Teaching diversity - why discuss diversity with schools and students?
Friday, 13 August 2010 19:42
A forum focusing upon the teaching of diversity issues and whether or not we should be discussing diversity in our schools and with our students is being hosted by the NZ National Commission for UNESCO as part of the NZ Diversity Action Forum 2010 in Christchurch this month.
More than half of all babies born in New Zealand last year were of Maori/Pacific, Asian or mixed heritage and it is vital that decision makers consider diversity in our classrooms and communities says NZ National Commission for UNESCO chair, Bryan Gould.
"New Zealand's demography is changing rapidly and teaching professionals, academics and decision makers must plan for the future now and work out how to move forward together," says Mr Gould.
The 2010 International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures provides an opportunity for New Zealand to re-address these issues and to give support to those charged with implementation of teaching diversity within New Zealand's new Education Curriculum. The UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity was adopted unanimously in the wake of the events of 11 September 2001: the UNESCO General Conference was the first major international forum to be held after those terrible events.
"The declaration saw member states reaffirm their conviction that intercultural dialogue is the best guarantee of peace: the cultural wealth of the world is its diversity in dialogue," says Mr Gould.
"Talking about diversity with schools and students is a discussion that we need to have in New Zealand."
Teaching diversity - why discuss diversity with schools and students?
Date: Monday 23 August 2010
Time: 3.30pm-5.30pm
Venue: Christchurch Convention Centre, 95 Kilmore Street, Christchurch
Past President of the British Academy & Cambridge Professor of Philosophy
Baroness O'Neill will be lecturing on the Two Cultures, Freedom of Speech and Trust and Trustworthiness at venues throughout New Zealand from the 15 - 23 September 2010. The lectures are free and open to the general public.
Maori Language Week - A success that all New Zealanders can share in
Tuesday, 03 August 2010 19:00
Maori Language Week 2010 has been an outstanding success with Maori and non Maori throughout Aotearoa New Zealand taking part says NZ National Commission for UNESCO chair, Bryan Gould.
“Maori Language Week in 1980 saw Maori march on parliament demanding that te reo Maori be recognised as an official language of New Zealand. At the head of the march were Maori leaders and academics including our own former UNESCO National Commissioner, Keri Kaa of Ngati Kahungunu and Ngati Porou,” says Mr Gould.
“Thirty years later, we have a thriving Maori immersion education system from kohanga reo right through to wananga or tertiary institutions. Maori Television has carved out a niche as one of the country’s heartland networks while iwi radio stations stretch across New Zealand.”
“Meanwhile mainstream New Zealand has also joined in and it is now commonplace to hear Maori on radio and television. Businesses, schools, universities, government departments, community groups and even engineers in communities throughout the country came together to celebrate te reo Maori this year.”
This year the NZ National Commission worked in partnership with the Human Rights Commission to host a forum on the relationship between the Maori language and the languages of the Pacific.
“New Zealanders from all walks of life celebrated Maori Language Week 2010 and this in itself is a milestone and a success that all New Zealanders can share in,” says Mr Gould.
A specialised agency of the United Nations, UNESCO is dedicated to the preservation of endangered languages with member states adopting the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity in 2001.
“Multilingualism promotes unity in diversity and international understanding. Obviously the message for us in Aotearoa New Zealand is that multilingualism: starts at home,” says Mr Gould.
Evaluation and Culture Workshop
Sunday, 01 August 2010 16:56
A sharing of Evaluation and Cultural Perspectives across the Pacific
Organised by the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO in association with the Australasian Evaluation Society this workshop is designed for those working as evaluation practitioners, in, government agencies and community groups and NGO’s working with Maori and Pacific peoples.
Date: Tuesday 31 August 2010
Time: 9am - 3pm
Venue: Rutherford House, Victoria Univesity of Wellington, Bunny Street, Wellington CBD, New Zealand
Te Kahui Tika Tangata (Human Rights Commission) and Te Komihana Matua o Aotearoa mo UNESCO (UNESCO) are hosting a forum to look at the relationships between Maaori and Pacific languages and particularly their preservation in Aotearoa.
