Dear readers, we are happy to inform that we have finished analysing the feedback on our last year’s pilot launch of Multicultural Times (MT), New Zealand’s first nation-wide multicultural newspaper. As was the case with our Christchurch-based multicultural newspaper, The Migrant Times (TMT), MT too received innumerable accolades, appreciation and love from all of you. We are also very grateful to various communities, leaders, decision-makers and organisations from across the country who have shown immense faith in the idea of MT, and TMT before that. Based on the feedback, and after a lot of introspection, we have taken two strategic decisions to ensure that we continue to lead New Zealand’s journalism landscape towards diversity and innovation, while staying true to the basic tenets of the fourth estate. 1) The future of journalism is digital. We will continue publishing MT on our various digital media platforms and will cease publication of our print version. The reach, engagement and scope of innovation in the digital space is far superior to print. The financial viability is also superior in digital, due to the trade-off between the cost of production and results achieved. A better reach, engagement, innovation and viability, will ultimately lead to better-quality journalism for our society. 2) The future of journalism is data and artificial intelligence (AI). We are exploring how to use open data and natural language generation techniques to generate quality content and narrative stories, pertaining to local issues relevant to people’s everyday lives. We are immensely excited.

Stay tuned.

Festa della Repubblica Italiana - Italian National Day celebrated in Christchurch

Festa della Repubblica Italiana - Italian National Day celebrated in Christchurch

Migrants Centre
Ethnic communities
Francesco D'Orazio and Giampaolo Nuti in Christchurch on June 8, at the occasion of Italian National Day celebrations;Picture courtesy - Viviana Zanetti

Francesco D'Orazio and Giampaolo Nuti in Christchurch on June 8, at the occasion of Italian National Day celebrations;

Picture courtesy - Viviana Zanetti

The Dante Alighieri Society of Christchurch in collaboration with the Italian Embassy organised the Italian National Day in Christchurch on June 8.

The guests were entertained to a violin and piano concert by two international artists, violinist Francesco D’Orazio and pianist Giampaolo Nuti, who presented compositions by Marco Betta, Igor Stravinsky, Nino Rota and Ferruccio Busoni.

Maria Fresia, a member of the Society who has lived in New Zealand for 25 years and is the Christchurch Coordinator for Interpreting NZ, informed, "Both of them are celebrating 30 years of musical cooperation and have been known to present contemporary music in an engaging way. After the concert, the gathering was treated to Italian wine and delicacies, with the Italian Ambassador to New Zealand Carmelo Barbarello in attendance."

How NZ can Benefit from Increasing Diversity

How NZ can Benefit from Increasing Diversity

OWDSocks launched

OWDSocks launched