The Waikato Interfaith Council (WIFCO) received a 2012 New Zealand Diversity Award for their outstanding contribution to promoting interfaith relations and religious diversity in New Zealand last month.
Presented to WIFCO by the Race Relations Commissioner, Joris de Bres, of the Human Rights Commission, the annual awards commend 12 organisations that have contributed to strengthening race relations in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Waikato Interfaith Council was acknowledged for its proactive work bringing together individuals and groups representing the various faith and belief communities both in the greater Waikato region and nationally.
The award specifically represents WIFCO’s work this past year in organising a wide variety of activities, including organising and hosting the 2012 National Interfaith Forum in February, a multifaith service, an interfaith film festival, a bus tour to a wide variety of Hamilton’s diverse houses of worship, an interfaith art project, and a multifaith musical event.
Public seminars on raising the awareness of religious diversity were presented at both the 2011 and 2012 New Zealand Diversity Forums. Waikato Interfaith President Louis Paulussen said “We are extremely delighted to be recognised for our work in promoting interfaith activities and religious diversity and positive race relations”.
WIFCO Secretary Todd Nachowitz cited the multiple projects that WIFCO has been working on this year, including the many upcoming projects in the works.
This week WIFCO teams up with the Waikato Muslim Association in promoting its annual Islam Awareness Week, with an environmental theme this year, culminating in an Interfaith Tree Planting event on September 1, at Waiwhakareke Reserve, across from the Hamilton Zoo.
This event brought together a wide variety of the Waikato’s ethnic and religious groups to work together on an environmental restoration project.
On Sunday, October 28, WIFCO will host its second multifaith service, which it plans to hold annually.
