Inclusive Aotearoa Collective Tāhono – Update #37
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Tēna koutou katoa!
We hope you are all keeping well & safe! We’ve got a rather large pānui for you this month, which is a reflection of just how much awesome mahi is happening around Aotearoa to create a fully inclusive society!
This month we’re sharing a mix of news and updates from us, including a couple of callouts for participation, as well as a round-up of some key projects, initiatives and whakaaro that we tautoko and hope you will too.
Don’t forget, we’re here to help YOU shine the light on the important issues, so if you have anything you’d like us to include in future pānui, on our website or social media, please do get in touch!
Mā te wa,
The IACT team (Anjum, Atarau, Talie, Graeme, Tim, Anusha)
He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero.
What is the food of the leader? It is knowledge. It is communication.
Aroha atu, aroha mai
Let us show respect for each other
Tātou i a tātou katoa
For one another
Hui e! Taiki e!
Bind us all together!
IACT in Action
Haere Ra to our Project Co-Lead Keriana Tawhiwhirangi
In the last month we’ve said a tearful Haere Ra to our Project Co-Lead, Keriana Tawhiwhirangi, who is leaving us to pursue some new opportunities in the kaupapa Māori space. Although we are sad to see Keriana leave, we couldn’t be happier for her and know that she will be an significant asset to her next projects!
Keriana joined the team back in January 2021. She bought a wealth of experience with her in leadership, Mātauranga Māori, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and an overall ‘magic’ and generosity of spirit which we are really going to miss!
Thank you Keriana for all the mahi you have contributed to the IACT project. Arohanui wāhine toa! You have taught us so much – most importantly how we can be authentic Treaty partners in our journey to create a fully inclusive Aotearoa NZ.
#Watch – Community Voices full series now available on our website
On Friday 6 May we hosted our final Community Voices webinar for the What’s Your Tūrangawaewae series, with another amazing lineup of voices from the community, all speaking passionately about their sense of belonging, identity and place.
If you missed any of the webinars or you’re just keen for a re-watch, head here to watch all 5 episodes in their entirety. We’re already planning our next webinar series – more on this soon!
Let’s talk about…Media Representation
As part of our Media As Allies constellation work, we are currently partnering with various community organisations across the motu to host conversations about media representation.
The main purpose is to collect examples of how the media represents different communities (positive and negative), what’s working, what’s not working, and what can be done to improve things. Then, we’ll work with media outlets and journalists to address the issues that have come up.
So far we’ve partnered with Aotearoa Resettled Community Coalition (ARCC), Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA), Hohou Te Rongo Kahukura, Digital Seniors, Qtopia and The Kindness Institute – each organisation will be hosting a hui for their community. Details of these hui will be shared on our social media and website as they come up.
We are currently looking for more partner organisations, specifically Pasifika, elderly/senior and tangata whenua. If you’re interested in partnering, get in touch with Tim on [email protected]
Help us amplify Ethnic Youth Voices!
In November 2021 the Ministry of Social Development partnered with the University of Auckland and Innovation Unit for the Ethnic Youth Voices Co-Design Project, to better understand how government agencies work with ethnic young people, so that these voices are included and amplified. Four hui were held across the country, many conversations were had, notes made and action points identified.
Fast forward to May 2022, and the project is now in the implementation phase – making those action points a reality. We are very proud to announce that we will be collaborating with the project team on the implementation, and at this stage we’d like to call out to ethnic youth who would like to be involved in this mahi.
If you’re interested, drop us a line at [email protected]. More details will be released soon via our website and social media – stay tuned!
IACT Recommendations
Anjum interviewed by Stuff and NZ Herald re: Buffalo, NY mass shooting
On Sunday 15 May a racially motivated attack took place in a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, resulting in the loss of ten lives. The gunman live streamed the attack and posted a manifesto online which referenced the March 15 Christchurch attacks. Both have now been removed from online platforms.
“What can we put in place, how can we make it so people don’t get radicalised online, don’t go down the stage of wanting to kill people?…For the extreme end, you need content moderation. You need some regulation of tech companies. We need accountability as well.”
Anjum was interviewed by Stuff and NZ Herald on why international consistency is needed to effectively moderate violent, extremist online content – which is not just about taking content down, but finding out why and how people become radicalised.
Our thoughts are with the friends and whānau of those who lost their lives 😔❤️
Moana Jackson: Portrait of a Quiet Revolutionary documentary feature
On 13 May NZ Herald and E-Tangata with support from NZ on Air released a stunning documentary on the late Matua Moana Jackson – Portrait of a Quiet Revolutionary. Created by Moana Maniapoto & Toby Mills over the last 2 years, the doco is accompanied by a beautiful article by Moana Maniapoto about the documentary process.
‘Maybe we should have called it “Portrait of a Reluctant Revolutionary”. Two years ago, I asked Moana Jackson (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou) if he would consider my partner, Toby Mills, and me making a documentary about him. He wasn’t exactly champing at the bit. Moana said he was “really whakamā about that kind of thing”.’
We highly recommend a read of the article and a watch of the doco!
Mahi Tika Equity in Employment applications open
If you’re a disabled person living in the Waikato area and are currently seeking work, Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA) have an awesome opportunity right now to take part in the Mahi Tika – Equity in Employment Programme.
Mahi Tika is disabled-led employment programme developed by DPA, designed BY disabled people FOR disabled people. The programme delivers workshops and provides mentoring to support disabled people in their journey to gain meaningful employment.
Applications are now open for the June cohort. If the timing isn’t quite right, there will be another intake in August. Learn more…
Make a donation to help ‘The Dining Table’ film become a reality
A new film that will shed light on the Deaf experience is currently crowdfunding to enable to production of the film.
The Dining Table is a short film about a Deaf girl. It’s an intimate piece which explores what it’s like to be isolated within your own family home, an experience many in the Deaf community can relate to.
“As a production, we are passionate about diversity, inclusivity, and authenticity. The Dining Table speaks to universal truths about family, identity, and social isolation. We want to immerse viewers in a truly audio-visual experience and have them ponder the theme of social isolation – something that everyone can connect with in these COVID times. We’re excited for The Dining Table to shed light on the Deaf experience. And as hearing filmmakers we are allies with the Deaf community and hope to start important conversations about awareness and accessibility.”
The team are looking to raise $10,000 by 7 June 2022 – they have to reach the target to get the funds, so if you can donate please do, and Share this crowdfunder with others in your networks.
IACT Belonging Research 2020
In 2020 we asked people across Aotearoa New Zealand about belonging. We wanted to understand what helps people belong; what gets in the way of belonging; and what work is needed to create a society where everyone feels valued.
The full Belonging Research project can be viewed on our website, and is broken down into themes with quotes from research participants. This is the research that has led our mahi for the last two years – the areas we have focused on and the communities we have partnered with.
We are planning to run a follow-up Belonging research project this year (because let’s face it, a lot has changed in the last two years!), speaking to people in regions of Aotearoa we didn’t get a chance to reach last time. More details on this coming soon!
In the meantime, we invite you to explore our 2020 Belonging Research project.
You can take a lead
A more inclusive Aotearoa New Zealand needs collective leadership and action. We invite you and your community to connect with us and others working for an inclusive society via the options below: