Ministry for Ethnic Communities

Now more than ever, the need for a Ministry of Ethnic Communities is apparent and urgent.

Discrimination has not been eradicated, far from it. In fact, one need only do a quick search of recent studies to find that ethnic discrimination is on the rise in many countries, especially since the pandemic. Why, then, would we cut back on funding for the Ministry of Ethnic Communities? It would be more in keeping with what we are seeing to put more funding towards this ministry, so that we might work against the tide of discrimination and towards the betterment of the lives of our citizens - who come from all different backgrounds. Moreover, what we are seeing in Palestine is a direct result of ethnic discrimination.

Communities within New Zealand are being affected by the events in Palestine, as they witness brutal and lethal violence against their family members, friends and people of their same ethnic and religious background. We should be committing to helping our citizens and their families by granting emergency visas, and by increasing funding to the very ministry that was created to deal with the ethnic discrimination that motivated a person to attack Muslim communities within our own country. We still have work to do.

Research shows that in social cohesion, both the 'horizontal' (trust in each other) and 'vertical' (trust by citizens in the institutions of government) axes are important.

In order to achieve vertical social cohesion, where citizens trust that the institutions of government are acting in good faith in the best interests of all, then government agencies must be resourced to conduct effective relationships with communities. As we all know, the main things we need to build good relationships are time and space and these should not be construed as luxuries. With our ethnic and minority communities, more time and space may be needed to build a strong relationship as we navigate cultural and language differences, earn trust and work to fully understand issues. There is ample 'case study' evidence of the need for this as seen in the immediate aftermath of the Christchurch terror attacks, when the Islamic Women's Federation spoke out about attempts they had made to bring the issue of hate against Muslims and particularly Muslim women to official attention.

Proper resourcing for MEC is needed to ensure they can continue this life-affirming, trust-affirming, vital work which has a real and immediate impact on ethnic communities who can otherwise be so easily marginalised, which is bad for everyone. The proposed cuts will do just that.

They do great work to support these communities through funding and outreach and are a great connection to these communities for wider govt and the public. Ensuring all the populations agencies, not just MEC, are able to do their work effectively is important for all of NZ.

Letter Supporting Ministry for Ethnic Communities from Fred Albert and Marilyn Garson, Co-Founders of Alternative Jewish Voices//Sh’ma Koleinu

We are writing this letter of support for the Ministry for Ethnic Communities after hearing and reading news stories concerning downsizing proposals. The Ministry works significantly in helping groups working for improved social cohesion in New Zealand society.



In our own situation, we were contacted by Hisham Eldai, Senior Advisor, Community and Partnerships, soon after the October 2023 Israel/Gaza war broke out. He was reaching out to the various communities that could have been affected by the conflict. This was certainly a difficult time for us both as Jews and non-Zionists. Hisham was open-minded, knowledgeable and inclusive. We introduced several others to him and they echoed our positive experience. We had a fruitful discussion and he made it clear that we could contact him to discuss issues as they came up for us at any time. We have been able to call on the Ministry’s assistance several times.



The Ministry was also helpful to us in our joint project with the Federation of Islamic Associations in New Zealand (FIANZ). This project started with a roundtable discussion between our group, members of FIANZ and representatives of several government departments including the Police, the Human Rights Commission and the Ministry for Ethnic Communities to talk about the Gaza/Israel war. This was the first time in some years that Jews and Muslims had been able to talk together in a supportive atmosphere and talk about a potentially tricky subject. The Ministry was also very helpful when FIANZ and Alternative Jewish Voices worked to set up a ‘youth group’ to also talk about these difficult issues. We feel this has helped social cohesion for our two groups.



At a time when it seems clear that cohesion in and between our communities is becoming more difficult, the Ministry for Ethnic Communities is providing an essential service, very much at the front addressing the fault lines in our communities. We support no cuts to this important part of Government.

Proposals to cut funding to this service is outrageous and another example of the limited understanding and consideration for where services are needed.

All pakeha people who came to NZ were at one point, immigrants. I believe it is really important for people coming to NZ to feel supported to live and work in a thriving community. I myself have come from another country and made NZ my home, and I love to see the huge diversity of cultures that thrive here in NZ. I believe that getting rid of the Ministry for Ethnic Communities sends a message of racism and intolerance, which should not be allowed in a forward thinking country such as NZ. Diversity and inclusion strengthen our communities and we should be celebrating this and helping people to thrive here. Without a Ministry to lead the way, I believe that there will be harm to ethnic communities.

It's important to have a ministry that supports our ethnic communities to belong and have a voice, because the alternative is horrifying! Without the important mahi done by this ministry, racism becomes more powerful, and we risk becoming a place where there are different classes of citizens. If we don't empower ethnic communities, we are effectively saying we are happy for everyone in those communities to feel isolated.

Supporting and enabling ethnic communities to fully participate in and contribute to a thriving community is crucial for several reasons:



Diversity Enriches Society: Ethnic communities bring unique perspectives, cultural richness, and diverse experiences that enrich the social fabric of society. Embracing this diversity fosters a more vibrant and inclusive community where individuals feel valued and represented.



Promoting Social Cohesion: By actively engaging and supporting ethnic communities, we promote social cohesion and harmony. When people from different backgrounds feel included and empowered, it reduces the likelihood of social tensions and fosters a sense of belonging for all members of society.



Economic Contribution: Ethnic communities often contribute significantly to the economy through entrepreneurship, innovation, and labor. By providing support and resources to these communities, we can harness their economic potential and promote overall economic growth.



