ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
March 21 is observed around the world as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
In New Zealand, Race Relations Day is promoted by the Human Rights Commission. It is the time when many multi-cultural festivals organised by community groups, schools, councils, workplaces, places of worship and most of 19 Regional Multicultural Councils around New Zealand take place on the preceding weekend to celebrate the value of cultural diversity; thus making March a multicultural month. The theme for Race Relations Day 2010 is ‘It’s About Us- Whanau’.
Multicultural Rotorua celebrated Race Relations Day through U&I Soccerfest 2010 on March 6 at the Rotorua United Football Club (Neil Hunt Park). This is an annual social soccer tournament organised by the Rotorua Multicultural Council Inc. in association with the Rotorua United Football Club. U&I Soccerfest 2010 was made possible through funding from the New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT).
There were nine soccer teams playing for the championship title. The following nations were represented either by a team or an individual playing in a multicultural team: NZ (Kiwi/Maori), Fiji, South Korea, Thailand, Mauritius, England, Argentina, Bulgaria, France, Brazil, Chile, Sri Lanka, India and Japan. Due to time limitations, the game was split into two groups and there were two 1st place and 2nd place titles.
Sir Graham Hall (Patron of the Rotorua Multicultural Council/Former Mayor of Rotorua) graced the occassion along with National MP Todd McClay who officially opened the ceremony and welcomed all the teams. He was particlarly pleased to see more young players this year.
At closing, Mr. McClay awarded custom-made wood trophies made and donated by Norwegian Kjell Gudmundsen of Geyserland Woodworkers Guild (Pererika Street) to winning teams:
Ngati by Nature (bi-cultural team:Maori/Kiwi) won First Place, Ezy Speed (multicultural team:Fijian-Indian, Kiwi, Korean and Japanese) won First Place; Bula Fiji1 (Fijian team) won Second Place, Be the Reds (South Korean team) won Second Place. A consolation prize voucher courtesy of Sam's Kitchen was awarded to We Ate Yo (multicultural team playing for Western Heights High: Indian, Kiwi, English, Sri Lankan and Thai).
(photo credits: Alexis LewGor and Susana So)
March 21 is observed around the world as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. In New Zealand, Race Relations Day is promoted by the Human Rights Commission. It is the time when many multi-cultural festivals organised by community groups, schools, councils,...
March 21 is observed around the world as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
In New Zealand, Race Relations Day is promoted by the Human Rights Commission. It is the time when many multi-cultural festivals organised by community groups, schools, councils, workplaces, places of worship and most of 19 Regional Multicultural Councils around New Zealand take place on the preceding weekend to celebrate the value of cultural diversity; thus making March a multicultural month. The theme for Race Relations Day 2010 is ‘It’s About Us- Whanau’.
Multicultural Rotorua celebrated Race Relations Day through U&I Soccerfest 2010 on March 6 at the Rotorua United Football Club (Neil Hunt Park). This is an annual social soccer tournament organised by the Rotorua Multicultural Council Inc. in association with the Rotorua United Football Club. U&I Soccerfest 2010 was made possible through funding from the New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT).
There were nine soccer teams playing for the championship title. The following nations were represented either by a team or an individual playing in a multicultural team: NZ (Kiwi/Maori), Fiji, South Korea, Thailand, Mauritius, England, Argentina, Bulgaria, France, Brazil, Chile, Sri Lanka, India and Japan. Due to time limitations, the game was split into two groups and there were two 1st place and 2nd place titles.
Sir Graham Hall (Patron of the Rotorua Multicultural Council/Former Mayor of Rotorua) graced the occassion along with National MP Todd McClay who officially opened the ceremony and welcomed all the teams. He was particlarly pleased to see more young players this year.
At closing, Mr. McClay awarded custom-made wood trophies made and donated by Norwegian Kjell Gudmundsen of Geyserland Woodworkers Guild (Pererika Street) to winning teams:
Ngati by Nature (bi-cultural team:Maori/Kiwi) won First Place, Ezy Speed (multicultural team:Fijian-Indian, Kiwi, Korean and Japanese) won First Place; Bula Fiji1 (Fijian team) won Second Place, Be the Reds (South Korean team) won Second Place. A consolation prize voucher courtesy of Sam's Kitchen was awarded to We Ate Yo (multicultural team playing for Western Heights High: Indian, Kiwi, English, Sri Lankan and Thai).
(photo credits: Alexis LewGor and Susana So)
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