Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew has participated in the New Zealand delegation to the 2016 Social Enterprise World Forum in Hong Kong, and is welcoming the opportunity for New Zealand to play host to next year’s Forum.
All in Community organisations
Elderly: Focus on regulating retirement villages
New Zealand is ageing fast, and with it is the increasing popularity of retirement villages. This has sparked a booming sector worth almost $9 billion with 130 operators, catering to over 10 percent of the over-75 age group nationwide.
Picture essay: With over 1,000 attending, focus on positive ageing at Age Concern Expo
There was a plethora of information and ideas at the event held at Papanui High School on September 26. The Migrant Times presents a brief outline of few who were there.
150th year: South West Baptist Church: Serving the community since 1866
TheSouth West Baptist Church, which in the past has been known by many names including Lincoln Road Baptist, Lyttelton Street Baptist, Spreydon and Halswell Baptist, is celebrating its 150 years of establishment over the weekend of October 14 – 16.
Celebrations: Canterbury Eid Festival 2016
Another testimony that Christchurch is becoming more diverse, accommodating and accepting was provided last weekend when the second Canterbury Eid Festival was organised by the Christchurch-based non-profit Nawawi Centre on September 18.
Libraries: 40 years of the Special Needs Library in Chch
Christchurch Special Needs Library is a lending resource, which provides over 3,500 educational and therapeutic resources for enriching learning experiences and promote development of people – both adults and children - with special needs - intellectual, physical, sensory, emotional, behavioural or social - in the community.
Family: Overhaul of family violence laws
The John Key led National Government has announced an overhaul of New Zealand’s family violence laws which will see more support for victims and new offences introduced.
Protest: "March for Democracy" in Christchurch
Hundreds of protesters from a range of civil society organisations including NZ Council of Trade Unions (CTU), Public Services Association (PSA), FIRST Union, Greenpeace, 350.org, Oxfam New Zealand, SAFE for Animals and It’s Our Future, came out on the Riccarton Road in Christchurch on September 10, for what they called “a Day of Action that will affirm our democratic rights and support initiatives to build a fairer and more sustainable society”.
The Canterbury Community Gardens welcomes all
This is how the Association describes itself, "The Canterbury Community Gardens Association is a networking organisation for community gardens, promoting the growth of new and existing initiatives. CCGA is a group of community gardeners and supportive individuals who are working together to promote and strengthen community garden initiatives in Christchurch."
Celebrations: Mid-autumn and the 67th anniversary of the founding of China celebrated
"One of the most important traditional Chinese festivals, the Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, around the time of the autumn equinox (usually September 22). As the full bright moon on that night tends to inspire people's anticipation for a family reunion, it is also called "Festival of Reunion."Moon cakes and watermelons (cut into the shape of a lotus) are indispensable for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Business: Over 1,000 attend Canterbury's 1st Indian Women Expo
Canterbury was put on the national map this weekend with the successful organisation of the first-ever Indian Women Expo in Christchurch. The six-hour long event, which had 47 stalls divided into nine zones, saw almost 1,000 people attending with several ministers and MPs including Amy Adams, Nicky Wagner, Parmjeet Parmar, and Ruth Dyson.
Celebrations: Chch's Nepalese and Bhutanese community festivities
The Canterbury Nepalese Society (CNS) organised it's annual Hindu festival of Teej Sanjha 2073 on September 2, which was attended by over 200 Nepalese families living in Christchurch. The Bhutanese Society of Christchurch (BSC), which organised its own Teej festival on September 3, had also organised the first-ever Bhutanese Nite [Bhutani Sanjh] in Christchurch recently. Held at Elmwood School Auditorium, the Nite was attended by over 300 Bhutanese living in the Garden City. (picture courtesy: BSC)
Indonesia: 71st Indonesian Independence celebrations in Christchurch
The Canterbury Indonesian Society celebrated the 71st Indonesian Independence Day in Christchurch, which also saw participation from the wider community, on August 28. Elyana Thenu, President of CIS, who came to New Zealand 20 years back, noted, “While the Indonesian community is not very large in Christchurch, and mainly consists of students studying in various universities, it's important that the community gets together on such occasions to remind ourselves of the great sacrifices the previous generations have made so that we can enjoy the fruits of freedom.” The event also saw performance of Indang dance from West Sumatra and Cerana dance from Timor East. There were competitions of traditional games too including the Indonesian favourite - tug of war.
Singapore National Day celebrations in Christchurch
The small but vibrant Singaporean community in Christchurch celebrated the 51st Singapore National Day on August 12 at Chateau on the Park, with Lianne Dalziel, Mayor of Christchurch, and Ang Seow Wei, Deputy High Commissioner at High Commission of Singapore in New Zealand, in attendance.
Canterbury celebrates Indian independence
The growing Indian community in Canterbury celebrated the Indian Independence Day, which falls on August 15, with full patriotic vigour, home-sick emotions, and festive moods, spread across that weekend.
A taste of Latin America in Christchurch
The Garden City was treated to some fantastic latino music, food, and vibrant colourful hispanic culture at the Winter Night and Latino Market held in the Arts Centre of Christchurch on August 20.
Community celebrates the Zimbabwe Heroes' Day
The Zimbabwean Canterbury Association (ZCA) and New Zealand AIDS Foundation joined hands to celebrate the Zimbabwe Heroes' Day in Christchurch on August 20. There was lots of Zimbabwean food and music, as well as speeches by community leaders and representatives from the African Council. Simon Mutonhori, President of ZCA, informed that the community has been celebrating the Day ever since their Association was formed in 2003.
Human rights: New Zealand's 12th Diversity Forum on September 1
Organised by the New Zealand Human Rights Commission, the Forum will be held at Wellington's Te Papa Museum with the theme Te Anga Whakamua/ Future Focus 2016. The keynote speaker this time is Australian human rights lawyer and advocate Deng Adut.
Disability: Jointheconversation.nz
Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner is encouraging New Zealanders to give feedback on the first draft of the disability strategy as the second round of public consultation begins. The consultation opened on 25 July, and will go on till 21 August.
Our goal is to provide a one-stop solution to all the problems faced by Filipino migrants in Canterbury: Delia Richards
She is the 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 (PCS).