people of New Zealand Government for the retention of the position of Race relations Commissioner and its office.

2. The Federation will promote and engage with to the government, politicians, agencies and the ethnic communities to support upgrade the current Office of Ethnic Affairs into a Ministry of Ethnic Affairs, in line with other ministries like Maori and Pacific Islands ministries. It believes the recently amalgamation the Office of Ethnic Affairs in the Department of Internal affairs has diminished the voice of ethnic people.

The Federation signed up its newest MOU partner Families Commission, with whom they will be working on Family wellbeing, children and Family violence projects, Research and White Ribbon campaigns.

The meeting acknowledged the tremendous work of volunteers, community organisations and individuals by awarding Community Service Awards.

President, Tayo Agunlejika also acknowledged and thanked the outgoing Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres for his sterling work and support over the last 10 years and outgoing executives Rob Torr, Ria Munsi and Vijeshwar Prasad.

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