Printer-friendly VersionDirector's Message
Kia ora tatou, welcome to the website for the Office of Ethnic Affairs.
Ethnic communities in New Zealand are growing in both size and diversity as New Zealand increasingly becomes a multicultural nation. Today, approximately 10 percent of New Zealanders identify with ethnic groups other than Māori, Pacific Island, or Anglo-Celtic.
Defining a national identity is one of the key issues in multicultural societies around the world. Our ethnicity, history, values, beliefs, language, religion and culture all contribute to our sense of identity. It influences how we live our lives.
It is no longer possible to point to a common set of characteristics such as national origin or ethnicity that defines who we are as New Zealanders. The more diverse we are, the more important it is to find common values that bind us. These values could include respect for each other and upholding our human rights.
We all need a sense of who we are and where we belong. In a society that is increasingly comprised of many peoples with different values, beliefs, religions and worldviews, we need to find the glue that binds us all together. Without it, we risk developing into a group of socially disconnected individuals and communities with no community cohesion. It is this cohesion that is vital to developing a strong and sustainable nation.
We can and must influence our national identity and guide it in the direction we would like it to go. Our emerging multicultural identity is something we should celebrate. It may indeed be the biggest single national advantage that we possess in the global arena. This is why the search for a national identity has become so topical and is one of the Government’s key priorities.
We can make our national identity pay dividends for every New Zealander if we play our cards right! I encourage you all to take part in this debate.
Mervin Singham
Director, Office of Ethnic Affairs