What do you think were the most important developments this year? Please send comments to nzdiversity@hrc.co.nz.

The final section will be produced in time for the National Interfaith Forum in February.

The 2009 section on religious diversity can be found here.

The Human Rights Commission has agreed to encourage and facilitate public input to the report, and so we are asking you to let us know what you think and we will pass it on to the Ministry of Justice. We will also use the information to inform our own annual Race Relations Report, which will be published in March 2011.

Please email us your response to the following questions, or complete a quick online form:

1. What are the five most positive developments in race relations in the past five years (2006-2010)?
2. What are the five greatest race relations challenges for the future?

Please send your response to the Commission at nzdiversity@hrc.co.nz by Sunday 21 November 2010. Further opportunities for input will be advised to you in due course.

The purpose of the guidelines is to address a range of issues concerning religion in the New Zealand workplace. It is written in the form of questions and answers to make it more accessible to a wider audience. It has its origins in Wellington at the 2009 Diversity Forum, where the issue of religion in the workplace was discussed. The project is a joint initiative of the Human Rights Commission and the Religious Studies Programme at Victoria University, Wellington.

It is an opportunity to launch new initiatives or promote existing programmes and projects. The Bahá'í community will once again run the Race Unity Speech Award in support of Race Relations Day.

Start planning your Race Relations Day 2011 event or activity now.  If you or your organisation is planning an event to celebrate send us an email.

The process of registering your projects provides an opportunity to firm up on your plans and consider whether there is anything else you want to do to support the objectives of NZDAP. The objectives are to:

• recognise and celebrate the cultural diversity of our society
• promote the equal enjoyment by everyone of their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, regardless of race, colour, ethnicity or national origin
• foster harmonious relations between diverse peoples
• give effect to the Treaty of Waitangi.

If you are a participant in the NZDAP this year, you will find your profile and projects on the 2010 list of participants. We have just opened our list of participants for 2011. Your organisation will be added when we receive your 2011 projects. Please contact Rohan Jaduram if you would like to register or   register your projects online.

The responsibilities of the Ambassador include: 

• Promoting the mission and values of the Council in working towards a just, peaceful, and sustainable world and promoting peace among the world's religions.
• Raising awareness about the interreligious movement through creating positive social change by mobilizing networks to come together on the issues most important to them.
• Communicating with other Ambassadors and nurture the Ambassador program through support, compassion, and feedback.
• Building knowledge about and interest in the 2014 Parliament by hosting outreach events.

For more information visit World Parliament of Religions.

Over the years, understanding the needs of the growing community, the Trust took a proactive approach in providing customized solutions for the arising needs. It has been working in diverse areas, including holding an interfaith conference in 2005, with various Government departments, Council offices, community organisations, schools and other charities to ensure that a collaborative approach is made in providing a better future for our communities.

To mark the 21^st anniversary, Prime Minister John Key attended the special programme organised to kick start the 21st Anniversary of the Nanaksar Trust on 17 October. He visited the Nanaksar Education Phulwari (the first community based childcare centre by an Indian charity in New Zealand) and spent some time with children and their parents. He appreciated the "inclusive" policy and promised his full support to promote the multi- cultural approach adopted by the Centre.

The M.C. for the afternoon was Mr Terry Ball, Executive Committee member of the Council, who did an excellent job of keeping the afternoon flowing smoothly.

There were seven faith groups who each addressed the topic of Gratitude with words and music. Each group had a unique and distinct quality while there was an overall feeling of unity of heart.  The Sikh group, led by AIFC Executive Committee member Dr Kanwal Jit Singh, included 2 sisters who played instruments and chanted verses from Sikh scriptures.  The Nabi family followed, with their son chanting verses from the Holy Qu'ran, the mother sharing words about the Muslim faith, and concluding with a song from the 3 children. Several representatives of the Anglican Maori community then offered songs and heartfelt words. The Bahá'í choir, dressed colourfully in Pacific style clothing, sang and gave a thoughtful reading. Members of this community had gone out of their way to prepare the hall and assist in creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Next, monks and members of the Papatoetoe Buddhist Temple spoke and chanted. The Hindu faith was represented by Mr Pravin Patel, teacher Ananya Chaitanya and several members from the Foundation for Self Knowledge, who shared words of wisdom and chanting. The final group was a large choir from the Rowandale Road congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints which performed several songs, and a message was delivered by Andrea Kapitene.

President of the AIFC, Ruth Cleaver, delivered brief remarks about the work of the Inter-Faith Council, followed by an afternoon tea.

The celebrations ranged from events in Parliament organised by the Office of Ethnic Affairs to staff at Heretaunga College putting together an event on their own. The latter involved teachers dressing mostly in Sarees throughout the day which sent a strong message of diversity, tolerance and adaptability to different cultures (see photo below).

Mr Battle is a Christian in the Roman Catholic tradition and founded the NGO, Church Action on Poverty.  He served as a Minister in the Foreign Office and Department of Trade under the Blair administration. Shortly after the 2001 General Elections he was appointed Tony Blair's 'envoy' to the Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, Christian and other faith communities in Britain.  

Date    :           Tuesday, 16 November
Time   :           5.15pm - 6.30pm
Venue :           Archway 2 Lecture Theatre, Union Street East, University of Otago

For further information email Professor Andrew Bradstock   or phone 03 479 8450 / email Rev. Greg Hughson, University Chaplain or phone 03 479 8497.