The history of the Ministry from the Ethnic Affairs desk with 0.5 FTE set up at DIA - 1995. 2001 Office of Ethnic Affairs established with 6 FTE and Offices in Auckland and Wellington. 2002 Chirstchurch office was added along with one extra staff member. Nominations database set up, website set up and first Ethnic Perspectives policy advice published. 2003 two extra staff added Language Line added. 2004 First permanent Director of the Office joins. Recruitment of extra staff. 2011 EPIC NZ launched programme connecting NZ businesses with ethnic community members to strengthen language, cultural skills for overseas trade. 2014 Major restructure combining functions. More staff added. 2015 Organisation renamed Office of Ethnic Communities. More staff added and ECDF set up. 2016 second restructure reverting to old model. Intercultural e-learning programme launched. 2019 Christchurch terror attacks, extra engagement staff added, ECDF funding increased, Language Line replaced by MBIE managed Ezispeak. 2020 Extra staff, Multi-lingual information network set up. Executive Director report to DIA CE, Creation of the Ministry announced. 2021. Ministry was launched.