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.

Culture and sports: Christchurch to host the largest gathering of Filipinos in NZ during the Labour Day weekend this year

Culture and sports: Christchurch to host the largest gathering of Filipinos in NZ during the Labour Day weekend this year

Migrants Centre
Ethnic communities, News

[caption for the above picture: (with mic) Delia Richards, Liaison Manager for Filipino worker's Social Integration Programme at Canterbury Migrants Centre, and also the founder and President of the community organisation Philippine Culture and Sports, and Christchurch City Councillor Jimmy Chen (on right of Delia), kicking off preparations for Pistang Pilipino 2017 sa Christchurch (PPSC), on February 4. The PPSC is the national reunion of Federation of Filipino Associations, Societies and Clubs in New Zealand, and is held every year on the Labour Day weekend. This time Christchurch is the host city, with over 20,000 Filipinos expected to attend.]

Gala show by the Gala show to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Rooster hosted by the Consulate General of China in Christchurch

Gala show by the Gala show to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Rooster hosted by the Consulate General of China in Christchurch

Food: "Learn from what we eat" in Korean style

Food: "Learn from what we eat" in Korean style