Helen Keivom, Karlo Mila and Prue Taylor of Paekakariki wanted to do something to express their sympathy and solidarity with the Tongan community both here and in Tonga and decided to bring together a collection of poets from Aotearoa to raise money for the victims of the disaster. Around 150 people attended the Paekakariki fundraiser, in which Apirana Taylor, David Geary, Glenn Colquhoun and Karlo Mila read their poems. Readings were complemented by lively and moving performances from musicians and the the Paekakariki School Kapa Haka group and much audience participation. Children wrote messages in chalk to Tonga, and the local community brought tapa, plants and flowers to the afternoon event held at the St Peters Hall in Paekakariki. Koha donations raised $1200 for the victims of the disaster.

Hon. Luamanuvao Winnie Laban commented on what a remarkable event it was, with both laughter and tears from the audience: "I was so proud that the Paekakariki Community put on this event to honour our Pacific sisters, brothers and children lost at sea." Hola Taue, of the Tongan Advisory Council of Auckland spoke of "the aroha that went from the people gathered in the hall to the mourning families in Tonga.". Watch 'Poets for Princess Ashika' on Youtube. No doubt there will be many further initiatives this month in response to the Pacific earthquake and tsunami.

Muntu was commissioned by the World Council of Churches and first performed in Kenya in 1976. In between directing the cast, Wakanyote's programme includes a talk at Victoria University on 'Drama in Kenyan Politics, and the Politics of Drama' on October 8 and a fundraising 'Harambee' concert at Wellington's Downstage on October 11. The cast will perform Muntu from October 16- 18 in Otaki, Lower Hutt and Wellington. Wakanyote will then travel to Auckland, and finally to Rawene, where he will speak on the arts in Kenya on October 31.

Wakanyote intends to integrate the drama with the themes of indigenous language preservation, 'land, language, theatre' and 'telling our own stories'. With poetry readings and storytelling, public readings and productions of plays from Africa and the African diaspora, the African Connection Aotearoa Trust seeks to give voice to the many refugees and migrants who find it hard to communicate with New Zealanders whose experience of life, and image of Africa, is so different from their own. Trust founders Wanjiku Kiarie and Martyn Sanderson have been active in this endeavour for thirty years. Since its formation in 2007, the Trust has held poetry and play readings, mentored aspiring actors, playwrights and screenwriters and developed contacts with a range of community groups. They have a site on Givealittle where you can make a donation to their work.

Some 180 people from Manawatu's diverse communities were welcomed by Wiremu Te Aweawe of Rangitane and the Ross Intermediate School Kapa Haka Group, and entertained by a variety of other cultural groups. The Mayors of Palmerston North City and Manawatu District expressed their support for the report's recommendations and their commitment to address the issues raised. The report is a cooperative initiative by the Ministry of Social Development's Settling In Programme, local councils, government agencies, the Manawatu Multicultural Council and other community services groups. The project consulted 30 focus groups made up of members of migrant communities and international students to identify their views and experience about access to health and education services and public responses to the increasing diversity of the community.

The report recommends the establishment of a newcomers' network, a volunteer centre and an information resource for new migrants along with an action programme to address broader issues. The report noted that there have already been a series of positive initiatives in the Manawatu including the first "Ethkick" soccer tournament, a "Rainbow Praise" service involving the diverse Christian ethnic communities, the celebration of World Refugee Day, women only swimming nights at the local swimming pool and a research project on diversity at work. The report is available to view on the Commission's website.

This year marks the 240^th anniversary of the meeting between tangata whenua and Captain Cook in Tūranganui ā Kiwa (Gisborne). The festival was first held in 2006, and the annual event looks forward to a major commemoration for the 250^th anniversary in 2019. This year's festival is on Saturday October 10, beginning at 8.30am at Kaiti Beach with a mihi whakatau, followed by a march to the flag staff. The morning programme will include the telling of stories and musical performances and close with a final blessing before brunch. In the afternoon a historical tour on MV Takitimu will be open to the public and the HMNZS Manawanui will also be open to visitors. There is an evening event with various guest speakers on the theme of voyages.

