Human Rights Commission

Multicultural Councils throughout New Zealand will mark Race Relations Day in March with cultural festivals and other activities.

Race Relations Day is New Zealand’s version of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which is observed in many countries around the world. In Australia, it is called Harmony Day.

The events organised by multicultural councils will mostly be held on weekends before and after the actual day (Wednesday 21 March), to ensure maximum public participation.

Some of the biggest festivals organised by multicultural councils will take place in the Bay of Plenty, Nelson, Counties-Manukau, the Hutt Valley and Southland, which have in past years together attracted many thousands of people. South Canterbury and North Otago will continue their tradition of Race Relations Day dinners and cultural concerts, and Rotorua will have a multicultural football tournament.

The New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Councils partners with the New Zealand Human Rights Commission to celebrate Race Relations Day as a contribution to the New Zealand Diversity Action Programme. The theme for this year is “Aotearoa, A Fair Go for All.”

The full programme of multicultural council Race Relations Day activities is as follows:

• Saturday March 10, Christchurch, Christchurch Multicultural Council participates in Christchurch City Council’s Culture Galore Festival
• Saturday March 10, Rotorua, U&I Football Tournament, organised by the Rotorua Multicultural Council in partnership with Rotorua United Football Club
• Sunday March 11, Nelson, Race Unity Day Festival, organised by the Nelson Multicultural Council
• Saturday 17 March, Invercargill, Multicultural Food Festival, organised by the Southland Multicultural Council
• Saturday 17 March, Tauranga, 13^th Tauranga Multicultural Festival, organised by the Tauranga Regional Multicultural Council
• Saturday 17 March, Upper Hutt, The Upper Hutt Multicultural Council is organising the Festival of Cultures
• Saturday 24 March, Whanganui, Whanganui Rangitikei Multicultural Council participates in the Festival of Cultures organised by Whanganui Multicultural Friends
• Saturday 24 March, Manawatu Multicultural Council participates in the Festival of Cultures organised by the Palmerston North City Council
• Saturday 24 March, Timaru, Race Relations Day Concert and Dinner, organised by the Aoraki Multicultural Council
• Saturday 31 March, Lower Hutt, Race Unity Day, organised by the Hutt Multicultural Council
• Saturday 31 March, Oamaru, Race Relations Day concert organised by the Waitaki Multicultural Council
• Saturday 31 March, Whanganui, Whanganui Rangitikei Multicultural Council is organising a migrants’ workshop
• Sunday 1 April, Pukekohe, Franklin Multicultural Festival, organised by the Counties Manukau Multicultural Council.