Multicultural programme at Mt Albert War Memorial Hall, Auckland on August 6 at 7 pm
Venkat Raman
Auckland, July 27, 2022
It would be a confluence of classical and modern music and dance next weekend in Auckland as an aspirant of Mrs Universe New Zealand organises a multicultural entertainment programme in aid of Women’s Refuge and to raise public awareness on growing domestic violence.
Nishi Ranathunga, a talented dancer who presents various types of South Asian formats is organising the concert at Mt Albert War Memorial Hall, located at 773 New North Road, Mt Albert. The event is scheduled to commence at 7 pm.
“The programme will incorporate Maori, Samoan, Tongan, Sri Lankan, Indian, Hip Hop, Belly Dance and other items. Among the highlights will be a ‘Domestic Awareness Act,’ and an Awareness Programme organised by the New Zealand Police and a lawyer. We want this event to be successful as all proceedings will be given to the Women’s Refuge New Zealand to help them support women, children, and families in need. This show will also spread and raise awareness about Women’s Refuge New Zealand and its activities,” she said.
About Nishi Ranathunga
Nishi Ranathunga is a multi-talented artiste, a schoolteacher, dancer, dance instructor, choreographer, model, and an actress. A graduate in Education, she has a Diploma in Performing Arts and has performed extensively in New Zealand and her native Sri Lanka.
As well as a popular artiste invited to perform at multicultural and multiethnic events, Nishi was a recipient of a ‘Culture Award’ for her exemplary services to Sri Lankan Classical Dances at the Eighth Annual Indian Newslink Sports, Community, Arts and Culture Awards held in Auckland on June 20, 2022.
Nishi is the Director and Principal of New Zealand Sri Lanka Dance Studio which trains people keen on achieving proficiency in Sri Lankan and other dance formats. While her talents have been widely recognised, Nishi is keen to support worthy causes.
“This is my way of giving back to the community and to deserving causes,” she said.
Nishi is a finalist in the Mrs Universe New Zealand Contest and has chosen Women’s Refuge New Zealand as her project to raise funds.
About Women’s Refuge New Zealand
Women’s Refuge New Zealand is the country’s largest nationwide organisation that supports and helps women and children experiencing family violence. Its vision is for all women and children in Aotearoa to live free from domestic and family violence.
According to New Zealand Police, there were 160,000 family violence investigations recorded in 2020. Against this background, the Organisation welcomed the government’s initiative as it launched ‘Te Aorerekura National Strategy for Eliminating Family Violence and Sexual Violence’ on December 7, 2021.
Dr Ang Jury, Chief Executive od the National Collective of Women’s Refuge said that ‘Te Aorerekura,’ rooted deeply and deliberately in Te Ao Māori, brings together the knowledge, expertise, and experience of those living with the everyday realities of violence in their lives and those of us working to support them.
“It has been constructed from a long and exhaustive consultation and negotiation process, bringing together a multitude of voices to reach a common understanding and build a shared vision of a way forward. Women’s Refuge is cautiously excited at this long-awaited launch. This is just the beginning,” she said.
