About Welcoming Communities

Welcoming Communities is a nationwide programme led by Immigration New Zealand. It supports councils and communities to create places where everyone feels welcome, included and able to participate.

Welcoming Communities brings together councils, mana whenua partners, community organisations, businesses and residents to help newcomers feel welcome, connected and included. Newcomers include recent migrants, former refugees and international students.

When people feel they belong, they are more likely to participate, build relationships, and share their skills and experience. This helps communities benefit from the diverse knowledge, cultures and perspectives of their residents, creating stronger communities across Aotearoa New Zealand.

There are currently 35 councils and 5 local boards taking part in Welcoming Communities across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Welcoming Communities in action 

Communities act in ways that help people feel welcome, build connections and participate in community life. Examples include:

  • providing welcome information and orientation resources for newcomers
  • hosting community events, cultural celebrations and Welcoming Week activities
  • connecting newcomers with local clubs, volunteer opportunities and social groups
  • supporting employers to attract and retain diverse talent
  • partnering with mana whenua to share local stories, culture and history, and strengthen a sense of place
  • involving newcomers in community planning and local decision-making
  • recognising and celebrating the contributions of people from different backgrounds.

Welcoming Communities creates opportunities for newcomers and long-term residents to connect, learn from one another and contribute to community life. Together, they help build stronger, more inclusive communities where everyone can participate and belong.

Find out more about events and programmes hosted by Welcoming Communities during Welcoming Week.

Welcoming Week

Welcoming Communities introduction and outline

Watch a short introduction to Welcoming Communities and learn how councils, communities and newcomers benefit from the programme.

 *Female voice with music in the background. 

From the far north to the deep south, from tangata whenua (people of the land) to our newest kiwis, Aotearoa New Zealand is home to people and cultures from around the globe. 

Our diversity is our strength; it’s what makes us a vibrant and attractive place to be. 

But people don’t just move to a place. They move to communities. 

So how we choose to welcome and include new people into those communities, is up to all of us. 

That’s why we are inviting you to join Welcoming Communities – Te waharoa ki ngā hapori. 

As a town, city, or region, becoming a Welcoming Community shows your commitment to diversity and inclusion. 

It means putting out the welcome mat, so people from all cultures and backgrounds see you as a welcoming place to live, learn, work and visit. 

As a Welcoming Community, you’ll have access to resources, practical tools and expert guidance that will help support the good work you’re doing. 

You’ll be able to celebrate your successes, share your innovative ideas and learn new approaches with councils and communities around the country. 

You can also choose to be accredited, according to our national standard. So you can share pride in your progress, grow your welcoming practices and unlock the social, cultural and economic potential of your communities. 

Being a Welcoming Community means building a positive, welcoming reputation. It's practicing manaakitanga (hospitality, the process of showing generosity and care for others), by showing that your community is welcoming to everyone, no matter where you’re from or what language you speak. 

And importantly, it means partnering with mana whenua (the indigenous people (Māori) with historic and territorial rights over the land in your area) and others in your community, to make the places we love, more welcoming and inclusive for everyone. 

Because here in Aotearoa, Welcoming Communities are stronger communities. 

So join us by searching Welcoming Communities New Zealand.

How we support Welcoming Communities

Knowledge sharing

We support a national network of councils, mana whenua partners and communities to learn from one another.

This includes:

  • practical tools and resources
  • case studies and examples of successful initiatives
  • opportunities to meet regularly, share ideas and learn from others.

We also connect councils and partners with research, information and examples from welcoming initiatives around the world. Communities can share ideas, experiences and what they have learned. They can use successful approaches from other places and adapt them to meet local needs. This helps communities learn from different approaches, and helps to support inclusion, participation and belonging.

Welcoming Communities Standard

The Welcoming Communities Standard helps councils and communities assess and strengthen how they welcome newcomers.

The Standard provides a framework for creating welcoming, inclusive and connected communities. It helps councils and communities plan their work and track their progress.

Welcoming plans

We support councils and communities to develop local Welcoming Plans.

These plans set out the actions each community will take to strengthen inclusion, participation and belonging. They reflect local priorities and are developed with local communities.

Accreditation 

We invite councils and their communities to apply for accreditation under the Welcoming Communities Standard. Accreditation recognises communities that are committed to creating welcoming environments and demonstrates their progress against the Standard.

Celebrating success

We celebrate and showcase the positive impact of Welcoming Communities across Aotearoa New Zealand.

This includes:

  • sharing stories of success,
  • highlighting innovative initiatives, and
  • recognising the contributions of councils, mana whenua community organisations, newcomers and local residents.

By sharing examples from around the country, communities can learn from one another and build on successful ideas.

Councils taking part in Welcoming Communities

International Welcoming Network

Welcoming Communities is part of an international welcoming network. Countries running similar initiatives include:

Welcoming International

Get in touch

If you want to know more about the programme contact our team,

welcomingcommunities@mbie.govt.nz

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