On Wed 17th March Newtown Library had two Aoga Amata (Samoan preschool) groups with 30 children come and attend our Earth People fun. They were aged mostly 3-4 years old.

The kids listened to a multicultural storytime in English, Chinese and Samoan, then had a morning tea, before making Earth People with our resident artist Marg Elliot.

The Aoga Amata groups were from the Pacific Islanders’ Congregational Church and the Saint Anne’s AA.

Have a look at their results and some photos of the morning!

The Human Rights Commission have produced a short video all about the Diversity Action Programme.

The New Zealand Diversity Action Programme brings together organisations taking practical initiatives to:

• Recognise and celebrate the cultural diversity of our society (diverse)
• Promote the equal enjoyment by everyone of their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, regardless of race, colour, ethnicity or national origin (equal)
• Foster harmonious relations between diverse peoples (harmonious)

(Source: Human Rights Commission Website)

This weekend you are invited to the launch of a new DVD that Wellington City Libraries have made about Wellington’s Muslim communities.

Our Place, Your Place is directed and produced by Helen Donnelly (a WCL staff member), and gives a brief history of the Muslim community in New Zealand, and of the Wellington Islamic Centre. It also highlights the many relevant resources available in library collections.

The DVD will screen as part of the NZ Diversity Forum in Te Papa’s Oceania Room this Sunday 23 August from 3.30-4.30pm.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion called ‘Muslims in the Media: A True Reflection?’  The panel will include members of Wellington’s Muslim community along with Helen Donnelly and local media experts.

If you’re keen to attend this screening and panel discussion, please register online.

The Diversity Fern is the logo of the New Zealand Diversity Action Programme. It was designed by Malaysian-born New Zealand designer Jean Voon for Race Relations Day in 2005 and continues to be used in publications, Race Relations Day publicity material, and for Diversity Action Programme activities.
The fern represents the growing cultural diversity of New Zealand. Starting from the base of the fern, the motifs are as follows:

• Traditional kowhaiwhai pattern from a painted panel. Manutuke church. (1849) Rongowhakaata Tribe.
• Fleur de Lys design loosely representing the European population, taken from hinges on St Patrick’s Cathedral, Auckland.
• Samoan pattern from tapa cloth.
• Traditional Chinese character found on silk cloth. The character ’shou’ means longevity.
• Indian paisley, used in henna (mendhi) designs to adorn the hands.
• Vietnamese motif from a piece of woven fabric.
• Middle Eastern motif (Iranian).
• Baby fronds symbolising new growth.