In conversation with Sophie-Claire Violette, Coordinator of Mid Canterbury Newcomers Network, Ashburton

"Over the years and through the dedicated leadership of several coordinators and the work of passionate volunteers, the Mid Canterbury Newcomers Network has grown into a dynamic, community-led and community-driven organization and developed a 300+ person strong network of friends, community contacts, cultural ambassadors and grass-roots community leaders and initiatives that contribute at different levels of community building and organising. We support newcomers who have come from all over New Zealand and the rest of the world who have chosen to settle into Mid Canterbury. We are a starting point of sorts for them."

'We can utterly refute this allegation'

In response to our last issue's story about a four-month-old girl being removed by Child, Youth and Family from the custody of her Indian parents, where they had alleged that their daughter is not receiving proper care; The Migrant Times has received the following reply from the mother of the foster parents who took the child under their care. Meanwhile, the child was returned to her Indian parents by Child, Youth and Family on March 9.  

Community radio: Samadhi - Voice of Sri Lanka

New Children of who attend the Sri Lankan Language and Cultural School in Christchurch play a large part in the production of Plains FM96.9’s radio programme about their cultural heritage, Samadhi – Voice of Sri Lanka. Under the guidance of the co-ordinator of the school, Dr Kalyani Wijayawardana, the children help to host the half-hour show, which is broadcast at 1.30pm every third Saturday of the month, and repeated at 3.30pm on the second Sunday.

'Living Planet': Three-day forum to look for sustainable solutions

"The Living Economies Expo is an event recognising the interconnection of all major global issues around the driving force of our dysfunctional debt-based money system. The event will showcase examples of people doing things differently, creating healthy solutions, demonstrating what is possible, what gives hope and direction to our communities and country. Through the momentum of this event we hope to seed systemic change," says Margaret Jefferies, member of the Living Economies Trust Board, the main organiser of the event. Jefferies is also the chairperson of Project Lyttelton.

Contributing: Calling on ethnic communities to join community patrols - NZ Police

“We want to recruit new migrants onto patrols which we hope will help them fit into the local community and enable them to meet new people. The training for this is three months long, during which the volunteers learn about health and safety, observation and patrolling skills. The main purpose of the patrol is to deter, delay, deny and detect any crime from happening. On average, volunteers contribute about 10 hours every month – two 5 hour shifts - doing community patrols,” informed Helen Todd, who is NZ Police's Community Patrol Coordinator for the Canterbury region.

Filipino food experience at Learn from What You Eat programme

The culture and cuisines of Filipino food were explained late last month at a project "Learn from What You Eat" gathering at Hagley Community College. As for previous culture and food session, the funding from The Tindall Foundation has enabled the migrants and newcomers families as well as the local residents to understand the NZ's diverse culture and people from different background through the traditional ethnic dish.

Korea is in turbulence

Democratic practice has been largely withdrawn by untested leaders in Korea. However, the impeachment will benefit the expat Koreans as well as people in the Korean peninsula much greater in the future than ever. Through the 1945 liberation, the 1950 Korean War, and the 1961 military coup d'état, Korea has never been able to take away the vested interests of the pro-Japanese regime. Korea’s democracy seemed to be developed off and on owing to the ruling of the opposition democratic forces, but again this impeached Park and the ruling party’s allegiance sparked the public’s desire to reset the Republic of Korea in all aspects including democracy, culture, economy and education.

Exploitation: Auckland car-wash pays $35,151 to migrant employees

A car washing business, called Car-Fe Limited, in Auckland has paid $35,151 in arrears to 97 employees following a Labour Inspectorate investigation which found multiple breaches of employment law. The company's sole director, according to the Companies Office, is former All Blacks star Matthew Ridge. The investigation revealed that Car-Fe Limited underpaid holiday pay, failed to keep proper wage, time and holiday records, or provide employment agreements

Dutch here raise concerns on Dutch elections there

From "I did not know that there was an election", to friends that followed every step. It seems to depend partly on how often people have had a chance to go back to the Netherlands. The more they have been back, the more they still feel connected with the politics. Of those who have followed it, there seems to be a huge feeling of astonishment that even in the country that we left as a country that is very liberal and very pro freedom of speech, culture, religion etc, it is possible to give a man as Geert Wilders such a following.

