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.

Law and order: Police responds to the community, increased presence for all regions

Law and order: Police responds to the community, increased presence for all regions

Migrants Centre
News

Police Commissioner Mike Bush on April 12, announced the numbers of new Police staff each district will get as part of the $388 million investment in Police announced by the Prime Minister in February 2017. The investment will see an increase of 880 sworn and 245 non-sworn staff over four years.  Sworn staff will be recruited over the next four years from July 2017, with approximately 220 new additional recruits added per year.

The first phase includes the recruitment of 220 constabulary staff.  The first wing to include new recruits funded through the investment package, Wing 308, will start on July 10, 2017. These 80 recruits will graduate in October, 2017.

"Today I am announcing the locations of 20 new 24/7 response bases which means that Police’s 24/7 active patrols will expand to cover more than 200,000 additional New Zealanders," said Bush adding that the NZ Police is "committed to meeting the targets set by Government as part of their new investment in modern policing", one of which is for 95% of New Zealanders to live within 25km of a 24/7 Police base by 2022. 

Pioneers of friendship between China and New Zealand - Soong Ching Ling and Rewi Alley

Pioneers of friendship between China and New Zealand - Soong Ching Ling and Rewi Alley
Investing: Zino Ventures - the first Chinese angel fund in New Zealand

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