20/06/2022
Interfaith workshops seek to foster inclusive communities
10am to 4pm on either Fri 1 or Sat 2 July
The Tauranga Moana Interfaith Council, Welcoming Communities and the University of Waikato are bringing back a new series of Religious Diversity and Overcoming Bias workshops to Tauranga. Last year these workshops were offered to people from a wide variety of work situations, faith traditions (and a number of no faith tradition), and cultures to help us celebrate their differences and to explore how to welcome the growing religious diversity in New Zealand today.
In Tauranga, approximately one in five people are born overseas, and as the western Bay of Plenty is growing and changing, this is reflected in its increasingly diverse population.
“Cities like Tauranga have become multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-faith communities,” said the chair of the Tauranga Moana Interfaith Council, John Hebenton.
“The mosque attacks in 2019 and the racism which arose post Covid-19 show us that this is not always an easy thing to create and discrimination based on ignorance can easily turn to violence.
“It takes time and effort to overcome our lack of knowledge about those different from us.”
The Interfaith Council will be running a one-day religious diversity and overcoming bias workshop with the University of Waikato and Welcoming Communities on both the 1st and 2nd of July.
“We hope this course will help us all look at what we assume is normal and learn about all the groups that make up our city, so that we can create welcoming communities in which all can thrive,” said John.
These workshops are being offered twice (10am to 4pm, Friday 1st July and Saturday 2nd July) and will be facilitated by the Religious Diversity Centre of New Zealand. The topics covered include: Identities, Cultural Awareness, Examining the Issues, Overcoming Bias.
They are being held at Waikato University's Durham St campus.
Cost $25 (includes morning and afternoon teas, but BYO lunch).
To register, email Shona: [email protected]
Limited to 25 participants each day