My report to the Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel - April 2012

1. EPAP – Sub-committee member monthly report
Subcommittee: Youth and Community & Engagement
Name (member): Bevan Chuang
Period: March – April 2012
EPAP agenda date: 19 April 2012
Topic/ Event/ Activity: Meeting with Accelerating Aotearoa
Date: 16 March 2012
Location: Accelerating Aotearoa
Narrative: Follow up meeting with Judith of Accelerating Aotearoa on their
presentation to the Draft Economic Development Strategy committee. Accelerating
Aotearoa to look at how they can assist Maori, Pacific and Ethnic children to gain
employment.
Topic/ Event/ Activity: Taiwanese Hwa Hsia
Society of New Zealand 22nd AGM and
Anniversary
Date: 17 March 2012
Location: Greenlane Christian Centre
Narrative: The Taiwanese Hwa Hsia Society
of New Zealand organised their 22nd AGM
and Anniversary event at the Greenlane
Christian Centre. A variety of multicultural
performances that celebrates the Taiwanese
community living here in Auckland.
VIPs attended: Director General of Taipei
Economic and Cultural Office Mr Lincoln Ting,
Labour MP Hon Phil Goff, Raymond Huo and
Rajendra Prasad, National MP Jiang Yang,
Mayor Len Brown, Cr George Wood.
EPAP present: John Hong
Topic/ Event/ Activity: African Youth Festival
Date: 17 March 2012
Location: Mt Albert War Memorial Hall
Narrative: Ghanaian Association of NZ presents
AFRYFEST 2012 at the Mt Albert War Memorial
Hall. A variety of performances and wonderful
day out for young and old.
VIPs attended: Mayor Len Brown, Deputy Mayor
Penny Hulse, National MP Melissa Lee, Leader of
the Opposition Mr David Shearer
EPAP present: Tuwe Kudawkashe, Kafeba
Mundele and Amail Habib.

2. Topic/ Event/ Activity: EPAP presentation on the Draft Economic Development
Strategy
Date: 19 March 2012
Location: Auckland Town Hall
Narrative: EPAP presented our oral submissions to the Draft Economic Development
Strategy committee and was very well received. Committee is very keen to work
closely with the EPAP members on engaging with ethnic businesses.
EPAP present: John Hong
Topic/ Event/ Activity: Japanese Art Festival
Date: 30 March – 2 April 2012
Location: Aotea Centre
Narrative: The Japanese community presented the
Japanese Art Festival at the Aotea Centre, presented
works from Japanese and New Zealand artists. The
presentation of Japanese Tohu earthquake and
tsunami was mind blowing. You can find out more on
http://japan-artest.com/index.html
Topic/ Event/ Activity: EthnicA
Date: 31 March 2012
Location: Alexander Park Racecourse
Narrative: This is the second year
EthnicA conference was organised by
the Office of Ethnic Affairs. The aim of
the conference is to discuss matters
related to the ethnic communities in
Auckland, which included identity, arts,
international students, women, social
entrepreneur and more. EPAP shared
table with Auckland Council and
distributed April newsletters to
attendees. Mayor Len Brown had invited
EPAP members to the front and
presented us to the attendees.
EPAP present: Amail Habib, Tuwe
Kudakwashe, Grace Ryu, Ann Pala, Asoka
Basnayake, Jeet Suchev, Susan Zhu

3. Topic/ Event/ Activity: Race Unity Speech
Awards
Date: 31 March 2012
Location: Manukau Baha’i Centre
Narrative: This annual event was organised by
NZ Police, Human Rights Commission and the
Baha’I Centre. Six students presented at the
final Race Unity Speech Awards and last year’s
winner spoke about change. The students
presented that racism is an issue not only for
the ethnic community, but also for Caucasian
New Zealanders.
VIPs included National Manager Māori Pacific
Ethnic Services Superintendent Wally
Haumaha, Race Relations Commissioner Joris
de Bres and Cr Alf Filipaina. Alf acknowledged
the work by PPAP and EPAP and have called
the audience to support the existence of the Panels.
Topic/ Event/ Activity: Auckland
International Cultural Festival
Date: 1 April 2012
Location: Mt Roskill War Memorial
Park
Narrative: The Auckland
International Cultural Festival has
been running for more than 22
years, since it first started in Potters
Park. The Festival is the only truly
multicultural festival for Auckland
and has attracted tens of thousands
of people. Auckland must see this as
a key event that is not any less
important than the Lantern Festival,
Diwali Festival or Pacifika. This is the
only festival that celebrates the
multicultural mix of Auckland
instead of celebrating and
highlighting only one culture. The
Event Organiser Helen Cheng did a
brilliant job as this festival was
severely underfunded and under-resourced.
We also celebrated the 40th Anniversary of the Human Rights Act in New Zealand
with the Human Rights Commission.

4. VIPs included: Mayor Len Brown, Minister Judith Collins, Race Relations
Commissioner Joris de Bres, Hon Phil Goff, Hon David Shearer, Rajendra Prasad,
Local Board members
EPAP present: Amail Habib, Ann Pala, John Hong, Jeet Suchev, Asoka Basnayake,
Susan Zhu
Topic/ Event/ Activity: GEILI visit to
Auckland
Date: 2 – 9 April 2012
Location: Various
Narrative: Global Exchange In
Leadership Initiative (GEILI)
(http://www.geilitoday.org) is a global
platform to empower aspiring global
leaders and foster global exchange in
culture and volunteerism through an
alliance of youth organizations around
the world.
GEILI works closely with a large number
of international partners to develop a
variety of projects, and provide
opportunities for our members to gain
international exposures in cultural,
educational, and professional
advancement. They provide exchange,
internship and service opportunities for youth across the globe with a rich content of
local cultures. To support the development of our member organization, we provide
training programs, financial supports and global networks for youth leaders who
would like to establish NGOs or Social Enterprises. GEILI is a global platform to
support social changers.
GEILI visited Auckland with four members of different background to learn about
global citizenships and global social entrepreneur. With the help of local Chinese
youth organisation Future Dragonz (http://futuredragonz.org.nz/) and myself, the
group visited Orakei Marae, met with Pacific scholars, Hong Kong New Zealand
Business Association, innovative social entrepreneurs, Mayor Len Brown, Waterfront
Auckland, Hon Judith Collins and various members from the local Chinese
community.
Their stories were very inspirational and particularly with Ms Ho Ka-wai, a visually
and physically impaired candidate who never gave up and is very optimistic with her
life. She takes beautiful photos with her camera and shares her views to the world
through her writing.

5. I want to thank Amail Habib for meeting the group and John Hong for organising the
meeting with Waterfront Auckland.
Topic/ Event/ Activity: New Zealand Chinese Association Annual Sports
Tournament
Date: 6 April 2012
Location: The Trusts Stadium
Narrative: The New Zealand Chinese Association organised the 64th Annual Sports
Tournament, popularly known as “the Easter Tournament”, with over 2,000 athletes,
families and friends gathered in Auckland from all around the country.
This annual event is a flagship event of NZCA. The Easter Tournament rotates
between New Zealand’s four main centres, with Auckland traditionally playing host
to the largest contingent every four years.
The tournament features sports including basketball, athletics, badminton, indoor
soccer, netball, touch rugby, volleyball, indoor netball, golf, tennis and lawn bowls.
Basketball in particular attracts a wide age range – from mini-ballers (starting at 5
years) through to veterans.
You can find out more on http://easter.nzchinese.org/.
VIPs at Opening included Minister Judith Collins, MP Melissa Lee, Consul-General of
Peoples’ Republic of China Madam Liao Juhua.