A message from the Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities Priyanca Radhakrishnan.
On 1 July Aotearoa New Zealand will have a new Ministry for Ethnic Communities.
This is the first time our ethnic communities will have had this level of representation in government. It is a significant step and we want ethnic communities to have a say in where the new Ministry puts its effort.
To give people an opportunity to contribute one of the things we are doing is holding a series of drop-in sessions in different parts of the country. Dates and times are below.
We've also created an online option as we know not everyone will be able to make one of the sessions. You can provide your feedback here. The deadline for providing your feedback through the online survey is Friday, 14 May.
The drop-in sessions are 'open-house'. You can turn up at any point during a session and spend as little or as much time as you would like.
At these sessions we will be discussing some key questions:
- Aspiration and vision
If the new Ministry is successful, what will life for New Zealanders from our ethnic communities be like in 20 years?
- Priorities
Which issues should the new Ministry focus on over the next few years to make the biggest difference for the future?
We are not starting from a blank page. We have heard clear messages from ethnic communities about their top priorities, including:
- education
- health
- employment
- leadership
- safety and security
- celebrating cultural diversity
- accessing government services
- concerns over racism and discrimination
- and other important issues.
The insights we have already gathered are part of this process.
But we know we cannot do everything at once, and these coming sessions will help us determine what the new Ministry should focus on first.
The times and dates for these sessions are below. A small number of venues are being finalised and we will update this page as details are confirmed.
We look forward to seeing you.
Schedule of Drop-in sessions
|
Location |
Date |
Time |
Venue |
|
Christchurch |
Saturday 17 April |
10am – 4pm |
Rydges Hotel |
|
Invercargill |
Wednesday 21 April |
2pm - 5.30pm |
Scottish Hall |
|
Dunedin |
Thursday 22 April |
2pm - 8pm |
Community House, 301 Moray Place, Pam Warren Room, Level 1 |
|
Wellington |
Saturday 1 May |
11am - 8pm |
Sky Stadium, 105 Waterloo Quay |
|
Hawke’s Bay |
Sunday 2 May |
1pm – 8pm |
Napier War Memorial Conference Centre, 48 Marine Parade Napier |
|
Auckland |
Sunday 2 May |
2pm – 8pm |
Hobson Room, Level 3 |
|
Auckland |
Monday 3 May |
10.30am – 1.30pm |
Hobson Room, Level 3 |
|
Nelson |
Thursday 6 May |
3pm – 8pm |
Beachside Conference and Events Centre, Tahaunanui |
|
Hamilton |
Saturday 8 May |
2pm – 8pm |
The Long Room, Wintec House, Wintec, Tristram Street |
|
Palmerston |
Saturday 8 May |
2pm - 8pm |
Palmerston North Conference and Function Centre, 354 Main Street, Palmerston North |
|
Taranaki |
Sunday 9 May |
11am – 5pm |
New Plymouth District Council, 84 Liardet Street, New Plymouth 4342 |
If you are planning to come to a session and would like an interpreter to support you please contact us at ethnic.communities@dia.govt.nz
You can email any other questions to the same address.