The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination considers race relations in New Zealand every five years. The Government’s report, and alternate reports, informs the Committee’s thoughts on issues they would like to question the Government on further.

What do you think the Committee should be aware of when it considers race relations in New Zealand? We encourage you to tell the Committee about issues that are most important to you. We welcome copies of your reports to the Committee, if you decide to submit one. We will keep record of reports and what issues they focus on and can share that information with you, to keep you informed of the issues raised by others. For more information, contact CatrionaS@hrc.co.nz.

The Government’s report and other background documents are available at the Commission’s website. For guidance on ‘Preparing and submitting an alternative report’ see page 26 of ICERD and CERD: A Guide for Civil Society Actors.

NZSL Week helps promote the language as well as raise awareness about New Zealand’s Deaf community and the issues/challenges its members face each day. 

The awareness week is a chance for the Deaf Community to stand proud as Deaf and promote their language and culture.  It also provides an opportunity to advocate for Deaf rights, as defined by the UN’s Convention of Rights of People with Disabilities. NZSL Week is a chance for Deaf New Zealanders to 'put their hands up' and be ‘heard’

Through "Learn @ home, @ work, @ play" Deaf Aotearoa will introduce all New Zealanders to signs they can use everyday. The not-for-profit organisation will be holding free Taster NZSL classes throughout the country.  These classes are held in conjunction with workplaces, organisations and community groups throughout the country.  The Taster classes will also run at public community centres. 

To support the learning of NZSL, Deaf Aotearoa has developed three high-quality resource booklets, which feature easy to learn, everyday vocabulary.   NZSL finger spelling cards and posters are also available to help encourage learning of this great visual language.

This year, Deaf Aotearoa will take its Taster classes into schools.  Trained Deaf community tutors will visit local schools and use highly interactive worksheets to inspire students to learn NZSL and utilise the newly-launched online NZSL dictionary.

Deaf Aotearoa also offers schools:

• The NZSL Tool Kit - a comprehensive two part teaching programme, which includes easy to follow lesson plans and an interactive DVD.
• The chance to learn the National Anthem in all three official New Zealand languages with a high-quality teaching DVD
• Provide advice on other resources and information available about Deaf education.

NZSL Week will be celebrated throughout the country with a wide range of local events and activities.  To register your interest in having a Deaf tutor visit your school or workplace or to order any Deaf Aotearoa teaching resources please email nzsign@deaf.org.nz or visit www.nzsign.co.nz for taster classes and activities in your area.

This year’s theme is “O le Vāfealoa’i”  “Strong and Respectful Relationships”.

2012 is also the 50^th anniversary of Samoa Independence and separately New Zealand’s continuing relations with Samoa through the signing of the Treaty of Friendship.  Both these anniversaries will be celebrated during 2012 with particular attention on Samoa Independence Day 1 June and the signing of the Treaty of Friendship 1 August.  See the Samoa 2012 website.

Families, early childhood centres, schools and tertiary education institutions, government departments, city councils, libraries, employers and unions, media, churches and community groups are all encouraged to undertake activities in support of Samoan Language Week. You are invited to register your activity by emailing nzdiversity@hrc.co.nz so that it can be published on the website and promoted as part of the week’s activities.

Samoan Language Week is an opportunity to celebrate the Samoan language in New Zealand, to recognise the language and culture of Samoan New Zealanders, to build bridges between cultures and to ensure that the language continues to be used widely in New Zealand in the future.

For more information visit the Samoan Language Week website. Samoan Language Week also has a very active Facebook page with over 5,000 participants worldwide.

The Centre is calling for Opening Gifts: stories, photographs and documents or other significant gifts. If you have something you would like to share with please contact Susi Williams.

For more information visit the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand website.

If you are looking to update your policy, you are welcome to view the policies that are currently available.  If you have updated your policy recently and would like to share it, please send a copy to EEO Trust.

A quick reminder about the 2012 EEO Trust Work & Life Awards - the closing date for entries is Thursday 17 May at noon.

The conferences aim to:

• inspire new ways of thinking and action
• promote connections among people in the ethnic community and the mainstream
• enable Ministers and government officials to engage with communities
• encourage debate about ethnic diversity issues

Mervin Singham, the Director of the Office of Ethnic Affairs says the EthnicA series will strengthen connections within ethnic communities and with the mainstream, foster bold debate and provide a platform for practical learning.

There are two more conferences this year, to register click on the highlighted links below:

• EthnicA Christchurch on Saturday 28 April at Peppers Clearwater Resort
• EthnicA Wellington on Saturday 26 May at Te Papa.

The conferences are free and open to everyone. Check out OEA on  Facebook to get regular updates.

This will be an opportunity to meet other organisations working with newcomers in Wellington in the areas of employment, health & safety, social & community and wider settlement matters. The meeting will include brief presentations from:

• the Settlement Support team at Wellington City Council
• the Department of Labour
• recruitment experts The Johnson Group.

These will be followed by group discussions around the topics of most interest, and a chance to identify opportunities to work together on new ideas to make Wellington a positive place for new settlers. Lunch will be provided during the meeting.

To register your attendance, contact Andi Ph: 803 8330.

The forum will explore the issues of disabilities that Asian New Zealanders have faced including identifying their strengths as well as the challenges.  Checkout the poster for more information. Seats are limited and will be filled on a first in, first served basis.

To register contact TANI Ph (09)815-2338 or vist their website.

The meeting will be held on Saturday 14 April from 10am – 2pm at Papatoetoe Council Chambers, 35 St George Street, Papatoetoe. 

