The New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Councils is a non-government body acting as an umbrella organisation for the ethnic communities of New Zealand. Its primary role is to promote, support and share information among the Regional Councils and New Zealand's Ethnic Communities. Read more.
12 July 2019 I Media Release
Multicultural NZ is delighted to congratulate former Gisborne Mayor, Meng Foon, who has been appointed as New Zealand’s Race Relations Commissioner.
“After a year-long wait for a Race Relations Commissioner, Multicultural New Zealand is very pleased and welcomes the appointment of Meng Foon as the new Race Relations Commissioner announced yesterday by Justice Minister Andrew Little.” says Multicultural NZ Executive Director, Tayo Agunlejika. Read more here.
Event I 25 Jun 2019
The Community Dinner Awards Gala are taking place on Sat 29th June 2019 in Wellington. This a night of awards to individuals and organisations in recognition & celebration of the extraordinary bravery, selflessness and compassionate response to members of the community during and in the aftermath of the Christchurch attacks. Read more here.
Event I 15 Jun 2019
World Refugee Day 2019 is fast approaching and it is an opportune time to continue to shift the narrative surrounding former refugees in New Zealand but beyond that, it is a time to move from discourse to collaborative action.
In this regard, former refugees in Wellington in collaboration with the New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Councils are proud to launch the inaugural annual ‘Learn and Innovate with New Kiwis’ hui (LINK) to be held on 20 and 21 June 2019. Read more here.
Workshop I 17 Apr 2019
Multicultural NZ is excited to present to you the Ethnic Women's Pathway to Leadership programme in partnership with School of Business & Public Sector Training (PST NZ) to deliver a 12-week programme in Wellington. This series of workshops has been designed to facilitate the training of women from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds to understand the many aspects of New Zealand’s compliance and regulatory rules. This is to enable them to apply these rules in their daily lives in order to be more independent and self-reliant. Read more here.
Click to view and download the International Student Directory for the Wellington Region.
Media Release I 20 Mar 2019
Race Relations Day (Thursday 21 March) provides a chance to remember the victims and survivors of the attacks in Christchurch and reflect on how we can create a more harmonious society, Pancha Narayanan, National President of Multicultural New Zealand says.
This year we will mark Race Relations Day with heavy hearts as we remember the 50 people who lost their lives while peacefully worshipping,” Mr Narayanan says. Read more here.
Blogs I 19 Mar 2019
The Treaty of Waitangi, as a founding document of Aotearoa New Zealand, provides a framework to strive for racial equity, partnership, kindness and fairness. We have made major gains in getting along with each other compared to other OECD, Commonwealth and francophone countries. Notwithstanding, we still have a long way to go in achieving racial justice especially now that we are witnessing foreign cultures and foreign toxic race politics infiltrating our polity, institutions and community - our kiwi culture of respect, DIY and fairness. Read more here.
Media Release I 25 Feb 2019
Race Relations Day on Thursday 21 March provides an opportunity to celebrate and experience many of New Zealand’s more than 200 ethnic communities, says Pancha Narayanan, National President of Multicultural New Zealand.
March 21 marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination which is observed globally to remember 1960 Sharpeville Massacre when 69 black South African citizens - including ten children - were shot to death by their own police for protesting against racial apartheid laws. Read more here.
We like to wish you all a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year! We look forward to a big year ahead!
Our office will be closed for Christmas and New Year holidays from Friday 21st December 2018 and open on Monday 7th January 2019. We look forward to working with you in 2019.
A special thanks to our members, volunteers and funders who have supported us this year.
Submission I 7 December 2018
The objective of our submission is to achieve the following:
• Clear pathway in ethnic communities to be able to report domestic violence, forced marriages etc. to an agency, not necessarily the Police. If the victim has to report the matter to Police, the victim may be reluctant to do so because of fear of being disclosed as the informant and making their domestic situation worse.
• The Whistle Blowing Act should be widened to include community groups, sporting clubs and NGOs and should avoid disclosure of who the victim/informant is.
• The Whistle Blowing Act should be widened to include places other than the work place.
