Seraphine Benn by QMC

Seraphine Benn

The challenges of migration can impact/influence on societies Diverse populat ions can enrich communities

"What we need is a melting pot big enough to take the world and all it's got" (Blue Mink -‐The Melting Pot).

My Exhibition group is investigating into 'The challenges of migration can influence/impact on societies' and I am exploring how diverse populations can enrich communities through their food, dances, festivals, music and languages. In order to do this I have three questions to answer: • What are diverse populations? • What are the different cultural groups living in Wellington? • How does Wellington support and celebrate diverse cultures and how do these groups enrich our city? Firstly I needed to find out the definition of what diverse populations are. What are diverse populations? Definition: Diversity can be described as an important factor when creating a society or population so that there are different cultures, customs, beliefs and values so that it makes our society more enriched. Reference: dictionary.reference.com/browse/cultural+diversity Relating to or containing people from different ethnicities and social backgrounds From <http://www.yourdictionary.com/diverse> I then set out to find if Wellington is home to diverse cultures. What are the different cultural groups living in Wellington?

These are cultural groups at Victoria University

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This graph shows that there are more European cultural groups. Than Maori, Asian, Pacific or other cultures and the least amount of cultural groups are Pacific cultural groups.

So if you went to Victoria University and looking for a club to join here are your options: AFRICAN STUDENTS ASSOCIATION -‐ We are a small group of students who meet and practice African language and culture.

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CHINESE LANGUAGE CLUB -‐ We are a group for people interested in, and/or studying Mandarin. Join us for our activities, which include conversation groups and movie night

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CHINESE STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION -‐ Our club is a forum where Chinese students can come to for assistance. We help with orientation, events, meetings/dinner nights and other social events

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COOK ISLANDS STUDENTS ASSOCIATION -‐ The Victoria University Cook Islands Students Association aims to empower Aotearoa-based Cook Islands youth to become successful and caring individuals. FRENCH CLUB -‐ A social club where you can get to know other French students, practice some French, and above all have fun.

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GERMAN CLUB -‐ Get your beer horn and get set to omh pah pah with the German Club. We speak, eat, drink, sing learn and know everything German.

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INDONESIAN STUDENT ASSOCIATION -‐ We endeavour to share the various trends of Indonesian culture by providing our members with its cultural and social experiences.

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JEWISH STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION -‐ For those students of Jewish descent. We provide engagement, support and enrichment and develop and strengthen Jewish life and culture on campus. All welcome.

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ITALIAN SOCIETY -‐ The Victoria University Italian Society (ItalSoc colloquially) is a linguistic-‐cultural society, bringing Italian culture and language into the everyday student scene at Victoria through social events. IRANIAN CLUB -‐ The aim of the Iranian Club is to promote cultural and academic understanding. LATIN AMERICAN & SPANISH CLUB -‐ The Latin American and Spanish club is open to anyone who is interested in learning, experiencing and sharing Latin American and Spanish cultures and languages. MALAYSIAN STUDENTS' ORGANISTAION -‐ Our main purpose is to introduce the diversity of Malaysia through cultural and social activities, promoting Malaysia and learning about other cultures. MELANESIAN STUDENTS OF WANTOKS -‐ Halo olketa bilong Melanesia! Our aim is to support and associate students of Melanesian descent within the Pacific region here at Victoria. IRANIAN CLUB -‐ The aim of the Iranian Club is to promote cultural and academic understanding. <http://www.victoria.ac.nz/students/campus/clubs/directory/cultural-‐groups > How does Wellington support and celebrate diverse cultures and how do these groups enrich our city? Every year Wellington city hosts a wide range of events, including concerts, sporting matches, live theatre and dance, exhibitions and festivals. The Council supports many of these events through grants, event coordination, and promotional activities.

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Wellington Pasifika Festival -‐ Is a celebration of all things Pasifika. It is a celebration a specially for Wellington. For all the communities here that they can come and show off their culture, performance their costumes, crafts and their beauty.

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Te Rā o Waitangi – a celebration of Waitangi Day -‐ Wellington celebrated Waiting Day with the canons and with music, kai and plenty of stalls and the papa haka.

