Multitude of events for Race Relations Week

By ODT | Posted:

Race Relations Week will celebrate diversity, Dunedin Multi-Ethnic Council president Lux Selvanesan says.

Since 1966, March 21 has been the international day for the elimination of racial discrimination, marking the date of the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre in apartheid-era South Africa.

It was important to highlight people coming together and celebrate diversity and inclusion, Mr Selvanesan said.

Cultural performances at Dunedin Botanic Garden, discussions on race relations, the South Dunedin Street Festival, and a celebration of refugee resettlement will be among the 13 events in the week’s busy programme, beginning this Saturday, March 20.

Celebrating inclusive diversity is the theme of the week, which will open with a powhiri at Araiteuru Marae on Saturday morning.

This is open to all, but participants must be there by 10.30am.

On Sunday morning, March 21, a peace pole event will be hosted by the DMEC at the Museum Reserve, at 10am.

One of the most colourful events will be the cultural festival at the Botanic Garden on Sunday afternoon, featuring performers in national costumes. Seven performances are already lined up for the 90-minute festival.

Organisers are hoping for a good turnout for this year’s activities as last year’s event was cancelled as a result of the Covid-19 restrictions.

Events involving discussions about race relations will include the inaugural race unity evening hosted by the DMEC Youth Council on Monday, March 22, at the Otago Polytechnic Hub, where youth from a variety of backgrounds and cultures will share their understanding of race unity.

On Thursday evening, March 25, race relations commissioner Meng Foon will be one of the speakers at a forum on race relations, to be held at Araiteuru Marae, from 7pm.

The vibrancy and diversity of the South Dunedin community will be celebrated in the South Dunedin Street Festival on Saturday, March 27, which will run from 10am to 3pm in King Edward St.

On the closing day of the festival, March 28, events will include a Red Cross and DMEC lunch to celebrate five years of refugee resettlement in Dunedin. This will be held at the Logan Park football grounds from noon to 2pm.

Race Relations Week will close with the launch of the book We are Otepoti Dunedin — produced through a collaboration between DMEC and the Kotahitaka Trust, at 3.30pm at Toitu Otago Settlers Museum.

The book celebrates the diversity of the city through a snapshot of its ethnic cultural groups. A ceremonial hard copy will be presented at the launch and the book will be available in electronic form.

https://www.odt.co.nz/the-star/multitude-events-race-relations-week