NZFMC’s 24th Annual General Meeting

The 24th Annual General

Meeting of the New

Zealand Federation of

Multicultural Councils was

held last 29-30 June 2013

at Sudima Hotel,

Auckland. With the theme

“Many People Together

For One Nation”, Mr. Tayo

Agunlejika stressed

NZFMC’s successes on its

strategic development,

operational capability,

communication and

community collaboration.

According to him, these

milestones were not

possible without the

conscientious of the

people involved to make

things done.

The event was attended

by community volunteers

from different

multicultural councils,

NZFMC’s strategic

partners and key persons

involved in working with

ethnic communities.

The welcome remarks

were given by the Hon

Len Brown, Mayor of

Auckland; Melissa Lee MP,

Parliamentary Private

Secretary for Ethnic

Affairs; and Mai Chen,

Managing Partner of Chen

Palmer Public and

Employment Law

Specialists.

It was followed by the

update from

(continued to Page 8)

Hon. Len Brown, Mayor of Auckland, gave warm welcome to the delegates.

“Many People Together for One Nation”

2nd Life Membership Award presented to Brian Bellett The second Life

Membership Award was

presented to Mr. Brian

Bellett of Southland

Multicultural Council,

Invercargill. It was

formally given to him last

29 June 2013 during the

dinner function of the 24th

Annual General Meeting

in Auckland.

Brian has contributed

tremendous leadership,

guidance and support to

Southland Multicultural

Council. He has a strong

advocacy to support

ethnic communities and he

actively represented

minority groups in the

area at various community

meetings and court

hearings. A father figure,

he has given support to

(continued to Page 7)

1st Newsletter from

Tairawhiti

The Tairawhiti Multicultural Council

Inc. (TMC) has issued its first

newsletter. The newsletter featured the

responses from candidates running for

local elections in Gisborne.

The question given was, “What is your

vision for Gisborne in terms of cultural

diversity?” TMC had compiled the

candidates’ responses. You may view

the newsletter from NZFMC website,

under TMC page

tairawhiti.nzfmc.org.nz . #

Promoting

multiculturalism in

Wanganui

River City Press featured the

Multicultural Council of Rangitikei/

Wanganui on its recent issue dated 19

September 2013.

You may check the featured article at

www.rivercitypress.co.nz/press/19th-

septmeber-2013/ #

N E W Z E A L A N D F E D E R A T I O N O F M U L T I C U L T U R A L C O U N C I L S

September 2013

Issue 2

Editorial 2

Restorative Justice 2

Ethnic leaders

standing for Local

2

Diversity in Tairawhiti 3

Events page 4-5

Regional Round-Up 6

Remembering Mollie 7

Council Meeting

Update

8

Inside this issue:

Melissa Lee MP, Parliamentary Private Secretary for Ethnic Affairs

Mai Chen, Managing Partner of Chen Palmer Public and Employment Law Specialists

Restorative Justice Update by: Mike Scrivener, Hutt Multicultural Council are also used in the education sector.

The MoJ has invited tenders for the

provision of RJ services across New

Zealand. Existing RJ service

providers are contracted to continue

until 30 September 2013. While it is

not appropriate for NZFMC or RMCs

to submit tenders, we can offer to

provide our members'

cultural, linguistic and religious

expertise to assist in the provision of

culturally appropriate RJ services.

Such members will be required to

your potential to help provide

culturally appropriate RJ services.

Several RMCs have already

nominated persons interested in

undertaking training.

RJ will be discussed again at the next

NZMFC meeting at Gisborne on 8-10

November. Mike Scrivener is leading

the NZFMC RJ Project. Please let

first undergo training which is

delivered for the MoJ. The next

tranche of training is expected to

take place later this year, but people

can embark upon prerequisite

online training modules at any time.

RMCs are encouraged to make

contact with your local RJ service

providers to ensure they are aware of

Mike know the names of any

members interested in undertaking

training, and the results of your

communications with existing RJ

service providers in your area.