Addressing Inequities: Many ethnic communities face systemic barriers to full participation in society, including limited access to education, employment opportunities, healthcare, and social services. A ministry dedicated to supporting these communities can address these inequities and work towards ensuring equal opportunities for all.



As for why cuts to such a ministry should be stopped:



Impact on Vulnerable Communities: Cuts to a ministry supporting ethnic communities would disproportionately affect vulnerable populations who rely on these services the most. It could exacerbate existing inequalities and further marginalize already disadvantaged groups.



Loss of Progress: Over the years, such ministries have made significant strides in advancing the rights and well-being of ethnic communities. Cutting funding or resources would roll back this progress and undermine efforts towards building a more inclusive society.



Long-Term Benefits: Investing in ethnic communities yields long-term benefits for society as a whole. By supporting their integration, empowerment, and participation, we create a stronger and more resilient community that is better equipped to address challenges and seize opportunities in the future.



Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: Maintaining a ministry dedicated to supporting ethnic communities sends a clear message about a nation's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and social justice. It demonstrates a willingness to uphold the rights and dignity of all citizens, regardless of background or origin.

More than 80% of NZ's population growth is from net migration – India, the Philippines and China are the main source countries. This will put enormous demand for diversity onto public services. By 2043, StatsNZ (September 2022) estimates 21% of the population will be Māori, 24% Asian, and 11% Pasifika (under-15 year-olds will be 33% Māori, 25% Asian, and 19% Pasifika).

Many people in NZ will identify as multiple ethnicities as well. This is why having a Ministry for Ethnic Communities is so important.
It needs to exist in order to address growing diversity and enhance social cohesion in government investments and policies at the central and local levels.

Immigration has been high for many years - NZ governments have enticed migrants here with the promise of work, homes, education for their children, the opportunity to live well and safely.Migrants have paid a great deal of money for the 'privilege' of moving to NZ - and now we have an obligation to provide the society and services that will support them to thrive here. 


There are many stories from now-adult migrants who came to NZ as children and went to school here reporting being bullied and harassed due their accents, skin colour, and lunchbox contents. A Ministry for Ethnic Communities will advocate for safe schools that educate about accepting other cultures, languages and customs, teaching English language and NZ customs to children, the same for adults in the workplace. We have seen reports of [insert here: Indian, Chinese etc] businesses ripping off their countrymen only to claim they didn't know they weren't complying with NZ workplace legislation - well, a Ministry for Ethnic Communities could support education and help monitor compliance
To do otherwise is short-sighted: risking pockets of not-integrated and excluded communities harbouring resentment (remember the Bondi Beach riots of a few years ago, with youth from - I think - different Middle Eastern communities fighting each other) or not achieving their potential in the either the workplace as employees or as business entrepreneurs.
A Ministry is NOT generosity by the government - they have an obligation to provide services incurred when the migrant paid their fees to Immigration NZ, especially if the migrant came here to get an education: foreign students pay exorbitant fees.
NZ - thanks to successive government policy - is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world - an supportive government ministry to help ensure that it is a peaceful and stable one is essential.

At a time when the enthusiasm of globalisation is in decline, domestic cohesion becomes increasingly important. The strength of a country rests on the unity of its people. Given New Zealand's small size and its diverse population, expert advice on how to achieve social and cultural harmony and the effective execution of initiative to this end is crucial. The Ministry for Ethnic Community is a small ministry with a very important role to play. It will be a mistake to change its current independent setting, which has been tested through a long journey of evolution.

It's important to have a ministry that can help communities deal with racism and prejudices. People need to be respected and valued as citizens of Aotearoa and the ministry helps with this. The ministry is the national voice for ethnic communities - this is most important given the level of racism in this country - personal and institutional racism. The ministry provides resources for ethnic communities to best negotiate the inequalities they experience and how to make change.

The only way to stop another event like the Christchurch attacks is to have free and fair dialogue between different ethnic and social groups, and the only way for that exchange to be protected is to support it with government investment.

I highly believe, different ethnic communities contribute a lot to New Zealand for its developments by bringing different knowledge, ideas and challenges. If we need to improve as the country or as the ministry we need the support from different support groups that can help in the developments. This only can achieve when we have people with different way of thinking trying to achieve a common goal. This is a country for many and every humans are important!

We need to embrace other ethnicities in Aotearoa. Here in Christchurch, we've got In Common - an initiative that connects ethnic communities with New Zealanders, through sharing kai. It's just wonderful to see the smiles on people's faces - we ALL benefit from those connections.

It's important to have a ministry that supports our ethnic communities to belong and have a voice, because the alternative is horrifying! Without the important mahi done by this ministry, racism becomes more powerful, and we risk becoming a place where there are different classes of citizens. If we don't empower ethnic communities, we are effectively saying we are happy for everyone in those communities to feel isolated.

It is so important that we care for our clients properly and that means we need all the tools to do that Not having the proper equipment for our clients is a start them not having the right equipment is a down fall as we need to keep them out of the hospital and keeping them in their own homes for a start you need to pay us properly so we can care for them there is so many clients without the basics in their homes because they get told no they can't have this and that and it's holding them back for every day living they don't have enough food or can't get to appointments because of gas it's important to me that I care for them in a manner that they are not ashamed of what they have or how their homes look please help us out.

The Ministry for Ethnic Communities plays a vital role in connecting diverse communities across New Zealand. Such connections are vital to rising to the challenges of the modern world - think of the role that connecting with community organizations played during the COVID-19 vaccination drive, or after Cyclone Gabrielle. Cutting funding to MEC will damage the government's ability to perform this vital role, and will cost us in the long run.