Esther Ashby-Coventry
15:17, Jan 20 2022

Sheltering from a little drizzle at the Multicultural Aoraki picnic at Caroline Bay are, from left, Malani Nabeka, Tina Francis and Haymesh Francis from Fiji.

A picnic at Timaru’s Caroline Bay organised by Multicultural Aoraki provided families from a variety of backgrounds the opportunity to get together to share food, participate in some traditional Kiwi games and share their experiences of life in New Zealand.

Manager Katy Houstoun said the picnic, held on Wednesday, was a good way to get all the families and their children together over the holidays.

There were 15 families from Syria, India, Pacific Islands and Russia in attendance, she said.

Each brought food, and the children competed in a typical Kiwi afternoon in an egg and spoon race, three-legged race and tug o’ war.

Saru Gedela, from South India, was at the picnic with her daughter Harshi, 8. Her family came to Timaru in 2015 for her husband’s work as a welder.

"He likes to work here in New Zealand it's quiet and calm.”

She said Multicultural Aoraki had been really helpful when the family visited India in 2019 and then were stuck in isolation for two weeks on their return to New Zealand because of Covid.

“It was a struggle. They helped a lot. We had no work, no family,” Gedela said.

Malani Nabeka, from Fiji, said she misses her family. She and her husband moved to Christchurch in 2015 and to Timaru in 2021.

“It was really hard the first winter, but now I am used to it (the cold).”

They have not returned to the Pacific Island since arriving in the country.

“It's very emotional. Our son Ezekiel, 3, has not met any of my family. I hope the border will open, I miss them.”

Her husband who works as a meat inspector has all his family living in New Zealand, she said.

“It is very quiet here,” Nabeka said.

Multicultural Aoraki Support manager Mandy Wills said the picnic had been a great opportunity for a casual time of meeting together and sharing different cultures.

Learn more: stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/cultures-come-together-for-picnic-at-caroline-bay

Esther Ashby-Coventry
16:32, Jun 04 2021

A multicultural hub and strategy to better meet the needs of migrants and newcomers has been proposed for Timaru. Aoraki Settling-in Collective vice chairwoman Fiona Jackson said the group wrote a submission for consideration in the Timaru District Council Long Term Plan in which the group recommended the development to enhance multicultural diversity and inclusion in the community.

It would provide a place for newcomers “to meet, celebrate and share their cultures and gain assistance with settling in”, the proposal says.

The council has not made a decision but has asked that a report on the proposal is prepared, and recognises that a number of council facilities already exist that could potentially be used and promoted, a council spokesperson said.

The Aoraki Settling-in Collective was established in 2012 in response to an increase in migrants to the district and comprises central and local government agencies, community groups, individuals and non-government organisations working together.

In the 2018 census 8.2 per cent of the Timaru population identified as non-European or Māori .

Jackson said a strategy would address the needs of the culturally diverse and a hub would be a place to celebrate and share those cultures and offer assistance for settling in.

“It will provide a central meeting facility for former refugee and migrant community groups. Most importantly it will be an anchor point in the community that fosters a sense of belonging in our great district.”

She said it would complement existing services for the multicultural community.

Ideally she would see it as place where non-government organisations which work with migrants, former refugees and newcomers could rent office space, a commercial grade kitchen, and a learning presentation space.

Jackson anticipates the number of newcomers will increase as borders re-open.

“People from across New Zealand as well as overseas are recognising the many benefits that are on offer in Timaru ranging from job opportunities, to great education facilities to affordable housing.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for Timaru.

“Standing side by side with migrants, former refugees and newcomers, provides us all with the opportunity to challenge perceptions, embrace new cultures, and benefit from the richness of a culturally diverse society,” Jackson said.

Te Aitarakihi Trust business development manager David Jack said the trust would support any initiative that benefited the multicultural community.

“Te Aitarakihi will always be a place for the multicultural community to utilise and just like Te Aitarakihi whānau, we want our communities to have safe and comfortable places to gather and celebrate,” he said.

Te Aitarakihi Trust manages the Te Aitarakihi Multicultural Centre in Timaru which was established as, Te Wāhi Karanga Mo Nga Iwi Katoa (calling place for all nations).

Multicultural Aoraki manager and Aoraki Settling-in Collective chairwoman Katy Houstoun says anything that complemented existing services could be beneficial.

Multicultural Aoraki support case manager Mandy Wills said it was important for the multicultural groups to work in collaboration and get buy-in from the people who the hub was designed to support.

Funding for the venture would be from a number of areas including the council’s existing funding streams, rent from office space, casual hire, and grants, the submission says.

