|
|
|
| Volume 3, Number 8 |
ISSN 1178-0924 |
September 2008
| |
|
New Zealand Diversity Action Programme
Te Korowai Whakapono: New Zealand Interfaith Network
|
 |
| |
Kia ora koutou katoa – welcome to Te Korowai Whakapono, the newsletter of the Religious Diversity Network.
The Religious Diversity Network is facilitated by the Human Rights Commission as part of the New Zealand Diversity Action Programme. Its purpose is to support and publicise groups that undertake interfaith activities, projects and programmes that contribute to religious tolerance, public understanding of religions, beliefs and interfaith cooperation for peace, security and harmonious relations.
|
|
|
News and Issues
|
| New Zealand Diversity Forum |
The 2008 New Zealand Diversity Forum took place in Auckland from 23 to 26 August. Total attendance at the 34 forums and events was around 1600. A special feature of the forum this year was the connection with grassroots Auckland communities including the hosting of the “Faiths in Harmony” concert at the Papatoetoe Buddhist Temple, the Muslim Police youth event organised by the Umma Trust with active support from the Auckland Somali Association, and the visit to the Chinese Buddhist temple in South Manukau by participants form the Youth Forum.
At the diversity awards ceremony two faith based organisations, the Auckland Interfaith Council and the Federation of Islamic Association of NZ (FIANZ), received awards for their contributions to the NZ Diversity Action programme. Both organisations have been active participants of the programme since its inception.
The Religious Diversity forum this year included presentations from Professor Paul Morris, Deputy Police Commissioner Rob Pope, Verpal Singh and Anjum Rahman. There was general agreement that the safety and security of religious minorities needs to be monitored and acknowledged with more research done in this area. Feedback during the session and after focused on the distinctions between “ethnic / race” hate crime and “religious belief”. There could be scope for follow up work with the Police in this area to improve engagement with faith based communities.
Other aspects of the Religious Diversity Forum included a presentation on the Alliance of Civilizations New Zealand action plan from MSD and MFAT and the release of the draft of the ‘Religion in New Schools” document.
To obtain a copy of the draft and to provide comments and feedback e-mail nzdiversity@hrc.co.nz. Deadline for feedback is September 30. Presentations at the forum will soon be available on the Human Rights Commission website |
| My God DVDs |
The My God DVD series, which was launched at the NZ Diversity Forum, are still available to purchase. Pacific Crews Production are extending their special forum offer for another few weeks. Series 1 and 2 can be purchased for $10 each. Please contact nzdiversity@hrc.co.nz if you would like copies. The DVD’s include all the programmes screened, and are a valuable resource for introducing different faiths through interviews with prominent New Zealanders.
|
| Pacific religious diversity |
A Pacific dialogue on religious diversity was proposed after a two-day meeting on 27 – 28 August of Pacific academics, theologians, faith community leaders and community representatives convened by the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO in Auckland.
