PH-Led Multicultural-Diplomatic Network Launched in NZ
Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Ethnic Communities Michael Wood MP witness the signing ceremony between Ambassador to New Zealand Jesus S. Domingo and Multicultural New Zealand President Pancha Narayanan. (Wellington PE photo)
WELLINGTON 21 May 2019 – The International Volunteer Network (MNZ-IVN), a new diplomatic partnership between the Diplomatic and Consular Missions in New Zealand (DCMNZs) and Multicultural New Zealand (MNZ), the umbrella organization for the various ethnic communities in the country, was launched during the 2019 Race Relations Day at the Beehive, the Executive Wing of New Zealand Parliament Buildings on 07 May 2019.
The MNZ-IVN partnership is the embodiment of the concept of “Universal Diplomacy”, which has been the overall framework of the Philippine Embassy in Wellington in implementing its mandate, particularly in engaging the Filipino community to contribute to nation building.
The event, which was hosted by Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Ethnic Communities Michael Wood, MP, was graced by no other than New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who delivered the keynote address.
In particular, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of the MNZ-IVN as a mechanism that would help promote cultural identity and diversity. She called on those present to become champions of diversity and to help realize her vision of New Zealand as a country where all people truly feel that they belong and safely and confidently engage in and share their cultural values and languages.
“The Philippine Embassy, under the helm of Ambassador Jesus S. Domingo, serves as a model for the other diplomatic missions in New Zealand, especially in how they bring their services closer to the Filipino community,” said MNZ President Pancha Narayanan. “We had approached Ambassador Domingo in February this year for him to be the Patron of the diplomatic community and to lead the engagements with the MNZ.”
“The MNZ-DCMNZ partnership will not only connect the diplomatic corps with local communities, but will also provide a platform for the promotion of public and cultural diplomacy of the different diplomatic missions and assistance to nationals, as well as engage and reach out to the different ethnic and cultural communities in New Zealand,” Ambassador Domingo said.
The 2019 Race Relations Day and launch of the MNZ-IVN was capped off with performances by spoken word poetry artist Bohemian Thanni, the Race Unity Panel, singers Lucia Blas Tabeira and Fernando Figueroa and rap artists DJ JD with DJ Dozen.
The fairly large turnout of almost 300 guests included the members of the diplomatic corps led by its Dean, the High Commissioner of Samoa; regional chairpersons of MNZ councils; distinguished rights advocates, including on Gender and Development (GAD); and youth leaders. END
Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Ethnic Communities Michael Wood MP, Multicultural New Zealand President Pancha Narayanan, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Samoa and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps High Commissioner Leasi Papali'i Tommy Scanlan, and Ambassador to New Zealand Jesus S. Domingo. (Wellington PE photo)
For more information, visit www.wellingtonpe.dfa.gov.ph, www.philembassy.org.nz or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNZ/.