Welcoming Week will be celebrated for the first time in Timaru this September.
The week was launched in New Zealand in 2012, and aimed to foster mutual understanding, stronger connections, and deeper belonging, particularly between longtime residents and newcomers.
Timaru District Council community development manager Claire Barlow said the initiative — led by Immigration New Zealand in partnership with the Ministry of Ethnic Communities and the Human Rights Commission — brought together councils and communities.
The aim was ‘‘to make the places we love more welcoming for everyone’’.
Examples of events were an Aoraki Pasifika community potluck dinner, a co-hosted Arabic and English story-time at the library where participants could try Syrian cookies and Dubka dancing, and an exhibition at the museum.
One of the events was a ‘‘Putting Down Your Roots in Te Tihi o Maru’’ tree planting.
Mrs Barlow said the event would take place at Te Ana (Taniwha Gully) rock art site on September 7. She said the tree planting ‘‘will be a tree for our newcomers, to acknowledge that they are putting their roots down in our district, at one of our most special places’’.
It would include a special tour of ‘‘one of Aotearoa’s first art galleries — the iconic Ma ¯ori rock art’’.
She said the week had an ‘‘encouraging response from the community with clubs, agencies and organisations wanting to get involved, and welcome newcomers to the district’’.
‘‘Everyone experiences being new to a place, whether it’s a new town, neighbourhood, school or workplace. So, as a council and a community, we have come together to continue to build on Timaru’s reputation of being friendly and hospitable, and let all newcomers know that we are happy that they have chosen to make our district their home.
‘‘The response from our community to host events and welcome all newcomers reflects this.’’
She said it was an opportunity to celebrate the region’s migrants, former refugees, international students, and those who had moved here from other parts of New Zealand.
‘‘Everyone is welcome to participate. Whether you are a newcomer to the district or a longtime resident that wants to connect with newcomers, we welcome you.’’
