Multicultural New Zealand celebrates 25 years
Multicultural New Zealand, the Federation of Multicultural Councils, will celebrate its 25th anniversary at its annual
general meeting in Wellington this weekend.
As part of activities to mark the milestone anniversary, there will be a digital screen display and a short documentary
reflecting on the organisation’s journey over the last 25 years. Some individual members who have served the
organisation since inception will be inducted into Life Membership.
Delegates from 19 regional multicultural councils and three national councils for youth, women and seniors will meet at
the Wellington City Council offices from Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June.
Apart from the anniversary, the meeting will focus on the forthcoming parliamentary elections and how to mobilise
members of ethnic communities to participate and vote. On Saturday morning, a panel of political party representatives
will discuss policies relevant to migrant, refugee and ethnic communities. There will also be sessions on encouraging
enrolment and participation, fundraising, working with volunteers, and countering family violence.
Facilitators and speakers over the three day meeting include: Her Excellency Virginia H. Benavidez (Ambassador of
Philippines), Her Worship Celia Wade-Brown (Mayor of Wellington), Vanisa Dhiru (Volunteering New Zealand), Joris de Bres
(former Race Relations Commissioner), Hon Peter Dunne (United Future Party), Hon Trevor Mallard (Labour Party), Jan
Logie (Green Party), spokespeople for
National and NZ First (tbc), Sarah BridglandHill (Office of Ethnic Affairs), Ann Dysart (Ministry of Social Development)
and Heather Newell (Foresee Communications).
ends