Ministry for Ethnic Communities

Ministry for Ethnic Communities

Māori: Te Tari Mātāwaka
Agency overview
Formed	1 July 2021 (1 July 2021)
Jurisdiction	New Zealand
Headquarters	Grant Thornton Building, 215 Lambton Quay, Wellington 6011
Employees	84 FTE staff (30 September 2022)
Minister responsible	Hon Melissa Lee, Minister for Ethnic Communities
Agency executive	Mervin Singham, Chief Executive
Website	www.ethniccommunities.govt.nz

The Ministry for Ethnic Communities (Māori: Te Tari Mātāwaka) is an advisory agency to the government on ethnic diversity and inclusion in New Zealand society. The agency provides information, advice and services to ethnic communities, and gives out funds to support community development and social cohesion.

Function

Overview

The Government decided to form The Ministry on 2 December 2020 and it formally came into existence on 1 July 2021. The origins of the Ministry stem from the Office of Ethnic Affairs, which was established as one part-time officer within the Department of Internal Affairs in 1995. The first permanent director of the Office started in 2004. The Office was renamed to the Office of Ethnic Communities in 2015.

The elevation of the Office of Ethnic Communities to a standalone Ministry was a recommendation of the Royal Commission into the Christchurch mosque terror attacks.

Headquarters

The Ministry is based in the Grant Thornton building in Wellington, with regional offices in Auckland and Christchurch.

History

Overview

The Ministry of Ethnic Communities was established in July 2021. However, it has evolved through various developments since 1995. It is currently one of the youngest Ministries in the public sector.

Timeline

1955: The Ethnic Affairs Desk was set up at the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), with 0.5 full-time equivalent (FTE).

2001: The Office of Ethnic Affairs was established with 6 FTE. New offices were opened in Auckland and Wellington.

2002: An office in Christchurch was added along with one extra staff member. The Nominations Database and website were set up. The first Ethnic Perspectives policy advice was published by the Minister of Ethnic Affairs at the time, Chris Carter, appointed as Minister in August 2002. He said the policy provided "useful information about ethnic diversity in New Zealand, the role of government departments, and guidelines to develop policies and services that are more responsive to ethnic communities."

2003: Two extra staff members were added. Language Line was established to aid communication between ethnic New Zealanders and government agencies, such as the Accident Compensation Corporation and the Police.

2004: The first permanent Director of the Office joined. Recruitment for extra staff commenced.

2011: EPIC (Electronic Purchasing in Collaboration), an electronic resources database, launched a programme connecting New Zealand businesses with ethnic community members to strengthen language and cultural skills for overseas trade.

2014: Major restructure combining functions. More staff were added.

2015: Organisation renamed Office of Ethnic Communities. More staff were added. Ethnic Communities Development Fund (ECDF) was set up.

2016: Second restructure reverting to the old model. Intercultural e-learning programme launched.

2019: Christchurch terror attacks. Extra engagement staff were added. ECDF funding increased. Language Line replaced by Ezispeak, managed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE).

2020: Extra staff were added. Multi-lingual Information Network was set up. Executive Director reporting to the Chief Executive of the Department of Internal Affairs. Creation of Ministry for Ethnic Communities announced.

2021: New Ministry for Ethnic Communities launched.

Influencing Policy

Following the Christchurch terror attacks, the Ministry's recommendations from the Royal Commission of Inquiry were implemented. The Ministry also worked alongside the Ministry of Health on COVID-19 efforts to improve diversity, inclusion, and reduce ethnic pay gaps in the public sector. It worked to strengthen relationships with tangata whenua and increase the understanding of te ao Māori.

Recommendation 30

Before the establishment of The Ministry for Ethnic Communities, a Royal Commission of Inquiry recommended that the Government explore various organisational structures for an agency dedicated to ethnic communities and multiculturalism. The proposal emphasised the need for a tailored organisational design that would include the responsibilities of the existing Office of Ethnic Communities. The envisioned Public sector agency would undertake the following key functions:

• Provide advice to the government and Public sector agencies on priorities and challenges affecting the wellbeing of ethnic communities.

• Gather and utilize data to analyze, monitor, and assess Public sector initiatives aimed at enhancing the wellbeing of ethnic communities, determining necessary actions and their prioritization.

• Create an evaluation framework with performance indicators to measure the impact and effectiveness of government policies and programs on the wellbeing of ethnic communities.

This recommendation underscores the rationale behind the Ministry's creation, highlighting the government's commitment to supporting ethnic communities through informed and strategic policy-making.

Development Funds

In accordance with The Ministry's strategic priorities, community organisation's receive an annual allocation of $4.2 million from the Ethnic Communities Development Fund (ECDF) for projects that promote ethnic communities.

Ensuring equitable and accessible government services for ethnic communities is a top priority for the Ministry for ethnic communities. Additionally, they have focused on uniting and uplifting ethnic community groups as well as developing diversity and the inclusion of ethnic communities in society. Prioritizing also includes lowering employment barriers for ethnic communities and enhancing economic outcomes. In order for communities to receive the funds, funding criteria must be met. For example, Projects must take place in New Zealand, be well-designed, benefit ethnic communities, and have a clear timetable. Some examples of projects that are accepted are Commemorations/Holidays, language, and faith-based projects if it’s not promoted by the Ministry. Projects such as food distribution, operational costs, and translation funds are not accepted, but that could change based on different circumstances. Individuals, capital works, ongoing salaries/administration, completed projects, debt servicing, and commercials are also not funded.

