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.

Investing: Zino Ventures - the first Chinese angel fund in New Zealand

Investing: Zino Ventures - the first Chinese angel fund in New Zealand

Migrants Centre
Economy

With the tagline as - investing and enabling New Zealand start-ups to succeed in China's market, and launched late last year, Zino Ventures marks the first Chinese Angel Fund in New Zealand. A brain-child of 18 Chinese entrepreneurs who have pooled together $2 million, the company aims to invest in up to 20 start-ups over the next three years.

It has the support 2 cornerstone angels, The Icehouse, which is a New Zealand business growth organisation, and the ICE Angels, a angel network in New Zealand.

Explaining the meaning of Zino, the company says, "Zino's name is based on Latin word 'Sino', which refers to China and Chinese history. The 'Z' stands for New Zealand."

"The financial empowerment from Chinese community is getting to be a core component of economic development in New Zealand. Zino Ventures is an investor-based fund focused on building investor knowledge and dedicated to investing in early stage businesses that have the potential to succeed in the global market," it adds.

"We believe that Zino Ventures will empower New Zealand entrepreneurs, strengthen their competitiveness to become the next unicorn, and maximise the success of New Zealand’s small business engine for greater economic growth in the long term. We hope to inspire the seasoned investor – men and women – to invest in Kiwi’s leading start-ups and attract new investors that can actively participate and bring to bear tangible value to the success of New Zealand’s start-ups and benefit financial returns over time."  

New Kiwi Challenge

To encourage more new Kiwis to take on entrepreneurship, Zino Ventures is starting a nation-wide start-up challenge in May with sponsors including The Icehouse and ICE Angels. Being the first Chinese Angel Fund in New Zealand, Zino Ventures wants to leverage its network and expertise of investors to enable investee start-ups to take on China’s market. The announcement will be made in May at the Tech Week, and the competition will be open for 3 months, with the final selection in August at a pitch event combined with the ICE Angels investment evening.

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