Events & conferences > Celebrating our Differences > Race Relations Day

Race Relations Day; Te Ra Whanaungatanga

Race Relations Day is the time to reflect on our journey as a culturally diverse nation. Each year 21 March is observed around the globe as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The date recalls the tragic loss of life at Sharpeville in South Africa in 1960, and is dedicated by the United Nations to the achievement of the goals of the Convention for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. New Zealand signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination on 25 October 1966 and ratified it on 22 November 1972.

In 2008 Race Relations Day falls on Good Friday, so the official day of celebration will be marked on Tuesday, 18 March for 2008.

In the days around Race Relations Day community groups, councils, schools, workplaces, marae and places of worship are encouraged to host events and celebrations to acknowledge the value of cultural diversity and the need to support harmonious race relations. Many of the multiethnic festivals organised by the Federation of Ethnic Councils around New Zealnd take place on the preceding weekend.

Race Relations Day is a time when you or your organisation or community can do something to celebrate, to learn, to discuss, to plan or to promote diversity in your own context and to achieve diversity goals. It's an opportunity to launch new initiatives, motivate your staff, or promote existing programmes and projects.

The theme for Race Relations Day 2008 will be "Finding Common Ground" and the Human Rights Commission will be encouraging community dicussion of the draft Statement on Race. For  more information click here

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