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Welcoming Week 2024
Te Wiki O Manaaki
Join us from Friday 6 September to Sunday 15 September for Welcoming Week - a celebration of diversity and inclusion in the Queenstown Lakes District. It’s the perfect opportunity to honour the values that unite us as neighbors, parents, and colleagues, helping to foster a sense of community and care for everyone who calls this beautiful place home.
We’re working with community partners to host a series of free events throughout Welcoming Week, each one designed to bring people together and create a sense of belonging and connection. From business workshops and fitness classes to film screenings and community planting days, there’s something for everyone.
Help celebrate this special week and create a warm and welcoming place in our community. Check out the events below and come along – we look forward to seeing you there!
Quick links
About Welcoming Week
Aotearoa New Zealand is one of the most diverse countries in the world, with over 200 different ethnicities and a quarter of all people born overseas. Our diversity is our strength, making us a vibrant and attractive place to be.
Welcoming Week New Zealand - Te Wiki o Manaaki Aotearoa - is an annual campaign to showcase and celebrate how communities across Aotearoa and the globe are working to be more welcoming places for all, including migrants. It’s an opportunity to celebrate our welcoming values through local events and initiatives that foster mutual understanding, stronger connections, and deeper belonging among all of us – particularly long-time residents and newcomers.
For this year’s Welcoming Week, let’s roll out the welcome mat and celebrate the things that unite us. No matter what language you speak or where you were born – we’re glad you’re here!
Welcoming Week Queenstown
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A small exhibition about Muslim culture, with a focus on Halal. The event will include a keynote speaker and the opportunity to see the Maghrib Prayer. Light refreshments will be provided
5.00-7.00pm
Friday 6 September
Hosted by MyFundAction Youth Development Centre, 1/13 Red Oaks Drive, Frankton.
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A Spanish-speaking workshop to create, analyze, and improve your business with practical tools. Exclusively offered at no costs to the Latino entrepreneurial community of our district.
Un taller para crear, analizar y mejorar tu negocio con herramientas y estrategias prácticas. Evento gratuito exclusivo para la comunidad latina.
Saturday 7 September
10.00am – 1.00pm
QEC Meeting RoomHosted by Latinos Emprendedores Queenstown.
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Contribute to the community by participating in our planting day. Enjoy a BBQ afterward to celebrate and connect. Please wear sturdy shoes and comfortable outdoor clothing, and bring a pair of gardening gloves and a water bottle.
Saturday 7 September
Drop in between 9.00am – 12.00pm
Whitechapel ReserveHosted by Whakatipu Reforestation Trust and QLDC Parks Team.
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Open to all adults eager to learn to swim or build confidence in the water. Lessons can be offered in Portuguese and Spanish upon request.
Monday 9 September
12.30pm – 2.30pmThursday 12 September
12.30pm – 2.30pmQueenstown Events Centre
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Join us with sketchbook and pencil in hand for Community Draw. This free event is held every second Tuesday of the month. No experience necessary - come along and embrace the joy of different approaches to drawing.
Tuesday 10 September
6.30pm - 8.00pm
Hosted by Fiona Garlick
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Screening of ‘Lucky Grandma’
Enjoy a documentary film showcasing global perspectives.6.00pm – 8.00pm
Wednesday 11 September
Queenstown Lakes District Council Chambers, 10 Gorge Road
Hosted by The Kiwi Kit Community Trust and QLDC Libraries
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Join the Revolutionaries of Wellbeing for an informative webinar on supporting migrant wellbeing in the workplace, featuring guests Anna Dorsey, Chief Executive, and Anna Wang, from Headlight Trust. We’ll explore key considerations, share success stories, and discuss key learnings from working with migrant communities.
11.00am - 12.00pm
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Wednesday 11 September -
A 55-minute dynamic yoga session taught in Spanish, designed to invigorate and energise.
Thursday 12 September
11.15am – 12.10pm
Queenstown Events CentreHosted by Alpine Health & Fitness Gym, taught by Clarissa Benke.
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A 60-minute fitness class taught in Spanish,
focusing on inclusive and friendly fitness routines.Friday 13 September
12.30pm – 1.30pm
Queenstown Events CentreHosted by Alpine Health & Fitness Gym. Taught by Nicola Mackay and Carolina Ramirez.
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Contribute to the community by participating in our planting day and enjoy a delicious morning tea courtesy of Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa. Please wear sturdy shoes and comfortable outdoor clothing, and bring a pair of gardening gloves and a water bottle.