Read the submission here
Submission I 11 December 2018
Multicultural NZ recently provided an input on the Sport Integrity review to assess the current environment, identify priority policies and protections, and gather evidence for future policy and support interventions. This is specifically in relation to the identified six areas considered in the discussion document. Read the submission here.
Media Release I 11 December 2018
Morocco is hosting the Intergovernmental Conference to adopt the ‘Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration’ today and tomorrow.This is an important meeting and its outcomes will have a significant influence on World Nations working together to safeguard the positive integration and human rights of migrants all over the world. It is the culmination of negotiations that were started in earnest after the United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution for this work to happen in 2017. Read more here.
17 October 2018
Created by the Hutt Multicultural Council and funded by the Ministry of Education, this publication gives links to various community groups and organisations in the greater Wellington Region.
See it here or click on the cover.
Media release I 13 August 2018
A visiting British economist has laid down a wero for New Zealand employers to overcome their psychological hurdles and employ more refugees. Philippe Legrain, author of the book Immigrants: Why Your Country Needs Them as well as articles for The Guardian and The Wall Street Journal, was the keynote speaker at a Breakfast held last week at Parliament hosted by the Hon Grant Robertson in association with HOST International, Multicultural New Zealand, ChangeMakers Refugee Forum and the Human Rights Commission.
Read more here.
12 June 2018
Multicultural New Zealand proudly presents 2018 Annual Conference and the 29th Annual General Meeting. The conference is being held at Te Papa, Wellington from Friday, 22 June to Sunday, 24 June 2018. The theme at annual conference is Pathway to Treaty-based Multicultural Communities and is designed to be insightful, thought provoking and futuristic. We have lined up of great speakers including Ministers, MPs and Iwi, Business and Community leaders to have brave conversation in order to reflect, rethink and reset the way we do Immigration, Refugees Resettlement, Migrant Settlement and Integration, Ethnic Migrants, Refugees and Newcomers Engagement as well as Community Development. Read more here.
Media Release I 24 April 2018
Each year on 25 April – Anzac Day – New Zealanders remember those who have served and died in
14 March 2018
Race Relations Day is celebrated internationally on 21 March to promote tolerance, inclusion, unity and respect for diversity in the context of combating racial discrimination. Each year the Regional Multicultural Councils under the Federation's umbrella actively participate in and contribute towards
Media Release I 14 December 2017
Multicultural New Zealand has delivered a briefing to the Incoming Ministers outlining key issues and opportunities facing ethnic, migrant and refugee communities in New Zealand.
“Multicultural New Zealand is excited about the new government and we want to extend an offer to work in partnership to advance areas of mutual interest, of which there are
Media Release I 27 November 2017
In a celebration of ethnic diversity in New Zealand, nearly 400 football players representing countries from all over the world competed in the finals of this year’s NZ Community Football Cup (NZCFC) over the weekend, with all first place tournament winners hailing from Auckland.
Refugee Youth Action Network, Ruru Women's Team and South Auckland Youth were announced as the winners of the men’s, women’s and youth tournaments respectively. Over 1,000 regional football matches were played to find the finalists, with 36 teams vying for the winning titles at Centre Park in Mangere this weekend. Read more here.
17 November 2017
The New Zealand Communities Football Cup (NZCFC) is coming to Auckland this month, harnessing young people’s passion for football as different ethnic communities from across New Zealand come together to compete in the national finals.
The culmination of over 1,000 regional football matches, this year’s diverse line up includes teams representing Fiji, Argentina, Somalia, Colombia, Poland, Myanmar and the Solomon Islands. For the first time ever, under 13 teams will join the 16 men’s teams and 8 women’s teams vying for the national title on November 25 & 26 at Centre Park in Mangere. Focused on celebrating cultural diversity in New Zealand, the Communities Football Cup is built on the concept that sport is a common interest in every country – and it can bring together teams from different cultures in the spirit of the game. Read more here.
