On Tuesday, 29 July 2025, we hosted the third Regional Initiative for Ethnic Communities Empowerment (RIECE) forum in Invercargill. This is also the first RIECE forum held in the South Island since the initiative was launched in late 2024.
The event brought together 60 stakeholders, including members of Ethnic Communities, non-government organisations, service providers, and representatives from government agencies. We discussed how to attract and retain migrants in Southland to help grow the local economy.
Tom Campbell, Deputy Mayor of Invercargill, welcomed guests and participants. Kimberley Wu, our Director of National Operations, opened the event by outlining the Ministry’s current focus areas.
The RIECE forums are designed to empower Ethnic Communities and create a safe space for open conversations between communities and government agencies. They have also helped build and strengthen connections among participants in the regions.
The event featured presentations from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), Great South, and an African community leader.
Government presenters shared updates on initiatives supporting migration to the region and answered questions. The African community leader shared a moving story about his family’s migration and integration. He challenged other ethnic migrants to give back to the community and get involved. The session highlighted both the challenges and opportunities of moving to this less-populated but growing region.
NZ Police have a welcome presence at our RIECE forums. This time, they introduced their newly appointed Ethnic Liaison Officer and encouraged Ethnic Communities to engage with them.
We thank all the organisations and agencies that supported and attended the event: Invercargill City Council, MSD, MBIE, NZ Police, Great South, Inland Revenue Department, and the Southern Institute of Technology.
We’ve received great feedback on the event, showing how valuable it is to bring Ethnic Communities together with government agencies and service providers. We plan to hold more RIECE forums across the country, continuing to build stronger connections between Ethnic Communities and government agencies.
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