Te Ūnga Mai Trust promotes the recognition of the stories, including navigational traditions, of all cultures in the region. The Trust works to promote place-based heritage education in schools and in the wider community. Te Ūnga Mai Festival has become a major event on the race relations calendar in Gisborne.

The portraits are complemented by Film Archive clips about the immigrant experience in New Zealand from the Archive's secondary schools On Disk programmes Representations of Pasifika and Immigrants. Amituanai happened upon this footage while killing time in the capital. She recognised her own Samoan family's migrant aspirations in those of migrants and refugees from elsewhere. "I watched the immigration DVD in particular, and it occurred to me that many things that I had been looking at in my own cultural milieu could be found in other immigrant cultures. The adjustment to a new environment's climate, language, new systems and finding new communities is one major effort. Another is not being always being fully accepted by the new homeland. Also the experience of feeling like being in two places simultaneously, one in the new adopted country and the other placed in the ancestral homeland."

In November 2008 Amituanai began working as a volunteer for Refugee Services in Auckland, and was part of a team involved with the resettlement of the Lai family who migrated from Burma to their new home in West Auckland. It was five months before she and the family felt comfortable about taking her camera out, taking photographs of their adjustment to life in New Zealand. Amituanai says the experience of the migrant Lai family in La fine del mondo has been mostly positive. "From my conversations with the teenage Nunu (who is pictured in the exhibition in her school uniform) she thinks New Zealand is a relatively good place with lots of good people. But of course it is still very difficult to settle in a new country."

The small but thought provoking exhibition continues until Saturday 11 October. Film Archive Education Programme Manager Alex Burton says, "The Immigrants programme has been one of our most successful and has been seen by over 2000 school children around the country. We're delighted Edith has made this exhibition which integrates the moving image alongside her outstanding portraits." Find out more about the exhibition online.

Produced by Maia Media Ltd, it follows Erica's journey as she interviews her pakeke (elders) on the East Coast about te reo Māori in preparation for her school's annual speech competition. Their stories are a bitter-sweet account of an era when Māori children were punished for speaking their native language and, despite the odds, how te reo continues to flourish today. The DVD was launched at Tairawhiti Polytechnic's Toihoukura to an appreciative local audience, and is available on Youtube or through the Gisborne Herald's website. Erica told the Gisborne Herald this week that the stories from the old people "weren't very pretty" because of the struggle older generation Maori went through to retain the language. "Because Tini Glover is my great uncle, it was very moving to hear his story and see him cry," she said. "I hope it gets all around New Zealand because I don't even think people know how hard it was for them." This year's Māori Language Awards will be announced at He Huia Kaimanawa, the Māori Language Expo at the Te Rauparaha Arena and Events Centre in Porirua on October 15-16.

Mayor Michael Laws told the 11 and 12 year olds that their teacher should be sacked and they should control their anger. "When your class starts addressing the real issues affecting Maoridom particularly the appalling rate of child abuse and child murder within Maori society, then I will take the rest of your views seriously." Despite the inappropriate and offensive reply from the Mayor, the children stood their ground and responded on television with dignity and respect. We say good on you kids, ka pai and keep on writing letters if your feel strongly about something. At least the New Zealand Geographic Board has now agreed with you, even if the Mayor didn't.

Building on the services the Trust already delivers, the centre will bring together new and existing services and extend the access of diverse Russian and Slavonic speaking community in Christchurch to support and resources, and will be located at the Christchurch Community House (141 Hereford St, 5^th floor). It will link and work with Community Law, Citizens Advice Bureau, as well as the Christchurch City Council and libraries, Work and Income and employment agencies. It will also provide settlement support, access to resources in Russian and other Slavonic languages, ESOL programmes, information on using Language Line and accessing interpreters, and organise seminars and presentations by outside agencies. Established in 2000, the Russian Cultural Centre Trust of Christchurch has promoted education about and preservation of Russian language and culture amongst Russian community in Christchurch. The trust currently operates a pre-school and a Russian school. It also offers English classes for adult learners, a Health and Aging project and a Youth Theatre project. The launch will be held at 5.30pm on October 7 at the Christchurch Music Centre (140 Barbadoes Street). Contact the Russian Cultural Centre Trust of Christchurch to RSVP (ph. 03 940 9482).

The tea ceremony that was to have been held in the teahouse throughout the day by the Nelson Japan Society was instead held under a cherry blossom tea in the gardens, and over 2,000 people attended. The festival was hosted by the Nelson Miyazu Sister City Association to mark 33 years of sister city friendship with Japan. This was Nelson's 13^th celebration of the coming of spring. The festival also included Japanese entertainment and food. The Rai Jin Taiko Drumming Group, formed to perform traditional drumming at last year's festival, was noted as a highlight of the day. The brief of the Nelson Miyazu Sister City Association is to promote global cooperation at the local level and cultural understanding, stimulate economic development and foster a network of individuals and organisations to create and strengthen partnerships between communities. The Nelson-Miyazu sister city link has been praised as one of the most active and successful in New Zealand. Both the Nelson Miyazu gardens and the teahouse are initiatives of the organisation. Japanese Festivals were also held in September in Palmerston North, Wellington and Auckland.

The workshops will culminate in a free community concert at the Otara Music and Arts Centre on October 2. This year Young Sid, lead rapper from Smashproof, and DJCXL have worked with musicians from the APO to run the workshops. The initiative was spearheaded by Matthew Faiumu Salapu- Anonymouz and Lee Martelli, the Education Manager of the Auckland Philharmoia Orchestra. Anonymouz describes how the collaboration produced great results last year and how he is excited about the upcoming workshops: "It's great when you have the likes of Young Sid and DJCXL involved, because of who they are they can share so much, and not just musically. Most importantly, we're giving a positive message to these kids who need that kind of influence in their lives.".

The project is presented by the Mazda Foundation and supported by the Manukau City Council, Four Winds Foundation and David Levene Foundation. The APO Remix Vol.2 Finale Concert will start at 4pm on October 2 at the Otara Music and Arts Centre in Manukau City- entry is free but RSVP to the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

They were welcomed by kaumatua Wiremu Kora, who said mid-Canterbury was "like a big cultural melting pot", and by District Mayor Bede O'Malley. The purpose of the meeting was to present ideas on how to support and assist newcomers and to get feedback from the wider community. The report made 17 major recommendations for action on the basis of focus group discussions that were held from late 2007 and May 2009. There were groups for ESOL learners, Romanian learning centre clients, Pacific secondary school students, Filipino farm workers, Samoan women, Chinese temporary residents and a number of other mixed and specific groups. The report also contains valuable feedback from social service providers and employers, including a farming sector focus group which raised important issues facing migrant workers and their families in the rural sector.

The report provides a valuable basis for future action by government departments, employers, local government agencies, other service providers and community groups. Going by the mood of the meeting and the organisations represented, there is a strong commitment to improve the situation for newcomers and migrants in mid-Canterbury. If you would like a copy of the report please email Raewyn Barclay of Ashburton Safer Community Council.

The organisation has just released its Annual Report for 2008-09, which is a model of good practice for a community organisation. It demonstrates a strong commitment to accountability, is very accessible and includes a strong voice of stakeholders. The report notes that CRS service delivery falls within five key areas: bilingual community work, social work, youth work, health promotion, and 'living well in Christchurch' alongside a children's service.

This year has seen the commencement of a youth service delivery to young people from migrant backgrounds (parallel to the current service to those from refugee backgrounds) and participation in the delivery of the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) training package to mental health clinicians. Bi-lingual and family support workers fill a crucial role in the organisation's work A key aim for CRS in 2009/10 is "An ongoing commitment to professional, culturally responsive practice informed by best practice principles...". Over the 2008/09 year, CRS provided ongoing specialist social work services to 523 people of 51 ethnicities. If you would like an electronic copy of the report please email CRS.