Our stories
Our Welcoming Communities stories shine a light on the innovative welcoming activities already underway as part of the Welcoming Communities programme. They can inspire and inform new initiatives to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone.
Ashburton — an Established Welcoming Community
A selection of Welcoming Communities stories.
Ashburton District accredited as an Established Welcoming Community - Ashburton District Council
Poster competition to celebrate World Refugee Day - Ashburton District Council
Webinar to provide information to newcomers - YouTube
Ashburton Global Ambassadors professional development programme - Welcoming Communities
Welcoming Workplaces in Ashburton on YouTube - Welcoming Communities
Neighbours Day comes to life across the District - Ashburton District Council
Ashburton opens garden to help welcome migrant population - RNZ
Multicultural Festive Walk - Facebook
Hakatere: A welcoming mural for Ashburton - Ashburton District Council
Hakatere: Home & Heritage exhibition - Ashburton District Council
More information
Welcoming Communities - Ashburton
Welcoming Plan - Ashburton PDF 10MB
Selwyn — a Committed Welcoming Community
A selection of Welcoming Communities stories.
Faces of Selwyn: Celebrating it's diversity - Selwyn District Council
Settling in Selwyn: This time we were crying happy tears - Selwyn District Council
A plan to help newcomers settle well and call Selwyn their home - Multicultural Times
More information
Welcoming Communities — Selwyn
Whanganui — an Established Welcoming Community
A selection of Welcoming Communities stories.
A Whanganui Welcome: Booklet for newcomers and residents - Whanganui District Council
Whanganui rolls out the welcome mat - NZ Herald
New ways to welcome new residents - NZ Herald
More information
Welcoming Communities — Whanganui
Welcoming Plan - Whanganui PDF 10MB
Southland — an Established Welcoming Community
Southland's welcoming communities plan launched - Stuff
Southland selected to host Welcoming Communities pilot - Stuff
Southland Newcomer Leadership Scholarship - Southland Business Chamber
More information
Welcoming Communities — Southland
Welcoming Plan – Southland/Murihiku PDF 4MB
Invercargill — an Established Welcoming Community
Polyfest 10th anniversary event draws thousands - Otago Daily Times
Massive new mural symbolises changing face of Invercargill - TVNZ
Sports day helps international students feel 'at home' - Otago Daily Times
Celebrating India's Independence Day - Invercargill City Council [PDF 2.7MB, page 3]
Welcoming Communities in Southland gains momentum - Invercargill City Council [PDF 2MB]
Spanish Club - Invercargill Library
Southland Newcomer Leadership Scholarship - Southland Business Chamber
More information
Welcoming Plan – Southland/Murihiku PDF 4MB
Gore — an Established Welcoming Community
Southland Newcomer Leadership Scholarship - Southland Business Chamber
Welcome to Gore - Welcome pack PDF 4MB
More information
Welcoming Communities — Southland PDF 4MB
Tauranga / Western Bay of Plenty — an Established Welcoming Community
Tauranga: Ethnic women learning to swim in council-funded initiative - Bay of Plenty Times
Global Ambassadors programme continues for another year after successful pilot - NZ Herald
Workers lead Solomon Island Language Week celebrations in the Bay of Plenty - NZ Herald
Local Focus: Latin Expo helps migrants to Tauranga ‘break down the barriers’ - NZ Herald
Katikati welcomes RSE workers with pōwhiri - NZ Herald
It feels like we belong here - SunLive
Te Puke hosts creative writing course for migrants - Western Bay of Plenty District Council
Tauranga/Western Bay Global Ambassadors programme - Priority One
Te Puke Sikh parade brings its colour to town - NZ Herald
Board Intern Programme - Tauranga City Council
Community Development Match Fun - Tauranga City Council
Project to share stories of Tauranga’s diverse communities - The Incubator
This is Us waka project: He waka eke noa - The Incubator
The first Festival of Cultures in Katikati - Katikati Advertiser
Chinese festival to take over The Strand - SunLive
Newcomers to Te Puke welcomed with weekly morning teas - NZ Herald
Student stories - Education Tauranga
Turban day comes to Tauranga - SunLive
Settling into a new city: the Welcoming Communities programme - SunLive
Migrant pōwhiri in Tauranga - NZ Herald
More information
Welcoming Communities — Tauranga / Western Bay of Plenty
Welcoming Plan – Tauranga/ Western Bay of Plenty PDF 4MB
Palmerston North — an Established Welcoming Community
Food, love and dancing: Diwali festival lights up The Square - Stuff
Exhibition captures journey of immigrants who made Palmerston North home - Stuff
Carnaval brings colour and culture to Palmerston North city centre - Stuff
Palmerston North communities converge to mark World Refugee Day - Stuff
Multicultural youth council formed to brighten Palmerston North's spectrum - Stuff
Bicultural welcome for many cultures in Palmerston North - Stuff
Manawatū Afghan community shares experiences through 'really special' exhibition - Stuff
Inclusive emergency response: a case study from New Zealand - Welcoming International
