The IndianNZ Association of Christchurch (INZAC) hosted ‘3rd Christchurch Multicultural Festival - Celebration of Cultures’ on July 29, which was a resounding success, bringing together communities from diverse ethnic backgrounds to celebrate their vibrant cultures, arts, and the city’s rich diversity.
The festival that took place at La Vida Convention Centre from 4.30pm to 9.30pm saw a full house. The venue was beautifully decorated with modern lights and traditional cultural decorations, making it a perfect spot for families to take pictures together.
Several distinguished guests graced the event. The chief guest, Mervin Singham, Chief Executive of the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, inaugurated the event by lighting the lamp and formally commencing the festival.
Among the other notable attendees were minister Megan Woods; parliamentarians Melissa Lee, Duncan Webb, Tracey McLellan; Tracy Summerfield, National’s candidate from Wigram for 2023 general elections; and Kirstin Dingwall, Community & Economic Development Advisor from Selwyn District Council.
During his address at the event, Singham appreciated the importance of multicultural festivals for the community, “Ethnic people from all parts of the world bring many things to New Zealand, but one thing is very clear from the performances tonight–we bring vibrance, the colour, the sound, and the sensory qualities that we enrich our country with, is what makes our lives immeasurably better in so many ways.
“We love sharing our culture, our song, dance, and performances that add to the strong branding of New Zealand as a multicultural country that’s really vibrant. We are all going to benefit from the performances that we have seen, but very importantly, it’s our children that will see themselves represented today,” he said.
Megan Woods also highlighted how such events foster a spirit of togetherness and mutual respect. “I think it is wonderful that we have multicultural festivals like this, where we come together as a city to showcase what 21st-century Christchurch looks like. We are diverse, unified, and a city that celebrates our differences, finding strength in the interests and cultures from all corners of our community.”
Melissa Lee said, “I bring you greetings from Chris Luxon who was supposed to be here…Multicultural events like these bring the communities together, and it gives me joy to see different generations perform on the same stage.”
The most exciting part of the event was the 33 non-stop cultural performances that made the night truly memorable and one-of-a-kind.
The diverse range of performances showcased the cultural richness of various places, including parts of India, Latin America, China, the Philippines, Mexico, Ireland, Argentina, Fiji, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Europe, and Africa.
The performers dressed in colourful traditional dresses brought their traditional music, dance, and art forms to the stage, allowing the audience to experience vibrant cultures from different corners of the globe.
Vineet, who attended the event with his family and parents visiting from India, said, “We especially loved the energetic bhangra performances, but each performance was a window into the culture and traditions of these nations and a great learning experience for the audience.”
The hosts for the night were Avi Singh Aulakh and Harpreet Maan, who were great fun and had the audience entertained.
The INZAC, formed in 2017, hosts a variety of events in Christchurch, celebrating the city’s diverse communities.
Parminder Kaur, Chairperson of INZAC, explained the association’s vision. “Our goal is to organise free community events that showcase the cultures of different countries to Kiwi-born children and involve them to maintain connections with their roots and heritage.
“This event is close to my heart as all the communities get to come together and showcase the rich tapestry of their cultures.”
She thanked all the performers, guests, attendees and sponsors for their support. “Our next event will be the Youth Festival on October 28, 2023, and the Christchurch Lohri Mela on January 27, 2024,” she said.
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