Local Government New Zealand says a rise in voters in cities has compensated for a drop in rural and provincial areas in this year’s local elections to bring turnout slightly above 2013 levels. Preliminary results excluding special votes show national turnout at 41.8 per cent, above 2013’s 41.3 per cent, driven largely by increases in Auckland and Wellington.
Read MoreNo young person must be allowed to leave school to nothing—no job, no further training, no hope. The Salvation Army is issuing this challenge to the New Zealand community in a report titled ‘What Next?’, focused on the employment needs of 15- to 24-year-olds.
Read MoreImmigration Minister Michael Woodhouse has recently announced changes to the Government’s New Zealand Residence Programme (NZRP) for the next two years.
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I also want the Council's decision-making to be more open and transparent through the engagement and consultation with residents.
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Recently, the local community of Amberley, led by the local community connector Lee Lawrence, got together to organise a community expo. There were 60 stalls of local and wider North Canterbury groups and organisations. Over 300 people visited to pick up information, find out more and enjoy afternoon tea and entertainment by local school groups. Vineyard workers from Vanu'atu finished the event on a high with their lively string band, which was a big help to the organisers for energising the final clean up and putting big smiles on everyone's faces. The guys are now back in Vanu'atu until next season but their contribution was much appreciated.
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The message at Pegasus Health's Annual General Meeting held last week was loud and clear. Vince Barry, Chief Executive of the charitable organisation noted, “We should and will do more to engage with CALD communities. There is a role for us to generate awareness about various health issues among the communities.”
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Some observe to comprehend, while others gain insight by critiquing. Whatever mode we fancy, we end up reflecting on the issue at hand, which subsequently enriches our understanding. This is especially so when it comes to residing in a multicultural environment where we need to improve our understanding of every culture around us, to cohabit peacefully, in an equal and just society.
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On October 23, Hungarians around the globe and in New Zealand commemorated the sixtyth anniversary of their uprising against Soviet-communist rule. Hungarians of Auckland gathered in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, while in Wellington celebration was held in the Hungarian Millenium Park, then followed by dinner and performances in the Parliament House.
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Musica Balkanica choir - formed in Christchurch in 2004 by a group of enthusiasts to celebrate and share the rich musical heritage of the Balkan region of Eastern Europe - had a concert in the Great Hall of the Arts Centre on the October 22. The choir was led by its conductor of many years, Budimir Miljkovic and co-conductor Mihaela Hnat.
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Organised by the Christchurch Indian Sports Club (CISC) – a member of the New Zealand Indian Sports Association (NZISA) – the 2-day event held over the Labour Weekend was attended by over 500 people. Apart from a social evening, the event also comprised of a morning round of golf.
Read MoreDenise Wiggins, Community Development Facilitator at Waimakariri District Council, chairing the Migrants and Newcomers Group meeting at the Woodend Coomunity Centre on October 26.
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Almost 150 people attended the festivities with some participation from the wider community. The highlight of the event was India - Kaleidoscope of Cultures, depicting the diversity of the country.
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Dancing to Bollywood songs - from past and present, and acting out melodramatic scenes, the musical – My Big Fat Indian Wedding - a student led and directed musical rocked the South of New Zealand recently. An initiative of the Indian Students Association (ISA) of the University of Otago, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, the event featured over 135 performers – the largest ever.
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Organised by the Selwyn District Council (SDC) and supported by the Lincoln Rotary Club, and Christchurch Multicultural Council, CultureFest 2016 was attended by over 8,000 people on October 15
Read MoreIn a major development recently, the Indian community - across all city-based organisations, associations, trusts and community groups - have for the first time joined hands to pool in resources to work towards building an Indian community centre in Christchurch. To be built under the aegis of soon-to-be-registered Canterbury Indian Community Centre Trust (CICCT), the multi-purpose facility will require something in the tune of $1.2 million, fund raising for which will start soon and hopefully be completed in the next two years, informed Rajiv Gulati, one of the main initiators of the project.
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60 years ago Hungarians started an uprising against the communist dictatorship forced on Hungary by the Russian troops who "liberated" Hungary in the 2nd World War. The freedom fighters failed in the revolt, but ever since Hungary gained back its independence in 1989 and announced the new republic on the anniversary day of October 23, we are free to celebrate the remembrance of the unsuccessful uprising and all the victims of fighting and the reprisals afterwards.
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There are 363 Vietnamese residents in Christchurch (2013 census). The Vietnamese Society of Christchurch was formed with the main objective, that is promoting and fostering 1/ friendship understanding among society members and 2/ the culture and tradition of Vietnam. Minh Lengoc is elected to coordinate the society activities, which serve the above objective. This year the Society celebrated the Vietnmese mid-autumn festival on September 25th in Templin hall of Canterbury Horticultural Centre, Hagley park.
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The event was organised by the Christchurch Fiji Association or CFCESSA, and was attended by over 300 people. Informing this was Jagat Singh, President of CFCESSA, who added, "We have been organising Diwali for the past 14 years. Earlier we used to get some funding but not any more. Now the community gets together and organises the event. Hopefully, the City Council will start helping us again. If it happens, maybe we will be able to organise the event on a much bigger scale the next year."
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Calling Labour anti-migrants is desperation on part of the PM; Labour has no magic number for immigration; depends on circumstances; The Government has turned a blind eye to what private education institutes are doing; We will put the onus back on education institutes; Co-ethnic exploitation is an issue; More labour inspectors are needed; Crime can be prevented by having more frontline police officers from ethnic communities
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The camaraderie that Nepali people and Kiwis share - which started in 1953 when Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay summited Sagarmatha (or Mt Everest as it is known outside Nepal) – was on full display the last weekend during the City's Dussehra celebrations.
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