Minutes of International Advisory Group

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HASTINGS DISTRICT COUNCIL

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE International Advisory Group

HELD IN THE Landmarks Room, Ground Floor, Civic Administration Building, Lyndon Road East, Hastings ON

Wednesday, 16 May 2018 AT 3.00pm

Present: Chair: Councillor Travers

Councillors Dixon and Watkins

Mrs J Too (Hawke’s Bay Chinese Association); Mrs Rizwaana Latiff (Multicultural Association), Mrs S Padfield (Education Link Group) and Max Sharp (Youth Council Representative)

IN ATTENDANCE: Economic Development Manager (Mr L Neville)

Economic Development Project Officer (Mr S Jackman)

Team Leader Strategy & Projects (Ms L Stettner)

Committee Secretary (Mrs C Hilton)

1. Apologies

There were no apologies.

2. Conflict of Interest

There were no declarations of conflicts of interest.

3. Consideration of General Business Items

This item was addressed later in the meeting.

4. Confirmation of Minutes

Councillor Watkins/Councillor Dixon

That the minutes of the International Advisory Group held Wednesday 11 October 2017 be confirmed as a true and correct record and be adopted.

CARRIED

Lantern Festival Event Sponsorship Proposal

(Document 18/274)

Discussion took place regarding the Lantern Festival Event and the sponsorship proposal of $7,000 requested for the 2019 event. It was felt that this event should be improved on and “grown” each year and suggestions included extending the event outside the existing confines into part of the wider park area – e.g. around the duck lake.

2019 would be the tenth anniversary of this event, which should be celebrated. It was suggested that Council be approached and asked if it would consider supporting the 2019 event by providing extra funding.

Councillor Dixon/Mrs Too

A) That the report of the Economic Development Manager titled “Lantern Festival Event Sponsorship Proposal” dated 16 May 2018 be received.

B) That $7,000 from the International Advisory Group budget be used for sponsorship support for the 2019 Lantern Festival Event.

C) That an approach be made to Council seeking additional funding for the tenth anniversary of the Lantern Festival Event.

CARRIED

Amazing China Face Race 2018

(Document 18/346)

This event now came under the framework of the International Advisory Group (IAG). The IAG was being asked to make a financial contribution of $3,000 to assist in topping up the sponsorship amount for the Amazing China Face Race 2018, which would launch on 7 June 2018.

Cr Watkins had successfully run the event in 2006, 2008, 2015 and was now working on the 2018 event. The event had now been registered as a trademark with the Trademark Offices in Wellington. Costs had been $14,267 and $12,000 had been raised to date in sponsorship leaving approximately a $3,000 shortfall.

The China Culture Centre was part of this year’s event and involved in the sponsorship and there would be television coverage on China TV. This would be a great opportunity to promote HB schools. Cr Watkins and Jenny Too would discuss whether this event could be tied in with Chinese Language Week.

Councillor Dixon/Max Sharp

A) That the report of the Economic Development Project Officer titled “Amazing China Face Race 2018” dated 16/05/2018 be received.

B) That the International Advisory Group adopt and incorporate the 2018 Amazing China Face Race within their activity.

C) That the International Advisory Group make a financial contribution to the running of the 2018 event in the sum of $3,000.00 from their allocated budget.

CARRIED

Diversity Strategy

(Document 18/347)

The Diversity Strategy celebrated the benefits of the multiculturalism and diversity in Hastings and the Council wanted everyone to be able to access services and events and to participate fully in the community. A Working Group was proposed to develop aspects of the strategy in a way that Council can support them and in turn provide an umbrella to co-ordinate a range of events.

Cr Travers and Ms Stettner had initially discussed the proposal and the importance of obtaining information on the makeup of the Hastings community which had significantly changed in the past five years. The census data was due to be released which would provide an updated picture of the ethnic groups in the Hastings District. Other avenues could also be explored such as local health providers and churches.

NZ Immigration had issued a “Welcoming Communities” Document involving five pilot councils. A copy of the document would be circulated to the IAG members. There was a lot of enthusiasm within the IAG for this project and Ms Stettner would keep the Group updated.

The IAG supported Mrs Rizwaana Latiff, Mrs Jenny Too and Councillor Watkins being nominated as members of the Diversity Strategy Working Group. The following additional names were also suggested for consideration by Ms Stettner: Hena Dugh and Abigail Masengi (both Youth Council members).

Councillor Watkins/Mrs Latiff

A) That the report of the Team Leader Strategy & Projects titled “Diversity Strategy” dated 16/05/2018 be received.

B) That the International Advisory Group nominate the following members to form part of the Diversity Strategy Working Group:

· Mrs Rizwaana Latiff

· Mrs Jenny Too

· Councillor Kevin Watkins

With the reasons for this decision being that the objective of the decision will contribute to meeting the current and future needs of communities for good quality local public services in a way that is most cost-effective for households and business by developing a Strategy that enables Council to better engage with and understand the needs of different cultural communities in Hastings.

CARRIED

GENERAL BUSINESS…Continued…

Education Link Group

Sue Padfield gave an update on the activities of the Education Link Group. Two students were proposed for an upcoming student exchange – Holly Barclay and Niamh Edwards. It was hoped that a teacher exchange would take place in July for a week, with the teachers also bringing students with them who would stay here for a month.

Special permission had been granted by the Ministry of Education to enable Chinese exchange students to obtain free education in NZ.

Multicultural Association Hawke’s Bay

Rizwaana Latiff advised that the Chair of the NZ Federation of Multicultural Societies will be attending an event on Monday, 21 May in the Landmarks Room and all IAG members are invited to attend.

Asians in the Bay event - Rizwaana Latiff reported that it had been hoped to hold this year’s event in the Opera House but it won’t be ready. Possible alternate venues were discussed.

Councillor Travers/Mrs Too

That $2,000 be granted to the Multicultural Association Hawke’s Bay, from the International Advisory Group budget, to support the Asians in the Bay 2018 event.

CARRIED

________________________

The meeting closed at 3.50pm

Confirmed:

Chairman:

Date:

Hastings District Council

Lyndon Road East, Hastings 4156