Kia ora. Anei te mihi o te Kaihautu Whakawhanaunga a Iwi, mo nga mahi nui, mahi whakamana i te tangata i roto i nga kaupapa Whakawhanaunga a Iwi i Aotearoa.
Here are this month's acknowledgements from the Race Relations Commissioner for positive contributions to cultural diversity and race relations in New Zealand.
For the inaugural Cook Islands Maori Language Programme, 2012. Members of the Porirua Cook Islands Community, together with the Cook Islands High Commissioner, Race Relations Commissioner and representatives of Porirua College, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs gathered at Te Akapuanga Hall in Cannons Creek on 25 January to celebrate their new Cook Islands Language Programme.
Speaking at the launch, the Cook Islands High Commissioner emphasised the link between language and identity: "Maintaining the language means encompassing of all other characteristics or traits of our identity..you must show some degree of pride in being a Cook Islander. If we have this feeling and attitude we will achieve the aims and goals of this language project."
The Programme, which is due to commence at Porirua College this year, is initially targeted at parents of children learning the language at Toru Fetu kindergarten, Porirua College and other schools in the area so that they can support their children, but is also open to other adults. Over 100 people have registered with the Programme, and a number of them spoke movingly at the celebration about why they had decided to learn their traditional language. The initiative for the Programme came from the Porirua Cook Islands Association, who set up a language committee (Komiti Reo) last year and met with the Director General of Education and the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs to discuss their concerns and plans. They also made an approach to Porirua College to use one of their buildings for a “community college” where language classes could be held. The group is overwhelmed with the level of interest in the course and will shortly publish a language resource that can be used by parents and children together to learn the language. They are promoting the family as the place where the language needs to be learnt and used, supported by schools, the community college, churches and the Cook Islands radio programme Radio Ivanui. The Association is also planning to hold a Cook Islands Maori Language Week in September, and have started a Facebook page to publicise the event.
For the Chinese New Year Concert, February 2012. Once again this year, the NZSO is heralding the Chinese New Year with two concerts (Wellington 1 February and Auckland 3 February). The Orchestra’s acknowledgment of the Chinese New Year has generated positive feedback from the Chinese community.
Hong Kong born director Perry So has returned to lead the orchestra. This year's concert features the Yellow River Cantata composed by Xian Xinghai in 1939 and recomposed as a piano concerto during the Cultural Revolution, which has become one of China’s most beloved compositions. This immense musical landscape, bursting with joyous folk melodies and the vitality and might of China’s great Yellow River, is brought to life by the virtuosity of soloist John Chen, one of New Zealand’s most exciting talents
As part of a cross-cultural mélange, the concert also includes Ross Harris’ The Floating Bride, The Crimson Village, inspired by the visions of Marc Chagall and the poetry of Vincent O’Sullivan, and Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony. As the publicity says: The Chinese New Year is a festival that celebrates the arrival of spring, and no symphony better captures the wonder of nature and her changeable moods than the Pastoral Symphony. With music that is blissful, lazy, thunderous and heartfelt, it is a triumphant work to welcome in the Year of the Dragon.
For International Mother Languages and Race Relations Days poster, 2012. English Language Partners and the Community Languages Association of New Zealand (CLANZ) have again collaborated to produce a poster promoting International Mother Languages Day (21 February) and Race Relations Day (21 March).
The poster features the statement “Aotearoa, we all belong” in 30 different languages spoken in New Zealand, along with a space to add the words in your own language if it is not already included. The poster complements the Human Rights Commission's Race Relations Day poster, which also features the word "Aotearoa" with the tag line "A fair go for all: Rite tahi tatou katoa".
Says Nicola Sutton, Chief Executive of English Language Partners: “There are so many ethnicities in our country today; together we all make up the unique place that is our New Zealand. The map’s different written forms represent us as a nation in a creative and colourful way.”
Sunita Narayan, President of CLANZ says: “It’s exciting to think our country has grown so much in its diversity over recent years. We all have a place here. Today’s Kiwis speak a myriad of languages and enjoy and share the variety of cultural celebrations and international cuisine.”
The poster is available from Grace Bassett or Sunita Narayan (with a small cost to cover postage and packaging.) The Human Rights Commission poster can be ordered through their Infoline service.
For the launch of new Tokelau language resources, December 2011. The Wellington Tokelau community came together in Wellington on Human Rights Day, 10 December 2011, to celebrate the production and launch of new language resources produced by the community – four booklets for children and a collection of Tokelauan proverbs. The publications drew on the skills of a local Tokelauan illustrator and designer, with support from the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs.
There are around 7000 Tokelauans in New Zealand, and about 1200 in Tokelau. According to the 2006 census, only 40 per cent could speak Tokelauan at that time, and less than 25 per cent of those born in New Zealand could do so.
