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.

Community radio: Making connections

Community radio: Making connections

Migrants Centre
Ethnic communities, Community radio

(caption for the above picture: Thi Phan, with her daughter Kim Van, and Ba Cuong)

Presented in the Vietnamese language, the Plains FM96.9 radio programme “Nhip Cau Thong Tin” (“Making Connections”) provides the opportunity to obtain information on settling and integrating into a new country for Vietnamese people living in Canterbury, as well as possible immigrants still living Vietnam who are being given access to podcasts of the show. Some of them download the podcasts and listen to them in their own time.

The weekly half-hour programme, which is broadcast in Christchurch at 7pm on Mondays and 4.30pm on Sundays, was started on Plains FM six months ago by a Vietnamese group led by Thi Phan, her daughter Kim Van, and Ba Cuong.

"..consider ourselves ambassadors between New Zealand and Vietnam, making the relationship stronger by bringing people of the two countries closer.."

A Vietnamese-English interpreter, Thi has seen many cases of Vietnamese people lacking the information required to settle in New Zealand. Unfortunately, information gained from friends or through other informal channels can sometimes be incorrect or misleading.

Being aware of the importance of providing a radio programme without a language barrier for the Vietnamese community, Thi Phan approached Plains FM and also gained support from the funding agency, Settling In.

“People in Vietnam do not know much about New Zealand or what kind of support is here for them. Through this programme, they know there is support that can help them study, work and live here – just as it helps the Vietnamese already living here,” noted Thi.

“My daughter and I have been in New Zealand for nearly four years and saw the language barrier as one of the biggest problems. Now, we know we can go to Hagley Community College, English Language Partners, the Ara Institute or PEETO, at the_Multi-Cultural Centre, to learn how to understand and speak Kiwi English, with its slang.”

“It takes several years to settle in and it’s very much a struggle to look for support, to get a job, to understand what your IRD number is. You even have to learn to adapt to the climate – how to keep warm.”

Presented in Vietnamese, “Nhip Cau Thong Tin” deals with all these issues.

Now presented mainly by 20-year-old Kim, the programme is responsive to the needs and requests of the community, providing interviews, discussions and community notices that tell people:
• where to go to a doctor;
• where to find child care;
• how to save power;
• how not to burn in the summer sun;
• how to mingle with society;
• how to rent a house and sign rental agreements;
• where to find the Citizens Advice Bureau for help;
• how to drive a car; and
• where to look for a job.

After overcoming many challenges as a newcomer in New Zealand, including job-seeking and adapting to a new living environment, Thi now works at Hagley Community College to support migrants, refugees and students.

Meanwhile, Kim is entering her third year of International Business studies at the University of Canterbury.

A census in 2013 found that there was a total of 6660 Vietnamese now living in New Zealand. Out of these, about 600 reside in Christchurch, with many on student or work visas.

“We consider ourselves ambassadors between New Zealand and Vietnam, making the relationship stronger by bringing people of the two countries closer,” concluded Thi.

- Hans Petrovic

Recognition: NZAF African Programme honours Love Cover Protect (LCP) ambassadors and the Zimbabwean high achievers

Recognition: NZAF African Programme honours Love Cover Protect (LCP) ambassadors and the Zimbabwean high achievers

The Grotto

The Grotto