The meeting was a sequel to the Asian Pacific Regional Interfaith Dialogue in Cambodia this year which included representatives from Fiji, New Zealand and Australia. New Zealand delegation leader Dr Manuka Henare said that the Pacific delegations had felt that a more local Pacific dialogue was also desirable. For more information please contact Manuka Henare from the University of Auckland, phone 021 706651. |
| Uni- Diversity conference |
| The multi-faith Uni-Diversity conference was held at the University of Auckland 8 to 9 September. Discussions included the possibility of creating a multi-faith research and education centre in a New Zealand tertiary institution. The steering committee will be meeting in the next week to debrief and plan ahead. The committee are looking to put together the presentations in booklet form for distribution to university senior managers, chaplains and any other interested parties. Please contact Uesifili Unasa |
| First turbaned police officer in New Zealand |
| The Sikh Council of New Zealand has congratulated Amaninder Singh Sandhu on becoming the first Sikh New Zealand Police Officer to wear a turban on duty. It is an historically significant moment for the Sikh community of New Zealand. The NZ Police and the Sikh Council of NZ have been working together since December 2007 on protocols around the turban. The full story of this significant event can be found on the Sikh Centre website |
| National Interfaith Forum 2009 |
| The next national interfaith forum, to be held in Auckland and organised by the Auckland Interfaith Council, is to be held on Friday 27 February to Sunday 1 March 2009, inclusive. Please contact Suzanne Mahon. The Christchurch Interfaith Council agreed at their recent AGM that they will host the 2010 National Interfaith Forum in March 2010 |
| Annual Peace Lecture in Dunedin |
| The Otago Tertiary Chaplaincy and Dunedin Abrahamic Interfaith Group's Annual Peace Lecture was delivered at Otago University on 11th August by Dr Kate Dewes. It was entitled "Visions of Hope for a Terrorised Planet". Dr Dewes explored positive approaches to disarmament and gave examples of non-violent faith - based actions for change by ordinary individuals throughout the world, interspersed with visionary leadership by decision makers including politicians, mayors, diplomats and others. Kate was appointed recently to the UN Disarmament Advisory Board. The full text of her lecture, and all previous annual Peace lecture material, is available on the Dunedin Interfaith website and will soon be accessible as a University of Otago iPod recording, listed under Humanities. |
| Asia-Pacific Interfaith Youth Camp 2008: Surabaya Indonesia |
| Two young New Zealanders participated in an Asia-Pacific interfaith youth camp held in Surabaya, Indonesia 27-31 July. The camp, organised by the Indonesian Government, brought together 18-21 year olds of different faiths from across Asia and the Pacific to engage on the topic of climate change and the environment. New Zealand was represented at the camp by Victoria University students, Emma Yee and Harry Newton, with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade. The participants held discussions and undertook projects comparing approaches to environmental issues from the perspective of different faiths and cultures. For more information please contact Daniel Mellsop |
| Christchurch Interfaith Council new committee, new website |
The Christchurch Interfaith Council elected its new committee members on 28 August at their AGM. Elected members include Rafaa Antoun (Coptic and Anglican Christian), Almeric Cheng (Buddhist), Daphne Crampton (Roman Catholic Christian), Ramanuja Das (Hindu), Dianne Downward (Unificationist), Isaac Freeman (Baha'i), Menachem Goldstein (Jewish), Ibrahim Abdel Halim (Muslim), Bertha Hurley (Roman Catholic Christian), Anwar Jahan (Baha'i), Trevor Jones (Muslim), Derek McCullough (Unitarian Universalist), Ronald McIntyre (Presbyterian Christian), Hugh Perry (Presbyterian Christian), Surinder Tandon (Hindu)
The Christchurch Interfaith Council also has a new website. The website includes events and announcements, a section for information about different religions and a forum for conversation about interfaith topics. Any more ideas to further develop the website are welcome. Please visit the website for details on the next society dialogue interfaith event on 24 September. |
|
Future Events |
| 20 September Christchurch Interfaith Tour |
| The Interfaith Tour, a Christchurch Ethnic Council project, is an event that brings visitors to experience the houses of worship of different faiths. The tour on 20 September will include a visit to the Roman Catholic Cathedral, the Thai Buddhist Temple and another location to be announced. For more information, contact Jim Fraser, phone 03 3527498 |
| Faith in Parliament |
| There will be a celebration at Parliament for the Eid festival on October 6th 2008 and the Diwali Festival on October 28. This is the fifth time Diwali has been celebrated in Parliament and the fourth time Eid has been celebrated. For the first time this year the Jewish festival Rosh Hashanah was also celebrated at Parliament (see “Did You Know?”). |
| Diwali 2008 |
For the first time in its history, the Hindu community has taken an initiative to organise a Rotorua-wide community-focused Deepawali Festival on 8th November 2008 at the Rotorua Convention Centre. The Rotorua Deepawali Festival 2008 is being supported by the Hindu Council of New Zealand, Bay of Plenty (Rotorua) Indian Association, Rotorua Ethnic Council, Rotorua District Council, Settlement Support NZ and Friends of India Society. Contact Guna Magesan for more details.