The Project for Former Refugee and Ethnic Migrant Research Coordinator by Tangata Whenua, Community and Voluntary Sector Research Centre Incorporated in Wellington received partial funding of $21,600 in March 2024. This funding may look at issues highlighted in a 2023 report by Community Research, which found high unemployment and welfare rates among New Zealand's former migrants. Specifically, the employment rate for former refugees who had been in New Zealand for five years or more was slightly over 40% between 2012 and 2017, significantly lower than the national average of almost 65%. This means that these former refugees face various demographic, economic, and social challenges that hinder their integration.

Another successful recipient is an organization called Voice of Aroha. They received partial fundings of $25,000 in March 2024 as well. Their aim is to amplify diverse perspectives and share experiences from Wellington's communities, provide a platform for former refugees to be heard and foster a more inclusive society in New Zealand. And highlight and celebrate stories of refugees and their contributions to the country.

List of chief executives

Chief executives of the Ministry for Ethnic Communities are:

No.	Name	Portrait	Term of office
1	Mervin Singham		July 2021	present

Ethnic Communities Graduate Programme

The Ministry for Ethnic Communities initiated the Ethnic Communities Graduate Programme in their ongoing commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within the New Zealand public sector. Launched in July 2021, the programme has been designed to provide graduates of all ages, who have ethnically diverse backgrounds, with the opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of New Zealand.

The Ministry of Ethnic Communities encourages graduates who meet this following criteria to apply for the Ethnic Communities Graduate Programme:

-       Those who identify as Middle Eastern, Latin American, African, Asian, or Continental Europeans;

-       Have obtained a bachelor’s or post-graduate level qualification in New Zealand or overseas within the last 2 years;

-       Have the right to live and work in New Zealand; and

-       Are seeking their first employment opportunity in the New Zealand public service.

The Ethnic Communities Graduate Programme serves as a dynamic platform that provides select graduates with unique opportunities for professional growth, experiential learning, and community engagement. Graduates are employed by the Ministry for Ethnic Communities and are then seconded into one of the many public service agencies that are participating in the programme for 18 months. The agencies that participated in the third and most recent intake of graduates were Inland Revenue, Ministry of Transport, New Zealand Customs Service, New Zealand Intelligence Community, New Zealand Police, and Te Kawa Mataaho – Public Service Commission. The agencies that participate each year are subject to change.

The overarching goal of the Ethnic Communities Graduate Programme is to directly address the low representation of ethnically diverse employees and the barriers they face to obtaining employment in the public sector. This programme ensures that the public service continues to reflect the diversity of the people they serve, as in 2018, ethnic minority groups made up 16.6% of the New Zealand population. Throughout the graduate programme, the Ministry for Ethnic Communities provides comprehensive support to both the graduates and the managers that are hosting them.

Working in a graduate position like this allows individuals to be immersed in the intricate workings of public service, gaining insight into policy development, research methods, community outreach strategies, and project management practices.

Ethnic communities data

The Ministry for Ethnic Communities gathers, examines and displays an array of data focused on the ethnic groups residing in New Zealand to inform and enhance its initiatives for New Zealand's diverse and ever-growing ethnic groups. The Ministry leverages this data in a number of different channels with some of the key points as follows:

Ethnic Communities Data Dashboard: Collaborated in partnership between the Ministry of Ethnic Communities and Statistics New Zealand, this informative tool spawns from data collected from the 2018 Census. It highlights clear and comprehensive information at the ready becoming an interactive tool about ethnic groups across Aotearoa New Zealand. Detailing such topics as religion, language at national and regional levels and, of course, ethnicity and ethnic makeup. The Ethnic Communities Data Dashboard is a vital and crucial tool in aiding understanding the demographic constructions and needs of these groups and communities. With this dashboard issues and areas of concern that have the possibility of becoming overlooked now become much more highlighted. [1]

Analytics, Evaluation, and Monitoring: The Ministry for Ethnic Communities fostered a vital function to aid in enhancing its insights and data capabilities. This dedicated function reinforces the Ministry in relaying evidence-informed policy advice which they can then use to assist in monitoring the results and outcomes of its established programs for ethnic communities.

Research and Evaluation: The Ministry collaborates on studies initiatives, consisting of the Ethnic Research Aotearoa, to acquire and make use of information correctly. These collaborations aim to provide a strong evidence base that can affect policy choices and enhance provider shipping for ethnic communities. This additionally consists of discussions and insights from occasions just like the Ethnic Research Hui Aotearoa, which focuses on bridging ethnic voices and public policy through information-pushed insights.[2]

The commitment from the Ministry to harness data as a foundational component in their work illustrates how they use it effectively. With it, they have the opportunity to reform old and establish new programs and policies that are not only responsive to but also reflective of the needs of New Zealand's ethnic communities.

The diverse population of New Zealand is supported by the Ministry for Ethnic Communities' efforts from their focus on data-driven decision-making.

See also

• Christchurch mosque shootings

External links

• Ministry for Ethnic Communities