Local governance: Do you want to get involved in local governance and have a say in what happens in your community?

As a new CityCouncillor elected in October 2016, Ihave become aware that many people are unaware ofhow to get involved and have influence onthe decisions made in the community. At a recent International Women's Day event which highlighted the fantastic work thatthe SHAKTI refuge does to support migrant and refugee women who are victims of domestic violence, I shared the following information so people wouldunderstand the processes.

Grateful: Thank you for the rebuild: Streets, Durham St Methodist community Ministry, to migrant construction workers

To acknowledge the monumental effort migrant construction workers have put in to rebuild the Garden City after the 2011 Earthquake, several community organisations have come together to say “thank you” to them on March 26. The initiative is the brainchild of Rob Ferguson, Chaplain in the city, Durham St Methodist Church, who leads its community ministry called Streets.

Women: African women celebrate International Women’s Day in Christchurch

African women from the tip of Africa to the Bottom (in short Cape to Cairo) with their friends, celebrated International Women’s Day at Hornby Work Man’s Club on March 11, 2017.  About 50 Women of different cultures came together for dinner celebrating our oneness as women, and deliberate on how - as women all humanity comes through us - including how we influence behaviour and the character of our children. “Women are the realArchitects of Society” (Cher)

Appreciation: Selwyn's inaugural CultureFest team recognised

At a function held recently at the Selwyn District Council (SDC) headquarters in Rolleston, the members of the organising committee of the inaugural Selwyn multicultural festival, called CultureFest, which was held in October last year, were appreciated for their contributions to its success. SDC CEO David Ward and Chairman, Rolleston's 150th Anniversary Celebration Committee, Councillor Jeff Bland, presented the team members with the certificates of appreciation and copies of the special booklet prepared to commemorate the Rolleston's milestone. The team members included Dave Tippett (SDC), Surinder Tandon (Rotary Club of Lincoln and Christchurch Multicultural Council - CMC), Archna Tandon (CMC), Kevin Park (Canterbury Migrants Centre), Rachael Inch (SDC), and Joyce Davey (Rolleston Newcomers Network).

Celebrations: University of Canterbury's Iranian Society celebrates Nowruz

The University of Canterbury Iranian Society celebrated Nowruz - Persian New Year, on March 18, with the evening including poetry recitation, traditional Persian folk dance and music, and Iranian delicacies. Celebrated beyond Iranian borders, the Persian New Year, whose actual date is March 21, this year, is observed on Northern hemisphere's spring equinox. This is year number 1396 as per the Persian calendar.

Remembrance: Memorial service for Japan's 2011 tragedy at Chch's World Peace Bell

On March 11, Christchurch observed a memorial service at the Botanic Gardens World Peace Bell to commemorate the Tohoku area earthquake and tsunami, which hit the regions six years ago on March 11, 2011. Notably, Christchurch sister city in Japan - Kurashiki, also observes a memorial service for the February 22 Christchurch earthquake. Speakers at the event included Cuty's Mayor Lianne Dalziel, Japanese Society President Kazzy Matsuzaki and David Bolam-Smith, member of the New Zealand chapter of World Peace Bell Association. Everyone present rang the World Peace Bell to offer their prayers for world peace.

Honour: Wall of Remembrance for Police dogs unveiled

Police on March 15 unveiled a new Wall of Remembrance at the New Zealand Police Dog Training Centre commemorating the 24 police dogs who have been killed on duty since 1972. The 6m long x 2m high rock and panelled wall was unveiled by Deputy Commissioner: District Operations Viv Rickard and Minister of Statistics and Associate Justice Minister the Hon Mark Mitchell who is a former dog handler.

Treaty rights: Whanganui River, Te Awa Tupua, now a legal person

The Parliament on March 15, passed Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Bill through its third reading, which will establish a new legal framework for the Whanganui River, Te Awa Tupua. It recognises the river as an indivisible and living whole from the mountains to the sea. Te Awa Tupua will have its own legal identity with all the corresponding rights, duties and liabilities of a legal person.