The Ministry for Ethnic Communities recently organised an event as part of the Ethnic Advantage Conference series that brought together a diverse group of people from various backgrounds under one roof.
The event, which was the third edition of the conference series, took place on May 13, 2023, at Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau. It aimed to celebrate culture, facilitate discussions on important topics, and foster new connections.
The first two conferences in the series were held in Dunedin and Christchurch in late 2022. The subsequent edition was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Apart from Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities Priyanca Radhakrishnan, more than 300 attendees representing different community groups, service providers and government agencies attended the event. In her opening remarks, the minister highlighted the contribution ethnic communities are making towards building a prosperous New Zealand.
The conference agenda included a range of activities, such as Q&A sessions, speeches, cultural performances and breakout sessions. Among the topics discussed were issues around cultural convergence between the ethnic and Maori communities, increasing funding avenues for ethnic communities, the economic contributions of ethnic communities, and representation in public sector boards and committees.
Mervin Singham, the Chief Executive of Ministry for Ethnic Communities, emphasised the conference series allowed people to connect, gain knowledge and grow together. "The conference was a platform for people from different ethnic backgrounds to connect with one another and engage with experts across the public and private sectors. It was an opportunity to celebrate diversity and discuss how we can all work together to improve the inclusion of ethnic communities in wider society," he said.
Singham pointed to the huge untapped potential of ethnic communities. “New Zealand is one of the most diverse countries in the world and we need to celebrate that. The people who came together for our conferences all have one common goal, to improve the well-being of ethnic communities. That's our goal as a ministry too – it's at the heart of what we do," he said.
Ethnic Community Connector at Tairawhiti Multicultural Council Meredith Jassnoor Kaur Khalsa, a panel speaker, said, "Thank you to everyone involved in bringing this event together. It was a pleasure attending both days and to be a panel speaker. I feel inspired by the network of passionate people collectively on a beautiful journey.
Another attendee, Anmar F Ali Aga from Auckland Council, said, "The conference was truly exceptional and provided us with informative sessions. It also provided an excellent platform for networking."
Chief Executive of Asian Family Services Kelly Fong shared how the organisation responded to Cyclone Gabrielle and the subsequent flooding. She pointed out the challenges and difficulties NGOs faced, and how they need government agencies to think ahead about how to serve ethnically diverse communities in the future.
A day before the conference, the ministry hosted a Cultural Korero evening on May 12. The event celebrated and explored the contributions ethnic communities make towards the country’s culture and arts scene. The evening included a panel discussion on diversity and inclusion in the creative industry.