Welcoming Communities
We want to start off with a warm friendly Manawatū welcome!
The concept of Welcoming Communities has been conceived on the premise that communities thrive when existing residents extend a warm welcome to newcomers. This mutual embrace fosters a healthier, happier, and more productive community, bolstered by a deep appreciation for social, economic, and cultural advantages that diversity brings.
Welcoming settlers to the Manawatū is a tradition with deep roots, dating back to the region's original inhabitants. Hence why, we keep these Māori principles in mind. Whanaugatana - the importance of relationships and Manaakitanga - the value of extending hospitality and caring for other people.
This programme aims to ensure that newcomers are warmly embraced and seamlessly integrated into the Manawatū community. Also, that there exist ample opportunities for mutual cultural exchange, fostering a shared sense of appreciation and belonging for all community members.
The Welcoming Communities Programme is a collaborative initiative led by Immigration New Zealand in conjunction with thirty-four councils nationwide. This partnership includes the Office of Ethnic Communities and support from the New Zealand Human Rights Commission.
This programme is part of a global movement which aims to engage local communities to be purposefully and proactively welcoming to migrants, former refugees and international students.
Through this program, councils and communities work to foster mutual understanding, stronger connections, and deeper belonging among residents and newcomers alike.
The national Welcoming Communities Standard provides us with a benchmark for what a successful welcoming community looks like. It's made up of eight outcome areas.
Read more about the standard on the Immigration New Zealand website.
Are you interested in learning more about Welcoming Communities in Feilding and the Surrounding District. Please get in touch with our Welcoming Communities Coordinator, Sarah Deveau.
Email: welcome@mdc.govt.nz
If you're new to New Zealand or to the Manawatū District, you might find these resources helpful in getting you settled and started: