Stories
Welcoming Week 2026 celebrates belonging across New Zealand
Published
11 September 2026
Communities across New Zealand came together during Welcoming Week 2026 to celebrate belonging, cultural diversity and the connections that help people feel at home as part of Immigration New Zealand's Welcoming Communities programme.
From creative student projects to community events that brought newcomers and mana whenua together, this year's activities highlighted the many ways our communities are building welcoming and inclusive places for everyone.
"Welcoming Week is an opportunity to recognise the diversity that enriches our communities and celebrate the many people, organisations and councils helping newcomers settle into life in New Zealand," says Andrew Lockhart, National Manager Refugee and Migrant Services.
"Strong communities are built when people feel valued, included and able to participate. Creating opportunities for people to build relationships and contribute benefits everyone."
Young people share what belonging means
A highlight of this year's celebrations was the Welcoming Week National Schools Competition, which invited students to explore the theme Together We Belong through art, poetry and video.
Now in its second year, the competition encourages students to share stories of connection, collaboration and community while promoting inclusion and belonging within their schools.
Primary School Category
Winner - St Matthew’s Primary School, Hastings
Students created a collaborative artwork featuring handprints arranged to form New Zealand and the Pacific Ocean. The project also included paper cut-outs representing the many cultures within the school community.
The school explained that more than 15 countries and languages are represented among its students and that celebrating this diversity helps create a strong sense of belonging.
Intermediate School Category
Winner - Wairarapa Cobham Intermediate
Student Elle won the intermediate category with her poem, A Shared Melody, reflecting on connection, inclusion and the power of community.
Secondary School Category
Winner - Nelson College for Girls
The winning video, Everyone's Different, Everyone Belongs, explored how embracing diversity helps create communities where everyone feels valued and included.
Andrew says the competition highlighted the important role young people play in shaping welcoming communities.
"The creativity and thoughtfulness shown by students in this year's competition was inspiring. Their entries reflected a genuine understanding of inclusion, respect and the importance of supporting one another.
"It's encouraging to see young people leading conversations about how we can build stronger, more connected communities."
Congratulations to all students, teachers, and schools who participated in this year's competition. The creativity and commitment to fostering understanding and respect is helping to build more welcoming communities across New Zealand.
Newcomers and mana whenua connect in Temuka
Another memorable Welcoming Week event took place in Temuka, where Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua and Timaru District Council hosted Whakatau ā Iwi at Te Hāpū o Niu Tireni Marae.
More than 80 newcomers, former refugees, migrants, international students and local community members attended the event, which focused on building connections between mana whenua and newcomers.
A standout moment came during the pōwhiri, when former refugee community member Hussein introduced himself in te reo Māori before participants responded with an Arabic waiata (song). The exchange reflected the spirit of mutual respect, cultural sharing and belonging that Welcoming Week seeks to promote.
Participants enjoyed a traditional hāngī meal, Syrian coffee and cakes, local history storytelling, traditional healing experiences and harakeke flower weaving, while children took part in sports and games on the marae grounds.
The event showcased the strength of partnerships between mana whenua and local communities and the important role they play in helping newcomers feel welcomed and connected.
"Events like Whakatau ā Iwi bring to life what Welcoming Communities is all about," says Andrew.
"They create opportunities for people from different backgrounds to share experiences, learn from one another and build meaningful relationships.
"The partnership between Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua and Timaru District Council shows how local collaboration can help newcomers settle, participate and feel part of the community."
As communities across the country marked Welcoming Week, these activities demonstrated the power of shared experiences and cultural exchange to strengthen social cohesion, foster understanding and bring people together.
For Welcoming Communities, the message of Welcoming Week 2026 was simple: when people come together, everyone belongs.
Welcoming Week may only last a week, but creating communities where everyone feels welcome is something that happens all year round.
Andrew encourages all New Zealanders to look for opportunities to connect with newcomers in their communities.
"Whether it's introducing yourself to a new neighbour, joining a local event, volunteering or learning about another culture, small actions can help build understanding and strengthen community connections," he says.
To learn more about the Welcoming Communities programme and how councils and communities across Aotearoa New Zealand are helping newcomers feel at home, visit: