Welcoming new people, cultures
Eastern Southland is renowned for its rich cultural tapestry, blending Māori heritage with a diverse array of global traditions.
With a population representing 45 different ethnicities, the district has earned its status as an "Established Welcoming Community" under Immigration New Zealand's Welcoming Communities programme.
The Gore District Council, in collaboration with residents and organisations, has developed a comprehensive Welcome Plan aimed at supporting newcomers into the community.
This plan focuses on four key areas: integration assistance, local community information, bridging the cultural divide and involvement in activities.
Community development co-ordinator Guillaume Willemse, is a primary contact for newcomers seeking assistance.
Guillaume is the go-to in this space and is excited to be launching the upgraded landing page on the council's website.
A huge amount of work has gone into making this information current, accessible and relevant.
It includes the new Digital Welcome Pack, providing valuable information about living and working in our area, along with critical service information and cultural activities.
With the change in agricultural season across the rohe (region) our hapori (community) continues to welcome new people, families, whanau and aiga (family) to the deep south. To embody a welcoming community, the community must be welcoming.
Have you thought about how you might welcome someone new to your community in a way that supports them? It can be as simple as acknowledging a person and introducing yourself.
Adjusting to a rural lifestyle or a small-town pace takes time.
If someone seems shy, check in again later. Language barriers? Slow down, smile, and speak clearly — not louder. If you don't understand someone's culture or practice, ask respectfully.
Strike up a conversation, perhaps ask them if they are looking for specific places or services. Don't make assumptions. Show that you and your community care. We can all learn so much from each other; our community is always growing.
By welcoming newcomers with warmth and genuine curiosity, we help create a place where everyone feels safe, valued, and included. Let's continue to build a strong, connected Eastern Southland — one that honours its roots while embracing the richness that new people bring.
By Kelly Young
Heartland services co-ordinator
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Otago Daily Times
6 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Welcoming new people, cultures
Eastern Southland is renowned for its rich cultural tapestry, blending Māori heritage with a diverse array of global traditions. With a population representing 45 different ethnicities, the district has earned its status as an "Established Welcoming Community" under Immigration New Zealand's Welcoming Communities programme. The Gore District Council, in collaboration with residents and organisations, has developed a comprehensive Welcome Plan aimed at supporting newcomers into the community. This plan focuses on four key areas: integration assistance, local community information, bridging the cultural divide and involvement in activities. Community development co-ordinator Guillaume Willemse, is a primary contact for newcomers seeking assistance. Guillaume is the go-to in this space and is excited to be launching the upgraded landing page on the council's website. A huge amount of work has gone into making this information current, accessible and relevant. It includes the new Digital Welcome Pack, providing valuable information about living and working in our area, along with critical service information and cultural activities. With the change in agricultural season across the rohe (region) our hapori (community) continues to welcome new people, families, whanau and aiga (family) to the deep south. To embody a welcoming community, the community must be welcoming. Have you thought about how you might welcome someone new to your community in a way that supports them? It can be as simple as acknowledging a person and introducing yourself. Adjusting to a rural lifestyle or a small-town pace takes time. If someone seems shy, check in again later. Language barriers? Slow down, smile, and speak clearly — not louder. If you don't understand someone's culture or practice, ask respectfully. Strike up a conversation, perhaps ask them if they are looking for specific places or services. Don't make assumptions. Show that you and your community care. We can all learn so much from each other; our community is always growing. By welcoming newcomers with warmth and genuine curiosity, we help create a place where everyone feels safe, valued, and included. Let's continue to build a strong, connected Eastern Southland — one that honours its roots while embracing the richness that new people bring. By Kelly Young Heartland services co-ordinator
RNZ News
7 hours ago
- RNZ News
Matariki and our diminishing night sky: Light pollution makes stars harder to see
First published on By Shea Esterling and William Grant* Many New Zealanders look to the skies to celebrate Matariki, but light pollution remains a major issue. Photo: Quin Tauetau This week, Aotearoa New Zealand officially celebrates Matariki for the fourth time, marked by the reappearance in the night sky of the star cluster also known as the Pleiades. Yet, ironically, the accompanying celebrations and the legislation that declares Matariki a public holiday miss the mark. They fail to promote and protect the country's dark skies, which are crucial to seeing the stars in this small constellation. While the law recognises Matariki's significance to Māori culture and heritage as the beginning of the Māori New Year, it does not acknowledge that it is predicated on the visual presence of the star cluster. Even where Matariki is not visible owing to weather conditions, the ability to see other celestial markers is important (for example Puanga/Puaka, also known as Rigel). Light pollution is a visual barrier to experiencing these important stars. Since the passage of the legislation, local councils across the country have marked the public holiday with various light displays. This year will be no different, with illuminated artworks, projections and lightboxes at Matariki festivals in several cities. Tirama Mai (bringing the light) will return to Ōtautahi Christchurch with brightly lit displays. Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will see some of its most popular sites, including Queen Street, lit up as part of Tūrama , a series of large-scale, illuminated art installations. In Rotorua , Whakatū Nelson and Ōtepoti Dunedin , Matariki festivities include spectacular drone light shows which will light up the night sky. After initially ignoring Māori advice that fireworks are not appropriate to celebrate Matariki, many local councils have now abandoned them . But festivities will no doubt continue to contribute to light pollution and ignore the need to protect dark skies at night. These ill-conceived festivities are not surprising given the legislation fails to even mention dark skies. This is exacerbated by New Zealand emerging as a major player in the increasingly commercialised space sector which has developed rapidly since the first rocket lifted off from Mahia peninsula in 2017. Last year's Matariki celebrations in Rotorua. Photo: LDR/ Laura Smith Much of Aotearoa's landmass has some of the darkest skies on the planet. Based on land area, 74 percent of the North Island and 93 percent of the South Island rest beneath night skies that are either pristine or degraded only near the horizon. Indeed, the area affected by direct illumination is very low. Yet, intense urbanisation means only 3 percent of the population regularly experience such skies. About half of all New Zealanders can no longer see the Milky Way in winter. Globally, the visibility of stars (an indicator of the level of light pollution) decreased by 7-10 percent per year from 2011 to 2022 . The visibility of the night sky in New Zealand appears to be following a similar trend. Between 2012 and 2021, the area affected by light pollution grew at a rate of 4.2 percent above the global average . Advertising and tourism campaigns reinforce the perception that Aotearoa has dark skies, but visible satellites could soon outnumber the stars people can see, from New Zealand and worldwide. At present, there is no explicit domestic law protecting dark skies, nor any international laws. The law declaring Matariki a public holiday missed an important opportunity to provide such protection. To address this issue, a petition was presented to parliament in January 2023 calling for national legislation to promote and protect dark skies. In March this year, parliament responded it would not take further actions "due to other priorities on the government's resource management reform work programme". This is not surprising. Nevertheless, we call on the government to develop legislation for the governance of dark skies in Aotearoa New Zealand that incorporates mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge). While there are a variety of ways this could be achieved, controlling light pollution is the crux of the issue. Light pollution emanates both from unmitigated urban lighting as well as the expansion of satellite constellations, which is steadily forming a global net of moving points of light in space. An incremental approach could be a government-backed education programme to raise awareness of light pollution, followed by the development of a national policy for its control. An amendment to the Matariki public holiday law could then follow in recognition of the national interest. We are aware the challenges ahead are many. Yet, protecting dark skies is vital from a Māori perspective. Practically, such protections are crucial to the enjoyment and honouring of Matariki as we continue to risk disconnection from one of our most important natural features. * Shea Esterling is a Senior Lecturer Above the Bar at the University of Canterbury and receives funding from the Borrin Foundation. William Grant is a Lecturer in Law at the University of Canterbury, and does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. This story was originally published on The Conversation.
Otago Daily Times
20 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Matariki theme for gathering
Five schools from across East Otago yesterday gathered for a day full of food and activities in the spirit of Matariki. East Otago High School had guests from Hampden, Palmerston, Waikouaiti and Karitane schools on campus. East Otago High School student Arabella Hagan (left) helps Palmerston School pupils Ivy Higgins and Alisha Porter, both aged 10, arrange hokey pokey stars into the Matariki cluster at East Otago High School yesterday. PHOTOS: GERARD O'BRIEN Principal Helen Newcombe said a big aspect of Matariki was remembering the year gone by and also to gather and share food. She said yesterday was a good opportunity for the primary school pupils to have look at the campus. Waikouaiti School pupil Penny Powell, 11, sprints past Ria Heckler, 11, of Palmerston School during a game of MĀori ball game ki-o-rahi at East Otago High School yesterday. It also gave the senior students a chance to show off their leadership skills and lead activities around the school. Each East Otago student looked after a group of 10 primary school pupils during the day, playing Māori ball game ki-o-rahi, baking and making booklets about the Māori New Year. The East Otago High School kapa haka group performs at the start of Matariki-related activities at the school yesterday. Ms Newcombe said the day provided a good opportunity for teachers and students to collaborate. "There is so much we can all learn from each other," she said.
