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Positive Contributions to Race Relations in NZ


Positive Contributions to Race Relations in New Zealand

Human Rights Commission

Te Kähui Tika Tangata

On the Bright Side

October/Whiringa-ä-nuku 2003

Kia ora. Every day individuals and organisations are making positive contributions to harmonious race relations in New Zealand in a huge variety of ways. The Human Rights Commission seeks to acknowledge these efforts through the issue of certificates of acknowledgment when the Race Relations Commissioner and staff of the Commission personally encounter them. These acknowledgments represent only a small proportion of the daily efforts being made, but over time we hope they will illustrate to a wider public the variety of ways in which positive race relations can be fostered.

More From The National Library

Last month's acknowledgment of the National Library for its exhibition A Barbarous Measure about the history of the Chinese in New Zealand attracted some enquiries as to why it couldn't be shown elsewhere. Chief Executive Penny Carnaby has now advised that due to public demand the exhibition is likely to be shown in Auckland and that other locations around the country are being considered. Great news!

Mike Robson, Oswin Griffiths-DFK Ltd

For organising the Connecting Kiwis Kite Day, Bastion Point, Auckland, 8 November 2003 (Rain Day 9 November). Mike is the Business Development Manager at Oswin Griffiths-DFK Ltd, an Auckland Chartered Accountancy firm. As part of a personal development course he was required to organise a community project. Having seen some of the issues through his work that are prevalent amongst migrant groups he felt his project should do something to help, so he approached Auckland City Council with his kite day concept. His aim: to create a welcoming and accepting community for new migrant families, and for New Zealand and migrant families to celebrate our cultural diversity together. He chose Bastion Point as a New Zealand historical landmark, and the day will begin with a formal welcome from Ngati Whatua o Orakei. Go Mike!

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Television New Zealand

For the "Anthem of Two Halves" promotion in the lead-up to the Rugby World Cup 2003. TVNZ printed a further 30,000 "anthem cards" and distributed them through Lotto outlets. They also took out a number of full page advertisements in the media with the message that : "Only 15 can do the haka. A whole nation can sing the anthem. When the world cup comes around, let's rattle the rafters with our singing of the national anthem. And what better way to wow the world than to sing it loud and clear in both our national languages? Remember, it's an anthem of two halves, so let's get in training." So here's hoping!

Fraser High School, Hamilton

For the provision of successful Migrant Work Placement Courses in each term, 2003. The first three ten week courses have had resulted in a significant level of paid employment and work placements for new migrant participants in the Hamilton area. The fourth course is currently underway. For further information contact Caryl Ginever at c.ginever@fraser-high.school.nz .

Asia 2000, Auckland City Council and Wellington City Council

For providing support and coordination for the highly successful Diwali Festival of Lights events in Auckland on 12 October and Wellington on 18 October. Jennifer King (Asia 2000), Barbara Strong-McKinnon (Auckland City Council) and Delia Shanly (Wellington City Council) did a wonderful job behind the scenes to make these two events even more spectacular than last year. It's getting hard to estimate, but somewhere around 40,000 people attended each event. Diwali has now emerged from the Indian community and our schools to become a major public event on the New Zealand calendar. For more exciting partnership projects from Asia 2000 visit http://www.asia2000.org.nz.

Service and Food Workers Union

For fostering discussion within the union on proposals to reflect the Treaty of Waitangi in its structures and policies. Results from a three year process of dialogue and policy development were presented to the National Delegates' Conference at Trentham Race Course on October 21 and unanimously supported. They will be formally considered at the union's AGM next year. The proposals include the adoption of a new Maori name, Nga Ringa Tota, which means "many industrious hands", and rule changers to enhance Maori members' representation. The SWFU website is at http://www.sfwu.org .

Education Christchurch

For organising the inaugural Canterbury Education Summit to establish a framework for the sustainable growth of the sector, Christchurch, 13 October, 2003. Education Christchurch is a subsidiary of the Canterbury Development Corporation and CDC's Toni Brownie did a wonderful job in bringing together 200 key stakeholders from the Canterbury region to discuss all aspects of international education, including the importance of addressing issues relating to the host community. The programme included the presentation of a research report on Education Providers: A Qualitative Analysis of International Student Growth in Christchurch and Canterbury, and a new Survival Guide for international students published by the Christchurch Asian Youth Trust. For more information contact toni.brownie@cdc.org.nz .

If you do not wish to receive future copies of On The Bright Side please email fionar@hrc.co.nz.

Previous editions can be found at http://www.hrc.co.nz/index.php?p=13789#3.

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