In a world where diversity enriches our lives and inclusion strengthens our communities, Queenstown Lakes District is leading the way in celebrating these values with its inaugural Welcoming Week.

As we step into this event for the first time, we’re not only marking a milestone in our district’s journey towards greater inclusivity, but also embracing the rich tapestry of cultures and experiences that make our community truly unique. This year’s Welcoming Week, running from 6 to 15 September, offers a remarkable opportunity to connect, celebrate, and showcase how our diverse backgrounds and shared values come together to create a thriving and harmonious environment.

Welcoming Communities 

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has been actively collaborating with the community to develop a comprehensive three-year Welcoming Plan aimed at ensuring that all newcomers can thrive in our district. Recently, the public was invited to provide feedback on the draft Welcoming Plan 2024-2027, which outlines key actions for community partners and the Council to implement together.

Recent hui hosted by QLDC in Queenstown and Wānaka, brought together over 110 160 participants, including iwi, local organisations, schools, Pacific and ethnic community representatives, newcomers, business sector members, QLDC staff, and elected officials. This strong turnout underscores our community’s commitment to a coordinated approach to settlement services and building inclusive local communities. 

Over the decades, migrants from around the world and across Aotearoa New Zealand have enriched the Queenstown Lakes area, making our communities diverse and vibrant. The Welcoming Plan is a community-driven initiative, reflecting our collective values and aspirations. The plan is scheduled to be adopted by Council on 24 September 2024.

Welcoming Communities Flagship Projects related to Creativity, Culture, and Heritage include Welcoming Week (6-15 September 2024), the Multicultural Festival in March 2025 (coinciding with Race Relations Day), the Festival of Colour in March/April 2025, and the Wao Summit in October 2024.

Welcoming Week / Te Wiki O Manaaki –  We’re Glad You’re Here 

Welcoming Week kicks off this Friday, 6 September, and runs until Sunday, 15 September, marking the first time our district is celebrating this event since its introduction in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2022. This week-long celebration highlights the strong collaboration between various organisations and the council, showcasing a shared commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive community.

Aotearoa New Zealand is renowned for its diversity, with over 200 different ethnicities and a quarter of the population born overseas. This diversity enriches our society, making it vibrant and dynamic. Welcoming Week New Zealand serves as an annual campaign to celebrate and showcase how communities, including those in the Queenstown Lakes region, are working to create more inclusive environments for everyone, particularly migrants.

This year’s Welcoming Week is an opportunity to celebrate the values that unite us, no matter our language or place of birth. It’s a chance to show appreciation for the diverse community that makes our District unique.

Throughout Welcoming Week, community partners and the council will host a variety of free events in both Queenstown and Wānaka. These events are designed to bring people together and create a sense of belonging and connection.

The full line up of events can be found on the QLDC website → HERE

What does the future of Welcoming Week have in store? 

Hemi Cordell and Silvia Dancose, the Welcoming Communities Coordinators of the Community Partnerships Team at QLDC, said  “As this is an annual campaign in the second week of September, we aim to increase the number of contributors celebrating their welcoming values through local events and initiatives. 

For 2025, we plan to remind local organisations to align their events with Welcoming Week for better exposure. Potential events could include Cook Around The World, a citizenship ceremony, cultural competency training workshops, school cultural events, guest speakers on migration, pōwhiri ceremonies, forums on settlement and integration, and open day events. 

Celebrating Welcoming Week annually has the potential to create a series of events that highlight our district’s values of manaaki and inclusion.”

Join us in celebrating Welcoming Week and making our community a place where everyone feels valued and included. We look forward to seeing you at the events!