I hereby give notice that an ordinary meeting of the Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel will be held on: Date: Thursday, 23 May 2013 Time: 5.30pm Meeting Room: Boardroom Venue: Auckland Town Hall Ground Floor 301-305 Queen Street Auckland Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel OPEN ADDENDUM AGENDA MEMBERSHIP Chairperson Dr Camille Nakhid Deputy Chairperson Rev Amail Habib Members Mrs Asoka Basnayake Ms Bevan Chuang Mrs Sadiqa Hajee Mr John Hong Mr Kafeba Mundele Mrs Ann Pala, QSM Ms Grace Ryu Mr Jeet Suchdev, JP, QSM Mr Kudakwashe Tuwe Ms Susan Zhu Cr Richard Northey (Quorum 7 members) Tam White Democracy Advisor 17 May 2013 Contact Telephone: (09) 307 7253 Email: [email protected] Website: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz Note: The reports contained within this agenda are for consideration and should not be construed as Council policy unless and until adopted. Should Members require further information relating to any reports, please contact the relevant manager, Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson. Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel 23 May 2013 8 Chairperson’s Report Racism conference and Council report 5 9 Panel Members’ Reports Attaching the report from member Kudakwashe Tuwe 23 Conference on Racism and Discrimination: Does racism impact on Auckland as a diversity city? A particular focus on discrimination in employment and seeking solutions Host: The Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel (EPAP), Auckland Council Sponsors: Auckland Council, Auckland University of Technology Venue: Auckland University of Technology (AUT), Sir Paul Reeves Building When: Saturday 27 April 2013; 9am to 2:30 pm Keynote speakers: His Worship the Mayor, Len Brown, Dame Susan Devoy, Race Relations Commissioner Participants: Derek McCormack, AUT Vice-Chancellor; members of Parliament; Auckland Councilors and Local Board members; community leaders; representatives of ethnic organizations; individuals from diverse ethnic, migrant and refugee backgrounds; New Zealand Police; Government officials; Council officers; and the media. 1.0 Executive summary The EPAP hosted a mini-conference on racism on Saturday 27 April at the Auckland University of Technology. Racism – does it impact on Auckland as a diverse city? The purpose of the conference was to find out the extent to which racism impacts on Auckland’s ability to be a diverse and inclusive city. The Panel considered that it was time for an open discussion on racism and finding solutions. This report summarises the key themes and opinions expressed by speakers and participants at the conference. Both keynote speakers-Mayor Len Brown and Race Relations Commissioner, Dame Susan Devoy, acknowledged that there was racism in Auckland. They promised to tackle racism in their official capacity. It was also acknowledged that there was a history of confronting racism in NZ and growing acceptance of diversity and difference, demonstrated by the recent passage of the Marriage Equality Bill. Dr Camille Nakhid, Chair of EPAP, and several other speakers, defined the core issue as about “power”, “white supremacy” and the fear of losing control and defining what is “normal”. It was important to have the debate on racism now before extremism and violence developed. These sentiments were also echoed by other speakers, who spoke of the racism they experienced personally. This included the inability to obtain employment and access to services; discrimination and human rights abuse. Discrimination in employment is one of the biggest issues facing migrant communities and those from refugee backgrounds. In order to eradicate racism from New Zealand, collaboration between different sectors, employers, government, communities and individuals was needed. These issues were explored further in the panel presentations and workshops and solutions developed. 1 Agenda Page 1 One of the outcomes of the conference is to provide solutions to racism especially in employment. Education of the host community, changes of government policies, and increased responsiveness to ethnic communities from the government, business society and other bodies were recommended. 2.0 Solutions 1. We need to love, tolerate and accept each other 2. Everyone has a responsibility to confront racism 3. Host communities should be educated about different cultures to increase public awareness and greater acceptance 4. Ethnic communities need to be assertive and work together to eradicate all forms of racism in New Zealand (personal, structural and institutional) 5. Change is needed in the system, including policies and best practice models 6. Business sector needs to work together to combat racism, promote benefits of a diverse work force 3.0 Background In Auckland, ethnic people are a growing and significant component of the population - about 40% of Aucklanders were born elsewhere; and about 180 different ethnicities live in Auckland. EPAP are aware that there racism is a problem in Auckland and New Zealand- especially in employment. Their hosting of a mini-conference provided an opportunity for ethnic communities and others, to discuss their experiences and identify solutions. Racism has recently become an issue of considerable media and public interest with the appointment of a new Race Relations Commissioner and a TV3 viewer poll in which 76% of respondents agreed New Zealand was a racist country. 