“E kore au e ngaro, he kakano i ruia mai i Rangiatea”
"A seed scattered from Rangiatea shall never be lost"
Who: Tangata Whenua and the Pacific Community
When: Thursday 29 July 4:15pm - 6:15pm
Where: The Human Rights Commission,
Level 1, 44 The Terrace, Wellington.
Video Conference available from Auckland and
Christchurch on request.
RSVP: Naomi Taylor, Human Rights Commission
04 471 6756 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF BIODIVERSITY: PHOTO COMPETITION
Friday, 11 June 2010 13:18
Biodiversity is life, biodiversity is our life.
Ko te koiora kanorau, he tauoranga, ko te koiora kanorau to tātou tauoranga.
Photographers are being asked to celebrate New Zealand’s unique biodiversity by getting clicking in a national photo competition to mark the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity.
The Department of Conservation, NZ National Commission for UNESCO, NIWA, and Forest & Bird are seeking entries now for winning photographs of our wonderful native wildlife.
The themes of this competition are: Biodiversity of land and sky, Marine and fresh water biodiversity and People and biodiversity.
The competition will be judged by wildlife photographers Craig Potton, Kim Westerskov, and Norman Heke. Winning entries receive cash prizes: winners of each theme, under both young and adult categories, will win a cash prize of $300.The overall winner will receive a $1000 cash prize and runner up $500.
The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. It is a celebration of life on earth and of the huge value of biodiversity for all of our lives. The world is invited to take action in 2010 to safeguard the variety of life on earth: its biodiversity.
UNESCO sees the International Year of Biodiversity as an effective instrument to advance the cause of biodiversity conservation.
DOC General Manager Conservation Engagement Nicola Holmes said that the global recognition of the importance of biodiversity was in reality a celebration of the variety of life.
“For New Zealanders, the photo competition provides an opportunity to take delight in our amazing natural environment, but also to think about the actions we need to take to protect the thousands of unique plant and wildlife species we have in this country,” she said.
“With increasing land-use changes, agricultural intensification, pollution, and development, much of our biodiversity is now under more threat than at any time since Europeans arrived,” says Forest & Bird Conservation Advocate Kirstie Knowles. “This year and this competition are about getting out there and experiencing our fantastic range of plants and animals, and giving people a sense of responsibility to safeguard their future.”
NIWA Chief Scientist Biodiversity and Biosecurity Dr Don Roberston says, “Marine and freshwater biodiversity is at least as important as biodiversity on land. And small organisms – many that we can see only with a microscope – are at least as important as the plants and animals we can easily see.”
The winners and runners up will see their photos featured in a road show display touring New Zealand in 2011. Prizes will be presented at an awards ceremony. There are two entry categories: Adult and Young Adult
Contact: Shelley Biswell - Department of Conservation, International Year of Biodiversity Coordinator, Telephone 021 985 843
Friday, 04 June 2010 19:49
Samoan language week an international success
Samoan Language Week has been a great achievement this year with thousands of people celebrating gagana Samoa here in New Zealand and around the world.
"With events taking place throughout New Zealand and stretching across the Tasman for the first time - at early childhood centres, schools, universities, sports clubs, churches, government departments and even parliament - the week has been a comprehensive success," says NZ National Commission for UNESCO chair, Bryan Gould.
"Gagana Samoa has been promoted widely on the internet with thousands joining Samoan Language Week's Facebook page. Samoan celebrities and MPs added their voices of support with Youtube messages and sporting heroes also came to the fore with the announcement early this week that the ARL, NRL and NZ Rugby League had joined as official partners."
"Incredibly we have been swamped with messages of support from Samoan people living all over the planet - Alaska, Kazakhstan, Japan, Sweden, Sudan and Brazil - many have celebrated the week in their own communities. This shows the power of the internet and the will of a people to celebrate their heritage - no matter where they may be living."
