The Nepalese Cultural Centre New Zealand Inc. was established in 2008 with the objective of promoting Nepalese Culture in New Zealand by providing information about Nepal and Nepalese Culture to interested New Zealanders. To achieve the goal, the NCCNZI is engaged in organizing various activities.
With an objective to establish a strong link with all ethnic communities in New Zealand the NCCNZI has decided to organize multi-ethnic dance festival in an annual basis. This will not only help to understand each other, but also, help to spread Nepalese culture in New Zealand. The Multi-Ethnic Dance Festival is the outcome of this. As we know, New Zealand is a most ethnically diverse country in the World. It is therefore important to maintain its ethnic diversities by launching several related programs, like multi-cultural festivals, conferences, seminars, and others. With responses received from our last multi-ethnic dance festivals, we are encouraged to organize the festival in wider scale. Therefore, we have chosen Victory Convention Centre at Auckland to accommodate more people. With the participation of 38 ethnic communities from twenty countries of origin, which is almost double in size than the last year, the festival succeeded in attracting about sixteen hundred audiences. The Cultural stalls from India, Chile, Tanzania, Thailand, Colombia, and Nepal attracted many. Altogether twenty two countries including Chile, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Croatia, Fiji, India, Korea, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, United Kingdom and Vietnam took part in the 4th Multi-Ethnic Dance Festival 2019 Festival. Most of the performances were excellent. Their outstanding performances were able to exhibit their rich cultures. NCCNZI acknowledge all ethnic communities, who supported them to run the festival successfully.
NCCNZI says that they thankful to various funding agencies who supported them in organising the events that includes Foundation North, Office of Ethnic Communities and Community Organization Grants (Lottery Grant Commission), for their valuable support and all their sponsors. NCCNZI feels indebted to its dedicated members of advisory Committee, members of Organizing Committee and volunteers for their valuable contribution. Though the audience response has not been very encouraging in terms of numbers. This may be due to limited financial resources for publicity of the event. In future, they intend to generate enough publicity to make the event more successful.
The 5th Multi-ethnic Dance Festival 2020 held on Saturday; 28th November 2020 included about 30 ethnic Communities from 24 Countries of origin. The NCCNZI has made efforts to raise the standard of the performances by visiting communities. This time, there were no cultural stalls, but there were a range this time more food stalls from many ethnic communities.
The NCCNZI is thankful to all ethnic communities in Auckland for their assistance to organize the festival. Without their support they would not had achieved it. NCCNZI wants to encourage all ethnic communities to join hand with them for further improvements and gaining ideas to run the event.
NCCNZI believes that we should not organize events just for the sake of it but it should be an opportunity to showcase our cultures and leave a lasting impression in the heart of people.
With this motto in mind the NCCNZI organises festivals and other activities. The NCCNZI aims to link all ethnic communities in New Zealand by 2026. Also, The Centre would like to approach all ethnic Communities to join hand in fulfilling this mission. This objective will not only help to know each other, but also play a vital role in maintaining harmony and peace in this country. -TIN Bureau
