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.
Multicultural NZ congratulates new Race Relations Commissioner, Meng Foon
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.
Multicultural NZ Community Dinner Awards 2019
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.
L.I.N.K World Refugee Day Hui 2019
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.
Ethnic Women's Pathway to Leadership
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.
International Student Directory is a valuable resource
Click to view and download the International Student Directory for the Wellington Region.
Race Relations Day a chance to remember the victims and survivors of Christchurch attacks
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.
The Importance of Culture, Identity and Social Connectedness to Children and Young People Mental Health and Wellbeing
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.
Our people, our cultures, our languages - O tātou iwi, ō tātou ahurea, ō tatou reo
Race Relations Day, 21 March 2019: Te Rā Whanaungatanga
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.
Meri Kirhimete from Multicultural New Zealand
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.
MNZ submission on the Review of New Zealand's Whistleblowing Law
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 of MNZ on the Review of New Zealand's Sport Integrity
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.
MNZ calls on government to sign the Global Compact on Migration
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.
Treasure trove in International Student Directory
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.
Challenge to businesses to employ more refugees
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.
MNZ 2018 Annual Conference and AGM
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.
MNZ encourages recent migrants to participate in the ANZAC memorial services around the country
Media Release I 24 April 2018
Each year on 25 April – Anzac Day – New Zealanders remember those who have served and died in
Multicultural March 2018 - Supporting Race Relations Day
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
Multicultural New Zealand offers with new Govt to promote an inclusive multicultural Aotearoa
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
A showdown of ethnic proportions: Winners of NZ Community Football Cup announced!
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.
New Zealand celebrates nine years of cultural diversity at the NZ Communities Football Cup
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.
Ethnically diverse leadership key to creating an inclusive New Zealand
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.
Intercultural Awareness and Communication Training
16 October 2017
Multicultural NZ in collaboration with Social Service Providers
Immigration Symposium & 28th Annual General Meeting
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.
What data can tell us about the challenges faced by migrants in Aotearoa, New Zealand
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.
Inaugural National Race Relations Day Celebration 2017
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.
NZFMC and RMC’s Race Relations Day Celebration Events 2017 - That's Us, Welcoming Diversity
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.
Multicultural New Zealand supports call to collect data on hate crime
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.
NZFMC Insight Building workshop for Seniors
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
Social Enterprise Development Programme
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.
2016 NZCFC confirmed for 26th and 27th November 2016 at Centre Park, Mangere
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.
NZFMC Youth Leadership Camp 2016
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.
Wellington Ethnic Communities Engagement Summit
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.
27th Annual General Meeting
21 April 2016
The 27th Annual General Meeting of