This year UNESCO worked alongside the Human Rights Commission and FAGASA (Fa'alāpotopotoga mo le A'oa'oina o le Gagana Sāmoa i Aotearoa) to help organise the week. A Samoan language phrasebook was launched in conjunction with the Ministry of Education - this is now available, free for people to download and use immediately. Mr Gould says UNESCO is committed to the preservation of languages as a vital component of linguistic and cultural diversity, multilingualism and quality education for all.
"The diversity of the world's cultures is our wealth and our future. We need to increase our investment in cultural diversity and dialogue for development."
"Language is an intangible treasure that we must all work to protect and celebrate."
Five "Samoan Language Champions" are being honoured at the weekend - people who have made an outstanding contribution to the preservation and promotion of gagana Samoa in New Zealand.
"It is because of these kinds of leaders that languages and culture will survive and flourish into the future," says Mr Gould.
"On behalf of UNESCO, I would like to pay tribute to their passion and commitment over the past forty years. Malo lava le soifua."
Another exciting initiative announced this week is the news that the Samoan Language Teachers Association (FAGASA) and the Maori Language Commission have joined forces to support gagana Samoa and te reo Maori.
"The support from Maori for Samoan Language Week has been fantastic: we now look forward to celebrating Maori Language Week from the 26th July to the 1st August with the support of the Samoan community," says Mr Gould.
World Press Freedom Day 2010: A minute's silence for murdered journalists
Friday, 30 April 2010 14:19
UNESCO New Zealand is behind the call for newsrooms around the world to observe a minute’s silence to remember journalists murdered doing their job.
Chairman of the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO, Bryan Gould said the initiative had been made by the New Zealand delegation at UNESCO’sGeneral Conference in Paris in October last year. It was adopted by the international body as a way of highlighting the issue of journalist murders and will be observed during World Press Freedom Day Conference in Brisbane on May 3.
Former journalist Paul Smith, a member of the delegation, suggested the minute’s silence at the UNESCO General Conference in Paris. He said this week that almost every week a journalist somewhere in the world lost his or her life.
"These aren’t accidental killings, they are murders.This is one way to draw attention to these crimes aimed at limiting the public's right to know".
Last year set a new record, with 77 murders reported by UNESCO which also uncovered a trend: The agency's report on this issue last month found that the percentage of murders in 2008-09 that were not linked to conflicts rose in comparison to the previous two-year period. Most victims were not foreign war correspondents, but rather local journalists who were working in countries at peace.
The reported noted that “Sadly, the frequency of acts of violence against journalists is increasing.In most cases, impunity precludes the way of justice, and if this trend prevails, journalists will remain easy targets.Needless to say this represents a severe threat to freedom of expression and to our ability to seek the truth.”
“At least 80 per cent of the 125 murders in 2008-2009 were due to attacks specifically targeting the victims by 'those who do not wish journalists to investigate and reveal information of public interest.”
UNESCO is encouraging New Zealand journalists to take part in the Minute's silence at 5pm on Monday 3 May 2010, to coincide with its observation at the World Press Freedom Day Conference that will be taking place in Brisbane, Australia
As part of global events to celebrate the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures 2010, the forum aims to stimulate dialogue around the unique contribution Pacific people make to the curatorial sector, in particular when working with Pacific arts, culture and communities.
Currently there are very few Pacific curators and the forum will be a first of its kind in bringing together curators, academics, artists and cultural commentators to dialogue around the issues surrounding our marginalised presence in the wider visual arts world.
The forum will focus on dialogue and action, discussing strategies to increase our presence and build depth into the understanding of what Pacific curators offer to Pacific art projects.
A publication will be produced as a supporting resource, with content including a directory of Pacific Curators within
New Zealand. It is expected to be a valuable resource locally, regionally and internationally.