Learn more: stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/multicultural-hub-would-enhance-diversity-and-inclusion-submission-says

Esther Ashby-Coventry
05:00, Dec 31 2021

Multicultural Aoraki work with all ethnicities in South Canterbury to support people to fully participate in the community, from left, support manager Mandy Wills, community connector Tracey Miron, manager Katy Houstoun and Thea Stevenson.

Multicultural Aoraki’s services have grown over the past few years as demand continues to increase.

The non-profit organisation, which employs two part-time and two full-time staff members, supports migrants and has been working with about 300 families in the district over 2021, manager Katy Houstoun​ said.

“We haven’t had a lot of newcomers since Covid, but we have had some from within New Zealand. A lot of people are disconnected and don’t know how to ask for help or are too shy. We walk alongside them,” she said.

She said the Christchurch mosque attacks in 2019 had placed different ethnicities in the forefront of Kiwis’ minds and the realisation of what support they needed.

Another issue was that non-residents could not get free English lessons or worked long hours, and it was hard for them to fit it in is so the organisation has a volunteer to help them improve their English skills.

“Covid has shown us that people who come to New Zealand need wrap around support.”

In 2020, many non-resident migrants lost their jobs overnight and had to transfer their visas to a new category, or new job, but while waiting had no income as they were not entitled to any benefits.

If their partner was on a visitor visa they were stuck with no means of working or returning to their homeland, Houstoun said.

An immigration advisor visits the Sophia St centre once a week to guide people through 15 minute free consultation sessions.

“It is a confusing system, and it is important to get the correct information.”

She said in the future they would like to work alongside employers more.

“A lot of people need support outside their employers and social connection outside work.”

Seeing people empowered to access services themselves and thrive in the community, gave Houstoun job satisfaction.

To reach into the community the organisation’s community connector Tracey Miron has been working in partnership with Neighbourhood Support on an Initiative called Aoraki Connect, which is funded by the Aoraki Foundation.

It comprises a group of 20 people from different ethnicities who have been learning first aid, and connected with St John, Victim Support, Fire and Emergency New Zealand and police.

“It’s about connecting them with their neighbourhood to help others in the community,’’ Miron said.

“It’s about confidence to meet new people and tell them about the bin system, first aid and prepare for emergencies, and know what agencies do.’’

Miron said some of the families they worked with did not have a support network so had no-one to help them move house, or look after older children when the mother was in hospital giving birth to a new baby.

“We help them participate in the community and navigate our systems such as Work and Income, Inland Revenue, court, budget advice or connect with social services and health needs.”

Multicultural Aoraki, formerly Aoraki Migrant Centre, was founded in 2004 in response to the South East Asian Boxing Day tsunami to support and fundraise for families affected by it.

The service evolved to help all migrants who moved to South Canterbury.

Presbyterian Support South Canterbury refugee settlement manager Fiona Jackson said the organisation had supported three former refugee families over 2021.

“There was one family arrival during the year. The effects of Covid have had ongoing implications on settlement this year,’’ Jackson said.

“We look forward to supporting new families arriving in Timaru in early 2022.’’

Learn more: stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/the-timaru-report-demand-for-multicultural-services-increases

Esther Ashby-Coventry
15:19, Mar 15 2021

Multicultural Aoraki staff, from left, community connector Tracey Miron, support manager Mandy Wills and support case manager Katy Houston prepare for the International Food Festival at the Timaru Artisan Farmers Market on Saturday morning.

Cultural flavour is set to hit the Timaru Artisan Farmers Market, with a waiting list for stall holders.

The International Food Festival, boasting 84 food stalls will run in conjunction with the weekly market at George St on March 20, to celebrate Race Relations Day on March 21.

Multicultural Aoraki support case manager Mandy Wills said there would be 38 stalls at the market selling international foods ranging from Egyptian to Syrian, Japanese, and Mexican to South African, Chilean and Swiss.

“There will be lots of food. It shows how many people we have we were unaware of in the community,” Wills said.

As well as the stalls there will be 11 different performances from the Pasifika, Latin American, and Filipino communities as well as belly dancing and Tai Chi.

Traditional food brings back many memories for women spoken to by Stuff at a Multicultural Aoraki coffee morning last week.

Ada Tang Scarlett,​ of Beihai​ in China, said after women had their baby they were given zhu jiao jian - a dish made from egg and pork to help with lactation and prevent blood clots.

Made in a big pot with ginger, vinegar and sugar, new mothers would eat the meal for a month as it was high in protein.

“It is also street food because people like it. It is from Guangzhou,” Tang Scarlett said.

For the festival, Fijian Indian Arishma Sami will be making chicken pulao,​ a combination of rice and spices, and homemade doughnuts and savouries.

