New Zealand is home to a multitude of cultures and ethnicities. While all these communities integrate and come together, forming a diverse Kiwi society, there is a danger of these communities losing their beautiful culture and traditions. That is why the various cultural Associations and Societies are vital, as they play a crucial part in keeping these communities connected to their heritage.
Kerala is perhaps the most vibrant state in India with a unique combination of history,
culture, cuisine, performing arts, and language.
The dynamic Malayali community from Kerala has migrated to various parts of the world. A sizeable population of Keralites has also moved to NZ. While Auckland is home to most of them, a lot of them are also based in Christchurch and nearby regions. Christchurch Kerala Association is an organisation that specifically caters to this community.
Christchurch Kerala Association was set up in 2005 as a non-profit organisation with an aim to bring together the Keralites living in Christchurch and the greater Canterbury area in New Zealand. The association works actively to preserve and promote Malayali culture, traditions and heritage. It has an annual membership model and currently has 104 family memberships and 26 single members.
The association is a professionally run organisation with an executive committee elected by members in the annual general body meeting. The executive committee consists of president, vice president, secretary, joint secretary, treasurer, public relations, media coordinators, events and sports.
Anupama Amaldev is the 2021-2022 executive committee president and Jibin Joseph is the current secretary.
We spoke to Anupama Amaldev about the mission and vision of the association.
Amaldev told Indian Weekender, “Our quest is to find the cultural balance of the Kiwi and the Malayalee within us and ways to foster friendship between the Malayalee community and broader communities with who we interact on a regular basis. We also encourage our youth to participate actively and educate our people on matters of civic consciousness, political awareness.”
Anupama and her team strive to preserve their mother land's rich and colourful heritage and keep the young generation connected to their roots.
When migrants are busy building their new lives, sometimes working multiple jobs and
juggling their routine without extended family support, it is easy to lose touch with culture and values. Associations like Christchurch Kerala Association play a critical role to keep them and the new generation of Kiwi-Indians in touch with their motherland and mother tongue.
Over the past 17 years, Christchurch Kerala Association has been at the forefront celebrating various community festivals including Christmas, Easter-Vishu and Onam. The association also organises various sports activities to foster harmony and solidarity in the community.
Other events like children’s day, online competitions, and barbeque days are also regularly organised and open to the wider community.
Some other activities that the Association has undertaken in the previous years are:
Post-earthquake rebuild - Volunteered Addington Action Committee
Post-earthquake resources - Supplied clothes, baby toys and gifts to Women’s Refugee Centre.
Student support for their stay and refer them for part-time job during their studies (students from Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab).
Launched the first-ever radio channel for Malayali community - Namasthe Kerala- which has a dedicated slot on Plains FM Radio 96.9.
Helped the other Indian Associations and CKA members contribute financially to help other struggling members.
The association strives to promote literature among the younger generation and conducts Malayalam language classes to keep the younger members of the diaspora abreast of our mother tongue so they can assimilate the cultural heritage, tradition and values while they are integrating into the Kiwi culture.
While there have not been many big events during the last couple of years due to Covid, the association this year celebrated Easter-Vishu on 3rd April at Foster Park, Rolleston, where an outdoor event was organised with BBQ, bouncy castles for kids, various games and even an Easter egg hunt.
Association is currently preparing for its next big event- Onam, which will be celebrated in September. Before Onam, the executive committee is also busy making plans for sports tournaments and kids’ competitions.
If you are interested to know more about the Association or to become a member, you are advised to visit its website www.ckanz.org and follow its Facebook pages and community radio Namasthe Kerala.