Samoan Language Week 2010
Sunday, 11 April 2010 21:37
"O le Tātou gagana Sāmoa I Niu Sila"
"Our Samoan language in NZ"
Samoan Language Week was first promoted by Radio Niu FM as part of a series of Pacific language weeks leading up to Māori Language Week. Since 2007 it has been promoted in schools by the Association for the Teaching of Samoa in Aotearoa, FAGASA Inc , Faalapotopotonga mo le Aoaoina o le Gagana Samoa i Aotearoa. In 2009 FAGASA and the Human Rights Commission partnered with other organisations to extend the week to the wider New Zealand community. In 2010, FAGASA Inc and Te Taura Whiri i te reo Maori (Maori Language Commission) have joined forces to promote both Samoan Language Week and Maori Language Week. English, Maori and Samoan are the three most spoken languages in New Zealand.
International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures 2010
Wednesday, 24 March 2010 12:48
The goal of the International Year is to make the rapprochement of cultures the hallmark of all policy-making at local, national, regional and international levels, involving the greatest number of relevant stakeholders.
In New Zealand, our first activities to celebrate the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures were:
the launch of the UNESCO Chair of Inter-religious Understanding and Relations at Victoria University, Wellington; and
preparatory work towards a workshop on interfaith in the Pacific Region.
The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. It is a celebration of life on earth and of the value of biodiversity for our lives. The world is invited to take action in 2010 to safeguard the variety of life on earth: biodiversity.
This NZ government biodiversity website provides information about Aotearoa New Zealand’s native biodiversity, what is being done to help conserve and manage it, and who is involved.
2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity which celebrates life on Earth and the value of biodiversity for everyone’s lives. This webpage includes information on what is biodiversity, why is NZ’s biodiversity unique and events in NZ celebrating biodiversity.
The Ministry for the Environment is the New Zealand Government's principal adviser on the environment .They have a webpage that provides information on biodiversity.
"My role in creating a peaceful world" - International Essay Contest for Young People 2010
Wednesday, 17 March 2010 13:28
The Goi Peace Foundation and UNESCO have organised an international essay contest for young people from all over the world. Participants will express themselves on the theme: “My Role in Creating a Peaceful World”. What is your vision of a peaceful and harmonious world? What can you and the young people of the world do to realize that vision?
The Goi Peace Foundation is an organization committed to building peace. Through cultural and educational programmes, its objectives are to enhance peace and respect for life and to raise awareness among young people on the role they could play in this area. This is an important opportunity for young people from all over the world to express themselves by writing an essay on current issues such as culture of peace, media and communication or sustainable development.
UNESCO "Realise the Dream" Prize won by Jake Martin, Cambridge High School
Wednesday, 10 March 2010 14:00
Outstanding Cambridge High School Year 13 student, Jake Martin, has won this year’s UNESCO Senior Student Award in the national science and research, Realise the Dream competition.
Over the past year, Jake discovered that charcoal produced by his clean wood burning engine - last year’s supreme Realise the Dream winner - was paramagnetic. This was a significant discovery that saw him working long hours alongside scientists at Waikato University where he is also taking some university papers.
Twenty nine extraordinary science students from all over New Zealand are selected to take part in the annual Realise the Dream event that is organised by the Royal Society of New Zealand. Genesis Energy is the event’s principal sponsor, Dairy NZ and the NZ National Commission for UNESCO are supporting partners.
UNESCO is the only United Nations specialised agency with a specific mandate to promote science and education. "Realise the Dream" sits within UNESCO's commitment to science and its recognition of the role the application of science plays in international cooperation towards peace, human rights and development.
UNESCO Realise the Dream Senior Science Winner, Jake Martin and UNESCO Chair, Bryan Gould
Wednesday, 03 March 2010 11:14
UNESCO WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY 2010:
Freedom of Information and the Right to Know
3 MAY 2010
Every 3 May, World Press Freedom Day represents an opportunity to commemorate the fundamental principles of press freedom around the globe and to pay solemn tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
UNESCO’s World Press Freedom Day 2010 will be held from 2 to 3 May in Brisbane, Australia. It will highlight the importance of freedom of information as an integral part of freedom of expression and its contribution to democratic governance.The celebration is being organised jointly by UNESCO and the School of Journalism and Communication at Australia’s University of Queensland, under the theme “Freedom of Information: the Right to Know”. The event is expected to foster reflection and exchange of ideas on freedom of information to advance empowerment, transparency, accountability and the fight against corruption. It will also look at the key obstacles to the effective exercise of the right to know in today’s digitalized world.
