Latest news with #CindyKiro
Scoop
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
One Year To Go
Today marks 'One Year to Go' until the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, with the New Zealand Team honouring the milestone with the official launch of its'The Fern is all of Us'campaign. 'One Year to Go' will be celebrated this evening at a cocktail event at Auckland War Memorial Museum, attended by athletes, dignitaries including Her Excellency Dame Cindy Kiro, Governor General and the New Zealand Team Patron, as well as donors and sponsors. The event will feature a musical collaboration between Te Whare Haka o Waititi and the City of Sails Pipe Band, honouring both the Māori and Scottish cultures while Her Excellency Dame Cindy Kiro will also present the official King's Baton to the New Zealand Team on the night. 'Marking 'One Year to Go' is a significant moment for our team and our nation,' said NZOC CEO, Nicki Nicol. 'It's a chance to reflect on the journey ahead and the values that unite us as the New Zealand Team. The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games is shaping up to be a superb Games and tonight's milestone will be a great warm-up,' she said. As well as celebrating 'One Year to Go', the New Zealand Team today launched a campaign that will guide the New Zealand Team's wider journey in 2026, including the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games in February and the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar in October. The campaign builds on the idea that the New Zealand Team brings the whole country together under one fern, one takahi, the foundation of our Pou Tangata haka. 'It speaks to the unity and strength of the New Zealand Team together with the communities who support them,' said Head of Brand and Marketing, Alex Cooper-Cuthbert. 'We wanted a really emotive piece that encapsulated the idea 'when you face one of us, you face all of us,' she said. The Commonwealth Games 'King's Baton Relay' Baton will also be on display at the event in its pre-designed state. Spanning all 74 Commonwealth nations and territories, the King's Baton Relay celebrates communities and marks the countdown to the Games. The Glasgow 2026 Baton has been reimagined with a 'Baton for Every Nation' concept, each baton is decorated to reflect its country's cultural heritage and identity. A fully designed and crafted New Zealand Baton will be unveiled during the New Zealand leg of the relay, from March 15-20 2026. As the countdown begins, 2026 is set to be an exciting year for the New Zealand Team. The Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games run from February 6 to February 22 2026. The Glasgow Commonwealth Games run from July 23 to August 2 2026. The Dakar Youth Olympic Games run from October 31 to November 13, 2026 About the NZOC The New Zealand Olympic Committee was established in 1911. Since then, we have used our unique mandate to select and lead more than 60 teams to Olympic and Commonwealth Games across the globe. Our athletes and teams are at the heart of our organisation and their stories have become integral to our national identity. They represent Aotearoa New Zealand with honour and pride and the silver fern is a symbol of their sporting success. For decades our teams and athletes have showcased our unique culture and values on the world stage as well as promoting excellence and innovation through their stories and success. We are a charity and rely heavily on commercial and other funding partnerships as we promote sport and the Olympic values and help create New Zealand history. We are engaged in education programmes for young New Zealanders and, through Olympic Solidarity and other partnerships, help fund athlete and sport development. We work in partnership with High Performance Sport New Zealand, which invests significant funding and specialist resources in NSOs, coaches and athletes to support performance on the world stage in New Zealand's targeted sports. We are proud to represent the Olympic and Commonwealth sporting movements in New Zealand.
Scoop
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
New Zealand's Muslim And Jewish Organisations Join As Signatories To The Harmony Accord At Government House
Press Release – Office of Ethnic Communities This Accord is about enabling diverse perspectives to co-exist and mutual respect still afforded even through challenging times, says Mervin Singham, Chief Executive of the Ministry for Ethnic Communities. Today, leaders from New Zealand's Muslim and Jewish organisations gathered at Government House in Auckland to present the New Zealand Harmony Accord to the Governor-General, the Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro. This landmark agreement affirms their shared commitment to promoting understanding, rejecting hate, and strengthening social cohesion in New Zealand. 'This Accord is a powerful statement of unity, courage, and compassion,' says Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, Governor-General of New Zealand. 'It reminds us that dialogue, even when difficult, is the foundation of a peaceful and inclusive nation. I commend those who have worked so tirelessly to bring this vision to life.' 'To the leaders here today, you have my deepest respect. Your commitment to dialogue, to mutual respect, and to standing together in difficult times is something we can all learn from. Thank you for your leadership and for the example you have set,' says Hon Mark Mitchell, Minister for Ethnic Communities. More than 70 guests attended, including Members of Parliament, senior faith leaders, and community representatives. Participants and guests at the ceremony included Race Relations Commissioner Dr Melissa Derby, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, Juliet Moses (President of the New Zealand Jewish Council), Ibrar Sheikh (President of the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand), Phillip Green (Jewish Community Security Group), Avigail Allan (Dayenu), and Salman Momin, Member for New Zealand, (The Aga Khan Council for Australia and New Zealand). This Accord is about enabling diverse perspectives to co-exist and mutual respect still afforded even through challenging times,' says Mervin Singham, Chief Executive of the Ministry for Ethnic Communities. 'It speaks to the everyday New Zealander who believes in respect, dignity, and belonging. 