Manawatu Multicultural Council is dedicated to fostering a Tiriti-based multicultural society, recognizing the unique status of Māori as Tangata Whenua.
Under the New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Councils, Manawatu Multicultural Council is committed in its Constitution to raising awareness among ethnic communities about the needs, aspirations, and status of Māori. We believe that New Zealand is a multiethnic society where the Māori hold a special status as Tangata Whenua (people of the land) and have special rights under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Activities
In April 2021, our former President Nina Kirschbaum had the great pleasure and privilege to attend the Federation of Multicultural New Zealand hui, where more than 50 leaders of Multicultural Communities around Aotearoa went to Paihia to learn about the history of Aotearoa from a Maori perspective. The hui included visiting Te Tiriti o Waitangi grounds where the members of Multicultural New Zealand, together with Tangata Whenua gathered to commemorate New Zealand's Multicultural communities’ commitment to the Te Reo Maori version of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
They planted a Kauri tree named "Mokopuna" to the first peoples of this land as a gesture of goodwill. May their dedication and commitment to Te Tiriti grow as strong and graceful as this Mokopuna.
Our organization's activities surrounding Te Tiriti o Waitangi has continued over the years. In 2023, we co-hosted The Treaty in Our Language workshop alongside Tangata Tiriti, held in July 2023. Later that year, we hosted our annual Marae Visits, this time to Te Rangimarie Marae.
Federation of Multicultural New Zealand hui, attended by more than fifty leaders of Multicultural Communities around Aotearoa.
Visit to Te Rangimarie Marae, November 2023