Office of Ethnic Communities

Office of Ethnic Communities is rated 3 out of 5 in the category government administration. Read and write reviews about Office of Ethnic Communities. Flourishing ethnic diversity; thriving New Zealand The Office of Ethnic Communities is the government’s authoritative advisor on ethnic diversity in New Zealand. We also provide information, advice and services to, and for, ethnic communities in New Zealand and administer funds to support community development and social cohesion. Established in 2000 as the Office of Ethnic Affairs, in 2015 we became the Office of Ethnic Communities to align with the Ministerial portfolio and more accurately reflect our community focus. The Office of Ethnic Communities is located within the Department of Internal Affairs and our work contributes to the Department’s overarching outcome: “Connected citizens, communities and government”. We serve the interests of New Zealand. Our population is ethnically diverse and increasingly so. It is in the interests of all New Zealanders that we have strong and connected ethnic communities and that New Zealand is able to realise the benefits of ethnic diversity for our nation. In addition to serving the public generally, we have a mandate relating to a specific population within New Zealand. The term ethnic (matawaka) in the context of the mandate for the Office of Ethnic Communities refers to people who are migrants, refugees, long-term settlers, and those born in New Zealand who identify their ethnicity as African, Asian, Continental European, Latin American and/or Middle Eastern. Find out more about us from our website.