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.

Migrants enrich the social and cultural fabric of our local communities as well: Winton Dalley, Hurunui Mayor

Migrants enrich the social and cultural fabric of our local communities as well: Winton Dalley, Hurunui Mayor

Migrants Centre
Interviews
Hurunui Mayor Winton Dalley

Hurunui Mayor Winton Dalley

South Island is changing. Even the so-called "whitest regions" are beginning to realise the fruits of immigration. This newspaper caught up with Hurunui Mayor Winton Dalley to guage his thoughts on the changing demographics of his district.

Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I live inland Amberley, in the old country of Waikari, where I have been farming for the last 40 years. I have been the mayor of Hurunui District Council for the last six years. Prior to that, I was the district councillor for six years.   

Has the demographic of Hurunui changed in the last five years?

Oh, massively! We have quite a major wine growing industry here in Hurunui. In fact, our wine-growing Waipara Valley is the fourth largest in New Zealand, which is heavily dependent on migrant labour. The workers are mainly here on short-term work visas, during the pruning and harvesting season. Then they go back home taking their substantial incomes to their families. In general, the community is very receptive and appreciative of the migrants. And the migrant labours have always displayed excellent work ethics, and very good work-rate and productivity.

How does the District Council makes sure that these migrant labourers feel connected to the local community?

We work on multiple levels with several community organisations as there are multiple strains to this. Such as, we facilitate churches which look after the migrants after they arrive here. In turn, the local culture also gets enriched, and we all benefit.

Recently, we have taken a new initiative, for which I had the vision for a number of years, but it got materialise just now.

We have appointed three community connector across the district, who make connection with the migrant labours as soon as they arrive in Hurunui. They provide the migrants with general info on health, education, social welfare, as well as help them in integrating with the local community.  

You are going to attend the Canterbury Mayoral Forum this week. Is a discussion on migrant issues on cards?

Certainly! Though Ashburton's Mayor is the lead on that, and policy announcements, if any, will be made after the Forum.

See, the mayor forum project is a very good initiative for coordination across Canterbury and is aimed at sharing what all good every district is doing with one another. This also includes measures for integrating migrants into our local culture even better.

As every district's demands are different - we need wine and dairy workers while Christchurch needs more construction workers – we can always tweak good initiatives to suit our needs.  

Finally, what's your message to new and potential migrants to the Hurunui district?

Simple. You are most welcome here!

Our experience with migrants has been amazing. While the economic benefits are obvious, I look at the holistic picture. Migrants enrich the social and cultural fabric of our local communities as well.

Champion: A loss to the community - Dame Grace Hollander

Champion: A loss to the community - Dame Grace Hollander
Lyttelton Harbour Festival of Lights Concludes

Lyttelton Harbour Festival of Lights Concludes