A Christchurch Inter-Cultural Assembly (ICA) was set up at a meeting in the city late last month with the aim of securing Christchurch as a peaceful welcoming place for people of all nations. Somalian, Egyptian, Russian, Irish and Pakistani people were among those who spoke in support of the assembly, which has arisen out of a report requested by Mayor Garry Moore’s Working Party on Ethnic Relations.

Mr Moore likened the ICA to a local United Nations. The assembly’s establishment was also supported by guest speakers Mark Solomon, the kaiwhakahaere (board chairman) of Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu; Lianne Dalziel, the Minister of Immigration; Joris de Bres, the Race Relations Commissioner and Weng Kei Chen, president of the Federation of Ethnic Councils.