Mike's e-mail address is

mikejudy@paradise.net.nz .#

[1]"Restorative justice is a process to involve, to the extent possible, those who have a stake in a specific offence and to collectively identify and address harms, needs and obligations, in order to heal and put things as right as possible"

The concept of Restorative Justice

(RJ) was introduced to Regional

Multicultural Councils (RMCs) by

Mike Hinton and Natalia Taurima

from Restorative Justice Aotearoa at

the NZFMC Annual General Meeting

(AGM) in Auckland last June 2013.

Resources of DVD and booklet

produced by the Ministry of Justice

(MoJ) was given to RMCs at the

AGM. Information may also be

accessed via the MoJ's website.

Please note that Restorative Practices

“ RMCs can offer to provide our

members' cultural, linguistic and

religious expertise to assist in the

provision of culturally appropriate

restorative justice services. ”

Page 2 Nau Mai Piki Mai

1. Zehr, H. (2002) The Little Book of Restorative Justice. Good Books, Intercourse, PA, pg. 37.

Editorial

Tēnā koutou everyone,

Spring has gotten off to a great start

with stunning weather but what does

spring symbolize? We believe

Spring symbolizes rebirth, life and

growth.

For NZFMC, we are excited about

rebirth of important strategic

relationships and collaboration, the

birth of significant projects to be

implemented by our organisation

and we are most encouraged by

the significant developments we are

seeing across all regions.

We are starting our Spring with

learnings from E Tū, to develop a

national ethnic community action plan

about what works to prevent family

violence. This will be presented at

our Gisborne hui in November 2013.

We are working on partnering to

train facilitators to deliver cultural

consideration restorative justice

processes, community based

regional settlement support

initiatives, a case for ethnic business

excellence awards, a positive race

relations education programme,

organising and developing national

New Zealand Communities Football

Cup (NZCFC) with the NZ Police HQ

and most exciting is looking forward

to another successful ten years of

MSD Settling In.

We are excited and committed to

deliver these initiatives in our

regions by supporting and providing

resources to build the capacity

and capability of RMCs.

I would like to conclude by sharing

this quote from Hon. Minister

Tariana Turia, "Communities have

the capacity and collective capacity

to overcome the various challenges

that confront them and, can and will

take responsibility if empowered to

do so."

Noho ora mai

—- Tayo Agunlejika

NZFMC Executives with Hon. Minister Tariana Turia.

formation of TMC. I look forward to

everyone’s support in the future so

that we can promote and celebrate

“Diversity in Tairawhiti”. It has been

an honour and a privilege to be

involved with TMC. #

organised by TMC in which

members brought food from their

culture or country of birth. The

International Day for Cultural

Diversity held last 21st May 2013 was

attended by over 35 people with

more than 15 different

dishes being enjoyed

by all.

TMC recently

received its charitable

status with Charities

Commission.

TMC also developed a

strategic plan. We are

lucky to have

Counsellor Bruce Montgomery

who will lead anger management

and family violence

intervention projects

for us in future.

Finally, I wish to thank

everyone that has

supported us in the

early stages for the

The emblem was designed by

local artist Jess Jacobs and

digitalised by Brendon Terekia.

Huge thanks to Cr. Manu Caddie

for his leadership in this project.

“Diversity in Tairawhiti” by: Arish Naresh, Tairawhiti Multicultural Council

Tena Katou Katoa

Tairawhiti Multicultural Council

(TMC) is the youngest regional

council which held its initial meeting

on 22nd November 2012 to see the

level of interest from communities in

forming a multicultural council and

now officially becomes the

Federation’s 20th member.

Our council would like to thank Tayo

and his team for their support in

setting up of our council. The initial

meeting was supported by NZFMC’s

President and Vice President as well

as former Race Relations

Commissioner, Joris De Bres .With

the support of Mayor Meng Foon and

others, TMC was formalised on 22nd

February 2013.

