Celebrating Welcoming Week – Building Stronger Communities Together
This September we are celebrating Welcoming Week. In its second year in our district, Welcoming Week offers us a powerful reminder: communities thrive when everyone feels they belong.
In Queenstown Lakes, where the landscapes are breathtaking and the people are just as remarkable, Welcoming Week is more than a celebration – it’s a commitment. It’s a time when we pause to recognise the richness that newcomers bring to our region, and the shared responsibility we all have in fostering inclusion, understanding, and connection.
Whether someone has arrived from across the globe or moved from another part of Aotearoa New Zealand, their journey is woven into the fabric of our community. This year’s Welcoming Week theme, ‘Building Stronger Communities Together’, means going the extra mile to make sure everyone in our community is included and valued for the person they are and the unique talents they bring. It’s about ensuring that our policies, practices, and everyday interactions reflect the values of empathy, equity, and respect.
Our Council is a proud participant of Welcoming Communities | Te Waharoa ki ngā Hapori, a programme to support newcomers to feel welcome and able to participate in the economic, civic, cultural, and social life of their new community. Over the years, Council has supported ethnic communities and Pacific peoples to access information, funding, and strengthen themselves. There are now 20 different active cultural groups from different countries in our district. Representatives from these groups recently met in Queenstown with the Hon Mark Mitchell, Minister for Ethnic Communities, and they were commended for their dedication, leadership, and aspirations to work together to ensure our district is truly equitable and inclusive.
Last year, Council launched the Queenstown Lakes District Welcoming Plan 2024-2027, which includes several actions to make our district more welcoming, initially identified by community and business stakeholders. One of those actions is Welcoming Week. This year we have more than 20 organisations participating and 23 activities across Queenstown and Wānaka. Next year, we would love to see the business sector get involved.
The week-long celebration provides opportunities for interactions among residents, old and new. We’ve seen firsthand how small acts – like a smile, a shared meal, or a translated sign – can make a big difference. Collaboration between Council, iwi, community groups, and residents can transform good intentions into lasting change.
No matter what language you speak, who you worship or where you were born – we’re glad you’re here! Let’s continue building a district that is not only beautiful, but truly inclusive.
Welcoming Week runs from September 5 - 14. A full calendar of activities is available at qldc.govt.nz/welcoming-week
by QLDC Welcoming Communities Team
