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.
The reigning champions Irish Rovers, who won the trophy in 2015 as well, defeated Poland in the final of the Christchurch Global Football Tournament (CGFT) held at the Christchurch Football Academy on February 27.
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.
A Civic Memorial Service was held on the Archery Lawn of Christchurch's Botanic Gardens at midday on February 22, to mark the fifth anniversary of the 2011 earthquake of 6.3 magnitude, which claimed 185 lives and was considered to be the country's worst natural disaster in more than 80 years.
Americans are talking about it, some in UK are also sitting up and taking notice; it's time New Zealand also tackles Rugby safety issues head-on.
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.
It's a telephone interpreting service by the Office of Ethnic Communities. The service is provided for 44 languages and hours of operation on weekdays is between 9am to 6pm. On Saturday, the service ends at 2pm. To get an interpreter, visit or telephone a participating agency. Ask for Language Line and the language you want. An interpreter will help you within two minutes.
Not many migrants know this but Essential Skills work visas are subject to a labour market test (or Labour Market Check/ LMC) to ensure that employers have made genuine attempts to hire New Zealanders and that suitable New Zealanders are not available to take up the vacancy offered to a migrant.
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.
An Asia New Zealand Foundation survey finds New Zealand still has a long way to go in its understanding of Asia, despite high recognition of the region’s economic and cultural importance. Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) said they knew little or nothing about Asia. This was despite the fact the vast majority of people (82 percent) felt it was important for New Zealand to develop economic and cultural ties with the region, and despite Asia being seen as the second most important region to New Zealand (behind Australia).
The Global Slavery Index 2016 done by The Walk Free Foundation has this to say for the entire Asia-Pacific region. "All countries within the Asia-Pacific exhibit some pre-conditions to modern slavery."
Calls for a National Language Policy incorporating a community languages framework