Please visit the Asia NZ website about Diwali events throughout the country or contact your local council. |
| UDHR Anniversary |
| The Waikato Interfaith Council, along with the Waikato Museum and other local partner organisations, is organising an event to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the UN's Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), to be held in Hamilton on the afternoon of Wednesday, 10 December 2008. The organizing committee will be having a second planning meeting on Tuesday 23rd September at 5:30pm at Artmakers, Ward Park Arts Centre, Seddon Rd, Hamilton. All interested individuals and organizations are invited to come to the meeting and to contribute to the even. Please contact the Waikato Interfaith Council. For more information about the 60th anniversary of the UNDHR please visit the Human Rights Commission website |
| International Day of Peace |
The United Nations Association is holding a Forum on Sunday 21st September - International Peace Day - at 2 pm at Ramsey House 8 Kelburn Parade, Wellington, on the Alliance of Civilisations - A Youth perspective
This is a follow up to the very successful workshop on the UN report on improving the understanding and cooperative relations among nations and in particular between Muslim societies and western countries.
Panelists include Areti Metuamate NZ youth Rep at the AOC summit in Madrid in January, Harry Newton Youth leader who attended the Interfaith gathering in Indonesia in August, Katie Ellena from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs International Security Division, Jafar Mirzee an Iranian Academic and PhD student and Sumaiya Al-Yarubi VUW Law student. For more information please contact Robin Halliday
The United Association is also celebrating the day in Auckland with music and readings. The event is on Sunday 21 September 3pm at the Pace Place, 2 F, 22 Emily Place, Auckland central. Please contact Audrey van Ryn, ph 09 368 1516
|
| Applying Spiritual Principles in Addressing Environmental Concerns |
The fifth and final interfaith seminar in the 2008 series organised by the Auckland Inter-Faith Council with the support of the Auckland City Council, is to be held at the Unitarian Church, 1A Ponsonby Road, Newton, on Thursday 16 October 2008, 7.30pm. Four speakers from different world views will share their insights from their respective faith traditions on addressing this important subject.
Speakers are Sensei Amala Wrightson from the Auckland Zen Centre, Dr. Nicola Hoggard Creegan a lecturer in systematic theology at Laidlaw College (previously BCNZ), Mr Verpal Singh Chairman of the Sikh Centre and the Druid of Devonport, Mr Cris Mullane. The seminar will be chaired by the President of the Auckland Inter-Faith Council, a member of the Bahá'í community. The guest “expert” speaker will be an environmental scientist who has responsibility for Auckland’s air quality. |
|
Did You Know?
|
| NZ Jewish community honoured by Parliament |
By Mike Regan
More than 500 people from New Zealand’s Jewish community attended a special Parliamentary function to celebrate Rosh Hashanah and pay tribute to their contribution to society. While this was the first ever event of its kind for the Jewish community, similar functions had been previously held for other faith groups.
The Minister for Ethnic Affairs, Chris Carter, however, hoped that this would be the first of a regular Parliamentary event for the community. Prime Minister Helen Clark, who gave the key note address, reiterated Carter’s promise saying “a tradition begins here tonight”. She also spoke highly of New Zealand Jewry’s contributions since the first European settlers arrived here.
From the very beginning of that migration in the 1700s she said “their passion for education, family and community and their social conscience” had had enormous influence on New Zealand daily lives.
With less that 8,000 Jews in New Zealand – a tiny fraction of the more than 4 million population – the community may be small, said Clark, but it made its mark well above its numbers. She then highlighted some of those significant contributors from two Prime Ministers to many significant businessmen whose names still head companies begun more than 100 years ago.
“Many Jewish migrants made their way to New Zealand,” she said, “drawn from around the world.” She said they found a country where many different people can “live alongside one another, peacefully”.
She concluded by wishing everyone a “wonderful Rosh Hashanah”.
Among the guests was a contingent of around 50 people who had flown the 600 kilometres from Auckland to share the moment and be part of that recognition.
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is one of the most important High Holy days in the Hebrew calendar. | |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|