The Nepalese Cultural Centre New Zealand Inc. was established in 2008 with the objective of promoting Nepalese Culture in New Zealand by providing information about Nepal and Nepalese Culture to interested New Zealanders. To achieve the goal, the NCCNZI is engaged in organizing various activities.

Christchurch Multicultural Council (CMC), at its 31st Annual General Meeting held on Thursday August 27, presented its first-ever new top award "DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD" to Christchurch City Councillor Jimmy Chen "in recognition of his significant contribution in making visible and valuable difference to the multicultural community and in fostering diversity of Christchurch".

Directed by Asim Mukhtar Janjua, This is what our future looks like: Punjabi views from New Zealand, presents a 13-minute Punjabi language documentary film with English subtitles capturing the views of three Punjabi Sikhs living in Auckland; Harjeet, a radio broadcaster, Gurmeet, a small business owner, and Ajit, a community elder.

Thursday, 27 August 2020, marks the official launch of a community-led media campaign - #PassTheMic - to promote inclusion for people from migrant and former refugee backgrounds by promoting their diverse voices; and to challenge racism with our allies beside us.

At Alert Level 3, you are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering when you're out and about. Wearing a face covering helps keep you and others safe. The Auckland Indian Association and Belong Aotearoa are working together to make sure our communities are covered by providing face masks to community organisations.

In a panel discussion organised by the Khadija Leadership Network (KLN) and Pearl of the Islands Foundation in Auckland on Tuesday, three women MPs - Golriz Ghahraman of the Green Party, Parmjeet Parmar of the opposition National Party, and Priyanca Radhakrishnan of the ruling Labour Party, participated.

The theme for the Cook Islands Language Week 2020 is“Kia pūāvai tō tātou Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani i Aotearoa”; which means, "That the Cook Islands Māori language may blossom throughout New Zealand”.

“This is an opportunity for all of us to highlight, acknowledge and appreciate their valuable work,” Jenny Salesa said. To nominate a particular ethnic community group or organisation that made a real difference for you – or your community –visit www.ethniccommunities.govt.nz to register your nomination by midday Friday, 14 August 2020.

Bakrid or Eid-al-Adha is also known as the second of the two Islamic holidays celebrated worldwide. The first which is popularly known as Eid and marks the end of the sacred month of Ramadan where Muslims fast from dusk to dusk. The Second Eid is known as Bakrid and is a significant celebration as it is the time when Hajj, a pilgrimage which the followers of Islam are required to complete once in their lives, is performed in Mecca. New Zealand Date Eid al-Adha or Bakrid in New Zealand, will be observed on August 1, 2020. Bakrid is celebrated on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar.

Members of Hindu Elders Foundation (HEF), met after a long gap of four months, for the twin-celebrations of Matariki and the Foundation’s anniversary. It was in July 2007, when HEF was registered as an incorporated society, with the aim of providing services for the well-being of senior citizens in the community.

Our Hijrah, a research project undertaken by Khadija Leadership Network (KLN), is aiming to record and understand the journeys of Muslim women in New Zealand, and their contribution and service to their communities. The project is partially funded by UNESCO New Zealand.

Multicultural Council of Wellington (MCW) lost its one of the founding members on July 2. In a Facebook post dated July 3, the MCW informed, “It is with great sadness and sorrow to inform the death of our MCW dear friend, the founder of Multicultural Council Wellington, Rama Ramanathan peacefully left us all on Thursday the 2nd of July 2020 in the morning. The Multicultural Council Wellington offers our heartfelt condolences to the grieving family, and prays to Almighty God to bless and give the grieving family strength and comfort during this difficult time and Rama Ramanathan's soul rest in peace.”

Food for Life as a project was initially inspired by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of Iskcon. In 1974, when watching a group of village children fighting with dogs over scraps of food, the He became upset and told his students, "No one within ten miles of a temple should go hungry.” Following his guidance, we are making a humble attempt to do something for the wider community, and we think schools are the most important place to start with.

Christchurch City Council will try to acquire the Christchurch Netball Centre in South Hagley Park as a new base for community recreation, sports, and multicultural activities.

Dunedin Multi-Ethnic Council (DMEC) turns 27 this week

According to the Urdu Hindi Cultural Association of New Zealand, its flagship and hugely popular three-in-one annual event – Mushaira, Kavi Sammelan and Sham-e-Ghazal – which is in its ninth year now, will take place on November 21, this year.

“This month, we are presenting a Auckland’s famous Indian-Jazz fusion band with talented singers Amrita Bhende DeSouza, Daljeet Kaur, and Kishori Telang . The band comprises of Ben Fernandez on keys, Nigel Gavin on guitar, Dean Rodrigues on bass, Ron Samsom on drums and Manjit Singh on tabla and percussion. Please come and enjoy the music in intimate settings at Baithak NZ, Naad Community Center in Papatoetoe on June 20, at 6pm.”

There is $4.2 million a year available through the Ethnic Communities Development Fund, with new, realigned priorities to support ethnic communities while they navigate the impacts of COVID-19. The fund is now available for projects or activities that provide alternative means of staying socially connected, employment initiatives, and community resilience and recovery.

Dozens of charities, whose revenue streams have been heavily impacted by COVID-19, are set to benefit from a new $500,000 emergency fund. The Your West Support fund launched this by The Trusts will provide dozens of charities and community groups each with up to $10,000 to help with their operational costs while they recover financially from the impact of the level 4 lockdown.

Matariki Festival is on! Aucklanders will celebrate Matariki this winter with a re-sized festival in response to Tāmaki Makaurau’s new normal.

Last year’s terror attacks at two mosques in Christchurch shook the Garden City to its core. From it, came the need to spread awareness about the Muslim faith and bring Muslim voices to the fore. Here once again, Christchurch-based Community Access Radio Plains FM, which has been doing some great work over the past several years, rose to the occasion and produced a 20-part series, After March 15th.

From Sunday May 24, for two nights the Sky Tower will be lit green and white in honour of Eid-al-Fitr, “The Festival of Breaking the Fast” – a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims around the world to mark the end of Ramadan.

Community Access Radio is a vital tool for disseminating information across Aotearoa New Zealand, especially for the culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.

See how New Zealand is becoming increasingly multicultural.

Auckland’s popular Pasifika Festival celebrates a welcome return to Western Springs Park in March after a two-year absence. The vibrant event will feature 11 Pacific communities showcasing their unique culture on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 March.

Rangatahi volunteers from the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) joined Waitangi Day celebrations on February 6, to spread a culture of peace and encourage big thinking through their Social Media Campaign, “The New Zealand That We Want.”

New Zealand’s most important historic site. More details at www.waitangi.org.nz.

Ever since the country started marking the Māori Language Week in 1975, the cultural and historical argument to preserve the language has held its ground. It's time to introduce the economic element into it as well.

Every year Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival, which started in 1972, focusses attention on the contributions made by the traditional Maori warrior dance to social cohesion, health and education outcomes.