'The Ministry recognises that the journey toward consensus has been challenging, especially in today's global climate where tensions and emotions run high,' says Mervin. At this stage, the Accord has begun with national organisations ready to lead efforts to strengthen relationships within and between communities, with the vison that other organisations who wish to participate can join over time, ensuring it remains inclusive, evolving, and enduring. 'That these Jewish and Muslim organisations in New Zealand have come together to sign this Accord is a powerful testament to their shared commitment to dialogue. Very importantly, the Accord does not take away respective organisations' right to advocate for what they believe in,' says Mervin. The Ministry supports a range of initiatives that promote social inclusion, including funding through the Ethnic Communities Development Fund and a national behaviour-change campaign to promote empathy and respect. Notes: The New Zealand Harmony Accord was signed by: o The New Zealand Jewish Council o The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) o The Holocaust Centre in New Zealand o Dayenu o His Highness the Aga Khan Council for Australia and New Zealand o The Jewish Community Security Group • The Accord can be accessed on the Ministry for Ethnic Communities website: • The Harmony Accord outlines a set of shared values and commitments, including: o Rejecting all forms of hate, extremism, and discrimination, including antisemitism and Islamophobia o Fostering trust, leadership, and safety within and between communities o Promoting pluralism and interfaith respect o Supporting education and dialogue to challenge prejudice and foster understanding o Standing together in times of both celebration and challenge
Scoop
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
New Zealand's Muslim And Jewish Organisations Join As Signatories To The Harmony Accord At Government House
Today, leaders from New Zealand's Muslim and Jewish organisations gathered at Government House in Auckland to present the New Zealand Harmony Accord to the Governor-General, the Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro. This landmark agreement affirms their shared commitment to promoting understanding, rejecting hate, and strengthening social cohesion in New Zealand. 'This Accord is a powerful statement of unity, courage, and compassion,' says Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, Governor-General of New Zealand. 'It reminds us that dialogue, even when difficult, is the foundation of a peaceful and inclusive nation. I commend those who have worked so tirelessly to bring this vision to life.' 'To the leaders here today, you have my deepest respect. Your commitment to dialogue, to mutual respect, and to standing together in difficult times is something we can all learn from. Thank you for your leadership and for the example you have set,' says Hon Mark Mitchell, Minister for Ethnic Communities. More than 70 guests attended, including Members of Parliament, senior faith leaders, and community representatives. Participants and guests at the ceremony included Race Relations Commissioner Dr Melissa Derby, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, Juliet Moses (President of the New Zealand Jewish Council), Ibrar Sheikh (President of the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand), Phillip Green (Jewish Community Security Group), Avigail Allan (Dayenu), and Salman Momin, Member for New Zealand, (The Aga Khan Council for Australia and New Zealand). This Accord is about enabling diverse perspectives to co-exist and mutual respect still afforded even through challenging times,' says Mervin Singham, Chief Executive of the Ministry for Ethnic Communities. 'It speaks to the everyday New Zealander who believes in respect, dignity, and belonging. 'The Ministry recognises that the journey toward consensus has been challenging, especially in today's global climate where tensions and emotions run high,' says Mervin. At this stage, the Accord has begun with national organisations ready to lead efforts to strengthen relationships within and between communities, with the vison that other organisations who wish to participate can join over time, ensuring it remains inclusive, evolving, and enduring. 'That these Jewish and Muslim organisations in New Zealand have come together to sign this Accord is a powerful testament to their shared commitment to dialogue. Very importantly, the Accord does not take away respective organisations' right to advocate for what they believe in,' says Mervin. The Ministry supports a range of initiatives that promote social inclusion, including funding through the Ethnic Communities Development Fund and a national behaviour-change campaign to promote empathy and respect. Notes: The New Zealand Harmony Accord was signed by: o The New Zealand Jewish Council o The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) o The Holocaust Centre in New Zealand o Dayenu o His Highness the Aga Khan Council for Australia and New Zealand o The Jewish Community Security Group • The Accord can be accessed on the Ministry for Ethnic Communities website: • The Harmony Accord outlines a set of shared values and commitments, including: o Rejecting all forms of hate, extremism, and discrimination, including antisemitism and Islamophobia o Fostering trust, leadership, and safety within and between communities o Promoting pluralism and interfaith respect o Supporting education and dialogue to challenge prejudice and foster understanding o Standing together in times of both celebration and challenge
Scoop
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Speech At The Signing Of The Harmony Accord
Minister for Ethnic Communities Tēnā koutou katoa. Shalom. As-salamu alaykum. I would like to acknowledge: Your Excellency, The Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro His Excellency Dr Richard Andrew Faith and community leaders - Ibrar Sheikh, President of the Islamic Associations of New Zealand, and Phillip Green from the New Zealand Jewish Community Security Group Charitable Trust Police Commissioner, Richard Chambers Dr Melissa Derby, Race Relations Commissioner Parliamentary colleagues And other distinguished guests It is a real honour to be here today as the Minister for Ethnic Communities for the signing of the Harmony and Peace Accord between Jewish and Muslim organisations. This is a significant and brave stand taken by leaders of deep conviction, against division, hatred, and fear. To the leaders here today, you have my deepest respect. Your commitment to dialogue, to mutual respect, and to standing together in difficult times is something we can all learn from. Thank you for your leadership and for the example you have set. At a time when global conflicts have placed immense strain on many communities worldwide, and where we are seeing growing Islamophobia and Antisemitism, you have chosen the right pathway for us as country - a path guided by responsibility, not reaction. In doing so, you have shown the very best of leadership. As Minister, I have had the opportunity to work closely with Jewish and Muslim communities. I have seen firsthand efforts to confront hate that our communities are facing in day-to-day life here in New Zealand. We acknowledge the pain and pressure felt by our communities, and we understand the deep emotions tied to what is happening in other parts of the world. This is where our shared values as a country must be a shield to protect our communities, our children and those who are frightened by global conflict to ensure that those conflicts are not imported into New Zealand and do not become divisions of our own. We are a country shaped by diversity. Whether your ancestors arrived centuries ago or just last year, New Zealand is home to people of every ethnicity, every background, and every faith. That is our strength. And we are guided by Kiwi values - manaakitanga, fairness, and giving everyone a fair go. We believe in respect, in dialogue, and in treating each other with dignity, regardless of difference. But these values aren't passive. They are upheld by action. Every New Zealander, whether Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, or of no faith, has a responsibility to help keep our country peaceful and united. That means standing up against hate crime, against racism, and against violence - wherever it tries to take root. We are fortunate to live in a democracy - one that protects freedom of speech and the right to protest. These are pillars of our society. But with those freedoms comes responsibility: to protest peacefully, to speak respectfully, and to never let those freedoms be twisted into a licence for hatred or intimidation. Our diversity should never divide us. Whether you are a Jewish Kiwi, a Muslim Kiwi, or a Christian Kiwi, we are, first and foremost, Kiwis. And as Kiwis, we stand together. We will not import hate. We will not allow conflict from abroad to create fear or division at home. We will protect each other through respect, through tolerance, and through peace. This Accord is a testament to what is possible when brave people choose unity over fear. Let it be more than a document - let it be a beginning. A beginning of deeper conversations, stronger relationships, and a more resilient, inclusive New Zealand. Let this moment remind us all that peace is not something we inherit, it is something we build, together.
NZ Herald
21-07-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
NZ Muslim-Jewish accord: Leaders sending powerful message says Mark Mitchell
They would be sending a very powerful message to the country that they can agree to disagree, still preserve the right to peaceful protest and the freedom of speech, but can do so in a peaceful and tolerant way. 'Tolerance isn't just about tolerating people,' said Mitchell. 'It is actually about going and speaking to them, listening to them, finding out about what their issues are, what their concerns are, what their fears are, everyone having a much better understanding.' Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro is hosting the groups signing the accord. The war in Gaza began in October 2023 after Hamas-led militants massacred 1200 people in Israel, mainly civilians, and took 251 hostages. About 25 are thought to be alive. The military campaign by Israel since then has killed about 58,000 Palestinians, mainly civilians, displaced most of the 2 million population, and created a humanitarian crisis that plays out daily on screens around the world. It has also sparked civil protests around the world, against Government positions and sometimes against rival groups. Mitchell was made Ethnic Communities Minister in the Prime Minister's January reshuffle this year and replaced Melissa Lee. But it was through his Police portfolio that he was aware that some communities were living in fear because of conflict overseas. 'It is completely natural that some of that conflict has an emotional impact on people living back here in New Zealand,' he said. 'But I feel very strongly that we should be doing all that we can as a country to stop the import of that conflict into our country.' It was a matter of how to deal with that emotional response. 'And, in my view and my experience in life is that, dialogue and listening, communicating and understanding, is the best way of being able to deal with it because the minute that dialogue and, and listening and, and communicating, stops between parties, inevitably you end up in violence and, and we're not gonna let that happen, here in New Zealand.' He approached various leaders, and he says there were some 'tough conversations', but they agreed to move forward. Mitchell says the Harmony Accord will be 'a living document' and that it could expand - leaders of other faiths have approached him to see if they could join it too. Israel's ongoing retaliatory attacks on Gaza have heightened animosity between Muslim and Jewish communities around the globe. Photo / AFP He hoped that the Accord would lead to many other events. 'I'd love to see events all over the country focusing on how we look after each other, how we engage in debates, how we can agree to disagree, how we can have peaceful protests and how we can still guard and make sure we look after our freedom of speech which is a fundamental of our democracy here and something which we fought very hard to have in this country.' He acknowledged that today's accord was a 'top-down' process. 'Where you really start to make an impact is from the bottom up. 'When you get those conversations happening around the dinner tables, inside communities, inside churches, synagogues or mosques, that's where you start to really make the change. 'We need to lead and be an example and come out and have those conversations.'
