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.

Stop education trafficking: The man on a mission - Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Jesus S. Domingo

Stop education trafficking: The man on a mission - Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Jesus S. Domingo

Migrants Centre
Ethnic communities, Community organisations, News

Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Jesus S. Domingo is definitely not your everyday diplomat. Unlike other ambassadors, he makes it a point to interact with the Filipino community all across New Zealand continuously. In one of his earlier interviews to this newspaper, he talked about putting in place measures to stop "education trafficking". He also pointed how "unscrupulous education advisers are engaging in education trafficking". On his recent trip to the Garden City, he elaborated on those steps.

"We are putting in place long-term and interim measures. Firstly, we are coming up with a register for licensed education advisors, similar to what exists for immigration advisors now. This will make regulating and punishing offenders easy compared to what it is now. Secondly, we are signing MoUs with various PTEs, and developing a voluntary code of conduct for everyone to follow. In the interim, we are also in talks with New Zealand authorities, to put in place a declaration in the student visa application ensuring that the applicant clearly understands coming to NZ for studies is not a sure shot pathway to residency."    

Gathering at the post arrival orientation seminar organised by the United Network of Migrants, and Migrante Aotearoa in Christchurch on March 26. Representatives from First Union (Paul Watson), and Ashburton's first district councillor of Philippine…

Gathering at the post arrival orientation seminar organised by the United Network of Migrants, and Migrante Aotearoa in Christchurch on March 26. Representatives from First Union (Paul Watson), and Ashburton's first district councillor of Philippine origin Thelma Bell, also attended the event. 

Grateful: Christchurch says thank you to the rebuild workers

Grateful: Christchurch says thank you to the rebuild workers
'We are concerned about the report published in The Press: George Clark, Manager, Canterbury Migrants Centre

'We are concerned about the report published in The Press: George Clark, Manager, Canterbury Migrants Centre