Tokelau, Niue and the Cook Islands remain a part of the “New Zealand realm” and their people enjoy New Zealand citizenship. All have a majority of their population living in New Zealand, and language retention in New Zealand is vital to the survival of their languages. The Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs worked with the three communities on a Mind Your Language project from 2005-2009 to produce some initial language resources and a website for each language. The Tokelau website was launched in 2008.
The Tokelau Wellington Leadership Group has continued to work with Government and others on initiatives to promote their language. The first ever translation of the New Testament was completed in 2009 and is being followed by the translation of the Old Testament. The Ministry of Education published Tokelau Language Guidelines in 2009, and Muakiga! An Introduction to Gagana Tokelau in 2011. The group has developed a Community Action Plan for the Tokelau language consistent with the draft Pacific Languages Framework being developed by the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs.
Plans for 2012 include an inaugural Tokelau Language Week to promote the language to both the Tokelau and wider New Zealand communities.
For Waitangi Day programme, 2012. The New Plymouth District Council’s Waitangi Day programme this year is focused on Puke Ariki museum and library. Celebrations kicked off with three Community Kōrero workshops at the museum on 2-3 February on the Treaty, identity and settlement. On Sunday Radio New Zealand’s Kim Hill will host a one hour panel discussion at Puke Ariki on “What does it mean to be us?”, excerpts from which will be broadcast on National Radio on Waitangi Day.
On Waitangi Day itself, National Radio will broadcast live from Puke Ariki, in association with the Sounds Like Us radio exhibition. Kim Hill and Paul Diamond will interview invited guests from 8.00 am till noon, with members of the public able to attend.
From 11.00 to 1.00 pm there will be a family picnic featuring a 60 metre table cloth made especially for Waitangi Day and printed with 50 commonly used Maori words. The one metre wide cloth will be laid the length of the Landing outside the museum for people to place their kai on during the shared BYO lunch. While enjoying the picnic, people will be asked to write down answers to the question: “What is something your family can do to honour the Treaty of Waitangi”.
This month we acknowledge three women who have all embarked on projects aiming to bring people together and increase intercultural understanding. Their projects will all come to fruition in the next two months.
The first is Wellington woman Hannah Mackintosh, who has established a project called Allcorners which launches a photographic exhibition, Life Stills, as part of the Wellington Fringe Festival at the Left Bank Arcade from 24 February to 3 March. Twelve photographers and twelve people in Wellington have shared a journey to discover the stories behind daily tasks. Some knew each other already, most had never met. Together they tell a story; one through the lens of a camera, and the other through opening their doors to share a snippet of what makes up who they are.
The second is Auckland Girls Grammar School Head of Physics, Alka Rhode, who has started a Facebook page to gather support for a flashmob in Auckland for Race Relations Day.
The third is Wellington’s Belinda Bonzon-Liu, who is one of a group of women organising WWW4Peace, a Wellington Women’s Walk for Peace, for International Women’s Day on March 8. The walk is being organised “to raise awareness of our interconnectedness and interdependence in our hope and work towards the attainment of peace”, inviting all women from all walks of life, from different religions or diverse beliefs, from different ethnicities and cultures to join the Walk. Walk to support the protest against violence on women and children. Walk to support protest against wars. Walk to support empowerment of women.
May all their projects flourish.
For the Multi Cultural Bite Festival 2012. Now on its third year, Ashburton’s Multi Cultural Bites Festival attracts thousands of people on Waitangi weekend. Organised by the Mid Canterbury Newcomers Network Inc. as a celebration of Waitangi Day, the festival concept is to invite people from different cultures from within the community to prepare and share bite-sized portions of foods which are representative of their culture.
It also showcases cultural performances throughout the day, with music, dance and educational activities for the children. Last year, 5000 people attended, and larger numbers are expected this year. The festival is supported by the Ashburton District Council, the Ashburton Trust, Trustpower, the Ministry of Culture and Heritage Treaty of Waitangi Commemoration Fund, The Lion Foundation, Ashburton District Creative Communities, Aoraki Polytechnic, Advance Ashburton Community, Safer Ashburton District, MCNN Inc. The event takes place on Saturday 4 February from 11.00 am – 3.00 pm in Baring Square East.
For coordinating settlement support services in Hamilton 2005-2012. The Settlement Support New Zealand network was launched by the Department of Labour in 2005 as a new project to bring a clear point of contact and consistent information for migrants and employers. In Hamilton, the service was delivered through the Waikato Migrant Resource Centre.
Lucia Reijgersberg took on the role of Settlement Support Coordinator which she has carried out for nearly seven years. During that time she has brought agencies together and enabled new migrants to the Hamilton area to access the information they need to settle successfully there. In the words of the Waikato Migrant Resource Centre: "Lucia's work has made a huge difference to the lives of many migrants seeking help and security in their new country. She has embraced her role with enthusiasm, efficiency and heartfelt sincerity. Lucia has worked tirelessly to build up strong relationships across the settlement sector and leaves the service in a very good place, looking towards a bright future."
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