TMC supported the Race Unity

Speech Awards which was organised

brilliantly by the Gisborne Baha’I

Community.

The Global Feast event was held and

Page 3

Ethnic Leaders standing up for Local Council positions This year’s local body elections will

take place on October 12, 2013. The

need to step up and to stand for a

local council position is seen from the

ethnic community. These people are

making their way up to voice and

make a stand for what is known to

them the best for the community.

In this year’s local elections, these

people are on their way to stage their

platforms:

Alexis LewGor - Rotorua District

Council & Lakes District Health Board

Anne Degia-Pala - Auckland Council

- Henderson-Massey Local Board

Bevan Chuang - Auckland Council -

Albert-Eden Local Board -

Maungawhau Subdivision

Camila Chin - Capital and Coast

District Health Board

Elizabeth Paine - Palmerston North

City Council

George Abraham - Canterbury

District Health Board

Karunanidhi Muthu - Wellington

City Mayor & Wellington City

Council - Eastern Ward

Ramesh Sharma - Tauranga City

Council - Otumoetai-Pyes Pa Ward

Rattan Prakash - Upper Hutt City

Council

Susan Zhu - Auckland Council -

Whau Local Board

Tayo Agunlejika - Hutt Valley District

Health Board

You may view their profiles on

www.vote.co.nz . The website will

also get you through the other

candidates also running for the

elections.

They have contributed their time to

their regions through volunteering,

involvement, and actually working

with the community. Support for them

is greatly needed to bring forward

leaders from the ethnic

community. #

NZFMC’s 24th Annual General Meeting in Auckland

Page 4 Nau Mai Piki Mai

“One Stop Shop” for Wanganui communities

The Multicultural Council of

Rangitikei/Wanganui

formally opened its office last

13 July 2013. It’s new

coordinator is Yvette Simons.

It was well attended by

supporters and community

members. #

Wellington RMCs joined the first Multicultural Rugby Festival

Page 5

Manawatu Multicultural Council celebrates 20 Years

The Multicultural Rugby Festival was

held last 8th September 2013 at Pōneke

Football Club in Kilbirnie, Wellington.

Our three (3) RMCs had supported this

initiative namely the Hutt, Upper Hutt

and Wellington RMCs.

Different teams from different ethnicities

joined this festive event.#

The Manawatu Muticultural Council celebrated

its 20th anniversary last 17th August 2013. This

momentous event was highlighted by

ceremonial function, cultural performances,

and networking. Attendees were welcomed by

sumptuous gourmet cuisine and cultural

presentations. There was also an opportunity

to meet the Mayoral candidates. #

Charitable Trust, Rotorua Multicultural

Business Council, Rotorua Arts Village

Experience, GLOBALfest Charitable

Trust, Speech NZ and Rotorua District

Council.

RMC has been successful in running

these events: U&I series (cooking

class, language class, sports

competition); Newcomers Bush Walk,

Professional Speaking For Migrants

course, Waitangi Day celebration and

more.

The “Multicultural Rotorua”

Regional Round-Up The vision of Rotorua Multicultural

Council (RMC) is to make migrants

feel that they belong and able to

contribute to the Rotorua community.

Empowering the community has been

RMC’s role and their services have

been reaching migrants and

newcomers. They presently have

community activities ranging from

cultural festivals, cultural/religious

gatherings, coffee mornings, potlucks,

to school holiday programmes,

language week celebrations, and

sports competitions.

RMC collaboratively works with

different organisations including:

Rotorua Newcomers Network, English

Language Partners, Settlement

Support, Rotorua Citizens Advice

Bureau, Rotorua Christmas Parade

Page 6 Nau Mai Piki Mai

RMC would not have made its

programmes and services possible

without the support from its funders:

Rotorua Trust, COGS, Lotteries Grants

Board, NZCT, Tindall Foundation,

Statistics New Zealand and Mokoia

Community Association. RMC would

also like to thank the volunteers for

their help and support.

