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The 2011 New Zealand Diversity Forum was held last Sunday and Monday. It was preceded by community events on Saturday. The theme of the conference, People in Harmony.
Keynote speakers included Tainui Chief Executive Parekawhia McLean, Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon and Porirua City Councillor and community youth worker Fa’amatuainu Wayne Poutoa.
A national youth diversity forum was held concurrently, with youth delegates both meeting separately and participating in the wider forum.
Speaking before the meeting, Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres said 35 different organisations were coming together to discuss practical action on a wide range of diversity issues including religion, discrimination and human rights. He said there would be a new paper on what’s been happening with regards to Maori seats in local government.
On Sunday Todd Nachowitz presented a paper on Quantifying Ethnic and Religious Diversity In New Zealand
On Monday a discussion paper was presented on structural, or systemic discrimination, relating to barriers to equality for Maori, Pacific and other groups. Another paper discussed Maori representation in Local Government
In addition there was to be be discussion on what the police did in response to the earthquake in Christchurch in terms of reaching diverse communities.
The forum was jointly hosted by the New Zealand Human Rights Commission and the Hamilton Multicultural Services Trust, with support from the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO, the Settling In Programme of the Ministry of Social Development, NZ Police, the Office of Ethnic Affairs and other partner organisations.
It was held at Claudelands Events Centre in Hamilton.
Click here to see other presentations
Click here to view photographs
Source:
Human Rights Commission
Image: yogile.com
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