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Diwali -‐ Also known as the ‘Festival of Lights’-‐ is Wellington’s local Indian and South East Asian communities ‘ most vibrant, cultural celebration.

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Matariki -‐ Matariki is a Māori cultural celebration in New Zealand which marks the start of the Māori New Year.

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Southeast Asian Night Market -‐ The Southeast Asian Night racket is a Biennial event that brings together delicious food, colourful crafts and non-‐stop entertainment. I then decided to find out for myself how people of different cultural descent share their traditions and enrich our city. Wellington Markets I walked around Newtown market and found there was a wide range of cultural food to experience. People are making a business out of selling their traditional food and enriching the palates of Wellingtonians. At the Chaffers Market there were French bakers and French rotisserie chicken sellers, and there was also a traditional Mexican guitarist. I think that the markets are a great way for cultural groups to share their traditions, food and culture.

Vicky Ha-‐ House of Dumplings I interviewed Vicky Ha from House of Dumplings. Asked her some questions about how she came to N.Z and what was her story. She originally came from Hong Kong. Her firs passion was wind surfing, that was her reason to come to a N.Z. Her mother did not want her to come here, but her suggestion was for Vicky to enrol in a boarding school, which she did. After Vicky left school she wanted to start her own business. She looked to her own culture and traditions for inspirations. The House of Dumplings was born. Her own family recipes mixed with the twist of kiwi flavours makes her business unique and Wellingtonians love it. Vicky Ha can be found selling her dumplings at festivals, markets, supermarkets and her funky little dumpling bar in Tarinaki street.

Alda Rezende -‐ Brazilian singer Next, I interviewed Alda Rezende, a Brazilian singer, who has been living in NZ for 11 years to learn her perspective of life in Wellington. She said she misses her family and friends, but mostly she misses the heat and the really good weather. She said the Brazilian community in Wellington is not a big community, around 500 people, but they do lots of really interesting things. Lots of Brazilian people here are teachers at university, film makers and IT people. Usually the Brazilian's who live in Wellington are professionals or people who are married to kiwis, so there are no Brazilian Refugees here. In Queenstown, for instance, 3000 Brazilian's are only in Queenstown doing their OE. (Over Seas Experience) When asked if she can you find Brazilian ingredients and foods in Wellington, she said that they have to adapt, but she can find a lot of things, like in Trade 10

Aid in Petone, and adapt some recipes. But there are things that she just can't get and especially misses cashew juice. The nut we call cashew is the nut on top of the fruit and the nut you eat is actually the seed of the fruit and the fruit is very refreshing. She adores it but that is just impossible to find. When they go to go to Brazil that is the first thing her mum gets for her, and every Brazilian who comes home comes back a lot fatter!!! She also misses the wide range of fresh tropical fruit she can buy in Brazil. She said Brazilians celebrate the June festival, that is a tradition which originally came from Portugal and moved down to Brazil Andrea Yiappos-‐ Cypriot refugee Andrea is from Cyprus so she's Greek , but when her parents came to N.Z in February 1997, she was one year old. They lived in Newtown where other Greek families also lived. Her parents chose N.Z because her Mother’s sister gave her parents a letter and it said there were lots of jobs and houses. The Red cross loaned them the money to pay for airfares and they paid them back. Andrea said that when she goes to Cyprus she misses N.Z, but when she comes back to N.Z she misses her extended family, the historic buildings, the music and even sometimes the weather! Because it was very hot in Cyprus compared to Wellington. I still eat traditional food, more when she was little though. She also cooks Tsoureki (meat kebabs) which her children love. She buys Greek food at A Taste of Greece and they sell baklava, there’s one in Johnsonville and Miramar. She keeps her Greek culture alive through talking with her mother, Greek TV, being involved in the Greek Club and by sticking with tradition by marrying a Greek. Race Unity Day in Upper Hutt

Race Unity Day aims to give all New Zealanders the opportunity to reflect on our journey and celebrate a culturally-‐ diverse nation. Guests include the director for the Office of Ethnic Affairs, the principal adviser for race relations for the Human Rights Commission, and representatives of 14 countries with embassies in Wellington. Each embassy represented is given a kete with gifts from local businesses. Many recipients said they would be returning to Upper Hutt with their families and promoting the city to dignitaries. There were speeches, ethnic performances and music. "The night was covered in colour. Flags from around the world were hanging inside the venue and there were vibrant international sounds from performers from various nationalities, such as a violinist and a singer from the Chinese community. A Latin American duo sang songs from Chile, Argentina, Venezuela and Cuba," said Upper Hutt settlement support officer Cecilia Titulaer.

