Christchurch, or Otautahi, is a thriving multicultural city at the centre of the South Island.

The City Council is committed to fostering both cultural diversity and positive relationships between its diverse communities. The Council recognises the special role of Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu as the representative of the tangata whenua of the city and the majority of the South Island, and seeks to maintain positive relationships with the Runanga, as well as with Maori who have come to Christchurch from other parts of New Zealand, Pacific peoples and all other ethnic communities.

The Council supports the New Zealand Diversity Action Programme through a wide range of projects and programmes across the full range of council functions and services. This includes the contributions of the Christchurch City Libraries, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu, and the Council’s teams of community advisers. Community advisers manage relationships, provide advice, and support community development, community recreation and sport development, and community engagement through information, networking, providing facilities, administrative support and financial grants.

Visit the Christchurch City Council website.

Projects 2011

Cultural Diversity and Community Outcomes

The Council has identified a wide range of projects and programmes that contribute to cultural diversity, aligned to the eight community goals in the Council’s long term community plan (2006-2012). The goals cover the environment, lifelong learning, prosperity, good governance, inclusion and diversity, community health, safety, recreation and urban design. The full list of projects and programmes for 2011 will be published on the Council’s website.

They include:

  • translations of Council information and a guide for new migrants, consultation and engagement processes with Maori, Pacific and ethnic minority communities
  • administrative and financial grant support for community groups
  • programmes, arts and cultural events reflecting and celebrating the city’s cultural diversity, and building the capability of Council staff to serve the city’s diverse communities.

Race Relations Day and Diversity Season

The Council supports a wide range of activities for Race Relations Day on 21 March, both in the community and for the Council’s own staff. Race Relations Day is promoted as the culmination of a diversity season starting with Waitangi Day and the Chinese New Year and encompassing many other events through February and March. In 2011, these will include the Culture Galore Festival, the Chinese Lantern Festival, and a programme of activities for Council staff.

Visit the Council’s special Race Relations Day web page for further information.

Christchurch City Libraries: Matariki and Maori Language Week

An annual programme of events and learning activities is held throughout the Christchurch City Library network to support Matariki (Maori New Year) and Te Wiki o te Reo Maori (Maori Language Week). Christchurch City Libraries, Nga Kete Wananga o Otautahi provides a range of resources and services to Tangata Whenua and migrant groups. A Maori Services Coordinator works alongside the Kaitakawaenga (community liaison) and an Information Librarian, Maori to provide support, research assistance and collection management of items of cultural, historical, social and linguistic significance for the indigenous people of Aotearoa. Te Ara Tika, the Libraries Bicultural Plan outlines how the Library supports the information and cultural needs and aspirations of Tangata Whenua. An ethnic advocate works to provide a range of initiatives for migrant groups, and part of that role is to purchase mother tongue collections for the Libraries.

Safer Students Campaign

This project is working in collaboration with the University of Canterbury, Lincoln University, CPIT, TRoNT, NZ Police and the Human Rights Commission on a campaign to welcome migrants and international students to Christchurch. The project also works towards ensuring that migrants and international students know their rights in terms of racial safety and harassment as well as supporting the report-it website, an accessible reporting method for such incidents.

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