Latest Passport to Play challenge has a multicultural flavour - Stuff
Passport to Play Palmy booklet - Palmerston North City Council
Aung Myo wins the 2020 Refugee Achievement Award - English Language Partners New Zealand
Interview with Steph Velvin: Welcoming Communities Coordinator - Welcoming International
A Conversation with a Community Volunteer - Welcoming International
Diwali festival lights up Palmerston North - Stuff
Spotlight shines on Manawatū's past during Local History Week - Stuff
All welcome at Islam celebrations of Eid Adha - Stuff
Palmerston North's international relations - Palmerston North City Council
Palmerston North marks World Refugee Day with food and song - Stuff
Festival of Cultures turns Palmerston North into ethnic melting pot - Stuff
Isles Construction: Welcoming Employer: Video - Canto
Palmerston North: City of Cultures - Facebook
City Welcome and Information Session - Stuff Events
Ethkick Football Tournament celebrates its 10th anniversary - Stuff
International students settling well in Palmerston North - Stuff
He Kupu Rangatira – The Proverb Pathway - Massey University
Te Wiki o Manaaki brings sense of belonging to communities
More information
Welcoming Communities - Palmerston North
Welcoming Plan - Palmerston North PDF 693KB
Welcome Pack 2022 - Palmerston North PDF 2MB
Horowhenua
Horowhenua rolls out the welcome mat - Manawatū Standard
Hamilton - a Committed Welcoming Community
Hamilton officially a welcoming community - Hamilton City Council
Shaping a welcoming City - Our Hamilton
Rangitīkei - a Committed Welcoming Community
Council joins the Welcoming Communities programme - Rangitīkei District Council
Queenstown Lakes - a Committed Welcoming Community
Queenstown Lakes welcomes our new communities - Queenstown Lakes District Council
Queenstown Lakes Welcomes Our New Communities - Scoop
QLDC recognises Welcoming Communities programme - Queenstown Lakes District Council
QLDC achieves accreditation as a Committed Welcoming Community - Queenstown Lakes District Council
‘Energy and enthusiasm’ at Welcoming Communities hui - Otago Daily Times Online News
Queenstown’s First Annual Subcontinental Community Cricket Festival - ISSU
Celebrating our Multicultural Community - ISSU
Football Fever Alive and Well – The Wanaka Sun
Football and a Feast – The Wanaka Sun
Queenstown Lakes Welcomes Our New Communities - Scoop
‘Energy and enthusiasm’ at Welcoming Communities hui - Otago Daily Times Online News
Central Otago - a Committed Welcoming Community
Nau mai haere mai, Talofa to seasonal staff - The Central App
‘Climb and Connect’ with your community this weekend - The Central App
Operation Cromwell Harvest - Welcoming harvesters to our community - Cromwell & Districts News
Sports Night to welcome seasonal workers - Cromwell & Districts News
Central Otago District Council committed to Welcoming Communities programme - The Central App
Wrapping up Neighbours Day Aotearoa 2022 - The Central App
Welcoming Communities - Let’s Talk Central Otago
Employers making workers welcome - The Central App
Unrivalled lifestyle pulling people to Central - The Central App
One in five newcomers struggles for acceptance in Central - Crux
A helping hand for new leaders - The Central App
Cromwell entrepreneur building network through scholarship - The Central App
Community event shares cultural diversity - Otago Daily Times Online News
Cultural connections made at South Asian Festival - The Central App
Inaugural cultural festival hailed as ‘exciting’ success - The News
Alexandra Newcomers Network reinvigorated - The Central App
More information
Welcoming Communities - Central Otago
Rotorua Lakes Council
Rotorua welcomes back international students - Rotorua Lakes Council
Rotorua Lakes Council commits to community inclusivity - Rotorua Lakes Council
Raj Seneviratne is Rotorua's new Welcoming Communities co-ordinator - NZ Herald
Special atmosphere at first Rotorua citizenship ceremony since July 2021 - NZ Herald
Hastings District Council
Samoa Independence Day celebrated in Hastings - Hastings District Council
Hawke’s Bay Sikh, Sri Lankan cultural celebrations spread colour, laughter and joy - NZ Herald
Diwali festival of lights in Hastings attracts crowd of close to 2000 - NZ Herald
Masterton District Council
Welcoming new citizens – Wairarapa Times-Age
Hindu festival a first for Wairarapa – Wairarapa Times-Age
Marlborough District Council
Making Marlborough feel like home - Marlborough District Council
Welcoming communities – Marlborough District Council
Welcoming Cities Australia
Aleem Ali, CEO for Welcoming Australia, talked to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment staff during his visit to New Zealand in 2018.
He spoke about the issues Australia faces in relation to migration and settlement, the challenges of attraction and retention in a global market, and how we can share learnings between Australia and New Zealand including in relation to New Zealand’s Welcoming Communities programme. Here is an edited 19 minute video of his presentation.
To see how Welcoming Cities is inspiring communities across Australia and encouraging new and innovative ways of welcoming, check out their resources.