The occasion will serve to call on UNESCO Member States to reaffirm and implement their international commitments to guarantee and promote freedom of information and to remind civil society organizations, other relevant stakeholders, and the news media in particular, of their central role in furthering it.
The Award Ceremony for the 2010 UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize will be held on 3 May. The prize will be presented to a journalist or an organization that has made a notable contribution to the defence of freedom of expression. The 2010 winner is planned to be announced during the month of April.
The NZ National Commission for UNESCO hosted top UNESCO education official, Dr Gwang-Jo Kim in February. It was the first time Dr Kim had visited New Zealand since he was appointed Director of the UNESCO Office in Bangkok and Regional Bureau for Education in Asia and the Pacific, as well as UNESCO Representative to Thailand, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Singapore in 2009.
Dr Kim met with a wide range of senior government officials and was keen to find out more about New Zealand’s multi-lingual education (mother-tongue based pilots such as kohanga reo) and indigenous education experiences.
“New Zealand has set a good example of this with recognition and education in the native tongue spoken in this country. UNESCO would like to promote this kind of multi-lingual programme throughout the world,” said Dr Kim.
“Indigenous education experiences in New Zealand could be a perfect example for the remainder of the region. Issues that face many countries in the Asia Pacific region around the development of better, more effective approaches to indigenous education.”
Between 2001 and 2004, Dr Kim was affiliated with the World Bank as Senior Education Specialist at its Headquarters in Washington DC. During this time, he worked on education projects which included the preparation of lending schemes and delivery of technical assistance, as well as monitoring and evaluating human resources development projects on issues such as lifelong learning, on-the-job training, technical and vocational education, secondary and tertiary education, students’ loan programmes, and information and communication technologies (ICT) in education. He was also involved in a “Lifelong Learning: Education for knowledge-based economy” analytical programme, initiated by the World Bank’s Human Development Network, Education (HDNED).
Born in 1955, Dr Kim holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Korea University, Seoul (1978), as well as a Master’s degree (1984) and a PhD (1994) in Education from Harvard University, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
UNESCO Chair in Inter-religious Understanding and Relations for Victoria University
Wednesday, 24 February 2010 12:53
A UNESCO Chair in Inter-religious Understanding and Relations has been established at Victoria University of Wellington.
New Zealand’s first UNESCO Chair has been awarded to Professor Paul Morris, Victoria University’s Programme Director for Religious Studies. A key participant in the New Zealand Diversity Action Programme, Professor Morris wrote the National Statement on Religious Diversity.
“Inter-religious understanding and relations is fundamental to our key goal which is to promote peace and justice in New Zealand and the Pacific,” says NZ National Commission for UNESCO chair, Bryan Gould.
“Our warm congratulations to Victoria University and particularly, Professor Morris.”
The "UNESCO Chair In Interreligious And Intercultural Relations – New Zealand" is an educational, research and policy activity that will be based at Victoria University’s Religious Studies department. The launch of the UNESCO Chair took place at the 7th National Interfaith Forum, "Keeping Faith in the Modern World" in Christchurch. Professor Morris will be delivering an address entitled "What’s religion got to do with it? - Sustainable futures and faith".
UNESCO Chairs in Interreligious and Intercultural Relations were established in 1995 to provide in-put drawn from an understanding of religious and cultural diversity to UNESCO programs and polices; and to conduct research in this area and to engage in policy debates in their region.