17 November 2017
New research shows that ethnic diversity at the leadership table is the key ingredient missing from a truly inclusive multicultural society in New Zealand. As part of a social enterprise research project by Multicultural New Zealand and Cultural Connections, more than 400 Kiwi migrants were asked a series of questions about creating an inclusive multicultural society in August 2017. “The research shows very clearly that the number one area of improvement being called for by New Zealand’s multicultural population is to have a more ethnically diverse senior leadership table,” says Eric Chuah, Founder of Cultural Connections. Read more here.
16 October 2017
Multicultural NZ in collaboration with Social Service Providers
26 June 2017
Dunedin
The AGM is our most important event of the year and brings together key cultural and ethnic leaders and communities from across New Zealand. This AGM will be focused on immigration issues and will explore New Zealand’s immigration policy from a number of viewpoints and disciplines. Our hope is that by doing so New Zealanders will be better informed and educated about immigration in New Zealand. Read more here.
By Alexis
Media Release I 03 May 2017
As president of Multicultural New Zealand (
One such project we have been partnering with Cultural Connections which is New Zealand’s first social enterprise to specialise in migrant research – an important, diverse and changing community who make up 25% of New Zealand’s population.Read more here.
14 March 2017
Every 21st March, we join the rest of the world in celebrating the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. In New Zealand, communities across the country host hundreds of events on and around the 21st of March to mark Race Relations Day to promote and showcase our culture through dance, music and food. Read more here.
Events I 23 Feb 2017
New Zealand is amongst the most culturally and ethnically diverse nations in the world. Every 21st March, we join the rest of the world in celebrating the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. In New Zealand, communities across the country host hundreds of events on and around the 21st of March to mark Race Relations Day to promote and showcase our culture through dance, music and food. We also use the opportunity to demonstrate successful settlement outcomes for refugees and migrants, inclusion and tackling racism and discrimination. Read more here.
Media Release I 23 Feb 2017
Multicultural New Zealand supports the Human Rights Commission and the NZ Jewish Council in their call for the Police to collect data on the incidence of hate crime. Executive Director Tayo Agunlejika said that the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) had called for the government to collect statistical data on complaints, prosecutions and sentences for racially motivated crimes when it considered New Zealand’s relations performance ten years ago (2007) but a system had still not been put in place. Read more here.
30 January 2016
New Zealand is amongst the most culturally and ethnically diverse nations in the world. With the increase in growth rate of the migrant communities in NZ, there is a higher probability for the New Zealand’s ageing migrant population becoming much noticeable in the future. Helping our aged people to remain active and motivating them for an unceasing service to the community provides a stable economy and society. Keeping them active also improves their level of
20 December 2016
we are delighted to advise you that our 2016 funding application to Nikau Foundation for Social Enterprise Development Programme has been successful. We have secured funding through the Richard and Doreen Evans Charitable Trust and is to be used for developing a plan for a social enterprise. A one day workshop will be held at Orongomai marae in Upper Hutt on Saturday 4 March 2017 from 10.00am to 4.00pm. Read more here.
11 October 2016
The New Zealand Communities Football Cup (NZCFC) is an annual tournament that brings together the best regional ethnic football teams and a selection of local women’s teams. Globally, football provides a common playing field for people to connect, regardless of their ethnicity, who they are or where they’re from. Read more here.
08 July 2016
The NZFMC Youth Council is organising the NZFMC Youth Leadership Camp 2016 at the Orongomai Marae, 1 Railway Ave, Wellington from 21 July 2016 till 24 July 2016.
Purpose of this Camp:
The camp aims to bring together youth representatives from throughout NZ. At the camp the young people would be equipped with skills and resources to be change agents in their communities, build quality relationships with key stakeholders, develop a youth strategy that implements its vision, and establish a strong network of youth ambassadors who will work together to address challenges in the community. Read more here.
05 May 2016
The second of 3 national summits following the first held in Auckland. The summit aims to create stronger links between the different ethnic communities in Aotearoa New Zealand, and with the wider community sector. Read more here.
21 April 2016
The 27th Annual General Meeting of
The ninth workshop in the 2019 series of comprehensive training workshops is being offered by Volunteer Wellington in partnership with Multicultural New Zealand and Victoria University of Wellington to develop skills for leaders working in the voluntary sector Keep Reading
Over 80 representatives from Regional Multicultural Councils (RMCs) representing at least 60 different ethnic communities in Aotearoa joined iwi at the Huarahi Hou Hui at Waiwhetu on June 29. Launched in 2018, Huarahi Hou means ‘new beginning, new direction or new pathway.’ For MNZ the strategy provides a pathway for multicultural... Keep Reading
Multicultural NZ is delighted to congratulate former Gisborne Mayor, Meng Foon, who has been appointed as New Zealand’s Race Relations Commissioner. Keep Reading
The Community Dinner Awards Gala are taking place on Sat 29th June 2019 in Wellington. This a night of awards to individuals and organisations in recognition & celebration of the extraordinary bravery, selflessness and compassionate response to members of the community during and in the aftermath of the Christchurch attacks. Join us for a... Keep Reading
LINK is an annual former refugee-led hui (networking dinner and co-design workshops) to give a platform to non-former refugees with will, experience, connections, and ideas, to collaborate with one of the most disadvantaged communities here: The Former Refugees community, New Kiwis, re-imagining and rebuilding their lives in Aotearoa. Keep Reading
Multicultural New Zealand
Multicultural New Zealand has signed up as a partner in the Vote 2019 Local Government Election Campaign. This means, that we’ll be sending you regular #Vote2019NZ information - developed by Local Government New Zealand over the next ten months. In the wake of the March 15 Christchurch massacre and in the light of declining voter-turn-out... Keep Reading
Multicultural New Zealand
A new learning programme – created to enhance the wellbeing of ethnic women in New Zealand, will soon be piloted by coordinators of Regional Multicultural Centres RMC’s in Waitaki, Manawatu and Hawkes Bay, and in Auckland; Belong Aotearoa and Waitakere Ethnic Board. The free programme, is an on-line learning resource, women can work... Keep Reading
Launch of MNZ International Volunteer Network 12 April 2019 Invites have been sent to our community members and MNZ partners as an invitation to join Multicultural New Zealand and the Philippine Embassy in celebrating 2019 Race Relations Day, and launching the MNZ International Volunteer NetworkThe event will be held on Tuesday the 7th of ... Keep Reading
Leaders from Multicultural Councils around New Zealand will to meet in Christchurch on April 13 to pay tribute to the victims of the March 15 massacres that took the lives of 50 people and injured 48 others. The meeting will be attended by leaders and representatives from: Ngai Tahu, the New Zealand Muslim Community, Christchurch City... Keep Reading
The Treaty of Waitangi, as a founding document of Aotearoa New Zealand, provides a framework to strive for racial equity, partnership, kindness and fairness. We have made major gains in getting along with each other compared to other OECD, Commonwealth and francophone countries. Notwithstanding, we still have a long way to go in achieving... Keep Reading
Race Relations Day on Thursday 21 March provides an opportunity to celebrate and experience many of New Zealand’s more than 200 ethnic communities, says Pancha Narayanan, National President of Multicultural New Zealand. March 21 marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination which is observed globally to remember... Keep Reading
Multicultural New ZealandThe Race Unity Speech Awards are held each year in support of Race Relations Day. MNZ has been a partner of the Awards for many years. The Speech Awards are a platform for senior high school students to express their ideas on how we can improve race relations in Aotearoa. The organisers of the Speech Awards are keen to collaborate more with... Keep Reading
MNZ in partnership with Belong Auckland organised a Marea visit on Saturday 24th November 2018. The aim of the visit was to experience and learn more about the history of Maori, their culture and customs. Keep Reading
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21 March which marks the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre when 69 black South African citizens – including 10 children – were shot to death by their own Police for protesting against racial apartheid laws. Every year the Race Relations... Keep Reading
Thank you for the opportunity to provide input into the Sport Integrity review to assess the current environment, identify priority policies and protections, and gather evidence for future policy and support interventions. This is specifically in relation to the identified six areas considered in the discussion document. Keep Reading
