Welcoming Week Te Wiki o Manaaki

Celebrate Welcoming Week from 5 September to 14 September 2025.

Aotearoa New Zealand is one of the most diverse countries in the world. With over 200 different ethnicities and a quarter of all people who call New Zealand home born overseas, our diversity is our strength. It is what makes us a vibrant and attractive place to be.

Welcoming Week is a time to showcase and celebrate how communities across Aotearoa New Zealand are working to be more welcoming places for all. It provides an opportunity to celebrate our welcoming values through local events and initiatives. It is a time to show whanaungatanga (the importance of relationships) and manaakitanga (the value of extending hospitality and caring for other people).

So, for this year’s Welcoming Week, let’s roll out the welcome mat and celebrate the things that unite us. Because no matter what language you speak, or where you are born – we are glad you are here!

Check out upcoming events in your community.

Ashburton District Council

Hakatere Noodle Festival — Facebook event

Central Otago District Council

Events — Central Otago District Council

Christchurch City Council

Welcoming Week — Christchurch City Council

Hamilton City Council

Welcoming Week 2025 — Hamilton City Council

Welcoming Week Hamilton Kirikiriroa 2025 — Facebook event

Hutt City Council

Welcoming Week 2025 — Hutt City Council

Invercargill City Council

Welcoming Communities — Invercargill City Council

Marlborough District Council

Welcoming Week — Marlborough District Council

Manawatū District Council

Welcoming Week — Manawatū Community Hub Libraries

Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board (Auckland Council)

MERGING CULTURES — Facebook event

Porirua City Council

Welcoming Communities — Porirua City Council

Queenstown Lakes District Council

Welcoming Week — Queenstown Lakes District Council

Rotorua Lakes Council

Welcoming Communities — Rotorua Lakes Council

Selwyn District Council

Events — Selwyn District Council

Timaru District Council

Welcoming Week — Timaru District Council

Upper Hutt City Council

Welcoming Week — Upper Hutt City Council

Whangārei District Council

Events — Whangārei District Council

This year, INZ with the support of Welcoming Communities coordinators, local councils and the Ministry of Education, has launched a National Schools Competition to help students engage and participate in Welcoming Week sharing their stories of connection, collaboration and community. The national winners will be featured as part of our Welcoming Week 2025 campaign.

Welcoming Week — National Schools Competition