Nau mai, haere mai! Welcoming Week Hamilton Kirikiriroa (6 – 15 September 2024) is back for another year to welcome all newcomers to the city.
Welcoming Weeks are held around the world annually to recognise and celebrate migrants and refugees’ contributions to their respective cities.
Hamilton City Council and Te Haa o te Whenua have brought Hamilton’s week together, in partnership with the Shama Ethnic Women’s Centre, K’aute Pasifika, Settlement Centre Waikato, Refugee Orientation Centre Trust, Waikato Hispanic and Latino Trust and others.
There are 15 events in total across the week, including dance and music performances, kapa haka, cultural and community displays and food stalls, Tangata Tiriti Training, an Asian Health Expo, and a tour of the city.
Council’s Community and Natural Environment Committee Chair, Councillor Kesh Naidoo-Rauf, said Hamilton Kirikiriroa is diverse with more than 160 ethnicities.
“The latest statistics show more than 27% of the city’s population were born overseas. Including myself!
“I encourage everyone to join in the festivities. This event acknowledges the diversity which helps make Hamilton such a wonderful place to live, and to celebrate those who have moved here and brought their families, culture and skills to the region,” she said.
Hamilton’s biggest migrant communities as found in the 2018 Census are Indian (6.5%), Chinese (5.2%), Filipino (3.2%) Cook Island Maaori (1.3%) and Tongan (1.3%).
Council’s Ethnic Development Advisor, Jovi Abellanosa hails from the Philippines and has called Hamilton Kirikiriroa home for the past 14 years. Coming from a university town, Jovi says that she finds Hamilton the right little big city. She loves the gardens, the parks, the easy drive within the city – but most of all, she appreciates the wonderful people from diverse backgrounds she has come to know.
“I am one of the hundreds of migrants who found my footing through the services of the Migrant Centre - now Settlement Centre Waikato,” said Jovi. “Because of how much they helped me settle in, I wanted to give back to my community and I found myself working there for five years before I joined Council.”
Part of Jovi’s role is organising the Welcoming Week celebration.
“So many organisations put their hand up each year to be involved. The Manaaki Welcoming Village is back for the second year in a row, as well as introducing new events like KaiFusion to be held at the K’aute Pasifika Fale, the Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival, and a refugee youth hui,” said Jovi. “We invite newcomers to come and learn more about our city and everyone else to come and get to know our diverse communities.”
Check out what’s coming up on our calendar of events and keep up-to-date on our Facebook Event or get in contact directly with Jovi Abellanosa.