In his position as UNESCO chair, Professor Morris will engage in and publish research on religious change in New Zealand and the Pacific since 1990 and the relationships between religious communities. He will act to foster links between scholars in the region with related research interests. Engaging with governments on the impact of religious and cultural change and the need to explore new models of social cohesion will also be a key focus. Professor Morris will also develop and maintain a regional database of religious groups and communities including research resources.
Deborah Willis, Pro Vice Chancellor, Humanities and Social Sciences, Victoria University; Rosemary du Plessis, Chair Social Sciences Sub Commission, Paul Morris, UNESCO Chair of Interreligious Understanding and Relations.
Wednesday, 10 February 2010 14:11
Kiwi Holocaust Survivors focus of new DVD FOR ANNE FRANK DIARY EXHIBITION
The testimonies of New Zealand’s own Holocaust survivors will be the subject of a poignant DVD that will accompany the Anne Frank Travelling Exhibition this year.
The DVD was produced with support from the NZ National Commission for UNESCO. It has been made by experienced film director, Anna Cottrell and AC Productions, with skilful interviewing by renowned journalist Ian Fraser.
“By learning about some of the world’s darkest times, young New Zealanders can learn to value the importance of tolerance and freedom in a just society. Education is our best safeguard to ensure these horrors are not repeated,” says NZ National Commission for UNESCO chairman, Bryan Gould.
“The stories of our own people, other New Zealanders, who survived the Holocaust need to be heard and learnt from.”
The Anne Frank travelling exhibition will reach New Zealand for the first time this year.
“This simple diary kept by a young girl who was murdered in the Holocaust has become one of the world’s most well-known, powerful and treasured examples of tolerance education,” says Mr Gould.
“In 1946 when UNESCO’s constitution came into force, New Zealand was the second country to step forward to sign it. We did so, in the aftermath of that tragic conflict and with the horror of the Holocaust fresh in our minds, so that the instinct for peace and for a common humanity should take hold in the minds of new generations.”
Last year, UNESCO included the manuscripts of Anne Frank in its Memory of the World Register, the World Heritage List for documents. This inventory contributes to the preservation of precious documents from archives and collections, including libraries throughout the world.
The exhibition will be launched at Te Papa on Wednesday 10th February 2010 and will tour New Zealand throughout the year.
Please visit the website below for more information.
“As we mark the 170th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, the hope is that New Zealanders continue to consider the Treaty as a living document,” says NZ National Commission for UNESCO chairman, Bryan Gould.
“New Zealanders should continue to learn about the Treaty and what it means for our country and future.”
Last year the commission launched a Treaty of Waitangi web resource that has been a popular resource for New Zealanders.
The commission’s Social Science sub commission works closely with the Human Rights Commission to explore and document connections between international human rights agendas and issues raised by the Treaty – including the relevance of the Treaty for people of different ethnicities – in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Pyepoudre Cultural and Education Centre was completely destroyed by the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12th.. Local musician Lucien Johnson is behind a fundraising concert to help members of the centre community whose lives were shattered by the disaster.
“We have been totally crippled and need every help we can get. Three children have lost their parents and are in our care. We are doing our best to help all the people whose houses have been destroyed. At the moment we share what food, water and clothing we have,” reports Pyepoudre founder, Paula Claermont Pean from Port-au-Prince.
Nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2005, Madame Pean established the centre 25-years ago.
Pyepoudre was a beacon of hope for young people from some of Port-au-Prince’s poorest shantytowns. As well as running workshops on performing, visual and cultural arts, Pyepoudre ran reading and writing classes, education programmes, a library and an internet centre.
Lucien worked at Pyepoudre in 2009 and says the collective of volunteer musicians, actors and artists worked extensively with local communities especially young people. Many volunteers were also social workers and teachers.
“The concert was a unique way we can help by providing urgent, direct relief that will give some a chance to rebuild their shattered lives,” he says.
Donations for Pypoudre continue to be collected by the Wellington branch of Alliance Francaise.
Haiti officials have confirmed that 170,000 lost their lives on January 12th, however thousands more are feared dead.
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