Nau mai, hoki mai

Tēnā koutou and a hari te Rātū, readers! Happy Lunar New Year and 2024 to those we have not connected with this year. This is our first update pānui since ‘23, and we are glad to be back to share the latest from Tāhono with you.

Our tīma has been back in action for over a month after taking some Summer moments to rest and reflect on the work ahead for 2024. It has been a difficult start to the year for many, with challenges to the mana of tangata whenua and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, persistent climate events, and the unfolding of a humanitarian tragedy overseas.

In the face of adversity, kotahitanga emerges. From the inter-iwi solidarity shown at Hui aa Motu, to persistent weekly protests calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, to the historic turnout te rā o Waitangi, or last weekend with the thousands that attended Ponsonby’s Pride Parade and the Big Gay Out at Coyle Park in Tāmaki Makaurau — collective unity and expression are crucial in the journey towards a fair and inclusive Aotearoa.

The solidarity seen and felt in Aotearoa over the past months has been fuel in the tank for our mahi. In 2024, we will continue working with organisations, hāpū, rangatahi, media, and communities nationwide to strengthen local connections and intercultural understanding.

A big mihi to those who have followed our journey so far, and we warmly invite you to join us for the year ahead.

Kia kaha and noho ora mai from the IACT whānau!

Project News

We are seeking board members for Tāhono Trust

If you are reading this, you likely received our pānui last month calling for expressions of interest in becoming a board member for Tāhono Trust. This is an opportunity for experienced individuals from a range of backgrounds to help guide the direction of our waka in strengthening inclusion across Aotearoa.

Applications close at 5 PM on Wednesday, 28th February. If you (or someone you know) might be interested, you can find more information about what is required on the position information page below.

Bridging Cultures Invercargill

We have announced the first date for Bridging Cultures 2024, taking place on March 9th at Murihiku Marae in Waihōpai/Invercargill!

We invite all local tangata whenua, Pasifika, and ethnic community members to join us for the day. This free event will feature various activities aimed at strengthening and better understanding our community, including history sessions from the local hāpū, facilitated whānaungatanga workshops, and discussions on how to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi to bring about a more inclusive future for Aotearoa.

The kotahitanga seen (and felt) in recent events reflect the power of our community’s voice, and we hope that the people in this rohe can make it along on March 9th to share and participate in this journey.

Last week, Atarau and Lautalie travelled South to see how Tāhono can support and collaborate with local communities and organisations in the Southland region. During this time, they met Lianne from Murihiku Marae and got to check out the whare where Bridging Cultures will be held.

P.S… it looks beautiful.

Systems Change Advocacy, Support and Solidarity

The SASS group is back together for 2024 and held their first hui to map out the development and delivery of the Systems Change resources they are sharing with the world this year. Stay tuned if their ‘Voices from the Frontlines’ report was valuable to you and your organisation!

Upcoming events and opportunities

South Asian Solidarities - Avondale, Tāmaki Makaurau

I Love Avondale and Manawaka Ao are hosting South Asian Solidarities - Supporting Tino Rangatiratanga this Sunday, February 25th, at the Hollywood Cinema in Avondale.

This free hui has a panel discussion with Bilal Nasier, Ara Alam-Simmons, Nishhza Thiruselvam, Mohan Dutta, and Aaisha Khan before a screening of the film Muru. For those in the area, this is not one to be missed!

More information and registration for the event can be found below:

Registrations are open for the Te Tiriti-Based Futures + Anti-Racism Conference

This massive hui offers a spread of live webinars discussing the challenges facing Te Tiriti o Waitangi and racial inequality in Aotearoa.

Kicking off on March 16th and finishing on March 25th, there will be special events outside of the webinars, such as ‘Kei te mura o te ahi — Marathon for racial justice’, happening on Friday the 22nd. This session will be a “marathon of short interactive talks from students and recent graduates pushing the boundaries in anti-racism in Aotearoa and internationally”. Choice!

If you can’t make it to all of the sessions you want, fear not, as they will be archived as resources for anti-racist advocacy going forward.

Registrations are free and open at the link below:

NZRAP seeking applicants for their advisory panel

Applications are now open for two new advisors to join the NZ Refugee Alliance Panel for a two-year term from 2024 to 2026. Applications will close on Thursday, 22 February 2024, at 5 pm.

Established in mid-2022, the NZRAP is by and for refugees and former refugees in Aotearoa, New Zealand and works towards effective and meaningful participation in developing refugee settlement strategies and policies by working directly with the government.

Find more information and apply below.

Watch and listen!

Watch Anjum’s ‘Un/Real’ Presentation from the 2023 SAANZ Conference

Our co-lead, Anjum Rahman, delivered a lecture at the 2023 SAANZ (Sociological Association of Aotearoa New Zealand) conference in Tauranga last year.

Her presentation, titled “Un/Real: Whakakotiti,” focuses on the effects of online spaces and technologies on communities already grappling with issues of racism and disinformation.

The conference’s theme was “Uniquely Aotearoa New Zealand,” with discussions throughout the day centred on Aotearoa’s bicultural foundation and multicultural future.

Check it out below!

Gareth Jones and Bjørn Ihler on radicalisation and extremism

Our co-lead, Gareth, recently had the opportunity to kōrero with Norwegian activist Bjørn Ihler, who is the co-founder & CEO of both Glitterpill & The Khalifa Ihler Institute.

Their discussion covers radicalisation, extremism, and Bjørn's work in preventing terrorism and peace-building. Gareth's long-form interviews will be uploaded to audio streaming platforms soon, but in the meantime, check out the video of their conversation below!

Rourou Conversations from Leadership Lab

Our friends at Leadership Lab have an amazing podcast named ‘Rourou Conversations’, with a recent series we recommend checking out called Becoming Tangata Tiriti.

Check it out below, or find them on your favourite streaming platform!

And that’s it for now.

Collaboration is a key aspect of our work here at IACT, and we are constantly striving to improve. We welcome any ideas from you or your organisation that could help make Aotearoa a more inclusive country. If you have any suggestions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We would love to work alongside you.

Thank you for reading, being a part of our cause, and being awesome! You can find us on our socials below: