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.

Support for multicultural community: Cultural Connections

Support for multicultural community: Cultural Connections

Migrants Centre
Economy, Ethnic communities, Community organisations, News

Eric Chuah, former head of migrant banking with ANZ, has launched Cultural Connections, New Zealand’s first social enterprise to specialise in researching migrants, is calling all migrants to join its research panels and in doing so help the country’s multicultural community groups flourish.  

“Companies have tapped into the fact that the migrant customer segment can be up to 10 times more profitable than mainstream customer segments. However, there is very little data available to understand how migrants are settling into Kiwi life, let alone how they make purchase decisions,” explains Chuah, adding, "a quarter of NZ’s population is now born overseas, there are numerous community groups (some well-known, some not so) supporting migrants, and an increasing number of companies are treating migrants as a discreet customer segment."

“We’re a market research company for New Zealand based businesses but we have a social purpose to help migrant community groups with their awareness and funding. For every migrant who joins our research panel, Cultural Connections will donate $2 to a migrant community group,” says Chuah.

Initially Cultural Connections will be supporting six groups: Multicultural New Zealand, NZ Newcomers Network, Auckland Regional Migrant Services, Chinese New Settlers Services Trust, New Zealand Indian Central Association, and Korean Society of Auckland.

Cultural Connections aims to contribute $50,000 in 2017 to the multicultural community groups and double that in 2018.

Increased pressure on staff to change grades: Tertiary Education Union

Increased pressure on staff to change grades: Tertiary Education Union

Dunedin Fridge Festival: The City introduced to Indian classical dances

Dunedin Fridge Festival: The City introduced to Indian classical dances