All in Ethnic communities
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.
A new campaign called “OWDSocks”, seeking to raise awareness and eliminate all forms of discrimination in New Zealand - including but not limited to culture, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and disability - was launched on June 25, 2016, at the Multicultural New Zealand’s annual general meeting in Auckland.
The message came out on the second International Day of Yoga celebrations in Christchurch
A multidimensional public art exhibition in the small rural town of Ashburton has detailed experiences of 22 [one anonymous] migrants of “integrating into a new community and creating a sense of belonging while negotiating their own identities in different communities”
After Labour's ill-conceived Chinese surname saga, Finance Minister Bill English gave a hint about potential backlash (though, not in so much words) from the Chinese Government after returning from that country recently. But if Singapore example is anything to go by, protecting one's national interests (read - selling milk to China) without upsetting the Chinese Government (read - enforcing a stamp duty on foreigners buying property in Auckland) is certainly feasible.
Co-organised by the Buddha's Light International Association (BLIA) South Island NZ and Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple (FGSBT) South Island, the residents of Christchurch were introduced to the ideals of Humanistic Buddhism at the Buddha's Birthday Festival Future & Hope Prayer Ceremony at FGSBT on May 14.
With thousands thronging the Riccarton Park Racecourse on March 6, the annual Canterbury Japan Day proved to be a hit with all age-groups. While kids had fun with Kantan – the official mascot and a very cute rabbit as well as with Origami – the traditional Japanese paper craft, the elders enjoyed trying their hands on the Japanese instrument Koto. Kite-making workshop by Mr. Modegi and Japanese calligraphy lessons were also widely hailed.
Organised by the Christchurch City Council as part of its Summer Times programme, and ably supported by Plains FM - Canterbury’s only community access radio station, and Fendalton-Waimairi and Riccarton-Wigram Community Boards, the 2016 Culture Galore [an annual free outdoor multicultural festival] held on March 12 at the Ray Blank Park in Ilam, was a feast for all the senses.
Even though limited availability of venue dictated preceding the celebrations by almost 20 days [Holi falls on March 23 this year], over 2000 people - Indians and non-Indians alike – ensured that the Garden City was second to none in colouring itself in the Holi [the Indian festival of colours] spirits on March 5 at The Commons in Christchurch's CBD.
Going by the City Council's initial estimates, a record number – somewhere in the tune of 40,000 – people attended Christchurch's 10th lantern festival held over the last weekend of February in the North Hagley Park, making it a roaring success.
As All Blacks selectors Steve Hansen, Ian Foster and Grant Fox name a mixture of experience and new talent for the three Steinlager Series Tests against Wales, time is right to look at the past contributions of Pacific Islanders who have enriched the all-conquering All Blacks legendary history.
The 300-member Canterbury Nepalese Society (CNS), which was established in 2015, celebrated the Hindu New Year 2073 at the Aurora Centre in Christchurch on April 13.
In March this year, the neighbouring Fiji was devastated by a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone, which came to be called as Cyclone Winston. But as it happens in every calamity, the city-based Fijians led by the Christchurch Fiji Association (Cfcessa) have been mobilising support from the wider community to help the victims back home.
Celebrated in memory of the first successful ascent of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953, by New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Tenzing Norgay, the 9th International Everest Day [started in 2008] was observed at the Lincoln Events Centre
A Multicultural Working Party was established in mid-2015, which has come up with a public consultation paper. After inputs from public and other stakeholders, the Christchurch City Council will adopt and implement a final strategy in September.
