Indonesia: 71st Indonesian Independence celebrations in Christchurch
Indonesia: 71st Indonesian Independence celebrations in Christchurch

The Canterbury Indonesian Society celebrated the 71st Indonesian Independence Day in Christchurch, which also saw participation from the wider community, on August 28. Elyana Thenu, President of CIS, who came to New Zealand 20 years back, noted, “While the Indonesian community is not very large in Christchurch, and mainly consists of students studying in various universities, it's important that the community gets together on such occasions to remind ourselves of the great sacrifices the previous generations have made so that we can enjoy the fruits of freedom.” The event also saw performance of Indang dance from West Sumatra and Cerana dance from Timor East. There were competitions of traditional games too including the Indonesian favourite - tug of war.

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MulticulturalismGauravComment
Labour Responds
Labour Responds

We have an issue in New Zealand right now about immigration. Debates about immigration can easily turn into ones about race, religion and culture. That’s wrong and people who do that are rightly labelled racist or xenophobic. But we have to be able to have a sensible debate about how to respond to a rapidly growing population in a country that is struggling to keep up. We need to talk about how our immigration system works best for New Zealand and for the people who choose to work and settle here.

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Migrant businessesGauravComment
Community celebrates the Zimbabwe Heroes' Day
Community celebrates the Zimbabwe Heroes' Day

The Zimbabwean Canterbury Association (ZCA) and New Zealand AIDS Foundation joined hands to celebrate the Zimbabwe Heroes' Day in Christchurch on August 20. There was lots of Zimbabwean food and music, as well as speeches by community leaders and representatives from the African Council. Simon Mutonhori, President of ZCA, informed that the community has been celebrating the Day ever since their Association was formed in 2003.

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MulticulturalismGauravComment
Selwyn: Come, be a part of Rolleston 150th anniversary

A Committee made up of local residents and businesses, chaired by Councillor and Selwyn Central Community Board Chair Jeff Bland, is planning the 150th celebrations.  The theme of the celebrations will be ‘Rolleston – New Zealand’s Youngest Old Town’ reflecting Rolleston’s history but also its recent growth with the population increasing from 1971 in 2000 to around 14,000 today.

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Ethnic communities, NewsnewzzitComment
Speak Out: A reporting system for racist incidents in Nelson
Speak Out: A reporting system for racist incidents in Nelson

As part of the World Health Organisation's International Safe City initiative, Nelson City Council, Tasman District Council, the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board, NZ Police, community organisations, government agencies and educational institutions have worked collaboratively to establish New Zealand’s first regional reporting system for racist incidents, Speak Out Nelson Tasman, with the motto “There are no strangers here”.

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A better NZGauravComment
Funding: New ethnic community funding round opens

Minister for Ethnic Communities Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has announced the opening of the funding round for the new Ethnic Communities Development Fund. The funding round opened on August 15 and closes on September 27. Any not-for-profit group can apply. It replaces the Settling In Fund and is designed to better support the ongoing needs of ethnic people. The priorities of the fund are to support leadership development, social cohesion and cultural events.

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Ethnic communities, NewsnewzzitComment
The PM Interview
The PM Interview

Prime Minister John Key was in Christchurch recently, when our editor Gaurav Sharma sat down with him for a chat on various migrant issues that New Zealand is currently facing.

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TVGauravComment