This is an Information sharing and question and answer session for former refugees and their families living in Manukau. The following Organisations will be available for question and answer:

• Housing New Zealand Corporation
• Inland Revenue
• English Language Partners
• Auckland Council
• Citizens Advice Bureau Language  Link
• Work and income
• MIT
• NZ Police
• Health Providers
• Auckland Regional Migrant Services
• Settlement Support Manukau
• And many others

To RSVP, contact ARMS Ph (09) 2635490 by 9 April.

Sanichari is mother in law to a beautiful and feisty woman who certainly does not accept her place or fate and sets out to defy the village rules. Around them in the village are a host of lively characters, from caring and conniving neighbours, a long lost friend, the comic village priest, ruthless landlords, some brazen prostitutes and a wickedly endearing old nag.

Together, they weave a story of friendship, treachery, greed, lust and duplicity around the unusual business of ‘‘Rudali’’ a professional female mourner.

There are places in India – Tohri is one - where women of a lower caste are hired as mourners upon the death of rich upper-caste males. A Rudali (rou-daali) is paid to grieve aloud publicly so the family of the dead retain their upper caste dignity befitting their social status.  
Jointly directed by Amit Ohdedar, Prayas and Margaret Mary Hollins, TAPAC, Rudali-The Mourner will showcase Indian folk music with a live orchestra, colourful dances and a vibrant village carnival.

Rudali- The Mourner, based on a story by Mahasweta Devi, will be staged at TAPAC, 100 Motions Road, Western Springs, Auckland from 18-27 May 2012.

Book online, visit TAPAC - The Auckland Performing Arts Centre or Prayas Theatre.

As a result, ChangeMakers is leading a pilot project for 10 – 20 women across the Wellington region to obtain their full driver’s licence. The pilot involves:

• Compulsory information sessions on a range of topics.
• Subsidised professional lessons with a driving school.
• Driving practice with a trained volunteer supervisor.
• Driving school lessons during the practice period including a check drive before they book for the Restricted Licence test.
• A further lesson to check test readiness before sitting the Full Licence test 6 months later.

ChangeMakers is inviting women volunteers to be part of the project and take trained learners for driving practice until they can sit their tests. To find out more about the project and obtain a Volunteer Role Description, please contact Naomi Tocher, ChangeMakers Ph04-801 5812 or  Cheryl McKane, Wellington Super Grans Ph 04-384 6426.

There is a topic for each session to stimulate interest.

• 28 April - Chinese Game Weiqi (Go) 中国围棋

All welcome. Gold coin donation. Contact: Ellen Yang 杨川 Ph 473-7558, 027-4756888.

Neighbours Day Aotearoa 2012, a national celebration of neighbourliness, was a huge success with participation exceeding expectations.

Rebecca Harrington, campaign manager, says “we’ve heard from dozens of residents expressing their appreciation for the opportunity to meet their neighbours. People have told us how simply meeting a neighbour is already impacting their lives.”

Check out the Neighbours Day Aotearoa website for more event highlights and information. The website will be updated throughout the year and people are encouraged to sign up so that they can be the first to know about Neighbours Day 2013.

Te Papa 

14 & 17 April Pasifik Jam

Take part in an explosion of dance and culture! Pasifik Jam combines Cook Island dance with the rhythms of the Pacific to get your heart pumping and your body grooving.

19 April Pacific Couture Unveiled

Designer and artist Lindah Lepou presents a retrospective exhibition of works created over the past 17 years, as well as extraordinary new pieces for purchase.

25 April Tongan Youth Choir

Join Wellington’s Tongan Youth Choir this ANZAC Day for a special programme of gospel and traditional songs commemorating the contribution of Pacific peoples to the ANZAC cause.

25 April Film Screening: Home by Christmas 

Come to Te Papa for a special ANZAC Day screening of Wellington filmmaker Gaylene Preston’s imaginative retelling of the wartime love story of her parents, Ed and Tui. 

For a detailed list of events visit the Te Papa website.

Museums Aotearoa

18-20 April MA12: Collaboration in Practice

MA12 is a wonderful opportunity to engage with New Zealand's museum community, to learn, and to share the fun with colleagues from all kinds of museums, galleries and related organisations. Register now.

The 2012 New Zealand Museum Awards will be presented in Wellington on 19 April. The awards have been presented annually since 2008 to celebrate individuals and organisations who achieve excellence in the museum and gallery sector in New Zealand. The awards are open to individual or museum members of

For more information visit the Museums Aotearoa website.

Te Manawa Gallery

31 March- 11 May Migrating Kitchen Exhibition

Migrating Kitchen migrates to Palmerston North to celebrate cultural diversity in Aotearoa New Zealand, showcasing the food, families and festivals of six local ethic communities – Filipino, Cook Islands, Russian, Bhutanese, French and Zimbabwean. Visit the various ‘kitchens’ to learn something about the culture of each community, and join in the fun of weekend cooking demonstrations and other cultural events.

For more information visit The Migrating Kitchen website.

Te Tuhi

3 March -6 May What do you mean, we?

What do you mean, we? groups together an international selection of artists to examine prejudice in its various forms. Selected artists employ a range of innovative strategies from psychoanalysis to voluntary homelessness to expose or even transcend discrimination.

For a detailed list of events visit the Te Tuhi website.

Museum of Wellington City & Sea

Death & Diversity

Death and Diversity exhibition open every day 10 to 5 until 26 June 2012. Explore the diverse rituals surrounding death through the experiences of members of Wellington’s Assyrian, Chinese, Colombian, Hindu, Jewish, Mexican and Muslim communities.

Check out their events in happening in April. For a detailed list of events visit the Museum of Wellington City & Sea website.