Executive members of RMC consist of

Alexis LewGor, Dr. Margriet Theron,

Susana So, and Judy Winiata. #

They also have programmes for youth

and young toddlers. They have

Toddlers Group and MC Youth Day.

They were successful in running a

workshop on Intercultural Awareness

and Communication. The workshop

was able to equip the participants in

enhancing their relationships in

workplace, customers and

stakeholders.

Promoting “Unity in Diversity” in Nelson Nelson Multicultural Council (NMC)

has its vision that newcomers,

migrants and locals are well

welcomed; they are able to settle in a

safe environment and able to

contribute to the community.

NMC has provided support to

newcomers wherein a dedicated field

worker is tasked to meet and help

them in their settlement needs.

Aside from community activities, NMC

also welcomes its new group

members: Indo-Nelson and Nelson

Kayan Community Group.

NMC collaboratively works with

different organisations including:

NMDHB Midwifery Service, Victory

Health, Nelson City Council, Nelson

Newcomers Network, Te Rito Network,

and S.K.I.P.

Executive committee of NMC consists

of Dayanira Bakhshi, Baki Bakhshi,

Denise Hutterd, Jyoti Sandhu, Priyani

de Silva-Currie, Diane Homer, Claire

Keenan, Marie Johnstone, Lun Tan, and

Richard Yang.

To know more about NMC, please visit

www.nelsonmulticultural.co.nz #

U&I can cook Thai at Amazing Thai Restaurant Performers at the U&I Learn Maori 2013

at Whakarewarewa Thermal Village

“10 Simple Ways to

Eliminate Racism”

was produced by NMC,

and has been

distributed throughout

Nelson and to many

parts of New Zealand .

Mollie Ngan Kee, New Zealand’s first

Chinese Justice of Peace, died

peacefully last 22 July at the age of

87. Mollie is considered one of the

people behind the successes of Hutt

Multicultural Council. She was a

Justice of Peace, councillor, deputy

mayor, marriage celebrant, and a

community leader described as

“passionately family-oriented”.

At an early age of 18, she was part of

setting up Wellington’s first Chinese

youth club, the Chinese Progress

Club and the first Double 10 Sports

Tournament. The sports tournament

later became the NZ Chinese

Association’s Easter Sports

Tournament.

Her leadership and organisational

skills continued and Mollie became

part of different organisations in Hutt

Valley region.

Mollie was one of the founding

members of Hutt Ethnic Council,

which is presently known as Hutt

Multicultural Council.

She was involved in Hutt Valley’s

Remembering Mollie and her contributions to the community

community organisations. She was a

patron of Stokes Valley and Taita

Plunkets; previous member of Hutt

Valley Community Arts Council;

previous member of Taita College

Board of Governers; contributor to

the founding of Stokes Valley

swimming pool;

pioneered the

Stokes Valley

Community House;

and previous

member of the

Wellington

Hospital Board.

She was also the

previous regional

and district chair of

the Hutt Regional

Community Mental

Health Services

and she helped in

establishing the

Hillview in Lower

Hutt.

For 10 years she was an advocate for

Save the Children Fund, for which

Page 7

she was previously appointed as vice

president and collections co-

ordinator.

For 12 years, Mollie was a marriage

celebrant and she was able to be

part of those happy occasions.

She was awarded a Lloyd Morgan

Lions Award and

Rotary Paul Harris

Fellowship in 1998.

In 1999, she received

the Lower Hutt Civic

Award. She was

appointed as a

Companion of the

Queen’s Order

(QSO) in 2001. These

recognitions were all

given to her for her

invaluable deeds to

the community.

For all of her

contributions,

Mollie would definitely be missed by

all the people blessed by her

compassion and kindness.#

2nd Life Membership Award presented to Brian Bellett

(from Page 1)

migrant families in parent/teacher

interviews, and to new migrants who

miss their families. He is also

supportive and involved in

organising Noho Marae visits and

Treaty workshops.