"Upper Hutt City Council values diversity and what it brings to our city. Our community is made up of members from all continents; its residents are people from a variety of cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds. Cultural diversity enriches Upper Hutt and New Zealand as it contributes to a broader view of the world and it helps us move forward with different flavours, attitudes, and opinions," Mr Guppy said. This is an example how diverse cultures are celebrated in the Wellington region. From <http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-‐post/news/local-‐papers/upper-‐hutt-‐leader/6649180/Cultures-‐ unite-‐for-‐a-‐colourful-‐celebration>

A Taste of Greece

KENT BLECHYNDEN/FAIRFAX NZ From 1920 to 1960 Wellington's hospitality industry was dominated by Greek immigrants. They owned so many milk bars, tearooms and cafes along the Golden Mile from Lambton Quay to Courtenay Place that the late Bruce Blades wittily renamed it The Hellenic Mile in his book of the same name. Aside from The Green Parrot, these businesses are long gone, and with the closure of Moyses Tavern, gone too are the riotous Greek tavernas from around the turn of this century. A Taste of Greece opened recently in Kilbirnie and the clients are Greeks, Lebanese and Syrian Christians. "I first opened this place as a cake shop," says owner-‐chef Helen Neonakis (whose husband, George, is president of the Cretan Association). "But then all the Greek widowers, divorcees and bachelors began asking if I could do meals." As a result, they file in throughout the day for their take-‐home foil containers of moussaka and pastitso. Helen is happy to heat these meals for customers who wish to eat in. When she first opened, she used to put the meals in the hot cabinet, but didn't like the idea of them drying out. The Wellington-‐born daughter of ethnic Greeks from Romania, Helen learned cooking from her mother and through her own subsequent experimentation. This restaurant is another way for Greeks living in Wellington to reconnect with their traditional food as well as providing an opportunity for other cultures to experience Greek cooking.

La Boca Loca -‐ Mexican Cuisine 13

Coming from California, the team behind La Boca Loca is dedicated to bringing high quality Mexican food to people in N.Z. At La Boca Loca we set a target to re-‐create the flavours of our childhoods. Using organic, responsibly produced, maintainable cuisine, our seasonally-‐altering menu presents yummy updates to classic dishes. La Boca Loca dishes are and have these things :

Conclusion In conclusion, I have found a lot of information about culture and how it enriches our community, which I did not know before this investigation. I enjoyed walking around both the Newtown market and the Chaffers market looking at all the different stalls. Not only was their food from many different cultures there was music and crafts as well. The atmosphere in both markets was fun and upbeat. The stall owners are enthusiastic for people to try produce and sample their culture. I enjoyed interviewing Vicky Ha, Alda Rezende and Andrea Yiappos, all their backgrounds were very different and interesting. Wellington City Council supports and promotes cultural diversity through the staging of festival and events, as well as many organisations, such as Victoria University, who provide facilities for meetings of ethnic groups. As a result of my investigation I believe that the diverse cultures enrich Wellington through their food, music, traditions, values and beliefs. Everyone should take advantage of what these groups bring offer us, whether it is their festivals, food, cafes or music.

Bibliography

Question 1: dictionary.reference.com/browse/cultural+diversity http://www.yourdictionary.com/diverse>

Question 2: http://profile.idnz.co.nz/wellington/ethnic-‐group

The World book Encyclopedia https://www.lucidchart.com/documents/edit/f0c6437a-‐b50e-‐43dc-‐87ce-‐e24fb545c55a/1# http://www.victoria.ac.nz/students/campus/clubs/directory/cultural-‐groups

Question 3: http://www.houseofdumplings.co.nz/ http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-‐post/capital-‐life/restaurant-‐ reviews/10028037/Restaurant-‐review-‐A-‐Taste-‐of-‐Greece a Alda Rezende Vicky Ha