Community Stories

Find out about what our communities are doing to help create a diverse and inclusive Aotearoa New Zealand.

Learn more about our communities

  • A migrant’s journey to innovatively utilise AI to provide wellbeing support in multiple languages

    Will Zhang, the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of EmoEx, remembers the moment the idea for his groundbreaking app was born. It all started with a casual chat with his Chief Technology Officer, who had just experienced road rage.

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  • Natraj Dance School: 25 years of promoting cultural diversity through art

    In celebrating its 25th Anniversary, Natraj Dance School is a beacon of creativity and expression in Wellington.

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  • New Zealand Centre for Digital Connections with India

    This new initiative aims to build connections between New Zealand and India’s Information Technology (IT) sectors.

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  • Multicultural Federation of New Zealand: A vision for a Te-Tiriti-based multicultural Aotearoa

    Multicultural Federation of New Zealand (MNZ) considers the founding document of Aotearoa in everything it does.

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Cyclone and flooding response

  • Mt Roskill Collective

    The Collective has helped upskill the community in a range of ways, including running water safety skills classes for women, and teaching people how to find and engage with Government services.

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  • Tairāwhiti Multicultural Council

    The Council has provided emergency grab bags, run workshops on how to make an emergency plan, and published a video on emergency preparedness in 23 different languages.

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  • KAMI Bay

    Hawke’s Bay’s local Indonesian community group has made sure the community checks in on one another during emergencies and other events through a new Buddy system.

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Ethnic Communities Development Fund stories

  • From conflict to connection: Community-led initiatives amidst the Middle East conflict

    With the unfolding situation in the Middle East, our Ethnic Communities Development Fund has been expediting funding approvals of community-led initiatives to encourage understanding, healing, and solidarity and promote social cohesion.

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  • NZSO's 'Beyond Words' concert series pays tribute to Christchurch victims

    In a stirring tribute to peace and unity, The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Te Tira Pūoro o Aotearoa, in collaboration with The Central Iqra Trust, Muslim communities, and our Ministry, recently presented the concert Beyond Words.

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  • The ReCreators: Empowering Communities to Sustainably DIY

    Concerned with the increasing waste in our communities, The ReCreators aims to turn waste into value through upcycling.

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  • Headlight - Increasing Mental Health Literacy

    Queenstown charity headlight have boosted mental health literacy within ethnic communities.

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  • Ethnic Women’s Leadership Course

    Women of different ethnicities and ages came together to learn leadership skills to help them succeed in their communities and employment.

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  • Diversity Festival

    Promoting a more diverse and inclusive Aotearoa by celebrating the social and cultural richness of migrant and refugee-backgrounds.

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Have you seen our videos?

Watch our animated health videos in different languages and see what happened at our conferences. Learn how to apply for our Ethnic Communities Development Fund and view our Law and Order series featuring our Chief Executive.

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