Indian women Ravinder Battu, from Punjab, and Saru Gedela, from Visakhapatnam,​ South India, will be providing mehndi (henna body art).

Battu said decorating women’s hands, arms and legs with the powder from dry henna leaf was a cultural tradition. Designs vary from leaves to peacocks.

When she married she had mehndi on most of her arm, hand and leg.

“It’s all about enjoyment,” Battu said.

It takes her about 20 minutes to complete a painting on a hand, creatingt designs from her imagination.

Multicultural Aoraki held a Community Day at the Southern Trust Events Centre last year to mark Race Relations Day and attracted more than 2000 people.

The International Food Festival outside the Landing Service Building is from 8.30am to 1pm coinciding with the Rock and Hop big show and shine gala day at Caroline Bay but Wills said she hoped the public would enjoy both events.

Learn more: stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/timarus-international-food-festival-has-waiting-list

Alice Geary
15:58, Feb 16 2020

A new Multicultural Hub is opening at 3 Sophia St.

A multicultural hub has been created in Timaru as part of a new project called Connecting Aoraki.

The hub, and a network of volunteers, has been established ahead of the April arrival of Timaru's first intake of refugees under a new project called Connecting Aoraki.

The project, run by South Canterbury Neighbourhood Support (SCNS) and the Aoraki Migrant Centre, received a $6695 grant from the Aoraki Foundation South Canterbury Health Endowment Fund in September 2019.

"The funding will enable SCNS/Aoraki Migrant Centre to work in collaboration to welcome and support newcomers in our local neighbourhoods and support them to feel happy, safe and resilient as well as better connected in their new communities," Betty-Ann Smart, of SCNS, and Katy Houstoun, of Aoraki Migrant Centre, said in their application.

"This need has been identified due to the increase in migrants, refugees and newcomers resettling in the Aoraki district due to employment, lifestyle, the cost of living and the fact that Timaru has recently been named as an official Resettlement Centre and will be welcoming up to 110 refugees each year for the next three years."

"This need has been identified due to the increase in migrants, refugees and newcomers resettling in the Aoraki district due to employment, lifestyle, the cost of living and the fact that Timaru has recently been named as an official Resettlement Centre and will be welcoming up to 110 refugees each year for the next three years."

The project also includes identifying, training and supporting "local volunteer buddies" who will welcome and assist newcomers to the area.

Presbyterian Support South Canterbury was approached for comment.

Applications for the health endowment funds' first funding round for 2020 close on March 31. For further information contact executive officer Leah Bradley on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Learn more: stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/multicultural-hub-and-volunteers-to-provide-additional-support-to-refugees

Esther Ashby-Coventry
16:36, Dec 17 2020

Multicultural Aoraki manager Katy Houstoun at the official opening at the organisation’s new premises at 27 Sophia St on Wednesday.

An upsurge in support needed for stranded migrants over Covid-19 has led to a new name and larger premises for the group helping them in South Canterbury.

Multicultural Aoraki support manager Katy Houstoun​ said last year the organisation, formerly known as Aoraki Migrant, supported 1600 people, that number rising to more than 5000 in 2020 - mainly because of the pandemic.

The centre has moved from 3 Sophia St to 27 Sophia St and the new premises were officially opened in front of more than 50 people on Wednesday.

The organisation was formed in 2004 and supports, connects and celebrates the multicultural communities of Aoraki.

Houstoun said because of Covid-19 “there were a lot of workers stranded in the Mackenzie who had been made redundant which we helped access support services’’.

She said the organisation’s two staff members had worked long hours, seven days a week, to keep up.

She told the more than 50 people at the opening they had coped with such a heavy workload thanks to the support of other agencies and the community.

Since then the Ministry of Social Development had selected the organisation as one of 130 in the country to be a Community Connector, funding the appointment of a new staff member.

Houstoun expected the number of those needing support to increase as employment opportunities and cheaper house prices attracted more people from diverse cultures to the district.

Multicultural Aoraki support case manager Mandy Wills said the new premises offered a bigger space and included three offices which could be utilised by other groups.

She said the change of name reflected what the organisation did for people from all cultures whereas the previous name had confused some people.

Timaru Tongan Society president Sina Latu said the new premises were more accessible for Pasifika and a place they could meet other people.

“We feel inclusive, everyone is welcome,” Latu said.

A blessing from Aliana Siaosi (Ngati Haua) was followed by speeches and a presentation of pounamu in a kite to the organisation’s founding member Kate Elsen to acknowledge her role of connecting people.

Multicultural Aoraki is open weekdays from 9am-2pm on weekdays.

Learn More: stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/demand-for-multicultural-aorakis-services-skyrocket