At the Federation level, he has

actively participated in council

meetings, group forums, sub-

committees. He is a support person to

NZFMC’s executives, Seniors

Council, and to other South Island

RMCs.

Brian Bellett joined the committee of

the Southland Multicultural Council

in 2000. He was the president of the

council for twelve (12) years from

2001 to 2013. He decided to not to

stand for re-election this 2013. But he

still continues to serve the committee

as Immediate Past President.

The first Life Membership Award was

given to Ganges Singh last year

during the 23rd Annual General

Meeting in Upper Hutt.#

Brian Bellett (second from right), receiving the Life membership award.

Mollie Ngan Kee, photo from The Hutt News,

www.huttnews.co.nz .

very much delighted to put them in

our next issue.

Please send your articles and photos

to admin@nzfmc.org.nz . Our next

issue will be on December 2013. #

The New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Councils Inc. was established

in July 1989 as an incorporated, non-government body, which acts as an

umbrella organisation for the ethnic

communities of New Zealand. The Federation's primary role is

to advocate, lobby, support and share information among the Regional

Multicultural Councils and New Zealand's Ethnic Communities.

The challenge for NZFMC is to provide an opportunity for

people from all segments of New Zealand's diverse society

to address the challenges facing our multicultural

communities on the threshold of the 21st century.

New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Councils Inc.

We know many of you have exciting

ideas or milestones from your very

own RMC to share!

If you want your ideas to be featured

in our next issue, please send us

your stories and photos and we are

We want to hear from you...

Level 3 Suite 9 Anvil House

138-140 Wakefield Street

Te Aro, Wellington

PO Box 1409

Wellington 6140

Phone: (04) 916 9177

Fax: (04) 916 9178

E-mail: executive @nzfmc.org.nz

Diversity

Inclusiveness

Equality

Participation

Collaboration

Service to the Community

The next council will be held on the

8th to 10th of November 2013 in

Gisborne. It will be hosted by

Tairawhiti Multicultural Council.

The theme for the next council

meeting is E Tū : The Development of

a National Ethnic Community Action

Plan about what works to prevent

Family Violence.

A workshop will be facilitated on the

Next Council Meeting to be held in Gisborne subject of Family Violence in ethnic

communities. A community action

plan will be developed at the end of

the worksop.

On the last day of the meeting, a

representative from Statistics New

Zealand will deliver a presentation

on how to use the NZ. Stat, a web tool

that allows to customise statistical

data according to your own needs.

He will discuss how to navigate this

tool to get statistical information

right from the Statistics New Zealand

website.

It will be followed by an update on

Restorative Justice.

Information for the upcoming

Council Meeting is also available on

the NZFMC’s website.#

NZFMC’s 24th Annual General Meeting

(from Page 1)

key strategic partners: Human Rights

Commission, Ministry of Social

Development, New Zealand Police,

Immigration New Zealand and

Families Commission.

A discussion on “ How Ethnic

Communities are adapting to the new

Auckland Super city structure?” was

also facilitated by Dr. Camille Nakhid

from Ethnic People’s Advisory Panel

under the Auckland City Council.

The community and merit awards

were presented to volunteers who

have contributed their time through

community work, promoting and

advocating multiculturalism in their

regions.

Life membership award was also

presented to Brian Bellet of Southland

Multicultural Council. Brian is the

second recipient of the award.

Tairawhiti Multicultural Council was

formally acknowledged as the 20th

member of NZFMC. TMC was

established in Gisborne last 2012

through the leadership of Arish

Naresh. Arish was previously the

president of NZFMC Youth Council.

The three (3) regional multicultural

councils, namely: Southland, Lower

Hutt, and Tairawhiti, also showcased

the successes of their own councils.

At the last day of the meeting,

workshops on Restorative Justice and

Treaty-Based Multiculturalism were

held. The Restorative Justice was

presented by Natalia Taurima from

Restorative Justice Aotearoa. The

Treaty-Based Multiculturalism was

facilitated by Katherine Peet from

Network Waitangi Otautahi.#