Saturday 14 September
Drop in between 9.00am – 12.00pm
Lake Hayes PavilionHosted by Whakatipu Reforestation Trust and QLDC Parks Team
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Saturday Arts Social is a multi-arts programme and morning tea designed for our 60+ community. We gather every Saturday morning for a broad programme of events including concerts, art workshops, dance/movement classes and artist talks.
10.30am – 12.30pm
Hosted by Turn Up the Music
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Welcoming Week Wānaka
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The community and Wānaka Recreation Centre have embarked in a swimming challenge where customers are invited to submit the country they support and the number of swimming laps they will do. The country with the most swimming metres wins the podium.
Challenge runs from 28 August to 8 September
Prizes will be drawn on 8 SeptemberHosted by WRC
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Planting sessions with Te Kakano take place in spring, autumn and winter, with maintenance sessions throughout the year to help look after the plants and habitat restoration areas.
These sessions are a great opportunity to see first-hand where the plants that are grown in our nursery go.
Tools and gardening gloves will be supplied, as well as
afternoon tea sponsored by Venus Coffee.Te Kakano
Saturday 7 September
1.30pm – 3.00pm at Roy’s Bay WestIf you would like to participate, contact Te Kakano
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Wānaka Squash Club is hosting a potluck afternoon where members and registered members of the community will share kai from their country of origin. Introductory sessions to squash for newcomers will be provided as well. This event aims to create connections and friendships and introduce newcomers to squash.
2.00pm-6.00pm
Sunday 8 September
Wānaka Squash Club
Please RSVP to Petraand be sure to bring a dish to share!
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The Kiwi Kit Community Trust's Language Lounge offers a welcoming space for people from diverse cultures and languages to connect, practice speaking, and make new friends in a relaxed, fun environment.It's a great chance to practice a language you're learning or reconnect with one you haven't used in a while.
7.00pm – 9.00pm
Tuesday 10 September
At Rhyme X Reason Brewery
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Hosted by The Kiwi Kit Community Trust -
Join the Revolutionaries of Wellbeing for an informative webinar on supporting migrant wellbeing in the workplace, featuring guests Anna Dorsey, Chief Executive, and Anna Wang, from Headlight Trust. We’ll explore key considerations, share success stories, and discuss key learnings from working with migrant communities.
11.00am - 12.00pm
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Wednesday 11 September -
"Journeys" is a compelling photography exhibition that celebrates the rich cultural diversity of the Upper Clutha community. In a unique collaboration, Welcoming Communities has partnered with photographer Bianca de Groot, Community LINK, and the Wānaka Community Hub to create a visual narrative that honours the experiences and stories of migrants who have made this region their home.
Through the lens of Bianca de Groot, "Journeys" captures the essence of belonging and identity, showcasing the personal and collective journeys of individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. Each photograph serves as a powerful testament to the strength, resilience, and contributions of these community members, highlighting the unique paths that led them to the Upper Clutha.
This exhibition not only celebrates the beauty of cultural diversity but also fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation of the varied experiences that enrich our community. By sharing these stories, "Journeys" aims to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment, encouraging dialogue and connection among all who call the Upper Clutha home. Join us in celebrating our community through the art of photography and experience the stories of those who have embarked on their journeys to build new lives in this beautiful region.
Exhibition Opening:
6.00 - 8.00pm
Friday 13 September
Wānaka Community HubThe "Journeys" exhibition will be on display starting Friday 13 September, and can be viewed at the Wānaka Community Hub. The exhibition will be open to the public Monday through Friday, from 9.00am to 5.00pm. We invite everyone to visit and explore the powerful stories and images that celebrate the cultural diversity of our community.
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Learn to prepare authentic, healthy Mexican dishes with local ingredients, right here in Wānaka! In celebration of Mexico’s Independence Day and guided by experienced Amigos chefs Manuel and James, you will have the chance to develop a new skill set and appreciation for Mexican cuisine over the course of an afternoon. The session includes cooking and then dining, so you can enjoy your hard-earned kai together with the group. Don’t miss this chance to develop your culinary abilities, meet new people, and of course, enjoy some delicious food!
Sunday 15 September
12.00pm – 1.00pm
Amigos WānakaRSVP by emailing manuel@amigos.co.nz
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Limited to 10 spots, so sign up soon!