IWK

Governor General's Eid greetings

Written by IWK Bureau | Sep 17, 2009 12:59:50 PM

Hon Sir Anand Satyanand GNZM, QSO
Governor-General of New Zealand
Message for Eid celebrations

Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni—to which can be added Salaam Walaikum.

It is with pleasure that I provide this message for The Indian Weekender’s special edition to mark Eid.

Eid marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. For Muslims worldwide the Festival of Fast Breaking is a time of celebration, when friends and family gather, rejoice and give thanks.

In New Zealand, Eid continues to grow in significance, reflecting in part increased migration from Asia. New Zealand’s Muslim population has grown significantly in recent times. The last Census found that more than 36,000 New Zealanders were Muslims, a significant increase on five years earlier.

More widely, the importance of Eid reflects the growing contribution of Muslim New Zealanders to our nation’s society, culture and economy. In the last year, for example, I have had the pleasure of launching The Crescent Moon: The Asian Face of Islam in New Zealand, a magnificent book published by the Asia New Zealand Foundation, and the fifth Islamic Awareness Week. Both events have helped to dispel stereotypes and have provided a human face to the lives of Muslim New Zealanders.

Finally, Eid, along with festivals such as Chinese New Year and Indian Diwali, reflects New Zealand’s growing and increasingly complex cultural, ethnic and religious diversity.

As Governor-General of New Zealand, it is with great pleasure that I wish everyone a happy and blessed Eid.

Eid mubarak.

No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tena koutou katoa.

Hon Sir Anand Satyanand, GNZM, QSO
Governor-General of New Zealand