Printer-friendly VersionIntercultural Advisory Service
Specialist advice and service to improve the benefits of diversity in the workplace
The Office of Ethnic Affairs has a dedicated team of intercultural advisors based in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch with a mission to achieve:
'Better government, community and business outcomes through intercultural understanding and action.'
New Zealand is ethnically diverse and this diversity will increase in the future. In 2006, the sector was estimated to be 12 per cent of New Zealand’s total population. By 2021, it is projected that the ethnic sector will comprise 18 per cent of the total resident population. It is increasingly apparent that improved intercultural competence and skills are needed to navigate and manage such diverse relations and opportunities.
To help advance these skills, particularly in the business sector, the Office of Ethnic Affairs has specialist advice and resources available to develop and enhance leadership skills and intercultural competence with the aim of promoting ethnic diversity in the workplace.
The work of this team contributes considerably to the following key government strategies and projects:
- The State Services Commission's equality and diversity policy
- Ethnic Perspectives in Policy
- The New Zealand Settlement Strategy
- UN Alliance of Civilisations initiative
- Developmental Goals for the State Services
Resources
- Riding the Wave – a stand-alone publication and a series of workshops to provide employers and managers practical tips and “how to” resources to take full advantage of the benefits of an ethnically diverse workplace.
- Train for Trainers programme – sessions designed to up-skill participants so that they may establish effective communication, interaction and relationships with people from diverse backgrounds in the workplace.
- Keeping it Real – an interactive documentary DVD developed to promote dialogue on themes related to ethnic diversity in New Zealand.
Resources being developed include:
- Foot in the Door – an online publication providing high quality advice on inclusive recruitment practices that remove cultural bias.
Consultation and advice is provided where:
- strategies and interventions require designing to meet organisational needs and develop leadership competence in managing diversity in the workplace;
- agencies are seeking support to identify and reduce organisational barriers to diversity as well as to maximise productivity and performance; and
- key indicators are needed to measure how well workplaces are managing ethnic diversity.
Who to contact for more information
To contact a member of this team, please choose from the local office locations:
