Empowering ethnic businesses to optimise their skills and exposing them to international markets are among the objectives of a global conference due to be held in Wellington later this month.
Called EPIC (Ethnic People in Commerce) NZ, the half-day event will be held in Wellington on June 26.
EPIC NZ is an ambitious project of the Office of Ethnic Affairs (OEA), which has been actively promoting a number of initiatives for the past few years to enable migrants and resident ethnic communities to realise their full potential and become active partners in economic growth and progress.
Promoting SMEs
OEA Director Berlinda Chen said that EPIC NZ was launched to connect ethnic and mainstream Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to help them grow their respective businesses. One such opportunity occurred on May 2 in Auckland when OEA conducted its ‘EPIC NZ Go Global’ conference in conjunction with Export NZ.
“Our Office also runs smaller capability-building events or ‘blenders’ to help business people connect with each other. OEA has a team of intercultural advisors who provide advice, support and facilitate better intercultural understanding and action in workplaces. These are open to mainstream and ethnic businesses,” she told Indian Newslink.
The Office aims to maximise the country’s potential for economic growth by utilising the skills, experience and international connections of migrants. The EPIC NZ website (www.epicnz.co.nz) provides practical advice and networking opportunities for ethnic and mainstream businesses, she said.
Quality leadership
According to Ms Chen, Leadership is important for building the capability and capacity of ethnic communities to participate in the society and contribute towards its progress.
Speaking at the EthnicA conferences held last month in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Hamilton, she gave a global perspective of leadership, its changing concept and style. Her speeches, under the theme, ‘The Right to Lead,’ underscored the need for intercultural awareness, better communication skills and highlighted the need for managing paradoxes.
Among the highlights of the conference series was a panel discussion featuring speakers from diverse backgrounds, including surgeon and author Dr Sharad Paul, Economist Dr Ganesh Nana and Master Chef New Zealand contestant Jax Hamilton.
“The conferences also featured a session with ethnic youth, a key focus of our Leadership Programme. Our young men and women envisioned a vibrant and ethnically diverse New Zealand,” Ms Chen said.
Celebrating diversity
The rapid rise of ethnic communities and the increasing number of migrants from Asia has encouraged successive governments to put in place pragmatic policies and programmes to create a conducive environment for the progress of these communities. EPIC NZ has enhanced its website resource to include a number of new features including the languages spoken in New Zealand and their role in integration.
Quoting Statistics New Zealand figures, Ms Chen said that by 2021, about 25% of New Zealand population would be people born overseas. The country’s Asian ethnic population has almost doubled over the last 12 years. In 2013, 471,708 people identified with at least one Asian ethnicity, compared with 238,179 in 2001.
“OEA supports and facilitates a range of events which celebrate cultural diversity in New Zealand. The Office helps the Ethnic Affairs Minister in hosting Parliamentary functions for Chinese New Year and Diwali. Our EthnicA conferences enable diverse communities to network, get to know each other and finds ways and means of maximising the benefits that ethnic diversity,” she said.
According to her, research on the settlement of new migrants (including people from Asia) showed that most of them integrate well into New Zealand life, with 89% stating that they were satisfied with life in this country and a majority saying that they were keen to obtain New Zealand citizenship.
One of the priorities set for OEA is to help maintain and improve New Zealand’s reputation as a socially harmonious nation and as a desirable destination for tourism, education, investment and migration, Ms Chen said.
Youth and Women
“Our office is conducting a youth programme focused on Public Sector leadership, from March to November this year. Sixty ethnic young people from various parts of New Zealand will receive training in project management, diversity, working with the media, government machinery, advocacy and public speaking. They would also have job shadowing opportunities,” Ms Chen said.
OEA hosts the Ethnic Women’s Leadership Programme in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch every year to develop ethnic women’s leadership capability so that they can be the agents for change in their own communities and in the wider society.
Ethnic women are encouraged to lead and support their communities to integrate and participate in society more effectively, she said.
“OEA keeps a database of New Zealanders from ethnic communities qualified for appointment to a number of government boards, committees and advisory groups, including those of Crown companies. The positions represent an excellent opportunity to contribute to the prosperity and strength of New Zealand’s economy and communities.”
Indians on boards
Ethnic Affairs Minister Judith Collins has often encouraged ethnic women, including those of Indian origin to nominate themselves or others to various Government boards and agencies.
Speaking at a meeting of officials of the New Zealand Indian Central Association (NZICA) at her office in Wellington on June 6, 2013, she said that there was a pronounced need for closer relationship between women of Indian origin and the Government, including its agencies and commissions.
“I have met many talented women from the Indian community and I strongly believe that there must be wider representation of them in various government bodies and organisations. They must be encouraged to participate in the policy and decision-making process,” she said (Indian Newslink, July 1, 2013).
Ms Collins said that she was also keen to promote the younger members of the communities and benefit from their views on various issues.
Ms Chen said that agencies supporting the Government’s appointment of candidates to more than 400 state sector boards and committees consult OEA.
