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Cooperation

This online edition of the New Zealand Directory on Cultural Diversity, published by the Centre for Citizenship Education (CCE) as its 2005 partnership project with the Diversity Action Programme, will be enhanced in cooperation with others.

For example the Federation of Islamic Associations secretary M Hanif Ali and publisher Anthony Haas agreed on 29 November 2005 talks in Wellington to expand religious and Interfaith content. Former Fiji resident Hanif Ali can be emailed or phoned on 04 387 8023. Link to the Federation's website is the first step in cooperation intended to help, as Federation executive manager and former Singapore resident Sultan Eusoff said in the talks, to build bridges. The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (Inc) is able to bridge between Muslim communities in New Zealand from more than 40 countries, and people in the host society.

The cooperation talks were sparked by meetings convened first by the New Zealand Police, when they launched their publication on ethnic diversity, and then by Wellington Jewish community B'nai Brith organisation at which Jewish and Muslim women spoke about their perspectives.

Earlier in 2005 the New Zealand Jewish Council endorsed the Directory on Cultural Diversity, and during citizenship education networking communication was established with other participants in the Interfaith dialogue. The Pope's actions and local Catholic reaction were reported in the Directory.

At the Malta Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in November Interfatih was on the leaders' agenda.

A review of other content in the Directory on Cultural Diversity showed some of the challenges potential users would have in finding Muslim community organisations in New Zealand - and cooperation will seek to identify those gaps more precisely and address them together, says Centre for Citizenship Education director and publisher Anthony Haas.

For citizenship education

The Directory on Cultural Diversity first edition, published on NZ Race Relations Day, March 2005, incorporates CCE’s annual Directory for Citizenship Education.

This brings information on government departments, crown entities, state owned enterprises, information and services and help with rights and the law alongside content focused on helping culturally diverse New Zealanders and host society agencies work with each other.

Ten point plan

This in turn helps strengthen cultural diversity – a goal of the ten point Diversity Action Programme developed at Parliament in August 2004 in response to challenges to New Zealand’s racial harmony.

The purpose of the Directory on Cultural Diversity is to provide information and pathways to key organisations involved in promoting cultural diversity in New Zealand.

Information about this enhanced Directory for Citizenship Education was made available to participants in the national diversity forum held at Parliament in August 2005.

Pathways

The CCE is working with project partners, publishers and account executives to produce the updated and expanded Directory online and in such other formats as may be possible.

The Directory on Cultural Diversity is supported by the DecisionMaker Guide to Parliament and Government, which is the guide to Parliament, government, the law and the big picture, first published by Asia Pacific Economic News Ltd in consultation with Parliamentary Services in 1990.

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