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 — Welcoming Communities
Neighbours Day comes to life across the District — Ashburton District Council
Weird and Wonderful Ways to Waste Time map relaunched in Ashburton — Experience Mid Canterbury
Ashburton opens garden to help welcome migrant population — RNZ
Welcoming Communities futsal extravaganza
Plan to make district more welcoming launched — Ashburton District Council
Inclusivity drives a welcoming community — Ashburton District Council
More information
Welcoming Communities — Ashburton
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 — a Committed Welcoming Community
A selection of Welcoming Communities stories.
A Whanganui Welcome: Booklet for newcomers and residents — Whanganui District Council
Whanganui's annual Festival of Cultures
Whanganui rolls out the welcome mat — NZ Herald
New ways to welcome new residents — NZ Herald
More information
Welcoming Communities — Whanganui
Southland — an Established Welcoming Community
Southland's welcoming communities plan launched — Stuff
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]
Southland selected to host Welcoming Communities pilot — Stuff
More information
Welcoming Communities — Southland
Tauranga / Western Bay of Plenty — an Established Welcoming Community
Community Development Match Fun — Tauranga City Council
Bay of Plenty Nepalese Association’s gift of groceries for newcomer — SunLive
Sikh community neighbourly gesture fills the pantry — SunLive
1200 free food parcels distributed by Bay of Plenty Sports and Cultural Club — NZ Herald
Project to share stories of Tauranga’s diverse communities – The Incubator
This is Us waka project: He waka eke noa — The Incubator
Tauranga Sikh Society give 600 free food bags to needy — NZ Herald
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
A warm welcome to new international students in Tauranga — Education Tauranga
Turban day comes to Tauranga — SunLive
Settling into a new city: the Welcoming Communities programme — SunLive
More information
Welcoming Communities — Tauranga / Western Bay of Plenty
Palmerston North — an Established Welcoming Community
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
Manawatū Muslim Association providing thousands of hot meals — Stuff
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 Global Ambassadors – Palmerston North City Council
Palmerston North marks World Refugee Day with food and song – Stuff
New Manawatū Refugee Voice will be open to the community will – NZ Herald
Volunteer group gives refugees a voice in Manawatū – Stuff
Festival of Cultures turns Palmerston North into ethnic melting pot – Stuff
Isles Construction: Welcoming Employer: Video — Canto
Palmerston North: City of Cultures — Facebook
Welcome Packs ready for Palmy newcomers — Palmerston North City Council
Ethkick Football Tournament celebrates its 10th anniversary — Stuff
Palmerston North City Council finalist for partnership award — Massey University
The annual First Voice book — stories by students in languages they speak at home
International students settling well in Palmerston North — Stuff
More information
Welcoming Communities — Palmerston North
Horowhenua
Horowhenua rolls out the welcome mat - Manawatū Standard
Hamilton
Hamilton officially a welcoming community - Hamilton City 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.