The Indian diaspora is at the centre of global attention as India has emerged as a major source country for migrants all around the world in the last decade.
Experts from academia, government, bureaucracy, and media got together last weekend on February 17 and 18 in a two-day conference on the New Zealand Story of Global Indian Diasporas at the Auckland campus of Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
The conference was organised by the New Zealand–India Research Institute (NZIRI), a national centre of Indian studies in New Zealand, in collaboration with AUT and with the support of Asia New Zealand Foundation, Human Rights Commission, and Education New Zealand.
Different experts expressed their views on various aspects of diasporic activities such as economy, food and culture, but the challenge of social cohesion was high on the agenda.
Several experts, notably from the government and other prominent New Zealand public institutions, focussed their talks on the challenge of social cohesion that emerges from any large scale migration of people in a relatively short span of time.
The present New Zealand society is undergoing that change and in a relatively short span of time where maintaining adequate social cohesion will be the next biggest challenge for the planners and policymakers.
Leading the concern on the challenge was Dr Jian Yang, National List MP and Parliamentary Private Secretary for Ethnic Communities, who made opening remarks on behalf of the Minister for Ethnic Communities.
Professor Spoonley, a leading researcher, sociologist, and demographer enlightened the audience about the changing New Zealand population due to migration and its possible effect on the social fabric of Aotearoa New Zealand and the meaning of diversity.
The audience was enthralled to know that Auckland has emerged as the fourth most diverse global city. With 39% of its population born overseas, the city is revealed to be more diverse than Sydney, Los Angeles, London, and even New York.
To the surprise of many, the Indian population in Auckland was larger than the Chinese community.
Professor Spoonely also emphasised that Auckland was doing well, given the rapidity with which the city has changed.
The other key message of his talks was that the New Zealand story was not necessarily the same as the Auckland story of migration and diversity.
Nevertheless, regardless of the speed of change in diversity and population, New Zealand was doing well in dealing with incoming diasporas through a set of non-interventionist policies.
Simone Draper from Asia-NZ Foundation, the leading non-government authority on Asia, informed the audience about their institution’s efforts in shaping New Zealand’s perspectives and attitudes towards Asia.
Mr Drapper also hinted that Asia–NZ foundation would be coming up with the latest report next month on Asia’s investment in New Zealand.
The key message of Mr Drapper’s talks was how their institution was trying to build from people-to-people and cultural ties between the countries of Asia, including India, and New Zealand to be better prepared in the Asian century.
Susan Devoy from the Human Rights Commission cautioned that despite New Zealand doing relatively well than many other countries in managing community relationship, there was no room for complacency.
Ms Devoy emphasised that the challenge to social cohesion was real and required persistent work from different stakeholders to ensure a peaceful and harmonious society.
The conference had many other academic experts, emerging researchers, and students who presented interesting facts about the Indian diaspora.
Notable among them were Dr Tracey Berno and Dr Alison Booth.
Dr Berno traced the fascinating evolution of Indian food and curries in the new Indo–Fijian cultural landscape.
Dr Booth spoke about politics of identity visible in Auckland’s Diwali festival.
NZIRI Director Dr Sekhar Bandyopadhyay, the lead academic consortium on NZ–India relationship, promised to organise more such events related to the Indian diaspora in New Zealand.