Coalition to combat discrimination

A coalition of Dunedin community groups has agreed to work more closely to combat discrimination of all shades.

Following the March 15 Christchurch terror attacks and subsequent 18,000-strong Dunedin vigil, several ethnic, cultural and religious groups approached the Dunedin City Council seeking to maintain the positive momentum generated.

Council community development and events manager Joy Gunn brought the council up to date in a report to its recent meeting, saying an informal working group had since been convened to develop the project.

The group, provisionally called Standing Together - Otepoti, now had 18 member organisations and had held three meetings of a ''very positive'' tone, Ms Gunn said yesterday.

Although the group was still in its early stages, several ideas had already been put forward for shared events.

''The aim is to co-ordinate efforts to make Dunedin a more welcoming place for all, while avoiding unnecessary crossover.

''Discrimination happens in our city every day, so this is a collective taking a holistic approach to improve the situation.''

Events could include diversity training, lectures on peaceful and inclusive communities, and a ''more proactive'' showcasing of Dunedin's ethnic communities.

Although the council was not running the group, it was happy to facilitate it until it could stand alone, Ms Gunn said.

Efforts were still being made to bring in unrepresented member groups such as local runanga, and other interested parties could also contact her office, she said.

The group's vision rejected all forms of discrimination - not just ethnic and religious - making its goals align with the council's ''social wellbeing strategy''.

''Our members have loads of great ideas and just want to work towards a more human, kind and inclusive community accepting of diversity.

''The vigil showed the sort of city we want to be, and this can only help step towards that.''

The group expected to announce an inaugural event by November, she said.

richard.davison@odt.co.nz