4.0 Mihi/Welcome from Council Kaumatua Bobby Newson On behalf of Auckland Council, kaumatua Bobby Newson welcomed the Mayor of Auckland, the Race Relations Commissioner, AUT vice-chancellor, members of parliament, councillors and local board members and everyone to the conference 5.0 Mayor Len Brown The Mayor acknowledged the EPAP for organising this conference on racism. He especially thanked Dr Camille Nakhid, Chair of EPAP for her efforts. He also appreciated the willingness of the new Race Relations Commissioner, Dame Susan Devoy to attend the conference. As racism is an issue in New Zealand, the role would be a challenge for her. The role needed courage and determination, said Mayor Brown. He described Devoy as a woman with a "real heart; a heart for the people". The Mayor acknowledged that “Racism existed in New Zealand and Auckland, and that it should be combated”. In multicultural city like Auckland, people needed to learn to “love each other”, he said. He wanted “our diversity to define our unity”. Everyone had the responsibility to fight and confront racism for the sake of our children and grand children. Tolerance and acceptance are important and needed in the world today. New Zealand does have a history of confronting racism e.g. the 1981 Springbok rugby tour, but unfortunately, racism was sometimes tolerated. The Mayor highlighted that commitment and collaboration are essential to 2 Agenda Page 2 combat racism. The Mayor quoted Nelson Mandela: “Racism must be consciously combated, not discreetly tolerated”. 6.0 Dr Camille Nakhid, Chair EPAP Dr Nakhid thanked the Mayor for his support for the conference. She also thanked the sponsors of the conference. The conference brought different communities together for the purpose of openly debating and finding solutions for racism. Dr Nakhid defined the core issue as about “power”, “white supremacy” and the fear of losing control and defining what is “normal”. This had a huge impact on ethnic communities and their human rights. It was important to have the debate on racism now before extremism and violence developed. The full text of the speech is attached to this report as Appendix 1. 7.0 Dame Susan Devoy, Race Relation Commissioner Dame Susan acknowledged the controversy surrounding her appointment. She said that it showed people cared about race relations, but it was important not to pre-judge people and give everyone regardless of his/her ethnicity a “fair go”. She noted that since 1971 when the position was established, commissioners had been of different ethnicities, including: Pakeha, Fijian Indian, and Jewish. Dame Susan said she was glad to take the appointment that had challenge and responsibility, and that she was planning to add to the legacy already built by the previous commissioners and make a difference. Referring to the TV3 views poll, Dame Susan said New Zealanders should be “ashamed” to see themselves a racist country, and should be aiming to have the finest race relations in the world. Last year alone there were about 6000 human rights complaints made to the Commission about a third related to race. Dame Susan said that “Racism and discrimination are the result of ignorance of others’ cultures.” It is a particular issue for Auckland because about 40% of the total population of Auckland was born overseas. By 2040 there will be no one majority ethnic group in Auckland, and we must prepare for these changes. In February, the United National Committee on the Convention for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination reviewed New Zealand’s progress in improving race relations. The UN Committee said it appreciated a range of laws and policy and programmes that had been put in place to combat racial discrimination but recommended a range of improvements. Dame Susan acknowledged “Although the New Zealand Human Rights Commission aims for best practice in combating racism, we do not claim to have achieved it.” The full speech can be found at http://www.hrc.co.nz/2013/racism-does-it-impact-on-auckland- as-a-diverse-city 7.1 Questions and discussion The key points from the general discussion which followed were: When people are filling forms there is a question on the form that says which ethnicity you belong to? On the form there are options to select from the list of different ethnicities such as Pakeha, Asian, and Maori. Unfortunately, most forms then only give the option of “OTHER”. There is a concern there is no specific options, for other ethnicities. 3 Agenda Page 3 The issue regarding the foundation and operation of some of New Zealand’s political parties, specifically Maori and New Zealand first. These parties advocate and stand for a specific racial group. There was a concern that these parties do not incorporate and include other ethnicities.