Dear readers, we are happy to inform that we have finished analysing the feedback on our last year’s pilot launch of Multicultural Times (MT), New Zealand’s first nation-wide multicultural newspaper. As was the case with our Christchurch-based multicultural newspaper, The Migrant Times (TMT), MT too received innumerable accolades, appreciation and love from all of you. We are also very grateful to various communities, leaders, decision-makers and organisations from across the country who have shown immense faith in the idea of MT, and TMT before that. Based on the feedback, and after a lot of introspection, we have taken two strategic decisions to ensure that we continue to lead New Zealand’s journalism landscape towards diversity and innovation, while staying true to the basic tenets of the fourth estate. 1) The future of journalism is digital. We will continue publishing MT on our various digital media platforms and will cease publication of our print version. The reach, engagement and scope of innovation in the digital space is far superior to print. The financial viability is also superior in digital, due to the trade-off between the cost of production and results achieved. A better reach, engagement, innovation and viability, will ultimately lead to better-quality journalism for our society. 2) The future of journalism is data and artificial intelligence (AI). We are exploring how to use open data and natural language generation techniques to generate quality content and narrative stories, pertaining to local issues relevant to people’s everyday lives. We are immensely excited.

Stay tuned.

Music: Celebration of Balkan's musical heritage

Music: Celebration of Balkan's musical heritage

Migrants Centre
Ethnic communities, Community organisations, News

(caption for the above: Members of Musica Balkanica choir with the conductor, Budimir Miljkovic)

- at a concert by Chch's Musica Balkanica choir

Musica Balkanica choir - formed in Christchurch in 2004 by a group of enthusiasts to celebrate and share the rich musical heritage of the Balkan region of Eastern Europe - had a concert in the Great Hall of the Arts Centre on the October 22. The choir was led by its conductor of many years, Budimir Miljkovic and co-conductor Mihaela Hnat.

Its members are an international mix of enthusiastic amateurs. "We love to sing. Our repertoire consists of sacral and folk music sung in the languages of the Balkan region - Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Greek, Romanian, Gypsy. During the last few years, we had an annual Easter concert, singing sacral music, a folk concert and a carol concert at Christmastime," informed Gyöngyi, a member of the choir. The concert featured Farandol Folkdancers, with Cornelia Didenco on violin, and Veronica VanDer Knaap on piano. In all, there were 24 singers and six dancers performing as part of the concert.

Remembrance: Christchurch gets a 1956 Hungarian Revolution's memorial

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Hockey: Golden Oldies mesmerise with their stick skills

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